Award-winning documentary makers Bo and her boyfriend, Solomon, stumble upon a small stone cottage when filming in a remote, densely wooded, mountainous region of Ireland. Living there is 26-year-old Laura, a reclusive, unearthly beauty who possesses the extraordinary ability to mimic any sound she hears. Initially terrified by the crew’s intrusion into her safe and solitary world, Laura realises that allowing Bo and Solomon to make a documentary about her life and her remarkable talent represents a path to a better future. But is it really? How will the shy, sensitive, ethereal Laura cope with the harsh glare of the spotlight?

Best known for sentimental novels such as PS I Love You and If You Could See Me Now, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern takes a slightly different approach with Lyrebird. Sentimental and romantic, yes, but these elements are handled with a much subtler touch than I was expecting. The focus is squarely on how Laura adjusts to her changed circumstances and her struggle to adapt – not only to a world from which she has been hidden since birth but also to the pressures of sudden and unexpected fame – without losing the essence of herself.

Almost without exception, the characters in this novel are vividly rendered, and their attitudes and relationships – however unlikely – are entirely believable. I enjoyed almost every moment of this lovely story.

Reviewed by Heather Lunney