Scan barcode
bookoffimreading's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful novel written from the view point of fifteen year old Natasha, who is looking back thirty years to the summer when she was fifteen years old. It explores whether her foresight is a gift or a curse but is also a coming of age story for Natasha, as we see her navigate her relationship with childhood friend Marcus, and also the way she views her mother’s relationship with their new lodger.
It is a slow burn, suspenseful and character driven story with many fascinating characters. I was particularly interested in Natasha’s mother who is artistic and bohemian and although she has the whole town captivated by her beauty, she remains distant and mysterious.
There’s such a distinctive quality to Rachel Donohue’s writing. It’s lyrical, evocative and atmospheric, you can really feel the stifling heat and angst.
The story was full of suspense and with a creepy undertone I was really intrigued to see how it would all end. It was a pleasure to read!
It is a slow burn, suspenseful and character driven story with many fascinating characters. I was particularly interested in Natasha’s mother who is artistic and bohemian and although she has the whole town captivated by her beauty, she remains distant and mysterious.
There’s such a distinctive quality to Rachel Donohue’s writing. It’s lyrical, evocative and atmospheric, you can really feel the stifling heat and angst.
The story was full of suspense and with a creepy undertone I was really intrigued to see how it would all end. It was a pleasure to read!
bl0ndekitten's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
eshalliday's review against another edition
3.0
I find this really difficult to rate, and I'm not sure why, so I'm going for a beige middle-of-the-road. Might revisit it later.
zoehop's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nixmouse's review against another edition
3.0
The Beauty of Impossible things is a haunting novel, essentially a coming-of-age story about one strange summer in the life of a fifteen year girl, Natasha Rothwell. She lives with her bohemian mother in a small seaside town that is thrown into the spotlight when ethereal blue lights appear in the night sky over a large hill called the Ridge. Natasha is certain the lights are a warning of impending danger but struggles to get people to take her seriously until a teenage boy goes missing.
The story is told in the first-person by Natasha talking to a therapist to try to understand her part in the events of that summer. The writing perfectly conjures up the oppressive heat and the unsettling atmosphere caused by the otherworldly lights, however, I found the narrative a little meandering and unfocused in parts which weakened the suspense. Although I did enjoy the beautiful and evocative writing I ultimately felt unsatisfied by the storytelling.
The story is told in the first-person by Natasha talking to a therapist to try to understand her part in the events of that summer. The writing perfectly conjures up the oppressive heat and the unsettling atmosphere caused by the otherworldly lights, however, I found the narrative a little meandering and unfocused in parts which weakened the suspense. Although I did enjoy the beautiful and evocative writing I ultimately felt unsatisfied by the storytelling.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Fifteen year old Natasha lives with her mother in a decaying house just outside a seaside resort. The relationships between the locals and the summer visitors are tense and when Mr Bowen arrives to lodge with them, Natasha senses that her life is about to change. Natasha has a gift of prediction and she sees events that change the entire town.
I loved most of this book. the supernatural is played down and the details of what Natasha sees are secondary to the fact that she does see things. It is really a tale about first love and adolescent angst but is beautifully written and memorable
I loved most of this book. the supernatural is played down and the details of what Natasha sees are secondary to the fact that she does see things. It is really a tale about first love and adolescent angst but is beautifully written and memorable
bobbidenzer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
littleted62's review against another edition
3.0
The Beauty of Impossible things is a haunting novel, essentially a coming-of-age story about one strange summer in the life of a fifteen year girl, Natasha Rothwell. She lives with her bohemian mother in a small seaside town that is thrown into the spotlight when ethereal blue lights appear in the night sky over a large hill called the Ridge. Natasha is certain the lights are a warning of impending danger but struggles to get people to take her seriously until a teenage boy goes missing.
The story is told in the first-person by Natasha talking to a therapist to try to understand her part in the events of that summer. The writing perfectly conjures up the oppressive heat and the unsettling atmosphere caused by the otherworldly lights, however, I found the narrative a little meandering and unfocused in parts which weakened the suspense. Although I did enjoy the beautiful and evocative writing I ultimately felt unsatisfied by the storytelling.
The story is told in the first-person by Natasha talking to a therapist to try to understand her part in the events of that summer. The writing perfectly conjures up the oppressive heat and the unsettling atmosphere caused by the otherworldly lights, however, I found the narrative a little meandering and unfocused in parts which weakened the suspense. Although I did enjoy the beautiful and evocative writing I ultimately felt unsatisfied by the storytelling.
bookschristieandacuppa's review against another edition
4.0
This story is set one hot, sultry summer when a small seaside town changes forever.
Natasha and her mother live in a beautiful, old house, up on the cliffs. Being short of cash they take in summer lodgers to earn some extra money. This summer, however the lodger seems different. Her mother seems to shine while he is around and Natasha doesn’t like it!
She fears that she can see things that are about to happen, things that come true, bad things.
Strange lights appear in the town and she knows they mean something important but no one seems to take her seriously and then it’s too late.
This is a slow burner of a story but I really enjoyed reading it. It’s really frustrating that no one seems to want to believe or help Natasha, she desperately wants her mother to love her and need only her but on her own her mother can’t seem to cope.
I needed to know how the story would end, what would happen, and whilst not everything is fully explained, the story is wrapped up well.
Natasha and her mother live in a beautiful, old house, up on the cliffs. Being short of cash they take in summer lodgers to earn some extra money. This summer, however the lodger seems different. Her mother seems to shine while he is around and Natasha doesn’t like it!
She fears that she can see things that are about to happen, things that come true, bad things.
Strange lights appear in the town and she knows they mean something important but no one seems to take her seriously and then it’s too late.
This is a slow burner of a story but I really enjoyed reading it. It’s really frustrating that no one seems to want to believe or help Natasha, she desperately wants her mother to love her and need only her but on her own her mother can’t seem to cope.
I needed to know how the story would end, what would happen, and whilst not everything is fully explained, the story is wrapped up well.