Sunday 20 August 2017

All That She Can See - Carrie Hope Fletcher

I've always made it obvious on this blog how much I like Carrie Hope Fletcher. I think she's one unbelievably talented performer. She’s written numerous books in the past but although I've enjoyed reading them none of them have really made me blabber on to people uncontrollably about this amazing book I've read, that is until now. 
 
Carrie Hope Fletcher's new novel All That She Can See tells the story of Cherry. Cherry has somewhat magical powers in the respect she has the ability to physically see people's worst feelings floating around them. Cherry decides to take it upon herself to try improving people's lives and bakes cakes in order to reduce people's bad feelings. She’ll see that a person is feeling stressed for example and will bake them a specially baked cake to help them reduce that feeling. Once Cherry feels as though her job is done she’ll move to a new place in order to help improve as many people’s lives as she possibly can. Little does she know that other people are born with the same gift (although some in different ways to her own) and this knowledge will change her life forever.
 
For me, this book makes me think of Northern Lights by Philip Pullman except daemons are in the form of feelings. I don't think this is a bad thing as I think the concept of seeing feelings is absolutely wonderful and the story is completely different I could just draw similarities at certain points whilst reading. If like me, you grew up reading books like Northern Lights, you will absolutely love All That She Can See.

It’s worth mentioning that this story is a little different to Fletcher’s previous fiction novel in the sense that it is less romance orientated and provides a lot more action in the second half. Yes, romance does feature throughout but the second half of the book is very action packed with a couple of quite violent scenes. However, what still remains is the author’s ability to write such unique, likable characters proven in this case through the main character Cherry. I also really love the way in which the author writes an element of magic into real life which comes across as something you can completely imagine happening in real life which only adds to the likability of this story.

I did find the story to be somewhat paced too face at times. At points when reading I felt that things escalated quickly, particularly in the second half of the book, but ultimately it is a relatively long book already so I can completely understand the quick movement of the story. However, I personally would’ve been happy with a few more chapters.
 

In my opinion this is the author’s best novel so far and I for one am very excited to see what story she comes up with next. The idea of seeing feelings and the fact the main character so actively wants to make use of that gift is such a great idea for a story. Carrie Hope Fletcher’s imagination is fantastic and portrayed so wonderfully in this novel. I highly recommend picking up All That She Can See as the next book you read.
Synopsis – 
Feelings are part of life - feelings are life. If you take away what people feel, you take away anything meaningful. Wanting to diminish the evil in this world is a good cause, one I have fought for the majority of my life, but not like this . . .

Cherry has a hidden talent. She can see things other people can't and she decided a long time ago to use this skill to help others. As far as the rest of the town is concerned she's simply the kind-hearted young woman who runs the local bakery, but in private she uses her gift to add something special to her cakes so that after just one mouthful the townspeople start to feel better about their lives. They don't know why they're drawn to Cherry's bakery - they just know that they're safe there and that's how Cherry likes it. She can help them in secret and no one will ever need to know the truth behind her gift.

And then Chase arrives in town and threatens to undo all the good Cherry has done. Because it turns out she's not the only one who can see what she sees . . .

A story of love, food and a little bit of magic, All That She Can See is an enchanting and beautiful novel that's guaranteed to be the most magical story you'll read all year.

Saturday 12 August 2017

I'm Back!

Hello! Bonjour! Hola! Remember me...? Yes I know, my blog has been extremely neglected (massive understatement...) this year. I had a bad start to the year and since then motivation to read and write has been non existent. I haven't even picked my kindle up for months because I just couldn't being myself to read which is the most bizarre thing coming from Miss I can read 5 books in a week. The blogger app had been discontinued on my phone too, which I think I was using as some what of an excuse not to write which didn't help either. But that's it, enough with the excuses!


However last week I attended Summer In The City in London. Summer In The City is the UKs largest YouTube event and to be honest it completely inspired me. I met a number of YouTubers including two of my favourites, travel vlogger Evan Edinger and amazingly talented artist Jamie Jo who is also known as bananajamana. I just walked round the day that I attended thinking that I could do this. I have a pretty swish camera, why couldn't I do this? And in reality although lots of people on YouTube are incredible artists or musicians etc lots of them are people just like me who just want a creative outlet and enjoy producing videos. It really made me stop and think that yes, maybe I could do this.


So here I am, back on my blog feeling very inspired to start writing again. If there's one thing that hit me whilst attending Summer In The City is that I could do these things and the only reason that I'm not is myself. Opportunities aren't going to come knocking at my door and I need to start making more for myself. Here's to a new start on my blog - hopefully I'll be back for a long time now!