Customer Reviews

He's Got to Go

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was good- it would have been great if two out of the three main characters weren't so grating on the nerves. While older sister Nessa was portrayed very accurately as a nagging, uptight, meddlesome worrier...after a while I just wanted to scream!! Half of the nagging was unneccessary for the plot or character development- and it just left me aggitated.

However, the younger sister, Bree, is what really took away from this book. The lack of reality that went into developing this character is mind-blowing. O'Flanagan is almost partronizing any reader who attempts to learn about Bree....does O'Flanagan honestly think that Michael was ever Bree's "boyfriend?" Let me just say, the continuous referral to Bree's "ex-boyfriend" (whom she ALMOST, but never did kiss- at the age of 25....) left me wondering just how immature the writer, or the reader, was expected to be to believe this. At first I was able to dismiss it, thinking this continuous reference to the guy she "loved" after three dates, who was her "boyfriend" even though they never even kissed, was O'Flanagan's way of expressing Bree's immaturity and lack of experience. However, when the seemingly worldly sisters started referring to Michael as Bree's "ex-boyrfriend" I just about stopped reading this book altogether.

Aside from this, the only character that really did it for me was Cate. But unfortunately, the author only skims the surface with her, and we are left seeing her through other character's eyes, rather than directly into her.

The plot was great. I can only imagine how wonderful this book COULD have been with better characters.

I wanted a book to entertain me while traveling and this book did the trick. (I needed a book that I would not feel out of touch if I was not able to pick it up for a couple weeks.) Nessa, Cate and Bree made me laugh, yell, etc. with the sibling problems and love for one another. Through thick and thin your sisters will always be there for you.

This is the first book I've read from Sheila O'Flanagan and I really enjoyed it. I plan to read more of her books in the near future.

In Ireland, of the three Driscoll siblings, Nessa seems to be the one to have it all together. She has lived in comfort as a Riley with Adam for almost a decade and they have an eight year old child. Her sisters Cate and Bree are poster girls for failed relationships.

However, Nessa believes paradise may be lost as evidence mounts that Adam is cheating especially when she consults her horoscope. Nessa wonders what to do as economically she cannot just dump Adam. She has no one to turn to for advice as her mother lives on the other side of the once emerald isle; Cate the crabby one is having problems with her boyfriend radio host Finn over her pregnancy; and finally Bree the mechanic has a host of trouble as she can't get to work on time though Adam keeps her supplied with repairs and the father of her boyfriend is in love with her.

HE'S GOT TO GO is an entertaining relationship drama starring three solid female protagonists about a decade apart in age and even further distanced in how they see male partners. The story line effortlessly swings back and before between the three women though the concentration is more on Nessa, but does not neglect Cate and Bree. The characters are all well developed, not just the three Driscoll sisters. Though the ending ties up for the most part the lives of Nessa and Cate and to a lesser degree Bree, it feels much too crammed inside a short climax. Still the audience will enjoy this fine tale and want to seek more works by Sheila O'Flanagan.

Harriet Klausner

Keeping in mind European relationships are vastly different than American, I found this book to be extremely entertaining. The relationships between the sisters rang true, the narration rang true, the whole book rang true...

A story of three sisters in Ireland - Nessa, the eldest who is married to Adam and has an 8 year old daughter, Jill. Cate is the successful career woman, living with media star, Finn. Bree is the tomboy, working as a mechanic and never seeming to settle down. All their lives are thrown for a loop - or two, when Cate finds herself pregnant, Nessa finds Adam has multiple women on the side and Bree finds an ex's father is interested in her! The girls turn to each other and eventually sort things out - with lots of laughs in between.

A clever twist to the familiar combination of sisters as a basis for a book. I was a bit disappointed that the book ended without the birth of the baby, or the divorce, though. Most of all, the author missed-out on Michael's reaction to Bree seeing his father, Declan. Maybe this was to leave room for a sequel? Marvelous twist to the common affair and kudos for Finn's grand gesture. I also loved the Irish nuances in vocabulary.

This is an entertaining 'beach read' about three sisters who are (surprise!) so different. There is the settled homemaker, Nessa, the busy career woman, Cate, and the flighty bohemian, Bree-- and the book follows their (mis)adventures in love and life. It is really similar to another book (Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty) so if you enjoyed this you will enjoy that one as well.

This was a really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were well defined and you really felt like they were real people. I shall look forward to reading more by this author.