Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

3.5 Stars

“A nightmare is nothing but a dream gone sick.”

Where do I even begin when it comes to the release of this (20 year) long awaited tome? I guess the easiest thing to do is address the obvious. For those of you who have been anticipating a new Perks to fall in love with, I have some bad news . . . .



There is no Charlie to be had here. Instead, there is a Christopher. A little boy who recently moved to small-town Pennsylvania with his mother when she escaped from an abusive relationship. A little boy who disappeared for six days into the Mission Street Woods and returned – safe . . . but different. A little boy who used to see words as nothing but jumbled letters, but now can ace a quiz in less than a minute. A little boy who has the ability to change his mother’s financial status. A little boy who has to get a treehouse built before it’s too late . . . .

“DEATH IS COMING! DEATH IS HERE! WE’LL DIE ON CHRISTMAS DAY!”

^That sucks. I love Christmas. Today begins the official one-month countdown until I can begin Clark Griswalding up the house.

I’m going to do things a little differently here when it comes to this review. I’m going to talk about some stuff I didn’t like (while still giving this a pretty high rating).

#1. Here is one of my Kindle notes . . . .

“This has to end by midnight and there are still 200 pages left. Yikes.”

You are going to hear a lot of talk about how this book is waaaaaaay too long. Because it is. Like 350 pages too long. And it’s repetitive to the point of total frustration. You know what I’m talking about, right????



#2. Has Stephen Chbosky ever even met a seven year old? You already have to be able to suspend disbelief in order for a group of kids to be building a McMansion of a treehouse complete with a locking door, shutters, glass windows and a trapdoor with a rope ladder, but JFC - seven???? Not only are these kids better at flipping treehouses than Chip and Joanna Gaines, but they are also pros at sneaking out of the house – they aren’t afraid of the dark and scary woods – they curse like sailors and can’t wait for the chance to see some nekkid titties on Showtime . . . .



No. They’re SEVEN.

#3. There are a lot of things that will call to mind to another recent(ish) release. Between the concerned mother . . . .



And the local sheriff haunted by his own demons . . .



And Charlie’s “headaches” . . . . .



And the imaginary side . . . .



But hey, at least those things aren’t similar to a freaking worldwide phenomenon with a ginormous fanbase, right????



Oh, wait.

So why the high rating?

#1. For not only having the balls to not just barf out book after book after book on the heels of his first success, but to release something completely different than that megahit all these years later.

#2. For the fact that despite all of my gripes, I read this puppy squisher in two days. Obviously it held my interest.

#3. For the ending. The ending is excellent. Unlike some other megafamous authors who shall remain nameless, but have a tendency to shit the bed in horror stories that wrap up with things like giant alien spiders or . . . giant ants . . . .



#4. Ambrose . . . .



Y’all know I have old lady brain, but I won’t be forgetting Ambrose any time soon.

Endless thanks to Grand Central Publishing for offering me an early copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. This will remain in a prime location on the shelf.