What did Marian Keyes do before writing "novels"? Encyclopedias? Not only was it completely lacking in prose or any kind of voice, the story and characters were dull, plain, unimaginative, et cetera. Like when Tim or whatever his name is (again, unmemorable characters) in the comedy club, everyone's comments seem sarcastic (like, "your boyfriend's sooo hilarious") and then everyone's worshiping what's-his-name! It makes no sense! A lesson to know for next time: do not buy a book without any reviews on the back.

This book is so funny. This is the first book from Marian Keyes that I read. After this book, I had to go to the bookstore and buy everything she has written. Her books are full of great characters, looks of fun things going on with the story line and returning characters in her books. Always funny, always romantic and always something unexpected.

"What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure."
(Samuel Johnson).

Going through this book, I got the impression that Marian Keyes was fulfilling a contract with her publisher to produce a 'novel' that had to be in the bookstores by a certain date. So basically she got up in the morning and pounded away at her keyboard to string together a bunch of words, without heed to plot, characters, insight, or style. The result is a desultory ramble of nonsense. The reader is left feeling ripped off of hard earned money and precious time. I would avoid this book at all costs!

I TRIED MARIAN KEYES BASED UPON A RECOMMENDATION. THIS WAS JUST AS BORING AS 'LAST CHANCE SALOON'. I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO FINISH EITHER OF THESE BOOKS. THE CHARACTERS ARE ALL SO ANNOYING, YOU DON'T GET ATTACHED TO ANYONE & THEY AREN'T BOOKS YOU CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE GLOWING REVIEWS, THESE BOOKS ARE SO BORING.

This book is a very slow-starter, so if you can plod through the first third of the book, things will pick up in the final two thirds.

Keyes, as she does in several of her books, goes to great lengths to point out how wrong it is to indulge oneself in adulterous affairs. The selfish character Clodagh is pretty appalling, not only for failing to have appreciation for her nice life, but also for being such a pampered, selfish jerk. As always, we don't just hurt ourselves when we do bad things -- the ripples of pain spread out like a rock thrown into a pond.

Lisa was an interesting character, being the flip side of Clodagh, only with a spanner thrown into the works by having to move to Dublin and take on this new magazine, "Colleen" (horrible name, geeez...It doesn't have the same cachet as, say, "Mademoiselle.") Thankfully, she did some growing up.

Ashling had an interesting story, once we were finally able to read it.

All in all, this book was a bit longer than it really needed to be. I think there was some stuff in there that could have been edited out to make this story move along at a brisker pace.