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Marian Keyes is an Irish bestseller who writes contemporary fiction. Having sold over 35 million copies of her books, some people call her the queen of chick lit because she has a humorous style.
However, avid Marian Keyes readers know better. They understand that her books are actually more profound than their synopses suggest, tackling hefty subjects such as addiction, domestic violence, and cancer.
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Order of Walsh Family Series
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Watermelon | 1995 | Description / Buy | |
2 | Rachel's Holiday | 1997 | Description / Buy | |
3 | Angels | 2002 | Description / Buy | |
4 | Anybody Out There? | 2006 | Description / Buy | |
5 | The Mystery of Mercy Close | 2012 | Description / Buy | |
6 | Again, Rachel | 2022 | Description / Buy | |
7 | My Favourite Mistake | 2024 | Description / Buy |
Order of Walsh Family Collections
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mammy Walsh's A-Z of the Walsh Family (Short Story) | 2012 | Description / Buy |
Order of Marian Keyes Standalone Novels
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married | 1996 | Description / Buy | |
2 | Last Chance Saloon | 1999 | Description / Buy | |
3 | Sushi for Beginners | 2000 | Description / Buy | |
4 | The Other Side of the Story | 2004 | Description / Buy | |
5 | This Charming Man | 2008 | Description / Buy | |
6 | The Brightest Star in the Sky | 2009 | Description / Buy | |
7 | The Woman Who Stole My Life | 2014 | Description / Buy | |
8 | The Break | 2017 | Description / Buy | |
9 | Grown Ups | 2020 | Description / Buy |
Order of Marian Keyes Short Stories/Novellas
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | No Dress Rehearsal (Short Story) | 2000 | Description / Buy | |
2 | Is Gearr (Short Story) | 2000 | Description / Buy |
Order of Marian Keyes Short Story Collections
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Big Night Out | 2002 | Description / Buy | |
2 | Nothing Bad Ever Happens in Tiffany's (Short Story) | 2005 | Description / Buy |
Order of Marian Keyes Non-Fiction Books
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Under the Duvet: Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities | 2001 | Description / Buy | |
2 | Further Under the Duvet | 2005 | Description / Buy | |
3 | Cracks in My Foundation: Bags, Trips, Make-up Tips, Charity, Glory, and the Darker Side of the Story | 2005 | Description / Buy | |
4 | Saved by Cake | 2012 | Description / Buy | |
5 | Making It Up As I Go Along | 2016 | Description / Buy |
Marian Keyes Anthologies
# | Read | Title | Published | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Irish Girls About Town | 1995 | Description / Buy | |
2 | Yeats Is Dead! | 2001 | Description / Buy | |
3 | The Booby Trap and Other Bits and Boobs | 2013 | Description / Buy |
Keyes, who got her law degree from University College Dublin, did not live a charmed life. She nearly lost her battle with alcoholism and clinical depression. As a child, she struggled with anxiety. The author was prone to sadness.
But her fight with depression as an adult was a different matter. The ailment haunted the author for four grueling years, altering her perception of reality to the point where she couldn’t sleep, write, or talk.
Surprisingly, she had described rehab as one of the happiest moments of her life because she formed profound bonds with other wounded people. Together, they created a beautiful community.
Although, in the end, time was the only effective solution to Keyes’ mental challenges. She remembers trying every form of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and diet. Nothing worked.
Eventually, the sickness ran its course, and she recovered. Now, the author prefers to write hopeful fiction because she has a melancholic personality, and humor allows her to cope with life’s challenges.
She feels compelled to inject joy into the lives of her readers by writing stories with happy endings. She doesn’t understand the appeal of stories that end on a sour note. After all, happy endings occur in real life all the time.
Admittedly, even though she writes comedies, the author’s dark past informs her stories. She also tries to include her feminist leanings, which is why her books feature strong female characters fighting to overcome the obstacles preventing them from achieving true happiness.
The author was still struggling with alcoholism when she took up writing. Initially, Keyes wrote short stories. She sent them to Poolbeg Press after completing a stint at the Rutland Center. Poolbeg Press asked her to send a full-length novel.
She responded by writing ‘Watermelon.’ She went on to dabble in both fiction and non-fiction. The author believes her life has improved significantly since she recovered from her illnesses.
She found a thriving career, authentic friendships, and a loving relationship with the man of her dreams. The joy she experiences is pure and genuine. Additionally, her capacity for love has increased significantly.
She’s convinced that every obstacle that couldn’t kill her during her battle with addiction and depression made her stronger. Her experiences allow her to tell relatable stories with inspiring characters.
Marian Keyes Awards
Keyes’ accolades include the Sainsbury Popular Fiction Award.
Marian Keyes Books Into Movies
‘Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married,’ ‘Last Chance Saloon,’ and ‘Watermelon’ received adaptations.
Best Marian Keyes Books
Besides writing novels, the author helps aspiring storytellers by chairing competitions, sponsoring scholarships, and promoting creative writing courses. Keyes’ best novels include:
Rachel’s Holiday: Someone lied to Rachel. Her family wanted to help her. They knew that her fondness for recreational drugs would lead to a gruesome end. So, they spent a considerable amount of money to secure Rachel a spot at Cloisters.
The woman was more than happy to accept her incarceration because she thought it was an extended holiday. She couldn’t wait to indulge in the jacuzzis and gymnasiums. No one warned her about the embarrassing group therapy, not to mention the sex, drugs, and a desire for her ex she had no way of satisfying.
Watermelon: Claire was the envy of her friends and family. After all, she had everything a woman could ever want, including a great apartment, a decent job, and a lovely husband. Her first baby should have been the crowning jewel of her life.
But James, her husband, ruined everything when he abandoned her without warning. How was she expected to raise a newborn on her own when she hadn’t recovered from her broken heart? How could she start a new life with someone else when she couldn’t stand the state of her postpartum body?
Claire returned home to Dublin as a last resort, unaware of the love and support she would find.
When Does The Next Marian Keyes book come out?
Marian Keyes doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is My Favourite Mistake and was released on July, 30th 2024. It is the newest book in the Walsh Family Series.