The Woman Who Stole My Life: British Book Awards Author of the Year 2022

I'm a huge fan of Marian Keyes and LOVE everything else of hers but this book was just entirely different. The prose had her charm but the story line and organisation was horrible, nearly all of the characters were foul and I found myself wanting to shake Stella by the shoulders and tell her to get some self worth! She's supposed to be "stubborn" yet she lets her children, family, ex-husband and pretty much everyone else walk all over her. Lots felt very rushed, too, like her recovery. Very sad.

I feel I need to review this book in 3 parts. Firstly I love Marian and have been with her right from Watermelon to The Break with only 2 slight bumps in the road, Lucy Sullivan and The Brightest Star. Every other book, especially the Walsh family stories, have been on a completely different level to other authors in this genre. A lot of this book could be on that level too. The flashback chapters are fantastic, particularly the hospital scenes, but the maudlin start and mawkish, rushed and much too convenient ending somewhat spoil what could have been a fantastic read. However my biggest disappointment in this book has to be the characters. As much as it pains me to say it, because I get the impression that Marian puts a little of herself into her female protagonists, Stella is so annoyingly subservient to her kids and ex husband that its hard to believe a man like Mannix would want to be with her. To really love a book you need to care about the main character and I just couldn't.

Different to the rest of Marian Keyes books. A bit more sedate, older, less cheeky with fewer lol moments. I found it very readable but didn't enjoy it as much as all her previous work. Different.