Name: 0cchi's review of Grown-Ups by Marian Keyes
Item: Grown-Ups
Rating: 5
Author: 0cchi

Marian Keyes

PRE-ORDER NOW: THE BRAND-NEW BOOK FROM MARIAN KEYES, THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BREAK AND THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE 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? INCLUDED IN THE TIMES PREDICTIONS FOR THE BEST BOOKS OF 2020 'Sensitive, funny, wonderful, immensely touching' Nigella Lawson 'Happy making with glorious wit' Helen Lederer 'Funny & thoughtful & such brilliantly drawn characters I am genuinely bereft that my time with them is over' Hannah Beckerman 'It's SUCH a treat. I felt like I was reading the cleverest cream cake of words' Caitlin Moran 'Magnificently messy lives, brilliantly untangled. Funny, tender and completely absorbing!' Graham Norton 'Marian Keyes's gift for storytelling is utterly magnificent. I feel like I've met every single character in this book. Nobody nails chaotic families like Marian' Liz Nugent 'I loved every word of Grown Ups. I will be missing those gorgeous vibrant characters for many weeks to come' Liane Moriarty 'Tender, hilarious, important, with characters who feel as real as your own family by the time you're done' Beth O'Leary Praise for Marian Keyes: 'Mercilessly funny' The Times 'Clever, hilarious, poignant' Sunday Times 'Wildly funny, romantic and nearly impossible to put down' Daily Mail 'Guaranteed to make me laugh on the very first page' Liane Moriarty

Grown-Ups

MARIAN. KEYES

sina (she/her) 

Olanda

Marian Keyes, what a fantastic author. This book was a rollercoster of emotions - characters I instantly loved and others I instantly had a bad feeling of. Everybody can relate to elements of the characters in this book. The chaotic family dynamics make you never want to put the book down. I really love how well Marian writes her books. Definitely a favourite.

0cchi

More of a hate read than anything. It tried too hard to be relatable and took feminism back a good 20 years.  So many unnecessary filler chapters that made the book unbearably long. Was unmemorable but a very easy read

Maria Davis 

Yulande Lindsay

She did it again, Marian Keyes. Took my heart and squeezed it so hard I could hardly breathe. I don't know she does it, but everytime, every single time she gets me to invest so deeply in the story in the characters that I end up fretting over each and every one. Excellent. Excellent. Loved every word.

Sarah Ryan

Tabea Lüth

Got sucked into this dense plot like into a fever dream between Christmas and New Year's. In my opinion, even though the author consistently developed the plot for more than 600 pages, the end seems a bit hastily and too neatly strung together. Also in some parts the actions and the dialogue show the characters' motivations already pretty clearly, yet the author describes them at length again.   

But all in all a great read, especially love the Irish expressions. Makes me want to rewatch Derry Girls.

Grace Emilia Machon

I listen to this book because I wanted something easy and breezy, and after working in a bookshop where we probably where not pro keys I was like cool this will be exactly it. 

And now it’s 2.35 in the morning and I woke my partner up because I was sobbing I can say this was not it. 
It was so engaging, incredibly narrated, heartfelt and heartbreakingly human, brimming with the best and worst of people on micro levels, political and generational. 

 If Sally Rooney knows what it’s like to be a modern female Irish writer it’s because she learnt from Marian Keyes.

I love Marian Keyes and I was really enjoying this book but, as with a few of her books it can be quite triggering for people with eating disorders, although the topic is dealt with sensitively. 


Joanna Rosenwink 

I have loved Marian’s writing since I read my first of her books, Sushi for Beginners almost 20 years ago. I have never discovered another writer who can deal so sensitively with difficult subject matter and make me laugh out loud and cry as I identify so strongly with her characters. Her books might at first glance seem lighthearted, but once you get into them you discover that at their heart is a serious issue, such as addiction, grief or mental health. 

Grown Ups is written in the same vein. Initially a tale of the relationships between three brothers and their families, we soon learn that there is far more going on than we might at first realise. Lives which on the surface might seem perfect have their own challenges which can put so much strain on a relationship that it can be at risk of collapsing.

Marian also manages to insert pertinent political issues into her books in such a way as seems natural while still shedding light on current issues which need to be addressed. 

The characters are completely believable and you find yourself warming to them despite their flaws (apart from a couple whom you’ll love to hate!). I always finish a Marian Keyes book wishing I could meet the characters and be friends with them, they feel so really to me.

I thoroughly recommend this book and felt bereft when I’d finished reading it.

Olanda &
Grown-Ups by Marian Keyes

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Olanda &Grown-Ups by Marian Keyes

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Olanda &
Grown-Ups by Marian Keyes