Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

Browsing the shelves at my local library the other week this bright and candy-esque cover for Cecelia Ahern's Thanks for the Memories really caught my eye. I'd been wanting to read more from this author after reading 100 Names so this came home with me.

After a terrible accident that changes Joyce Conway's future and is the final straw in breaking her marriage, Joyce moves back in with her ageing father to try and rebuild her life. But since waking up in hospital she is overcoming with memories, flashbacks and knowledge that don't belong to her. Meanwhile, Justin Hitchcock is visiting Dublin to lecture on art and architecture and is convinced to donate blood by an attractive doctor. Since the breakup of his marriage, it's the first unselfish act (well, even then he was trying to impress the doctor) he's done in a long time. Through this act of giving, Joyce and Justin are connected, but can you really know someone you've never met?

I have to say I really enjoy the plot and ideas that Cecelia Ahern creates in her books. They are always creative enough to send the characters into unusual and hilarious situations but are still grounded in reality. There's a bit of sparkle and fun in what she writes that is nicely offset by the struggles her characters face, making them digestible and not overtly twee or saccharine.

I think the only downsides of her novels can be that they are overly plot driven. Despite enjoying the characters and having a laugh and a cry at their circumstances there isn't a lot of inner soul-searching going on. When Joyce sets out to discover where these new memories are coming from there are a lot of plot events that put her and Justin within each others paths, but still just out of reach.

As I read I found that it wasn't until the last few chapters that Joyce really starting to consider her life and how the accident had affected her future but by that time as a reader it was almost too late to make a strong connection with her. Justin's character seemed to be explored more with his own family circumstances forcing him to do a spot of naval-gazing at least.

In saying that if what you are after is a fun, witty (I particularly liked her Irish father whose antics at the airport security had me in stitches) and easy read, then I would recommend picking up Thanks For The Memories.

Have you read this book? I'd love to know your thoughts!

Authors to Note: Jeffrey Eugenides

Jeffrey Eugenides has always been an author that I have been in awe of. His capacity for writing books that pull the reader in and immerse them completely is what always has me excited about his novels. Here are my favourite books by this accomplished author.

Middlesex. This really is an epic novel. Although the story begins with a young girl who will soon journey through pubescence and into boyhood to truly understand his journey Eugenides takes us back through his parents and grandparents story. Despite it's scope Eugenides paints a clear picture of the struggles of a young boy born into the wrong body and his unusual path into manhood.

Virgin Suicides. One of my favourite ever novels, the writing in this book is so dreamy and etheral it creates a picture encased in fog in your mind. The story of five daughters who are housebound by their strict parents after pushing the boundaries on their severe curfews. When the youngest daughter commits suicide the sisters suffer even more greatly from their oppressive parents. The story is told from the point of view of the boys in their neighbourhood who feel compelled to save them and adds to the mystery surrounding this odd family and their daughters.

Have you read any of Jeffrey Eugenides work?

My 'Don't Forget These Books' List

I have plenty of lists both written in pen, saved on Apps and kept in my head of books on my to be read list, but I also keep a special list on my phone for books I stumble across and am scared I'll forget about. Whenever I'm on the go and come across some inspiration and don't want to forget it I add it to my list. Check out my titles below!

The Lions Mouth by Anne Holt. I've read some really good Scandinavian crime fiction (honestly can they do anything wrong?!) and this Norweigan political/crime thriller caught my attention perely because it fits into that category. Although it is the fourth in the series it doesn't look like that matters.
Plot: When the Norwegian Prime Minister is found dead her death shakes the country to it's core. Was it an assassination or revenge killing? Finding her killer will unearth scandals and secrets that the public must be kept from.

The Diviners by Libba Bray. Murder, mysteries and a backdrop of 1920s speakeasies and flapper girls. This book has all the settings of an intriguing and lively whodunnit.
Plot: 1926, Evie O'Neill has been sent off to live with her eccentric uncle Will in New York City. His obsession with all things occult has Evie worried though - that he will discover her own dark secret - a supernatural power that so far, has only brought her trouble. When a murdered girl is found branded with an occult symbol, Will is called on to help and Evie realises she can use her gift to help solve the murder.

Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin. I'm not usually big into romance novels but this book has enough of a nod to historical fiction to have me intrigued. Plus, not gunna lie the cover totally caught my eye.
Plot: In 1875, Sisi, the Empress of Austria has everything a woman could want, but is desperately unhappy. Sick of the suffocating etiquette of the Hapsburg Court and her dull husband Franz Joseph, Sisi travels to England to hunt. She comes looking for escape and finds it in the form of Captain Bay Middleton who is engaged to a rich and doting fiancee. Will duty of love win out for the Empress?

Submarine by Joe Dunthorne. I'm a big fan of quirky books with small stories and oddball characters which I guess is why Submarine looks so appealing.
Plot: Precocious teenager Oliver Tate lives in Swansea, Wales. Oliver is navigating his way through solving the mysteries of his adolescence such as what is causing his parents marriage to collapse, why his classmate Jordana Bevan is so alluring to him and where he fits in amongst the mystifying and confusing people around him. 

Book Tour: Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach

I'm thrilled to be joining in the March book tour for Heartbreak Hotel* by Deborah Moggach. For those of you who have heard or read the book 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' Moggach has returned with another funny novel filled with eccentric characters. Keep reading to hear my review of her latest work!

In Heartbreak Hotel retired actor and thrice-divorced ladies man Buffy is bequest a run-down Bed and Breakfast when a dear friend passes away. Keen to escape the fast pace of London, which he is tiring of, Buffy heads to country Wales and sets up a new life as owner-operator of the shabby residence. After months of lack-lustre bookings Buffy devises a cunning plan to entice more guests to his establishment while also gaining some free upkeep of his B&B. When an eclectic mix of guests start to check in at the hotel they soon find they have more in common than first thought and Buffy's quiet B&B is starting to give guests a new lease on life.

This was a really charming and fun read to get into. The book itself is bursting with characters and it's obvious that Moggach has thought a lot about each story as more and more characters are introduced throughout the chapters. It really was a sweet and romantic read but one with plenty of laughs that would be perfect for those looking for a bit of light fun and escapism.

My only fault was that while Moggach has created a story full of interesting characters it was sometimes difficult to remember them all. Each chapter is narrated by a different character and there were times when a character's story was introduced in the beginning and then wasn't mentioned for another 150 pages. It took a couple of pages into each chapter before my lightbulb moment would kick in and I would remember who was talking and what their back story had been.

Overall the characters are what makes this book such a winner. Keeping up with the guests and Buffy is all part of the fun and Moggach doesn't leave a page to spare on creating a fun, fabulous read. If you're looking for a light and easy book with a sense of humour then pick it up!

*This book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.

Blogging Cliches I'm Totally Guilty Of

Image

I've been reading blogs for a loooong time (almost eight years now) and since become a blogger myself there are some traits and habits I've definitly picked up on from reading and writing. I like to think these are habits I've picked up because of my love for the medium!

Candle hoarding. I blame beauty and lifestyle blogs for this one! There is just something so luxe about having a beautiful candle burning away in the background and to be honest, candles weren't something I ever bought or were really into before I read blogs. Now, one of my first ever posts was me professing my love for the amazing Glasshouse candles.

Being obsessed with beuaty-blogger recommendations. I've only been a recent convert to beauty blogs after getting sick of spending money on higher-end makeup. Now every time I see new products raved about I'm ready to make a beeline to my nearest pharmacy/department store/online beauty outlet for all of the blushers/lipsticks/primers I probably don't need.

Being 'obsessed' with things. Why is everyone in the blogging world always 'obsessed' with everything? I don't know why but I am too. It's fast replaced any other word to describe liking things in general. You could say I'm obsessed (ha.) Someone buy me a thesaurus.

Taking photos before you can use things. That makeup you just bought, that cake you just baked, that mint condition book that just got brought home. Nothing can be used until I've photographed it 50 times in ten different locations.

Wanting all of the cool-girl blogger things. I know I don't need them but if someone were to give me a Canon 600D, a Macbook and deck my (non-existant) home office out in white with accents of gold I wouldn't be stopping them. Just saying'.

Delicious Crunchy Chocolate Biscuits

This weekend called for a spot of baking so I decided to make a classic Kiwi favourite - the Afghan. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of being acquainted it's a delicious chocolate biscuit with an added bit of crunch - in the form of either cornflakes or Weet-bix, topped off with chocolate icing and a walnut popped on top. I kind of love how simple and unpretentious a lot of NZ baking recipes are, these biscuits remind me of something that would have been served up in cute granny-filled tea rooms and would pair perfectly with a nice mug of tea. Here's the recipe I used:

Ingredients:

200g butter, softened

1/2 C caster sugar (I used raw as it's all we have in the kitchen and it's still nice although probably a bit less sweet which suits me fine)

1tsp vanilla essence

1 1/4 C plain flour

1/4 C cocoa

1 1/2 C cornflakes or crushed Weet-Bix

Icing:

1 1/2 C icing sugar

1 tbsp butter

1-2 tbsp boiling water

3 tbsp cocoa

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease or line a baking tray. In a large bowl beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Sift in flour and cocoa, stir thoroughly into butter mixture until well combined before stirring in the cornflakes or Weet-Bix.

Place heaped teaspoons of mixture onto baking tray, squeeze gently to form into a ball and squash down with a fork to flatten.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, cool on a wire rack before icing.

Icing:

Mix cocoa, icing sugar and butter with 1tbsp boiling water at a time until combined, adding more hot water if necessary. Ice biscuits and top with half a walnut.

Enjoy!

Book Related Pet Peeves

Image

For the most part I'm a pretty happy chappy when it comes to book blogging, but today I'm going all Peter Griffin on you and sharing the things that really grind my gears (in a totally first-world problems kinda way). In my ideal book world none of these would ever happen:

Over-use of adjectives. I can't stand to read books that stuff as many overly discriptive words into each sentence and then proceed to repeat these discriptions each paragraph. If you told me the description in one sentence you don't need to describe it again...and again...and again.

Lending a mint looking book that comes back...faded, bent, like some small child has smeared things throughout it. I'm all for having well loved and well read-looking books but if it's only been read once  please don't return it looking like it's been waved about in a small hurricane. I'm too polite to tell this to you in person, but just know I will be disappointed.

Book reviews that hate on the writer. Guess what? Writers aren't their characters! Meaning that when you hate their book because you hate what their character has done they probably don't want to receive your email smarting them over being whatever you think they are but probably aren't.

Sequals/trilogies/series that haven't been clearly thought out. You know the ones? You read the first book and love it. Then the author clearly gets given a bit of cash and a contract to keep dragging whatsername and whatchamacallit through every event/historical happening of the time until you actually do feel like writing them an email telling them 'you've flogged a dead horse, it's time to let it go.'

Movie version book covers. Most book covers are pretty generic anyway in order to target their audiences easily but enough of the 'floating heads' movie versions please!

The Bake & Cook Bookshelf

In the past I haven't had a very good run of buying recipe books that I actually read or turn to when I'm stuck for ideas for dinner. So without further ado I've put together a bookshelf bursting with delicious recipe books that if, like me, you like to get handy in the kitchen but also like to keep it simple then these recipe books should spark some creative cooking.

The Free-Range Cook by Annabel Langbein. Pretty much any of Annabel Langbein's recipe books are amazing so I don't think you can go too far wrong. Amazing seasonal recipes that are quite easy to make but super impressive. My mum has a copy of this book and I really really want one of my own.

Donna Hay. Simple fuss free cooking is what Donna Hay is all about, but don't be fooled into thinking her recipes are unimpressive. Sometimes simple but thoughtfully prepared food has the biggest impact. I bought a copy for my sister last year for Christmas and had a good squizz at the recipes before I wrapped it. Needless to say now I want one for myself.

Treats from Little and Friday by Kim Evans. Holy mother of mouthwatering goodness. Even if you never made a single recipe out of this book it is worth picking up just to drool over all the deliciousness inside its pages. If ever I'm in Auckland anytime soon (and not just passing through the airport) the Little and Friday Cafe is firmly on my must-visit list. Swoon and drool over all the pretty pastries, cakes and slices they serve up daily in their cafe.

I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson. Half lifestyle overhaul half recipe guide, I've just finished reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed Sarah's smart and realistic advice. Her recipes use similar ingredients which means you won't have expensive and half used bags of fancy rices and flours cluttering up your kitchen. She has also been so thoughtful to cover the hardest meals of the day to go sugar free in, meaning you're covered for ideas on breakfast, snacks and desserts.

Deliciously Ella by Ella Woodward. The blogger with an amazing recipe collection has just released her first cookbook and it's filled to the brim with healthy but easy to make recipes that will leave you feeling full and satiated. Who doesn't like the sound of healthy, nutritious and delicious recipes to fuel your body that actually taste great.

You Can Hate The Character But Love The Book

Image

I wanted to talk a little bit about what I see on book reviews all the time on Goodreads and it's something that I think is potentially making people miss out on reading books (through reading these reviews) or not enjoy reading a book (for potentially the wrong reasons). And that is this: You don't have to agree with a character to enjoy reading a book. Or to put it another way: just because you don't like the main character doesn't mean the book in question was bad.

And the thing is, I'm guilty of doing this as well. You know what happens - you read a book, identify with a character and then they start spouting opinions or showing character traits that you just don't like. Maybe we were championing for them or saw a little bit of ourselves in their personality, and all of a sudden our like and relatability for that character goes out the window.

The other day I was reading some reviews for a book I was potentially interested in and couldn't help but notice how almost all of the 1 or 2 star reviews mentioned that the main character had issues with her self-esteem. Many had commented that this was a problem and had obviously rated the book lower because of it. And it got me thinking about why? I see this a lot with books where a good character does something that upsets our moral compass and people write off the whole book because they can't relate or are so enraged that they are not the person we thought they should be.

I understand the need to have a connection with a character - but in order to be realistic they also need to have flaws, do morally questionable things or make mistakes and try and fix them. After all what is the point in reading about people who are perfect when none of us as readers are? (I'd like to point out that I am talking about flawed characters here and not bad writing or badly conceived characters.)

Thinking about this reminds me of when I read The Kite Runner for the first time and I was so enraged by the cowardice of the main character that I was convinced it was the worst book I'd ever read. After I'd calmed down a little I realised that the only reason I'd had such a massive (and angry) reaction for a book was because I was so invested in the story and was hoping it would turn out the way I wanted and not the way the author had written it.

Of course there will always be books that have terribly written characters, that are unbelievable or their actions don't make a lot of sense with the way the author has presented them. But, I think it's important to keep in mind that a character without flaws probably isn't a very good one.

I'd love to know what you think about this. Does your dislike for a flawed character in a good book ever stop you from enjoying the story?

The Bedside Table Stack #5

I love having a new stack of books to delve into each month. Most of the books I've picked this month have been inspired by others I have read or heard of and wanted to discover more about the author. Here are some of the titles that will be making their way into book reviews in the near future:

Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach.* I jumped at the chance to read this book by the author who penned The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. When retired actor Buffy is bequest a run-down Bed and Breakfast in rural Wales he has no idea of what he is getting himself into. Buffy's plan to entice the punters attracts a diverse group of guests, but they may have more in common than first thought.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. A few years ago I read Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones, a fantastic read by a wonderful New Zealand author that quite heavily centres around the novel Great Expectations. Ever since I've been wanting to read this famous classic and as I'm also *trying* to expand away from my usual go-to genres, a classic of this caliber will make a nice change.

Thanks For The Memories by Ceclia Ahern. I wasn't entirely smitten with the first book by Ahern that I read last year, but I do really like her writing style. Thanks for The Memories - about two people who are connected through unusual circumstances sounds like a cute and fun read and even the lolly-ish cover art is making me look forward to reading it.

Chart Throb by Ben Elton. Ever since this post where I explored some of Elton's previous works I've been itching to pick up a copy of one of his books. In Chart Throb Elton turns his satirical sense of humour on the world of reality television.

*Gifted in exchange for an honest review.

8 Reasons To Read: I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson

I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to reading diet books. To put it bluntly, I like all of the foods. But, even I know that sugar doesn't have a large part to play in a healthy and balanced diet, which is why I was intrigued to pick up Sarah Wilson's book I Quit Sugar. Here's 8 reasons I enjoyed reading:

1. It's sensible and non-preachy. I loved that throughout the book Sarah puts forward her reasons for quitting sugar (she was addicted plus it affected her auto-immune disease) but never gets too preachy. In fact she even includes a gentle reminder that if you do go on the quitting sugar diet to not bang on about it trying to convert everyone you know.

2. The recipes. Quitting sugar isn't the easiest thing to do since most processed or ready-made foods include it. That's why half the book is made up of yummy-looking easy to follow recipes to give you ideas on breakfast, desserts and snacks, some of the hardest areas to avoid sugar in.

3. It's full of advice. The eight week detox plan is a pretty reasonable way of quitting sugar and she's outlined some of the biggest hurdles you may face during this time and how to overcome them.

4. It's realistic. I really liked that Sarah acknowledge that a small amount of sugar isn't going to kill you or be the end of your sugar journey. She readily admits that there are times when sugar is unavoidable (children's birthday parties) and it's not worth worrying over.

5. It's already made me stop and think. While I haven't fully decided to quit sugar it has made me aware of how much of the white stuff I put into my body each day and convinced me I don't need to add it to teas and coffee.

6. All my skeptical reasons for not liking this book were addressed. Before I read this book I thought it was going to be a lecture on how sugar is bad and we should embrace a quinoa and chickpea diet void of fruit. That's really not the case and the more I read the more I realised it's a sensible book which encourages the reader to adapt it to their lifestyle.

7. Adaptation. I love that Sarah really encourages the reader to adapt the diet to their lifestyle. While she tries to avoid eating fruits high in fructose (such as banana and mango) she does encourage the reader to adjust it to their own needs.

8. You can eat all of the fats. Just because you're quitting sugar doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the good stuff; cheese, butter, olive oil and full fat yogurt are all on the menu and that is what I can get behind.

Have you read I Quit Sugar? I'd love to know if it convinced you to make any changes to what you eat?

February In Review On Sundays and Ink

Some of my favourite blogs to follow often do more personal weekly related catch ups and I love reading them for a couple of reasons. They are a great way to get to know the writer and what goes on behind the scenes. Here are some highlights from the past month:

Travelling home. February was a really fun month for me as I got to start it off with a holiday to my home land of New Zealand. In just over two weeks we managed to travel pretty much the length of the country from North Island to the bottom of the South, catching up with family and attending a wedding in Dunedin. The weather went from beautiful balmy days up north to complete pants down south but fortunately turned around in time for the wedding, putting on spectacular blue skies and sunshine for the day.

Long sought after purchases. I'm not a big shopper but for two years I have wanted to save up for a nice handbag - one made of leather in a beautiful shape and with shiny hardware. After scouring the internet and never being that inspired (or wanting to drop a thousand dollars on something) I came across a pretty Coach bag in a beautiful shade of duck-egg blue.

Renovating inspiration. Last year me and the boy bought our very first home which was both scary and very exciting. It's what we lovingly refer to as a 'renovator's delight' due to it's former grey walls and ghastly peach trim. I've been turning to Houzz for inspiration for our colour scheme and bathroom ideas as we are currently painting and ripping out the original 60s bathroom and painting the hallway and bedrooms.

So, in a nutshell those have been some highlights of my month. I'd love to know how was your February?

Dark Aemelia: A Tale of Shakespeare's Dark Lady by Sally O'Reilly

Historical fiction and magical realism are kind of my jam. So, a few months ago when I stumbled across Dark Aemelia: A Tale of Shakespeare's Dark Lady by Sally O'Reilly, with it's mix of magic and history I knew I had to add it my reading list immediately.

The story follows Aemilia Bassano, one of the first woman poets, who and grew up in Queen Elizabeth I's court surrounded by the Queen and her ladies. After becoming the mistress to the Queen's Cousin, Aemeilia has a life of comfort and ease. That is until she meets a dashing and passionate playwrite by the name of William Shakespeare. Aemilia's life is turned upside down when she finds herself pregnant and is married off to a foolish man, who although loves her is a gambler and spends most of their money before paying their rent. When the plague strikes London, Aemilia will do whatever it takes to stop her precious son succoming to the disease, including conjuring the darkest of spirits for help.

What I loved about this book is that Aemilia is as sassy as they come. She may not have the same rights as men but she sure as hell has a tongue as sharp as any, which was half the fun of reading this novel. The other half? It's dark and a little bit sexy too (not quite erotic as one of the descriptions on the back gave it, it sure ain't 50 Shades...) which makes this book sinfully good.

Sally O'Reilly has captured the essence of the time well, through her descriptions of London and Aemilia's narration the fear of death and disease during the second half of the book was brought to life vividly. O'Reilly sets a nice pace taking us through Aemilia's early years as mistress, to lover of the Bard and then mother and frustrated wife, it was satisfying to watch her Aemilia progress and yet stay true to character.

For anyone looking to dabble in the dark side of historical fiction I thoroughly recommend picking up a copy of Dark Aemilia.

Two Authors I'm Adding To My Reading List

Ben Elton and Kate Mosse are two authors whose names I've seen on bookshelves many times before but I've never actually made the effort to read anything from. With both these authors releasing books recently that have my interest piqued I thought it was time to take a look at their past works.

Ben Elton. The book that has me intrigued is Time and Time Again, a historically set book about time travel which I'm totally loving the sound of. Elton is better know for his books that take on popular culture and satirically analysing it in a humourous and thought provoking way. Elton is also well known for his contributions to television and theatre as he has written scripts for some of the best comedy and musical theater that has been performed which often comes through in his writing. I'm looking forward to adding Dead Famous, Popcorn and High Society to my reading list.

Kate Mosse. Author of The Taxidermists Daughter a historical fiction novel which mixes murder and mystery Kate Mosse is an author I have never thought to explore before. Mosse's books The Winter Ghosts and Labyrinth are both set in the Pyranese mountains and have a past and present setting within their plot lines as well as an air of adventure about them.

Havve you read anything from Kate Mosse or Ben Elton before?

Awesome Reads In March's New Release Books

There are so many good new release books set to be pubished in March that it was actually hard to whittle my list down to readable proportions. Here are seven titles that have me intrigued, from historical fiction set in India to gripping dramas and fashions favourite heroine.

At the Waters Edge by Sara Gruen. Ellis Hyde is cut off financially by his father but the last thing his wife Maddie expects is for him to try and regain his favour in such an unexpected manner. Ellis plans to travel to Scotland to hunt the famous Loch Ness monster, something his father had attempted but failed at years earlier. As her husband goes off to fight a monster, and Europe is raged by war, Maddie, alone in a foreign country will come through her own life awakening.

Little Peach by Peggy Kearne. Michelle runs away from her drug addict mother and plans on travelling to New York and staying with a friend. But when her plans fall through she is alone and out of options. Then she meets Devon, a saviour to her situation. But Devon isn't the nice guy she thinks he is and Michelle soon gets embroiled in a world of child prostitution, a scary and dangerous world which will take all of her strength and determination to leave.

The Tragic Age by Stephen Metcalfe. Billy Kinsey, genuis, philosopher, social critic and insomnic has decided not to deal with life anymore, to not join in or volunteer. Which would be a great philosophy if his family were not in the midst of a crisis over his sisters death and parents warring words. When Billy meets Twom and Gretchen his life will be pulled in one of two directions - towards happiness or disaster. 

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran. When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the 1850s, it expects a quick and easy conquest but when they arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies—one male, one female—to fight. Her most trusted warrior, Sita, a guard in Lakshmi's all-female army narrates this tale of a fearless female leader against the British empire.

Madmoiselle Chanel by C W Gortner. An enthralling novel following Gabriell Chanel's rise from rural poverty into one of the most ambitious fashion designers of the twentieth century. As Coco Chanel, she lived a life of passion, drama, creation and heartache and this novel encapsulates it all.

Wreckage by Emily Bleeker. Lillian and Dave are survivors of a plane crash, missing for almost two years in the South Pacific. The media is enthralled with their story but journalist Genevieve Randall doesn't buy it and she's determined to get the real story about the crash, and the two survivors no matter how many people are destroyed by it. 

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson. Set in 1962, Kitty Miller runs a bookshop with her best friend Frieda and enjoys her unconventional single life. Then the dreams begin. Kitty dreams she is Katharyn Anderson, happily marries to Lars with a beautiful family, home and friends. It's everything Kitty had thought she once wanted but as the dreams start to become powerfully real, Kitty finds the line between imagination and reality is starting to blur.