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Watermelon

Book 1 in the series:Walsh Family

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Watermelon follows the story of Clare, who faces a devastating separation from her husband just hours after giving birth. Returning to Dublin to be with her family, Clare navigates through the challenges of betrayal, relationships, and family dynamics. Written in a humorous and witty style, the book delves into Clare's journey of self-discovery and empowerment amidst heartbreak and struggles.

Characters:

Characters in the book are portrayed as relatable yet flawed; Claire often feels insecure, while supporting characters add complexity and humor to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features a conversational first-person narrative, incorporating humor and introspections, but can sometimes feel repetitive or drawn out.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Claire's emotional turmoil after her husband leaves her on the day of their child's birth, leading to her return to her family and her journey of self-discovery amidst love and betrayal.

Setting:

The setting is mainly in Dublin, Ireland, where Claire retreats to her family's home after her husband's betrayal.

Pacing:

The pacing is quite slow at the beginning, with occasional drawn-out moments, but picks up as the main character's journey evolves.
February the fifteenth is a very special day for me. It is the day I gave birth to my first child. It is also the day my husband left me. As he was present at the birth I can only assume the two event...

Notes:

Watermelon is the first book in the Walsh Family series by Marian Keyes.
The main character, Claire Walsh, gives birth and is immediately informed by her husband, James, that he is leaving her for another woman.
Claire returns to her family in Dublin with her newborn daughter after her husband abandons her.
The story depicts Claire's emotional struggles as she navigates her new life as a single mother.
The narrative features a mix of past and present events, highlighting Claire's journey through grief.
Keyes explores themes of betrayal, family dynamics, and self-discovery throughout the book.
Claire's self-image is a significant part of the story, as she refers to herself as a 'watermelon' due to her size 14 figure, reflecting her insecurities.
The novel includes a love triangle, which some readers found predictable and frustrating.
While many readers found humor in Keyes' writing, some criticized the repetitive nature of Claire's internal monologues.
Watermelon has received mixed reviews, with some praising its humor and emotional depth while others found it slow and unsatisfying.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are several content warnings to consider, including themes of infidelity, emotional distress, body image issues, and heavy drinking.

Has Romance?

Yes, there is a notable presence of romance in the book, though it is multifaceted and complicated by past relationships.

From The Publisher:

February the fifteenth is a very special day for me. It is the day I gave birth to my first child. It is also the day my husband left me...I can only assume the two events weren't entirely unrelated.

Claire has everything she ever wanted: a husband she adores, a great apartment, a good job. Then, on the day she gives birth to their first baby, James informs her that he's leaving her. Claire is left with a newborn daughter, a broken heart, and a postpartum body that she can hardly bear to look at.

She decides to go home to Dublin. And there, sheltered by the love of a quirky family, she gets better. So much so, in fact, that when James slithers back into her life, he's in for a bit of a surprise.

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
It Was OK (3)

Reader Stats (7):

Read It (6)
Want To Read (1)
 
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