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jwood_1's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
It was ok. I don’t normally read chick lit but this was a gift. Amelia is self absorbed and annoying, just not for me. Did enjoy the mood board descriptions hence 2.5
bobinsbooknook's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I was looking forward to a cosy autumnal read to break from some of the more intense reads I’ve had recently.
Sadly I just didn’t enjoy this book - the main character Amelia, I really didn’t care for. I found her to be quite selfish and naive making choices in ways that just didn’t make sense.
The plot lines in the book felt semi-cooked and then a rushed resolved at the end.
Even the core plot line of the renovation, whilst detailed didn’t really carry any real intrigue in things going wrong? Of the few challenges faced, they hardly caused a hiccup which just meant it very lack-luster.
The only saving grace for me was actually enjoyed the story line for some of the sub-characters (E.g Eleanor & Mirabel)
The plot line about the mysterious child Sarah was so lack lustre and didn’t really have any presence throughout the story - just small titbits which felt pretty forgetful to be honest. Only at the end did it feel like anything worth reading.
Amelia not wanting a child was never really explained as to why she felt that way so rushing to this change of heart at the end just feels out of character and kinda BS!
Also some of the choices just felt remarkably unrealistic - quitting your job before finalising a mortgage? Buying a house on a solo salary and then not securing any proper work in the interim? Spending beyond a budget without speaking to a long term partner? Randomly telling a friend that she might fancy another guy despite never properly acknowledging the situation? Just made the main character come across as self-absorbed, stupid and just unlikeable.
Sadly I just didn’t enjoy this book - the main character Amelia, I really didn’t care for. I found her to be quite selfish and naive making choices in ways that just didn’t make sense.
The plot lines in the book felt semi-cooked and then a rushed resolved at the end.
Even the core plot line of the renovation, whilst detailed didn’t really carry any real intrigue in things going wrong? Of the few challenges faced, they hardly caused a hiccup which just meant it very lack-luster.
The only saving grace for me was actually enjoyed the story line for some of the sub-characters (E.g Eleanor & Mirabel)
Amelia not wanting a child was never really explained as to why she felt that way so rushing to this change of heart at the end just feels out of character and kinda BS!
Also some of the choices just felt remarkably unrealistic - quitting your job before finalising a mortgage? Buying a house on a solo salary and then not securing any proper work in the interim? Spending beyond a budget without speaking to a long term partner? Randomly telling a friend that she might fancy another guy despite never properly acknowledging the situation? Just made the main character come across as self-absorbed, stupid and just unlikeable.
missredreads20's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
desiree_boom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
stellawenny's review
2.0
This book isn't for me. I really wanted to like this book because of that beautiful cover. But apparently this kind of chicklit isn't for me. I like all that home renovation ideas, but I couldn't relate or connect with the story or the characters. Jack is nice, but when he left Amelia just like that, I just can't. And I just don't understand Amelia at all, but well what do I know about being a wife.
leahmichelle_13's review
3.0
When I received my copy of Abby Clements’ new novel Amelia Grey’s Fireside Dreams I was so excited. She’s such a popular author since her debut novel was released last year, and I was really looking forward to reading the novel. I haven’t actually read any of Abby’s books yet, although I did manage to read her Christmas novella that was released last year called The Christmas Bake Off and I was massively impressed with it. I had high expectations for Amelia Grey’s Fireside Dreams, but sadly, it wasn’t as fun as I expected it to be…
I really love the idea of home improvements and I love shows like DIY SOS so I was really pleased to see the plot of Amelia Grey was about a house renovation. I imagined it would be something like the film The Money Pit, a quirky, funny read, but it was a bit more serious and a lot less fun than I expected. The novel just seemed to motor on, ticking all the Chick Lit boxes as it did so and I was never really 100% vested in the novel, I wasn’t bothered if Amelia and Jack would make it through the renovations unscathed or if their cottage would ever be finished. Amelia could have been such a great character, but I felt like she never really came to life for me. She just seemed so flat and uninspiring. I totally get that home renovations are difficult, and money can be tight etc and in that regard the novel was very realistic and I appreciated how much strain can be put on a marriage when there’s a cottage to totally gut and put back together, but I dunno I just found myself not as interested as I wanted to be in the novel.
Amelia Grey’s Fireside Dreams will undoubtedly have its fans, because it is the perfect book to curl up with during the Winter months (or what passes as Winter months in Tenerife! :) ) I just appear to be in a bit of a reading slump recently, and I think I need some kind of butt-kicking book, something absolutely shocking to pull me out of my slump and this one wasn’t it. Which is a massive shame, actually. Abby is such a popular author and it is a solid novel, and I did finish it in the day, it just didn’t capture me the way I wanted it to, I wasn’t overtly interested in Amelia or Jack, although I did enjoy reading about the house being renovated, I did like to imagine all the colours being painted on the walls, and the beautiful claw-footed bath tub. It just didn’t work for me, really. It was OK and it ticked all of the boxes, it just didn’t blow me away and currently I’m trying to find a book that will blow me away, because I need something like that to jolt me out of my reading slump.
I really love the idea of home improvements and I love shows like DIY SOS so I was really pleased to see the plot of Amelia Grey was about a house renovation. I imagined it would be something like the film The Money Pit, a quirky, funny read, but it was a bit more serious and a lot less fun than I expected. The novel just seemed to motor on, ticking all the Chick Lit boxes as it did so and I was never really 100% vested in the novel, I wasn’t bothered if Amelia and Jack would make it through the renovations unscathed or if their cottage would ever be finished. Amelia could have been such a great character, but I felt like she never really came to life for me. She just seemed so flat and uninspiring. I totally get that home renovations are difficult, and money can be tight etc and in that regard the novel was very realistic and I appreciated how much strain can be put on a marriage when there’s a cottage to totally gut and put back together, but I dunno I just found myself not as interested as I wanted to be in the novel.
Amelia Grey’s Fireside Dreams will undoubtedly have its fans, because it is the perfect book to curl up with during the Winter months (or what passes as Winter months in Tenerife! :) ) I just appear to be in a bit of a reading slump recently, and I think I need some kind of butt-kicking book, something absolutely shocking to pull me out of my slump and this one wasn’t it. Which is a massive shame, actually. Abby is such a popular author and it is a solid novel, and I did finish it in the day, it just didn’t capture me the way I wanted it to, I wasn’t overtly interested in Amelia or Jack, although I did enjoy reading about the house being renovated, I did like to imagine all the colours being painted on the walls, and the beautiful claw-footed bath tub. It just didn’t work for me, really. It was OK and it ticked all of the boxes, it just didn’t blow me away and currently I’m trying to find a book that will blow me away, because I need something like that to jolt me out of my reading slump.