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My Pear-Shaped Life
‘This book has given me life’ Trish Hannon, reader reviewThis is a joyful, uplifting book to remind us how strong we are…no matter how pear-shaped life gets!‘Original, funny, moving and brutally honest…perfect for fans of Ruth Jones’ Debbie Johnson‘This upbeat romance will leave you smiling’ Daily Mirror‘So many women will find this book speaks to them. It makes you laugh and cry but it is truly inspiring’ Katie Fforde‘Sweet, sad, insightful and joyful – this book pressed all the emotion buttons and I’m so glad it did’ Milly Johnson‘Uplifting and powerful…I LOVED it’ Cathy Kelly‘Warm, moving and life-affirming…Greta is a gorgeous character that you will fall in love with’ Sinead Moriarty‘Be more Greta’ Woman’s WayMeet Greta.She’s funny.She’s flawed.She’s hiding so much behind her big smile she’s forgotten who she is.But Greta is about to discover that the key to being happy is…being yourself.Greta Gale has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile. But size doesn’t matter when you can laugh at yourself, right?Until Greta realises she’s the only one not laughing. And deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever laugh again.But Greta is about to discover that sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped…Everyone loves ‘Poignant and profound, warm and witty, Carmel’s brilliant writing invites us to look beyond the smiley face to the complex tangle of emotions inside us all. I absolutely adored it’ Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley‘Warm, engrossing storytelling at its best’Irish Times bestseller Sheila O’Flanagan‘I bloody loved it. Funnny, heart-wrenching and uplifting all in one’Beth Reekles, author The Kissing Booth
384 pages, Hardcover
Published April 16, 2020
152 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Carmel Harrington
21 books464 followersCarmel Harrington is an International bestseller of thirteen novels. She is from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her husband, Roger, children Amelia and Nate, and their beloved rescue dog, George Bailey.
Her latest novel, The Stolen Child, was a Sunday Times best crime fiction of the year selection and was described as ‘Endlessly surprising. This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease.’ Carmel’s debut was a multi-award-winning novel, and several books have been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award. She is a regular on Irish TV screens and radio and has been a guest speaker at Literary events in Ireland, UK and USA. She was also Chair of the Wexford Literary Festival for three years.
Carmel’s emotional and gripping storytelling, with relatable characters, twisting plots and evocative locations, has captured readers' hearts worldwide. Her novels, including The Lighthouse Secret, The Girl From Donegal, A Mother’s Heart, and The Moon Over Kilmore Quay, have been Irish Times, Sunday Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers.
Carmel loves hearing from readers, so please feel free to connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @HappyMrsH, or join Curl Up With Carmel Book Club, an online book club on Facebook.
Her latest novel, The Stolen Child, was a Sunday Times best crime fiction of the year selection and was described as ‘Endlessly surprising. This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease.’ Carmel’s debut was a multi-award-winning novel, and several books have been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award. She is a regular on Irish TV screens and radio and has been a guest speaker at Literary events in Ireland, UK and USA. She was also Chair of the Wexford Literary Festival for three years.
Carmel’s emotional and gripping storytelling, with relatable characters, twisting plots and evocative locations, has captured readers' hearts worldwide. Her novels, including The Lighthouse Secret, The Girl From Donegal, A Mother’s Heart, and The Moon Over Kilmore Quay, have been Irish Times, Sunday Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers.
Carmel loves hearing from readers, so please feel free to connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @HappyMrsH, or join Curl Up With Carmel Book Club, an online book club on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
December 6, 2020
3.5
A real grower this one.
At the start I struggled; it's a big old learning about yourself, life journey, triumph over adversity story which of course means we have to feel the desperately low lows to appreciate the highs. And those lows were hard to stomach, I cannot lie. I get uncomfortable reading about someone being hard on herself, sabotaging her talents and making a tit of herself and my natural instinct is to bail on that. It is a mark of this story and its characters though that it had that impact on me - I quickly grew fond of Greta and wanted better things for her.
Once we'd got through that part, then this really picked up. It was funny in places but also touching and poignant. I also really enjoyed the travelogue; I wasn't surprised to read this was based on a real trip, I kind of felt like I was there with them.
The romance was sweet and slow burn but this was entirely lacking in smut fellow smut fans. I suppose you can't have everything.
Enjoyable, absorbing and uplifting, this was a pleasant read.
**Thanks to the publishers via netgalley for my arc.**
A real grower this one.
At the start I struggled; it's a big old learning about yourself, life journey, triumph over adversity story which of course means we have to feel the desperately low lows to appreciate the highs. And those lows were hard to stomach, I cannot lie. I get uncomfortable reading about someone being hard on herself, sabotaging her talents and making a tit of herself and my natural instinct is to bail on that. It is a mark of this story and its characters though that it had that impact on me - I quickly grew fond of Greta and wanted better things for her.
Once we'd got through that part, then this really picked up. It was funny in places but also touching and poignant. I also really enjoyed the travelogue; I wasn't surprised to read this was based on a real trip, I kind of felt like I was there with them.
The romance was sweet and slow burn but this was entirely lacking in smut fellow smut fans. I suppose you can't have everything.
Enjoyable, absorbing and uplifting, this was a pleasant read.
**Thanks to the publishers via netgalley for my arc.**
January 31, 2020
First time for me to read a book by Carmel Harrington and I am very happy that I tried one of her book! "My Pear-shaped life" is an excellent book! it's extremely well written. It's a chick-lit book but about very various topics such as drug addiction, issues with body weight, death of loved ones, finding true love, loving yourself and accepting yourself as you are and so on. It's very very good! I especially loved the first half of the book, it was very heart touching and poignant. The second hald is happier and lighter, we take a road trip trought america. It's such a wonderful book! I can only recommend it! I give this book a 4 and half starts out of 5!
February 7, 2020
Wow, I don't know how Carmel Harrington does it, but wow! This book has just had me spellbound for the past 3 and a bit hours, where I couldn't put it down, didn't care about anything else I possibly should have been doing, and just had to keep reading.
And its such an uplifting story, all about body positivity , and how you should love yourself no matter your size which is a wonderful message. I'm on the larger side myself and could completely emphasise with some of the descriptions of Greta. Especially that moment when you realise you need to ask for a seat belt extension on a plane, for less than an inch of extra length needed, utterly mortifying.
It's not just body image that is covered, in this there is also to start with an addiction storyline, that is present throughout. The part in rehab felt very real and i can only imaging a large amount of research went into it.
All of the tough subjects dealt with in this story, are done so with utmost sensitivity, and give you a great insight into them.
And as much as I was gripped by the first parts of this book, it is the second half that really lifted me,and that I thoroughly enjoyed, at least as much as the first half if not more. For it features one of those things i love in a book - travel, and an American road trip. I'm not going to say why, or where, but I felt it was so well written that I was alongside Greta as she makes this trip, and the descriptions of the different towns and states match the little I knew of them.
This is eye opening, thought provoking, had me literally unable to tear myself away from the pages while I was reading it. This is Carmel Harrington at her very best, and I'm so glad that I've been able to read it.
Thank you to Harper and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
And its such an uplifting story, all about body positivity , and how you should love yourself no matter your size which is a wonderful message. I'm on the larger side myself and could completely emphasise with some of the descriptions of Greta. Especially that moment when you realise you need to ask for a seat belt extension on a plane, for less than an inch of extra length needed, utterly mortifying.
It's not just body image that is covered, in this there is also to start with an addiction storyline, that is present throughout. The part in rehab felt very real and i can only imaging a large amount of research went into it.
All of the tough subjects dealt with in this story, are done so with utmost sensitivity, and give you a great insight into them.
And as much as I was gripped by the first parts of this book, it is the second half that really lifted me,and that I thoroughly enjoyed, at least as much as the first half if not more. For it features one of those things i love in a book - travel, and an American road trip. I'm not going to say why, or where, but I felt it was so well written that I was alongside Greta as she makes this trip, and the descriptions of the different towns and states match the little I knew of them.
This is eye opening, thought provoking, had me literally unable to tear myself away from the pages while I was reading it. This is Carmel Harrington at her very best, and I'm so glad that I've been able to read it.
Thank you to Harper and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 5, 2020
OH YES, My Pear-Shaped Life by Carmel Harrington was exactly what I needed. It made my troubles (looking at you COVID19) melt like lemon drops. The perfect distraction from life, at a time when distraction is everything.
Greta is a wanna be actress, whip sharp with the witty comebacks, is surrounded by a family that loves her, but her life is falling down around her ears. She finds distraction in sleeping pills and this book documents her glorious journey back to the Greta who loves life. Via a yellow-brick-road trip in America with all the snacks and the odd jumping jack. You’ll know what I mean when you read it.
And you have to read it if you want an uplifting, powerful book about friendships and second chances. Not to mention a main character who I related to from page one, and who has inspired me to find the beauty in the little things.
“You’ve forgotten how to look for the beauty in your life. It’s there, hidden amid the chaos and mess.”
And it is. My suggestion is you pick up this book, and find your beauty too. And as an added bonus, if you are a fan of the Wizard of Oz, then you’ll feel right at home in this book too.
WHO SHOULD READ MY PEAR-SHAPED LIFE BY CARMEL HARRINGTON?
I’d highly recommend this book to you if you want engaging characters, and lots of laughter and tears. Can I get a hell yeah for Carmel Harrington. She always delivers. Fans of authors such as Sheila O’Flanagan, Marian Keyes and Diane Chamberlain should also enjoy.
Greta is a wanna be actress, whip sharp with the witty comebacks, is surrounded by a family that loves her, but her life is falling down around her ears. She finds distraction in sleeping pills and this book documents her glorious journey back to the Greta who loves life. Via a yellow-brick-road trip in America with all the snacks and the odd jumping jack. You’ll know what I mean when you read it.
And you have to read it if you want an uplifting, powerful book about friendships and second chances. Not to mention a main character who I related to from page one, and who has inspired me to find the beauty in the little things.
“You’ve forgotten how to look for the beauty in your life. It’s there, hidden amid the chaos and mess.”
And it is. My suggestion is you pick up this book, and find your beauty too. And as an added bonus, if you are a fan of the Wizard of Oz, then you’ll feel right at home in this book too.
WHO SHOULD READ MY PEAR-SHAPED LIFE BY CARMEL HARRINGTON?
I’d highly recommend this book to you if you want engaging characters, and lots of laughter and tears. Can I get a hell yeah for Carmel Harrington. She always delivers. Fans of authors such as Sheila O’Flanagan, Marian Keyes and Diane Chamberlain should also enjoy.
March 18, 2020
Carmel Harrington tackles social issues in such an accessible way and her latest, My Pear Shaped Life, is a classic case in point. The heroine is the larger than life Greta Gale who just happens to share a name with an American lifestyle guru. But while Dr Gale spreads her mantra for coping via social media and tours, her UK namesake struggles not only with a plus sized figure but an increasingly unhealthy addiction. With her aspiring acting career in free fall along with her self-esteem Greta descends into drug addiction to such a degree that rehab is the only solution. While barely recovered her much loved uncle Ray takes her on a US road trip culminating in an evening with Greta’s idolised US namesake. An enjoyable, warm, well researched and life-affirming story. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.
January 27, 2021
A book about a woman who struggles with her weight and addiction is just not what I expected.
As much cheesy as it was irritating, I didn’t enjoy it unfortunately. The way she was treated as an ‘overweight’ woman were tired and it would have been nice to switch up the narrative a bit. By making the focus of this book about her weight every other page, it went against what I think this author was actually trying to do. It didn’t empower the character, it just made her struggle until she conformed with social norms.
Disappointing and dated!
As much cheesy as it was irritating, I didn’t enjoy it unfortunately. The way she was treated as an ‘overweight’ woman were tired and it would have been nice to switch up the narrative a bit. By making the focus of this book about her weight every other page, it went against what I think this author was actually trying to do. It didn’t empower the character, it just made her struggle until she conformed with social norms.
Disappointing and dated!
April 23, 2020
I did enjoy listening to this one. I like the characters and the humour.
It was just a bit too cheesey for my taste but it's a feel-good story and it did cheer me up.
It was just a bit too cheesey for my taste but it's a feel-good story and it did cheer me up.
April 21, 2020
Wonderful!
I loved it. And Greta was an amazing character.
Full review if you are interested -https://onemoreword.uk/2020/04/20/blo...
I loved it. And Greta was an amazing character.
Full review if you are interested -https://onemoreword.uk/2020/04/20/blo...
February 5, 2020
This book should be on prescription if your feeling a bit down!, Everyone has pear shaped moments in their lives but sometimes these moments make us stronger and allow us to grow and this book portrayed this perfectly.
Greta Gale is an inspiring actress. She is the girl who is always laughing, to the outside world she’s the life and sole of the party but deep done Greta is hiding a lot. She struggles with her size and feels less than enough. Turning to sleeping tablets for escape her life spirals out of control and her family insist on her going to a rehabilitation centre. Her friend Dylan is her constant support but will he ever be more than just a friend?
With time to reflect Greta reaches a turning point for . She is determined to change and when her uncle Ray books a surprise trip to Las Vegas for them both to visit Greta’s famous namesake who is her idiot her life becomes brighter. Their road trip takes them from Kansas to Las Vegas. Greta loves the Wizard of Oz and the trip takes them along their own yellow brick road, with Ray meeting up with his first love, Billie along the way.
I loved Greta and cheered her on as she began to realise that loving herself was the most important thing. We are all surrounded by so much perceived perfection nowadays especially through social media. This book demonstrated that we sometimes believe the key to happiness is when we lose weight, find the perfect partner or job, when really these things are just extras.
Thank you Carmel Harrington for an emotional, inspirational read . You had me laughing, crying and , nodding my head in agreement throughout this uplifting read. Thank you also to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this beautiful book.
Greta Gale is an inspiring actress. She is the girl who is always laughing, to the outside world she’s the life and sole of the party but deep done Greta is hiding a lot. She struggles with her size and feels less than enough. Turning to sleeping tablets for escape her life spirals out of control and her family insist on her going to a rehabilitation centre. Her friend Dylan is her constant support but will he ever be more than just a friend?
With time to reflect Greta reaches a turning point for . She is determined to change and when her uncle Ray books a surprise trip to Las Vegas for them both to visit Greta’s famous namesake who is her idiot her life becomes brighter. Their road trip takes them from Kansas to Las Vegas. Greta loves the Wizard of Oz and the trip takes them along their own yellow brick road, with Ray meeting up with his first love, Billie along the way.
I loved Greta and cheered her on as she began to realise that loving herself was the most important thing. We are all surrounded by so much perceived perfection nowadays especially through social media. This book demonstrated that we sometimes believe the key to happiness is when we lose weight, find the perfect partner or job, when really these things are just extras.
Thank you Carmel Harrington for an emotional, inspirational read . You had me laughing, crying and , nodding my head in agreement throughout this uplifting read. Thank you also to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this beautiful book.
April 17, 2020
*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I have always like Carmel harrington’s books and writing style. I haevn’t read one of her books for a while and I’m so happy I decided to read this one.
It tells the story of Greta Gale, who doesn’t have an easy life. She is overweight and has an addiction to sleeping pills. The rest of her famiyl ist hin and fit and it’s not easy tob e around them. She also tries to becaome a successful actress, which is not easy.
We see Great in different stages of her life and of her additicton. One person that is always there for her is her uncle Ray. I absolutely adored him, probably my fave characters oft he book. He understands Greta and really hold the whole family together.
Greta also likes following Dr. Greta Gale, her namesake and a successful TV persononality in the US. Well, Ray decide to surprise Greta with a trip to Vegas to go see her. Greta’s parents don’t like that, but they go anywy. It’s all connected with a road trip starting in Kansas City. There are a lot of Wizard of Oz references in this book, which make the storyline very special. I also really enjoyed the road trip aspect, I felt like being with them and experiencing America through them. Carmel Harrington’s writing captured everything beautifully, it’s detailed and emotional.
Ray gets to tell his story as well, which I really liked. Greta is on a journey to find herself again, it’s great to see her change thorughout the book.
The story is very uplifting and inspring, but it also shows the hard parts and it’s connected to a lot of deep feelings.
I enjoyed this book very much, I was hooked and just couldn’t stop reading anymore.
BRILLIANT!!!
I have always like Carmel harrington’s books and writing style. I haevn’t read one of her books for a while and I’m so happy I decided to read this one.
It tells the story of Greta Gale, who doesn’t have an easy life. She is overweight and has an addiction to sleeping pills. The rest of her famiyl ist hin and fit and it’s not easy tob e around them. She also tries to becaome a successful actress, which is not easy.
We see Great in different stages of her life and of her additicton. One person that is always there for her is her uncle Ray. I absolutely adored him, probably my fave characters oft he book. He understands Greta and really hold the whole family together.
Greta also likes following Dr. Greta Gale, her namesake and a successful TV persononality in the US. Well, Ray decide to surprise Greta with a trip to Vegas to go see her. Greta’s parents don’t like that, but they go anywy. It’s all connected with a road trip starting in Kansas City. There are a lot of Wizard of Oz references in this book, which make the storyline very special. I also really enjoyed the road trip aspect, I felt like being with them and experiencing America through them. Carmel Harrington’s writing captured everything beautifully, it’s detailed and emotional.
Ray gets to tell his story as well, which I really liked. Greta is on a journey to find herself again, it’s great to see her change thorughout the book.
The story is very uplifting and inspring, but it also shows the hard parts and it’s connected to a lot of deep feelings.
I enjoyed this book very much, I was hooked and just couldn’t stop reading anymore.
BRILLIANT!!!
March 18, 2021
I can’t figure out if I enjoyed this book or not. Some parts I thought were good and but then it was just a constant back and forth about her being ‘a big girl’. An easy read but just not sure it was one I thoroughly enjoyed
April 17, 2020
I so enjoyed this funny, heartwarming read which is sadly quite a current book as the subject of body image has become more of an issue recently.
I think what I most liked about this book was how much I could relate to the story. I’m perhaps a little bigger than I should be and have a few confidence issues relating to this. I therefore loved the messages that the author has included especially that your size doesn’t matter and it’s important to love yourself regardless.
Greta was such a funny character who was incredibly relatable. I felt a lot of empathy for her as she tries to put on a brave face and take the jokes about her size on the chin, while actually struggling with a lot of insecurities inside as I’ve often felt the same way. It was very interesting and quite therapeutic to follow her and to experience everything alongside her.
I found this book surprisingly gripping as I quickly grew very fond of Greta and wanted to keep reading to see how things turn out for her. I would love to read more about Greta in the future and really hope there will be a sequel.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are looking for a warm, funny and thought provoking read then I third recommend this one.
I think what I most liked about this book was how much I could relate to the story. I’m perhaps a little bigger than I should be and have a few confidence issues relating to this. I therefore loved the messages that the author has included especially that your size doesn’t matter and it’s important to love yourself regardless.
Greta was such a funny character who was incredibly relatable. I felt a lot of empathy for her as she tries to put on a brave face and take the jokes about her size on the chin, while actually struggling with a lot of insecurities inside as I’ve often felt the same way. It was very interesting and quite therapeutic to follow her and to experience everything alongside her.
I found this book surprisingly gripping as I quickly grew very fond of Greta and wanted to keep reading to see how things turn out for her. I would love to read more about Greta in the future and really hope there will be a sequel.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are looking for a warm, funny and thought provoking read then I third recommend this one.
February 8, 2021
“I can’t put off loving myself until I reach the perfect size. Because that doesn’t exist. But I exist. I’m here. And I promise to love all of me. Every perfectly imperfect pear-shaped bit of me. I am enough. Just as I am right now. I am worthy of love.”
—
It didn’t take me this long to actually read it, I swear, but what a fantastic read and so so very relatable. I think we all strive for self-love, and the uphill battle can be a tiresome one. But... I believe we’ll all get there eventually. It’s the least we deserve.
—
It didn’t take me this long to actually read it, I swear, but what a fantastic read and so so very relatable. I think we all strive for self-love, and the uphill battle can be a tiresome one. But... I believe we’ll all get there eventually. It’s the least we deserve.
March 28, 2020
I adore Greta!! She is me! She is you! That woman who is smiley on the outside, pretending life is sweet and making fun of herself, but full of crippling doubts on the inside and wishing the pain would just go away. And what the author has done brilliantly in this book is use that connection to us always beating ourselves up that we're not good enough, and we get what we deserve... when that's not the case. We are worthy and we need to be true to ourselves to find that happy place we all deserve to live in.
Greta comes from a 'thin' family - that's how she sees it as a woman of a fuller figure, and she seems to react well to the digs and 'banter' but beneath the smiles she's hurting and she's playing a dangerous game with her health. It's only when things go too far that her family find out the severity of the situation and she's forced to face up to how her life is spiralling out of control.
The saving grace in her life is her namesake, Dr Greta Gayle, a hugely successful American lifestyle guru, who she is obsessed with due to them sharing the same name. It's the only thing they have in common, but she always seems to find inspiration from the Dr and her Instagram posts when she needs guidance.
While in rehab she is stripped away from her crutches in life, and that makes things begin to fall into place for her. Why has she been so afraid to be herself? What is she hiding from? It's often at our lowest points that life becomes a little clearer and she is forced to make changes in her way of thinking thanks to a therapist and the others she meets while in there. She sees she's not alone in feeling a failure, or useless, or out of place and that makes her feel a little more connected.
What follows is a trip to America with her beloved Uncle, and both of them find out a lot about themselves while over there and facing up to their pasts. He has lived his life with regrets too so thinks this is the perfect opportunity for both of them to live a little, and I loved their bond and how much they meant to one another. And I loved the nods to The Wizard of Oz throughout!! Read the book and you'll find out more!
It's so much easier to say 'be yourself' than actually go through with it, and this book perfectly demonstrates that struggle we all go through of trying to fit in, losing sight of who we are and the reliance of outside influences to get us through the day. In Greta, there's a character who is funny, pretty, smart but yet she can only see her size, and following her on her often painful journey was uplifting, emotional and a delight to be part of! Highly recommended!!
Greta comes from a 'thin' family - that's how she sees it as a woman of a fuller figure, and she seems to react well to the digs and 'banter' but beneath the smiles she's hurting and she's playing a dangerous game with her health. It's only when things go too far that her family find out the severity of the situation and she's forced to face up to how her life is spiralling out of control.
The saving grace in her life is her namesake, Dr Greta Gayle, a hugely successful American lifestyle guru, who she is obsessed with due to them sharing the same name. It's the only thing they have in common, but she always seems to find inspiration from the Dr and her Instagram posts when she needs guidance.
While in rehab she is stripped away from her crutches in life, and that makes things begin to fall into place for her. Why has she been so afraid to be herself? What is she hiding from? It's often at our lowest points that life becomes a little clearer and she is forced to make changes in her way of thinking thanks to a therapist and the others she meets while in there. She sees she's not alone in feeling a failure, or useless, or out of place and that makes her feel a little more connected.
What follows is a trip to America with her beloved Uncle, and both of them find out a lot about themselves while over there and facing up to their pasts. He has lived his life with regrets too so thinks this is the perfect opportunity for both of them to live a little, and I loved their bond and how much they meant to one another. And I loved the nods to The Wizard of Oz throughout!! Read the book and you'll find out more!
It's so much easier to say 'be yourself' than actually go through with it, and this book perfectly demonstrates that struggle we all go through of trying to fit in, losing sight of who we are and the reliance of outside influences to get us through the day. In Greta, there's a character who is funny, pretty, smart but yet she can only see her size, and following her on her often painful journey was uplifting, emotional and a delight to be part of! Highly recommended!!
February 11, 2021
It's a beatiful story of Gretas life fighting with her nightmares and struggles. She is finding herself from the bottom and only then she would realise she needs to work on her problems. And here is beginning her journey finding herself, finding Greta. She realises she is not only one who's "cupboard is full" and messy, everybody has their battles.
I really enjoyed reading it, it was true life struggles. I might been little cheese at some parts but I didn't mind that, it just made it more nice and dreamy. Also, there was good a bit of humor that gave me some giggles.
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed reading it, it was true life struggles. I might been little cheese at some parts but I didn't mind that, it just made it more nice and dreamy. Also, there was good a bit of humor that gave me some giggles.
4.5 stars.
May 1, 2020
Meet Greta.
She’s funny.
She's flawed.
She’s hiding so much behind her big smile she’s forgotten who she is.
But Greta is about to discover that the key to being happy is…being yourself.
Greta Gale has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile. But size doesn’t matter when you can laugh at yourself, right?
Until Greta realises she’s the only one not laughing. And deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever laugh again.
But Greta is about to discover that sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped…
The book is written in 3rd person with Greta being the main focus of the book, but we do get a couple of chapters from her uncle Ray's perspective. The boon is very easy to read. The chapters are short, most being about 8 minutes long on my kindle. The books deals with a lot of serious issues; weight, addiction, self esteem, etc. And because of this sometimes things get a but heavy. But I never felt overwhelmed by sadness, there is a lot of lightness in this book.
I did enjoy this book, I enjoyed the character of Greta and her story. She was very flawed and had her demons. It was nice seeing her story and seeing how she progressed throughout the book.
I didn't really enjoy the parts of the book in America if I'm honest, I didn't like when the focus shifted to uncle Ray. Even though I liked his character, I wanted to read more about Greta. I'm also not a huge fan of the wizard of Oz, so I didn't really enjoy the books and the characters fixation with it.
She’s funny.
She's flawed.
She’s hiding so much behind her big smile she’s forgotten who she is.
But Greta is about to discover that the key to being happy is…being yourself.
Greta Gale has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile. But size doesn’t matter when you can laugh at yourself, right?
Until Greta realises she’s the only one not laughing. And deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever laugh again.
But Greta is about to discover that sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped…
The book is written in 3rd person with Greta being the main focus of the book, but we do get a couple of chapters from her uncle Ray's perspective. The boon is very easy to read. The chapters are short, most being about 8 minutes long on my kindle. The books deals with a lot of serious issues; weight, addiction, self esteem, etc. And because of this sometimes things get a but heavy. But I never felt overwhelmed by sadness, there is a lot of lightness in this book.
I did enjoy this book, I enjoyed the character of Greta and her story. She was very flawed and had her demons. It was nice seeing her story and seeing how she progressed throughout the book.
I didn't really enjoy the parts of the book in America if I'm honest, I didn't like when the focus shifted to uncle Ray. Even though I liked his character, I wanted to read more about Greta. I'm also not a huge fan of the wizard of Oz, so I didn't really enjoy the books and the characters fixation with it.
July 4, 2020
A moving, believable story that explores the questions: Am I acceptable? Am I enough?
Obesity, addictions, lost love and our responses to people in pain are themes woven through a truly engaging novel.
Obesity, addictions, lost love and our responses to people in pain are themes woven through a truly engaging novel.
February 3, 2020
Thank you Ellie from Harper Fiction for sending me a copy of “My Pear Shaped Life” to read and review. This book was truly magnificent.⠀
⠀
Ⓢⓨⓝⓞⓟⓢⓘⓢ⠀
Meet Greta Gale. From the age of 8 all she has ever wanted to do was to be an actress. But in a world where thin is in, and fat isn’t all that, her lucky break never happens.⠀
⠀
Greta has always been the funny fat one, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile, but Greta has an addiction. She tries to find solitude in sleeping pills, but ends up breaking her family’s heart and going to rehab.⠀
⠀
Then a trip of a lifetime helps Greta to see that she is wonderful just as she is, and she finally accepts herself and her perfectly pear shaped body!⠀
⠀
🅼🆈 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂!⠀
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! In a world that is so obsessed with body image and body shaming, this book is so relevant right now. ⠀
⠀
Greta has so much hatred and loathing for her body, she is so ashamed about how she looks, that she spirals out of control and this is such an important message in a time that is so shaped by social media, and what is defined as “t̲h̲e̲ p̲e̲r̲f̲e̲c̲t̲ b̲o̲d̲y̲" ⠀
⠀
I loved Greta and I was rooting for her from the start, she is such a relatable character and I wanted her to feel happy in her own skin.⠀
⠀
I laughed, I cried but most of all I was uplifted!! A brilliant BRILLIANT book with such an important message!! An easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!!⠀
⠀
⠀
Ⓢⓨⓝⓞⓟⓢⓘⓢ⠀
Meet Greta Gale. From the age of 8 all she has ever wanted to do was to be an actress. But in a world where thin is in, and fat isn’t all that, her lucky break never happens.⠀
⠀
Greta has always been the funny fat one, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile, but Greta has an addiction. She tries to find solitude in sleeping pills, but ends up breaking her family’s heart and going to rehab.⠀
⠀
Then a trip of a lifetime helps Greta to see that she is wonderful just as she is, and she finally accepts herself and her perfectly pear shaped body!⠀
⠀
🅼🆈 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂!⠀
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! In a world that is so obsessed with body image and body shaming, this book is so relevant right now. ⠀
⠀
Greta has so much hatred and loathing for her body, she is so ashamed about how she looks, that she spirals out of control and this is such an important message in a time that is so shaped by social media, and what is defined as “t̲h̲e̲ p̲e̲r̲f̲e̲c̲t̲ b̲o̲d̲y̲" ⠀
⠀
I loved Greta and I was rooting for her from the start, she is such a relatable character and I wanted her to feel happy in her own skin.⠀
⠀
I laughed, I cried but most of all I was uplifted!! A brilliant BRILLIANT book with such an important message!! An easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!!⠀
⠀
January 26, 2020
I could really see myself in the character of Greta. I absolutely loved the first half of this book and read it all in one sitting. The second was good but didn’t have the same emotional connection for me. However I was intrigued to see how the story would turn out. A good read!
April 22, 2020
Every mention I have seen so far on social media, or any review I have read of Carmel Harrington's new book My Pear Shaped Life, heaps praise upon it and deservedly so. This new character that Carmel has created, Greta Gale, is one who will live on in your heart and mind long after you have read the final page. Without question this is the best book that the author has written and I think everyone that reads it will identify with it hugely as I believe we can all identify with Greta in some way be it big or small. Right from the opening line My Pear Shaped Life is a book that gets under your skin and forces you to think about your own life situation and any problems that you may be facing.
Greta quickly becomes a character that has you rooting for a positive outcome for her. In the Dear Reader section at the beginning of the book Carmel spoke volumes about what was to come with Greta's story. The words said so much as she conveyed her raw and honest thoughts which gave the reader plenty to ponder before you had even begun to read Greta's story. She mentioned how The Wizard of Oz was a huge inspiration for her and to keep an eye out as to how the themes and certain characters wove their way into My Pear Shaped Life. I kept this in mind as I was reading and I thought it was wonderful how elements of such a famous book worked their way into what became an incredible story.
This book was so expertly written and crafted and numerous times I found myself nodding along with what Greta was saying and thinking yes there are plenty of times where I feel that way myself. So I was keen to see how Greta would deal with what life was about to throw at her. Would she be able to overcome the serious problems she has until this point buried deep down and tried to ignore? Or will things just prove too much for her that she goes down a route that will be very challenging to claw her way back to the top from.
Greta is an inspirational character, although she doesn't see herself in that manner at all. In her mind all the good qualities the reader can see she possesses simply do not exist for her and the emotional and physical turmoil that she is experiencing continue to increase and weigh her down day by day. She travels to some very dark places but you hope that with a little bit of guidance and support and some tough love that she can find the light in her life again and be the true Greta she has always been destined to be.
The story is split into three parts and I have seen some other people mention that it was like there were two stories within the one book and I tend to agree with this opinion. Some felt this left the overall book feeling a bit disjointed, and I can see where they are coming from, but to me part three was like the new Greta emerging and finding her place in the world. It was as if parts one and two were the darkness, trauma, anger and trouble and then in part three it was as if the good times started to roll, although not without a lot of soul searching occurring, in order to seek the ultimate final resolution which would hopefully see Greta through the rest of her life. Parts one and two were very emotional and at times a difficult read but part three is like reading of Greta coming out the other side as she embarks on the trip of a lifetime accompanied by her Uncle Ray in a bid to reach Las Vegas and find her name sake, Greta Gale, a self help guru in which Greta puts so much trust in even though she has never met her.
Greta is an aspiring actress who struggles with her weight, body image and her own self worth. Life is not easy for her and she believes thin is in and fat is not all that. There is a voice in her head that continuously compels her to feel that she is not enough. She follows Dr. Greta Gale, a life coach, for inspiration. She is a woman who epitomises everything that our Greta wishes she could be. Every day is a battle for her and things are going from bad to worse as a reliance upon sleeping tablets will prove to be the pivotal turning point in her life. It's make or break time and Greta is the only person who can do something about turning her life around. Her emotional well being and health are suffering and it doesn't help that she is under constant pressure from her family to get out there and get fit and lose the weight that is dragging her down. The regular judgements, shame, humiliation lead to fear, anxiety, stress, over eating and over reliance on a substance that will led to a stark wake up call for Greta and boy does she need it.
But to say she needs a sharp shock and wake up call, well we could say that about all of us because let's face it there is a piece of Greta in all of us. Not to say we reach the lengths of addiction that she does but the issues surrounding body image, eating and weight we can all relate to because who is truly happy with our bodies. Are we not all faced with images of picture perfect celebrities and influencers who in turn make us question ourselves? Are we not all under pressure to eat the right thing and get out and exercise as much as possible? All these issues we face on a daily basis in our own personal lives, well Greta exemplifies them and the way she is forced to go about confronting and dealing with them is an important and vital lesson for us all. She truly is an inspiration who will broaden many people's perspectives and make you stop, think and take stock of where you are right now in your life and maybe when this lock down finally finishes you will have the tools to go out and be a bit more Greta Gale, as in the Greta that emerges in the later half of the book as opposed to the first.
I found myself absolutely glued to the pages as we journeyed with Greta in the first half of the book. The writing became ever more expressive, emotional and remarkable and it was clear Carmel had poured her absolute everything into writing this story and I am so glad she did because it is such an important read and for many people it will be life changing. Everyone can take something from Greta's story and apply it to their own lives to make small changes for the better and I know myself I will do this. We are too hard on ourselves but Greta's situation showed that she had reached the very bottom and things need to be altered. A life changing situation is the spark she needed and I desperately hoped that she could claw her way back to some sense of normality in order to move forward with her life and find the happiness and contentment she so richly deserved.
Greta's family members didn't really do much for me as I felt they never backed her up or understood where she was coming from. Instead of seeing the battle she was going through their comments and lack of understanding did nothing at all for her instead they only aggravated the situation and made her feel a million times worse. All except for her Uncle Ray, and boy does everyone need an Uncle Ray in their lives. In the latter half he is the glue that holds Greta together and helps her continue her journey as he surprises her with the trip of a lifetime to attend Dr. Greta Gale's show in Las Vegas. Here the book took on a distinctly different tone and this is why I think a lot of people felt the story was like two books. The first half I would say was very intense and at times difficult to read about what Greta was going through but it needed to be in order for us to see her challenges but also the potential she had.
It seems wrong to say this but I preferred the first half, not that the second wasn't very well written, but at times it just lost its way ever so slightly before getting back on track. The attention shifted to the road trip that Ray and Greta set off on and I remember when Carmel was writing this book seeing pictures of the road trip she undertook with her husband just like Greta does and it was brilliant to see some of these places feature and how they tied in with the story. Greta along with Ray both want to find themselves and live their best lives and I loved how Ray stepped into the spotlight and his storyline was touching and endearing. It showed how we all have things to deal with and although we may present a front where everything is all good, deep down we are trying to accept and resolve what has been eating away at us for a long time. There were plenty of laughs along the way as the pair come across some unusual sights throughout the American landscape but then a more tender storyline emerged and one in which you hoped long sought happiness could be found.
My Pear Shaped Life was an amazing read and one which would be perfect for a book club. It provides the reader with such a broad, balanced perspective on so many issues and at the same time gives us a strong clear message to take with us through our own lives. It's funny, uplifting, expressive, heart-rending and a gripping read. Carmel Harrington takes you on an incredible journey and the more you read the more you are willing to follow whatever path she is taking you on. Definitely it's one to read as soon as possible.
Greta quickly becomes a character that has you rooting for a positive outcome for her. In the Dear Reader section at the beginning of the book Carmel spoke volumes about what was to come with Greta's story. The words said so much as she conveyed her raw and honest thoughts which gave the reader plenty to ponder before you had even begun to read Greta's story. She mentioned how The Wizard of Oz was a huge inspiration for her and to keep an eye out as to how the themes and certain characters wove their way into My Pear Shaped Life. I kept this in mind as I was reading and I thought it was wonderful how elements of such a famous book worked their way into what became an incredible story.
This book was so expertly written and crafted and numerous times I found myself nodding along with what Greta was saying and thinking yes there are plenty of times where I feel that way myself. So I was keen to see how Greta would deal with what life was about to throw at her. Would she be able to overcome the serious problems she has until this point buried deep down and tried to ignore? Or will things just prove too much for her that she goes down a route that will be very challenging to claw her way back to the top from.
Greta is an inspirational character, although she doesn't see herself in that manner at all. In her mind all the good qualities the reader can see she possesses simply do not exist for her and the emotional and physical turmoil that she is experiencing continue to increase and weigh her down day by day. She travels to some very dark places but you hope that with a little bit of guidance and support and some tough love that she can find the light in her life again and be the true Greta she has always been destined to be.
The story is split into three parts and I have seen some other people mention that it was like there were two stories within the one book and I tend to agree with this opinion. Some felt this left the overall book feeling a bit disjointed, and I can see where they are coming from, but to me part three was like the new Greta emerging and finding her place in the world. It was as if parts one and two were the darkness, trauma, anger and trouble and then in part three it was as if the good times started to roll, although not without a lot of soul searching occurring, in order to seek the ultimate final resolution which would hopefully see Greta through the rest of her life. Parts one and two were very emotional and at times a difficult read but part three is like reading of Greta coming out the other side as she embarks on the trip of a lifetime accompanied by her Uncle Ray in a bid to reach Las Vegas and find her name sake, Greta Gale, a self help guru in which Greta puts so much trust in even though she has never met her.
Greta is an aspiring actress who struggles with her weight, body image and her own self worth. Life is not easy for her and she believes thin is in and fat is not all that. There is a voice in her head that continuously compels her to feel that she is not enough. She follows Dr. Greta Gale, a life coach, for inspiration. She is a woman who epitomises everything that our Greta wishes she could be. Every day is a battle for her and things are going from bad to worse as a reliance upon sleeping tablets will prove to be the pivotal turning point in her life. It's make or break time and Greta is the only person who can do something about turning her life around. Her emotional well being and health are suffering and it doesn't help that she is under constant pressure from her family to get out there and get fit and lose the weight that is dragging her down. The regular judgements, shame, humiliation lead to fear, anxiety, stress, over eating and over reliance on a substance that will led to a stark wake up call for Greta and boy does she need it.
But to say she needs a sharp shock and wake up call, well we could say that about all of us because let's face it there is a piece of Greta in all of us. Not to say we reach the lengths of addiction that she does but the issues surrounding body image, eating and weight we can all relate to because who is truly happy with our bodies. Are we not all faced with images of picture perfect celebrities and influencers who in turn make us question ourselves? Are we not all under pressure to eat the right thing and get out and exercise as much as possible? All these issues we face on a daily basis in our own personal lives, well Greta exemplifies them and the way she is forced to go about confronting and dealing with them is an important and vital lesson for us all. She truly is an inspiration who will broaden many people's perspectives and make you stop, think and take stock of where you are right now in your life and maybe when this lock down finally finishes you will have the tools to go out and be a bit more Greta Gale, as in the Greta that emerges in the later half of the book as opposed to the first.
I found myself absolutely glued to the pages as we journeyed with Greta in the first half of the book. The writing became ever more expressive, emotional and remarkable and it was clear Carmel had poured her absolute everything into writing this story and I am so glad she did because it is such an important read and for many people it will be life changing. Everyone can take something from Greta's story and apply it to their own lives to make small changes for the better and I know myself I will do this. We are too hard on ourselves but Greta's situation showed that she had reached the very bottom and things need to be altered. A life changing situation is the spark she needed and I desperately hoped that she could claw her way back to some sense of normality in order to move forward with her life and find the happiness and contentment she so richly deserved.
Greta's family members didn't really do much for me as I felt they never backed her up or understood where she was coming from. Instead of seeing the battle she was going through their comments and lack of understanding did nothing at all for her instead they only aggravated the situation and made her feel a million times worse. All except for her Uncle Ray, and boy does everyone need an Uncle Ray in their lives. In the latter half he is the glue that holds Greta together and helps her continue her journey as he surprises her with the trip of a lifetime to attend Dr. Greta Gale's show in Las Vegas. Here the book took on a distinctly different tone and this is why I think a lot of people felt the story was like two books. The first half I would say was very intense and at times difficult to read about what Greta was going through but it needed to be in order for us to see her challenges but also the potential she had.
It seems wrong to say this but I preferred the first half, not that the second wasn't very well written, but at times it just lost its way ever so slightly before getting back on track. The attention shifted to the road trip that Ray and Greta set off on and I remember when Carmel was writing this book seeing pictures of the road trip she undertook with her husband just like Greta does and it was brilliant to see some of these places feature and how they tied in with the story. Greta along with Ray both want to find themselves and live their best lives and I loved how Ray stepped into the spotlight and his storyline was touching and endearing. It showed how we all have things to deal with and although we may present a front where everything is all good, deep down we are trying to accept and resolve what has been eating away at us for a long time. There were plenty of laughs along the way as the pair come across some unusual sights throughout the American landscape but then a more tender storyline emerged and one in which you hoped long sought happiness could be found.
My Pear Shaped Life was an amazing read and one which would be perfect for a book club. It provides the reader with such a broad, balanced perspective on so many issues and at the same time gives us a strong clear message to take with us through our own lives. It's funny, uplifting, expressive, heart-rending and a gripping read. Carmel Harrington takes you on an incredible journey and the more you read the more you are willing to follow whatever path she is taking you on. Definitely it's one to read as soon as possible.
April 14, 2020
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the tour organiser.
Beautiful. Emotional. Relatable. These are just some of the words I would use to describe MY PEAR-SHAPED LIFE by Carmel Harrington but they are not enough to describe the lyrical way that this author weaves a story that will touch you to your core and make you feel like you never have before.
Greta Gale has always been the fat, funny one - the funny member of her family calling herself Big G and the funny friend laughing at herself first before anyone else can. But beneath the laughing facade that she has helped to create, Greta is hurting and masking her pain with sleeping pills to help her zone out. When her family finds out, Greta is suddenly forced to confront everything in her life from her body image and self-confidence to the relationship with her parents and siblings, and along the way, Greta will really have to take a look at who she is at the core of herself and what she feels she deserves from life and all it could hold for her. Add in a trip of a lifetime, a beloved Uncle who is looking for love, a new friend, and an old friend who has something to tell her, and Greta may just be in for a life-changing adventure!
This story is being released at the perfect time - strange you may think considering we are in the middle of a pandemic but this is how I see it. Never before have we realised how fragile and precious life truly is then now, and how futile ridiculous body expectations are and how worrying about other people's opinions simply shouldn't matter. We have woken up and realised that all that matters is family, friendships, and living long enough to see those you love cherish and blossom. And this captivating story captures the essence of this on every page.
Greta is like the rest of us, flawed and consumed by what should be instead of what could be if she just let herself face everything head-on. She is also strong, loveable, and willing to put in the work to be herself and be as happy as she can be, with some help along the way from those who care about her. Oh, and the laughs along the way are a joy to behold! Hilarious!
MY PEAR-SHAPED LIFE by Carmel Harrington is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and wished they saw something else, for anyone who wishes they had someone else's life, and for anyone who wants to read an excellent story with characters that will warm your heart long after you turn the final page. Greta is my favourite character from Carmel so far and I cannot wait for the next book from one of my all-time favourite authors.
Beautiful. Emotional. Relatable. These are just some of the words I would use to describe MY PEAR-SHAPED LIFE by Carmel Harrington but they are not enough to describe the lyrical way that this author weaves a story that will touch you to your core and make you feel like you never have before.
Greta Gale has always been the fat, funny one - the funny member of her family calling herself Big G and the funny friend laughing at herself first before anyone else can. But beneath the laughing facade that she has helped to create, Greta is hurting and masking her pain with sleeping pills to help her zone out. When her family finds out, Greta is suddenly forced to confront everything in her life from her body image and self-confidence to the relationship with her parents and siblings, and along the way, Greta will really have to take a look at who she is at the core of herself and what she feels she deserves from life and all it could hold for her. Add in a trip of a lifetime, a beloved Uncle who is looking for love, a new friend, and an old friend who has something to tell her, and Greta may just be in for a life-changing adventure!
This story is being released at the perfect time - strange you may think considering we are in the middle of a pandemic but this is how I see it. Never before have we realised how fragile and precious life truly is then now, and how futile ridiculous body expectations are and how worrying about other people's opinions simply shouldn't matter. We have woken up and realised that all that matters is family, friendships, and living long enough to see those you love cherish and blossom. And this captivating story captures the essence of this on every page.
Greta is like the rest of us, flawed and consumed by what should be instead of what could be if she just let herself face everything head-on. She is also strong, loveable, and willing to put in the work to be herself and be as happy as she can be, with some help along the way from those who care about her. Oh, and the laughs along the way are a joy to behold! Hilarious!
MY PEAR-SHAPED LIFE by Carmel Harrington is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and wished they saw something else, for anyone who wishes they had someone else's life, and for anyone who wants to read an excellent story with characters that will warm your heart long after you turn the final page. Greta is my favourite character from Carmel so far and I cannot wait for the next book from one of my all-time favourite authors.
March 2, 2020
This is a book that has you reflect about your own body image and how you react to others. I have a mild bias going in, especially after seeing the author's note at the very beginning. I was super skinny throughout my childhood well into my bachelors, irrespective of what I ate or if I exercised at all. So when I started putting on weight, I did not know how to keep it in check (working out has turned out to be the best solution). I am not overweight, and I know some people would look askance at me for even talking about this topic, but that's pretty much the point of the narrative. Everyone has weaknesses and sometimes its easier to wallow than consider that there are alternatives, again-not talking of losing weight per se but to even see yourself healthily.
Greta Gale is a budding actor, she is also much heavier than she would like to be. She dresses in a way she thinks hides herself the most and also cracks jokes with others while being the punchline and has people in her corner and even as she does the judging, they help her out. Greta also learns the hard way that she has a problem with her coping mechanism. That is just the first half of the book, in the second we have a road trip with powerful parallels to the Wizard of Oz as the author warns us would happen. Both parts are pretty unique and have different learning curves for the protagonist and her loyal family and friend. I really liked the positivity running like a thread through it all, and I think this is a brand of Uplit that makes sense in the current social media-obsessed world where what you see is often not what you get, but you aim for that image anyway.
The only reason I did not give this a full five stars is because despite the serious content and the colourful characters (I loved Greta's mother the best) it took me a considerable time to get invested emotionally in their trials and I felt like the second half wrapped up a little too abruptly. It is still an excellent book to read and has all the kinds of people one could cheer for, and we are strongly advised to do just that both fictionally and in real life.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience
Greta Gale is a budding actor, she is also much heavier than she would like to be. She dresses in a way she thinks hides herself the most and also cracks jokes with others while being the punchline and has people in her corner and even as she does the judging, they help her out. Greta also learns the hard way that she has a problem with her coping mechanism. That is just the first half of the book, in the second we have a road trip with powerful parallels to the Wizard of Oz as the author warns us would happen. Both parts are pretty unique and have different learning curves for the protagonist and her loyal family and friend. I really liked the positivity running like a thread through it all, and I think this is a brand of Uplit that makes sense in the current social media-obsessed world where what you see is often not what you get, but you aim for that image anyway.
The only reason I did not give this a full five stars is because despite the serious content and the colourful characters (I loved Greta's mother the best) it took me a considerable time to get invested emotionally in their trials and I felt like the second half wrapped up a little too abruptly. It is still an excellent book to read and has all the kinds of people one could cheer for, and we are strongly advised to do just that both fictionally and in real life.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience
April 23, 2020
Everyone knows someone like Greta or has felt like her at some stage of their life. She is the person who is guaranteed to be outwardly jolly, with self-deprecating humour and witty one-liners …..but full of self -loathing inside.
Greta has a weight problem which is destroying her self esteem and leading to some excruciatingly cringeworthy moments. She believes that her dream of becoming a successful actress will never materialise and has also become too reliant on sleeping pills to help with insomnia.
Her Irish family are warm and loving, with typical Irish banter banded around by her parents and younger brothers. However, Greta feels like an outsider, everyone in the household is thin and extremely health conscious. She relies on best friend Dylan and shares a close relationship with her Uncle Ray who describes her as the daughter he never had.
My Pear-Shaped Life takes you on Greta’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance. She learns how to trust her loved ones, show her vulnerabilities and open her heart to love and happiness. Her recovery takes her on an amazing road trip, where she learns that she is not alone in hiding hurtful emotions. She also recognises that so-called weaknesses can actually make a person much stronger.
The references and parallels to the story of The Wizard of Oz are brilliantly subtle, clever and inspiring. There is incredible love, warmth, and wit in the story despite the serious issues. Greta never feels sorry for herself but instead recognises vulnerability in people and shows great empathy. She is a relatable main character who everyone will adore and her story is charming, warm and thought-provoking.
Greta has a weight problem which is destroying her self esteem and leading to some excruciatingly cringeworthy moments. She believes that her dream of becoming a successful actress will never materialise and has also become too reliant on sleeping pills to help with insomnia.
Her Irish family are warm and loving, with typical Irish banter banded around by her parents and younger brothers. However, Greta feels like an outsider, everyone in the household is thin and extremely health conscious. She relies on best friend Dylan and shares a close relationship with her Uncle Ray who describes her as the daughter he never had.
My Pear-Shaped Life takes you on Greta’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance. She learns how to trust her loved ones, show her vulnerabilities and open her heart to love and happiness. Her recovery takes her on an amazing road trip, where she learns that she is not alone in hiding hurtful emotions. She also recognises that so-called weaknesses can actually make a person much stronger.
The references and parallels to the story of The Wizard of Oz are brilliantly subtle, clever and inspiring. There is incredible love, warmth, and wit in the story despite the serious issues. Greta never feels sorry for herself but instead recognises vulnerability in people and shows great empathy. She is a relatable main character who everyone will adore and her story is charming, warm and thought-provoking.
March 3, 2020
Another fabulous inspiring story that didn’t fail to brighten my day. Anyone who has read previous books by Carmel will know that references to The Wizard of Oz pop up in her novels and in this one there are so many that you could be mistaken for being in The Emerald City!
The Gales family are a typical Irish bunch with terrific sense of humours but also with their own flaws. Greta Gale the daughter of Emily and Stephen is an outwardly a fun overweight young lady who has an addiction to sleeping pills. Greta laughs at herself even when others are being quite cruel with their remarks but a spell in rehab gives her tools to a happier life. Her uncle Ray announces that he is taking Greta on a road trip from Kansas to Las Vegas, which at first doesn’t go down well with her parents, but the chance to meet her namesake Greta Gale an American who she has idolised for so long is not to be missed.
The journey offers life changes not only to lonely Ray and low esteemed Greta but also to Billie, an old flame of Ray and to Dylan a friend of Greta. During the exciting trip they all discover who they are and more importantly who they can be.
There are highs and lows during the story but the support of friends and family shines through.
My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC digital copy of My Pear-Shaped Life which I thoroughly enjoyed and happy to give a 5 star review.
The Gales family are a typical Irish bunch with terrific sense of humours but also with their own flaws. Greta Gale the daughter of Emily and Stephen is an outwardly a fun overweight young lady who has an addiction to sleeping pills. Greta laughs at herself even when others are being quite cruel with their remarks but a spell in rehab gives her tools to a happier life. Her uncle Ray announces that he is taking Greta on a road trip from Kansas to Las Vegas, which at first doesn’t go down well with her parents, but the chance to meet her namesake Greta Gale an American who she has idolised for so long is not to be missed.
The journey offers life changes not only to lonely Ray and low esteemed Greta but also to Billie, an old flame of Ray and to Dylan a friend of Greta. During the exciting trip they all discover who they are and more importantly who they can be.
There are highs and lows during the story but the support of friends and family shines through.
My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC digital copy of My Pear-Shaped Life which I thoroughly enjoyed and happy to give a 5 star review.
April 13, 2020
My Pear-Shaped Life is the story of Greta Gale. Greta is overweight and knows it. She is unhappy with her life but tries to hide it behind a bubbly, larger than life persona, which many women will identify with I’m sure. She also has an addiction which she tries to hide from her family. When her secret is uncovered, she has to face up to her shame and the fact that she feels she has let her family down.
Carmel Harrington writes about Greta’s feelings so convincingly and there is so much that many people will recognise in Greta. Her feelings of shame, failure and inadequacy will resonate with so many. And yet there is hope and optimism too, particularly in the latter part of the book when Greta goes on a road trip to America with her uncle.
Although it was difficult to read about Greta’s unhappiness in the early stages of the book, it was so lovely to watch her begin to grow in self-esteem and blossom as the book went on. And what was clear was that what we all need to grow is love and encouragement, and some faithful companions to support you along the road. There are some important messages we can learn from Greta about being positive, about believing in ourselves and about making the best of the opportunities which come our way.
Life’s a bit pear-shaped for all of us right now but we can take heart that there will be better times ahead. My Pear-Shaped Life is another heart-warming story from Carmel Harrington and just the kind of uplifting read we need just now.
Carmel Harrington writes about Greta’s feelings so convincingly and there is so much that many people will recognise in Greta. Her feelings of shame, failure and inadequacy will resonate with so many. And yet there is hope and optimism too, particularly in the latter part of the book when Greta goes on a road trip to America with her uncle.
Although it was difficult to read about Greta’s unhappiness in the early stages of the book, it was so lovely to watch her begin to grow in self-esteem and blossom as the book went on. And what was clear was that what we all need to grow is love and encouragement, and some faithful companions to support you along the road. There are some important messages we can learn from Greta about being positive, about believing in ourselves and about making the best of the opportunities which come our way.
Life’s a bit pear-shaped for all of us right now but we can take heart that there will be better times ahead. My Pear-Shaped Life is another heart-warming story from Carmel Harrington and just the kind of uplifting read we need just now.
March 3, 2020
Another fabulous inspiring story that didn’t fail to brighten my day. Anyone who has read previous books by Carmel will know that references to The Wizard of Oz pop up in her novels and in this one there are so many that you could be mistaken for being in The Emerald City!
The Gales family are a typical Irish bunch with terrific sense of humours but also with their own flaws. Greta Gale the daughter of Emily and Stephen is an outwardly a fun overweight young lady who has an addiction to sleeping pills. Greta laughs at herself even when others are being quite cruel with their remarks but a spell in rehab gives her tools to a happier life. Her uncle Ray announces that he is taking Greta on a road trip from Kansas to Las Vegas, which at first doesn’t go down well with her parents, but the chance to meet her namesake Greta Gale an American who she has idolised for so long is not to be missed.
The journey offers life changes not only to lonely Ray and low esteemed Greta but also to Billie, an old flame of Ray and to Dylan a friend of Greta. During the exciting trip they all discover who they are and more importantly who they can be.
There are highs and lows during the story but the support of friends and family shines through.
My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC digital copy of My Pear-Shaped Life which I thoroughly enjoyed and happy to give a 5 star review.
April 24, 2020
Greta Gale, the star of this book has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile.
Greta has always been a huge fan of another Greta Gale, her American namesake who is a famous life coach in the US. After a trip to rehab to sort out a sleeping tablet addiction, her Uncle surprises her with an unexpected road trip from Dublin to Las Vegas. Greta starts to question if you need to be the perfect size to love yourself. Or to fall in love. Because sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear shaped.
What an absolute treat this was! Greta was a great character – warm and funny and I’d love to have her for a friend. I really felt for her when she was struggling with her weight and her appearance. I was surprised the book took a slightly darker turn quite early on when Greta ends up in rehab for a sleeping pill addiction as this wasn’t alluded to in the blurb but I thought it was handled well – not too dark and gritty but realistic.
But my favourite bit was when they arrived in America. Greta’s favourite film is The Wizard of Oz (she shares her surname with the character Dorothy Gale) and they start their road trip in Kansas so they can take in The Wizard of Oz museum. Along their way to Vegas they pick up a few waifs and strays, a little like Dorothy and her trip along the yellow brick road. I loved the descriptions of the places they visited – it made me feel like I was along for the ride!
There are some great characters in this book – her mum is especially funny and I love how she dresses up for Facetime calls and to visit Greta in rehab. Her Uncle Ray who she is very close to is also just lovely – he loves and supports Greta unconditionally and as we find out more of his back story, I really wanted him to get a happy ending. The characters all go on a journey – both physically and emotionally and they felt real.
The writing in My Pear Shaped life is just brilliant – I haven’t read any of Carmel Harrington’s other books but I will definitely be looking out for them. The humour in her characters is just lovely and she reminded me a little of Marian Keyes and the families she features in her books. I think every woman who has every had a hang up about their body will identify with this book and there are some important messages. The perfect feel-good book for this time – an absolute joy, I flew through it.
Greta has always been a huge fan of another Greta Gale, her American namesake who is a famous life coach in the US. After a trip to rehab to sort out a sleeping tablet addiction, her Uncle surprises her with an unexpected road trip from Dublin to Las Vegas. Greta starts to question if you need to be the perfect size to love yourself. Or to fall in love. Because sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear shaped.
What an absolute treat this was! Greta was a great character – warm and funny and I’d love to have her for a friend. I really felt for her when she was struggling with her weight and her appearance. I was surprised the book took a slightly darker turn quite early on when Greta ends up in rehab for a sleeping pill addiction as this wasn’t alluded to in the blurb but I thought it was handled well – not too dark and gritty but realistic.
But my favourite bit was when they arrived in America. Greta’s favourite film is The Wizard of Oz (she shares her surname with the character Dorothy Gale) and they start their road trip in Kansas so they can take in The Wizard of Oz museum. Along their way to Vegas they pick up a few waifs and strays, a little like Dorothy and her trip along the yellow brick road. I loved the descriptions of the places they visited – it made me feel like I was along for the ride!
There are some great characters in this book – her mum is especially funny and I love how she dresses up for Facetime calls and to visit Greta in rehab. Her Uncle Ray who she is very close to is also just lovely – he loves and supports Greta unconditionally and as we find out more of his back story, I really wanted him to get a happy ending. The characters all go on a journey – both physically and emotionally and they felt real.
The writing in My Pear Shaped life is just brilliant – I haven’t read any of Carmel Harrington’s other books but I will definitely be looking out for them. The humour in her characters is just lovely and she reminded me a little of Marian Keyes and the families she features in her books. I think every woman who has every had a hang up about their body will identify with this book and there are some important messages. The perfect feel-good book for this time – an absolute joy, I flew through it.
March 13, 2020
This is a warm, witty, insightful and life-affirming read, and I loved this book so much I read it in just three sittings. As the queen of Irish women’s fiction, Carmel really does know how to write. I really like the heroine, Greta Gale (what a great name, for a start!), and could connect with her struggles. While mine aren’t the same as hers, there is enough commonality about the insecurities of being a woman and how life can knock you sideways, that I could emphasise with her and was rooting for her as she journeys through rehab and then on across an America road trip with her beloved uncle, Ray (and in some ways the book feels as much his as it is Greta’s). There were elements of the story that reminded me of Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes; also a great book.
The body positivity message really resonated with me, and overall this book left me with lots to think about.
I enjoyed the structure, including insta posts, text conversations, and quotes from L. Frank Baum. I especially liked all the Easter eggs about the Wizard of Oz - and how much of My Pear-Shaped Life mirrors the adventures of Dorothy and her friends - and it was fun picking out all the subtle and not-so-subtle clues.
This was a lovely read which left me with a warm glow, and I can’t wait for the next book from Carmel.
The body positivity message really resonated with me, and overall this book left me with lots to think about.
I enjoyed the structure, including insta posts, text conversations, and quotes from L. Frank Baum. I especially liked all the Easter eggs about the Wizard of Oz - and how much of My Pear-Shaped Life mirrors the adventures of Dorothy and her friends - and it was fun picking out all the subtle and not-so-subtle clues.
This was a lovely read which left me with a warm glow, and I can’t wait for the next book from Carmel.
August 16, 2024
this book is a grower but it doesn’t grow to much. it grows on you the more you read it and yet still falls flat in the sense of the details and descriptions.
the overall storyline is the character struggling with her weight and identity and struggling with life in general; leading to her abusing sleeping pills. i did not see this book going the way it did and even though it was an easy read; i feel some of the writing came off as fat-phobic, even if it was from the character who is portrayed as fat. she’s described as being lazy, tired and sweaty and every page mentions her weight in a negative way. if it’s not her weight as a whole it’s how certain parts of her body looks due to the fact she’s a larger woman and spoken about in a disgusted tone of voice.
sadly i could see where the author wanted to go in terms of uplifting and empowering being a bigger lady with how it ended but unfortunately the character was only empowered and happy after losing weight and conforming to social norms, changing the way she behaved and changing her whole style. the overall character was funny and witty and was a lovely character.
the overall storyline is the character struggling with her weight and identity and struggling with life in general; leading to her abusing sleeping pills. i did not see this book going the way it did and even though it was an easy read; i feel some of the writing came off as fat-phobic, even if it was from the character who is portrayed as fat. she’s described as being lazy, tired and sweaty and every page mentions her weight in a negative way. if it’s not her weight as a whole it’s how certain parts of her body looks due to the fact she’s a larger woman and spoken about in a disgusted tone of voice.
sadly i could see where the author wanted to go in terms of uplifting and empowering being a bigger lady with how it ended but unfortunately the character was only empowered and happy after losing weight and conforming to social norms, changing the way she behaved and changing her whole style. the overall character was funny and witty and was a lovely character.
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