If you haven't read this book yet then you won't understand the significance of me wearing my pyjamas as I write this review. Whilst this is partly because I just got back from holiday it's also my little nod to the character of Cherry!
All That She Can See is the third novel released by actress, singer, youtube and author, Carrie Hope Fletcher and her second work of fiction. As a prominent youtuber and West End star, Carrie has a huge following who of course support each of her endeavours including her writing. However, Carrie's writing is heartfelt and truthful and this work especially stands on its own as a great piece of fiction and I'm sure would do well with or without her loyal group of 'hopefuls'.
"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 turns up 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 . . ."
As an avid Disney fan, it's not a surprise that Carrie's book has got a magical twist to it but aside from giving a fairy-tale vibe, it's also a very unique and interesting way to tackle the topic of mental illness. Carrie brings forth the idea that positive feelings can be just as bad as negative feelings and questions whether seeing our emotions would make us as act differently to ourselves and one another.
The story starts with a romantic, airy, Nanny McPhee-esque feeling but about two thirds of the way through we take a twist into a dystopian world which I was not expecting at all. This adds another level to the story, making it more than a fluffy contemporary read and also shows of Carrie's versatility as a writer. There were points where I was on the edge of my seat and really didn't know what was coming. However, in saying that, the switch from the airiness to the drama was very sudden and kind of felt like a different book. I enjoyed it but was a little confused when everything happened so fast and came out of nowhere.
All That She Can See is a wonderful story and unique world. The characters have depth and emotion and I love how theatrical Carrie's writing is. The idea of everyone having magic in them is very sweet and I praise how real Carrie made the character of Cherry. She is kind and generous but does make mistakes and really comes across as a real person with faults. As with Carrie herself, Cherry is genuine and a great role model for young people. Overall All That She Can See is a story about unity and the importance of caring for one another which is so important.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
*This book was sent to me by Little Brown Books for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own*
*This book was sent to me by Little Brown Books for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own*