A fantastic girly read (Where Rainbows End - Cecelia Ahern)

Member Name: pink_glitter

Product:	Where Rainbows End - Cecelia Ahern
Date:	08/07/09 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: couldn't put it down, great characters, easy to read

Disadvantages: none

I have been meaning to read some of Cecilia Ahern's books for ages, having read lots of reviews of them on here, and seen lots of publicity around her, especially when PS, I love you was made into a film. When I saw a couple of her books in a charity shop recently I snapped them up, and recently read the first of the two, Where Rainbows end.

~The Story~

Rosie and Alex have known each other since they were five years old when they became best friends. They've stuck together through thick and thin, but are separated when aged 17 Alex's parents announce they are leaving Ireland and moving to Boston where his dad has taken a new job.

They are both devastated and despite their efforts to convince Alex's parents to let him stay, he leaves. The two best friends stay in touch and the next year Rosie applies to college in Boston and is thrilled to be accepted, so that she will be near to her best friend again. On the night of the end of school ball, Alex is due to fly back to Ireland to accompany Rosie there, but misses his flight, so she ends up going with a guy called Brian, who she doesn't particularly like. She ends up getting drunk and sleeping with him, and soon discovers she is pregnant.

Obviously getting pregnant at 18 was not part of Rosie's plan and now she has to stay in Ireland to bring up her baby, abandoning her dreams of going to Boston. Alex and Rosie stay in touch, and visit each other regularly, but can their friendship survive over the years? And what about Rosie's feeling that they were always destined to be more than just friends?

~What I thought~

The novel is written as a series of letters, emails and instant messages. I've read a novel written in this format before - Lucy Talk by Fiona Walker - and like that one, I found this very quick and easy to read. You might think a book written in this format would be confusing, but it wasn't at all, and this was another book I finished within two days - fantastic for me, as I have such a short attention span!

I adored the character of Rosie, she was so down to earth and normal, and even though she felt down at times, and had lots of reasons to feel that way, on the whole she just ploughed on through, getting on with things for the sake of her daughter.

The character of Alex was also very well written, and he was a fantastic chick-lit hero - and sounded like the kind of man who every woman needs in her life. One who will drop everything and fly half way round the world to be with you if you needed him.

I should also give a mention to Ruby, a friend of Rosie's who only really comes into the book about halfway through, but one that I loved, and who reminded me of so many women I have known in my life. It shows how good an author Cecilia Ahern is that she can write her characters so well, and make you want to be friends with them!

The story was fast paced and as it pretty much covered Rosie's entire lifetime it was full of twists and turns, and I was gripped from start to finish.

For me this book had everything, the romance, the sadness and heartbreak as well as the laugh out loud moments. If you like your girly chick lit, this is definitely one worth reading!

Summary: A fantastic story