3.5 stars. Entertaining read but a bit sad.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. This is a terrific novel to just curl up with for days. I really didn't expect to like this so much, and I am going to miss these people now that it's over!

DNF

Too much of a "beach read". I like something more substantial, even if I'm on a beach.

I didn't expect to like this book so much... especially when I saw the Oprah label :P but I literally spent an entire day in front of the fireplace at my mom's reading this, while it snowed outside. maybe that was a contributing factor.

it flowed well, was interesting, & was mostly about characters not a build-you-up, tear-you-down kind of plot (like most movies these days...). I've only read one other book by Maeve Binchy and that was many, many years ago but I definitely did not enjoy it as much as this. (The Lilac Bus)

enjoyable...er...lady-lit? If chick-lit is young "girls" carriening about, wanting to have it all and often making asses of themselves. Lady-lit is adult women in mid-life situations, pondering their lot and trying to make it work. Still, its just an enjoyable beach read.

A favorite book by one of my favorite authors. I'm sure I've read it at least 4 times.

Ria is a doting, loving mother of two to Annie and Brian. Her husband, Danny, is charming and a powerful real estate agent. They live in their dream home on Tara Road in Dublin and have friends and family coming and going, constantly filling the home with love and noise. Ria loves her live until one day, everything comes crashing down around her. Her husband has been unfaithful and has gotten a younger girl pregnant and wants to make a life with her. Trying to escape her problems but still desperate for a reunion with her husband, Ria accepts a house exchange in the USA.

This is the first Maeve Binchy book that I've read and I'm surprised it made it to Oprah's Book List. The characters were interesting and the novel flows very well. I did have a few problems with this book though. I felt like the purpose of this book was to have Ria and Marilyn exchange homes to learn more about themselves. Marilyn isn't even introduced to the book until 1/2 way through. Less background on Ria and more on Marilyn would have made more sense.

The other major issue with this book is how the female characters let their male counterparts walk all over them. There's very little justice for most of them. I wanted to slap Ria a few times for how she felt and acted around Danny. This is part of what made me so surprised that this was an Oprah book club pick because she usually likes her women strong and to stand up when being treated like crap.