‘The new Audrey Niffenegger’ Company Magazine
‘The interplay of the planes of angelic and earthly existence is an insistent tease that reels the reader in and along. Jess-Cooke is one to watch.’ Publisher’s Weekly
‘Examining the meaning of fate, the existence of free will, and the consequences of every decision, The Guardian Angel’s Journal is a modern fable determined to remind us that we are not alone.’ Carol Gladstein, Booklist
‘Completely engrossing & wonderfully original. If you want time to speed by then read this book!’ Rosamund Lupton
‘Jess-Cooke is certainly a skilful writer and this shines through on every page. With a subject matter such as this, the temptation would be to lay on the descriptions and metaphors, but she manages to keep the prose spare, although punctuated by poetic and lyrical turns of phrase’ Independent.ie
‘Jess-Cooke pulls it off sensitively and has produced a thought-provoking look at how mistakes repeat themselves across the generations, as well as a mind-bending exploration of fate versus free will. It is a colourful portrayal of how the afterlife, if there is one, might operate. This is much more than a beach read and it deserves to be read; anyone who has ever lost someone will find comfort within its pages’ Independent.ie
“An incredible debut novel… This is The Lovely Bones meets It’s a Wonderful Life. Fabulous.” The Sun
“Examining the meaning of fate, the existence of free will, and the consequences of every decision, The Guardian Angel’s Journal is a modern fable determined to remind us that we are not alone.” Booklist (US)
“The Guardian Angel’s Journal is not saccharine wishfulfilment. Jess-Cooke’s account of Ruth, who returns to earth to ‘‘witness, protect, record and love’’ her former self, Margot Delacroix, is high-octane, funny and cinematic. The book mixes romance, thriller, fantasy and horror while dealing with abuse, addiction and motherhood.” Sydney Morning Herald
“The Guardian Angel’s Journal is a powerful novel from a talented new voice….hotly tipped to be one of the biggest books of 2011.” Living North
“The narrative is punchy and pacy, and the linear travelling through Margot’s life works well in building momentum through the story” The Independent (Ireland)
“The Guardian Angel’s Journal is a beautiful and captivating novel. Jess-Cooke’s writing dramatically conjures majestic images of guardian angels, whilst the subject matter also provides the reader with ample food for thought . . . a powerful novel, that captivates from start to finish” Ulster Tatler (Book of the Month)
“Jess-Cooke cleverly uses the spiritual world as a prism to view human nature” The Daily Mail
“Debut novelist Jess-Cooke, who lives in England, is a lovely writer; Ruth’s narrative voice is compelling. The writer’s fertile imagination generates a host of minor characters throughout Margot’s life, all of whom have well-characterized guardian angels interacting with Ruth. The interplay of the planes of angelic and earthly existence is an insistent tease that reels the reader in and along. Jess-Cooke is one to watch.” Publisher’s Weekly (starred review) (US)
“Right from the start, I was gripped by this debut novel; the unique view of life is fascinating…it’s a thoroughly thought-provoking and page-turning read from start to finish.” Soul & Spirit (Book Choice)
“Intriguing and utterly engrossing, this novel explores the themes of marriage, motherhood, mistakes, and the consequences of our actions on our lives and those around us” Irish Tatler
“This is a page-turning read and a book that deftly explores the concepts of choice and consequence. Intriguing, well-crafted and emotionally heart-felt without being saccharine, this is a debut novel to savour” Radio Chick (New Zealand)
“An extremely well written and interwoven book which had me torn between being heartbroken for Margot and characters close to her, and warmed by the positivity given out by the guardians. In many places this is bittersweet. The Guardian Angel’s Journal will stay with me for a long time to come. The book also has notes for book groups, and has a lot of material for discussion.” Clover Hill Book Reviews
“This novel is superb and for anyone that has ever believed that we all have guardian angels watching over us, this is the novel to add to your must-read pile.” The Phantom Paragrapher
“An award-winning poet, Jess-Cooke now also has a bestselling debut novel. … The book is written with a poet’s eye for language, and also emotional intensity. For the Niffenegger fans, or those who like their fiction slightly strange.” The Sunday M (Sydney, Australia)
“The Guardian Angel’s Journal is one of the most original stories I’ve read about angels. While the notion of coming back as your own guardian angel seems strange and impossible at first, Jess-Cooke sets up the rules of the world quickly and believably. Heart wrenching though the mortal struggles are, the lessons learned –mostly the hard way –by the characters lead up to a truly wonderful pay-off at the end, where you can’t help but feel enlightened by the characters’ journeys.” The Fringe Magazine
“I found the writing to be utterly beautiful and often very poignant. Carolyn Jess-Cooke is extremely good at pulling your heart strings and twisted them into knots. Her book is a fresh approach to angels with an original idea developed thoroughly, leaving you desperate to read more of her work. I just can’t wait to see what Carolyn writes next. If you love angels like I do and believe that everything is not as it seems, then trust me when I tell you that you are going to want to read this book.” Vivienne Dacosta (Serendipityteacher.blogspot.com)
“This is the first novel by an intelligent and skilful writer from whom we cannot help but feel that there are more good things to come” Lovereading
“A thought provoking, beautifully written book that stays with you long after you’ve finished it” Piatkus
