Books like The Real Thing by Lilian Peake

Cleone Aston enjoys a steady job as a reporter for a local newspaper and a quiet marriage to her boyfriend Ivor. One day she receives an unexpected offer to become the editor of a high‑profile fashion magazine in London. The move promises higher pay, a vibrant social scene, and new professional challenges. At the magazine, Cleone meets her new boss, Ellis Firse, whose demanding nature quickly competes with the seductive allure of the city. As she rises through the ranks, her affection for Ellis deepens, eclipsing thoughts of Ivor. Yet Ellis’s attention also attracts the stylish women around him—Karin, Annabelle, and Maria—whose talents and charms create palpable tension and rivalry. Cleone must juggle ambition, love, and the pressures of a competitive industry as she seeks to prove herself and chart her own destiny.

First publish date: 1972