I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

All the Perfect Days captured my attention from the first page. Author Michael Thompson has a gift for conceiving a unique human condition and then weaving an intriguing story around this. His characters are endearing and I found myself concerned over how they would fare under their difficult circumstances. The author has once again crafted a great story that is infused with a sense of morality and optimism. All the Perfect Days was a joy to read!

Carolyn K
Texas

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I’ve read other books with a similar trope and have enjoyed them. Working in healthcare all my life, I know that delivering difficult news to families is such a big part of what doctors have to do. But, does knowing the exact timeline of someone’s passing make it easier? This book was slow in many places and also not much of a romance as was slated. It was still a thought provoking book that left me thinking about it while not reading it. For me, I would NOT want to know. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This one was an emotional, quietly powerful read that really snuck up on me. Dr. Charlie Knight is just coasting through life in his small hometown, until he suddenly develops the ability to sense exactly how many days his patients have left to live. What starts as a surreal twist quickly turns into a deeply human story about love, loss, and what we’d do with the time we have left.

Michael Thompson weaves magical realism and heartfelt emotion beautifully here. The premise is unique, but it’s the relationships, especially Charlie’s ties to his patients, his family, and the woman he’s never quite stopped loving that give the book its real depth. It had me smiling, tearing up, and reflecting on how we connect with the people around us.

It’s a slower burn, so if you’re looking for a fast-paced plot, this might not be it but if you enjoy thoughtful, emotionally layered stories with a touch of magic, it’s a lovely ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This beautifully written novel blends two of my favorite tropes—magical realism and second chance romance—into a thoughtful, heart-tugging story about time, love, and what really matters.

Charlie Knight is a small-town doctor living a life of routine—same streets, same patients, same Friday night tennis games. But when he starts seeing the number of days people have left to live, his world shifts. What begins as a strange, almost hopeful gift quickly turns into a burden—especially when Genevieve, the woman he never quite got over, returns to town.

This book is emotional in the best way. The magical realism is subtle but powerful, giving the story a touch of the surreal while staying grounded in the deeply human. Charlie’s struggle to balance the weight of what he knows with his desire to fix things—both for others and himself—makes for a compelling internal journey. The romance is gentle, aching, and full of that bittersweet “what if” energy I love in a second chance story.

It’s a quieter novel, more reflective than fast-paced, but that suits the themes perfectly. Thompson explores love, regret, mortality, and hope with care and nuance.

✨ If you’re drawn to stories that ask big questions, stir your emotions, and make you think about the time we’re given—All the Perfect Days is a must-read.

What would you do if you knew how many days someone you know has left to live? That is what Charlie Knight is faced with.

A thought provoking read for me. It left me wondering what I would do if I were in his shoes.
I really loved that. It's great when a book leaves you pondering long after you are done reading.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Author and publisher for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts.

I haven’t read any magical realism stories since teaching the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende in Spanish literature classes. In ALL THE PERFECT DAYS, Michael Thompson presents an intriguing premise: what if a doctor could see exactly how many days his patients have left to live? This book is well-written, with a plot that keeps even a casual reader engaged in the story; but an audience who is more deeply invested in underlying themes, will be fascinated by Charlie’s ethical, logical, and moral dilemma. Is it wise to ALWAYS tell a patient the truth? Should Doctor Charlie intercede? Can the mind and hand of man prevent any of us from living beyond our expiration dates? I can’t think about that anymore…

But I have to! This book is so thought-provoking that the ideas and concepts in ALL THE PERFECT DAYS keep rolling around in my mind days after I finished reading the story. This novel would make an excellent book club selection with so many springboards for discussion.
The writing is flawless—clear and concise, with deeply meaningful sentences that call to be read again. Woven into the narrative is a subtle call for each of us to live life to the fullest.

“The end is already set. But the days before that are still in play.”

What would you do if you were Dr. Charlie Knight and could know when a patient will die? This is a poignant tale of a small town doctor who bears a heavy burden. It's not depressing but rather thoughtful as Charlie deals with each of his neighbors and friends and what he knows. And there's a whiff of romance (no spoilers). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A different sort of novel and one I enjoyed.

🎧 Audiobook +📗 E-book: All the Perfect Days-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Michael Thompson-a new to me author

📃Page Count: 352

📅Publication date: 5/21/25 | Read: 5/20/25

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 8:47

🌎 Setting: Marwick

👆🏾POV: 3rd person, single

Genre: Adult Fic, Fantasy, Romance

Tropes: small town, magical realism, 2nd chance romance

⚠️TW: death, car accident

🗣️Narrator: Ryan Ennis voices all the characters with standouts from Charlie and Gen. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.


Summary: Charlie has decided to start again by leaving his small town of Marwick as a family doctor to Emergency Medicine in London. While with a patient he experiences his first vision and senses how many days his patients have left to live.


👨🏾 Hero: Dr. Charles "Charlie" Knight-38, family doctor in a small town.

🎭 Side Characters:

*Edna Bradley-84 yr old patient, a beloved retired teacher who sets off Charlie's abilities
*Genevieve "Gen" Longstaff-returns to town after 7 years away. Has epilepsy, Charlie's neighbor
*Lorraine + Malcolm Knight-Charlie's mother-estranged from Charlie and his father is a realtor
*MaryAnne Steiner-38, Charlie's boss

🤔 My Thoughts: This was a little boring because it was a slice of life featuring Charlie's interactions with the townspeople. He took on the responsibility to keep his patients alive and felt like he was playing god.

*Rating: 3/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, Tantor Audio, and Michael Thompson for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

In my opinion, this could have been an amazing book.

The premise is interesting and unique: a doctor who experiences 'visions' and is able to know exactly how many days a person has left to live. The moral question then becomes: what does one do with this information?

Unfortunately for me, this was a lackluster follow through on this interesting premise. There was also a teaser of a second chance romance, 'the one that got away', however that was also quite lackluster in execution.

I feel this book will do well in book clubs as it would be excellent to discuss the idea of what one would do with the gift (or curse) that Charlie now has.

What would you do if you knew when people were going to die would you tell them? That’s exactly what happens to Charlie, a doctor who starts to see the amount of years people have left. When his old love comes back to town just as he was about to move away Charlie is faced with some difficult choices. Faced with a lot of guilt over things out of control, Charlie has to figure out how to navigate his life and what he really wants.

This book had an interesting premise that was unique and enjoyable to read. At times it felt a bit slow but not in a way that took away from the story. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved Thompson’s previous novel, How to Be Remembered, so I had high hopes for All the Perfect Days. I was not disappointed. In All the Perfect Days, Charlie Knight is a doctor who’s ready to make a change, when life suddenly throws him a curveball. His routine is profoundly shaken up when he starts seeing visions that reveal to him exactly how many days his patients have left to live. It’s an unsettling ability, to put it mildly, and comes with a lot of responsibility and some unexpected fallout.

All the Perfect Days is thoughtful, hopeful, poignant, and has a touch of romance. I loved it and couldn’t put it down once I started.

Ryan Ennis does an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Michael Thompson, Sourcebooks Landmark, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This had an interesting premise where a small town English family doctor is given the gift of being able to know how many days his patients have left. While at first he thinks this will help his patients, certain effects throw him into despair. Touted as a romance (which I would argue with) this gave me more of a James Herriot vibe as the focus is more on Charlie's relationships with his patients and father. Good on audio, I liked it but definitely wouldn't recommend as a romance. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

What a fascinating take on the age old question, "If you knew when people were going to die would you tell them? Would you try to stop it? What would you do?". I enjoyed how Thompson showed us different outcomes to this question. You grow to care about the characters with just the right amount of backstory. My only complaint would be I wish Thompson leaned into the romance aspect a touch more.

All The Perfect Days by Michael Thompson ran the gamut of emotions in each page. It's not my usual read but I am so glad I picked this ARC from Netgalley because the whole experience was fascinating. It had a Final Destination type of vibe but I also loved how the author dove deep into Charlie, the main protagonist. His dreams, fears, passion and regrets form the story. There is a happily ever after with an important romantic element so technically you can call it a romance but for me it was more of a fiction with some paranormal element.

Charlie is stuck in his home town as a general practitioner for last seven years. He left his job as emergency doctor on his mother's request but circumstances tied him here..till now. He is leaving for a new job in London but just before that he starts having strange visions while seeing his patients. At the end of the vision, a number appears. And slowly he realises that this is the number of days left for the person. It becomes a boon and a curse at the same time. His ex Genevieve moves back to the neighboring house and he is torn. So begins a messy and chaotic joinery where his past and present collide. I would say the author tied up the ends pretty well at the end and it was a happy ending for all.

The story is told from Charlie's POV. Being a doctor myself, his dilemma with his suddenly acquired skill resonated with me. He is such a nice guy. Too nice. Always helping. Always caring. Always going the extra mile to help others. That's why the numbers were taking a heavy toll on him. He had a lot going on in his personal life as well. The mother who asked him to come here all those years ago, no longer has a relationship with him after some really unfortunate circumstances. He has a lot of guilt and self hatred and grief those never got dealt with properly. Gen and his break up wasn't just a simple one. It was full of heartbreak and trauma. And he still loves her but he is afraid to take the second chance considering the special power and his uncertain future. I felt his pain and struggle deep in my heart and I am really happy he decided to face his demons directly at last. This plot has a feeling of thrill and doom because Charlie was chasing and avoiding death at the same time. But the ending was beautiful. After an emotional journey, you will find peace and healing. The small town with the vast cast of people and their colorful personalities forms a beautiful setting for the story.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

4.5 stars.

All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson is a wonderful novel with a magical storyline and fantastic characters.

Dr. Charlie Knight is ready to leave his small hometown to find his “spectacular”. With plans already in place, he is waiting for the right moment to tell his family, friends, and patients. But Charlie suddenly has an unexpected ability to know how many days people he treats have left to live. Initially, he believes this newfound information is a gift but he soon changes his mind when tragedy strikes.

Charlie is a wonderful person. He is kind-hearted, thoughtful, and giving. He has a fabulous relationship with his gregarious father, Malcolm. But his relationship with mother Lorraine has been fraught for several years.

Another change in Charlie’s life occurs right around the same time he knows when people will die. The former love of his life, Gen Longstaff returns to town after living the dream they planned together. Now Charlie has reservations about leaving, but will his feelings for Gen change his plans?

All the Perfect Days is an engrossing novel with an enchanting storyline. The side characters are well developed and likable. The small town is lifelike with endearing residents. The storyline is charming and takes unexpected twists and turns. Michael Thompson brings this delightful novel to a bittersweet yet uplifting conclusion.

Poignant. Profound. Insightful. Magical...

"All the Perfect Days" is a book I was attracted to by the cover first, and the synopsis second, but after a few chapters, I thought I may have made a mistake. I carried on with the mindset of it being a respite read and immediately felt better. Then something extraordinary happened:

I connected with Dr. Charlie Knight...

Charlie is the main character and anchor of this story. He is a family doctor - the kind of GP who genuinely cares about and talks to his patients. He is observant, accessible, and empathetic, sometimes to a fault. He has a few teeny tiny issues, some of which are his own making, while others are entirely out of his control. He is why I continued to read this story; I understood his dilemma, what makes him tick. I was rooting for Charlie all the way.

An immersion read, the audiobook was narrated by Ryan Ennis, who recounts the story with enthusiasm and energy, and whose gender voicing skills are pretty remarkable. Listening to the audiobook is my preferred format for the full enjoyment of this book. I fell in love with Ennis' voice!

"All the Perfect Days" has a quaint small-town setting, developing family dynamics, possibilities of second chance romance, memorable characters, and an engaging premise, all mixed in with a bit of magic, and the more I read, the more satisfied I became. A perfect in-between-book, a palate cleanser, if you will, when you crave a break from all the heavy reads you love so much!

4⭐

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Tantor Audio, and Michael Thompson for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

DNF at 22%.

I had tried a few separate times to read this book, and unfortunately, it just isn’t the book for me. Charlie is a medical doctor who also can see how much life an individual has left to live. I think the premise of this story is intriguing, which is why I kept coming back to it and trying to read it. I didn’t really feel connected to Charlie. Further, there was a car accident described in a lot of detail, which was hard for me to read about. I kept trying to get back to the story, but ultimately am deciding to put this one aside.

Pensive, heartwarming, and hopeful!

All the Perfect Days is a charming, captivating tale that takes you into the life of Charlie Knight, a young doctor who after years of doing the same thing in the same town finally decides it’s time to move on until he’s suddenly struck with the ability to see the number of days a person has left to live, and the love of his life, the one he let get away all those years ago, returns home.

The prose is fluid and smooth. The characters are troubled, complex, and genuine. And the plot is an absorbing tale of life, loss, love, family, guilt, grief, friendship, forgiveness, compassion, support, community, and romance all interwoven with a thread of magical realism.

Overall, All the Perfect Days is a compelling, emotional, thought-provoking novel by Thompson that reminds us that even the little choices we make often have far-reaching consequences, and sometimes, perhaps, things are truly just fated to happen.

Charlie Knight is a family physician adored by his patients. He’s empathetic, compassionate, and skilled. Having grown up in the community where he practices, Charlie knows his patients. He knows their families, their personalities, and their histories. Now, in an unexplainable twist, he also knows how many days they will live.

Charlie’s new ability is both a blessing and a curse, and poses an ethical dilemma. What exactly is Charlie supposed to do with this knowledge?

It’s no surprise that I devoured this book. A big fan of Nikki Erlick’s THE MEASURE and Michael Thompson’s first book, HOW TO BE REMEMBERED, this is the kind of magical realism I love. Thompson creates fully developed characters who act and react in completely believable ways. Relationships between characters are authentic and sincere. While this book has a bit of romance, the focus is on Charlie’s dilemma and the question of whether knowing the future aids or prohibits us from living life to the fullest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.