How is anyone supposed to survive after that death of a child? That’s the driving question of Once Again, Catherine Wallace Hope’s debut novel. The story begins with devastated couple Erin and Zac Fullerton reaching a macabre milestone—500 days since their daughter Korrie’s death at the hands of a killer. While Zac is coping as best he can and has gone back to work, Erin has essentially shut down. Shortly, however, she’s given a reason to re-engage with the world.

Zac doesn’t have an average job. He’s an astrophysicist focused on the study of time, and even proposed to Erin using a diamond he referred to as a “time crystal.” Though Erin reaches out to him, and wants to spend the 500th day together, he refuses—this is a day at work Zac can’t possibly skip. He has discovered both a black hole and a white hole, and a time distortion event unlike any other is slated to occur.

Erin has the time crystal, and when time begins to shift, she finds herself reliving the day her daughter died in seemingly random bursts that may just give her a second chance to save Korrie’s life.

Though Wallace Hope’s thriller story leans toward science fiction, the human emotion in the tale is very real. Erin and Zac’s grief is fresh, raw, and believable, twisting them into people they never thought they’d be. Zac doesn’t get much time at all in on the action; he exists largely to explain the concepts happening behind the scenes. He serves more as a grounding element for the chaotic Erin, a stable base as she goes from empty shell to active participant in her own life. This time, she makes different choices. This time, if she fights hard enough, she might be able to change Korrie’s fate. Watching her change is the strongest and most moving part of the book.

Less satisfying is the time mechanism itself. Though it is explained enough to be internally believable, it takes gravity away from those emotions when there’s a reset button that can be pressed. Erin overcomes many hardships in her efforts to reach her goal, but that character development doesn’t end up having much of an effect by the end of the story. The resolution achieved doesn’t quite feel earned. Given that, I’m not sure that the book’s driving question is ever absolutely answered.

This book has gorgeous prose and an excellent balance of multiple narrators. It doesn’t glorify grief, and neither does it glorify the serial killer who took Korrie’s life. Though the scientific aspects are thoroughly explained, they aren’t distracting and remain accessible to the general reader. At heart, this is a good story, well told that establishes Wallace Hope as an author to definitely watch in the future.

What an interesting thriller! I went into this blind, which I think I would recommend. It’s an interesting genre mashup of thriller and science fiction, centered around a child abduction and time-space changes. It was paced well and definitely had me interested to keep reading. I don’t think this is something I would have picked up if I had done too much research on it beforehand, but I’m glad I read it! Definitely recommend for readers looking for a change in pace from typical thrillers. Should be noted that there are some hard to stomach scenes/descriptions of child abuse/abduction. Thank you to the publisher for my galley!

Totally gripping - it was one of those rare books that keep me up past my bedtime.

Erin Fullarton's 6-year-old daughter Korrie died 500 days ago, and she's never been able to move on. She's estranged from her husband, a physicist working on a simulator which is going to represent something to do with time. And somehow, because of the diamond in her engagement ring, what he is doing in his lab is affecting what's happening to Erin. Time is shifting for her, and she's being given the opportunity to go back to the day her daughter died, and change things.

I will admit now that I really didn't understand the science behind this. There are some quite long explanations of how the simulator works and what it's representing, but it went totally over my head. And I'm still not sure exactly what was going on.

Despite that, I found this novel tense and absorbing. The characters are well drawn and 3-dimensional and I felt the emotion of the various situations right along with them.

I'd recommend this for fans of Rachel Herron - realistic emotional novels about love and family. I suppose it's technically in the science fiction genre, but despite all the time bending it's rooted enough in reality to be a thriller. Very enjoyable and I'd love to read more of her work.

I asked for this book from NetGalley because of the sci-fi-esque concept of a mother getting a second chance to save her young daughter, who was killed. It wasn't until I began reading it and other reviews of the book that I realized that it also has thriller-like aspects, in that the story is even told, at one point, from the perspective of the person who abducted and killed Erin's daughter. For some reason, I'm triggered by stories like this, even though I have no history of abuse and two very-much-alive kids. I'm still traumatized by a made-for-tv movie I saw more than 10 years ago starring Sally Field and Keifer Sutherland, in which Keifer plays a sadistic serial killer and Sally the mother of one of his victims. I had to leave the theater right in the middle if the movie The Shack because the story of the murdered daughter and her grief-racked parent was too much for me; I sobbed all the way home. So if stories like that trigger you, don't read this book.

However, if you enjoy absorbing stories, you'll enjoy this one. It is, at its heart, a suspenseful contemporary-genre book best understood by mothers or fathers and all those who like good writing.

Okay, I tried as hard as possible to keep an open mind with this book but there was only so much I could take.

The premise is interesting at first, but the physics aspects of the book and the time travel etc is full on. And this is coming from a PhD student. Not tooting my own horn, just saying it's something I probably could understand on at least a basic level.

It wasn't. I was so confused about who was where and when. And WHY. It's just A LOT. But I pushed through for the sake of giving it a chance and then (SPOILERS) there's a chapter from the POV of the child's kidnapper and he thinks some AWFUL thoughts. Just disgusting things. I understand why it was there but it just wasn't necessary. And nobody wants to think those things. It was just cringe after cringe during that chapter and it actually made me feel ill.

I thought the jumping of the timelines and the concept of the time travel was extremely incoherent and difficult to follow.

DNF

Kudos to Catherine Wallace Hope for writing the most unique and creative book this year! I feel like everything has been so repetitive lately and Once Again was not. I liked this novel, for the most part, specifically Erin's chapters. But Zac's chapters just seemed to never end and really affected my overall feelings about the book. I understand that the scientific stuff was important in regard to the overall plot, but it was so detailed that it became tedious to read.

Besides Zac's chapters, this was an entertaining and action-packed read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

Thank you to Alcove Press for providing me with an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

Erin Fullarton continues to grieve the death of her six-year-old daughter Korrie. Erin and her husband, Zac have handle their grieve in entirely different ways. While he has thrown himself into his work as an astrophysicist, she finds it hard to stop looking at the past. At the urging of her therapist's, this story begins with her marking the 500th day since Korrie's passing. While she wishes Zac could be with her to mark the occasion, he cannot as he is working on something very important. When Erin receives the same phone call from Korrie's school as she did on that fateful day, she realizes she has gone back in time. This is the story of one mother's attempt keep the past from repeating itself.

To be a hundred percent honest, I struggled to get through this book. While the story is jammed pack with action, and the concept of blending different genres is great, I found the alternating time periods hard to follow. Not only that, but the scientific aspect of this book was very in depth, and while integral to the story, I felt it was a bit too technical. There were also a few side stories and points of view I didn't find served a purpose in this story. I do give Catherine Wallace Hope huge credit for writing a very creative and imaginative debut novel.

When I originally picked up Once Again I wasn't aware the story would centre around the time travel aspect, and I continually struggle with these books. However, if you love imaginative fiction, stories centering on time travel, and/or science-fiction than pick this one up, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this debut novel.

Content Warnings: death, grief, child loss, child abduction, murder, drug use, mention of overdose, mention of rape and child molestation

What a creative and inventive debut novel!
I was immediately pulled into the story and could not stop turning pages to find out what would happen.
Erin Fullarton is devastated by the death of her young daughter Korrie.
Her therapist suggest she mark the milestones, today is her 500th day without Korrie.
Zac, her estranged husband handles his grief by burying himself in his work. An astrophysicist with an important experimental event that keeps him out of touch the entire day.
When Erin receives the same phone call from her daughter's school that she got the day Korrie died, she understands that something strange is happening. Time seems to be shifting, giving her a chance to go back and save her daughter.
This sci-fi, time travel mystery was captivating and heartbreaking. Full of action and twists.
The characters were realistic and engaging.
I didn't understand all the science, but it didn't detract from the story.
A very extraordinary and emotional read.
Thank you Alcove Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Know in advance that this emotional novel includes a healthy dose of physics. That's not a negative because it's integral to the story of Erin, who has been mourning the death of her daughter Korrie for 500 days. Her husband Zac isn't coping either but he's thrown himself into his work as an astrophysicist. A phone call asking Erin to come to Korrie's school not only shocks Erin, it sets in motion a quest in what could be described as an alternate reality. It's a dual time line novel, which works. If the science gets too much (and really, it's not overwhelming), focus on Erin's love for her child, Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Although I am a fan of realistic fiction, I am always drawn to alternate realities or time travel. ALso vampires but that has no bearing on this book LOL

I was immediately drawn to this story which centered around one moms attempt to save the daughter she lost 500 days ago.

This was an entertaining read and I enjoyed the chapters focused on Erin and her quest to save her child. I could feel her desperation and despair. I thought the chapters centered around astrophysics were too technical and scientific for my taste and would have preferred a more "dumbed down" version but I appreciate the author's attempt at covering the complex subject.

Overall a great debut and I will read more by this author.

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars.

This was a fast-paced story that I couldn't put down once I started. There are several interesting elements to the story:

Zac - the dad and scientist, who is working in an astrophysics lab and making a huge discovery which results in some sort of time shifting in the universe. His chapters were mostly about science and it was dense/hard to understand what was going on. I didn't worry too much, just read what I could understand and didn't stress too much about the details. I did feel like we didn't get to know Zac as much as I wish I could have but he's not the focal point. He's just an instrument that makes the plot possible.

Erin - the mom whose daughter is abducted 500 days ago and she's really the main character of the story as time shifts she gets another chance at rescuing her daughter and goes to heroic ends to make that possible. As a mom, I could relate the most to her, of course. And she's the reason I kept reading and reading.

there are a few minor characters: a police officer (whose chapters didn't really feel like they served a major purpose,) the abductor (did not enjoy reading these of course,) and then a few other scientists, some characters at school etc. but none of them got their own chapter.

The story is go-go-go the whole time (except during the science chapters) and it just didn't seem possible for me to put it down. I don't know that I will remember the book forever and I did think it has a lot of flaws. I tend to love character stories and this was decidedly a plot story but i still couldn't put it down.

with gratitude to netgalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Fullarton is doing her best just to survive day-to-day. Eighteen months earlier, her only child, 6-year-old Korrie was killed, and Erin has struggled ever since to move forward. Her marriage is in a shambles, with her husband recently moving out to give her the time and space she needs to recover. As she tries to gird herself to face this, the 500th day since Korrie’s death, Erin receives a phone call from Korrie’s school, saying that Korrie has a fever and will Erin please come pick her up. Erin soon realizes she’s shifting back and forth between present time and 500 days ago, “The Day Of”. In a race against time, Erin strives to see if she can change the events of that fateful day.

A wild ride full of “what if’s” and quantum physics, I was completely engaged as I rushed to the end in just two evenings after work. One finds it hard to believe this is Ms. Hope’s first novel. Bravo!

#OnceAgain #CatherineWallaceHope #AlcovePress #NetGalley

Thank you to @netgalley and @alcovepress for the eARC of Once Again by Catherine Wallace Hope in exchange for an honest review.

Once Again is a debut novel by Catherine Wallace Hope. Zac and Erin are married and have a daughter; Korrie. Zac works in the field of physics at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado. Zac is experimenting with time travel. A year ago, Zac and Erin’s daughter; Korrie, was taken from an elementary school she attended and was found dead. Erin is having a very difficult time dealing with the loss of her daughter. So much so, people think she is losing her mind. In present day, Erin starts noticing changes in time. The years start to come and go. Is she imagining this? Is she really losing her mind? She soon decides that she is is not and starts to make plans to save her daughter when the time changes back to the day she was taken in hope to reunite with her daughter and change the course of their lives.

The chapters of this book alternate between Zac at his work and Ellie as she plans to save her daughter. I found the chapters that focused on Zac were somewhat technical and difficult to understand as a reader. For fans of science fiction; you may like them. I found the chapters that focused on Ellie to be suspenseful and engaging.

So how does this all end? Will Ellie save her daughter? You’re going to have to read to find out! Overall, I give this book a 3.5 star rating. Once Again will be out on October 6, 2020.

Once Again follows dedicated mother Erin as she (literally) relives the day of her six year old daughter's abduction. Meanwhile, her astrophysicist husband Zac seems to have unlocked a mystery that will change the very fabric of time as we know it.

To be quite honest, I really struggled with this book. The concept was really interesting and blended two genres (sci-fi and contemporary women's fiction/family thriller?) that I haven't seen other authors attempt, so points for originality there. However, I thought the science was too dense (I am finishing a biology PhD soon - not bragging, but since I saw the science issue mentioned in other reviews I want to illustrate that even for someone with a lot of science training and likes sci-fi, the writing doesn't quite land here). I was never sure if Zac and co. were supposed to be causing the scientific event or merely observing it. Catherine Wallace Hope does a good job capturing the difficulty that scientists can face with difficult supervisors and when trying to balance research and family though, so it was evident that she researched these topics. The minor story arc with the law enforcement investigator didn't seem necessary at all and distracted from the most interesting part of the story, which was Erin and her daughter. The book is a few months out from publication though, and if they rethink a few of these items before the final release it has the makings of a cool, original novel.

Note: I received a free ebook copy of Once Again from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fast paced novel that I couldn’t put down. Iclov d the idea of this book and the parallel between what was happening to Erin in line with sacs work. Erins story was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the comparison of the days between the two main characters but I would have liked a little less science and more description of what the science meant in reality. Having said this I would recommend this as a good read

Reading this book is like watching one of those action movies that make you sit on the edge of your chair. At least, while reading the parts that are written from Erins perspective. The parts about Zac and his work were a bit too “scientific” for my taste.
However, I liked the concept and the author’s style of writing and would read more from Hope.