It's a good story and even if the tone is light there's a very sad undercurrent that made me feel for Allegra.
It's a book about discovering who we are and I liked Allegra's evolution and the changes in her life.
Cecelia Ahern is a talented storyteller and this story kept me hooked, I smile and was moved at times.
Good character development, an interesting plot.
I found it a bit slow at the beginning but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

After leaving home, her dad and her ex-partner with dreams of joining the Garda, things didn’t go as planned for Freckles aka Allegra Bird. Her application wasn’t successful so she takes a job that in her mind is the next best thing. A traffic warden.
In a heated exchange with disgruntled Youtuber Rooster, who is a frequent reoffender of not paying for the parking of his flashy yellow Ferrari, he says something to her that sets her on a path of discovery….”You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Allegra cant get this quote out of her head and obsesses about it constantly. She realises that she doesn’t even have 5 people in her life and thinks that if she can find the perfect people to spend time with, it will solve all of her problems and make her into the best version of herself.
Although it is never referred to in the book, its very clear to me that Allegra is autistic. Cecilia has obviously done a massive amount of research as I recognised so many traits in her that my own son has.
A wonderful read, really heart-warming and emotional. Its very thought provoking…….who are your five?????

I was sent a copy of Freckles by Cecelia Ahern to read and review by NetGalley. This was a very enjoyable novel, with plenty of disparate characters. The protagonist, Allegra – aka Freckles, was at times difficult to like but I found myself compelled to follow her journey. This is a book about trying to find your very best self, aided along the way by the people who are closest to you. Whether you like the characters or not Cecilia Ahern is so adept at drawing out their different personalities and traits they become very believable. A must read for those who enjoy novels about relationships and above all what it takes to be true friends.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This is an insult that is thrown at Dublin traffic warden Allegra Bird by a yellow Ferrari owner called Rooster.

For some reason, this gets under her skin, and she spends her time evaluating her life and the people in it.
Growing up without a mother and what appears to be an eccentric father – Allegra, whose nickname is Freckles, goes to boarding school at a young age where each evening after lights out, she scratches Star Constellations on the freckles on her arms.

Leaving school with ideas of becoming a Garda, she fails the entry requirements and instead becomes a Traffic Warden, but always hankers after the law enforcing lifestyle, knowing that this is the closest she’ll get.

Allegra had a warm, but troubled personality, she appeared socially awkward at times along the lines of Eleanor Oliphant there something a bit quirky about her, but I couldn’t exactly put my finger on what it was, but she also drew you in as a character.

The story is told by Allegra, through her own voice which is more of a commentary as there’s no speech punctuation so at times, I found it really difficult to distinguish whether she was thinking something or actually saying it out loud, and then other people’s responses were confusing, but after a time you get used to it so it didn’t distract too much.

The descriptions of Ireland and especially the island in Kerry where Allegra is from was amazing, and I had to google it to see if it was as beautiful as it was described, and it certainly looks that way, that another place which will be added to my long list of destinations to visit in the future!

Thanks to HarperCollins, NetGalley and Cecelia Ahern for the ARC of Freckles.

When a stranger tells Allegra Bird 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.' - it hits a nerve. She's a parking attendant in a new city, has left her Dad and ex partner behind - and it makes her realise she doesn't even know who her 5 are, or if she even has a 5 at all!

A story of loneliness and self discovery, Allegra is an endearing and unique character who pulls you in on her journey to finding herself. Not a traditional love story that you may be used to from Ahern, there are some triggering content areas in this book such as self harm and drug abuse.

A different read to my usual but I a great alternative read.

Ahern at her finest. She is a master storyteller, that reels you in from the first page, delicately adding layers of context, subtlety and wisdom. I love her characters, warts and all and the relationship between them. And her stories are always original. Freckles, aka Allegra, is a bit eccentric but perhaps because she desperately wants to belong but cant figure out how. As a parking warden, she gets yelled at regularly and mostly shrugs it off. But this one time, the words get to her. "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." It becomes her mission to figure out who her five people are.

Allegra's journey is one of growth, figuring out who she is and who gives her meaning, but also about the power of relationships. Its clear Allegra is far from perfect, but she has so much charm and innocence and she is trying so damn hard to change. I was part of her emotional journey, from hope, to despair, to resurrection, and I didn't want the story to end. Beautifully written with nuggets of wisdom interspersed - I reserve my five star ratings for books that I will always remember.

Unlike a lot of the Cecilia Ahern characters I found Allegra unlikeable in parts but ultimately you have to feel sorry for her. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eArc.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but oh my, sometimes the conversations confused me and I wasn’t sure who was talking. The main character, Allegra is so easy to connect with and straight away you are right into her world. I really enjoyed the writing style and definitely recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley.

Celias book as always is a fantastic read. It did start a bit slower compared to her others but overall great!

I have always been a huge fan of Cecelia Ahern and couldn't wait to read this book. It did not disappoint. Beautifully written and oozing charm. The main character Allegra is easy to relate to and as the story unfolds you can't help but root for a happy ending.

My first time reading Cecelia Ahern, I found this book a little slow at first for me but carrying on through the pages it became very thought provoking.
Allegra's journey through the book was tough especially feeling when she seemed to feel quite alone in the area she moved to. She did end up with some great supportive friends who she hadn't thought she had.
A good read

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read in return for an honest review an ARC of Freckles by Cecelia Ahern.

Cecelia Ahern has always been a charming writer and this book is no different. A feel good, uplifting story that hooks you from the start. In quite a depressing year what more could you want in a book than for its pages to raise your spirits and make you smile. It also made me want to visit Ireland again not just for its beauty but for its people. Allegra is the main character and I was on her team from the moment that stranger tells her that 'you are the sum of the 5 people you spend your time with', and that she must spend time with losers. Oh I wanted to jump in his car and tell him what for. So I was rooting for her on her journey. She is on a quest for answers to questions than most aren't brave enough to ask themselves so I admired her for that and found her character relatable and authentic.

Freckles is a touching and thought-provoking story about finding your place in the world and growing into your own skin that is sure to resonate with its readers.

I love the character of Freckles and found her so relatable. She comes across as strong-minded and says what she feels, but she also has a vulnerability to her, a sensitive nature that sees her fretting about other people's opinions of her and questioning her own opinions of herself. I could see a lot of myself in her as someone who is happy to sit in the background, so I enjoyed seeing how she dealt with the current obstacles in her life and this newly-applied life motto that has made her re-examine the people she keeps closest.

There are a few really heartwarming moments and the ending, especially, left me on such a positive note. There's definitely a lot that I will take away from this book, but it just took me a while to get into and the emotional moments were too sparse for me to love this more. But I would definitely recommend this for readers who enjoy a slower journey and minimalised plot, and Freckles is certainly a character that I will think about often.

I love Cecelia Aherns writing and have enjoyed her previous books, this was no exception.
I feel this book was a little different from her others but wonderful just the same.
It was thought provoking, sensitive and sometimes difficult in parts.
Really enjoyed it

⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5

The idea that “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” It is definitely food for thought, and when a stranger says these words to Allegra Bird (Freckles), they hit a nerve and send her on a path to find out who her five people are.

I flip-flopped so much with this book, mainly because of Allegra. I found her to be an interesting, endearing and, for the most part, a likeable character. Still, at the same time, I found myself cringing, feeling awkward, frustrated, and sad for her due to some of her choices.

Set in Ireland, there was a diverse group of secondary characters, some likeable and some unpleasant. Although it took me a while to get into this book, I enjoyed the ending, which was moving and heartfelt and left me feeling a little emotional.

Freckles was a story about friendship, loneliness, human connections, self-love and discovery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5

Absolutely loved this story of Freckles, the ultimate outsider trying to find connection in the big city. Growing out of her hometown friends, aspiring to make new influential friends in the big city (and find her mother) and ultimately finding out what is really important and who really loves her. Heartbreaking at times, her perhaps neuro divergence and difficulty with social relationships is painful to watch as she painstakingly follows the rules as a traffic warden yet fails to make connection with sexual partners.

I don’t have too much experience with Cecelia Ahern, although she is such a prolific author. I was intrigued by her latest release and I was very excited to be accepted for it on NetGalley.

Allegra Bird lives a very ordered, quiet life as a parking warden. She has left her music professor father and island home for a life in the city and although she isn’t quite living her dream job, she’s perfectly happy with her routine. But then a stranger tells her that we are simply the sum of the five people who you spend the most time with and Allegra starts to think… who are her five and what does this really mean?

Allegra is also known as Freckles, a nickname she picked up in school and that has been with her ever since. She sees her freckles as her connection to her beloved dad and this is something that she holds on to throughout the book. Allegra’s freckles, like her, evolve from a source of pain to something to be celebrated and embraced.

Even though it’s never stated, it will be obvious to many readers that Allegra is almost certainly on the autism spectrum. This is why routines are so important to her, why other humans seem to baffle her and she is so set on achieving her dreams. I really loved the way that Ahern presented Allegra’s neurodiversity with so much tenderness and warmth. It felt like a realistic, well-rounded portrayal and it was lovely to read.

There are some great laugh-out-loud moments too and I loved how these felt so natural. The humour isn’t overdone and it adds just the right amount of light relief to a story that is, at its core, heartbreaking. I wanted to have fun with Allegra and the people around her, despite the emotional struggles she was going through and I’m really glad that these little spots of comedy allowed that.

Rooster is a YouTuber and gaming entrepreneur, who drives a yellow Ferrari and repeatedly angers Allegra with his refusal to pay for parking. Watching this connection grow and develop into something hugely beneficial for both parties was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. At first glance, these two people would never be friends but as they continue to get to know each other, it becomes clear that they can both teach each other some very valuable lessons. I didn’t like Rooster at the beginning but like Allegra, I think I judged him too quickly. As his situation and true personality began to emerge, I warmed to him and I loved where their friendship landed.

The theory that who we are comes from who we’re most inspired or influenced by is a fascinating one and I think it’s probably true to an extent. I certainly started to think about who I was made up of and who I’d like to be made up of. I love the idea of formulating your own team of five people, who can each show you something that you need to be shown or taught. Who would I pick as my own Fab Five? I’m sure other readers will love exploring themselves in this way too and perhaps even think about who could lead them in an area that they need some guidance.

There is also some exploration of appearances, particularly virtual appearances and personalities, not quite translating into reality. At one point, Allegra thinks that an old school friend called Daisy, who has a particularly pretty Instagram, could be one of her five. However, when she meets up with her, it becomes apparent that Daisy’s life isn’t quite as rosy and glossy as social media suggests. This is a topic that features in so much contemporary fiction now. It’s almost like we know that social media doesn’t give us the full picture and yet carefully curated feeds are still something that grown adults continue to fall for.

One thing that Ahern is very good at is writing normal life. It may seem to be mundane but her characters are humans and therefore sometimes their lives are boring. It doesn’t matter that they’re fictional, they inhabit human brains and bodies, which means that it’s certainly not constant excitement. These little paragraphs where Allegra is literally just contemplating a very real idea or emotion made it so easy to relate to her and see her as a real person.

Freckles is a heartwarming and heartbreaking novel about a young woman trying to come to terms with who she is and the circumstances she was born into. It’s quirky, emotional and has some really beautiful writing in it. Thought-provoking and uplifting, Freckles is a charming novel of friendship and home.

The contents of Cecelia Ahern’s latest novel are as gorgeous as its eye catching cover. From the minute you make Allegra Bird’s acquaintance you realise you’ve been introduced to one of those rare, special and unique heroines who only come along once in a blue moon. Allegra is someone you are unlikely to forget, a young woman who shines brighter than the brightest star in the sky but who isn’t even aware of how dazzling she is. I pictured her as a rough diamond whose jagged edges are in need of smoothing over and polishing before she feels confident to emerge as the person she’s destined to be. She may be struggling to come to terms with who she is or where she’s going in life, uncomfortable in her own skin but her journey as she joins up the dots in her life is a joy to behold. Humorous, hopeful, surprising, life affirming, thought provoking and brimming with love this is a novel to cherish.

The opening passages are beautifully written providing the reader with a wonderful description of how Allegra has come to earn herself the nickname of Freckles. We glimpse Allegra as a young girl in boarding school who at thirteen loves to join the dots on her arm replicating the constellations. This is a vivid starting point from which we can track Allegra’s progress from her life with her eccentric Pops on Valentia island to Dublin where she is embarking on a secret mission and a new chapter in her life as a parking warden. Rejected at birth by her Spanish mother, Pops remains her one constant in a world she mostly feels disconnected from but it’s about time to start making some new connections. The small town of Malahide is home for now and it’s here that Allegra’s search for happiness, friendship and the people that really matter truly begins.

As a stickler for rules Allegra takes her job very seriously indeed. She’s also a creature of habit which I found to be one of her most endearing traits. I loved listening to her voice as she offers up her observations on life as a parking warden, as a tenant living in the back garden of a mansion house and as a model who poses nude for Genevieve art classes. Her comments regarding the familiar faces she passes every day and those she has regular conversations with highlight her adherence to routine which she appears to need in order to function properly. She’s funny, quirky and an absolute tonic. Patrolling the same streets every day the owner of a yellow Ferrari who fails to park his car legally becomes a real source of annoyance and frustration for Allegra. They engage in this pointless daily battle in which she issues parking fine after parking fine until an angry outburst from said owner sees him ripping up yet another ticket and insulting her with the words “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This causes much soul searching and reflection on Allegra’s behalf with this lost and lonely soul questioning the direction her life is taking. The phrase sticks in Allegra’s mind, opening up the proverbial can of worms. Who are Allegra’s five people, and what does their presence in her life say about her? Is it time to reevaluate her relationships?

Oh my goodness what a challenging, thought provoking statement to launch into the stratosphere! It’s as if this guy Rooster (Tristan) a rising star in the gaming world is laying down the gauntlet with his throwaway comment. Said in the heat of the moment in no way does he imagine what a profound effect those words will have on an individual who already feels like such an outsider. It becomes the defining moment of this novel sending Allegra’s brain into overdrive, a trigger for Allegra to behave in ways which are either hilarious, quite moving and a tiny bit heartbreaking. Days after I’ve finished reading this novel, I am still contemplating what this expression means for me personally and it’s causing me some consternation!! I find the concept fascinating but I can’t say for sure whether I believe in the sentiment.

Cecilia Ahern has a writing style all of her own which is imbued with natural Irish charm and immense warmth. She somehow manages to make this novel feel original, delivering a storyline that will resonate with every reader who can remember what’s it’s like to be 24, fumbling their way into adulthood, learning how to grow into their adult skin. I love the quirkiness of the characters too; there are some great ones keeping Allegra company as she connects the dots in her life. Spanner, the bakery owner who provides Allegra with her daily coffee and waffle is one who stands out on the plus side as does Tristan surprisingly and Paddy, her fellow parking warden who teaches her the ropes. The award for best supporting role naturally goes to Pops who will always remain Allegra’s number one out of her five although by the end he has some stiff competition! You remember the likes of Carmencita and Becky for all the wrong reasons but this eclectic array of characters are all necessary additions in Allegra’s bid to find a place where she fits.

Sentimental, profound and so uplifting, the ending is the perfect way for Cecilia Ahern to set this Bird free, ready to soar to new heights with the right five people in the background to offer support, friendship, guidance and love.
Highly recommend.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Ireland, Allegra is living in Dublin as a parking officer. A chance remark from a disgruntled Ferrari owner gets her thinking about why she is like she is. Told in the first person it is a beautiful story of friendship and growing to accept yourself.

I enjoyed reading 'Freckles' but I have to admit, I didn't love it. It felt like there was something missing with this book but I just can't quite put my finger on it. I liked the whole plot being around the quote 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.' There was so much potential and character growth with that but I just felt like it missed the mark. I thought Allegra's journey to discovering her 5 progressed well but ended kind of predictable and flat. There were also so different elements happening at once that I didn't feel were delved into in much depth. That said, I couldn't put this book down and it's been a long time since that has happened. There was such an ease with reading Ahern's writing even from the very start. The ending was sweet but I felt like it could have been more impactful.

Overall, 'Freckles' is a great book. It's a sweet, uplifting story but it just felt like there were a few things missing.