This Charming Man

Marian Keyes

Average Rating 10/10 (1 Review)

Lola has just found out that her boyfriend - charismatic politician Paddy de Courcy - is getting married. To someone else. Heartbroken, Lola flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola’s retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? Journalist Grace wants the inside story on Paddy de Courcy’s engagement and thinks Lola holds the key to it. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can’t she forget him? Grace’s sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her loving loving husband and beautiful daughters are wonderful, but they can’t take away memories of her first love: a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on? Alicia Thornton is Paddy’s wife-to-be. Determined to be the perfect wife, Alicia would do anything for her fiancé. But does she know the real Paddy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all.

Review by Catherine Davies (100509) Rating (10/10)

Review by Catherine Davies
Rating 10/10
This book centres on four main characters, Lola, a stylist, Grace, a journalist, Marnie a working housewife and mother, and Alice; they all have something in common in the form of New Irelands Paddy de Courcy.
Though Paddy appears suave, handsome and a sweet talker all our narrators know the truth behind his seemingly charming persona.

Keyes tackles tough genre throughout, including the control of domestic violence and the impact on the characters lives after there individual experiences of the charming Paddy de Courcy.

This book is highly addictive and very difficult to put down for any length of time. Although it is dauntingly long it hooks you from the very beginning. I raced through this book in one sitting because I was literally unable to put it down. The storyline is exciting and fast paced and despite the shared narration and seemingly random inserted scenes of domestic violence between parts the novel (which make sense eventually) it has a wonderfully cohesive plot that all comes together through our four very real heroines. This book made me laugh out loud, cry and more importantly think on the desperate situation that so many women are forced to live in because of domestic violence.

I'm not saying this book is a downer though. While it discusses very serious subjects there is a great deal of humour, mainly provided by Lola's diary (which in spite of the semi-annoying shorthand was my favourite part of the book) romance comes from Grace, and eventually, strength from Marnie. And triumph for all.

This is a truly amazing novel that any author would have been proud to write. I congratulate you Ms. Keyes on another remarkable book that made me loose sleep and I highly recommend that everyone reads this book.
Catherine Davies (10th May 2009)