I was concerned when I saw the negative reviews on Goodreads from other advanced readers but I didn't let that bother me too much at first because everyone has their own opinions, and sometimes the book everyone else seems to dislike ends up becoming a new fave of mine (see Sandi Tan's LURKERS). I was particularly excited to read THE GLORIOUS GUINNESS GIRLS because I've actually been to Dublin and seen the Guinness Storehouse (and yes, I know it was a recent construction, and isn't the site of the OG business). Point of fact: I love Guinness. I love Ireland. I love historical fiction. How could I not love this? ...Well, I didn't love this. The other reviewers were pretty on the ball for this one. It's dual timeline, which sometimes works for me, but the 1910s/1970s sections sounded exactly the same. The heroine is also an incredibly passive narrator with no personality which ends up making the book very dry and uninteresting. The writing isn't bad, it just isn't very compelling (which some would probably argue is the same thing). I couldn't get into this at all.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
1.5 out of 5 stars
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