Emer McLysaght

The best parts of Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling are probably also what limit its audience: its sharp, warm dissection of a particular kind of culture clash between rural and urban Ireland. Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen have a great ear for dialogue, and I could absolutely picture the eponymous Aisling (down to her West Coast Coolers, fondness for Going Out Out tops and jeans, and disdain for notions and UHT milk—she is essentially what Americans would call a Basic White Girl), but I show more imagine that a lot of the references and even turns of phrase would be completely baffling to non-Irish people. There's also frustratingly little by way of character/relationship development which means that the ending deposits the reader back at square one but pretends to be something new. I think the book would have worked a lot better if McLysaght and Breen had been a little more willing to break with chicklit tropes and had Aisling be properly single at the end. Diverting, but not one to come back to. show less

Beware: you will laugh out loud whilst reading Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling. I tittered, chortled and guffawed all of the way through it but there are some serious notes which makes it scarily true to life. So (to quote Monty Python) even though this book makes you look on the bright side of life, it reminds us that sometimes life is a piece of shit, when you look at it...

Aisling is the friend we all wish we had; she's the sensible one when we go out and always makes sure that we get show more back home safely and she's the one to go to for money saving tips and best deals. You might think everything is rosy for Aisling: she is in a long term relationship with her boyfriend, John, but even Aisling is starting to wonder when one of the weddings she goes to will be her own. John seems happy to coast along but Aisling wouldn't be Aisling if she didn't question John's intentions, only for it to backfire and she finds herself single again after 7 years. The dating game is a minefield for any normal person, imagine what it's like for a complete Aisling!

This book is written with such a huge amount of warm, Irish wit that it is so easy to immerse yourself in Aisling's life and you quickly feel like you have become one of the family. I loved visiting Mammy and Daddy and almost choked with laughter when Mammy got her words wrong - I'll never be able to look at a butternut squash again without tears of laughter running down my face.

I think we have a little bit of Aisling in all of us so it's really easy to identify with her. I found myself getting quite emotional in some of the lifelike, sobering scenes but it wasn't long before I found myself laughing again. Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen need to bottle Aisling and prescribe her in place of anti-depressants; I can't imagine anyone reading it without a smile on their face.

Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling is an enchanting and vibrant laugh out loud book and I hope that there are many more Aisling novels to follow.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

I am delighted to see that Aisling (pronounced ASH-ling) is back in this fabulous sequel to Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling. Some things could only happen to Aisling so prepare to gasp and giggle as this latest instalment of her life plays out.

I really felt that Aisling grew up in this book. She has to cope with life after Daddy, in addition to being made redundant and breaking up with her long time boyfriend, John. Only Aisling could do it in such style as she goes on an absolutely show more hilarious girly trip to Las Vegas before figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Moving back in with Mammy and endless cups of tea gives her the chance to take stock of her life. As she emerges from her chrysalis like a beautiful butterfly, she spreads her wings and takes on the world...with a little help from her friends.

This book is written with such spirit by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen that it virtually speaks to you. I could hear Aisling's voice as clear as a bell and feel like I know her as well as I know my friends. In fact, I care so much about her that I feel as if she is one of my friends. This colourful character of Aisling is destined to appear on our TV screens and it would be an absolute travesty if it is not picked up by a producer. Think Sex and the City goes to Ireland and it's comedy gold.

Both hilarious and heart-warming, your life will feel so much brighter after another instalment of Aisling in The Importance of Being Aisling.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

This book would not normally have attracted my attention but was highly recommended by a friend. It was like a breath of fresh air and there were moments when I laughed so much that I ached! There are some moments of serious reflection but the real strength of the book is the instantly recognisable characters and Aisling's "voice". Not quite a four* read but it deserves three and a half!