The Break: British Book Awards Author of the Year 2022

(Paperback)

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Publishing Details

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Description

A hilarious and insightful tale about a runaway husband from the internationally bestselling writer of smart, funny fiction At 44 Amy O'Connell thinks she's seen, heard or done it all. Until her husband Hugh announces he needs a break - from her. He is going backpacking for six months round Asia where he can do what he wants - and this is the scary bit - with anyone he wants. 'WTAF' thinks Amy. What's she to do Stay loyal to disloyal Hugh Allow her ex-husband back into her life Run away herself And what about the children A lot can happen in six months. Will Hugh return as the same man And will she still be the same woman there waiting for him

Reviews

Involving and beautifully told . . . There's a reason why Marian Keyes is the queen of commercial women's fiction * i Newspaper *
Classic Marian Keyes: a blizzard of wit and wisecracks. Mercilessly funny * The Times *
There is such a variety of stories and the characters are believable and relatable. She writes funny parts, but then there are those moments that knock you down with sadness * Libby Page, bestselling author of The Lido, Woman & Home *
An addictive book . . . lust and desire is described brilliantly * Independent *
The Break races along with Keyes' trademark energy, lightness of touch and plenty of laughs * Sunday Express *
The Break is Marian Keyes at her funniest, wisest, glorious best
The Break makes me laugh out loud * Sunday Express *
Breathlessly entertaining * Connaught Telegraph *
Keyes writes extremely well about modern women. A breezy, candid and deeply felt account of a wife, mother and career woman rediscovering herself * Metro *
Girl-power at its best. I laughed . . . I cried * Daily Mail *

Another belter. Full of brilliantly fun characters, genuine emotion and heaps of charm. We loved it!

* Heat *
A snappy narrator and a raucous cast of characters make The Break another classic from Marian Keyes * Sunday Express *
Fabulously entertaining. Classic Keyes. The queen of intelligent women's fiction * Sunday Mirror *
A pleasure. Keyes writes women who are absolutely themselves, even when society tries to insist they be something else * Irish Times *
Hilariously wise * Prima *
Marian Keyes's latest novel will have you enraged one moment. Half laughing. Half crying the next. While nodding in recognition * Psychologies *
Marian Keyes writes about modern relationships and families with brutal yet endearing honesty, wonderful humour and astonishing acumen * Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things *
There is no finer writer than Marian Keyes and The Break is her at the top of the game; funny, real, with characters that speak to all of us. Only Keyes can combine pathos and humour with such effortless skill, to produce a novel that stays with you long after you've turned the final page * Rowan Coleman, author of The Summer of Impossible Things *
Underline Keyes' status as an international treasure. The ultimate choice for a binge read * Stylist *
A gripping story with great heart, intensity and wisdom * Sunday Business Post *
Hilarious and moving, a zeitgeisty look at how couples splinter or stay together in the face of life's obstacles * Irish Times *
I bloody loved it. Many moments of comic genius, empathy and heartbreak. She really is unparalleled when it comes to making serious points with the lightest of touches. * The Pool *
I absolutely LOVED The Break - such energy, wit and good humour * Fanny Blake, author and books editor, Woman & Home *
One of the most reliably brilliant novelists writing with humour and insight about women's lives, I think Keyes gets better and better * Alice OKeeffe, The Bookseller *
Hilariously warm and wonderful * Image *

Amy's husband Hugh has run away to 'find himself'. But will he ever come back

'Myself and Hugh . . . We're taking a break.'
'A city-with-fancy-food sort of break'

If only.

* from the publisher's description *
September's best pulse-quickening pager-turner. Marian Keyes at her most classic and brilliant best * Red *
The ultimate choice . . . filled with the author's signature themes, think turbulent relationships, tricky families and the need for self-belief. Keyes' [is] an international treasure * Stylist *
Fabulously entertaining, classic Keyes . . . a delightful reminder of why best selling Keyes has earned her crown as the queen of intelligent woman's fiction * The People *
Cause for celebration . . . An engrossing novel full of wit and warmth. The humour never once detracts from the emotional depth. * Red *
Cause for jubilation . . . This proves her to be the reigning queen of British chick lit . . . insightful, funny and poignant * Daily Mail *
Praise for Marian Keyes -- -
Gloriously funny * The Sunday Times *
Funny but poignant * Marie Claire *
A total triumph * Daily Mail *
Not only is it a great story with funny, loveable characters, it made me laugh out loud * Stylist *

Author Bio

Marian Keyes is the international bestselling author of Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, Rachel's Holiday, Last Chance Saloon, Sushi for Beginners, Angels, The Other Side of the Story, Anybody Out There, This Charming Man, The Brightest Star in the Sky, The Mystery of Mercy Close, The Woman Who Stole My Life, The Break and Grown Ups. Her journalism, collected under two titles, Making It Up As I Go Along and Under the Duvet- Deluxe Edition, containing the original publications Under the Duvet and Further Under the Duvet, are also available from Penguin. Marian lives in Dublin with her husband.