Member Reviews

I have enjoyed many previous novels by Cecilia Ahern so I was very excited to be given the opportunity by Net Galley and the publisher to read this latest one in advance of its publication.
It didn’t disappoint and I found it well written with characters that I cared about. It was sad in parts but I couldn’t put it down and throughly enjoyed it.

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This is only the second Cecelia Ahern book I've read but she's an auto buy author for my mum, so I thought I'd give this book a go.

I went into this not really knowing what to expect but I thought the concept sounded interesting. I found this really easy to read, I flew through it. However, there were moments where I was confused but now that I think about it, that might have been intentional since Enya is scatty and unreliable. I really enjoyed the Irish lore woven through this. I also loved the female dynamic and the conversation around getting to the age your parents where when they died. Its something I've spoken about in real life but not something I've read about before.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this and I'll be buying it for my mum when its released.

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Good enough to not dnr but I'm not sure if I would recommend. Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors - some of her stories are just fun others a little bit outlandish and then others that are thought provoking. I'm not sure where to categorise this one. It's about a mothers love and a mothers death. The impact they have on the individual and those around them. It's well written and the characters are all well developed apart from one. The husband. He was just so annoying.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC.
I'd like to give this a 3.5

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Margaret was the best character in this book
I loved the beginning and the end but got a little bored in the middle and never really wanted to pick the book up while reading the middle part
Such a shame as I’ve loved this authors other books

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Book Review: Into the Storm

I recently finished Into the Storm by Cecelia Ahern, and I can confidently say it’s one of those rare books that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Ahern’s storytelling is immersive and poignant, and this novel showcases her talent beautifully.

The story follows GP Enya, who finds herself at a pivotal moment during a wild December night while performing CPR on a teenage boy. This traumatic event becomes a catalyst for Enya, forcing her to confront her stagnant life and loveless marriage. I felt her desperation and determination so acutely; it was impossible not to root for her.

As she seeks refuge in a remote country town, I was drawn into her journey of self-discovery and healing. Ahern's depiction of Enya's emotional struggles is powerful and relatable, making me reflect on my own life choices and the courage it takes to change them. The symbolism of the ancient tree, a silent witness to countless stories, resonated deeply with me and served as a beautiful metaphor for growth and resilience.

Ahern's characters are undeniably flawed, yet incredibly magnetic. Enya’s vulnerability and strength are portrayed with such nuance that I felt a genuine connection to her. The supporting characters are equally compelling, each bringing their own depth to the narrative.

The book balances tension and introspection perfectly. While I was invested in the mystery of Enya's past, the emotional weight of her journey kept me turning pages late into the night.

Overall, Into the Storm is a masterful blend of emotional depth and gripping storytelling. It’s a book that not only entertained me but also left me reflecting on its themes long after I turned the last page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt and thought-provoking read.

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I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book. I have read all her books. I found this book very deep. I struggled with the middle section but kept going..it gives a good insight into the Celtic pagen rites to do with our seasons.

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I am a massive fan of Cecelia Ahern and was elated to receive an ARC of Into the Storm in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book although at times I struggled with Enya's character. Its very immersive and I felt myself transported to rural Ireland. It was a little slow in parts but overall a good read with a great twist.

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I have read this ARC with a view to providing a review
All opinions and thoughts are my own

Love love love this author and was soooo excited to read this

Loved it

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Set in contemporary Ireland, this is a book about family, loyalty, loss, and finding yourself.
Starting on a dark country lane in the pouring rain, the atmosphere for the novel is set. The tension builds and the story is twisty and dark.
If you like a gripping domestic thriller with relatable characters,and to be kept guessing until the end, this is for you.
I liked the inclusion of Enya's late mum's newspaper columns, with details of interesting Irish pagan mythology and rituals. A quirky addition which added depth and gravitas.

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This I found was quite a deep story with many twists along the way. A slow burner but the storyline kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

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First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

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I found this to be very bleak with little to uplift it. I found the main character irritating at times. It is an impactful story though. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the first book by Cecelia Ahern iv read and to be honest I found it a bit of a struggle. I found it slow and very repetitive, maybe it’s just the way I’m feeling just now but it just got too deep for me at times and I didn’t particularly like any of the characters except Margaret maybe. In saying that I think I’d still try some of Celia’s other books which have had great reviews. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this early copy.

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This is a funny one to review because do you know when a book was good and you can see the appeal and you know that others will love it but it just wasn’t for you?

I felt like it was the kind of story line that is very overdone and comfortable and when I was reading it I had that sense of de ja vu. Like I’d read the book before/watched the movie.

All in all it was a good read and I think a lot of people will really enjoy it but personally it felt a bit outdated.

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An interesting story however I just couldn’t get behind any of the characters and found the plot slow and repetitive. It was quite obvious what had happened so the twists and turns in the plot didn’t come as a surprise. It was decidedly creepy in places and stories of the rag tree and various people turning up out of the blue to attach their own memories to the tree I found quite chilling.

A dark, twisty story covering a number of issues- medical malpractice, drink driving, adultery, mental breakdown , superstition and parent/child relationships

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest recipe

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Just a simple twist of fate and then.....
Cecilia Ahearn is a successful author who has written around twenty books. I had not read any of these books, as they are not in the genres that I usually read. I had a go at this one thanks to NetGalley, and I'm glad that I did.
Doctor Enya runs a thriving GP practice with her husband. She is discontented and this situation is worsened because her teenage son is distancing himself from her.. whilst driving her car in a torrential storm, she if flagged down by a taxi driver who has spotted an injured pedestrian. She stops to help and from this simple act her whole life begins to disintegrate.
The story is set in modern day Ireland but there are lots of reflections of the island's pre Christianity Pagan past..
This is an easy to read book that builds steadily in intensity throughout, with many twists and turns. All the main characters have some sort of psychological issues.
The build up culminates in a surprising and shocking conclusion.
It's well worth reading

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The characters in this book are so believable, relatable and mostly likeable. Beautifully written, with a smattering of Irish charm.

Dr Enya Pickering is a complex character but I found myself routing for her in many ways.
Really good read and kept me guessing and doubting myself all the way through.

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I'm thankful for the access forward the ARC provided by Harper Collins and NetGalley. Cecelia's work is always a favorite of mine, and I can't wait to delve into the story of Dr. Enya Pickering and the stormy night that changes her life. The character development is intriguing, but overall, I'm eager to see if the book exceeds my expectations. I'm sure fans of the author will find this an enjoyable read.

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The blurb was really interesting but overall the story felt a bit flat. I didn't manage to get attach to any character and so, I didn't care what happened to any of them in the end. The writing style was good, but the way characters behaved made me lose interest in the story.

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3.5

I have a chequered relationship with Cecilia Ahern's novels. Some, like her last, I really enjoyed and while Into The Storm isn't as bad as PS I Love You, it's not her best.

Enya Pickering is a GP, married to Alexander (Xander) and a son, Finn. One night she excuses herself from a dinner party to meet her lover but as she races home after the rendezvous she comes upon the scene of an accident. A young man lies, badly injured, in the road and a cabbie has flagged her down. She saves the boy's life but this episode sets off a chain of events that leads Enya farvfron her home, leaving her husband and son, to take over a practice desperate for a doctor.

But as she settles into her work she is hounded out of a peaceful existence by her own thoughts, the ongoing investigation into the accident, her husband, her lover, the cabbie and the presence of a rag tree in the garden of her rented home. All is certainly not as it seems in Abbeydooley or, indeed, in Enya's life.

The book is an easy enough read but Enya is quite unlikeable as a character. She is narcissistic and, for me, her "woe is me" attitude got on my nerves after a while. In fact the only character I did like was the straightforward Margaret who lives in the flat over the surgery.

There are several twists and turns but it was obvious to me quite early on what had happened. Still it was worth the read even if I did get annoyed with Enya quite a lot.

It does deal with some very weighty subjects including hit and run, drinking and driving, adultery and medical malpractice.

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