The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

I mostly read Canadian authors.  Not just because I’m proudly Canadian but because I truly love Canadian literature.  However, I do have a soft spot for a group of Irish authors as well.  Marian Keyes is an Irish author that’s established herself as a popular fiction writer worldwide.  I would compare her writing style to Sophie Kinsella.  Marian Keyes novels are often quite funny in a similar fashion to the Shopaholic series, although they often have a darker side as well.

Stella Sweeney is the main character of The Woman Who Stole My Life.  She’s a mid-30’s woman dealing with life, family and work.  Suddenly life is halted when she awakes in a hospital unable to move a muscle or speak.  Her lovely husband, children and parents come visit her twice a day and attempt to keep up a one sided conversation.  When the handsome Neurologist appears at her bedside and develops a method for her to communicate through blinking, Stella’s feeling more than just grateful.  Even though hospital life is extremely difficult for Stella she blinks out words of inspiration to others while she lies in pain.  These words of wisdom and her handsome Neurologist might just be the key to true happiness when her muscles get moving again.

The Woman Who Stole My Life goes back and forth from past to present and at first it can be a bit difficult to follow the timeline but it all comes together quite nicely in the end.  With 530 pages this book is no light read but Keyes keeps you guessing on how things will turn out for Stella.  At no point does it feel like the book is dragging on and I felt surprised that I had reached the end so quickly.  Keyes fans won’t be disappointed and new readers will be looking for more.