Upside Down Inside Out [Ungekürzte Ausgabe] [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

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!