His Other Life by Anna E. Collins offered an experience that differed from my initial expectations, though not in a negative sense. The novel follows Anna, whose husband tragically dies in a car accident, leaving her with no recollection of the events surrounding his death. In her search for answers, she discovers a note with the name "Gemma" on it, which sets off a chain of events that upends her world.

Though I initially anticipated a psychological thriller, the story unfolds as a poignant exploration of truth, healing, and unexpected revelations. I found the narrative to be compelling and well-paced, with deeply developed characters that added richness to the experience. The conclusion brought a sense of calm, offering closure in a way that felt satisfying and thoughtful.

Collins’ writing style struck a perfect balance—both accessible and immersive, drawing me into the story without overwhelming complexity. While the emotions evoked by the book are difficult to articulate, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and found it to be the ideal read for me at the time. This was my first book by Anna E. Collins, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future

One of my favourite books so far this year
A well written book
Will have you from the first page to the last
Thanks Netgalley

His Other Life is an emotional story, but it is also hopeful. The story is set in the present, but there are flashbacks from the previous 4 years. It's been more than two years since the tragic car crash that killed Isla’s husband, Jonah and seriously injured her. She has no memory of the accident or the days before, and she is full of guilt knowing that she was driving. Her life has ground to a halt, she has moved in with her mother and is on a leave of absence from her career as a university professor. She has no desire to go back to work, or leave her mother's house. She has finally started to volunteer for Meals on Wheels a couple of times a week and is very good with the clients she engages with. One of her clients is Maverick, aka Mav. She begins eating her lunch with him and sharing her story. She wants to find out what happened and he agrees to go on a roadtrip with her to retrace that weekend and see if it jogs her memory. Meanwhile we meet Jonah as Covid has hit. He and Isla are both working out of their home and their relationship is struggling. When he goes on a business trip, he breaks a tooth and gets it fixed in Vancouver. He meets Gemma, the dental hygienist and they become friends, eventually more. Isla has not idea about his infidelity, but she may find out.

His Other Life is an interesting story with more going on than what appears on the surface. I liked Isla, but also wanted to give her a kick in the butt. I was glad her mother made some decisions that forced her to come out of hiding. Mav was a great character. He was in his 90s, but still relatively spry. He had been a sailor and had a lot of tattoos on his face, that freaked a lot of people out. As Isla got to know him, she didn't even see them anymore. Mav's nurse followed along behind them, to be available if something happened, which gave Isla the creeps because she was sure they were being followed. He turned out to be a really nice guy and helped them in their search. I think he was my favourite character in the book. The more places Isla goes, the more frustrated she gets as her memory doesn't seem to be coming back. She is just about ready to give up when something tweaks. I enjoyed this book, but one thing that I am not a fan of is infidelity. I know it is what drove this book so I could overlook that part that I was not a fan of. As the story goes forward, there are some twists that I wasn't expecting, but fit this story perfectly. There are also some letters between an army veteran and a nurse by the name of Cass sprinkled throughout. I wasn't sure what the tie in was, but that is all pulled together at the end. As I read this one, I had a lot of different emotions come into play from anger, frustration, sympathy, caring and more. A book that left me feeling hopeful that forgiveness is possible even under the most dire situations.

This was a realistic story and an easy read. Loved the ending, it was actually my favourite part of the whole book. Even though its marked as a thriller, it was an emotional read for me. Highly recommend.

His Other Life by Anna E. Collins was a heartbreaking book and you will need tissues handy and lots of them! it will be a book that will stay with you especially as it was a great page turner from the very beginning till the end. It was beautifully written by Anna. I really enjoyed reading His Other Life especially as it was an easy read, But I wouldn't recommend reading it whilst sitting by the pool on holiday lol. . . . . . . . . if you don't want panda eyes!
However, I do recommend this book where no one can see you lol.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This one kept me up late into the night. Once I started reading I just couldn't stop. Do read this one - it is brilliant!

This book absolutely shattered my heart and then beautifully put it back together again!

Isla has spent the past two years grieving the loss of her husband, unable to move past the trauma of not remembering the night he died. Struggling with her grief, she finds solace in her work with Meals on Wheels, where she meets Mav. Together, they embark on a road trip to help Isla recover her lost memories. Along the way, they’re joined by Rowan and Louise, and together, they form an unexpected support system that helps Isla on her emotional journey.

I don’t want to give away too much, but trust me when I say this is a story you won’t want to miss. It’s a deeply heartwarming narrative with an unexpected twist that I absolutely loved.

A book written through multiple perspectives, detailing the search for answers from the past. An extremely interesting and unique read, with a few twists to the end which I wasn't expecting! The letters interspersed throughout the book provided an interesting alternative viewpoint and medium, deepening the reader's understanding of these complex characters.

Overall, I would recommend - the personalities and history of each character was well detailed in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming, while also ensuring the information shared is relevant and interesting for the reader!

Thank you @bookouture & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Two years after Jonah's death in a car accident, his widow, Isla, still haunted by the past, revisits the romantic hotel where they shared their last moments together. Upon her arrival, she is unexpectedly handed Jonah's jacket, where she finds a note, saying, ‘Call Gemma’ in the pocket. Suddenly, Isla begins to question everything about her marriage. Had Jonah had been unfaithful?

Faced with the choice of uncovering the truth about his secrets or burying the past, Isla must decide if she is ready to confront the truth.

MY THOUGHTS: This book is touted as a “totally heartbreaking, unforgettable, and gripping page-turner.” So I’m not sure why I was expecting more of a thriller, but I would say this is more a mixture of family drama and women’s friendship fiction. The story flows well, creatively combining alternating timelines and love stories; and I liked all of the characters except Jonah and Gemma. Isla makes new friends who work together to help her confront her past. That part was touching. I was not prepared for the twist at the end, but the love stories end with a unique connection.

Two years later, after the car accident that killed her husband, Isla is still dealing with bits of amnesia as well as guilt. After finding a suspicious picture on his camera, she sets off to find out what or if her husband was hiding. The name of the book as well as the picture allude to the fact that Jonah was having an affair. Through some very interesting twists and turns we go with Islan on her hunt for the truth. It was a good read, I could've done without the mentions of covid however it didn't take over the book.

All in all it was a good read.

Thank you to Anna E Collins, NetGalley and Bookouture Publications for allowing me this early digital version in exchange for my review.

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the chance to read this book.

Entertaining fast paced, a lot going on, quite a lot of people to keep up with but it's not that hard once you get everything going in your mind and you're introduced to everyone. Pretty good amount of surprises to keep you entertained, although some are pretty predictable, My only complaint about this book is It seems to be a pretty common plot among authors. Pretty sure I've read it few other times in other books. But still a good story

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'His Other Life' by Anna E. Collins.

Read and reviewed for NetGalley, Anna E Collins, Bookouture, Bookouture Book Club and Hachette UK.

This is the second book I have read by Anna and another fantastic one it is! I have also read 'her Secret Life' which I would also highly recommend!

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This book is devastatingly gorgeous, emotive and beautiful. I absolutely love the unique storyline and the fact that it is set over multiple protagonists makes you feel that you are living several lives in one book. If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Picoult then I will tell you now you may as well stop wasting your time reading this and grab your copy of this book now! In this utterly addictive page turner Anna drops us into the lives of Isla and Gemma in both the past and present. Isla lost her husband Jonah two years ago in a tragic car accident. Isla still can not remember what happened fully apart from leaving the romantic hotel they were staying in, getting in to the car to go for a romantic meal and then nothing until waking up in the hospital. Isla is determined to find out what happened and decides to retrace their last fateful journey and returns to the hotel they left that day. When she arrives at the hotel she is handed Jonah's jacket by a member of staff. She discovers a note in his pocket which says to 'Call Gemma'. Isla has no idea who Gemma is or why the note was in her husband's pocket. However, Isla is determined to find out the truth and when she meets 90 year old Maverick they embark on a journey together to get the answers she wants. Will Isla discover who Gemma is? Will she regret finding out? grab your copy of this amazing page turner today to find out for yourselves and i can guarantee that you will not regret it. With a gripping storyline packed with emotions, friendship, loss, heartbreak, mystery, flashbacks, hope, anger, sympathy and so much more what on Earth are you waiting for? This book is filled with every emotion you can think of including love, anger, heartbreak, loss, forgiveness, tension, worry, shock, suspense, mystery and so, so much more!!! It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Anna's evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. It will make you cry both tears of happiness and sadness. The multiple narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle glued to my hands. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with each of the characters and going through their happiness, pain, sadness, curiosity and much more. You need to clear your schedules because you will not be able to put this book down. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and although it could be a difficult read at times with emotions running high I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!! This is a book that will stay with me for years if not forever! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!! The characters were all very strong and realistic and Anna's writing ensured they jumped off the pages at me. My heart went out to each of the main protagonists for different reasons during different chapters. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoyed discovering their histories as the story unravelled. Anna's fantastic evocative writing skills bring each of them to life. Pick up your copy of this book today and meet these memorable characters yourself.

Congratulations Anna on another absolutely stunning, unforgettable, emotional and gripping book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is the reason you are on my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, stunning, addictive and compelling devastatingly beautiful MUST READ!!

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Reading in Between the Wines book review #12/125 for 2025:
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: His Other Life
Author: Anna E. Collins
AVAILABLE NOW!!! Released on February 6, 2025!
BOOK TOUR

Sipping thoughts: In the words of the author, this book really shows the
interconnectedness of people” and how one person can change the trajectory of your life. While there is suspense and mystery, the book is more a family drama full of grief, lies, and deceit. I really felt for Isla. My heart was ripped out as she kept trying to remember the night of the crash. I loved Mav and Rowan and felt they gave so much to the story. If you are looking for a heart-wrenching, bitter sweet story of love, forgiveness, grief, and serendipity, this is the book for you.

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @HisOtherLife.

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Favorite Quotes:

Not to worry. I still have eyes like a hawk and reflexes like the jungle cats of the Amazon, according to my doctor.

Being out in public with Maverick was an interesting experience. He was warm and cordial to everyone they interacted with, but his face made people stare as if someone on a most-wanted list had walked past.

God, I’ve been nervous and excited all morning. Nervo-cited. Let’s hug.


My Review:

This one kept me reading long past my bedtime as I didn’t want to put my precious Kindle down. The storylines were easy to follow, well-nuanced, and cleverly layered despite having three timelines. The characters were well-developed and realistically flawed yet generally likable. This was my first exposure to this wily author’s word-craft; count me an instant fan.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book ripped out my heart and then put it back together again!
Isla has been grieving the death of her husband for the past two years. She can barely function most days because she can’t remember what happened the night he died. Isla works for Meals on Wheels and meets Mav. She opens up to him and they take a road trip to regain her memory. Along the way we meet Rowan and Louise and they all work together to help Isla. I don’t want to give too much away- except to say that you should read this!
This is a heartwarming story and I love the twist at the end. I am looking forward to more books by Anna E. Collins. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#HisOtherLife #AnnaECollins #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

I loved this book fom start to finish, So many twists and turns. A definite recommend.

Thanks publisher and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone

It’s hard to put my feelings about this book into words. Is there a mystery occurring in this book? Yes. And while that is the main focus of the book, there is also a substory about family and grief that is absolutely beautiful.

Isla is looking for answers about her husband’s death. She doesn’t remember what happens and she’s stuck in her grief. It’s been two years and she hasn’t gone back to work. On their anniversary, she watches their wedding video and cooks dinner. She can’t seem to move on and she blames herself for his death. Everyone processes grief in their own way, but Isla hasn’t processed it at all. Her journey to try to figure out what happened the weekend of the accident not only her processing her grief, but it is insanely brave of her. When she has her AHA moment about what happened and the mystery is revealed, I was surprised; I didn’t see that coming at all. There was nothing in this book that would have helped me figure it out (that’s a great thing!).

There is also the substory about family here. Isla learns about a family member that she never knew about and to learn the back story of that family member and how they were all connected was also sad and hopeful at the same time.

I really liked how the author chose to end the book the way that it ended. It could have gone in a different way and I wouldn’t have loved it. I don’t want to say more than that because I don’t want to give it away.

I love Isla’s character. She had so many obstacles to overcome after losing her husband. She doesn’t remember what happened the day of the accident, and she really wants to put the pieces together to get answers. Through her volunteer job with Meals on Wheels she meets Maverick, who’s supportive of her and wants to help her find them. Having the older person character in this story adds so much depth. We get a little of Mav’s history as the story goes on. Technically it’s dual timeline, but we get Mav’s POV through letters.

There were so many pieces to this story. I definitely didn’t figure out the twists. I didn’t want to stop reading because I wanted the same answers that Isla did.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was an amazing read! I was drawn in quickly. There are many twists and turns. There are a lot of secrets in this book. I could not put this book down and read it in one night.

Isla can't remember the night her husband died. While trying to uncover the truth of that night, she starts to unravel even deeper secrets. Her husband wasn't the only person she didn't really know. Not everyone in her life is who she thinks they are.


Marriage is hard...marriage during the height of COVID was hard! I loved how the circumstances were relatable. I could easily see things like this actually happening. Maybe not tied up so nicely, but you get the idea. If you dont care to read about infidelity stories, though, I'd recommend sitting this one out. Personally, it's a bit of a guilty pleasure trope for me.


I loved this book. From start to finish, I was invested in these characters. Even though I had feelings that certain events and people were connected early on, it didn't cause me to enjoy the story any less.

My heart broke a couple of times reading this, but Collins did a phenomenal job mending it, too.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.