Cover Image: Freckles

Freckles

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Love Cecilia Ahern and her release Freckles was such a good read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I’ve always enjoyed the author’s books and I have read so many of her releases over the years can’t wait to read more in the future.

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Read and reviewed for a free copy via NetGalley.

If you enjoyed Elinor Oliphant then this will be right up your street! I really enjoyed the development of Freckles/Allegra's character but it did take me a while to read...I didn't get the usual "page turner" effect I've had from other Ahern books. I enjoyed it for the most part but did sadly find myself disappointed by the ending - it felt underwhelming after some great complex character developments and storylines!

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As much as I enjoy Ahern's writing style, this was quite slow for me and not my favourite of her books. I didn't take to Allegra as a character, so not one for me but hopefully will please her die hard fans as another strong example of her trademark approachable writing style.

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I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

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Slow at the start, it took me a while to get into this book.
Allegra is insulted by a random guy, he makes her question her life and those she surrounds herself with. This is the story of Allegra discovering more about herself and about life. Being told that you are the result of the 5 people you spend time with, Allegra strives to improve her life by ensuring her five are honourable and worthy.
Allegra isn’t always the easiest to like but she is funny, she learns things about herself and that family is sometimes chosen and the unexpected friendships life throws our way are ultimately the ones that can matter the most.
I enjoyed this book, some moments made me laugh out loud and the ending is satisfying and it is definitely a “feel good” read.

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I really enjoyed this book. It was full of feelings and emotions and had a great cast of main characters. I really enjoyed the storyline and the concept of the story.

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Apologies but I’ve had three attempts at starting this book but just can’t get into the story.

Thanks for the opportunity.

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This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future

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This is another astounding piece of writing from Cecelia Ahern. She manages to draw your soul into her stories and this one is no different. I always feel that there is an underlying tenet in her books and she makes you challenge your way of thinking and can positively influence you as a reader. I have read all of her books and this one will last with me a while.

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This one wasn’t for me sadly I really did want to love it though. I really struggled to get into it and after that it was just ok , not one that I would read again or recommend really.

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Hostage Clare Mackintosh
I was absolutely gripped by this storyline, great tension and had my heart racing at times.
I was hooked quickly and kept turning the pages, the tension was there for the whole book.

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I don't know, I feel very conflicted about Freckles by Cecilia Ahern. I love the premise and thought it sounded like it could be a very inspiring, interesting read. And while parts of it delivered that just feeling other parts, unfortunately, fell flat to me. I had trouble connecting to the characters, which might be the reason that I didn't quite FEEL the book. However, it was still an OK read.

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for my honest (even though very late) review.

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Allegra Bird is a traffic warden in Dublin but is lacking in self-esteem. When she has a run-in with a man whose yellow Ferrari she keeps ticketing, he tells her she is the average of the five people she spends the most time with.

It takes a while for Allegra to realise who these people are, apart from one. Her father has always been there, her mother having abandoned her as a baby. Now Allegra has found her mother, she wants to get to know her but finding the right time isn't easy.

As a child, Allegra kept joining the freckles on her left arm, comparing them to constellations in the night sky. She tries to connect people to her life in much the same way but doesn't always get it right.

This story is about recognising that the people that matter the most to you are those who value you as a person. These aren't necessarily the people you think.

Allegra has a few lessons to learn, not least from the man with the yellow Ferrari who turns out to be a decent human being and even ends up learning something from her.

There are some unpleasant people in the story who don't appreciate Allegra but take advantage of her, anyway. Others misunderstand her good intentions when she has acted genuinely.

I enjoyed this story and Allegra was someone I felt invested in as a character. The ending was satisfactory and felt right in the context of what had gone before.

There were some moments in the story that resonated particularly with me, especially around having the confidence to speak up in situations that make you feel uncomfortable. This happens to Allegra a lot until she finds the right people to have around her, which makes all the difference.

I received a digital ARC of this book from HarperCollins UK, in return for an honest appraisal.

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This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

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Such a great book! A really refreshing look at relationships and family life. Allegra is wonderfully written, I became really invested in her story and loved the ending! A beautifully written book.

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I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately after getting 50% in I realised I just could not finish as the characters were not likeable at all & the book just did not grab me

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I haven't read a book by Cecelia Ahern for a long time and really looking forward to this one, However, I was somewhat disappointed. I found it very slow and quite weak.

Allegra Bird has been a misfit all her life raised by her father in Ireland and abandoner by her Spanish mother. She always wanted to be a garda but didn't make it and is now a traffic warden. She meets a stranger, who is a local entrepreneur and is infuriated by the fact he keeps parking without a ticket. They get into a disagreement and he yells at her “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”, implying that her five people must be losers just like she is. She then becomes obsessed with who are these people and the story is a self-discovery journey. The characters are well developed and she is an excellent but I just felt it was as good as thought it would be.

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Who are your 5 people? Allegra Bird is told that she is the average of the 5 people she spends most of her time with. The problem is - she doesn’t know who they are. And so begins a journey of self discovery and growth as she starts her mission to find her 5. And what a journey this was.

I’ll admit, this one started off slowly, and I didn’t really see the appeal. But it slowly pulled me in and Allegra pulled me under her spell. This one really packed a punch.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Harper Collins and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

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Unfortunately for me this was not of her best. I didn’t click with the characters as I normally do & it took me a long time to get through it.

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Helpful to read if you are or feel differently to everyone else. Enjoyable reading .
What happens during our formative years does have a bearing on later life but can be overcome

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