Five chances.
One woman’s search for happiness.
Allegra Bird’s arms are scattered with freckles, a gift from her beloved father. But despite her nickname, Freckles has never been able to join all the dots. So when a stranger tells her that everyone is the average of the five people they spend the most time with, it opens up something deep inside.
The trouble is, Freckles doesn’t know if she has five people. And if not, what does that say about her? She’s left her unconventional father and her friends behind for a bold new life in Dublin, but she’s still an outsider.
Now, in a quest to understand, she must find not one but five people who shape her – and who will determine her future.
Told in Allegra’s vivid, original voice, moving from modern Dublin to the fierce Atlantic coast, this is an unforgettable story of human connection, of friendship, and of growing into your own skin.
My thoughts
You know when you read a story and you become so invested in it you actually feel bereft when you read that final word? Well that is exactly how I felt when I finished Freckles.
Allegra Bird AKA Freckles is a character that had a little place in my heart from the very beginning. She’s flawed, she’s definitely an over thinker, she has a touch of ocd when it comes to time keeping and routine but she’s real, she’s the type of character that I think everyone could resonate with in one way or another.
I myself, maybe not anywhere near as bad as Freckles like a routine and I really feel off kilter when that routine is broken like Freckles. I find myself being a bit of an over thinker too and I don’t have a big circle of friends, I maybe found more in common with Freckles than I thought.
During an altercation over a parking ticket Freckles is told that everyone is the average of the five people they spend the most time with and this sets Freckles on a journey. Her Pops is her number one but what of the other four, she begins to really contemplate and stress over who they could be or who she’d like them to be.
As I followed this story I couldn’t helping feeling so protective of Freckles, she has such a vulnerability to her and although she could be quite frustrating at times I wanted her to work things out and find a happiness.
I laughed, I cringed and I had a hefty lump in my throat at times but this is such a fantastic story, with some fantastic characters and it really had me thinking so many times.
Beautifully written, Freckles is an outstanding story that I just wanted to devour. I couldn’t help thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and although I wanted to whizz through the story I also wanted to take my time and savour every word. It’s one of those kinds of books.
Although I’m sad it’s over it’s an uplifting story that left me smiling and one that I will highly, highly recommend.
Biggest of thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Harper Fiction for the tour invite and copy of the book. This is my honest review.
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