This book has a really interesting premise and I particularly like the image of the main character, Allegra, also known as "Freckles", drawing constellations from freckle to freckle on her arms. It's one of those books that are more character-driven than plot-driven and I found myself getting attached to particular characters and hoping she'd bump in to them again or that they'd feature more for us to learn about them. That's what kept me reading - the cast of characters surrounding Allegra. The everyday details are also beautifully drawn, from the coffee shop in the morning to the streets and benches that bookmark her day, and yet are never mundane as they have that hint of warmth and magic that always features in Cecelia Ahern's books. For a touching, quirky story I'd recommend this.

Absolutely beautiful from Cecelia again. Her books always make you feel and transport you. Thank you for allowing me to preview this book

Freckles is uplifting and a huge delight to read.
As an Irish person with many, many freckles, I have over the years, been subjected to a variety of freckle related nicknames and so, I left an instant affinity for Freckles, aka Allegra Bird.
Allegra was born on the beautiful Valentia island and raised there by her father and aunt Pauline, in between stints at boarding school. Now, in her twenties, Allegra has moved to Dublin and is working as a traffic warden in Malahide. Allegra is an unusual young woman and seems to struggle to adapt to the world around her. She is a particular literal person and tends to take all comments at face meaning. This can certainly prove difficult when trying to make her way in the world and we soon learn that Allegra has a ulterior motive for moving to Dublin – she wishes to meet her birth mother. The flashbacks to her childhood and, especially schooldays, help us to understand the contemporary Allegra.

Although the protagonist of the story, the character of Allegra often seems under developed in comparison to Tristan (Rooster) or her father (Pops). Perhaps this is deliberate as we see the world through the eyes of Allegra and by appearing almost withdrawn at times, the reader can imagine how Allegra views her role in the world. The storyline is not perfect and there are times when I felt frustrated with Allegra, particularly when she did not value her existing friends but I also think that this is a fairly accurate reflection on life and adds to the strength of the story.

Celicia Ahern, you have made me smile, cry and most importantly laugh, as I read the story of Allegra and her journey to discover that SHE matters. An enjoyable and uplifting read, perfect for the ‘lockdown times’, or whenever you need to raise your spirits.

The ‘5 people’ thing was a genuinely interesting idea which made me think.
That aside; this was an easily readable but not original concept (it joins the other ‘neuro divergent / quirky woman overcomes her issues with the help of friends she didn’t realise she had / new friends she makes by accident’) which are always happy-ever-after but also feel quite set up and simplistic I guess.

A story about finding yourself, and working out who the people are that matter to you most.

Although the book contains some big issues - abandonment, self-harm, andmental health, they are treated with a light touch.

I wasn't sure how funny the story was supposed to be - the fact that Allegra had wanted to join the Gardai but ended up as a traffic warden suggested comedy. There were some funny episodes, but were we ment to be laughing with Allegra, or at her? I wanted to like her, but I didn't find her particularly believable, and many of the characters were drawn quite sketchily. Paddy, Allegra's warden mentor was a sweetie, and I'd have like to have got to know Genevieve better.

Freckles is one of the most uplifting and refreshing books I've read this year. I have such a soft spot for stories set in Ireland so this really made my heart feel happy. I was transported to both Malahide and Kerry, all from the comfort of my own home. There's nothing quite like being able to explore this beautiful country and this book really helped remind me of just how beautiful Ireland is and not just the landscape. The characters in this book are an absolute tonic. There's such a diverse group of people from Spanner in the bakery to Pops and Tristan. But the real star of the story is Allegra, of course! How wonderful to meet a protagonist who doesn't have it all figured out, who is struggling and trying to work through her problems. She doesn't realise her worth and is constantly undermining herself, but she's the type of person you'd absolutely love to be friends with and I'd happily have her as one of my five.

Cecelia Ahern can do no wrong. She is one of the greatest Irish writers and makes me feel so proud of this little island and the array of characters we meet in day to day life. Freckles is a charming, uplifting and completely captivating story that will remind you to cherish the glorious people you have in your life, even if we can't see them at the moment. There's something so magical about the books that lift you up during hard times and I'll forever be grateful that Freckles lifted my spirits and put a smile on my face during this lockdown in Ireland.

I gene love Ceceilia Ahern's style but this book just didn't quite hot the mark despite a good premise
I intrigued by the idea that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with and enjoyed seeing who Allegra's five people would be but the story didn't quite gel for me.
My main issue is that I just didn't really like Allegra and I to enjoy a book like this you need to invest in the title character. I found her shallow at times, irritating at others and really couldn't warm to her life choices.
Overall a good idea but not quite there

Freckles is a very complex character with lots of issues. Abandoned as a baby by her mother, who never wanted her, she was brought up by her father and then packed off to boarding school. Unable to join the Gardaí, her childhood dream, she moves away from the small island she knows as home to the big city where she begins a job as a parking warden. She feels like she doesn't really belong in this environment, partaking in drunken binges and one night stands, as she tries to put her past behind her.

Par for the course in her work as a parking warden, one angry 'customer' rips up a ticket Freckles has issued to him, telling her she is the average of the five people she spends the most time with. Freckles thinks she knows who these five people are but after a trip home, she finds she has less in common with people from her past and sets out to find new people to influence her.

The story covers mental health and OCD but is also humourous in places and left me hankering for a visit to Ireland as the descriptions of the location were very scenic.

One thing really did irritate me about this book, though - the complete lack of any speech marks for all of the characters' conversations!! This feels so wrong and actually makes it harder to read a story, particularly when in the middle of a long dialogue between characters, as it is not always clear where one person ends and another begins.

This is a wonderful story of a young woman finding her place in life. Freckles has always been different (a touch autistic?) and found that making friends and fitting in can be a problem. She also has a major chip on her shoulder about being abandoned by her mother at birth. Then there are the rumours about her father being a pervert. All in all life is a bit of a struggle for Freckles, especially when her routines are interrupted. Luckily for her this all leads to improvements for our heroine. Read this book full of gentle humour and misunderstandings to discover what happens to Freckles.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this novel.

Cecelia Ahern has written some of my favourite books. She has a talent for finding something unusual to write about and then creating a story akin to a modern adult fairy tale around it.
This book is similar in that regard but it is not one of the happier tales, more dark in nature and without a real hero or heroine to champion. Sadly I didn't warm to anyone readily, not even Allegra and certainly not her parents.
This book was abit disappointing. Please can we have a more uplifting fairytale next time?

Freckles is a witty read about a young woman, Allegra, trying to find her community and place in the world.

I love Cecelia Ahern. Her books to me are like adult fairy tales and I finish her books with a warm feeling inside. I have one perhaps important criticism with her latest book that the plot isn’t as different and fresh as her other books and I fear she is losing some of her sparkle. I’d still grab a copy if you like her previous books but I hope the next one isn’t lacking in plot

Allegra Bird aka Freckles is a traffic warden. A repeat parking offender, Tristan aka Rooster tells Allegra that she is the average of the five people you spend the most time with. This is the pivotal moment in her life and she begins to question her life.

I found this quite entertaining. I enjoyed getting to know Freckles. Her name comes from the freckles on her arm which she likes to join up to make constellations. It was a fun read.

Another wonderful Cecelia Ahern novel.Picked it up and was immediately drawn in to the story the characters.Always look forward to her books and this is another I will be recommending.#netgalley #harpercollins uk

This is a good read, I really enjoyed the character of Allegra and getting to know her and understand her personality. It took me a while to get used to the writing style and it did hamper my enjoyment. This aside, Freckles, is an emotional, funny and heart-warming read that ultimately I enjoyed very much.

Hmmm, I wish I had better things to say about this book but all in all I was very disappointed. I’m usually such a fan of Cecelia Ahern but I feel like this book never got going.

I think it hunts throughout that Allegra is autistic or has some form of ASD. However, her character isn’t really likeable until the end. You can’t sympathise with her and doubt some of the life choices she makes would actually happen.

Both her mum and dad are characters which are unlikeable. The Dad is mentioned throughout as being interested in young girls but nothing really comes of it which is bizarre. The mum is absolutely horrid to Allegra and that’s the end of that too. It all feels a bit unfinished.

I would have not finished this book but read reviews that said the end got better. I did enjoy the end but it was too dragged out to justify reading it all for the end.

An interesting plot and I wonder if I'm not the only one to start thinking about the 5 people closest to me. However, not my most favourite book from Cecelia Ahern hence the 3 stars but that's my opinion, but totally readable and more a 3.5. Interesting collection of characters most of which I didn;t really like but could relate to, essential to the plot with the notion of moving on through life. It almost felt as though it was a prelude to another book, perhaps it is

Cecilia Ahern's novels never disappoint me and each one is unique, not churned out to a predictable storyline. The main tenet of the book about the five people who shape you was one which really resonated with me and was thought provoking.

As always a lovely moving read from Cecilia Ahern. Get pulled into the odd world of freckles for laughs and tears.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. When a stranger utters these words to Allegra Bird, nicknamed Freckles, it turns her highly ordered life upside down. In her current life as a parking warden, she has left her eccentric father and unconventional childhood behind for a bold new life in the city. But a single encounter leads her to ask the question she’s been avoiding for so long: who are the people who made her the way she is? And who are the five people who can shape and determine her future?

This is a wonderful book, the author has done the most amazing job - as expected if you have read her previous work. The book is packed full of emotion and is so relatable to life, you can imagine every situation in real life. The character developments are perfect and some characters you will love and some you will hate - exactly like real life. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.