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Marshmallow
Some moments change everything. For five friends, what should have been a birthday to remember will instead cleave a line between before and after. From then on, the shockwaves of guilt, sorrow and disbelief will colour every day, every interaction, every possibility. Each will struggle. Each will ask why. Secrets will be kept. Lies will be told. Relationships reassessed. Each friend will be forever changed. And the question all of them will be forced to ask can they ever find a way to live without what was lost?A raw, powerful novel from the prize-winning author of Kokomo that exposes the ripple effect of grief. With profound insight and a tender heart, Marshmallow shows how quickly the life you thought you had can be shattered forever.
294 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
August 5, 2022
Set over the course of two days, five friends ricochet and connect as they reflect on events from a year prior. Their grief is palpable and tenderly rendered. Their pain is raw. Their sense of loss is keenly felt. Their hauntings are tangible. They grieve alone in different ways and together as one. The book builds effortlessly and inevitably to that fateful day that changed everything. Every word and exchange is loaded with significance only the reader can appreciate. Hannan’s characters feel alive and real, after all character is plot and that is so beautifully illustrated here. Five voices is the perfect number for multi-voice narration in my opinion. I have a lot more to say about this remarkable novel and you can hear me say it when I help launch MARSHMALLOW at @readingsbooks on August 30 and speak to Victoria and Isobel Beech about their books at @melbwritersfest on September 9.
September 5, 2022
When I first heard that Victoria Hannan was releasing her second novel, you best believe I added it straight to my Goodreads. Even better when I got the email from Tandem Collective that they were hosting a readalong! I’m so glad to report that this book exceeded all my expectations and I knew it would be a 5 star read by the end of the first chapter. I friggin LOVED it.
Marshmallow was heartbreaking and sad, no two ways about it. It is set a year after a tragic loss shook a group of friends to their very core, and follows their different POVs as they approach the anniversary of the event.
I always love a story set in Melbourne, but love it even more when I can recognise the places (I live just up the road from where Marshmallow is set). I’m also the same age as the characters, so you know it’s a hard relate to those elder millennial troubles like housing affordability, the pressure to settle down, dating apps etc.
There’s something so effortless about Hannan’s writing. The dialogue is fluid and natural, the characters believable and so fully-formed you could swear you know them in real life. The backstory and character-development is woven in so well with the plot, keeping it at a pace that made me not want to put this down.
Marshmallow may be devastating, and I may have had a cry, but it is also hopeful and beautiful, and reminds us that life may not ever be the same after loss, but at some point it will start to get easier.
A huge and genuine thank you, thank you, thank you to Tandem Collective, Hachette, and last (but not least) Victoria Hannan. I cannot fault this STUNNING book, and it was an absolute pleasure to read.
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Marshmallow was heartbreaking and sad, no two ways about it. It is set a year after a tragic loss shook a group of friends to their very core, and follows their different POVs as they approach the anniversary of the event.
I always love a story set in Melbourne, but love it even more when I can recognise the places (I live just up the road from where Marshmallow is set). I’m also the same age as the characters, so you know it’s a hard relate to those elder millennial troubles like housing affordability, the pressure to settle down, dating apps etc.
There’s something so effortless about Hannan’s writing. The dialogue is fluid and natural, the characters believable and so fully-formed you could swear you know them in real life. The backstory and character-development is woven in so well with the plot, keeping it at a pace that made me not want to put this down.
Marshmallow may be devastating, and I may have had a cry, but it is also hopeful and beautiful, and reminds us that life may not ever be the same after loss, but at some point it will start to get easier.
A huge and genuine thank you, thank you, thank you to Tandem Collective, Hachette, and last (but not least) Victoria Hannan. I cannot fault this STUNNING book, and it was an absolute pleasure to read.
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August 22, 2022
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
Grief is the reaction to loss, usually when someone close to you has died, it affects people in different ways and causes diverse behaviour.
Some time before, a place where laughter, life and love was rampant, now it’s a time where sadness, tears and silence is heightened.
Five friends deal with the aftermath of tragedy.
Secrets, lies and raw temperaments will be elevated.
Relationships will crumble.
But most of all each one will be changed forever.
A story that’s heavy on emotion and the many sides it creates.
Set over a few days with the characters feelings and relationships and how they have dealt with a tragic incident that happened a year prior.
The concept of the book was quite powerful but after reading the final chapter, I felt at times it was a little disjointed.
I had high expectations for this but there were parts that stopped me from connecting to it.
Am I being to cynical…… maybe, the writing is good, the premise is quite touching and the atmosphere is sad, moving and sensitive so it does give off the right feels for the storyline.
I’m not sure where I got lost in the tale nevertheless it ended up not working for my reading brain.
Grief is the reaction to loss, usually when someone close to you has died, it affects people in different ways and causes diverse behaviour.
Some time before, a place where laughter, life and love was rampant, now it’s a time where sadness, tears and silence is heightened.
Five friends deal with the aftermath of tragedy.
Secrets, lies and raw temperaments will be elevated.
Relationships will crumble.
But most of all each one will be changed forever.
A story that’s heavy on emotion and the many sides it creates.
Set over a few days with the characters feelings and relationships and how they have dealt with a tragic incident that happened a year prior.
The concept of the book was quite powerful but after reading the final chapter, I felt at times it was a little disjointed.
I had high expectations for this but there were parts that stopped me from connecting to it.
Am I being to cynical…… maybe, the writing is good, the premise is quite touching and the atmosphere is sad, moving and sensitive so it does give off the right feels for the storyline.
I’m not sure where I got lost in the tale nevertheless it ended up not working for my reading brain.
July 16, 2023
So sad but so beautifully written… Very touching story about grief, but also a lot about hope and the importance of friendships. The book was hard to put down and even harder to fault I enjoyed this so much- definitely a 4.5.
October 17, 2022
Devastatingly beautiful. A barrage of tragedy made bearable by the tenderness of friendship. Exquisite.
August 29, 2022
"Annie walked over and hugged him and hugged Claire. Ev threw her arms around Annie from behind, one hand on Al and Claire, then Nathan joined in, until they were a mess of tears.”
So much change can happen in a year, a house once full of life and movement now filled with silence and sadness. What should have been a happy birthday will now always be the reminder of sorrow.
The narrative follows five friends and their vastly different take on grief, waves of emotions, denial, sorrow and disbelief. Each struggle in their own way, questioning how and why. Secrets begin to stain relationships and each person is forced to dig deep and ask themselves whether they will ever be able to find away to live without what was lost or let it consume them forever.
Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Finishing it in a sitting, this book put me straight into a slump and I struggled to find the words to write this review. It was brilliant, I sobbed my little heart out at the end. The emotions this novel pulled out of my was unreal. Hannan delicately exposes the ripple that grief leaves in life.
I adored Kokomo and was scared this wasn’t going to hit the same level but this had definitely made it to the leader board. It’s in stores tomorrow August 31st and I highly recommend picking this up after checking the trigger warnings.
Trigger warning Child Loss and grief.
So much change can happen in a year, a house once full of life and movement now filled with silence and sadness. What should have been a happy birthday will now always be the reminder of sorrow.
The narrative follows five friends and their vastly different take on grief, waves of emotions, denial, sorrow and disbelief. Each struggle in their own way, questioning how and why. Secrets begin to stain relationships and each person is forced to dig deep and ask themselves whether they will ever be able to find away to live without what was lost or let it consume them forever.
Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Finishing it in a sitting, this book put me straight into a slump and I struggled to find the words to write this review. It was brilliant, I sobbed my little heart out at the end. The emotions this novel pulled out of my was unreal. Hannan delicately exposes the ripple that grief leaves in life.
I adored Kokomo and was scared this wasn’t going to hit the same level but this had definitely made it to the leader board. It’s in stores tomorrow August 31st and I highly recommend picking this up after checking the trigger warnings.
Trigger warning Child Loss and grief.
August 8, 2022
I cried. Well done Vic. Big topic, so close to home. I miss her so much.
February 4, 2023
WHAT A BOOK COMPARED TO KOKOMO, i will say that kokomo just missed the mark for me but wow this book was so beautiful and tragic, i was crying the whole time i was reading it and i could feel every character as if they were in the room with me, I’m so glad that i didn’t write off victoria hannan after kokomo because this was a work of art
September 9, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘He wanted it to speak. If he were in a film or a book, the bird would speak to him. The bird would come to him with a message. It would forgive him, it would bury his grief in its nest, it would set him free.’
Victoria Hannan was the 2019 winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, which saw her first novel Kokomo optioned by Hachette Australia. Hannan returns with her second novel Marshmallow. A grief literature placed story, Marshmallow offers a visceral exploration of loss from the divided perspectives of five close friends.
Life can change in an instant, which is a lesson five friends must learn tragically when a terrible accident occurs at a celebration. A birthday party sets these friends on a course of destruction, self-examination, guilt, blame and sadness as they grapple with the choices that they made that fateful day. The aftermath of this celebration turned nightmare scenario has a ripple effect for each adult involved. Marshmallow allows Victoria Hannan to open up a frank conversation about loss, lies, secrets, relationship breakdown and sorrow. Each character is assessed individually as Hannan reminds us that grief is such a personal journey. Can this friendship circle move on after such an earth-shattering event?
Victoria Hannan’s first novel Kokomo has been languishing on my shelves unread since it was released last year. I have been meaning to investigate this Melbourne based writer’s work since Kokomo was published. A large and overwhelming review schedule has meant Hannan’s debut has been put aside for now, so my introduction to this photographer and writer’s work came via a readalong invitation from Tandem Global Collective. Marshmallow is a sensitive and compassionate story that details the process of grief from a variety of constructed viewpoints, not just the immediate loved ones involved. I thought this was quite a good angle to take when looking at this difficult subject.
Marshmallow is book that you need to be in the right headspace to fully appreciate and experience. There are some definite triggers around loss and grief of a young child so please tread with caution and have a box of tissues on hand. Hannan doesn’t inject too much drama or sentiment into Marshmallow, rather the focus is on the sense of guilt and regret felt by the cast. The tone Hannan takes is quite bruised, openly raw and honest. I haven’t been touched by grief as closely as the protagonists in this book but I did feel that Hannan seemed to capture the sorrow felt by all with credibility. There were times when I really wanted to reach out, shake and beg these characters in the book to communicate more! I did find that due to the volume of different voices handled it was a bit hard for me to stay in the zone and remain fully connected to the whole cast. The feelings these figures experience is quite like a rollercoaster at times, especially the lows. However, I will stress that there are obvious moments of promise and optimism carefully weaved in Marshmallow.
The past and present concurrent timeline that shapes Marshmallow helps the reader to build a better picture in their mind of the tragic event that defines this tale. The prose is quite pointed and the simplicity of Hannan’s penmanship is what struck me the most about Marshmallow. With themes of sadness, regret, blame, guilt self-examination, relationships, friendships, parenting, care, health and desperation ruling Marshmallow, there is no denying that this is an emotionally trying tale.
Hannan’s second novel is a tale that will undeniably pull at your heartstrings. I appreciated the concept exploration of grief and divided loss. I am still not entirely sure if I connected to Marshmallow as much as I wanted to but Hannan’s new novel is definitely one that will make you ache.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
‘He wanted it to speak. If he were in a film or a book, the bird would speak to him. The bird would come to him with a message. It would forgive him, it would bury his grief in its nest, it would set him free.’
Victoria Hannan was the 2019 winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, which saw her first novel Kokomo optioned by Hachette Australia. Hannan returns with her second novel Marshmallow. A grief literature placed story, Marshmallow offers a visceral exploration of loss from the divided perspectives of five close friends.
Life can change in an instant, which is a lesson five friends must learn tragically when a terrible accident occurs at a celebration. A birthday party sets these friends on a course of destruction, self-examination, guilt, blame and sadness as they grapple with the choices that they made that fateful day. The aftermath of this celebration turned nightmare scenario has a ripple effect for each adult involved. Marshmallow allows Victoria Hannan to open up a frank conversation about loss, lies, secrets, relationship breakdown and sorrow. Each character is assessed individually as Hannan reminds us that grief is such a personal journey. Can this friendship circle move on after such an earth-shattering event?
Victoria Hannan’s first novel Kokomo has been languishing on my shelves unread since it was released last year. I have been meaning to investigate this Melbourne based writer’s work since Kokomo was published. A large and overwhelming review schedule has meant Hannan’s debut has been put aside for now, so my introduction to this photographer and writer’s work came via a readalong invitation from Tandem Global Collective. Marshmallow is a sensitive and compassionate story that details the process of grief from a variety of constructed viewpoints, not just the immediate loved ones involved. I thought this was quite a good angle to take when looking at this difficult subject.
Marshmallow is book that you need to be in the right headspace to fully appreciate and experience. There are some definite triggers around loss and grief of a young child so please tread with caution and have a box of tissues on hand. Hannan doesn’t inject too much drama or sentiment into Marshmallow, rather the focus is on the sense of guilt and regret felt by the cast. The tone Hannan takes is quite bruised, openly raw and honest. I haven’t been touched by grief as closely as the protagonists in this book but I did feel that Hannan seemed to capture the sorrow felt by all with credibility. There were times when I really wanted to reach out, shake and beg these characters in the book to communicate more! I did find that due to the volume of different voices handled it was a bit hard for me to stay in the zone and remain fully connected to the whole cast. The feelings these figures experience is quite like a rollercoaster at times, especially the lows. However, I will stress that there are obvious moments of promise and optimism carefully weaved in Marshmallow.
The past and present concurrent timeline that shapes Marshmallow helps the reader to build a better picture in their mind of the tragic event that defines this tale. The prose is quite pointed and the simplicity of Hannan’s penmanship is what struck me the most about Marshmallow. With themes of sadness, regret, blame, guilt self-examination, relationships, friendships, parenting, care, health and desperation ruling Marshmallow, there is no denying that this is an emotionally trying tale.
Hannan’s second novel is a tale that will undeniably pull at your heartstrings. I appreciated the concept exploration of grief and divided loss. I am still not entirely sure if I connected to Marshmallow as much as I wanted to but Hannan’s new novel is definitely one that will make you ache.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
August 8, 2022
High Maintenance crossed with old episodes of Secret Life of Us, plus a dash of Didion swirled in. Five stars.
October 2, 2022
BEFORE EVERYONE COMES AT ME FOR THIS RATING… IM SORRY
First of all, this book did a fantastic portrayal of grief both in the short and long(er) term. It showed a complex and varied perspective on how different people respond to tragedy. And I appreciated that.
HOWEVER. Throughout the entire book I was waiting to properly *get to know* the characters, if that makes sense. I feel like I finished the book barely knowing any of them at all outside of their grief and tragedy. I want to know these people more deeply, I feel like I only got a portion of them.
Anyway, I definitely see why people love this and have rated it so highly. I just got the sense that I knew the characters even less when finishing the book than when I started it.
First of all, this book did a fantastic portrayal of grief both in the short and long(er) term. It showed a complex and varied perspective on how different people respond to tragedy. And I appreciated that.
HOWEVER. Throughout the entire book I was waiting to properly *get to know* the characters, if that makes sense. I feel like I finished the book barely knowing any of them at all outside of their grief and tragedy. I want to know these people more deeply, I feel like I only got a portion of them.
Anyway, I definitely see why people love this and have rated it so highly. I just got the sense that I knew the characters even less when finishing the book than when I started it.
May 16, 2023
big love for marshmallow! written thoughtfully from each perspective of five friends set in melbourne, this book is a heartwarming testament to love and friendship as well as to the poignant experiences of loss and grieving. a truly beautiful, raw and powerful book, i recommend it with my whole heart <3 !!
June 26, 2024
I’m so impressed by Hannan’s ability to write characters who feel so real. The characters grief is so raw and palpable, and the entire book gives a very realistic portrayal of pain, and love and friendship in the face of that. Very glad to have read this.
November 4, 2023
For when you need a good cry. Or several.
October 8, 2022
Wow! Went through the full spectrum of emotions. What a gift you have Victoria. Already looking forward 😊
December 11, 2022
Cool so this was devastating
April 17, 2023
tears were shed
January 26, 2023
Sad book, it portrayed the feeling of grief and sadness so well.
July 23, 2024
I love this style of writing. Real and relatable and very familiar.
A very sad story though, highlighting the importance of friendship and the aftermath of tragic accidents. It was a beautiful way to see grief play out amongst friends and how they supported one another. Tough read, but lovely.
A very sad story though, highlighting the importance of friendship and the aftermath of tragic accidents. It was a beautiful way to see grief play out amongst friends and how they supported one another. Tough read, but lovely.
January 4, 2025
Devastating but beautiful. In a big pool of tears now. 💔
July 10, 2024
A very unexpected 5 stars. Beautifully written. I cried. Not much else to say.
March 26, 2025
Not what I expected when I read the blurb! So well written, beautiful, sad and enjoyable
September 26, 2022
4 stars for the 4 times I cried during this book - grief and friendships offt right in the heart ❤️
October 16, 2022
Grief. Complicated • Messy • Unique.
A beautifully honest and raw story about the impact of grief upon relationships, careers and life. Highly recommend.
A beautifully honest and raw story about the impact of grief upon relationships, careers and life. Highly recommend.
March 13, 2023
Well written and complex characters but I just didn’t connect with it that much
September 5, 2022
I have now accidentally read three novels based around grief this year, which is definitely enough. But by the time I realised just how sad it was, I was too far in. It’s very well written and I needed to know how the characters were doing. It does a great job at showing what true, love-based friendship looks like.
So, trigger warning: this is a book based around five adults who are wading through grief, due to witnessing a child die.
I will find this book very hard to recommend to customers because it was truly so heartbreaking. That said, a customer bought it yesterday. I gave her a warning but she still wanted to read it. If you’re mentally able to, I’d give it a go. Just tread carefully.
So, trigger warning: this is a book based around five adults who are wading through grief, due to witnessing a child die.
I will find this book very hard to recommend to customers because it was truly so heartbreaking. That said, a customer bought it yesterday. I gave her a warning but she still wanted to read it. If you’re mentally able to, I’d give it a go. Just tread carefully.
February 27, 2023
3.5 stars.
This book was beautiful, interesting and fast paced. An exploration of grief over two days from five points of view - I enjoyed it a lot. The novel loses stars because I found the exploration of grief to be quite cliche - one character throws themselves into work, another out of work, one blames themself, another rises to the occasion. The most interesting part, hence the rating was the relationship between the characters.
This book was beautiful, interesting and fast paced. An exploration of grief over two days from five points of view - I enjoyed it a lot. The novel loses stars because I found the exploration of grief to be quite cliche - one character throws themselves into work, another out of work, one blames themself, another rises to the occasion. The most interesting part, hence the rating was the relationship between the characters.
January 19, 2023
Considering the big sad theme of it all I thought I’d enjoy this more.
July 14, 2023
this caused visceral pain. friendship truly is everything
June 5, 2024
Only read this if you’re ready to read about raw and tragic grief. Finding out why it’s called marshmallow nearly broke me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews