gasoline_allie's review against another edition
3.0
It puzzles me that I dislike the beginning, and I'm dissatisfied by the ending, but I still enjoyed this book. I think it's because Tamara grows so much, and I love to see growth in a character. The fact that Ahern is a good storyteller doesn't hurt, either.
ablotial's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute fluff book, but nothing too amazing. A quick and entertaining read with a little bit of a mystery in there. The mystery wasn't entirely obvious, though I did understand one part of it as soon as she had her first panic attack when there was some smoke.
The main character was truly awful. At the beginning of the novel she is a spoiled, selfish, awful person. She does change some by the end of the novel, but honestly I don't think she was that much better. Maybe she will continue to change.
Also, I think the "book" to which the title refers was unnecessary - very gimmicky way to get people interested in reading. It was a neat idea and could have been done so much better if the author really wanted to play into that aspect of it. But the way this novel is written... I think it could have been done without the book. After all, people learn to think about the consequences of their actions EVERY DAY without being able to see the future...
But despite those flaws, I did enjoy the book. I liked trying to figure out the mystery and there were so many aspects of what was going on that even though I figured out one part there was just so much more to the story. It was very satisfying in the end. And I really enjoyed all the characters except the main character. Especially the guy with the traveling library :P
The main character was truly awful. At the beginning of the novel she is a spoiled, selfish, awful person. She does change some by the end of the novel, but honestly I don't think she was that much better. Maybe she will continue to change.
Also, I think the "book" to which the title refers was unnecessary - very gimmicky way to get people interested in reading. It was a neat idea and could have been done so much better if the author really wanted to play into that aspect of it. But the way this novel is written... I think it could have been done without the book. After all, people learn to think about the consequences of their actions EVERY DAY without being able to see the future...
But despite those flaws, I did enjoy the book. I liked trying to figure out the mystery and there were so many aspects of what was going on that even though I figured out one part there was just so much more to the story. It was very satisfying in the end. And I really enjoyed all the characters except the main character. Especially the guy with the traveling library :P
goodbetterbetsy's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't going to finish this one, but I decided to stick with it and about half way through it got pretty good. I'm glad I stuck with it because the end wasn't really what I expected at all. Not the best book I've read (or listened to in this case) but I liked it.
leasummer's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to the audio book, 8.5 hrs.
This is a young adult book set in Ireland, about a family and the secrets they keep and how far people are willing to go to keep those secrets. In the mix of this, there is a bit of fantasy regarding a diary that writes itself and tells our heroine how tomorrow will go - unless she can make changes to alter the course of events.
All the characters are believable. Everyone is neither all good or all bad, just like in real life.
This is a young adult book set in Ireland, about a family and the secrets they keep and how far people are willing to go to keep those secrets. In the mix of this, there is a bit of fantasy regarding a diary that writes itself and tells our heroine how tomorrow will go - unless she can make changes to alter the course of events.
All the characters are believable. Everyone is neither all good or all bad, just like in real life.
marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was written for me. It takes place in Ireland. It has a castle and a bookmobile. It's about a magical journal. Could it be more perfect for me?
laurahadi's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing i am shocked i loved it so much i couldn't put it down this book is underated it always made my mind thinking it had mistirys to solve and i didn't expect the end this book is so good and everyone should read it
klwpvfc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kleedc73's review against another edition
4.0
In this fanciful novel from Cecelia Ahern, a teenage girl is forced by tragedy to move from her lavish, pampered lifestyle in Dublin to a remote country village, where she and her mother move in with relatives. While Tamara is struggling to cope with the abrupt and painful changes to her life, she discovers a diary that, magically, appears to show her events that will take place on the following day, through diary entries written in her own hand. Partly through the process of deciphering the diary entries, Tamara also discovers that things are not as they seem with her family and this sets off a journey of discovery that will change Tamara forever. Tamara must decide whether and the extent to which she will attempt to change the future as predicted in the diary and must deal with the consequences of her choices.
This book is a very quick read but, surprisingly, has a decent amount of depth and real character development. Tamara starts off as a super bratty, shallow, bitchy teenager but, over the course of the book, develops some serious insight and perspective and grows enormously as a person. Through what has become a trademark fanciful flair, Cecelia Ahern explores grief, jealousy, revenge, despair and deception in an interesting and unique way. It's not Shakespeare, but it is certainly enjoyable.
This book is a very quick read but, surprisingly, has a decent amount of depth and real character development. Tamara starts off as a super bratty, shallow, bitchy teenager but, over the course of the book, develops some serious insight and perspective and grows enormously as a person. Through what has become a trademark fanciful flair, Cecelia Ahern explores grief, jealousy, revenge, despair and deception in an interesting and unique way. It's not Shakespeare, but it is certainly enjoyable.
bookishwithkayla's review against another edition
3.0
I have next had a book make me feel so Conflicted. The story was meaningful, how living in the the here and now you could take tomorrow for granted, You never know what tomorrow will bring, if tomorrow will even come. How you should never leave things unsaid because you never know what will be your last words to a person….. but I really thought that the Traveling library and magic book would play a bigger part in the story. I have questions that have been left unanswered… You never find out what makes the book magical and that drove me a bit mad.
The book itself it’s magical , cover is beautiful and it has a ribbon to be used as a bookmark. Just wish inside was as magical.
quillandink's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5