Marshmallow by Victoria Hannan

Posted by Ms K on June 12, 2023 in All | 1 Comment

I have a mountain of books to review so I was in two minds about sharing this one. I didn’t know whether to just pop it on the bookshelf and move on graciously, or review it, knowing it would be harsh.

Well, here I am so spoiler alert and I’ll just say it – I did not like this one bit.

It nearly killed me to finish it but I did so I have been trying to figure out how and why I got there in the end….it was a herculean effort trust me! Maybe it was actually really good and I missed it? Was I just not in the right head or heart space?

One thing I know for absolute certain though – I was gutted, because I loved Hannan’s last book Kokomo by Victoria Hannan. I felt invested and strongly about those characters (very! you can re-read the review to hear me carry on about Elaine, the mother) but in this one, I felt nothing for any of the people in the story. They were bland, predictable and pretty unlikable.

The storyline follows five friends who are all shattered by the death of a beloved little boy at his birthday party. They were all there celebrating – his parents and the lifelong friends – when it happened. It breaks them all – of course, it does. I was lining up the Kleenex when I realised the plot because you know, I am a weeper when reading.

We follow each of them in the 12 months after the death and it is described as everything you think it should be – harrowing, full of sorrow, guilt and despair. They will never, ever be the same. I get that. But what I found the hardest was simply just not feeling for these characters at all. Page after page. Nada. Zip. I can’t remember a single one of their names now.

So long review, short – the title is apt for me. Marshmallow – soft, forgettable and not much in it.

But this is just my two cents worth and if Hannan releases a new book, will I read it? Of course because like I said, loved, loved loved Kokomo. I am simply considering this book just a blip in our relationship.