Cecelia Ahern’s The Book Of Tomorrow
Where I stopped: Page 151
Having read (and enjoyed) Cecelia Ahern’s Where Rainbows End years ago, I was looking forward to reading this story of a spoiled teen’s conversion to a quieter life after her father’s death. Not long after arriving with her grief-stricken mother to her aunt and uncle’s house in the Irish countryside, Tamara discovers a journal written in her own handwriting — and detailing the events of the following day. Day after day. Shocked out of her mind when her diary’s “predictions” begin to come true, Tamara struggles to find out why she’s been given this new glimpse at life . . . and what to do with it.
The premise sounded great — and Ahern is such a popular author. That being said, I made it about halfway through this one before realizing I couldn’t care less about any of the characters and felt like the book was one giant circle . . . we kept repeating the same plot points over and over. Once I realize I have no emotional investment in a novel, the book is killed for me. And this one? Abandoned.
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Lorelle Marinello’s Salting Roses
Where I stopped: Page 56
Sucked in by the gorgeous cover, I opened this one with a hopeful bubble rising in my chest. Gracie is a Southern belle abandoned at birth who, on her twenty-fifth birthday, discovers she’s actually the kidnapped daughter of a wealthy Yankee — and, considering her biological father’s recent passing, there’s $650 million with her name on it. A P.I. arrives in small town Shady Grove, Ala., to break the news, and from there it’s a whirlwind of scheming relatives, tabloid journalists and chaos.
Another novel that couldn’t grab me. Gracie seems like a hopelessly naive young woman who initially turns down her inheritance, fearing that money ruins people, but Marinello’s plot meandered along and confused me. I spent the first 30 pages trying to figure out who all these people were and what their connection was to Gracie — which just frustrates me. If the book had been written from Gracie’s actual perspective — in her own, unique voice — I might have latched on better. As it stands, the third-person omniscient point of view left me feeling detached.
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write meg! 
These types of books do lure us in with their covers, and sometimes the issue is just a mood. Would it help if we were lying on a beach for a week on vacation? Sometimes. Other times the author just misses the boat.
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I know what you mean — absolutely gorgeous cover for Salting Roses. I want to jump into that scene, especially now when I look out my wintry window. Sorry these didn’t work for you. I have a stack of books waiting to be finished. Wish me luck!
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I was also disappointed with The Book of Tomorrow but for me, it was because of the magic part – I thought it would have been better without it, just as a YA book.
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Sorry to see those didn’t work for you. I had high hopes for Salting Roses because one of the Harper Collins reps at SIBA raved over it.
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I wish I could stop being pulled in by covers, it’s just lucky that (in my experience) the majority of good covers are good books.
I’ve wanted to read the Ahern for awhile, like you I’ve read Where Rainbows End and enjoyed it, but I haven’t got round to it. Maybe that’s a good thing – if you say the plot points are repeated, that’s something that really irks me.
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How sad is this! Both of the books were on my wishlist. I am not so excited about reading them now. Book covers can be deceiving.
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You may have a different reaction than I did, Misha! My lukewarm reviews are in the minority for both books. If they still appeal to you, definitely give them a shot — I could be so, so wrong about them. 🙂
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My online book group voted to read the Ahern book for March, I am declining and not going to read this one. I had decided that prior to your review, but then that sealed it for me. I’m a sucker for a good cover….I formerly stalked out B&N and read books that looked interesting, now I have a Kindle and I can sample books, which can really help.
IMHO, too many books, too little time, so I can’t spend it reading books that aren’t for me.
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I must say, neither of these really appealed to me too much. The premise of Book of Tomorrow is intriguing, but I find myself feeling increasingly picky about which books to read. (The one consequence to turning 30, perhaps?)
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The second cover made me give the book a second look but I didn’t have time to put it on the review schedule. Sorry it didn’t work for you. I appreciate that you tell why instead of just marking it DNF.
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I have tried to read and enjoy every Celia Ahern novel, but I gave up after the magical invisible friend one. I didn’t even really like the hugely popular P.S. I Love You in it’s book or movie version. I like the North/South combo in SALTING, but do hate being confused about the characters.
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Love your honesty about books that couldn’t hold your interest. I am one of those readers who slogs through until the end — convinced that it’s going to get better. And usually, it doesn’t. But it haunts me to leave a book unfinished. (One of my many “issues.” 🙂 ) Wish I could cut and run. There are too many good books to spend time reading the bad (or even mediocre) ones, but I just can’t make myself put it down once I’ve started. Thanks for your candor!
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I have seen good reviews for Book of Tomorrow but something about it didn’t capture my attention. Now I think I may just go ahead and avoid this one. As for Salting Roses, I’m still going to have to give it a try because I just can’t get past my love for the cover. At least now I know to keep my expectations low.
It’s funny today I have my own DNF list.
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Total bummer about TBOT! I’ve heard such good things. But I totally feel you. I have to have character connection.
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I’ve read two Ahern books and came away from both feeling ‘meh’. I have The Book of Tomorrow on my shelf, so I will read it at some point.
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Aww! I love the cover for Salting Roses!! Totally wanted it to work out for ya… 🙂
Maybe I’ll just buy the books so I can have the cover 😉
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Oh I am so sorry you didn’t like The Book of Tomorrow. I was actually surprised with how much I liked it since it was such a departure from her norm.
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I managed to finish The Book of Tomorrow (mostly because I love Ahern and didn’t want to ‘disappoint’ her) but it was an odd book. It didn’t quite capture me emotionally but I also find myself not being able to forget about most of the events. I have this love-hate relationship with it, I guess.
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Sorry to hear you had to go through some not so good reading; it’s always disappointing, especially if, like in the case of Ahern, you have enjoyed the author’s previous work.
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sorry to hear that you didn’t like salting roses. i thought it had a nice southern charm to it that made it enjoyable for me.
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Bummer about Ahern’s book! It’s on my shelf right now…hopefully I’ll enjoy it a bit more than you did!
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Having never read any of Ahern’s previous books, I rather enjoyed The Book of Tomorrow’s. I will admit I was a little leery in the beginning, being that the main character is a teenager. But, I found the mysteriousness that presented itself about half way through the book, enticing. While I struggled through the first half I zoomed through the second half, eager to find out more.
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