This Life Electric

by Adam Tie

"The Haven – a magical place with a kaleidoscopic crowd. A place to lose yourself in. A place to find what you’ve always been looking for."

Will, who desperately tried to outrun his past, still finds himself gripped by its long shadow. A chance encounter with Donny, the charismatic owner of The Haven, brings him back to Singapore to face the abandoned relationship and regrets he thought he had left far behind.

Will gets swept up in Donny’s mission to crack the mystery of why Instagram queen Caroline Yum has dropped off the grid without a word. Little does Will know that Caroline will come looking for him, spurred on by the enigmatic Lucien and the cheeky and spirited “Madam Mischief ”.

This Life Electric, a fun, layered and poignant novel about stepping out of one’s own head and into the noisy world, unfolds the choices made by the people of The Haven, the friendships they cherish and the changes each dare to make.

Welcome to The Haven. Come, step inside.

Genres: Fiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this was one of the last items on my Singapore bucket list. It was billed as a novel in the Fitzgerald-ian spirit, and I always love to read a novel set in Singapore, capturing the spirit and the zeitgeist of our times.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this as much as I expected to. Perhaps this reflects less on the writing than on my personal biases. Firstly the setting of fabulous parties thrown in a renovated shophouse seemed like out of a scene of Singapore Social or a fete at the Straits Clan, feeling utterly unrelatable, somewhat privileged, and out of touch with the masses. Give me a story like Gimme Lao about the every-man. I might have been fascinated by the co-living lifestyle 2-3 years ago, but have since outgrown it (or has covid temporarily changed me?). Secondly, in this semi-autobiographical novel, the narrator reminds me of a Haruki Murakami protagonist — where a seemingly average and quiet man (but sensitive softboi) somehow catches the attention of manic pixie dream girls and colourful characters. The plot reminded me more of Norwegian Wood than of Nick Carraway’s observations.

I found the characters somewhat one-dimensional and the plot disappointing, even if the writing was beautiful. I did enjoy the vignettes of Singapore — the feeling you get when your plane is touching down in Singapore and you look out at the city lights, eating ice kachang, sitting in a rooftop bar overlooking the city, or what should be Ah Sam's Old Drink Stall (which sent me down a rabbit hole on bars I should visit before leaving Singapore). Overall, it’s easier to write a book review that no one reads than to have a work of fiction published and featured in 3 different shelves in Kinokuniya. Kudos to Adam Tie.

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

to begin with, i didn't love this book as much as i thought i would when i first picked it up.

while some parts of the book were really well-written, there were instances where the lines felt downright cringeworthy (re: cheap puns such as "You're like an unsharpened pencil, Lucy; Do you have a point?" and editing errors in character names like ashley/ashely). in my opinion, none of the characters were particularly likeable (except maybe donny), and they all came across as a bunch of pretentious people from the way they spoke. also, will/zephyr's romantic arc felt really toxic and their resolution felt unconvincing and rushed (especially when she was revealed to be engaged in the end, despite stringing him along the entire time they got back ).

my favourite parts of the book were the vivid descriptions of local food, especially the 2-page spread on Will eating a bowl of ice kachang . without these, there is little else in the book that makes it distinctly Singaporean.

content aside, one thing that stood out to me was the design choices for this book - the cover was beautiful, and i really loved the paper quality (the pages really do have a premium, luxurious feel to them).

[Wei lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ill probably write a proper review in due time but let’s just say I needed tissues by the last 1/6 of the book

[Elisabeth Fong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like a magical experience. It was so much fun I read it in a day! Also would recommend reading this with the soundtrack, it really changed the way I read the book.

[Joey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 21%

[Sheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while, I try to borrow a local book written by a Singaporean writer. It's always nice to read about experiences that are culturally relatable and have characters which look, speak and act like you. I chanced upon This Life Electric at the library after being unable to find any of the 20 odd books on my to-read list (everyone's borrowing more under lockdown I guess) and thus decided to give local fiction a chance. This Life Electric follows Will, a twenty-something who returns to Singapore after a seven year stint in Melbourne that ended with him being let go from his social media management job that employed both his ex-girlfriend and the man he caught her sleeping with. Upon his return, his old friend (and heir to a chilli sauce empire) Donny invites him to stay at the Haven. The Haven is a personal project of Donny's. It's both a place where he throws spectacular parties and a house where he offers refuge to people he deems requiring a fresh start or some help. At the Haven, Will meets his new housemates Lucien, a graphic designer who recognises people's personalities as fonts, and Quinn, a lesbian photographer and female casanova. As the people of the Haven attempt to help solve Donny's latest project which is wondering why social media star Caroline Yum hasn't posted to Instagram in six months, Will's old life comes back to visit him in the form of Zephyr, a close friend of his whom he left seven years ago without saying goodbye to.

My initial impression of this book was that it was a millennial-centric version of Crazy Rich Asians. Almost everyone in the book was some kind of eccentric artistic type, spoilt second generation members of insanely wealthy families or socialites/influencers. Donny threw lavish parties at the Haven which attracted all these characters and did his best to both entertain his guests and fuel his own personal passions of helping others. Even the tragic death of some minor character is revealed to due to a climbing trip to Mount Everest, which is just wow, pretty detached from what most people would ever experience. Will acted as the straight guy in this book. He is painfully introverted and withdrawn with quirks like limiting himself to three drinks at every party but of course he somehow attracts the interest of Caroline Yum, the girl who flirted and paid everyone attention but never gave them more than that. Such a setting made me not want to like This Life Electric because I was never a fan of such stories about how the rich and elite live and it felt alienating as someone who would never enjoy such a lifestyle.

But appearances can be deceiving as this book touched on multiple times. Will's relationship with Zephyr, initially portrayed as an old friendship, is revealed to have been a will-they-won't-they soulmates type of relationship where Will ultimately broke Zephyr's heart when he left for Australia with his mother without saying goodbye to Zephyr nor replying to any of the letters she sends him over the course of his seven years there. They reconnect after Will unexpectedly meets her at an event that she organises for Caroline and they fall back into their usual chemistry, only for Will to work up the courage to kiss her and triggering the soul-crushing news that she is now engaged. All the flashback moments and feelings of regret that Will had over the way he left Singapore that were supposed to be exorcised by that kiss end up being amplified and it's such a cruel but realistic outcome. Meanwhile, Caroline's advances for Will and Instagram hiatus are simultaneously explained by the death of her boyfriend six months ago (Mount Everest guy) and everything on her profile just reminded her of him so much that it was too painful to go back on to the platform. Will reminded her of her late boyfriend which is why she liked him but she too recognises that he is in love with someone else. Caroline does get a happy ending of sorts though when she reconciles with her past with the help of Donny and Will and gets back to her Instagram influencer ways, a very millennial symbol of recovery.

I was honestly torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars but Will's monologue at the end about blowing his chance with Zephyr, Lucien's guilt at pulling the woman he loved away from her family (he destroyed their relationship so that she would leave him and return to her family who disapproved of him) and Will's unexpected phone call with his ex-girlfriend in Australia. The latter ended up painting his ex in a much more sympathetic light as she revealed that what she had thought was Will's understanding and acceptance of her flaws in their relationship was instead his complete nonchalance. No matter what she did to stir a reaction or some kind of concern/jealousy from him, Will always never cared. It culminated in her plan for Will to catch her cheating on him with their colleague but even then, all he showed was shock but not hurt. She also revealed an unexpected reason behind Will's three drink rule which was that after four drinks, all he would talk about was Zephyr.

Heartbreaking but hopeful, author Adam Tie has a style of writing which I really liked that felt poetic but never crossed over into tumblr/Rupi Kaur levels of excessiveness, This Life Electric is a great example of what local writers have to offer and what we should give a chance to. 4/5

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and sincere. A great add to the Singlit scene!

[Jolin (twentycharm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8 stars. This book took quite a few (good) unexpected turns for me. Though I had thought Will and Zephyr would get together in the end, it felt nice to see the representation of platonic soulmates. I loved Quinn’s and Caroline’s flirty nature and the LGBT representation made me happy. I also loved how we slowly got to see each character’s stories unfold because it was so satisfying finding out how their past shaped them. Personally, I think one of my biggest problems is assuming that people are either good or bad based on a few actions when in reality, we are all a bit of both. This was shown perfectly in the actions of the characters in This Life Electric. While it is easy to sympathise with William as he has familial trauma and is soft spoken due to it, he must still face the truth that he indirectly brought about the downfall of his relationship with Andrea. And though Lucien wanted the best for his ex girlfriend, he ended up lashing out at her (something I totally relate to) and depriving her of the freedom to choose for herself. As much as we want to believe our actions are politically correct (Lucien choosing his ex’s family over himself) they may still be selfish because who are we to decide for other people? In the end, Lucien had to let go of his ex and Will had to let go of Zephyr (romantically) too, because even though we have changed for the better there are still mistakes we cannot erase. Oh also just saying Lucien’s cai png analogy was the smartest thing I’ve ever heard solely because I use it too. I always tell my friends and family that waiting while ordering will make the cai png auntie give you more food because of the silence!!! Anyways that about sums up my thoughts for this book. I’m sad I can’t share it on Instagram because it’s too spoilery but there’s a lot I learned from this book LOL. Thanks again to Adam Tie for this wonderful read and I hope you all have a great day.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of emotions, yet not emotional; exciting, yet not too much excitement. This book made me feel seen and heard; I felt exposed by the author, who wrote from an introvert's point of view. I particularly enjoyed Will's snarky internal commentary. [Introverts definitely aren't quiet. Inside the mind, at least.] In him, I see many of my friends - hiding rather remarkable personalities and perspectives under a veneer of brooding silence. However, the character I felt most relatable was Donny, the well-liked and well-respected benevolent spider who spins his web, unearthing secrets, making connections, and providing a safe space for lost souls. I'm very sure that he has secrets of his own, and that in helping other people, maybe he feels that he is saved, too... In any case, if I had that kind of capability and opportunity, I would like to build my own Haven too.

Will's story exposes many aspects of Singaporean (and perhaps extends to Asian) cultural tendencies about 'face' and emotion suppression, and such larger societal issues as gender stereotypes, and being socially presentable and acceptable. All these were subtly woven into the narrative, and as I read, I felt relieved that someone has finally spoken up about these issues, which have created quite toxic experiences and a lot of hurt growing up, imho.

Overall, I enjoyed this read very much. It was delightful, insightful, unexpected, well-paced and well-written, and I'm really glad I decided to get it. Favourite quote: "We're introverts from the same typeface."

[Shelved by Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

a solid 4.5 honestly, probably a biased opinion considering i just broke up with my own boyfriend. this is one of the first books to make me cry because of how real the storyline depicts teenage love as. two people, once teenage lovers, reconnect from the past as adults—one having moved on with life and the other one still stuck in time. no matter what will does to get over zephyr, he can never let go of that tender ache in his heart and heal from it and still remains in love with her at the end of the book. meanwhile zephyr, after being dealt the blow of will’s unforeseen departure, heals and becomes happier slowly but surely and meets new people and eventually settles down. the whole idea of platonic soulmates is so well illustrated in this book and it stings because sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way it does, even if two people love each other deeply. i love the way adam paints his settings, likening it to fitzgerald is a bit of an extreme, but he does write in a beautifully enchanting way that sweeps you into this escapist world of his novel.

one thing i disliked though, was that he too could not break away from the manic dream pixie girl archetype, with zephyr being written as some quirky sunshine girl that brought light to will’s world, with will being the stereotypical, flavourless, bland male lead who falls head over heels with the bubbly quirky female lead. overall aside from this, there is plenty of representation in this book and each character all has their unique idiosyncrasies.

[Sharm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will finds his way back home to Singapore after a failed relationship. He bumps into an old friend, Donny, owner of The Haven. Donny welcomes Will into an electric lifestyle featuring vibrant & energetic souls. At one of the parties, Will meets top Singaporean influencer, Caroline who mysteriously fell off the grid without prior warning. Will digs into her real life story to unveil the truth.

Now here’s my take, Will is such a weakling for running away whenever conflict arises in his relationships (between his parents, with his ex-girlfriend etc). Yes those are traumatising events but even so, even with closure, he didn’t change for the better. He wanted what he couldn’t have. To me, despite him being the main character, he lacks colour in contrast to his peers. And although this is a singlit, written by a local author, this novel is not THAT Singaporean. The only thing ‘so Singaporean’ about it are the foods mentioned. I’m sorry but none of the characters nor setting helped me paint the same Singapore that I see. Will is overly babied by his mother :”) Maybe I’m too used to tiger mum figures but I couldn’t get used to that either. Sorry Will’s mum, your son, your child, your heartbroken egg, did not amaze me.

BUT for the good points, it’s an easy read for sure. If you don’t push too much on what you deem ‘so Singaporean’, you will be able to enjoy this mildly Singapore-inspired story about a man’s search for himself in his homeland.

[Airs · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason this book reads almost like an autobiography. Perhaps because the growth & development of the main character felt almost too real to be fiction, or perhaps simply because it resonated so much with myself. It's been awhile since I finished an entire book in just a few seatings. Can't wait to hear more from the author! I found myself laughing out and smirking at many a witty line, falling in love with the humanity of the main characters, and thinking this is the most idealistic yet realistic thing I've ever read. Helps that there's much local flavour that resonates (even if it's mostly of the hipster scene). Just go in to enjoy and be a little touched, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed :)

My only gripe is the nagging feeling that every media outlet nowadays seem to want to insert some lgbt aspect as though there's a cultural mandate that you have to ride on this bandwagon in order to be "current". I wonder even if those they're trying to depict would feel honoured by the mention, because the depiction is often so sexualised and narrow. That character felt most underdeveloped and caricatured, an awkward insertion that did not seem to quite fit in with the rest.

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall loved the entire reading experience, read the whole book in one straight sitting! 4.5/5

One thing that particularly stands out about this book is the beautiful vivid descriptions (especially of the throwback scenes) which allowed me to paint every scene out in my mind. It gave me both Crazy Rich Asians & Terrace House vibes. Also very relatable, given that it was depicted in Singapore. I found myself reminiscing over similar memories and feeling very nostalgic (something I have yet to experience when reading books by authors outside of Singapore).

Ending was bittersweet for me. I was led to root for Will and Zephyr as a couple and Zephyr's engagement felt especially abrupt, leaving me feeling very betrayed!! Nonetheless, the non fairytale ending was a realist take of how life sometimes works out. Appreciated that most characters got their respective closures from their individual struggles.

Also, I loved the aesthetics of the cover- especially the classic green bench in Singapore! Thank you Adam for the experience and look forward to more from you.

[bookishlyfina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A decadence beauty of tenderness. A masterpiece filled with beautiful and melancholic characters. Their hearts belong in a place that provides them a sense of safety making them a comical but wholesome bunch. It’s unique for a character to be named Zephyr, that literally means ‘a soft gentle breeze’ which is fitting for her personality throughout the book despite the chaos she faced. It is full of warmth, delicate and fond prose within dialogues & narration that speaks loud but has a touch of softness. There were detailed story behind every memory which makes the picture whole.

Although there are parts that doesn’t click but I understood the decision the character made. Especially in the ending, I was hoping badly that the relationship status of the MCs would change but was not as I expected. I guess that is how life and love sometimes goes..

"𝑴𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒕𝒐𝒐. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒕. 𝑺𝒐 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haven might be fictional, but you'll begin to wish it were real as you read on. The author brings you on an immersive experience that might pull at your heartstrings and bring tears to your eyes - I teared up a little, not gonna lie. Every page kept me mesmerized, pretty sure it'll keep you wanting to know more about what's going to happen to the protagonist next. Loved the character development and backstories, as well as all the quirky characters that fit right in like a cat fits into a cardboard box half it's size.

Pretty short read, about 248 pages. One could finish the book in 3-4 hours of undisturbed reading. (Trust me, when you start, you wouldn't want to be disturbed as well.)

In short, I really loved the book and would recommend it to anyone.

[Pollyann Ray]

It’s been a week since I finished the book.. and it’s been a week of trying to find the words to express how it made me feel.

The book was such a joy to read. It was like a story being told by an old friend who was reminiscent. The characters were familiar yet fantasy. The Haven - was a magical yet real place. I loved how realistic and relatable everything. How much of Singapore was in it. What absolutely stole my heart was how it ended - how the connection people had with each other. How relationships are phases in ones lives and some last longer than others... it’s the memories and the shares lived experiences that last forever. Thank you for writing this.

Since reading it, I passed it on to a friend as a birthday gift.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Life Electric was the first work of fiction I'd read in a while, and I honestly couldn't put it down - much like the Roald Dahl or Jodi Picoult novels I'd enjoyed in the past. Adam fleshes out his characters and locations vividly, cinematically and in great detail, making you feel like you're right there with them. The dialogue between the characters - which runs through the novel - is insightful, poignant and funny as well. I found myself rooting for Will, Zephyr, Lucien, Caroline and the rest of them. The only (tiny) gripe I have would be the spelling errors in the book - but I'd honestly gladly proofread (if ever given the opportunity) because the writing's that good. Thoroughly enjoyed it, looking forward to his next book already!

[Yu Jinyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

One metaphor that this novel uses is the local dessert: ice kachang. I guess for me, this novel was somewhat like ice kachang—some bits I quickly wanted to skip over because it made me feel uncomfortable and other chunks sent shivers because it kinda hit home. But I did enjoy it overall because even if I found some of the lifestyle settings and personalities somewhat intimidating/alarming, I could still relate to the human issues this novel addresses. One of the lines that stuck—“It doesn’t have to be romantic to be real.” I think I want to try the anthology of poems by this author next :)

[Daph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Life Electric is easily one of the most enjoyable read. Tie holds your hands into the storyline and from page 1, you’d get the feeling like you’re in for a good ride.
He intelligently injects humor throughout the book which makes everything all the more uplifting.

This book was captivating and engrossing. You’d wish you could read it undisturbed again and again. Right when you are absolutely immersed in the story, you’re down to the last page. Yearning for more.
In short, definitely a fantastic read and will recommend to anyone.
May I add, this one’s extremely quotable.

[Cryst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. It's been many years since I read a fiction but something about this book beckoned me to take the plunge. Never regretted my choice. Adam has a magical way of expressing how the characters think, feel and interact. I felt in tune with the characters and it was as though I was having a special preview of their inner monologue. Every emotion hit deeply. Highly recommended to anyone looking for their safe haven (:

[Vespergreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite a promising debut with a touch of The Great Gatsby influence but its writing does seem hollow and juvenile at times. I find myself often wishing there was more depth to the pretty prose. However I did appreciate the bits about the ice kacang and cai png and wished there were more of such anecdotes.

[Adeline Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly transported to the world of William, Donny and Zephyr while reading This Life Electric. The vivid details and character soliloquies make it a fun read(and ride) and provide an immersive experience, just how a good novel should!

[Candice Teo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Adam writes in so much essence of each character.
Each character is very distinctive and full of soul.
They feel alive somewhat.
I love Adam includes local elements eg. Culture into the content which makes it Singaporean.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solace and magic - this read made me laugh, cry and feel things I haven’t felt in awhile. It’s good storytelling, relatable and deep all at the same time. Could not put it down. Sparked my interest in fiction again. Definitely worth a read and re-reads.

[Jeng Suan Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read from a Singaporean! Liked the tinges of Singaporean flavours!
The story was slightly confusing initially but once you find yourself settled into The Haven yourself, the story takes you on a journey!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read, each character was beautifully fleshed out and there was a certain nostalgia being evoked whenever i read it. definitely would recommend, an interesting book that more people should read!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought a hard copy in Singapore after falling in love with the city and craving to read some fiction set there. A charming read of parties, old friends and love with a very introverted protagonist. Got me back into reading after a hiatus!

[Aaron Aik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Electrifying yet relatable, hits the right chords with every single page you turn.

[Guardian Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cute novel that described relationships and distinct characters.
I loved the light heartedness of it.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off rocky but I was soon immersed in the storyline and I think it ended well. Witty and heartwarming, kudos to Adam Tie for a job well done for his debut novel!