'Fate is always thought to be a positive force, propelling us towards a magical future. Surprisingly, its negative side is very rarely mentioned, as though fate has entrusted the management of its brand image to a PR genius.'

First, some constructive criticism: John didn't feel like a British person. His essence felt more mainland European to me. Maybe an opportunity was missed to watch some street interviews conducted in England, and note some quirks and flavors that could've fit the author's vision of this character. And I don't mean this in a comical way, but the foreign lens does have the potential to pick up on small nuances that could make a distant character like this more authentic.

The praise: Beautiful, seamless translation - there's nothing wonky about this text. There's a continuous subtle humor that comes to the forefront from time to time, but never feels overwhelming or undermining of the emotional gravity of the situation. The characters are well-rounded, and even the supporting characters feel like real people. I love how the author found this fairly objective situation to display the very general experience
of depression and the hold it has on our minds, but also including high points, such as displaying how big a difference benevolent people can make in our lives. I don't know if it was intentional, but in my mind, I couldn't help but see the connection between Martin taking steps to help himself and then later receiving external help out of the blue.

Overall, a brilliant idea executed perfectly!

Thank you for the ARC. I will post this on Goodreads as well.

I really enjoyed this story of the boy who was up against Daniel Radcliffe in the final audition for the film role of Harry Potter. The narrative explores the impact on missing out on this life changing role affected him and the lifelong ramifications. It’s related in a delightful style reminiscent of a fairy tale which is entirely appropriate for this subject.

A quirky book that was fun to read... but only for a while.
The writing itself was quite good, and reminded me quite a bit of the narration you might find in a Wes Anderson novel.
After Part One, though, I found myself wanting Martin to just get on with it. It was difficult to sympathize with him with the wallowing going on chapter after chapter.
I adored the concept of this, but I think it could've been done better. I just wish there was more that defined Martin as a character.

This book tells the story of Martin Hill, the boy who came second to Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter audition. His life is one of sadness and regret, as he is haunted about what might have been.

This is such a clever book. Although it is an entirely fictitious story, it is utterly believable. You are completely drawn in to Martin’s life and his inability to get away from the phenomenon that is Harry Potter. He is plagued by the Harry Potter films, books, merchandise, etc. There is simply no getting away from the boy wizard. Martin’s life, in his opinion is over.

I really loved this book. Although Martin irritated me at times, I raced through it. The chapters were incredibly short - sometimes only a page - and this kept the story moving. It’s a great read and the ending won’t disappoint