The Book of Dreams, by Nina George, was unreadable for me. I loved other of her books, but this one lost me. I could not keep track of what was happening or why. I will try this again at some point in the future as it might not have been the right time for a match between the novel and me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

I’ve only read two of Nina George’s works but she seems to have a particular thing she does, which I hesitate to call a formula. But about halfway through the book when I had all the pieces to the story, I could tell this would be a story of two romantic loves where only one perseveres in a bitter-sweet ending.

Even though I could see how things would likely turn out, George is a great writer. She conveys the emotional connection and journey well so that it is more heartbreaking as well as hopeful.

This also seems to be a story that is closer to George than others because of the connection to her own life- her own relationship with her father and his passing mirrors Eddie’s. George writes in such a way because she knows that loss which makes it more real for Eddie, and Henry, and Sam.

I’d rate it at probably 3.5 stars since I knew what to expect from the story but I still enjoyed the journey there.

Nina George is incredibly talented. It’s funny because I loved Paris Bookshop and French Bistro but I didn’t think this was the same author. Complex characters and storyline make this not for a passive read. Stay with it! Side note- I was inspired to learn more on synesthesia which the son Sam has.

I really enjoyed the last two books I had read by Nina George and anticipated this one. As with all her books, it was beautifully written. It tells about Henri, a man in a coma after an accident and his thoughts while in a coma, as well as interactions he tries to have with others. It also shares ideas and thoughts of his son and female friend. His son also shares a love relationship with another young female coma patient that he meant at the hospital. The story tells about their relationships before the accident through flashbacks. It is poignant and heartbreaking. The author explores emotions including loss, grief, hope and regret. Even though this was a beautifully written story, it was not for me. Perhaps it was the times we were going through or just to profound for me.

I haven't read any of Nina George's other novels, but this one has convinced me that I should. The premise of this story was quite complicated, but it presents the mystery of the brain as what it is: a construct we know almost nothing about. The writing is beautiful, and--in what is apparently true Nina George fashion--it's a realistic story in that it doesn't end on a blissfully happy note. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories about the complexities of human relationships, be they familial, friendly, or romantic.

A unique, interesting and poignant story. George definitely has a way with words that makes me want to read more from her in the future.

The Book of Dreams by Nina George is not an easy book to read. Henri and Maddie are both in comas. They have no connection with each other, but Henri’s son Sam,. Henri has never been a part of Sams life, but as he tries to change that, an accident puts him into a coma. Maddie is a young girl who Sam discovers as he wandered the halls of the hospital Sam is a synesthete, and as such has special insights into his father and Maddie.
The author goes back and forth Henri’s thoughts as he sees alternate paths his life might have taken, if only... George has imagined Henry’s and Maddie’s possible deaths from several points of view. To see Henri re-examine pivotal moments in his life and how they would have maybe made a difference in the outcome is poignantly painful.

I don't have any strong feelings for this book. For the most part, I found it boring. It was written well, but not much happened.

Lovely book regarding memories and what we find important after it has passed. While not my usual read, it was really lovely.

Thank you Crown Publishing, Netgalley and Nina George for this e-ARC in return of my honest review.

It is quite a peculiar story of a boy,Sam, who never met his father but ends up spending all his days near his comatose father after unfortunate set of events. Somehow Sam meet another comatose patient, a girl, a sole survivor of a car accident, and fells in love with her. He also meet his father's ex lover, who is legally binded to take care of his father if something wrong.

The narration changes from character to character and it takes a while to get used to. Moreover, it is not a linear story, it jumps from one time to another, from one memory to another and a few times it is revealed that these jumps might be alternative realities which is all together too confusing to keep the story straight.

It all made sense at the very end with the Postscript by the author, and I wish it was a preface rather than a conclusion. It would help me to get ready for this book as I think it might have some invaluable insight on life and death and how to cope with grief. This book is very personal to Nina George and I wish I knew this before I read it because I would open it with a different set of mind.

This was my third novel by Nina George, and it did not disappoint. Ms. George has become one of my favorite authors to read in translation. As with the previous two books I've read, The Book of Dreams is beautifully written, full of deep emotion, and embodies a love for story telling.

This story centers around Henri, but is told in alternating points of view between Henri, Eddie and Sam. The reader has the opportunity to experience the events of the story from each of these unique perspectives and gets to know all three characters on deeply personal levels.

I was able to connect with each of these characters and truly felt that I understood their motivations. I was pulled deeply into the story and felt each of their anguish, joy, pain, and confusion as the story progressed. Each of the characters experienced tremendous growth throughout the course of the story. And the bond that is created between Eddie and Sam is remarkable, but incredibly believable.

Most of the supporting characters are kept to the periphery of the story, with the notable exception of Maddie. Her presence is pivotal to the story, to Sam's development, and to his relationship with Henri. Eddie's quick acceptance of Madelyn and her place in Sam's life also strengthens their bond.

My heart ached for all of them as the story progressed. They each faced decisions that altered the course of their lives and the lives of the others. I honestly did not expect things to turn out the way they did, though maybe I should have expected it, but the ending was as it should have been, I guess. And in reality, the ending was beautiful.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley and the publisher {Crown Publishing} in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Little Paris Bookshop when I read it. But I found this one to be so sad, I don't love emotional/sad fiction and I kept putting this one down. It's been a few months and I still haven't finished, it's finally time to DNF (40%). I still love Nina George and may try to finish this at a later time.

Sam invites his absentee father to a special school event. On his way to the event, eager to meet his son, Henri Skinner, a war correspondent, jumps off a bridge to rescue a child fallen from a boat. Back on the bridge, he is hit by a car and falls into a coma. Sam visits him every day and meets two special people, his father’s true love and a young woman in a coma who captures his own heart. George writes a convincing tale of the tug of war between life and death in another dimension, and also of the complexities of relationships betwixt larger than life personalities. I was fortunate to receive copy of this wonderful story from the publisher through NetGalley.

A man hit by a car on his way to see his son for the first time in many years, a young man who is intellectually advanced but socially awkward, a young girl in a lingering coma, and the doctors in the hospital. All characters in this unusual novel that has magical/spiritual overtones and commentary on life, death and the time in between.

I liked this book, but think it will be difficult for some readers. Sam, the son, is a wonderful character. His faith that his father will recover, and his attachment to Madelyn, the young coma patient, left me fully in his corner. I was completely engrossed waiting to see if his dreams would come true. Unfortunately, the constant shifts between the father's "dream world" and the "real world" of the hospital were confusing at times. It was difficult at times to follow the plot. Nevertheless, I did like this book, but it's a bit of a departure from the author's previous titles, so it may be a disappointment for some.

The Books of Dreams is the second book by Nina George that I read. I started it back in August and then got very busy with work and other books, and totally neglected my kindle for a couple of weeks. Now, that was a big mistake, I will tell you why.
Imagine this: Friday morning, I left work early, and I'm sitting in a coffee shop drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte, reading with a huge knot in my throat and holding back tears. Saying “OMG, this book is just….” I could not even describe it at that moment, because I was overwhelmed with all the feelings that evoked.
The Book of Dreams is a beautiful book, with a gripping story about a young boy, a father, the woman he loves and a lonely girl. At first, it was not easy to grasp everything that the book was about, but slowly chapter by chapter I was compelled to the story and the characters; they are all complex, interesting and very well constructed. I loved reading all the different POV’s, Sam was a lovely young man, Eddie was strong characters, but it was Henri who made me cry. The way Henri was going through all the stages and thinking about Sam, the things he felt, they just broke my heart and so did the ending. That was the only part I did not like because I wanted so much more.
Nina George did a great job with this book, she wove a beautiful story about love, all kinds of love, about forgiveness and redemption; she created amazing characters and a story that stands out because of its peculiarity and uniqueness. I loved it and it will certainly in my top reads this year.

I am a big fan of Nina George. I have read all three of her novels and love them all. They all hold a magical quality about them and at the same time they are poignantly moving with a twinge of whimsical romance. The Book of Dreams devels into some of the deep issues of life - exploring unfulfilled relationships - and the pain of lost time and missed opportunities - as well as life and death and the realm in-between. It is beautifully written and the characters pull your emotions. It is a worthy read and, as with her other two novels, one of which I will read over and over again. Charmingly done!

The Book of Dreams asks the reader to suspend belief as we read about the experience of the main character, Henri, who is comatose and visited on a daily basis by his estranged 13-year-old son, Sam, and ex-girlfriend, Eddie. The novel immerses you into the story as it picks up momentum and has you hoping for a happy-ever-after ending, even though it is implausible. For anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one, this story resonates with you and makes you wonder about life after death. The themes of love, loss, survival, memory, hope, forgiveness and second-chances are intertwined throughout the novel which deals with the complexity of various types of relationships.

I have read and enjoyed other books by this author but I couldn't get invested in this story. I didn't connect to any of the characters and the story was too depressing for me at times.

This was my first book by Nina George and it was a good read for me. Not my favorite of the year, and there are some things about this book that worked better or worse but overall, I like the concept. The story did not fully live up to what I expected but I still enjoyed it.
#TheBookofDreams #NetGalley

When Henri ends up in a coma after rescuing a young girl from the Thames, his ex-girlfriend, Eddie, discovers that she is listed as Henri's next-of-kin in his living will. While Henri lies in a hospital bed, he fitfully revisits the boyhood he spent with his beloved grandfather, who fed him a steady diet of Breton fish and fairy tales.

Meanwhile, Sam, Henri's sensitive teenage son with whom Henri never had a relationship--Henri was in love with his mother, but too afraid of love to make the relationship work--has never seen his father alive, other than in Henri's reportages or the video of him heroically saving a girl from drowning. Yet, Sam has a more profound connection with his father than most children of his age. Sam and Eddie, each previously unaware of the other, slowly begin to carve out an unexpected and powerful friendship. But when Sam is on his way to meet his father for the first time, tragedy strikes.

I was instantly captivated by the blurb of this one and I've loved everything else Nina George has written, but this didn't do it for me. I was hoping for more than I got.