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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
Oh gosh what is there to say. True I did finish it all in 24 hours , and I didn’t do much of the skim reading seen mentioned in other comments. Did I enjoy it? At times yes, I enjoyed the sisters’ relationships. Everything else? Erm not so much. I loved Lucy Sullivan is getting married which made me read this one on recommendation of my mother. Maybe it’s because I’m a 20 year old with no kids and no annoying blameful husband which explains why I couldn’t relate to Claire’s whining. But I have faced heartbreak and I can relate so well to the feeling of ‘why her? What does she have i don’t?’ But unfortunately Claire really is the biggest wet wipe I’ve read about in fiction; spending most of the book treating her daughter as no more than a doll who sometimes cries, and moaning and whining. It doesn’t help the characters bar Claire are very thinly characterised - We never meet Denise or even have Claire have an interaction with her, and Adam just bores me - there’s virtually nothing sincere or romantic in him and while I can do with being spared of ten pages of sexual activity and words to describe biceps, his constant anger with Claire no more persuaded me they’d make a good couple than getting back with James would. It was somewhat of a pleasantry when she finally comes to her senses, but also very lacklustre and not as satisfying as in other novels of the genre. I’m disappointed , but will probably read Rachel’s Holiday because I love disappointment.
I'm not going to rate this. Let me tell you for why...
I first read this in 1998. I remember loving it. I remember loving all the Walsh family books. [b:Rachel's Holiday|9301|Rachel's Holiday (Walsh Family, #2)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407709261l/9301._SY75_.jpg|23728] was one of my absolute favourite books from that time of my life (16 by the way) and my plan was to reread the series and read the new Rachel book, [b:Again, Rachel|58691596|Again, Rachel (Walsh Family, #6)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1629196807l/58691596._SY75_.jpg|92346216], but this turned out to be a very bad idea.
I really disliked Watermelon and almost everyone in it. Making an exception for Kate and Daddy Walsh!
The biggest problem for me was the outrageous gaslighting and Claire's general doormat energy but look, this book is almost 30 years old, romance is one of those genres that doesn't always age terribly well and this book is one of those for me.
Also...
I read and listened to this and noticed something VERY annoying while switching over between both. The audiobook has been 'Americanised' and this made me unreasonably angry, and just to say that some of the stuff removed was funny as fuck. I laughed more reading than listening that's for sure! Just don't do this to books. If Americans don't get it let them Google for fuck sake!
But also, props to Marian Keyes and her abortion and bodily autonomy rant in Ireland 1995. For context, abortion was only made legal here (and at that it's super restricted) in 2018 after a referendum. #AbortionIsHealthcare
So, this didn't age well, I didn't enjoy it at the age of 41 (almost 42) but this was a well loved book/series/author back in the day and entertained me heartily back then so a 5 star read at 16 and maybe a 2 star read at 41 (almost 42) so can't rate it!
Outgrowing favourite books is inevitable so I really should let this be a lesson to me, even though I really want to reread [b:After You'd Gone|675323|After You'd Gone|Maggie O'Farrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347319717l/675323._SY75_.jpg|221611] which I often still list as one of my all time favourite books but I haven't read it since I was 18! :D
I first read this in 1998. I remember loving it. I remember loving all the Walsh family books. [b:Rachel's Holiday|9301|Rachel's Holiday (Walsh Family, #2)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407709261l/9301._SY75_.jpg|23728] was one of my absolute favourite books from that time of my life (16 by the way) and my plan was to reread the series and read the new Rachel book, [b:Again, Rachel|58691596|Again, Rachel (Walsh Family, #6)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1629196807l/58691596._SY75_.jpg|92346216], but this turned out to be a very bad idea.
I really disliked Watermelon and almost everyone in it. Making an exception for Kate and Daddy Walsh!
The biggest problem for me was the outrageous gaslighting and Claire's general doormat energy but look, this book is almost 30 years old, romance is one of those genres that doesn't always age terribly well and this book is one of those for me.
Also...
I read and listened to this and noticed something VERY annoying while switching over between both. The audiobook has been 'Americanised' and this made me unreasonably angry, and just to say that some of the stuff removed was funny as fuck. I laughed more reading than listening that's for sure! Just don't do this to books. If Americans don't get it let them Google for fuck sake!
But also, props to Marian Keyes and her abortion and bodily autonomy rant in Ireland 1995. For context, abortion was only made legal here (and at that it's super restricted) in 2018 after a referendum. #AbortionIsHealthcare
So, this didn't age well, I didn't enjoy it at the age of 41 (almost 42) but this was a well loved book/series/author back in the day and entertained me heartily back then so a 5 star read at 16 and maybe a 2 star read at 41 (almost 42) so can't rate it!
Outgrowing favourite books is inevitable so I really should let this be a lesson to me, even though I really want to reread [b:After You'd Gone|675323|After You'd Gone|Maggie O'Farrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347319717l/675323._SY75_.jpg|221611] which I often still list as one of my all time favourite books but I haven't read it since I was 18! :D
Claire has everything she ever wanted: a husband she adores, a great apartment, a good job. Then, on the day she gives birth to their first baby, James informs her that he's leaving her. Claire is left with a newborn daughter, a broken heart, and a postpartum body that she can hardly bear to look at.
She decides to go home to Dublin. And there, sheltered by the love of a quirky family, she gets better. So much so, in fact, that when James slithers back into her life, he's in for a bit of a surprise.
It started well, then dragged, then picked up. An easy read. It would have received only 2 stars if it hadn't been for the brilliant quote about Catherine Cookson:
"... had his nose buried in a Catherine Cookson novel. I’m sure you know it. It’s the one about the illegitimate girl with the wine-coloured birthmark, whose cousin fancies her, who gets scourged with a riding crop by her stepmother, raped when she is thirteen by the Lord from the Big Hall and, while escaping from him, gets her foot caught in a rabbit trap and has to have it amputated and the wound cauterised by a red hot poker, while her screams echo throughout the slag heaps.
Or is that all of them?"
So funny!
She decides to go home to Dublin. And there, sheltered by the love of a quirky family, she gets better. So much so, in fact, that when James slithers back into her life, he's in for a bit of a surprise.
It started well, then dragged, then picked up. An easy read. It would have received only 2 stars if it hadn't been for the brilliant quote about Catherine Cookson:
"... had his nose buried in a Catherine Cookson novel. I’m sure you know it. It’s the one about the illegitimate girl with the wine-coloured birthmark, whose cousin fancies her, who gets scourged with a riding crop by her stepmother, raped when she is thirteen by the Lord from the Big Hall and, while escaping from him, gets her foot caught in a rabbit trap and has to have it amputated and the wound cauterised by a red hot poker, while her screams echo throughout the slag heaps.
Or is that all of them?"
So funny!
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book, when I picked this up I didn’t realise it was set in the 90s (is that historical fiction)? The storyline was entertaining and I enjoyed the banter and dynamics between the family members. The main character was at times annoyingly meek but I get that it was there for character growth and she does grow some courage. I will be picking up the rest of the series to follow the rest of the family
Huummm… not sure about this one. I enjoyed the plot. I think is a genius, fresh and at the same time sick and twisted the idea of being dump by your husband the day you gave birth to your child and let’s not forget is in London and I ADORE their sense of humor!
My problem is I understand Claire has to whine and feel upset and of course is the author’s job to make us feel her sense of lost, betray and love…but come on get a grip woman!! I felt I wanted to shout at her…but once we are over that “Watermelon” is entertaining, funny and refreshing!
I still prefer “Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married” over this one. Would I keep reading the rest of the Walsh Family series? I’m not sure
My problem is I understand Claire has to whine and feel upset and of course is the author’s job to make us feel her sense of lost, betray and love…but come on get a grip woman!! I felt I wanted to shout at her…but once we are over that “Watermelon” is entertaining, funny and refreshing!
I still prefer “Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married” over this one. Would I keep reading the rest of the Walsh Family series? I’m not sure
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Revisiting some oldies. You can definitely tell this one was a first novel
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Abortion