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Rivals: The steamy romance from the Sunday Times bestseller, now the hottest series on TV [cover may vary] (Rutshire Chronicles Book 2) Kindle Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 3,907 ratings

Now a major series streaming on Disney+, read the whole story here!

Everyone wants to get on top . . .

Fun, sexy and unputdownable – a classic’ - Marian Keyes
'Pure,
unadulterated joy' - Sophie Kinsella
'Hilarious, witty, wise, astute [and]
flawlessly entertaining' - Helen Fielding

_______________________

Welcome to the 80s, the decade of decadence…

The glamorous, cutthroat world of 1980s British television is all about power, a time when the affluent elite exist in a bubble of immense wealth and influence, and will use any means to get what they want. Lord Baddingham is desperate to retain his Corinium TV franchise, and to do so he’s hired Declan O’Hara, an Irish talk show mega-star. Baddingham has also enticed on board Cameron Cook, a gorgeous and brash executive, to produce Declan’s program. But Declan and Cameron detest each other, soon provoking a storm of controversy.

Enter into the fray everyone’s favourite hate-to-love-him bad-boy, Rupert Campbell-Black. As a rival group emerges to pitch for the franchise, reputations ripen and decline, true love blossoms and burns, marriages are made and shattered, and everyone is competing—in bed and in the boardroom—to come out on top.

_______________________

PRAISE FOR DAME JILLY COOPER

Joyful and mischievous. I know of no woman my age who won't admit that Rupert Campbell-Black nearly ruined them for other men for life . . .’ - Jojo Moyes
‘Jilly Cooper is the
funniest and the sharpest writer there is’ - Jenny Colgan
'A combination of drama, sex, and good social comedy ...
unputdownable' The Sunday Times
'Jilly Cooper is
the very best ... elegant, glamourous, wonderful fun' Daily Mail

Jilly Cooper,
Sunday Times bestseller, May 2024

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 See full series
There are 11 books in this series.

In this series (11 books)

Kindle Edition

From the Publisher

Now a major Disney+ original series

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Rivals

Heat

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Rivals

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Riders
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Appassionata: The steamy classic from the Sunday Times bestselling author of ...
Score!: Don't miss the hilarious steamy romance from the Sunday Times bestsel...
Customer Reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars 3,709
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,907
4.6 out of 5 stars 2,853
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,006
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,635
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,574
Price £2.99 £3.99 £3.99 £5.99 £5.99 £5.99
Rutshire Chronicles book 1 Rutshire Chronicles book 2 Rutshire Chronicles book 3

Product description

Review

"A combination of drama, sex and good social comedy...unputdownable"
-
Sunday Times

"It is satisfyingly long, addictive, bitchy, endearing and full of sex and hilarious one-liners"
-
Books

"All the behind-the-scenes detail of tough wheeler-dealing in the media world is both fascinating and horrifyingly convincing"
-
Options

"I couldn't put it down"
-
Sunday Express

From the Back Cover

'A combination of drama, sex and good social comedy... unputdownable'
Sunday Times

Into the cut-throat world of Corinium television comes Declan O Hara, a mega-star of great glamour and integrity with a radiant feckless wife, a handsome son and two ravishing teenage daughters. Living rather too closely across the valley is Rupert Campbell-Black, divorced and as dissolute as ever, and now the Tory Minister for Sport.

Declan needs only a few days at Corinium to realise that the Managing Director, Lord Baddingham, is a crook who has recruited him merely to help retain the franchise for Corinium. Baddingham has also enticed Cameron Cook, a gorgeous but domineering woman executive, to produce Declan s programme. Declan and Cameron detest each other, provoking a storm of controversy into which Rupert plunges with his usual abandon.

As a rival group emerges to pitch for the franchise, reputations ripen and decline, true love blossoms and burns, marriages are made and shattered, and sex raises its (delicious) head at almost every throw as, in bed and boardroom, the race is on to capture the Cotswold Crown.

Jilly Cooper is the very best elegant, glamorous, wonderful fun
Daily Mail

'I couldn't put it down'
Sunday Express

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004H1TU90
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Transworld Digital
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 23 Dec. 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 724 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1409032335
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 11 ‏ : ‎ Rutshire Chronicles
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 3,907 ratings

About the author

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Jilly Cooper
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Jilly Cooper is a journalist, author and media superstar. The author of many number one bestselling novels, she lives in Gloucestershire.

She has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Universities of Gloucestershire and Anglia Ruskin, and won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019. She was appointed CBE in 2018 for services to literature and charity.

For more information visit her Facebook page @JillyCooperOfficial

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,907 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a compulsive read with a captivating storyline and hilarious characters that make them laugh out loud. The writing is extremely well done, and customers love all of Jilly Cooper's books. The book is in good condition, and customers appreciate its feel-good nature.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

79 customers mention ‘Readability’72 positive7 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a brilliant and entertaining holiday read.

"...From the heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and terminally unfaithful Rupert, to the wise-beyond-her-years Caitlin, from the wicked beguiling Tony, to sweet..." Read more

"This writer is enjoyed and funny like her books been reading them over the years and look forward to many more books will recommend to friends" Read more

"Really enjoyed this book. Its coming out as a show starring David tennent, so I wanted to read it first...." Read more

"Bought the book after watching the TV series,great easy read." Read more

24 customers mention ‘Storyline’19 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, finding it captivating with many twists and turns, and one customer notes that each book is a complete story.

"...And the wit and humour, the charm and angst! Just incredible...." Read more

"A brilliant story with so many twists and turns it kept you turning to the very end and what an ending!" Read more

"...This book has an excellent plot and fab character and written with Cooper's panache and excellent one liners everyone should read it!..." Read more

"This book is part of a series of books but can be read as a standalone story...." Read more

20 customers mention ‘Character development’15 positive5 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, finding them hilarious, with one customer noting how they leap off the page.

"...companies competing for talent and the franchise, with a brilliant cast of characters, none of which is anything other than three dimensional...." Read more

"...Charming but devious. Lots of good characters in the book from Tony's family and Declans family...." Read more

"...The characters are so well rounded, I love how Rupert remains a cad throughout, yet entirely loveable at the same time, the character of Tony is an..." Read more

"Overall. I did not like it because the plot is thin and the characters superficial...." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Humor’15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, describing it as a great holiday read that makes them laugh out loud.

"...And the wit and humour, the charm and angst! Just incredible...." Read more

"...but Jilly Cooper undoubtedly writes well and has hilarious descriptions of people and situations...." Read more

"...This book has an excellent plot and fab character and written with Cooper's panache and excellent one liners everyone should read it!..." Read more

"And I still laugh out loud. One of her best!!..." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Writing quality’11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it extremely well written, with one customer noting its great vocabulary.

"It's far too long but Jilly Cooper undoubtedly writes well and has hilarious descriptions of people and situations...." Read more

"...Jilly Cooper's books are well written and the stories are real page turners...." Read more

"...The storyline is captivating, entertaining and well written...." Read more

"...this book on my Kindle and have plans to read a few more by a very good local author" Read more

9 customers mention ‘Love of jilly cooper’9 positive0 negative

Customers express their love for Jilly Cooper's writing, with several mentioning they enjoy all of her books.

"...It is Jilly Cooper at her very best...." Read more

"Another gem from Jilly Cooper the second in the Rutshire Chronicles and even though we are not in the heady world of Show Jumping where Rupert..." Read more

"Fab. I read this many years ago and riders. And have revisited it twenty five yrs later and didn't disappoint...." Read more

"Love Jully Cooper and could read her books again and again" Read more

7 customers mention ‘Sturdiness’7 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the book's sturdiness, noting that it arrives in very good condition.

"...reflection of its time, I have to say the book itself has held up to the passing years...." Read more

"Bought for my mother in law, good condition, fast delivery" Read more

"...(about a week before the estimated delivery date) and in very good condition - hardly seems used at all." Read more

"Excellent item - exactly what I ordered in good condition and delivered within the advised timescale. Thankyou!" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Feel’4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's feel, with one noting how it draws readers in slowly and another mentioning how Jilly gets them hooked right away.

"...This is a masterpiece. It slowly feels you in, until you become completely engrossed and invested in the characters...." Read more

"...Priory, and the surrounding woodland and countryside give the book a cosy feel...." Read more

"A really good feel good book and sooooo funny a great holiday read!!!" Read more

"Great storyline. Jilly gets you hooked right away." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2025
    I adore Jilly Cooper, but (aside from How to Survive Christmas, which still sits on my shelf) I have not read her books until now. This is a masterpiece. It slowly feels you in, until you become completely engrossed and invested in the characters. From the heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and terminally unfaithful Rupert, to the wise-beyond-her-years Caitlin, from the wicked beguiling Tony, to sweet and innocent Taggie.
    A plethora of romances, from pure to priapic, run alongside the exciting tale of rival television companies competing for talent and the franchise, with a brilliant cast of characters, none of which is anything other than three dimensional. And the wit and humour, the charm and angst! Just incredible.
    I fell in love, unwisely, with Rupert, and fell out of love with Tony as the story progressed, but more, much more important, I fell in love with Jilly Cooper as a writer.
    Magnificent!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 April 2025
    This writer is enjoyed and funny like her books been reading them over the years and look forward to many more books will recommend to friends
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 October 2024
    Really enjoyed this book. Its coming out as a show starring David tennent, so I wanted to read it first. I can imagine him as the unscrupulous Tony head of a television company. Charming but devious. Lots of good characters in the book from Tony's family and Declans family. Tony's brother bas, Cameron who is recruited from America by Tony and many others.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 April 2025
    Bought the book after watching the TV series,great easy read.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 April 2025
    I read Rivals not long after it was first published, and I decided to read it again after watching the Disney+ series. Although, some of the attitudes and language are very much a reflection of its time, I have to say the book itself has held up to the passing years. And while the story is full of lies, betrayals and affairs, some of the descriptions, such as of the ever messy Priory, and the surrounding woodland and countryside give the book a cosy feel. My only minor disappointment was that Rupert and Taggie weren't together quite as much as I thought I remembered from when I first read Rivals.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2025
    Brilliantly entertaining book. Read years ago when it was first published but decided to start reading all the series again and I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed them.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2024
    It's far too long but Jilly Cooper undoubtedly writes well and has hilarious descriptions of people and situations. It definitely rings true for the 1970s period although the behaviour of the men (and quite a lot of the women) would simply not be tolerated and you couldn't put a lot of the language in a modern novel. Shame really as it is a highly entertaining romp!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 February 2025
    Excellent read, enjoyed every minute of it. Captivated me from the get go and I couldn’t put it down, many lost hours of sleep

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jenny De Lacy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as I remember
    Reviewed in Australia on 20 November 2024
    I read this book and other Jilly Coopers back in the late 80’s early 90’s, and with the Disney series I’ll be reading them all again.
  • NotAKindleCustomer
    5.0 out of 5 stars 6 stars!!
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 February 2025
    Love love loved it!!!! I loved the tv series and decided I just had to read the book, I wasn’t sure I was gonna like it or even be able to finish it with it being 700 or so pages! But it’s so worth it! I honestly could have read thousands of pages and never been bored. I love her writing style and the story is wonderful, and the romance is top tier!!
  • Henni123
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unterhaltsames Drama
    Reviewed in Germany on 22 February 2025
    Das Buch ist interessant und unterhaltsam zu lesen. Besonders gut gefällt mir, dass das Buch auf Englisch sehr gut zu lesen und zu verstehen ist. (Ich spreche nicht gut Englisch, kann es aber verstehen).
    Auch stimmt die Serie perfekt mit dem Buch überein (natürlich nicht im Detail), weswegen man das Buch auch sehr gerne als Serienfan lesen kann.
    Customer image
    Henni123
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Unterhaltsames Drama

    Reviewed in Germany on 22 February 2025
    Das Buch ist interessant und unterhaltsam zu lesen. Besonders gut gefällt mir, dass das Buch auf Englisch sehr gut zu lesen und zu verstehen ist. (Ich spreche nicht gut Englisch, kann es aber verstehen).
    Auch stimmt die Serie perfekt mit dem Buch überein (natürlich nicht im Detail), weswegen man das Buch auch sehr gerne als Serienfan lesen kann.
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  • buyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super
    Reviewed in Germany on 23 March 2025
    Very quick delivered in great shape. Just like i ordered.
  • Paper Crane
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite novels of all time!
    Reviewed in Australia on 4 September 2022
    I've read this book about 1000 times—never gets old, only more enjoyable. I WISH there was a sequel based only on Taggie, Rupert & their household.

    My paperback edition has been read so much it's fallen apart so I bought the Kindle version—pleased to say it's well formatted and surprisingly pleasurable to read. I hope the paperback is re-released—I'd like to have a new copy for my library as this is a book well worth keeping—it's Jilly Cooper's finest imo!

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