Review: Again Rachel by Marian Keyes

 Back in the long ago nineties, Rachel Walsh was a mess.

But a spell in rehab transformed everything. Life became very good, very quickly. These days, Rachel has love, family, a great job as an addiction counsellor, she even gardens. Her only bad habit is a fondness for expensive trainers.

But with the sudden reappearance of a man she'd once loved, her life wobbles.

She'd thought she was settled. Fixed forever. Is she about to discover that no matter what our age, everything can change?

Is it time to think again, Rachel?

Review: Oh it was so good to be back with Rachel again. I reread Rachel's Holiday right before this one hit my phone after my pre-order and it was just such a treat to go from one book right into the next. I listened to this one on audio and it was read by Marian herself which was also just immense fun. I feel like because this was read by the author we heard Rachel and Luke and all the Walsh clan just exactly as they were supposed to be heard, with all the feelings and all the punchlines in just the right places!

It was definitely quite tough to revisit Rachel though. We left her in a really good place at the end of Rachel's Holiday and so getting another book about her, you know things can't be going entirely smoothly in her life. When you've known a character as long as we;ve known Rachel we absolutely want the best for her and so to ease her struggling in any way is always going to be a tough read. The great thing about this book, though, is that it's not just Rachel that we get to see again, it's her entire family, as well as lovely Luke and there are even some new characters that we get to know. 

I think my favourite thing about this book was the fact that we get to see all of the Walsh sisters, as well as Mammy Walsh all together again and interacting and the heart and fun and drama that goes along with this. I listened on my commute to and from work and I was sometimes just waiting to find out what Claire or Helen was going to do next when I got in my car at the end of the day. They are as much a reason to return to this world as Rachel herself is. 

Just like the first book, this one deals with some hard hitting issues and many things books in this genre tend to shy away from. I always love the way Marian Keyes tackles heavier subjects because she does so in such a way that is so unique to her and you can hear her voice coming through the characters and situations. There's a wonderful author's note at the end of the book that is very sensitively written but also serves as a good care warning if you are concerned about picking this one up. 

All in all this was a fantastic read. I normally avoid books that are on the longer side but this one meant that it was a commute treat that lasted 2 whole weeks rather thans 1 and I am so on board with that because it meant longer with Marian Keyes, longer with the Walsh family and longer with Rachel.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

They're a glamorous family, the Caseys.

Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together - birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie - who has the most money - insists on it.

Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . .

Everything stays under control until Ed's wife Cara, gets concussion and can't keep her thoughts to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, starts Cara spilling out all their secrets.

In the subsequent unravelling, every one of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's time - finally - to grow up?

Review: I really wanted to love this book and even though I did make it all the way to the end, I really don't think this was the book for me. I really loved the opening chapters at the dinner party, but after that I struggled to engage with the characters and the story. I didn't find myself racing to pick this one up as I usually do with Marian Keyes's books.

I really loved getting to meet the Casey Family but there are an awful lot of characters to remember, and to workout how they fit into the story. The marriages, the businesses and children, it was just a bit overwhelming at times. I really liked Cara as character, I feel like I gelled with her most because I feel like she was flawed in a way I could relate to and so I found myself connecting with her scenes more than some of the others in the book. I also enjoyed the relationship that Johnny and Jessie had. I think I found their story arc easiest to follow. 

One of the things I did like about this book was the strong family dynamics. This family spends so much time together. We have various birthdays and public holidays as well as trips away together when all the siblings and their children get a chance to mingle and interact. It is through some of these gatherings that we expose the intricacies of what it takes to be a grown up. This book also deals with infidelity, what happens when you struggle with a financial burden and also eating disorders. All of these things are dealt with incredibly well individually, it was just slightly difficult to keep track of things when more than one issues came to the fore at a gathering. 

If you are a fan of an epic family saga then you will definitely enjoy the ins and outs of this plot. You will also be a fan of this book if you love a slowly revealing story line with multiple timelines and multiple families involved. Unfortunately this was just a step too far in that direction for my taste and just verges a little too much into the literary fiction territory. The writing was beautiful though and the characters really good fun getting to know. A solid offering from one of my favourites Marian Keyes but just not for me on this occasion.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: The Break by Marian Keyes

'Myself and Hugh . . . We're taking a break.'
'A city-with-fancy-food sort of break?'

If only. Amy's husband Hugh says he isn't leaving her. He still loves her, he's just taking a break - from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. Six months to lose himself in south-east Asia. And there is nothing Amy can say or do about it. Yes, it's a mid-life crisis, but let's be clear: a break isn't a break up - yet . . . However, for Amy it's enough to send her - along with her extended family of gossips, misfits and troublemakers - teetering over the edge. For a lot can happen in six-months. When Hugh returns if he returns, will he be the same man she married? And will Amy be the same woman? Because if Hugh is on a break from their marriage, then isn't she?

The Break isn't a story about falling in love but about staying in love. It is Marian Keyes at her funniest, wisest and brilliant best.

Review: Well this book had me in hysterics right from the word go and yet it deals with such a serious topic. I think I had forgotten just how witty Marian Keyes can be, even when dealing with the issue of a marriage coming to an end or not! The way she phrases things, the way her characters react to things, is just so funny and will definitely have you laughing out loud. 

Now the issue of a marriage staying together or not. This really does sound like the kind of issue that would make for heavy reading, and yes the things that Amy goes through over the course of this book are very very real and I really loved that fact that every reaction and her life in every situation whilst she is on her break from Hugh is covered. And yet Amy is just the type of person that deals with things and deals with things in her own way. I think if this issue had been dealt with by another author, this book would have been much darker and  much more 'issues' based. But i loved that fact that Amy was the vehicle for this story, she gets on with her life and deals with her grief in her own way. The book shows Amy at various points before and during her break and we get to count up the days it has been since the announcement. I think that was a great way of structuring it. 

As I mentioned above, Amy is a great character to go on this journey with. She is strong, independent and she has great values, family values and work ethic. Her family are also great to get to know. Marian Keyes always writes great Irish families with slightly bonkers members and they make for great reading. I loved meeting Amy's daughters in this book. They are each so different and unique and I really think they add another layer of depth to the storyline. Hugh also plays a big role in this book even though he isn't always physically present and I think that his growth over the course of the book, has a big hand in Amy's growth and the growth of the girls too. 

My one complaint with this book is that it is a little on the long side. It did take me a while to get through and I kind of regret saving it for a plane journey because I didn't manage to finish it on that journey. I think the length also made me forget some of Amy's friends and family a little too as the book progressed so I was having to try and dredge up relationships as they came and went in the story. Other than that though, this book was an absolute hoot. It deals with the issue of keeping a marriage working, or not working as the case may be. It deals with the issue of what family means to you and it also deals with the issue of self identity. Never does it shove any of these things down your throat though and it is a thoroughly entertaining read. I didn't realise how much I missed Marian Keyes's writing until I picked this book up and fell in love with it all over again!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US