I have a love/hate relationship with Cecelia Ahern. Like most females, I shed a thousand tears at Ps. I Love You (book, for sure. Film, not so much). With one book, she had me absolutely hooked! Then Ahern went down some sort of fantasy path and, while it was very sweet, it really wasn’t what I was looking for in chick lit.
Not at all enthused by any of Ahern’s new releases, I somehow found myself owning a copy of How to Fall in Love which had me jump right back on the bandwagon.
How to Fall in Love is the story of Christine Rose, a determined woman who meets Adam Basil as he is about to jump off Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge. After managing to talk him down, Christine makes a deal with Adam that she can prove his life is worth living in just two weeks.
I read this book while going through a rough time, meaning both Adam and Christine sat with me very well. For me, they are like having a good and a bad angel sitting on opposite shoulders: “Life can get better – just wait!”versus “Everything is pointless”. Although they didn’t connect with me as much, I found the minor characters in the story rather likeable, too.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing particularly special about this book: it’s just chick lit at the end of the day. But, it is chick lit done right. Yes, it is somewhat predictable and all the usual love story clichés are thrown in there, but it can’t be taken away from Ahern that she wrote a very enjoyable book. Ahern has a way with words and a good humour about her, and somehow managed to throw in a few giggles while discussing the grim subject of suicide.
If you are looking for something to put a smile on your face and claw back a sliver of hope for this world, How to Fall in Love is your book.
Joyful Antidotes 
I agree! Whatever she’s doing, she’s doing it right!