Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-30
• Binding: Hardcover
• 688 pages

Synopsis
'Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married'. Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy's marrying - because although she's his girlfriend, she definitely isn't the bride-to-be. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola's retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? Not if journalist Grace has anything to do with it. She wants the inside story on the de Courcy engagement and thinks Lola holds the key. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can't she forget him?Grace's sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her family is wonderful but they can'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? And what of the future Mrs de Courcy...Alicia is determined to be the perfect politician's wife. But does she know the real Paddy de Courcy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all...

Customer Reviews

Great book with lots of surprises and excellent writing
I'm always on the lookout for a books that's well written AND has an actual plot--you know, a beginning, middle, and end? You'd think this would be the norm, but if you read as much as I do, you know it's not.

Marian Keyes is one of the few writers who can actually pull you in, keep you turning the pages, and then build up to a good ending. S. Kinsella is another one, but she doesn't hit all the right spots every time.

THIS CHARMING MAN is about one, well, charming man and his connection to four women. This is a serious book with funny moments, but if you think about it, it really has some intense social ramifications. Some of the characters are better drawn than others, but still, overall, this is one heck of a book. I'd have to recommend two other books for your reading pleasure: REMEMBER ME? and the novel FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Both are excellent and worth your while.

Dissapointed
I must admit that I pre-order marian Keyes the second I know she has a book coming out and this one was no different. However, I started reading this book over 2 weeks ago and have only just finished (I normally would finish this sort of book in a day and a half). The book describes the lives of four different women and how their lives are all linked around one man. The story itself was good and usually I wouldn't be able to put one of Marian keyes books down but I agree with other reviewers as I too struggled with the way in which she wrote the dialogue for the character Lola. It was stilted and hard work and I found myself shutting the book whenever I was reading a chapter with Lola in it. The rest of the book was typical Marian Keyes style and admittedly when I got to the last quarter of the book I started to enjoy it. Unfortunately I just think that for fans of marian keyes she has changed her style of writing completely and it just doesnt go with her books. I wouldn't say it was awful but her other books are much better and a lot more of an enjoyable read.

Would give it 6 stars if i could!!
I am (one of) the world's biggest Marian Keys fans and I have had this book on "pre-order" for I don't know how long! And, I can safely say it didn't disappoint me one bit. Now it's finished I'm gutted, I wish I could turn back the clock and read it for the first time all over again.
Many people have mentioned the "dairy speak" of Lola, which, I admit, did take some getting used to, but once I was into the book it didn't matter at all. Lola was by far the best and funniest character and I was literally laughing out loud at parts. But, as others have mentioned, the book did cover real & gritty issues, domestic violence & alcohol abuse, and covered them well. I dont want to say too much & ruin the book, but it's highly recommended by me. Please just hurry up and write the next one Marian... Perhaps the last Walsh sister?? :o)