HarperCollins Roar: A Story for Every Woman

Roar is collection of short stories, thirty to be exact, and each story tells the tale of a different woman dealing with some challenge whether this be an internal struggle or an external situation. What really sets Roar apart is the quirky and original way the stories are told, they are unexpected and unpredictable which I absolutely loved. They’ve made me laugh, they’ve made me cry, but they’ve also me sit up, pay attention and think.The real beauty of this collection is the wide ranging appeal. These are the type of stories that you could read today, then pick up in another 10 years and find that your perspective and understanding of them have altered. I found when reading that there were some stories I identified with absolutely, while others, didn’t do much for me personally, and yet other ladies who I’ve spoken with had a completely different view as to which they most related to.On the whole, I found these stories to be uplifting and supportive of women – there was just one story which I found to be quite disappointing due to its judgemental tone towards a certain type of woman (and quite heavily towards a certain reality family) which for me, felt out of keeping with the message of solidarity. The story itself was good and well written, it just felt to be a damning condemnation of a way of life which really jarred tonally for me.A really enjoyable collection, one which I will be keeping on the ‘forever’ shelf and dipping into for years to come!

I’ve read every book by Cecelia Ahearn but, along with some other readers, have found this one difficult to finish ... a little (dare I say?) not quite self indulgent but feeling a little sorry for older women. Ok so I write this as a mid 50s woman, overweight and less attractive than I was 30 years ago; and yes, I frequently feel invisible and made to feel ‘old’ and ‘unimportant ‘ by younger colleagues at work despite working full time for 39 years and wealth of experience... so the book has a point in some stories... but these stories are too short (so far) and no real answer except to possibly say that I’m not alone. Not sure that’s desperately reassuring or not ...! Will try to read on ...

She's done it again! Like many of Cecilia's books, she has created a prefect combination of the abstract with the everyday. These stories each have powerful messages for women, despite the storylines being far fetched (to say the least lol), the themes and messages are relevant, current and real. It's like self help for the thinker, or that's how's I found it anyway.

It started off as pretty annoying - I thought what silly stories those were! But then it quickly grew on me! What an array of thought provoking, entertaining, occasionally heart-breaking stories! 30 stories of 30 women. Some are better than others, but an excellent example of magical realism and allegories.Don't take it too seriously. But then do!"All women speak man, they were raised bilingual."

I enjoyed the stories of the thirty women in this book and it was just as well written as Cecelia Aherne’s other books, but I just didn’t get that urgency to get to the end of the book to find out what happened, coupled with the disappointment that I’d finished it and there was no more to read. I think I’ll stick with her novels in future.