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The brightest star in the sky

3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 · rating details · 9,220 ratings · 864 reviews

A wry and life-affirming tale-and the Irish literary star's latest "New York Times" bestseller.
Marian Keyes's inimitable blend of rollicking humor, effervescent prose, and captivating stories that deal with real-life issues have won readers around the globe. Reminiscent of the blockbuster movie "Love, Actually," her new novel "The Brightest Star in the Sky," features sev...more

Paperback, 612 pages

Published November 4th 2010 (first published January 1st 2009)

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Jul 02, 2012 Sophie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: I wouldn't recommend this book

Shelves: 2000-onwards

I found the characters well rounded and despite their diverse personalities they were for the most part likeable - with one very large exception.

Although the story jumps about a fair amount, it is still quite easy to follow once you adapt to the style.

From a negative point of view, I did not enjoy the story, and found the book quite a distressing read.

****Contains Spoilers****

(view spoiler)...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Kirstine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Why did I read this book? I was waiting in the library and it looked interesting.

Am I regretting it? No, I'm not. Not really.

The thing is, if this book had held on to the atmosphere and narrating from the beginning, it would have gotten 4 stars. I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. Instead it suddenly turns from "oh, warm, cozy book about love and loss and finding yourself in a world of turmoil" to "PAIN AND ANGER (view spoiler)...more Why did I read this book? I was waiting in the library and it looked interesting.

Am I regretting it? No, I'm not. Not really.

The thing is, if this book had held on to the atmosphere and narrating from the beginning, it would have gotten 4 stars. I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. Instead it suddenly turns from "oh, warm, cozy book about love and loss and finding yourself in a world of turmoil" to "PAIN AND ANGER (view spoiler). Seriously? Changing your style in the middle of everything is not cool. Not cool at all. Especially if you do it after half a book. We're already sucked in, thinking this is a nice little story about ordinary people, with a little bit of magic and problems thrown in, and suddenly BAM, cold shower of darkness you didn't sign up for. You can't spring shit like that on us, just to go back to your fluffy ways and fix it all with a brush of your wizard stick. We're not gonna buy it.

There's a stark difference between the two styles, and she doesn't manage to mix them well.

Still, I did give it 3 stars, and that's because Keyes writes some great characters and because I rather enjoyed the beginning. I love the idea of what the narrator is, and Katie is kind of a kindred spirit. Well, apart from the high heels, but eating yourself to death in cake is a splendid idea.

Now I'm gonna talk about something that contains a spoiler.
(I'm not hiding it because it's important and none of you are gonna read this book anyway).

I really respect Marian Keyes for writing the rape scene and the suicide attempt, because it's portrayed realistically and it's a very important issue. It wasn't as rough (but still unpleasant) reading the rape as it was reading about doctors and policemen blaming the victim and not taking the issue seriously afterwards. It made my wanna fucking break faces, god it was infuriating. And that's why it bothers me that she put it in this book, because it's not the place for it. It probably helped enlighten a few people and shed light on a terrible taboo, but it didn't fit in and it's a shame, because it's strongly and bravely written. She should have saved it for another story. It's too easy to ignore or skip past in this one. But it carries a strong message: Life does go on, and your body belongs to you. (less)

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Dec 04, 2009 Chloe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The residents of 66 Star Street in Dublin are all being watched… but by what? Maeve and Matt seem happy enough to anybody looking in, but behind the facade is a truth that neither of them wants to be made public. Katie and Conall have a love/hate relationship, but how will the arrival of TV gardener Fionn affect their relationship?

Lydia lives with Polish men Andrei and Jan, but can’t stand either of them… not to mention the problems Lydia is having with her own mother as well. And Jemima lives w...more The residents of 66 Star Street in Dublin are all being watched… but by what? Maeve and Matt seem happy enough to anybody looking in, but behind the facade is a truth that neither of them wants to be made public. Katie and Conall have a love/hate relationship, but how will the arrival of TV gardener Fionn affect their relationship?

Lydia lives with Polish men Andrei and Jan, but can’t stand either of them… not to mention the problems Lydia is having with her own mother as well. And Jemima lives with her lovely dog Gurudge, but is sure she feels the presence of something hanging around the house of 66 Star Street. Just what, or who, is watching these people? And will the secrets that bind them ever come out?

Marian Keyes is one of the most successful chick-lit authors of all time, yet strangely I have only read 2 of her books. I loved Watermelon, one of her earliest books, but her last release This Charming Man just didn’t do it for me. So it was with trepidation that I decided to try out her latest offering which has probably been the most anticipated books of 2009. It’s had numerous cover designs posted all over the net (some loved, some hated), but finally the book had its British release at the end of last month, and I couldn’t go into a bookshop with seeing Marian’s gold shiny book everywhere. I got my copy from the library as I don’t buy hardbacks and quickly sat down to read it.

I have to admit this book was a real struggle for me. At over 600 pages long, it’s a very large book that requires the reader to put in a lot of time and concentration to read, so I was hoping it would be good enough to hold my attention that long, but I was sure it would because it was Marian! But straight away, I disliked it, and sadly that continued throughout the whole book until the last 50 or so pages when I felt the whole things managed to pick up a bit but enough to move the book into 4 star territory for me. It seems authors are trying to branch out in their material to try something different, and Keyes has almost taken the lead from Cecelia Ahern by introducing a magical element into the book, but I just felt it didn’t work here at all.

The narrator, who we don’t find out the identity of until almost the end of the book, is somewhat creepy and doesn’t feel magical at all, just somehow wrong. It adds to the creepy and unsettling tone of the whole book – there is not a whole lot of happiness in this book at all and I think that is what made me struggle to complete it. I knew nothing good was going to happen, only that things would get worse for the characters. I found Matt and Maeve’s story in particular quite harrowing to read, and the shocking conclusion of it all was a bit too much for me. Katie, my favourite character of the book was the only good thing for me, and the only believable character. Conall was unlikeable, and I bet most readers will struggle to identify with him. Fionn was an awful character, Rosie was easily forgetable (I actually did forget her in parts), and Jemima was another of the greats, but they just weren’t enough to save this book.

There were too many characters to keep track of throughout the book, and I wasn’t entirely sure why there was a countdown of days throughout the book. Clearly we were headed towards day 1 but why – what was going to happen? I wasn’t altogether sure I cared that much, and that’s a fundamental flaw here. I hadn’t guessed the narrator until the point I think we were supposed to realise but many have claimed they guessed it – when I did realise, I was a bit flummoxed by it because it was slightly odd and seemed like it had come out of nowhere to be honest. The chapters are relatively short so the story keeps going at a good enough pace, but I do feel it could have been 200 pages shorter and therefore more succinct and perhaps better reading.

Yes, I have to admit I am really disappointed with the latest offering from one of Ireland’s greatest authors, and I am glad I decided to wait to get a copy from my library. It isn’t something I can recommend you go and buy, but if you’re a fan of Keyes, you’ll want to read this. However, if you’ve never read Marian before – DO NOT start with this one, you probably won’t want to pick up another of her books. Amazon reviewers also seem split on this – some love it and some hate it, and sadly I just couldn’t get on with it at all. It was just too depressing and painful to read, and while elements of the book showed promise, it just didn’t work for me. Such a pity! (less)

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Maria I have to say I agree with this review. I have read 2 other books by Marian Keyes that I enjoyed as what they simply were, entertaining chick lit. Thi...more
Apr 07, 2010 10:02pm

Sheena Lambert Great review - I know where you are coming from, but I have to say for me, there is just something about Marian....I love all her books, but I think I...more
Jun 22, 2012 05:31am

Helen I've just finished this & whilst I can see where you're coming from with the huge number of characters (started reading it while I was ill & c...more
Mar 17, 2013 03:32am

Jun 25, 2012 Arielle rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: real-life, mental-illness, written-this-century, chick-lit

It pains me to give this one star (and I'd prefer to give it 1.5 but that can't be helped) as I love Marian Keyes, but this book took me by surprise, and not in a good way. I figured out the big secret with Maeve early on, but I'm not sure whether that was due to it being obvious, or more a recognition of subtle signs, so maybe not everyone would work it out so quickly. I understand that having any warning as to what had happened would essentially take away any suspense in the story, but if I ha...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well Marian Keyes and has done it again and even better than before. Instead of her usual focus on one woman and her life, this book looks at the inhabitants of four apartments in a low-rise building in Dublin. We see how their lives intertwine, what issues each character is going through and how they deal with those issues.
As usual we do not have complete knowledge of any given character, but enought to get a feel for what is happening, what has happened and what may be on the horizon for them....more

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Aug 22, 2012 Bertrand Brasil rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Existe um misterioso espírito que paira sobre o edifício número 66 da Star Street, em Dublin, Irlanda. E esse espírito está em uma missão para mudar a vida de alguém. Em A Estrela Mais Brilhante do Céu, Marian Keyes demonstra mais uma vez sua técnica como uma dos grandes contadores de histórias da atualidade e sua vontade de ultrapassar limites na literatura.

Os inquilinos do prédio 66 formam certamente um grupo excêntrico. Na cobertura mora Katie, uma mulher de 39 anos que trabalha como relações...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Judith Lewis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another find on the bookshelves of our holiday cottage and just the thing for a quick, light read. A pleasing array of characters, some of the apparent stereotypes taking one by surprise as the book goes on. While none of them are developed in great depth, most of them are engaging to some extent and you want to know what happens to them - especially, as time goes on, to the apparently ordinary couple in the basement flat. The one who works least well is Fionn, a gardener who breaks into the com...more

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May 03, 2012 Ash rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished reading the book fifteen minutes ago, and am slightly scarred by the ending. Very graphic and dramatic and the just-desserts for David seemed unbelievable. However, the writing was good and it was an enjoyable read, if you're in the mood for something heavy. Let me clarify that this is not in any way a beach read, particularly the final 50 or so pages. Many characters - Rosie in particular - I really wanted to slap. She's like an annoying neighbour that pops over unannounced and st...more Just finished reading the book fifteen minutes ago, and am slightly scarred by the ending. Very graphic and dramatic and the just-desserts for David seemed unbelievable. However, the writing was good and it was an enjoyable read, if you're in the mood for something heavy. Let me clarify that this is not in any way a beach read, particularly the final 50 or so pages. Many characters - Rosie in particular - I really wanted to slap. She's like an annoying neighbour that pops over unannounced and stays for hours... And the relationship between Lydia and Andrei should never have been written. if he was going to end up with Rosie as a beaten man anyway, why waste time with Lydia? Their zinging connection, the sexual tension, ripping each others' clothes off and going at it over and over. Something should've happened between them!! Not just mindless sex. I would've liked it if Andrei had grown a pair and tolf Rosie to eff off - pardon my language - back to her nunnery. This coming from someone who isn't having sex till marriage, due to my religion. Sure, I follow my religion, but I don't go around rubbing it into people's faces with Rosie's Holier-than-thou bullshit (again, sorry for swearing, but oh she annoyed me so)! The narrator - once I realised who it was - creeped me out slightly, but I know what Marian was trying to do and it was sweet. I wouldn't recommend this book for youngsters (I'd classify that as people below the age of 18) because the themes of sex, rape and death are just too vivid and somewhat disturbing. Plus, now that I really think about it, what in god's name was Dr. Shrigley ON, telling Maeve to do Acts of Kindness and Trios and Blessings and all that yoke????? To a rape victim, seriously?? It all seemed so new-agey and made it seem like Shrigley was dealing with a rape victim with a hearts-and-flowers approach, and that did not seem appropriate. Prescribing antidepressants seemed more realistic, but... I found the Trios of Blessings particularly hard to take. It almost seems like Shrigley is taking the piss. But it was effective in terms of storytelling, because it showed how damaged Matt and Maeve's relationship was.

Before I started reading this book, I'd just finished reading last Chance Saloon (another one of Marian's books) and I felt slightly frustrated with Katie's character - she seemed like all three of the protagonists (discounting the gay best friend) combined with all that whining about never finding a man again and her body turning into a museum and all that. I was glad when she met Fionn, but irritated by his immaturity. Conall's character was a bit under-developed in a way - all I really knew about him from the first 300-odd pages was that he was a workaholic who continually disappointed his girlfriend. He came across as a cookie-cutter character, the workaholic boyfriend who realises the error of his ways and subsequently changes himself. Furthermore, another bug bear of mine had been the "best friends" of the characters. Marian, you've already included so many protagonists (Lydia, Katie, Conall, Matt, Maeve, Fionn, Jemima, Andrei, Jan, Grudge, the narrator, etc.) including best friends just made the story difficult to follow at times. I often found myself wondering "Who's Alex? Who's Sissy? Who's Russ? Who's Bronagh?" even now, aside from Sissy (because she was included in the final 50 or so pages), I can't remember any of Lydia's friends. Katie's friends are all a blur to me... Was there a guy called "Danno" who loved coffee or red bull, who had a very high frequency, or am I thinking about Last Chance Saloon?

All in all, this book was an enjoyable read and kept me interested, despite its length. I'd recommend it to people, sure. However, it is far from my favourite Marian - that spot might be reserved for Angels or This Charming Man. (less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Elizabeth-Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've never read a Marian Keyes novel before an had been under the impression that she was a comic writer - although this book is very funny in places it also deals with serious issues and the complexities of modern relationships at all ages. I enjoyed how Keyes brought us slowly into each character's life and showed you the reasons behind why each one acted as they did. We often do not talk to our neighbours and form opinions with them without getting to know them - this book made me consider th...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary-fiction, fiction

The novel tells the story of a group of people all living in flats in the same building. Maeve and Matt are a married couple coping with a traumatic event, Katie is finding it hard to see where her life is going, Lydia is a female taxi driver who cares for her Mum (who has dementia) and Jemima is coming to the end of her life.

Well, my sister was right - it's not really chick lit. In fact, Marian Keyes' writing style reminded me a bit of Nick Hornby's and there was no way the book could be descri...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Emma Meade rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As with all of her books, The Brightest Star in the Sky hooked me early on. Mind you I wasn’t very sure what exactly was going on at the start, or who the unusual narrator was but Marian’s typical wit and flair for comedy kept me turning the pages. I even missed Desperate Housewives because I had my head stuck in the book and I should probably thank Ms. Keyes for this also.
There are so many fun and varied characters to get to grips with and as is usual with Keyes, her women have strong personali...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Adriana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Marian Keyes is one of my favorite writers. However, like other reader reviews I've read, I have to say that this book did not do it for me.

Marian Keyes is not just your typical chick lit author. She really elevates the genre by pulling in more serious issues. I loved the way she moved from goofy to intense in This Charming Man, but it just didn't grip me the same way in the Brightest Star in the Sky. Maybe it was a little too much too late? Or maybe I just didn't care. I'm not sure what preven...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Ms Tlaskal rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know, I know, it's trashy, but I challenge you to read one of her books and not be able to stop, like the mars bars that Connell, one of the main men is always chomping down. The plot is predictable and by the end... a join the dots conclusion but what she does well, is getting you hooked on her characters and her turns of phrase lift it out of the ordinary gold embossed cover fare. She describes Connell as wearing the kind of quality dark suits 'you sign peace treaties in'. There is a mystery...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-before-2011, chick-lit

Reviewed at JudgingCovers.co.uk

Before I start, I should say that I adore Marian Keyes. I’ve read all of her books; I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and I’ve loved almost every word. I could probably go as far to say that I worship the ground she walks on.

So it pains me to say that I struggled with this book.

The story focuses around a small block of flats in Dublin, and a mysterious character that is watching over all of its residents. This supernatural visitor, who acts as a narrator, is able to see in...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Danna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recommended

Some of the lines in this book were laugh-out-loud funny. My favorite was something along the lines of (not exact), "if you mixed all of his fantasies together, he would be drinking Veuve out of a Loubotin once worn by Nicole Kidman." The story line was unique, narrated by an un-implanted fetus seeking a womb. The book tells the story of the tenants of 66 Star St., starting off with parallel story lines that don't converge until quite late in the novel.
Katie's story of turning 40 and all the gri...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love me some Marian Keyes. This book was most like This Charming Man - a good read with some light points, but shadowed by heavier ones. The book starts as a countdown of days and is narrated by a type of spirit. Much like TCM, you didn't really know exactly what was going on with the characters until a good couple hundred pages in.

The spirit winds up at 66 Starr Street, a building whose residents eventually have lives that entertwine. Lydia, the cab driver, is not very likeable. She lives wit...more

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May 08, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This took me a little while to get into but once I did, it was magic.

It centers around four apartments in Dublin and the lives of their inhabitants. Here's what Amazon says:

"Marian Keyes's inimitable blend of rollicking humor, effervescent prose, and stories that deal with real-life issues have captivated readers around the globe. She is one of the bestselling authors of women's fiction in the English-speaking world. Her new novel will delight fans of Candace Bushnell's darkly comic sensibility...more

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Apr 24, 2010 Faith rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

The magic of Marian? I didn't particularly like this book but still enjoyed reading it.

To start from the good things: Marian is good at characters. I always love her sympathetic characters. That's why I more or less enjoy reading her books regardless of my other objections. Even if I don't like the story, I want to know what happens to the characters. Other good points are that Marian is always light reading and always humorous and funny.

But. Otherwise Marian's books have deteriorated in standar...more

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Mar 11, 2010 Becky R. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Throughout the story, you follow the lives of the different characters . As is familiar today, we watch one character's story, then move on to another, examining how they all intersect. In this story, they do all rub shoulders eventually, but not all for one overriding story. Each story is important. There is the old lady with her dog, the young TV gardening star, the young married couple who seem "old," the 40ish single professional woman (dating her boss, no less), and the 20ish female taxi dr...more Throughout the story, you follow the lives of the different characters . As is familiar today, we watch one character's story, then move on to another, examining how they all intersect. In this story, they do all rub shoulders eventually, but not all for one overriding story. Each story is important. There is the old lady with her dog, the young TV gardening star, the young married couple who seem "old," the 40ish single professional woman (dating her boss, no less), and the 20ish female taxi driver and her two Polish roommates. All living in Dublin, all living separate lives, yet all affecting one another in strange ways, we watch the complicated ways these individuals deal with the challenges in their lives. As for the narrator, we later find out its role.

I feel as though I couldn't have been any more obscure in my synopsis of the novel, and yet that is how the story plays out. It is a complicated web of characters and stories that must be kept straight. In the end, I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to find out what was going on, and how the narrator played into the story.

In beautiful language used to describe people and their thoughts, Keyes really pushed her characterization. There seemed to be this dance between what she wants the reader to think, and what the characters actually think. You always seem to be chasing the real meaning of the story. There were times that I felt the relationships to be unrealistic, that characters were schizophrenic in their dealings with one another, and in their own emotions. It also bothered me that characters such as the female taxi driver could be so angry at the world, disconnected with the love interests in her life, and so nonchalant about the anxieties she experienced. As with that character, you would just begin to feel like you understood the insecurities driving them, and they would turn around and do something that felt erratic and spontaneous, but in the opposite direction of what they wanted in life. Maybe that's really how we are as humans, always striving for happiness, but messing it up by going in the opposite direction?

Overall, I really liked this novel. I have a hard time placing it in a category or genre, but felt that its modern portrayal of characters and their lives to be fascinating. If you enjoy examining characters and their behaviors, then this book is perfect; it is a strange and interesting look at how humans behave, and why.(less)

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Feb 13, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Brightest Star in the Sky is a charming book about a spunky spirit who finds herself in a Dublin brownstone where she keeps track of the love lives of its residents. Living at 66 Star Street are Matt and Maeve, cozy newlyweds with a challenging traumatic event in the past which both are struggling to move beyond, Katie, a busy just-turned-40 PR executive with a wealthy partner that no one really likes and some doubts of her own, then there’s Lydia, a tough cab driver with two Polish roommate...more The Brightest Star in the Sky is a charming book about a spunky spirit who finds herself in a Dublin brownstone where she keeps track of the love lives of its residents. Living at 66 Star Street are Matt and Maeve, cozy newlyweds with a challenging traumatic event in the past which both are struggling to move beyond, Katie, a busy just-turned-40 PR executive with a wealthy partner that no one really likes and some doubts of her own, then there’s Lydia, a tough cab driver with two Polish roommates simultaneously afraid of her and dramatically attracted to her and finally there’s Jemima, a psychic, who’s retired and lives rather quietly with her dog Grudge. Marian Keyes really delves into these characters and you come to know them all so well and cheer for them to succeed in whatever they choose to make themselves happy.

I’m not sure why Keyes felt that the best narrator to the story need be some spiritual type but it works. It’s rather clever to have this opinionated spirit floating from one apartment to another. Not quite meddlesome but not remaining neutral either. While the story is being told, she adds in little quips and commentary on what she thinks about each person’s significant others or career paths.

I could relate most to Katie as we are both single and 40. Her boyfriend seems overbearing and always tied up at work [haven’t we all been in a relationship like this at least once?:] and she has self doubts about the relationship and her own happiness as she just turned this seemingly monumental age. By 40, all women want to have a career we love, a significant other we love and a place to live that we love. Don’t we? Keyes recognizes this and in Kate we watch her inner struggles, turmoil and strengths unfold throughout the pages as she makes life-altering decisions to improve her position and embraces her individuality. Even Lydia, who seems abrasive at first, comes into her own once we discover she’s caring for her mom who has Alzheimer’s. Lydia is boldly independent and outspoken. She’s tough but Keyes allows her to show some vulnerability at times that makes Lydia likeable. As for Matt and Maeve, they were my least favorite. I just couldn’t figure out why they were together and why Maeve was supposed to be so attractive. I couldn’t connect to her on any level.
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Jan 21, 2010 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

I've read several of Marian Keyes's novels in recent years. It seems that I continue to pick up better and better novels. I originally thought she was a fluff chick-lit author after reading Angels and Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, but was pleasantly surprised by Anybody Out There? Given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this novel, I jumped at the chance.

A great asset to this book are the levels of mystery that begin right on the first page. The chapters are labeled as days and ser...more

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Sep 25, 2009 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Ahh, another gem from Marian Keyes. I didn't even know she had another book coming out so it was like an unexpected gift, so exciting!
I didn't like her last one ("This Charming Man") so much but this one was back up to her usual top standard. I spent a lovely day in bed racing through it and enjoying every minute. I love the way she writes, I always find her characters so endearingly excitable and quirky (possibly because M.K. herself is like that? Anyway I certainly am: it's nice to know I am n...more

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Dec 28, 2009 Anne added it · review of another edition

I've been a massive Marian Keyes fan since way back in 1995 when I read 'Watermelon', and I've read every one of her book since then, some have been better than others, especially those that feature the Walsh family, but I've enjoyed all of them.

Marian Keyes' books always contain hilarious one-liners, wittily drawn characters that are warm and that the reader cares about whilst usually dealing with quite serious and often serious issues.

To me, this almost feels like s lagging off one of my best...more I've been a massive Marian Keyes fan since way back in 1995 when I read 'Watermelon', and I've read every one of her book since then, some have been better than others, especially those that feature the Walsh family, but I've enjoyed all of them.

Marian Keyes' books always contain hilarious one-liners, wittily drawn characters that are warm and that the reader cares about whilst usually dealing with quite serious and often serious issues.

To me, this almost feels like s lagging off one of my best mates, but The Brightest Star in the Sky really has been a big let-down. Whilst still dealing with some difficult and very emotional topics, this novel just didnt engage me at all. I found the concept of the novel just so very strange - for some reason she has decided to have a narrator who is not of this earth - the Brightest Star of the title. The time line of the novel is so confusing - it starts on Day 60 something, then jumps back day by day, then jumps back a few years - which becomes really confusing. The very short chapters concentrate on one of the many characters in the story, which again becomes quite difficult to follow - there are just too many characters, some of them are pretty one-dimensional and to be honest, I just didnt really care about them at all. The characters all revolve around 66 Star Street in Dublin - their lives become mixed up together, but it felt as though a few of the relationships were just so outrageous and had been added to the story purely for effect.

There are still some quite funny parts of the novel, and a few good plots, but on the whole - this really is a massive disappointment and I think that most die-hard Keyes fans will feel the same way.

It's a massive tome of a book with over 600 pages and I was determined to make it to the end in the hope that maybe it would all pull together in the end, but sadly, I closed the book after finishing it with just a sigh of relief.

I dont know why Marian Keyes has chosen this concept for the novel, maybe she's seen the success of Cecilia Ahern? The concept of the story is very similar to Ahern's book called If You Could See Me Now (which I also really disliked). I really hope that this was an experiment for Keyes and that her next book is back to her usual standards - personally, I'd love to see another book about the Walsh family.
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Nov 16, 2010 Mel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: friends, fans of Marian Keyes

I recently picked this up as an Audio Book when I had quite a long journey to take. I was reluctant. I first read Watermelon after a friend recommended it to me, and instantly loved Keyes style. I adored Last Chance Saloon, and Rachel's Holiday remains one of my favourite books.

However there are some novels which I don't appreciate, or enjoy, Sushi for Beginners, The Other Side of the Story and even Anybody Out There? I felt, especially in her later novels, Keyes has not been restrained and the...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book recently as part of my book club - and the overal consenus was that we loved it :)
It was however not that way from the start for all of us, myself included. it felt really slow to get moving, and with so many characters to introduce and jumping all over the place - it was frustrating and more than once I would have given up if it hadn't been for the fact that I 'had' to finish it for the book club.
But the time I was about 3/4 in however, I couldn't put it down! I just wanted mor...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Marian Keyes is usually my go-to for a quick, engrossing, cheeky read. Her characters are always battling something heavy--addiction, divorce, death of a spouse, but it's always handled in a way that makes you laugh with them and ultimately want to read on and root for them.

But there was something different about this book.

Maybe it was the characters. I really hated Matt, who was weak, squishy and basically had no will. I understood Maeve's plight (especially since she has the world's worst th...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Nancy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

[close:] Welcome to 66 Star Street . . .In the top-floor flat lives music exec Katie. She spends her days fighting off has-been rock stars and wondering how much cheesecake you'd need to eat yourself to death.Below her, a pair of muscular Poles share with a streetwise cabbie named Lydia, who has a sharp tongue, an even sharper brain but some unexpected soft spots.On the first floor is Fionn - a gardener who prefers the company of parsnips to people. But he looks like a fairy-tale prince and when...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Melissa Libutti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm almost done with this book. I want to go on the record stating I LOVE Marian. If she wrote an ad for Charmin toilet paper, I'd buy the magazine it was in. I have ALL her books, in print, not E reader format, on their own special book shelf with my worry dolls, Buddha belly good luck thingy, and Simon the chipmunk relic from back in the day. Yeah, sacred stuff! That being said, this book isn't doing it for me. I felt that way about The Other Side of the Story, though... Went back and reread i...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Antoinette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First I have to tell you what my kids did this weekend--well, OK, I would if I knew. I have no idea because I had my nose in this book the entire time except when they had the nerve to fight loudly enough that I couldn't concentrate and had to separate them and, you know, do some parenting or whatever. Is this a great book? No. Did I love it? Yes. Marian Keyes knows how to write an entertaining story and how to craft believable characters. Many of her novels, especially her later ones, touch on...more

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Mar 22, 2010 Rowena rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

66 Star Street is the setting for Marian Keyes' latest novel, The Brightest Star in the Sky. It touches on the lives of the 8 residents and their interconnected storylines.

I wasn't particularly pleased with this Keyes. Typically, when a new Keyes novel is released, I rush out to the bookstore, buy a copy (hardcover, mind you, i NEVER do that) and race home to spend the next three days secluded in my room, flipping through pages at an alarming rate. While I did enjoy this novel, I felt it lacked...more

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About Marian Keyes

Marian Keyes, born September 10, 1963, is a popular Irish writer, considered to be one of the original progenitors of "chick lit". Keyes' first novel, Watermelon, was published in Ireland in 1995. Since then she has published seven further novels and two collections of non-fiction, and has sold 15 million copies of her books in 30 languages.

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“Minsk! How pissed-off that sounded! It was great. You could scare the bejayzus out of someone if you said it right.” — 7 people liked it

“You have a magnificent moustache. You must be very proud of it.” — 5 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7149254-the-brightest-star-in-the-sky?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328006412l/7149254.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7149254-the-brightest-star-in-the-sky?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The brightest star in the sky by Marian Keyes[/url]

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