Keyes, never fails to disappoint me, and this Walsh Sister book is no exception. Wow. I loved it, absolutely loved it! I think I found my favourite Walsh sister (well next to Helen of course, I really can’t wait to see her in action in her own book). Claire, at times reminds me of me (usually when she’s at her best and strongest, but sometimes when she’s at her worse), so I think I was able to connect to her more then Rachel or Anna. Also, Claire is a little more level headed then the other two. Either way, this was a great story, filled with Keyes’ humour and wit.
The reader is brought along, as Claire struggles with the after math of her husband leaving her for another woman. The story is centered on her trying to get over this “up-set” and move on, or more of get her self back. The story isn’t about a struggling mother, and the ups and downs surrounding it. But how the effects of the broken relation ship affect Claire on multiple levels and her struggles to get through them.
What I like about the story is the end, and without spoiling, how much she grows. The last few chapters AMAZED me. (Well it was a tad predictable in a way) but it amazed me in the since ……possible spoiler warning, possible spoiler warning.
I wanted to shout for joy and yell You Go Girl!

Spoiler Warning Over. Sorry, but I couldn’t explain with out possibly hinting at something that happens in the end. I’m proud of Claire for what she did. Like with the rest, the reader is really able to enjoy, being able to step into the shoes of one of the Walsh sisters lives, and Claire really seems, in her personality to like to bring the reader into her story more, that the others. I can’t decide if this is a good or bad thing.
Overall, the book is a fantastic read, filled with Keyes with, the spectacular Walsh sisters, and a story with a woman, that can connect too many woman, on many different levels.

Review also on my blog: http://juliebooks.blogspot.com/2008/1... ( )

The first time I read this book, I was in high school and it hadn't been out for very long. I recently got a copy as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed reading it again. The Walsh sisters books are all very good but this has always been my favourite. Not sure why - I'm nothing like Claire, personality- or life-wise. Marian Keyes is a very humourous writer and takes unsavory life situations and turns them into something to laugh at. Watermelon is a great book to read when you are feeling blue about your life or just need a good laugh. ( )

Marian Keyes again. I keep coming back to her without knowing why. The first chapter drew me in straight away. Maybe that's why. The European-ness of the story is like a familiar taste you vaguely remember. And the depth of the people potrayed, combined with the extraordinary (for chick lit) length of her books make me pick them up. That, and the titles. Don't you just love her titles? I know I do. Having said that, I must say that this book is by far my favourite Marian Keyes so far. maybe it's because I could really relate to her predicament (minus the child, fortunately), so the final showdown between the heroine and her husband brought tears to my eyes. I may not always have been 100% convinced by her books, but I know I can't stop now. So the rest of her books have just elbowed themselves to the top of my to-read pile. ( )

Marian Keyes is a guilty pleasure, like surfing celebrity gossip sites, or watching 1980's Sharon Cuneta movies. And like any guilty pleasure, you are hooked for a time, then you're done and wondering "why did I do that? i am not any smarter, any happier, any more insightful or any better equipped to navigate my life, than when I started." Claire is cute, but not as smart as she thinks she is. I actually like her character better in the other books about her sisters. She is better in smaller doses. ( )

Claire’s husband leaves her on the day she gives birth to their daughter. She flees to her mad Irish family to recover from the shock, hurt and humiliation. So far, so sadly mundane. But as this is Marian Keyes, expect short, wry sentences along the “why me?” lines. Don’t worry, it gets better: it ends eventually. Claire has a man by the end. I won’t spoil it and tell you whether it’s the cretinous husband or the hunk she meets in Ireland. This is Marian Keyes, you can work it out for yourself. Although it seems like a long book, there are so many five word paragraphs that there’s more white on every page than you might expect. Perhaps people who have never before managed to finish a book are so excited that they can get through a Marian Keyes book, that they vote for them in the Top 100. If you love rubbish, this will be for you. If not, don’t bother. ( )