Upside Down Inside Out: A Novel

by Monica McInerney

Book Overview

"Sparkling . . . it's all systems go for a wonderful romance . . . a charming story told with large doses of love and humour." -The Australian Women's Weekly Eva Kennedy is in a rut. After seven years... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345506243
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.9" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

warm, lovely and fun

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.

engaging contemporary romance

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

A Delightful Journey!

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 Jenn

Can't put it down

I was first attracted to the book by its cover and the abstract and had never read any book by her before.. but it was GOOD.. didn't even want to put the book down and tried to read the book at work sneakily... THAT'S HOW GOOD IT IS! Have tried 2 other of her books since then and they are just as well written as this one!

Fascinating Story

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.