From Publishers Weekly
In her third novel, Ahern (P.S., I Love You and Love, Rosie) employs an imaginary best friend to breathe distinctiveness into an otherwise stereotypical Irish tale. Living in her own house in a small, posh Irish town, 35-year-old Elizabeth Egan is an uptight interior designer and adoptive mother to her six-year-old nephew, Luke, whose mother, Elizabeth's 23-year-old sister, Saoirse, prefers boozing to parenting. Saoirse's behavior reminds Elizabeth of a painful past—the alcoholic mother who abandoned the family, leaving Elizabeth to care for her baby sister and forgo her own childhood, and the emotionally distant, controlling father still waiting for his wife's return. Unlike the other women in her family, Elizabeth adheres to a fastidiously well-ordered existence—no mess, no complications, no love. But all that changes with the arrival of Ivan, a goofy and spontaneous man intent on infusing much-needed fun and tenderness into Elizabeth's frigid persona. The catch is no one can see this ageless man from the land of "Ekam Eveileb" save Elizabeth and her nephew. Through Ivan, Elizabeth becomes the woman she's always been too afraid to be. He helps her reclaim the childhood she never had and, most importantly, to forgive those who have let her down. Ahern tempers heartbreak with hope and playfulness in this uplifting, sentimental tale.

I loved this book. I've loved every book by Ahern. I like her writing style and I think she has great stories.

I think what I loved most about this book was the fun of the imaginary friend.

Reserving for my Boxing Day Partner over on bookobsessed.com

received from my Boxing Day partner. Thanks!!!

Elizabeth is a fastidious, extremely well organized, interior decorator. Elizabeth has always been the responsible one in her family. She helped raise her sister when her mother left. She now is raising Luke, her sister's son. Elizabeth has a ton of responsibilities. Her father is constantly looking for his wife to return and her sister is an alcoholic. But Elizabeth is not fun and has no idea of how to play with her nephew and as for an imagination, she doesn't have one.

When Ivan from 'Ekam Eveileb' comes to visit Luke, Elizabeth doesn't at first see him. Ivan considers Elizabeth 'gnirob'. Elizabeth needs Ivan and his perspective on life. Life is fun!! Ivan teaches Elizabeth to let go of her disappointments and start living. What Elizabeth does not know is that no one else can see Ivan.

Ivan falls in love with Elizabeth but it is an impossible love. The job of imaginary friend is fraught with problems. I loved the concept of this job and the inner workings of being an imaginary friend. This is a cute romance story.

being delivered to my replacement birthday partner

I received this in a birthday package from AceofHearts. Thanks so much, Ace.

I first discovered Cecilia Ahern quite my accident. Her debut novel, PS, I love you, came to me at just the right time. I happened across it in a bookstore and when I read it, it spoke to me and comforted me in a time of need (my cousin had just passed away quite unexpectedly).

If since reread PS, I love you and read Ahern's second novel Love, Rosie (also published under the titles Rosie Dunn and Where Rainbows End). I didn't find Love, Rosie particularly compelling, which left me wondering whether Ahern would be a one-off author for me, but I kept her other books on my wishlist just in case.

This one arrived in a late birthday package yesterday. I just finished it, though I have to admit that I almost gave up on the first few pages.

If You Could See Me Now is the story of Elizabeth Egan, a woman in her thirties who is struggling with her life despite the facade of perfection she displays for the world, and an imaginary friend named Ivan who comes into her life through her adopted son Luke.

The concept is preposterous, but it does provide a unique twist to a pretty pedestrian subject. Ahern's Elizabeth is sympathetic and while some readers may not be able to relate to her problems in particular, they will be able to relate to her general feeling of being acutely responsible and overwhelmed.

If You Could See Me Now is a quick and heart-warming read. What I liked best about the novel is Ahern's vision of imaginary friends and their roles in the world.

* This novel has also been published under the title A Silver Lining. Unnecessary re-naming of novels is one of my pet-peeves.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Will leave in the wicker newspaper basket near the back door of the restaurant.