A heart breaking love story that's about romantic love as well as the love we have for others. A moving and heartwrenching novel.

Jodie Chapman’s all-consuming debut explores love, family and boundaries in an epic novel full of surprises that plays out over the course of four decades. Sensible twenty-two-year-old, Nick Mendoza, meets enigmatic nineteen-year-old Anna when he takes a job at his local cinema in Ashford and strikes up an immediate connection with his self-contained co-worker. Spending nearly all of their free time together for the month prior to the return of Anna’s on hold boyfriend, during the scorching summer of 2003, their romance has a depth that transcends pure physical attraction. The stumbling block to their burgeoning romance is Anna’s strictly religious family of Jehovah’s Witnesses and an upbringing that restricts her lifestyle choices. An unmarried relationship with a non-believer is certainly not on the cards and Nick does not stand in the way of Anna following her preordained path and accepts her decision without protest.

The story is told from the perspective of down to earth Nick and there is a lovely understatedness and absence of self-pity to his narrative even in the toughest of circumstances. There is no question that when they part after a heady summer together both Nick and Anna’s heartfelt feelings for one other are unchanged despite their acceptance of the status quo. The novel opens in 2018 and travels back and forth in time from late 1980s to 2020, providing snapshots of Nick’s life and Anna’s circumstances. Despite the back and forth narrative the novel is entirely coherent and intuitively reads well, possibly because the relationship at issue is the linchpin of the entire novel and focal point. Nick’s family life is also a big part of the novel with the tragic death of his mother in childhood paving the way for yet more tragedy to come with Nick also acting as a buffer between his uncompromising ex-army father and his sensitive younger brother, Sal.

Characterised by three incredibly well-drawn characters in Nick, Anna and Sal, I was invested in their lives right from the off primarily because of how realistically flawed and relatable they were. Nick’s failures to communicate and Anna’s prickly exterior both get in the way of their love and yet Chapman’s superb characterisation makes their behaviour understandable and fully conceivable. Not every moment of the story is high drama and this adds to the credibility of Nick and Anna’s winding paths and is part of what makes their individual journeys feel so real. Their coming-of-age has the emotional intensity that made Normal People so mesmerising but as Another Life unfolds, and the characters mature, it throws more adult complications into both Anna and Nick’s lives that change their family circumstances and priorities and give the novel a far more rounded feel.

A thoughtful novel with tremendous scope that tackles love and grief and a poignant story about the experiences that give each of us the courage to live life on our own terms.

This was such a lovely book. A story of 2 people from 2 completely different worlds and how their lives are destined to meet again. I found it hard at the start as the story flirted through different time lines, but it was an enjoyable read with an insight to religion and faith

This could so easily have been contrived and complicated with its constant switching of timelines but it’s anything but. It could also have been melodramatic and overly sentimental, pulling at heartstrings with its plot, but the author’s perfectly light touch and skilful insight into human nature, and knowledge of the religious issues it deals with, allows a truth and honesty to shine through instead. This light touch also handles some challenging issues, and their impacts on those facing them, with a deep empathy that allows the reader to face them head on too. But above all, this is an absolute page turner, with characters I utterly fell for, and I was so desperate to find out what happened next that I finished this far too quickly!

This was an enjoyable read. A will they or won't they end up together type of love story, the tale is also about the coming of age of a young lad who grows up dealing with grief and other family issues. Whilst it had feels of 'One Day' and 'Normal People' it has enough of a different angle to the story that it didn't feel samey. The timeline jumps back and forth alot which was a little confusing at times but you get used to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the complexities of the characters in this book and the change in timeline, the story is heartbreaking and really speaks to so many family dynamics.

Unfortunately I didn’t connect as much as I’d like to, and although the difference in timelines was interesting, it felt a bit lost in the story and made me disconnect a little.

This was a touching read that i’m guaranteed i will remember for a while. This was a love story, romantic love and love we have for others. The POV switches were a bit confusing but once I got through it, it was easy to navigate. I loved this story. Anna and Nick are wonderful

I know a book is good when I end up highlighting something in almost every page.
I know it's better than good when reading it is hurting me, when my heart feels heavy and my stomach is in knots, when I feel the dread of getting to the end and still I can't stop, I can't put it down, I crave the pain, word after word.
Well this book is that and more. It will stay with me for a long time, now that I did reach that end.

Nick and Anna meet one hot summer, they spend one month together, two planets moving in separate orbits, so different from each other and yet pulled together by this inevitable gravity. Nick with his cigarettes, his rickety family, the conviction you can have only when you are twenty years old that you know exactly what you think, what you want, what your future will be. Anna raised to believe in a God that will be her saviour and judge, her salvation and doom. Anna who doesn't fit in her flock, but doesn't know how to be without it either, who to be.
The book spans through decades, from the eighties to the present and back again, taking you by the hand and making you step into Nick's life, his brother Sal, his mother, his father, and Anna. Always Anna.

This is a heartbreaking story about family, grief, love and pain, about all the missed opportunities, the ones you let slip right through your fingers because the time is not right. But thing is, time is never right, isn't it? So is it better to settle? Or is it worth to keep up a fight? I wish I knew the answer to these questions.
What I can tell you is to go read this book.

Another Life tells the story of Nick and Anna who spend one intense summer together as teens, a summer that neither will ever forget. But there is a wedge that drives them apart. Anna has been brought up with a strict religion, and Nick knows she cannot walk away from it, just as Nick knows he can never share her faith.

As they try to move on with their lives, tragedy strikes for Nick, when his brother and father die in quick succession. This is not the first tragedy Nick has experienced, having lost his Mum years before in a freak accident.

Anna, in the meantime, has married, had a child and is now divorced whilst at the same time, turning her back on religion. As their paths cross once more, will they find their way back to one another? One thing is certain, it won't be a path free from obstacles. But I was willing them to admit their true feelings to one another, and leave me with a happy ending.

Sweet and charming, there is also a depth and an intricacy to this story that swept me up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Characters were very well written and relatable. I Particularly enjoyed the back story and the way the past was woven seamlessly into the present to explain why the characters acted how they did.
Nick was always likeable but initially seemed a bit bland until his story was told in full, explaining fully his lack of emotion on the surface. The author cleverly managed to increase tension between characters without any overt outside reaction. Underlying themes for me were that you do not have to always be a product of your environment and sometimes that all consuming first love never leaves you . I would like to have heard more about Anna's marriage to find out what led her away from.her family and ultimately back to Nick.
Will look forward to seeing more from this author. A very strong and enjoyable debut.

An intense love story, beautifully written. Harrowing in places. The beginning, one of the best openings I've ever read. Exceptional.

This book is not what you expect from cover and blurb, it is very much more but could miss out on readers who would enjoy it.. it is an intense modern love story that deals with tragic family happenings and religion and insecurity and - life. It will surprise you and frustrate you as well as shock . Three time-lines, characters who are complex, not an easy read but memorable.

This is the story of two lives - Nick and Anna's. It begins at the ending of Nick's brother's life. Quite a strong, moving beginning which drew me in right away. Although, unfortunately, it didn't keep me gripped throughout and I began to get a little confused with all the different time points within the story.

It was interesting to see how Nick and Anna met and how unusual Anna was as a character. Someone who went against the norm in some ways and this intrigued Nick. I liked how they talked about their lives working in the cinema and the emotions that come with first love and those initial years of freedom outside of school.

It had some lovely moments, but unfortunately this book didn't move me and I didn't really relate to or care too much about Nick and considering he was the main character, that was a big issue.

This is a nice book, it tackles some difficult issues, but for me it just missed that special spark.

🌿BOOK REVIEW🌿

Another Life by Jodie Chapman

“But it’s not just that. You have always been dangerous for me. Forbidden. I feel both safe and terrified around you, and I can’t decide if that makes you completely wrong, or exactly right.”

This is a gorgeous, contemporary story about the love between Nick and Anna as they float in and out of each other’s life... with the timing never seeming quite right.

Nick had had an extremely challenging life- his parents always had a tense relationship, his mother died very young, Sal (his brother) argues constantly with their dad and sadly, Sal commits suicide. He now struggles to process and express his emotions, which is now a huge issue in his current relationship.

Anna grows up in a religious household and although the religion is not explicitly named it is likely she was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness from the descriptions and the authors note. Her story was so heartbreaking for me as it showed that what was once something that provided her with great comfort, slowly made her feel trapped and constrained. The exploration of this barrier to relationships felt so sincere and raw, and it really did help me understand how difficult these situations must feel.

The sibling relationship between Sal and Nick was written in such a beautiful way and it was one of my favourite relationships in the novel. I think Chapman did an incredible job at conveying the nuances of human relationships and how what is on the surface may not reflect the true reality.

The book is narrated by Nick at 3 main time points in his life and the story jumps between these 3 to see how previous events have impacted his present life. The jumbled timeline is something difficult to pull off and I think Chapman did an incredible job with this! I didn’t find it at all confusing and it really helped me understand the pain Nick felt.

Incase it wasn’t clear- if you are looking for a contemporary story and love and loss then look no further!!

CW// death, grief, suicide

🌼🌼🌼🌼/5

A truly beautiful book about love, loving and life. Realistic portrayal of family, societal expectations and relationships and their impact on different personalities. Anna and Nick fall in love, life happens. Better than "Love Story" and a book that will stay with me.

Another Life is a heartwrenching story about love. Not just romantic love, but the love we have for others too.
The book is written from the view of Nick Mendoza, eldest of two sons.
It chronicles his life and several poignant losses within.
We meet Anna, a girl he worked with at the cinema, as a teenager, and learn about their struggles as two people from very different backgrounds, who have strong feelings for one another but are unable to act upon them, due to Anna's religions beliefs, and Nick's life ones.
We jump from one timeline to several others, and back, throughout the book, which, initially, I found quite confusing, but by the end, I understood.
A really touching read, and a book that will stay with you for a long while.
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Penguin Michale Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not sure if I can say I liked this story, I’m not saying I wouldn’t recommend it or that is was bad. It was an intense read. The love between Anna and Nick was intense. The Mendoza family and their dynamic was intense. Laura and Nick’s relationship was intense, as well as Sal and Tilly’s.
The writing was transformative in that you felt as though you were in the story and could feel the pain and heartache as well as the love. But it was dark and scary with emotion and life’s troubles to a point that the ending didn’t make me feel all ends well.
It’s hard to write about a book that was a great read but has left you feeling at the very least glum, I still think it’s worth a read though!

I’ll be honest I would never have picked this out as my next read. The cover didn’t stand out and I felt I was getting into trad love story / will they won’t they territory. However it’s inclusion in “Between the covers” book club show made me reconsider. If it was to be on TV being discussed by a panel surely there had to be more to it than this.... and there sure is! I just hope that the word of mouth then boosts this wonderful novel.

From the first shocking chapter it is clear that this is very much going to be a rollercoaster of a ride. Plotting is deft and unexpected. There is a lot of era jumping. Twists and plot shocks creep up totally unexpectedly which is brilliant. Great writing throughout and all of a sudden I was staying up past midnight to finish it.

Although the main story line does rest on Anna and Nick, who meet as teenagers but never quite manage to stay together, there is a lot more to the book than this. Complex families, particularly the relationship between Nick and his brother Sal, are core. Religion plays a large part... Anna’s loyalties to her family who are Jehovah Witness church members have a strong pull on her, and friendships let alone relationships outside of their church would mean losing all she’s ever known.

I think this could be a strong word of mouth success. But it definitely needs that discussion as the cover and the blurb would never have sucked me in had I seen it on a bookshelf. I’m really looking forward to hearing it discussed on TV and to talk about with other friends who have read.

Another Life is a vivid, intelligent love story. Nick meets Anna when they work at their local cinema. They start a relationship but it soon becomes clear that her family and religious beliefs mean that they will never have a future. However, even though they split up, they never quite shake free of each other. Nick’s family life becomes increasingly tragic and he never manages to create a truly happy life. Anna manages to free herself from her religion but still struggles to move on. Will they finally find each other again?
This is a wonderful, beautifully written novel. The characters are well drawn and crackle with life. The story has many moments of tragedy and deep sadness but there is a seam of real hope throughout and the ending is truly satisfying and uplifting.
Thank you to #netgalley and #michaeljbooks for allowing me to review this ARC

Jodie Chapman’s ANOTHER LIFE and its characters will stay with me for a long time.

This story of sorrow, love and joy is told by Nick Mendoza, who pieces the jigsaw of his life together in order to make sense of what happened to him and the ones closest to him. We follow him on his journey of navigating ‘life as a maize and how we are trying to find our way through to a world that’s apparently waiting if we go down the right path, but you don’t know it’s right until you take a wrong turn’. His narration is not linear and requires a bit of patience from the reader who needs to establish the chronology of Nick’s memories. Stick with it though and you will be highly rewarded by the depth of the characters that you meet and the plot twists that have you turning the pages.

The reader encounters Nick first looking after his younger brother Sal in New York, just after Sal’s suicide attempt which left him paralysed. The things that are said and even more so the things that are often unspoken set the scene for Nick’s memories of his childhood, his relationship with his parents, brother and central to his story, with Anna, the love of his life. Anna is the one and only person with the potential of cutting him lose from the chains of his past that prevent him from expressing his true feelings and from growing into a life he well and truly owns. Anna however is burdened with her own set of problems. As a Jehovah’s Witness, she feels bound to rules and expectations that prevent her from following the callings of her heart. Both, Anna and Nick can’t help but wondering how different things would be if they could find a way to shed the burden of their past and lead ANOTHER LIFE.

The tapestry of their journey from whatever is holding them back to the people they yearn to become is woven through with not only a love story but also a story about love. In the end Nick muses: ‘Isn’t it something when you feel life greater than you ever hoped for rushing through your veins?’ It certainly is.
This is a poetic book – sad and life-affirming at the same time. It is the kind of book that should be turned into a movie. It would be a blockbuster.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC in return for an honest review.