There's No Place Like Here by cecelia ahern

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

If you're in search of a lighthearted book that delves into the theme of self-discovery, then this is the one for you.

It's truly a feel-good read that explores our tendency to fixate on the little things as a means of distraction from truly helping ourselves. We convince ourselves that by engaging in these small distractions, we are somehow bettering ourselves.

I couldn't put this book down. I was completely captivated by the characters, even though at times they seemed a bit odd and overly quirky to be real individuals. The story was an easy and enjoyable read, and it wasn't so much a love story as it was about people's longing for closure. They discovered that finding the answers to their questions brought a newfound sense of life back into their lives. However, while I do agree that closure can put an end to some questions, I don't necessarily believe that finding closure will automatically lead to self-discovery. That's one aspect of the book with which I take issue.

The book also touches on various topics such as friends and family we've lost touch with, the home we often take for granted, and the people in our lives. I really appreciate how everything was woven together in a light and effortless manner, making it the perfect read for a night when you just need to lift your spirits.

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AnindyaDey

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

How would a childhood tragedy impact your formative years? For Sandy Short, it led to her developing OCD regarding lost items after a classmate vanished at the age of ten. The disappearance of things deeply troubles Sandy, and her parents are at their wits' end due to her constant need to find what is amiss. Sandy is connected with a counselor at school, but her search never ceases. Consequently, her job as a police officer in the missing person department suits her well.

Of course, there are several individuals she never locates, and these people weigh heavily on her, causing her to constantly follow up on leads in the hope of uncovering something new. Now, introduce another person, Jack, whose brother has been missing for a year. He contacts Sandy for help, and after a brief encounter... Sandy goes missing. Jack is now the one attempting to find Sandy, and in the process, he discovers the whereabouts of his brother.

On the other hand, as readers, we learn where all the missing items and people end up. Sandy has found them. We know that the movie Wizard of Oz comes into play here, but to what extent? Has Sandy discovered a wormhole or perhaps a rabbit hole of reality? Is there a tear in the space-time continuum? So many possibilities exist... Sandy finds many on her list of missing, including the first person to disappear in her life, but not Donald. Was it a mere accident, a whimsical dream, or a coma-like state that heightens her conscious brainwaves?

Sandy's therapist pleads with her to accept the losses and attend meetings for OCD individuals, and she does so for him, but still, she has always searched for the many who remain unfound. I believe that in the end... Sandy realizes that her joys are right before her eyes, and she should count her blessings.

There were numerous aspects to consider while reading this story. Time, relationships, people, consequences, acceptance, death, grief, and closure. This story seamlessly transitions from the past to the present throughout, flowing with a magical quality.

Where do those missing socks go???

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labib_11

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

After hearing an interview with Cecilia Ahern on a radio book show, I was intrigued to explore her work.

It wasn't the sort of book I would typically gravitate towards, yet given her status as a highly successful author, my curiosity was piqued to discover the nature of her stories.

The concept presented was indeed interesting, and at certain moments, the story had the power to move one.

In essence, the story revolved around losing aspects of ourselves and the subsequent need to locate them and bring them back to our hearts, in order to feel whole once more.

It was a clever addition to reference "The Wizard of Oz" within the story, aligning neatly with the book's theme.

However, it was like fast food for the brain. It was addictive and easy to consume, but lacked any real nourishment.

It was a real page-turner, compelling me to uncover what would transpire next, yet I didn't relish the journey, only the destination when all the mysteries had been解开.

I didn't have much affection for the character of Sandy Shortt or her creepy doctor/high school counsellor/lover.

I have no desire to spend any more time recollecting this book. I haven't gained any wisdom from it.

Life is simply too short to invest in novels that don't stimulate my intellect and expand my perspective.

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pennylessz

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I have always been deeply enamored with the concept of uncovering what has been lost.

Searching for answers, even in the face of what appears to be insurmountable odds, holds a certain allure for me.

The reality that we can lose people in the blink of an eye, or conversely, find them with equal speed, or even discover ourselves while simultaneously losing something, is truly thought-provoking.

It makes one stop and ponder the unpredictable nature of life and the various ways in which our experiences can shape us.

Whether it's the physical act of searching for a lost item or the more profound exploration of our inner selves and relationships, the idea of finding what is lost offers a sense of hope and possibility.

It reminds us that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there is always the potential for discovery and growth.

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StarfleetCpt

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

This novel had the potential to be truly remarkable, yet I was left feeling both frustrated and disappointed by the ending of the book.

I firmly believe that Ahern could have crafted a much more powerful conclusion. Instead, it remains rather ambiguous, with a conclusion that seems to be hanging in midair. The concept of a place where all missing objects and people go is indeed intriguing. However, at times, I found myself laughing at the naive idea of all these missing individuals from around the world, speaking different languages, living together in perfect peace and harmony within a self-sustaining community, with freshly baked doughnuts arriving daily courtesy of absent-minded delivery boys and so on.

At certain moments, I became really bored with the novel as it felt more like a fairytale story intended for children rather than a book for adults.

The relationship between the main character, Sandy, and her psychiatrist, Gregory, appeared completely implausible and unrealistic. There simply wasn't sufficient time dedicated to exploring how this romantic relationship could have developed. In fact, Ahern seemed to hint throughout that Sandy would ultimately end up with Jack Ruttle, that they somehow "connected." I eagerly awaited the big reunion at the end, but was left with nothing. Jack returned to the girlfriend he no longer loved, and Sandy went back to the guy who had given up on her.

And what about all the other missing people trapped in "Here"? Why didn't they also get found? Clearly, many of the people trapped there, especially Bobby, desired to escape and return home to their families and friends. Why was Sandy the only one to return home?

I truly believe that Cecelia Ahern would be far better suited to writing for children. She possesses a great imagination and comes up with engaging storylines, but her writing style is rather naive and immature.

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razlaz

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

At the beginning, I really had problems getting into the story and Sandy was anything but likeable to me.

After 50 pages, I was also a bit unsure whether I should continue reading because I even found it a little creepy.

In the end, I did continue reading because it interested me and I wanted to know what would happen next.

After that, reading became much easier for me and I also got along much better with Sandy.

I'm not really a big fan of novels and I also had no idea what it was about, but since I had already read books by Cecilia Ahern, I wanted to give it a try and I wasn't disappointed.

I think the story is really beautiful, it gives a lot of comfort and hope and I can definitely recommend it.

Nevertheless, I'm still not a big fan of novels and wouldn't read it again.

Well-intentioned 3.5/5.

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Gruzownik

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I exchanged this book with another Cecelia's book from my colleague a few years ago. At that time, she was still working with me. However, later she resigned and we haven't seen each other anymore. One day, out of the blue, I thought of her and decided to contact her through FB. I told her that it might be better if we just keep the book to ourselves and there was no need to return each other's book.

Oh well, finally, I managed to read this book! It's really amazing. I couldn't help but wonder why I never picked this book before. It has the kind of magic that only Cecelia Ahern could do. Her writing style is so unique and captivating.

So basically, the story is about a girl named Sandy Shortt. She runs a missing person agency, which is quite an interesting profession. But then, something unexpected happens. She herself suddenly goes missing in a place called Here. It makes me really curious about what will happen next in the story and how Sandy's disappearance will be resolved.

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soumako

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I have read half of this book.

To be honest, the writing style, the characters, and the world described in it were extremely one-dimensional.

It felt as if everything was so flat and lacked depth that I simply didn't think it was worth spending more time to finish it.

However, the story did have a slightly intriguing aspect to it.

So, on the advice of another review, I decided to skip to the end to find out what happened.

Overall, it is definitely an easy read, but in my opinion, it is not worth the time and effort.

I would not recommend this book to others who are looking for a more engaging and thought-provoking read.

There are many other books out there that offer a more丰富 and satisfying reading experience.

Perhaps I was expecting too much from this book, but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations.

Maybe others will have a different opinion, but for me, it was a disappointment.

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There's No Place Like Here

cecelia ahern

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cecelia ahern

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