I absolutely devoured this newest novel by Marian Keyes! The main character is going through a midlife crisis and ends up moving from New York where she seemingly has everything going for her over to a small town in Ireland, to help her friends. She ends up reconnecting with an old flame, and who knows what that might lead to…

I thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph (Penguin Random House UK) for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
I’m not a big follower of Marian Keyes. I’ve only ever read one of her novels previously, not long ago, and was curious to check another, but when I started reading this one, I didn’t realise it was book number 8 in The Walsh Family series. Not that it matters, though. I can reassure readers that one doesn’t need to have read the rest of the books to be able to follow and enjoy the adventures of Anna Walsh, the main character in this one. (I wondered if the opposite might be true, because there is a lot of information readers gather about the character’s life while reading this lengthy novel, and I wasn’t sure if people who had read the rest reasonably recently might not be a bit put off by being reminded of a lot of what they already know. But, of course, I might be wrong and it might be that some of it is new to all readers, and I imagine that people who’ve read the previous stories some time ago will be grateful for the reminder).
In brief, the Walshs are an Irish family with five daughters and their widowed mother, and each one of the first five books covered the life and circumstances of one of the sisters when they were in their late 20s. Book 6 seems to be a guide to the family penned by the mother, firmly tongue-in-cheek, book 7 revisits one of the sisters 25 years later, and this novel does something similar with another one. Anna, who has been living in New York and works as a successful PR for the beauty industry, shortly after COVID suffers something akin to a mid-life crisis. She decides she cannot cope with the stress of her job anymore, her age and her pre-menopausal symptoms are taking a toll, and following what she feels is a sign from the long-ago dead husband, she leaves her job (in theory for a year with the possibility of going back) and New York (renting out, not selling, her apartment) and goes back to Ireland. There, she discovers that life can be complicated when you are trying to reinvent yourself in your very late forties in a new(old) country, and fitting back into her large family and renewing her old friendships can prove challenging as well. Then, she gets offered a temporary job in a small coastal town, helping some friends of the family who are going through a health crisis, and she is put to the test in more ways than one.
The book is narrated in the first person, which might be an issue for some readers. It also relies on people liking (or at least enjoying) the character’s way of expressing herself. I found her amusing, to begin with. I do enjoy books with older female protagonists, and Anna has a funny turn of phrase and is quite witty. She has no children, is self-deprecating, and although she tries to remain positive, she has a penchant for paranoia and for being suspicious (often rightly so) about other people’s motives and intentions. There is a fair amount of baggage she carries with her, and we soon discover there was something that happened with one of the people she is forced to work with now (although we don’t find out what that thing was until very late) which puts a spanner in the works. And some bridges need to be rebuilt with her best friend.
The book deals with quite a variety of topics: bereavement, regret, love, guilt, friendship, family relationships, growing up, biological clocks, getting old (there is much talk about menopause), old families, new families, and new models of families, traditional life versus modern life, art, fame, the price to pay for developing tourism in small places, moving back home later in life and adapting to life at a different pace (from New York to rural Ireland), and what does it take to forgive, be forgiven, and give somebody a second chance, to name only some.
I’ve already said that this is a long book, and not all the topics are given equal weight. Anna’s whole family descends on the town where she’s working (Maumtully) a few times and they’re a force of nature, but although amusing, there isn’t enough time given to each one of them for those who haven’t read the other books to know them well. (I guess the answer might be reading the rest of the books). There is a bit of a mystery surrounding the development being built, as there has been damage done to it, but I found this part of the story disappointing and there were no big surprises or reveals to keep the story moving. There was much more emphasis placed on the will-they/won’t-they part of the story between Anna and Joey, an almost old flame, but I personally found it dragged on a fair bit, and I was more interested in some of the other characters from the town who played a smaller part, and in the relationship with her best friend, Jacqui. I didn’t find it too confusing, but people who enjoy a story being told in strict chronological order will be disappointed here, because, although the present is told in the right order, Anna keeps remembering things that happened before, and those memories can go back and forth sometimes, from the time she first met somebody, to her school days, to living in New York, back to Ireland... Eventually, we get a pretty full picture, but it is not straightforward.
Oh, and for those who mind (and I do as well), there was some erotic content in the book. Most of it is not too explicit (or rather, mostly deals with the erotic powers of imagination), and some readers will think it was more than due, but I wouldn’t have missed it if it wasn’t there. Quite the opposite. (But I know that is me).
The ending is as it would be expected in a book that could be defined as an adult coming of older age story or a second chance romance or both. So, I imagine fans of the series will be happy with it. I wasn’t surprised.
For me, the book could have been shorter without losing much of what I enjoyed about it, but people who’ve been following the series might feel different.
If you are a fan of Marian Keyes, you should give it a go, especially if you have read and enjoyed other books in the series. If not... Well, you can check a sample and see if it suits you.

I love all of Marian Keyes' books and this is the 3rd I've read in the Walsh series. This one follows Anna Walsh as she comes home to Ireland after many years, newly single and unemployed, she sets out to rebuild her life while also rekindling relationships and resolving past conflicts. All of the other Walsh family members make their appearance, irreverent and hilarious. The story contains humor, drama and romance as wel as a few unexpected plot twists. Another great read and I can't wait to see what's next for the Walshes.

OMG it was sooo good to be back with the Walsh family, particularly Anna. It was like being among old friends. such a good story, typical Marian Keyes. Sensitive topics dealt with true understanding, emotion and humour. Absolutely loved it!

While I have read quite a few of Marian's standalone novels which I've enjoyed., I confess that I haven't read any of the other Walsh family books which probably put me at a slight disadvantage when reading My Favourite Mistake and I struggled trying to remember the host of characters that others are no doubt already familiar with. There are also lots of residents of Anna's new home to get to know and remember so on the whole it felt like a lot. There is no doubt that Marian is a wonderful writer and I love her sense of humour and style of writing but the story felt a bit meh for me personally (the threats and violence against the retreat seemed far too easily wrapped up) and the book on the whole was far too long and I found myself growing bored. While not one for me personally, any fan of the Walshes will no doubt enjoy this latest instalment.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I love love love Marian Keyes and everything she does
This is a Walsh family endeavour and I totally welcomed this

Loved it

There's something really comforting about sitting down to read a Marian Keyes book - you can be quietly confident that you're about to be taken on a brilliant ride of storytelling that will make you laugh out loud even as your heart aches for the characters. I would highly recommend reading absolutely anything Marian Keyes writes, but My Favourite Mistake is definitely up there in her top five.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this great book.

Reading this book is like coming home and putting on your favourite pj's. So great to be back catching up with Walsh family and this time Anna is back in the spotlight. As usual, there are crazy characters at every corner and a huge sprinkling of humour throughout.

This was such a fun easy read . You don’t have to have read any of the other Walsh sister’s books to enjoy this one , it can be read independently. This one focuses on Anna who is now approaching fifty and menopausal . She comes to Ireland from New York and reunites with her family, who are so much fun . I have only read Rachel’s Holiday but I know enough about her four sisters to feel like it’s reacquainting with old friends. Anna meets Joey who she has history with. We find out about their pasts and what happened . I loved the atmosphere of this book. I loved the Irish countryside and the feeling of living in a small isolated community. It’s a story of love , family , friendship and coming to terms with your demons I read it very quickly and it made me laugh. I just love the Walsh family especially Mammy Walsh .

An enjoyable comfort read, with plenty of laughs. Not my go to genre but I can see why Marian Keyes is the queen of it!

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - there are already reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for!

I've read a few books by Marian Keyes, so was delighted to receive an ARC of this one. After I'd read it, I discovered that it is but one book relating to the Walsh family - and that I hadn't read any of those earlier novels! Well it didn't matter too much as this novel works just fine as a standalone - but I will probably now read the earlier books just to fill in the gaps!

This is an enjoyable read - flitting between timelines here ane there - but largely set in the here and now in Ireland. There are some great characters (who everyone else probably already knows about!), and the settings are beautifully described throughout (please rush me a ticket to see the dolphins playing!).

Although some of the novel deals with serious issues (eg: a poorly child with cancer), the tone is perfect throughout. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud!

This would be a great holiday read, and is perfect for fans of warm, family-oriented Irish novels.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I'm so torn with this one. I love Marian Keyes's books and I like the way she writes - her characters' voice really leap off the page. However although I liked the original books in the Walsh family series, I haven't been loving the revisits to the characters as much as I've enjoyed her recent standalones. The plot of this one felt a bit weak, and it felt like not a great deal happened. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

There's absolutely nothing not to love about #MyFavouriteMistake. From the chaotic dynamics of the extended Walsh family and their gas antics, to the residents we get to meet in Maumtully, every character is bought to life with the expert touch, and lifetime of experience, of the master storyteller Marian Keyes. By far one of my favourite of all 16 of her novels, I'm OBSESSED with Narky-Joey, his 'Absolutely. Not' sexiness, vulnerability and 'You haunt me' declaration. If I could, I'd be booking myself for a stay at Dolphin Cove, and probably, like Anna, never want to leave.

Anna Walsh is back and slightly broken again. Back in Ireland, not knowing what to do with her life after leaving behind her high-flying job in New York, her apartment and her last boyfriend. Anna feels lost, not able to cope with the stress of her PR job anymore and sad from her amicable and very friendly breakup with Angelo. Suddenly she is not sure what to do.
When a job comes up to work for friends Brigit and Colm to save their luxury country retreat build and reputation with the local residents of a small town, Anna is thrown into the intricate world of new friends, small town gossip and the go-boy Joye – blast from the past she is not sure she is ready for.
But as they face each new crisis together, their friendship blossoms once again and there is hope for finally being together. But trust is earned and that seems nearly impossible for both of them.
I love the Walsh family - all the sisters and their different characters, so liking Anna was not a problem. Joye on the other side I struggled with a little bit – I found him weak and controlling - everything was down to him and his decisions. But one person I disliked completely? Jacqui – she is the worst friend I could possibly imagine – unsupportive, selfish, always the victim. For that – the book lost a star as I was just not interested in that relationship at all – I get it, but for me reading Anna and Jacqui’s past was enough – any future for them was not something I even wanted to read about and I think the book would have been better without it – at least for me.
But – bravo Marian – another fabulous book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

A well written and intriguing book that made me smile but also think as it's a fun filled and well plotted story about changing your life, getting some new but also losing part of you.
I didn't read the other novels about Walsh family but this one made me other books as I'm feeling like someone late to the party and who want to catch up
Excellent storytelling, empathy and multiple layers.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes evokes family dramas and dynamics and women's identity at a certain stage in life.

Anna Walsh is back, still in New York. But not for long.
Love the Walsh family and returning to any of their stories is like meeting old friends you haven't seen in a while.
What brings Anna back to Ireland? How did she find herself in the wilds of the West? Narky Joey makes a reappearance.
Lots to read and think about. A book about friendship and women and growing older.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

A hilarious and heart-warming family dynamic that is typical of Marian Keyes' writing! I absolutely loved this story, which added more layers and depth to our love of the Walsh family. Every time you think you have a favourite member of the family, Marian brings a new book out and you can't make your mind up again!

If you like Marian Keyes, you will enjoy this. It's a deep dive on Anna Walsh, who we met in detail in "Anybody Out There". She's nearly 50, given up her life in New York and relocates back to Ireland post pandemic. There's a love story that satisfies, plenty of cameos from the Walsh sisters, and a bit of local work related drama that has to be solved.
I enjoyed the book. It feels familiar. It feels Irish. The language used is very Marian-like, if you follow her on social media at all. But it is not necessarily a page turner and we all know where the story is going. I was glad that I had reread Anybody Out There, shortly before this book, as I think it added more to the current read, by having had the deep dive on Anna's characters in her twenties and thirties.

I'm a big fan of the Walsh family so this was always going to be a great read for me. Did I love it as much as the earlier stories? Possibly not, but I still found this absorbing and enjoyable and would recommend to fellow Marian fans.