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Ross O'Carroll-Kelly #3
The Orange Mocha-chip Frappuccino Years
So there I was, roysh, enjoying college life, college birds and, like, a major amount of socialising. Then, roysh, the old pair decide to mess everything up for me. And we're talking totally here. Don't ask me what they were thinking. I hadn't, like, changed or treated them any differently, but the next thing I know, roysh, I'm out on the streets. Another focking day in paradise for me! If it hadn't been for Oisinn's apartment in Killiney, the old man paying for my Golf GTI, JP's old man's job offer and all the goys wanting to buy me drink, it would have been, like, a complete mare. Totally. But naturally, roysh, you can never be sure what life plans to do to you next. At least, it came as a complete focking surprise to me The life and times of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, the cult hero with a weekly column in The Sunday Tribune .
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 5, 2025
It was library day. I had to return the books I borrowed and even though I have multiple books on the go I couldn't help myself from picking up a few short reads.
This was number one. Ross O'Carroll is quite the arsehole and the book follows a short stretch of his life. It follows his womanising ways, moving-out-of-parents saga and beginning a career in real estate fiasco. Pretty much everything Ross does in this book is unhinged and fucked up. But hey, reading about dickheads sometimes is fun. I've not read any of the other books in this series but some of the situations he puts himself in are absolutely hilarious. I'm not Irish and not 100% on all the lingo but I really enjoyed it regardless. Each chapter was super enjoyable, the holiday arc being one of my favourites with Fionn's antics there and the petty bs that goes on.
My only real gripe was that most of his female friends are really bland to the point they were annoying. I get it's to show the kinds of friends he has and a satire of women-to-women relationships and how cut-throat they can be but it dragged on a bit.
5/5
This was number one. Ross O'Carroll is quite the arsehole and the book follows a short stretch of his life. It follows his womanising ways, moving-out-of-parents saga and beginning a career in real estate fiasco. Pretty much everything Ross does in this book is unhinged and fucked up. But hey, reading about dickheads sometimes is fun. I've not read any of the other books in this series but some of the situations he puts himself in are absolutely hilarious. I'm not Irish and not 100% on all the lingo but I really enjoyed it regardless. Each chapter was super enjoyable, the holiday arc being one of my favourites with Fionn's antics there and the petty bs that goes on.
My only real gripe was that most of his female friends are really bland to the point they were annoying. I get it's to show the kinds of friends he has and a satire of women-to-women relationships and how cut-throat they can be but it dragged on a bit.
5/5
August 27, 2016
Great lols.
January 21, 2024
I came back to this book this year. I want to re-read all of the series before reading the new book to see the development of the characters.
A great addition to the series early on that shows how much Ross really needs his parents, Sorcha and ironically, Fionn.
Some jokes haven’t passed the test of time, especially in this politically correct world, but the book is hilarious and I enjoyed the reread.
A great addition to the series early on that shows how much Ross really needs his parents, Sorcha and ironically, Fionn.
Some jokes haven’t passed the test of time, especially in this politically correct world, but the book is hilarious and I enjoyed the reread.
February 13, 2018
Getting thrown out of home by his ungrateful parents proves the catalyst for a change in direction in the life of the shallow, feckless Ross O'Carroll-Kelly. He becomes everything his young life has prepared him for: an estate agent.
Still flying the flag for all that was wrong in Celtic Tiger Ireland, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly's journey into the working world is as hilarious as it is heartless.
Still flying the flag for all that was wrong in Celtic Tiger Ireland, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly's journey into the working world is as hilarious as it is heartless.
June 4, 2019
Vintage Neanderthal rugby antics
Certified Celtic tiger D4 rugger bugger, Kiely’s, BT’s,
Lillie’s extravaganza. Ross O’Carroll Kelly comes of age and wreaks havoc on all the unwitting.
Certified Celtic tiger D4 rugger bugger, Kiely’s, BT’s,
Lillie’s extravaganza. Ross O’Carroll Kelly comes of age and wreaks havoc on all the unwitting.
August 14, 2022
Ross is a MENACE however he did have a redemption arc
extremely funny and enjoyable read due to writing style and the mischief Ross is up to always
you hate him and love him
the driving test and Debs shenanigans made the book a 5 star for me apart from being great overall
extremely funny and enjoyable read due to writing style and the mischief Ross is up to always
you hate him and love him
the driving test and Debs shenanigans made the book a 5 star for me apart from being great overall
July 25, 2025
An Early Chapter in our Hero's Career.
Not a full novel but an unusual fill-in . Unusual because Ross actually finds gainful employment as a fraudulent Estate Agent.
Well worth a read.
Not a full novel but an unusual fill-in . Unusual because Ross actually finds gainful employment as a fraudulent Estate Agent.
Well worth a read.
September 29, 2018
Fun, despite the pat ending.
December 7, 2022
Not as much laughs in this one as the other's I've read in the series and a bit short.
August 5, 2023
Another humorous adventure in the life of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly. Lighthearted and novelty adventures with a pinch of sport make this an enjoyable and easy to read series.
July 29, 2025
I enjoy these silly books.
April 4, 2020
Not his best work but still a funny read.
"a sells-then-buyers-market" fucking brilliant 😂
"a sells-then-buyers-market" fucking brilliant 😂
March 2, 2017
Hilarious third part of the series advances the story on well. Only giving it four stars as I've read the later books in the series and I know how good it's going to get.
May 18, 2011
Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is an Irish thing. He's everything that's wrong with the Celtic tiger. A dick leeching money out of his (equally annoying) parents, who likes a number of annoying girls...
Ross makes Beavis and Butthead feel like Simpsons compared to South Park, but that's part of the joy of the book. Well written, funny, and of a correct length too.
"Ross O'Carroll Kelly is a legend, roysh. And we're talking totally here. He lives in Dublin, but not i any of the parts you frequent, which would be, like, a total mare. He basically lives on a higher plane. Like a good looking Gandhi. With fockloads of cash."
A quick introduction to those who don't know O'Carroll-Kelly is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_O&#...
"Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is something of a cultural phenomenon within Ireland, and his name has become a byword for all that is perceived to be wrong in Celtic Tiger Ireland. Though it is largely viewed as satire, there are those who view Ross O'Carroll-Kelly as a role model or an idol. For example, some people have imitated Ross'friends pastime of driving through disadvantaged areas in expensive cars, shouting "Affluence!" at passers-by. Following Ross' move to The Irish Times, the Irish Independent began a similar column, OMG! featuring a female counterpart to Ross, in its Weekend supplement on 22 September, 2007."
Ross makes Beavis and Butthead feel like Simpsons compared to South Park, but that's part of the joy of the book. Well written, funny, and of a correct length too.
"Ross O'Carroll Kelly is a legend, roysh. And we're talking totally here. He lives in Dublin, but not i any of the parts you frequent, which would be, like, a total mare. He basically lives on a higher plane. Like a good looking Gandhi. With fockloads of cash."
A quick introduction to those who don't know O'Carroll-Kelly is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_O&#...
"Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is something of a cultural phenomenon within Ireland, and his name has become a byword for all that is perceived to be wrong in Celtic Tiger Ireland. Though it is largely viewed as satire, there are those who view Ross O'Carroll-Kelly as a role model or an idol. For example, some people have imitated Ross'friends pastime of driving through disadvantaged areas in expensive cars, shouting "Affluence!" at passers-by. Following Ross' move to The Irish Times, the Irish Independent began a similar column, OMG! featuring a female counterpart to Ross, in its Weekend supplement on 22 September, 2007."
May 23, 2013
I remember when I read this book spending most of the time trying to figure out if I knew this guy, Ross. I was genuinely unsure if it was really fiction for quite a lot of it. Which is perhaps a sad commentary on the state of Ireland at the time (and not at all a commentary on my own credulousness! :) ). This was the first of the Ross O'Carroll Kelly books that I read and I've enjoyed almost every one since, torn between laughing and sniggering one minute and cringing the next.
May 11, 2008
haha.. i am going to take the time to add the entire series because it is just so hiliarously wrong... however i warn you that the book is written almost entirely in Dublin posh-slang and i had to get my irishman to translate so if you choose to read - please call me for any translation needs.
March 25, 2008
The ROCK books just keep getting better. First one was ok, the 2nd was better and this one was better again. Plenty of laugh out loud moments as Ross finally seems to be growing up.
April 18, 2008
I bought this book in the Dublin airport and did not put it down until I got off of the plane! One of the most enjoyable books that I've ever read.
April 4, 2011
A funny look at upper-class Dublin and the youth that comes out of it. There are times you want to hit Ross and others you just kind of want to hug him.
July 17, 2013
I wasn't sure if I was going to like the humour in this book but it was hilarious was cracking up all the way through so I am dying to start the next one!
October 14, 2013
With each book Ross is growing up and become much more aware and I enjoy seeing that. I think it might be my favorite so far!
October 10, 2014
hilarious!!
November 10, 2016
Not his best-but the "Blind Date" episode nearly made it 3 stars.
November 21, 2016
Roish de legend does the uni years, rosser or kicker gets caught up in the celtic tiger years ...smashing read yaay!!
October 4, 2022
This author is not for me, I am not Irish and found the Dublin "accent/slang" very annoying. I had to stop reading it and will probably not read anymore books by this author. It wasn't even funny.
April 26, 2017
Duly read as asked to by my Irish mate. It's very likely I don't really get the in jokes. Not sure what he sees in this slightly funny nonsense. Good to fall asleep to, mind.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews