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Kesempatan Terakhir
Tara, Katherine, dan Fintan bersahabat sejak masih remaja di zaman jins stretch merah muda dan Duran Duran. Sekarang di awal usia tiga puluhan, mereka tinggal di London, tapi sejauh ini hanya Fintan yang menemukan cinta sejati.
Tara terjebak dalam hubungan mengerikan. Karena percaya ia memegang kesempatan terakhirnya, ia merasa bahkan laki-laki yang suka melecehkan pun lebih baik daripada tidak ada sama sekali.
Katherine berbeda 180 derajat. Satu-satunya hubungan yang ia inginkan adalah dengan remote control-nya. Dia tidak peduli Joe Roth yang tampan, si anak baru di kantor, bersedia nonton TV bersamanya.
Tapi ketika bukan kau sendiri yang menginginkan perubahan, hidup punya cara untuk mengubahmu. Dan nasib---dalam bentuk penyakit, aktor tampan dan berbahaya yang sedang menganggur, serta berbagai hal lain---datang mengubah hidup mereka dengan cara yang tidak terduga...
Tara terjebak dalam hubungan mengerikan. Karena percaya ia memegang kesempatan terakhirnya, ia merasa bahkan laki-laki yang suka melecehkan pun lebih baik daripada tidak ada sama sekali.
Katherine berbeda 180 derajat. Satu-satunya hubungan yang ia inginkan adalah dengan remote control-nya. Dia tidak peduli Joe Roth yang tampan, si anak baru di kantor, bersedia nonton TV bersamanya.
Tapi ketika bukan kau sendiri yang menginginkan perubahan, hidup punya cara untuk mengubahmu. Dan nasib---dalam bentuk penyakit, aktor tampan dan berbahaya yang sedang menganggur, serta berbagai hal lain---datang mengubah hidup mereka dengan cara yang tidak terduga...
672 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
601 people are currently reading
15157 people want to read
About the author
Marian Keyes
89 books11.7k followersMarian Keyes (born 10 September 1963) is an Irish novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for her work in women's literature. She is an Irish Book Awards winner. Over 22 million copies of her novels have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 32 languages. She became known worldwide for Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, and This Charming Man, with themes including domestic violence and alcoholism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,061 reviews
May 10, 2015
I cannot understand how this book is getting such rave reviews. I could barely finish it, I wanted to pull my hair out with boredom!
The characters were so silly and stupid that you just want to smack them in the head, especially Tara. Give me a break woman, how is it that you accept living with a man who dotes on his cat while spewing verbal abuses at you in the same second? Ridiculous.
And really, Marian Keyes, all the unnecessary detail...you're killing me. I was skimming through passage after passage after passage of text that meant absolutely nothing to me and added absolutely nothing to the story. I mean, this is a BIG book - 600 pages - for a story that could have been cut down to about 270-300 pages! I could not wrap my head around all the chapters that I could've literally torn right out of the book and still had a complete, full story intact.
And Lorcan...WHO THE F**K is Lorcan?! I spent more than three quarters of the book reading random chapters about this man who disgusted me to no end, only for his "purpose" to be revealed in the last few chapters of a 600 page book. REALLY?! Are you kidding me right now? He is unbelievably sickening, I cannot even begin to imagine how stupid women need to be in order to fall for this man based on looks ONLY. I mean really, nothing...NOTHING...else is redeeming about him but his looks, and even that, I find hard to believe that he's so good looking you lose sight of everything else. Shoot me now.
The only thing that kept me going at one point was the interaction and later, relationship, between Katherine and Joe. Finally, something worth reading in this book. Something sweet, and pure, with the regular ups and downs, but at least realistic and normal in this great spectacle of a book Keyes wrote.
I do not recommend this book to anyone, and I am disappointed at the amount of rave reviews it's gotten that fooled me into buying it and wasting my time.
The characters were so silly and stupid that you just want to smack them in the head, especially Tara. Give me a break woman, how is it that you accept living with a man who dotes on his cat while spewing verbal abuses at you in the same second? Ridiculous.
And really, Marian Keyes, all the unnecessary detail...you're killing me. I was skimming through passage after passage after passage of text that meant absolutely nothing to me and added absolutely nothing to the story. I mean, this is a BIG book - 600 pages - for a story that could have been cut down to about 270-300 pages! I could not wrap my head around all the chapters that I could've literally torn right out of the book and still had a complete, full story intact.
And Lorcan...WHO THE F**K is Lorcan?! I spent more than three quarters of the book reading random chapters about this man who disgusted me to no end, only for his "purpose" to be revealed in the last few chapters of a 600 page book. REALLY?! Are you kidding me right now? He is unbelievably sickening, I cannot even begin to imagine how stupid women need to be in order to fall for this man based on looks ONLY. I mean really, nothing...NOTHING...else is redeeming about him but his looks, and even that, I find hard to believe that he's so good looking you lose sight of everything else. Shoot me now.
The only thing that kept me going at one point was the interaction and later, relationship, between Katherine and Joe. Finally, something worth reading in this book. Something sweet, and pure, with the regular ups and downs, but at least realistic and normal in this great spectacle of a book Keyes wrote.
I do not recommend this book to anyone, and I am disappointed at the amount of rave reviews it's gotten that fooled me into buying it and wasting my time.
March 10, 2023
It is always refeshing and endearing to read about solid friendships. Tara, Katherine and Finton are best mates, moving to London, hailing from Dublin. Each have their idiosyncrasies, but always there for each other.
This was a good audio selection, wtih all voices distinct, and accents fun listening. These lighthearded contemporary reads are not hard reading, so the stop start suits me.
All in their early thirties, they seem to be flailing. What is their direction? They've been in London for ten years, what have they to show for it? The writing flows easily and points to many of their faults and foibles.
Finton, seems to have everything together. Great boyfriend, the love of his life, brilliant flashy career in fashion and highly opinionated. His world comes crumling due to some health news. His girls are there for him.
He is short of patience now though, and his girls are asking for it.
Katherine, otherwise known as the Ice Queen at work, has a penchance for neatness and matching underwear, perpetually single and inpenetrable. But she is not happy. Surely she deserves some happiness. What has happened in her past to make her so reserved, boundaries tightly drawn.
Tara. Tara is the hard to take one. This was a tricky female character. Needing a man, putting up with a rotton one. The type of man that her friends hate, and tell her so. He puts her down and treats her terribly, when he clearly is no catch himself. She questions her weight hundreds of times a day and this is so unhealthy. It was hard to take. It's pub date is 1999, and this is very obvious.
These messy three make such great friends, but time has come to shake them all up, quetion their priorties, meaning of life and what matters the most.
This was an easy read for me and I certainly did enjoy, but Tara's lukewarm and blandness caused one too many eye rolls for this reader. I am loving getting through my physical books by selecting audio, and will always go back to Marian Keyes. This author is a recovered alcoholic and writes the condition of addiction well, it is authentic and sad to witness.
A well written novel, very light. 3 stars from me.
I listened to this on the Libby app through my public library, at 1.80 speed.
This was a good audio selection, wtih all voices distinct, and accents fun listening. These lighthearded contemporary reads are not hard reading, so the stop start suits me.
All in their early thirties, they seem to be flailing. What is their direction? They've been in London for ten years, what have they to show for it? The writing flows easily and points to many of their faults and foibles.
Finton, seems to have everything together. Great boyfriend, the love of his life, brilliant flashy career in fashion and highly opinionated. His world comes crumling due to some health news. His girls are there for him.
He is short of patience now though, and his girls are asking for it.
Katherine, otherwise known as the Ice Queen at work, has a penchance for neatness and matching underwear, perpetually single and inpenetrable. But she is not happy. Surely she deserves some happiness. What has happened in her past to make her so reserved, boundaries tightly drawn.
Tara. Tara is the hard to take one. This was a tricky female character. Needing a man, putting up with a rotton one. The type of man that her friends hate, and tell her so. He puts her down and treats her terribly, when he clearly is no catch himself. She questions her weight hundreds of times a day and this is so unhealthy. It was hard to take. It's pub date is 1999, and this is very obvious.
These messy three make such great friends, but time has come to shake them all up, quetion their priorties, meaning of life and what matters the most.
This was an easy read for me and I certainly did enjoy, but Tara's lukewarm and blandness caused one too many eye rolls for this reader. I am loving getting through my physical books by selecting audio, and will always go back to Marian Keyes. This author is a recovered alcoholic and writes the condition of addiction well, it is authentic and sad to witness.
A well written novel, very light. 3 stars from me.
I listened to this on the Libby app through my public library, at 1.80 speed.
February 6, 2020
I just loved this book - it’s long but worth the read
May 10, 2023
Ever since legwarmers were cool, best friends Tara, Katherine, and Fintan have survived small-town ennui, big-city heartbreak, and endless giddy nights out on the town. But now that they've graduated to their slightly more serious thirties, only Fintan has what can honestly be called a "love life." With Tara struggling daily with her eternal diet—and her dreadful, penny-pinching boyfriend—and Katherine keeping her single existence as organized as her drawer full of matching bra and panty sets, it seems they'll never locate the exit door out of the "last chance saloon."
Excellent! Loved Tara - she is exactly like me when it comes to food and I was hungry the whole time I was reading this book.
Fintan was also really cool! Made me laugh out loud a lot.
Great easy sunbed read :)
Five stars.
Excellent! Loved Tara - she is exactly like me when it comes to food and I was hungry the whole time I was reading this book.
Fintan was also really cool! Made me laugh out loud a lot.
Great easy sunbed read :)
Five stars.
August 29, 2016
I've read all of Marian Keyes' novels now, and I have to say that this might be her best yet. Watermelon was great, Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married a bit disappointing, Rachel's Holiday mildly depressing and frustrating, but Last Chance Saloon had me hooked. I very much enjoyed the cast of characters, each very well sketched out. The book really is a clever look at how easily one can become complacent, how easy it is to settle or simply float through life. The novel was a perfect mix of having something worthwhile to say about life and being immensely readable -- I oftentimes have the feeling that most books make me choose between substance and pleasure. Tara, Katherine, and Fintan will make you laugh and cry with their lives. Most definitely recommended.
June 15, 2013
This is my favourite Marian Keyes book. The characters are funny and flawed but in an all too familiar way. I can see myself and people I know in each of the main characters.
I've read this book many times over the years and I can happily pick this book up and start from a page chosen at random. The storyline is really engaging and I've laughed and cried reading this book.
I think this was one of the first chick-lit books I read but I feel it's more than that. It's about the sometimes complicated relationships between friends and family, love, the past and figuring out what you really want in life.
I've read this book many times over the years and I can happily pick this book up and start from a page chosen at random. The storyline is really engaging and I've laughed and cried reading this book.
I think this was one of the first chick-lit books I read but I feel it's more than that. It's about the sometimes complicated relationships between friends and family, love, the past and figuring out what you really want in life.
October 17, 2022
My first book by Marian Keyes and yeah, I can see myself reading her entire body of work!
A gentle story and yet…
plenty of drama.
Three main characters.
Four supporting characters.
One asshat.
London.
Serious issues.
Job difficulties.
Family problems.
Poignant.
Light but heartfelt.
Romance and wit for added zest.
Unexpected mystery revealed towards the end.
Oh yeah, tissues needed!
A fab read and one I can definitely recommend.
A gentle story and yet…
plenty of drama.
Three main characters.
Four supporting characters.
One asshat.
London.
Serious issues.
Job difficulties.
Family problems.
Poignant.
Light but heartfelt.
Romance and wit for added zest.
Unexpected mystery revealed towards the end.
Oh yeah, tissues needed!
A fab read and one I can definitely recommend.
July 13, 2013
I am so happy that I'm finished with this book!! I love Marian Keyes but this book left me with an agonizing desire to throw it across the room! But I was determined to finish it no matter what. I just couldn't get into this story. Perhaps, it was just too long and therefore, became quite boring. Or perhaps, it was because I couldn't seem to like the characters, with the possible exception of Tara. It had a good premise...live life to the fullest. I liked that, so that's something positive. Something that's even more positive....the book is FINISHED!!!
Cue music while I do my happy dance:)
Cue music while I do my happy dance:)
July 29, 2015
Last Chance Saloon continues to speak to me and it has been almost six years since I have read it for the first time. I don't know why I re-read this constantly. Maybe it's because I keep thinking that the ending of the book will unexpectedly change. I fell in love with the main characters in this book and really just wanted them to have nothing but good things.
Even though this book is supposed to be about three best friends since child/teenage years Tara, Fintan, and Katherine. Most of the book devotes itself to Tara and Katherine's lives and how Fintan's health problems end up impacting both of them to do things that they never thought they would.
Last Chance Saloon comes from a saying that Tara always says when it is brought up that she should leave her horrible boyfriend Thomas. Thinking of herself as old and decrepit, she thinks that if she does eventually leave Thomas or she him, that she will have no further chance at love.
Katherine on the other hand is alone in between periods of when she dates a man and finds herself turning into a stage five clinger.
The only one of the trio that is in a happy and healthy relationship is Fintan with his boyfriend.
And life continues on it's way until Fintan is diagnosed with cancer. With everything becoming topsy/turvy we have all of them being affected by his illness. Fintain eventually calls his friends together to give them each a request that he wants them to do or he plans on dying just to spite them.
I think the character I found myself feeling more affinity with was definitely Katherine. You eventually find out why Katherine acts like she does, but at the time you don't get it. Being the most self assured of the trio (and most grownup) you don't think that things affect Katherine like it does everyone else. It was great to see Katherine starting to let other people in and have her learn from her mistakes.
Tara was maddening. I think that everyone has been in a relationship like Tara. You are dating someone awful. And you find yourself staying in it since the thought of being alone feels like a fate worse than death. Heck I am friends with some people who did this fairly recently and it gets tiring to listen to. I can't imagine dating someone like Thomas in real life. Bigoted, mean, cheap, and just a general asshole, Tara dating him made me dislike her since I was tired of her making excuses for the guy.
Though this book is set up as a trio with Fintan. You don't really get inside his head too much except for the parts where you find out how he met and fell in love with his now boyfriend. That is one reason why I could not give this a full five stars. I think it would have worked better if we had more insight into Fintan and his pain and fear due to his cancer diagnosis.
We instead flip/flop around with another character named Lorcan. At first you don't understand why Ms. Keyes included the guy and what he has to do with anything. If anything you start to realize that Ms. Keyes was leaving clues to why Lorcan was important throughout the book. You don't get to the payoff until almost the very end though. Lorcan was so horrible to not even feel real at times. Unfortunately I have met this guy's doppleganger in real life so I know that sometimes people like this do exist (womanizer, cheater, liar, etc.).
I do still wish that we had gotten less information involving Lorcan and more with Fintan.
I really don't have any complaints about Ms. Keyes writing or pacing. She writes very well and you don't have to worry about getting lost with which character is speaking. The entire book is told in the third person which allows you to keep track of who is speaking quite easily.
Even though this book is supposed to be about three best friends since child/teenage years Tara, Fintan, and Katherine. Most of the book devotes itself to Tara and Katherine's lives and how Fintan's health problems end up impacting both of them to do things that they never thought they would.
Last Chance Saloon comes from a saying that Tara always says when it is brought up that she should leave her horrible boyfriend Thomas. Thinking of herself as old and decrepit, she thinks that if she does eventually leave Thomas or she him, that she will have no further chance at love.
Katherine on the other hand is alone in between periods of when she dates a man and finds herself turning into a stage five clinger.
The only one of the trio that is in a happy and healthy relationship is Fintan with his boyfriend.
And life continues on it's way until Fintan is diagnosed with cancer. With everything becoming topsy/turvy we have all of them being affected by his illness. Fintain eventually calls his friends together to give them each a request that he wants them to do or he plans on dying just to spite them.
I think the character I found myself feeling more affinity with was definitely Katherine. You eventually find out why Katherine acts like she does, but at the time you don't get it. Being the most self assured of the trio (and most grownup) you don't think that things affect Katherine like it does everyone else. It was great to see Katherine starting to let other people in and have her learn from her mistakes.
Tara was maddening. I think that everyone has been in a relationship like Tara. You are dating someone awful. And you find yourself staying in it since the thought of being alone feels like a fate worse than death. Heck I am friends with some people who did this fairly recently and it gets tiring to listen to. I can't imagine dating someone like Thomas in real life. Bigoted, mean, cheap, and just a general asshole, Tara dating him made me dislike her since I was tired of her making excuses for the guy.
Though this book is set up as a trio with Fintan. You don't really get inside his head too much except for the parts where you find out how he met and fell in love with his now boyfriend. That is one reason why I could not give this a full five stars. I think it would have worked better if we had more insight into Fintan and his pain and fear due to his cancer diagnosis.
We instead flip/flop around with another character named Lorcan. At first you don't understand why Ms. Keyes included the guy and what he has to do with anything. If anything you start to realize that Ms. Keyes was leaving clues to why Lorcan was important throughout the book. You don't get to the payoff until almost the very end though. Lorcan was so horrible to not even feel real at times. Unfortunately I have met this guy's doppleganger in real life so I know that sometimes people like this do exist (womanizer, cheater, liar, etc.).
I do still wish that we had gotten less information involving Lorcan and more with Fintan.
I really don't have any complaints about Ms. Keyes writing or pacing. She writes very well and you don't have to worry about getting lost with which character is speaking. The entire book is told in the third person which allows you to keep track of who is speaking quite easily.
May 27, 2015
No, this is not great literature. It isn't perfect, it may not even the one of the best Marian Keyes books. What it is is funny, gentle, sweet and relatively calm - exactly what I've been needing to read.
In typical Keyes fashion, the characters are all terrible flawed and all the more likeable for it. I really think Katherine is not up there with my favourite Keyes characters, as is the lovely Fintan (which makes the usual heartbreaking plot-line of the book even more heartbreaking).
Anyway, apart from the more sobering tone of Fintan's story, the other plot threads were entertaining and (mostly) cheerful. I can't honestly say that I could relate to Tara at all, but her melodramatics made for a amusing read, and she shows surprising strength in the end.
The banter between friends was hilarious, and I suppose my only disappointment with this book is that I left it with very little more than I came to it with. Still, a worthy little read for summer, especially if you happen to already be a Keyes fan.
In typical Keyes fashion, the characters are all terrible flawed and all the more likeable for it. I really think Katherine is not up there with my favourite Keyes characters, as is the lovely Fintan (which makes the usual heartbreaking plot-line of the book even more heartbreaking).
Anyway, apart from the more sobering tone of Fintan's story, the other plot threads were entertaining and (mostly) cheerful. I can't honestly say that I could relate to Tara at all, but her melodramatics made for a amusing read, and she shows surprising strength in the end.
The banter between friends was hilarious, and I suppose my only disappointment with this book is that I left it with very little more than I came to it with. Still, a worthy little read for summer, especially if you happen to already be a Keyes fan.
January 3, 2023
Well... you can tell this was written in the 90s. Please don't read this if you've experienced eating disorders, or simply weight loss/gain and diets in general. There were whole pages I just had to skip because one of the protagonists berating herself was so horrible to read. Was her self-loathing supposed to be funny, or an insight into her character? I suspect it was the former, but either way... Nooo thanks! And don't even get me started on the paedophile side character?!? Wtf??
I've enjoyed Marian Keyes' books in the past. The dialogue is witty and you do get attached to the characters. But I was REALLY not a fan of this one. Please god let this not be an omen for my 2023 reading year! 😱😱
I've enjoyed Marian Keyes' books in the past. The dialogue is witty and you do get attached to the characters. But I was REALLY not a fan of this one. Please god let this not be an omen for my 2023 reading year! 😱😱
November 3, 2022
The wonderful characters, hard and heart-wrenching struggles, and so so human.
There was, again, the humour that made me smile and laugh, although often quite (in today's notion) politically incorrect. But I didn't mind, such were 90ties.
And Joe - we need more such men! No violent, no vicious, that can be charming and persisting in a courting but when a woman says "no", he goes away.
On the other hand, I had some difficulties with understanding Tara's being with Thomas. Then, to almost the end, I couldn't comprehend what was Lorcan for. He was an interesting character but I don't see why there was so much of him, just to be part of the last plot twist (at the very end). Yes, I could more understand why he behaved how he did, but still, he just didn't fit the narration. And, I really liked Katherine, until the moment when she went "crazy" for a bit at the end. Again, her behavior didn't fit, it was exaggerated, at least in my opinion.
Nonetheless, Fintan, Liv, Ravi, Joe, Sandro, Milo, the whole background and the past of the main trio - it all made a novel worth my time and gave me a few thoughts to consider.
PS This one was written in the third person. I so accustomed to the first person in Marion Keyes's books (after only three novels ;-) ) that at the beginning it felt weird.
because the past had shaped the present, it was more important than the present
There was, again, the humour that made me smile and laugh, although often quite (in today's notion) politically incorrect. But I didn't mind, such were 90ties.
And Joe - we need more such men! No violent, no vicious, that can be charming and persisting in a courting but when a woman says "no", he goes away.
On the other hand, I had some difficulties with understanding Tara's being with Thomas. Then, to almost the end, I couldn't comprehend what was Lorcan for. He was an interesting character but I don't see why there was so much of him, just to be part of the last plot twist (at the very end). Yes, I could more understand why he behaved how he did, but still, he just didn't fit the narration. And, I really liked Katherine, until the moment when she went "crazy" for a bit at the end. Again, her behavior didn't fit, it was exaggerated, at least in my opinion.
Nonetheless, Fintan, Liv, Ravi, Joe, Sandro, Milo, the whole background and the past of the main trio - it all made a novel worth my time and gave me a few thoughts to consider.
PS This one was written in the third person. I so accustomed to the first person in Marion Keyes's books (after only three novels ;-) ) that at the beginning it felt weird.
February 1, 2025
this book bears the sign of its times: fat shaming, glaring double standards for men and women, casual homophobia....MIND YOU: NOT THE AUTHOR NOR THE MAIN CHARACTERS ARE LIKE THAT, JUST THE SITUATIONS DESCRIBED ABOUT THEM 😭😭😭🆘🆘🆘☠️☠️☠️
For some reason I found it difficult to enjoy the book at first. This read as a 2000s chick flick sooo much (and not the good kind😕), but eventually I saw where this was going and could enjoy it for what it was.
P.S. hated Lorcan with all my soul and wanted for him to be hit by a car 🚨🚗🤡🤬
For some reason I found it difficult to enjoy the book at first. This read as a 2000s chick flick sooo much (and not the good kind😕), but eventually I saw where this was going and could enjoy it for what it was.
P.S. hated Lorcan with all my soul and wanted for him to be hit by a car 🚨🚗🤡🤬
October 25, 2024
This was a long one but there is always something comforting about a Marian Keyes book. A good laugh and lots of fun!
April 15, 2020
Review to follow
April 1, 2018
No lo he podido terminar. No he podido con él. No puedo con los personajes ni lo que se cuenta de ellos y me ha parecido super aburrido.
November 29, 2022
(Update: From 4 stars to 3.) I only just realize years later from reading this that .......... There's my hopeful showing again. It was okay.. I didn't read this cover, and whoever wrote the synopsis turns it on its head. It's about appreciating the simple things at the last moment. A typical. Only because, we can do that along the way.
September 21, 2024
I'm so glad I don't like men. The characters were quite annoying at times but I finished anyway cause I liked some of Keyes' other works
October 1, 2024
Ibland är man inte sugen på något annat än en hederlig chic lit från nittiotalet som man redan läst minst fem gånger. Keyes bästa tycker jag!
September 8, 2021
Esta es una historia "cozy", en el sentido de que es del tipo de novelas por las que se dice eso de que con un libro en la mano, nunca estarás solo.
Es la historia de tres amigos de la infancia que en su juventud decidieron irse de Irlanda y probar suerte en Londres. Ahora, en la treintena, un suceso trascendental hará que todos ellos se replanteen sus vidas y tomen decisiones importantes.
Me ha gustado mucho, me he sentido muy acompañada durante toda la lectura, me he sentido una amiga más en el grupo. La historia está llena de clichés, situaciones previsibles y típicas, etc., que he leído cientos de veces, o incluso vivido, pero que no me ha importado leer. Eso sí, he sufrido un poco con el ambiente sexista que se describe en el entorno laboral de una de las protagonistas.
Es la historia de tres amigos de la infancia que en su juventud decidieron irse de Irlanda y probar suerte en Londres. Ahora, en la treintena, un suceso trascendental hará que todos ellos se replanteen sus vidas y tomen decisiones importantes.
Me ha gustado mucho, me he sentido muy acompañada durante toda la lectura, me he sentido una amiga más en el grupo. La historia está llena de clichés, situaciones previsibles y típicas, etc., que he leído cientos de veces, o incluso vivido, pero que no me ha importado leer. Eso sí, he sufrido un poco con el ambiente sexista que se describe en el entorno laboral de una de las protagonistas.
July 26, 2014
Just "out of the book"! Just finished in other words. Last Chance Saloon really captured me. Definitely better than the Marian Keyes I've read lately (that is Lucy Sullivan ans Sushi). First Last Chance Saloon also seamed just too much like them. Almost boring to read about the same things (low self-esteem etc) again. But of course MK is ALWAYS entertaining.
But Last Chance Saloon is actually different. Kinda more serious. The message is that we shouldn't presume life is forever, so we should make the most of it while we can. The very serious matter took up in the book is cancer, which one of the characters suffers of. I knew it was cancer immediately when there was some talk about some lump in Fintan’s neck, and I didn't like the way the book was going. Cancer and MK don't go together, cos MK-books always end happily. So I never expected Fintan to die, cos such doesn’t happen in MK-books. So I presumed he would be miraculously cured, even thou I don’t believe cancer can be cured... Well, actually Fintan wasn’t definitely cured at the end after all. He might well die of it some day, but he’s going to make the most of his life till then. Well, however, he was't even the main character...
The main characters was Tara, who couldn't make herself leave her awful boyfriend and Katherine, who doesn't want a boyfriend. Sounds pathetic, but it isn't really when u get to know more about them. Tara is very sympathetic actually, and I love her! Katherine seams stupid sometimes, but she is the one who's past is reveled little by little in the book.
Sometimes I actually thought that wasn't the book ever going to end. There certainly is many turns, but they are very unexpected actually, so its only good. Anyway. I think I was going to write a great deal more, but I have forgotten the rest...
Conclusion: A Very Good Book
PS. Last Chance Saloon was very good to read beside all the schoolbooks I’m reading for the matriculation examination! I think I’m going to read some more MK straight away!
But Last Chance Saloon is actually different. Kinda more serious. The message is that we shouldn't presume life is forever, so we should make the most of it while we can. The very serious matter took up in the book is cancer, which one of the characters suffers of. I knew it was cancer immediately when there was some talk about some lump in Fintan’s neck, and I didn't like the way the book was going. Cancer and MK don't go together, cos MK-books always end happily. So I never expected Fintan to die, cos such doesn’t happen in MK-books. So I presumed he would be miraculously cured, even thou I don’t believe cancer can be cured... Well, actually Fintan wasn’t definitely cured at the end after all. He might well die of it some day, but he’s going to make the most of his life till then. Well, however, he was't even the main character...
The main characters was Tara, who couldn't make herself leave her awful boyfriend and Katherine, who doesn't want a boyfriend. Sounds pathetic, but it isn't really when u get to know more about them. Tara is very sympathetic actually, and I love her! Katherine seams stupid sometimes, but she is the one who's past is reveled little by little in the book.
Sometimes I actually thought that wasn't the book ever going to end. There certainly is many turns, but they are very unexpected actually, so its only good. Anyway. I think I was going to write a great deal more, but I have forgotten the rest...
Conclusion: A Very Good Book
PS. Last Chance Saloon was very good to read beside all the schoolbooks I’m reading for the matriculation examination! I think I’m going to read some more MK straight away!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2020
This is the book I buy over and over again at the library book sale.
Cause I forget I read it. It was fine but no memorable
Cause I forget I read it. It was fine but no memorable
June 26, 2018
Took this to the lake with me looking for some light beach-reading. I got through the first chapter and wanted to toss it in the lake.
Borrowed my husbands book of essays on sports and music because even reading about junior college basketball games from the 1980's was better than this.
Borrowed my husbands book of essays on sports and music because even reading about junior college basketball games from the 1980's was better than this.
October 14, 2024
St. Marian of fiction can really do no wrong in my eyes, well ears really. I can’t believe I had never read this title, I don’t know how it passed me by, I kept waiting to remember the story and I never did. An early Keyes (1999) and a winner! The old emotions were a bit ropey, I was on the brink of tears often, but more importantly were the friendships, and the laughs. The book covers the stigma of HIV and the trauma of cancer, but it’s funny, and kind and smart and Mariany so you know it’s worth the trauma.
Now for a review of the audio if you’re of a nervous disposition look away now
Shit the fucking bed. Narrators; If you’re English you’re English that’s ok, just read the whole feckin thing in an English accent, that’s fine, but Jesus suffering fuck stop pretending you can do an Irish accent to get the gig, you absolutely cannot, you can’t do Scottish either btw. The only glimmer of good news is that the one Scottish character sounded a teeny bit County Clare so there was almost an Irish character.
Publishers: Have none of you heard an Irish or Scottish accent?
Seriously, stop it!
And another thing, I was going to wrap the moaning about accents since the audio was published in 2008, then I remembered Scotland and Ireland existed then.
So yes. Stop it!
Now for a review of the audio if you’re of a nervous disposition look away now
Shit the fucking bed. Narrators; If you’re English you’re English that’s ok, just read the whole feckin thing in an English accent, that’s fine, but Jesus suffering fuck stop pretending you can do an Irish accent to get the gig, you absolutely cannot, you can’t do Scottish either btw. The only glimmer of good news is that the one Scottish character sounded a teeny bit County Clare so there was almost an Irish character.
Publishers: Have none of you heard an Irish or Scottish accent?
Seriously, stop it!
And another thing, I was going to wrap the moaning about accents since the audio was published in 2008, then I remembered Scotland and Ireland existed then.
So yes. Stop it!
May 21, 2020
I enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and extremely relatable and the story moved at a good pace. There were moments of sadness and moments of joy, as we all experience in every day life. Although it dealt with some difficult topics, the book remained, overall, light-hearted - an entertaining read that I would recommend.
December 24, 2025
Erittäin viihdyttävä ja mukaansa tempaavasti kirjoitettu. Kolme ystävystä, kaikenlaisia tapahtumia ja käänteitä. Kirja oli hauska ainakin paikoitellen. Keyes on ollut yksi niistä kirjailijoista, joita olen jo pitkään seurannut ja tykännyt hänen kirjoistaan.
March 20, 2024
Marian keys has to be one of my favorite authors. Her books have this dry understated humor that I love and I love the stories, despite sometimes lacking a defined plot. This one I loved - but the ending was a bit disappointing. Felt like it was missing something!
September 9, 2025
marian u ate with this one!
June 17, 2012
This was another Marian Keyes book that I liked the sound of and was looking forward to reading.
Straight away I got a sense of fun from the main characters, they had a great friendship and were comfortable and relaxed in each others company. Tara had a bit of a problem with food and I could totally relate to that! Any parts that mentioned her hunger either had me nodding my head because it’s something I do, or laughing out loud at how hilariously she behaves when she’s hungry. Seeing everyday objects as food was a particular favourite of mine and I found myself doing the same after I read this. Her relationship with Thomas made me feel uncomfortable because it was so obviously wrong, I just wanted to shake her to make her see sense.
Katherine was interesting, she was a strong, confident woman on the outside but had obviously been hurt at some point in her life and this made her push people away. I really enjoyed watching Joe try to make his move on her – her responses were cruel but made very entertaining reading!
Fintan was fabulous, I loved everything about him! His illness was one of the main things that stuck out for me in this book – it was a real turning point, not just for his character but for everyone. They all seemed to re-evaluate their own situations especially after Fintan makes a couple of difficult requests.
I couldn’t figure out where Lorcan fit into the story, I knew he had to be important in some way but I couldn’t predict how. He was a horrible character and once I had discovered why he was there, it all made sense. I think I’ll have to re-read this at some point because now I can look at it from a different perspective.
Fintan becoming ill meant that there were quite a few heart-wrenching moments but these were balanced out by some very funny moments, for example a disastrous mud wrap adventure for Tara that is not to be missed!
A surprise twist near the end pieced everything together and it was something that I hadn’t seen coming which made it even more interesting to read.
This is an enjoyable book that really makes you see things in a different way.
Straight away I got a sense of fun from the main characters, they had a great friendship and were comfortable and relaxed in each others company. Tara had a bit of a problem with food and I could totally relate to that! Any parts that mentioned her hunger either had me nodding my head because it’s something I do, or laughing out loud at how hilariously she behaves when she’s hungry. Seeing everyday objects as food was a particular favourite of mine and I found myself doing the same after I read this. Her relationship with Thomas made me feel uncomfortable because it was so obviously wrong, I just wanted to shake her to make her see sense.
Katherine was interesting, she was a strong, confident woman on the outside but had obviously been hurt at some point in her life and this made her push people away. I really enjoyed watching Joe try to make his move on her – her responses were cruel but made very entertaining reading!
Fintan was fabulous, I loved everything about him! His illness was one of the main things that stuck out for me in this book – it was a real turning point, not just for his character but for everyone. They all seemed to re-evaluate their own situations especially after Fintan makes a couple of difficult requests.
I couldn’t figure out where Lorcan fit into the story, I knew he had to be important in some way but I couldn’t predict how. He was a horrible character and once I had discovered why he was there, it all made sense. I think I’ll have to re-read this at some point because now I can look at it from a different perspective.
Fintan becoming ill meant that there were quite a few heart-wrenching moments but these were balanced out by some very funny moments, for example a disastrous mud wrap adventure for Tara that is not to be missed!
A surprise twist near the end pieced everything together and it was something that I hadn’t seen coming which made it even more interesting to read.
This is an enjoyable book that really makes you see things in a different way.
August 13, 2013
All I can say is....wow. I'm glad I'm done with this book. Normally when I speed read books, it's because I'm desperate to know what happens next. I start gripping the book so hard, willing myself to read faster. This book was like that for me, but because I just wanted to get it over with.
The bar was set pretty high because I've heard such great things about Marian Keyes. The characters were all pretty "meh," and I couldn't relate to any of them. Sometimes they were so stupid that it was painful to read, and I didn't even feel like cheering for any of them (other than Fintan). I also didn't see the point of Liv and Milo...they didn't contribute to the storyline whatsoever. The storyline was also VERY slow...no suspense, no moment that made my heart race and kept me up all night reading.
I'll probably read another Marian Keyes book sometime because of all the hype and great praise she's gotten. I do hope it's better than this book, though.
The bar was set pretty high because I've heard such great things about Marian Keyes. The characters were all pretty "meh," and I couldn't relate to any of them. Sometimes they were so stupid that it was painful to read, and I didn't even feel like cheering for any of them (other than Fintan). I also didn't see the point of Liv and Milo...they didn't contribute to the storyline whatsoever. The storyline was also VERY slow...no suspense, no moment that made my heart race and kept me up all night reading.
I'll probably read another Marian Keyes book sometime because of all the hype and great praise she's gotten. I do hope it's better than this book, though.
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