Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First book of hers that I’ve read and I’m really impressed. The novel was long but I enjoyed it. The dysfunctional family and the secrets and insecurities each member of the families have are very relatable and well-described.
The one that touched me the most was definitely Cara and her eating disorder. The way that impacted her life, her marriage, her family.
They were a seemingly perfect family, but everyone had a struggle or two they hid from the rest of the family. The novel is also set in Ireland and I found the novel very charming and funny in its own way.
The one that touched me the most was definitely Cara and her eating disorder. The way that impacted her life, her marriage, her family.
They were a seemingly perfect family, but everyone had a struggle or two they hid from the rest of the family. The novel is also set in Ireland and I found the novel very charming and funny in its own way.
Marian Keyes is my all time favourite author and, having read and loved every one of her novels, I was ecstatic to be approved by netgalley for an early copy of her newest book.
Thankfully this did not disappoint. As always, Marian’s characters are developed to the point where you feel like you have gotten to know them as friends by the end of the story. Despite dealing with some deep issues, such as eating disorders, divorces, deaths and betrayals, the book never felt like a slog, her cheerful Irish wittisms and smaller, brilliantly funny characters along the way manage to raise the mood where needed and kept me entertained and desperate to read more.
The story has the potential to be confusing, with 6 different main characters and a storyline that starts in the present, moves into the past, then works its way back to the start, finishing in the future. However Keyes keeps all of the threads moving clearly, with her beautiful writing style allowing the reader to get to know each character and feel part of their story as it unfolds.
I felt I identified with all of the female characters in one way or another and was rooting for their happy endings throughout. I also really loved the way that Jessie had two really clashing parts to her personality. She is such a strong female business owner, but her insecurities were realistic, she wasn’t portrayed as a ‘ball breaker’ as sometimes women can be in books and I felt I really wanted to be her friend!
I definitely recommend this book, it’s pure Marian Keyes escapism.
Thank you so so much to netgalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thankfully this did not disappoint. As always, Marian’s characters are developed to the point where you feel like you have gotten to know them as friends by the end of the story. Despite dealing with some deep issues, such as eating disorders, divorces, deaths and betrayals, the book never felt like a slog, her cheerful Irish wittisms and smaller, brilliantly funny characters along the way manage to raise the mood where needed and kept me entertained and desperate to read more.
The story has the potential to be confusing, with 6 different main characters and a storyline that starts in the present, moves into the past, then works its way back to the start, finishing in the future. However Keyes keeps all of the threads moving clearly, with her beautiful writing style allowing the reader to get to know each character and feel part of their story as it unfolds.
I felt I identified with all of the female characters in one way or another and was rooting for their happy endings throughout. I also really loved the way that Jessie had two really clashing parts to her personality. She is such a strong female business owner, but her insecurities were realistic, she wasn’t portrayed as a ‘ball breaker’ as sometimes women can be in books and I felt I really wanted to be her friend!
I definitely recommend this book, it’s pure Marian Keyes escapism.
Thank you so so much to netgalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
My Review
I read this as March’s monthly readalong with Facebook group Novels&Natter. https://www.facebook.com/groups/451447969098103/
This book follows the Casey brothers and their respective wives, children and an ex wife. The prologue opens with Johnny’s birthday dinner where the whole family are in attendance. Cara suffering from concussion after a recent head injury inadvertently spills all the family secrets.
We then go back six months, to Easter in Kerry, and learn about this large dysfunctional Irish family and what events led up to the birthday dinner.
This is one complex, unhinged family. The parents of the brothers are bloody awful and the title is pure irony as the children are more grown up than the adults. With such a large family it took a while to gauge who was who and I had to keep referring back to the family tree.
That being said once I got into it I really started to enjoy it, covering some hard hitting topics (Marian Keyes never has shied away from doing that) some of which made uncomfortable reading. There is still her trademark humour to be found between the pages though and highly astute character observations, love em or loathe em you can’t help but admire how she writes em!
I read this as March’s monthly readalong with Facebook group Novels&Natter. https://www.facebook.com/groups/451447969098103/
This book follows the Casey brothers and their respective wives, children and an ex wife. The prologue opens with Johnny’s birthday dinner where the whole family are in attendance. Cara suffering from concussion after a recent head injury inadvertently spills all the family secrets.
We then go back six months, to Easter in Kerry, and learn about this large dysfunctional Irish family and what events led up to the birthday dinner.
This is one complex, unhinged family. The parents of the brothers are bloody awful and the title is pure irony as the children are more grown up than the adults. With such a large family it took a while to gauge who was who and I had to keep referring back to the family tree.
That being said once I got into it I really started to enjoy it, covering some hard hitting topics (Marian Keyes never has shied away from doing that) some of which made uncomfortable reading. There is still her trademark humour to be found between the pages though and highly astute character observations, love em or loathe em you can’t help but admire how she writes em!
This family is chaotic, but I want to live in this world because Marian Keyes finds the fun in the chaos while not glossing over the tough parts.
Another accomplished novel by Marian Keyes. A long and complicated storyline that delves into the difficulties of an extended family and their relationships. The characters are well written and easy to engage with and the story is told with good humour. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Marian Keyes has made a name for herself as one of the best known chick lit authors. This book veers off from her usual light, comedic topics, and into darker waters.
The book is about the three Casey brothers and their respective families. After a knock on the head, Cara, Ed Casey's wife, spills all the family secrets at a family event. The story then flashes back to before this incident, and we get to view how it all came about.
This book covers a lot of heavy topics. Eating disorders, the treatment and struggles of refugees, cheating, death and the grief that follows it, lying, morally grey areas . . . those are just a few of the topics mentioned, although not all of them are main themes.
With so many characters, I was worried that I would get confused or that I wouldn't be able to appreciate everyone's story. I was wrong. This book was brilliantly written, although sometimes the shift from one character to another was abrupt and it took me a sentence or two to realize it had changed.
Marian still manages to bring her trademark wit, and use it in a different way than what her fans may be used to. This story was heartbreaking, uplifting, real, and raw. When I finished it, I felt empty. The Casey family will stay with me for a very long time.
Marian Keyes has made a name for herself as one of the best known chick lit authors. This book veers off from her usual light, comedic topics, and into darker waters.
The book is about the three Casey brothers and their respective families. After a knock on the head, Cara, Ed Casey's wife, spills all the family secrets at a family event. The story then flashes back to before this incident, and we get to view how it all came about.
This book covers a lot of heavy topics. Eating disorders, the treatment and struggles of refugees, cheating, death and the grief that follows it, lying, morally grey areas . . . those are just a few of the topics mentioned, although not all of them are main themes.
With so many characters, I was worried that I would get confused or that I wouldn't be able to appreciate everyone's story. I was wrong. This book was brilliantly written, although sometimes the shift from one character to another was abrupt and it took me a sentence or two to realize it had changed.
Marian still manages to bring her trademark wit, and use it in a different way than what her fans may be used to. This story was heartbreaking, uplifting, real, and raw. When I finished it, I felt empty. The Casey family will stay with me for a very long time.
Another great book for Marian Keyes mixing humour and serious issues. Gradually you got to know the characters in the entended family and their back stories all leading to the incident which starts the book. I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook to find out what happened. Would have been good to catch up with all the characters so see what had happened to all of them
I guess marian Keyes got a little older and wiser. I miss her more youthful subjects, but this was fun. I was going to say it was a bit on the long side, but it wrapped up so nicely in the last quarter, I changed my mind.
An easy read about family, trust and betrayal. Not too deep but keeps the reader engaged