Review: The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

My edition: Paperback, published in 2010 by HarperCollins, 420 pages.

Description: Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she's ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and all that a girl could ever wish for. She's always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow. But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever.

Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gatehouse is a world away from Tamara's childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core.

Review:

Unfamiliar with Cecelia Aherns's other novels I wasn't sure what to expect when I got send The Book of Tomorrow for review. The blurb on the back cover certainly sounded fascinating but unfortunately the first few chapters felt pretentious and couldn't get the story going. However I'd strongly urge you to not let that put you off, because it picks up after the third chapter aptly titled "The Beginning Began" (why the author chose against starting the book there I'm not quite sure) and what follows is quite frankly fantastic.

Every family has its secrets and that is certainly the case for that of main character Tamara. After the death of her father she is stuck in a remote house far away from Dublin where she grew up. Tamara starts getting restless and during her explorations of the house and its grounds perhaps finds more than she bargained for. I prefer not to go into detail as I don't want to give anything of the story away, but let's just say you can expect a possibly hunted castle, unforeseen revelations and a touch of magic - which makes The Book of Tomorrow seem just that little bit more enchanting.

It's a truly wonderful read making me want to seek out Cecelia Ahern's other novels!

8/10