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Designer Genes
Emily Cusack has it all sorted. A loving husband, two adorable kids and a gorgeous home. All she needs now is an au pair, for life to be truly perfect.
Her friend Susie is content too. A brilliant psychotherapist, she’s got an elegant flat, a wardrobe of ball-busting suits, a sleek sports car and doesn’t need a man, thank you very much.
The only jeans the friends normally encounter are the designer version. Then Emily learns about genes of a different kind and how she could be the carrier of a cancer-causing one. Emily doesn’t take much lying down and deals with this in her decisive way. But, can her marriage survive the aftershock?
Emily’s news rocks Susie and makes her take a long hard look at her own self-sufficient life. Brought up by her loving but ditzy single mum, Susie has never known her father. Now she decides to do something about it. But she’s in for more than she bargains for!
One thing’s for sure – life will never be the same again after a trip on this roller-coaster of discovery.
'Fabulously funny and heartbreakingly poignant at the same time, Designer Genes tells an incredible story. Emma Hannigan has a strong, vibrant voice that'll touch you on every page.' --Cathy Kelly
'Extradordinary story' --Ryan Tubridy Show - RTE Radio 1
Her friend Susie is content too. A brilliant psychotherapist, she’s got an elegant flat, a wardrobe of ball-busting suits, a sleek sports car and doesn’t need a man, thank you very much.
The only jeans the friends normally encounter are the designer version. Then Emily learns about genes of a different kind and how she could be the carrier of a cancer-causing one. Emily doesn’t take much lying down and deals with this in her decisive way. But, can her marriage survive the aftershock?
Emily’s news rocks Susie and makes her take a long hard look at her own self-sufficient life. Brought up by her loving but ditzy single mum, Susie has never known her father. Now she decides to do something about it. But she’s in for more than she bargains for!
One thing’s for sure – life will never be the same again after a trip on this roller-coaster of discovery.
'Fabulously funny and heartbreakingly poignant at the same time, Designer Genes tells an incredible story. Emma Hannigan has a strong, vibrant voice that'll touch you on every page.' --Cathy Kelly
'Extradordinary story' --Ryan Tubridy Show - RTE Radio 1
- GenresFiction
430 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2009
6 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Emma Hannigan
23 books164 followersEmma Hannigan was an Irish author and blogger, best known for writing about her experience of suffering from cancer.
With a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Hannigan's mother and maternal aunt tested positive for the responsible gene, BRCA1. She also received a 'positive' result in August 2005, which carries an 85% risk of developing breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. In 2006, Hannigan underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy (or both breasts removed) and a bi-lateral oopherectomy (or both ovaries removed) to reduce the risk of cancer developing to 5%. However, breast cancer soon developed, "in the neck, shoulder and under my arm", in 2007. After repeated treatment, a tumor always reappeared. She died at age 45 after her tenth battle with cancer.
With a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Hannigan's mother and maternal aunt tested positive for the responsible gene, BRCA1. She also received a 'positive' result in August 2005, which carries an 85% risk of developing breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. In 2006, Hannigan underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy (or both breasts removed) and a bi-lateral oopherectomy (or both ovaries removed) to reduce the risk of cancer developing to 5%. However, breast cancer soon developed, "in the neck, shoulder and under my arm", in 2007. After repeated treatment, a tumor always reappeared. She died at age 45 after her tenth battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 3, 2011
With a long wait in the hairdressers due a few weeks ago, I treated myself and I'm glad I did.
It's almost impossible to believe this is a debut novel. Hannigan writes with such confidence, emotional empathy and humour that it feels as though she has been doing it all her life.
The premise of the book is simple - Emily Cusack, married mum of two kids, finds out she has a wonky gene which predisposes her to breast cancer. Emily decides to have a double mastectomy as a preventative measure and an oopherectomy (the removal over her ovaries).
I know what you will be thinking at this point - a book about cancer, major surgery and boob removal. Sounds like a fecking big barrel of laughs.... not. But it is.
There are genuine laugh out loud moments to sit alongside the weep into your morning cuppa moments. There is a warmth and chatty style to Hannigan's writing which draws you in and makes you care so very deeply about Emily and her family.
Her interactions between he characters - especially between her and her best friend Susie - are brilliantly drawn. The friendship feels real. In fact I finished the book in the wee small hours of this morning feeling they were real and I had been on a proper journey with them.
I want to have tea and biscuits in Dunmahon shopping centre with Emily and Susie and while my arse wouldn't fit in a pair of Victoria Beckham jeans in a blue fit, I would ooh and aah at all the right places.
At times I seethed with professional jealousy reading this book because, mark my words, Hannigan is going to be huge (in a success sense... I'm not suggesting she get fat or anything).
This book is a delight, and an addictive read from start to finish. I have to say it has been a long time since I turned the last page of a book and felt a pang of regret that it was done, but this was one such occasion.
Do yourself a favour, pick up a copy.
It's almost impossible to believe this is a debut novel. Hannigan writes with such confidence, emotional empathy and humour that it feels as though she has been doing it all her life.
The premise of the book is simple - Emily Cusack, married mum of two kids, finds out she has a wonky gene which predisposes her to breast cancer. Emily decides to have a double mastectomy as a preventative measure and an oopherectomy (the removal over her ovaries).
I know what you will be thinking at this point - a book about cancer, major surgery and boob removal. Sounds like a fecking big barrel of laughs.... not. But it is.
There are genuine laugh out loud moments to sit alongside the weep into your morning cuppa moments. There is a warmth and chatty style to Hannigan's writing which draws you in and makes you care so very deeply about Emily and her family.
Her interactions between he characters - especially between her and her best friend Susie - are brilliantly drawn. The friendship feels real. In fact I finished the book in the wee small hours of this morning feeling they were real and I had been on a proper journey with them.
I want to have tea and biscuits in Dunmahon shopping centre with Emily and Susie and while my arse wouldn't fit in a pair of Victoria Beckham jeans in a blue fit, I would ooh and aah at all the right places.
At times I seethed with professional jealousy reading this book because, mark my words, Hannigan is going to be huge (in a success sense... I'm not suggesting she get fat or anything).
This book is a delight, and an addictive read from start to finish. I have to say it has been a long time since I turned the last page of a book and felt a pang of regret that it was done, but this was one such occasion.
Do yourself a favour, pick up a copy.
March 20, 2018
When Emily learns she may have inherited the breast cancer gene, her world flips upside down. And that is just the beginning.
i know this author has battled cancer, and it is obvious she is familiar with this topic and know what she is talking about. The book is fiction, but it is definitely very real.
This book will give you ALL the feels. Sadness, fear, hope, and even humor.
i know this author has battled cancer, and it is obvious she is familiar with this topic and know what she is talking about. The book is fiction, but it is definitely very real.
This book will give you ALL the feels. Sadness, fear, hope, and even humor.
March 17, 2011
This book in parts was good, it was also sad, but in other parts, it did not hold my interest for long.
August 15, 2013
Even though it was written a few years ago- very topical now with Angelina Jolene. It made me think about the decision I would make it I carried the gene!
March 24, 2014
Would highly recommend this book, I think if I was in the characters shoes I would have made the same decision. This is one book that made me laugh and cry at the same time. Well worth a read
December 11, 2016
Absolutely hilarious read
September 10, 2010
This could be witten by me:)same experiences except I had C.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews