How We Got to Today by Ben Ellis
I enjoyed this quirky heartwarming romantic comedy by Ben Ellis. It has some literally laugh out loud moments thanks to the humorous dialogue but then some very tragic parts to the storyline as well, so this novel took me on an emotional rollercoaster, but an enjoyable one. The main character Sheridan has a good job as an optometrist, has a nice house and a wonderful girlfriend Heidi, the only problem is despite not having vision problems he can not see his own face. Sheridan does not know what he looks like as he can not see his face either in the mirror or in photographs. Despite this condition he has a good life and is happy with Heidi, until she unexpectedly dumps him and then disappears. Sheridan is not content to leave things like that and so sets out to find her and also ends up finding himself. I liked all the main characters, Sheridan and Heidi were both likeable and despite Sheridan’s problem they were also both relatable, and Sheridan’s best friend Mike was particularly funny. The storyline flowed well and it was an easy and enjoyable read, told from first Sheridan’s point of view and then from Heidi’s. Their romance was a slow burn relationship and made a lovely romantic story. The plot had enough going on in it to keep me happily turning the pages and I felt immersed in the novel. The characters stayed with me long after I had finished the book, I was particularly intrigued by Sheridan’s problem of not being able to see his own face had how this affected him. I was cheering the couple on hoping they would get their happy ever after. No Spoilers as I recommend the book as a great read. I am also new to the author but am pleased to have discovered him and look forward to reading other books by Ben Ellis.

I’d never heard of the author before but wanted a break from reading my usual horror / thriller / dark fiction and this sounded perfect. Not many people know but I am a total sap when it comes to love so I was really drawn to Sheridan and Heidi’s story. Of course I wanted them to be reunited, true love and all that jazz. I like the way the book is structured starting with the end of their relationship, moving back in time to show how things started to unravel and then moving to the present to see if Sheridan and Heidi get a happy ending. This is most heart-affirming, life-affirming book I’ve read in ages. I cried a lot and laughed a lot. What a beautiful story.

Unique and Gorgeous little romance.

I waa intrigued from the very beginning. How many times do you look in the mirror. Perhaps to check your lipstick? Maybe to check if you've got a spot? Or to check your face is clean And what about perfecting that selfie?

Sheridon can't do any of that because he cant see his face. And noone else knows.

He meets Heidi and a gentle romance develops. He is nurturing and kind but she leaves him, just dissapears from sight. He can't cope with that.

Becoming even more obsessed by the thought that shes left because its something about him, he tries everything to capture an image.

But is that why she left him or is there something wrong with Heidi, herself?

A lovely romance both sad yet gorgeous

I can’t even describe how wonderful this book is. There were times when I didn’t know wether I wanted to laugh or cry - it gives you all the emotions and spits you out the other side in wonder of it’s fabulousness.

How We Got to Today by Ben Ellis a five-star read that will open your eyes and finally let you see. This was not what I expected at all, it is definitely one that I would say to go in blind and I don’t mean that as a pun!! The only thing I will say is that if like me the beginning is a little slowly paced, keep reading as it gets so good!!! This novel isn’t a sprint but a marathon of great reading.

A gentle read where two ordinary people in an ordinary town find something special in one another until suddenly it all seems to unravel 'before Sheridan's eyes.' We then hear the story from Sheridan and then from Heidi. Sheridan is definitely more charming when shown to us from her perspective and I didn't really warm to him until that point. There is humour, largely provided by the friends of the pair; this really helps to give the book balance and add another level to our key characters. You do find yourself wanting the best for this pair even when it seems that they are sabotaging themselves.

So I was a bit unsure on this book, I was drawn to the synopsis of the book but I really struggled with the first part of the story, I found I just couldn’t “feel” Sheridan if that makes sense. I kept with it as I was drawn to know what happens, the second half with his girlfriends Heidi side of the story made me understand Sheridan and I found the love for the story, I’m so glad I stuck with it, A well thought book and a deserving 4 stars from me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Headline publishers for this gifted copy of How We Got to Today in exchange for an honest review.

Sheridan is an optometrist who can't see his own reflection. He's got it all - a great job, the perfect flat, and girlfriend. That is until Heidi unexpectedly dumps him and disappears. While searching for Heidi, Sheridan ends up finding himself.

The story is told from two POVs - Sheridan's and his ex girlfriend Heidi's. It begins with Sheridan's view, which started out really slow for me and not only was it slow, I found myself not understanding his character. The story from Heidi's POV is what really turned it around for me. After seeing it from a new view point, I began to see why Sheridan was the way he was and was able to empathize with him. All his actions began to make sense and I found myself rooting for him.

Sheridan is an optometrist (not an optician- he asks us to “look it up”- every pun intended). For some reason he is unable to see his face- it appears as a blur only to him. He can't see himself in pictures, photographs, sculptures- he has the lot and nothing but nothing works, it is only a blur. The love of his life Heidi has unexpectedly left him and no one appears to have heard anything from her so he is searching for her. The book is in two halves- Sheridans story and then Heidi’s story both told x days/months from today going to the present time when they finally meet again. I found myself laughing several times reading this (literally laughing out loud). Things like “Heidi- hi! Ho di ho”. The little things in life that make us smile. I liked Sheridan, there was just something about him. A relatively ordinary bloke with an unheard of issue that majorly affects his life and a missing girlfriend. A wonderful story that made me smile and a touching finish. Wonderful characters and a well written thought out plot.One to restore faith in human nature. Loved it.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.


Such a lovely book.

Sheridan, who doesn't know what he looks like. Oh no, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with his vision, at all. The problem is he's the only person in the world who can't see his own face.

But, even then, he has it all . A very good job as an optometrist, a lovely nice home, and even a wonderful girlfriend. That is until totally out of the blue, he’s dumped by Heidi.

Not only, has she broken his heart, but to make matters worse, she disappeared. So a distraught Sheridan starts to look for her, and by searching for her, he finds himself.

As I said, a lovely story about how those that are closest to us, know us better.

I really liked the storyline of this. I thought some aspects of the storyline could have been emphasised more such as his background and him communicating about his condition. I found the first half of the book quite difficult due to his persistent searching for her but found her bit really endearing. Overall I loved the ending and liked the storyline.