Emer McLysaght – Steph's Book Blog

About The Book

You can take the small-town girl out of the big city – but can you take the big city out of the girl?

Job. Flat. Boyfriend. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Aisling (seems) to be winning at life. But life has other ideas.

Fired. Homeless. Dumped. Tick. Tick. Tick.

When everything comes crashing down around her, moving back in with her mam seems like a disaster.

But might returning to her roots provide the answers Aisling’s looking for?

My Review

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. Aisling was a character I liked a lot in the previous book and I liked her even more after this follow-up. She is still naive but is much stronger and as the novel progresses she uses all her little idiosyncrasies to gain focus in her life.
There is humour but I also found it a darker and more poignant read. Her relationship breakdown was upsetting but also heart warming. I could picture them easily trying to come to terms with their decision. The warmth and openness of her personality is more evident. The devotion to her family, friends and many other people she has known for years.
The more intimidating side to the novel had me suspecting various individuals. I’m not revealing if I was correct, you need to read it. It’s a very convincing part to the storyline and shows that these authors can write different types of fiction.
I finished this book wanting more. I want to know more about life in the Irish town and it’s brilliant community.

Oh My God What a Complete Aisling

About the Book

Twenty-something Aisling – that’s pronounced Ashling – is the sensible sort.

She wears kitten heels for the sake of her arches.

And a great night out is knowing the immersion heater at home is securely switched off.

In other words, country girl Aisling likes to play it safe in the big city.

But that hasn’t helped get her man John to hurry up and pop the question.

Throwing caution to the wind an impatient Aisling tries to encourage him, only for her whole life to come crashing down.

Now no umbrella, electric blanket, nor sensibly sized heel can save her.

What’s a complete Aisling to do?

My Review

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. Sometimes a humorous, life warming novel is just what I need and Aisling delivered everything. She is a country girl, the daughter of a farmer who is successful in her job in the city. Some good friends, both in the city and at home and she is in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend. But she wants to be married and he doesn’t. When they go their separate ways, Aisling sees a side to life that she didn’t expect to. She discovers that you can go on holiday without military planning, you can go out for a drink during the week and occasionally have to park without a permit.
She is a lovely character and I can’t think of a think to dislike about her. Devoted to her family, a stickler for routine and cleanliness. Leaving the lights on in an unoccupied room is terrible and she is devoted to the points that different food has in her slimming club. Her observations on different people combined with a sweet naiveté was just lovely. There is humour, her observation on her father’s obsession with buying things on special offer that he doesn’t need from a well-known supermarket and also sadness when she has to deal with loss.
I would love to meet Aisling again, she seems like a nice person to know.