I thought I knew what this book would be like, to be honest I read it because I wanted a light hearts romp, where nice things happen to nice people. This book has this element but it was much more thought provoking than that.

Aisling is good fun and she has a great heart, surrounded by people from home and spending time there to look after her parents. All seems set, but when her boyfriend does not seem to want the same things as her Aisling makes some drastic changes and learns more about herself and her family and home than she ever thought.

I'm not Irish and so many of the cultural references and some of the language used in this book passed me by. It was overkill - like you needed a dictionary.

Overall this book is okay, but there are some issues:

1. Lack of character development. I don't feel as though Aisling went on a journey, and we barely got to know John at all, which I felt was an oversight.
2. Lack of any real depth of feeling.
3. A weak plot.
4. Not complete - maybe a sequel is due???

On the plus side it's funny at times and it tries to cover some serious issues, but in no way can it be compared to Bridget Jones' Diary.

I saw the wonderful Marian Keyes recommend this book on Twitter (it's already been published in Ireland - where it's set) and then found it was to be published in the UK in May - and so I could download an advanced review copy from Netgalley - so that I did!

Here's the Amazon blurb:

"Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, the creators of the much-loved Aisling character and the popular Facebook page 'Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling', bring Aisling to life in their novel about the quintessential country girl in the big smoke.

Aisling is twenty-eight and she’s a complete ... Aisling. She lives at home in Ballygobbard (or Ballygobackwards, as some gas tickets call it) with her parents and commutes to her good job at PensionsPlus in Dublin.

Aisling goes out every Saturday night with her best friend Majella, who is a bit of a hames (she’s lost two phones already this year – Aisling has never lost a phone). They love hoofing into the Coors Light if they’re 'Out', or the vodka and Diet Cokes if they're 'Out Out'.

Ais spends two nights a week at her boyfriend John’s. He’s from down home and was kiss number seventeen at her twenty-first.

But Aisling wants more. She wants the ring on her finger. She wants the hen with the willy straws. She wants out of her parents’ house, although she’d miss Mammy turning on the electric blanket like clockwork and Daddy taking her car 'out for a spin' and bringing it back full of petrol.

When a week in Tenerife with John doesn’t end with the expected engagement, Aisling calls a halt to things and soon she has surprised herself and everyone else by agreeing to move into a three-bed in Portobello with stylish Sadhbh from HR and her friend, the mysterious Elaine.

Newly single and relocated to the big city, life is about to change utterly for this wonderful, strong, surprising and funny girl, who just happens to be a complete Aisling."

First things first, I'm a Brummie with limited Irish connections - and so I think some of the references in this sailed right over my head, and I couldn't even attempt the pronunciation of some of the names  - but lots of it I did get, or could take a good guess at what it meant.  Total target market would be late 20s / early 30s Irish women - but that doesn't mean I didn't, and others wouldn't, enjoy it.  The book goes in heavy on the Irishness at the start - and from reading other Netgalley reviews, I think that's put some people off, as they just didn't get it at all - but I'm not one for giving up - so persevered, and I'm glad I did as the story develops a lot more and you get to know Aisling and her family and friends much better.  I suspect (although have not followed the Facebook group so can't be sure) - that it started off with lots of the jokes off the Facebook page - but then had to be filled out with proper novel! 

I liked Aisling straight away - in her no nonsense way.  I was slightly concerned that I am *quite* Aisling with some things. Actually I think some of my friends should be more worried about the likeness, given Aisling works in pensions administration #mentioningnonames.  In some ways Aisling's naivety reminded me quite a lot of Eleanor Oliphant in one of my favourite books from last year, and there is a definite 'Bridget Jones for 2018' vibe going on too - Aisling knows the Weightwatchers points in EVERYTHING! 

I was surprised that a chunk of the storyline is about a brain tumour - that's not mentioned in any of the blurb I'd read - and, unfortunately, I know quite a lot of people who are involved in their own brain tumour issues at the moment - and this could easily blindside them.  I will definitely be giving people a heads up about that part of the book - although maybe I'm just hyper aware of them and it wouldn't be such an issue for other people.  Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and people under 40, despite receiving less than 1% of the national spend on cancer research. You can donate here if you want to help find a cure for this horrible disease. Anyway - back to the book - which isn't all doom and gloom at all.

You find yourself laughing at and with Aisling, cringing with her, crying with her - and all the time wanting the best for her. Big topics - particularly in Ireland - like gay marriage and abortion - are part of the storyline, but are weaved into it as normal everyday things, you don't feel like a drum is being banged. 

It's generally an easy read book, with real laugh out loud moments, but also a heart.  I'm not sure middle aged English women are target market - but I did still enjoy it. 

This fits into my 2018 Reading Challenge as a book written by two authors.   Thank you Netgalley for my free copy in return for an honest review.

Oh my God. What A Complete Aishling - I could not continue to the end and that is unheard of for me. I found the depiction of Irish characters was crude and even cruel at times and couldn’t laugh at the charicature of Aisling as expected. For me, it was like a very poor and unsympathetic copy of Bridget Jones without the laughter and tears. Why? The events and possible humour were in your face and over explained. I love Irish humour but not being force-fed it by a shovel. I may come back to this on a rainy day because I hate to give up but there are too many exciting stories out there to read and these authors don’t seem to empathise with Aishling -they laugh AT her like schoolyard mean girls not with her. I think it will appeal to a narrow audience but be bought by many because of its hype. I thank Netgalley and the authors for the opportunity to read this book, but it just didn’t work for me.

I quite liked the character of Aisling, who seems to go at life like a bull in a china shop whilst being rather gullible and emotional. I struggled with the Irishness of it all, with some of the Celtic language and obviously 'in' Irish humour. It was a light read and there were some amusing bits. It is obviously a book for the younger reader with much binge drinking going on one wonders how their livers survive.

What a complete privilege to have met Aisling, thoroughly pragmatic country bumpkin leaving her village world to live in Dublin with her glam house mates after a break-up with her old boyfriend. You will roar with laughter with her, you will scream at her (DON’T DO THAT!!!), you will get plastered with her, cry your eyes out and admire her and you will wish for her fabulously loyal bezzies. A proper “fierce” book!

This is a laugh out loud, funny and honest, light hearted read.
My thanks to Net Galley, the authors and the publisher. I appreciated the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bit of a mixed bag. Funny in places but it was a bit far=fetched. I do like these types of books but this wasn't for me

I loved this - reminiscent of Marian Keyes at her irreverent best, this is a rare find - a book with both humour and heart which doesn't patronise and is able to be read by women of any age, though perhaps is skewed younger. I was definitely sceptical as I tend to assume dual authorship = not good enough writer to go it alone, but happily I was proved wrong. I especially enjoyed the Irish voice here and recommend it highly.

A hilarious ride through Dublin from the new Marion Keynes. A funny and moving story that I had to read in one sitting

You may have come across Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen on Facebook with their satirical Aisling page. It has developed a bit of a cult following amongst the younger Irish community. This book is a big move to transfer Aisling and her eejit boyfriend John to a more formal setting.

Aisling is your organised friend who always has a list on the fridge, flip flops in her purse at weddings and never loses her phone. She can tell you the Weight Watchers points in absolutely everything. Aisling doubles up on contraception…using both anti-babby pills and french letters…just in case.

When the story opens Aisling is at yet another wedding in her hometown of Ballygobbard (or Ballygobackwards as some call it). Long term boyfriend John has been on the scene for the last seven years and resisted all attempts by Aisling hinting that it might be time for them to settle down. A much anticipated break in Tenerife still doesn’t produce a ring so Aisling decides it is time to call it a day.

Emer and Sarah have crafted a fun book that really makes you feel like you are propping up the bar in BGB with Majella and the crowd back home. It is a book that will have you laughing out loud in places and weeping alongside Aisling in others. You will get some odd looks when you’re chortling out loud on public transport! It’s gas!

Supplied by Net Galley and Penguin UK in exchange for an honest review.

UK publication Date: May 3 2018. 368 pages.

An amusing book that felt that it was trying just a bit too hard... enjoyable but too much was assumed and the characters were not properly introduced

And a little far fetched at times but true to life in other ways.... a stream of consciousness but I suppose that’s the style they were after.

3* a mixed bag for me

So glad I read this just before my first trip to Dublin. A riot of a novel about being a very average Irish woman trying to work out what she actually wants with her life. Really enjoyed it.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book when I started it but it drew me in and I really enjoyed it. It was funny but also emotional which I wasn’t expecting. A good read I would recommend.

I really liked Aisling's story. After reading about this novel on The Bookseller newsletter I knew I needed to read it! It was inspiring and I really liked that the main character grows and blooms throughout the book. The story was like life itself, with its doubts and wonders and fights, breakups and complicated situations but also with its funny moments. I loved that about the book.

Sometimes I felt like Aisling behaved a bit childish and I felt like her 'kiss' with Piotr was a bit random but I guess that's the point of it all. She also made me laugh so hard and it was great to read about Irish stereotypes.

The book also addresses important issues that we can find in our society like sexism, marriage, abortion and the LGBT+ community and it was refreshing to see it incorporated into everyday life, just as it should be.

All in all it was a funny and refreshing read and I hope people get the chance to meet Aisling and learn the lessons she wants to teach us all.

I had a blast reading about Aisling, her family and her mates. Sure, it's an easy to read book and you could probably finish it on holiday but I found myself laughing out loud several times for sure. It's a bit like Sex In The City, because most of us have a Majella, or happen to know an Elaine, Ruby or Sadhbh. Every character has their own arc which I really appreciated- the authors do a great job fleshing everyone out without ever leaving the reader bored. I'd love to read more from the pair of them, or even visit Aisling and her corner of the world again.

Oh My God, What A Complete Aisling a funny and honest four-star read. This is a must read for many young women, but if you are young and Irish then you need this book in your life, when it comes on paperback I’m buying it for a cousin as she will love this book, but isn’t a big reader. This book should come with a warning telling you not to drink tea while your reading as you will spit it all over the precious pages!! Its light hearted and funny, but there is also a deeper subtler emotional story underneath. It’s a very heart-warming and funny story, there is a light heartedness to the writing that will keep you interested and get you reading.

One of my absolute favourite reads of this year. So, so good. Laugh out loud funny and real and moving.

Oh dear

I tried very hard to like this and I am very disappointed that I just couldn't....in fact I feel like I've wasted several days reading it. My biggest issue is that for the most part i wasn't entirely sure what I was reading. The story seems a little disjointed even though it appears to centre around Aisling and her commitment phobic boyfriend John. Into this mix is thrown trouble at work, trouble with her friends and trouble with her family. The time line is difficult to follow - at one point an event is described and then the time frame of 'two years later' is given but is immediately followed by information that makes you think ' yeah but wait a minute, that was only a couple of months ago?'

Either way, it has a dissatisfying ending and it really wasn't my cup of tea at all.

Thanks to Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review