Product Description

Lola has just found out that her boyfriend – charismatic politician Paddy de Courcy – is getting married. To someone else. Heartbroken, Lola flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will LolaÂ’s retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? Journalist Grace wants the inside story on Paddy de CourcyÂ’s engagement and thinks Lola holds the key to it. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why canÂ’t she forget him? GraceÂ’s sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her loving loving husband and beautiful daughters are wonderful, but they canÂ’t take away memories of her first love: a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on? Alicia Thornton is PaddyÂ’s wife-to-be. Determined to be the perfect wife, Alicia would do anything for her fiancé. But does she know the real Paddy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1180 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-05
• Released on: 2009-03-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 896 pages

About the Author
Marian Keyes' international bestselling novels include RachelÂ’s Holiday, Last Chance Saloon, Sushi for Beginners, Angels, The Other Side of the Story and Anybody Out There, a number one bestseller. Two collections of her journalism, Under the Duvet and Further Under the Duvet, are also available from Penguin. Marian lives in Dublin with her husband.

Customer Reviews

A charming book
As the synopsis says: "Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all . . " That pretty much sums up this page-turner by Marian Keyes, author of WATERMELON and SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS. Her latest novel is just as good--if not even better--than these previous efforts.

True, this novel has a gritter side and is more disturbing and deals with more "real life" issues than WATERMELON or some of her other efforts, but it's still packed with fun and frolic. There are moments that are hilarious paired with moments that will take your breath away. Such is as it should be with any good novel.

It would be virtually impossible to tell the story here without ruining it, but suffice it to say that Keyes is one of those writers (much like Kinsella) who knows how to craft a novel from start to finish. Unlike a lot of books that fall apart at the end, THIS CHARMING MAN goes straight for the finish line and then some.

My only complaint: I couldn't put it down and it TOTALLY disrupted my life. Would also recommmend the Kinsella novel REMEMBER ME? and the novel of great fun BARRING SOME UNFORESEEN ACCIDENT. Both are great, but THIS CHARMING MAN takes the cake.

Ok but not her best
I love Marian Keyes so when this come out i rushed out to get it.But i have to say i didn't enjoy it as much as i have all her others i didn't really warm to any of the characters at all and i found it lacked that Marian spark.Being in a violent relationship myself for three years i thought i'd really relate to the characters in this book but i just didn't warm to them at all.Ok but not her best.

Loved this!
I'm a huge Marian Keyes fan and agree that this is a departure from her usual frothy style. But I loved the gritty subject matter and her refusal to shy away from tough issues. Let's face it, her previous books have also dealt with death, adultery and violence so this shouldn't be such a shock to the diehard froth fans. It's great to see a writer take a risk and extend her style instead of rehashing the same stuff (are you listening, Maeve Binchy?!). Really enjoyed this.