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siushi's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I guess the point of this book is that you should Believe. You should believe in life, in friendship, and in healing. You should believe in magic and the unknown. Elizabeth was caught up in patterns and trauma for most of the pages but the mysterious Ivan gradually (but actually very quickly) brings her out of her cocoon of misery and she, then, blossoms into a vibrant, happy butterfly. Ivan, who is immortal, fell in love for the first time with Elizabeth. In love, he found himself – that’s another key message, I suppose. In love, we find ourselves, we find each other. And it’s okay if you don’t end up together forever with the person you’re in love with. That you got to know them, love them, and be loved by them (if you’re lucky) is enough to be truly grateful for. When people change each other because they love each other, when people make each other better, that is a good love. It is the kind of love that overrides all your childhood heartbreaks and adulthood letdowns.
Overall, this book definitely had its moments, and I did cry at one point, but I also found some parts ridiculous. The big reveal about Elizabeth’s mother was so off-putting and nonsensical? Saoirse’s ending felt anticlimactic, too, but at least it made more sense than the mother’s. A lot of the writing felt juvenile, honestly. And prudish. I picked this book up randomly without knowing anything about the author or their previous works. I think it’s just not my usual taste in books. But I do like to think I can enjoy any manner of art; my tastes aren’t critical. I love books about women finding themselves. Novels about divorced women having a little rom-com moment are amongst my favorite genres!!!
I wouldn’t seriously recommend this book. I also think I could have better spent the money I used to purchase it. But oh well. At least it’s a signed copy.
justkally's review against another edition
5.0
I've read this book before when I was younger. It hasn't lost any of it's magic and I probably learned more with the second reading than I will have realised.
Beautiful story ♥
Beautiful story ♥
tartan_teapotsandbooks_croft's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was a sweet story. Lots of places to laugh out loud and also places that made you feel so sad. There were a few loose ends that could have been tied up but other than that, I really enjoyed it.
tyslady's review against another edition
5.0
I loved living inside the mind of an imaginary friend. What a fun place to be. It was awesome to jump from the mind of a small child to the mind of a very rigid woman to the mind of a carefree "friend". I loved it. I heard it may be made into a movie and I would love to see how they would adapt this story to fit the big screen!
markalkman's review against another edition
4.0
Will Cecelia Ahern ever not make me cry? Probably not.
This was another beautiful story filled with imagination and joy. I loved it. It was happy and lovely and sad at the same time. It was a lovestory, but then again it wasn't. It was about loving yourself and accepting yourself and choosing happiness over sadness. This book had a great moral and I can highly recommend it to everyone. This was my fourth Cecelia book and again, it was a definite win.
This was another beautiful story filled with imagination and joy. I loved it. It was happy and lovely and sad at the same time. It was a lovestory, but then again it wasn't. It was about loving yourself and accepting yourself and choosing happiness over sadness. This book had a great moral and I can highly recommend it to everyone. This was my fourth Cecelia book and again, it was a definite win.
chanuki's review against another edition
4.0
Made me cry. Literally. The end. Sigh. This book is not for all. Loved it
hasselblad's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
mehvie's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I had a friend like Ivan ...
The beginning was a bit slow and confusing too, but it picked up. I loved how the main protagonists evolved together. Yes, it's unrealistic but the story had an interesting view on life.
The beginning was a bit slow and confusing too, but it picked up. I loved how the main protagonists evolved together. Yes, it's unrealistic but the story had an interesting view on life.
doerthe's review against another edition
This book was just not for me. I never had an imaginary friend as a kid. I could very much relate to the main character but simply not to the fact that she would start seeing this imaginary friend of her nephew and start to fall in love with him. It just made me cringe.