Okay, so, Marian Keyes is a great author and I have read plenty of her work. I knew this was going to be a quick summer life/romance kind of book, so great to say it's met my expectations. Unfortunately, I really did not dig the main character's attitude towards the big dilemma in her life - her husband leaving her for 6 months to go on a holiday, as if he was a bachelor again. The guilt pouring out of the pages was cringing. The MC had an affair too, after she got wind of her husband doing the same on his 'holiday', but she beats herself up the entire time. Horribly painful to read. I understand that she's conflicted, and her actions come from a not-so-sane-but-trying-to-stay-afloat place, but damn, the self-hate is real. Meanwhile hubby goes off on his holiday to have his 'omg my family is everything' moment, and comes back all emotionally detoxed and ready to grovel at his wife's feet to get things back to they way they were before. I mean, I don't see that much grovelling, but you know. I did like the themes in the novel - like how the relationship between friends (and Stevie's insane need to live her revenge through a friend's relationship in rough waters - like gurl, sit your ass down, it's not your life) change when the rough gets going, themes of adoption and parenthood, the internal conflict of the MC regarding her love and sex life. One thing about Marian Keyes, she knows how to bring difficult themes together in a book and make it work. All in all a good summer's read, there were some good moments of girl power - but also moments of crippling self-hate, and the ending felt gratiutous.

The word that first comes to my mind to describe Marion Keyes' 'The Break' is "exuberant" - it's an absorbing, amusing and tenderly expressed story peopled with a great cast of characters who move at a fast pace and are full of surprises.
A vivid picture of lives lived through the turmoil of love, grief, anger, regret, resentment - a full house of human emotions and the intricacies of relationships between families, friends and workmates, a treat not to be missed, for sure.

I loved this book, once again Marian Keyes captures the nuances of family life perfectly. She brings each character to life and the story had me laughing (and sometimes crying) until the end. Can't wait for her next novel.
Highly recommended.

I've never yet read a Marian Keyes book which I didn't enjoy, and I have read them all. The Break is no exception and proves once again that she is an expert at blending family drama with humour.

Following the death of his father and a close friend, Hugh shocks his family by announcing that he is taking a six month break from his marriage and heading off on  to 'find himself'. It's a typical mid-life crisis but a bit more serious than splashing out on a fancy car. Amy is so hurt and angry but has no choice other than to adapt to life without him. With a family of three girls and a busy job as a publicist which involves being in London two days every week, she soon realises just how much of a unit she and Hugh were and resents his leaving her in the lurch. Her anger and sadness isn't helped when she sees photos of him looking happy and relaxed on South East Asian beaches in his Facebook feed. Though Hugh is having a break and leaving all his responsibilities behind, Amy doesn't have that choice. But if he is on a break, then does he have the opportunity to have a break from their marriage too?

This book has all the elements I love in a Marian Keyes book. There are times it will make you sad but there are times it will make you laugh out loud, particularly with the supporting cast of a large and eccentric Irish family. She writes so well about all the different kinds of challenges that a modern family can face: aging parents, challenging teens, marriage difficulties, temptations, second chances, choices to be made, friendship issues. There is also sexual tension simmering throughout the book as Amy recalls a flirtation with a colleague and revisits the idea of acting upon it.

The Break is witty, warm and wise and a hugely enjoyable read. Marian Keyes is such a wonderful storyteller that I just get completed wrapped up in her books. I had no idea which way the story would go, and I didn't actually know how I wanted things to resolve for Amy, but as always, the author got the ending just prefect for all her characters. The Break sees Marian Keyes at her brilliant best and will not disappoint her many fans.

'The Break' is Marian Keyes back to her very best. Heartwarming, funny and at times incredibly moving, it is a story full of her trademark humour and larger than life characters. As always her writing has the ability to make me laugh out loud one moment then burst into tears the next.

A fantastic read and one that I highly recommend. A very easy 5 stars.

I adore Marian Keyes and this is yet another success of hers. From the first page I was hooked. Amy's husband is leaving her for a 'off duty six months' and her world is turned upside down. As with all Marian Keyes books there were parts where I laughed out loud and other parts where I hit the sofa in frustration! It's the perfect thing to read on a summer holiday (or in the early hours when your baby won't go to sleep!).

A wonderful read ....funny, sad and totally believable. Amy's husband decides he is taking a 6 months break from their marriage. Will he return? Experience the months of absence with Amy, her mad family, her work colleagues and her collection of friends. All have their views on what Amy should do and all help to put added pressure on her hectic life. She has to cope with a daughter's unwanted pregnancy;demanding clients at work; unsupportive girlfriends; a "life begins at 70" mother and a father with dementia. All this whilst she is trying to come to terms with the absent husband and his misbehaviours. I don't want to give the ending away............a must read.

I have to admit that despite writing many books, I have never read a Marian Keyes before! She is wonderful at developing characters and I found them all very likeable, especially the Granny. She portrayed the crazy Irish family so well and had some moments that made me laugh out loud. I felt the story was a bit slow to start with but that soon past and then I couldn't put it down, even though the ending was a bit predictable.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this advance copy for an honest review

Classic Marian Keyes. Reading her novels is always a bittersweet experience - you spend the first half wishing it would never end and the second half realising that it's going to and hoping that she is writing another new book (very fast ideally). Read in one sitting. Highly recommend. Especially loved Lillian (aka LOCMOF). Wish she could come and be our Gransnet vlogger

This is a book about mid-life crises, a book about modern families, a book love and betrayal in the era o social media. As always Marian Keyes portrays a strong working woman, Amy whose life is shaken up when her husband decides they need to take a break. Funny, entertaining, this was a captivating read, though not as strong as the Walsh family series. Though with a family like Amy's, maybe there's room for a new series?

This book follows the lives of a modern Irish family through the ups and downs of life. After loosing his Dad and friend close together Hugh decides he needs a break from his wife and his life for 6 months to go and find himself. Amy deep in shock is left to deal with real life just her and the girls, while Hugh is swanning around Thailand with an attractive young woman on his arm. The hurt and the anger of seeing these Facebook photos cause Amy to then go against her principles and have an affair with a married man. This book takes you through the knock on effect all this has on their lives and those of the family too. An enjoyable read

Another fantastic book from Marian. Loved the highs, felt tearful with the lows. A snapshot of quite a lot of longstanding marriages.

A must read in my view.

Amy and Hugh are having a break, not a holiday but a marriage break. Hugh has decided he needs 6 months and goes off backpacking. Amy is devastated, this is her second marriage, her first ending when the first husband just walked out... so a flood of emotions are laid quite raw on this journey. After those 6 months, can Hugh just pick up where he left off? Will Amy move on and find someone else? Well that is for you to find out.

I found this book slow to start but it soon picked up pace and it is the perfect lock yourself away for a day book to sit and read.

I haven't read a Marian Keyes book in years and always loved them when I was growing up.

Unfortunately I only managed to get through 40% of this book before I gave up. I liked the idea of the storyline but found the story very long winded and didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. It also made me feel quite down when reading it as the narrator seems down and unhappy.

I liked the characters in the story but none of them gripped me enough that much to make me want to continue reading and I did find Hugh very selfish and quite annoying- not sure if he would change my opinion later in the book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read a preview before publication. It's very unusual for me to actually give up reading a book but I really couldn't get on with this one.

Took me awhile to get into this book but once I did really enjoyed it thought it was a book of two halves first half more about Amy's career and second half about her relationships loved all the characters and there interaction with each other each bought something different to the book was surprised at the ending as didn't think she would get back with Hugh but now think it was the right ending fans of Marion Keyes will love it only read one of hers before but would definitely try another

I have always been a massive Marian Keyes fan, and reading her books has felt like catching up with a good friend. This book however felt like catching up with your BEST friend. It's so lovely to read about characters whom you instantly care about. But that doesn't mean that this is some light, fluffy book with no depth. As usual Marian covers real life altering issues with ease and humour.
We're shown an Irish family about to be torn apart by the father leaving. Or are we? Are they going to fall apart, or maybe it's a good thing? Because of the beautifully empathetic way in which Marian Keyes writes you're presented with a family life in all it's shades of grey. Because it's never black and white is it?
Highly recommended!

The Break is the best Marian Keyes book I've read. Here with her usual wryness and sense of humour, she follows the journey of middle aged Amy, whose husband of twenty years suddenly decides he wants a six month break. Everyone in Amy's large family is affected by Hugh's decision and what Amy will do when/if he returns to her..

A mid life crisis such as Hugh appears to be suffering from is a scenario with which many of us are familiar and often torn apart by. Now that people live so much longer than previous generations are we still able to stay with
the familiar partners we marry in our youth or should we look for new excitement while we have the opportunity? Marian Keyes explores with wisdom these middle years of marriage and what happens when children grow up and parents have to reevaluate their relationship with each other,

Your readers are so going to love The Break, Marian! Thanks to NetGalley, Michael Joseph/Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am sure will be a huge success.

After reading the blurb, I felt confident I could predict what would happen. I was wrong.
As much as I tried to predict the story, she reminded me that life is messy and complicated with no clear choices at times. The characters are flawed, interesting and unpredictable.
Marian Keyes always writes entertaining and emotional books and this is my favourite of hers so far.

Amy is a busy mum, married to Hugh, happy with her somewhat chaotic Irish family and her PR job which means she works between Dublin and London. But she and Hugh are happy, ok their finances are tight and there is never quite enough time for each other, but that's what life is. Then Hugh drops a bombshell, he wants to take a 6 month break from their marriage. Amy is gobsmacked, how can he do this to her, she has always been there for him, they love each other. But, off he goes. How will Amy cope? This is a good read, I found it a page turner. There are lots of side stories, her extended family, her friends, her work. Lots to make you laugh and maybe even to cry. I loved it.

This latest novel by Marian Keyes is magnificent - it delves into the complexities of relationships from all angles and at all levels. Prepare to have your heartstrings played upon.