Kev McCready is a writer, born in Liverpool but now living in Devon. Always with his nose in a book and a cuppa brewing. A fanatical reader since the age of five, Kev has a collection of bookmarks as esoteric as his bookshelves…

It’s easy to dismiss Marian Keyes work as romantic fluff and you would be foolish to do so. Her books are a delicate balancing act of dry wit; combined with big issues addiction, mental illness, domestic violence and dysfunctional relationships. These are sleek, stealthy pieces of comic fiction with moral purpose and always guarantees a satisfying read. She’s also one of the world’s best-selling authors, with 35m copies in 33 languages. Not bad for romantic fluff.

She’s best known for her third novel Rachel’s Holiday (1998). Rachel Walsh is placed in rehab by her family and presumes it is all going to be yoga and mindfulness. It’s a novel about confronting yourself, whether you want to or not. Her most recent novel, Again, Rachel (2022) sees an older Rachel working as a counsellor in the same rehab and she has to confront her past to find both relief and release.

Grown Ups (2020) is not just one of the best novels of recent years, but her best book. Jessie Parnell suffers a concussion and all the family secrets come tumbling out at a birthday party. An exquisite piece of control, slyly witty and the first time I’ve ever had a crush on a fictional character.

The Break (2017) was Keyes’ first novel for four years, following a period of depression. Hugh and Amy are a married couple ambling along, when Hugh asks for a pause outside of the relationship. It’s dark, but funny at the same time – as sombre, but witty tale.

A companion piece to this is Last Chance Saloon (1999). Tara and Katherine are living the single life in London and forced to grow up when their flatmate Fintan becomes terminally ill. Lurking in the background is one of Keyes’ best characters: the pretentious, libidinous, “resting” actor Lorcan Larkin.

The Other Side of the Story (2004) is a cautionary tale of what it really takes to be a writer. Lily achieves fame and fortune by having a best-selling novel and causes chaos in several people’s lives by not being able to write another one.

Finally, This Charming Man (2008) is four women in love with one-man, suave Irish politician Paddy DeCourcey. All get together and seek a form of revenge. It’s a mix of revenge comedy and brutal depictions of domestic violence.

Away from her novels, her prose collections Under the Duvet (2001) and Making It Up as I Go Along (2016) might be good introductions to the apprehensive reader, but also stand as zippy, funny pieces of non-fiction on a variety of subjects. Finally, Saved by Cake (2012) is her cookery book inspired by her using baking to combat her depression. A chatty, dilatory “how to” book with great lines like on the correct temperature for cooking scones (“If you manage to set off the smoke alarm, things are looking good.”) and the difficulties of melting white chocolate (“It suffers with its nerves”).