Aisling Ever After by Sarah Breen & Emer McLysaght (2023), published by Gill Books
What it's about? The phenomenally successful series of Aisling books reaches an end. It's time to say goodbye.... Almost 32, Aisling finds her ex-boyfriend John on her doorstep in New York. Will she fall for his new-found devotion and be lured her back home, or will she continue to chase the American dream?
Why you should read it? Starting off as a Facebook page in 2008 in which the authors collected observations about a certain type of Irish woman, the first Aisling book was published in 2017. The series went on to capture the hearts of a nation who followed the humourous trials and tribulations of this relatable companion. The push and pull of living abroad whilst being homesick creates the cliff-hanger for this finale.
What did the critics say? "McLysaght and Breen never coast on their readers' pre-existing love for Aisling, and this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. Their real genius lies in their comedy. Every page makes the reader laugh, which could wear thin in the hands of lesser writers but McLysaght and Breen’s one-liners are always imbued with the sharpest of social observations." - Edel Coffey, Irish Times
Will we see more of Aisling? Element Pictures (Poor Things, The Favourite, Room) optioned the film rights for the series in 2018 though there's been no updates on developments since then.
For readers of… Marian Keyes' Again, Rachel, Sally Rooney’s Normal People, Paul Howard’s Ross O’Carroll Kelly books.
Aisling Ever After by Sarah Breen & Emer McLysaght (2023) is published by Gill Books
Read more Book Club Bluffers Guides here.
