Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This was such a good read, it was full of suspense until the very end. I really liked the ending and the character development of Tamara throughout the book. I was so invested in the characters and this story. This book is so underrated and it would have been a great book to turn into a movie although I don't think this will happen sadly enough..
I liked it, I did. I love mysteries and this one was a good one to wrap my head around. I didn't like the unnecessary second love interest just to show that she was young. Or maybe you count the other guy as unnecessary, so maybe just someone to save her. Either way two guys was not required for "somewhere that hardly has any people in it" but suddenly has two hot guys.
The first few chapters annoyed me, I know she warns the reader that she is rude but god, nothing seemed to happen at the start but her be rude and everyone just odd around her. It almost put me off.
The mystery kept me coming back.
The first few chapters annoyed me, I know she warns the reader that she is rude but god, nothing seemed to happen at the start but her be rude and everyone just odd around her. It almost put me off.
The mystery kept me coming back.
Cecelia Ahern's books always baffle me when it comes to labeling them under genres. At first glance you'd think it's a contemporary, but then you realize, there's a bit of magic in her stories. There's a dash of magic, just enough that sometimes it feels like it could actually happen in reality. I feel like Ahern mastered the art of Magical realism long before the genre actually came into YA.
The story is from the perspective of 16 year old Tamara Goodwin who before her father's death was a spoilt, pampered, unkind and absolutely unlikable brat but that starts to change after her father takes his own life. She is rude, swears a LOT, has a unhealthy outlook about boys and sex and the farthest from a model character most of the time. And I say 'starts to change', because I found certain things about Tamara unlikable even when there were only 50 pages left in the book, which is fair, because most people take a long while to change. After her father's death, Tamara and her mother realize he was neck deep in debts and now they don't have a place to live. The actual story starts when they go to live with her aunt and uncle in the countryside.
For me the most favourite thing about this book was how thoughtful it made me. The story moves slowly, with Tamara's thoughts filling many pages. Generally I like the story to happen but here I really enjoyed reading those slow parts with characters' thoughts that made me think myself. This is something I've always loved about Cecelia Ahern's books. There is always something inspirational to take away from the book besides the plot and story.
As you probably realized from the title, this book is about a book. Tamara happens to chance upon the Book of tomorrow where she find diary entries of the next day in her handwriting, which is to say the book tells her what's going to happen the next day. At first Tamara thinks its a trick but when she sees the diary is always right, she realizes with the help of the book she could change the course of events.
Tamara and her book are set against a backdrop of family secrets. Tamara has tons of questions about her aunt and uncle; why her aunt doesn't seem to like them, who lives in the mansion, what are the people of the village hiding from her and so many more questions whose intrigue grows with every day. Now this part of the story, the 'mystery' while intriguing, wasn't a favorite of mine and probably the reason I knocked off a star. That particular plotline developed a little late and felt kind of rushed towards the end which is not something I expected in an Ahern book because generally the pacing in her stories are perfect.
Sister Ignatius was my favourite character in the whole book and probably the only character I truly liked. I looked forward to the conversations between her and Tamara even more than Tamara! I also loved the little nuggets of wisdom from Sister Ignatius.
I also adored the setting of the countryside with an abandoned castle, pretty gardens and gatehouses. It made the experience so whimsical and blurred the lines between reality and magic. Cecelia Ahern has a gift when it comes to vivid descriptions that spark extremely vivid imagery in readers' minds.
If you're looking for a whimsical tale with secrets, mysteries and a touch of spookiness, The Book of Tomorrow is a perfect candidate.
“They say a story loses something with each telling. If that is the case, this story has lost nothing, for it’s the first time it’s been told.”
The story is from the perspective of 16 year old Tamara Goodwin who before her father's death was a spoilt, pampered, unkind and absolutely unlikable brat but that starts to change after her father takes his own life. She is rude, swears a LOT, has a unhealthy outlook about boys and sex and the farthest from a model character most of the time. And I say 'starts to change', because I found certain things about Tamara unlikable even when there were only 50 pages left in the book, which is fair, because most people take a long while to change. After her father's death, Tamara and her mother realize he was neck deep in debts and now they don't have a place to live. The actual story starts when they go to live with her aunt and uncle in the countryside.
“I used to think that it was better to have too much than too little, but now I think if the too much was never supposed to be yours, you should just take what is yours and give the rest back.”
For me the most favourite thing about this book was how thoughtful it made me. The story moves slowly, with Tamara's thoughts filling many pages. Generally I like the story to happen but here I really enjoyed reading those slow parts with characters' thoughts that made me think myself. This is something I've always loved about Cecelia Ahern's books. There is always something inspirational to take away from the book besides the plot and story.
“Hope makes you stronger, because it brings with it a sense of reason. Not a reason of how or why they were taken away from you, but a reason to live. Because it's a maybe. A 'maybe someday things won't always be this shit. And that 'maybe' immediately makes the shittiness better.”
As you probably realized from the title, this book is about a book. Tamara happens to chance upon the Book of tomorrow where she find diary entries of the next day in her handwriting, which is to say the book tells her what's going to happen the next day. At first Tamara thinks its a trick but when she sees the diary is always right, she realizes with the help of the book she could change the course of events.
“You shouldn't try to stop everything from happening. Sometimes you're supposed to feel awkward. Sometimes you're supposed to be vulnerable in front of people. Sometimes it's necessary because it's all part of you getting to the next part of yourself, the next day.”
Tamara and her book are set against a backdrop of family secrets. Tamara has tons of questions about her aunt and uncle; why her aunt doesn't seem to like them, who lives in the mansion, what are the people of the village hiding from her and so many more questions whose intrigue grows with every day. Now this part of the story, the 'mystery' while intriguing, wasn't a favorite of mine and probably the reason I knocked off a star. That particular plotline developed a little late and felt kind of rushed towards the end which is not something I expected in an Ahern book because generally the pacing in her stories are perfect.
Sister Ignatius was my favourite character in the whole book and probably the only character I truly liked. I looked forward to the conversations between her and Tamara even more than Tamara! I also loved the little nuggets of wisdom from Sister Ignatius.
“Write what's up there." Sister Ignatius pointed at her temple. "As a great man once said, this is a secret garden. We've all got one of those."
"Jesus?"
"No, Bruce Springsteen.”
I also adored the setting of the countryside with an abandoned castle, pretty gardens and gatehouses. It made the experience so whimsical and blurred the lines between reality and magic. Cecelia Ahern has a gift when it comes to vivid descriptions that spark extremely vivid imagery in readers' minds.
“Like Rosaleen and Arthur's house, this had the feel of generations of people who had lived there before, families that had grown up, run and shouted through the hallways, broken things, grown things, fallen in love. Instead of the occupants owning the house, the house owned a part of each of them.”
If you're looking for a whimsical tale with secrets, mysteries and a touch of spookiness, The Book of Tomorrow is a perfect candidate.
This review was originally published on Cozy Up With A Good Read
So anytime I see a book with the name Cecelia Ahern on it, I automatically pick it up and bring it home with me. Ever since randomly finding PS, I Love You in my library one day, Cecilia Ahern has become my favourite author, she has such a magical way of bringing me into her stories and the worlds she creates are always so magical. I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this book, a girl who has found herself in the middle of the country with nothing to do after such a devastating event suddenly finds this gorgeous book that is locked. What she finds inside the pages of this book changes her life in a large way. Tamara is used to focusing on the now, she will fight to get what she wants right at that moment and doesn't think about how her future will be affected (I am completely the opposite, I always worry about my future... maybe a little too much). This book she finds really teaches her about looking to the future and thinking about how her actions will have an effect on that.
This book was a lot different from many of Ahern's other books, and it really surprised me. I had a lot of trouble getting into this book, the narrator (Tamara herself) was a very difficult character to connect with. She didn't have a care in the world, she was selfish and just obnoxious a lot of the time. There were actually a few times I was thinking of putting this book aside for another book, but I trudged through (mainly because it is a Cecelia Ahern book). But I will say I grew to understand Tamara as I followed her story, and then came to really wonder what would happen next in the book.
What really took me by surprise was the dark turn this story took, I'm used to Ahern's stories being somewhat on the lighter side and this story is definitely different from that. This story takes you for a ride, there are so many twists that I was completely taken aback by the end of the book, and I found that the story redeemed itself with everything that happens. I was really surprised at this book and I think Ahern actually made me think more about looking at how every little thing can affect the future.
I also have to mention one of the quotes at the end of the book that really made me go back and read it again: "I think that most people go into bookshops and have no idea what they want to buy. Somehow, the books sit there, almost magically willing people to pick them up. The right person for the right book. It's as though they already know who's life they need to be a part of, how they can make a difference, how they can teach a lesson, put a smile on a face at just the right time." (pg. 417-8)
I love how books become a character themselves in this quote and I completely agree with this, I think the book chooses the person and can really touch their lives. Even though this book wasn't one of my favourites of Cecelia Ahern's, it still solidifies my love of her as an author and I know I will continue picking up anything that she writes.
So anytime I see a book with the name Cecelia Ahern on it, I automatically pick it up and bring it home with me. Ever since randomly finding PS, I Love You in my library one day, Cecilia Ahern has become my favourite author, she has such a magical way of bringing me into her stories and the worlds she creates are always so magical. I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this book, a girl who has found herself in the middle of the country with nothing to do after such a devastating event suddenly finds this gorgeous book that is locked. What she finds inside the pages of this book changes her life in a large way. Tamara is used to focusing on the now, she will fight to get what she wants right at that moment and doesn't think about how her future will be affected (I am completely the opposite, I always worry about my future... maybe a little too much). This book she finds really teaches her about looking to the future and thinking about how her actions will have an effect on that.
This book was a lot different from many of Ahern's other books, and it really surprised me. I had a lot of trouble getting into this book, the narrator (Tamara herself) was a very difficult character to connect with. She didn't have a care in the world, she was selfish and just obnoxious a lot of the time. There were actually a few times I was thinking of putting this book aside for another book, but I trudged through (mainly because it is a Cecelia Ahern book). But I will say I grew to understand Tamara as I followed her story, and then came to really wonder what would happen next in the book.
What really took me by surprise was the dark turn this story took, I'm used to Ahern's stories being somewhat on the lighter side and this story is definitely different from that. This story takes you for a ride, there are so many twists that I was completely taken aback by the end of the book, and I found that the story redeemed itself with everything that happens. I was really surprised at this book and I think Ahern actually made me think more about looking at how every little thing can affect the future.
I also have to mention one of the quotes at the end of the book that really made me go back and read it again: "I think that most people go into bookshops and have no idea what they want to buy. Somehow, the books sit there, almost magically willing people to pick them up. The right person for the right book. It's as though they already know who's life they need to be a part of, how they can make a difference, how they can teach a lesson, put a smile on a face at just the right time." (pg. 417-8)
I love how books become a character themselves in this quote and I completely agree with this, I think the book chooses the person and can really touch their lives. Even though this book wasn't one of my favourites of Cecelia Ahern's, it still solidifies my love of her as an author and I know I will continue picking up anything that she writes.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of the best books ever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
A book about life, death, and how those things make us feel. Beautiful, and heartwarming.
This was a good summer read: light, easy, entertaining. I really liked that the gothic feel of the novel (very reminiscent of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier) was contrasted by the snarky, snotty voice of a rebellious but witty teen. I liked her transformation over time, and found it very believable, I pretty much guessed the secret, but that was OK--I enjoyed seeing it unravel in the book.
Tamara Goodwin's father is dead. She and her mother have lost everything and must move to the country to live with her aunt and uncle. While Tamara's mother spends her days wallowing in her grief, Tamara is left alone to move on. Then a traveling library arrives in town and Tamara discovers a diary that tells of her tomorrows. If she can learn from her future, maybe she can change it as well.
Love it! Not at all what I was expecting. Ahern can always be relied upon to deliver a great story.
Love it! Not at all what I was expecting. Ahern can always be relied upon to deliver a great story.
2.5 stars.
Meh, yeah, it was fairly sweet, a girl trying to get passed her grief, discovering secrets about her family..
The characters were okay, Tamara does show signs of growing, even from the start. She knows she's a spoiled kid, and tries to change. This didn't feel real to me, a teenager who's supposedly so rebel, doesn't question herself that much.
Other than that, it was okay. Okay being the best word to describe the entire story, plot and characters.
But it was nothing memorable. It's just the kind of book you read and will have completely forgotten in two weeks.
Meh, yeah, it was fairly sweet, a girl trying to get passed her grief, discovering secrets about her family..
The characters were okay, Tamara does show signs of growing, even from the start. She knows she's a spoiled kid, and tries to change. This didn't feel real to me, a teenager who's supposedly so rebel, doesn't question herself that much.
Other than that, it was okay. Okay being the best word to describe the entire story, plot and characters.
But it was nothing memorable. It's just the kind of book you read and will have completely forgotten in two weeks.
A nice read but nothing special.
I think the writing is okay but she won't be my favourite author.
The story was not that interesting and I was bored while reading it a few times. But still it was nice and there are some unexpected things so yep, you can read it if you have it lying around and nothing else ;)
I think the writing is okay but she won't be my favourite author.
The story was not that interesting and I was bored while reading it a few times. But still it was nice and there are some unexpected things so yep, you can read it if you have it lying around and nothing else ;)