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You, Me and Other People
You, Me and Other People is the life-affirming, heartbreaking and ultimately stunning debut novel from Fionnuala Kearney.
They Say Every Family Has Skeletons In Their Closet . . .
But what happens when you open the door and they won’t stop tumbling out?
For Adam and Beth the first secret wasn’t the last, it was just the beginning. You think you can imagine the worst thing that could happen to your family, but there are some secrets that change everything. And then the question is, how can you piece together a future when your past is being rewritten?
For fans of Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and David Nicholls.
They Say Every Family Has Skeletons In Their Closet . . .
But what happens when you open the door and they won’t stop tumbling out?
For Adam and Beth the first secret wasn’t the last, it was just the beginning. You think you can imagine the worst thing that could happen to your family, but there are some secrets that change everything. And then the question is, how can you piece together a future when your past is being rewritten?
For fans of Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and David Nicholls.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 29, 2015
83 people are currently reading
2348 people want to read
About the author
Fionnuala Kearney
4 books145 followersFionnuala discovered, age six, that she had in fact been christened Ann (that’s Ann with no ‘e’) and that her parents had decided, for some reason, to saddle her with a life of dealing with unnecessary vowels. At twenty she moved to London and marrying Mr. Kearney proved to be the best thing she ever did, apart from the fact that the vowel thing escalated further. Two daughters, both with deliberately simple mono syllabic names followed.
She worked, for many years, in London as a home search agent (like Phil and Kirstie without the cameras) until she decided, one fateful day, that it was time for a change – time to pursue the dream of being a writer.
Seven years on; time spent in her garret learning her craft, she is often found talking to herself with yellow ‘post its’ stuck to her forehead. She likes to write about relationships: couples, a mother and child, siblings, best friends… She likes to peel away the layers and see what’s going on beneath and then tell you all about it.
She worked, for many years, in London as a home search agent (like Phil and Kirstie without the cameras) until she decided, one fateful day, that it was time for a change – time to pursue the dream of being a writer.
Seven years on; time spent in her garret learning her craft, she is often found talking to herself with yellow ‘post its’ stuck to her forehead. She likes to write about relationships: couples, a mother and child, siblings, best friends… She likes to peel away the layers and see what’s going on beneath and then tell you all about it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
May 3, 2019
I love cheating stories and this one had cheating in Spades. It's a sickness, I know, but I can't get enough of these stories.
Adam was such a selfish prick. He cheated on his wife until he got caught, then he left his wife and his home, and alienated his daughter, all because he could not stop keep his dick in his pants and his hands off from the homewrecking slut he took up with.
Beth didn't hesitate to kick Adam out. This was his second strike in the cheating world and she didn't give him another chance for a strike three. The marriage falls apart, the divorce is imminent, and both Adam and Beth are forced to move on with their lives alone. The entire story through this couple's separation, devastation and heartbreak, all felt truly realistic. Then all the lies came to light and truths were discovered, and Adam's world plummets even further into destruction. The entire story felt honest and sad, and left me a little melancholy, but it all felt entirely real. I enjoyed the entire story, and as well as all the emotions this story wrung out of me.
May 10, 2019
3 stars
Ok - where do I begin. This book had 2 strikes against for me Besides this, the H never tried to get the h back - like he thought she should forgive him all the time, make all the concessions but he just couldn't bother making an effort besides being such a sad sack because everything caught up with him. The h says it best:
You left me, Adam. The problem was never how much, or if, I loved you. It was the way you loved me back. You put yourself first, not me.
For anyone else, this might be a 4-5 star. I read romance for just that. I don't really classify this as such, more like a contemporary - not even chick lit. There were some editorial issues - in certain dialogue, the wrong character was attributed to the discussion instead of the correct one - which threw me at times. I might take a chance on another story by this author.
Ok - where do I begin. This book had 2 strikes against for me Besides this, the H never tried to get the h back - like he thought she should forgive him all the time, make all the concessions but he just couldn't bother making an effort besides being such a sad sack because everything caught up with him. The h says it best:
You left me, Adam. The problem was never how much, or if, I loved you. It was the way you loved me back. You put yourself first, not me.
For anyone else, this might be a 4-5 star. I read romance for just that. I don't really classify this as such, more like a contemporary - not even chick lit. There were some editorial issues - in certain dialogue, the wrong character was attributed to the discussion instead of the correct one - which threw me at times. I might take a chance on another story by this author.
May 5, 2018
Fionnuala Kearney has entered the publishing world by an explosive story of betrayal within a marriage. I have been waiting for a long time for a story like this to hit the book shop shelves that has lots of shocking family drama and this is a story not to be missed.
All families have secrets. All families tell lies.
Adam and Beth seem happy together and live in a beautiful semi-detached Edwardian home. Adam thinks that his wife, Beth is just gorgeous,and proud she is extremely loyal and determined to succeed as a talented song writer.
Adam the forty-three year old husband is a crap liar he is being immature and selfish who chooses to cheat on his gorgeous wife and have an affair with a blonde totty waitress.
Unfaithful Adam has been keeping a very dark secrets from his past away from Beth and his daughter, but Adam is in for a shock as his dark secret from his past comes back to haunt him leaving his wife and his daughter even more upset.
You just can't help feeling totally sad for Beth with her pool of tears as her marriage is breaking down around her with one upset after the other.
I loved this story You, Me & Other People right from page one to last page. I want to read more books by Fionnuala Kearney. I looked up about Fionnuala and I am very excited as I have found out that she has a three book deal. I am really looking forward to them being published.
I hope that all family drama fans enjoy reading You, Me & Other People as much as what I have.
All families have secrets. All families tell lies.
Adam and Beth seem happy together and live in a beautiful semi-detached Edwardian home. Adam thinks that his wife, Beth is just gorgeous,and proud she is extremely loyal and determined to succeed as a talented song writer.
Adam the forty-three year old husband is a crap liar he is being immature and selfish who chooses to cheat on his gorgeous wife and have an affair with a blonde totty waitress.
Unfaithful Adam has been keeping a very dark secrets from his past away from Beth and his daughter, but Adam is in for a shock as his dark secret from his past comes back to haunt him leaving his wife and his daughter even more upset.
You just can't help feeling totally sad for Beth with her pool of tears as her marriage is breaking down around her with one upset after the other.
I loved this story You, Me & Other People right from page one to last page. I want to read more books by Fionnuala Kearney. I looked up about Fionnuala and I am very excited as I have found out that she has a three book deal. I am really looking forward to them being published.
I hope that all family drama fans enjoy reading You, Me & Other People as much as what I have.
May 12, 2015
Wow I read this fast. Completely compelling from the very first page this is a beautifully written novel, an authentic and intriguing family drama that had me completely hooked.
It is about the breakdown of a marriage, the heartache and sometimes ultimate life affirmation this can bring, a story about how we can never really know each other. This one truly spoke to me - the couple in this tale have been together a long time, yet here they are in absolute crisis. Something I have been through myself recently, it touched a nerve but only in a good way - I related so much to Beth,especially as a lot of her thoughts and emotions so closely mirrored my own.
On the opposite side of that is Adam - a man who cheated on his wife not once but twice, the second time leading to their split. Nothing is ever as simple as that though,despite his actions I ended up feeling quite sympathetic towards him - the author does a really terrific job of delving beneath the surface of her characters, showing that in anything there are two sides to the story.
There is even more depth to it to be had in the form of Meg, their daughter, who is now grown but this does not lessen the impact that all this has on her. As more secrets begin to surface, it is utterly engaging and really gripping.
The best part is the emotional impact - you feel right alongside the characters in this novel, you may take sides but in the end we can really only ever be who we are - a truth that Fionnuala Kearney obviously knows for sure.
Beautifully done. Kudos.
Happy Reading Folks!
It is about the breakdown of a marriage, the heartache and sometimes ultimate life affirmation this can bring, a story about how we can never really know each other. This one truly spoke to me - the couple in this tale have been together a long time, yet here they are in absolute crisis. Something I have been through myself recently, it touched a nerve but only in a good way - I related so much to Beth,especially as a lot of her thoughts and emotions so closely mirrored my own.
On the opposite side of that is Adam - a man who cheated on his wife not once but twice, the second time leading to their split. Nothing is ever as simple as that though,despite his actions I ended up feeling quite sympathetic towards him - the author does a really terrific job of delving beneath the surface of her characters, showing that in anything there are two sides to the story.
There is even more depth to it to be had in the form of Meg, their daughter, who is now grown but this does not lessen the impact that all this has on her. As more secrets begin to surface, it is utterly engaging and really gripping.
The best part is the emotional impact - you feel right alongside the characters in this novel, you may take sides but in the end we can really only ever be who we are - a truth that Fionnuala Kearney obviously knows for sure.
Beautifully done. Kudos.
Happy Reading Folks!
April 26, 2015
I really, really enjoyed this relationship drama which is the story of the unravelling of Adam and Beth’s 20 year marriage.
At the start of the book Beth is at her lowest ebb, seeing a therapist and coming to terms with the hurt that Adam has caused her. This is the second time he has broken her heart and she is in no mood to forgive and forget. She wants to move on in her life.
Daughter Meg is firmly in her mother’s corner. She feels just as betrayed and is finding it very hard to have anything to do with her father at the start of the read.
Much as I liked Beth and Meg, I loved the character of Adam. At the start of the read I really hated him. He was so selfish and really just thinking with his d**k, wanting to have his cake and eat it. I could have punched him on more than occasion. He wants to try again with Beth and he really cannot understand why she is so reluctant. Here we have a character who has spent years keeping secrets from the people he loved, he says he is protecting them from the truth – but is he really only protecting himself from the fall-out that would follow by revealing the truth not only about himself, but long hidden family secrets? Throughout the book those secrets are going to come out. All his pigeons are going to come home to roost and there is going to be a lot of heartache ahead for Adam, Beth and Meg.
It is a book that is certainly not predictable, is full of surprises with a lot of drama and heartache as well as some good times. I loved reading about these characters. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
At the start of the book Beth is at her lowest ebb, seeing a therapist and coming to terms with the hurt that Adam has caused her. This is the second time he has broken her heart and she is in no mood to forgive and forget. She wants to move on in her life.
Daughter Meg is firmly in her mother’s corner. She feels just as betrayed and is finding it very hard to have anything to do with her father at the start of the read.
Much as I liked Beth and Meg, I loved the character of Adam. At the start of the read I really hated him. He was so selfish and really just thinking with his d**k, wanting to have his cake and eat it. I could have punched him on more than occasion. He wants to try again with Beth and he really cannot understand why she is so reluctant. Here we have a character who has spent years keeping secrets from the people he loved, he says he is protecting them from the truth – but is he really only protecting himself from the fall-out that would follow by revealing the truth not only about himself, but long hidden family secrets? Throughout the book those secrets are going to come out. All his pigeons are going to come home to roost and there is going to be a lot of heartache ahead for Adam, Beth and Meg.
It is a book that is certainly not predictable, is full of surprises with a lot of drama and heartache as well as some good times. I loved reading about these characters. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
June 15, 2015
4 1/2 stars. I loved this book and devoured it in a day. The author tells the story of a marriage breakup through the eyes of Beth and Adam and I loved reading each chapter and how they coped and felt. To see the story unfold via his story and her story was wonderful and I think I am actually going to miss this family now. Highly recommended x
December 3, 2016
Opinião no meu blogue
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July 19, 2019
Impressive debut.
May very well go into my list of best reads of 2019.
I am partial to dysfunctional relationships, especially in a marriage . I also like to read about infidelity and how various people involved approach it .
This book fulfilled all these weird prequisites .
42 year old Beth finds out that her husband has a mistress .. she once forgave him earlier on in their marriage , and now she puts her foot down.
44 year old Adam cannot contemplate why he is a serial cheater .
Their 2o something daughter Meg is caught in between .
So is Ben, Adam's brother .
And as the story unfolds we come to know that Adam is harbouring many more skeletons in his closet.
Was a very interesting read. I was totally immersed in their lives .
I could empathise with Beth , but weirdly I had more sympathy towards Adam , and this jolted me.
Meg is one sensible young lady .
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary novels.
May very well go into my list of best reads of 2019.
I am partial to dysfunctional relationships, especially in a marriage . I also like to read about infidelity and how various people involved approach it .
This book fulfilled all these weird prequisites .
42 year old Beth finds out that her husband has a mistress .. she once forgave him earlier on in their marriage , and now she puts her foot down.
44 year old Adam cannot contemplate why he is a serial cheater .
Their 2o something daughter Meg is caught in between .
So is Ben, Adam's brother .
And as the story unfolds we come to know that Adam is harbouring many more skeletons in his closet.
Was a very interesting read. I was totally immersed in their lives .
I could empathise with Beth , but weirdly I had more sympathy towards Adam , and this jolted me.
Meg is one sensible young lady .
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary novels.
June 28, 2015
This is one hell of a read. Its truly one you will not want to leave alone until you read it until the end.
Marital breakdown is never easy I guess. I personally have not gone through this, but close to, and don't anyone ever tell me, that no matter how long you are married for you never had a cross word because I won't believe you, nor will I believe that at some stage, no matter how small, no matter how tiny no matter how minute.....the thought hasn't crossed your mind to put your coat on and walk out......OK, if only you came back again, or just put your coat on.
Here is a woman who is broken from her marriage. Her husband not only had an affair once, but twice.
OK I hear you say, what a "b" he must be.
But this author delves into the depths of things, the emotions behind it all. NO EXCUSES. NO one should have an affair or go off and have a one stand stand with someone, but its not that easy and straight forward there are always two sides to everything. I truly believe that. And I truly believe it more so now that I have read this.
NO EXCUSES to do this, NO EXCUSES to go off with someone else, OF COURSE NOT. But sometimes, its not always black and white and we are so easy to judge.
Meg their daughter is grown.
She has thoughts of their split of her own. Her own feelings her own emotions.
Mom is saying to her that its not about her, its between her Father and herself, their relationship, not the relationship she has with her Father.
However, when her Father rings her to have a chat, she is quite curt with him and asks if he is still with "her" he hesitates, and of course, says "yea" that was the instant put down of the phone.
This adds another dimension to this great story.
There are hidden secrets that come out, there are things you just wouldn't imagine that creeps from under the locked doors where family seem to think they can hide them, but the cupboard is bursting at the seams and eventually explodes. BANG with a lot of mess to clear up.
Absolutely awesome read.
** I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction/Blue Door for my copy to read/review and enjoy **
July 2, 2018
Es una historia tan real y los personajes son tan profundos que no puedes evitar sentir empatía por ellos. Con este libro reí, lloré, me enojé… sentí de todo.
¿Lo recomendaría? ¡Sí! Considerando que esta es la novela debut de Fionnuala Kearney, me parece un trabajo muy bien hecho. En general me mantuvo bastante interesada en la historia y aunque no estuve en suspenso todo el tiempo, no cualquiera puede generar ese nivel de empatía con sus personajes. Te lo recomiendo como lectura de descanso después de un libro complicado o cuando tienes ganas de una lectura ligera.
¿Lo recomendaría? ¡Sí! Considerando que esta es la novela debut de Fionnuala Kearney, me parece un trabajo muy bien hecho. En general me mantuvo bastante interesada en la historia y aunque no estuve en suspenso todo el tiempo, no cualquiera puede generar ese nivel de empatía con sus personajes. Te lo recomiendo como lectura de descanso después de un libro complicado o cuando tienes ganas de una lectura ligera.
July 25, 2015
Beth and Adam have parted ways. Not in an amicable way either. Beth discovers Adam has cheated on her, for the second time, and has had enough. Their daughter Meg, is away at University and Beth just cannot take the lies and deceit anymore. She struggles to move on from their break-up as she doesn't know herself as a single unit, just as a wife and a mother. Rattling around her marital home, she wonders if, by kicking Adam out, has she done the right thing. Was a it a knee jerk reaction to his affair? Can she forgive and forget? Can she manage without him?
Adam, meanwhile, is struggling to come to terms with the break-up himself. The novelty of a younger woman, sex on tap and a bachelor life is not as appealing as one would think. He misses the home comforts and the magnitude of his dalliance is swallowing him up. Things are even about to get worse, as an unexpected phone call causes more secrets to come to the surface, and spill into his life. Things couldn't get worse, or could they?
Fionnuala Kearney has written a novel that began so realistically that I felt I was right there beside Beth, almost immediately. The writing is so subtle that you find yourself lost in the world of this family from beginning to end. Beth seems to be a representation of a large percent of women over forty, who have done the major child rearing, picked the dream home and decorated it to within an inch of its life, all while supporting their husbands in a quasi cheer-leading way. A stay at home mother who has a hobby or a 'calling' (in this case, song writing), which occasionally brings home some money, means that Beth has been cocooned in this suburban world, with a kind of separation from reality. Firmly convinced of her husband's adoration, she never suspects he would play away from home again and her world shatters in one foul swoop. Their daughter, nineteen year old Meg, is also devastated by her father's infidelity and she lays on the guilt trip in a heavy handed way. Also gunning for Adam's demise is Karen, Beth's best friend and confident throughout the whole ordeal. Even Adam's younger brother, Ben, is horrified at his sibling's behaviour. All in all, Adam is not popular. With anyone. While we read of his feeling lost and alone, it is hard to feel any sympathy for the creator of his own hard luck.
All through the book, there are little clues to a more uneven past than Beth could imagine. Like chinks of light through uneven floorboards, there is enough to warrant further investigation into the murky darkness, but with the knowledge that you may not like what you find.
Secrets and lies. Who are they usually to protect? The liar, or the people who trust them?
This debut caused me to basically miss a whole day with my family. I knew by the third page that I was hooked and that there was no point in putting it down. I read straight through, until my eyes were unable to fight the good fight anymore, but only with the knowledge that it was the weekend and I could pick up the baton nice and early the next day.
A clever look at human nature, the differences between men and women and the dynamics of the 'average' family. We all have boxes in the attic, labelled and forgotten. How many of us have secrets that we hope remained labelled and forgotten? More, I expect, that you would think...
Highly recommended. Ideal for fans of Jojo Moyes and Diane Chamberlain.
Adam, meanwhile, is struggling to come to terms with the break-up himself. The novelty of a younger woman, sex on tap and a bachelor life is not as appealing as one would think. He misses the home comforts and the magnitude of his dalliance is swallowing him up. Things are even about to get worse, as an unexpected phone call causes more secrets to come to the surface, and spill into his life. Things couldn't get worse, or could they?
Fionnuala Kearney has written a novel that began so realistically that I felt I was right there beside Beth, almost immediately. The writing is so subtle that you find yourself lost in the world of this family from beginning to end. Beth seems to be a representation of a large percent of women over forty, who have done the major child rearing, picked the dream home and decorated it to within an inch of its life, all while supporting their husbands in a quasi cheer-leading way. A stay at home mother who has a hobby or a 'calling' (in this case, song writing), which occasionally brings home some money, means that Beth has been cocooned in this suburban world, with a kind of separation from reality. Firmly convinced of her husband's adoration, she never suspects he would play away from home again and her world shatters in one foul swoop. Their daughter, nineteen year old Meg, is also devastated by her father's infidelity and she lays on the guilt trip in a heavy handed way. Also gunning for Adam's demise is Karen, Beth's best friend and confident throughout the whole ordeal. Even Adam's younger brother, Ben, is horrified at his sibling's behaviour. All in all, Adam is not popular. With anyone. While we read of his feeling lost and alone, it is hard to feel any sympathy for the creator of his own hard luck.
All through the book, there are little clues to a more uneven past than Beth could imagine. Like chinks of light through uneven floorboards, there is enough to warrant further investigation into the murky darkness, but with the knowledge that you may not like what you find.
Secrets and lies. Who are they usually to protect? The liar, or the people who trust them?
This debut caused me to basically miss a whole day with my family. I knew by the third page that I was hooked and that there was no point in putting it down. I read straight through, until my eyes were unable to fight the good fight anymore, but only with the knowledge that it was the weekend and I could pick up the baton nice and early the next day.
A clever look at human nature, the differences between men and women and the dynamics of the 'average' family. We all have boxes in the attic, labelled and forgotten. How many of us have secrets that we hope remained labelled and forgotten? More, I expect, that you would think...
Highly recommended. Ideal for fans of Jojo Moyes and Diane Chamberlain.
March 29, 2017
I really liked this book. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I got 20% in and wasn't grabbed by it so I went to see what the reviews were and they all loved it so I stuck with it and was glad I did. I thought this was going to be another wife wronged by husband but it was so much more and you actually have hope for Adam. I really was sad that it ended.
March 5, 2025
I am a sucker for cheating books - and I am a simple soul.
For me, either get the couple back together, or he should get his cheating ass nicely kicked till kingdom comes. No friendships forever, chatting and sharing 'stuff' or double dating scenarios.
This is 4/5* book for most reviewers but it made me so mad.
Bit spoilerish but ...
But how does an author redeem (if at all) a lying, cheating, highly selfish and self-centered prick? One who continues to cheat while bleating half-ass4ed Sorrys.
And as one and all (daughter, friends, brother) tell him that he is not really putting in any real effort at showing his remorse, or doing any big gestures to get her back.
So, his excuse - he is human? A lousy excuse for one.
I wanted him git-gone but this loser is getting his pov in alternate chapters?
With him constantly running back to the skanky ow for his needs-fixing?
And then even more horrible things getting revealed.
Why were all these innocent ppl hurt?
So, to some author's mind - redeeming doesn't only mean them getting back together - but remaining friends and being in each other's lives?
For me, either get the couple back together, or he should get his cheating ass nicely kicked till kingdom comes. No friendships forever, chatting and sharing 'stuff' or double dating scenarios.
This is 4/5* book for most reviewers but it made me so mad.
Bit spoilerish but ...
But how does an author redeem (if at all) a lying, cheating, highly selfish and self-centered prick? One who continues to cheat while bleating half-ass4ed Sorrys.
And as one and all (daughter, friends, brother) tell him that he is not really putting in any real effort at showing his remorse, or doing any big gestures to get her back.
So, his excuse - he is human? A lousy excuse for one.
I wanted him git-gone but this loser is getting his pov in alternate chapters?
With him constantly running back to the skanky ow for his needs-fixing?
And then even more horrible things getting revealed.
Why were all these innocent ppl hurt?
So, to some author's mind - redeeming doesn't only mean them getting back together - but remaining friends and being in each other's lives?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2015
The cover art for You, Me and Other People is so striking, it's clever and very reflective of the story within the pages. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and this is one that would certainly catch my eye in a bookshop.
Fionnuala Kearney has given us the story of a broken marriage. There's certainly nothing new about that as the basis for a novel, but this author has cleverly told the story from both sides. The voices of the main characters; Adam and Beth are clear and separate, the characterisation is superb and the dialogue is effective and very authentic.
There is far more to this story than Adam's infidelity. It is a hot bed of secrets, mysteries and long hidden lies, and these are slowly but surely exposed via the author's excellent writing skills.
I didn't like Adam, or what he has done. Not many of the other characters like Adam either, in fact I don't think Adam really likes himself either. Beth, on the other hand, is a strong and determined character.
Despite her heartbreak and feelings of loss towards Adam and her marriage, she is able to realise that she is worth more than Adam. She's also got their daughter Meg to consider, and although it is clear that Adam does love Meg too, it is Beth who deals with Meg's day-to-day sorrow and grief as well as her own.
Most of us will have gone through the heartache of a break-up. Most of us will recognise the feelings and emotions that this author so excellently portrays in her characters. The complexities of modern relationships and the fall-out when they fail are dealt with so well in You, Me and Other People and as certain facts about Adam are slowly uncovered, the reader's feelings about him can change.
You, Me and Other People is a very accomplished and polished debut novel. The story is compelling, the characters are realistic and the writing flows beautifully.
Fionnuala Kearney has given us the story of a broken marriage. There's certainly nothing new about that as the basis for a novel, but this author has cleverly told the story from both sides. The voices of the main characters; Adam and Beth are clear and separate, the characterisation is superb and the dialogue is effective and very authentic.
There is far more to this story than Adam's infidelity. It is a hot bed of secrets, mysteries and long hidden lies, and these are slowly but surely exposed via the author's excellent writing skills.
I didn't like Adam, or what he has done. Not many of the other characters like Adam either, in fact I don't think Adam really likes himself either. Beth, on the other hand, is a strong and determined character.
Despite her heartbreak and feelings of loss towards Adam and her marriage, she is able to realise that she is worth more than Adam. She's also got their daughter Meg to consider, and although it is clear that Adam does love Meg too, it is Beth who deals with Meg's day-to-day sorrow and grief as well as her own.
Most of us will have gone through the heartache of a break-up. Most of us will recognise the feelings and emotions that this author so excellently portrays in her characters. The complexities of modern relationships and the fall-out when they fail are dealt with so well in You, Me and Other People and as certain facts about Adam are slowly uncovered, the reader's feelings about him can change.
You, Me and Other People is a very accomplished and polished debut novel. The story is compelling, the characters are realistic and the writing flows beautifully.
September 26, 2015
This is a book about a selfish man who cheats on his wife with two different women and then wants to blame it all on his dead parents and his childhood, his parents didn't love him and they left so now his wife doesn't love him and she leaves. How about about if you cheat repeatably on you wife she is probably going to leave you. Who is it actually who is doing the leaving, he created this situation. The wife at one point is in therapy to deal with her cheating husband and she is talking about trying to forgive her husband, problem is he is still cheating and she knows this. How can you forgive someone who is currently committing the act?? There is one too many revelations after another in this book. It makes you wonder - what next? I did finish the book.
October 8, 2016
Contains spoilers: Frankly surprised at comments of other reviewers who stated they started to feel quite kindly towards Adam by the end of the book. I didn't. All that emotional baggage rubbish didn't really cut it, didn't convince me that Adam cheated to keep Beth away from it all. As she puts it, he put sexual gratification ahead of his wife and his child and continued to do so endlessly. It's out in the open and he continues to cheat? How is that protecting his wife? Utter rubbish. Author needs to make her characters' actions consistent. Things were just so over the top and melodramatic at the end that the reader was sucked into it and didn't dwell on the implausibility of it all. This story is not believable. Only good part was the wife walking away, so HEA in my opinion.
February 15, 2016
An involving story with very good characterisation.
August 15, 2015
THEY SAY EVERY FAMILY HAS SKELETONS IN THEIR CLOSET . . .
But what happens when you open the door and they won’t stop tumbling out?
For Adam and Beth the first secret wasn’t the last, it was just the beginning.
You think you can imagine the worst thing that could happen to your family, but there are some secrets that change everything.
And then the question is, how can you piece together a future when your past is being rewritten?
To be honest I chose to review this book based on the fact that I liked the cover, shallow I know. But sometimes a cover can really make you want to read a book and this is what happened to me.
To begin with I thought this was going to be a bit of a pedestrian book with the usual husband cheats, wife finds out etc. Then I got drawn into the wonderful layers that this book has, the insightful writing which just called out to me, yes, this is what it is like, this is what happens in real life.
But then other layers began to peel back, there was more than one story here, more than one lie. There is so much more to this book than one storyline and the characters really began to feel real to me. With the book being told from two perspectives, it also wasn't easy to hate the wrong doer as you saw it through his eyes too.
If I had one criticism it was that I got so engrossed that when each chapter ended and another began it wasn't immediately obvious whose voice was narrating. It did alternate across the chapters, but when you are really into a book, you aren't thinking, one character just narrated so now it will be the turn of the other one.
A great read and even a little teary eyed in places.
My thanks go to Netgalley and HarperFiction for a free e review copy of this book.
April 15, 2016
Loved this! Superb storytelling and wonderful writing. Fionnuala Kearney shines a fresh light on that most terrible of dilemmas…- should a woman forgive a man who cheats? In “You Me and Other People” we hear both sides of the story from Beth and Adam as their marriage unravels. The strength of this book is the way the author makes us care so much about the difficult choices Beth will have to make. Superb debut.
December 14, 2017
This is the first book I'd read by Fionnuala Kearney and I really enjoyed it.. I can't really remember much of it now since it was a year ago almost though I can remember liking it enough that I wanted to check out other books of her's.
June 13, 2015
Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
I have to admit, this isn't my "usual" type of read, but I am absolutely thrilled that I didn't scroll on by and miss out on a chance to delve into such an incredibly well-plotted and intricate story. The title was what caught my attention first, swiftly followed by the thought-provoking cover, and then finally, I cast my eyes across the blurb and thought, "Wait, this actually sounds pretty interesting. I'm going to give it a go."
Well, it turns out that "pretty interesting" doesn't even begin to cover how completely brilliant this novel was, nor does it cover how I'd now choose to describe it. I noticed the repetitive mention of secrets when I first read the blurb and I wondered what exactly was hidden between the pages, but I wasn't prepared for the emotional fallout that would follow. It was incredibly powerful, intensely gripping and everything that I look for in a fantastic novel. I honestly cannot believe that You, Me and Other People is Fionnuala's debut. I mean wow. Just wow.
You, Me and Other People is split into three parts, each of which I thoroughly enjoyed and provided me with stepping-stones towards the shocking moment of truth. I think what truly did it for me though, what really reeled me in, was the prologue. Right away, the reader is paired with Adam's first person narrative and it immediately becomes clear that something fishy is going on, something sneaky, that Adam is doing something that he shouldn't be doing, which he's hiding from Beth, his wife. Well, I'm a nosy little bugger, so of course once I'd reached the conclusion that Adam was up to something, I refused to put this novel down until I'd found out exactly what that something was. The mystery, Adam's internal dialogue, his actions... It was all very suspicious, and in a completely intriguing, enticing, and incredibly delicious way. Fionnuala had my mind running wild with all sorts of explanations as to where Adam was and his reasoning behind being there. This captivation ensured that I continued with heightened interest, and my interest only continued to grow as I progressed through the novel. I can honestly say that it didn't wane once.
From beginning to end, You, Me, and Other People held me tight within its grasp. As I delved deeper and deeper into the characters' world of deceit and secrets, I felt myself becoming tangled within the web. I was questioning everything, everyone and in all honestly, this is one of those novels that makes you wonder how easily someone you think you know could keep secrets from you. The realisation of how vulnerable we really are, with our emotions and dependency slowly crept up on me and it was unsettling to say the least. What I also adored about this novel was the raw focus on family and the bonds that can be so easily broken despite having existed for so long. It was a real, in-depth look into a family who were anything but perfect. A family who, without even being aware of it, were already crumbling, crumb by tiny crumb.
It's not only Adam's narrative which we read from in You, Me and Other People, but we also get to see things from Beth's side, too, Adam's wife. I absolutely loved this switching of the narrative because it provided me with a look at the plot from the two affected sides. Adam and Beth's daughter, Meg, gave me with a real sense of what it would be like to be in her position. Despite the narrative never actually switching to Meg, I was able to read her character perfectly, via her dialogue and facial expressions. Fionnuala's characters within You, Me and Other People felt so real to me, they could have been any family living in the row of houses across from me in my own street. It's so incredibly difficult to realise that they are in fact fictional!
By the time I reached the end of You, Me and Other People I felt emotionally drained! These characters had seriously been put through the mill during their story and I couldn't comprehend just how much they'd been through in the novel's 432 pages. The plot was tightly-strung together, the characters lives intrinsically linked and the revealing of this family's secrets enough to knock me over backwards. It had twists, it had turns, it had shocking revelations and all in all, this was one hell of a debut novel that has ensured I will definitely show interest in Fionnuala's future work.
Becca's Books is awarding You, Me and Other People by Fionnuala Kearney with FIVE DELICIOUS CUPCAKES! With such a riveting storyline and a striking premise, this novel really held it all for me.
I have to admit, this isn't my "usual" type of read, but I am absolutely thrilled that I didn't scroll on by and miss out on a chance to delve into such an incredibly well-plotted and intricate story. The title was what caught my attention first, swiftly followed by the thought-provoking cover, and then finally, I cast my eyes across the blurb and thought, "Wait, this actually sounds pretty interesting. I'm going to give it a go."
Well, it turns out that "pretty interesting" doesn't even begin to cover how completely brilliant this novel was, nor does it cover how I'd now choose to describe it. I noticed the repetitive mention of secrets when I first read the blurb and I wondered what exactly was hidden between the pages, but I wasn't prepared for the emotional fallout that would follow. It was incredibly powerful, intensely gripping and everything that I look for in a fantastic novel. I honestly cannot believe that You, Me and Other People is Fionnuala's debut. I mean wow. Just wow.
You, Me and Other People is split into three parts, each of which I thoroughly enjoyed and provided me with stepping-stones towards the shocking moment of truth. I think what truly did it for me though, what really reeled me in, was the prologue. Right away, the reader is paired with Adam's first person narrative and it immediately becomes clear that something fishy is going on, something sneaky, that Adam is doing something that he shouldn't be doing, which he's hiding from Beth, his wife. Well, I'm a nosy little bugger, so of course once I'd reached the conclusion that Adam was up to something, I refused to put this novel down until I'd found out exactly what that something was. The mystery, Adam's internal dialogue, his actions... It was all very suspicious, and in a completely intriguing, enticing, and incredibly delicious way. Fionnuala had my mind running wild with all sorts of explanations as to where Adam was and his reasoning behind being there. This captivation ensured that I continued with heightened interest, and my interest only continued to grow as I progressed through the novel. I can honestly say that it didn't wane once.
From beginning to end, You, Me, and Other People held me tight within its grasp. As I delved deeper and deeper into the characters' world of deceit and secrets, I felt myself becoming tangled within the web. I was questioning everything, everyone and in all honestly, this is one of those novels that makes you wonder how easily someone you think you know could keep secrets from you. The realisation of how vulnerable we really are, with our emotions and dependency slowly crept up on me and it was unsettling to say the least. What I also adored about this novel was the raw focus on family and the bonds that can be so easily broken despite having existed for so long. It was a real, in-depth look into a family who were anything but perfect. A family who, without even being aware of it, were already crumbling, crumb by tiny crumb.
It's not only Adam's narrative which we read from in You, Me and Other People, but we also get to see things from Beth's side, too, Adam's wife. I absolutely loved this switching of the narrative because it provided me with a look at the plot from the two affected sides. Adam and Beth's daughter, Meg, gave me with a real sense of what it would be like to be in her position. Despite the narrative never actually switching to Meg, I was able to read her character perfectly, via her dialogue and facial expressions. Fionnuala's characters within You, Me and Other People felt so real to me, they could have been any family living in the row of houses across from me in my own street. It's so incredibly difficult to realise that they are in fact fictional!
By the time I reached the end of You, Me and Other People I felt emotionally drained! These characters had seriously been put through the mill during their story and I couldn't comprehend just how much they'd been through in the novel's 432 pages. The plot was tightly-strung together, the characters lives intrinsically linked and the revealing of this family's secrets enough to knock me over backwards. It had twists, it had turns, it had shocking revelations and all in all, this was one hell of a debut novel that has ensured I will definitely show interest in Fionnuala's future work.
Becca's Books is awarding You, Me and Other People by Fionnuala Kearney with FIVE DELICIOUS CUPCAKES! With such a riveting storyline and a striking premise, this novel really held it all for me.
February 19, 2017
Nebyla vůbec špatná, hlavní hrdina mi sice šíleně lezl na nervy a jeho žena místy vlastně taky, ale nebyl to žádný plytký příběh, příjemně mě překvapilo, že měl i jakousi hloubku a zabýval se ne zrovna optimistickým vyprávěním.
November 12, 2015
In essence this book is about one lie which leads to another and its devastating consequences; not only for protagonist Adam but his family and the people around him.
I liked the alternating chapters between Beth and Adam but by god Adam’s chapters are infuriating. He cheats on his wife more than once, treats those around him like crap, and wants to blame it all on his family history without taking any blame for himself. I just wanted to slap him for the most of the book. Even when he was at his lowest point I had absolutely no sympathy for him whatsoever; all I was thinking was “it’s your own bloody fault, man up and sort it out!”. His character may come across as a tadge extreme to some readers but for me he was totally believable as I know someone just like him, a serial cheater with the inability to put their child’s feelings first. So yeah, character Adam goes through this whole book, all woe is me, and yet he hadn’t really learned anything from his experiences at the end.
On a lighter note, the scenes with Beth re-discovering dating and discovering her new found sex appeal in LA are brilliant. I was all you go girl! So it’s not all depressing as it may seem, there are some very funny one-liners scattered throughout.
As their marriage is unravelling and as one lie leads to another and one secret leads to another, you do begin to wonder what will come next, this poor family, whatever can the author possibly dump on them next. Although I liked that one strand of the plot involving a child didn’t end predictably. In fact, the whole book isn’t really that predictable. I won’t say any more than that.
Some things don’t necessarily work out how you want them too but that may well be for the best and this book is testament to that.
Many thanks to the publishers Harper for approving me for an ARC via Netgalley.
I liked the alternating chapters between Beth and Adam but by god Adam’s chapters are infuriating. He cheats on his wife more than once, treats those around him like crap, and wants to blame it all on his family history without taking any blame for himself. I just wanted to slap him for the most of the book. Even when he was at his lowest point I had absolutely no sympathy for him whatsoever; all I was thinking was “it’s your own bloody fault, man up and sort it out!”. His character may come across as a tadge extreme to some readers but for me he was totally believable as I know someone just like him, a serial cheater with the inability to put their child’s feelings first. So yeah, character Adam goes through this whole book, all woe is me, and yet he hadn’t really learned anything from his experiences at the end.
On a lighter note, the scenes with Beth re-discovering dating and discovering her new found sex appeal in LA are brilliant. I was all you go girl! So it’s not all depressing as it may seem, there are some very funny one-liners scattered throughout.
As their marriage is unravelling and as one lie leads to another and one secret leads to another, you do begin to wonder what will come next, this poor family, whatever can the author possibly dump on them next. Although I liked that one strand of the plot involving a child didn’t end predictably. In fact, the whole book isn’t really that predictable. I won’t say any more than that.
Some things don’t necessarily work out how you want them too but that may well be for the best and this book is testament to that.
Many thanks to the publishers Harper for approving me for an ARC via Netgalley.
July 31, 2015
Beth and Adam have split up after twenty years together. She thought they had an ideal marriage but Adam is having an affair and when she finds out she throws him out. What happens next is told in alternating chapters by Adam and by Beth. As more secrets are revealed it is beginning to seem to Beth that she can never forgive Adam for the way he has behaved.
I found myself really getting annoyed with Adam. He seemed so shallow and as various characters in the story keep telling him 'It's not all about you and what you want.' It seems as though Adam is still a little boy and if he explains and lays some of the blame at everyone else's door he can be forgiven. He comes over to me as very manipulative and childish.
Beth I felt was a deeper character but I also got annoyed with her and kept wanting her to tell her to get on with her own life and not to dwell in the past all the time. I could empathise with her hurt and anger but even with counselling she was letting it dominate her life.
The book is well written and I did care about the characters enough to want to find out what happened to them. For me the ending didn't seem quite right though it clearly did follow on the from the rest of the story - maybe others will like it. Overall I did enjoy reading this book and as a portrait of a relationship breakup it is good though I felt it was maybe a bit too long. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
I found myself really getting annoyed with Adam. He seemed so shallow and as various characters in the story keep telling him 'It's not all about you and what you want.' It seems as though Adam is still a little boy and if he explains and lays some of the blame at everyone else's door he can be forgiven. He comes over to me as very manipulative and childish.
Beth I felt was a deeper character but I also got annoyed with her and kept wanting her to tell her to get on with her own life and not to dwell in the past all the time. I could empathise with her hurt and anger but even with counselling she was letting it dominate her life.
The book is well written and I did care about the characters enough to want to find out what happened to them. For me the ending didn't seem quite right though it clearly did follow on the from the rest of the story - maybe others will like it. Overall I did enjoy reading this book and as a portrait of a relationship breakup it is good though I felt it was maybe a bit too long. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
March 12, 2017
Nesmierne pútavým spôsobom spracovaná téma nevery. Apropo nevera.Vedeli by ste ju odpustiť? Hrdinka Beth to urobila. Prvýkrát ešte keď bola ich dcérka malá a Adam tvrdil, že šlo len o jednorázovú záležitosť. Milovala ho, tak mu odpustila. No teraz, keď dcéra dospela a Adam ju opäť podviedol /žiaľ tentoraz nešlo o jednorázovú záležitosť/, jednoducho ho vyhodila z domu.
Snažiac sa s tým vyrovnať, navštevuje Beth psychologičku. Chce zmierniť všetku tú zlosť, srd a hnev vo svojom vnútri. Chce prežrieť bolesť a chce zabudnúť. V tejto fáze sa správali hrdinovia presne podľa známych pravidiel, kedy žena po rozchode s mužom najskôr plače, potom sa hnevá a nakoniec sa z toho všetkého dostane a začína žiť nový život. Muž sa naopak najskôr teší, užíva si slobodu, sex a neskôr, s odstupom času si uvedomuje, o čo mu bolo lepšie, o čo prišiel. A tak sa správa i Adam. Hoci mu všetci dohovárajú (dcéra Mega, svokra, brat), aby sa snažil získať naspäť lásku svojej manželky, nedá na ich rady. Ďalej sa peleší s Emmou. Sex s ňou je pre neho ako znovuzrodenie - cíti sa mladý, šťastný, neviazaný. Pravdaže tento stav je iba dočasný. Všetko časom zovšednie a Adam sa s Emmou nakoniec rozíde. Na to, že sa chce vrátiť k Beth je však už neskoro... alebo žeby nie? Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokina1.blogspot.sk/2016/01/ty...
Snažiac sa s tým vyrovnať, navštevuje Beth psychologičku. Chce zmierniť všetku tú zlosť, srd a hnev vo svojom vnútri. Chce prežrieť bolesť a chce zabudnúť. V tejto fáze sa správali hrdinovia presne podľa známych pravidiel, kedy žena po rozchode s mužom najskôr plače, potom sa hnevá a nakoniec sa z toho všetkého dostane a začína žiť nový život. Muž sa naopak najskôr teší, užíva si slobodu, sex a neskôr, s odstupom času si uvedomuje, o čo mu bolo lepšie, o čo prišiel. A tak sa správa i Adam. Hoci mu všetci dohovárajú (dcéra Mega, svokra, brat), aby sa snažil získať naspäť lásku svojej manželky, nedá na ich rady. Ďalej sa peleší s Emmou. Sex s ňou je pre neho ako znovuzrodenie - cíti sa mladý, šťastný, neviazaný. Pravdaže tento stav je iba dočasný. Všetko časom zovšednie a Adam sa s Emmou nakoniec rozíde. Na to, že sa chce vrátiť k Beth je však už neskoro... alebo žeby nie? Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokina1.blogspot.sk/2016/01/ty...
December 27, 2015
You, Me and Other People tells the story of a couple, Beth and Adam, at the point where Beth has kicked Adam out of the family home. Beth is at a very low point, feeling destroyed by Adam's actions. Her feelings of betrayal feel very real, and the story follows as Beth begins to put her life back together, with the help of her daughter and some friends. Oh and not forgetting her eccentric mother.
While Beth's life is on the up, Adam's is going in the opposite direction. His tangled web of lies begin to catch up with him, combined with a heavy burden that he carries and the introduction of a new family member, proves too much for Adam and his mental health begins to suffer.
The complicated life of Adam draws Beth back into his life, along with their daughter Meg. All the characters are well written and realistic. If your family isn't perfect then this book is for you, you'll see that you are not alone, but that through the bumps love and laughter are important.
A really enjoyable read. I'd quite like to catch up with Beth in a few years.
I was given a copy of You, Me and Other People by the publishers through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
While Beth's life is on the up, Adam's is going in the opposite direction. His tangled web of lies begin to catch up with him, combined with a heavy burden that he carries and the introduction of a new family member, proves too much for Adam and his mental health begins to suffer.
The complicated life of Adam draws Beth back into his life, along with their daughter Meg. All the characters are well written and realistic. If your family isn't perfect then this book is for you, you'll see that you are not alone, but that through the bumps love and laughter are important.
A really enjoyable read. I'd quite like to catch up with Beth in a few years.
I was given a copy of You, Me and Other People by the publishers through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 25, 2016
Check out the full review on my blog: http://confessionsofabookgeek.com/201...
You, Me and Other People is a refreshingly realistic, extremely well written, and, at times, quite humorous story that unapologetically delves into the warts-and-all scenario of a family falling apart, the consequences for all involved, and the long recovery process.
I was baffled when I discovered that this is Kearney's debut novel, it just doesn't seem possible. Not only is her writing style fantastic, but she writes excellent wit, which is such a difficult thing to do.
Kearney took a brave decision or two in this book, which kept the story unpredictable and therefore held my interest. However - I started this read with great gusto, and lost momentum somewhere along the way. I think it definitely could have benefited from being a little more succinct in places. Has to be said, I'm very excited to read more by Kearney in the future!
You, Me and Other People is a refreshingly realistic, extremely well written, and, at times, quite humorous story that unapologetically delves into the warts-and-all scenario of a family falling apart, the consequences for all involved, and the long recovery process.
I was baffled when I discovered that this is Kearney's debut novel, it just doesn't seem possible. Not only is her writing style fantastic, but she writes excellent wit, which is such a difficult thing to do.
Kearney took a brave decision or two in this book, which kept the story unpredictable and therefore held my interest. However - I started this read with great gusto, and lost momentum somewhere along the way. I think it definitely could have benefited from being a little more succinct in places. Has to be said, I'm very excited to read more by Kearney in the future!
November 5, 2019
I started this book two days ago and read it at every available opportunity. What made me hooked was the raw emotions that many can relate to. Being a psychologist myself, with bipolar grandparents, I appreciated how complex and real the characters of the books were. I didn't know how it would end, either, and this is why I will remember it better than other books I've read. The only thing that annoyed me slightly, was that the author kept writing ... After the last word in a chapter. But the content and the feeling of having learnt something new, made the read truly worth it.
August 14, 2015
This is a beautifully written, emotional and thought-provoking tale portraying the complexities of modern-day relationships, and the consequences of infidelity within a marriage. Told from the alternative viewpoints of wife, Beth, and husband, Adam, the story gripped me so firmly that I read it within a day. With its intelligently crafted plot, its utterly convincing characters and perfectly judged pace You, Me and Other People provided an ideal holiday read. A scintillating debut!
June 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I thought I knew where it was going at first, but it had several surprises that I did not see coming. I thought it got more and more interesting (and it started off pretty interesting anyway), so that by the last few chapters I was almost falling off my seat wanting to know what was going to happen. Great ending, too.
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