The Woman Who Stole My Life

I love Marian Keyes but I have to agree with other reviewers that this was a bit of a disappointment. The premise was interesting and there were plenty of funny parts, but they didn't really add up to anything. Stella shows a lot of strength in her recovery from the illness that paralyzes her, but she is very passive otherwise. A lot of things happen to her (and again, some of them are very funny), but she never really takes charge of her own life. The romance falls flat too because of the inequity of roles between Stella and the object of her affection.

I will always view early Keyes books Rachel's Holiday, Watermelon, and Last Chance Saloon to be among the best early British Chick Lit, but her more recent efforts have been less impressive.