After finding out that All About Us was a retelling of A Christmas Carol, I knew I had to read it. I'm glad that it wasn't a disappointment.

This book deals with love, loss and change. It was the perfect book to read during Christmas time and an even better book to end the year with. The overall message of this story, is that it's never too late to change. If there's something in your life that you're unhappy with, change it. I think that's a great message to keep in mind and start 2021 off with.

I loved the groundhog day theme. Usually I find that trope a little bit repetitive, however I adored it in this novel.

Overall, this was heartening, lovely book and I'm glad to have read it!!

A heartwarming surprise of a novel in the run up to Christmas that I thoroughly enjoyed.  A modern retelling of A Christmas Carol, on Christmas Eve 2020 Ben finds himself reflecting on his life.  Married to Daphne, their marriage has reached crisis point and Ben starts thinking about the "what ifs', in particular in relation to an old university  friend called Alice who he has recently reconnected with. After meeting a watch-seller in the pub and being given a watch stuck at 11..59, Ben finds himself travelling through his part, present and future, an opportunity that enables him to reflect on what is really important.

As someone who is not a great lover of fantasy, I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did but somehow it worked.  It was good to have a male protagonist as he addressed some of the ways he had dealt (or not dealt) with difficult situations and had a chance to revisit them, and it certainly made me reflect on my own "what ifs". Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, I look forward to reading more from Tom Ellen.

A lovely modern retelling of A Christmas Carol, perfect for those who enjoy that book. Personally it isn't my favourite book which hampered my enjoyment.

A fun modern take on the classic A Christmas Carol.

There were many things I enjoyed about this book and it was nice that it wasn’t your typical Christmas romance story. The characters are great and I loved the way he jumped to past, present, future. 

It did make me feel slightly down at points as he looked back to see the mistakes he made in his life but overall it was a nice story.

All About Us wasn’t what I expected at all and I absolutely loved it! If you are looking for the perfect book on the lead up to Christmas, then look no further – its a modern day version of A Christmas Carol! Christmas Eve 2020 and Ben is wallowing in his mistakes and missed opportunities. His marriage to childhood sweetheart Daphne is on the rocks and he can’t help but imagine how different things could have been. That evening Ben is given a broken watch by a stranger in the pub and wakes up in 2005! Ben is given a second chance to relive moments in his life and sees everything through different eyes. ⁣⁣
 ⁣⁣
This is the first book I’ve read by Tom Ellen and I plan to read many more! I enjoyed his writing style, it was an easy read and everything flowed perfectly despite the constant change in timelines. It has a unique plot; an interesting take on a love story and would make the perfect Christmas movie! ⁣⁣
I really enjoyed the fact this is solely told from a male perspective; it was a breath of fresh air. Ben’s character is both likeable and relatable, I thoroughly enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane with him. Revisiting all those moments in his life which turned out to be more important than he ever imagined. ⁣⁣
 ⁣⁣
This truly is the perfect Christmas read, a captivating story full of friendship and hope. A reminder to us all to live in the moment and take no-one for granted. It would be an amazing gift to find under the tree on Christmas morning.

3.5 stars

‘All About Us’ is a festive romance book following Ben, who’s life and relationship, with his wife Daphne, have gone downhill and he finds himself wondering what life would have been like if, instead of falling in love and marrying Daphne, he fell in love with Alice, a girl he knew during university. Then Ben meets a mysterious man on Christmas Eve, who gives him a broken watch that is stuck at 11:59pm. This encounter leads to Ben travelling back to his past and having to relive important parts of his life and seeing how he ended up falling in love with Daphne.

I don’t know how I feel about this book. On one hand I loved the way that it was written, and I found myself flying through it. I was also absolutely obsessed with the storyline. However, I don’t think I liked the main character, Ben. From the beginning I found him an unlikeable character as he was constantly thinking about Alice and then you find out that he cheated on Daphne with Alice, and it made him even more unlikeable. However, I do believe that Ben did have some character development throughout the novel. I enjoyed seeing him reliving these past moments and seeing how him and Daphne fell in love, and I found myself really rooting for them to be happy again in the present-day storyline. However, at the same time I could not just forget that he had cheated on Daphne with Alice. I kind of wish that the cheating storyline had not been included because I believe that the story would have worked without it, with Ben just thinking about dating Alice rather than him actually acting on those feelings.

I did really like Daphne and Ben’s mother and found them to be my favourite characters. I really enjoyed the scene where Daphne and Ben’s mother met for the first time and loved seeing the relationship between them and how they got along so well.

One of my favourite things about this book was the concept of it. It was like a romantic version of A Christmas Carol. I loved the time travel aspect and how going back to significant moments in his relationship with Daphne helped Ben to become a better husband and person.

I really enjoyed this book and absolutely flew through it as I was addicted to reading it and needed to know what was going to happen next. I will definitely be checking out any other books that this author has written in the future as I really enjoyed this one and found it a very enjoyable festive read.

Thank you to HQ for providing me with an advance copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the premise of this book, but it fell flat mid-way for me. I may have to give it another chance, as I really enjoyed the first half.

This is a bit of an odd one, as it's completely unlike anything I've ever read, and also nothing like what I expected. I wasn't aware of the link to A Christmas Carol before I began reading it, and if I had known, maybe I would've been better prepared. Instead, I spent the first part of the book a bit confused and not really sure if it was for me, until everything began to make a bit more sense and therefore became more enjoyable.

I think another part of the reason why I struggled at first was also because of Ben. He's just such a whiny, unlikeable character - thoroughly depressing and full of self pity, convinced that his life turned out the way it has on the basis of one decision years ago, and that if he'd chosen differently, everything would be better (basically, refusing to admit that his life is how it is because of him!). I just really didn't like him at all. As such, there were a few times where I thought about bailing, until I saw other reviews staying to stick with it. 

And to be fair, Ben does show some tremendous growth over the course of the book. He completely transforms from a whiny idiot into someone who realises how good his life is, and is willing to do whatever it takes to change for the better. His journey towards this is inspired by his visits to key moments in his past, which I won't comment on for fear of spoilers, but I will say they are very emotional and varied, which made this a very interesting book as it developed. 

All in all, a bit of a mixed bag for me. I like the idea at the heart of the story, but Ben is definitely not a character you root for, and so it does take a while for you to engage with the story. In fact, I spent a decent chunk of it hoping Daphne would run for the hills! But ultimately, I suppose it's a good way of demonstrating how important it is to life your life in a way that is less self-obsessed and more mindful to others. A lesson we can all appreciate after this year. 

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

As I started reading  #AllAboutUs, kindly offered by #Netgalley, I expected a typical romantic fiction.  I was completely mistaken. It wasn't long before I started noticing a resemblance with an old favourite. 
Ben, at the verge of a crumbling, long term marriage, gets a visit from an old man who presents him with a broken watch. Little does he know! He gets taken to his past, present and future and realises that his decisions have really shaped him as a person and the choices he makes today, will affect his tomorrow.
Having just finished teaching A Christmas Carol and really enjoying it, it was great to read a modern, romantic- not quite the same but loose version of it. The question that will hold your attention right to the very end is: "Will Ben receive a Scrooge-type of redemption?

This story was absolutely beautiful..

Several years ago Ben chose Daphne over Alice. He has since settled down with her but their life is not as perfect as he had anticipated and he starts to wonder if he made the wrong decision when he did not choose Alice.

In a Dickens-style manner, a mysterious stranger gifts Ben a watch which enables him to go back and re-live the important moments in his life again and to dig a little deeper into those moments.

This was an emotional book with highs and lows but it was utterly fulfilling.

DNF. I couldn't connect with this book at all and found it really hard to get into. I had high hopes for this, which is a shame.

Thank you to @harpercollinsuk for an ARC of this book via @netgalley! All About Us is Tom Ellen’s solo debut. It’s a festive romance and is a bit like modern twist on A Christmas Carol. Ben’s relationship is on the rocks, he’s contemplating meeting up with a woman from his past over the Christmas period and wonders if this old flame should have been the path his life took instead. 

So you have to let your imagination really go with this story. Not only does the narrative have flash back chapters, our main character Ben also goes back to relive these pivotal points in his life. At first I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go - would going back to these points in time with fresh eyes and a knowledge of what’s to come change the future in 2020? The concept was great and I really enjoyed reading this book. 

I liked Ben as a main character. It’s not often I pick up a book where the narrative is all from the male MC’s point of view however I loved it throughout. He’s down to earth, easy to relate to and you get to experience some profound moments with him. 

I could easily imagine this as a Christmassy film and it’s one of my favourite festive reads this year!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. I read Robert Webb's new book earlier this year, which has a similar premise, but Ellen handles the subject matter significantly better. Using the model of A Christmas Carol to return to significant moments allows Ben to reevaluate his choices and see what he needs to do to change his future. Sensitive, emotional but also funny, Ellen's book is the perfect antidote to our current situation.

This started out as a light, gentle read but became so much more. As a light, gentle read, it's good. As a lesson in understanding that the decisions you make along the way can change your life, it's even better. Not only a good story but also an understanding that actions really do have consequences and so to consider those actions carefully.

This is a great Christmas read and a few friends are getting this as part of their Christmas parcel this year! I’m a little glad that illness has set me back a few months and I ended up reading this just before Christmas. It’s made me feel fuzzy and full of warmth. This is a sort of Christmas Carol meets One Day type premise. We follow Ben and Daphne who meet at university in an amateur dramatics production and are now married after fifteen years together. From love at first sight this couple’s relationship is fading fast. Ben feels he is at a crossroads and we see their life from his point of view. He feels unsuccessful after several fruitless attempts at a novel, whereas Daphne goes from strength to strength as a literary agent. We start in Christmas 2020 as Daphne goes to her work ‘do’ alone, while Ben is set to put up the Christmas decorations at home. Instead, Ben is at the pub lamenting his lot over a few pints and musing on his marriage, They seem to argue all the time and Ben can’t see a way forward. However, he does find a way to go back. 

He meets a watch seeker in the street. An elderly man who reminds Ben of his Grandad. Although he tries not to engage, he somehow ends up with a wristwatch stuck at one minute to midnight. This is of course the device the author uses to send Ben through time to strategic points that will hopefully be revelatory, in time to save his marriage. For some reason I hadn’t expected this magical element and that really elevated it above the ordinary for me. It made me think of the film About Time where life lessons are learned through the ability to time travel and also dissolves me into a sobbing heap. I love that there’s also a psychoanalytical aspect to these travels - he’s faced with the truth of himself and past events, is the image he has of his absent father a true one, what upsets him so much about the discussion he had before his mother died, and why does he now believe that it was his friend Alice, not Daphne, who he should have fallen in love with that night long ago? Is he thinking about Alice because he truly feels she’s the one or is it simply that he has idealised her when compared to the complexity and hard work of living with someone long term? If he thinks about his father as a great playwright he can possibly excuse his absence and imagine he has inherited some genius writing genes (as yet unseen). 

Of course each time hop helps him come a little closer to the truths of his life. I didn’t always like him, but then I’m not sure we’re meant to. He needs to be a little flawed, in order for the revelations that come his way to have an effect. I did find myself hoping for a happy ending and I did wonder at times if we were going to get one! It’s a simple lesson - that none of us are perfect, that all relationships involve an element of taking the other person for granted even without meaning to, and that we have to accept our own flaws and mistakes as well as the flaws of our loved ones. Love, acceptance, time travel and Christmas - it’s a magical combination.

Wow - what a great book!  I have to say that I struggled a little to get into it at the beginning but I am so glad that I persevered.  Time travel is a big feature of this book - not something that would usually interest me, but please don't let that put you off if you are like me.  Once I got the hang of it, I just couldn't wait to see the story headed to next.  It really wasn't confusing - it didn't jump back and forward all the time so you didn't know where you were, it was very logical and very well written.  I understand it is loosely based on Charles Dickens "The Christmas Carol" so if you know that story you will understand the premiss of this book.

I really got into the characters who I felt were very believable and I so wanted the relationship between Ben and Daphne to work out.  I couldn't possibly spoil it and tell you if it did - you'll just have to read it yourself!  And I would highly recommend that you do - you won't regret it!  I am definitely going to look out for other titles by this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

Going into this read, this really seemed right up my street, but I wasn’t expecting the ‘magical’ element. The story was so engaging and a lovely twist on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a modern day spin. I must admit there were parts that I did struggle with as I lost my way, but thankfully Ben’s journey pulled me back in. Several standout moments for were; the sheer emotion that Ben feels after seeing his beloved mum, and the grief around that was a real sucker punch - Ellen had me in tears after only reading a third of the book.  It was also really refreshing to see this kind of story from a male perspective (written by a male too!) particularly as it includes male mental health and their difficulty in opening up about their true feelings with their friends. Ben’s friendship with Harv as they each navigate new relationships that impact on their own relationship was very relatable. I loved how the story was able to show that the grass isn’t always greener. A great read!

All About Us is a romantic retelling of A Christmas Carol. Tom and Daphne have been having problems in their relationship, and he begins to wonder whether life would have been better if he’d pursued a relationship with Alice from uni. When he gets the chance to go back and live life differently, he realises how much he loves Daphne and how desperate he is to fix everything before it’s too late.

This is a heartwarming tale which is the perfect Christmas read. If you’ve been experiencing relationship stress due to this hellish year, it might be worth picking up All About Us, because it reminds you to remember why you fell in love with your significant other in the first place, and does a great job of revitalising a relationship that has grown a bit stale.

Starting with a story line that hooks, the book pulls you in and makes you want more almost immediately. The characters are introduced slowly, allowing the reader to get to know each one before increasing the cast. I, personally, am a sucker for a time travel novel and this did not disappoint.

I found it interesting to read during coronavirus; reading about raucous Christmas parties in 2020 that just won't exist. It's difficult not to think 'should they really be doing THAT' but that's a sign of the times rather than any opinion on the book itself.

It feels like I'm reading his diary or having a conversation with a friend. The writing is engaging and with great scene setting. 

The first half of the book is very, very funny. I love the Dickens-meets-Tarantino play, I was absolutely howling with laughter! 

The second half of the book takes a more sombre, serious tone and starts to lean towards the inevitable happy ending (yes, including a baby). Whilst this is still brilliantly achieved, I started to lose interest a bit and felt it dragged just a little more than it needed to.

The 'Christmas Carol' theme is absurdly cheesy! But in a good, predictable way. Towards the end, I was fully expecting Ben to burst into the first chorus of 'Thankful Heart' from A Muppet Christmas Carol.

Overall, a well-written book with a predictable but charming format and ending. I really enjoyed it, but the baby-centricity of the second half let it down for me.

This was a great magical romance read. 

The story is about Ben, who is feeling a bit down about his life and feels he has disappointed everyone. When he bumps in an old man who gives him a watch that is stuck at one minute to midnight and then Ben finds himself traveling back in time to key moments in his life. Will he change anything? 

This was a fairly quick and easy read for me. I was quickly hooked in to the story. It was an emotional read especially the moments between Ben and his mum. It was a freshly unique read which I really enjoyed reading and it does have small festive element to it as well.