After the death of his father, Hugh tells his wife Amy that he has to get away. To South-East Asia for six months. Without her. It’s a break but not a break-up. Amy is fuming as she is left to deal with the fallout of a mid-life crisis. She knows from her public relations job how to salvage a reputation but isn’t sure she can salvage this relationship. And after the break, will she even want to?
Any Marian Keyes book is highly anticipated and this one makes you feel right at home with a great cast of characters, including the colleague-to-confide-in Alastair, the vlogging daughter Neeve and the vulnerable niece Sofie. But I strugged with the story – it’s long and while some sections picked up the pace, it just wasn’t as witty and engaging as expected.
Marian Keyes writes about the trials of staying in love in her latest novel, The Break. The summary says: "'Myself and Hugh . . . We're taking a break.'
'A city-with-fancy-food sort of break?'
If only.
Amy's husband Hugh says he isn't leaving her. He still loves her, he's just taking a break - from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. Six months to lose himself in south-east Asia. And there is nothing Amy can say or do about it.
Yes, it's a mid-life crisis, but let's be clear: a break isn't a break up - yet ...
However, for Amy it's enough to send her - along with her extended family of gossips, misfits and troublemakers - teetering over the edge. For a lot can happen in six months. When Hugh returns if he returns, will he be the same man she married? And will Amy be the same woman? Because if Hugh is on a break from their marriage, then isn't she?" The Break is out in September 2017.