The cover for "This Charming Man"
Author: Marian Keyes
Pages: 896
Published: 2008
ISBN: 978-0141026756
‘Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married’
The Newest novel from the Master in “Women’s Literature”, (chick lit. in basic terms) Marian Keyes will make you both laugh and cry; and a good juicy ending will probably make you do both. One thing is true, however: this is not your average shallow chick lit. She has sold over 22 million copies of her novels in more than 20 languages. Some include; Other Side of the Story, Sushi for Beginners and Under the Duvet.
This Charming Man revolves around the lives of four different women and a Charming Man (hence the title).
Lola, a stylist. Grace, a Journalist. Marnie, a stay-at-home mom and doting wife. And Alicia, an old friend. These women’s lives become intertwined with one connection, Mr. Paddy De Courcy.
Lola is in shock that Paddy is getting married. She is shocked because she has secretly been seeing him for 6 months and she isn’t the soon to be Mrs De Courcy. So she flees to the country, not knowing that what awaits her there is far more scandalous: From transvestites and rebounds to a crush on a neighbour and the crazy personalities of a small town.
Grace knows what Paddy De Courcy is like and she won’t stop till she has the story, (which she knows Lola has) on this dashing, charming politician. She knows the real Paddy and is determined to let the world know, but her life unravels the more she tries to take him down.
Marnie, Grace’s twin sister, has it all: two beautiful children, a handsome husband and a big house. But Marnie is haunted by memories of her first love: Paddy De Courcy. Marnie’s life begins to come undone, as her future begins to crumble, unless she faces her past.
Alicia, the soon to be Mrs De Courcy, is determined to be a perfect wife. She would do anything for Paddy, but she doesn’t know the real Paddy De Courcy.
Marian Keyes’ story of abuse, cross-dressing and alcoholism provide an almost never-ending supply of interesting and laugh-out-loud page turning moments.
A true champion in her genre and just because she is my favourite:
I give it an 11 out of 10.
