Member Reviews

Enjoyable chicklit read that will no doubt be seen in numerous beach bags this summer, definitely one to blow away those grey clouds when you sit by the pool

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I enjoyed this new release from Acton - having previously enjoyed The Shelf, I knew that this was likely to be both lighthearted and thought provoking.

The premise of the story reminded me a bit of The Midnight Library and having loved that, I knew I’d be likely to enjoy each of these “what if?” scenarios. This story had a good balance between lighthearted and thought provoking moments and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey that Frankie went on over the course of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my earc of this story.

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I didn't expect to love this so much, but I couldn't put it down. Imagine you had a chance to choose all your cross roads again? Frankie is in a rut, feeling like her life is going nowhere and losing hope, when she slips and lands up in the "in between" - not alive but not yet dead. She gets the opportunity to live a single day in each of her life's crossroads. It is eye-opening, and at the end she gets to choose which life she wants to return to.

Frankie is warm and funny and cant figure out what she wants from life and it stresses her out. She is relatable and identifiable. And I love all her lives - an old love, a new love, an exotic home, a famous lifestyle. She gets to try it all. Its beautifully paced and completely absorbing. She learns that there is no utopia. Every one of her dreams, have two side to them. So what is she willing to compromise. Again the message is so relatable, and I loved the metaphor.

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I am big fan of Helly Acton's other books (particularly the stunning 'The Shelf') so I was very intrigued to read her latest offering 'Begin Again'. We meet Frankie on a terrible date, dissatisfied with life and feeling perhaps life and opportunities had passed her by. This evening ends rather tragically with Frankie's untimely death. She is whisked off to the afterlife where she is given the chance to live different versions of her life for 24 hours in order to 'begin again'.

The concept of the book was very interesting, particularly where each life is initially shown to be idyllic, that missed opportunity which would have left Frankie happy and fulfilled, before revealing the underlying nuances to each decision. Each 'new' version of the life were very different and interesting in their own way.

However, you may be thinking this concept sounds remarkably similar to Matt Haig's 'Midnight Library', and you would be correct in more ways than one. Whilst I enjoyed Acton's novel, I would rather return to Haig if I were to read something following this storyline again. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I’m a big fan of Helly Acton. I love the way her novels ‘The Shelf’ and ‘The Couple’ turn unspoken rules of society on their heads and frame them as the strange, damaging and nonsensical things that they are, and so I was really excited for another book of hers.

At first glance, this one didn’t seem to be in exactly the same vein as her previous novels, but I knew I would be in for a treat regardless.

Here’s what it’s all about:

Despite living firmly in her comfort zone, Frankie McKenzie feels unsettled. She can't help feeling something's missing. Is it a home to call her own? Travel? A more rewarding job? A relationship? Before she can work it out, she dies in a freak kebab-related accident after yet another dud of a first date.

But life isn't over for Frankie. Instead, she is offered a second chance: Frankie can revisit key moments from her past to see if different choices will lead her away from that fateful takeaway and on to the fulfilling life she's always dreamt of.

Soon, Frankie will see what her life would have been if only she'd caught that one-way flight, accepted the marriage proposal or attended the intimidating job interview. Will she finally find her Mr Right? Or discover she already had?

What would you change if you could begin again?

If you’ve read Matt Haig’s ‘The Midnight Library’ then you’re probably thinking ‘huh, that sounds familiar’ and you’d be right, but ‘Begin Again’ packed even more of a punch for me. While the basic premise is the same, it has the grittiness and realism that ‘The Midnight Library’ lacked - it’s a lot less sentimental.

Frankie is a bit of a mess. She’s feeling stuck in her job writing celebrity columns, resents her friends settling down and moving to the suburbs, keeps having disastrous dates, and she’s yet to get fed up of drowning her sorrows at the weekend. I really connected with Frankie, especially in terms of feeling left behind as her friends couple up and settle down; I think it’s a curse of a single, childfree thirty-something and it’s hard. It’s one of the things that Frankie comes face to face with in every iteration of her life, in different ways, and it’s an inevitability. I love the way that Acton validated those feelings of being left behind.

She did the same with Frankie’s feeling about her job. Another sore point for me, honestly…

Even with the emotional gut punches and intense cringe from some of Frankie’s experiences after being dropped into alternate lives, ‘Begin Again’ feels warm and witty and has elements of a rom-com. It’s fun and easy to read, and remains clever and thoughtful.

I’m always excited for a new Helly Acton novel and I’m already eagerly awaiting her next offering.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for the review copy.

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I’d like to thank NetGalley and Zaffre for approving me for an ARC of this book.

⌛When Frankie’s life unexpectedly ends she is given the chance, to relive pivotal moments from her life, to answer the day-old question, what if? We’ve all had those moments in our life so I found this book hugely relatable. If you enjoyed The Midnight Library then this is for you!

🤣I had moments when I laughed out loud with the story and a lot of the characters made me smile. I liked how Helly Acton explored friendships as well as relationships. She showed the changes we all go through as our friendship groups hit different milestones.

💖We had a few love interests in the story and it was clear to me who the front-runner was from the start. I enjoyed revisiting the what-if exes but in my opinion, they were exes for a reason.

⭐Fun, refreshing and thought-provoking! A quirky but engaging read that left me smiling.

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4.5 stars
Having enjoyed Helly Acton’s previous books, I was really excited to read her latest release, particularly when it sounded like it would have some serious Sliding Doors vibes.
I will say, if you enjoyed Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, I’ve got a feeling you’ll really enjoy this.
I liked the crossroads that were explored and that each one had its pros and cons. What seemed like a dream life on the outside always had its own set of issues, which made it feel realistic, despite the whole notion of there being The Station, this limbo between life and death and being able to experience these different lives for 24 hours only.
I also really appreciated the ending.
Helly always puts an interesting spin on a concept and that's exactly what she did in Begin Again.
It’s definitely a thought provoking story that will have you re-examining your own life too.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed this book, I’ll admit that it didn’t grab me, so I took a bit longer to read it than I’d planned, but it was a steady read and I’m glad I stuck with it. The story follows Frankie and her trip to alternative lives to see which one would suit her better. I’ll not spoil it by revealing the ending, but it plays out well. I’d recommend this book, thank you #netgalley

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To be honest I was sold on this book as soon as I read ‘Sliding Doors meets The Good Place’ 😆 Sliding Doors is one of my fave films, I love the idea that a single seemingly-insignificant moment can alter your whole life. This book cleverly expands on that idea; Frankie is shown not just one moment that affected her life…but five. And is then presented with a choice - to return to any of those existences and continue that life, or move on to The Final Destination (don’t worry, no log trucks or lay-down sun beds here 🤭)

As Frankie lives each of the lives for 24 hours she realises that while aspects of each appeals to her, all is not as she had imagined in each scenario. Lessons are learned, old wounds are healed, relationships are reconsidered.

I enjoyed every moment of this book, the writing style was engaging and funny, the storyline was fresh and novel, and the characters were well developed. I didn’t know how it would end and I was intrigued as to what decision Frankie would ultimately make. Despite this being categorised as a romcom I liked that it wasn’t overly focused on the romance, definitely more com than rom ❤️

And it left me wondering…what would my life changing moments be? We all have those ‘what if’ moments throughout our lives, and there’s no way to ever know just how impactive even the smallest choices have been. But it’s fun to wonder…

I highly recommend this if you want something light but still thought-provoking. Thank you @rachelsrandomresources and @zaffrebooks for my copy of Begin Again 🙏🏻

⭐️4/5⭐️

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As soon as I saw that this was being marketed as The Good Place meets Sliding Doors I was sold, like a toddler to that sugary box of cereal that includes a free toy.

Sometimes you just know things. Had a headache and felt that storm brewing? Well the author cleverly lets the reader know that Frankie is about to die. From the very first sentence you are aware that she will die in a kebab related accident. To then discover she has only one hour and thirty one minutes left. The clock is ticking and she’s wasting it on a date that she doesn’t even want to be on.

I must admit I didn’t warm to Frankie straight away and after her description of her friend Priya I was probably closer to her in personality. Before long though I had warmed to her, especially on discovering that her family puts the fun in dysfunctional.

After her death she gets to relive her life at key moments for 24 hours and it was at this point I was hooked. Not giving anything away makes reviewing difficult but let me just say it is one uplifting quirky little book, full of wit and wisdom on life, death, what ifs and chasing happiness before it’s too late.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

Fans of the midnight library will love this book!

Frankie dies after slipping on a kebab, and is transported to an afterlife train station where she gets 24 hours to live 4 different versions of her life depending on choices she’s made.

Frankie is a hilarious, well written main character who you can’t help but relate too. She’s surrounding by a brilliant cast of side characters, each one unique but memorable.

The book is split into parts, each with their own quirky title, and each a perfect length to tell Frankie’s version of that life without becoming boring.

I’ll be picking up more Helly Acton books in the future if all her books are as enjoyable as this one.

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I really enjoyed this story and the different spin it tells. The differing options offered to Frankie were fascinating and seeing a whole new perspective to life! A must read.

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I'm a sucker for anything to do with stories that play with the conecpt of time / alternative lives and this is marketed as The Good Place meets Sliding Doors.

I didn’t warm to Frankie straight away, her attitude came across as a little rude and bitter but warmed to her once we started to follow her as she explored the different snapshots of her 'what-if' lives.

The novel has reflective and thought-provoking moments but overall it's a light and uplifting book around the premise of the grass being always greener on the other side.

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Frankie McKenzie has just turned 36 and life is a bit...meh. Her friends are buying houses, getting married, moving on and she's single, in a rented one-bedroom flat and stuck in a rut with her job. She often wonders if she's made mistakes along the way...that proposal she turned down? Or the one-way ticket to Mexico she didn't use? What if...?

During a disastrous first date she bails and heads to her favourite kebab shop, only to die in a freak kebab-related accident. But now Frankie has a decision, she can relive 5 of her biggest crossroads as if she'd made the other choice and then choose whether to go back and live one of those alternate lives...or go forward and see what happens after death...

It's brilliant. Frankie is relatable (who hasn't thought "but what if I'd done that instead?"), funny and just seems like the sort of person you'd like to be her friend. The different scenarios are cleverly thought out, amusing as well as making a serious point, and really show that sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side. It also shows that a lot of things are out of your control, but others you do need to make your own positive step forward.

The only disappointment is that I didn't write it. Loved it, 5 stars.

#hellyacton #beginagain #netgalley

Also posted to Goodreads and instagram but can't link with this account.

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Author Helly Acton always takes an alternative fantastical spin on life and love. In #TheShelf a reality show where contestants compete to be crowned 'The Keeper' after being dumped on live TV, in #TheCouple a pill that prevents you from falling in love and in this 'The Station' a halfway between death and life where you get presented with different destinations or alternative lives. I'm not normally a fan of the impossible or unrealistic but Helly makes it work by teaming it with her astute observations, relatable humour and unique feminism. For example, on announcing you've been single for six years, bracing yourself for the "quick glimpse up and down as he hunts for hairy palms, a tail thrashing under her shirt or a Nickelback neck tattoo" or thinking "that being an adult is quite shit. It's all work, no play, and bills to pay."

I also really love how Helly celebrates singledom. Main character Frankie is "convinced that anyone who claims to have found 'The One' has simply settled for someone. Frankie is looking for a plus one. Guaranteed company for the gigs, galleries, park walks and pub lunches. A plus one to share big nights out and lazy days in. She used to have a plus three but her friends aren't as reliable as they used to be." I couldn't agree more.

In fact from only a couple of pages in I was already agreeing and chuckling to myself, and it stayed that way right until the perfect ending. An ending that was positive but full of possibilities rather than perfectly packaged. So in short, I loved this!

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When I saw this one come up for review from @rachelsrandomresources I jumped at the chance to grab an ARC. I adored The Shelf and couldn’t wait to dive in to this one!

I love Frankie and that she captions everything with a headline! This story really does make you think, who wouldn’t like to see how their life would turn out if they made a different choice when they reached a cross road in life! I loved seeing Frankie’s journey to self discovery and I’m seeing her What Ifs!

Thank you so much to @bonnierbooks_uk and @rachelsrandomresources for supplying me a copy 🫶

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Dying is never good, but Frankie has an opportunity to go back to different points in her life and see how they could have turned out differently

it was the blurb that got me on this one as I love the film sliding doors. But this book also reminded me of the midnight library and I love the concept of this narrative.

Acton writes with ease and allows the reader to follow this storyline and become invested in Frankie's choices. This is a novel full of reflection and a journey of self-discovery and growth.

I would highly recommend this to anyone's reading list as you won't be disappointed

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This is a tough one to chat about without giving too much away & also because I don't think it fits squarely into the classic 'romantic comedy' category that it says it is. That being said once I'd got my head round that, & the very interesting premise, I enjoyed the read.

Frankie is a wonderfully normal heroine, with varying amounts of confidence & doubt in battle. Her death by kebab leads to a crossroads - given the chance to explore a range of 'what ifs', something I imagine we've all done from time to time.

This is more than a romcom, although there are elements obviously, but a look at friendship & self. Can money or fame make you happy? Would traveling the world be the best move? What if...?

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Sadly this didn't work for me. This didn't feel like a romance really. I think it should be labeled differently. While there are relationships involved that's not really the story being told.
I found I wasn't really that interested in any of her potential lives either. Or rooting for her to get everything she wants. She wasn't unlikeable I just found her a little dull.

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Frankie McKenzie feels stuck - her friends seem to have less time for her, her job is just not fulfilling and her dating life is going nowhere. Something is missing, but she can't work out what. Then, following an accident involving a kebab, she is offered a second chance. She is able to visit the significant moments of her life where a decision changed its course. Would things have been different if she had accepted the marriage proposal or taken the job abroad? In this book, Frankie gets to ask - would you change a decision if you could?

I jumped at the chance to take part in this tour after loving Helly's debut 'The Shelf', and I wasn't disappointed. Begin Again is warm, funny and heartfelt. As I got to know Frankie as a character, I became more invested in her story and her journey of self discovery. She is a wonderful, witty character who I wanted the best for, and the ending was just the satisfaction I hoped for.

If you love The Good Place, Sliding Doors or The Midnight Library, this is a book for you.

Such a fun, joyful read that is wonderfully executed.

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