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

‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with’. A man with a yellow Ferrari says these words to Allegra Bird, otherwise known as Freckles, and so begins her philosophical search into which five people are the most influential in her life.

Allegra is a parking warden in Dublin, but originally from Valentia Island in Kerry, where her father still lives. Allegra is a troubled young lady with a disrupted childhood and leaves Kerry to try and discover her past. Throughout her journey, she meets a wide variety of people from varying backgrounds and many of them; she incorporates into her life.

I loved (and hated) all these unique characters, and they enhanced the story and Allegra’s life as she discovers who she really is and how they will influence her as she moves forward on her journey.

Ahern wrote Freckles by incorporating any speech into the general text, and I found this a little confusing, however it was only a minor distraction and once I became familiar with having to watch out for who was actually speaking, and when, it became less of an issue.

The ‘average of five people’ phrase got me thinking, as I’m sure it will many people, who the five are in my life. I concluded these five will change as you go through the different phases of your life and, although there may be one or two constants, you will never keep the same five.

Freckles is a great, easy-read book which lovers of Irish writing and the Irish countryside will enjoy.

A touching story from which we can all learn something.

Allegra Bird, aka Freckles, has moved from her home on the Atlantic Coast to the city of Dublin; she is on a quest which unfolds as the book progresses. When someone she meets tells her that everyone is the product of five important people in their life, it sticks with her and she begins to obsess . She struggles to amass five people in her new job and home and decides to do something about that.

This is a lovely story with a protagonist who will seep into your mind. As the tale continues, we find out more about Allegra and her reasons for moving to the city. Well-written and told in a charming manner, it’s one which will get under your skin. I’m delighted that it was all clearly explained and finished off by the final page. Very enjoyable and, for me, a four star read.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Allegra has always been known as Freckles, a childhood nickname that stayed. Reserved and disappointed with her options in life, she always felt like an outsider in the small seaside town in Ireland where she grew up. She's now a traffic warden in Dublin. When a guy whose car she tickets makes a poignant remark to her, she decides to re-evaluate her life and move forward. I found it hard to relate to Allegra to start with because she seemed so frosty, but by the end I was rooting for her.

It took me a little while to warm to this book - it has a couple of things that I don’t love (no speech marks, present tense) - but after a few chapters I was ALL IN. I loved the theme of being influenced by the five people you surround yourself with most (although it made me think - as I’ve spent most of the last 18 months alone - who does that make me?!) and the protagonist’s journey of self discovery was really believable. Would highly recommend.

Oh, how I LOVED this book! Incredibly inspiring, captivating, and moving. Definitely pick this one up and read it.

I was of course first drawn to it from the title alone. When I was younger I never understood the character in Judy Blume’s book Freckle Juice who wanted to create concoctions to remove his freckles, I have freckles and always liked having them. Mine are not very prominent so I’m sure that is the difference. I also have always been attracted to people who have freckles, they always seem to be people who are friendly and personable. This last point brings me to the main character, Allegra. I could easily envision what she looks like, thanks to the talent of this author who did such a great job describing her so well. I was drawn to Allegra and loved her personality, which just so happens to align with the traits I personally attach to those with freckles.

I absolutely love the deep insightful proverbs and analogies layered throughout this book. I copied several of them and hope to refer back to them from time to time. The one that stands out the most to me is the one that this book exemplifies: “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. That really got me thinking about my five people, just like it Allegra did when she first heard it, and I started thinking about who I want to be surrounded by and shaped by. I throughly enjoyed reading about Allegra and her quest to find her people. We are introduced to some quirky and colorful characters, who each play an important part during this uncertain time of Allegra’s life.

I HIGHLY recommend this beautiful book! It is without a doubt one that will stay with you for a long time after you complete it, and will resurface from time to time in your thoughts. I am confident this will be a bestseller and I hope to see it become a movie.

Allegra aka Freckles is an interesting and quirky protagonist. I enjoyed reading her story and found myself hoping that she found what she was looking for.
I've read a few of Cecilia Ahern's books and enjoyed them. This us not one of my favourite books that she has written, but it is enjoyable and heartwarming.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Poignant, thought-provoking and emotional story of fitting in and finding your place in the world. Beautifully written. I absolutely loved it.

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

Think on that. That's exactly what Allegra Bird does, with results that endear her and her true friends to us. This isn't an action packed book, it's gripping in the sense that you want to see Allegra's character develop as the novel progresses. She doesn't have to have a love interest to rip each other's clothes off to keep the reader enthralled. Allegra is Allegra. I love her for it, all her flaws and all her naivety makes it impossible not to fall for her.

Thank you, @netgalley for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review. 'FRECKLES' is out on September 2nd 2021.

For me this book had ALL THE FEELS. I loved the character of Allegra/Freckles. She's not your typical, loveable protagonist but that's what I found so intriguing and endearing about her. Just when you think you understand her as a strict follower of the rules in her job as traffic warden, she then surprises you by posing nude for an art class. I really connected with her humour too.

I enjoyed journeying with Allegra as she tries to find who her five people are and discovers herself along the way. I found it quite thought provoking and I love that about a book.

I am a huge Cecelia Ahern fan and always relish the opportunity of a new book to read, whilst also worrying that it might not live up to her previous novels.
I needn’t have worried! Freckles incorporates all the traits I love about her books, wonderfully colourful, fallible, quirky characters, settings that are so real they spring to life in my mind and a thought-provoking scenario.
Meet Allegra Bird, sometimes known by her nickname Freckles, (the reasons become clear quite quickly). Pops, her devoted but slightly unusual sole-parent, a music professor who is facing his own problems.
There are plenty more-colourful and larger-than-life characters to meet: Tristan (Rooster), Paddy, Spanner to name a few.
Freckles faces a few issues of her own, you will make your own mind up as you read. OCD? Autistic? But she has a plan and follow it she will. Yes there are times when you can’t quite believe her naivety, but this reflects the real world quite accurately in my experience.
There are lots of sub-stories running alongside the main one which interweave beautifully, leading to a fast-paced ending. I have to admit I had involuntary tears (even though the ending could potentially be predicted)
The honesty which Allegra displays is forthright and blunt and jarring, but accompanies her on a journey to discover her own self-worth and true friendship.
I found this story to be endearing and heart-warming.

I really enjoyed this book.
It was easy to read and follow, the characters were well thought out and very relatable and loveable. Beautiful story. Would recommend!

The story starts and I was intrigued by the protagonist almost immediately.

I warmed to the Allegra slowly, she bought about different emotions in me and questions too.

Ultimately, I enjoyed embarking on this journey with Allegra and I was really hoping for the best for her by the end of the story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

3.5 💫read!

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

A sad, poignant, yet also heart warming story of loneliness and hope. Freckles aka Allegra is a wonderfully written character that I really championed as the book went on. She finds herself at a point in life where she questions (following a strangers comment) who made her who she is, and who does she want to be. A heartfelt story with a main character that you can't not warm to.

Trigger warnings: self-harm, drug use

Cecelia Ahern has been a favourite author of mine since I was a teenager. I eagerly await her new releases which are always distinct and unique from one another. Freckles was just as brilliant as all her others.

To start with the text without speech was a bit confusing, however, as the story progressed I liked the style and feel it added so much to the interpretation of the main character- Allegra. She is, what I would call, an ultimate lost soul. Her story/ actions/ reactions frustrated me to no end, but it was intended and essential. I believe, there is a slow burn depth to Allegra that we need to discover, but it almost comes at the same pace that she discovers it herself, thus making it seem like not too much occurs unless there is a big emotional or mental turning point. Personally, I liked this.

All in all, this was another successful Ahern addition for me and one I would recommend to those who like a slightly flawed character on a path of self discovery.

Allegra Bird has a very small, ordered life. Covered in freckles, she, however, cannot join the dots of her life, and most importantly, her family. When a stranger tells Allegra that a person is the average of the five people they spend the most time with, it cuts to the core. For someone who grew up with only her father and a few friends, who she isn’t friendly with now, she makes a list of who really matters in her life. She’s not sure there would be five people who’d warrant being in her life. It provokes her to find her future, by making sense of her past and present. This is a surprisingly tender read – though I should expect nothing less from Cecelia – and I predict you’ll need tissues by the end. You really feel for Allegra and your heart breaks a little for her and her miniature life. You’re rooting for her, a sort of 2021 Irish Eleanor Oliphant. Cecelia is always on the money when it comes to creating characters who you truly care about and who you won’t forget.

I have read all of Cecelia Ahern's books and found them easy and lovely to read this book I found much harder to get into it follows the life of Allegra Bird and I must admit I only read a third of the book and had to put it aside I am deeply sorry Cecelia but I just didn’t click with it and couldn’t read it any further

2.5 stars

Headlines:
Quirky
Small town
Eclectic cast

I'm always up for reading a book by Cecelia Ahern, she always brings the unexpected with her women's fiction and contemporary tales. This one however, didn't hit the spot for me although the format of audio was pretty great and kept me going.

The protagonist, Allegra (Freckles) was an incredibly quirky character with some neurodivergent characteristics (it seemed). She was endearing in lots of ways and as a character I was drawn in. Add in Tristan, Pops, Spanner and others, there were lots of pluses. There were also a bunch of characters I couldn't stand like Becky and Carmencita, the latter being horrendous and she was supposed to be. I felt rather mixed about the characters by the end.

I struggled with the plot most of the way through. At first, I felt engaged with this small town, her life as a traffic warden and the strict routine of the day, but it lost its shine with repetitiveness. By half way, the pace was slow and I'd lost interest. I didn't feel much by the culmination.

The narration was excellent and it truly kept me going throughout the book. So this was the right format for me. Sadly, overall Freckles didn't work its way into my heart and I do feel a little disappointed.

Thank you to Harper Collins for the review copies.

Freckles is a life-affirming story of family, friendship and what makes us who we are. It’s not typical Aherne but has a lovely originality to it that is both unexpected and refreshing.

Allegra Bird, nicknamed Freckles, has had an unconventional upbringing. Abandoned at birth by her Spanish mother and raised by her professor father, she has spent most of her life either at boarding school or on the tiny island of Valentia on Ireland’s Atlantic coast. Leaving behind all that is familiar, she has come to Dublin in hopes of new, better opportunities. She also has another, secret mission.

Lonely and isolated, Allegra cuts a sad figure in her new surroundings. Her days are anchored by the routine of her job as a traffic warden, and her evenings by babysitting for her landlords, sitting as a life model and the occasional one-night stand. But still she feels rootless, caught in a limbo with no sign of moving forward and no desire to go back.

When a stranger tells her that everyone is the average of the five people they spend most time with, Allegra is forced on a voyage of discovery. Who are the people who have made her who she is, and who are the five people who will shape and determine her future?

I loved the first-person narration in this story. Allegra’s voice reveals a complex young woman, yet to feel comfortable in her own skin. A young woman whose ambitions have been crushed and who aches to fill a deep inner void. A young woman desperate to find herself and her place in the world. It’s impossible not to warm to Allegra and to cheer her on as she works her way through this conundrum.

Of course, there’s romance as well as a light touch of humor. It wouldn’t be Aherne otherwise. But these do not form the bedrock of this thought-provoking tale, which raises the age-old question of nature versus nurture and makes you think also about the influence exerted on us even as adults by the people we choose to be close to, who can sometimes cause us more harm than good.

Allegra Bird, nicknamed Freckles at school, has been brought up by her father, on a small Irish island, after her mother left her at birth. When Allegra discovers that her mother is now a successful businesswoman in Dublin, she moves away from home and starts work as a traffic warden in the area, hoping to meet her mother one day. Then a chance remark from a disgruntled motorist sets her off on a chain of events that will change her outlook on life.

At the beginning, I thought Freckles would just be another story about a misfit who struggles to fit into the world around her until she meets the right man, and in some respects that is true. However, Cecilia Ahern has managed to write a story that is so much more. Allegra’s search to find the five people who shape her life is at times heartbreaking, but also uplifting. It make me stop and think - who are the five I would want? Her interactions with Tristan/Rooster were a joy to read, and the way his character develops from brash YouTuber to serious businessman added to the enjoyment.

A great story, and one I would recommend to all.

I struggled to get into this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed several other books by this author so anticipated the same for this book. Unfortunately it just didn’t grab my attention. The premise of the book had real potential but the characters just passed me by & I got quite bored with the whole thing.
Maybe it was my expectations & preference for certain types of storylines / style of writing rather than anything to do with the book as it was well written so I’m disappointed to be leaving this type of review. It certainly isn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.