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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
If it hadn't been for the blurb I might have liked this book a lot more. The tagline is "What if you had said yes? Some moments change everything." Which led me to believe we had a Sliding doors type of situation going on. But we didn't. There isn't one moment in which one single decision leads to three separate parallel universes. This is simply two people's lives in three different versions, which is actually interesting enough.
So there are three different timelines. Which are hard to keep track of, similar sounding names and varying sequencing of the stories and so on. But it was nice to see the lives play out in different forms.
It was nice following them through the years. It was a nice book once I got over the misleading, treacherous blurb.
So there are three different timelines. Which are hard to keep track of, similar sounding names and varying sequencing of the stories and so on. But it was nice to see the lives play out in different forms.
Spoiler
In which Eva seems to be a good moral woman in all her lives, but Jim varies in assholeryIt was nice following them through the years. It was a nice book once I got over the misleading, treacherous blurb.
One beginning, three different lives, and one ending. Beautifully written but needs to be read in big, long chunks of time because it moves between three different versions of their lives. Even though they make different choices, some events are constant. A wonderful book filled to the brim with “what if?”
This was a great concept, but required too much brain power on my part to keep the details straight between the 3 versions. I felt like I needed to take notes to keep track of everyone & everything that happened. I almost decided to read each version in full separately from the others, but I'm not sure that would've worked either.
It was hard to keep track of each version, they switched every chapter. It wasn't a continuous story. Often forgot which versions I was reading.
This is beautiful writing, and I enjoyed the unique perspective. The author gives us three versions of one poignant love story. I do agree that reading it is work, however. I wish I had kept notes from the beginning. The confusion of which characters fit into which story line kept me from being able to fall completely into the book as I would have liked.
I always used to see this book on the display tables in bookshops and steer clear, but my friend Alice gave me her copy so I thought I’d give it a go and I LOVED IT SO MUCH.
Initially I found it hard to keep up - three different versions of a love story with different children, locations and careers to remember was a bit tricky - but as Eva and Jim became more and more real to me and the same milestone events in their lives happened in each version (a significant birthday party, a death, a diagnosis etc) I managed to hold onto the thread.
The writing style was my favourite kind and what actually drew me in; I was expecting a twee girl next door type romance but I think this book is a lot more than that. It’s really rich, the characters are real and flawed and beautiful, and I finished it feeling fuller and sadder at the same time.
Initially I found it hard to keep up - three different versions of a love story with different children, locations and careers to remember was a bit tricky - but as Eva and Jim became more and more real to me and the same milestone events in their lives happened in each version (a significant birthday party, a death, a diagnosis etc) I managed to hold onto the thread.
The writing style was my favourite kind and what actually drew me in; I was expecting a twee girl next door type romance but I think this book is a lot more than that. It’s really rich, the characters are real and flawed and beautiful, and I finished it feeling fuller and sadder at the same time.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I very much enjoyed this book, especially the end(s). Men can be done, yes, and that's offensive to dogs. And children can be difficult and mysterious. The worst part about this book is spending the first bit of every chapter trying to figure out which of the three versions of the stories it is. I'd need a shorthand: the one where they never meet; the one where they get together; and the one where she leaves him hanging.