This was so not what I was expecting - in the best way possible! Okay, so the premise is pretty high concept: intriguing and well thought out. But it’s this book’s heart that utterly floored me. So much more than a clever idea, the way so many seemingly disparate character threads are woven together, how family, friends and strangers are stitched into a tale that broke my heart and mended it at the same time, made this a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Never mawkish or overly sentimental, just a perfect story set in an imperfect world , like our own, that gets straight to the heart of what being human, and humane, is all about.

The Measure is a colourful epic. A sharp, smart outlook on the depravity of society. A propulsive plot with hidden undercurrents. An author that has her pulse on the future of dystopia fiction.

The Measure is going to make you cry! It came out of the left-field for me. One minute I’m reading and the next I’m imagining their positions. My husband, my children, me…what would I do if I was faced with the same fate? Life would of course change, but I would change everything too – my lifestyle, my way of thinking, I’d want to take advantage of every day, every moment, the little stuff would feel like a shooting star…committing its stardust to memory, a piece of history.

Told through multiple perspectives we get to see how other people come to terms with the mystery box that arrives on everyone’s doorstep above the age of twenty-one. Inside contains a piece of string, everyone having differing lengths depending on how much life they have left to live. Each character is different. They are a partner, a daughter, a son, a brother, a sister, a colleague, a mother, a father, the list goes on. They are defined by many things, but will they come to be defined by the length of their string alongside the feats they have achieved.

As more information is released about the contents of the box, it becomes apparent that people are struggling with the magnitude of what it means. It means the end of life for some, destroyed marriages, and relationships. Is it all the better to not know how long we have left? I really do think ignorance is bliss.

I enjoyed the road this story took me on. So many forks in the road, take the wrong one and I would be left floundering for recognition. Is it supernatural or some higher power at work? I thought it was brilliant how Nikki Erlick examined the deep-seated religious beliefs in human nature and sprung doubt and FEAR in the most religious of beings.

The Measure makes you think about How and Why. Will this narrative allow everyone to come back to a point when we didn’t know what was to come? How could it be reconciled? Many of the voices didn’t know each other, they had much in common… nothing but pieces of string, and yet I knew it all had meaning.

My assumption of what The Measure was really all about was wrong. This is not a story to be taken at face value. The author directs you one way but distracts you with a large Boom, and another road appears from nowhere. The story takes a dark turn, a dark pool that drags you below the surface.

This is a story that is unforgettable.

A box lands on your doorstep that when opened, the length of a string would tell you how long your life is going to be. Would you open it?

The Measure is told from multiple viewpoints of a loosely connected group of people with different 'string lengths' and the paths their lives take after seeing how long their life is going to be (or in some cases, not looking at their box).

Erlick executes the multiple viewpoints was remarkably well - each character is so well-drawn and had their own unique voice. The book draws some very real parallels as to how power systems can affect marginalised people (in this case, 'short stringers') – very relevant given events in the world today.

It does gloss over how the strings did 'magically' arrive on people's doorsteps, but given the overall power of the storytelling, it didn't detract from the story at all for me.

I loved reading this and I'm still thinking about it days later.

Oh, and I'd definitely open my box.

If a box arrived on the doorstep that contained a string which foretold the length of your life, would you open it? What would be the consequences if you did?

The Measure is a unique and intriguing premise and is a strong debut novel for accomplished writer Nikki Erlick. Each chapter changes perspective through a group of loosely related people as they try to navigate love, loss and moral dilemmas that the strings have brought onto the world. It’s one of those books that brings up a lot of truly puzzling questions and allows you to ponder what you would do or feel in a similar situation. Some of the ideas explored, such as short-stringers being classed as secondary citizens, political mandates being introduced to make them unable to partake in certain jobs or the splitting of society as short-stringers are shunned or fight back seemed (sadly) realistic in today’s world.

Not much is explored about the strings themselves, we have no idea where they came from or why and this isn’t focused on throughout the narrative. It’s much more a domestic thriller with a sci-fi or dystopian setting. You really get into the minds of the main characters; from Nina and Maura: a couple with very different string lengths, Amie who doesn’t want to look at hers, Ben who had his fate told to him by a leaving lover or Jack and Javid who swap strings to escape the futures they feel unsuited for. It’s a story of loss but also a story of hope and although the ending reduced me to tears, it really brings home the importance of using the time we have left to spend with those we love.

Overall, The Measure is a heart-breaking but uplifting read and I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK – Harper Fiction and The Borough Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

I have seen this book mentioned so many times over the last couple of weeks on must read summer lists.
You wake up one morning as normal, go about your morning routine, open your front door and there lies a box. Inside the box is a string, the measure of your life. Once you open the box, you know exactly how long you have left to live. Would you open it? Would you want to know? 
One normal morning, every adult aged 22 and over all across the world, wakes up to a box waiting for them. As a result, the whole world changes. Some people choose to learn their fate, others decide to leave their box unopened. The fallout from the boxes cause division, strife , opportunity and heartbreak.   
The Measure is told from multiple viewpoints from several quite well drawn characters whose lives interlink as they live their lives, some with the knowledge of when  but not how their lives will end.
I thought this was a really good idea for a book. The idea of  knowing the measure or length of our lives , whilst outlandish, is undoubtedly interesting and I really liked the first third of this book but being completely honest, the rest of the book felt like a bit of a missed opportunity, this could have been great but instead it was only ok. It is well written with believable characters but I don't know I just felt it could have been so much more. Thought provoking and engaging in parts and it is well paced but it swerved too far into the over the top emotion for me and lost its potential to be a really good read.
Nonetheless, I am glad I read it. An easy enough read and a well written one but overall I was left with the feeling that it could have been great rather than good.
I'd open the box but then again, I open presents before my birthday. I wouldn't be able to resist. 


3-3.5

We decided to read this as a sort of mini adult only book club read (usually the children only read together in our family ) and we almost didn't finish it. It caused some very heated discussions . Even laid back grumpy grandad read this and had some very strident opinions. We all agreed that it was a brilliant premise for a book and so well executed. Many discussion still ensue, considering buying a ball of string and some postal boxes.

Such an original concept and a stunning debut novel. It left one thinking constantly of what one would do if this actually happened. Great characters and their stories kept this story moving at pace and stopped it being one dimensional

Unique, clever and unputdownable
I can’t quite believe that this is the author’s debut book. In addition to its brilliant uniqueness it’s beautifully written. Such an unusual premise. One day all around the world everyone 22 and over wake up to find a box on their doorstep which contains a piece of string and never before has the line ‘how long is a piece of string’ had more meaning. Through the concept that the measure of your string is the years you have left, an excellent tale is weaved showcasing just every human emotion
A definite contender for the “if you read just one book this year” spot

This fascinating read is different to anything else I have read recently, and I cannot praise this debut enough.

Completely captivating and riveting, this is a flawless story that will be a momentous success. The concept of knowing how long you have in this world is a controversial one, but this author’s smooth and gripping writing style makes this a book I struggled to put down.

Full of emotional and realistic characters, this centres around the relationships we have in life with others. This is thought-provoking and will make a terrific book club read as there are various subjects to dissect and discuss.

It is hard to review this, without adding spoilers, but this is a must-read for 2022. This is one of the easiest five-star reads of this year after completely blowing me away! I guarantee to be looking out for future work by this author. ‘The Measure’ is highly recommended to all!

Live life as If you have a short string…. Would you want to know how long you are going to live? All across the world people are being given individualised boxes with a string in them. The length of the string indicates the length of your life. What would you do? Thought provoking and timely

The Measure is an impressive debut novel with a unique concept that is both beautifully written and genuinely thought-provoking. I had heard great things about the book, and was certainly curious, but must confess I approached it with a little trepidation, as dystopian fiction is not really my thing. I needn’t have worried – it is so much more, an emotional read that blew me away and is one of those books that I am still thinking about long after I finished reading.

One day a box arrives for everyone aged 22 and over on their doorstep with the inscription “The measure of your life lies within”. If they choose to open it, inside they will find a piece of string, and the length of that string correlates with the length of their life. Would you open it? How would you react to the knowledge?

The book follows eight people as they deal with that dilemma, and we see how it impacts each of their lives and those of their loved ones. An eclectic group whose lives interwine, Erlick’s skill lies in bringing them all to life as they navigate their way through this challenging new world, ensuring the reader is fully emotionally invested in each of them. It also looks more broadly at the societal impacts of how we treat those who are different as “short stringers” become pitted against “long stringers” and the short stringers face endless challenges in their daily lives. It is a book full of heartbreak and of hope in equal measure and a reminder never to take life for granted, and one I found a truly compelling read.

I'd been excited to read this book for so long. The premise is right up my street - the almost sci-fi element and multiple perspectives gave me 'The One' vibes which is a book I loved.

Unfortunately I decided the book wasn't for me at the halfway mark. The beginning of the book was brilliant and I was so excited to learn more about the mysterious strings and impact on the world. But once the scene had been set and it became clear no one was going to really question where the boxes came from, it lost that sparkle for me. There were too many characters and none that I cared for. It became too sugary-sweet and I found I was struggling to pick the book back up. It wasn't quite how I'd perceived the book to be - more reflective/self-development than sci-fi/dystopian - but really appreciate being sent an ARC to try it out.

What would you do if you received a box with a string inside, the length of the string determining how long you would live. So obviously the longer the string the better, would you open the box ? The Measure is what this book us about and I thought this was such a good and thought provoking read.

I loved the concept of this book and was really excited to read it. I found the first third of the book really interesting but then I felt it dipped from there on. It wasn't what I was expecting and didn't really work for me.

This book is like a bundle of all the things I love - love in all forms, friendships and found family - along with matters of seriousness like othering, prejudices, ignorance, h@te cr1mes and political agendas that take advantage of severe situations.

It is a story that symbolises a lot of things we see around ourselves. It hurt my heart to read how humans divided themselves into 'short-stringers' and 'long-stringers' and the injustice the short-stringers had to face. At the same time, reading the story of 8 people whose lives subtly intercross, the story of how the short-stringers decided to fight to curb the injustice they face, made me feel hopeful. The book encourages me not to lose hope even in dire times and fight for what is right, even if it is difficult.

If I had the physical copy of this one, I simply KNOW that I would be hugging it. Five gleaming stars for this one⭐

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Uk for a copy of “ The Measure “ for an honest review.

What a novel idea for a book !
I was intrigued by the premise and the book didn’t disappoint. I found it to be really thought provoking and makes you question how you would act if put in the same situation.
This would be a perfect choice for a really lively discussion at a book club.

The description of The Measure drew me in immediately with the thoughts of What would I do? It was a great story that kept me thinking and I struggled to put it down. I really enjoyed it and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my ARC.

What an intriguing and captivating premise for a book. I was drawn in by the question ‘what would you do.?’ - would I open the box and find out how long my string, and therefore life, was? However, the story explores deeper themes of relationships, hope and despair, human strength, divisions and discrimination. All of these are woven together to depict communities and authorities doing their best to respond to an unprecedented crisis (sound familiar!?).

All this might seem a little heavy but the tale is told through well drawn characters that I came to care about, immersing myself in their lives and hopes and fears for the future. It is delicately and sensitively written, both poignant and uplifting in turn. The way that people, communities and the Government respond is 100% believable. I could well imagine every action, every consequence, happening.

The book is not only a great read, it is thought provoking, interesting, questioning and original. I loved it and have been pondering on it since finishing it a few days ago. It is one of those books that I suspect will stick in my memory for all the right reasons. Thoroughly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One spring morning, every person on Earth receives a box.

A box, containing a string and bearing the inscription “The measure of your life lies within”.

The world is thrown into an instant frenzy, to ascertain the validity of this message.

Society is divided, beliefs unravelled, and relationships destroyed and forged.

In an increasingly turbulent world, if fate were to arrive on your doorstep, would you look?


When I first started this book, I was instantly intrigued, but I have to say somewhat sceptical of where Erlick was going to take me.

Well, I need not have worried. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well-written, had a great cast of characters and was extremely thought provoking. As a debut for this author, it’s highly impressive!

I think this is a story where if I say too much, I’m going to give the game away and also inflict my thoughts and take away from it onto others, which I don’t want to do.

Therefore, I would just highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something that perhaps expands the imagination but also makes you ask yourself some possibly life- altering or affirming questions! One of my favourites of 2022 so far.

What a brilliant and thought provoking premise! What would you do with your life if you knew how long you had left, how would it impact your choices and what if the whole world had access to the same information? The story focuses on a group of characters and how they deal with this information. It is a brilliant, ambitious story - well thought out and well plotted as well as profound and ultimately hopeful. This is perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale.