Published: Sep 13, 2011 by Doubleday Books
Format: Hardcover, 387 pages, English

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”

★★★★★ (5 / 5 stars) There was nothing about this book I didn't like. It was immersive, and I loved the writing—the way Morgenstern captured the most beautiful ambience with her words. Plus, I love stories with time jumps that make you wonder how it all comes together—how all the stars align for that specific ending.

This book was just so full. It made me feel so many emotions—the full spectrum. From wanting to sadness, to frustration, to love, to joy, to peace. I wish I could list highlights for you for this book, but even the highlights are too much to capture in a simple bullet point.

!! WARNING !! There are spoilers ahead!

Marco: “I would have written you, myself, if I could put down in words everything I want to say to you. A sea of ink would not be enough.”

Celia: “But you built me dreams instead.”

Here's my breakdown of the characters because I was head over heels for each of them:

• Marco is glorious; I wish I had him adoring me. It was beautiful and slow how his love blossomed, especially when he was hard for me to read at first. I couldn't tell how much he really was interested in his female friend, but as the story went on, his passion for Celia became more and more obvious.

• Celia is beautiful and strong, proving her father wrong in every capacity and living beyond even her own expectations. I loved seeing her flirt back to Marco with her magical creations and transcend barriers her own father couldn't have broken.

• Frederick is a true dreamer, who I would love to see through the eyes of. His loss was heartbreaking and unexpected. He was the ultimate insider—the fanboy with a level head and a magnificent talent. It was devastating to see his end so tragically.

• Bailey is that "you and me" of the story, frought with real-world worries and trials with the circus as only a rare escape. Except he gets what we can only dream of—to be whisked off to this magical place and be accepted and loved as he is. His interloping story with the twins and his own experience was beautiful.

• Tsukiko is one of the most intriguing characters in the novel to me—with her profound tattoo, wondrous talents, and unexpected backstory. I would love to see a novella or fanfic about her “competition” experience.

“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”

I became infatuated with each and every character (save, perhaps, for Hector and Alexander) and am so glad I got to be a part of their world, if only for this small window of time. My only issue is that I wish there were more, making me just as any other patron of Le Cirque de Reves.