Book Review: Grown Ups – Marian Keyes.

Grown Ups – Marian Keyes and a glass of Tokara, Sauvignon Blanc .

Blurb:

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 a 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?

*****

Hello Friends!

I got this lovely, lovely book on Valentine’s day. Massive brownie points scored by The Boyfriend.

For weeks The Boyfriend had been asking, “What do you want for Valentine’s day?”
At which point I’d flap my hand nonchalantly and smile. “Nothing, no-thing at all. I don’t celebrate Valentine’s day, you know that. “

I’d also then proceed to talk about nothing else BUT Marian Keyes’ new book – Grown Ups. I flung the title around, made sure he knew it was the NEW book and come Valentine’s day morning, when we shared a kiss and a coffee, I started to regret my insistence on not celebrating the stupid holiday, perhaps he took me seriously??

Well, there I was, walking towards the bedroom to get ready for the day (Rather pouty, might I add) when The Boyfriend pops out of nowhere, thrusting the book at my face and smugly saying “There.”
I was slightly teary eyed as I asked him “How’d you know?”
At which point we both laughed rather loudly and I spent the next 15 minutes admiring at the book and thanking him repeatedly.

Now I must be honest and admit that I walked into this book with a bit of an attitude.
I had read Marian’s other books several times, each book was centered around a sister from the same family – The Walsh’s.
I LOVED that crazy family more than anything and was dying for another book involving them.

So, I opened up Grown Ups – Fabulous cover might I add – and started to get a feel for these “new people”.
I was slightly sneer-y and judg-y of these new folk, but soon found myself absolutely, wonderfully entertained.

Grown ups proved to be highly entertaining with a flurry of new, witty, smart-arsey characters that are easy to fall in love with and some easy to hate (as, I think, was intended – I’m looking at you Johnny).
I did find that the book wasn’t quite as funny as her previous works, but there were definitely moments that made me giggle.

My opinion on this book is that it wasn’t meant to be that funny . It’s a bit of an eye-opener piece of fun.
It kept me hooked and entertained, while simultaneously making me think about my own role in my family and how my actions impact others and what choices I needed to make to be happy and make happy.

I truly adored the book and spent Saturday reading the last of it in the Jacuzzi with a glass of wine – as grown ups do (wink, wink)

As always with Marian, I was sad when it was done and hungry for more of her brilliance.
I have a feeling I might be biased, as it’s hard for me to find “issues” with anything that Marian produces, but I truly did love the book and will continue to recommend it to anyone who’d listen.

I loved the family, the banter and the honesty, as well as the lies.
I found myself being hooked on the gossip and inner thoughts of the complex character’s and flipping through the pages at high speed, wanting to absorb all the goodness that is family drama.

Marian Keyes is a brilliant writer and I truly can’t see anyone being dissapointed by giving her work a go.
If you need some laughs, maybe a good cry and to know that sometimes – just sometimes – it’s okay to be a hot mess and a bit of an eejit, then Grown Ups – or any of Marian’s work to be honest, is the way to go.

xx – M.

Grown Ups – Marian Keyes.
Four star rating.

– Side note – The Tokara sauvignon Blanc – 5 stars for sure.