Upside Down Inside Out

This is a delightful, entertaining read sprinkled with gentle humour and a large dose of romance as Eva and Joe, the two protagonists, weave their way through a complicated maze of untruths and misunderstandings. Set in Australia, England and Dublin, there are some picturesque descriptions of the three countries as well some eccentric characters thrown into the mix to make the book more interesting. Would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, fun summer read.

This was a really cute and fun chick lit novel. Set mostly in Australia, it's the story of Eva and Joseph, who meet while on holiday, but both of whom aren't being completely honest with each other. I was frustrated with how long it took Eva to get around to telling the truth - several times I felt like shaking her and saying "Just tell him already!!". However, the romantic build-up between the two of them was great (for once, a set of characters that didn't jump into bed with each other right away), and made for a fun story. A quick read, and quite enjoyable!

Eva and Joseph, both off to Australia for seemingly different reasons, are destined to meet, but will the strong chemistry be enough to withstand the secrets they both hold? Monica McInerney takes us on a delightful journey with two people, both away from home and away from the realities of everyday living. McInerney gives us Eva and Joseph, who find themselves drawn to each other and liking how things are going until they are forced to face reality.Eva Kennedy takes a vacation from her job in Dublin, and goes off for a holiday in Melbourne, Australia. She leaves following the end of a second-rate relationship and a proposition to mull over from her Uncle. Uncle Ambrose owns the delicatessen where Eva works and wants her to think about show more taking over as he retires. She is going to stay with long, who has transplanted her Irish self in Melbourne. Once there, Lainey talks Eva into literally letting her hair down from her daily business-like plait and taking on the personality of “Niamh”—from her Celtic roots, pronounced “Nee-av”. “Niamh” is a sculptress and singer who has connections with celebrities the likes of Bono and Enya, in the two friends’ imagination. Unfortunately, someone wasn’t careful what they wished for because before we know it, Eva can’t shed the “Niamh” personality and the game turns into quite a tangled web of delightfully decadent deceit. In turn, Ms. McInerney introduces us to businessman Joseph Wheeler, who lives in London as a successful designer and owner of Wheeler Designs. He is off to Australia as a keynote speaker for a conference and then to follow up with a short vacation and search for a father he has never known. Quite by fortunate accidental e, Joseph and Eva meet and the sparks fly right away. Joseph however, trying to relax in a friend’s T-shirt and jeans, while he carries the new back pack he has designed, is mistaken for a backpacking traveler looking for work and his next meal. Joseph, now “Joe” meets Eva, now “Niamh”, and their attraction is instant. The humorous, tender, and often times frustrating relationship takes off with neither having the right opportunity to tell the other about the “game” they are playing. Things escalate, as do their feelings for each other, and both are heading for a crash landing if they can’t connect in time to reveal their secret before the other finds out from a different source. An emergency erupts and tears them apart, ending their vacations and possibly a lovely budding romance. The puzzle pieces are there to be put together for Eva and Joseph if the timer doesn’t stop the game too soon. McInerney keeps one reading to the very end to find out if, and how, these two may, or may not, get together. Is there always a happy ending? Are things “Upside Down Inside Out” or can they be set right? As I did, with much delight, one has to read this glorious summer fun read to find out. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Weiner, Helen Fielding, and Jennifer Crusie will find Monica McInerney’s Upside Down Inside Out’s Eva Kennedy to rival the likes of Bridget Jones, Cannie Shapiro and Becky Bloomwood. © K. Haney, 2008 for Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com show less

This is a bit of a light fluffy kind of a read. No real drama or pathos, a little bit of humor and a little bit of romance.

Eva is an Irish shop assistant who once had dreams of being an artist. She's at a crossroads in her life and takes an impulsive trip to Australia to think over her options. Joseph is a successful English entrepreneur who travels to Australia on a business trip. The two meet by accident, and each gives the other a false impression of who they really are. Twists and turns in revealing their true identities ensue and the "will he/she love the real me" question comes into play.

This was a charming story. A bit predictable, but charming nonetheless.

Worth a read, especially if you're a die-hard Monica McInerney fan. Two cases of intentional mistaken-identities during a whirl-wind vacation in Australia, plus McInerney's trademark breezy writing add up to a fun read.

POTENTIAL SPOILER

The middle part of the book drags a little bit, and the various obstacles keeping apart the protagonist and her true love at the end feel a little tedious. So the overall book doesn't feel as intricately-woven as Family Baggage or The Farraday Girls, still worth a look though.

Ever been tempted to pretend you were someone
exotic, someone adventurous … someone different?

Set in Ireland, England and Australia, this is the
funny and heartwarming story of two people whose
lives are about to turn upside down and inside out.

Eva is off to Australia on a break from her job in a
Dublin delicatessen, hoping to forget a fizzled
romance and find inspiration for a new career. Joseph
is taking a holiday from his stressful London job.

Each is on a search for some answers about life.

Then something quite unexpected happens.

They meet each other.

Upside Down Inside Out is a novel about love,
adventure, honesty and discovering that the person
you’ve always wanted to be might just be the person
you already are.

Again love her witty conversation between characters and her writing style.