All That She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher

EMILIE WILLIAMS | CONTENT WRITER

If you had the ability to heal people with your passions and hobbies, would you? That is exactly what the character Cherry decides to do in Carrie Hope Fletcher’s All That She Can See. Gifted with the ability to secretly see what other people need, Cherry opens a bakery and infuses her tasty treats with the cure for emotional ailments. Once she cures the local people of their pain and struggles, she moves to another city and sets up shop there. However, one day, Cherry finds out that she is not the only one with this ability and her prized bakery comes under threat. Will Cherry be able to continue healing people with her creations, or will a certain someone get in her way?

Fletcher’s novels capture the essence of fairy tales and romantic legends, and All That She Can See does not disappoint. The premise of healing with food is not a new idea, but Fletcher’s descriptive power brings it to life through her descriptions. The magical realism of the novel takes something such as mental health and shows it from a different perspective. Cherry’s character shows through her attentive and caring nature that it is the small and mundane parts of life that make all the difference.

Many reviews of All That She Can See comment that the novel is “unrealistic” and “weird” due to its imaginative characters and (albeit sometimes trivial) storyline. A fairer critique of the book would be to suggest that the target audience is not someone who is looking for a complicated plot or sociopolitical commentary. The novel is light-hearted, fun, whimsical and an easy read. It does not require too much critical thinking, which I think is what makes it such an enjoyable novel. It is perfect for someone wanting to get out of a reading slump, wanting to try something new, or for younger readers wanting to read magical realism.

If you are an avid reader of YA romance novels, then All That She Can See is a perfect addition to your ‘to be read’ list. Fletcher has written many more spellbinding books that might spark your interest such as When The Curtain Falls and On the Other Side. You can also visit Fletcher’s YouTube channel, @CarrieHopeFletcher, where you can find interesting behind the scenes videos of her writing process.