Dr. Jonas Cullen has spent his career as a groundbreaking physicist defying the odds. But on the best night of his life—the night his wife, Amanda, tells him they’re finally having a baby—everything is taken away when a tragic car accident claims the lives of Amanda and their unborn child.
Gutted by pain, Jonas sets out to find a way to bring back Amanda—or rather, find a parallel universe in which she’s still alive. But that’s easier said than done. As Jonas comes to understand all too well, the universe favors certain outcomes…and Amanda’s death is one of them.
In Any Lifetime by Marc Guggenheim was published August 1, 2024. Lake Union Publishing provided an early galley for review.
Author Brad Meltzer mentioned his enjoyment of this new novel on social media, so I knew I had to check it out. The plot description was right up my alley, and I was familiar with Guggenheim's writing from television as well. Therefore, I was confident this would be a great ride.
The story bounces between "now" and flashbacks, the latter filling the reader in on how Jonas and Amanda's relationship developed as well as key moments relating to rising conflict. It is a method that works well in various forms of media (novels included). This allows Guggenheim to control the pacing with intense action followed by less stressful narrative releases that still move the story forward. The characters are interesting and likable which goes a long way to getting me invested in how the story will turn out.
As for the plot itself, it definitely kept me engaged. The concept of parallel universes is one I've enjoyed since childhood, so having that history made wrapping my head around the "science" here easy enough. The challenges that Jonas faces along the way as well as his actions to conquer them ring true. The themes of love, desperation, and revenge add to the story nicely.
I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone intrigued by the synopsis.
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