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!!
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