Lines

by Sung J. Woo

On a foggy morning in New York City, a man and a woman are about to run into each other, literally. Upon impact, they fall to the ground in an instinctively protective hug. The fog dissipates, and they stare into each other's eyes in disbelief, at the sheer magnitude of their bodily collision and their subsequent, spontaneous coupling. They laugh. The man, a writer, invites the woman, an artist, for coffee and they talk until lunch. They date. They fall in love, hard. They marry just two months later. And four years later, their marriage is on the precipice of disaster.

On a foggy morning in New York City, the same man and woman pass through the fog, oblivious of each other's existence. Until five years later, when the writer finds an oval-shaped locket no bigger than his thumbnail, a tiny white dress painted within the boundary of its golden border.

Lines is about possibilities, about the choices we make - or fail to make. It's a star-crossed love story; it's a bitter tragedy. It's about Josh and Abby and their intertwined lives, together and apart, through births and deaths and the beautiful mess in between.

308 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2024

About the author

Sung J. Woo's short stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times, PEN/Guernica, and KoreAm Journal. He has written two novels, Love Love (2015) and Everything Asian (2009), which won the 2010 Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Literature Award (Youth category). In 2014, Everything Asian was chosen for Coming Together in Skokie and Niles Township. A graduate of Cornell University with an MFA from New York University, he lives in Washington, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t remember when I’ve read a book that was so very different from anything I’ve read before - not in a bad way, mind you. In some ways it seems quite ordinary, with a story that sometimes revolves around relationships, both good and bad. But when it comes to the characters, their perspectives, the changes taking place throughout this story, you can feel the tension rising, as one side sees it one way, and the other side, of course, sees it another way.

This is a story about art, and an artist, and someone who, unbeknownst to the artist, decides to ‘adopt’ her art and pair it with a story that he sees in her work. Unbeknownst to the artist at least until she knows, which isn’t long. But beyond that, it is a story of so much more. Of connections, of moments that change the course of our lives, of hope and despair, and every moment of beauty, as well. Not just the beauty that is fresh and new and unavoidable, but the beauty that is almost invisible. The kind of beauty that is appreciated the more you look at it, the more you see. The kind of beauty that becomes a part of how you view the world, and thus, a part of you.

A beautifully written, thought provoking and heartfelt story.


Pub Date: 29 Oct 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by BooksGoSocial

[Kamilė · Rating 4 out of 5]

"there's nothing more satisfying than options, alternative possibilities, the open paths of a person's existence."

i went through a bit of a rollercoaster with this one for the first couple of chapters. while the premise—two strangers who paths cross in one world and split apart in another—piqued my interest, josh's early pov was kind of off-putting. it took a few chapters to get used to it, while abby's chapters were more engaging from the start.

this is quite an ambitious concept, as woo had to build two characters into four – joshua and abby who run into each other and build life together, and joshua and abby who once walked past each other unknowingly and now meet by chance, with josh coming across abby's art. it plays with what ifs and makes you wonder – are we sure we met someone one too early, too late, or on time?

as you compare the two versions of joshua and abby, how their lives were influenced by external factors, how the people surrounding them differ and appear the same in both worlds, you get the idea of who they are at their core, and the effect they can have on each other. "lines" is both mundane and magical. its core is love one has for their art, and how artists can bind to each other or break apart.

i'd be remiss not to mention dina brodsky, whose art adorns the pages of "lines". it's not difficult to imagine how her miniatures may inspire someone to build a little written world of their own, let alone build a novel around them.

"lines" was a unique experience in reading and an exploration of art that sees the simplicity of the everyday in all its glory.

thanks to NetGalley, Books Go Social, and Unsolicited Press for the arc.

[diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐ "When she paints, it is not to become someone else but to become no one at all. It is to disappear, but even deeper than that, to not exist at all, to have never existed."

Unfortunately, this book just didn't click with me. I didn't like the characters and the sci-fi aspect of the story confused me. A few things really bothered me, but I can see how others might enjoy it.

On the other hand, this story is unique. It focuses on relationships and different perspectives, especially an artist and someone who reimagines her art to tell a new story. It's about connections and life-changing moments, making it a thought-provoking read.

thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an e-arc :)

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a foggy New York morning, a man and a woman collide, leading to an unforgettable connection. From a spontaneous embrace to a whirlwind romance, Josh and Abby's story is both magnetic and heartbreaking. But as their paths cross and diverge, "Lines" delves deep into the choices we make and their ripple effects on our lives.

Sung J Woo masterfully weaves a tale of possibilities, tracing the star-crossed journey of two souls through love, loss, and the unpredictable twists of fate. The author's writing is exceptional, bringing every emotion to life with vivid clarity.

I really liked this book—the ending was beautiful and left a lasting impact. This novel captures the essence of life's beautiful mess, where every decision shapes our destiny. A must-read for those who cherish stories that explore the delicate balance between chance and choice.

This book will stay with me for a long time!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story....is a TRIP.

It's rare to read a story that plays out as such a genuinely complicated romance where you genuinely aren't sure who to root for.

Abby Kim and Josh Kozlov met in day in the fog in NYC and get married in one timeline, while in another they completely missed each other and continued living life apart for several years. The book goes back and forth between the two timelines, showing how each life plays out the same and yet completely differently.

Also, watch for the end. It'll leave you potentially stunned for words.

[Kim Karlin-Kamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever. It took me a few chapters to clarify characters, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Daniella FS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book didn't work for me.

I didn't hate it neither love it. It was an in between that most of the time I can't describe.

The best part of the story was definitely the difference comparing to others. I must admit this was quite unique.

The ending was so beautiful that I think I will remember it for a very long time.

The author captivated the essence of life in a unreal and magical way, with all the mess and emotion, and gave us an exceptional and heart-taking writing.

But then, I didn't really love the two main characters, at all, and that was the reason I didn't loved it.

Book apart, I will be looking foward to see other stories of the author.




I want to thank the editor and also Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance in exchange of an honest opinion/review.
- publication date: Otober 29, 2024

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this complex dual timeline what-if novel, readers follow writer Josh and artist Abby in two different lifetimes; one where they run into each other and live a life together and one where they never meet at all. Exploring what could have been for the two characters and experiencing the realities and challenges of life for Josh and Abby, readers will witness their choices and understand how important single moments and simple choices are to one’s life -- and meet-cutes don’t always end happily ever after. With so many complicated moments and two very different (and yet very similar) storylines, readers will be consumed by Woo’s narrative and Josh and Abby’s lives. The complicated nature of this book forces readers to compare the two different narratives and consider the significance of one single moment. Josh and Abby are realistic, flawed, and complex characters, and their interactions with each other and other characters are really interesting in what they reveal about Josh and Abby in both timelines. A complex, immersive novel that focuses on interpersonal relationships and realistic romantic relationships, Woo’s novel is complicated and dynamic, and the evolution of their relationship in both timelines is a fascinating study of human interactions brought to life by powerful prose, complex characters, and emotional narrative structures.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the advance copy.

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠* is editing reviews! · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC
eARC recieved from NetGalley.

LOVED the writing style 😭 It is lyrical, dramatic, and metafictional!! The narration at the beginning kinda breaks the fourth wall and I loved it (yes, I've said that already, but it's hard to find words)

I wish I could see the art in color cause it looked cool 🥹 The book is very different from anything else I've read - the irony and tension are delicious and predicting how things would play out seems hard and easy at the same time.

The only thing I did not like was all the mentions of farting/ passing gas, because, really, there's nothing interesting about reading a man pass gas that would hit 7.5 on the sphincter scale (an actual line from the book) multiple times.

ending hit me like a truck - that's all I have to say about that.

[eiei · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that resonates long after the final page. Woo masterfully weaves two parallel paths - one where a man and a woman collide, leading to love, and another where they pass through life, oblivious to each other. The exploration of possibilities, choices, and the delicate threads connecting their lives is captivating. However, the occasional handling of events in each version prevents a higher rating.

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Lines releases October 29, 2024

Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if you didn’t cross paths with a certain person, or if you never said yes to getting that cup of coffee five years ago? What if you were supposed to meet someone earlier or later in life than when you initially did?

In Lines, two stories unfold simultaneously: one in which Josh and Abby never met outside of Washington Square Park, and the other resulting in them getting married two months after they collided on the streets of New York City.

Each chapter alternates between the timeline where Josh and Abby are married, versus the one they are not. Since the events they live through in both timelines mirror each other nearly 1:1, keeping track of which version you’re currently reading becomes a mental workout and the story quickly starts to feel repetitive.
This is exacerbated by the fact that the spouses of Josh and Abby in the timeline where they’re not married to each other, end up being prominent side characters in the form of their close friends in the timeline where they are married.

For a star-crossed love story, it wasn’t a good sign that I was enjoying the chapters more where they weren’t together…
Josh and Abby were so miserable and I couldn’t see the connection between them that made them fall so hard and fast to begin with.

I don’t particularly find any enjoyment in reading about a man in his mid-40s passing gas, or multiple characters who are emotionally cheating.

[Veronica B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was really promising and I enjoyed the story, but the book fell short for me so I can't give it more than 3 stars. I finished the book, so it clearly kept enough of my attention, but this book didn't live up to my expectations.

What I liked:
The two storylines were easy to follow and moved in parallel with one another. I liked the balance between how they were similar and how they differed.

I liked the minor characters, particularly Ted and Marlene. Their roles in both storylines really helped to show how a chance meeting can change more than just two people's lives.

What I didn't like:
The sentences were often clunky and the writing style just wasn't for me.

Readers are constantly told that the two main characters are artists and therefore see the world in a different way. The characters were neither interesting nor unique, so this message felt forced and fell flat. It seemed as though the author was trying to put forth his own opinion of himself as a "creative."

There is an inevitable comparison to the movie "Sliding Doors" and I wish the story had avoided any similarities to the movie, aside from the dual timeline structure. Unfortunately there are several similarities, including the fact that they literally both conclude in a hospital, with one timeline ending with a tragic accident.

The main characters are both miserable and unlikable. Also, I disliked the stories that Joshua was writing - I found them dull and pretentious.

There were way too many descriptions of farting. We get it, the character has IBS.

[Kansas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read 100 pages of this book before giving up. I was initially attracted to the alternate universe element to this story but I just did not like either of the two main characters AT ALL. I just couldn’t bring myself to finish this one.

[Unsolicited Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

LINES by Sung J. Woo is an exploration of love, fate, and the sometimes harsh twists that come with our life choices. The novel begins with a cinematic encounter between Josh and Abby, a writer and an artist, who meet quite literally by crashing into one another on a foggy New York morning. The scene is charged with an unexpected intimacy that turns a chance collision into a whirlwind romance. They fall in love deeply and marry quickly, but years later, their relationship teeters on the edge of collapse.

Woo doesn’t craft Josh and Abby to be likeable at every turn; instead, he paints them with raw honesty, letting their flaws take center stage in a way that may frustrate some readers. But here's the thing—disliking a character’s decisions, behavior, or even personality doesn’t mean the book isn’t worth the journey. LINES is powerful precisely because Josh and Abby are flawed and sometimes impulsive. Their choices aren’t always easy to empathize with, but that’s what makes the story resonate.

The novel is about more than just love; it’s about the delicate, often heartbreaking nature of timing and choice. Woo's narrative shifts between the possibility of the couple’s meeting and a parallel reality in which they don’t meet, letting readers ponder the what ifs that haunt our own lives. It’s both a hopeful love story and a sobering tragedy, showing how choices—or lack thereof—shape lives in unexpected, sometimes irreversible ways.

For readers who crave complex, imperfect characters and are willing to navigate the messiness of real relationships, LINES delivers an experience that feels both intimate and sweeping, as tender as it is unflinchingly honest.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the idea of the Butterfly Effect and how things can alter the trajectory of our lives. seeing that play out between the MCs and the alternating timelines was intriguing

thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy <3