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The Book of Tomorrow: A Novel
The Book of Tomorrow: A Novel
The Book of Tomorrow: A Novel
Audiobook8 hours

The Book of Tomorrow: A Novel

Written by Cecelia Ahern

Narrated by Ali Coffey

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

“A sweet, life-affirming tale . . . with a liberal sprinkling of magic.”
Marie Claire (UK)

“Filled with family secrets, intrigue, and magic aplenty.”
Booklist

Bestselling author Cecelia Ahern follows The Gift and P.S. I Love You with the mesmerizing story of a teenaged girl coming face-to-face with grief, growth, and magic in the Irish countryside, after a mysterious book begins to reveal her own memories from one day in the future. Perfect for long-time fans of Ahern, as well as for younger readers coming to her for the first time, The Book of Tomorrow’s strong voice and sophisticated storytelling mark an instant new classic from this already beloved author.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateJan 25, 2011
ISBN9780062027306
Author

Cecelia Ahern

Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. Her novels have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold more than twenty-five million copies in over fifty countries. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series. She and her books have won numerous awards, including the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction for The Year I Met You. She lives in Dublin with her family.

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Reviews for The Book of Tomorrow

Rating: 3.752688172043011 out of 5 stars
4/5

93 ratings67 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Surprisingly gripping at the end. Thought it was going to be total bollocks but I actually enjoyed it overall. The writing isn't great but the story was pretty good.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    What would you do if you found a book that, in your own writing, told you what tomorrow held? Would you change it? Would you just muddle on to see if the book was right?Cecelia Ahern explores this idea in a YA novel that combines magic with mystery, and a lot of growing up. Tamara Goodwin goes from riches to rags, and along the way finds some humanity. I picked this up getting Ahern confused with another writer, but ended up being pleasantly not disappointed in reading the tale. I particularly liked the last chapter's title "what we have learned today." Sometimes, a summary like that would be helpful for me, in my life, I think.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I don't generally finish books that I'm not enjoying (which is why I don't rate anything super-low), so I enjoyed this enough to finish it, however, I'm ultimately disappointed in it. I'm going with 2 stars, but it's really closer to 2.5 stars for me.

    I think that some of the elements of the plot and the characters are heavy-handed -- you see some things coming a mile away, but on the other hand, some things were completely glossed over.

    And the end is like...like the author got tired of the story and just decided to hand in her short synopsis of what was really going on and oh, by the way, here's out it all turned out in the end, K, THX, BYE.

    This was particularly disappointing because the premise was so interesting.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A sweet story of a young girl coming to terms with the death of her father.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Good Stuff * Quirky Irish humour -- reminds me so much of hanging with my Irish neighbor * Intriguing opening chapters, grabs your attention and never lets go -- trust me I stayed up till 1am to finish the book. Read it on one day! * Hilariously funny yet touching and sweet * Loved the Nuns (especially Sister Ignatius) I'd become Catholic if they were real * Tamara is such a wonderful, fun, interesting and all too human. What is so fascinating is that she is really understanding how shallow her earlier life was and she tries very hard to change, but doesn't always do it the right way -- you know typical teenager ; ) * There is a Castle and well I just like things with Castles * Intriguing mystery that slowly unfolds and keeps you guessing * Simply just a good story to enjoy while tucked under a nice soft blanket or lying on the beach or at the cottageThe Not so Good Stuff * I had to stay up till 1am to finish the damn book * Was a little confusing at times -- than again I have been home with a sick toddler for 3 days so I wouldn't necessarily take my word for thisFavorite Quotes/Passages"And than I felt sorry for God because I understood how it must be frustrating for him. He offers people a helping hand, but it often gets pushed away. People always want to help themselves first.""After the Norman psycho, various lords and ladies lived in the castle. They built stables and outhouses around the place. Controversially one lord even converted to Catholicism after marrying a Catholic, and built a chapel there as a treat for the family. Me and Mom got a swimming pool as our treat, but to each his own." "I used to think that it was better to have too much than too little, but now I think if the too much was never supposed to be yours, you should just take what you need and give the rest back. That way, you never have to give back the things you love."What I Learned * Some interesting Irish history * Nuns are a lot cooler than I have previously thoughtWho should/shouldn't read * This is pretty good for everyone. I would say probably 12 and up due to some sexuality * Lovers of Irish fiction, obviously will enjoy * Obviously I am passing this on for Joan to read (She's the Irish neighbor and usually my books go to her daughter, but this one is for both of them) maybe she will make me some of her yummy Irish tea hint hint!4.5 Dewey'sI received this from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As with Ms Ahern's other books, I enjoyed the book overall. She's an engaging storyteller. But as a mystery story, I felt the book fell a bit short mainly because I didn't feel there were enough clues concerning the mystery woven into the story. There was a lot of odd behavior and statements about things not feeling right, but that's not the same as weaving clues about the mystery throughout the storyline.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Tamara Goodwin, shy of her 17th birthday, has had her life turned upside down. She lived a privileged life living in a contemporary mansion in a seaside resort near Dublin, Ireland. She has never had to want for anything, given everything she ever wanted. However, circumstances quickly change when her father commits suicide, loses his fortune, and their home is repossessed. She and her mother must move to the country and into the simple home of her mother’s brother and wife. Her mother, deeply depressed, has become a recluse in her bedroom. Tamara is lonely, bored and deeply wishes to return to the life she had in Dublin.

    However, her boredom is diminished when a bookmobile appears shortly after their arrival. In it she discovers an attractive book locked with a clasp. With the assistance Sister Ignatius, a local nun that befriends her, she is able to open it but discovers that it contains only blank pages – a diary. Sister Ignatius recommends that she record her thoughts. However, when she opens the book, she discovers her words have already been record but for the next day. She now faces a dilemma: Does she live her tomorrows as written or she change events?

    Although this novel was more a YA and coming-of-age novel, I believe that adults will find Tamara's experiences enjoyable and thought-provoking, which I did. The primary characters were well-developed as well as the plot. Although set in Irish countryside, this story could have been set anywhere and anytime.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It was a nice concept and the author tried, but she just isn't a good enough writer and she wasn't able to sustain suspense. Especially since the solution to the mystery was kinda anticlimactic. And the central conceit was more a plot device than anything else, and it was what drew me to the book in the first place. And the first few chapters should've been excised because they make the narratorial chronology really messed up.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    When offered the chance to read and review The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern, I'm not going to lie - I squealed a little bit. You see, Cecelia Ahern is one of my guilty pleasure authors. I read her books when I want to cry a little bit and she became my go-to gal when I outgrew Nicholas Sparks. That's what makes this review so hard to write. I'm going to go a little off-topic, but stick with me - it'll make sense soon. When I was a kid, I remember getting on a ride at DisneyWorld - the people mover one. You know - the one that you just ride around in an open monorail type thing and listen to facts about the park? Well, I thought that was just the beginning of the ride and it would end up top where those rockets were because I really wanted to ride those rockets (I never got to ride those rockets. I don't think I would fit in them now.) But instead, we just twisted and turned and moved slowly and instead of listening to what was being said and enjoying the view and the rest for my feet, I twisted my hands and wiggled and whined and complained and then... the ride was over and it was time to go stand in another 2 hour line. You see, I was so caught up in the anticipation of something happening, something I expected to happen, that I didn't enjoy the breeze, or the view, or the time with my family. I wanted more, I craved more... but I never got it.That's what The Book of Tomorrow reminded me of. I read, and then I read some more, and then I read more and I was teased and given glimpses of those fantastic rockets and I (metaphorically) wiggled and twisted in anticipation but... I never got what I wanted. However, unlike DisneyWorld and my parents (who never told me the rockets were at the end, it was my imagination that betrayed me), I expected more from Cecelia Ahern because in her previous books - she gave me more.So that is why I was disappointed in The Book of Tomorrow. I expected a character that would seduce me, but instead I got Tamara Goodwin, a snarky, bratty, horrible girl who had me wanting to smack her down more than a few dozen times. Her mother, her aunt, and her uncle were.. quirky and strange, sure - but I never cared two bits about them because, frankly, I was teased and teased but never given anything to help me understand. Instead, like those rockets, they lingered out of reach and never materialized in front of me. Then there was the "mystery" and "gothic" nature of the book. It didn't work for me. The ruins sounded well.. dirty and not mysterious. I don't know if they weren't described well enough or there wasn't enough background given on the characters, or what the deal was but the story there felt unfinished and haphazard. The only thing I liked about this book was seeing the end, because then I took my huge dose of reality, closed the book, swallowed the bitterness and sat down to write this review. So do I stick with Cecelia Ahern? I'll give her next book a shot, because one sour book isn't enough to put me off. But I think she needs to stick with what she knows best - relationships and character-building... leave the fantasy and gothic stories to people who invest themselves well in them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Inhaltsangabe:Tamara Goodwin hat ihren Vater tot aufgefunden, nachdem er sich das Leben genommen hat. Die 16jährige, stets vom Erfolg ihres Vaters verwöhnt und zugeschüttet mit allen materiellen Dingen des Lebens, muss sich mit der Tatsache auseinandersetzen, das sie alles verloren haben, denn der Vater stand kurz vor dem finanziellen Ruin.Zusammen mit ihrer traumatisierten Mutter muss sie zu Verwandten aufs Land ziehen. Tante Rosaleen und Onkel Arthur nehmen sie herzlich gern auf und versuchen ihnen das Leben so angenehm wie möglich zu machen. Die Mutter zieht sich innerlich zurück und spricht nicht mehr groß. Und Tamara langweilt sich.Eines Tages findet sie in einem Bücherbus ein sonderbares Buch. Sie nimmt es mit und schlägt es auf: Leere Seiten. Die Nonne Schwester Ignatius schlägt ihr vor, es als Tagebuch zu benutzen. Und gerade will sie beginnen zu schreiben, als sie einen Eintrag entdeckt: Mit ihrer Handschrift und vom nächsten Tag.Und es passiert immer wieder. Und während sie einem großen Geheimnis auf die Spur kommt, lernt sie von sich selbst und dem Leben.Mein Fazit:Die ersten 100 Seiten waren etwas mühselig. Tamara erzählt die Geschichte aus ihrer eigenen Sicht und macht manchmal einige verwirrende Sprünge. Und sie gibt selbst von sich zu, ein richtiges Ekel gewesen zu sein. Sie ist anfangs zynisch, zickig und launisch gewesen zu sein. Das kam daher, weil der Vater sie mit allem überhäufte, was man mit Geld kaufen konnte.Aber der Verlust des Vaters, mit dem sie vor dem Tod auch noch einen bösen Streit hatte, macht ihr schwer zu schaffen. Und der Einzug bei Tante Rosaleen und Onkel Arthur machen ihr die Sache nicht einfacher. Denn Rosaleen benimmt sich merkwürdig und sofort wird nicht nur dem Leser, sondern auch Tamara klar, das sie etwas verbirgt. Und die Spannung steigert sich mit jeder Seite, denn Tamara ist vor allen Dingen auch neugierig. Sie sorgt sich auch um ihre Mutter und auch da hat Rosaleen scheinbar die Hände mit im Spiel.Die letzten 100 Seiten habe ich in einem Rutsch gelesen, denn ich wollte wissen, was es für ein großes Geheimnis gab. Und auch die Entwicklung von Tamara interessierte mich. Sie wird einem Ende dann doch sehr sympathisch. Ein paar Fragen sind allerdings offen geblieben, aber ansonsten empfand ich die Geschichte als sehr ergreifend.Von mir bekommt es 4,5 von 5 Sternchen.Anmerkung: Die Rezension stammt vom Juli 2010.Veröffentlicht am 22.11.16!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was a bit different than I had anticipated. Instead of a sweet love story, I got a little mystery and suspense but that's ok. Tamara is a bit of a spoiled snot in the beginning and I had a hard time connecting to her but she does learn and grow through the book and she becomes a much more sympathetic character.As the story progressed I knew something was up with Tamara's relatives. Aunt Rosaleen was too creepy to not be hiding anything. I actually suspected it was going to go all Flowers in the Attic on me so I was quite pleased when it didn't go down that route. However, the closer we got to the end the more apparent the big secret was and I was not terribly surprised when all was revealed. Of course, the story was told from Tamara's point of view and she herself was a little slow on the uptake. So it could be that we, as readers, were supposed to know at that point and wait for Tamara to catch up. I found myself several times wanting to shake her and scream 'why is this so difficult to understand!' But, I suppose that denial is a powerful thing. Powerful enough to make you deny what is so plainly clear.All in all, I really enjoyed the book. It was a fun, pleasant read. I stayed up pretty late last night to finish it and that says a lot. Sleep is a big deal for me, so I don't sacrifice it unless I just can't stop reading. I recommend it for anyone looking for a good, light read with a little mystery to it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Book of Tomorrow truly is an enjoyable read, even though the heroine is a spoiled rotten teenager. Tamara is, at least to my surprise, very likable and I couldn't help but root for her. I suppose that it might have something to do with the charm with which Cecelia Ahern writes :) Her characters play their roles effortlessly and despite the book being fairly short, in the end you will quite possibly feel that you know them all very well.I think what I liked the most about the book is its modernized gothic atmosphere. Despite the plot taking place in the 21st century, it feels that the readers are all of a sudden transported to an undiscovered, unknown and shrouded in secrecy place to try and help Tamara solve a mystery of a lifetime. The novel even has its own Mrs. Danvers (Tamara's aunt, Rosaleen) which makes this whole mysterious quest for answers even more delicious. The only two things that I might complain a little bit about is that it did take a little bit of patience to get into the story and that Tamara's language is quite crude at times when it comes to sexual nature, especially considering she is only sixteen.The Book of Tomorrow is the second book of Ahern's that I had the pleasure to read, and even though it's geared more toward the Young Adult audience than her previous novels, it can easily be enjoyed by both young and adult readers. If anything, this book fills a little bit of a void in the YA market which nowadays is flooded with paranormal romances. I'd even venture as far as saying that The Book of Tomorrow is a breath of fresh air with a heroine that's just a normal girl that has to deal with an awful tragedy and deals with it she does. Pretty remarkably, in my opinion. Tamara is inquisitive, unafraid to face difficult truths about herself and also mature enough to try and do the right thing, even if she stumbles along the way. Cecelia Ahern wrote a really fun and intelligent book and if you're looking for a change of scenery in your YA stories, give The Book of Tomorrow a try.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I found this book on my godmother's shelf when I was 14 years old. I remember being attracted to the cover and the title of the book (even if I knew that I shouldn't judge a book by its cover...) at that time I only thought it was pretty so I took it. I began reading it and I couldn't stop, I read it for a whole 2-3 days straight and I rememberd enjoying it and even being satisfied by the end.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Tamara's father has died and she and her mother move from Dublin to the country to live with her uncle and aunt. She finds a diary that seems to be blank, but every night the pages fill with the events of tomorrow in her own handwriting. Also, her aunt is very secretive and seems to be hiding something from her. While dealing with her father's death, her mother's grief and a difficult adjustment to country living, she find that there are many family secrets to discover.Although I found Tamara a bit spoiled and irritating, I was entranced by the magic of the diary and eager to learn what Aunt Rosaleen was hiding, and that kept me turning pages. I did set this down, though, quite often to read something else. It was ok.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I like Cecelia Ahern's fairytale-type stories like this one. The Book of Tomorrow is key to the way the plot unfolds. The main characters is, as she confesses, not a very nice person, but she sorts herself out during the course of the book. There are a few mysteries on the way but as you'd expect all is explained by the end.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book is best described as chick lit with a magical twist. Dublin teenager Tamara Goodwin has lost everything. Her father has committed suicide, leaving the family in debt and leading to them losing their home. Tamara's mother is so overwhelmed by grief that she sleeps all day and rarely gets out of bed. She and her mother have been forced to move in with an aunt and uncle who live in the middle of nowhere. If all of this was not bad enough something strange seems to be happening in Tamara's new home. Aunt Rosalind is evasive, and she refuses to let Tamara see her mother. The garage remains mysteriously locked, and Tamara is ordered not pursue any of her curiosity about the surrounding area. Most significantly, she acquires a diary that writes entries for her, foreshadowing the next day's events. The course of the plot of this book is rather predictable, though the magical elements do offer a sort of interesting twist. I don't generally read books with any kind of fantastic elements, but I did think that Ahern offered just enough here to create interest without overdoing. The magic did not necessarily always seem logical. I know, it's magic, but whether Tamara could change the future or not did seem to vary from day to day. Probably the best thing about this book is the setting, on the grounds of a ruined castle and an old convent. The setting was somewhat magical in and of itself, and it definitely added to the atmosphere.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Tamara is a rich spoiled brat, used to summers in Marbella and jetting to London to go shopping. Then her real estate tycoon father commits suicide, leaving Tamara and her mother poor and homeless. Grieving, they move in with Tamara's aunt and uncle--Rosaleen and Arthur, who live in a gatehouse on a ruined country estate. Everyone acts weirdly, secrets abound, and when we finally find out the truth it comes as no surprise. The title refers to a diary Tamara finds in which she can read what tomorrow holds.
    This held my interest but ultimately was a let down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I am pleasantly surprised by this book. Tamara, a teenager, finds a diary written in her own hand that tells her stories about tomorrow. The premise is potentially a backdrop for a melodramatic teenage life. Not so. Tamara is more like Flavia DeLuce than an average teenager. When her family behaves strangely and the writings in her diary emphasis the secretiveness, Tamara begins an historical expedition into a family secret. My only critique stems from reading far too much. I believe it to be bad story telling to begin a story in a monologue talking about telling the story. Just get to it. The beginning of the book was so unimpressive to me that I forgot it entirely by the end. But hey; the book ends on a good note allowing me to rate it as one that I might read again and would recommend to a friend.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It starts out a little slow. I had a hard time identifying with Tamara Goodwin in the beginning - not only did she come from a material world that is far, far removed from my personal experience, but as a character she's not exactly likeable. Once she found "her" journal - the Book of Tomorrow - I started getting more engaged with the story. I wanted to find out what this crazy girl would do with her glimpses into the future - would she change history before it had a chance to happen? Would she learn from the lessons found in the book - and in her real-time life? It wasn't one of those totally-engrossing reads, especially since it took some persistence to "get to the good stuff," but it was an enjoyable read once I got in to it. I did find myself wanting to know what all the hiding and unsaid things were about, and trying to figure out where all the various characters would fit into the final equation. I was glad I persevered and kept reading, and it's definitely the best Ahern novel I've read so far. If you're up to the challenge of wrestling with Tamara and working your way to the good part, then I'd definitely say "read it" - if you want a quick, chick lit read, I'd stay away from Book of Tomorrow.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After 16 year-old Tamara's father kills himself, Tamara and her mother discovered that he had been hiding their perilous financial situation from them, which had culminated as the bank began foreclosing on their house. With few options left, Tamara and her mother move back to a remote Irish town to live with her aunt and uncle. Soon after moving in, her mother falls into a seemingly deep depression and is unable to get out of bed. Tamara begins to suspect that her aunt Rosaleen is harboring secrets from her as both her and her uncle Arther refuse to answer questions about their family, situation, and various topics. At the same time, Tamara comes upon a blank journal that mysteriously reveals a new entry every day in Tamara's own handwriting, describing in detail the events that would transpire the next day. As Tamara uses the book to help determine the course of her future, she finds that many family secrets have been hidden from her. Book of Tomorrow is part teenage romance and part supernatural mystery. I thought this novel was better than I expected, though it was a little slow to get into, as Tamara was a spoiled brat who tended to make obnoxious, impertinant comments to everyone in the story. After she aquired the journal, I feel the story picked up and became more exciting. I would recommend this book, though the Tamara was not a model teenager as she frequently swore, engaged in sex, drank alcohol, and smoked in the book. Maybe not the best role model if one was looking to pass it on to an impressionable teen.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Book of Tomorrow is about a diary which reveals the entry that is going to be written tomorrow. It ends up in the hands of Tamara after her dad dies and she has to move, with her mom, to her aunt and uncle's house. Although her Aunt Rosaleen has an extremely eerie way about her (Tamara appropriately nicknamed her aunt and uncle the Deliverance Duo) a deeper mystery unfolds and Tamara does what she can to get to the bottom of it.This book left me with mixed feelings. The thing that struck me from the moment I picked it was surprise that it was listed as adult fiction and not YA and I know other people have also commented on the same thing. Tamara was a teenager with some typical smart-ass teen remarks. At times they were entertaining and almost charming but they began to get annoying and overdone. I had the same problem with the repetitive phrases that she was continuously pointing out. They were, at first, funny and added to her personality but I eventually just got sick of reading them.The book had a bit of a slow pace throughout and then everything just exploded at the end but throughout the story I fully enjoyed Sister Ignatius. She had the best personality and I just wanted to be her friend. Sister Ignatius's hilarious personality was a perfect contrast to the eeriness that hung over the rest of the story and both kept me curious to find out how everything would end. I would have to say, overall, it was good, not great.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I like the theme: foretelling something in the future, with the Irish castle ruins as background.. Makes me imagining things and want to go to Ireland!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Book of Tomorrow By Cecilia Ahern Tamara Goodwin leads the idyllic teenage life in Dublin Ireland. That is until her father dies and she and her mum are left with nothing but debts and regrets. They move in to stay with family in a small village on the grounds of an ancient castle. Tamara is lonely and sad with no prospects for improvement. One day Tamara finds a diary that is filled with magical entries regarding her future. As Tamara learns to trust and love again she grows up quickly and family secrets that have been buried for many years are slowly revealed. All of Ms. Aherns books are filled with magical hope and a dash of surprise. This story is both entertaining and heartwarming, just an easy smile and who couldn't use a dose of that?
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    For a book with so much potential, this one falls short. It is executed poorly, with lackluster character developments and gaping plot holes. Tamara Goodwin is a spoiled, rich teenager girl, who finds herself in the country because of a poor decision by her father. She, along with her incompetent mother, stays with her aunt and uncle, Rosaleen and Arthur.The story is narrated by Tamara, in her whiny, privileged teenage voice. In the beginning, the pace of the story is incredibly slow. Pages and pages are dedicated to her recount of life before moving to the country, followed by seemingly meaningless and lengthy descriptions of country life. In particular, Tamara pays special attention to the castle in town, which is now more of a ruin, and nothing like its former self. One day, she is visited by a travelling library bus, and discovers a book that foretells the future, or tomorrow to be exact. My problem with this book is that Ahern takes too long to get to the actual story. While it’s nice to discover a character’s backstory, and be presented with vivid scenic descriptions for full immersion in the story, all of that is meaningless if we don’t know why we’re reading the story in the first place. “They say a story loses something with each telling. If that is the case, this story has lost nothing, for it’s the first time it’s been told. This story is one for which some people will have to suspend their disbelief. If this wasn’t happening to me, I would be one of those people.” To begin a story with such an enticing opening, only to tease your reader for a hundred of so pages (yes I counted) before telling them said story is just cruel in my opinion. Once the story ‘officially’ begins, with the book of tomorrow in Tamara’s hands, the pace of the story picks up quickly, and ends climactically. However, gaping plot holes are still left wide open, and several questions are still left unanswered at the end.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Book of Tomorrow is touted as an Adult fantasy, but to me it read (or rather sounded, as I listened to the audio book) more like a YA Gothic suspense. Unraveling the mystery was pretty good, but I felt cheated that I still don't know the origins of the magic of the "Book of Tomorrow"diary. And in the audio book, the narrator' lovely Irish lilt had me confusing the main character's name, Tamara, with the word "tomorrow", so that caused me further confusion throughout the story at key places.I was hoping for more magic.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When Tamara’s father commits suicide it renders her mother incapable of much. He also rendered their accounts in the red and the bank took the house in debt payment. They must break down their treasures and move from Dublin to the miniscule house owned by Arthur and Rosaleen, Jennifer’s relations in the country.Things are odd and become odder as the novel reveals that there is much to be learned in the hills of Ireland. Tamara, a spoiled brat who is NOT happy with her current situation sets out to try to find things to do and to especially annoy Rosaleen who couldn’t be nice if she was given a million dollars. Arthur seems well meaning but basically has not clue as to the depths of Rosaleen’s thoughts. Then comes a traveling library and Tamara notices a huge book, locked in fact and she must check it out. After getting it open she is amazed to see blank pages! But she doesn’t really want to write her thoughts down as it’s too depressing. She needn’t worry – in the morning when she opens the book the day’s activities are already accounted for. Before they happen.I didn’t like this story at first, I wanted to pop Tamara and tell her to get a grip but, after putting it aside for a couple of days - Oh my! I fell in love with this book and did not want to put it down (alas, work intervened!). Excellent writing, above excellent plot and a cast of characters to love, hate and like. What could be better?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    good book, not as good as PS I Love You, but this one was interesting...there were a few spots I would get a little confused on what was happening but in the end it all came together.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not as good as her other ones. Not as multi-layered as IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES or THE GIFT. Nice light read.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Couldn't get into this at all. Different style from her usual thing. Hardly any dialogue. Book reads like a monologue memoir of a boring person.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    The premise of this book is an interesting one - what would you do if you knew what tomorrow was going to bring? Would you want to know? Would you want to change?Unfortunately, that premise gets lost in a story from the past. The main character is a 16 year old girl. So, the book sounds like it's meant for an audience that age as well. The tale and secret that emerge are somewhat gothic in nature except not told with the depth and passion of a gothic tale.In the dedications, the author states that part of the intent of this book was to explore the magic of books. Unfortunately, the magic of the "Book of Tomorrow" is lost in the story being told from the past.Finally, the book starts by stating that there are people who will believe because they have an open mind and there are people who will disbelieve. I am willing to suspend belief and "believe" through a lot of stories. Unfortunately, this was not one of them.