Book
description:
Amy's husband Hugh isn't
really leaving her.
At least, that's what he promises. He is just taking a break - from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. For six-months Hugh will lose himself in south-east Asia, and there is nothing Amy can say or do about it.
Yes, it's a mid-life crisis, but let's be clear: a break isn't a break up - yet . . .
It's been a long time since Amy held a briefcase in one hand and a baby in the other. She never believed she'd have to go it alone again. She just has to hold the family together until Hugh comes back.
But a lot can happen in six-months. When Hugh returns, if he returns, will he be the same man she married? And will Amy be the same woman?
Because falling in love is easy. The hard part - the painful, joyous, maddening, beautiful part - is staying in love.
At least, that's what he promises. He is just taking a break - from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. For six-months Hugh will lose himself in south-east Asia, and there is nothing Amy can say or do about it.
Yes, it's a mid-life crisis, but let's be clear: a break isn't a break up - yet . . .
It's been a long time since Amy held a briefcase in one hand and a baby in the other. She never believed she'd have to go it alone again. She just has to hold the family together until Hugh comes back.
But a lot can happen in six-months. When Hugh returns, if he returns, will he be the same man she married? And will Amy be the same woman?
Because falling in love is easy. The hard part - the painful, joyous, maddening, beautiful part - is staying in love.
My
thoughts:
Delighted to be approved by Netgalley for an ARC of
Marian Keyes’ latest novel The Break, I dived right in once I had downloaded
it.
Which is exactly how the book starts. Bang. Straight
into the plotline from the first sentence: “Myself and Hugh, we’re taking a
break.” Amy and her second husband Hugh have hit a wall in their marriage when
Hugh announces that he needs a 6 month break to go travelling around Asia in
order to come to terms with his grief having lost both his father and his
brother in quick succession.
Amy is left reeling while trying her best to keep life
as normal as possible for their teenage daughters, being there to support her
mum who is in turn caring for Amy’s father who has dementia – oh, and holding
down a hectic job in PR which requires her to travel from Dublin to London to
work 2 days a week. Add in the timely
reappearance of her first husband, father to daughter Neeve, and the small
issue of the raging crush Amy develops on a colleague it’s small wonder that
things get a little complicated.
The trials and tribulations of a modern family in 21st
century Ireland are described with Keyes’ customary brand of wit whilst
skilfully tackling some sensitive issues along the way. I particularly liked the way social media is
represented throughout the book, from the barrage of Facebook messages Amy
receives from “wellmeaning” friends who are purely rubbernecking on her misfortune
when news of Hugh’s departure gets out, to the hilarious description of Neeve’s
vlog featuring her grandma.
This book had me laughing out loud from start to
finish and in my opinion is one of Marian Keyes’ best novels to date,
reminiscent of her early novel ‘Watermelon’ featuring a similar family the
Walshes.
No questions about it this is a glittering 5 star read
which is sure to top the bestsellers list.
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