Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. Having read all of Marian's previous books I was highly anticipating this one. The main character Amy is very likeable and I found it very easy to commiserate and celebrate with her. However, I did struggle to get into this book and was only 'hooked' from about 50% in. I feel that this book lacked some of Marian's usual storytelling and humour as there were few laugh out loud moments. Having said that I enjoyed the second half of the book much more and I wouldn’t hesitate to read any more books by this author in the future.

Another excellent book by Marian Keyes, I haven’t read anything by her for a while but she truly is back to her best.

Amy and Hugh have been married for 17 years, Hugh’s dad has just died and he feels he needs a break. He wants to travel to South East Asia for six months, having no contact with Amy but this will be an anything goes break. Amy tries to talk him out of the idea but Hugh is determined to go with or without her blessing.

Amy is left at home to struggle with all the things that she and Hugh have previously dealt with together and wondering if perhaps Hugh’s mid-life crisis is partly her fault. As the story unfolds Amy encounters numerous problems within the family and it was interesting to see how she dealt with them.

There are some wonderful characters in this book, Amy’s mum who is struggling with a husband with dementia and becomes an internet sensation, Neeve, Amy’s daughter from a previous marriage whose dad is very occasionally there for her when it suits him and how she deals with him. Amy’s co-worker Alastair who was looking for romance but always has her back.

This is an excellent book, full of drama but there are also some lovely moments when you want to cheer Amy on and also want to give her a cuddle. In parts this book is heartbreaking but also it has a lot of humour, I did not want this book to finish. Highly recommended.

I would like to thank Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Break’ by Marian Keyes in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
When Hugh tells Amy he’s taking a six month break and backpacking around Thailand Amy is devastated, especially when she sees photographs of him on Facebook with young women. But Amy has had a crush on Josh for a while and if Hugh wants a break surely Amy can too?
‘The Break’ is a story about a couple, their love for each other and their family, and what happens when Hugh returns from his travels. It’s a moving and thought-provoking story with amazing characters, which made me laugh and cry.

Another classically heartwarming novel from Marian Keyes. Loveable characters that take you in every direction. This book had me laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time.

Marian Keyes knocks another one out of the park. The book draws you into the family drama whilst incorporating modern life especially as viewed through social media with its consequences. Stories are issues that affect everyday life. A delight to read, I look forward to the next one.

Before I start I must say I am a Marian Keyes fan and have read most of her books. This lives up to her very high standard.
Amy's husband Hugh has decided that he needs to take a six month break from their marriage and family. Amy is left to pick up the pieces with her siblings, children, and community. All of whom believe Hugh has left for good and Amy needs to join her female friends dumped on by men and wish bad things on his manhood.
I love Marian Keyes humour and can relate to so much of it. For example not reaching your 10,000 steps on your Firbit.
If you already love Marian Keyes then you will love this and if you've never read Marian Keyes start now!

It's not news to anyone who has ever asked me about writing and who I admire that I am a huge fan of Marian Keyes. Like - I even embarrass myself with how gushing I am about her - and having now met her a few times, I have made a complete gom of myself on each occasion.

You would think then that being such a huge fan of Marian Keyes would mean reading this book and reviewing it would be a breeze; but it hasn't been for a number of reasons.

1) Before I started to read I took the fear that I wouldn't like it and then I would be all embarrassed around Marian and when she asked (if she asked) if I liked the book I'd have to do that awkward cough and stare at the floor thing or change the subject or feign sudden onset muteness.

2) Second of all, I knew if I reviewed it, there was a chance herself would read the review and therefore the pressure for this to be well written and not stalker-y levels of gushing is high.

3) Thirdly of all, as soon as I heard what this book was about I felt tight knot in the pit of my stomach because already I knew that I would relate to Amy. I would get that person in a bit of a rut and not sure what she wants-itis about it all. I've made a number of huge life decisions in the last year and while they don't directly mirror Amy's - I knew there would be a resonance there. And it scared me a bit.

I was almost scared to start reading - but when I did, I had to fight between the urge to read-it-all-now and the urge to eek it out in little treat size pieces because I didn't want it to end. I didn't want it to end because Keyes writes characters so well you feel as if you know them - they are real, and raw, and flawed, and funny and they fuck up sometimes. They become friends you become heavily invested in.

What this book brings the reader is a marriage in a state of flux - and a woman who has always been there for everyone else finding that the rug has been pulled resoundly from under her feet. She doesn't know how to cope - she lurches from day to day, trying to hold family, friends and work together - managing other people's crises with aplomb while enduring the biggest crisis of her life.

That might sound a bit grim - but it isn't. As with the likes of Rachel's Holiday - Keyes has a way of writing on very serious subjects in a way that pulls the reader in without pulling the reader down. While Amy exists in a void of grief and loss, making some suspect decisions along the way - the reader never feels as if she is wallowing.

She is a strong woman - one of those "didn't know how strong she was until she had to be" characters who you cheer for and want to hug.

Similarly as with the magnificent Walsh family books, Keyes has created such a memorable cast of supporting characters that the book never feels overwritten, padded out or feels as if it has too much focus on Amy.
From her daughters, to her mother (Lillian O'Connell, Mother of Five) to her work colleague Alistair (I love him, I really do. Everyone should know an Alistair) - the characters are brilliantly drawn. They will have you laughing out loud one minute, sobbing the next and cheering the minute after that.

With her finger very firmly on the pulse, Keyes also tackles some pretty heavy issues in this book. She has spoken before how this book involves a take on the Eighth Amendment and the impact it has on women in Ireland. These chapters are strong, emotive, angry even. That Keyes has used her celebrity to speak out so strongly for the 12 women a day who leave Ireland to travel to England is admirable - but it doesn't feel preachy. It doesn't feel shoe-horned into the book to make a point.

I have to admit as much as I LOVE Marian - I would hate to be her. The pressure that she must feel as she releases each new book - with hoards of fans waiting eagerly must be immense. I think I would find it particularly crippling. Has this latest book hit the mark? Will it live up to the greatness of her previous books? Will it help her maintain her position as Queen of Commercial Fiction?

For what my opinion is worth - yes.
This book, more than any other of her's, profoundly touched me. I felt as if Marian was in my head - actually reading my thoughts, my fears, my worries - and putting them on a page for everyone to read. (Killing me Softly with her Books! Sing it if you know it!)

I stayed up until 5am to finish reading it - and when I did, I cried because it was done. And it was brilliant.

No one writes like Marian. No one should even try - her voice is unique, strong and distinctive. Her ability to pull away the layers of the human condition is remarkable.

This book is, simply, brilliant. Her best yet. It has what I thought was impossible was surpassed Rachel's Holiday in my estimation. It will be the must read book of Autumn 2017.

(And the dirty bits are fecking brilliant too!).

Marian Keyes likes to get us introduced to a large family of varied siblings and interesting parents and she's done it again here, with a new family to get to know, with its Friday night gathering, catered by the siblings in turn since Dad got Alzheimer's and Mum found it all a bit much, and including ex-partners and all sorts, because, as the heroine, Amy, explains, they're modern.

Amy has assumed she's safe and settled after her first marriage went wrong and they had to absorb her feckless brother's daughter into their family, but now husband Hugh has announced that he needs a break ... from their marriage, from their family, and from Ireland. But it's not so simple: Amy has huge sympathy for Hugh, who has recently lost his dad and spiralled into depression - well, up to a point, anyway, and she stands to lose an old friendship over her lack of desire for revenge. Added to that, we slowly learn about a patch in their marriage when she might not have been as engaged as all that herself.

It's pointed out to Amy that she's by definition on a break now, too. Will she go and play the field or just plug on with her blended family and her PR job (I loved the descriptions of her working relationship with her two male partners, although a weird tension with one of them was never quite resolved, and it also gives her the opportunity to pop over to London every week, which seems completely normal, the work of a good writer technically).

Meanwhile, Amy's daughter Neeve sees an opportunity for Amy to reconnect with her father, and so, it seems, does he - but can a leopard change its spots? Amy's quiet mum, very ill when younger and now caring for her husband, has developed a secret social life and a new circle of friends, and also becomes an unlikely Internet star. I loved this storyline!

So, there's a lot going on, a huge cast of characters, but we don't lose track and can trust Keyes to steer us through. And while it's bang up to date, with Facebook playing a role in the plot and the intricacies of liking and messaging adding depth to the description of strained relationships, the themes will outlast any slipping out of date that might occur - plus it's good to record exactly how things are and what we use to communicate at various points in history. The book is full of Keyes' trademark wit and charm, and uses one character to skewer modern searches for the meaning of life and others to discuss celebrity and reputation. I will share one quotation which I did love, when Amy is in crisis and wishing she'd learned about mindfulness in time to use it in this situation:

"Only the very, very oddest would think, Hey, my life is perfect. I know, I'll sit and waste twenty minutes Observing My Thoughts without Judgement."

In summary, a great read which will appeal to Keyes fans and more. There are two eating-disordered characters and some of their behaviours are described, I just wanted to add that content warning.

I will be posting a review on my blog a week before publication and will link here to that when it's out.

I have read all Marian Keyes’ books and she is definitely one of my favourite authors. In ‘The Break’, Hugh suddenly stuns his wife, Amy, with the news that he wants a break from their marriage. Not to split up, not a divorce, and he still loves her – he’s just taking a 6-month sabbatical. It’s not just the fact that he’s going, it’s that he thinks he’ll be able to come back in 6 months’ time and pick up exactly where he left off. Amy then realises that if Hugh can take a break, so can she… Marian Keyes delves deep into feelings, emotions, and relationships with her usual wit and perception, and produces another masterpiece.

4 stars for The Break by Marian Keyes, a novel that manages to be both deeply sad and very funny.

I read Marian Keyes books voraciously around about the time that I was embarking on motherhood and marriage but I haven't read any of her more recent books until this one. I was not disappointed: there is the great humour she is renowned for, there are fabulous family relationships (Neeve, Sofie and Kiara are beautifully written, sometimes infuriating, characters), and she does not shy away from exploring grief, depression, anger, feelings of inadequacy, infidelity, abortion, and dementia. Of less interest to me, except insofar as it points out the main character's need for 'stuff' to bolster her sense of who she is, there is a great deal of writing on designer labels, from bags to face creams. Did Marian Keyes always write so much about this? Also I don't remember her writing sex scenes before - these are a bit repetitive and meh. If you can ignore these minor irritations, you might just have a five-star novel.

I received this ebook free from NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph.

The Break is Marian Keyes at her very best, full of grief, humiliation, anger, tears but also laughter, passion and solidarity. Amy is devastated when her Husband Hugh declares he wants a break away to tour South East Asia for six months to find himself, promising to return, but during the time away Amy is not to contact him and he will do what he wants including sleeping with other women.
The grief and upset this decision causes is heartbreaking to read but, with this great writer she still manages to show the funnier side of things.
There was one chapter that caused a great intake of breath with shock, no spoilers but Facebook should be banned, I was so beside myself with anger towards Hugh how he completely blindsided Amy.
We see Amy coping without Hugh, family dramas aplenty, and Amy finding out who her true friends are.
Hugh returns - but read it for yourself, a journey of discovery for everyone including the reader
A brilliant read, one of her absolute best.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly

It goes without saying that Marian Keyes never fails to deliver a rattling good read. While not up there with her very best, The Break is no exception. It introduces Amy, her husband Hugh and extended family (there seems plenty of scope here for further stories starring different family members, a la Walsh family).

Hugh wants a break from the marriage - not a breakup, but time off being married. But can a break ever really be just that? And is there any way back for Amy and Hugh?

I enjoyed reading this so much, particularly the family (Amy's daughter Neeve and mum Lilian are terrific, but all of them could definitely have potential for future expansion ) and Amy's job in PR, rehabilitating the image of celebrities who've been caught out in some way. I'd have ideally liked more of that sort of thing and less of Josh, who I really wasn't interested in.

All in all though a brilliant read, and yes I would like to see more of the O'Connell family!

I devoured this book from start to finish. I have been a massive fan of Marian for many many years now and eagerly await every book she writes. This book did not disappoint, I loved the characters and the humour and literally spent my whole bank holiday Monday (Glasgow Fair - local holiday) inhaling every word of this book until I had finished it, I was desperate to see what would happen and how the various characters storylines would play out.

A bank holiday very well spent. Cannot recommend highly enough. Another fantastic book from Marian, she's a joy!

Most of us feel that we have ‘grown up’ with Marian Keyes. We’ve been with her since the 1990’s, and she’s never let us down, writing with heart, humour and compassion about heavy subjects such as addiction, abandonment, domestic abuse and bereavement, but always with such a light hand that her books have been dismissed as ‘chick-lit’ by some lazy reviewers; Marian’s legion of fans have always known that they are no such thing - she writes about serious life changing matters like she is our best friend bravely trying to make a joke out of her own personal tragedy.

Ms Keyes’s last two books have brought her into the bloom of middle-age – her heroines are reaching their glorious sexual prime, they have complicated partners and quirky grown-up children; it is a rich vein of life for her to mine.

‘The Break’ concerns itself with classic mid-life crisis. Amy’s husband, the hitherto lovable Hugh, decides that he needs to go and 'find himself' in the flesh-pots of South East Asia and that he will be spending the next six months living as a single man. We are naturally outraged for lovely Amy and hate Hugh for the selfish way he is treating her, but as Ms Keyes skilfully leads us into the narrative by way of gentle flashbacks we find out that Hugh is not the only one in the marriage who is going through an identity crisis, and perhaps he is not the only one to ‘blame’ for the unseen cracks in their relationship.

Ms Keyes originally planned this book for her most popular characters, the Walsh family, who have appeared in her best loved books including Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday and Angels. From what she has said in her online vlogs, I don’t think she felt she could inflict such an emotional trauma on the Walshes and so instead she has invented Amy and her extended family. They are all a delight and I would love to meet them again, especially her feisty daughter, Neeve, and her brilliant mother, Caroline, who would make an excellent double-act with Mammy Walsh, should they by chance meet up at some point at a church social or whatever.

An excellent read from an author at the peak of her powers.

A Marian Keyes book is the written equivalent of a big hug, or a lovely afternoon chatting with your dearest friend. There's just something about her style of writing that draws you in and cocoons you from the outside world. For a couple of days I was part of Amy's family and an honorary member of her circle of friends and I now that I have finished the book I feel a little bereft.

The book itself is laugh out loud funny in parts (Neeve's vlogging with her Granny) as well as an astute and wonderful reflection of the times we live in (particularly for women over 40 re-entering the dating world). However, it also has a rather melancholy thread running through it; as the blurb says
"Because falling in love is easy. The hard part - the painful, joyous, maddening, beautiful part - is staying in love"
Marian Keyes expertly identifies how difficult this can be focussing on money worries, middle age, teenage children, ex-partners, aging parents, busy jobs and the temptations of the grass being greener on the other side.

Thanks go to the publishers Penguin Uk for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Review will be posted to goodreads and amazon on the publication date

Just perfect Marian Keyes. Was sad when I was getting near the end. Hope there are more books to come with this family in.

Some real laughs and situations in life you can relate to.
Loved it.

As a huge fan of Marian Keyes novels, I feel incredibly lucky to have received an advance copy of her newest novel, 'The Break.' Our heroine, Amy is left devastated and incredibly confused when her beloved husband Hugh decides that he needs to take a break from their life and marriage for six months. Through flashbacks, we see that this isn´t the first time Amy has been left behind and we are able to witness the origins of her relationship with Hugh through all its wonderful moments, allowing us to fully understand Hugh´s crushing decision.

The other characters are wonderfully drawn and never one-dimensional, from the difficult but brilliant eldest daughter Neeve, to the hopeless romantic/yuppy coworker Alistair. What gives the novel its depth is the fact that Amy isn´t the only person who is given character development. Without spilling any major plot details, certain major events occur which involve the entire family which make you realise that the heart of this novel is love, imperfection and the art of forgiveness and redemption.

Glamour is added through Amy´s high-stress, nonstop adventures in the PR world and are left cheering for her when she manages to pull of yet another coup for her firm. I also found her love of makeup and vintage clothes incredibly endearing, fully understanding her need to go online shopping when in the pits of despair.

At times, I found the flashbacks difficult to follow and felt like they were more important than the present. However, overall 'The Break' was an enjoyable read and I would love to hear more about some of the minor characters of the book in the future.

I so loved this book, I feel as if I’ve really, got to know Amy, the dysfunctional O’Connell family and friends. Her life is turned upside down by her husband, Hugh, announcing he is taking 6 months out to go travelling. We find out the details about every aspect of her life and the incidents that led up to this event. There are winding stories within stories giving us insight into her relationships and family. We are drawn into her anguish and how she manages to survive from day to day during Hugh’s absence. I loved the Irishness of it, where people get scuttered, stotious or someone can be described as ridey. There are certain events that really made me feel for Amy and I felt as if I wanted to cheer her on or encourage her at certain parts of the book. Going to feel a bit lost without updates from Dundrum.
Marian is genius.

Marian Keyes is an author on my auto buy list. I love her style and have been a huge fan of her for many years now! So when I was approved a copy of her new book to review, i was like an embarrassing fan girl whooping away like a mad 'un.

What I love about Marian is her writing really makes you feel like she's one of your mates. Her books are funny, heart warming, down to earth, wise, full of the dramas of families, never fail to make you fall in love with her characters, witty yet also touching on some serious subjects. It's the characters that make every book she writes feel as if she's writing about one of your close friends. The quick quips and insightful remarks, balanced by the overwhelming importance of family and touching moments. Other authors may try to imitate her style, but in my opinion, can't come close.

So I'll try to write an impartial review, but as I've adored everything she's written so far, unless she's written a book about watching 10 layers of paint dry, I'm practically guaranteed to be enthralled.

The Break is about trying to stay in love. Even with all that life has to throw at a marriage - death, sorrow, step families, illness, temptation, ageing parents, money struggles - it is a book about how many hurdles and trials and tribulations marriages and partnerships have to overcome to stay strong and together.

When Amy's husband Hugh announces he is off travelling around South East Asia and wants "a break" for six months, Amy is naturally devastated. As if she hasn't enough to juggle - work, home, her three girls, ageing parents, troublesome siblings, finances and an obsession with online shopping - she now has to cope with everything by herself. Including all of the gossiping locals. Hugh is adamant he still loves her and doesn't want a divorce and will return. But Amy thinks he's going to meet some young carefree backpacker and not want to come back to her and their hectic, and at times, monotonous life. What follows is the six months leading up to the end of Hugh's "break" but also the months leading up to his shock announcement.

Staying true to her typical style, Marian Keyes writes in her usually witty and insightful way, yet also touches some deeper topics. Such as pregnancy and abortion still being illegal in Ireland and many women having to travel to the U.K. Although this is a serious subject, and she treats it as such, the writing is still fabulously Marion. This is one of the reason Marion Keyes is the Queen of "chick lit, "women's fiction" "drama". She's hilarious, yet also introduces topics such as depression, suicide, addiction, dementia etc into her books and manages to get the balance perfect between wit and serious.

Would i recommend this book? Oh yes! Would I reread it again? Yes! I just loved the characters as a reader we grew to "know", and can only hope that we revisit the O'Connell family in future books. When this book is published I will be purchasing it to proudly add to my collection of Marion Keyes books. She's still in a class of her own with her own unique spot on blend of chick lit, humour, warmth, wit and seriousness. If her books were a recipe on Masterchef, she would win with the prize for the perfect blend.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Penguin U.K - Michael Joseph and Marian Keyes for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were all interesting and really likeable, so you cared what happened to them.
I liked the way the book was written with the sections looking back to a few years ago, but also glimpses of what is to come.
Overall, a great story, which was humerous, but als o quite emotional at times as well. This is definitely a book I will be re-reading!