5 Star Review from Mamta

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

Looking Glass Friends: A Novel Inspired by Real Love Letters by E.L. Neve is a beautiful fictional love story between Neil and Ellie and has been taken from the author’s insights, perceptions, and experiences. Neil is married to Fay and is unhappy in the marriage and moves through his days with a frozen soul. The spare room in their house is his private sanctuary and his secret gateway to imaginary worlds which he refuses to share with his wife. Ellie, on the other hand, finds her life changing after reading the books of Ayn Rand which her husband Jake had recommended to her. Ellie hands over Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand to Neil, whom she meets at Bake4U, and the philosophy in the book brings about a change in him. He finds himself being drawn to Ellie and is keen to strike up a friendship with her. He then writes a letter to Ellie and leaves the book and letter at Bake4U. When Ellie picks up the book and reads the letter, though she is unable to recollect what he looked like, she feels an unusual connection with the stranger, something which could not be explained. Will Ellie be able to leave her husband and her five-year-old son and find happiness with Neil?

The book beautifully highlights the concept of soul mates, one’s mirror image, or your looking glass friend, as the author terms it, through this story. The meeting of Ellie and Neil finally, after connecting through letters, is expressed vividly and aesthetically, touching the hearts of readers. The story also speaks about the importance of being happy and not sacrificing their lives for the sake of kids. The story of Neil and Ellie gives hope and courage to millions of couples who live in unhappy marriages for the sake of their kids. The four characters, Jake and Ellie, and Neil and Kay, are well portrayed and they come across as real and tangible. The story is passionate and filled with desire for loving the right person or the looking glass friend, as the author terms it, and is definitely uplifting for all those who are looking for their soul mate.