A depressing story about the choices we make and the many consequences we live with. About life and love and how neither should be taken for granted.

A bit like Christmas Carol, without Scrooge and with more time travel.

If you could go back in time, what is it you would change? For Ben it is his choice of wife! Definitely interesting...

I received this book, from NetGalley, for review consideration.

A heartwarming take of a Christmas Carol told from the point of view of Ben.  Who is having a few what if moments about the way his lift has turned out.  

Ben is married to Daphne, but after seeing another girl from uni at a wedding is making him think that the grass is greener and wonders if he made a mistake choosing Daff. 

He has a pint with his friend Harv and wanted to talk to him about it, but is instead over heard by an older man who gives him a watch.   This watch makes him timetravel to different times in his life, past present and future. 

Really good story written from a mans point and view.  An enjoyable read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

All About Us - Tom Ellen

This is the story of Benjamin & Daphne - and how their paths crossed. I don’t know how to review this without spoiling anything. 
I’ve never read anything by Tom Ellen before, and I was pleasantly surprised by this story. It is told from Ben’s point of view - and it was actually nice to have an entire book set from a man’s viewpoint. 
Ben isn’t the most likeable character, but my opinion changed as we got to know him. At first I thought it was going to be a predictable read, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue. But I soon found myself hooked. 
So I would definitely recommend this book & will look out for books by Tom in the future. Thanks to @netgalley for this copy.

What would you do differently if you had the chance? 

A lovely romantic Christmas Carol inspired tale perfect for curling up on an autumn/ winter afternoon.

I enjoyed reading a romance novel with a male protagonist and found this an easy read.

Well this was a wonderful Christmas Carol retelling. If you like the many movie versions of A Christmas Carol that are out there or you like a Love actually style of Christmas film then this is going to be for you. I have to admit that going into this book I didn't know it was going to be set at Christmas time so if you're not in the mood for festive, don't worry it's not too in your face Christmas!

It's always interesting to have a romcom like this with a male lead and I like the fact that we can see a romcom written by a male author starring a male main character and still have all the wonderful romance and humour of what is normally deemed to be chick-lit. I really enjoyed getting to know Ben and all of the questionable choices he made throughout his life! He really doesn't have it all together but he is given a second chance to relive some of the moments in his life that are pivotal to where he is today!

There are a couple of love interests in Ben's life as well as his best friend and his family and most characters appear in every Christmas Ben relives. I loved getting to know the other characters particularly Ben's possible future wives. I will freely admit that I started off the book definitely siding with one woman in particular but then changes my tune towards the end of the story, and not just because one of them decides to criticise teaching as a life choice!

I'm not much one for magic in a novel but I totally believed Ben's time travelling and so if you think this one is going to be too 'unreal' for you, rest assured I was happy to jump from Christmas to Christmas with Ben and Co. I also really loved how much heart was in this book. We have some pretty sad moments throughout the novel mixed in with the humour and the romance and to me it really just felt like Tom Ellen got the balance right. Highly recommend.

Tom Ellis has surely done what most of us want - traveled back in time to see where we went wrong? I really enjoyed finding out what year Ben will wake up in. Brilliantly lighthearted read

I have no idea why I have left All About Us languishing on my bookshelf for so long. This is the kind of novel perfect for cozy armchair reading so prepare to get comfortable and I’ll begin.

Ben and Daphne first meet at university when they are both part of a rather experimental amateur dramatic type of theatre production. Up until this point, Ben is convinced that on this night after the curtains have come down, his friendship with Alice will take a romantic turn. Psychologically geared up for this turn of events, he is literally struck by Cupid’s arrow when Daphne makes a last minute appearance to help out backstage. The rest as they say is history. Now married for four years and in a relationship for fifteen, Ben is at a crossroads in his life. Whilst his career and desire to become a novelist have stalled, wife Daphne’s career as a literary agent is continually on the up. However, their relationship is very much on the rocks, their constant arguing and bickering causing Ben to seriously contemplate his future with a woman he fell madly in love with upon first sight. 

Christmas Eve 2020 is when the narrative really begins. Daphne attends her work’s party alone, with Ben opting to drown his sorrows in the pub with best friend Harvey, instead of putting up the festive decorations. Trying in vain to have an open and honest discussion with his friend about his current state of mind, Ben is approached by a stranger flogging watches. Unable to extricate himself from an unwanted dialogue with this man, Ben is left with a wristwatch which has bizarrely stopped at one minute to midnight. It’s at this point the narrative comes into its own with the seemingly useless watch acting as a time hopping device transporting Ben back into various points in his past, offering him the chance to experience second hand these pivotal moments, alter how they play out and glimpse his future self. With this watch seller, curiously resembling his grandad Jack, magically reappearing during these time hops, this is a book about second chances and realising that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Never sure of what year or the situations he will be forced to relive, some of which are excruciating and would be best left in the past, Ben has to confront his former and future self. Rather like holding a mirror up to reflect your worst traits this is a time for introspection and contemplation but with no control over his time travelling adventures, will Ben like what he sees? Will he even be able to find his way back to Christmas Eve 2020??

For Ben this is also an opportunity to debunk some of his long held beliefs about his life leading up to the  moment when he encounters the odd stranger in the pub. His image of his absent father, a famous playwright, may not prove to  be a true representation of the man Patrick Hazeley really is. Why does Ben believe that maybe Alice was the girl who should have found him in the maze during that game of sardines at uni? Why does the last conversation before his mother’s sudden death cause him so much anguish? These are all crucial questions relating to his current mindset. Ben’s marital disharmony is leading him to view that first term at uni as Alice’s friend and potential lover through rose tinted spectacles. It’s almost as if Ben has immortalised the memory of Alice, forever stuck in that one moment of time. Does his future lie with Daphne or with Alice?

 In some ways I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for this man child who seems incapable of growing up and is definitely not someone worthy of Daphne’s love. His reliance on her to be the adult in the relationship, whilst he procrastinates over writing a novel, jumping from one ill paid job to another I found rather irksome. Also his inability to communicate his feelings and emotions coherently means he’s been cast as  a stereotypical male character, a feeling further entrenched by Ben’s relationship with best friend Harvey. Chatting over pints in the pub their conversations are dominated by football and not much else, giving an impression to the reader that their behaviour is still rather laddish for men in their thirties. However, scratch the surface of Ben’s boyish exterior and you’ll find a depth to his character previously hidden. I found myself hoping his time travelling experiences would see him mature into the responsible adult he’s meant to be.

The concept of time travel is a useful and effective device for the author to relay Ben’s past as well as providing this character with the chance to alter important conversations with the key people in his life, a chance to rectify his past mistakes, even though he is the only one to experience these pivotal moments differently. Ben’s grief over the death of his mother affects his life thereafter, casting a shadow over his marriage, which gives the author plenty of opportunity to explore the subject of death and bereavement.

The storyline might not be original but it still manages to satisfy the reader’s desire for a healthy dose of true romance and possible happy ever afters. I defy anyone to read this and not wish they could have the opportunity to relive important moments in their lives and see how their decisions will affect their future. I wonder how many of us would relish the chance to change some our biggest life decisions and how many would be completely happy with the direction we chose to take. After all, everyone reaches crossroads at various times in their lives but what is interesting is what compels us to follow certain paths. The idea that we could all have our own guardian angel, like Ben, to guide us through the rough patches is of course fanciful but to me a wonderful concept. 

Essentially this storyline explores the often messy nature of relationships and how we deal with turbulence along the way. Not intending to sound sexist but fearing I do, because the narrative is written from a male perspective by a male author, it loses (not necessarily a criticism!) emotional heat and sentimentality. I approached this novel with the thought that I could end up bawling my eyes out but that’s definitely not the case. Instead I was charmed, at times frustrated, surprised, delighted and ultimately left feeling hopeful that all will be well in this fictional world. All About Us no doubt will appeal to fans of David Nichols, Josie Silver to name but two and I would happily recommend this novel  to others. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Ben is at uni, he cannot decide whether to pursue a relationship with Alice or Daphne. Years later, he is married to Daphne, but unhappy, and meets up with Alice once more.  Should he restart their uni friendship ? A chance meeting with an old man transports him back in time to relive memories, and forwards in time to see his future relationship with Alice.  Brilliantly written, I could not put the book down ,wanting to know how it ended.

It made a refreshing change to read from a male voice.  Usually, when reading romantic fiction, it’s from a female perspective so this was a wonderful switch.
There’s no mistaking the similarities between Ben and Daphne meeting during a retelling of A Christmas Carol and the way this story progresses.  Whilst Ben doesn’t necessarily revisit previous Christmas celebrations, he does relive some key and poignant moments from his past.
The appearances of the watch seller, throughout Ben’s journey became a special part of the story. His cryptic answers added to the mystery of where the story would end up.
In particular, the time he got to spend with his Mum brought a volume of emotions and some heavy tears.  I think many of us would change the way we spoke to our parents, on varying occasions, if we could.
Seeing Ben fall in love with Daphne again was joyous.  Each nuanced moment that he shared with her was perfect and it was hard to understand how his relationship had become so stale.  That said, his own soul searching answered that question as he reflected on his selfish, self-absorbed behaviour.
Alice is the temptress type that most people have encountered at some point.  Whilst avoiding spoilers, I will admit to willing him to make better decisions and I felt some real disappointment in his actions.  Perhaps the opportunity to visit an alternative future was the antidote to his treacherous dreams.
This book was totally absorbing and one that I simply couldn’t put down.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book but would suggest a few hankies on stand-by.

All About Us is a retelling, or at least a variation on the theme, of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Ben’s marriage to Daphne is on the rocks and he’s tempted by the one that got away, Alice. On Christmas Eve he goes to the pub to meet an old friend, Harv. He’s about to spill his thoughts but Harv would rather talk about football than emotions. A mysterious man in the pub gives him a watch, which has stopped at one minute to midnight. The next morning he wakes up in his first year student bedroom, the day he first gets together with Daphne which is also the day when he could have begun a relationship with Alice. What will he do?

Well what would you do? This was such an engaging story as Ben jumps to various significant and pivotal days in his life getting a glimpse to relive his past, see a slightly different present and yes experience his potential future too. Does he have the power to change the way his life turns out? Perhaps not but he does have the chance to remember more and to appreciate what he has. The important thing Ben comes to realise is that he needs to work out why the times he experiences again are important and whether they might give him the opportunity to change himself rather than his life.

All About Us reminded me a bit of the films It’s A Wonderful Life, and Sliding Doors and of course the book A Christmas Carol. I loved the whole ‘what if’ aspect to the book and the sense that we all need to take time to appreciate what we have and the important things in life. I thought this was a wonderful heart-warming book and highly recommend it, whether it’s Christmas time or not!

RATING: 3.5 stars.

This book was touted as “perfect for fans of One Day, Me Before You and In Five Years.”

It was definitely engaging, quite a romantic read, and good for a Christmassy read; I enjoyed reading it overall. 

I would call it predictable, which isn't inherently bad, but I do wish it was a bit more… more. It fell a bit flat for me towards the end, which was disappointing as I really wanted to love it. I did like it, at least.

This is a nice easy read for anyone who enjoys a festive romance.

A modern remake of A Christmas Carol, All About Us explores "what could have been" which we can all relate to.

On Christmas Eve 2020, Ben is feeling nostalgic and is not happy in his marriage and is having a major case of "what could have been" blues.  What if his wife hadn't kissed him first, what if his friend Alice who Ben got on so well with during the first team at university found him first? What if he hadn't bumped into her again at a friend's wedding?  In the pub with his best friend he meets a mysterious watch seller who sells him a watch that is stuck on one minute to midnight. 

From then on Ben goes back in time, reliving some very painful moments and hopes that his new actions will affect the real life present.  An interesting and thought provoking story which does make you think, be careful what you wish for!

Lucky, lucky Ben has a chance to right the wrongs in his life, to undo his regrets. But what will he do - will he make the same mistakes all over again? 
We see that we have far more control over our lives than we sometimes imagine, if we only open our eyes and our ears, and pay attention. 
A lovely, modern rewrite of the Christmas Carol, and I particularly liked the story being told from the man’s perspective - unusual in a romance!

First let me say, as a romance reader, I often feel let down by my favourite genre. On top of that there are tropes I usually despise (cheating, male protagonist, love triangle) and yet, I bloody loved this book! For a debut author Tom Ellen sucked me right into Bens world and I was totally consumed by the story. I loved the way this story was told. I wasn't expecting the time travel aspect, but to me this had vibes of a christmas carol, mixed with one of my favourite films Sliding Doors.

I am excited to see what else this author does.

Ben and Daphne have been together since university, but after 15 years there are some things he would do differently if he had the chance.  
With plots from Groundhog Day, A Christmas Carol and Love Actually this is a story about wishing to change the past and present and ensuring that the future is one to look forward to.
Narrated by Ben; I wish Daphne could have had her own voice, this fantasy was intriguing and thought provoking .If you could go back in time wouldn't it be wonderful to see those people who are not around any more and to say the words left unsaid.
A nostalgic book made more poignant with the Christmas theme.

Ben and Daphne have been together for years, since they met at Uni. But it hasn’t always been plain sailing and lately things are looking very rocky.  He is wondering if he made the right choice back then, and if Alice, another girl from uni, really was the one that got away. Alice is now back in touch and Ben isn’t sure what he should do and whilst voicing this to his best friend in the pub on Christmas Eve, he is approached by and old man who gives him a watch. 
The next day Ben is shocked and confused when he wakes up to find its December 2005, the night he kissed Daphne and their relationship began. Ben must figure out what he wants again.
I really enjoyed this book, a really lovely modern take on a timeless tale. The authors writing style is easy to read and the story telling brings the characters to life so that you feel engaged and invested in them.
Filled with lots of humour and some lovely touching moments, I thought the story line was clever in its reinvention of such a well known tale as a huge part of the story that resulted in a delightful book to read that I would definitely recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley, HQ and Tom Ellen for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is a nice enough book, but it did not ‘wow’ me. The story is based on Ben and his ‘could have/should have’ previous relationship with Alice, when he gets the opportunity to revisit the Christmas Eve year’s ago when he decided to marry Daphne. His marriage is now going through a very rocky patch, and he feels he may have made the wrong choice back then. There is a strong element of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol here, and Ben can see the man he could have been, instead of the man he has become.
An interesting premise, but it just didn’t hold my interest, and I didn’t particularly warm to the characters.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

Do you ever wish you could turn the clock back and make a different decision?
Who would you have married?
Ben has been with Daphne for years but its Christmas and it seems their marriage is heading for the rocks. An old flame, Alice has been in touch and Ben has agreed to meet her for a drink. He is in the pub when he is given a watch and the next thing he knows its December 2005.
Will he regret the way his life has turned out or will he realise what he has?

Usually a fan of the festive season, this year Ben is struggling. His relationship with his wife is on the rocks and he is stuck in a rut. When an old friend gets back in touch, Ben can’t help but wonder, was she the one he was meant to be with all along.

Drowning his sorrows in a bar on Christmas Eve, Ben never imagines a chance encounter with a mysterious watch seller will send him back to the very beginning.

Now Ben must make the biggest decision of his life - if you could turn back the clock, would you choose a different life?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. I was aware it was a rom-com but was going to take a little suspended imagination, which I must admit isn’t usually my thing. However, this turned out to be a nice, easy, and somewhat festive read. 

The time travel element was intriguing, being able to look upon your past decisions with fresh eyes is certainly an alluring thought and does make the reader question what they would do in this situation.

Sadly, I found most of the characters to be a little bland, and therefore I didn’t feel any great connection to them or empathise with their circumstances. Ben actively annoyed me at times, and I wanted to give him a good shake, but I did begin to warm to him towards the end of the story.

A Sliding Doors-esque version of A Christmas Carol with a lot of promise but didn’t quite deliver. If you are looking for a straightforward and perhaps predictable winter read, this could be the one for you. But if you are after something thought provoking and more in depth, perhaps give this one a miss.

An excellent story of how Ben reaching his mid thirties begins to find that his thoughts are filled with lots of regrets from his past. He tends to bottle things up rather than share them. So on one Christmas Eve he goes to the pub for a pint with his mate to open his heart however it doesn’t go the way he wanted as his mate just laughed it off. He receives an unexpected gift  of a watch from the watch seller which changes his life. For better or worse well you just have to read to find outt