This one popped up on my recommendations from Amazon and thought I’d give it a go. I’ve read Cecelia Ahern books before and they’ve always been page turners…

Amazon

Sometimes the people who have the power to change your life are the ones who have been there all along….. 

Like stars in the dark skies above the tiny island where she grew up, freckles scatter Allegra Bird’s arms, a link to her beloved father. She’s never known her mother.

In a quest to find the one thing she’s missing she begins a bold new life in Dublin. But she’s left a lot behind.

So when a stranger tells her she’s the sum of five people – the five people she spends the most time with – she’s suddenly no longer seeking one person. She’s looking for five.

And the truth lies in unexpected places…

Life-affirming, beautiful and thought-provoking, Freckles is an unforgettable novel of five people, five chances and one woman’s search for happiness.

Allegra, nicknamed ‘Freckles’ for her distinctive skin, leads a simple but regimented life as a parking warden in a town just outside of Dublin. She has yearned quietly all her life to be accepted and ultimately popular. Her character is quite an unusual character, she’s quiet and contemplative yet awkward in a non-confident way.

The story has quite a philosophical yet heartfelt warmth, showing how life can treat everyone differently. There were moments in it where I felt like she was an actual person, because I felt sorry for her.

This actually reminded me that identity is not shaped by history or family but by the people we choose to have in our lives. It was definitely a thought provoking read and I loved how it had me contemplating my own life choices and realising that actually it’s ok if you’re lonely. Perfectly timed to be reading this with what I’ve recently been going through and it was a great way to learn something from such a great writer.

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

This is such a powerful quote that is given to Allegra by Tristan(whose character in the book comes to life, which I love!) This becomes a mantra for her and could be intentionally explored for identity and belonging which eventually makes her realise that in fact she’s not as lonely as she thought she was.

I loved the inner voice of this story, the philosophical thread and the character storytelling. It starts of slow, but the emotional authenticity of this novel had me gripped.

Spoiler Alert

She finds her mother, but it’s not what you expect…..