This is an odd one. An interesting premise - it tells the story of a man's life after he has died, where the afterlife requires that he reviews everything that happened to him and learn the overriding lesson of his life. It ought to have been an emotional and moving journey, but somehow it didn't quite hit the right notes.

The author adds what should have been an unnecessary level of conflict, in that Terrance has to get the lesson of his life right or his soul will cease to exist. A condition that apparently he himself insisted on before leaving the afterlife to start his life as Terrance. But rather than ramping up the tension, it falls completely flat. Because we have no idea who Terrance was before he was Terrance, so we don't really understand the reasoning behind that decision. Which means it comes across as a gimmicky way to make the story feel more urgent.

The sad thing is, it really didn't need it. If there had been more emotion in the storytelling, it could have been engaging and involving without the looming threat device. But overall, the characters weren't drawn strongly enough to make you care about them, there wasn't enough detail about the life events, and everything felt surface level, rushed. I think it's the problem with trying to detail a whole life in a short book - and worse, because it's not just Terrance's life, but snippets from the lives of other people around him - there just isn't enough space to get into the relationships and experiences in the level of depth required to make the reader really engage deeply with them.

Not terrible, by any means, and some interesting, imaginative ideas, but while the premise has promise, the execution lets it down.

2.5 stars

I received a copy for review via Netgalley.

This is a wonderful book. It touches you and makes you contemplate the meaning of your own life. I found it moving and well written. I would reccomend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

This is excellent and pulls you in quite naturally and feels personal, emotional, and a bit inspirational. I suspect it will stick with readers for a long time. Highly recommended.

I really appreciate the copy for review!