The Importance of Being Aisling – Book Review

Aisling's Back With a Bang!

I’ve finally gotten around to reading the sequel to Oh My God What a Complete Aisling, which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago here.

Overview

Aisling is your average cailín for down the countryside. Considered to be a totally naïve culchie from BallyGobbard, or “BallyGoBackwards” as it’s often referred to, Aisling find she must prove herself worthy of the “Big Smoke” AKA Dublin. She’s the reliable, kind-hearted down to earth friend everyone wants to have in their lives. She is meticulous and conscientious, she’s the girl in the ladies bathroom will is guaranteed to have what you need be it a hairbrush, some clips or even a tampon if you find yourself in a sticky situation. She is the girl with a little bit too much of those desirable traits. We all want to be organised and on top of things, but Aisling might very well blow a casket if she left the oven on, or worse the dreaded immersion! Luckily for us Irish girls, most of us probably already know an Aisling, and if not you might actually be one yourself.

When we last met Aisling she had been in the midst of a bad break-up with longtime boyfriend John. Aisling is the kind of girl to plan her life out to a T. She saw herself getting that steady job, the nice house like her mam and dad and certainly that ring on her finger. John was always a part of the plan. But seven years in and still no sign of a ring, it was time to kick him to the curb.

That being said the whirlwind of Oh My God What a Complete Aisling seemed to bring the couple back together again. But as we all know too well, being on a “break” is anything but simple. After quickly falling back into the swing of things, Aisling is all too aware that the relationship is neglected of any spark. Loving someone is not the same as being in love with someone and there comes a time when she must bite the bullet – for good this time.

Following her redundancy, Aisling is face with a couple tough decisions. Having worked in PensionPlus for years what will she do with herself now? With her brother Paul returning to Australia, who’s going to look after her mam? All of this weighs heavily on Aisling’s mind, but is she ready to give up the sophistication of weekend brunches and unlimited supply Pinot Greej in casa SEA?

Aisling’s life is in a complete and utter turmoil. How can the most calculate person in Ireland become so destabilised with just a few knocks? Well-aware there’s a lot of pieces to put back together in Aisling’s life, best friend Majella urges a blowout of epic proportions is in order first. And where’s the best place to blow off steam? Vegas!

Aisling’s life is in turmoil with so many changes but yet, being Aisling, she holds her head up high and does what’s right. She makes the decision to return home, to leave her city life behind and to make a new start for herself.