This book is brilliantly written. It is an original idea. It’s heartwarming and uplifting. A thought provoking read

Ok so I took a long time to read this and this was the 3rd attempt - why I don't know now I've finished it.
The Measure is based on such an interesting concept, but I was unsure at first. the story was compelling, but I struggled with the multiple narratives that is why I can only give 3 stars.

Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

Fabulous with amazingly written characters, It's a little bit thrilling and very much a page turner. Nikki is a new author to me. A great book, well threaded together. HIGHLY Recommended.

As the old saying goes... "How long is a piece of string?"

If there was ever a book that seriously made me sit back and question things, question choices, question life... this was it. I can honestly say it sat with me for a long time after I put the book down and THAT alone is the sign of a good book!

People all over the world, aged 22 or over, wake up to a wooden box on their doorstep. The exact same box at the exact same time. Inside each of these boxes is a solitary piece of string. This string is supposed to depict the length of time you will live.

As expected, panic ensues the world. Tue longer the string, the longer the life you will live. But, for those with a short string, the 'short stringers' it gives some of them the time to openly talk about their lives and their deaths, to get things in order and more importantly say their goodbyes. For others it's just too much to deal with and they decide to cut their loves even shorter by ending it all.

Some even choose not to open the box, deciding to live their lives as they always have, day by day never knowing what's around the corner.

This book is a story of love, of relationships and friendships. How would you cope knowing you were a 'short stringer's? Or possibly even worse knowing your loved one was?

This was an amazingly unique story, written beautifully that will sit with me for a very long time.

Oh, incase you are wondering... I I wouldn't open the box!

Huge thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC

I thought this book was very clever and makes you think about what really matters. It follows eight people and their relationships with each other and their loved ones.

When a small wooden box is distributed to everyone over the age of 22 you will find out your fate. If you're a short stringer you'll find your life is not going to be as long as you were expecting. The length of each string determines how long you will live..

I loved the characters and really felt for them when they shared their deepest feelings and how they felt cheated when they had to make each day count. It made me cry. I loved it though. A great read which makes you think.

An enjoyable read, well written and entertaining. Hadn't read this author before but would consider reading again.

This made me ugly cry so obviously I instantly gave it five stars!!!

I loved this, simple as that. It’s one of those books that makes you think, makes you ask questions and opens up discussions on various aspects of life that you might not normally have considered.

Would you open a box to find out how long you had left to live? That’s what happens in this story and it follows a number of different characters showing the consequences of them either opening them, getting a short string or choosing not to open them at all.

It felt a little like final destination at times and I think the author did an incredible job of bringing these characters stories together and delving into just how knowing your fate can influence so many other things in life.

Honestly just go read it and if you can read it as a group even better as this is one that is perfect for a book club to discuss!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

One day, all adults in the world wake up to find a small box on their doorsteps which contains a piece of string, the length of which illustrates how long your life will be. A simple enough premise, but this throws up a huge amount of questions and confusion. We follow a number of people who between them have long and short strings, don't open their box, swap strings, and face knowing when they and their loved ones will die.

Ultimately, would we choose to know how long we've got left?

In “The Measure”, one day everyone in the world wakes up to the arrival of the boxes on their doorsteps. With their names on them, and a length of string inside.
As the news spreads, and governments move to act on these new arrivals, we follow the people coming to terms with what it means for them and their loved ones.

The concept is an interesting one to explore, especially as the impact is uncovered. What happens if you know when you’re going to die, if not how? What happens if the person you thought you’d spend your life with, grow old with, has a short string and yours is long? How about the ramifications of being in a position of power or responsibility - a country leader, or in the army, with a short string?

Erlick explores this through the lens of a group of people, interconnected and dealing with their different outcomes in different ways. One couple are dealing with drastically different string lengths, one person can’t devote their life to their expected vocation because their timeline doesn’t last to the next year.

It definitely made me think of what I’d do in the same situation, but ultimately it’s a good idea which didn’t quite live up to its potential. Easy to read, interesting but quite forgettable. I’d recommend this for fans of thoughtful, conceptual stories in the same line as Emily St John Mandel or Jeff Vandermeer.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

I loved this book, so much so that I think it has shot to near the top of my list of favourite dystopian novels. Such a simple premise; one day a box appears on your doorstep its contents will tell you how long you have left to live. Do you look? If you look how do you react to the news that you will have a long life or could die any day now? Explored using a range of characters of differing ages, backgrounds and sexualities this novel captures perfectly how a media hysteria and political manoeuvring can turn a personal decision and personal truth into a weapon to control people and to create a new privileged elite class.
Having a short string is seen as unfailingly negative and that those who have a short string are bad employees, potential parents, political candidates, soldiers etc laws are enacted that erode people’s privacy and make declaration of strong length to be mandatory. The entire premise is feeling chillingly prescient as our privacy is more and more eroded thanks to the internet and cctv cameras and the huge strides being made in gene sequencing and identification of various genetic markers and what they mean.
It won’t be a surprise and unexplained box delivery when the day comes that we find out how long our ‘strings’ are but that day is coming and coming too quickly for many peoples liking.
The political storyline echoing the ageist abuse President Biden has faced since his election to office in 2020 and many other narrative strands echoing current affairs.
The weight of the subject matter could make this book incredibly depressing but there is a buoyant optimism shining through beginning with those who choose to simply not open their box but eventually to those with short straws as well. A definite must read.

Totally out there concept that gets you thinking....what if everybody alive was given the knowledge to know how long they would live...would you want to know?? Fast paced book, many points of view, but written in a cohesive way. Such a good read!! Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

What a super intriguing premise! Didn't really know what to expect but the excellent storytelling really drew me in and kept me going. An intense emotional rollercoaster but I enjoyed the whole ride!

For me 'The Measure' was an extremely thought provoking book. Thank-you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read such an entertaining debut novel. The premise of knowing how long you are going to live and the effects that may/will have on you and your future choices is mind blowing. Multiply that by everyone in the world over the age of 22 being given that choice and you can begin to see the global challenge. Written from several points of view we are given an insight, both rightly and wrongly, into the thoughts and fears of both long-stringers and short-stringers. We get to meet well written, well rounded characters who I will freely admit to laughing and crying with. This novel would make an excellent book club reading choice as the discussions could be endless, but I also recommend it to anyone who just enjoys a good book.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick is a gripping and thought-provoking novel with themes of love, and loss, Set in the future where emotions are carefully measured and controlled, the story follows the journey of protagonist Emma as she struggles with her own desires and what society expects of her.
Erlick also discuss explores themes of autonomy, self-discovery, and the basic human need for connection. The Measure is an engrossing exploration of the human condition, making the reader think and it will stay with readers long after the final page.

One morning boxes arrive worldwide on the doorsteps of everyone over 22 years old. These boxes contain a piece of string seemingly detailing how long each persons life will be.

There are a lot of POV and initially I was starting to lose track but each story remains distinct enough from the next. The Measure is a very thought provoking read about mortality and human relationships. I wanted a little bit more from the ending and I can’t say I was hooked but I loved how much this book made me think about what is truly important to make us happy.

I would recommend to people who have enjoyed the Midnight Library and would also recommend The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin as something similar.

'Your fate arrives in a box on your doorstep. Do you open it?'

Every adult wakes up to a mysterious box on their doorstep, it contains a piece of string, the length of the string measures your lifespan.

Do you open the box? How will knowing how long you have left change you?

I read speculative 'what if' novels with a FOMO fuelled curiosity, while a lot of them don't really work for me, but I don't want to miss out of the occasional ones that do.

This was quite a good one, there's a good group of varied characters, a considered and believable reflection on the bigger society issues and plenty going on to keep it emotionally and dramatically involving.

Fans of John Marrs's speculative novels will love it. I thought it was pretty good and it held me interest, and I'm a tough audience for this genre.


Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK

Absolutely adored this book.
Overnight life changes when the boxes arrive. Inside every box is a string - the string determines how long the owner will live. Do they open it and find out how long they have left? Or do they continue to live, oblivious. What follows affects us all - whether you're a 'short stringer' or long.

This is a thought provoking and touching story of hope, love, fate and living life to the full. Its what you do - not how long you live that counts.

"If forever doesn't exist, we'll invent it ourselves"

"the beginning and the end may have been chosen for us, the string already spun, but the middle has always been left undetermined, to be woven and shaped by us'

Devoured it and a book I will remember and recommend for years to come!