The Break

The Break
Marianne Keyes

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Keyes. Her books have so much warmth and humour, and I’ve never been disappointed by one. But a few have stood out as clear favourites, and The Break is one of them (fyi, my other favourite is Is Anybody Out There?). I’d go so far as to say it’s required reading for any woman in her forties who is starting to feel the creeping dissatisfactions of middle age. It’s a hugely generous book, with lots of heart. While there isn’t quite as much humour as the Walsh sisters books, there were still a few moments where I laughed out loud on the plane (I’m always on a plane these days; don’t ask) and startled the person sitting next to me.

I know that critics like to dismiss Keyes as “chick lit”, suggesting there’s something trivial and fluffy about her writing (or about that whole genre really). But this book deals with deep themes about what happens to love over time, who’s responsible for children as they grow more independent, and how desire can warp judgement. And it’s a total page-turner, like all Keyes’s books. I inhaled it in three or four sittings. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m glad she keeps doing it. Five stars.