Tom Ellen

''I read somewhere once that grief is like weather. As in: constantly changing, impossible to predict. You might be expecting clear skies but instead you get storm clouds. That seems about right. But I'm not sure how much longer I can go on, never knowing exactly when I'm going to get caught in the pouring rain.''

Will and Annie have found themselves at a crossroads. Which way are they going to follow?

Will wanted to become a rock star. That’s all gone now. Now, he works in a shop that is barely functional and volunteers at a crisis line where he gives hope to those who need it most. If only he could see it…Instead, he has chosen to live in the past, fighting the same terrible demons day in, day out. Annie works in a job that doesn’t meet her wishes and talents and has to put up with an insufferable boyfriend as she struggles to overcome her grief for her father’s death and her anger towards her family. One day, Annie decides to call Green Shoots. And everything will change as two strangers open themselves to each other in the blink of an eye?

But are they strangers?

Without further ado, this book is perfect. The writing is impeccable. Modern but not cliched, vivid but not cringe-inducing as most contemporary novels have become. The characters of Will and Annie are outstanding. Tangible, sincere, acting as actual human beings would act when hopelessness, exhaustion and apathy take over. Their concerns and fears can be found in every single one of us and their voices are distinct, kind and memorable. Tom Ellen manages to turn London and Paris into characters and the descriptions of each city are so lively that you feel yourself walking (and recognizing) the streets, the alleys, the parks, the buildings.

Excellent characters aside, the real strength of the novel lies within the use of its main themes. Loss, disappointment, grief, misunderstandings. How do we cope with the loss of the most important person in our life? How do we manage to get up and walk when we feel that this bereavement came to be through the inertia of others? How do we forgive? And how do we forgive ourselves when we feel that we are the cause of our pain?

Tom Ellen’s novel is a breath of fresh air. It is a contemporary masterpiece. Some have mentioned that it is the British You’ve Got Mail. As much as I love this film, The Lifeline is a gazillion times better.

Many thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/… (meer)

A time travelling, romantic Christmas story. Tom and Daphne have been together since their university days but they seem to be drifting apart. Tom is given a curious watch by a mysterious man in a pub and he‘s whisked back to the past to learn a few lessons.

I enjoyed this book. It does have a message for the reader - don’t take things for granted, be thankful for what you have and that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence but rarely is. There’s a definite nod to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as the reader is taken on a journey not just to the past but also to the present and what could be the future if the main character doesn’t pull his socks up! In hindsight wouldn’t we all like to travel back to the past to visit those we have lost and perhaps to learn from the error of our ways?

The entire cast of characters are well written and believable and the storyline is engaging. It’s just a lovely, charming and delightful read with a hint of magic.… (meer)