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zara89's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Infidelity
nikexistiertnik's review against another edition
first i get fcking ambushed by a bulimia mention, immediately after that you hit me with selfharm and then freckles' lifelong dream is to join the police? no sorry you lost me there, maybe i'll try another time, but not now nope
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Eating disorder
melzy__'s review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
adaslittleworldofbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
wordsofclover's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
24-year-old Allegra Bird has the perfect routine to her daily life. She lives in the garage extension of a wealthy family - rent cheap on the assumption she will babysit whenever they need her, and every day she starts her morning with a coffee and Belgian waffle before starting her beat as a parking enforcement officer. But there's a reason Allegra moved from her small Kerry town, away from her beloved dad, to a seaside suburb in Dublin but she hasn't built up the courage yet to fulfil her mission. When a man angry at his parking ticket berates her one day, he says something that shakes Allegra to the core and she starts a new project to surround herself with the type of people she wants to learn from but in the process she learns more about herself.
CW: Self harm
This book surprised me in how much I ended up enjoying it by the end (genuine tears in my eyes/lump in my throat at some bits at the end!). I think I was being a bit snobby thinking this was going to be fine, but nothing amazing and while it wasn't the best book I've read this year, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and Allegra's journey.
While not specifically stated on page, it definitely reads like Allegra could be neurodivergent- she isn't always the best socially in terms of understanding social cues and etiquettes and the best thing to say, and she also likes order and routine, and if these are messed up, she can get very upset. I felt for Allegra as she sought to understand the '5 people in your life' saying, and how she reached out to those she admired in the desire to learn from them.
I was iffy about Tristan developing a close relationship with Allegra at first, considering how he had acted towards her but I actually grew to really like their friendship and how we leaned more about Tristan, his 'Rooster' identity and how he was striving to be more, and how Allegra helped him do this.
I loved the father-daughter relationship in this too and Allegra's bond with Pops was just so, so lovely though I'm biased as I am also very close to my dad so I love reading similar. Sometimes a girl just needs her dad, and it was this type of scene near the end that brought me to tears. Pops was a wonderful character, odd in his own way exactly like Allegra but totally accepting of the type of person she was.
There were moments in this that were hard to read due to a myriad of reasons from Allegra's experience of self harm when she was younger, to even the awkward and second hand embarrassment a reader could feel when she was committing a social faux pas. I loved Allegra's job as a still life model, and this control over her body, and the way she was able to see parts of herself in others work was just so interesting to read.
I'd definitely recommend this book, and would also recommend the audiobook if people had access to it as it was a great listen.
CW: Self harm
This book surprised me in how much I ended up enjoying it by the end (genuine tears in my eyes/lump in my throat at some bits at the end!). I think I was being a bit snobby thinking this was going to be fine, but nothing amazing and while it wasn't the best book I've read this year, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and Allegra's journey.
While not specifically stated on page, it definitely reads like Allegra could be neurodivergent- she isn't always the best socially in terms of understanding social cues and etiquettes and the best thing to say, and she also likes order and routine, and if these are messed up, she can get very upset. I felt for Allegra as she sought to understand the '5 people in your life' saying, and how she reached out to those she admired in the desire to learn from them.
I was iffy about Tristan developing a close relationship with Allegra at first, considering how he had acted towards her but I actually grew to really like their friendship and how we leaned more about Tristan, his 'Rooster' identity and how he was striving to be more, and how Allegra helped him do this.
I loved the father-daughter relationship in this too and Allegra's bond with Pops was just so, so lovely though I'm biased as I am also very close to my dad so I love reading similar. Sometimes a girl just needs her dad, and it was this type of scene near the end that brought me to tears. Pops was a wonderful character, odd in his own way exactly like Allegra but totally accepting of the type of person she was.
There were moments in this that were hard to read due to a myriad of reasons from Allegra's experience of self harm when she was younger, to even the awkward and second hand embarrassment a reader could feel when she was committing a social faux pas. I loved Allegra's job as a still life model, and this control over her body, and the way she was able to see parts of herself in others work was just so interesting to read.
I'd definitely recommend this book, and would also recommend the audiobook if people had access to it as it was a great listen.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
georgiaellenreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
carlottamontella's review against another edition
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? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
sophiegallagher98's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
readwithchar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual assault
honeyreads1066's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
2.75
First off, Cecilia Ahren creates such a unique narrative voice here that I felt like I knew Allegra myself.
This book is about a girl named Allegra, a parking warden who loves to Malahide leaving her home and eccentric father behind. After a stranger tells her that you're the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with, she goes into a tailspin reevaluating her life and relationships.
This book is ultimately about friendships, loneliness and human connection.
My favourite thing about this book was the narrative voice, it was original and unusual pulling you into the story with Allegra. The only problem I had with this is that I didn't like her. I'm not sure whether I was supposed to but aside from a select 3 characters I didn't find any of them likeable and thus didn't feel that much when they didn't succeed.
The story itself is complex with a lot of events that are seemingly pretty unconnected. While I did enjoy these little events they were far and few up until 70% in the book. It got to the point where I cared very little about what was going on outside these 3 characters I enjoyed seeing.
I did like the ending, I feel like although not uplifting in the way you expect it does make you look at yourself and now I'm asking who I'm the average of.
This book is about a girl named Allegra, a parking warden who loves to Malahide leaving her home and eccentric father behind. After a stranger tells her that you're the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with, she goes into a tailspin reevaluating her life and relationships.
This book is ultimately about friendships, loneliness and human connection.
My favourite thing about this book was the narrative voice, it was original and unusual pulling you into the story with Allegra. The only problem I had with this is that I didn't like her. I'm not sure whether I was supposed to but aside from a select 3 characters I didn't find any of them likeable and thus didn't feel that much when they didn't succeed.
The story itself is complex with a lot of events that are seemingly pretty unconnected. While I did enjoy these little events they were far and few up until 70% in the book. It got to the point where I cared very little about what was going on outside these 3 characters I enjoyed seeing.
I did like the ending, I feel like although not uplifting in the way you expect it does make you look at yourself and now I'm asking who I'm the average of.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia
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