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How To Make A Friend
As a lonely child, Alice found comfort the same way so many others do - she invented a friend. Sam was always there when she needed him, until one day...he wasn't.
Now, Alice's life almost resembles something happy, normal. She has a handful of close friends and a career as a photographer. But when a tragic accident shatters the world Alice has constructed, the sense of isolation that haunted her in childhood returns. And with it, so does Sam.
To Alice, he looks and feels like a real person, but how can that be so? And who will decide when it's time for him to leave again?
Now, Alice's life almost resembles something happy, normal. She has a handful of close friends and a career as a photographer. But when a tragic accident shatters the world Alice has constructed, the sense of isolation that haunted her in childhood returns. And with it, so does Sam.
To Alice, he looks and feels like a real person, but how can that be so? And who will decide when it's time for him to leave again?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
6 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Fleur Smithwick
2 books16 followersFleur Smithwick is the author of two psychological thrillers: How to Make a Friend (Black Swan 2015) and One Little Mistake (Black Swan October 2016). She lives in London with her husband and occasionally with her offspring (boomerang kids). Fleur has had many odd jobs, including film extra, model maker and PR. She spent twelve years as a School Secretary before becoming a full time author. She loves books and will read practically any genre so long as it's a brilliant story. Her worst nightmare is being made to eat a boiled egg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 2, 2015
The more I read the more I crave for a unique storyline and I'm so happy that I got that in this little gem. This was a well written story.
The main character is Alice. As a child she felt alone except for her imaginary friend Sam. When Alice grows up she becomes close to her best friend Rory and his brother Jonathan Sam disappears. However when Alice wakes up from a coma it's a grown up Sam that's at her bedside. As you can imagine having an imaginary friend when your older can bring plenty of problems. At times Alice annoyed me when she would talk to Sam in public. I really wanted to tell her to keep their conversations private.
Although I thought this started off a little slow I found it to be an enjoyable read.
Received a copy through Net Galley for an honest review.
The main character is Alice. As a child she felt alone except for her imaginary friend Sam. When Alice grows up she becomes close to her best friend Rory and his brother Jonathan Sam disappears. However when Alice wakes up from a coma it's a grown up Sam that's at her bedside. As you can imagine having an imaginary friend when your older can bring plenty of problems. At times Alice annoyed me when she would talk to Sam in public. I really wanted to tell her to keep their conversations private.
Although I thought this started off a little slow I found it to be an enjoyable read.
Received a copy through Net Galley for an honest review.
January 10, 2015
I jokingly commented that this book sounded a little similar to the 1991 movie Drop Dead Fred when I mentioned it in my ‘what I’m about to read’ blog post the other day.
In retrospect, I was kinda right.
Alice’s childhood is challenging. Her parents have separated and her father has pretty much disappeared from her life. She’s in the care of her self-obsessed mother and has two older and very disinterested siblings. As a result she spends most of her time with Sam – her imaginary friend. Although of course (to Alice) he doesn’t feel imaginary.
Fast forward a couple of decades and Alice has moved on. She’s finally having some success in her photographic career and – later in her childhood – made a very good friend in Rory, whose family became her own. Alice, Rory and his boyfriend are heading home from her father’s wedding when they’re in an accident. Alice’s life is turned upside down (well, yes literally and figuratively!) and when she wakes in hospital Sam is back.
Alice’s struggle with Sam is an interesting one. Logically she knows he cannot be real. Only she sees him. But (again) he feels real. Their relationship becomes complicated. Sam doesn’t want Alice to leave him as he believes it means he’ll no longer exist; and although Alice knows she needs to ‘move on’, Sam has (again) become her crutch.
Unfortunately for Alice she tells people of Sam’s return and her family and friends worry about her sanity. On top of that, Alice starts to worry fear Sam’s jealousy and his potential to hurt her and those around her.
I’m in two minds about this novel.
Firstly Alice frustrated the hell out of me. She continued to have conversations with Sam with others around and kept sharing his presence with friends and family in the hope they’d understand. I wanted to shake her and tell her to shut the f*ck up.
The insight into her family dynamics was interesting however, as was the increased self-awareness Alice and her family members developed during the course of this book.
The novel jumps about a little – from present time, to recent years, to Alice’s childhood; but it was easy to follow.
I’ve read some similar books of late – Lisa Unger’s Crazy Love You; and Laura Lippman’s novella, Five Fires and appreciate the (are they / aren’t they real?) theme. In the case of this book I HAD to keep reading because I NEEDED to know what happened, but the climax wasn’t quite as satisfying as I’d hoped.
This novel would be a solid three star novel for me (a good ranking on my hard-ass scale) but for the ending – which left me a tad confused and feeling somewhat cheated… hence the 2.5-3 stars.
In retrospect, I was kinda right.
Alice’s childhood is challenging. Her parents have separated and her father has pretty much disappeared from her life. She’s in the care of her self-obsessed mother and has two older and very disinterested siblings. As a result she spends most of her time with Sam – her imaginary friend. Although of course (to Alice) he doesn’t feel imaginary.
Fast forward a couple of decades and Alice has moved on. She’s finally having some success in her photographic career and – later in her childhood – made a very good friend in Rory, whose family became her own. Alice, Rory and his boyfriend are heading home from her father’s wedding when they’re in an accident. Alice’s life is turned upside down (well, yes literally and figuratively!) and when she wakes in hospital Sam is back.
Alice’s struggle with Sam is an interesting one. Logically she knows he cannot be real. Only she sees him. But (again) he feels real. Their relationship becomes complicated. Sam doesn’t want Alice to leave him as he believes it means he’ll no longer exist; and although Alice knows she needs to ‘move on’, Sam has (again) become her crutch.
Unfortunately for Alice she tells people of Sam’s return and her family and friends worry about her sanity. On top of that, Alice starts to worry fear Sam’s jealousy and his potential to hurt her and those around her.
I’m in two minds about this novel.
Firstly Alice frustrated the hell out of me. She continued to have conversations with Sam with others around and kept sharing his presence with friends and family in the hope they’d understand. I wanted to shake her and tell her to shut the f*ck up.
The insight into her family dynamics was interesting however, as was the increased self-awareness Alice and her family members developed during the course of this book.
The novel jumps about a little – from present time, to recent years, to Alice’s childhood; but it was easy to follow.
I’ve read some similar books of late – Lisa Unger’s Crazy Love You; and Laura Lippman’s novella, Five Fires and appreciate the (are they / aren’t they real?) theme. In the case of this book I HAD to keep reading because I NEEDED to know what happened, but the climax wasn’t quite as satisfying as I’d hoped.
This novel would be a solid three star novel for me (a good ranking on my hard-ass scale) but for the ending – which left me a tad confused and feeling somewhat cheated… hence the 2.5-3 stars.
May 25, 2015
A vulnerable young girl, an imaginary friend - or is he? An assuredly written debut with a sinister vein. Loved it.
December 9, 2016
The further I got in this book the more un-put-downable it became! Would definitely recommend giving it a read.
February 24, 2017
Yes okay, it's about an imaginary friend. But this is an imaginary friend with a difference.. Or is he?
I really enjoyed this book, and am feeling withdrawal symptoms now I've finished it. Definitely worth a read.
I really enjoyed this book, and am feeling withdrawal symptoms now I've finished it. Definitely worth a read.
February 21, 2015
Alice was a neglected child, she was often lonely and had no friends. Fortunately she had Sam, who was always there to support her. Sam was an imaginary friend, but her grandmother could see him as well. The day Alice meets Rory she is less lonely and Sam has long disappeared. Ever since Rory has been her best friend and his family gives her the love and warmth she misses at home. Rory also has a very attractive brother. Alice is in love with Jonathan, but he doesn't see her that way.
When something terrible happens Alice's life changes dramatically. She wakes up in a hospital bed after a coma caused by a head injury. There has been an accident that has taken away the person she loved the most. Alice feels terribly alone, but fortunately Sam is back to support her. He looks, sounds and feels real, but he isn't the sweet boy Alice used to know. He's a grown man with opinions and wishes of his own. Should Alice be happy with his return or is she better off without him?
How to Make a Friend is a great novel with twisted family relationships. Alice's parents and sister greatly influence her character. She is insecure, while she's both pretty and talented, and she's used to taking care of herself. She doesn't ask for help, because she never used to get it. This makes her both really strong and fragile at the same time. That is a beautiful contrast. Love plays an important role in this book. Not only Alice's crush, but also the connection with Sam, the bond she has with Rory, the surrogate family she has, the love towards her own family, her passion for photography, etc. Every relationship is different and in all of them there's something that needs to be fixed. I liked the idea that everything in Alice's life is still a work in progress. The story is complicated and that's what makes it fabulous. For me a book doesn't have to be realistic, it's the marvellous thing about fiction that authors can play with what's real and what isn't. Fleur Smithwick has done that in such an impressive way. I loved How to Make a Friend, it's brilliant.
When something terrible happens Alice's life changes dramatically. She wakes up in a hospital bed after a coma caused by a head injury. There has been an accident that has taken away the person she loved the most. Alice feels terribly alone, but fortunately Sam is back to support her. He looks, sounds and feels real, but he isn't the sweet boy Alice used to know. He's a grown man with opinions and wishes of his own. Should Alice be happy with his return or is she better off without him?
How to Make a Friend is a great novel with twisted family relationships. Alice's parents and sister greatly influence her character. She is insecure, while she's both pretty and talented, and she's used to taking care of herself. She doesn't ask for help, because she never used to get it. This makes her both really strong and fragile at the same time. That is a beautiful contrast. Love plays an important role in this book. Not only Alice's crush, but also the connection with Sam, the bond she has with Rory, the surrogate family she has, the love towards her own family, her passion for photography, etc. Every relationship is different and in all of them there's something that needs to be fixed. I liked the idea that everything in Alice's life is still a work in progress. The story is complicated and that's what makes it fabulous. For me a book doesn't have to be realistic, it's the marvellous thing about fiction that authors can play with what's real and what isn't. Fleur Smithwick has done that in such an impressive way. I loved How to Make a Friend, it's brilliant.
February 25, 2016
I received this as a good reads giveaway.
A fabulous read! It was different, which made it so good and interesting. Who was Sam?
A very interesting read into the mind of some one else who experiences this different reality to those around and some great relationships with some difficult situations.
I could picture this so clearly!
A definite recommend
A fabulous read! It was different, which made it so good and interesting. Who was Sam?
A very interesting read into the mind of some one else who experiences this different reality to those around and some great relationships with some difficult situations.
I could picture this so clearly!
A definite recommend
May 21, 2015
Loved it
May 8, 2018
Alice has always found it hard to fit in. As a child she was used to being ignored by her older siblings and mother, and she found a sort of substitute family in Rory and his family.
As they grow older so many things change, but Alice never feels like she’s come to accept her feelings for her own family.
When she’s in a crash her best friend, Rory, dies and Alice is left bereft. Suddenly she can see her old childhood friend, Sam, again. He provides company and reassurance. But nobody can see him, and his presence now she’s an adult is more obsessive and threatening.
The story is about Alice coming to terms with herself and her relationships. There’s some interesting ideas about the role imaginary friends play in the lives of children, but ultimately it never really pushes any of the ideas quite far enough.
As they grow older so many things change, but Alice never feels like she’s come to accept her feelings for her own family.
When she’s in a crash her best friend, Rory, dies and Alice is left bereft. Suddenly she can see her old childhood friend, Sam, again. He provides company and reassurance. But nobody can see him, and his presence now she’s an adult is more obsessive and threatening.
The story is about Alice coming to terms with herself and her relationships. There’s some interesting ideas about the role imaginary friends play in the lives of children, but ultimately it never really pushes any of the ideas quite far enough.
August 21, 2016
Kurz vor Weihnachten habe ich das Buch beim Lovelybooks Gewinnspiel vom Verlag gewonnen. Nun habe ich es endlich gelesen.
Der Klappentext klang auf jeden Fall schon einmal sehr interessant so das ich auf die Geschichte gespannt war.
In Wo du auch bist geht’s um die Protagonistin Alice. Nach der Hochzeitsfeier von ihrem Vater ist sie mit Rory und seinem Lebensgefährten Daniel mit dem Auto auf dem Heimweg als ein schwerer Unfall passiert. Alice liegt daraufhin im Koma und wacht einige Zeit später wieder auf. An ihrer Seite sitzt Sam. Ein alter Bekannter, der sie schon zu Kinderzeiten begleitet hat und ihr immer Gesellschaft geleistet hat. Doch Sam ist kein Mensch, sondern ein imaginärer Freund. Jemand der nur in Gedanken lebt.
Sam ist ebenfalls gealtert und kein kleiner Junge mehr. So zumindest sieht ihn Alice. Denn andere Leute können ihn nicht sehen. Sam hilft ihr dabei, den Verlust um Rory zu verkraften. Langsam führt er sie ins Leben zurück. Ihre Familie kann die Sache um Sam nicht verstehen, bitten sie sich von einem Arzt untersuchen zu lassen bzw. einen Psychologen zu besuchen.
Dann taucht Jonathan wieder in ihrem Leben auf. Er ist verlobt und scheint kein Interesse an ihr zu haben. Doch Alice hat seit langer Zeit Gefühle für ihn. Sam sieht ihn als Gefahr an und will Alice davon abhalten das sie mit ihm Kontakt hält. Immer mehr mischt er sich in ihr Leben ein. Bis Alice erkennt, dass die Sache langsam sehr ernst wird.
Wenn ihr genaueres erfahren möchtet, dann lest dieses Buch einfach selbst.
Wo du auch bist war der Debütroman der Autorin Fleur Smithwick. Erst durch das Gewinnspiel bin ich auf dieses Buch aufmerksam geworden. Der Schreibstil der Autorin hat mir recht gut gefallen. Es ließ sich recht gut lesen.
Das Buch wird in der Ich-Form erzählt. Also erfährt man alles von Alice selbst. Es fängt in der Gegenwart an und gibt uns immer mal wieder Rückblenden in ihre Kindheit umso Alice mehr zu verstehen. Man erfährt so die Entstehung um Sam. Ebenfalls erfährt man in der Rückblende ihre erste Begegnung mit Jonathan.
Diese Rückblenden lassen einem das ganze noch besser verstehen. Manchmal fand ich es wirklich schwer mir vorzustellen das Sam nur ein imaginärer Freund sei. Die Beschreibungen von Alice waren so natürlich, so real. So das man glauben musste das Sam wirklich existiert und ein Mensch ist.
Das Buch ist in sich abgeschlossen, lässt aber noch Raum für eigene Spekulationen.
Zum Ende der Geschichte wurde es immer spannender um Alice und Sam. Schafft sie es ihn zu verdrängen oder gelingt es ihr nicht und wird er sie ihr Leben lang weiter begleiten? Fragen die zum Ende hin Auflösung fanden.
Ich hatte angenehme Lesestunden auch wenn mir manches um Sam herum nicht ganz eindeutig bzw. glaubhaft war.
Dem Buch vergebe ich 4 Sterne.
Der Klappentext klang auf jeden Fall schon einmal sehr interessant so das ich auf die Geschichte gespannt war.
In Wo du auch bist geht’s um die Protagonistin Alice. Nach der Hochzeitsfeier von ihrem Vater ist sie mit Rory und seinem Lebensgefährten Daniel mit dem Auto auf dem Heimweg als ein schwerer Unfall passiert. Alice liegt daraufhin im Koma und wacht einige Zeit später wieder auf. An ihrer Seite sitzt Sam. Ein alter Bekannter, der sie schon zu Kinderzeiten begleitet hat und ihr immer Gesellschaft geleistet hat. Doch Sam ist kein Mensch, sondern ein imaginärer Freund. Jemand der nur in Gedanken lebt.
Sam ist ebenfalls gealtert und kein kleiner Junge mehr. So zumindest sieht ihn Alice. Denn andere Leute können ihn nicht sehen. Sam hilft ihr dabei, den Verlust um Rory zu verkraften. Langsam führt er sie ins Leben zurück. Ihre Familie kann die Sache um Sam nicht verstehen, bitten sie sich von einem Arzt untersuchen zu lassen bzw. einen Psychologen zu besuchen.
Dann taucht Jonathan wieder in ihrem Leben auf. Er ist verlobt und scheint kein Interesse an ihr zu haben. Doch Alice hat seit langer Zeit Gefühle für ihn. Sam sieht ihn als Gefahr an und will Alice davon abhalten das sie mit ihm Kontakt hält. Immer mehr mischt er sich in ihr Leben ein. Bis Alice erkennt, dass die Sache langsam sehr ernst wird.
Wenn ihr genaueres erfahren möchtet, dann lest dieses Buch einfach selbst.
Wo du auch bist war der Debütroman der Autorin Fleur Smithwick. Erst durch das Gewinnspiel bin ich auf dieses Buch aufmerksam geworden. Der Schreibstil der Autorin hat mir recht gut gefallen. Es ließ sich recht gut lesen.
Das Buch wird in der Ich-Form erzählt. Also erfährt man alles von Alice selbst. Es fängt in der Gegenwart an und gibt uns immer mal wieder Rückblenden in ihre Kindheit umso Alice mehr zu verstehen. Man erfährt so die Entstehung um Sam. Ebenfalls erfährt man in der Rückblende ihre erste Begegnung mit Jonathan.
Diese Rückblenden lassen einem das ganze noch besser verstehen. Manchmal fand ich es wirklich schwer mir vorzustellen das Sam nur ein imaginärer Freund sei. Die Beschreibungen von Alice waren so natürlich, so real. So das man glauben musste das Sam wirklich existiert und ein Mensch ist.
Das Buch ist in sich abgeschlossen, lässt aber noch Raum für eigene Spekulationen.
Zum Ende der Geschichte wurde es immer spannender um Alice und Sam. Schafft sie es ihn zu verdrängen oder gelingt es ihr nicht und wird er sie ihr Leben lang weiter begleiten? Fragen die zum Ende hin Auflösung fanden.
Ich hatte angenehme Lesestunden auch wenn mir manches um Sam herum nicht ganz eindeutig bzw. glaubhaft war.
Dem Buch vergebe ich 4 Sterne.
January 3, 2016
Here we have a story of an imaginary friend, who was a life saver when Alice was a young girl but who had gone away some time ago, only to reappear, this time as an adult, after she was involved in a near-death road accident. But it soon becomes clear that this new version of the imaginary friend has a different agenda second time around.
This is a clever reworking of the idea of someone who is not real seeming to take on a life of its own and becoming only too real. When I was reading this novel I found myself thinking about the first (and only decent version) of 'The Nightmare on Elm Street' horror franchise. In the original Freddy only appeared when people were sleeping, he was a result and a consequence of their very worst nightmares coming to life.
Sam isn't as threatening, at first. But we soon come to realise that the reason for his reappearance is the same as when Alice was a young girl with an imagination. Her parents weren't child abusers but they were not the 'always there' kind either. The age difference between Alice and her siblings meant they were selfish and ignored her, treating her merely as a nuisance. The knock on effect of all this was that Alice wasn't one to make friends with children of her own age and so Sam had to be invented.
Although it's the accident that causes him to re-appear we soon learn that Alice isn't much more stable and confident a young woman as she was a little girl playing in the garden and the tree house. Added to this insecurity is her feeling of guilt over the accident. In the past she could command Sam. He only did what she wanted him to do but the new Sam is more independent, too independent. And that inability to 'switch off' Sam starts to frighten Alice and makes her doubt her own sanity.
Sometimes I felt that matters were being strung out a bit but generally I liked the way the dilemma was played out. The book's well written and the characters seem real, even the un-real one.
One quibble I have is that I didn't find the episode in the interrogation room of a police station convincing. It just didn't feel right. She was too naïve even for the insecure person she was.
I also think the ending slightly suspect. If it had finished before the epilogue then we could have made up our own minds what might have been the outcome at the river. However, by adding the Epilogue Smithwick starts to go against some of her own arguments throughout the book for the existence of imaginary friends. Surely Alice would have been thinking 'once bitten, twice shy' when Alexander appeared?
This is a clever reworking of the idea of someone who is not real seeming to take on a life of its own and becoming only too real. When I was reading this novel I found myself thinking about the first (and only decent version) of 'The Nightmare on Elm Street' horror franchise. In the original Freddy only appeared when people were sleeping, he was a result and a consequence of their very worst nightmares coming to life.
Sam isn't as threatening, at first. But we soon come to realise that the reason for his reappearance is the same as when Alice was a young girl with an imagination. Her parents weren't child abusers but they were not the 'always there' kind either. The age difference between Alice and her siblings meant they were selfish and ignored her, treating her merely as a nuisance. The knock on effect of all this was that Alice wasn't one to make friends with children of her own age and so Sam had to be invented.
Although it's the accident that causes him to re-appear we soon learn that Alice isn't much more stable and confident a young woman as she was a little girl playing in the garden and the tree house. Added to this insecurity is her feeling of guilt over the accident. In the past she could command Sam. He only did what she wanted him to do but the new Sam is more independent, too independent. And that inability to 'switch off' Sam starts to frighten Alice and makes her doubt her own sanity.
Sometimes I felt that matters were being strung out a bit but generally I liked the way the dilemma was played out. The book's well written and the characters seem real, even the un-real one.
One quibble I have is that I didn't find the episode in the interrogation room of a police station convincing. It just didn't feel right. She was too naïve even for the insecure person she was.
I also think the ending slightly suspect. If it had finished before the epilogue then we could have made up our own minds what might have been the outcome at the river. However, by adding the Epilogue Smithwick starts to go against some of her own arguments throughout the book for the existence of imaginary friends. Surely Alice would have been thinking 'once bitten, twice shy' when Alexander appeared?
October 20, 2015
This is a NetGalley book and I requested it because I liked what I read on the blurb and I’m glad that I did, though, when it comes to defining a genre, I don't know where to put it. It has a lot of different elements in it. But that was no bad thing.
When Alice is young, she has an invisible friend but as often happens, she grows up and her friend, Sam, leaves. But after that awful night, he reappears much to her confusion. The book follows Alice and her difficulty managing to have an invisible friend in the real world where the likelihood is that she is having a traumatic event happen in her life and he is not real. Mental illness is explored as is friendship, grief, loss and love. But it’s not as simple as that as Sam (her invisible friend) seems to have a lot at stake in their friendship and their relationship deteriorates. This is where the supernatural and crime come into play. It’s not overt in what it does. It’s very subtle and gets under your skin just enough. It’s a book that will keep you guessing and when you close it, will just leave you with enough of a weird feeling that you will continue to think about it for a little while afterwards.
I also liked the way Smithwick writes. I liked the tone. I was quickly settled and turning the pages and that’s not easy at the minute as you know because finding books that are holding my attention span at this time as I go through a reading blip is hard and Smithwick writes with a style I enjoyed.
I’m glad I picked this one up. I really enjoyed it and would pick up the next book by Smithwick.
When Alice is young, she has an invisible friend but as often happens, she grows up and her friend, Sam, leaves. But after that awful night, he reappears much to her confusion. The book follows Alice and her difficulty managing to have an invisible friend in the real world where the likelihood is that she is having a traumatic event happen in her life and he is not real. Mental illness is explored as is friendship, grief, loss and love. But it’s not as simple as that as Sam (her invisible friend) seems to have a lot at stake in their friendship and their relationship deteriorates. This is where the supernatural and crime come into play. It’s not overt in what it does. It’s very subtle and gets under your skin just enough. It’s a book that will keep you guessing and when you close it, will just leave you with enough of a weird feeling that you will continue to think about it for a little while afterwards.
I also liked the way Smithwick writes. I liked the tone. I was quickly settled and turning the pages and that’s not easy at the minute as you know because finding books that are holding my attention span at this time as I go through a reading blip is hard and Smithwick writes with a style I enjoyed.
I’m glad I picked this one up. I really enjoyed it and would pick up the next book by Smithwick.
February 2, 2015
Alice’s parents divorced when she was two, her photographer father moving out and leaving her in the dubious care of her mother, a narcissistic former model. Shunned by her elder siblings, and friendless at school, Alice takes refuge in her imaginary friend. Sam is always available when she needs him but, of course, she eventually grows out of her childish attachment, finding a real friend in her mid teens in Rory and his glamorous older brother, Jonathan. Ten years on, Alice is driving Rory and his partner, Daniel, back from her father’s wedding, when a lorry crashes into them. She wakes up from a three-week coma to find Sam at her bedside, her imaginary friend grown-up. As she tries to regain a normal life, Sam proves to be both a comfort and an embarrassment: no-one else can see or hear him and friends and family are bemused when she talks to him in public. Of course they’re concerned for her sanity but, as Sam develops his own identity, that could be the least of her problems. Sam becomes as dependent upon her as she is on him and, regardless of her own desires, he wants her for himself.
Full review http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdo...
Full review http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdo...
May 28, 2015
A gripping and emotionally involving story of loneliness and the power of the mind. Sam, Alice’s imaginary friend from her childhood, reappears when she suffers a tragic car accident in which her best friend is killed. She knows he can’t be real, yet she can see, hear and feel him. Not only does she have to come to terms with this, but with the fact that he gets increasingly possessive and malevolent. The fine line between psychology and her belief in and fear of a supernatural phenomenon is brilliantly handled and makes for a compelling read. And more than this, around the suspense of the phenomenon of Sam, and of Alice’s own reactions and those of her friends and family, Fleur Smithwick also gives a very insightful exploration of the effects that a dysfunctional family, a troubled childhood and lonely present can have.
June 11, 2015
Twenty-something Alice has all but forgotten her childhood friend, Sam. Why wouldn’t she - he was an imaginary friend, one who helped her cope with life in her dysfunctional family. However as she recuperates from a tragic accident many years later, Sam returns. Although older and disturbingly attractive, he is just as comforting to her as before. Yet why has he reappeared? Is he a mere figment of her imagination or something more sinister? And what does he want? This exploration of loneliness, guilt, relationships and the power of the mind is a gripping psychological thriller that had me reading long into the night before reaching its very satisfying conclusion. A sparkling debut.
November 21, 2015
I think I'm psychologically disturbed ... in fact I'm certain!
Anyone who has ever had an imaginary friend (or a slightly dubious real one for that matter), myself included, will now balk at the how/what/why?
Theories are thrown left, right and centre in this exceptionally written psychological thriller.
I laughed, I cried and I speed read great chunks of text chasing the perfect conclusion which inevitably never materialised!!
An emotional, brilliant and exhausting read ... I may have to take a night or two off - just to recover!
Fleur has a literary talent that I'd love to tap into ... but in the meantime, I'll revel in the enjoyment of what she delivers to the page.
Anyone who has ever had an imaginary friend (or a slightly dubious real one for that matter), myself included, will now balk at the how/what/why?
Theories are thrown left, right and centre in this exceptionally written psychological thriller.
I laughed, I cried and I speed read great chunks of text chasing the perfect conclusion which inevitably never materialised!!
An emotional, brilliant and exhausting read ... I may have to take a night or two off - just to recover!
Fleur has a literary talent that I'd love to tap into ... but in the meantime, I'll revel in the enjoyment of what she delivers to the page.
November 18, 2015
Friendships and families are more complicated than we can always understand. Alice grows up from a lonely child to a confused adult; she had an imaginary friend, Sam, whom she thought she had left behind. Sam, though, has not gone away and returns to Alice's life after a terrible accident. This book is much darker than you might expect; it looks at the complexity of friendships and family ties and has an uncanny ability to tap into what lies beneath the surface. It springs some dark surprises and you are never quite sure who to believe, while pulling off the difficult trick of making an imaginary friend seem all too real.
January 21, 2016
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Woah...... what?
Okay, so most of this book bored me, I'll be honest with that. Didn't relate much to the characters or loved any of them, but overall a gripping mind-freaking read that gave me goosebumps, not gonna lie. If it hadn't been for that ending, I would have given this just 2 stars. This is so creepy sometimes, and THIS is what I call a good example of "unreliable narrator".
Woah...... what?
Okay, so most of this book bored me, I'll be honest with that. Didn't relate much to the characters or loved any of them, but overall a gripping mind-freaking read that gave me goosebumps, not gonna lie. If it hadn't been for that ending, I would have given this just 2 stars. This is so creepy sometimes, and THIS is what I call a good example of "unreliable narrator".
April 13, 2016
This was such a clever, compelling and surprisingly dark story about loneliness, grief and guilt. The premise of an imaginary friend (or is he?) who might actually be murderous and is definitely sinister is so original. Beautifully written, I was really moved by the narrator, Alice. You could see why she would want an imaginary friend after her upbringing. And what an ending! A brilliant story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2015
I read this book in just a couple of days, and loved it. The characters were really well drawn and the way the tension slowly mounts had me turning the pages. And oh, that epilogue! I wasn't expecting that at all.
February 14, 2016
Instant favorite because of personal and completely biased reason.
Also I love Sam so much it hurts, no matter how infuriating he is sometimes. And I'm probably as fucked up in the head as Alice lmao she's so relatable.
Also I love Sam so much it hurts, no matter how infuriating he is sometimes. And I'm probably as fucked up in the head as Alice lmao she's so relatable.
July 3, 2015
I loved this book. I stayed up all night just to finish it. Even though this wasn't the sort of book I usually read, the title grabbed me I couldn't put it down!
Read
February 12, 2016Unnerving...
A fantastic gripping psychological thriller. Unnerving at times. A story I had to get to the bottom of. Well done!
A fantastic gripping psychological thriller. Unnerving at times. A story I had to get to the bottom of. Well done!
November 24, 2016
It's that good that I just couldn't put it down!
August 6, 2018
Die Geschichte um Alice und ihren Freund Sam, den niemand sonst sehen kann, hat sich extrem vielversprechend für mich angehört. Die Thematik fand ich sehr interessant und überhaupt hatte ich davor nie eine Geschichte mit diesem Thema gelesen. Leider wurde ich etwas enttäuscht.
Das Buch ist okay, hat allerdings viele dahinplätschernde Passagen, in denen nicht wirklich etwas passiert ist und hat sich daher häufiger gezogen. Alice war in meinen Augen auch nicht sehr sympatisch und teilweise hatte ich Probleme, die Charaktere zuzuordnen, die auftauchten. Es gibt auch spannende Abschnitte, aber die waren immer sehr schnell vorbei und vor allem das Ende war zum Einen unrealistisch (und damit meine ich nicht in Bezug auf Sam) und zum anderen zu dramatisch. Außerdem hätte sich die Autorin den Epilog sparen können, diesen konnte ich gar nicht mehr zuordnen.
Positiv aufgefallen sind mit die Rückblenden, die darstellen, wie Alice Kindheit war und ihre Beziehung zu Jonathan betreffen.
Des Weiteren sind mit zu viele Fragen offen geblieben.
Das Buch hätte deutlich stimmiger sein können, manches hätte von Anfang an etwas anders dargestellt sein sollen, damit es am Ende nicht ganz so ausartet aber es war viel Potential da.
Das Buch ist okay, hat allerdings viele dahinplätschernde Passagen, in denen nicht wirklich etwas passiert ist und hat sich daher häufiger gezogen. Alice war in meinen Augen auch nicht sehr sympatisch und teilweise hatte ich Probleme, die Charaktere zuzuordnen, die auftauchten. Es gibt auch spannende Abschnitte, aber die waren immer sehr schnell vorbei und vor allem das Ende war zum Einen unrealistisch (und damit meine ich nicht in Bezug auf Sam) und zum anderen zu dramatisch. Außerdem hätte sich die Autorin den Epilog sparen können, diesen konnte ich gar nicht mehr zuordnen.
Positiv aufgefallen sind mit die Rückblenden, die darstellen, wie Alice Kindheit war und ihre Beziehung zu Jonathan betreffen.
Des Weiteren sind mit zu viele Fragen offen geblieben.
Das Buch hätte deutlich stimmiger sein können, manches hätte von Anfang an etwas anders dargestellt sein sollen, damit es am Ende nicht ganz so ausartet aber es war viel Potential da.
August 31, 2019
Once I got used to the style of writing and the way that some chapters were recapping history, I got really involved with this book. The way the main character explores the 'friendship' with ther imaginary friend is interesting. It's got hints of a thriller as you're never sure where the imagination begins or ends. As a summer read, I'd recommend it.
June 5, 2018
I wish there were more books like this! Spine-chilling, nail biting and a pinch of romance.
I really enjoyed the story.
I really enjoyed the story.
December 6, 2018
This book was a bit darker than I expected but an interesting story none the less. The ending can be interpreted many different ways.
January 1, 2023
Well this book is exactly the kind of thing I would love to write 🙈
Want to read
April 6, 2023It's nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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