Marian Keyes - This Charming Man

Publisher: Penguin Books

ISBN: 9780141026756

My rating: 2/5

Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married’ But for four women in particular, the big news about the charismatic politician is especially momentous … Stylist Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy’s marrying – because although she’s his girlfriend, she definitely isn’t the bride-to-be. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola’s retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? … Not if journalist Grace has anything to do with it. She wants the inside story on the de Courcy engagement and thinks Lola holds the key. Grace’s sister, Marnie, might be able to help but she’s too busy holding her perfect life – perfect husband, perfect children, perfect house – together. And what of the soon to be Mrs de Courcy … Alicia will has waited a long time for this and is determined to be the perfect politician’s wife. But does she know the real Paddy de Courcy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all … (MarianKeyes.com)


My thoughts

Honestly, this book didn't rock my world. I remember reading "Anybody out there" and I was in tears.

We get to know four women, all of them somehow know Paddy De Courcy who has just announced his engagement. We learn their stories, their ups and downs, and how their life's been affected by Paddy.

The first, I don't know, 100 pages were horrible. H-o-r-r-i-b-l-e. It was Lola's story and as much as I liked her story, I skipped most of her's because of the Diary/Blog like writing style. But honestly I've never seen anything like it. I was close to just giving up.

However, I did persist and it kind of got better. The writing style. The story got a touch more interesting, but I've got to say it wasn't a page-turner. Not at all.  Reading through the other women's stories, the backstories, their troubles, fears and emotions made it somewhat interesting. Personally I think it could've been a great book if perhaps there had been one or two less stories, and more depth into the rest of them ... and better grammar for the blog, but that goes without saying, I suppose.

Emotional ride in the end, but not enough for me to say, "hey, great read!".

Marian Keyes - The other side of the Story

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (April 11, 2006)

ISBN: 978-0060731489

My rating: 2/5

Jojo Harvey is a literary agent whose star is on the rise. In love with both her married boss and her burgeoning career, not much distracts her. Until she finds herself representing two women who used to be best friends. One of them, Gemma, has suddenly found herself from a broken home - at the age of thirty-two. Meanwhile, Lily - the woman Gemma has always blamed for stealing her one chance of happiness - is enjoying the overnight success of her debut novel. Set in the world of publishing, 'The Other Side of the Story' is about love, loyalty, glass ceilings and survival tactics - and what to do when you get your chance for revenge. (mariankeyes.com)


My thoughts

I kinda thought this book was boring. I had read "Anybody out there" a while back and remember how much I enjoyed it and the tissue box which I had used up .... so I was looking forward to this one.

But really I can't say anything else than boring. We all have a bad day and I suppose what I did like was the description of the publishing side ... the pain we feel with bad reviews, the hope and the let-down - the roller coaster of being in this business. But there's nothing else to say. Gemma's story was ... okay. Dad falls in love with his secretary and leaves his wife. Daughter writes about it in emails and these emails fall into the hand of a Literary Agent. That is Jojo - her story. I have no idea. Lily is Gemma's friend. Well they used to be friends until Lily falls in love with Gemma's ex. Lily's just released her book - a bestseller.

So that's it. Sprinkle with a bit of relationship and you have "The other side of the story".

I did like a lot of the Lily's soul-searching. It was great reading - thus the 2 stars, but IMO too little too late.

I still have another Marian Keyes' book somewhere on my desk and will persevere, hoping it'll be more like the first book I've read.