Ovde ćete naći odu samostalnim, jakim ženama, koje su dovoljne same sebi, kojima je posao broj 1 u životu, kojima je finansijska samostalnost prioritet i sve je to u redu i poruka je dobra. Ali način na koji je prenesena mi nije bio previše zanimljiv. Ili je celokupan utisak posledica mojih totalno drugačijih očekivanja od cele priče. I was pretty excited to receive this book as I am a big fan of Sheila O’Flanagan and I like her Irish romantic novels. I was not disappointed by this book, although what I loved about it was its slight departure from the norm. Apart from the terrific storyline, the two things I loved most about this book were the character of Delphie and the author’s treatment of the unique life choices that women face because of their gender. As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.

Delphine has worked hard for her success and she knows she’s got everything she wants. But not everyone agrees. Her opinionated family aren’t convinced that living alone with no plans to ‘settle down’ could possibly make her truly happy, and no one appreciates it when she drops everything, day or night, whenever her boss Conrad calls. Yet Delphine wouldn’t change a thing. And when Conrad makes her a surprise offer, it’s clear that her hard work is going to pay off. Weddings obviously feature strongly in this book but this is not just a story about weddings. Three Weddings and a Proposal is a book about finding one’s own path in life and about not being afraid to stand up and be counted. Having the confidence to be yourself and not suffering from imposter syndrome is a strong theme throughout. Just because society has expectations of you does not mean that you have to live by them. I really enjoyed Delphie Mertens as a central character. She falls down but she is unwilling to be ground down and, with the right support and motivation, she regroups and continues down a path that she chooses herself. Naime, Delfi Mertens je sjajna u svom poslu, kao izvršna sekretarica u multinacionalnoj kompaniji "Koseča", sve do iznenadne smrti njenog šefa nakon čega njen dotada uređeni život kreće nizbrdo, rastrzana između šefove "skoro" bivše žene i njegove ljubavnice, podele zaostavštine svog šefa, potrage za novim poslom, ispunjavanja očekivanja njene porodice da se uda, Delfin zadatak je da ponovo pronađe sebe u novonastalim okolnostima. Maybe we let ourselves feel pressure,’ I observe. ‘Maybe we have to not care so much about what other people think.’ That weight and depth of Three Weddings and a Proposal comes through the exploration of what it means to be a modern woman; to have relationships, a career, parenthood and family responsibilities. Sheila O’Flanagan’s story is actually quite feminist without deriding any counter perspectives, but rather illustrating how we can be supportive of one another so that Three Weddings and a Proposal felt mature, interesting and above all else, a story with characters I could relate to entirely. In illustrating how Delphie learns to be comfortable in her own skin whilst stepping out of her comfort zone I thought Sheila O’Flanagan had achieved more for female self esteem and self-help than any non-fiction book might have managed.U iščekivanju slatkog, zabavnog ljubavnog romana, neke priče poput one u filmu "Tres bodas de mas (ako niste gledali, obavezno se zabavite!) ili njemu sličnima, dobila sam nešto sasvim drugo, nešto što nema veze sa zabavom, venčanjima i komičnim situacijama. I moram da priznam da sam pomalo razočarana i da mi je trebalo više vremena za čitanje od planiranog. Although romance is scattered throughout the novel I welcomed the author’s decision to not make it the be all and end all of Delphie’s adventures as she negotiates the inevitable ups and downs that love, life,career and family throw her way. In this type of fiction, however strong and independent the lead female is portrayed, there’s still an expectation that bagging a rich and/or handsome partner is the absolute pinnacle of success. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that’s what I bargained for when I opened this book so to meet a character like Delphie, her fellow musketeers and Marta and Bianca is an invigorating change and an agreeable departure from the norm. A story of female friendships, work challenges and also life challenges as Delphie works out what she wants from life and what is important to her. I did really enjoy this story although I felt that the two major plot lines were too obviously telegraphed, or maybe I'm just that good at reading people, or maybe I've just read a scary number of contemporary romances? It was nice to have a 'career woman' who genuinely loves her career and doesn't suddenly decide to settle for something slower-paced, or using a softer, more feminine skill (like opening a cup-cake shop). I liked Delphie and I wanted to be her friend. I don't think I've read any other books by Sheila O'Flanagan but i like her writing and will definitely look out for more from her.

Then tragedy strikes and Delphie's wonderful life collapses around her shoulders. Could reconnecting with the only boyfriend she ever really loved change everything? Delphie is enjoying her brother’s wedding. Her surprise last-minute Plus One has stunned her family – and it’s also stopped any of them asking again why she’s still single. But when she sees all the missed calls that evening, she knows it can’t be good news. And she’s right. I was pretty excited to receive this book as I am a big fan of Sheila O’Flanagan and I like her Irish romantic novels. I was not disappointed by this book, although what I loved about it was a slight departure from the norm. Three Weddings and a Proposal has much more on offer than what one may assume at first glance. Enjoy the lightheartedness, but appreciate that this book is about recognising your own strength and staying true to what makes you happy. Yes, there will be pressures from those near and far but remember ... you always have choices.

You can’t live your life with the fear of missing out. You have to make choices. You have to believe in your choices. And you have to have confidence in the future’ I really liked Delphie’s family. They seemed loving, if a bit focused on her love life, and I enjoyed her friendships with women having the same struggles between work and marriage and babies. I also enjoyed the bravery of not tying everything up neatly in a sugary finish, but allowing the things I liked about Delphie to remain in place. Three Weddings and a Proposal feels like a very personal book from Sheila O’ Flanagan. Misogyny is unfortunately still rife in many work places and needs to be stamped out. Equal pay, irrespective of gender, should be a given right and not a hopeful request. A woman choosing a career over a marriage or a woman choosing both or neither should not be put to a floor and discussed, it should just be accepted. Ultimately it is all about choice and that is a prerogative of every woman.

Reading a Sheila O'Flanagan novel always feels like sitting down for a cup of tea with a friend - she writes with such warmth and empathy' Beth O'Leary

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A tale that gives the bookworm a sense of comfort, a cast that easy to relate to and real life experiences and circumstances. Dilemmas, uncertainty of the future and self discovery are explored in the plot, with the realisation that not everything is going to be perfect.