This was my first Cecilia Ahern and I was pleasantly surprised.
‘Freckles’, Allegra Bird, is a traffic warden pacing the pavements by day, stuck in rented accommodation at the rear of someone’s garden, one of society’s overlooked misfits. At school she self harmed and her freckled arms bear the scars of her self loathing. She has come to Dublin to meet her Mother who abandoned her as a baby. Carmen is a hairdresser and Allegra is trying to orchestrate their reunion. Allegra is also on a voyage of self discovery - she is told that everyone is the average of the five people they spend the most time with - and she needs to find out her five people.
I listened to this on audiobook. The narrator, Amy McAllister,, narrates the story beautifully, capturing the wide range of vocal characters from the awful Becky, to the wonderful Paddy and the cafe owner. She draws out the humour and pathos adeptly.
I was surprised by this read..I had envisaged Ahern’s writing to be romantic and gentle but this was far more humorous and even earthy at points. The characters are well realised, the plot is an empowering story of a misfit searching out her own way to fit and working out who are the really important people in her life. There are plenty of laughs and this is an uplifting read. In the main I enjoyed the read though at times I found the character of Allegra frustrating, a little over focused on her misfortune and her naivety wasn’t always credible. This detracted a little from my overall experience, but I still found it an enjoyable listen.
With grateful thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Audio for a digital copy of this entertaining read.

I found this audiobook hard to get into at first, and I found it hard to like the main character Allegra, but as time went on, I started to enjoy the book more and more and by the end of the book, I loved Allegra. It was a book that grew on me and I am glad I listened to it.

Allegra, also known as Freckles, is told by a stranger that "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with". This sets Allegra out on a quest to find her perfect five people. She has a life as a parking warden which allows her to meet her estranged Mother, but will they live happily ever after? Allegra's father is protective of her, but he lets her find her own path and he is always there to comfort her. She has other people around her who show her love and want to be close to her, but she does not recognise this while she on her big search.

I enjoyed the story, the characters and the way the book warmed my heart at the end when Allegra finally found what she had been searching for all along.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Loved loved loved this audiobook. It’s such a sweet story about a girl trying I find her place in the world as she just doesn’t completely fit in along with trying to find her mother. When she meets an irate member of the public whilst ticketing his car she is thrown when he tells her the rule of five and becomes fixated on finding her five and what it means for her. This audio is funny and warm and will also make you cry but ultimately makes you realise that the people that matter to you in life are probably closer to you than you realise.

Traffic warden Allegra Bird is informed by an angry motorist one day that she is the average of the five people she spends the most time with - who must therefore all be losers. This (rather lame) insult resonates with her for some reason and sets her on a path to change her "five people" in order to better herself.

More character driven than plot driven, the story follows Allegra's journey of self-discovery as she comes into contact with a vibrant cast of characters while trying to somehow make herself into a better version of herself. It's a likeable story which will have you wondering for yourself who your "five people" are.

I particularly enjoyed the narration of this story - the narrator's voice was very easy to listen to and the different voices of the characters were all very distinct.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. When a stranger utters these words to Allegra Bird, nicknamed Freckles, it turns her highly ordered life upside down. In her current life as a parking warden, she has left her eccentric father and unconventional childhood behind for a bold new life in the city. But a single encounter leads her to ask the question she’s been avoiding for so long: who are the people who made her the way she is? And who are the five people who can shape and determine her future?

This is a wonderful book, the author has done the most amazing job - as expected if you have read her previous work. The book is packed full of emotion and is so relatable to life, you can imagine every situation in real life. The character developments are perfect and some characters you will love and some you will hate - exactly like real life. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

well developed characters , however it took me a while to get into this book, i enjoyed the narration but found it slow. Once i got into the book i enjoyed the humour and romance. a lovely story which leaves a smile on your face

Freckles by Cecilia Ahern

Freckles is the story of one Allgera Bird and how she struggles to fit in. I found the story very relatable as often most of us do feel just not enough, just a bit odd to properly fit in the society. It took around 2 chapters for me to be totally invested in the story. I liked all the bits and pieces of information that seemed very random at the start but by the end of the book made very good sense. I loved that this wasn't a typical romance novel that just focuses on the main the relationship, instead this was one hundred percent Allegra's story and how she learns to accept what she is and just be comfortable in her own skin.

A special mention for the narrator whose voice was very soothing and instantly took me into the world of this story. Loved every minute of listening to this audiobook.

I'd recommend this book to people who want to read a small town story, set in Ireland and who just want to enjoy a good read.

Rating - 3 stars for the story + 1 star for the narrator = 4/5 ⭐

I really enjoyed the way in which this audio book was narrated. I found the characters very relatable. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to netgalley and Cecelia Ahern for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the advanced listening copy of Freckles.


Allegra Bird moves away from her small town to the big smoke with a dream job and a huge secret mission that would change her life forever, if only she had the courage to follow it through.
Although things didn't go exactly to plan, Allegra still makes the best of her new life and is content with her lot. Until she meets someone who changes her perception of her life and the people she surrounds herself with.
That is when her journey really begins. And in true Allegra Bird style, the road is pretty turbulent along the way.
Will she find the courage to do what she really moved to the city for???

I can honestly say listening to the audio version of this book left me in such a better mood. Cecelia Ahern has a great way of writing romance, with a huge slice of humour. It's one of those books that you enjoy every second of and find yourself smiling your way through, with some real laugh out loud moments too.
I think the narrator of the audiobook was absolutely perfect for playing Allegra Bird. Her voice was so lovely to listen to, who doesn't love an Irish accent. But she also managed to get the humour down, she was so funny.
I highly recommend the audio version of Freckles.

This audiobook was very well narrated and as always with Cecilia Ahern was very entertaining and based round a novel and interesting concept. Very enjoyable and made a change from the written word. Perfect listening for when out walking the dogs.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook as I thought the narrator was really good. Allegra’s character was well developed, relatably human and I sensed I really got to know her well and was able to empathise with her journey. It ended up being a deeper and more meaningful read than expected by the title and book cover.
At first, I wasn't too sure about the whole "5 people average" premise, but it actually developed well and made for an interesting story. It actually got stuck with me too for a few days!
Thanks for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I listened to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I love Cecilia Ahern and throught this was a great opportunity to listen to the audiobook

I love an audiobook in the car for journeys or in the background when baking or ironing etc

Really enjoyed this
Loved the narrator and I thought this was great

Highly recommend

Thank you for my advanced copy.
I really enjoyed this audio book. At times I really felt for Allegra and her haphazard way of managing her life.
Ending was slightly predictable but overall 4/5.

Cecelia Aherns books are always a little bit different - a little bit magical. It took me a while to warm to Allegra aka Freckles. This story was both sad but ultimately uplifting. I'm glad she found her 5.

Oh Freckles! I love her! She's a 20-something girl AKA Allegra. She comes from Valentia Island where she's lived with her father all her life, but recently moved to Dublin to find the mother who abandoned her at birth. She works as a parking attendant, and one day she tickets a guy who angrily shouts at her 'You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with'. This sticks with her and she questions who she really is. She begins a journey of self-betterment, or so she thinks.

I listened to the audio version of Freckles and loved the narrator Amy McAlister. I just really enjoy listening to the Irish accent. I had a really soft spot for Freckles. She was really putting herself out there, and feels rejected at every turn. She's such a lonely wee thing and I felt so sorry for her. She just wants to be accepted, and especially by her mother. Well worth reading her story, great book!

Cecelia Ahern has gone from strength to strength in women’s literature in Ireland. If you haven’t read ‘P.S, I Love You’ and you’re Irish, then you must have been living under a rock.. joking.. but all jokes aside, as a female Irish author, she has been hitting the best sellers list for quite a while now.

That’s why I’m disappointed to say I didn’t fall in love with ‘Freckles’ as much as I thought I would. I’m not sure exactly why but it didn’t give me that Ahern ‘glow’ that most of her books do. You know when you get that fuzzy feeling at the end where you’re either at the sentimental crying stage or just ‘aahhhh’ing. I think it was the lack of definite storyline and also the main character Allegra was somewhat difficult to like in my opinion.

The story surrounds Allegra Bird. Having recently moved to Dublin from Valentina Island, Allegra is working as a traffic warden in a wealthy suburb. Tracing the freckles on her arms, Allegra is looking for connections, from those around her and from a mother who abandoned her as a child. Mid way through the story, the main theme of the book kicks in and that is that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Faced with this, Allegra realises that maybe her five people are not who they once were and new paths in life may lead her to new beginnings.

Whilst I liked parts of the novel, mainly her relationship with Tristan, others grated on me, predominately her personality, which came across as quite annoying. I felt Ahern was brave tackling the storyline of an abandoned daughter and I’m glad to say she didn’t sugar coat it at the end. I really wish I liked ‘Freckles’ more but it just wasn’t for me this time.

3⭐️

Kind thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the audiobook.

I really enjoyed this audiobook!
I am a huge Cecelia Ahern fan and I was so excited to receive this through NetGalley. She is a writer who I will buy without even looking at the blurb, and she writes characters that are SO unique and special, they feel like friends (maybe 1 of my 5 people?!)
It was a fascinating premise, which centred around the idea 'you are the average of the 5 people you spend most time with', and this made me think a lot about my own life- the main strength of Cecelia's writing.
Allegra/ Freckles was a wonderful character, whose activities really took me by surprise, and her layers were gradually peeled away with every chapter.
The narrator was excellent, she managed to convey the humour and poignancy in the book superbly well.
A really great read, though doesn't overtake 'Where Rainbows End' for my favourite Ahern book.

The story
Allegra Bird (or Freckles) is a parking warden in a suburb of Dublin. She comes from a small island where she left her beloved father Pops and best friends six months ago. As the quirky Freckles narrates her story, you realise she is on the edge of normal. She lives a small life of routine while enforcing the very many parking rules religiously. But as the story develops so does Freckles. A turning point for her is when she is told by an angry yellow Ferrari owner that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Freckles is upset by this and struggles with who her five are. They don’t seem to be the same people they were before she moved to Dublin. At a point in the book she believes that her father is the only one.

My thoughts
The narrator of this audiobook (Amy McAllister) has a beautiful Irish voice that feels right for the part. I have read a few of Cecelia Ahern’s books in the past and enjoyed them. I so enjoyed the development of Freckles’ character as the story develops. Her loyalty, honesty and how she follows her heart doing what is right was so endearing. I loved the ending which was really heartwarming and what I was hoping for all along ❤️🐦🖼

In a Nutshell: This was a very nice read, better than I had expected. Kinda slow, but with memorable lead characters.

Story:
Allegra Bird has been a misfit all her life. Her Spanish mother abandoned her at birth but her father raised her up the best he could. After spending all her life at Valentia Island, she now works as a parking warden in Dublin, with a secret agenda in mind and a rigid schedule on hand. However, when a stranger gets into a tussle with her over a parking ticket, he yells at her, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”, implying that her five people must be losers just like she is. This gets Allegra thinking, and she determines to overhaul her ways and get the five RIGHT people into her life.
The story comes to us in first person from Allegra’s point of view.

I’m not a Cecelia Ahern fan. I have read only one book of hers—PS I Love You—and I wasn’t as impressed with it as the rest of the readers seem to be. I opted for this book mainly for two reasons: I wanted to give her another try, and I found the cover cute! No regrets, because the book did click with me.

Where the story worked for me:
• First things first. Why “Freckles”? It sounds like a very light-hearted title for this emotional story, but it actually fits wonderfully. The first reference is to Allegra herself, who has inherited her father’s freckles and is hence nicknamed “Freckles” by her school mates. The title is thus eponymous. But it also stands as a metaphor for the way Allegra tries to find connections with the people in her life, just as she attempted to connect the freckles on her arms in the shape of the constellations during her younger years.
• For a change, the characters were portrayed as per their age. Allegra acted like a twenty-four year old, unsure and underconfident, yet wanting to be an independent adult, gushing over the Garda as it was her lifelong dream to become one, ready to do whatever it takes to turn her life around, even if it involves some questionable decisions. She was a wonderful lead character who knows how to help others but doesn’t know how to help herself. Her character growth is depicted well and quite realistically. She doesn’t stop making mistakes right till the end, but her acceptance of herself, flaws and all, is the differentiating factor. The stranger who shouts at her is also a key character in the book and he is written well too, very true to life.
• I loved how the author used the city of Dublin in Allegra’s narrative. So many books mention the names the story is set in but they hardly go beyond mentioning a couple of local sights. This book doesn’t provide the touristy version; rather, it gives a resident’s view into the functioning of the city. I enjoyed that authentic sound. (Author Cecelia Ahern’s being Irish helps, of course.)
• In spite of looking and sounding like a chick lit (because of the cover and title respectively), the book is quite reflective. When Allegra starts brooding over the five people, you actually feel for her. As it is a famous quote by Jim Rohn and not just something made up for the book, you will definitely mull over its accuracy and wonder how it applies in your life. Thus there is a thoughtful undertone to this seemingly light story.
• <spoiler>While the book is predictable to a great extent (which women’s fiction isn’t?), I admired how it didn’t succumb to the romance trope. “Boy and girl means boy falls in love with girl and vice versa”. Not in this book, no. I found that very refreshing.</spoiler>


Where the story could have worked better for me:
• It was very slow. While I understand why it was so many pages long (evaluating the five people that exist in your life and the ones you want in your life can’t be a quick process), I imagine it would be tedious to go through the dead end characters while actually reading. Having the audiobook helped me tremendously.
• Some of the side tracks are left incomplete. While this doesn’t impact Allegra’s narrative much, I would have liked to know more about those subplots. Of course, I appreciate this decision partly too because not everything in life is sorted out at once. So in a way, this works for the book too. Because we know that there are still things that Allegra needs to handle and yet, she has found her peace with herself at the end. So this is in the ‘mixed feelings’ category and not much of a negative point.

The audiobook experience:
The 10 hour long audiobook is narrated by Amy McAllister and she is fabulous. She brings not just Allegra to life but imbibes all characters with appropriate emotions. Her accent, her enunciation, her moods... all match the character she was voicing. Because of the relatively slow pace of the book, I think it ought to work much better as an audiobook.

All in all, this is like a YA coming-of-age story and it will click with you if you are in the mood for a slow burn, sensible, contemporary fiction with likeable yet vulnerable leads. If possible, go for the audiobook because it sure worked delightfully for this story.

Thank you, HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another fantastic book by Cecilia Ahern

In this book we meet Allegra Bird. Allegra is A traffic warden who loves her job, until 1 day an angry stranger utters the words “ You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with” as an insult following his parking ticket.
These words form a brain worm in Allegra’s mind and she struggles to think of who her 5 are.
We find out what brings her to the place she is now and walk with her as she struggles to find her 5.
Allegra was brought up by her single father and has yet to meet her mother, she is socially awkward and finds it difficult to make friends.
We feel her pain as things don’t always work out how she thinks they will.
Cecilia has written this character so well it is hard not to like her or feel a connection with her.
The narrator has done a fantastic job and made me feel like I was listening to Allegra herself as I was listening to this audio book

Highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title