Rivals (novel)

Rivals is a romance novel written by Jilly Cooper, first published in 1988. It is the second novel in the Rutshire Chronicles series, following Riders and preceding Polo.

The novel focuses on the lives, loves, and rivalries within the world of independent television in the fictional county of Rutshire, England. The two central characters are Rupert Campbell-Black, the ruthless and charismatic owner of Corinium Television, and Tony Baddingham, the more sensitive and ultimately more decent head of rival network, Thames Television. The narrative explores their professional competition, their personal relationships, and the often scandalous behavior of the wealthy and powerful individuals surrounding them.

Themes explored in Rivals include ambition, infidelity, social class, the power of media, and the complexities of love and friendship. Cooper's signature style, characterized by witty prose, explicit sex scenes, and larger-than-life characters, is prominent throughout the novel. The book became a commercial success, contributing to the popularity of the Rutshire Chronicles series and establishing Cooper as a leading author of popular fiction.