The grass is always greener... (Stick or Twist - Eleanor Moran)

Member Name: kingfisher111

Product:	Stick or Twist - Eleanor Moran
Date:	25/05/09 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely easy read

Disadvantages: none

When we meet Anna Christie at the start of Stick or Twist she is extremely confused. Should she marry Adam who she has been living with for ten years but no longer loves or she should she try to start all over again? Although it's painful, she decides that she can't marry Adam, so at thirty two she is suddenly on her own, sleeping on her friend Polly's sofa and having to play the dating game.

This wonderful book captures brilliantly the ups and downs of being a single thirty-something in a funny yet thoughtful way. Anna suddenly finds herself being set up with totally unsuitable men whilst many of her friends can't understand why she has thrown away what looked like a perfect relationship. Eventually she meets Harry who she could imagine herself falling in love with, but then again, he isn't Adam! Added to this she finds herself managing a huge project at work, supporting one of her friends as she goes through the anguish of IVF and she's also childminding her godson while his mum suffers a personal tragedy. When she discovers that Adam is dating again it really is the final straw.

This is Eleanor Moran's debut novel and it's a thoroughly enjoyable read. Before I had even read the first page I was laughing out loud as Anna laments that monogamy and monotony are such worryingly similar words and then proceeds to describe how her conversations with Adam are most likely to be about which sort of toilet paper they should buy. As the novel is written in the first person the reader is able to share all Anna's hopes and anxieties with her and this really draws you in to the story. I love the fact that as I read the story it feels that Anna is talking to and confiding in me which is what I want when a novel is written in the first person.

Anna is such a likeable character that you do find yourself wanting things to work out for her. It's easy to identify with her too because she is going through the sort of dilemmas that most people will go through at some time in their lives. All of the other main characters are very believeable as well, although there are some that you are definitely expected to like more than others. The style of the book is very chatty and informal thus making it very easy to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up to start reading. It's a modern story about modern relationships that has the ability to make you laugh one moment yet make you think the next. There is a certain predictability to the storyline but I can forgive that because it's such an enjoyable read.

This book is currently available on Amazon for £5 and it has 368 pages.

This review has previously appeared under my name at www.thebookbag.co.uk

Summary: An excellent debut novel!