![The Book of Tomorrow](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1276970678m/6631792.jpg)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book had mixed reviews, but I found I liked it quite a lot, especially as things got more intriguing as the story went on.
The story is narrated by sixteen-year-old Tamara Goodwin, whose life is turned upside down when her father commits suicide and her mother, Jennifer, grief-stricken, has a mental and emotional breakdown. To make matters worse, her father was broke and so they are forced to sell their house in Dublin and move to the country to live with Tamara's Aunt Rosaleen and Uncle Arthur.
Tamara's aunt and uncle live in the gatekeeper's cottage in the grounds of an abandoned and fire-damaged castle. Tamara explores the castle and the grounds, and comes across Sister Ignatius, a beekeeping nun. (Sister Ignatius is one of my favourite characters in the book.) Sister Ignatius seems to know more about Tamara than Tamara knows about herself, and the nun will play a very important role in the book as the story continues.
Tamara is selfish and spoilt, and at first, not very likable. All she wants to do is go back to her old life. But then she meets Marcus, a handsome young man who runs the mobile library. Tamara is drawn to an unusual book there - it is locked and she is determined to discover what's inside. When she does finally open it, the pages are blank. At first she is disappointed, but then she finds that each day the book, written in Tamara's own hand, is telling her the events of the next day. She believes at first that someone is playing an elaborate trick on her, until she realises that things are coming true just as her "tomorrow" self has written them...and that she can change what happens by changing her actions.
Tamara is concerned for her mother, who does nothing but sleep. Her Aunt Rosaleen is strangely possessive and controlling towards her, and her Uncle Arthur doesn't say much at all, although she senses that he has things to tell her. Tamara knows something strange is going on, but she doesn't quite know what.
Meanwhile, Rosaleen is not only caring for Jennifer but also her own elderly mother, who lives in a cottage nearby. Tamara never sees the old woman, and Rosaleen actively discourages her from doing so. So one day, when Rosaleen is out, Tamara takes it upon herself to bring Rosaleen's mother some breakfast as an excuse to meet her. But while she is there she sees someone else working in the shed. Tamara knows it can't be the old woman, as she knows she is in a wheelchair. To add to the mystery, it seems this person is an artist - a glass blower - and Tamara finds a whole collection of beautiful creations displayed in the yard.
Tamara's curiosity about the former inhabitants of the castle (the Kilsaneys), the mysterious person in the cottage and her Aunt Rosaleen's strange behaviour lead her to uncover family secrets, including major stuff about her own parents. It all comes together in an exciting, satisfying, and poignant way in the end.
Even though this book is called "The Book of Tomorrow", I don't think the story really needed the magical elements. I don't think I would have missed it if it wasn't there. Tamara's family secrets were intriguing enough, and they were what kept me interested and turning the pages. The final revelations surprised me and I love being surprised!
So, all in all, this is one of the better Cecelia Ahern books I've read recently (although nothing has eclipsed "One Hundred Names" yet). 3.5 stars.
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