A family saga set in Ireland

The story revolves around the three Casey brothers, Johnny, Ed and Liam and their respective wives and families. Johnny's wife, Jessie is the dominant one of the three, always organising family events and insisting that everyone attends and has fun. Ed's wife Cara, on the surface, is blissfully happy, her husband adores her and she has two lovely sons. However, Cara is always worrying about her appearance and her weight in particular and spends her life trying to diet and then going on a chocolate binge followed by making herself sick, a classic case of bulimia. Liam’s wife, Nell has only recently married and is adjusting to being a part of such an ebullient family.

To all their friends the Caseys are a successful family unit, led by Jessie who spends her time split between running her business and organising the next big family celebration with money no object. Slowly but surely, however, the author builds up the real problems surrounding this outwardly happy family.

We discover that Jessie is so obsessed with showing the world how successful she is in both her business and her marriage that she ignores the fact that her outgoings are exceeding her income. Johnny becomes so concerned by his wife’s lavish spending that he decides to open another bank account, into which he starts paying the rent that he receives from an apartment he has in Dublin, to ensure that there will be some money still available if and when the inevitable crash arrives.

Cara’s eating disorder is revealed to all when she collapses and she enrols on a course with a counsellor to help her. However despite everything she cannot break free from her bulimia which results in disaster for her family.

Finally, there is Nell who has married on impulse and soon realises that she has made a big mistake and begins to have feelings for one of the younger members of the extended family.

Everything is brought to a head when Cara receives a blow to the head which gives her concussion and results in her letting out all the family secrets.

This is a long book but as you keep reading you are absorbed into the lives of the Casey family and their problems and you find yourself wanting to know what will happen when the truth is revealed. The author brings her characters to life and the whole story rings true and you find yourself relating to what they are all going through. I thought Cara’s story of her fight against bulimia was particularly well written and on reading an article in Radio Times just recently I discovered that this was because Marian Keyes has had some similar problems in her own life. This article also stated that the author tends to write about events that she has knowledge of and I am sure that this is why the descriptions of the people in this book and their problems seem so real.

This is the second book that I have read by Ms Keyes and I would like to read any others that she will hopefully write in the future, I thoroughly enjoyed both of her books.

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I am a huge fan of Marian Keyes and reading her newest novel was like meeting an old friend. The story focusses on the three Casey brothers and their very different wives. It is a slow and lengthy read, redeemed by the authors humorous and warm writing laced with reality. Though not one of her best novels, it will satisfy the authors fan base.

I do love Marian Keyes, she has this wonderful ability to pull you into the story and leave you wanting more. Grown Ups is a story about love in its many guises and how relationships aren't always as they seem. It was easy to be drawn into the story, feel like you were right there among the characters during their many dinners, parties and all expenses paid holidays. I even rather fancy the idea of a 22 year old toy boy now I've finished it!

I'm a huge fan of Marian Keyes and I was excited to see that she had a new book out. It seems like her last book was published a while ago, and so I was delighted to receive an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher.
This book is not a quick and easy read, it is very long, and intricate in places. The book begins with a situation and the rest of the book has the events that lead up to it. There are also flashbacks to the past, which show how the characters met each other.
The book features the Casey family; Johnny and Jessie, their children and Johnny's brothers and their families. Jessie is fond of big family get togethers and demands that everyone attend, whether they want to or not.
The storyline has several hard hitting subjects which can make for difficult reading. The characters face grief, addiction, depression and deceit. However this book also has the familiar hallmarks of Marian's works - warmth, wit and humour.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and it can take a while to work out who the characters are. There are a wide variety of characters, and as the book progresses the different aspects of each character slowly develop. My opinion of some of the characters changed throughout the book, as their traits are revealed.
Although this book is complex and long, it is brilliantly written. I enjoyed reading this book, and I highly recommend it.

This book took me by suprise. It follows the Caseys, a typical big Irish family with a lot of extended family thrown in. It opens with an amusing family dinner where secrets come spilling out faster than anyone can cope with! This drew me in as the story then went back in time to cover the events that lead to these dramatic revelations.
After a great start unfortunately I then felt a little lost for a while. There were a lot of characters and it was difficult to get my head round how they all fit together. This isn't a book you can put down for a few days and come back too easily! However once it had all clicked into place I started to become really invested in the characters, and having now finished the book I'm going to miss all their family dramas.
I liked that despite appearances none of the characters were perfect, and I think it's somewhat comforting to read about a group of adults who have all messed up their lives in some way. I particularly liked the character of Cara and felt so sorry for what she was going through. I also enjoyed the characters of Nell and Jessie as I felt they bought some much needed humour and light into the story.
It is a long read but the characters are so well written you end up feeling like you've known them for years. After a bit of slow start I'm so glad I continued reading as I suprised myself with how much I ended up loving this. The story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they're not a proper grown up.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Being a big Marian Keyes fan I was really thrilled to get hold of this book. What an anti climax! I found it really hard to get into, mainly, I think, because I didn't like or care about most of the characters. The children were funny and I liked a couple of the adults but the rest just irritated me. If this was the first book I had read by the author I might have enjoyed it more but I found myself comparing it with some of her earlier work and I'm afraid it was found lacking the pathos and gentle humour of Watermelon or Rachel's Holiday. Not one of her best

I have to admit I found this very slow....I even checked reviews to see if other people had found this. It was confusing as there were lots of characters and on a kindle you can’t tell how long a book it is to manage your expectations! The characters were written beautifully and I certainly wanted to see what happened to them and I am pleased I did. A lovely heartwarming story

Packs A Punch And Then Some....
Family drama from Marian Keyes is just that - it packs a punch and then some. The family - the Caseys. They’re a pretty normal, straight talking, straightforward bunch. Aren’t they? Strip away the surface and the secrets come tumbling out. Maybe it’s time to grow up? Superb characterisation, poignant observation all told with pure wit and charm. A total winner.

Initially I was a bit confused - there are a LOT of family members and you're introduced to them all in one go at a family party where Cara starts spilling out family secrets!  The book then goes back in time so that you can see the build up to some of these secrets happen.

It didn't take long to get the gist of who was who - and that really helped.

I could empathise a lot with Jessie (bossy, organiser type) and Cara (disordered relationship with food) and really liked how the characters were fleshed out - with their good bits and bad bits all wrapped up - just like in real life!

Two of the brothers were fundamentally lovely - although with their own foibles - and one was a knob! (And not just because I suspect he would have posted all of his cycle rides on social media)

The book twists and turns through all of the extended families lives - with them all coming together at various family celebrations. I loved the descriptions of the holiday in Tuscany - and given we're staying just outside Lucca in the summer, I'm looking forward to going to do a big shop at the supermarket on the ringroad #nichereferencepoint.

Whilst it is, essentially, a family saga - it touches on some big issues - grief / mental health / step families / eating disorders / age gap relationships / marital breakdown - but all wrapped up in normal life, as they are for many of us. I love Marian's turn of phrase - and the book had me laughing and crying.

I felt like I was an observer into the Casey family for a few months - and felt quite sad at the end that I wouldn't carry on knowing what they were up to - as if I was losing touch with friends.  Given there are so many characters - I wonder if a spin off or follow up would be in order??

Overall this is a definite recommendation when it comes out later this month - pre order it now, you know you want to!!

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC - I am always so excited and grateful to be chosen!

I usually love reading Marian Keyes books but this sadly wasn't quite for me. It was a huge investment at 600+ pages and I didn't find myself particularly caring for or rooting for any of the characters like I usually would. The characters themselves were interesting and there were certainly some hilarious moments, I just wish it was a bit faster paced.

Grown-Ups is Marian Keyes at her best with all that I love about her books. There's a large cast of relatable characters, all part of the Casey family or connected with them. As always there is a lot which will make you laugh in the book at the madcap antics and straight talking of the characters but there are also a lot more serious issues such as eating disorders, addiction, grief and self-esteem. It may be a long book at over 600 pages but you won't notice as you will be too caught up in the lives of the family. When you have finished you may well feel like you are one of the family, you will know them so well. But will you feel like a grown-up? Well, do any of us ever really feel like a grown-up! First class Irish fiction.

What a wonderful book, I've been so excited waiting for this and I wasn't disappointed.
I had to read it over a few days which was longer than I'd have liked but I think it made me enjoy it more.
I've loved getting to know the Casey's, I've laughed and cried and worried about them and cheered them on.
Loved Cara and Nell and Jessie herself.
It was so beautifully written it took me right back to the Walsh family days but it was a fabulous story all on it's own too.
I loved it, it's Aces.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advance Digital Read in return for my honest review.

Sadly I had to DNF this book around 20%.
I didn't enjoy the storyline and found it a little long winded and boring. Not for me sadly.

Fantastic read. I never thought I would live another family as much as the Walsh family but the Caseys are right up there. Fabulous multi stranded tale set around the three Casey brothers, their amazing wives and offspring. So many twists and turns. I loved it. I was gripped from the start and pulled right into the story. I was sad to say goodbye and really hope they make another return to one of Marians books. Highly recommended. So enjoyable!

Thank you Netgalley

Marian Keyes does not disappoint with another good book- I think it would make a perfect holiday read. It’s very long- and at times a bit confusing as the story jumps between characters- I felt names at the top of the chapters would of been helpful! Having said they I thoroughly enjoyed it, loved the diverse family characters and would recommend to anyone who wants a good family saga to read on their sunbed.

Another classic Marian Keyes holiday read, covering the party side of big family life, yet touching on some pretty gritty topics. A thoroughly good read.

I have to admit that this book got the better of me and with so many characters in the story I just didn’t seem able to get to grips with it like I wanted to. Without doubt the writing is top notch as expected but I have to say that it just didn’t do it for me as I just seemed to get more confused as I read on. Thank you anyway to NetGalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

What a fabulous book! I loved all of the characters with their own unique personalities- Bridey is a personal favourite. The book is quite long but never loses its pace and really makes you feel like one of the family - or one of the 'bunnies'! A lot happens to this family and the writing style really makes you feel like you are living it with them.

2.5 stars

GROWN UPS as you might guess, really showed what a mess grown ups can be. This was a family saga of epic proportions both in length of book but also in depth of shambled relationships and lives. This was definitely a less funny offering from Marian Keyes, but I wouldn’t have minded the lack of humour if the story had worked better for me.

The story centred on three families, brothers, wives and children. The brothers weren’t particularly close but the other people around them included some particularly strong personalities in Jessica, Ferdia, Nell and Liam. The character I probably liked the most was Nell but like is too strong a word, the rest of them I disliked or felt ambivalent about. I didn’t make connections with the characters as I had hoped at all.

The pacing of this story is somewhat slow, every element of the story was told in great depth, usually from multiple perspectives. So you can imagine that it takes 650 pages. This was like observing a slow motion house of cards collapsing over time. At the end, I did not feel wowed in any way or particularly satisfied at any of the outcomes.

I’m sad about this book, having read most of Marian Keyes books but you can’t like them all, I guess.

Thank you to Michael Joseph for the early review copy.

Marian Keyes never fails to please. 3 brothers and their families. We follow the 3 through times of stress and times that should be happy. Will the 3 brothers and their families end up happy with their lives? Intriguing and so true to life.