Author: Ellen Meister

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell’s Books): “Happily married with a young son and another child on the way, Quinn Braverman has the perfect life. She also has an ominous secret. Every time she makes a major life decision, she knows an alternative reality exists in which she made the opposite choice-not only that, she knows how to cross over. But even in her darkest moments – like her mother’s suicide – Quinn hasn’t been tempted to visit . . . until she receives shattering news about the baby she’s carrying.

Desperate to escape her grief, Quinn slips through the portal that leads to her other life: the life in which she stayed with her exciting but neurotic ex- boyfriend, and is childless. The life in which – as she is amazed to discover – her mother is still very much alive.

Quinn is soon forced to make an impossible choice. Will she stay with the family she loves and face the painful challenges that lie ahead? Or will a more carefree life-and the primal lure of being with her mother-pull her into her other life for good?”

Thoughts: Everyone reaches at least one crossroad in his or her life that requires a person to make a life-altering decision. More importantly, everyone, at one point in time or another, will wonder how different his or her life would be had a different decision been made. It may be fun to play along in a game of “what-ifs” occasionally, but does one truly want to be confronted with the actuality of this alternative path?

This is the question Quinn must battle as she faces yet another crossroad in her life. She has the misfortune of knowing where the portals to these alternative paths lie and can cross over if she wants to do so. When faced with yet another gut-wrenching decision, her current path becomes too much to bear, and the road not taken becomes more than just a temptation. Yet, the decision to do so is not without its price, as she rips open old wounds while avoiding moving forward on her current path. The reader is swept up in Quinn’s story as she battles to decide where her true path lies.

If anything, this book is more than just about the ability to confront the “what-if” path directly. It is about the strength and power of a mother’s love. Quinn is vulnerable because of her mother’s suicide, and the news about her pregnancy is what puts her over the edge. Yet, it is the love for her six-year-old son which keeps her grounded on her current path. As she faces difficult decisions about her past, present and future, her choices all revolve around the love she has for her mother, for her son, and for her unborn daughter. If anything, The Other Life is a testament to the bond between mother and child and how that bond truly never fades.

The Other Life is beautifully written, presenting Quinn’s agony with care and accuracy. Ms. Meister does a great job of showcasing the difficulties surrounding pregnancy issues and the void left when a family member commits suicide. Quinn is a heroine with whom many women can sympathize, as she struggles to balance her best interests with those of her family. She quickly becomes a character a reader can get behind and root on through all her battles. Best of all, The Other Life is a great reminder to be thankful for what one has and not on what one could have had because in the end, that is what counts the most.

Thank you to TLC Book Tour for the opportunity to review this novel!

For other thoughts on Ms. Meister’s novel, please check out the other stops on the tour:

Tuesday, February 15th: The Lost Entwife
Wednesday, February 16th: Rundpinne
Thursday, February 17th: Jenn’s Bookshelves
Monday, February 21st: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Friday, February 25th: Colloquium
Monday, February 28th: In the Next Room
Wednesday, March 2nd: Chefdruck Musings
Thursday, March 3rd: Savvy Verse & Wit
Friday, March 4th: Raging Bibliomania
Monday, March 7th: Stephanie’s Written Word
Wednesday, March 9th: Reviews from the Heart
Thursday, March 10th: BookNAround
Monday, March 14th: Teresa’s Reading Corner
Tuesday, March 15th: Debbie’s Book Bag
Tuesday, March 15th: Book Chatter
Wednesday, March 16th: The Book Faery Reviews
Thursday, March 17th: Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, March 18th: Tina’s Book Reviews

5 Comments

Michelle on March 18, 2011 at 2:33 AM

It's quite an interesting scenario and makes you consider those forks in the road a bit more than you did. If I found out my life was drastically different and I was hitting a rough patch on my current path, I can see the lure of wanting to switch.
Ms. Dawn on March 10, 2011 at 4:04 AM

I really, really want to read this book…I quite often have those "what if" kinda moments. I always make the same choices 'cause I'm not willing to sacrifice anything I have for anything else I might want…but…you know….what if…..
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Michelle on March 10, 2011 at 2:18 AM

Thanks, Heather! It was an excellent novel. Like you, I think I would choose my current life but when things get tough, I can see how the idea of changing paths would be enticing.
Michelle on March 9, 2011 at 2:23 AM

Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by!
@RobinSlick on March 8, 2011 at 12:59 PM

I am reading this book at the moment (almost done) and I just want to comment that your review is spot on and brilliant and I really enjoyed "sharing" your thoughts.