An interesting novel the like of which I'd never read before. I really enjoyed the doppelganger idea and confronting reality.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

A successful French entrepreneur with a sideline in professional assassinations, an up-and-coming Nigerian rapper, a depressed author, a film editor and single mother: they have a little in common except that they're all passengers on board Air France Flight 006 from Paris to New York when something very strange happens. With the pace of a thriller, and added metaphysics and philosophy, this strangely wonderful novel has won the Prix Goncourt and already sold a million copies.

When a flight from Paris to New York encounters a terrifying and unexpected bout of turbulence due to an unprecedented weather event, the passengers are glad to land safely, and be able to continue with their lives - that many feared would be lost when the plane plummeted through the sky.

These passengers were at the hands of very skilled pilots who managed to land the plane safely with minimal damage.

Three months later the exact events occur with exactly the same plane, passengers and crew. Except they're not ... they're duplicates.

A truly unimaginable event.

The authorities have no choice but to intercept the second plane. Fighter jets are scrambled, and the plane is bought to land safely at a secure military base. Passengers are afraid, then dumbfounded and disbelieving as they are told what has happened.

Across the world, intelligence agencies are gathering up the passengers from the previous flight, and preparing them to meet their doubles.

The Anomaly is a challenging read at times, I'm not sure if this is down to the translation, or if it just becomes a little complicated with so much going on.

One thing I will say that I usually wouldn't about a book ... is that it would make a fantastic movie and I really hope that someone takes a chance on it.

This feels like it's been written by two people. The first half is great and does really interesting characters but then as the 'anomaly' starts to take centre stage it feels like it becomes a silly romp with such a down shift in quality. Poor translation maybe? I mean the concept works and there is a lot to support the concept in the first 1/3 to 1/2 but then... yikes.

This was a very interesting read, although I did find it a little tricky to keep up with in places. Quite sci-fi in flavour and requires concentration, I think more than I was able to give to it. Different, intriguing, give it a try.

So there's a flight from Paris to New York and we get to know some of the passengers. Both before and after the flight, as well as what happens during, when they fear for their lives as the plane hits bad weather and shocking turbulence. Amongst them we have a Pop Star, a Contract Killer, a Lawyer, a Writer, an Architect. All of whose lives change post flight.
Imagine then, three months after the flight landed, it lands again. Same plane, same pilots, same call-sign, same passengers. But here's the rub. The people on the plane are the same people who already landed three months previously. They think they are on the flight that left Paris three months ago. The plane is re-routed and the passengers and crew isolated by the authorities. Their, what do we call them, "other selves" are also rounded up... What exactly is happening? And why? And what on earth do you do with the duplicates? Who even are the duplicates? Apart from the missing months, they both have the identical same memories of the identical same lives...
This book was a bit of a one to try and get my head round. So I didn't. I just accepted that what happened happened and that's that. Once I took that path, I just sat back and let the author lead me, well, who knows where! The whole book is so well written that even though what is described is impossible (probably) it, well, it isn't.
It's also fascinating to see what happens when word gets out. Moral, religious, social, political and other issues all get debated. Everyone has an opinion. Especially those directly affected. Families now have two daddies, people suddenly have their own twin. Do they just job-share? And that's just the tip of the iceberg...
Honestly... this book spun my head so much. In a great way. It's be a cracking book club read, so much debate. Even days after finishing it, I am still thinking about it and asking people - what would you do if...?
Fascinating, fantastic and thought provoking. It's only January but it'll probably be top ten still come December. I must check out his back catalogue... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The premise of this one really appealed - full of mystery and intrigue as you follow the fallout of the same flight, with the same passengers landing several months later - and there’s doubles of everyone aboard.

There’s lots of characters to keep track of as you follow not only the same passengers of the infamous flight (and their doubles!) but also the scientists trying to work out just what the heck is going on, and the shady (US) government agencies trying to contain it all. Parts of this where really engaging and pulled me along, but other parts not as much. Le Tellier shows the vast array of toils and tribulations that his characters have to endure - some of them are more mundane than others. But for the most, it’s not enough. I wanted more - more depth into the impact of these passengers and their doubles meeting, more depth into the reasons behind this anomaly.

I think I’m too lazy to give this book the read it deserves. What started off as intriguing became a bit difficult and my interest waned. One day I might try it again but for now it’s a tree star review from me.

This is an incredible read. So different to anything else at present. A series of vignettes of each of the main characters serves to involve you in their stories and leave you wanting for more. It is all brought together with a momentous flight fro Paris to America that is lucky to survive. Then the fun begins as we the reader question what has happened and could it happen? Intriguing, interesting and original. Keeps you fascinated until the very last page

A brilliant read even though I'm not sure I understood the ending. The book is very difficult to describe or categorise as it is broadly sci-fi with humorous references to Hitchhikers guide and Close encounters. An Air-France plane lands in New York; three months later the same plane lands with the same people lands. What happens when you have 2 identical wives or mothers? It's so cleverly written it's a joy to read.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

In March, a 787 Boeing flight from Paris – New York lands after an incredible bout of turbulence, to the relief of all aboard. In June, it lands again.

I had a lot of fun with this book. We follow a range of characters – some relatable, some not so much – and follow the mystery as it slowly unfolds from a variety of different perspectives and security clearances. The first act of the novel is quite slow. It takes a while to build up and settle into its own pace, getting used to its own characters almost, but by Act 2 it has a distinctly cinematic quality to it.

Most people familiar with the sci-fi genre have probably encountered a similar concept to The Anomaly, but le Tellier puts enough of his own twist on it that it doesn’t feel quite so much like well-worn ground. Le Tellier’s style is at times pretentious, weighted with its own importance, and then wry and slyly humorous, poking fun at everything from politics to itself.

This is, however, not an easy book to skim read. Perspectives and narrative voice can change back and forth within a single paragraph, sometimes to characters we will never hear from again. It’s very cinematic in that sense, but can be confusing at times.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, murder, terrorism.
Would I recommend this? To certain people, yes.
Would I read a sequel? No. That ending really doesn’t need one.

The description of The Anomaly really had me interested and looking forward to reading the book. Unfortunately when I started it it did not live up to my expectations. I found it confusing and frustrating and it just did not work for me I'm afraid.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for my ARC.

This was different. I enjoyed the concept and idea of the book, if not the execution. I started out reading it enthusiastically, but my interest dropped off as I continued reading. I think it was too mashed up for me, too much going on, and it seemed disjointed. I started to struggle with it, and it lost my interest.

A stitch in time ★★★☆☆

When a storm-battered plane lands in New York it is met with bafflement and suspicion by air control: the same plane and passengers already landed in March, three months earlier. As the USA's top experts scrabble to react and explain this impossible event, the original passengers and their doubles are left with twice the secrets and fears.

Told from the point of view of the pilot and six of the passengers - both March and June versions - we meet a killer, an ageing Romeo, a single mother, a young black lawyer, an author, a secretly gay rapper, and a little girl with an awful secret. Do the second versions have a place in the world? And if the last three months never happened would the passengers make the same choices?

A slow burning and philosophical sci fi novel which questions who we really are and what the world is ready for.

From the moment I first read the premise of The Anomaly I was intrigued, and I have really enjoyed reading this unique book.

It tells the story of one impossible event and how countless lives are changed forever as a result. When a flight from Paris to New York in March 2021 encounters a terrifying and unexpected bout of turbulence the passengers are relieved to land safely and very happy to be able to continue living their lives. But in June 2021, the same flight, with exactly the same crew and passengers, emerges in American airspace. A truly unimaginable situation, which the authorities have no choice but to find a way through. In the days that follow, the passengers in the hangar where they have all been staying since the flight was grounded are prepared as much as possible by the relevant professionals to meet their doubles. But can you ever truly be yourself if there are two of you?

I love how character driven this book is and really liked how the story is split into three key parts. In the first part of the book we are introduced chapter by chapter to an array of characters, each from different parts of the world, in different situations and living through such different experiences. We meet an assassin/family man who lives a secret double life, a lawyer, an architect, an author and a musician to name but a few. Each chapter gives a real insight into their lives and how each person has been spending their time since their flight back in March.

The second part of the book then focuses on the emergence of the duplicate plane in June 2021 as the authorities try to understand and forge a way forward through this truly unprecedented situation. It was fascinating to read about the different theological, scientific and religious perspectives put forward as to how a plane can have duplicated in this way. I also liked the little interview snippets and seeing the responses the June versions of our key characters from part one gave.

The third part of the book then allows us to see the March and June characters meeting each other for the first time. This was really interesting and I enjoyed seeing all of the different reactions and ideas proposed as to how both people could continue to live alongside each other in the world. It made this section of the book really intriguing.

It’s hard to say more without giving details away, but there are some really great surprises throughout and I really enjoyed getting to learn about this brilliant cast of characters!

I’ll be honest and say that I had to give up on this book. It was way beyond me and I was so confused with what was happening. Maybe I’m not in the right frame of mind but if you’re after an easy read maybe go for something else.

I have never read a book like this before. It is different, clever and thought provoking. It isn’t what I thought it would be, but in a good way and I did find myself immersed in the concept and the characters.
To be honest, some of it was a bit clever and literary for me, but it had enough plot, character development and charm to keep me interested.
I am glad I read it. Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to do so. .

Such an interesting concept - this was not a book that I could skim through,

A mix of philosophy, science fiction and literature, this is a fascinating novel that is really meant to be mulled over. I found the first two thirds especially good. I would have liked more time spent on the last part, but understand that it could have become a tome!

If you want some high-concept reading and have some time go for it.

An enjoyable, if not at times frustrating read. The concept behind it was interesting, and could and for me should have been explored more. If the theory that what was happening, it felt that it was accepted, and not truly explored or investigated. It seemed to focus on the impact this had on the individuals . Certain characters and events felt at times unfinished, before moving on to the next For example the Chinese involvement. The ending I think I get, but not 100% certain, and that has frustrated me, a system crash, or a reboot??😕😕

An interesting concept that isn't that new to be honest but well done here in an emotionally resonant way. I won't give further spoilers it is a book best read cold.

The characters were compelling and the best parts of this novel come in the personal and moral dilemmas playing out on the page. I could have done without all the random philosophy dumps but as a multi faceted character drama this is addictive and clever.

You'll certainly be left with things to think about so on that level it's an intelligent narrative. However to my mind the ending was what I refer to as a "Lost" ending. No idea what to actually do so throw something at the wall and hope it sticks. I found it vaguely frustrating.

Overall though an entertaining read that will certainly have you wondering about the nature of life and identity.