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Imaginary Friends
IMAGINARY FRIENDS is a modern-day fantasy that all ages can enjoy. It was a normal Christmas Eve until Jeff Tanner's youngest son Davey snapped a turkey wishbone and made a crazy wish. Now Jeff thinks he's gone insane, because he sees strange things that no one else can - bug-eyed babies, walking teddy bears, and tiny freaks galore. What's worse, they don't like him. At all. Now Jeff has to figure out why they're angry, and quick, before his life is ruined by a million, invisible IMAGINARY FRIENDS.
220 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2007
4 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Darren Pillsbury
63 books45 followersDarren used to watch movies for a living. It's not as fun as it sounds. Now he writes the YA horror/comedy series PETER AND THE MONSTERS, about a 10-year-old boy who moves into his grandfather's creepy old mansion and bad, baaaaad things start to happen. PETER AND THE VAMPIRES (Volume One) is currently free on Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 1, 2020
I had been wanting to give this one a try for a while; it takes place around Christmastime so this was a good time to read it!
I really like the writing style (I think it feels "friendly") and it's descriptive and does a good job of setting the scene. I felt like a got a good sense of the characters, too. I could picture it as a Christmas movie, and I loved the description of Christmas morning! The holiday details made it a good December read too. The fantasy element was definitely interesting (and at times just a tad bit creepy!); a few things didn't really get explained but I didn't feel like they needed to be, and the whole idea is an interesting concept that made me think :-) Overall, I liked it a lot.
Oh yes, and I loved hearing about the toys the main character works with! That was *definitely* fun!
I really like the writing style (I think it feels "friendly") and it's descriptive and does a good job of setting the scene. I felt like a got a good sense of the characters, too. I could picture it as a Christmas movie, and I loved the description of Christmas morning! The holiday details made it a good December read too. The fantasy element was definitely interesting (and at times just a tad bit creepy!); a few things didn't really get explained but I didn't feel like they needed to be, and the whole idea is an interesting concept that made me think :-) Overall, I liked it a lot.
Oh yes, and I loved hearing about the toys the main character works with! That was *definitely* fun!
December 27, 2012
Well I have found another new FAVORITE WRITER! I usually like books set in Florida, and/or with an offbeat sense of humor. Some of my favorite writers are: Tim Dorsey, Robert Tacoma, Laurence Shames, Carl Hiassen, Douglas Adams, & the "Bubba" books by CL Bevill... But I think I just found the cherry for the top of that particular ice cream sundae.
Introducing, y'all: a writer by the name of Darren Pillsbury. Absoflippinlutely hysterical. I laughed all the way through IMAGINARY FRIENDS like a crazy person. Even my cats moved away from me, & they're pretty loyal.
Fortunately I was at home when I read it, so I just let it rip. (I'm sorry, Mom, for disturbing your own reading-- but WAIT TIL YOU START READING IT! Believe me, I'll know!)
I laughed, & I laughed, & I cried, then I laughed some more. I literally did not put this book down until I was through. What an incredible writer. What an incredible imagination. I am truly humbled.
Now I am on the prowl for everything else he has written. I have gotten into the PETER & THE MOMSTER series, and am truly addicted. I don't understand how Hollywood could pass this by, it would make a fantabulous movie.. Mr Pillsbury, have you tried DISNEY??
Introducing, y'all: a writer by the name of Darren Pillsbury. Absoflippinlutely hysterical. I laughed all the way through IMAGINARY FRIENDS like a crazy person. Even my cats moved away from me, & they're pretty loyal.
Fortunately I was at home when I read it, so I just let it rip. (I'm sorry, Mom, for disturbing your own reading-- but WAIT TIL YOU START READING IT! Believe me, I'll know!)
I laughed, & I laughed, & I cried, then I laughed some more. I literally did not put this book down until I was through. What an incredible writer. What an incredible imagination. I am truly humbled.
Now I am on the prowl for everything else he has written. I have gotten into the PETER & THE MOMSTER series, and am truly addicted. I don't understand how Hollywood could pass this by, it would make a fantabulous movie.. Mr Pillsbury, have you tried DISNEY??
July 20, 2022
Imaginary Friends.
Well readers, it is not a very original title but it is a very original lpot. One that will keep you up all night, on the edge of your bed and the book grasped tightly into your hands. A book that will not only enthrall you but make you fall into stitches laughing. The good way.
Many reviews of this book say it is corny humour, but personally, I cannot find any cheesy old jokes in it.
The characters are believable, the plot insanely good, so you may be wondering, Jaxel, why did you not rate it 5 stars?
Well, no book is perfect as cab be, and this one I think leans a bit onto the fairytale side for me. A bit onto the "Well we all knew this was going to happen"
I am not contradicting myself, the plot was original and awesome but really, of course the 2 main characters are in love and of course the imaginary frinds are going to attack, so that dear rreaders is why I rated it 4 stars.
Other than that, it is a read that you will thoroughly enjoy, and I can garauntee that. :)
Signing off,
Jaxel.
Message me if you want me to review a book!!!!!! :)
Well readers, it is not a very original title but it is a very original lpot. One that will keep you up all night, on the edge of your bed and the book grasped tightly into your hands. A book that will not only enthrall you but make you fall into stitches laughing. The good way.
Many reviews of this book say it is corny humour, but personally, I cannot find any cheesy old jokes in it.
The characters are believable, the plot insanely good, so you may be wondering, Jaxel, why did you not rate it 5 stars?
Well, no book is perfect as cab be, and this one I think leans a bit onto the fairytale side for me. A bit onto the "Well we all knew this was going to happen"
I am not contradicting myself, the plot was original and awesome but really, of course the 2 main characters are in love and of course the imaginary frinds are going to attack, so that dear rreaders is why I rated it 4 stars.
Other than that, it is a read that you will thoroughly enjoy, and I can garauntee that. :)
Signing off,
Jaxel.
Message me if you want me to review a book!!!!!! :)
November 30, 2020
I'm not really the right audience for this, to be honest. Think Jim Carrey vehicle in book form. (He couldn't sell it as a script, so it became a book.) It's a formulaic, feel good story, with a gimmick that, frankly, he doesn't really use to best effect. It's just okay.
June 22, 2012
Imaginary Friends captivated me from the first page. It is a sweet, inventive story about a single father trying to raise two very wonderful little boys. While the concept is imaginative, the real strength in this story is the character development. I came to see the characters as real people and felt for them. Numerous times I felt frustrated with Jeff as he made serious mistakes, but he was so likable I found it hard to stay mad at him. However, my favorite character, hands down, is Davey, the precocious five year old. He got all of the best lines and I found myself smiling at my Kindle whenever he was up to one of his antics.
The writing is flawless and the plot moves along at such a great pace, I never felt a moment of boredom. And it has a wholesomeness about it that is sorely missing in our modern society. It was nice to read a book that kept me entertained without resulting to shock value and profanity.
Bravo, Mr. Pillsbury, I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a very long time! Oh, and by the way, this should most definitely be made into a movie. Hollywood, you are missing out!
The writing is flawless and the plot moves along at such a great pace, I never felt a moment of boredom. And it has a wholesomeness about it that is sorely missing in our modern society. It was nice to read a book that kept me entertained without resulting to shock value and profanity.
Bravo, Mr. Pillsbury, I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a very long time! Oh, and by the way, this should most definitely be made into a movie. Hollywood, you are missing out!
August 27, 2014
This is little gem of a book about a widowed toy executive struggling to move on from the death of his wife and raise their two sons. Unless Jeff can move on, then he can't help his children to do the same, especially his older son Brian who has retreated into a world of non-stop drawing. Younger son Davey on the other hand is full of mischief, or is he? Why does he always blame everything on the "little boy who looks just like me"? When Davey makes his own special wish at Christmas, things get very weird indeed for Jeff.
There are some very funny moments in this book, as well as some heartwarming ones and a couple that will bring a tear to your eye. It is a very visual story and I was interested to read in the author's notes at the end that it had originally been planned as a screenplay. It would make a fantastic movie and I think that anyone who enjoyed, say, Night at the Museum would love it, and would also love this book. It is extremely well written, with colourful, likeable characters and I heartily recommend it.
There are some very funny moments in this book, as well as some heartwarming ones and a couple that will bring a tear to your eye. It is a very visual story and I was interested to read in the author's notes at the end that it had originally been planned as a screenplay. It would make a fantastic movie and I think that anyone who enjoyed, say, Night at the Museum would love it, and would also love this book. It is extremely well written, with colourful, likeable characters and I heartily recommend it.
March 13, 2014
The story's okay, in a 'Drop Dead Fred' kind of way, but the writing could do with some serious editing. Some company and toy name choices were a little lurid, and the story was crazy, in the same way that fever dreams are when you have the flu. I had to keep reading to get resolution, and I must admit some parts were pretty funny and would do well in a film (which makes sense as the book was originally a film script). The characters were very cliché and can't admit to having many feelings for most of them, except maybe the kid Danny, and that's mainly because he was funny.
At many times throughout the book I was uncertain as to whether it was written for children or adults, the style was hovering somewhere in-between, and the dialogue was classic blown-out-of-proportion feelgood-Christmas-movie in style. As long as you accept that it's over the top, you can get some enjoyment out of it, but I am a bit glad the ride's finished.
At many times throughout the book I was uncertain as to whether it was written for children or adults, the style was hovering somewhere in-between, and the dialogue was classic blown-out-of-proportion feelgood-Christmas-movie in style. As long as you accept that it's over the top, you can get some enjoyment out of it, but I am a bit glad the ride's finished.
December 31, 2012
After trying to pick up the pieces following a family tragedy, Toy Designer Jeff Tanner begins to realize that his hasty glue job is in fact coming apart at the seams. Friendless and adrift, now even the world of imaginary friends has turned on him, sparking a descent into madness that may cost him the few relationships he has left. His only chance is to let go of the past and accept the future - a future that may well be full of nightmares.
A good read that moved along briskly and had plenty of heart. Jeff seemed to do an awful lot of screaming and he seemed a rather pathetic, passive hero at times, but it had some great moments.
A good read that moved along briskly and had plenty of heart. Jeff seemed to do an awful lot of screaming and he seemed a rather pathetic, passive hero at times, but it had some great moments.
January 22, 2013
Cute little book.
This is not the normal genre I usually read. That being said I really enjoyed the book.
The storyline and characters are great and I laughed out loud more than once.
It is really a story of loss and dealing with it, but with a humorous side to lighten it up.
good story.
This is not the normal genre I usually read. That being said I really enjoyed the book.
The storyline and characters are great and I laughed out loud more than once.
It is really a story of loss and dealing with it, but with a humorous side to lighten it up.
good story.
November 13, 2014
I enjoyed this, in a strange way. The characters were likeable and well written, and I liked the story and the message behind it. A really good read.
What I didn't like was the kindle book finishing at 87%!! When you think you've got another 13% left, any ending is going to feel abrupt and disappointing!
What I didn't like was the kindle book finishing at 87%!! When you think you've got another 13% left, any ending is going to feel abrupt and disappointing!
May 1, 2013
It was hard for me to get into this story. I struggled through the first half of the book. After the first half I started to get really into it. Even though it was fairly predictable, there were some very funny scenes and I liked the underlying plot.
June 15, 2013
I picked this up as a kindle freebie and I'm so glad I did. Wickedly funny and heartwarming at the same time. Will definitely be reading the Peter and the Monster series. Loved this book - such a fun read!
January 15, 2013
It was pretty good although you could kind of tell it was written to be a movie script--the beginning was very slow but it had a good message.
February 15, 2013
Fun book - humorous with a little romance. Loved the main character as well as the kids. I found myself laughing out loud several times. Will definitely recommend it to others.
May 24, 2013
While the reviews led me to download this book, I am not sure it was worth it. The whole thing was wacko and at times hard to take.
May 29, 2013
Boring.
I simply could not bring myself to stay on board any longer.
Sorry.
I simply could not bring myself to stay on board any longer.
Sorry.
November 8, 2013
I usually read horror so this was a little off the beaten path for me. But I really enjoyed this book! It was sweet and some parts made me laugh out loud.
November 29, 2014
Good fun tale.
February 18, 2013
Seriously funny. Makes me wish I had some imaginary friends!
February 27, 2013
Originally written as a screenplay, and you could tell. It was a fun story, though.
April 8, 2017
A sweet story. I'm not sure just who the intended reading audience was for this book. I would call it children's except for the romance part but the message was delivered.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews