Alice sees the worst in people.
She also sees the best.
She sees a thousand different emotions and knows exactly what everyone around her is feeling.
Every. Single. Day.
But it’s the dark thoughts.
The sadness. The rage.
These are the things she can’t get out of her head. The things that overwhelm her.
Review
Cecelia Ahern has stolen my heart with another wonderful book. The blurb doesn’t give much away so, to give this review a bit more context, the main premise is that at eight years old, Alice discovers can see a colourful aura for everyone she meets. This impacts the rest of her life, both negatively and positively.
Cecelia Ahern often injects more magical elements into her books. There was a time when I didn’t enjoy that and started to move away from her as an author. However, I really got back into her books in the last two years and now I love when she adds something like this. I feel like she has found the perfect balance between adding something unique to her stories and keeping the plot more realistic, for those who enjoy that angle more.
Speaking of unique, I found Alice to totally sit in this category. Of course, her ability makes her stand out from other characters but I also loved her journey from scared child, to navigating a challenging family, and finally making her own way in the world. To be honest, I didn’t think I would become so attached to her (or this book, for that matter), but I ended up feeling very emotional closing the last few chapters and saying goodbye to In A Thousand Different Ways. I’m a sucker for any character who is a bit different. I love finding flawed characters who make us feel we aren’t alone in the world.
This is rare for me to say but I think I would certainly read this again in the future. I also think it would be a great gift for someone looking for a little hope in their lives right now. You can pick up a copy here.
Joyful Antidotes 