Publisher’s Synopsis:

Patrick Freyne has tried a lot of stupid ideas in his life. Now, in his scintillating debut, he is here to tell you about them: like the time (aged 5) he opened a gate and let a horse out of its field, just to see what would happen; or the time (aged 19) he jumped out of a plane for charity, even though he didn’t much care about the charity and was sure he’d end up dead; or the time (aged old enough to know better) he used a magazine as a funnel for fuel when the petrol cap on his band’s van broke.

He has also learned a few things: about the power of group song; about the beauty of physically caring for another human being; about childlessness; about losing friends far too young. Life as seen through the eyes of Patrick Freyne is stranger, funnier and a lot more interesting than life as we generally know it. Like David Sedaris or Nora Ephron, he creates an environment all his own – fundamentally comic, sometimes moving, always deeply humane. OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea is a joyous reading experience from an instantly essential new writer.

Review: This book just wasn’t for me. I originally thought it was fiction, but embarrassingly half way through discovered it was not. Freyne has many incredible stories to tell, and they are great stories, but for almost every chapter I found myself wanting to skip through a lot of it. I know that is Freyne’s writing style, and it’s not a bad thing! It just wasn’t for me. It definitely has a lot of character, and Freyne’s personality shines through in his writing, which brings a refreshing change compared to some other non-fiction literature.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for my review

Rated 3/5 stars

Not a book I would usually pick up, but I am trying to broaden my reading this year. And I'm glad I got approved for this one. It was a slow burner, but I enjoyed it overall, but I don't think this book will be everyone's preference. I found quite a few moments in the book funny and loved the dry humour, which is why I don't think this book is for everyone. I've found myself enjoying memoirs quite a lot recently and this was no exception. I loved the personal feeling to it, like one of those conversations you'd end up accidentally having with a stranger who tells you their life story. I found myself laughing out louds at quite a few parts of the book. But also feeling quite sad in other parts, but I won't post spoilers. It isn't a fast paced book but I definitely would recommend it to the right kind of reader. I found myself drawn in pretty immediately and overall gave it 4 stars. Thank you Netgalley, I really enjoyed it

I enjoyed this book, but I think being Irish helped. I enjoy his pieces in the Irish Times so was delighted to get my hands on his book. I always think his observations are astute and he can always bring humour to his pieces.

I guess I was expecting more from the book. I expected it to be filled with ‘stupid ideas’ which were the parts I enjoyed reading about but there was a lot of background which I didn’t find very interesting.

It wasn’t an awful book and there were parts that were good but for the most part i just didn’t connect with it. Having said that I liked the style of writing and I’m sure I will be in the minority

There is nothing overtly wrong with this particular book, and it must be said from the outset that I think my biggest issues with it were that it simply didn't connect with me. I didn't find it to be a book that drew me in, and the anecdotes were not really the kind that I found particularly illuminating or funny. I think, perhaps, my disconnect is in part due to being from such a different kind of world that this wasn't something I could relate to or find much that I understood in a personal sense, and so it fell a little flat for me.

With that being said, for someone else, who has a similar sense of humour and ethos as the author, I am positive that you will find an absolute gem of a book in these pages. I can certainly recognise that for the right people, it will be a perfect book, with loads of laugh-out-loud moments and observations to connect to your own life. I just don't happen to be that reader, and that's okay.

The title of this book pulled me in. Not really my usual genre of reading but was drawn by the title and description. A few laugh out loud moments and a few sad heart tugging moments. Definitely worth a read

This is not my usual type of reading material, but I was intrigued by the description and wanted to try something new.

A very enjoyable memoir, which raised many smiles and laughs.

Enjoy.

I didn’t find OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea laugh out loud funny. There were some poignant moments such as when he describes working as a carer. The rest I didn’t find that interesting.