The Daisy Picker

by Roisin Meaney

Lizzie O'Grady is about to change her life. After one too many New Year's spent watching bad television, and one too many dull outings with dependable fiance Tom, she decides to chuck it all in, throw her backpack into her little Fiesta, and set off into the Wild West - of Ireland, that is - on the road trip of a lifetime. Along the way she manages to meet a cast of interesting characters, live in a caravan, accidentally get a new job, and lose the boring fiance. But, as is often the way in life, things are not as they should be. Pitching up in the little seaside town of Merway, she doesn't intend to stay long, but the down-at-heel charm of the place and the warmth of the locals draw her in. As winter turns to summer, Lizzie begins to realise that the past cannot be shrugged off like an old winter coat, and that here, too, she must make difficult choices.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary

314 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Born on 3rd September.
A published author of twenty books for adults and three for children, Roisin worked as an advertising copywriter for a number of years, and brings a vast amount of experience to the editing team. Her first novel, The Daisy Picker, won a Write a Bestseller competition. Her third novel, The Last Week of May reached number one on the Irish bestseller list and her fourth, The People Next Door reached number two. Her books have been translated into several languages, and two, Semi-Sweet and Life Drawing for Beginners, have been published in the US. She is currently working on her next book, which is scheduled for publication in autumn 2023. She is also plotting another children's book - shhhhh.

Reviews

[Rachel Gilbey]

What a thoroughly enjoyable book, all about Lizzie who realises that if she doesn't do something rather drastic she may genuinely die of boredom with her life. She is 41 years old, only ever lived with her parents, has worked the same job since she was 18 and it started as a summer job, and has been engaged for far too many years, so a man she sees twice a week, always on the same days and to do the same things. She has the same meals on the same days every week, and she has never lived Ireland.

And if that sounds a bit on the dull side, well that is Lizzie's life, but only for the first few chapters after which she makes plans and follows through with a radical life change, and sets off in search of a more fulfilling life, and ideally a job in a bakery as baking cakes is her life long passion.

From the moment she sets off on this adventure to story becomes really enthralling, I loved seeing the new people she meets and looking around the new village that Lizzie decides to settle in. Although even before that bit I was really amused by the thoughts running through her head in any dialogue with her parents (sarcastic thoughts that will never be spoken out loud).

There are so many brand new characters introduced, some of them who turn out to be a lot more relevant than others. Although there are hints that Lizzie may be interested in an eligible man, it is not the overriding story, which is to follow your heart. The message seems to be life is too short to be stuck in a massive rut, and that you should live your life without regrets, and the way its illustrated was great.

This was Roisin Meaney's debut novel, although it isn't the first book that I have read by the author. Although I can see that her writing has matured over the years, this is still an impressive and highly entertaining debut, that I really enjoyed reading. In fact I was surprised as just how fast I read this book, and how much I loved reading it.

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet wistful, and gentle, unfolds at its own pace, and beautifully written. The heroine is kind and good-hearted, but not bland. She has put her life on hold and this is the story of how she starts really living. Four and a half stars.

[Liane Almeida · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a lovely reading..
I love Ireland 9 years ago, I was lucky enough to live and work in Dublin, and have often fantasized about returning to live there full time. Needless to say, I love books related do anywhere in Ireland so can´t give less than 5 stars to this book.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizzie erstickt fast in ihrem langweiligen Leben. Sie ist einundvierzig Jahre, wohnt noch bei ihren Eltern und ist seit Jahren dauerverlobt mit einem Mann, der ein richtiges Muttersöhnchen ist. Im Wartezimmer ihres Zahnarztes liest sie einen Artikel über eine alte Dame, die eine Liste aufgestellt hat mit den Dingen, die sie in ihrem Leben gerne anders gemacht hätte und in Lizzies Inneren legt sich ein Schalter um. Sie verlässt ihren Verlobten, schnappt sich ihren dicken Kater und macht sich auf, ihren Traum von einer eigenen Bäckerei zu verwirklichen.

Dieser Roman ist genau das Richtige, wenn man sich aus dem Alltagstrott hinaus träumen möchte oder von einem Neuanfang träumt. Aller Anfang ist schwer, aber Lizzie trifft schnell auf Menschen, die ihr helfen, auf eigenen Beinen zu stehen. So findet sie Unterschlupf bei Angela, einer alleinerziehenden Mutter, die ganz alleine mit ihrer Tochter ein kleines Restaurant und eine Pension führt und da ist noch der Holzschnitzer Joe, der Lizzie Herzklopfen beschert. Die Autorin hat es geschafft mit dem wunderschönen Setting, der Atmosphäre Irlands und den liebenswerten Charakteren, allen voran ein dicker roter Kater, ein richtig schönes Wohlfühlbuch zu schreiben.

Ein richtig schöner Roman um einen Neuanfang, Küchenromantik und Liebe.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, I think, Roisin Meaney's first book, and a lovely one at that. It took me a little longer to get into it than her other ones, but it was still a great read. The story centers around Lizzie, a woman in a rut, who escapes her old life and begins anew in an Irish seaside town. The cast of characters, as in the other Meaney books, is varied and mostly likeable. This book is not told through many POVs, which I missed a little, hence the four stars. Then again, some readers find multiple viewpoints annoying, so then, this will probably be more to your liking than other books by Meaney. No matter, it is a solid and entertaining story and I already look forward to her newest.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Kate Pill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read

I really enjoyed this! A fun read - perfect for what I was feeling like immersing myself in. Lighthearted, with serious bits thrown in. Spot on for a feel good read.

[Mary Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five star for sure.

Beautifully written. This book reminded me of a massive change in my life, New opportunities, New friends and life is not so scary. Each character was described as if you were with them.😊

[Kerry-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! I loved it from beginning to end. Gorgeous characters, a heartfelt story and genuine human emotion. A gem of a book! I absolutely love this author’s books, as she’s always a joy to read!

[Beth Gosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this author very much the characters are very real the stories are very real. her descriptions of the town and people living in it make you want to live there.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book! Flew through it.

[Gill Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, easy to read book with a lovely story. It was good.

[Vickie Richens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it will definitely be reading more of her books

[Martha Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a Charming Story

This novel was published in 2004, sixteen years ago. It’s still charming, still with Meaney’s unique voice and characters. Cozy up with your favorite beverage and dig in!

[fiona crummey · Rating 4 out of 5]

a predictable but enjoyable read for a stormy Sunday curled up inside with a book. would also be a good airplane read ....and this is not a criticism as sometimes an enjoyable undemanding narrative is just what is called for!

[Heather Bailie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, not a lot of tension. Things just fell into place for Lizzie and most turn-ups were predictable several pages earlier.
Good for the beach.

[Norma Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisypicker

I loved this book, I was a great fan of Maeve Binchy and Roisin is proving to be a great replacement.

[Laura Mcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summer read

This book is a great summer read. Great plot and characters. Not too deep but deep enough to keep your attention.

[Kristina Cosy Novel Niche · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this charming, easy-going, and cozy read

[Judy Remiszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book!

I loved this book so much. The settings the characters were all so very interesting. Lizzie is an dear sweet lady.

[suzanne stutchbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lush

Just a lovely, warm read; the right mix of light and shade amongst characters and plot and the right mix of vocabulary and syntax to create a smooth, bobbing pace.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story, we need more lovely stories in our life.

[Christina Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

endearing

I’m trying to find herself, she ends up finding a place of acceptance, friendship and love. About family and friends.

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little Irish romance was delightful; a fun read after several serious novels.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzie is stuck in a significant rut. She realizes that she is terribly unhappy in her life, with her long term fiance, Tom, working in his family's restaurant, and living at home with her parents. A chance encounter with a magazine article about an older woman's "should have" list, sparks her to make a change. She breaks up with Tom, quits her job and packs up her life into her compact car, looking to find a new place to live and hopes to pursue her dream of baking professionally. Her journey across Ireland with her cat ends up in a small seaside town where a meal at a small bed and breakfast changes the course of her life. What I like about Roisin Meaney's books is that they are not your typical "everything is wonderful" chick-lit book. The characters have real problems and occasionally tragedy strikes. This was a lovely story of growth for a young woman who has the courage to say no to the life that is making her miserable.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizzie has a comfortable life, living with her parents while waiting for her fiance, Tom, to finally marry her. When she has to wait for her dentist appointment she starts reading a magazine. She stumbles upon an article that changes her whole view on life. She decides to leave her job, say goodbye to her parents and she calls off her engagement. Lizzie drives along the coast and when she stops in Merway for the night she likes the town enough to stay. It is here that her life actually begins.
Lizzie wants to bake for a living and I loved the food talk in this book. The Daisy Picker is such a sweet story. I enjoyed reading it very much. Lizzie's 41 years old and she doesn't have much life experience. She's a very likable person, because she's kind and caring. This is a book about friendship and helping each other out. It's a simple and friendly story. The easy atmosphere made it such a wonderful read.

[Jina Howell-Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. It started a bit slow, but it was well worth the wait. The story was a character study of how people grow and change and learn and survive and through it all, they thrive. The story was set in small town Ireland, with plenty of scenic descriptions and lots of quirky towns people. I loved the slowly evolving relationships, in an everyday world that I could relate to. But the book is more than that. There was no gripping plot, but the main characters were complex and intriguing. There were several love stories, child/parent complexities, death and grief, and woman to woman friendship. The ending was special because it went on long enough to satisfy and tie up loose ends. I have already purchased my next book by this author.

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really couldn't get into this book to start off with, and found it really hard to connect with the characters, but because it seemed to have good ratings I found myself persevering just a little bit longer.... then just a little bit longer, until I finished it! It actually got better as the book went on and by the end I felt a lot more connected with the characters and the story, but it certainly took me a while to get there. So definitely mixed feelings, but in a funny way one of those books that I think will stick in my mind for a while.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story, involved me from the start because of its realism and tenderness.

[Lynette Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tried hard to finish this book but have decided its never going to happen...

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was long

It was long

kinda felt this book was ok. it dragged in a bit without much romance or substance..I was disappointed. I was hoping for more.