Book review: Odd couple are quite the sister act

Lucy Dillon's 'Irresponsible Adult' begins as a light-hearted story and evolves into something else, revealing how life-changing some events may be

Lucy Dillon creates a memorable and enjoyable read, making it easy to identify with the narrator. Picture: Tim Bishop

• Irresponsible Adult 
• Lucy Dillon 
• Hodder & Stoughton, hb €24.65 

This is a very enjoyable novel which, though written in a light-hearted tone, also deals with serious issues including character, identity, family relationships, trust, and lies.

Its narrator is Robyn who, when we first meet her, has a very successful career as an estate agent.

She’s also just made a huge investment, which she believes is going to set her up for the future. Then she’s fired from her job and everything changes.

Robyn’s approach to life is chaotic, she avoids housework, and hates doing administrative tasks, and it’s the latter which leaves her without a job after a chain collapses, causing a very angry client to expose her shortcomings on social media.

That means Robyn is highly unlikely to find employment ever again as an estate agent negotiator.

In contrast, her sister Chloe seems to be a much more responsible adult — initially appearing to have a happy, fulfilling life, with a family and a very successful business, a cleaning firm.

The two sisters, though close in age, have diametrically opposed attitudes to life. 

Their mother persuades Robyn to ask her sister for temporary work; Chloe agrees — with little enthusiasm — insisting that Robyn must act responsibly.

Robyn is paired with Jim, who initially drives her mad as he’s so serious about their cleaning work.

She also looks down a bit on cleaners, hiding her involvement by not wearing the uniform in public.

Gradually, she begins to realise two things: That it’s her own irresponsibility which has caused her changed circumstances; and also that one can feel a sense of accomplishment doing any kind of job.

With the help of Jim, she starts to re-evaluate her attitudes and to find out why she struggles so much to behave responsibly, what she should do to improve her behaviour, and basically work out what being an adult means.

While Robyn is the central character in the novel, she is not the only one facing challenges.

When they were children, the sisters were very close, though they argued. Now Robyn realises that Chloe is going through issues, but does not want to discuss them.

Their mother has always been secretive about her family, and their father has always warned them not to ask questions.

They have always felt frustrated about their lack of knowledge about one side of their family, until a phone call threatens to finally make their mother reveal shocking secrets.

It’s a memorable and enjoyable read. It’s easy to identify with narrator Robyn and, as we get to know the other characters, to want to discover what will happen. Their father is a wonderfully warm character, and her client Terry is a delight.

There are some very funny incidents, in particular Robyn’s interactions with a shower head and a judgemental dog.

There are also touching moments, including her conversations with some of their clients. The author reminds this reader of the novels of Marian Keyes, with a similar skill of being entertaining while making us think more deeply.

What begins as a light-hearted story evolves into something else, revealing how life-changing some events may be, the importance of friendships, and of working out how to grow up and achieve your dreams.

Lucy Dillon is the British author of 10 other novels. In 2010, she won the Romantic Novelists’ Association Novel of the Year Award for Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts.