Ah, chick lit! Sometimes you have to leave your heavy reading and just enjoy yourself. I don't normally review/rate books like this, but I really did enjoy it and don't want to keep anyone else from enjoying it as well. Will she be with Adam, Rohan, some other guy? Did her mom have an affair? And what about her darling brother Hughie? I'm not telling. The book is well written, fun to read, and very, VERY romantic, in a non-gross good way. This novel centers on the day to day trials and triumphs of an Irish immigrant family now residing permanently in Melbourne. The father of the family, Gerald Byrne, has suffered a workplace accident and is being subjected to the delaying tactics of his insurer which has caused depression and hardship in his life. His wife and grown up children are sympathic and loving but everyone is tiring of the ongoing battle for money, good health and dealing with a chronically depressed invalid.When Gerald’s sister May dies in Ireland leaving her estate to her brother in Australia, the real challenges begin. Her will directs that at least one member of the Byrne family must spend 12 months in Ireland running her Bed and Breakfast establishment before the beneficiaries inherit any part of her estate.The story is well developed, comical in parts and has some good characterizations. Perhaps the message I received from it is that no matter how well or for how long a person plans, organizes and logically deduces acceptable outcomes, control of most situations and people is impossible. The heroine Lainey is constantly disappointed by her lack of control over others and even more of a concern to her, is her emerging lack of conrol on her own emotions.Another light hearted holiday read from Monica McInerney.Carinya
Do You like book Greetings From Somewhere Else (2003)?
A bit improbable but pleasant enough. Not to keen on Lainey. The end though was far too drawn out
—fer14141
This took me awhile to get into and lost me at the end. Not my favorite.
—SuperEliy
