Published by Macmillan Tor/ Forge Format: ARC, eBook
All our times have come
Here but now they’re gone
Seasons don’t fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain
We can be like they are
Come on, baby (don’t fear the reaper)
Baby, take my hand (don’t fear the reaper)
We’ll be able to fly (don’t fear the reaper)
Baby, I’m your man -Blue Öyster Cult
Wallace Price was a successful lawyer, who focused on work and not much else. Right from the get-go this book game me strong A Christmas Carol vibes. Imagine Wallace’s surprise when he is met by a Reaper at his funeral. Surprised, angry, appalled. This was not part of the plan. He can’t be dead – there is work to be done! But he is dead and he is soon taken to meet Hugo, a tea shop owner and ferryman who will help him to cross over….
“Life is wasted on the living.” – Douglas Adams
How do you let go? How do you say goodbye to your life? What happens when you realize that the life you lived was not the life you wanted to live. What happens when you die and realize that you never really lived?
When given a week to cross over, Wallace decides it is time to live a lifetime.
How can a book about dying be so full of life? As I mentioned this book gave me strong A Christmas Carol vibes and I enjoyed how Wallace transformed. In death, he opens up in ways he never did in life. He becomes vulnerable, decides to live, softens up, makes connections, and does some self-reflection.
I enjoyed the message of this book and although it reminded me of another book, this one had its own charm and appeal. This book is full of life and thought provoking. It brought a smile to my face while it entertained. I had not read The House in the Cerulean Sea but I will be getting my hands (eyes) on a copy soon!
Thought provoking, charming and moving.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.