This book has been out since July 2017, and it passed me by. And all of a sudden it was everywhere and a classic and I had a deep feeling of missing out. The story cuts to different times and locations around the world, there is a magical feeling of travelling through time with Tom, seeing what he has seen. The isolation of not being able to grow close to someone is strongly felt. Together with the realisation that is near-eternal life can feel like a curse rather than a gift. The writing is beautiful and the story is sublime.  
 
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 
Having finished the book, I have discovered that Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast to play Tom – I'm so glad that a film and all the Cumberpeople* will bring more audiences to this deserving book.
 
*Cumberbitches: Cumberbatch expressed objections to this term, referring to the female fans who've adopted the moniker as "Cumberwomen" or "Cumbergirls" instead. He explained: "It's not even politeness. I won't allow [these fans] to be my bitches. I think it sets feminism back so many notches. You are… Cumberpeople."

I started to read this at the beginning of a 200km journey from Kampala to Hoima squished between two locals on a matatu taxibus. Unfortunately early on a sentence caught the eye of my new travel neighbour: 'Can men just Uber at – I looked at my phone – 2.54a.m. after a blow job, having not returned the favour and think it's acceptable?'  Although I couldn't be sure my fellow passenger had read the sentence, it was enough to make my cheeks blush and read something less risqué for the rest of the journey.
 
This is the third book I've read this summer concerning weddings, and in particular the impromptu engagements of best friends, so there was a presumptive here-we-go-again… but I was very pleasantly surprised.
 
Jasper "Jaz" Marquess of Milton, is a cad, but when he turns on the charm and gives more than just a hint of vulnerability one can't help falling for the charismatic rogue. What possibly could go wrong? Everything it seems!
 
The will-they won't-they romance merry-go-round was kept grounded by the news that Polly's mother has breast cancer. Polly tries to juggle a new love life, her mother's health, her maid of honour duties, and her insufferable place of work.
 
The writing was fresh and the story was absorbing. The dialogue was contemporary and the descriptive narrative was engaging –when Polly goes to interview Jasper in the country, I felt like a fly-on-the-wall at the family dinner. The modern dating was realistic as were the sex scenes to the point of awkward and yet not a truism in sight.
 
I happily say I Do to The Plus One.
 
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.
 

The story opens with Jess promising to help her sister look after her two young children whilst Jess' mother and their grandmother looks for respite at a health retreat. Next, Jess is whisked away to South Africa for a friend's wedding. It's not quite the seven year itch for Jess and Pete (it's only six years for starters), but the cracks are there and it's telling in how realistic the dialogue is; awkward, barbed, and full of compromise.
 
When Jess spots her father, she phones him, and there is that awkward moment where he lies where he is. Jess' relationship woes intertwined with extensive family side-tangents keep you occupied and entertained. I was Team Jess the entire time (and I couldn't wait for Pete to fall from a great height. Spoiler: he was at no point in any danger, such a shame!).

It feels that as Jess' story is coming to an end - there is still another third of the book to go. When Jess returns to London, her life is even more complicated.

A lovely woven tale of love (new, old, and familial).
 
A life affirming romantic comedy – it leaves you thinking life is too short to not swim, even if that happens to be with sharks, rather than dolphins.
 
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 
Having been to South Africa I was envious that my own travels didn't make it to Cape Town – Catherine describes the it as a wonderful and beautiful destination.

Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.

I have been Marian Keyes since the beginning. I had to look up when her first book Watermelon had been published (1995) to work out how long our relationship was – over 20 years. The women in her books were making the same mistakes and me and my peers, and now twenty years later, the characters are older and wiser, but then so am I.
 
I had The Break for a few months before starting.  And this is one of my strange habits with books from authors I love. I don't want to binge the book, for it to be gone too quickly. I want to savour and enjoy every sentence.
 
The Break is told in two timelines; the present day and starting from twenty years previously, until the timelines meet. The story of a marriage that has perhaps gone stale isn't new, but the actions to prevent settling for just that feels novel and fresh.
 
As always there is more than meets the eye to any Marian Keyes' novel, and in this case there is an side plot involving the complexities of abortion in Ireland that really resonated with me, especially in light of the recent referendum to repeal the 8th amendment.
 
The book made me cry, it made me angry, and it made me laugh. What more could I ask for?
 
Next time I won't wait so long to read a new Marian Keyes' book!
 
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This book is being raved about; it is THE book to read this year. When I received a copy I was thrilled and after just a few chapters it was easy to see why.
 
It did those first chapters to get into the Tori's story, mainly because it was too honest and raw, the uncomfortable neurosis of self-image on and off social media is detrimental and Tori's inner-thoughts showed the hate/hate association and obsession with getting 'likes' on Facebook et al.
 
Had I been in a bad relationship when reading this book, I would have packed by bags, and not looked back. It's that powerful.
 
It's an empowering and inspiring piece of literature and even though it's fiction and not a self-help book, I will buy a copy for any friend having a tough time in a relationship.
 
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.