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Wendy Wax

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey (Deckle edge) Paperback – Deluxe Edition, April 2, 2013

by Wendy Wax (Author)

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From the bestselling author of My Ex-Best Friend's Wedding comes a novel about four friends who share a passion for a beloved British television show that will change all of their lives.

When the concierge of The Alexander, a historic Atlanta apartment building, invites his fellow residents to join him for weekly screenings of Downton Abbey, four very different people find themselves connecting with the addictive drama, and—even more unexpectedly—with each other...

Samantha Davis married young and for the wrong reason: the security of old Atlanta money—for herself and for her orphaned brother and sister. She never expected her marriage to be complicated by love and compromised by a shattering family betrayal.

Claire Walker is now an empty nester and struggling author who left her home in the suburbs for the old world charm of The Alexander, and for a new and productive life. But she soon wonders if clinging to old dreams can be more destructive than having no dreams at all.

And then there’s Brooke MacKenzie, a woman in constant battle with her faithless ex-husband. She’s just starting to realize that it’s time to take a deep breath and come to terms with the fact that her life is not the fairy tale she thought it would be.

For Samantha, Claire, Brooke—and Edward, who arranges the weekly gatherings—it will be a season of surprises as they forge a bond that will sustain them through some of life’s hardest moments—all of it reflected in the unfolding drama, comedy, and convergent lives of Downton Abbey.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Berkley
Publication date

April 2, 2013
Dimensions

5.11 x 0.92 x 7.98 inches
ISBN-10

0425263312
ISBN-13

978-0425263310
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Wax breaks from her Ten Beach Road series to indulge her obsession with the popular British television show Downton Abbey in her latest novel. When Edward, concierge of a posh Atlanta building, decides to host a weekly Downtown Abbey viewing party, it brings together an unlikely trio of residents. Behind her poised facade, Samantha harbors the belief that her husband married her out of pity, and she lets her younger siblings take advantage of her. Empty-nester Claire has taken a year off from her day job to write her next novel, but crippling writer’s block has her dodging her editor’s calls. Frumpy single-mom Brooke must face her ex-husband and his glossy new girlfriend, who have moved into the building. Wax’s trendy premise makes for a surprisingly poignant and enjoyable story about friendship. Readers need not be fans of the show to enjoy this tale, but they may relate more to the characters’ infatuation if they are. --Aleksandra Walker

Review

Praise for While We Were Watching Downton Abbey

“Quite a clever, fun little novel.”—USA Today

“Wax's delightful tale explores how life imitates art when four very different people bond over the period drama.”—BookBub

“A tribute to the transformative power of female friendship, and reading Wendy Wax is like discovering a witty, wise, and wonderful new friend.”—Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs and Time Flies

“Wax’s trendy premise makes for a surprisingly poignant and enjoyable story about friendship.”—Booklist

“In the style of...Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austen Book Club...the book engrosses its reader in the drama of these women’s love lives and emotional struggles.”—Deseret News

“A grand, well-paced contemporary read definitely deserving to be on the bestseller list!!! Great writing!”—Crystal Book Reviews

“Wendy Wax’s fresh approach to an entertaining storyline hooks us with the idea that other things could happen 'while we were watching Downton Abbey'....Honesty in any relationship is vital, and Wax shows this truth in downtown Atlanta alongside the engrossing story of Downton Abbey.”—Bookreporter.com

“This warm and charming novel about struggling to redefine yourself will be your perfect escape.”—Lisa Steinke, She Knows

“Pulled me in...I highly recommend it.”—Night Owl Reviews

“Again, Wax has knocked it out of the park.”—Great Thoughts

From the Author

Excerpt

Pleased with the turnout, Edward contemplated the dozen-plus women who'd come for the screening . . .

In keeping with the Downton Abbey theme, he'd dressed two of his staff as servants of the period and brought them up to serve food and drinks. James Hicks wore livery copied from Edward's grandfather's actual uniform, and smiled and bowed formally as he poured and offered wine behind the bar. Isabella Morales, an aspiring actress, was dressed as a ladies' maid and seemed to be having a "go" at a British accent as she passed out bags of popcorn and offered appetizer-sized mincemeat pies.

He was surprised, but glad, to see that Brooke Mackenzie had come. She sat on the edge of one of the sofas clutching the arm as if for support. He knew her husband had left her soon after he'd moved the family into the building and he'd seen the uncertain desperation in her face as she'd ridden out the divorce that had quickly followed. He suspected the tears in the fitness room were but a drop in the bucket she'd shed. He carried a bottle of wine over. . .

"There you are," he said as he poured. "I'll ask Isabella to bring you a spot of popcorn, too. Do you mind saving the seat next to you? Another resident asked me to reserve her a space as well." . . .

The door opened and Samantha Davis stepped into the room. He nodded to Isabella and she did as he'd asked, though in what sort of accent he didn't know. Brooke Mackenzie's eyes went wide with apprehension as Samantha was shown to the seat next to her. Hoping that he hadn't erred in placing them together, Edward gave them both a nod and a smile . . .

The mood in the room grew more buoyant with laughter and expectation. With a nod from Edward Parker the lights dimmed. "All right ladies. Sit back, relax, and enjoy. You are now about to enter the luscious and thrilling world of Downton Abbey."

He aimed the remote at the hundred-plus-inch screen. Brooke leaned forward in her seat as the television flickered to life and the PBS logo filled the screen. Laura Linney welcomed them to Masterpiece Classic.

Brooke barely breathed as she watched a finger tap out a message on a Teletype. A train whistle sounded. The train cut through the countryside while an unknown man stared out the window. Scenery swept by. Music played lightly. The hum of the telegraph wires that ran along the track could be heard, an urgent clacking. The message arrived at a British telegraph office, but it was too early to deliver it.

The music swelled and a magnificent castle loomed large, framed in blue sky and green grass. Brooke leaned toward the screen to better breathe in the stunning opening visuals as the servants began their day and the fateful telegram arrived. Beside her Samantha Davis went still as Robert, the Seventh Earl of Grantham and his rich American wife awoke to discover what the sinking of the Titanic would mean to all of the inhabitants of Downton Abbey.

Visit authorwendywax.com for an excerpt that introduces all four lead characters in WHILE WE WERE WATCHING DOWNTON ABBEY.

About the Author

Wendy Wax, a former broadcaster, is the author several novels and two novellas, including My Ex-Best Friend's Wedding, Best Beach Ever, One Good Thing, Sunshine Beach, A Week at the Lake, While We Were Watching Downton Abbey, The House on Mermaid Point, Ocean Beach, and Ten Beach Road. The mother of two grown sons, she left the suburbs of Atlanta for an in town high-rise where she and her husband are happily downsized.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley; 1st edition (April 2, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425263312
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425263310
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.11 x 0.92 x 7.98 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #941,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,957 in Humorous American Literature
- #6,592 in Mothers & Children Fiction
- #9,241 in Women's Friendship Fiction

Customer Reviews:
707 ratings

About the author

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Wendy Wax

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USA Today bestselling author Wendy Wax is heralded for her contemporary women's fiction exploring friendship, loyalty, self-discovery and the seemingly insurmountable challenges life sometimes presents.

Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, Wendy grew up on St. Pete Beach within spitting distance of the Gulf of Mexico. Appropriately enough, Wendy attended Sunshine Elementary School where recess and art class sometimes took place on the beach, and the highlight of every school year was the annual fish broil. Not surprisingly, some of her favorite Florida beaches were destined to become settings for her bestselling fiction, including her "Ten Beach Road" novels, TEN BEACH ROAD, OCEAN BEACH, THE HOUSE ON MERMAID POINT, SUNSHINE BEACH, ONE GOOD THING, and BEST BEACH EVER.

Wendy's writing has been highly praised. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says she "writes with breezy wit and keen insight into family relations." Her books have been featured in national publications such as USA Today, Ladies Home Journal and Woman's World, and at online book sites such as On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever, Luxury Reading, Book Reporter, Night Owl Reviews and Fresh Fiction.

Wendy loves to hear from her readers! You can reach her at wendy@authorwendywax.com.

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		25%
3 star		9%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Just What I Needed While I Was Waiting for Downton Abbey the Movie

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2019

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Man, did I need this novel! I have been reading serious literature which was affecting my outlook on life in general. "While We Were Watching Downton Abbey" has been on my Kindle since the series ended three years ago. Since I'm so excited about the soon-to-be-released film inspired by the series, I thought I'd check out this Wendy Wax novel. In a few pages, I fell in love with the setting, the concept, and especially the characters who are different but have so much in common. There is a natural story telling that helps the reader easily glide from plotline to plotline. Even the beautiful apartment building in Atlanta is a character and conforms to the development of each story (no pun intended). I truly enjoyed my escape into this world.

11 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Fun chick lit read

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016

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This was a quick, fun read about dissimilar residents of an Atlanta apartment building who became friends during the community room screenings of Downton Abbey. Edward, the building's British concierge, organizes the viewings, complete with appropriate drinks and snacks. Samantha's life appears perfect on the surface, but she's dealing with siblings she raised who keep getting into trouble and expecting her wealthy old-Atlanta husband to bail them out. Meanwhile, Samantha feels her part of the deal is to be the perfect wife, to do whatever it takes to make her husband happy, but she's not sure how to do that anymore. Claire is an empty-nester re-inventing her life after moving from the suburbs when her daughter leaves for college. A published novelist, Claire is suffering from massive writer's block. Brooke is a newly-divorced mother of two little girls who worked two jobs to put her husband through medical school so he could become the prominent plastic surgeon he is, and who then dumped her when her image didn't fit his new lifestyle.

The book follows the lives, interactions, and developing friendship of these four main characters along with following the first two seasons of Downton Abbey. The characters are well-drawn and likeable, and the story has several plot lines to keep it going. It's not a deep or life-changing book by any means, but it's a pleasant, fun read, especially for Downton fans.

11 people found this helpful

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PatsyE

Great Story - Wonderful Characters

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020

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Really enjoyable - and I’ve never watched Downton Abbey! I am SURE if you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy it even more than I did. Very clean, with only referenced sex between a married couple. Can’t remember if there was cussing but, if there was, it must not have been gratuitous or much of it or I’d have remembered. The lives of the three main women were very believable; and I’m pretty sure we all end the book in love with the concierge! It’s a really great testimony to the power of developed friendships.

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loves2read50

Grateful to Wendy Wax and Downton Abbey!

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2014

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I totally loved this book! So much so that I wanted to read it again right away! Like the delicious food Samantha orders( and pretends to cook), I savored this book! It was a delicious read! The story focuses on a group of women( three of which become friends) who gather together on Sunday nights to watch the first two seasons of Downton Abbey. ( I am such a fan, and love reminiscing with Wendy as she highlighted some of the major events from this epic series!) Edward is the concierge at the Alexander(the setting for the story.) Edward is British, and organizes these Sunday night events complete with tea and biscuits. He reminded me of Bates, and I couldn't help but respect, and fall in love with him! Brooke has two little girls and a dog named Darcy. Her husband up and left them for a Barbie( she calls her husband Ken as he is a smug, arrogant plastic surgeon.) And then there is Claire( an empty nester writer) who is having problems starting her newest book. (Wendy gives some writing tips through Claire's character, and writing has always been a fantasy of mine, so I loved, noted, and identified with these parts!) Samantha never wanted "to rock the boat" with her family members. But this changes! Throughout this wonderful book, all the characters learn, and grow just like the characters in Downton Abbey! I truly hope that Wendy Wax will consider a sequel! ...Ms. Wax, thank you for the many hours of enjoyment!

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happycaregiver

A sure cure for the Downtown Abbey blues!

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

I purchased this book on a whim, not having read anything by Wendy Wax before, but intreguied by the synopsis. I am SO glad I did. Of course, it probably doesn't hurt that my real life is paralleling some of the actual plot, in that I moved to Atlanta about a month ago, am a huge Downtown Abbey fan and although I don't quite live in a ritzy ITP building, I am in a nice apartment complex OTP.

The main characters, Claire, Brooke, Samantha and Edward are all so well written and formed that they, like the characters you love from Downtown, are people you would like to have as friends in your own life. Ms. Wax weaves the story of their lives, loves, losses and dreams along with a good sprinkling of Downtown and keeps you interested from the first word to the last. A good author makes you care about the characters, whether that feeling is love or hate (think Hunter) and you will be fully invested in all the characters in this book. The pace is perfect, it doesn't drag, but moves along at a good clip, keeping you wanting to turn that next page.

I think anyone who enjoys reading character based fiction would like this book. You DO NOT have to be a Downtown Abbey fan, though it is is fun to read lines from the show or hear the characters discussed, but it certainly doesn't dominate the storyline or make the book unapproachable to those who haven't watched the show.

I will definitely be reading other books by Wendy Wax and would enjoy a sequel to this book if she chooses to write it. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, a truly entertaining read by a very talented author.

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Top reviews from other countries

Gilbster

Worth a look for fans of Downton Abbey and Women's Fiction!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2017

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After a slightly slow start, and once I got a feel for the characters, I started to really enjoy this book. In fact as the story progressed I became more and more involved with it, and was curious as to just how all the characters would end up at the end.

The book is about three women who all live in the same building but probably wouldn't become friends if it wasn't for Edward the building's concierge, how has decided to start doing screenings in a communal room of the first two seasons of Downton Abbey, ahead of the third season starting in the States.

It is through the screenings and mutual love of Downton that the friendship between Samantha, Claire and Brooke flourishes, and Edward plays a key role too in the story.

Samantha married young and has always been grateful to her husband for helping her raise her younger brother and sister after the death of her parents. However appearances in their marriage can be deceiving.

Claire is a published author of 2 historical romance,s and has moved into the building to embark on a grand year of writing. I think that just about any author reading this would identify with Claire and her brilliant ability to procrastinate!

Brooke is a single mother to two young children, has a dog, and her ex-husband isn't that pleasant. She is a character that I could identify with the most as she just felt the most real to me, whereas our introduction to Samantha felt like a bit of a fairy story.

If you have watched the first couple of series of Downton Abbey then when the ladies are discussing the episodes I think you will smile and nod in recognition, or wish you could join in the discussions. As someone that has never watched an episode, I just let those bits wash over my head, as they didn't really mean much to me.

I loved the various friendships the ladies struck up, and how Samantha tried to deal with her siblings. There is a fledgling romantic interest for Brooke which I liked seeing how it may develop, and also the web of lies Claire was trying to construct around her, so that her writer' block wasn't evident.

This is an enjoyable story, but one I may have enjoyed a lot more had I watched the TV programme that links the characters together!

ElaineG

Shandy aside, a really good read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is a read that I really enjoyed. It is set in The Alexander, an apartment building in Atlanta and revolves around three women who live there, all from diverse backgrounds, who get to know each other when their Concierge arranges weekly screenings of Downton Abbey.

I have only ever seen Downton Abbey a few times but it is not necessary to have watched it to understand this book, although it does really make me want to sit down and watch every season now. I really enjoyed getting to know Brooke, Claire and Samantha and reading about how they start to bond and form real friendships throughout the screenings. They all have their own problems to deal with and, even though they become very close, it does take quite a while in the book for them to open up to each other about their deepest feelings and problems.

It is a nice, warm, cosy read that you can get lost in and as I said, I really enjoyed it. However, as is often the case, one really stupid error made me quite cross and blighted the whole read for me.

Each screening is accompanied by typically English nibbles - trifles, sausage and mash, scones etc. On one evening they are served Shandy, and over the course of a couple of hours Claire drinks so much Shandy that she is blind drunk and has to be taken home and put to bed. As anyone over this side of the pond knows, it is impossible to get drunk on Shandy because of the sheer volume needed. It is after all the drink we give to teenagers who want to appear grown up. The incident was then referred to quite a few times later on in the book, and it really did niggle me.

That having been said, it is a hugely enjoyable read that is well paced, although the last couple of chapters which rounded everything off did feel a little rushed.

6 people found this helpful

Nellie Sheep

Whilst we were watching Do w Anton Abbey - Wendy Wax

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2014

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With Downton about to start series five in two weeks I decided I needed to catch up on my reading of whilst we were watching downtown Abbey. It is essentially about the lives of three women living at the Alexander apartments and their concierge Edward who is quint essentially English and a lover of Downton Abbey. In this novel series three is about to start the following January and so Edward thinks it may be a good way to get the apartments residents to meet up if he shows the first two series. It is here that Brooke, Claire and Samantha meet and form their friendship.

A LOVELY Autumn read.

Adele

Enjoyable book about friendship

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2013

Verified Purchase

First book I've read by this author I was swayed to read it by the title being a fan of Downton Abbey. The story is based around an apartment block in the states were the new concierge is an Englishman and he is trying to encourage the tenants to get a more community spirit. He decides to show screenings of Downton Abbey in the entertainment room and hopes that this will bring the tenants together and new friendships made. Lovely story of friendship and love.

3 people found this helpful

Purple buyer

Lovely book, well recommended.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't help but think what a fabulous film it would make. Great writing, haven't read any by this author before but will look out for more, really loved the characters and was very sad when I came to the end of the book. As a Downton fan this was right up my street but you don't have to know anything about Downton to enjoy it.

4 people found this helpful

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