⭐⭐⭐ ✨(3.25/5)

[ad • review copy]
Received via NetGalley.

'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with'

Allegra, nicknamed Freckles, lives a well-structured life. She knows where she should be at each time of the day, and knows who she will encounter, but one day someone unexpected says a phrase that will lodge itself firmly in her mind. Suddenly, Allegra is thrown off course and becomes determined to find out what this phrase means for her. Along the way, she will learn about herself, the people around her, and will finally have the push to do what she has intended to do since she left her family home.

I have loved Cecelia Ahern novels in the past, so I was really excited for this one, and I was slightly surprised by it. This novel was not exactly what I expected, but it was an enjoyable read. Once I got into it, I liked following Allegra on her journey and rooting for her to find the answers that she needs.

Although the central message is a key element of the novel, I did find that I could predict where we would end up fairly early into the novel. However, this didn't take away from the central message, or particularly from the path of the plot, and I think that this message makes for interesting thought and a wholesome feel.

Allegra herself was a curious character to me. She reminded me a bit if Eleanor Oliphant, and it took me a bit of time to feel like I was understanding her, but like Eleanor, I did feel that she became endeared to me.

Additionally, I loved some of the themes in this novel. In particular, I liked the exploration of social media and its relation to struggles with comparison. This links to some of the characters struggles to have their lives sorted and together, and this was very relatable.

The end of the novel was sweet, and I liked how the threads of plot were tied up. There was one thread that I would like to have seen a bit more of, but we can't follow everything too far.

Overall, I did have some mixed feelings about this novel, but I did like it and it has a strong, central message and explores interesting topics that I liked to see in the plot.

I struggled to get into this book, but persevered and finished it which I’m glad I did. I did enjoy the last 50% of this book but found the main character very chaotic and I couldn’t warm to her at all. I like the idea of the 5 people theory and this book made me think about that.

I loved this, very emotional as I have come to expect from Ahern. This is a writer who's books I just always have to read. A lovely story.

As soon as I saw that Cecilia Ahern had a new book out, I had to get my hands on it. She was one of the first authors who got me into reading as an adult and when I read something of hers, it’s comforting and feels like going home.

Freckles was no different.

Now, it did take me a while to get into this one as I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going or what was going on. But once everything began to fit together, that sense of home and comfort I mentioned earlier washed over me.

Allegra Bird, AKA Freckles, AKA parking warden of gorgeous coastal town Malahide, needs routine, she needs structure oh and she doesn’t do so well socially. One day, she meets someone who completely throws her off her axle when he tells her that we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.

She can’t stop obsessing over this and begins a journey to figure out who her 5 people are.

You can’t really go wrong with a novel by Ahern, so if you’re looking for something heartwarming and comforting, this will do the trick. The characters felt realistic, there were some laugh-out-loud moments and the ending was my absolute favourite part of the whole book.

4.5⭐

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Pigeonhole.

This was a lovely read about Allegra and how she gradually finds her place on the world and her people.

I enjoyed this. I’m not the biggest fan of Cecelia normally but loved the contrast of settings in this. I really liked and rooted for Allegra and was pleasantly surprised overall.

Not the kind of book I have come to associate with Cecelia Ahern. I really couldn't connect with the neurotic Irish traffic warden at all. Sorry.

Freckles is the nickname given to Allegra Bird. She is a parking warden who takes her job very seriously, and when she hears the quote, "You are the average of the five people you spend most time with" she decides to revaluate each of her relationships. the consequences of which are detailed in the story. It is both sad and heartwarming, a little slow in parts but I did love it. Thank you to Cecilia Ahern, Net Galley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allegra is a bit of an odd character, definitely on the spectrum, but it is an interesting story of her trying to find herself. A bit slow to start with but worth persevering with

2.5. I liked the concept of this book, but it didn't really do it for me in the end. You're drawn into Allegra's world and she is entertaining at times. It did remind me a bit of Elemor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but nowhere near as memorable. I seem to have a love hate relationship with Cecelia Ahearn. I've loved a lot of her earlier books but there have been a few that i really didn't rate. Freckles is one that I won't be reaching for again, unfortunately.

It took me quite a while to get into this book and although I did eventually, unfortunately I don’t think this book was for me. I struggled quite a lot with the presentation of text without speech and this meant the story didn’t quite flow for me and felt a little confused at times. The book felt unnecessarily slow in parts and at other times seemed to gallop on - the pacing was a definite letdown. However I didn’t altogether dislike the story, there were some lovely moments but overall it wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable Irish tale, for the full review go to https://joebloggshere.tumblr.com/post/669718643127500800/freckles-by-cecilia-ahern-anyone-who-knows-my

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and the author for an advance ecopy for this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Cecilia Ahern always writes so beautifully and honestly and with heart. I loved her earlier books PS I love you and The Book of Tomorrow among many others. Freckles is her latest book, set in Ireland (Malahide and Kerry), and it was a pre-Christmas treat.
When Allegra Bird is told she is the sum of the five people she spends most of her time with she begins a quest to change those five people that leads to unexpected results.
Allegra Bird is difficult and confused and yet her brave attempts to find herself and where she belongs is a journey undertaken with honesty, with humour and at times excruciating embarrassment. Allegra faces pain and loss to find her true strength. She slowly wakes up to who she truly is and the people she truly cares about.
Recommended for a refreshing, down-to-earth yet romantic read with a little bit of poetic magic sprinkled throughout.

I’m a bit late reading this as I had heard so many great things about it so I just had to read it for myself. I’m so glad I did.

Initially I struggled with the fact that there are no speech quotation marks, but after a couple of chapters I got over this.

Allegra Bird was known as Freckles, clearly due to the amount of freckles she had. Whilst at boarding school she used to join the freckles up on her arm to form constellations, first using pen and then sharp objects when her pens were taken off her.

She was abandoned by her mother at birth and brought up by her ‘Pops’.

On discovering the whereabouts of her birth mother she gets a job as a traffic warden in the same part of Dublin, hoping to meet her.

Allegra takes her job as a traffic warden very seriously and keeps issuing a parking fine to the driver of a yellow sports car almost every day. She soon discovers the owner is a software developer called Tristan. He tells her that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. This makes Allegra search for her 5 people. Obviously, Pops is her number one but who are the other 4?

This was sad, happy, enlightening, heartwarming, heartbreaking and even humorous in places. A story of discovery for Allegra and the reader.

I would recommend this if you can overcome the lack of quotation marks.

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for a copy of this book.

It took me a long time to read this book as I found it very difficult to engage with it.
I have read Cecelia Ahern’s books before and have enjoyed them but I’m sorry to say this one was not for me.

My initial impression of 'Freckles' by Cecelia Ahern, was that it was quite a slow read...however, shortly after I revised this to a 'steady' read. It's a study of personal growth, and therefore a story that I felt couldn't be rushed!
Allegra Bird, aka Freckles, is the only daughter of an eccentric father, and a Spanish mother. Abandoned by her mother when she was born, Allegra has been brought up by her father, but now in adulthood, works as a Traffic Warden in Dublin. As the story progresses, we become aware that she has come to Dublin to find her mother.
Allegra is a quirky character seeking to find herself, and her life appears almost entirely governed by rules and routines, perhaps in an effort to make some sort of sense of it. She is very self-aware, and during a chance meeting with a stranger, she has cause to reflect on what might have influenced her nurture to become who she is.

'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.'

As Allegra reflects on people she would like to spend time and those she already spends time with, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, which doesn't necessarily end with a happily ever after, but certainly results in a greater understanding of the influences on her life that have made her who she is.

I enjoyed 'Freckles'. It was ponderous, thoughtful and reflective, and certainly caused me to think alongside Allegra of the five people I spend the most time with.

I give this book five stars.

Awkward and misunderstood, and often misunderstanding the situations in which she finds herself (on the spectrum?), our heroine nevertheless perseveres. Slightly painful to read, because one cares so much about Allegra, it was still memorable and hit all the right emotions.

I enjoyed this book about Allegra/Freckles who has moved up to Dublin to work as a parking warden. She is challenged by a disgruntled person that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with and this sets her off on a path of reflecting who were are her 5 people and who they are now. Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC

My thanks to #Netgally and #HarperCollin’s for the opportunity to review this book.
This was my first Cecelia Ahern book and I found it thought provoking., who actually shapes you into the person that you are.
Written in a warm empathetic way she draws you into the lives of the people on the page.
Although this was my first Cecelia Ahern book it won’t be my last.

I’ve loved all of Cecilia Ahern’s previous novels which I’ve read so this was another pleasant surprise. I adore her writing and find she really evokes emotions through her writing which is fluid.

The main character is adorable and I really connected with her.

A true my beautiful novel