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A Parcel for Anna Browne
The gift of a lifetime?
Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more . . .
When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift - one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her - and her life starts to change.
But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?
Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more . . .
When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift - one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her - and her life starts to change.
But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?
528 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
49 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Dickinson
28 books663 followersMiranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. Coming from a creative family where stories and songs were always present, it was perhaps inevitable that she would end up adoring words. A songwriter for over 15 years, Miranda has successfully penned over thirty songs, delivering both live and recorded performances in a range of venues across the UK and Europe. Her first solo project album, About Time is due for release this year. To hear her music, visit www.mirandadickinson.com - and be sure to leave a message if you like it!
Miranda began writing in earnest four years ago with her first novel, Coffee at Kowalski's - a romantic comedy set in New York's Upper West Side. This was spotted on HarperCollins' site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and was released by Avon (part of HC) as Fairytale of New York on 12th November 2009. She has also written several short stories, scripts and novel excerpts, many of which are published on Helium.com. Miranda is also a regular contributor for www.myvillage.com writing a range of local interest articles for the Birmingham area and national film and festival reviews.
Miranda began writing in earnest four years ago with her first novel, Coffee at Kowalski's - a romantic comedy set in New York's Upper West Side. This was spotted on HarperCollins' site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and was released by Avon (part of HC) as Fairytale of New York on 12th November 2009. She has also written several short stories, scripts and novel excerpts, many of which are published on Helium.com. Miranda is also a regular contributor for www.myvillage.com writing a range of local interest articles for the Birmingham area and national film and festival reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
September 24, 2015
A Parcel for Anna Browne is something of a modern day fairytale. It has a magical glow to it and is definitely a feel good read. Anna Browne, our heroine, is quiet and doesn’t like the limelight. She is quite happy to be in the background, loving her job as a receptionist at a national newspaper and enjoying a close circle of friends. Everything is going to change though when she starts to receive a string of beautiful anonymous gifts – gifts that really give her a boost and encourage her to walk tall, help her in her decision making and generally to blossom as a woman. But, the question is – who is sending the gifts and why?
I did find it a bit slow going at first, but once I had got into it I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. I especially loved the way that Anna changed from being, to be absolutely honest, a bit wet at the start of the book to being a confident beautiful woman not afraid to take charge of her own destiny. Having said that I found it to be a slow burner, I have to say that I really loved the second half of the read which just seemed to be a little bit more pacy.
To sum up, it is a really good read with a main character who I quickly grew to like and whose life I really felt invested in. There were times that I thought I knew where the story was heading, but the author did keep me on my toes in a book that definitely isn’t predictable. Many thanks to the publishers via Netgalley for the review copy.
I did find it a bit slow going at first, but once I had got into it I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. I especially loved the way that Anna changed from being, to be absolutely honest, a bit wet at the start of the book to being a confident beautiful woman not afraid to take charge of her own destiny. Having said that I found it to be a slow burner, I have to say that I really loved the second half of the read which just seemed to be a little bit more pacy.
To sum up, it is a really good read with a main character who I quickly grew to like and whose life I really felt invested in. There were times that I thought I knew where the story was heading, but the author did keep me on my toes in a book that definitely isn’t predictable. Many thanks to the publishers via Netgalley for the review copy.
October 14, 2015
Anna is just ordinary, mousey even. The sort of woman who doesn't stand out in a crowd and that's the way she likes it. Then, someone starts sending presents to her at work (a daily newspaper) and she has no idea who is doing it. The gifts are unusual but always things she loves. As more arrive Anna is getting less mousey and much bolder and assertive. Not everything that happens is good, with one or two not so nice surprises, which she didn't expect. This is a great, "feel good" book, easy to read, great descriptions and beautifully written. It was a real pleasure to go with Anna on her journey as she finally comes into her own. Would love to read other books by this author. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
February 19, 2016
Anna Browne is an ordinary girl, working an average 9-5 job, with no greater aspirations than getting from one weekend to the next. She has a small and select group of friends and a love/hate relationship with her family. When she starts receiving surprise parcels to her workplace, she is confused as to just who would send her these gifts. The mystery soon becomes the talk of the office, which just happens to be a tabloid newspaper, bringing unforeseen attention to the relatively shy Anna. Just who is sending her these well-thought-out presents and what is the senders motive?
Miranda Dickinson is one of the UK's most beloved female-fiction writers. She has a dedicated following and is wonderfully interactive with her readers online. When this book came through my letterbox I was more than happy to escape into Anna's world and was soon sucked into the mystery of the anonymous parcels (whilst secretly wishing I could receive some similar post). Anna is a warm and gentle character, with a troubled childhood that lingers, resulting in insecurity. She has few friends, but the ones she have are genuine souls and can be trusted. Reluctantly she informs them of the surprise parcels and together they try to decipher the identity of the sender. There are comical moments to be had while the office workers come up with their own theories, whereas Anna takes a more pragmatic approach. A wonderful, dizzy array of characters make this a story to raise your spirits. Anna has the lovely balance of innocence and charm that is trademark to Miranda Dickinson's protagonists, and I feel we all know someone just like her. She is deserved of a warm embrace, someone to love (and love her back) and a happy-ever-after. As we say over here, "she hasn't a bad bone in her body". But can the sender of these gifts be as genuine as Anna herself? Are there reasons for the well-chosen items and their recipient? As the wrapping unfolds, so does the story...
A light, yet thoughtful read with some laugh out loud moments and soul-searching storylines. Miranda Dickinson is a voice to be heard and ideal for female fiction fans everywhere. Ideal for readers of Claudia Carroll and Abby Clements.
Miranda Dickinson is one of the UK's most beloved female-fiction writers. She has a dedicated following and is wonderfully interactive with her readers online. When this book came through my letterbox I was more than happy to escape into Anna's world and was soon sucked into the mystery of the anonymous parcels (whilst secretly wishing I could receive some similar post). Anna is a warm and gentle character, with a troubled childhood that lingers, resulting in insecurity. She has few friends, but the ones she have are genuine souls and can be trusted. Reluctantly she informs them of the surprise parcels and together they try to decipher the identity of the sender. There are comical moments to be had while the office workers come up with their own theories, whereas Anna takes a more pragmatic approach. A wonderful, dizzy array of characters make this a story to raise your spirits. Anna has the lovely balance of innocence and charm that is trademark to Miranda Dickinson's protagonists, and I feel we all know someone just like her. She is deserved of a warm embrace, someone to love (and love her back) and a happy-ever-after. As we say over here, "she hasn't a bad bone in her body". But can the sender of these gifts be as genuine as Anna herself? Are there reasons for the well-chosen items and their recipient? As the wrapping unfolds, so does the story...
A light, yet thoughtful read with some laugh out loud moments and soul-searching storylines. Miranda Dickinson is a voice to be heard and ideal for female fiction fans everywhere. Ideal for readers of Claudia Carroll and Abby Clements.
October 10, 2015
What can I say....this was brilliant...from the stunning cover right to the last page it was a very enjoyable read...with a great story line that had me gripped and very believable characters...each time I picked up the book was like unwrapping one of Anna Browne's parcels...was not sure of what I was going to read next but knew I was going to love it....Totally recommend this book.
December 20, 2015
I was looking forward to reading this as I've heard nothing but good reviews about it. However I think I'm too much of an old cynic to have enjoyed this. I subsequently discovered the author was initially published by Avon, which should have warned me as to the "quality" of the book.
On the surface it's a nice enough story. A quiet, unassuming girl starts to receive parcels containing thoughtful gifts from a stranger, which end up changing her life for the better and boosting her confidence. The book starts off well with the intrigue of the mysterious parcels, but quickly becomes repetitive. The story then falls down a typical chick-lit wormhole which pretty much resembles a mash-up of the films Pretty Woman, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 27 Dresses. By this point I was convinced this was nothing more than a book which was written purely with the film rights in mind.
I am baffled as to why this book seems to receive constant high praise including an average 4.11 on Goodreads with over 75% of the current 199 reviews at a 4 or 5 rating. There was nothing original in the book that I could see, it was long-winded, repetitive, and simply a rehash of any one of a number of rom-com movies. For me it was an OK read. Nothing more, nothing less. I wouldn't recommend it and certainly won't be seeking out more by this author.
However, on the plus side it ticked one more region off for my UK Regions and Counties challenge (City of London).
A generous 2 stars out of 5 for me.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
On the surface it's a nice enough story. A quiet, unassuming girl starts to receive parcels containing thoughtful gifts from a stranger, which end up changing her life for the better and boosting her confidence. The book starts off well with the intrigue of the mysterious parcels, but quickly becomes repetitive. The story then falls down a typical chick-lit wormhole which pretty much resembles a mash-up of the films Pretty Woman, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 27 Dresses. By this point I was convinced this was nothing more than a book which was written purely with the film rights in mind.
I am baffled as to why this book seems to receive constant high praise including an average 4.11 on Goodreads with over 75% of the current 199 reviews at a 4 or 5 rating. There was nothing original in the book that I could see, it was long-winded, repetitive, and simply a rehash of any one of a number of rom-com movies. For me it was an OK read. Nothing more, nothing less. I wouldn't recommend it and certainly won't be seeking out more by this author.
However, on the plus side it ticked one more region off for my UK Regions and Counties challenge (City of London).
A generous 2 stars out of 5 for me.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
September 25, 2015
This was a really special read- very heartwarming , drawing you in right from the start.
Anna Browne works on reception for a National Newspaper. Although she's not an extrovert character- once anonymous parcels start arriving for her, her life seems to change for the better. Everyone around her is totally absorbed in the magical, exciting idea that someone is sending thoughtful presents to the young girl on reception and she becomes a popular port of call for the staff!
The romance of the presents arriving anonymously is really exciting. You join in trying to guess who is sending them. Maybe deciding you know who is sending them and why- only to discover that maybe you could be wrong yet again!
The characters are so well drawn that you know everyone around Anna and all the places that she loves to go.
I loved the Cornish references- it even mentions my favourite place in Cornwall which is Perranporth.
Would highly recommend this book.
With many thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book.
Anna Browne works on reception for a National Newspaper. Although she's not an extrovert character- once anonymous parcels start arriving for her, her life seems to change for the better. Everyone around her is totally absorbed in the magical, exciting idea that someone is sending thoughtful presents to the young girl on reception and she becomes a popular port of call for the staff!
The romance of the presents arriving anonymously is really exciting. You join in trying to guess who is sending them. Maybe deciding you know who is sending them and why- only to discover that maybe you could be wrong yet again!
The characters are so well drawn that you know everyone around Anna and all the places that she loves to go.
I loved the Cornish references- it even mentions my favourite place in Cornwall which is Perranporth.
Would highly recommend this book.
With many thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book.
July 21, 2019
I really enjoyed reading about the mysterious gifts being sent to Anna Browne. Miranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. From an early age she dreamed of writing books.
Imagine the most amazing, beautiful gift, chosen especially for you wrapped with great care, so that the wrapping is as delicious as the gift itself.
When Anna Browne is given a parcel by the UPS delivery man she is surprised as she never gets parcels delivered to her at work or at home.
As Anne stared at the parcel she didn’t recognise the hand writing and there was no returns address. Anna went through her list of friends who might have sent the parcel to her. Could it be from Tish, or from her younger brother, or anna elderly neighbour or Jonah Rawdon, who was the closest person Anna had to a best friend in the city. Anna didn’t know who had sent her gift to her. This is a mystery who is sending Anna Browne mysterious gifts and why. I hope you all enjoy reading A Parcel For Anna Browne as much as did.
December 21, 2021
A book you rush to finish because it is so intriguing, beautifully written. A true gem of a book.
A Parcel for Anna Browne starts in such an ordinary and crescendo to a wondrous finish.
Every word, every character, every scene is so moving. What a precious book. I adored it in every way and hated for it to end.
A Parcel for Anna Browne starts in such an ordinary and crescendo to a wondrous finish.
Every word, every character, every scene is so moving. What a precious book. I adored it in every way and hated for it to end.
November 23, 2015
Novel set in London (Is it better to give or to receive?)
I’m not snobbish about what I read; I can enjoy a decent bit of chicklit as much as the next woman, so I embarked on this novel with a feeling of happy anticipation. The plot sounded good – a young girl living an unexciting life in London receives an unexpected parcel through the post. She has no idea who has sent it or why, but the content of the parcel seem to indicate that the sender thinks more of Anna than she does of herself. As the intriguing parcels continue to arrive, Anna finds that she begins to change and grow in confidence. Sounds promising?
Now, there are certain things that I have come to expect of really good chicklit: an engaging protagonist, flawed but likeable; a good plot that fairly licks along; a romance that is fraught with difficulties but ultimately comes to a happy conclusion; a cast of interesting and varied characters, including at least one that is thoroughly despicable and hopefully some humour. The very best chicklit makes you laugh. Dickinson’s latest novel, unfortunately, had none of these.
The plot is flawed. The reader is dragged along with the hope of finally identifying the sender of the parcels, but, when you finally do it stretches credibility to its limits. I use the words “dragged” and “finally” because reading this felt interminable. I think the real issue is that there just wasn’t enough plot for 150 pages, never mind 500 odd so, inevitably, there is a lot of padding out, and padding out is dull stuff. I mean, Anna gets the first parcel on page 2 and she doesn’t actually open the damned thing until page 21! Oh, and while we’re being picky, who on earth packs something that size in a parcel bigger than a shoe box? Where, I ask myself, was the editor?
To be fair, I suppose Dickinson did try to inject some humour into the mix with the character of Ted, the security guard, who insists on seeing sinister intention in everyone, including the “covert spying ring” in the post room, who are actually a group of slimmers, but it’s over used. His initial suspicion about the first parcel is funny, fair enough, but, after a while his paranoia simply becomes an irritation. Generally speaking, Dickinson’s characters seem one dimensional but perhaps that’s fairly typical of chicklit. The real problem is that none of her characters were particularly interesting in the first place and unfortunately that’s particularly true of Anna Browne herself, who was already irritating me by the time she opened the first parcel. By the time she opened the last one, I was fervently wishing that it contained a bomb.
This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/parcel-ann...
I’m not snobbish about what I read; I can enjoy a decent bit of chicklit as much as the next woman, so I embarked on this novel with a feeling of happy anticipation. The plot sounded good – a young girl living an unexciting life in London receives an unexpected parcel through the post. She has no idea who has sent it or why, but the content of the parcel seem to indicate that the sender thinks more of Anna than she does of herself. As the intriguing parcels continue to arrive, Anna finds that she begins to change and grow in confidence. Sounds promising?
Now, there are certain things that I have come to expect of really good chicklit: an engaging protagonist, flawed but likeable; a good plot that fairly licks along; a romance that is fraught with difficulties but ultimately comes to a happy conclusion; a cast of interesting and varied characters, including at least one that is thoroughly despicable and hopefully some humour. The very best chicklit makes you laugh. Dickinson’s latest novel, unfortunately, had none of these.
The plot is flawed. The reader is dragged along with the hope of finally identifying the sender of the parcels, but, when you finally do it stretches credibility to its limits. I use the words “dragged” and “finally” because reading this felt interminable. I think the real issue is that there just wasn’t enough plot for 150 pages, never mind 500 odd so, inevitably, there is a lot of padding out, and padding out is dull stuff. I mean, Anna gets the first parcel on page 2 and she doesn’t actually open the damned thing until page 21! Oh, and while we’re being picky, who on earth packs something that size in a parcel bigger than a shoe box? Where, I ask myself, was the editor?
To be fair, I suppose Dickinson did try to inject some humour into the mix with the character of Ted, the security guard, who insists on seeing sinister intention in everyone, including the “covert spying ring” in the post room, who are actually a group of slimmers, but it’s over used. His initial suspicion about the first parcel is funny, fair enough, but, after a while his paranoia simply becomes an irritation. Generally speaking, Dickinson’s characters seem one dimensional but perhaps that’s fairly typical of chicklit. The real problem is that none of her characters were particularly interesting in the first place and unfortunately that’s particularly true of Anna Browne herself, who was already irritating me by the time she opened the first parcel. By the time she opened the last one, I was fervently wishing that it contained a bomb.
This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/parcel-ann...
January 6, 2016
I needed a bit of chic lit after my last read was set in WWII and Á Parcel for Anna Browne’ was just perfect. This was a nice, light story that kept the pages turning with the mystery of who was sending the parcels to Anna. Anna was very sweet and likable and I found this read quite enjoyable…
October 24, 2015
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
I love receiving post, and I am sure I'm not the only one! Of course I am not talking about bills or the endless flyers for takeaway food, but rather packages of the bookish variety, birthday gifts from overseas and quirky postcards from my family; these are the proverbial rays of sunshine that make coming home from a stressful day at work to a covered doormat such an utter joy. Receiving mail is lovely when you expect it, but there is an even more special feeling of happiness reserved for surprise packages to brighten your day, and it is this flutter of excitement that the aptly titled A Parcel for Anna Browne takes its inspiration from.
Anna Browne is an ordinary woman working as a receptionist at one of the biggest newspapers in the country. Her job isn't glamorous and she lives a quiet, unassuming life, usually going straight home after work for some cosy time with herself or one of her friendly neighbours. For most people living in the bustling city that is London, the fact that Anna is content doing so little is incomprehensible, but after a tumultuous childhood Anna finds the peaceful life she has cut out for herself rather perfect.
All of this changes however, when she starts receiving packages at her office. Despite the security guard's insistence that something sinister is going on, Anna takes delight in the surprises from the anonymous sender. The gifts are incredibly thoughtful and remind her of the rare happy moments in her childhood, and as she stars wearing the first items, which include a scarf and beautiful brooch, Anna finds her confidence blooming as a result of the compliments she gets on her new accessories. But curiosity slowly takes a hold of her and starts wondering who is sending the packages. Could it be the handsome reporter she's had an eye on for ages, or is it someone else entirely that has made it their mission to tempt Anna out of her shell?
In commercial women's fiction, to me one of the most important parts of a novel is the protagonist and how likeable they are – and Anna Browne, despite her ordinary name and initially perhaps ordinary life, embodies everything I look for in a main character; a gentle kindness, a mysterious background and, most of all, an interesting journey as the story progresses. If there is anyone who deserves to receive surprise mail to brighten up their day it is Anna and so with each new package that arrived for her, I felt the same flutter of excitement as the character and I willed her to open it up as soon as possible as I was curious what delight was hidden within this time around.
Just like me, Anna opened her packages incredibly carefully, relishing the thoughtfulness that had gone into the meticulously folded corners and the sheets of crisp tissue paper protecting the gifts within. Author Miranda Dickinson's descriptions of these scenes were incredibly detailed and vivid and I felt like I was right there with Anna, witnessing the slow revelation of each of the prized gifts. I maybe wasn't the one receiving an unexpected package in the post that time, but I felt the same shimmer of excitement from when I do, through the incredibly realistic representation within the novel.
Of course the book didn't just consist of Anna unwrapping gifts (although I'd totally read that), there were some very 'interesting' characters too, such as crime-obsessed security guard Ted, and I loved the storylines involving reporter Ben and neighbour Jonah as well. I also thought that the mystery surrounding both the packages and Anna's childhood were set up exceptionally well. Miranda Dickinson revealed just enough throughout the chapters to keep the story going, without spoiling everything straight away. I do admit that from very early on in the novel I had a pretty solid suspicion about who was sending the packages – and I was right – however, two or three times I doubted myself when another likely candidate made an appearance, there were some very convincing red herrings thrown in.
I think I may use the word 'lovely' too much sometimes, however I do believe that is the perfect description for this sweet novel. A Parcel for Anna Browne is a heartwarming charmer and a great read to cosy up with while, perhaps, keeping one eager ear on the hallway in case that exciting thump of a package falling on the doormat makes a surprise appearance.
I love receiving post, and I am sure I'm not the only one! Of course I am not talking about bills or the endless flyers for takeaway food, but rather packages of the bookish variety, birthday gifts from overseas and quirky postcards from my family; these are the proverbial rays of sunshine that make coming home from a stressful day at work to a covered doormat such an utter joy. Receiving mail is lovely when you expect it, but there is an even more special feeling of happiness reserved for surprise packages to brighten your day, and it is this flutter of excitement that the aptly titled A Parcel for Anna Browne takes its inspiration from.
Anna Browne is an ordinary woman working as a receptionist at one of the biggest newspapers in the country. Her job isn't glamorous and she lives a quiet, unassuming life, usually going straight home after work for some cosy time with herself or one of her friendly neighbours. For most people living in the bustling city that is London, the fact that Anna is content doing so little is incomprehensible, but after a tumultuous childhood Anna finds the peaceful life she has cut out for herself rather perfect.
All of this changes however, when she starts receiving packages at her office. Despite the security guard's insistence that something sinister is going on, Anna takes delight in the surprises from the anonymous sender. The gifts are incredibly thoughtful and remind her of the rare happy moments in her childhood, and as she stars wearing the first items, which include a scarf and beautiful brooch, Anna finds her confidence blooming as a result of the compliments she gets on her new accessories. But curiosity slowly takes a hold of her and starts wondering who is sending the packages. Could it be the handsome reporter she's had an eye on for ages, or is it someone else entirely that has made it their mission to tempt Anna out of her shell?
In commercial women's fiction, to me one of the most important parts of a novel is the protagonist and how likeable they are – and Anna Browne, despite her ordinary name and initially perhaps ordinary life, embodies everything I look for in a main character; a gentle kindness, a mysterious background and, most of all, an interesting journey as the story progresses. If there is anyone who deserves to receive surprise mail to brighten up their day it is Anna and so with each new package that arrived for her, I felt the same flutter of excitement as the character and I willed her to open it up as soon as possible as I was curious what delight was hidden within this time around.
Just like me, Anna opened her packages incredibly carefully, relishing the thoughtfulness that had gone into the meticulously folded corners and the sheets of crisp tissue paper protecting the gifts within. Author Miranda Dickinson's descriptions of these scenes were incredibly detailed and vivid and I felt like I was right there with Anna, witnessing the slow revelation of each of the prized gifts. I maybe wasn't the one receiving an unexpected package in the post that time, but I felt the same shimmer of excitement from when I do, through the incredibly realistic representation within the novel.
Of course the book didn't just consist of Anna unwrapping gifts (although I'd totally read that), there were some very 'interesting' characters too, such as crime-obsessed security guard Ted, and I loved the storylines involving reporter Ben and neighbour Jonah as well. I also thought that the mystery surrounding both the packages and Anna's childhood were set up exceptionally well. Miranda Dickinson revealed just enough throughout the chapters to keep the story going, without spoiling everything straight away. I do admit that from very early on in the novel I had a pretty solid suspicion about who was sending the packages – and I was right – however, two or three times I doubted myself when another likely candidate made an appearance, there were some very convincing red herrings thrown in.
I think I may use the word 'lovely' too much sometimes, however I do believe that is the perfect description for this sweet novel. A Parcel for Anna Browne is a heartwarming charmer and a great read to cosy up with while, perhaps, keeping one eager ear on the hallway in case that exciting thump of a package falling on the doormat makes a surprise appearance.
September 30, 2015
There is something rather magical about Anna's story. She is just a normal person enjoying her job as a receptionist at the London offices of a newspaper, The Daily Messenger, and living a ordinary quiet life, spending time with her friends, the exuberant Tish, an American living in the same apartment block, Jonah, her Yorkshire born cameraman friend and Isadora, the scared and elderly neighbour adopted by Anna and her friends whom they take out on a rota system, devised of course by Anna.
Good things should happen to good people and Anna certainly falls into that category. She doesn't seem to have a nasty bone in her body and is always willing to see the best in everybody. Despite the lack of parental love experienced by Anna and her brother Ruari as children in Cornwall, the siblings had carved out their own successful lives and Anna loved her life in London.
The magical aspect to Anna's life begins when she starts receiving beautifully wrapped gifts from an unknown sender. The parcels are delivered to her at work which causes quite a stir with her colleagues with much speculation. Whilst his concern is kindly meant, the Messenger's chief of security, Ted, is not only full of his own importance but he is also the master of conspiracy theories and is convinced that the sender has an ulterior motive and intends to do her harm whilst her fellow receptionist Sheniece is slightly jealous of Anna and is desperate to know what is in each parcel. With each new gift, Anna becomes more aware of her own capabilities and travels her her own journey of self discovery.
There are some excellent characters in this story and Anna's life is certainly full of drama - both welcome and unwelcome, and of course a romance element with a love interest that will keep you guessing. I did guess who the mysterious sender was but Miranda doesn't make it easy.
This was a really enjoyable read with a few twists along the way and I loved how Anna's character showed that with a little confidence and self belief, you can do anything you want. I only have one reservation with this book. My proof copy was over 500 pages and whilst the actual finished copy may not be as big, I did feel that the book was a little too long for the story. However, it is a lovely warm read with that feel good factor and well deserves a 4* rating from me.
Good things should happen to good people and Anna certainly falls into that category. She doesn't seem to have a nasty bone in her body and is always willing to see the best in everybody. Despite the lack of parental love experienced by Anna and her brother Ruari as children in Cornwall, the siblings had carved out their own successful lives and Anna loved her life in London.
The magical aspect to Anna's life begins when she starts receiving beautifully wrapped gifts from an unknown sender. The parcels are delivered to her at work which causes quite a stir with her colleagues with much speculation. Whilst his concern is kindly meant, the Messenger's chief of security, Ted, is not only full of his own importance but he is also the master of conspiracy theories and is convinced that the sender has an ulterior motive and intends to do her harm whilst her fellow receptionist Sheniece is slightly jealous of Anna and is desperate to know what is in each parcel. With each new gift, Anna becomes more aware of her own capabilities and travels her her own journey of self discovery.
There are some excellent characters in this story and Anna's life is certainly full of drama - both welcome and unwelcome, and of course a romance element with a love interest that will keep you guessing. I did guess who the mysterious sender was but Miranda doesn't make it easy.
This was a really enjoyable read with a few twists along the way and I loved how Anna's character showed that with a little confidence and self belief, you can do anything you want. I only have one reservation with this book. My proof copy was over 500 pages and whilst the actual finished copy may not be as big, I did feel that the book was a little too long for the story. However, it is a lovely warm read with that feel good factor and well deserves a 4* rating from me.
November 1, 2015
I received a copy of this via Prima magazine as their monthly bookclub choice
What a story!! One of those books that had me reading and smiling and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside as i neared the end! Loved it!
Anna Brownie is a very ordinary woman working as a receptionist in London and she seems perfectly happy with the way things are but someone thinks otherwise as she soon starts receiving mysterious parcels to her place of work Nobody can work out who they are from and there is never a signature but the items in the gifts seem to bring a sparkle to Anna's life and she starts to believe in herself more and the change in her is lovely to read about. She gets noticed more and soon the mystery parcels are the talk of the newspaper where she works . Also brings her to the attention of a journalist but trying to work out his motives were another intriguing part of the story.
Also loved the way this story meanders and brings in various other characters around Anna's and shows you glimpses of their lives and issues.
One character i didnt like was Anna's mother and this deepens your empathy towards Anna when you see what behaviour she had to deal with as a child and now into adulthood so you could understand why Anna was happy with being in the background before and never really believed in herself.
Highly recommended!!
What a story!! One of those books that had me reading and smiling and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside as i neared the end! Loved it!
Anna Brownie is a very ordinary woman working as a receptionist in London and she seems perfectly happy with the way things are but someone thinks otherwise as she soon starts receiving mysterious parcels to her place of work Nobody can work out who they are from and there is never a signature but the items in the gifts seem to bring a sparkle to Anna's life and she starts to believe in herself more and the change in her is lovely to read about. She gets noticed more and soon the mystery parcels are the talk of the newspaper where she works . Also brings her to the attention of a journalist but trying to work out his motives were another intriguing part of the story.
Also loved the way this story meanders and brings in various other characters around Anna's and shows you glimpses of their lives and issues.
One character i didnt like was Anna's mother and this deepens your empathy towards Anna when you see what behaviour she had to deal with as a child and now into adulthood so you could understand why Anna was happy with being in the background before and never really believed in herself.
Highly recommended!!
November 14, 2015
What a beautiful & magical story. I was with Anna every step of the way. A sunny smile filled my face as she received each and every parcel. I love how she was able to hold out and savour the moment before opening the little gift. I felt I was experiencing every little moment of each unveiling I felt myself alight with the wonder and I felt like I was truly present in the room for each unraveling. Simply AWESOME.
One of my favourite parts was receiving and opening the very first parcel.
"The moment Anna had waited for all day had arrived. Determined to avoid every minute of its unveiling, she took a deep breath and began to peel away the sticky tape holding down the perfect parcel corners. The paper shivered away across the table, revealing a pale, duck-egg-blue box embossed in the centre with the words Et Voila! in midnight-blue foil. Anna lifted the lid - and lost her breath "
Sorry but I try not to give any spoilers you will have to read the book to find out what the gifts were. Breath taking is all I will say. My favourite gift was the third one simply stunning. It is suprising how a few well chosen and carefully wrapped gifts can change a person.
Very highly recommended.
One of my favourite parts was receiving and opening the very first parcel.
"The moment Anna had waited for all day had arrived. Determined to avoid every minute of its unveiling, she took a deep breath and began to peel away the sticky tape holding down the perfect parcel corners. The paper shivered away across the table, revealing a pale, duck-egg-blue box embossed in the centre with the words Et Voila! in midnight-blue foil. Anna lifted the lid - and lost her breath "
Sorry but I try not to give any spoilers you will have to read the book to find out what the gifts were. Breath taking is all I will say. My favourite gift was the third one simply stunning. It is suprising how a few well chosen and carefully wrapped gifts can change a person.
Very highly recommended.
December 13, 2023
Добра, мила, романтична історія про те, наскільки важливою для кожної людини є увага оточуючих і як одна посилка із сюрпризом може змінити життя.
⠀
Мені сподобалась легка атмосфера книги. Цікаво було читати про роботу у редакції великого видання. До речі, головна героїня, Анна, як і я працювала референтом)
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Я зразу здогадалася, хто саме надсилав Анні таємні посилки, хоча і тут без несподіванки не обійшлося)
⠀
Письменниці добре вдалося показати, що друзі іноді бувають ріднішими від кровних родичів. Взагалі лінія дружби прописана дуже гарно.
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Головний герой, Бен, після свого, м'яко кажучи, негарного вчинку розчарував і якби я була авторкою цього роману, то фінал вийшов би геть інший. Але я розумію, що Міранда Дікінсон хотіла показати: справжнє кохання долає будь-які перешкоди і вміє пробачати.
⠀
Вцілому книга сподобалась. Ідеальний варіант для затишних читань.
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Мені сподобалась легка атмосфера книги. Цікаво було читати про роботу у редакції великого видання. До речі, головна героїня, Анна, як і я працювала референтом)
⠀
Я зразу здогадалася, хто саме надсилав Анні таємні посилки, хоча і тут без несподіванки не обійшлося)
⠀
Письменниці добре вдалося показати, що друзі іноді бувають ріднішими від кровних родичів. Взагалі лінія дружби прописана дуже гарно.
⠀
Головний герой, Бен, після свого, м'яко кажучи, негарного вчинку розчарував і якби я була авторкою цього роману, то фінал вийшов би геть інший. Але я розумію, що Міранда Дікінсон хотіла показати: справжнє кохання долає будь-які перешкоди і вміє пробачати.
⠀
Вцілому книга сподобалась. Ідеальний варіант для затишних читань.
March 25, 2019
What I loved about the book?
- The moral lesson it wanted to impart to the readers. That life is a journey and a choice.
- The friendship amongst Anna and her colleagues.
- There was a touch of mystery to the story.
- The ending. I was satisfied with how the story was wrapped up.
What I did not like?
- There were a lot of side characters introduced who did not have any major relevance to the story.
- The book was too long - 500 pages.
- There were boring chapters. I even thought of skipping those parts but I was afraid I might miss something interesting.
Overall, the book was okay. I just felt like 500 pages was too much for the story it wanted to tell 😊
- The moral lesson it wanted to impart to the readers. That life is a journey and a choice.
- The friendship amongst Anna and her colleagues.
- There was a touch of mystery to the story.
- The ending. I was satisfied with how the story was wrapped up.
What I did not like?
- There were a lot of side characters introduced who did not have any major relevance to the story.
- The book was too long - 500 pages.
- There were boring chapters. I even thought of skipping those parts but I was afraid I might miss something interesting.
Overall, the book was okay. I just felt like 500 pages was too much for the story it wanted to tell 😊
October 30, 2018
Firstly, this wasn’t awful BUT it was a reminder why I don’t read chick lit. It’s the over analysis of every event that annoys me. The thinking out loud and finding out their faults by the actions of others. And they always end so neatly
I wanted to find out who the secret sender was so that kept me reading and Anne was lovely but it had no depth and was a bit too nearly tied up at the end!!
I wanted to find out who the secret sender was so that kept me reading and Anne was lovely but it had no depth and was a bit too nearly tied up at the end!!
May 5, 2019
I read it a long time back.I remember enjoying it and low-key wishing someone would send me parcels like the ones Anna Browne receives.It's a nice feel-good book for when you want to read something light.
April 2, 2017
Couldn't put it down.
November 29, 2024
I LOVE the writing style. If I could, I would eat it 🧎♂️➡️
(Side note: the first half of this book was a little slow but the second half makes up for it)
(Side note: the first half of this book was a little slow but the second half makes up for it)
January 25, 2023
Audiobook. I liked the narrator. I liked the mystery…didn’t know who until very end. Good book. Clean mystery & romance.
July 31, 2023
Kinda cute but a bit to long and the whole reveal kind of ruined the whole vibe
September 18, 2018
This was a truly awful, shallow unbelievable book. The story was ridiculous and I speed read it after 50%
September 26, 2015
This is a lovely story - Anna hasn't had the best start in life with a neglectful drunk as a mother, and since fleeing from Cornwall to London has lived a fairly quiet and ordinary life: she works as a receptionist at the offices of the Daily Messenger, a struggling London newspaper, always kind and cheerful, but relatively invisible. She signs for parcels daily, and is thrilled when a perfectly wrapped one arrives addressed to her - the parcels, with gifts personal to her and exquisitely chosen, keep coming, and her life is never quite the same again.
I liked the warmth and feel-good factor in this book - Anna starts to blossom and shine, and your smile gets wider as each new parcel arrives and you unwrap it with her. There are enough surprises, betrayals and personal dramas to keep you turning the pages, along with the unfolding mystery about the sender of the parcels. I did guess, fairly early on, and despite the red herrings - but it really didn't matter, because the joy of this book is in watching Anna Browne develop into a strong and confident woman.
One of the best things about the book for me was the supporting cast - in particular, the newspaper employees were wonderful. My personal favourites were Ted the security man, Sheniece and her constant efforts to become a WAG, and lovely Barbara the cleaner - but they're all interesting in themselves, and really well drawn.
It'd be wrong of me not to mention a couple of things I didn't like quite as much. Reading's a personal experience, and, for me, it was just a little too long - I like a lighter read to be around the 350 page mark, and this book was around 500. I also found some of the character accents jarred a little. Jonah's Yorkshire accent consisted largely of "aye", "lass" and "owt" - rarely heard on the streets of Wetherby or Ilkley, and not entirely necessary.
With those reservations, I did enjoy the book - and fans of Miranda Dickinson's earlier books are going to absolutely love it.
I liked the warmth and feel-good factor in this book - Anna starts to blossom and shine, and your smile gets wider as each new parcel arrives and you unwrap it with her. There are enough surprises, betrayals and personal dramas to keep you turning the pages, along with the unfolding mystery about the sender of the parcels. I did guess, fairly early on, and despite the red herrings - but it really didn't matter, because the joy of this book is in watching Anna Browne develop into a strong and confident woman.
One of the best things about the book for me was the supporting cast - in particular, the newspaper employees were wonderful. My personal favourites were Ted the security man, Sheniece and her constant efforts to become a WAG, and lovely Barbara the cleaner - but they're all interesting in themselves, and really well drawn.
It'd be wrong of me not to mention a couple of things I didn't like quite as much. Reading's a personal experience, and, for me, it was just a little too long - I like a lighter read to be around the 350 page mark, and this book was around 500. I also found some of the character accents jarred a little. Jonah's Yorkshire accent consisted largely of "aye", "lass" and "owt" - rarely heard on the streets of Wetherby or Ilkley, and not entirely necessary.
With those reservations, I did enjoy the book - and fans of Miranda Dickinson's earlier books are going to absolutely love it.
September 24, 2015
4.5 Stars
Anna Browne is just a quiet receptionist for a struggling Newspaper when she starts to receive a series of mysterious parcels, each an exquisite, well thought out gift from an anonymous sender. Some are accompanied by an uplifting and enigmatic note; but never by a name.
This is a light story about an ordinary girl and what a little thing like self confidence and introspection can do. The book details how these gifts affect her mindset - which changes the relationships she has with her friends, family and co-workers. Unfortunately it's not all smiles as she starts to fall for a journalist, but is crushed when he uses her for a story - even if it is a story that could potentially help the newspaper recover.
I thought this was a sweet and charming book. Our protagonist, Anna, starts off as a nice girl with little self confidence, but she grows a backbone and watching her become more assertive was enjoyable. She's pretty naive, which I found a little hard to empathize with at first. I know if I was getting thousands of pounds of gifts from an anonymous benefactor I'd be suspicious, worried, and uncomfortable, and this is in fact the reaction of most of the people she tells - but she's such a positive and upbeat character, she cherishes the gifts - and the thought behind them - and they bring her to life.
So whilst the cynic in me would probably be chasing down the courier demanding answers, I still found Anna's response very endearing. Miranda Dickinson has written with compassion and humour, producing a lovely light read that blends friendship with romance, and put a smile on my face and I ended up loving this book. Everyone deserves to feel special... actually, maybe everyone who enjoys this book should take the time to go out and buy a gift for someone who isn't expecting it and show them that they, like Anna, are appreciated for who they are.
My thanks go to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of 'A Parcel for Anna Browne'.
Anna Browne is just a quiet receptionist for a struggling Newspaper when she starts to receive a series of mysterious parcels, each an exquisite, well thought out gift from an anonymous sender. Some are accompanied by an uplifting and enigmatic note; but never by a name.
This is a light story about an ordinary girl and what a little thing like self confidence and introspection can do. The book details how these gifts affect her mindset - which changes the relationships she has with her friends, family and co-workers. Unfortunately it's not all smiles as she starts to fall for a journalist, but is crushed when he uses her for a story - even if it is a story that could potentially help the newspaper recover.
I thought this was a sweet and charming book. Our protagonist, Anna, starts off as a nice girl with little self confidence, but she grows a backbone and watching her become more assertive was enjoyable. She's pretty naive, which I found a little hard to empathize with at first. I know if I was getting thousands of pounds of gifts from an anonymous benefactor I'd be suspicious, worried, and uncomfortable, and this is in fact the reaction of most of the people she tells - but she's such a positive and upbeat character, she cherishes the gifts - and the thought behind them - and they bring her to life.
So whilst the cynic in me would probably be chasing down the courier demanding answers, I still found Anna's response very endearing. Miranda Dickinson has written with compassion and humour, producing a lovely light read that blends friendship with romance, and put a smile on my face and I ended up loving this book. Everyone deserves to feel special... actually, maybe everyone who enjoys this book should take the time to go out and buy a gift for someone who isn't expecting it and show them that they, like Anna, are appreciated for who they are.
My thanks go to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of 'A Parcel for Anna Browne'.
December 15, 2015
I am a huge fan of Miranda Dickinson and I have bought almost all of her books, including this one. However, this title does not sit well with me; the usual magic that Dickinson brings to her books is sorely missing. Let's start with what I like:
Pros: The way each parcel was described; all those layers of colored wrapping paper, it was quite a feast for the imagination.
Cons: TED. Good God, can that man get any more annoying?! The chief of security's suspicions about the parcel (such as wondering if it's a severed limb inside) were initially amusing but it got tiring AND irritating very quickly.
ANNA. Alright, I liked her initially but I'm baffled by her outburst against Ben, her fellow colleague when she discovered the sender of the gifts wasn't Ben. It's like saying "Oh you weren't the one who sent me the mysterious parcels? WHY ARE YOU NOT THE ONE? WHY? I AM SO ANGRY WITH YOU!"
Geezz, woman! So the guy you secretly fancied didn't give you the parcels which oh, brought about such a beautiful change in you - from an ugly duckling to a swan. Well guess what woman, it is NO FRIGGING BIG DEAL! Most protagonists in chick lit are likeable characters, but this one? NEXT!
LENGTH. At 501 pages, the book can do with a LOT of trimming. There were several parts that were absolutely unnecessarily; it feels like a drag reading it.
SENDER OF THE GIFTS. I guessed correctly who the send of the gifts was right from the beginning. Honestly, it is just THAT obvious. Sheesh.
I really want to like this book and it pains me to give a negative review because I am (usually) a big fan of Dickinson's books, but it is what it is - compared to the author's previous works, this is a Meh.
Pros: The way each parcel was described; all those layers of colored wrapping paper, it was quite a feast for the imagination.
Cons: TED. Good God, can that man get any more annoying?! The chief of security's suspicions about the parcel (such as wondering if it's a severed limb inside) were initially amusing but it got tiring AND irritating very quickly.
ANNA. Alright, I liked her initially but I'm baffled by her outburst against Ben, her fellow colleague when she discovered the sender of the gifts wasn't Ben. It's like saying "Oh you weren't the one who sent me the mysterious parcels? WHY ARE YOU NOT THE ONE? WHY? I AM SO ANGRY WITH YOU!"
Geezz, woman! So the guy you secretly fancied didn't give you the parcels which oh, brought about such a beautiful change in you - from an ugly duckling to a swan. Well guess what woman, it is NO FRIGGING BIG DEAL! Most protagonists in chick lit are likeable characters, but this one? NEXT!
LENGTH. At 501 pages, the book can do with a LOT of trimming. There were several parts that were absolutely unnecessarily; it feels like a drag reading it.
SENDER OF THE GIFTS. I guessed correctly who the send of the gifts was right from the beginning. Honestly, it is just THAT obvious. Sheesh.
I really want to like this book and it pains me to give a negative review because I am (usually) a big fan of Dickinson's books, but it is what it is - compared to the author's previous works, this is a Meh.
January 3, 2018
I really wanted to love this. What's not to love about mysterious packages? But somehow I couldn't get into it the way I wanted to. Anna is a perfectly "nice" character, but she almost seems too nice at times... except when she's getting all weirdly possessive about her parcels "It's my gift... why should anybody else get the pleasure of seeing me open it?". Shades of "my preciousssss"? I was curious to find out who was sending the parcels but when the reveal came I was disappointed. It just didn't make sense... . I wasn't keen on the romance either... I never managed to figure out what they had in common, other than apparently being "in love" after what seemed like only a few weeks but I guess was actually more like a few months? Despite this review's focus on the negative I did like the book. I love the idea that receiving a beautiful parcel can change someone's life. But I didn't love it. It's a perfectly nice story but no more than that.
September 17, 2015
If you want to read something a bit different - this is the book for you. It has a very unusual storyline set in the cut-throat world of modern newspapers.
Anna is a receptionist and starts to receive parcels from an unknown source, The contents make her feel great and this in turn affects how she behaves and interacts with others.
There are 2 men in her life and we are kept guessing until the end how she will go. One is a very hot newspaper hack and the other is her friend who lives in her block of flats.
The identity of the mysterious sender is the theme throughout the book and it keeps you hooked trying to work out who it could be.
And you'll get no help from me. I'm not even saying if you'll find out or not! Suffice to say I thought Miranda wrote a wonderful, romantic book with a great mystery in it!!
Anna is a receptionist and starts to receive parcels from an unknown source, The contents make her feel great and this in turn affects how she behaves and interacts with others.
There are 2 men in her life and we are kept guessing until the end how she will go. One is a very hot newspaper hack and the other is her friend who lives in her block of flats.
The identity of the mysterious sender is the theme throughout the book and it keeps you hooked trying to work out who it could be.
And you'll get no help from me. I'm not even saying if you'll find out or not! Suffice to say I thought Miranda wrote a wonderful, romantic book with a great mystery in it!!
October 16, 2015
This is the first Miranda Dickinson I have read. Although enjoyable and the idea of receiving gifts from a mysterious stranger was good I didnt like the fact that there were way too many characters in it for me personally. Nearly every chapter had somebody new and I started to get very confused. I had to keep re reading bits and going back to see if I had missed things which I never normally do. I dont know if it was just my mood, getting used to a new author or what. Anyway it was an ok read for me but do not be put off as am sure many will enjoy it.
January 2, 2020
Ugh, ugh, ugh. It began well enough, even slightly unique and unexpected. Then it turned into shit, serving up one sorry, dated, worn trope after another. Ice-cold, childless bitch boss? Yes. Misguided, handsome boy hero? Why not? Beautiful, young, look-at-me-finding-my-strength heroine? And she took the gutless “hero” back after he seriously betrayed her trust, causing her legit emotional harm. Any woman who knows her worth did a head plant into her couch pillows and screamed when that happened. Let me repeat: ugh, ugh, ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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