Our 40-something scatterbrained but big-hearted heroine, deciding her life is in a rut and that she needs to raise her game as a wife and mother, embarks on a madcap programme of self–improvement which badly backfires in the space of one day. The free-association narrative is waylaid by satirical riffs of cultural commentary and family background which play out like storyboard scenarios for a TV comedy series - and is enormous fun to read.
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It’s an ill wind, as they say, that blows no good, but this time an ice storm does even more: mending a broken marriage, healing neighbourly rifts and generally acting as a ploy by Cupid – even for fish! This whimsical tale is a cheerful tonic for those cold wintry days, when Spring still seems a long way off.
May and Jansen's relationship has lost its fizz. Enter Francine, an older and infinitely more sophisticated Parisian - May is captivated. Then Jansen's ex turns up on the doorstep .... Not action-packed but well-defined characters and snappy, realistic dialogue kept my interest to the final page.
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The story spans three decades from 1979 and the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Irish Republic. Granny Doyle is so much in thrall to the Pontiff and filled with religious fervour, that she decides her next grandchild is destined to become the first Irish Pope. The comic brio of the Irish vernacular, with nods to the 'Father Ted' series, belies the tragic elements of this riotous family saga, so you can be sure of plenty of great 'craic' too!
In this hard-hitting cautionary narrative of wasted youth, a dying man reminiscences about the woman he loved and lost and the wrong choices he made in life. The emotional roller-coaster is relieved with broad humour, but make sure you have a box of tissues handy for the heart-rending finale.
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This is a very funny book about family and ethics. Amid the global financial crisis, Doro sets out to tell her grown up children some good news. But each is preoccupied with a crisis of their own: Serge, putting their commune childhood behind him, is making good money in banking but can't face telling Doro. Oolie-Anna wants to leave home. And Clara, teaching in a difficult school, has to confront past demons in the form of a class hamster.
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A book after my own heart! Mukesh, a lonely, older man, and Aleisha, a young girl, meet in a small local library in Wembley. They share their reading experiences after finding a note with book recommendations left by a mysterious visitor and draw strength from the stories. A lovely and optimistic novel.
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Life is messy. Even for lifelong sweethearts David and Marilyn. Their 4 daughters have their own troubles and there’s a lot of sibling rivalry. Wendy, the eldest, lots of cash, drinks too much. Victoria, stiff upper lip, with a secret. Lisa, pregnant by a depressed boyfriend and insecure Grace. And then a long lost teenager pops up in their life. This family saga could have been a bit more condensed, but hey, who cares when you’re having fun!
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This is a genuine 'feel good' read. Maybe a bit over optimistic but none the worse for that. It's difficult to describe without giving away too much of the plot, but it includes an illegal immigrant, a middle aged mother, an orphan and a confused teenager. Relax and laugh! Winner of the Anne Green Award 2014.
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Nina and her cat Phil made me contemplate my life as a thirty-something living in a city a little less hipster than LA. She is, as was I, fond of her easy life as a bookish person, with her friends and her pub-quiz team. Until a long lost dead father turns her life around, gives her siblings and a boyfriend she doesn't want. What more can I want as a reader, lusting for something funny, light and airy as a chocolate cupcake with a bit of chili?
View The Bookish Life of Nina HillYou won’t find the biggest bestsellers on Whichbook as everyone knows about them already. But you can use your enjoyment of a current bestseller to see titles with a similar mood that you might try next.
