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All About Us
A chance encounter on Christmas Eve leads to the journey of a lifetime in this powerful and emotional love story, perfect for fans of Josie Silver, David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes.
One moment in time can change your life forever…
Ben’s always loved the holidays but with his marriage to Daphne on the rocks, this year they’re missing their usual magic. So when his old flame Alice gets back in touch, Ben can’t help wonder: did he make the right choice all those years ago?
Yet everything changes on Christmas Eve when a twinkly-eyed stranger sells Ben a mysterious watch, the hands frozen at one minute to midnight. Opening his eyes the next morning, Ben is astonished to find that he has been catapulted back to 5th December 2005: the day he first kissed Daphne, leaving Alice behind.
Now Ben must make the biggest decision of his life, all over again. But this time around, will he finally find the courage to follow his heart?
All About Us is a deeply moving novel about love, loss and heartbreak — and how, with the help of a little magic, it’s never too late to find the one you’ve been searching for.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2020
250 people are currently reading
13518 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 914 reviews
August 18, 2021
"All About Us" by Tom Ellen is a contemporary story reminiscent of Dickens "A Christmas Carol".
Humor, love, time travel and a Christmas Season setting all in one book? Yes, please!
Ben and Daphne have been together for 15 years, since their first year at University. Their marriage is a bit rocky right now though! Ben's sure it's his fault. He can't succeed at anything, is a disappointment to everyone, especially Daphne. Maybe she would be better off without Ben!
Alice, Ben's crush at Uni before Daphne, has been in touch with Ben for quite a while now. They've seen each other several times and have another meeting planned. Ben's thinking Alice might be a better match for him after all.
It's Christmas Eve and Ben has promised to decorate their Christmas tree while Daphne attends her holiday party at work. But, Ben's thirsty and calls his mate, Harv to meet him at the local pub. Ben desperately needs a shoulder to cry on!
After several drinks, Ben meet a mysterious stranger selling watches frozen at 11:59 PM. Yep, Ben buys one! The next morning Ben wakes up to 12/5/2005 at Uni on the day he chose Daphne and left Alice behind. Is this Ben's opportunity to change his decision for a future with Alice instead of Daphne?
A male author? Really? This story is beautifully written, with well-developed main characters and entertaining secondary characters. The fact that it's through the eyes of a male protagonist written by a male author is so refreshing to me. A male protagonist that lives emotionally and loves deeply. Yep, he's a mess but he's working on it!
I read a fair amount of Rom-Com and this one is very entertaining. It's about relationships, what's important in life, shaking yourself out of a 'pity-party' and living your best life. I enjoyed the few days I spent with this book and was excited each time I picked it up.
I recommend this book to all who enjoys feel good stories. But, please don't wait for December. This one is perfect for any month of the year!
Humor, love, time travel and a Christmas Season setting all in one book? Yes, please!
Ben and Daphne have been together for 15 years, since their first year at University. Their marriage is a bit rocky right now though! Ben's sure it's his fault. He can't succeed at anything, is a disappointment to everyone, especially Daphne. Maybe she would be better off without Ben!
Alice, Ben's crush at Uni before Daphne, has been in touch with Ben for quite a while now. They've seen each other several times and have another meeting planned. Ben's thinking Alice might be a better match for him after all.
It's Christmas Eve and Ben has promised to decorate their Christmas tree while Daphne attends her holiday party at work. But, Ben's thirsty and calls his mate, Harv to meet him at the local pub. Ben desperately needs a shoulder to cry on!
After several drinks, Ben meet a mysterious stranger selling watches frozen at 11:59 PM. Yep, Ben buys one! The next morning Ben wakes up to 12/5/2005 at Uni on the day he chose Daphne and left Alice behind. Is this Ben's opportunity to change his decision for a future with Alice instead of Daphne?
A male author? Really? This story is beautifully written, with well-developed main characters and entertaining secondary characters. The fact that it's through the eyes of a male protagonist written by a male author is so refreshing to me. A male protagonist that lives emotionally and loves deeply. Yep, he's a mess but he's working on it!
I read a fair amount of Rom-Com and this one is very entertaining. It's about relationships, what's important in life, shaking yourself out of a 'pity-party' and living your best life. I enjoyed the few days I spent with this book and was excited each time I picked it up.
I recommend this book to all who enjoys feel good stories. But, please don't wait for December. This one is perfect for any month of the year!
October 12, 2020
“Your life is the decisions you make”
All About Us is a great love story. It is cute and emotional. There is also the time traveling aspect which is an interesting addition.
Ben thinks he is a disappointment to everyone including Daphne and his mother. The last time he talked to his mother did not go well. Can Ben find a way to forgive himself after reliving past events? Is his mother actually disappointed in him?
Ben thinks Daphne would be better off without him. Going back in time really shows Ben more about their relationship and how Daphne feels about him.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ/Harper Collins for All About Us.
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
All About Us is a great love story. It is cute and emotional. There is also the time traveling aspect which is an interesting addition.
Ben thinks he is a disappointment to everyone including Daphne and his mother. The last time he talked to his mother did not go well. Can Ben find a way to forgive himself after reliving past events? Is his mother actually disappointed in him?
Ben thinks Daphne would be better off without him. Going back in time really shows Ben more about their relationship and how Daphne feels about him.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ/Harper Collins for All About Us.
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
October 12, 2020
Aaah, this was such a satisfying story. I knew from the first few pages that I was really going to like this book and Ellen did not disappoint. It is sad, it is emotional, but the Christmas theme makes it warm-hearted as well.
It makes a change for me to read a book by a male author and one that features a male protagonist. Having recently analysed the books I read, I am painfully aware that it is female-dominated. Maybe this added to my enjoyment of the story.
Using Dickens’s 'A Christmas Carol', Ellen’s novel follows a similar story. After meeting a quirky watch-seller in a pub on Christmas Eve, Ben finds himself hurtling back in time and re-living significant moments of his life. He is disappointed, discouraged and questioning in present day and, with his broken watch, has the opportunity to see whether the choices he made were the correct ones. Occasionally, Ben meets with the watch-seller but, as Ben soon discovers, it is down to himself to find out the true answers.
I loved the fact that the premise of this story is based on Dickens. It is a familiar story to many and I think Ellen creates a fresh, new approach. Indeed, it took me a while to make the connection, even though references are made from the very beginning when we are with Ben in the early 2000s when he is at university, acting in a play that is a re-working of this festive tale.
The times when Ben was at university were particularly significant to me. Being of a similar age to Ben, I completely picked up on the cultural references throughout the novel. I think this meant the novel had an even more of a special connection with me. Coupled with the fact that 'Back to the Future' remains one of the best films ever, and that I used to watch a children’s program about a magic, time-shifting watch then, well, this was always going to be a success, right?!
I could not really foresee how the story was going to conclude. Sharing Ben’s bitterest and lowest moments over the years meant that I felt like I genuinely knew him. Ellen’s characterisation of Ben, Daphne and even Alice is precise and vivid: it makes them seem like they are part of your own group of friends.
I loved this festive novel. It has so many highs and lows that I think this could be read quite a distance before Christmas! Yes, there is a satisfying ending but, the emotional elements of the story does mean it has more of an edge that typical “slushy” stories. As a debut novel from Ellen, I am really excited to see what he produces next.
With thanks to HQ stories and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It makes a change for me to read a book by a male author and one that features a male protagonist. Having recently analysed the books I read, I am painfully aware that it is female-dominated. Maybe this added to my enjoyment of the story.
Using Dickens’s 'A Christmas Carol', Ellen’s novel follows a similar story. After meeting a quirky watch-seller in a pub on Christmas Eve, Ben finds himself hurtling back in time and re-living significant moments of his life. He is disappointed, discouraged and questioning in present day and, with his broken watch, has the opportunity to see whether the choices he made were the correct ones. Occasionally, Ben meets with the watch-seller but, as Ben soon discovers, it is down to himself to find out the true answers.
I loved the fact that the premise of this story is based on Dickens. It is a familiar story to many and I think Ellen creates a fresh, new approach. Indeed, it took me a while to make the connection, even though references are made from the very beginning when we are with Ben in the early 2000s when he is at university, acting in a play that is a re-working of this festive tale.
The times when Ben was at university were particularly significant to me. Being of a similar age to Ben, I completely picked up on the cultural references throughout the novel. I think this meant the novel had an even more of a special connection with me. Coupled with the fact that 'Back to the Future' remains one of the best films ever, and that I used to watch a children’s program about a magic, time-shifting watch then, well, this was always going to be a success, right?!
I could not really foresee how the story was going to conclude. Sharing Ben’s bitterest and lowest moments over the years meant that I felt like I genuinely knew him. Ellen’s characterisation of Ben, Daphne and even Alice is precise and vivid: it makes them seem like they are part of your own group of friends.
I loved this festive novel. It has so many highs and lows that I think this could be read quite a distance before Christmas! Yes, there is a satisfying ending but, the emotional elements of the story does mean it has more of an edge that typical “slushy” stories. As a debut novel from Ellen, I am really excited to see what he produces next.
With thanks to HQ stories and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2021
4.5 stars.
A holiday romance? A book that explores the decisions we make and what our life would’ve been if we made different ones? Sign me up!
It seems like I’ve read a number of books recently that play with the Sliding Doors -type concept, where the characters see what might have happened had they made a different choice. I’ve got to admit, I love this concept so much.
In Tom Ellen's new book, All About Us , it’s Christmas Eve. While Ben usually loves the holidays, this year his marriage to Daphne is definitely in a rough spot. He knows it’s mostly his fault but he’s just not happy. And she's not happy either. When his old friend Alice gets in touch and says she's coming to town, the idea of seeing her fills him with joy, which means he could be headed down a dangerous path.
He always thought he and Alice might have gotten together at university but it never happened, and then he met Daff. But what would’ve happened if he had chosen differently? Was Alice the one who got away?
When a stranger gives him an (apparently broken) wristwatch he thinks nothing of it—until he wakes up and it’s December 5, 2005, the day he and Daff first kissed—15 years earlier. So now Ben has the chance to see what might happen if he followed his instincts and his heart’s original intent. But will he? Will that choice mean happiness? Or will he make the same decisions he did then?
As I’ve said more times than I can count, I’m a total sap, so this book worked so well for me. Obviously the concept requires a suspension of disbelief, but that was fine for me. To have a chance to say things you never said, take back the things you shouldn’t have said, choose a different path—longing for one or more of those makes us human.
Given all that’s transpired over the last week in the US, All About Us was a beautiful escape for me. Plus, it’s nice to imagine a holiday season when there’s actual snow on the ground, lol!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
A holiday romance? A book that explores the decisions we make and what our life would’ve been if we made different ones? Sign me up!
It seems like I’ve read a number of books recently that play with the Sliding Doors -type concept, where the characters see what might have happened had they made a different choice. I’ve got to admit, I love this concept so much.
In Tom Ellen's new book, All About Us , it’s Christmas Eve. While Ben usually loves the holidays, this year his marriage to Daphne is definitely in a rough spot. He knows it’s mostly his fault but he’s just not happy. And she's not happy either. When his old friend Alice gets in touch and says she's coming to town, the idea of seeing her fills him with joy, which means he could be headed down a dangerous path.
He always thought he and Alice might have gotten together at university but it never happened, and then he met Daff. But what would’ve happened if he had chosen differently? Was Alice the one who got away?
When a stranger gives him an (apparently broken) wristwatch he thinks nothing of it—until he wakes up and it’s December 5, 2005, the day he and Daff first kissed—15 years earlier. So now Ben has the chance to see what might happen if he followed his instincts and his heart’s original intent. But will he? Will that choice mean happiness? Or will he make the same decisions he did then?
As I’ve said more times than I can count, I’m a total sap, so this book worked so well for me. Obviously the concept requires a suspension of disbelief, but that was fine for me. To have a chance to say things you never said, take back the things you shouldn’t have said, choose a different path—longing for one or more of those makes us human.
Given all that’s transpired over the last week in the US, All About Us was a beautiful escape for me. Plus, it’s nice to imagine a holiday season when there’s actual snow on the ground, lol!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
December 14, 2019
An enchanting magical love story about the decisions we make that shape our lives and if it was possible to go back in time, would we change the choices we originally made, if we did would we continually make the same mistakes or learn from them.
It’s Christmas Eve 2020 and Ben is out drinking with his best friend, he is stuck in a rut with his wife Daphne. He fears that they have fallen out of love and wonders what life would have been like if he had chosen old flame Alice, when they were at University.
Ben is approached by a man selling watches, he gives him a watch that is stuck at one minute to midnight. The man had overheard Ben try and tell his friend how he feels. He tells him ,
“ You start to wonder about the bad decisions you’ve made in life, don’t you? Or the wrong turnings you might have taken and whether you could go back and change things - Would you?”
Ben gets a chance with the help of the watch to see Christmas past, present and future. Will he change anything?
I absolutely fell in love with this beautifully written book. I felt quite emotional reading this, especially about Ben and his mother. The Christmas present shows be careful what you wish for as you might just get it. I cried, I laughed and felt every emotion possible!!
It really made me think about what I would change if I went back in time and had the chance to see my lost love ones!!
Thank you for my copy in exchange for a review.
It’s Christmas Eve 2020 and Ben is out drinking with his best friend, he is stuck in a rut with his wife Daphne. He fears that they have fallen out of love and wonders what life would have been like if he had chosen old flame Alice, when they were at University.
Ben is approached by a man selling watches, he gives him a watch that is stuck at one minute to midnight. The man had overheard Ben try and tell his friend how he feels. He tells him ,
“ You start to wonder about the bad decisions you’ve made in life, don’t you? Or the wrong turnings you might have taken and whether you could go back and change things - Would you?”
Ben gets a chance with the help of the watch to see Christmas past, present and future. Will he change anything?
I absolutely fell in love with this beautifully written book. I felt quite emotional reading this, especially about Ben and his mother. The Christmas present shows be careful what you wish for as you might just get it. I cried, I laughed and felt every emotion possible!!
It really made me think about what I would change if I went back in time and had the chance to see my lost love ones!!
Thank you for my copy in exchange for a review.
August 18, 2021
⫸ 3.5 STARS
⤐ Overall.
Edit: It's so cold in Germany at the moment that I'm literally almost in the mood to read winter-y books. Lol. Please send warmth, thanks.
In All About Us, Tom manages to illustrate a beautiful relationship. Daphne and Ben are a couple that could be described as OTP if they'd both put in the effort. Trouble is, while Daphne is successful and selfless, Ben has a harder time leaving behind the shadow of his ignorant and self-righteous father. The contrast between the two certainly makes for an interesting conflict, especially since Tom gives the reader the possibility to see their relationship develop over the years they've known each other in a A Christmas Carol like scenario.
Admittedly, Ben's habit of rushing headfirst into disaster willingly gets a bit annoying after a while. He has a hard time reading people and understanding their true intentions which means us readers have to tag along for a rerun of all his biggest mistakes, one eye closed in fear, the other wide open in unabashed fascination.
In the end, I was just attached enough to want to finish the book but more often than not I was very impatient with both Tom and Ben, but that'smen humans for you.
⤐ What’s happening.
spoiler alert : Fat chance it's never too late to change your ways. But sometimes that takes a rerun of old mistakes. Lucky Ben.
_____________________
4 STARS. Would stay up beyond my typical hours to finish it. I found some minor details I didn't like, agree with or lacked in some kind but overall, this was enjoyable and extraordinary.
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some things irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
This book is for you if… you enjoy watching idjits digging their own grave out of sheer self pity. TW: death of a parent, cheating, triggering partner/friends.
⤐ Overall.
Edit: It's so cold in Germany at the moment that I'm literally almost in the mood to read winter-y books. Lol. Please send warmth, thanks.
In All About Us, Tom manages to illustrate a beautiful relationship. Daphne and Ben are a couple that could be described as OTP if they'd both put in the effort. Trouble is, while Daphne is successful and selfless, Ben has a harder time leaving behind the shadow of his ignorant and self-righteous father. The contrast between the two certainly makes for an interesting conflict, especially since Tom gives the reader the possibility to see their relationship develop over the years they've known each other in a A Christmas Carol like scenario.
Admittedly, Ben's habit of rushing headfirst into disaster willingly gets a bit annoying after a while. He has a hard time reading people and understanding their true intentions which means us readers have to tag along for a rerun of all his biggest mistakes, one eye closed in fear, the other wide open in unabashed fascination.
In the end, I was just attached enough to want to finish the book but more often than not I was very impatient with both Tom and Ben, but that's
⤐ What’s happening.
‘I guess none of us turned out how we thought we would at nineteen. We all made mistakes and concessions and wrong turnings.’
spoiler alert : Fat chance it's never too late to change your ways. But sometimes that takes a rerun of old mistakes. Lucky Ben.
_____________________
4 STARS. Would stay up beyond my typical hours to finish it. I found some minor details I didn't like, agree with or lacked in some kind but overall, this was enjoyable and extraordinary.
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some things irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
October 24, 2020
As soon as I started this book I loved it which is why I read it so quickly it was just my kind of book, time travel and a good story. The pages turned very quickly and I found I just couldn’t put it down.
I hope this author writes more.
I hope this author writes more.
December 9, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
‘Just remember: “If you don’t like your life, you can change it.” H. G. Wells wrote that.’
When it comes to holiday books, I’ve determined stories that follow this trope . . . .
Are almost sure to be winners, while ones that follow in the footsteps of . . . .
Are sometimes a flop for me.
The only thing I knew about All About Us before begging the library to loan me a copy was the cover and there are plenty of shopping days left until adulteries - adulthood - which is to say Christmas. As in Yule. Yule log. Not a log, I don't have a log. I mean, you know, if I had a log, not in the sense that you think I said I did. Good golly . . . .
So anyway, things started off swimmingly with . . . .
‘Christmas is a time for reflection, isn’t it? Getting things off your chest. You start to wonder about the bad decisions you’ve made in life, don’t you? Or the wrong turnings you might have taken. You start to wonder how things might have worked out differently for you. And whether – if you could go back and change things – you really would. Is there anything you’d do?’ the old man interrupts. ‘If you could go back. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?’
And that my friends is what you call It’s a Wonderful Life. Unfortunately, a bit of “present” and “future” were unexpectedly (for me) added in to the mix and decreased my enjoyment just a titch. I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case for most, though, so I have no problem recommending this to anyone looking for a sweet Christmas read.
3.5 Stars
‘Just remember: “If you don’t like your life, you can change it.” H. G. Wells wrote that.’
When it comes to holiday books, I’ve determined stories that follow this trope . . . .
Are almost sure to be winners, while ones that follow in the footsteps of . . . .
Are sometimes a flop for me.
The only thing I knew about All About Us before begging the library to loan me a copy was the cover and there are plenty of shopping days left until adulteries - adulthood - which is to say Christmas. As in Yule. Yule log. Not a log, I don't have a log. I mean, you know, if I had a log, not in the sense that you think I said I did. Good golly . . . .
So anyway, things started off swimmingly with . . . .
‘Christmas is a time for reflection, isn’t it? Getting things off your chest. You start to wonder about the bad decisions you’ve made in life, don’t you? Or the wrong turnings you might have taken. You start to wonder how things might have worked out differently for you. And whether – if you could go back and change things – you really would. Is there anything you’d do?’ the old man interrupts. ‘If you could go back. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?’
And that my friends is what you call It’s a Wonderful Life. Unfortunately, a bit of “present” and “future” were unexpectedly (for me) added in to the mix and decreased my enjoyment just a titch. I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case for most, though, so I have no problem recommending this to anyone looking for a sweet Christmas read.
December 8, 2020
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
What a delight to read. I had no idea what I was in for when I started All About Us, I merely wanted a Christmas read, but Tom Ellen delivers a gorgeous tale about life and the what-ifs that niggle at us. Much like in A Christmas Carol, Ben is delivered to seemingly random times in his life, a lesson to be found in the past, present, and future. He's lost control of his life, bathes in self-pity, and is on the brink of damaging a relationship to the point of no repair. Given an opportunity to change everything, Ben revisits several holidays to discover his true meaning again. While it's set around the holidays, All About Us is truly a story about love, life, and the choices we make.
I haven't read a novel written by a male author with a male protagonist in...ages. I honestly can't even think of the last one. Ben was just so relatable though, his story so easily applied to my own life, and I really enjoyed the male perspective. It's emotional, with just the right patronizing comedy, and full of meaning. The holidays, and similar theming with A Christmas Carol and the oft-mentioned Groundhog Day, really take it to another level though. It's accurate to the times, a truly fresh retelling, and so applicable as many question, or are forced to question, their life choices and the future ahead of them.
I was emotional wreck reading, not because it's mushy, though we all know I love a good romance novel, but rather due to how accurately Ellen captures life's difficult moments. Holidays are hard, being surrounded by family and friends can be hard, but it's even harder when you're not living up to yourself. Full of depth and relatable anecdotes, All About Us is a perfect novel for anytime, but really quite fantastic for the end of 2020.
ARC provided.
What a delight to read. I had no idea what I was in for when I started All About Us, I merely wanted a Christmas read, but Tom Ellen delivers a gorgeous tale about life and the what-ifs that niggle at us. Much like in A Christmas Carol, Ben is delivered to seemingly random times in his life, a lesson to be found in the past, present, and future. He's lost control of his life, bathes in self-pity, and is on the brink of damaging a relationship to the point of no repair. Given an opportunity to change everything, Ben revisits several holidays to discover his true meaning again. While it's set around the holidays, All About Us is truly a story about love, life, and the choices we make.
I haven't read a novel written by a male author with a male protagonist in...ages. I honestly can't even think of the last one. Ben was just so relatable though, his story so easily applied to my own life, and I really enjoyed the male perspective. It's emotional, with just the right patronizing comedy, and full of meaning. The holidays, and similar theming with A Christmas Carol and the oft-mentioned Groundhog Day, really take it to another level though. It's accurate to the times, a truly fresh retelling, and so applicable as many question, or are forced to question, their life choices and the future ahead of them.
I was emotional wreck reading, not because it's mushy, though we all know I love a good romance novel, but rather due to how accurately Ellen captures life's difficult moments. Holidays are hard, being surrounded by family and friends can be hard, but it's even harder when you're not living up to yourself. Full of depth and relatable anecdotes, All About Us is a perfect novel for anytime, but really quite fantastic for the end of 2020.
ARC provided.
December 15, 2021
⌚
Christmas 2020
⌚
„Полунощ ме води към теб“ (или както е в оригинал „All About Us“) разказва историята на Бен и Дафне. Романът е вдъхновен от „Коледна песен“ и следва същата концепция. Вероятно и по тази причина книгата успя да ми хареса значително. Когато едва вечер в един бар, Бен получава неработещ ръчен часовник от един загадъчен непознат мъж, който в същото време му изглежда и странно познат, той започва да пътува през миналите си Коледи, където се крият и ключови моменти от живота му, които първия път Бен не е забелязал или не им е обърнал внимание. След това минава и през настоящата Коледа и достига и до бъдещата си. Тези преживявания карат Бен да погледне на живота си с други очи. Книгата показва как някои неща се оценяват едва когато се загубят. Но за късмет Бен все още има шанс да се бори за тях и да се опита да поправи грешките от миналото си.
4.2 🌟
„Полунощ ме води към теб“ (или както е в оригинал „All About Us“) разказва историята на Бен и Дафне. Романът е вдъхновен от „Коледна песен“ и следва същата концепция. Вероятно и по тази причина книгата успя да ми хареса значително. Когато едва вечер в един бар, Бен получава неработещ ръчен часовник от един загадъчен непознат мъж, който в същото време му изглежда и странно познат, той започва да пътува през миналите си Коледи, където се крият и ключови моменти от живота му, които първия път Бен не е забелязал или не им е обърнал внимание. След това минава и през настоящата Коледа и достига и до бъдещата си. Тези преживявания карат Бен да погледне на живота си с други очи. Книгата показва как някои неща се оценяват едва когато се загубят. Но за късмет Бен все още има шанс да се бори за тях и да се опита да поправи грешките от миналото си.
4.2 🌟
December 12, 2020
Ben and Daphne. Are they MTB? Or did Ben make the wrong choice back in his uni days? Thanks to a grandfatherly man in the pub on Christmas Eve 2020 and a watch that is stopped at 11:58 PM; we go on a journey with Ben that is a little bit 'A Christmas Carol' and a little bit 'It's A Wonderful Life.' When your marriage relationship is stuck in a rut, perhaps reliving some past experiences can put things in perspective. Will it work for Ben? How can he get the jumping from time to time to stop? If you are a Josie Silver or Beth O'Leary fan, you will love this new title from Tom Ellen. Includes an interview with the author and a preview of his next novel.
October 12, 2020
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After fifteen years together, and four years of marriage, she doesn't really know me at all. If she did, then surely she wouldn't still be here.
All About Us is a Dickens' A Christmas Carol inspired story told in first person point-of-view from a drowning in life Ben. He's thirty-four and contemplating having an affair with a woman from his past that he can't help thinking what could have been if they'd gotten together. He's been with his wife Daphne for fifteen years, married for four, and while she has a successful career, Ben's writing has never taken off. When reader's come into the story, Daphne's getting ready to go to her work Christmas party and they're clearly tired of one another as they bicker and snip. Ben decides to call his friend Harv to get a pint at the pub and while he's sitting there wishing he had a deeper friendship with Harv where he could discuss his marital problems an older man comes up and tries to sell him a watch. Ben tries to refuse but the man just gives the watch to him and walks away, Ben then notices the watch doesn't even work as it is stuck one minute to midnight. When Ben gets home and passes out, he gets the surprise of his life when instead of waking up in his flat in 2020, he wakes up in his old dorm room in 2005.
As this story plot is pretty well known, the reader is aware of the journey Ben is about to go on, it's more about the discovery of why Ben feels the way he does in 2020. Ben is obsessed with the idea that if he'd only ended up with Alice, a girl from college that he was good friends and the one he is contemplating the affair with, instead of Daphne, his life would be different in a better way and that even Daphne's life would be better. When he gets to revisit and relive certain moments in his past, he discovers he didn't always remember them correctly and that his self-absorbed and self-pity ways kept him from missing important details and connecting with people, especially Daphne.
Ben's father left when he was young, leaving his mother to take care of him and this made the biggest impact in his life; Ben wanting to be a writer like his dad and his self-pitying tied into thinking he'll never be good enough. It's a bit wallowing at times, especially in contrast to his wife Daphne and how she gave all the emotional support in their relationship but part of the reason Ben is going on this Christmas Carol journey is for him to see and realize this.
The writing and the pace flows steady but there were times I missed more depth to characters, this is very much Ben's story and his alone. He's not necessarily a character you root for, his midlife crisis and how much Daphne gives in the relationship compared to him, make that difficult. I also thought the future Ben gets to see made everything a bit too easy for him for when he goes back to his present. However, it's a good story to remind others to not fall into the traps Ben does and try to live life in less self-absorbed and more honest ways.
After fifteen years together, and four years of marriage, she doesn't really know me at all. If she did, then surely she wouldn't still be here.
All About Us is a Dickens' A Christmas Carol inspired story told in first person point-of-view from a drowning in life Ben. He's thirty-four and contemplating having an affair with a woman from his past that he can't help thinking what could have been if they'd gotten together. He's been with his wife Daphne for fifteen years, married for four, and while she has a successful career, Ben's writing has never taken off. When reader's come into the story, Daphne's getting ready to go to her work Christmas party and they're clearly tired of one another as they bicker and snip. Ben decides to call his friend Harv to get a pint at the pub and while he's sitting there wishing he had a deeper friendship with Harv where he could discuss his marital problems an older man comes up and tries to sell him a watch. Ben tries to refuse but the man just gives the watch to him and walks away, Ben then notices the watch doesn't even work as it is stuck one minute to midnight. When Ben gets home and passes out, he gets the surprise of his life when instead of waking up in his flat in 2020, he wakes up in his old dorm room in 2005.
As this story plot is pretty well known, the reader is aware of the journey Ben is about to go on, it's more about the discovery of why Ben feels the way he does in 2020. Ben is obsessed with the idea that if he'd only ended up with Alice, a girl from college that he was good friends and the one he is contemplating the affair with, instead of Daphne, his life would be different in a better way and that even Daphne's life would be better. When he gets to revisit and relive certain moments in his past, he discovers he didn't always remember them correctly and that his self-absorbed and self-pity ways kept him from missing important details and connecting with people, especially Daphne.
Ben's father left when he was young, leaving his mother to take care of him and this made the biggest impact in his life; Ben wanting to be a writer like his dad and his self-pitying tied into thinking he'll never be good enough. It's a bit wallowing at times, especially in contrast to his wife Daphne and how she gave all the emotional support in their relationship but part of the reason Ben is going on this Christmas Carol journey is for him to see and realize this.
The writing and the pace flows steady but there were times I missed more depth to characters, this is very much Ben's story and his alone. He's not necessarily a character you root for, his midlife crisis and how much Daphne gives in the relationship compared to him, make that difficult. I also thought the future Ben gets to see made everything a bit too easy for him for when he goes back to his present. However, it's a good story to remind others to not fall into the traps Ben does and try to live life in less self-absorbed and more honest ways.
December 17, 2020
***3,5 stars***
Who hasn't wondered if the choices they have made in life were the right ones? Or where different choices would have led you?
Ben has always wondered how his life would have turned out if he had chosen a different path. He's been married to Daphne for a while, but now they've hit a rough spot. So when the opportunity arises to meet up with a special someone from the past, he sets up a date that might mean the end of his marriage.
One night, before anything life changing happens, Ben meets a strange old man at a bar who gifts him a (broken) watch. And so begins the "Christmas Carol"-esque journey through his past, present and future.
This is a modern twist on Dickens' classic, with Ben waking up in a different timeline everyday after the clock ticks 11:59 at night, the same time his watch is stuck at. We get to see him live through some happy moments, as well as some heartbreaking ones, all meant to make him see what's truly important in life.
What I probably liked the most about this book was to see this kind of story from a male perspective, particularly because it touches subjects such as male mental health and their difficulty to open up about their true feelings. I am so used to reading romance novels written by women with (mostly) female leads, that it was refreshing to read something in this genre written by a male for once. And the reason why I'm giving it only 3,5 stars is because the storyline with Ben's mother was just so heartbreaking, it cast a dark cloud over what could have simply been cute and magical.
All About Us isn't a typical holiday romance, it is a story about second chances, falling in love again and seeing what life could become if you take a wrong turn. It shows us that not all happy endings are easy, that communication is always important in a relationship and it reminds us that love evolves and changes over time. It takes a lot of work to stay happy, but as long as you're willing to put in the work, it will be worth it in the end.
Who hasn't wondered if the choices they have made in life were the right ones? Or where different choices would have led you?
Ben has always wondered how his life would have turned out if he had chosen a different path. He's been married to Daphne for a while, but now they've hit a rough spot. So when the opportunity arises to meet up with a special someone from the past, he sets up a date that might mean the end of his marriage.
One night, before anything life changing happens, Ben meets a strange old man at a bar who gifts him a (broken) watch. And so begins the "Christmas Carol"-esque journey through his past, present and future.
This is a modern twist on Dickens' classic, with Ben waking up in a different timeline everyday after the clock ticks 11:59 at night, the same time his watch is stuck at. We get to see him live through some happy moments, as well as some heartbreaking ones, all meant to make him see what's truly important in life.
What I probably liked the most about this book was to see this kind of story from a male perspective, particularly because it touches subjects such as male mental health and their difficulty to open up about their true feelings. I am so used to reading romance novels written by women with (mostly) female leads, that it was refreshing to read something in this genre written by a male for once. And the reason why I'm giving it only 3,5 stars is because the storyline with Ben's mother was just so heartbreaking, it cast a dark cloud over what could have simply been cute and magical.
All About Us isn't a typical holiday romance, it is a story about second chances, falling in love again and seeing what life could become if you take a wrong turn. It shows us that not all happy endings are easy, that communication is always important in a relationship and it reminds us that love evolves and changes over time. It takes a lot of work to stay happy, but as long as you're willing to put in the work, it will be worth it in the end.
April 4, 2021
It's Christmas Eve but Ben is not exactly in the festive spirit. He's unhappy at work, misses his mum and lately it feels as if he and his wife Daphne are just constantly bickering. Finding himself in a pub brooding over his sorrows with his best friend Harv, Ben finds himself seriously contemplating if his marriage is over, if Daphne would be better without him, and if she really is the one. Lately his thoughts have been turning to Alice, a girl at Uni that he once had a crush on before he met Daphne. What if all those years ago he had chosen Alice instead of Daphne, would things have turned out better? Yet when Ben is gifted an old watch by a strange watch-seller who bumps into him at the pub, his life takes a bizarre turn as he wakes up back in 2005 on the very evening he first met Daphne and chose her over Alice. Offered the chance to make the choice again, what will Ben do?
My first book by Tom Ellen, I thought this was an enjoyable and heart-warming read. It did take me a few chapters to get into, mainly because at the beginning Ben comes across as rather self-pitying. He's arranged to meet up with Alice in a few days time, and seems to be on the brink of embarking upon an affair, which doesn't paint him in the most endearing light at the story's start. However, then he meets this watch-seller and finds himself back in 2005. I wasn't sure at first the direction the story was going to take once Ben was in the past, would he drastically alter the course of his life by choosing Alice, was she really the one who got away and who he was destined to be with? It soon became apparent how the story was going to go though, and from that point on I loved this book. Some of the early scenes in the past when Ben is at Uni were particularly enjoyable just for the sense of nostalgia, and also the humour with characters like Marek.
The premise of the story is actually based on A Christmas Carol by Dickens, and whilst I am sure it is one that has been rehashed many times, I actually thought it worked really well here. I enjoyed the mix of time-travel and romance that the book offered, but more than anything I really enjoyed Ben's personal journey and growth as a character.
From not being too keen on him at the beginning, I actually really liked his character as the story went on. Yes, he has a tendency to be self-pitying and he can be selfish at times, however, he felt like a fully drawn out character, with flaws and all, and as a result it made him easy to identify with and very real. He tends to suffer from low self-esteem and has been colored in many ways by his parents' break up when he was very young, idolizing this image of the father he never sees but aspires to be like and yet also fears he might turn out like in some regards e.g an unfaithful husband, that can make him fearful of committing. His father is a famous play-wright and Ben too is an aspiring writer, yet his career has not panned out well and he is rather in a slump.
I enjoyed these family aspects to the book as I think our early lives and relationships and experiences often do play a huge role in shaping our characters, and yet as the story goes on, it is as if a light switches on for Ben and he gains this self-awareness that was quite inspiring, as he appreciates his own faults and that he doesn't have to be shaped by the legacy of his father, bur rather it is his own decisions that define him.
Another aspect of the time travel that I really enjoyed were the parts where Ben relives his past, and how his perception of what is going on changes the second time round, as he is so much more appreciative of the people around him, as opposed to being focused on himself and taking things for granted. He ends up not changing the big things, but rather smaller things, and he essentially falls in love with Daphne all over again, realizing how important she is to him.
I thought the parts with Ben and his mum were the most moving in the entire book, and the chapter where he just gets to be with her again on Christmas Eve as they play monopoly and just talk had me genuinely in tears, as that idea of getting extra time with someone you have lost is so poignant, and I thought Tom Ellen really rendered those scenes in a very touching way. In fact I found the entire way that he handled Ben's grief over his mum really well portrayed, in terms of the feelings of guilt and regret that linger and how it leads to him sort of withdraw into himself and turn away from the loved ones around him like Daphne who want to help him through it.
Daphne was a great character too, we are never really afforded her point of view, but I thought she was always really supportive of Ben, even when he could be difficult to be around, and the connection between them from the off was very genuine and easy.
I also liked Tom Ellen's portrayal of male friendships in how he rendered Ben and Harv's relationship. He highlighted how men often find it difficult to talk about the things that matter and rather just rely on banter.
As the book goes on, Ben sees a version of the present and future that could come into play depending on the choices he makes, before he finally finds himself back in the true present. I wasn't as keen on the portrayal of Alice, as I thought it was a bit one-dimensional and there just to serve a purpose.
Overall, this was a great book to escape into, with a blend of comedy, romance, a touch of magic and genuine heart. 4.5 stars
My first book by Tom Ellen, I thought this was an enjoyable and heart-warming read. It did take me a few chapters to get into, mainly because at the beginning Ben comes across as rather self-pitying. He's arranged to meet up with Alice in a few days time, and seems to be on the brink of embarking upon an affair, which doesn't paint him in the most endearing light at the story's start. However, then he meets this watch-seller and finds himself back in 2005. I wasn't sure at first the direction the story was going to take once Ben was in the past, would he drastically alter the course of his life by choosing Alice, was she really the one who got away and who he was destined to be with? It soon became apparent how the story was going to go though, and from that point on I loved this book. Some of the early scenes in the past when Ben is at Uni were particularly enjoyable just for the sense of nostalgia, and also the humour with characters like Marek.
The premise of the story is actually based on A Christmas Carol by Dickens, and whilst I am sure it is one that has been rehashed many times, I actually thought it worked really well here. I enjoyed the mix of time-travel and romance that the book offered, but more than anything I really enjoyed Ben's personal journey and growth as a character.
From not being too keen on him at the beginning, I actually really liked his character as the story went on. Yes, he has a tendency to be self-pitying and he can be selfish at times, however, he felt like a fully drawn out character, with flaws and all, and as a result it made him easy to identify with and very real. He tends to suffer from low self-esteem and has been colored in many ways by his parents' break up when he was very young, idolizing this image of the father he never sees but aspires to be like and yet also fears he might turn out like in some regards e.g an unfaithful husband, that can make him fearful of committing. His father is a famous play-wright and Ben too is an aspiring writer, yet his career has not panned out well and he is rather in a slump.
I enjoyed these family aspects to the book as I think our early lives and relationships and experiences often do play a huge role in shaping our characters, and yet as the story goes on, it is as if a light switches on for Ben and he gains this self-awareness that was quite inspiring, as he appreciates his own faults and that he doesn't have to be shaped by the legacy of his father, bur rather it is his own decisions that define him.
Another aspect of the time travel that I really enjoyed were the parts where Ben relives his past, and how his perception of what is going on changes the second time round, as he is so much more appreciative of the people around him, as opposed to being focused on himself and taking things for granted. He ends up not changing the big things, but rather smaller things, and he essentially falls in love with Daphne all over again, realizing how important she is to him.
I thought the parts with Ben and his mum were the most moving in the entire book, and the chapter where he just gets to be with her again on Christmas Eve as they play monopoly and just talk had me genuinely in tears, as that idea of getting extra time with someone you have lost is so poignant, and I thought Tom Ellen really rendered those scenes in a very touching way. In fact I found the entire way that he handled Ben's grief over his mum really well portrayed, in terms of the feelings of guilt and regret that linger and how it leads to him sort of withdraw into himself and turn away from the loved ones around him like Daphne who want to help him through it.
Daphne was a great character too, we are never really afforded her point of view, but I thought she was always really supportive of Ben, even when he could be difficult to be around, and the connection between them from the off was very genuine and easy.
I also liked Tom Ellen's portrayal of male friendships in how he rendered Ben and Harv's relationship. He highlighted how men often find it difficult to talk about the things that matter and rather just rely on banter.
As the book goes on, Ben sees a version of the present and future that could come into play depending on the choices he makes, before he finally finds himself back in the true present. I wasn't as keen on the portrayal of Alice, as I thought it was a bit one-dimensional and there just to serve a purpose.
Overall, this was a great book to escape into, with a blend of comedy, romance, a touch of magic and genuine heart. 4.5 stars
December 22, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️ a three stars from me 🌲✨
November 3, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This really was a delightful story! I decided to read this book simply because I liked the sound of it. Who hasn't wondered if the choices that they have made in life were the right ones and where different choices would have led. I was ready to go on this journey with Ben and it turned out to be even better than I could have hoped. I really liked this original and romantic retelling of A Christmas Carol.
Ben and Daphne have been married for a while and at the start of the book, we see that their marriage has hit a very rough spot. Ben goes out for a drink with his best friend and meets a strange man that gives him a watch stuck at 11:59. This begins an eye-opening journey through Ben's past, present, and future that will help Ben see what is really important.
I loved Ben and really enjoyed seeing some of the important events in his life. It was great seeing how his different relationships grew and changed over time and the impact they all had on his life. It was great seeing those early days with Daphne and I like seeing Ben remember how things used to be between them. The moments with Ben's Mom were very touching and some of the most powerful in the book for me. The glimpse of the future that Ben thought that he might have wanted to be made everything completely clear.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderful story filled with great characters and the perfect amount of romance. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of Tom Ellen's work in the future.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from HarperCollins Publishers - HQ.
This really was a delightful story! I decided to read this book simply because I liked the sound of it. Who hasn't wondered if the choices that they have made in life were the right ones and where different choices would have led. I was ready to go on this journey with Ben and it turned out to be even better than I could have hoped. I really liked this original and romantic retelling of A Christmas Carol.
Ben and Daphne have been married for a while and at the start of the book, we see that their marriage has hit a very rough spot. Ben goes out for a drink with his best friend and meets a strange man that gives him a watch stuck at 11:59. This begins an eye-opening journey through Ben's past, present, and future that will help Ben see what is really important.
I loved Ben and really enjoyed seeing some of the important events in his life. It was great seeing how his different relationships grew and changed over time and the impact they all had on his life. It was great seeing those early days with Daphne and I like seeing Ben remember how things used to be between them. The moments with Ben's Mom were very touching and some of the most powerful in the book for me. The glimpse of the future that Ben thought that he might have wanted to be made everything completely clear.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderful story filled with great characters and the perfect amount of romance. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of Tom Ellen's work in the future.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from HarperCollins Publishers - HQ.
March 20, 2023
Escritura 4⭐
Personajes 4⭐
Argumento 3⭐
Coherencia 3⭐
Originalidad 3⭐
Disfrute 3⭐
Personajes 4⭐
Argumento 3⭐
Coherencia 3⭐
Originalidad 3⭐
Disfrute 3⭐
March 7, 2021
4,5 ⭐️
"Животът ти е сбор от решенията, които вземаш".
В този момент от живота на Бен няма друга сентенция, която по-добре да описва кръстопътя, на който се намира.
Изградена върху мотиви от Коледната песен на Дикенс, това е една красива история с любими мои теми (пътуване в миналото, поглед в бъдещето, какво би променил, ако можеше да се върнеш назад и т.н и т.н.).
Сериозно в повечето моменти и замислящо коледно четиво; в никакъв случай не е шаблонна захаросана история и с наближаването към кулминацията става все по-интересна, за да достигне до очакван, но все пак задоволителен финал.
"Животът ти е сбор от решенията, които вземаш".
В този момент от живота на Бен няма друга сентенция, която по-добре да описва кръстопътя, на който се намира.
Изградена върху мотиви от Коледната песен на Дикенс, това е една красива история с любими мои теми (пътуване в миналото, поглед в бъдещето, какво би променил, ако можеше да се върнеш назад и т.н и т.н.).
Сериозно в повечето моменти и замислящо коледно четиво; в никакъв случай не е шаблонна захаросана история и с наближаването към кулминацията става все по-интересна, за да достигне до очакван, но все пак задоволителен финал.
March 18, 2020
All about us by Tom Ellen is a beautifully written stor.y about love, laughter, friendship and loss.
This is modern day story of the Christmas carol. If you had the chance to go back in time and change the wrongs you made in your life, would you?
Ben is at a crossroads in his relationship with his wife Daphne. He wonders that if he had made different choices in his life would he be still be married to her or would he be now in a relationship with Alice who he met at Uni.
It’s Christmas Eve 2020 after an argument with Daphne he heads to the pub. Where he meets a man, who wears a tatty blue suit and a reindeer tie. The resemblance to his grandfather is uncanny. He leaves a broken wristwatch. When he tries it on, he transfers back and forwards in time. Showing the life, he had with Daphne, his friends especially Alice and his late mother. While he looks on wishing that he could change things and what can he do to improve the life he was dealt with.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for a copy of All about Us I will make sure I will look out for more books from this author. I really enjoyed this thought-provoking book. It was little bit hard to get into at first, but then it had some good humour and surprising twists. I highly recommend
This is modern day story of the Christmas carol. If you had the chance to go back in time and change the wrongs you made in your life, would you?
Ben is at a crossroads in his relationship with his wife Daphne. He wonders that if he had made different choices in his life would he be still be married to her or would he be now in a relationship with Alice who he met at Uni.
It’s Christmas Eve 2020 after an argument with Daphne he heads to the pub. Where he meets a man, who wears a tatty blue suit and a reindeer tie. The resemblance to his grandfather is uncanny. He leaves a broken wristwatch. When he tries it on, he transfers back and forwards in time. Showing the life, he had with Daphne, his friends especially Alice and his late mother. While he looks on wishing that he could change things and what can he do to improve the life he was dealt with.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for a copy of All about Us I will make sure I will look out for more books from this author. I really enjoyed this thought-provoking book. It was little bit hard to get into at first, but then it had some good humour and surprising twists. I highly recommend
December 10, 2020
This is the perfect holiday love story!!!
Seriously people, this will get you out of your COVID funk for at least a little while. It's like a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. But instead of following a greedy and lonely old man, the story follows just a regular guy, who's in a funk and is questioning if he's with the wrong woman. For anyone who loves stories with "what ifs" or "the one that got away," this fabulous book fits the bill. The writing is engaging and clever and I didn't want to put it down. It made me feel utterly satisfied and happy.
And if this is ever made into a movie, it will most likely be one of my favorites!!!!
Seriously people, this will get you out of your COVID funk for at least a little while. It's like a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. But instead of following a greedy and lonely old man, the story follows just a regular guy, who's in a funk and is questioning if he's with the wrong woman. For anyone who loves stories with "what ifs" or "the one that got away," this fabulous book fits the bill. The writing is engaging and clever and I didn't want to put it down. It made me feel utterly satisfied and happy.
And if this is ever made into a movie, it will most likely be one of my favorites!!!!
December 7, 2020
Мноого стопляща история.
Накара ме да превъртя в главата си, повечето избори в собствения си живот , които съм правила.
Наистина не знам дали ако имах възможност да се върна назад във времето , бих променила нещата , които са ми се случили. И не защото имам перфектен живот.
В крайна сметка , всяко нещо , което ти се случва си има причина и най-важното е да си научиш уроците. Не просто да го казваш, а наистина да си вземеш поука от всяко събитие.
Това е тема , която ме вълнува и често разсъждавам над нея.
Изобщо много подходящо време за четене на книгата.
Създаде ми уют.
Накара ме да превъртя в главата си, повечето избори в собствения си живот , които съм правила.
Наистина не знам дали ако имах възможност да се върна назад във времето , бих променила нещата , които са ми се случили. И не защото имам перфектен живот.
В крайна сметка , всяко нещо , което ти се случва си има причина и най-важното е да си научиш уроците. Не просто да го казваш, а наистина да си вземеш поука от всяко събитие.
Това е тема , която ме вълнува и често разсъждавам над нея.
Изобщо много подходящо време за четене на книгата.
Създаде ми уют.
December 20, 2020
LOOOOOVED this book. I actually hugged it when I finished. This was such a great, refreshing twist on an old Christmas story trope.
It had themes of grief, anxiety, self-doubt, love, and the meaning of life in general. I loved the character growth in this book and I also love that it gives the reader a little chance to do some self reflection this holiday season about what and who is important in our lives. ❤️
It had themes of grief, anxiety, self-doubt, love, and the meaning of life in general. I loved the character growth in this book and I also love that it gives the reader a little chance to do some self reflection this holiday season about what and who is important in our lives. ❤️
November 18, 2020
One of the best Christmas books I’ve ever read. Loved it.
December 28, 2021
4.5 stars.
Goodness, this book was a humdinger. It is based on A Christmas Carol, with the H traveling from present, to past, present, and future Christmases before coming back to his real life. Just like in the classic, our MC identifies lots of areas for growth in his life and vows to make those changes if given the opportunity to go back to his real life.
That's a pat description of the book, but also accurate. Our MC is experiencing a bit of a crisis when the book opens. He's a miserable sad sack who hasn't accomplished much professionally and feels judged and found wanting most of the time. He's cranky, despondent, and self-pitying. Did he choose the right woman? Should he take the opportunity being offered by the 'one who got away' to see if he made the right or wrong choice? That's just one of the questions he finds the answers to.
The book is pretty long, but I didn't mind that. I feel like self-pity can be a deep crevasse to heave oneself out of, and the book gives the MC plenty of time to examine the depths to which he has fallen, and the extent of the personal and professional damage wallowing in that self-pity has wrought. Our MC does not get off lightly and is forced to make significant behavioral, attitudinal, and communication changes in his life in order to get (i.e., avert the trainwreck that was clearly on the way, thanks to how he had been living his life) the ending/beginning he wanted. There's a lot of great angst to plumb here, but much of it occurs in the faux lands of Christmas past/present/future, and not in real life with real folks (in particular, his wife Daphne, who becomes increasingly beloved to him with each new Christmas he participate in). For some of us angst lovers, that's not as satisfying as seeing it all hashed out on-page, but I was ok trading that for the significant growth he made! All in all, this was a satisfying holiday read with a good amount of angst!
Goodness, this book was a humdinger. It is based on A Christmas Carol, with the H traveling from present, to past, present, and future Christmases before coming back to his real life. Just like in the classic, our MC identifies lots of areas for growth in his life and vows to make those changes if given the opportunity to go back to his real life.
That's a pat description of the book, but also accurate. Our MC is experiencing a bit of a crisis when the book opens. He's a miserable sad sack who hasn't accomplished much professionally and feels judged and found wanting most of the time. He's cranky, despondent, and self-pitying. Did he choose the right woman? Should he take the opportunity being offered by the 'one who got away' to see if he made the right or wrong choice? That's just one of the questions he finds the answers to.
The book is pretty long, but I didn't mind that. I feel like self-pity can be a deep crevasse to heave oneself out of, and the book gives the MC plenty of time to examine the depths to which he has fallen, and the extent of the personal and professional damage wallowing in that self-pity has wrought. Our MC does not get off lightly and is forced to make significant behavioral, attitudinal, and communication changes in his life in order to get (i.e., avert the trainwreck that was clearly on the way, thanks to how he had been living his life) the ending/beginning he wanted. There's a lot of great angst to plumb here, but much of it occurs in the faux lands of Christmas past/present/future, and not in real life with real folks (in particular, his wife Daphne, who becomes increasingly beloved to him with each new Christmas he participate in). For some of us angst lovers, that's not as satisfying as seeing it all hashed out on-page, but I was ok trading that for the significant growth he made! All in all, this was a satisfying holiday read with a good amount of angst!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
April 6, 2022Just wasn't what I'd expected and the H was about as sexy as a boiled hotdog.
After the first couple chapters I skimmed...
After the first couple chapters I skimmed...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2021
Going into this novel I was looking for a lighthearted Christmas read to quickly fill my time. I couldn't be more wrong. Two things stand out to me:
1. This is not really a Christmas novel. It's set during Christmas Eve/Day but that's really as much Christmas as you get
2. I cried, at least three times
How did a novel that was just about the main character, Ben, jumping through time to see whether he made a mistake getting with his current wife, make me feel so much, you might ask? Well, beyond being a love story, it's a story about a man finding himself (who he loves, who he wants to be, who influences him). Ben is at a point in his life where he is in an unsuccessful marriage, job, and personality. Ben keeps thinking "back in 2005 if I had kissed the other girl how would my life turn out?" It's a question some of us might be asking ourselves from time to time (not that specific), but we all have our list of "what-ifs". From this moment on Ben is thrown back in the past and forced to face the pivotal moments in his life that constituted his "what-ifs".
The parts that got to me were when he was talking to his mom. I, like the MC, have a single mother and an absentee father, so this book hit a little too close to home. The thought of losing my mom is one that I don't like to think often about because truthfully I don't know how I'll cope. Ben is thrown back into the past, and this absolutely broke me:
I don't think that a "lighthearted" read is supposed to make you cry this much, but this book somehow hurt me in more ways than one.
The reason I'm giving this novel four stars is not because it made me cry (I have given five stars to sad books), but because Ben cheats on his wife. I'm personally against this. Although I admire his growth throughout the novel and loved when
I don't read too many modern novels set in 2020 with the current slang and pop culture, but I found myself drawn to this one. Past 22% is when the novel actually gets good, before this point you honestly might want to punch Ben and burn the book (or your Kindle). Ultimately, this book reminded me of the importance of doing what you want in the present, spending time with the ones you love, and being honest with who you are.
1. This is not really a Christmas novel. It's set during Christmas Eve/Day but that's really as much Christmas as you get
2. I cried, at least three times
How did a novel that was just about the main character, Ben, jumping through time to see whether he made a mistake getting with his current wife, make me feel so much, you might ask? Well, beyond being a love story, it's a story about a man finding himself (who he loves, who he wants to be, who influences him). Ben is at a point in his life where he is in an unsuccessful marriage, job, and personality. Ben keeps thinking "back in 2005 if I had kissed the other girl how would my life turn out?" It's a question some of us might be asking ourselves from time to time (not that specific), but we all have our list of "what-ifs". From this moment on Ben is thrown back in the past and forced to face the pivotal moments in his life that constituted his "what-ifs".
"What's the point of all this if I can't actually change anything?' I mutter. 'Nothing I do here even matters!"
'On the contrary,' the old man says. 'It matters very much. other people won't change as a result of all this, but you might.'
The parts that got to me were when he was talking to his mom. I, like the MC, have a single mother and an absentee father, so this book hit a little too close to home. The thought of losing my mom is one that I don't like to think often about because truthfully I don't know how I'll cope. Ben is thrown back into the past, and this absolutely broke me:
Mum had been the one constant in my life. She had always been there, and now, suddenly -inexplicable - she wasn't. She was my only real family. And she was gone.
I don't think that a "lighthearted" read is supposed to make you cry this much, but this book somehow hurt me in more ways than one.
The reason I'm giving this novel four stars is not because it made me cry (I have given five stars to sad books), but because Ben cheats on his wife. I'm personally against this. Although I admire his growth throughout the novel and loved when
I don't read too many modern novels set in 2020 with the current slang and pop culture, but I found myself drawn to this one. Past 22% is when the novel actually gets good, before this point you honestly might want to punch Ben and burn the book (or your Kindle). Ultimately, this book reminded me of the importance of doing what you want in the present, spending time with the ones you love, and being honest with who you are.
January 31, 2022
Ben está atrapado en una dinámica de pareja llena de discusiones, su vida es un asco y justo aparece una amiga del instituto con la que casi tuvo algo. Entonces, en la dicotomía de si eligió bien con qué chica estar, aparece un hombre que le regala un reloj muy especial.
Este libro ha sido una sorpresa. Lo cogí buscando una historia de mamarracheo romántico sin grandes aspiraciones y me he encontrado con un viaje retrospectivo estupendo.
La historia tiene más de lo que parece a simple vista. Mezcla escenas preciosas y llenas de magia con otras muy duras, que entramsdas crean la vida pasada de Ben.
Los personajes están bien desarrollados, la vida de Ben es una con la que resulta muy fácil identificarse y, a fin de cuentas, es una historia que remarca una sola idea: Nuestra vida son nuestras decisiones.
Lectura ágil, soft, pero con trasfondo. ❤
Este libro ha sido una sorpresa. Lo cogí buscando una historia de mamarracheo romántico sin grandes aspiraciones y me he encontrado con un viaje retrospectivo estupendo.
La historia tiene más de lo que parece a simple vista. Mezcla escenas preciosas y llenas de magia con otras muy duras, que entramsdas crean la vida pasada de Ben.
Los personajes están bien desarrollados, la vida de Ben es una con la que resulta muy fácil identificarse y, a fin de cuentas, es una historia que remarca una sola idea: Nuestra vida son nuestras decisiones.
Lectura ágil, soft, pero con trasfondo. ❤
December 23, 2021
It is not the quickest or easiest read but is so worth getting into. The best description is Christmas Carol meets Love Actually two of my favourite Christmas films and themes. I would say when Ben is going through the stages of past, present and future. The back story adds to the story regarding his mum's death. I feel for him. The possible future is my favourite, it would have terrified me as much as Ben. Least that one you can change by changing now. To me Daphne is one hundred of Alice. I do not like Alice and do not take to her. Daphne and Ben deserve the happiness together not alice. It ends well and in the festive spirit. This book earns it's place for fans of One Day, Me Before You, Love Actually and The Christmas Carol (The muppets version being my favourite).
October 7, 2020
Well this was a wonderful Christmas Carol retelling. If you like the many movie versions of A Christmas Carol that are out there or you like a Love actually style of Christmas film then this is going to be for you. I have to admit that going into this book I didn't know it was going to be set at Christmas time so if you're not in the mood for festive, don't worry it's not too in your face Christmas!
It's always interesting to have a romcom like this with a male lead and I like the fact that we can see a romcom written by a male author starring a male main character and still have all the wonderful romance and humour of what is normally deemed to be chick-lit. I really enjoyed getting to know Ben and all of the questionable choices he made throughout his life! He really doesn't have it all together but he is given a second chance to relive some of the moments in his life that are pivotal to where he is today!
There are a couple of love interests in Ben's life as well as his best friend and his family and most characters appear in every Christmas Ben relives. I loved getting to know the other characters particularly Ben's possible future wives. I will freely admit that I started off the book definitely siding with one woman in particular but then changes my tune towards the end of the story, and not just because one of them decides to criticise teaching as a life choice!
I'm not much one for magic in a novel but I totally believed Ben's time travelling and so if you think this one is going to be too 'unreal' for you, rest assured I was happy to jump from Christmas to Christmas with Ben and Co. I also really loved how much heart was in this book. We have some pretty sad moments throughout the novel mixed in with the humour and the romance and to me it really just felt like Tom Ellen got the balance right. Highly recommend.
It's always interesting to have a romcom like this with a male lead and I like the fact that we can see a romcom written by a male author starring a male main character and still have all the wonderful romance and humour of what is normally deemed to be chick-lit. I really enjoyed getting to know Ben and all of the questionable choices he made throughout his life! He really doesn't have it all together but he is given a second chance to relive some of the moments in his life that are pivotal to where he is today!
There are a couple of love interests in Ben's life as well as his best friend and his family and most characters appear in every Christmas Ben relives. I loved getting to know the other characters particularly Ben's possible future wives. I will freely admit that I started off the book definitely siding with one woman in particular but then changes my tune towards the end of the story, and not just because one of them decides to criticise teaching as a life choice!
I'm not much one for magic in a novel but I totally believed Ben's time travelling and so if you think this one is going to be too 'unreal' for you, rest assured I was happy to jump from Christmas to Christmas with Ben and Co. I also really loved how much heart was in this book. We have some pretty sad moments throughout the novel mixed in with the humour and the romance and to me it really just felt like Tom Ellen got the balance right. Highly recommend.
December 10, 2020
Wow, what a surprise delight this book was! I 100% bought this book for the cover and ended up really adoring this Dickens-esque style story of a man traveling through time to see his alternate realities. Was this a cheery, light Christmas novel? No. I loved the dark nature of the story though and really thought the author did a great job of putting forth the message that you are the decisions that you make.
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