Us Three by Ruth Jones.

Catrin Kelly, Judith Harris and Lana Lloyd, have been best friends since the age of five. Follow these three women from the age of eighteen to their early fifties as their lives and friendships whirl through many ups and downs.

Us Three is the second novel by Ruth Jones. This story appears under the genre of “Women’s Fiction” BUT do NOT let this label put you off. I am a fan of the Crime/Mystery/Thrillers genre of novels and I thought Us Three was simply BRILLIANT. Yes, it is a book out of my normal reading genre but the quality of Ruth’s writing is superb.

Catrin, Judith and Lana grew up in the fictional small town of Coed Celyn, somewhere in south Wales. Ruth Jones is famous for writing the hugely successful British television situation comedy Gavin & Stacey. Reading the dialogue between her characters in Us Three, it is impossible for the reader not to take on the accents and voices from the television programme. The humour expressed between her characters is similar to that which viewers enjoyed with Gavin & Stacey. For example…

Judith nearly spat out her ginger beer laughing, though Lana was not amused. ‘He was just being deliberately difficult. And we had sex and it was rubbish. Like Chinese takeaway. Y’know, good in the moment, but ultimately unfulfilling.’

… I found the dialogue between her characters simply a joy to read. I liked how Ruth highlighted the difference between Cardiff and Valley accents. This is something we poke fun at every week at our Llantrisant depot.

The short chapters are written from each character’s point of view. This makes this novel ideal for brief reading snatches. Character development is wonderful, the content is so rich that you quickly believe these characters are real people. Ruth pitches the dynamics between these three women really well. Having been married to a Welsh girl for the past 28 years and privy to regular telephone conversations as Gail drones on via speakerphone with her friends from school - I know the conversations that Catrin, Judith and Lana share are realistic.

I really enjoyed reading Us Three and what’s not to like? I found this book highly entertaining, funny and light reading. I think it will make an excellent holiday read that should appeal to both genders. It has high quality writing that is easy to understand, follow and roll along with. There are no dull or repetitive bits in this novel. There is no padding within this story to bulk it out, just comedy drama gold. I could not help but wish each girl well as she made her way through the challenges thrown her way. 

I found Us Three a delightful and refreshing read. I loved how it featured the Welsh culture with the attitudes and dialogue so true to life. Had Ruth featured a real small town in south Wales rather than the fictional Coed Celyn, I feel it would become a tourist attraction just like Barry Island has become following the success of Gavin & Stacey. Still, Ruth does mention Cardiff quite a bit in Us Three and we have plenty of hotels here to welcome tourists to our fine and historic city. Just don’t think that Bessemer Place is off Bessemer Road! Instead walk along to Leckwith Road, pop into the Asda and you will overhear women talk just like in Us Three. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Us Three and it gets the top score of 5 stars from me. Well done Ruth, you are a Welsh legend.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher Random House UK/Transworld Publishers/Bantam Press for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.