Customer Reviews

Upside Down Inside Out: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Eva and Joseph, both off to Australia for seemingly different reasons, are destined to meet, but will the strong chemistry be enough to withstand the secrets they both hold? Monica McInerney takes us on a delightful journey with two people, both away from home and away from the realities of everyday living. McInerney gives us Eva and Joseph, who find themselves drawn to each other and liking how things are going until they are forced to face reality.

Eva Kennedy takes a vacation from her job in Dublin, and goes off for a holiday in Melbourne, Australia. She leaves following the end of a second-rate relationship and a proposition to mull over from her Uncle. Uncle Ambrose owns the delicatessen where Eva works and wants her to think about taking over as he retires. She is going to stay with long time friend Lainey, who has transplanted her Irish self in Melbourne. Once there, Lainey talks Eva into literally letting her hair down from her daily business-like plait and taking on the personality of "Niamh"--from her Celtic roots, pronounced "Nee-av". "Niamh" is a sculptress and singer who has connections with celebrities the likes of Bono and Enya, in the two friends' imagination. Unfortunately, someone wasn't careful what they wished for because before we know it, Eva can't shed the "Niamh" personality and the game turns into quite a tangled web of delightfully decadent deceit.

In turn, Ms. McInerney introduces us to businessman Joseph Wheeler, who lives in London as a successful designer and owner of Wheeler Designs. He is off to Australia as a keynote speaker for a conference and then to follow up with a short vacation and search for a father he has never known. Quite by fortunate accidental encounters, Joseph and Eva meet and the sparks fly right away. Joseph however, trying to relax in a friend's T-shirt and jeans, while he carries the new back pack he has designed, is mistaken for a backpacking traveler looking for work and his next meal. Joseph, now "Joe" meets Eva, now "Niamh", and their attraction is instant.

The humorous, tender, and often times frustrating relationship takes off with neither having the right opportunity to tell the other about the "game" they are playing. Things escalate, as do their feelings for each other, and both are heading for a crash landing if they can't connect in time to reveal their secret before the other finds out from a different source. An emergency erupts and tears them apart, ending their vacations and possibly a lovely budding romance.

The puzzle pieces are there to be put together for Eva and Joseph if the timer doesn't stop the game too soon. McInerney keeps one reading to the very end to find out if, and how, these two may, or may not, get together. Is there always a happy ending? Are things "Upside Down Inside Out" or can they be set right? As I did, with much delight, one has to read this glorious summer fun read to find out. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Weiner, Helen Fielding, and Jennifer Crusie will find Monica McInerney's Upside Down Inside Out's Eva Kennedy to rival the likes of Bridget Jones, Cannie Shapiro and Becky Bloomwood.Submitted: copyright by Karen Haney, 2008, published for Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)

This was the first book I read of Monica McInerney and it was absolutely excellent. NOt only does she know how to keep you interested in the story but she adds humour and suspense in it. You never know what is going to happen in the next chapter and the book's title is just perfect.
I really recommend it.

Oh, another charming book by her. I read this book in one sitting this evening with everyone was out. Her books are quintessential chick lit, but are very entertaining, not boring or too terribly trite, despite the genre naturally tending to head that way. All in all, they are a joy to read. The different settings of Ireland, London & Australia make these books just feel like a vacation.

I am, however, in quite a bit of a pickle as to what to read next!

In Dublin, Eva Kennedy concludes she and her latest boyfriend share none of the same desires. To make matters worse, she believes the rat was using her. Deciding she needed to escape and encouraged by her Uncle Ambrose, who looks forward to retirement, she goes ahead with the Australian trip they planned together without him.

Joseph is a workaholic who decides when a business trip takes him to Australia to take a few personal days and enjoy Down Under. He and Eva meet and are immediately attracted to one another; however, Eva pretends to be someone else to make her more attractive to Joseph. As they fall in love, their vacations are ending with neither able to tell the other the truth as to just who they are; each fears how their beloved will react yet know silence is as condemning.

The cast from the lead couple to the wonderful support players make for an engaging contemporary romance. Along with the two stars, readers discover little quirks and traits about Eva and Joseph. Fans of a warm tale of love will appreciate aptly named UPSIDE DOWN, INSIDE OUT.

Harriet Klausner

This novel was irritatingly contrived. From Joe's just happening to leave the address at home and attending the wrong party, to Lainey's injured ankle which keeps her away from her telephone when Joe is desperately trying to find Eva, you could see the complications coming all along the way. A very annoying read.

If you've not recently had the chance to travel, I offer you this excursion to the heart of Dublin, Ireland, brief glimpses of London, England, and an extended holiday in Australia, courtesy of the brilliant mind and detailed pen of Monica McInerney in Upside Down, Inside Out.
McInerney's heroine, Eva Kennedy, finishes the window display of the Dublin delicatessen where they work while her young cousin Meg gushes over Eva's creation of "purple aubergines, bright red chilies, and plump heads of garlic surrounded by long, elegant bottles of olive oil." Meg remarks that she is always amazed by Eva's artistic talents, whereupon Eva reminds her of her three years in art school. "Oh, that's right, I forgot about those. I only ever think of you as a shop assistant," Meg replies, thoughtlessly.
Within hours of Meg's witless statement, Eva is offered sole ownership of the deli -- and dumped by her boring boyfriend just before their planned holiday to New York. Dismayed at the thought of staying in Dublin, frustrated with artistic failures, yet intrigued at owning her own place - the thoroughly overwrought Eva takes refuge in the company of her childhood friend, Lainey, now living it up on the beaches of Melbourne, Australia. She creates an alter-ego for herself and begins her adventure in the "land down under" as Niamh (pronounced Neve) claiming to be a back up singer for Enya, of all people.
Arriving in Melbourne at the same time, Joseph Wheeler (of London design fame), plans on traveling incognito, keeping his international fame and vast fortune under wraps in order to address some ghosts from his own past. "Joe" simply appears to be a hostel traveler, complete with backpack, for all intents and purposes.
McInerney pairs the two hidden-identities with each other in some hilarious situations - at a dinner party with some of Lainey's fast friends, and with Eva/Niamh as the guest hostess of a posh eatery and Joseph filling in as a dishwasher. Their unlikely romance flourishes during a "picnic" in a hotel and on a wine-tasting trip, which holds deeper meaning for Joe.
Settle into a comfy chair or occupy the couch for a day with this marvelous story: following the winding roads, cuddling up on the train, and walking along the beach with the pair; all the while reveling in the neat and tidy way McInerney sorts the whole thing out.


Julia Brantley, A Score of Intervals

A Score of Intervals: Sharps & Flats on Brusca

This was a cute and fun chick lit novel. Set mostly in Australia, it's the story of Eva and Joseph, who meet while on holiday, but both of whom aren't being completely honest with each other. I was frustrated with how long it took Eva to get around to telling the truth - several times I felt like shaking her and saying "Just tell him already!!". However, the romantic build-up between the two of them was great (for once, a set of characters that didn't jump into bed with each other right away), and made for a fun story. A quick read, and quite enjoyable!

Ms. McInerney has a gift of writing lovely stories about imperfect people. Her voice is warm, humorous and gentle, never passing judgment on bad choices or even characters meant to irritate the hero and heroine. Her gift of description is so finely tuned that I could just about smell the bread in the Dublin shop and feel the Australian sun beating on my head. A lovely little vacation of a book, not to be missed.

Really enjoyed another one of Monica's books. Fun read with some deep underlying messages.

Looking forward to reading the sequal now :)

Very entertaining and engaging. Was a quick read and held my interest. This author does a great job.