El mejor error de Anna

Marian Keyes has been a popular author for so many decades that she has started writing books that check in with some of her early characters to see how the young adults of the 1990s and 2000s are faring now that they are firmly middle aged. She has focused these updates on the five sisters of the lovable but certifiable Walsh Family. I couldn't read the first one, [b:Again, Rachel|58691596|Again, Rachel (Walsh Family, #6)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1629196807l/58691596._SY75_.jpg|92346216] (follow up to [b:Rachel's Holiday|9301|Rachel's Holiday (Walsh Family, #2)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407709261l/9301._SY75_.jpg|23728] show more because the subject matter was too upsetting (Rachel's pregnancy ends with a stillbirth). But I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Anna Walsh, who was last seen in [b:Anybody Out There?|165030|Anybody Out There? (Walsh Family, #4)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1358594290l/165030._SY75_.jpg|1568693] taking small but hopeful steps towards a full life after a traumatic loss (her husband's sudden death in a car crash).

In My Favorite Mistake (or Favourite if you're British), Anna is a successful public relations manager for a cosmetics company, living the dream in New York City. But after the COVID lockdown, she takes stock of her life and makes several drastic changes, breaking up with her perfectly nice boyfriend, quitting her job, and moving back to Ireland. After a surprisingly difficult job search, her sister's friend Brigit asks her to provide PR for a high-end retreat she and her husband are opening in their small town. The locals are not happy that they have been overlooked for much of the construction work, and someone has sabotaged the job site. Anna is the perfect person to swoop in, unruffle a few feathers, and basically spread good vibes about the project. Piece of cake, until Anna learns that the broker who recruited investors is Joey Armstrong, aka "Narky Joey" and "Go Boy." Joey and Anna have a complicated history that featured bad behavior on both of their parts (but mostly Joey's). But they need to work as a team to help Brigit and her husband, who have mortgaged their house and land to pay for their seriously ill daughter's healthcare.

Like most Keyes books, this is a lengthy one, but it's worth the high page count to spend time with old friends and meet new ones amongst the Real Men and the Beardy Gazers. You don't have to be familiar with the previous books in the series, although the scenes with Anna's sisters are more entertaining if you know your Walsh family tree. Anna herself is great - a perimenopausal, highly competent professional who can work a room like nobody's business. She's a fan of cosmetic procedures ("I'm seventy percent Botox and twenty-two percent HRT"), but she isn't judgy about other women's choices. A major part of her journey is finding a new home where she can be close to her family, fulfilled professionally, and engaged socially. The romance with Joey is important but not paramount.

Frankly, Joey is the weak link in the story. Keyes doesn't quite convince me that the broody, shag anything that moves and don't worry about pleasing the woman fuckboy of Anna's youth has transformed into a sober, well-off, suit-wearing, celibate, devoted father who claims to have fallen for Anna back in their school days (which he demonstrated by sleeping with her sister Helen, who recalls "it was less than two minutes from initial penetration to the hotel door closing behind him"). I love a good redemption story, but Past Joey feels like a completely different character from New Joey.

[b:Watermelon|9300|Watermelon (Walsh Family, #1)|Marian Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345767584l/9300._SY75_.jpg|912230], the first Walsh Family book, is almost 30 years old now and as per the author, its FMC Claire has proven sequel-resistant. While Keyes tries to convince her recalcitrant character otherwise, she still has two more Walsh sisters waiting for their second turn in the spotlight. It's a pleasure to be able to read about these singular women, their full middle-aged lives, and their capacity to keep evolving. show less

This was my first foray into a Walsh Family book by Marian Keyes. Although I was unfamiliar with the background, I found the story quite easy to get into.

Anna is middle aged and facing disappointment and regrets about her life (Easily understood by any of us older folks). She has been been unlucky in love, and although successful in her career, she recognizes that it hasn't brought her the kind of happiness she expected as a tradeoff for all her hard work. Her current live-in situation curdles during the isolation of COVID, and she misses her family in Ireland. An amicable split with her partner and a move home might be the answer to her problems, but it could also be another in her list of many mistakes.

I enjoyed this story and found show more myself rooting for Anna and her happy ending. Her family is hilarious. Although I was often confused trying to keep them straight, it didn't lessen the pleasure of getting to know them. I think this would be one thing that would have been easier if one had read the previous Walsh stories.

Anna finally begins to find her footing after agreeing to help old friends in the little village of Maumtully, Ireland. Her long time crush but also biggest mistake is also a part of this operation. The challenge of seeing him, much less working with him, brings plenty of tension. Will they ever be on the same page in terms of their relationship? Hint: The answer is revealed by the end of the book.

This was both a serious and amusing story in which I found myself drawn in and caring about the outcome. I so wanted happiness for Anna in spite of all the roadblocks. The characters were real and relatable. It's not a fast paced read, more of a slow burn, which sometimes seemed to drag a little. All in all, I really enjoyed reading "My Favorite Mistake" and plan to go back through some of the earlier Walsh Family books, especially "Anybody Out There?" which is young Anna's story.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. show less

This is my first Marian Keyes book. I chose it, as I had to read a humourous book for my face to face book group and I don't think I own any in that category. It did deliver some laugh out loud moments with the banter between Anna and her family. There was a more serious theme about menopausal women being overlooked. I did, however, find the resolution to the story a little predictable. It suited what was a busy week by providing a light read.

What a wonderful book! I loved the story ... taking the main character from NYC back to where she is originally from in Dublin, Ireland, and then on to the small coastal Irish town of Maumtully, or M'town, as the locals call it. From her high pressure, high profile job in the beautycare industry to working for the small business her sister's friend owns and is expanding. The book follows Anna Walsh through the ups and downs of life, from her young girl crushes to her adult relationships that don't always turn out as she expected. Can she help her friend get the town on the side of their new business venture, can she work with their business broker with whom she has a long and complicated history, can life turn out sweet and wonderful show more for Anna? Read this book and fall in love with the characters just as I did. Long to visit the places the author writes of so well that you picture them so clearly you can nearly smell the sea air. Get to know Anna's crazy, boisterous, loving family and the quirky, wonderful residents of M'Town. And join me in rooting for Anna!
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. show less

A spritely story about a woman’s quest to find herself, her calling and her peace, while navigating a mystery and her love life, or lack thereof. Spanning NY to Ireland locales, and over 20 years as well, Anna’s story pulled me in. The characters are refreshing, the dialogue bright, and although it’s not necessarily a peppy story, it does carry a vibe of hope and camaraderie. I enjoyed this one thoroughly.

*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review

Good light-weight read. Relationships-good, bad & in-between, life when you're in your 40s, community small and large.

Just not vibing with these Walsh 2.0s!