Reviewed by Claire Allan
With so many new faces on the Irish writing scene at the moment, it can be easy to miss a few gems.
All You Need is Love by Mary Malone is a warm-hearted, fast paced and action filled novel that digs a little bit deeper than average women's fiction. In fact the title is misleading - this is a book that could easily be dismissed as light-hearted fluff - but Malone, one known to buck the trend, uses her second novel to look at the growing drugs culture among Ireland's young people.
It centres around Georgina, a young and enthusiastic journalist, who has her share of drama in the newsroom as well as at home. As the eldest of three children, she has taken on the role left behind by her late mother and as the pressure grows in work, something has to give.
The world of work and home collide when her younger brother, Luke, becomes embroiled in a car accident which reveals his dealings with drugs and Georgina has to decided whether to put her family, or her career first.
Of course being women's fiction, the book always tells the story of Georgina's best friend Val - a single mother doing a grand old job of raising her four year. However when the four year old is involved her own drama, the girls' friendship is tested.
I have to applaud Malone
for dealing with a subject that wouldn't normally be top of the agenda
in women's fiction. Her writing oozes warmth and charm and she isn't
afraid to go one step further for a good hook.
Having worked in
local journalism myself for 10 years, her portrayal of the newsroom was
fairly accurate - but I did find it at times difficult to warm to
Georgina. I much preferred the best friend Val, who seemed to have her
head on her shoulders.
The book, of course, contains a love interest in the form of news editor Tim - but I did find it a little stretched to see Georgina pursue him so soon into her new job. (But then I have a problem generally with in-house romances in chick lit - it's a little cliched).
But putting this all together, this is a book which makes for perfect reading if you want something with a little more bite. Malone is sure to build herself a larger following with All You Need is Love and it will be interesting to see what she tackles next.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try All I Want Is You by Martina Reilly
