Reviews with content warning for Eating disorder - Grown Ups

This was my first Marian Keyes novel and I absolutely loved it. Well observed, funny, warm, slightly dark in parts. I liked how we got to see the innermost thoughts of the seemingly tough/strong characters - and got to hear their worries/guilt/insecurities. I learned such a lot, and think (hope) I'll be more patient and understanding with others (and myself) after reading this. Like a self-help book in a novel.

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kyleluis_'s review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

3.75

I really enjoyed the book, despite it not being my usual genre.

The main problem I had with it was the pacing, I was immediately hooked at the prologue but after that, sitting through like ninety chapters before things got really good was a bit underwhelming. Still, no regrets.

I will say that some of the family dynamics alluded me, I felt there should have been more unlikeable characters (other than Liam, omg I hate that man). Some of the conflicts were also left unresolved like how the whole ordeal with Liam's daughters never came to fruition.

But all in all, a good enough book.

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misskatz's review against another edition

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hopeful informative lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Marian Keyes writes wonderful characters, then and her fabulous storytelling kept me reading but, for me, there were far to many characters and storylines. It would have been nice to have focused on some stories more intensely.

My overriding feeling is that Grownups was way too long and needed a good edit.

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moriak's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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mejisilliterate's review against another edition

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emotional funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

immediately writing this after finishing the book and it’s HARD not to give it a five. But that’s because of the ending, and I know with some reflection it probably wouldn’t hold up.

the cast is actually amazing. with that many characters to keep track of, it’s hard to make sure every storyline stays consistently interesting. keyes did a wonderful job of this, with few faults, except maybe with the character of liam at times. i just found that he grew very flat by the end, which is a shame because i think to start he had really interesting complexity. also i think it’s a shame he’s the only major character whose storyline didn’t have a sufficient full stop. we don’t have a clue about his future, which going along with the fuller endings of the other characters, in comparison his conclusion felt, well, inconclusive.

some spoilers ahead

i ADORED the relationships that were endgame (which i include ferdia and nell into because i love them too much to not have hope for their future :,) Cara and Ed were my favourite couple and their storyline was the best in my opinion. heartbreaking, but yet hopeful. i’m a sop for love, so even though jessie and johnnys fight and reunite was a bit stretched, i still loved it anyway. and finally, ferdia and nell. the bittersweet to round off the saccharine. in my mind i know that it was both a great writing choice and character choice for nell to work on herself after a difficult and possibly traumatic marriage, and same goes for ferdias complete compliance and understanding of nell’s choice, which really is a masterful way to demonstrate his maturity. at first, when i started to sense that keyes was setting up a relationship between them, i was a bit unsure. However, ferdias character journey, which really should be studied because it was SO good, allowed the relationship to develop in a truly believably loving way (and in a hot way! man i was crushing on him a bit at the end…)

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