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Imaginary Friend cover art

Imaginary Friend

By: Stephen Chbosky
Narrated by: Christine Lakin
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Summary

IMAGINE...
Leaving your house in the middle of the night.
Knowing your mother is doing her best, but she's just as scared as you.

IMAGINE...
Starting a new school, making friends.
Seeing how happy it makes your mother.
Hearing a voice, calling out to you.

IMAGINE...
Following the signs, into the woods.
Going missing for six days.
Remembering nothing about what happened.

IMAGINE...

Something that will change everything...

And having to save everyone you love.

©2019 Stephen Chbosky (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

'Unputdownable ... You'll fall in love with these characters. That's why they stay with you, like a haunting.' R. J. PALACIO, author of WONDER

'An extraordinary book. The pages practically turn themselves.' GREER HENDRICKS & SARAH PEKKANEN, authors of THE WIFE BETWEEN US

'A fearsome, remarkably ambitious novel that breaks through the boundaries of the genre to become epic - in all the best senses of the word." LINCOLN CHILD, #1 New York Times bestseller

What listeners say about Imaginary Friend

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic unexpected find!

This book had no reviews when I came across it (usually I take this as a bad sign...) but I took a chance and downloaded it anyway and I'm so glad I did! For fans of Paul Tremblay, C J Tudor and Stephen King- this book will be right up your street.
The story begins subtly and builds to an epic battle between good and evil on a par with 'The Stand'. The group of kids have all the tradirional tropes of a Stephen King rag tag team, and the flawless characterisation totally absorbs the listener into their world. This isn't an action or adventure thriller and there are some truly scary horror story moments (plenty, especially during the parts about the hissing lady, who is not to be taken at face value!). It's insidious and cloying, almost impossible to stop listening in one long sitting. Don't listen at night! For those in search of a good horror (but not a cheesy or poorly written one- see James Herbert for that...), 10/10, take a chance like I did and you won't be disappointed!

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Narrated well but that’s all.

Painfully repetitive and incoherent story. Narrator was the only positive but didn’t stop it being a test of Will to finish. Avoid.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Could have been 5 stars

This book could easily have been 5 stars if had ended sooner and not repeated itself. I genuinely was spooked from the beginning and there was much hope of what was to come. Unfortunately towards the latter half it was just Groundhog Day.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

As a huge Stephen King fan I am always looking for those extra lengthy horror novels that take it nice and slow.

This one ticks every box. The main characters are well written and you get them to know so well that you feel they are friends or family. The setting in a small town reveals all the everyday horror in peoples minds and thats exactly where the fight between good and evil takes place.

This book is not for people who enjoy a fast paced story though but everyone who enjoyed Stephen Kings "The Stand" will love it.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect creepy book to listen to

I am not going to lie, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I actually enjoyed this book. It wasn't until I was home alone, listening to this book at night, where I realised how much this book was actually starting to really creep me out. I have been in a real horror mood lately, so I kept listening, craving the creepy story and atmosphere that this book kept giving me, in bucket loads. The simple idea of if you can imagine it, then that makes it real, is a scary thought when you're alone in the dark.

I know this is said a lot and is usually what all horror books are compared, but this book really did resemble that of Stephen King. I say that with me being a big fan of Stephen Kings' work. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much, which is probably why I ended up enjoying it. Not only did I go into this book a little wary because of reviews I had heard, but also because of Stephen Chbosky himself. I have only read The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Chbosky, which I loved, but I was cautious as I didn't know how he'd be able to go from writing from one genre to the other. I was happy to be proven wrong.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing

struggled to finish, started out good but just got board, not at all scary for a horror fan.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Too long and convoluted

The narration was superb let's get that out of the way. The story started off very strong and was genuinely creepy and foreboding until about the half way point. The second half to third of the book just felt like a constant build to a climax which never came. It built you up and then slapped another tedious plot twist in your face. I got so tired by the 125th chapter I just wanted it to end. Also this book is based on Christian beliefs and religion. I do wish religious books would be advertised as such. I appreciate when mythology is used in clever ways but here it just felt childish and ruined the original unsettling tone of the story. What started off as dark and disturbing became wearisome and honestly a bit silly.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

BRILLIANT!!

Absolutely loved this book. Totally recommend! You won't be disappointed. The narrative was fantastic too.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Jo
  • 26-11-19

Amazing!

Wasn’t sure about this but went with it due to the previous reviews! I wasn’t disappointed. I was hooked right from the start and it has just the right amount of creepy bordering on scary to keep you going! I can definitely see this as a tv series!
Definitely worth the credit, will be trying others by this author now.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a book!

This book is one of the best audiobook I have listened to.
I can’t wait for the authors next book!

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2 people found this helpful