Rating: 
Summary: I never thought I'd say this about a Marian Keyes book but..
Review: I didn't like it! And I LOVE Marian Keyes and all her books so far. I found Sushi for Beginners incredibly boring and had a hard time liking any of the characters. I'll keep my fingers crossed for her next one!
Rating: 
Summary: good stuff from Keyes
Review: Marian Keyes starts this story with hard-edged magazine editor Lisa Edwards in London, absolutely sure she is about to be relocated to an even more glamorous position in New York. Her bosses instead tell her she gets to start "Colleen", an edgy funky girls' mag in Dublin, Ireland, and she is going in 2 weeks. At the same time, timid Ashling is moving from her relatively stress-free job at a woman's mag to help at Colleen, with its skeletal staff and budget. Their boss is Jack Devine, or Divine Jack, as Joy, Ashling's man-crazy friend, proclaims him. Ashling discusses her life and what to do with it with Joy, her neighbor Ted, who is a struggling comedian, and her best friend from childhood, Clodagh, who is married with two kids and never has to work. Ashling meets Marcus, another comedian on Ted's circuit, and they start to date, Ted decides he likes Clodagh despite her being married. And Lisa likes Jack Devine, despite his being her boss and she not quite divorced yet. Keyes does a good job of developing each character and delving into childhoods that explain who they each are today. Each struggles with their personal demons and interact with each other as they work to launch their new magazine in 10 months. It's very interesting, and your perception of each character changes as you learn more about them.
Rating: 
Summary: Who says writing about serious issues can't be humorous?
Review: While Sushi for Beginners often addresses serious issues such as depression, anorexia, and betrayal, Keyes manages to keep the reader laughing. Lisa Edwards, obsessed with control, ambitious, perfectionist, disappointed with her assignment as editor of a starting magazine, Colleen, struggles with what she thinks she should be as opposed to how she feels when she's alone. Ashling Kennedy, Assistant Editor of Colleen, organized, responsible, prepared to take care of everyone earning her the nickname "Miss Fix It" must learn how to take care of herself as well as let others take care of her. Clodagh Kelly, Ashling's best friend as well as unhappy mother and wife who looks for fulfillment by redecorating her home constantly, must come to terms with her unhappiness as well as the unhappiness she inflicts on others as she searches for new ways to find fulfillment. Keyes keeps the reader amused as she leads you through each character's romances, friendships, internal struggles, disappointments, successes, and life changes.
Rating:
Summary: Keyes does it again!
Review: Sometimes I am a bit apprehensive about reading Marian Keyes books - they are so big! But they do not disappoint! Sushi for Beginners is a great novel - a great summer read. Join gals Lisa, Ashling, and Clodagh in Ireland at work and at play. I found this to be excellently written and it had an interesting technique with the prologue and the three girls - read the book and you'll see what I mean!
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Light, Irish
Review: When I started this book, I had just finished the superb "The Da Vinci Code", and was initially disappointed at the seemingly trite, sarcastic, over-cliched dialogue of the "in crowd". An example: "The shoes were a size too small--no matter how many times she asked the Patrick Cox press office to send a size six, they always sent a five. But free Patrick Cox shoes were free Patrick Cox shoes. What did an unimportant detail like excruciating agony matter?" Ugh! The aggressive, hard-core, verbally caustic Lisa seemed less a person than a cartoon character.
But, in the end, I was won over. "Fecking eejit" became my descriptive phrase from everyone from my husband to stupid drivers. I couldn't stop laughing, no actually smirking, at the light funny story and the funny Irish slang.
The book is a fun, laugh out loud, slightly over the top read. I would recommend it. There is enough sharp wit and funny dialogue and whack-job characters coupled with a current look at relationships (mostly dysfunctional) to appeal to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Superb!!!!!
Review: I've read all of Keye's books...except for "Lucy Sullivan" and this is by far the best yet. I really had to dislike Lisa.... but Ashling and Clodaugh totally made the book the superb read it was....neither was flashy or gorgeous...but managed to keep both feet on the ground. I also got a kick out of Trix. I anxiously await Keye's next book!
Rating:
Summary: a very good summer read
Review: while lucy sullivan is getting married remains my favorite keyes book, i really enjoyed sushi. her writing makes me feel i am IN dublin (i have a lot of family in ireland) and i enjoyed the entire story...enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoy!
Review: Instead of the coveted transfer to a glamorous New York magazine, Lisa Edwards finds herself the new editor of "Colleen" in Ireland, of all places! No more perks or parties. This is not good! Ashling Kennedy is very glad to have her new job as Lisa's assistant even tho Lisa is the boss from Hell. Ashling is a "people pleaser" - even going so far as carrying a purse filled with things people may need -bandages,, pins, buttons, etc. If there's an emergency, she's ready for it. Her own life could use a little fixing up but with her new job and a new boyfriend, maybe it'll be okay. A side story concerns Ashling's friend Clodagh - a stay at home mom with some extremely annoying children. As the book goes along, the three stories converge and it becomes very hard to put the book down. I didn't. If you remember her last book "Angels", she gets one more dig in at California. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A cruel waste of time
Review: Up until SFB, I have always enjoyed Keyes' novels. This one did not live up to her previous efforts however. In fact, I was thoroughly dismayed that it took her so many, many pages to tell such a flat-out boring story with flat, two-dimensional characters. If you've never read Keyes before, may I suggest the fantastic Watermelon or Last Chance Saloon. These two are her best, and leaps and bounds better than SFB. At the end of SFB, I felt like I didn't know anyone, and what little I did know, I didn't much care for. Major disappointment and well below Ms. Keyes' previous talents.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed Keyes Fan!
Review: If you are a fan of Marian Keyes work, as I am, you may want to skip this book. (I can't believe I just typed that!)
I found the subject matter in "Sushi" to be compelling, but Keyes just didn't give me any interesting characters! There was no one to cheer for. I didn't even care enough about Ashling to be on her side when she was getting jerked around! It may have had something to do with the way the book erratically skips around between their stories, never giving the reader time to bond or relate to any one character.
It's a shame because I felt character development had been one of Keyes strongest talents.
The Bottom Line: Make your way through Keyes' other books first!
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