Three women involved with book publishing. Lots of friendship and romance, Keyes is an excellent author, even when she isn't writing about the Walsh sisters.
Gemma Hogan is happily living her busy life as an event planner in Dublin when her mother calls in a state of dismay. After thirty-five years of marriage, Gemma's father has run off with his secretary. Gemma moves in to comfort her bereft mother while juggling job, friends, and fledgling love life. She understands her 'mam' because she herself has never really gotten over losing Anton, the love of her life, to her friend Lily. Gemma works out her disappointment about her father's abandonment by writing a book.

Lily Wright never meant to steal Gemma's boyfriend. When Anton moved to London and Gemma asked Lily to 'keep an eye on him', she never expected to fall in love. Now Lily and Anton have a beautiful daughter and Lily has a book about to be published. Jojo Harvey, literary agent extraordinaire, is having a quiet affair with her married boss, Mark Avery. She is fantastic at her job and truly in love with Mark. Attempting to secure a position as partner, Jojo spends a great deal of time looking for new authors and books that will bring in extra money for the agency. These three women, leading separate lives with different problems, are drawn together by common goals in book publishing. Their individual points-of-view give readers every side of a story which leads ultimately to a joyful conclusion for all.

Marian Keyes has written another winner, focusing on the fascinating process of getting a book published all the way from the initial idea. The novel takes us through each of Gemma's, Jojo's and Lily's lives. We learn about Anton from both Gemma's and Lily's perspectives, which are obviously different. Though the tale is lengthy, it never seems to get bogged down. Humorous interludes keep the plot flowing smoothly. Descriptions of the parties that Gemma plans, her mom's hysterical 'heart attacks', and Lily home renovation horrors all add depth and warmth to the novel. There were times I thought there would be no way things could wrap up positively for everyone. But the author ties up all loose ends so that the reader closes the book with a feeling of satisfaction.

Marian Keyes writes about three very different women, yet makes them seem real, and indeed a great deal like the women who will be reading her novel. Readers will be able to find a bit of themselves in the characters. The author stays away from caricatures which makes this book stand head and shoulders above the typical chick lit offering. I highly recommend The Other Side of the Story as a fresh, unique and engaging read.

Not my favorite Marian Keyes book but I definitely enjoyed the read.

Goed boek

It's not my favorite Keyes book but I still enjoy her wit. Her books make me laugh and her descriptions of different personality quirks are relatable. I like that her characters are strong women that find themselves struggling through..sometimes stumbling through life situations. Sometimes it gets messy because well...that's is life. I didn't enjoy it as much as her other book because I would have liked to see the mother find a purpose (other than wife), some more strength and independence during the separation. But maybe that was a touch of reality..because depression isn't easy to climb out of once it sets in.

I love the writing and how it walks the tightrope of covering tough subjects through comedy. It's the Irish way.

"I think we might have to go for family counseling or something"

"Dad, Don't be ridiculous, we're Irish"

I love this author and can't wait to read another book by her in the future.

This is the story of three women-Gemma, Lily and JoJo. Gemma and Lily were friends, at least until Lily stole Gemma's love of her life-Anton. Well, maybe that's where the other side of the story comes in. Gemma is an events planner, an overworked, underpaid events planner. After Anton broke up with Gemma, she asks Lily to spy on Anton and to tell Gemma what he's saying about her. Lily becomes smitten with, and pregnant by, Anton, much to Gemma's chagrin, consternation, dismay, fury. But, I digress. Lily writes a book, which starts off slow, but, much to Gemma's chagrin, consternation and dismay, it takes off. Gemma's Dad, at 60 years old, decides to leave his wife of 35 years for a much younger woman. Gemma's Mom can't deal with it, so she has her daughter come to babysit her....for a year. JoJo is a literary agent. Lily has sent her manuscript to nearly every agent in London and getting turned down left and right. Finally, she sends her pages to JoJo's firm, who go gaga over it. Gemma has been sending emails to her friend, Susan, detailing her parents' break up, details of the other woman, Collette and other odd bits. Then, interestingly enough, Susan sends those same emails on to her friend, JoJo, the literary agent. With no labor on her part, Gemma's email/story has caused quite a stir, but she's not sure she wants her parents' pain out in the public domain. It's a good story with a lot of side plots, who's sleeping with whom, who got short shrifted, who. is. evil, who's got your back, men coming in and out of their lives, backstabbing, venting to friends, drinking some wine, sharing feelings, asking for help, the good old boys' network, etc. It is a long book at 500 pages, but, to be fair, it is needed. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I like it when you have different stories and perspectives intersecting in one as it was in this book.

Great book, it will keep you company for a while, you feel like you're living the stories

If you told me I would have liked this book, based on the plot (and that I do not in any way support infidelity), I would have laughed at you. But I could not put it down. Marian Keyes is such a gifted author! She weaves three (sometimes four) stories into one book that I have to finish as soon as I pick it up. She writes about real women, and her writing style makes me feel like they are my closest friends. Well written. I am now on a huge Marian Keyes kick!

As a mum to two young children I thoroughly enjoy Marian Keyes’ books. Apparently it’s all my brain can handle at the moment (I attempted Shantaram a couple of weeks ago, who was I kidding?!!).

This was a fun book to read, if too long. I liked that all the main characters were kind of horrible because instead of rooting for one character, I sort of wanted them all to continue getting themselves into trouble. My favourite character was Irina, the Russian lady who worked at the makeup counter and liked to give baby Ema makeovers.

But why was there any entire sub-genre of "messy British woman" in like 2000? Everyone was obsessed with their boyfriends/ex-boyfriends, drinking too much, and constantly concerned about getting fat. It reminded me of Bridget Jones' Diary.

Your age is a factor when you read a book.
I first read this book circa 30 years ago and loved now.
This time around I enjoyed it...but not so much.
Never put off reading what you want to read until another today.
Read it now.

Ich habe das Buch echt genossen. Es war angenehm zu lesen, witzig und interessant (wenn man nur von Jojo ausgeht). Gemma's Part war auch ganz gut aber Lily hat mich so etwas von genervt. Sie gibt quasi jedem die Schuld an allem ausser sich selbst. Ich habe bei ihren Kapiteln das meiste nur überflogen. Ansonsten war es, wie gesagt, ein gutes Chick-Lit Buch.

3,5 *