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Your Perfect Year
For hyper-particular publishing heir Jonathan Grief, the day starts like any other - with a strict morning fitness regimen that'll keep his divorced, easily irritated, cynical, forty-two-year-old self in absolutely flawless physical condition. But all it takes to put a crimp in his routine is one small annoyance. Someone has left a leather-bound day planner with the handwritten title 'Your Perfect Year' in "his" spot on "his" mountain bike at "his" fitness course!
Determined to discover its owner, Jonathan opens the calendar to find that someone known only as "H." has filled it with suggestions, tasks, and affirmative actions for each day. The more he devotes himself to locating the elusive H., the deeper Jonathan is drawn into some else's rich and generous narrative - and into an attitude adjustment he desperately needs.
He may have ended up with a perfect year by accident, but it seems fate has set Jonathan on a path toward healing, feeling, and maybe even loving again. . .if only he can meet the stranger who's changing his life one day at a time.
©2019 by Charlotte Lucas, (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Determined to discover its owner, Jonathan opens the calendar to find that someone known only as "H." has filled it with suggestions, tasks, and affirmative actions for each day. The more he devotes himself to locating the elusive H., the deeper Jonathan is drawn into some else's rich and generous narrative - and into an attitude adjustment he desperately needs.
He may have ended up with a perfect year by accident, but it seems fate has set Jonathan on a path toward healing, feeling, and maybe even loving again. . .if only he can meet the stranger who's changing his life one day at a time.
©2019 by Charlotte Lucas, (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
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First published August 3, 2016
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About the author
Charlotte Lucas
14books99followersCharlotte Lucas ist das Pseudonym von Wiebke Lorenz. Geboren und aufgewachsen in Düsseldorf, studierte sie in Trier Germanistik, Anglistik und Medienwissenschaft und lebt heute in Hamburg. Gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester schreibt sie unter dem Pseudonym Anne Hertz Bestseller mit Millionenauflage. Auch ihre Psychothriller „Allerliebste Schwester�, „Alles muss versteckt sein� und „Bald ruhest du auch� sind bei Kritik und Publikum höchst erfolgreich. Mit „Dein perfektes Jahr� begibt sie sich auf die Suche nach den Antworten auf die großen und kleinen Fragen des Lebens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,004 reviews
December 28, 2020
Two stars lost in translation and last minute insertion of reluctantly patched romance parts! So I’m giving for three stars just for the idea of creating a diary to tell the people how to enjoy their lives, living it fulfilled, enjoying and feeling each moment, seizing everything they’ve experienced.
Maybe after seeing the cover I keen on reading something soft, swoony and relaxing but what I found out is a heavy dramatic book, with suffocating heavy issues like death, fatal illness, suicide, alcoholism, dementia! I wanted to drop the book and say “thanks, I had enough!� but as you know my stubbornness about not easily give a decision to dnf a book, you may imagine I continue reading but I also made so many frustration uhkhhhh, uhhhh, ooooo sounds!
At the end we see some romantic parts on the book which made me question them because it’s hard to believe only see a woman twice and think you found your soul mate. ( if we don’t watch a soap opera or last disaster Netflix rom-com movies) The hero and heroine’s reluctant chemistry and forced romantic attraction is not credible and satisfying for me! Maybe the book lost its real meaningful words to help me connect with the characters and love journeys because of the translation.
Maybe my timing was not right enough to read this book because I craved for some chic lit romance and not so ready to deal with dramatic, heart-wrenching issues.
So let’s talk about the stories and characters:
There are two stories in this book are told separately. Hannah is in love and all set for romantic dinner with his soon to be fiancée (She thinks he will propose at that very same night)
Unfortunately she doesn’t get the offer she’d dreamt of. Her boyfriend leaves her. (Please don’t curse at him or keep your ugly remarks before learn the truth!) Later Hannah finds out he’s suffering from Leukemia and he has only one year left to live (I told you not to be judgmental, didn’t I?) So Hannah gives him a diary about some daily suggestions to enjoy simple things of life which gives him pure happiness and positivity he needs for the last days of his life.
Other story is about Jonathan. Grumpy, whining, pessimist young man recently inherits father’s publishing company, divorced three years ago but he still feels bitter, resented. His daily habit is riding his bike to the park, locking it in the rack then going for a jog. But one day, he finds out the diary on his bike. The dairy filled in suggestions about how to enjoy your daily life and find happiness from small things. It is called: “A Perfect Year�
As you can imagine, at the end the stories intercepted but you can also imagine I didn’t enjoy the outcome so much. It was so predictable and cheesy for me. But I still like the idea to keep a journal about daily life’s small things bring us real happiness and put a big smile on our faces.
Let’s say, this is I don’t like it but I also didn’t hate it kind of book. It’s not fair for me to right negative things about the book. That’s not just my cup of Chardonnay. That’s all!
Special thanks to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for sharing this Arc Copy in exchange my honest review.
Maybe after seeing the cover I keen on reading something soft, swoony and relaxing but what I found out is a heavy dramatic book, with suffocating heavy issues like death, fatal illness, suicide, alcoholism, dementia! I wanted to drop the book and say “thanks, I had enough!� but as you know my stubbornness about not easily give a decision to dnf a book, you may imagine I continue reading but I also made so many frustration uhkhhhh, uhhhh, ooooo sounds!
At the end we see some romantic parts on the book which made me question them because it’s hard to believe only see a woman twice and think you found your soul mate. ( if we don’t watch a soap opera or last disaster Netflix rom-com movies) The hero and heroine’s reluctant chemistry and forced romantic attraction is not credible and satisfying for me! Maybe the book lost its real meaningful words to help me connect with the characters and love journeys because of the translation.
Maybe my timing was not right enough to read this book because I craved for some chic lit romance and not so ready to deal with dramatic, heart-wrenching issues.
So let’s talk about the stories and characters:
There are two stories in this book are told separately. Hannah is in love and all set for romantic dinner with his soon to be fiancée (She thinks he will propose at that very same night)
Unfortunately she doesn’t get the offer she’d dreamt of. Her boyfriend leaves her. (Please don’t curse at him or keep your ugly remarks before learn the truth!) Later Hannah finds out he’s suffering from Leukemia and he has only one year left to live (I told you not to be judgmental, didn’t I?) So Hannah gives him a diary about some daily suggestions to enjoy simple things of life which gives him pure happiness and positivity he needs for the last days of his life.
Other story is about Jonathan. Grumpy, whining, pessimist young man recently inherits father’s publishing company, divorced three years ago but he still feels bitter, resented. His daily habit is riding his bike to the park, locking it in the rack then going for a jog. But one day, he finds out the diary on his bike. The dairy filled in suggestions about how to enjoy your daily life and find happiness from small things. It is called: “A Perfect Year�
As you can imagine, at the end the stories intercepted but you can also imagine I didn’t enjoy the outcome so much. It was so predictable and cheesy for me. But I still like the idea to keep a journal about daily life’s small things bring us real happiness and put a big smile on our faces.
Let’s say, this is I don’t like it but I also didn’t hate it kind of book. It’s not fair for me to right negative things about the book. That’s not just my cup of Chardonnay. That’s all!
Special thanks to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for sharing this Arc Copy in exchange my honest review.
August 4, 2020
I rarely read romances but this one turned out to be an easy and enjoyable read. Of course it was predictable. Romances usually are. Just put forward two main characters and then put as many obstacles in their way as you can until it appears they will never get together. And then they do.
This is exactly what happens in . What makes this book fun though is the way the author keeps the two main characters separate. Every time they come close fate intervenes and yet their lives are heavily intertwined all the way through. Add to this several very appealing characters, some clever dialogue and a fitting ending and you have a good book to help pass away a few pleasant hours.
This is exactly what happens in . What makes this book fun though is the way the author keeps the two main characters separate. Every time they come close fate intervenes and yet their lives are heavily intertwined all the way through. Add to this several very appealing characters, some clever dialogue and a fitting ending and you have a good book to help pass away a few pleasant hours.
May 30, 2020
I just LOVED this! It had a very "Man Called Ove" vibe to it. It took me a while to warm up to the main characters, but soon I was hooked and couldn't put it down until the end, which I was totally delighted with. A funny and warm-hearted story about a guy who gets a rare opportunity to see life from a completely new perspective.
July 29, 2020
This is a nice book. A perfectly nice book.
Unfortunately it is also very dull.
Some of it may be "lost in translation" (for example, the word alone is used twice in one sentence at 28% & there is a joke about a character's name earlier that I just didn't get) but I made it to 30% without anything interesting happening (although I had hopes about the fortune teller)
Jonathan Grief reminds me (a lot) of Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) and Don Tillman () and I've already watched the TV programme for the former and read the book for the latter.
DNF
Unfortunately it is also very dull.
Some of it may be "lost in translation" (for example, the word alone is used twice in one sentence at 28% & there is a joke about a character's name earlier that I just didn't get) but I made it to 30% without anything interesting happening (although I had hopes about the fortune teller)
Jonathan Grief reminds me (a lot) of Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) and Don Tillman () and I've already watched the TV programme for the former and read the book for the latter.
DNF
June 23, 2020
OH MY GOODNESS
This book right here. Gave me life.
Plan your life positively.
Let nature take its course.
You cant plan out someone elses life you can only some what control your own.
This book has me wanting to plan out my year for 2020. LOVE IT.
This reminded me of a movie of this girl who was dying of cancer and she wanted to plan out her boyfriends life after she passed away. She wanted him to move on and date and just love life. Excellent movie and this is an excellent book.
Edit: 10/3/19 The movie is called Irreplaceable you , its on Netflix
Edit: 6/23/20 - Well lets just say all my plans for 2020 went to hell in the hand basket do to the virus. SMH But hey there is always next year. :)
This book right here. Gave me life.
Plan your life positively.
Let nature take its course.
You cant plan out someone elses life you can only some what control your own.
This book has me wanting to plan out my year for 2020. LOVE IT.
This reminded me of a movie of this girl who was dying of cancer and she wanted to plan out her boyfriends life after she passed away. She wanted him to move on and date and just love life. Excellent movie and this is an excellent book.
Edit: 10/3/19 The movie is called Irreplaceable you , its on Netflix
Edit: 6/23/20 - Well lets just say all my plans for 2020 went to hell in the hand basket do to the virus. SMH But hey there is always next year. :)
October 16, 2019
First I'll start with why this wasn't my favorite book: Let's just say I'm not really into romance type stories. I'm not saying this was a sweet, kissy story because it wasn't, but I felt the climax of the story didn't ascent very high up the mountain. The outcome was predictable -- but anything less would have been a disappointment.
So here's the story line:
A young girl and the man she's in love with are on the verge of an engagement. He plans what appears to be a romantic dinner during which she thinks he will pop the question only to discover that he is going to stop seeing her. The break-up has nothing to do with another person, but a recent (and a surprise to her) health diagnosis of Leukemia in which he has been given less than a year to live. The girlfriend soon gives him a diary for the coming year on which she has given daily suggestions for things to enjoy (simple things), advice on searching for happiness, overcoming adversity, etc.
Parallel to this story is a young man who has inherited his father's publishing company (much to his misgivings). He has been divorced for 3 years, still harbors resentment and has become a bit of a recluse and ritual/habit forming individual. He rides his bike to the park (as he does everyday), locks it in the rack and goes for his normal long daily run. When he returns he finds a plastic bag hanging on his bike's handle bars and inside is a daily diary filled with daily suggestions for "A Perfect Year". Yep - has Hallmark movie written all over it.
Now I'll tell you what I liked about the book. I, too, have Leukemia. My diagnosis came nearly 4 years ago but at least is a slow growing kind of blood cancer - but an incurable cancer nonetheless. I have always been a positive person who looks for the good in the darkest of storms and so I have accepted my diagnosis with open arms. I absolutely LOVED the idea of a daily diary where you look for enjoyment in the smallest of things. I embraced the idea of looking to enrich your life with beauty and smiles and happiness. I'm enthusiastic about stepping outside one's comfort zone and exploring new things or rising above old fears.
I won't delve into the story -- the scenario is easy enough to figure out. Suffice it to say that the journey was a short yet enjoyable one. I AM happy to say that I'm glad I read this towards the end of a year. I look forward to purchasing myself a diary (or better still a 2020 journal) in which I can record the wonderful things I have discovered and/or explored. I don't want to actually plan out my year day by day -- that would take away the intrigue of looking for the daily treasure. But I do look forward to documenting my discoveries. Who knows -- perhaps I'll include some of my loved ones on the journey with me.
So I guess, all in all, I'm glad I read the story. It's probably not one that I would pick up and read again, but it DID give me inspiration and encouragement to enjoy each day we are given on this earth and for THAT I am deeply grateful.
So here's the story line:
A young girl and the man she's in love with are on the verge of an engagement. He plans what appears to be a romantic dinner during which she thinks he will pop the question only to discover that he is going to stop seeing her. The break-up has nothing to do with another person, but a recent (and a surprise to her) health diagnosis of Leukemia in which he has been given less than a year to live. The girlfriend soon gives him a diary for the coming year on which she has given daily suggestions for things to enjoy (simple things), advice on searching for happiness, overcoming adversity, etc.
Parallel to this story is a young man who has inherited his father's publishing company (much to his misgivings). He has been divorced for 3 years, still harbors resentment and has become a bit of a recluse and ritual/habit forming individual. He rides his bike to the park (as he does everyday), locks it in the rack and goes for his normal long daily run. When he returns he finds a plastic bag hanging on his bike's handle bars and inside is a daily diary filled with daily suggestions for "A Perfect Year". Yep - has Hallmark movie written all over it.
Now I'll tell you what I liked about the book. I, too, have Leukemia. My diagnosis came nearly 4 years ago but at least is a slow growing kind of blood cancer - but an incurable cancer nonetheless. I have always been a positive person who looks for the good in the darkest of storms and so I have accepted my diagnosis with open arms. I absolutely LOVED the idea of a daily diary where you look for enjoyment in the smallest of things. I embraced the idea of looking to enrich your life with beauty and smiles and happiness. I'm enthusiastic about stepping outside one's comfort zone and exploring new things or rising above old fears.
I won't delve into the story -- the scenario is easy enough to figure out. Suffice it to say that the journey was a short yet enjoyable one. I AM happy to say that I'm glad I read this towards the end of a year. I look forward to purchasing myself a diary (or better still a 2020 journal) in which I can record the wonderful things I have discovered and/or explored. I don't want to actually plan out my year day by day -- that would take away the intrigue of looking for the daily treasure. But I do look forward to documenting my discoveries. Who knows -- perhaps I'll include some of my loved ones on the journey with me.
So I guess, all in all, I'm glad I read the story. It's probably not one that I would pick up and read again, but it DID give me inspiration and encouragement to enjoy each day we are given on this earth and for THAT I am deeply grateful.
February 8, 2024
Not for me. A too-cute story whose marshmallow spirituality seems aimed at the Eat Pray Love crowd. I might have enjoyed it more if it had moved faster; the main characters spent far too much time in anguished dithering. (But probably not, because I didn't find those characters to be particularly interesting or likable even when they weren't dithering.) I can see why so many people rated it highly, because it's a rather clever twist on the "destined to be together" theme, but I couldn't get past the blithe, off-handed treatment of some pretty heavy issues. Terminal cancer, suicide, homelessness, alcoholism, dementia, and parental abandonment are not props. PTSD is not resolved by getting a boyfriend.
August 16, 2024
There is something weird about this book. We have two stories in one, which flow independently and a steep final.
So, there are some questions asked, some you only presume and not even an answer, all depends on your ability (or will...) to solve them. Interesting, but no more than average...
So, there are some questions asked, some you only presume and not even an answer, all depends on your ability (or will...) to solve them. Interesting, but no more than average...
January 25, 2021
I did not finish this book at 51 percent.
Trigger warning: Suicide.
This book was awful. I tried to push through since it took place in a country I am curious about (Germany) but honestly the two characters we follow throughout this book (Hannah and Jonathan) are terrible. Hannah more than Jonathan honestly. And the book pushing for a romance after the start we get.....look I get life goes on but it did not make me think this is the greatest romance book ever. If anything it made me think, what in the name of all that is holy is going on here. Did I mention that Hannah really sucks? She does.
So "Your Perfect Year" follows Jonathan who wakes up New Year's Day and is just his crabby self. He thinks about his ex-wife and ex-friend (who are now together) and his job (he's a publisher). When he comes back to his bike and finds someone left a bag with a filofax in it with everything filled out in it with positive sayings he decides to try to find the owner. Then the book switches things around to 3 months earlier and follows Hannah who is in a long-time happy relationship with her boyfriend Simon. Hannah is that person that will tell you to cheer up if you tell her about something horrible that happens to you and throws BS platitudes at you. When Hannah and her friend open a children's daycare center she is thrilled that things are working on. Now if only Simon could find a job (been unemployed for a couple of years) and get over his mother's terrible battle with cancer, well her life will be great and they can get engaged.
I loathe Hannah.
So the book switches back and forth between these two until the timeline synchronizes and then it's just more BS, BS, BS. Sorry.
The writing didn't grab me at all. The book was very slow going in Jonathan's sections and Hannah's sections had me hating her. So when I got to 51 percent decided to send this one back to the stacks (Amazon Kindle Unlimited) and save myself.
The setting of the book takes place in Germany and there's some mentions made of it and things here and there that could have been appealing, but honestly the subject matter and the whole be positive and happy at any costs made me exhausted.
Trigger warning: Suicide.
This book was awful. I tried to push through since it took place in a country I am curious about (Germany) but honestly the two characters we follow throughout this book (Hannah and Jonathan) are terrible. Hannah more than Jonathan honestly. And the book pushing for a romance after the start we get.....look I get life goes on but it did not make me think this is the greatest romance book ever. If anything it made me think, what in the name of all that is holy is going on here. Did I mention that Hannah really sucks? She does.
So "Your Perfect Year" follows Jonathan who wakes up New Year's Day and is just his crabby self. He thinks about his ex-wife and ex-friend (who are now together) and his job (he's a publisher). When he comes back to his bike and finds someone left a bag with a filofax in it with everything filled out in it with positive sayings he decides to try to find the owner. Then the book switches things around to 3 months earlier and follows Hannah who is in a long-time happy relationship with her boyfriend Simon. Hannah is that person that will tell you to cheer up if you tell her about something horrible that happens to you and throws BS platitudes at you. When Hannah and her friend open a children's daycare center she is thrilled that things are working on. Now if only Simon could find a job (been unemployed for a couple of years) and get over his mother's terrible battle with cancer, well her life will be great and they can get engaged.
I loathe Hannah.
So the book switches back and forth between these two until the timeline synchronizes and then it's just more BS, BS, BS. Sorry.
The writing didn't grab me at all. The book was very slow going in Jonathan's sections and Hannah's sections had me hating her. So when I got to 51 percent decided to send this one back to the stacks (Amazon Kindle Unlimited) and save myself.
The setting of the book takes place in Germany and there's some mentions made of it and things here and there that could have been appealing, but honestly the subject matter and the whole be positive and happy at any costs made me exhausted.
May 15, 2018
Ревю =>
~ ~ ~
"Твоята перфектна година" е перфектният избор за един добре прекаран уикенд. Написан трогателно и включващ в себе си едновременно тъжни и забавни моменти, това е един роман за новото начало, който учи на това да обичаш, да прощаваш, да преодоляваш тъгата и да се наслаждаваш на малките радости в живота.
~ ~ ~
"Твоята перфектна година" е перфектният избор за един добре прекаран уикенд. Написан трогателно и включващ в себе си едновременно тъжни и забавни моменти, това е един роман за новото начало, който учи на това да обичаш, да прощаваш, да преодоляваш тъгата и да се наслаждаваш на малките радости в живота.
May 1, 2018
Pues no sé..., la verdad es que me gustaba la idea general, pero para mi gusto, se le va mucho en la primera parte, que es demasiado larga, y luego todo ocurre demasiado rápido. No me ha terminado de llegar :/
April 16, 2019
3.5 stars.
I liked that it was quite unconventional for a chicklit. There were quite some heavy topics (alcoholism, cancer, suicide, dementia etc) and the focus was way less on romance than I expected. As I'm not big on romance, this was a pleasant surprise.
However, towards the end, the inevitable romance is rushed in using a sort of montage sequence that really didn't work for me. I just couldn't see the two MCs as a convincing couple and even the characters themselves thought it was out of character and insta-lovey
I think I would have liked it better if, in the end,
Having said that, the writing was great and there were quite some funny scenes, as well as more serious stuff. To conclude, it was a balanced, enjoyable read, apart from the ending.
I liked that it was quite unconventional for a chicklit. There were quite some heavy topics (alcoholism, cancer, suicide, dementia etc) and the focus was way less on romance than I expected. As I'm not big on romance, this was a pleasant surprise.
However, towards the end, the inevitable romance is rushed in using a sort of montage sequence that really didn't work for me. I just couldn't see the two MCs as a convincing couple and even the characters themselves thought it was out of character and insta-lovey
I think I would have liked it better if, in the end,
Having said that, the writing was great and there were quite some funny scenes, as well as more serious stuff. To conclude, it was a balanced, enjoyable read, apart from the ending.
November 19, 2017
Pārsteidzoši labi! Mīlīgs romantiskais gabals, kas pieskaras arī dažām ļoti nopietnām tēmām, par kurām negribas tagad maitekļot, jo jaukāk tomēr ir nezināt, kas notiek vai ir noticis. Labākais priekš manis šajā grāmatā bija nestandarta varoņi un sižets. Interesi īpaši uzkurina tā ilgstošā nesatikšanās, kad liktenis-sliktenis galvenajiem varoņiem nekādi negrib ļaut satikties. Protams, ir lietas, ko šajā grāmatā varēja nostrādāt labāk, bet nu nav tā, ka tāpēc tā kļūtu baigi nelasāma. Patiešām patīkama atslodzes grāmata, no kuras negribējās atrauties.
"Bažas ir kā šūpuļkrēsls - tu esi nodarbināts, bet uz priekšu netiec."
"Bažas ir kā šūpuļkrēsls - tu esi nodarbināts, bet uz priekšu netiec."
January 7, 2022
This first book of the year is a serious contender for my 'favourite book of 2022'!
Charlotte Lucas is the pseudonym of Wiebke Lorenz, a German author who has already written lots of books together with her sister under the pseudonym Anne Hertz.
In intermittent chapters written from two points of view we get to know the main characters.
Forty-two-year-old Jonathan Grief, who discovers that someone left a leather-bound planner on his bike with the title "Your Perfect Year" and a full year of appointments and assignments written down in it.
Thirty-year-old Hannah who's happily in love and hopes that her boyfriend will propose to her soon.
Although these two characters don't know each other, their stories will flow together.
Even if it's not always in the way you'd think.
For me this was a first introduction to the writing skills of this author and I admit to be pleasantly surprised.
Well, that's an understatement.
In fact, I was totally blown away by the plot and how there were no loose ends, by how every character came to life, by the way in which heavy themes were handled delicately and were given a certain lightness, �
The only downpoint was the (Dutch) translation in which there were several typos.
But, even though they were irritating (especially since one of the characters was focused on them), it's not the writer's fault they appeared in the translation.
For the beautiful story and the lots of positive vibes in this book, there's only one fitting rating: 5* !
October 7, 2019
This is a delightful book. I don't normally read romance, but this came recommended and was full of funny, and sometimes sad, twists and turns. We've all been through times when 'what can go wrong, will go wrong', and this story is full of those things, right down to the final pages. Well done, well translated, a good read.
January 29, 2020
The first 50 pages were pretty slow, but after that, you really wanted to see what was going to happen and how the characters were connected. It is a sweet story and really puts things into perspective about how we live our lives and how we see things (or don't). Definitely should be on everyone's TBR list.
March 22, 2018
Bulgarian review:
Драги читатели, никога не съдете за книгата по корицата! Защото макар тази на "Твоята перфектна година" да е прекрасна - с небесносиния фон, романтичните балони, очарователните облачета и цялостната обещаваща романтика и щастие обстановка, тази книга съдържа много повече от романтични и щастливи сцени - тя съдържа болка, съдържа любов, истинска, сурова, дълбока, съдържа житейски уроци - за вторите шансове, новото начало, подсказките на съдбата, за желанието да се бориш, за това колко важно е да не се отказваш... Съдържа дори и книги, в един или друг вид. Така че, драги читатели, не съдете за книгата по корицата, защото колкото и красива да е тази на "Твоята перфектна година", тя далеч не би могла да подготви читателя какво всъщност да очаква от историята зад нея. А тази история, разказана от две различни гледни точки, е наистина страхотна - ще ви заплени, зарадва, натъжи, научи на нещо ново или просто ще ви припомни някоя забравена мисъл. Шарлоте Лукас е създала нещо прекрасно, дайте ѝ шанс.
Драги читатели, никога не съдете за книгата по корицата! Защото макар тази на "Твоята перфектна година" да е прекрасна - с небесносиния фон, романтичните балони, очарователните облачета и цялостната обещаваща романтика и щастие обстановка, тази книга съдържа много повече от романтични и щастливи сцени - тя съдържа болка, съдържа любов, истинска, сурова, дълбока, съдържа житейски уроци - за вторите шансове, новото начало, подсказките на съдбата, за желанието да се бориш, за това колко важно е да не се отказваш... Съдържа дори и книги, в един или друг вид. Така че, драги читатели, не съдете за книгата по корицата, защото колкото и красива да е тази на "Твоята перфектна година", тя далеч не би могла да подготви читателя какво всъщност да очаква от историята зад нея. А тази история, разказана от две различни гледни точки, е наистина страхотна - ще ви заплени, зарадва, натъжи, научи на нещо ново или просто ще ви припомни някоя забравена мисъл. Шарлоте Лукас е създала нещо прекрасно, дайте ѝ шанс.
July 21, 2020
"Your Perfect Year" by Charlotte Lucas was a fun read!
I love the premise of the story: The ability to change your life one day at a time!
Jonathan Grief lives his life the same way, doing the same things at the same time every day, day after day. That is until he finds a leather bound planner titled "Your Perfect Year" left on the handlebars of his bike on New Year's Day. His attempts to find the owner fails, so he decides to take a look inside and discovers daily handwritten suggestions on how to achieve a perfect year, one day at a time.
Jonathan tries a few of the suggestions and beginning to enjoy this exploration, the feelings he is noticing and the positive results he is making in his life. A ton of "stuff happens" as Jonathan continues to heed the advice in the planner day after day through the year.
I enjoyed Jonathan's journey and loved reading a fun & positive book! I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a light read.
I love the premise of the story: The ability to change your life one day at a time!
Jonathan Grief lives his life the same way, doing the same things at the same time every day, day after day. That is until he finds a leather bound planner titled "Your Perfect Year" left on the handlebars of his bike on New Year's Day. His attempts to find the owner fails, so he decides to take a look inside and discovers daily handwritten suggestions on how to achieve a perfect year, one day at a time.
Jonathan tries a few of the suggestions and beginning to enjoy this exploration, the feelings he is noticing and the positive results he is making in his life. A ton of "stuff happens" as Jonathan continues to heed the advice in the planner day after day through the year.
I enjoyed Jonathan's journey and loved reading a fun & positive book! I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a light read.
December 1, 2017
Es un libro muy entretenido que se lee muy rápido porque va alternando a los dos personajes principales en cada capítulo y siempre te deja con ganas de saber que pasa con ellos en el siguiente.
Hacia el final a mí se me hizo un tanto pasteloso de más y es una pena, aunque no dudo de que la gente que adore los libros pastelosos estará encantada con la historia.
Al final, en muchos aspectos, gira en torno al mundo editorial y a veces da la sensación de que la autora justifica que su libro no tiene calidad suficiente pero que también merece ser leído.
El resto del mensaje va muy en la línea del “pide y te será concedido�, aunque yo preferí quedarme con que el protagonista, al encontrar la agenda, empezó a dar un cambio a su aburrida vida (porque yo, desde el principio, no pude evitar imaginarlo como un señor mayor amargado y en traje, a pesar de que se empeñaban en decir que estaba muy bueno, fui incapaz de visualizarlo tal como lo describen).
Os contaré más en un vídeo.
Hacia el final a mí se me hizo un tanto pasteloso de más y es una pena, aunque no dudo de que la gente que adore los libros pastelosos estará encantada con la historia.
Al final, en muchos aspectos, gira en torno al mundo editorial y a veces da la sensación de que la autora justifica que su libro no tiene calidad suficiente pero que también merece ser leído.
El resto del mensaje va muy en la línea del “pide y te será concedido�, aunque yo preferí quedarme con que el protagonista, al encontrar la agenda, empezó a dar un cambio a su aburrida vida (porque yo, desde el principio, no pude evitar imaginarlo como un señor mayor amargado y en traje, a pesar de que se empeñaban en decir que estaba muy bueno, fui incapaz de visualizarlo tal como lo describen).
Os contaré más en un vídeo.
June 26, 2020
Not what I was expecting, in the best possible way!
"Hannah was sure that a person’s fortune was colored by their attitude: optimists experienced good things, pessimists bad, and the universe would give those who expected the worst what they deserved".
The cover of this book says rom-com. I love rom-coms. Then I started it and I kinda hated Jonathan. So much so, I put the book down and choose another. I couldn't stop wondering about the diary, though. I love that idea, a book that makes mindful suggestions for a whole year. So, I came back. Only reading a few pages further, I was totally ensnared. Not only is this a great rom-com, but a good mystery, and an excellent essay on mindfulness and manifestation. As someone who does read the tarot, I was especially impressed by the realistic treatment it was given. I'll definitely look for more from this author.
"Hannah was sure that a person’s fortune was colored by their attitude: optimists experienced good things, pessimists bad, and the universe would give those who expected the worst what they deserved".
The cover of this book says rom-com. I love rom-coms. Then I started it and I kinda hated Jonathan. So much so, I put the book down and choose another. I couldn't stop wondering about the diary, though. I love that idea, a book that makes mindful suggestions for a whole year. So, I came back. Only reading a few pages further, I was totally ensnared. Not only is this a great rom-com, but a good mystery, and an excellent essay on mindfulness and manifestation. As someone who does read the tarot, I was especially impressed by the realistic treatment it was given. I'll definitely look for more from this author.
February 17, 2020
Lovely story
August 5, 2019
Una cosa sencilla que disfruté bastante. Lo mejor - y más predecible - que tiene es que cada capítulo termina con un cliffhanger, como se dice en inglés a esto de cerrar cada episodio con un golpe de suspenso, de esos que te hacen gritar con las manos en tu rostro a lo Macaulay Culkin.
El término cliffhanger, dicho sea de paso, me parece genial, y lamentablemente no he encontrado palabra en español que se le iguale. Viene de "cliff" = precipicio y "hanger" = colgador, lo que significa que te dejaron colgando del precipicio, jajaja. Y además, aquí el efecto de tal cliffhanger es doble, porque como la novela se cuenta desde dos miradas (un capítulo la de él, otro la de ella), uno tiene que esperar un capítulo entero extra para ver qué pasó luego del grito de Kevin de turno. A veces tuve hasta que controlarme para no saltarme páginas, confieso a Caras.
Con tal que me gustó harto. La historia es interesante y con giros bastante extraños o surrealistas, pero está escrita de una manera que te hace sentir que te podría estar pasando a ti (aunque dadas algunas de las circunstancias, mejor que no). Es como si fuera una novela normalita pero al mismo tiempo todo lo contrario. O mejor dicho, una novela especial y algo esotérica, pero disfrazada de día cotidiano. Sí... eso último es.
Cuatro estrellas y no cinco, solo porque hay partes que están tan forzadas para calzar con el cliché que matan toda posibilidad de coherencia o racionalidad, y que a veces abusan de la candidez del lector. Y porque siento que el final se apura. Es como si la autora hubiera tenido una fecha de entrega muy encima, y entonces hubiera decidido no desarrollar tanto la parte final, a lo tarea escolar y "ya, entreguémoslo así nomás, nadie se va a dar cuenta", y no poh, na que ver. Lo que empieza sereno y bien explicado, termina como una carrera de velocidad, tanto que uno se siente hasta como erradicado del libro, cuando se acaba. "Apaga y vámonos", como dicen en España, jajaja.
Pero en fin, me hizo bastante feliz y además era justo lo que necesitaba leer. Así que recomendado para los amantes del género. :)
El término cliffhanger, dicho sea de paso, me parece genial, y lamentablemente no he encontrado palabra en español que se le iguale. Viene de "cliff" = precipicio y "hanger" = colgador, lo que significa que te dejaron colgando del precipicio, jajaja. Y además, aquí el efecto de tal cliffhanger es doble, porque como la novela se cuenta desde dos miradas (un capítulo la de él, otro la de ella), uno tiene que esperar un capítulo entero extra para ver qué pasó luego del grito de Kevin de turno. A veces tuve hasta que controlarme para no saltarme páginas, confieso a Caras.
Con tal que me gustó harto. La historia es interesante y con giros bastante extraños o surrealistas, pero está escrita de una manera que te hace sentir que te podría estar pasando a ti (aunque dadas algunas de las circunstancias, mejor que no). Es como si fuera una novela normalita pero al mismo tiempo todo lo contrario. O mejor dicho, una novela especial y algo esotérica, pero disfrazada de día cotidiano. Sí... eso último es.
Cuatro estrellas y no cinco, solo porque hay partes que están tan forzadas para calzar con el cliché que matan toda posibilidad de coherencia o racionalidad, y que a veces abusan de la candidez del lector. Y porque siento que el final se apura. Es como si la autora hubiera tenido una fecha de entrega muy encima, y entonces hubiera decidido no desarrollar tanto la parte final, a lo tarea escolar y "ya, entreguémoslo así nomás, nadie se va a dar cuenta", y no poh, na que ver. Lo que empieza sereno y bien explicado, termina como una carrera de velocidad, tanto que uno se siente hasta como erradicado del libro, cuando se acaba. "Apaga y vámonos", como dicen en España, jajaja.
Pero en fin, me hizo bastante feliz y además era justo lo que necesitaba leer. Así que recomendado para los amantes del género. :)
March 26, 2018
Като цяло историята много ми хареса, приятна е за четене, макар и малко тъжна. Но за мен имаше един голям недостатък - грам не можах да усетя чувствата между героите - нито любовта между Хана и Зимон, нито пък мъката й от загубата му. Нищо. Досега не ми се беше случвало.
February 4, 2020
I should start by saying this is a contemporary fiction/romance novel and I’m not usually a fan of romance (I didn’t realise it was romance when I picked it up). Anyway I rather liked it in the end, although not my favourite read of the year.
I found the story a little predictable, I felt like I knew where this was going to lead to but thankfully not exactly how we would get there. We had a few interesting little events along the way to the inevitable outcome at least. The characters were a little predictable too, and a little chiched to boot but it was all just about on the acceptable side of tolerance for me.
A sweet book, the difficulty with romance books (and films) is that of course you know the outcome, it’s a bloody romance, boy meets girl etc etc. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like the genre (not because I am completely heartless) it lacks surprise and mystery. However I liked the writing style and it was a cosy and easy read (albeit sad at times).
A nice book but nothing I could get really excited about. A reasonable 3*/5 (which is good for a romance from me)
I found the story a little predictable, I felt like I knew where this was going to lead to but thankfully not exactly how we would get there. We had a few interesting little events along the way to the inevitable outcome at least. The characters were a little predictable too, and a little chiched to boot but it was all just about on the acceptable side of tolerance for me.
A sweet book, the difficulty with romance books (and films) is that of course you know the outcome, it’s a bloody romance, boy meets girl etc etc. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like the genre (not because I am completely heartless) it lacks surprise and mystery. However I liked the writing style and it was a cosy and easy read (albeit sad at times).
A nice book but nothing I could get really excited about. A reasonable 3*/5 (which is good for a romance from me)
December 28, 2019
What a book to read at the end of the year. A publisher finds a diary for the upcoming year that lists something novel (pardon the pun) to do every day. Acting on the suggestions he becomes an entirely different man.
June 13, 2018
Perfect book, ironic, comic and easy to read. But it leaves you with some things you have to think about, so the books has done it's job ..
April 29, 2020
Very cute, easy read. Trigger: death, loss, suicide.
November 19, 2017
"Waarom zou iemand een tasje met een ouderwetse agenda aan zijn fiets hangen?" ~ p18.
Dit boek weet, bladzijde voor bladzijde, heel subtiel in je hart te kruipen en voor je het goed en wel beseft ben je verloren. Chatlotte Lucas gaat vanaf nu op mijn favorieten lijst! Met dit soort boeken mag je me elke nacht wakker houden.
"Stel je nou eens één seconde open voor het idee dat niets in dit leven toevallig gebeirt, en vraag je vervolgens af waarom je op dit moment tegenover mij zit." ~ p108.
Op nieuwsjaarsmorgen, na zijn vaste hardloop ronde, vindt Jonathan aan het stuur van zijn fiets een tas. Hierin zit een volledig ingevulde Filofax, geschreven in een prachtig handschrift dat warme herinneringen bij hem oproept. Elke dag is gevuld met alleen maar fijne afspraken. Hij besluit opzoek te gaan naar de eigenaar, dat moet toch niet al te moeilijk zijn? Het is moeilijk om meer te vertellen over dit boek zonder te veel te spoileren, ook omdat er voor is gekozen niet te veel in de flaptekst te vermelden. En logisch. Dit is echt een boek dat je zelf moet beleven, letter voor letter. Elk kleine beetje info zou je gedachte of verwachtingen een richting kunnen sturen, die je juist zelf moet ervaren terwijl je leest. Laat je fantasie de vrije loop! Het boek wordt aangeraden aan liefhebbers van PS I love you, van Cecilia Ahern. En laat dat nu net een van mijn favoriete boeken zijn! Ik begrijp de vergelijking, al zat in PS de emotie er al vrij snel in en wordt er in dit boek langzaam naar toe gewerkt, het geeft je een zelfde soort leeservaring.
"Soms zijn dingen die zo vreselijk lijken dat we ze niet kunnen geloven, toch waar." ~ 193
Ik heb echt genoten van dit boek. Het verhaal wist me echt te grijpen en ik wilde blijven lezen om te weten hoe, wat, wie, waarom, en nu?! De personages zijn verre van perfect, en juist daardoor erg herkenbaar. Het weet je te laten lachen, te raken met emoties, je adem in te laten houden en mee te laten leven. En het paars op de snede was een extra kadootje tijden het lezen, waar ik elke keer weer vrolijk van werd �
Dit boek weet, bladzijde voor bladzijde, heel subtiel in je hart te kruipen en voor je het goed en wel beseft ben je verloren. Chatlotte Lucas gaat vanaf nu op mijn favorieten lijst! Met dit soort boeken mag je me elke nacht wakker houden.
"Stel je nou eens één seconde open voor het idee dat niets in dit leven toevallig gebeirt, en vraag je vervolgens af waarom je op dit moment tegenover mij zit." ~ p108.
Op nieuwsjaarsmorgen, na zijn vaste hardloop ronde, vindt Jonathan aan het stuur van zijn fiets een tas. Hierin zit een volledig ingevulde Filofax, geschreven in een prachtig handschrift dat warme herinneringen bij hem oproept. Elke dag is gevuld met alleen maar fijne afspraken. Hij besluit opzoek te gaan naar de eigenaar, dat moet toch niet al te moeilijk zijn? Het is moeilijk om meer te vertellen over dit boek zonder te veel te spoileren, ook omdat er voor is gekozen niet te veel in de flaptekst te vermelden. En logisch. Dit is echt een boek dat je zelf moet beleven, letter voor letter. Elk kleine beetje info zou je gedachte of verwachtingen een richting kunnen sturen, die je juist zelf moet ervaren terwijl je leest. Laat je fantasie de vrije loop! Het boek wordt aangeraden aan liefhebbers van PS I love you, van Cecilia Ahern. En laat dat nu net een van mijn favoriete boeken zijn! Ik begrijp de vergelijking, al zat in PS de emotie er al vrij snel in en wordt er in dit boek langzaam naar toe gewerkt, het geeft je een zelfde soort leeservaring.
"Soms zijn dingen die zo vreselijk lijken dat we ze niet kunnen geloven, toch waar." ~ 193
Ik heb echt genoten van dit boek. Het verhaal wist me echt te grijpen en ik wilde blijven lezen om te weten hoe, wat, wie, waarom, en nu?! De personages zijn verre van perfect, en juist daardoor erg herkenbaar. Het weet je te laten lachen, te raken met emoties, je adem in te laten houden en mee te laten leven. En het paars op de snede was een extra kadootje tijden het lezen, waar ik elke keer weer vrolijk van werd �
July 1, 2018
Soms, heel soms heb je zo’n boek die even jouw perfect gevoel kan raken. Jouw perfecte jaar heeft mij geraakt. Super mooi en gevoelig geschreven. Ik kon niet meer stoppen, dit boek moest uit vandaag! Jouw perfecte juweeltje om te lezen!
November 12, 2019
For a book that was presented as a romantic comedy, it lacked both humor and romance, and was very heavy on the suicide*. This was not at all what I was expecting (or wanting after coming off a boring book about sailing, and a too long and tedious book about a decades old murder mystery).
Jonathan Greif is a bit of a curmudgeon, and his life changes when he finds a mysterious diary outlining daily tasks for a "perfect year."
Hannah Marx, the author of the diary, didn't intend for it to get into Jonathan's hands, and she spends most of the book either being an annoying Pollyanna, crying (like 75% of the book), or wondering about the weirdo she who is following the diary entries not intended for him.
Of course through a series of happenstance and super convenient coincidences, the two of them keep missing each other, before they eventually meet. And maybe kinda sorta fall in love. Jonathan feels this love at first site feeling immediately upon seeing Hannah (before they meet), and Hannah likes him OK, and eventually decides she might fall in love with him eventually. Which, OK, I guess that is kind of funny (but I don't think it's intended to be funny, and really it just feels like the normal course of a relationship).
Both characters were not particularly interesting, and while I appreciate that the plot didn't always follow the path I expected it to take, it was still a fairly mediocre story. I kept expecting something more interesting to happen, and it sort of did at the end (see spoiler section) but, still, meh.
*Re: The suicide
If you are in crisis, the number for the National Suicide Lifeline in the US is 1-800-273-8255.
The suicide plot point really bugged me. Not because the author used suicide as a plot device, but because the suicide essentially defined Hannah as a character for the entire novel from that point forward and stripped her of her agency.
Jonathan Greif is a bit of a curmudgeon, and his life changes when he finds a mysterious diary outlining daily tasks for a "perfect year."
Hannah Marx, the author of the diary, didn't intend for it to get into Jonathan's hands, and she spends most of the book either being an annoying Pollyanna, crying (like 75% of the book), or wondering about the weirdo she who is following the diary entries not intended for him.
Of course through a series of happenstance and super convenient coincidences, the two of them keep missing each other, before they eventually meet. And maybe kinda sorta fall in love. Jonathan feels this love at first site feeling immediately upon seeing Hannah (before they meet), and Hannah likes him OK, and eventually decides she might fall in love with him eventually. Which, OK, I guess that is kind of funny (but I don't think it's intended to be funny, and really it just feels like the normal course of a relationship).
Both characters were not particularly interesting, and while I appreciate that the plot didn't always follow the path I expected it to take, it was still a fairly mediocre story. I kept expecting something more interesting to happen, and it sort of did at the end (see spoiler section) but, still, meh.
*Re: The suicide
If you are in crisis, the number for the National Suicide Lifeline in the US is 1-800-273-8255.
The suicide plot point really bugged me. Not because the author used suicide as a plot device, but because the suicide essentially defined Hannah as a character for the entire novel from that point forward and stripped her of her agency.
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