Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen– 368 pages
ARC from publisher
Book Blurb:
Burned-out and broke, twenty-two-year-old single mother Anna Jennings moves to her grandparents’ rural home for the summer with her four-year-old son, David. The sudden appearance of shadowy dinosaurs forces Anna to admit that either she’s lost her mind or she can actually see her son’s active imagination. Frightened for David’s safety, Anna struggles to learn the rules of this bizarre phenomenon and how best to protect him. But what she uncovers along the way is completely unexpected: revelations about what her son’s imaginary friends truly represent and dark secrets about her own childhood imaginary friend. Living next door is Jamie Presswood, Anna’s childhood friend who’s grown much more handsome and hardened than the boy she once knew. But past regrets and their messy lives are making the rekindling of their complex friendship prove easier said than done. Between imaginary creatures stalking her son and a tumultuous relationship with David’s biological father, Anna may find it impossible to have room in her life or her heart for another man. But as David’s visions become more threatening, Anna must learn to differentiate between which dangers are real and which are imagined, and whom she can truly trust.
My Review: 3.5
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I was happy to read this ARC from the publisher and thought the premise was a great idea. I mean really, seeing your child’s imaginary friends would not only make me think I was crazy, but would also be a completely scary scenario. Lochen did a fine job with the magical realism aspect and led me to believe in these dinosaurs her son was seeing. Of course, the “dark shadow” following her son was simple to surmise what it represented. Annoying that it would take the main character so long to figure out.
Personally, I never had an imaginary friend, nor did my children, but I did want one like my friend Allison had. Until I read this book, I hadn’t recalled that memory!
The romance in the book was a nice touch to round out the story but I wish it was further developed and fleshed out a bit more.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, easy read…great for vacation. (I read it while in Italy and left in on the lobby bookshelf for the next traveler!)
Quotes I liked:
Love ‘em because they’re yours…. Love ‘em because of their sweet selves, but most importantly, love ‘em in spite of themselves.”
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