Marian Keyes is my go-to author for a solidly satisfying escapist read. And with The Woman Who Stole My Life, she did not disappoint. I spent one cold, rainy and windy day curled up on the sofa, entirely content to get nothing done. Keyes writes well, with a breezy style and an ear for dialogue. Her books are more substantive than the typical chick-lit novel, but her real talent is for creating engaging characters, from the protagonist to the most tertiary of characters.

The Woman Who Stole My Life was both fun and satisfying. Stella Sweeny has always done what's expected of her, content to let her self-absorbed husband and driven, outgoing sister hog the spotlight. She works hard, cares for her family and keeps the household running, content to allow those around her dictate the shape of her life. And then things come crashing down around her and she's forced to make decisions for herself.

This isn't great literature, or even award-nominated literature. Instead, it's that rarer thing - a novel to read for the pure pleasure of it, without being annoyed by an unlikely plot, cardboard characters or poor writing. I was neither challenged nor educated, but I was entertained.