Rivals by Jilly Cooper captivates readers with its sharp humour, emotional depth, and well-drawn characters, making it a novel still worth reading today.
| Title | Rivals |
| Writer | Jilly Cooper |
| Series | Rutshire Chronicles #2 |
| Publisher | Corgi |
| Publication date | 1st January1988 |
| MBR star rating /5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Genre | Genral Fiction (Adult) |
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Synopsis: Rivals by Jilly Cooper
the glamorous, fast-paced world of Corinium television becomes a battleground of ambition, scandal, and seduction. Enter Declan O’Hara, a magnetic television star known for both his integrity and allure, accompanied by his stunning but impulsive wife, his dashing son, and two captivating teenage daughters. Yet behind the glittering façade, Declan quickly discovers that Corinium’s Managing Director, Lord Baddingham, is more interested in scheming for personal gain than producing quality television.
Baddingham’s plans for retaining Corinium’s franchise revolve around Declan’s star power and the ruthless talents of Cameron Cook, an ambitious and fiercely intelligent woman brought in to produce Declan’s show. Sparks fly between the two—neither can stand the other—setting the stage for fiery confrontations and drama both on and off-screen.
Complicating matters further is Rupert Campbell-Black, the dissolute and dangerously charming Tory Minister for Sport, who lives far too close to Declan’s family for comfort. Rupert, newly divorced and ever the rogue, dives headfirst into the chaos, bringing his own brand of trouble into an already volatile situation.
As rival companies vie for control of the Corinium franchise, the world of television becomes a ruthless battlefield of egos, seduction, and ambition. Marriages crack under pressure, reputations are made and destroyed, and love—both genuine and fleeting—surges and fades with every twist in the story. From the boardroom to the bedroom, nothing is off-limits, and the stakes for power, love, and control grow ever higher as the race for the coveted Cotswold Crown hurtles toward its climax.
A glittering, seductive drama where power, passion, and treachery collide in the cut-throat world of media and politics, delivering a story brimming with wit, sex, and high-stakes intrigue.
Review of Rivals by Jilly Cooper
Rivals, the second book in Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles, shifts from the world of show jumping—central to Riders—into the equally competitive and cutthroat realm of British television. Set during the mid-1980s, the novel revolves around the bidding process for an ITV regional franchise, plunging readers into a world of power plays, manipulation, and the personal dramas that accompany such high-stakes environments.
Despite being rooted in the 1980s, Cooper’s writing offers a surprising depth and relevance. The novel subtly captures the societal tensions of the era, especially with its references to the emerging AIDS pandemic, which was beginning to make headlines at the time. It is a product of its period, but Cooper’s characters and themes continue to resonate decades later.
One standout element of Rivals is the portrayal of Taggy, a young woman who excels at cooking and runs a small business, yet struggles with dyslexia. Cooper’s treatment of Taggy’s dyslexia feels nuanced and ahead of its time, especially for a novel written in the 1980s. However, there are moments where descriptions of her intelligence, or lack thereof, can feel unkind by today’s standards. That said, Taggy’s storyline highlights how far we’ve come in understanding learning disabilities and how technology now aids individuals facing such challenges.
The novel’s titular rivalry centers on two larger-than-life characters: Lord Baddingham, a ruthless businessman bent on winning the TV franchise for personal gain, and Rupert Campbell-Black, the unforgettable anti-hero from Riders. Rupert, a notorious womanizer and charismatic figure, returns to dominate the narrative with his charm, flaws, and complex personality. While he can be seen as cutthroat and self-serving on the surface, Cooper masterfully develops him, showing that even the most seemingly “evil” characters have layers and motivations. Rupert’s moral ambiguity makes him one of Cooper’s most compelling creations, and as the novel progresses, readers are given deeper insights into his character than in the previous book.
The novel itself is a fascinating snapshot of the television industry in the 1980s. The small, regional TV companies Cooper depicts are far removed from today’s consolidated media landscape. Through her portrayal of these companies and the people who run them, Cooper offers a vivid picture of the fragile relationships, intense rivalries, and power struggles that drive not just business but life itself.
At its core, Rivals is about the clash of personalities—how ambition, power, and personal desires affect those around them. Even as it explores the intricacies of the franchise TV industry, it remains an intensely personal story about people navigating ambition, loyalty, and love.
Conclusion
The novel’s enduring appeal lies in how well Cooper balances the external drama of the business world with the internal lives of her characters. Even nearly four decades later, Rivals captivates readers with its sharp humour, emotional depth, and well-drawn characters, making it a novel still worth reading today.
Meet : Jilly Cooper
Jilly Cooper, OBE (born February 21, 1937) is an English author. She started her career as a journalist and wrote numerous works of non-fiction before writing several romance novels, the first of which appeared in 1975. She is most famous for writing the six blockbuster novels the Rutshire Chronicles.
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