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One Tuesday, Early
★★★★★ “A world both familiar and nightmarish. Eerie, atmospheric and immediately gripping.” Charlie Carroll, author of The Lip
You’re on your own and you shouldn’t be. Your partner is missing. The streets are empty. Even the birds have disappeared. What do you do?
It’s 6:05am one Tuesday morning, and Lexi Peters is alone. Her partner, her friends, her neighbours have all vanished without a trace. The entire town is deserted. Gathering every ounce of courage, she sets out to explore the streets, seeking any sign of life. Her only companions are a coy black cat and a lurking fog that seems to follow her every step.
On the same morning, her partner Finn awakens to an empty house. Recalling the blazing argument they had the night before, he assumes Lexi has snuck off somewhere to cool down. But she doesn’t return.
Time passes. Or not. Lexi is stranded on that Tuesday morning, while Finn hurtles through the years at increasing speed.
Can Lexi and Finn be reunited, or is it already too late?
You’re on your own and you shouldn’t be. Your partner is missing. The streets are empty. Even the birds have disappeared. What do you do?
It’s 6:05am one Tuesday morning, and Lexi Peters is alone. Her partner, her friends, her neighbours have all vanished without a trace. The entire town is deserted. Gathering every ounce of courage, she sets out to explore the streets, seeking any sign of life. Her only companions are a coy black cat and a lurking fog that seems to follow her every step.
On the same morning, her partner Finn awakens to an empty house. Recalling the blazing argument they had the night before, he assumes Lexi has snuck off somewhere to cool down. But she doesn’t return.
Time passes. Or not. Lexi is stranded on that Tuesday morning, while Finn hurtles through the years at increasing speed.
Can Lexi and Finn be reunited, or is it already too late?
226 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2024
6 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Annalisa Crawford
13 books103 followersAnnalisa Crawford lives in south east Cornwall and shares her home with her husband, and canine writing companion, Artoo. She writes dark contemporary fiction with a hint of paranormal.
Her first book, Cat & The Dreamer, was published in 2012 and became the catalyst for longer works and eventually novels: Grace & Serenity (2020), Small Forgotten Moments (2021), and One Tuesday, Early (2024). Her short stories have appeared in Writers’ Forum, The New Writers, Flash Fiction Magazine, Fictive Dream, and Reflex Fiction, and many others.
Small Forgotten Moments won Silver Medal in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and her short story collection, The Clock in My Mother’s House, was shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award.
Her first book, Cat & The Dreamer, was published in 2012 and became the catalyst for longer works and eventually novels: Grace & Serenity (2020), Small Forgotten Moments (2021), and One Tuesday, Early (2024). Her short stories have appeared in Writers’ Forum, The New Writers, Flash Fiction Magazine, Fictive Dream, and Reflex Fiction, and many others.
Small Forgotten Moments won Silver Medal in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and her short story collection, The Clock in My Mother’s House, was shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 12, 2024
In a Nutshell: A psychological drama with a dash of mystery and experimental storytelling. To the right reader, this will work mostly well. The problem is that there will be fewer right readers for such a writing approach. I hope the book finds its audience because such a clever writing endeavour, especially an indie one, deserves a try.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Annalisa Crawford is one of the few indie authors whose books I pick up without even reading the synopsis. I love her imaginative plotting, her tendency of imbuing ordinary situations with extraordinary content, and her atmospheric writing. Needless to say, I began this book with extremely high hopes. And to a great extent, the hopes were met.
First and foremost, hats off to the creativity of the writing! Few mainstream novels would have such an experimental style, with a seamless blend of the real and the surreal. It is so bizarre to see one character stuck at the exact same point of time while the other hurtles through years without any pause. The almost-opposite grammatical voices also add to the jarring effect. I love it when indie writers don’t stick to the formula but innovate with their storytelling.
Writing Lexi’s perspective in the second person is a stroke of genius as well as of boldness. Second person is a difficult voice to get right, and it is also risky because most readers do not prefer this voice. However, I have a fondness for the second person pov, and hence this writing choice tickled the right senses. As Lexi is stuck in the same place and time, using ‘you’ to describe her situation puts me right in her position, making me feel as stuck and lost and frustrated and helpless as she did.
As can be guessed, the above doesn’t result in a comfortable reading experience. Lexi’s arc, which is highly atmospheric and gives off quite eerie vibes, runs like a bizarre kind of ‘Groundhog Day’, where she isn’t just repeating a day but is stuck in the same day and time endlessly. You feel almost claustrophobic while reading her arc and just wish for something… anything… to happen. Her chapters, after the initial surprise, begin to generate a kind of déjà vu. I can see how and why this impact was intended – her life was stuck in the repeat mode, after all. But it doesn’t make reading her arc a fluid or entertaining experience.
Finn’s arc, on the other hand, is more conventional in style and content, and hence much smoother to read. But this doesn’t make his story more comfortable or easy-going. His grief at being left alone, his stoicism in the face of public criticism and speculation, and his desperate decision to move on, all feel realistically human. As you see him accept his fate and trudging onwards, it is tough to decide whom to feel sorrier for – Lexi or Finn. Being stuck in a time and place is gruelling, for sure. But it is equally painful to face life where everyone looks at you with suspicion and you have no closure for your grief.
The trickiest part of the book is the constant swap, not between the two characters or their two timeline modes but between second person and third person. It takes some time to get into the rhythm with each change of chapter, especially for Lexi’s arc, which is much more literary in feel and proceeds almost like a fever dream.
Because the arcs focus on the individual characters and their handling of the situation since that Tuesday morning, the prominent mood in both timelines is melancholic and introspective. The storyline covers not only its lead characters’ poignant emotions but also highlight some important points about the choices we make in life. This is not a book you would pick up for a light, breezy read.
I had an inkling about how the ending would go; it’s fairly easy to guess if you pay attention to the scattered clues. But this didn't take away from my experience with the final section, which was mostly satisfying. It was fascinating to see how the author resolved the two “states” of her lead characters. That said, the resolution also generated some questions in my mind, not all of which were answered by the book. As the writing is primarily character-oriented, our view of the broader plot is limited to what the characters share with us. This leads to a few major issues being left unacknowledged, which is the main reason why my rating isn’t higher.
All in all, this experimental work challenges the traditional storytelling format by putting one of its characters in a weird Groundhog-Day-limbo situation. As a writing achievement, this work is praise-worthy. As a reading experience, it is trickier to evaluate because it has some components that aren’t popular with a majority of readers.
In all honesty, I did struggle with the repetitiveness of Lexi’s arc and with some lingering doubts over a couple of the plot points. But the book is atypical in so many ways that I'm going to be lenient. Imagine penning half the book in the second person for a character stuck in a timeless rut! Brava, author!
Much recommended to speculative fiction and literary fiction readers with a penchant for unusual writing approaches and a soft corner for the second person voice. This is officially promoted as a literary thriller, but I don’t think the word ‘thriller’ applies to it in any way, so better not have that expectation.
4 stars.
My thanks to author Annalisa Crawford and BookSirens for the DRC of “One Tuesday Early”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Early on a Tuesday morning, at 6.05 am, Lexi finds herself all alone. Literally. No sign of her partner Finn, her neighbours, the people outside on the streets – not a single person around. Her only company is a black cat who makes random appearances. As Lexi struggles to figure out what happened, she realises that she is stuck in that morning and at that time, with no clue about what’s going on.
In the meanwhile, on that same morning, Finn realises that he is all alone at home. As Lexi and he had had an argument the night before, he presume that she has gone out to cool down. But as the days pass by, Finn struggles to make peace with the fact that his life is not going to have Lexi in it again.
Time moves on for Finn, rushing through weeks and months and years, while Lexi is still stranded on that Tuesday morning. Will Lexi be able to escape her state of limbo? Will the two meet again? How and when?
The story comes to us in the alternating perspectives of the two main characters, with Lexi’s pov in second person and Finn’s in third person.
Annalisa Crawford is one of the few indie authors whose books I pick up without even reading the synopsis. I love her imaginative plotting, her tendency of imbuing ordinary situations with extraordinary content, and her atmospheric writing. Needless to say, I began this book with extremely high hopes. And to a great extent, the hopes were met.
First and foremost, hats off to the creativity of the writing! Few mainstream novels would have such an experimental style, with a seamless blend of the real and the surreal. It is so bizarre to see one character stuck at the exact same point of time while the other hurtles through years without any pause. The almost-opposite grammatical voices also add to the jarring effect. I love it when indie writers don’t stick to the formula but innovate with their storytelling.
Writing Lexi’s perspective in the second person is a stroke of genius as well as of boldness. Second person is a difficult voice to get right, and it is also risky because most readers do not prefer this voice. However, I have a fondness for the second person pov, and hence this writing choice tickled the right senses. As Lexi is stuck in the same place and time, using ‘you’ to describe her situation puts me right in her position, making me feel as stuck and lost and frustrated and helpless as she did.
As can be guessed, the above doesn’t result in a comfortable reading experience. Lexi’s arc, which is highly atmospheric and gives off quite eerie vibes, runs like a bizarre kind of ‘Groundhog Day’, where she isn’t just repeating a day but is stuck in the same day and time endlessly. You feel almost claustrophobic while reading her arc and just wish for something… anything… to happen. Her chapters, after the initial surprise, begin to generate a kind of déjà vu. I can see how and why this impact was intended – her life was stuck in the repeat mode, after all. But it doesn’t make reading her arc a fluid or entertaining experience.
Finn’s arc, on the other hand, is more conventional in style and content, and hence much smoother to read. But this doesn’t make his story more comfortable or easy-going. His grief at being left alone, his stoicism in the face of public criticism and speculation, and his desperate decision to move on, all feel realistically human. As you see him accept his fate and trudging onwards, it is tough to decide whom to feel sorrier for – Lexi or Finn. Being stuck in a time and place is gruelling, for sure. But it is equally painful to face life where everyone looks at you with suspicion and you have no closure for your grief.
The trickiest part of the book is the constant swap, not between the two characters or their two timeline modes but between second person and third person. It takes some time to get into the rhythm with each change of chapter, especially for Lexi’s arc, which is much more literary in feel and proceeds almost like a fever dream.
Because the arcs focus on the individual characters and their handling of the situation since that Tuesday morning, the prominent mood in both timelines is melancholic and introspective. The storyline covers not only its lead characters’ poignant emotions but also highlight some important points about the choices we make in life. This is not a book you would pick up for a light, breezy read.
I had an inkling about how the ending would go; it’s fairly easy to guess if you pay attention to the scattered clues. But this didn't take away from my experience with the final section, which was mostly satisfying. It was fascinating to see how the author resolved the two “states” of her lead characters. That said, the resolution also generated some questions in my mind, not all of which were answered by the book. As the writing is primarily character-oriented, our view of the broader plot is limited to what the characters share with us. This leads to a few major issues being left unacknowledged, which is the main reason why my rating isn’t higher.
All in all, this experimental work challenges the traditional storytelling format by putting one of its characters in a weird Groundhog-Day-limbo situation. As a writing achievement, this work is praise-worthy. As a reading experience, it is trickier to evaluate because it has some components that aren’t popular with a majority of readers.
In all honesty, I did struggle with the repetitiveness of Lexi’s arc and with some lingering doubts over a couple of the plot points. But the book is atypical in so many ways that I'm going to be lenient. Imagine penning half the book in the second person for a character stuck in a timeless rut! Brava, author!
Much recommended to speculative fiction and literary fiction readers with a penchant for unusual writing approaches and a soft corner for the second person voice. This is officially promoted as a literary thriller, but I don’t think the word ‘thriller’ applies to it in any way, so better not have that expectation.
4 stars.
My thanks to author Annalisa Crawford and BookSirens for the DRC of “One Tuesday Early”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
March 29, 2024
I had not heard of this author, before I came across her book on BookSirens, and after reading the synopsis, I decided to give it a go.
Man, I read this until 3AM, and after waking in the morning, and knowing I was stuck for time, as I’m visiting the family for Easter weekend, I could not even attempt to organise myself, until I’d finished this book.
I’m glad I decided to take a chance with this, as I was hooked from the first page. My mind was all over the place, wondering if what was happening to Lexi, was this, or was it that???!!!
I thought I had it in the bag a few times, but alas, my wannabe “detective” skills proved wrong.
All I’m going to say, is you need to read this book. I’m glad I did, though it isn’t my usual kind. I shall definitely be reading a lot more from Annalisa Crawford, who is so good at weaving a story like this together, both clever, and gripping, and highly recommended.
Thanks to the author, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I gladly give this review voluntarily.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Man, I read this until 3AM, and after waking in the morning, and knowing I was stuck for time, as I’m visiting the family for Easter weekend, I could not even attempt to organise myself, until I’d finished this book.
I’m glad I decided to take a chance with this, as I was hooked from the first page. My mind was all over the place, wondering if what was happening to Lexi, was this, or was it that???!!!
I thought I had it in the bag a few times, but alas, my wannabe “detective” skills proved wrong.
All I’m going to say, is you need to read this book. I’m glad I did, though it isn’t my usual kind. I shall definitely be reading a lot more from Annalisa Crawford, who is so good at weaving a story like this together, both clever, and gripping, and highly recommended.
Thanks to the author, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I gladly give this review voluntarily.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 10, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4
One Tuesday, Early is the [love?] story of Finn and Lexi, which unfolds in alternating chapters between the two characters. This was a well told story, but I would categorize it more as a domestic drama than a thriller. Overall I enjoyed the story, but until about the 75% mark, I found Lexi's chapters to be somewhat tedious and maybe a little too "atmospheric" for my tastes, especially since I had figured out the trajectory of the plot by then. Throughout the book I was more drawn in while reading Finn's chapters and his part of the story ultimately made it hard for me to set this one aside for very long.
It has been a very long time since I read The Lovely Bones, which I loved, and perhaps I'm way off the mark here, but as I was finishing this story I found myself trying to make some parallels to that one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One Tuesday, Early is the [love?] story of Finn and Lexi, which unfolds in alternating chapters between the two characters. This was a well told story, but I would categorize it more as a domestic drama than a thriller. Overall I enjoyed the story, but until about the 75% mark, I found Lexi's chapters to be somewhat tedious and maybe a little too "atmospheric" for my tastes, especially since I had figured out the trajectory of the plot by then. Throughout the book I was more drawn in while reading Finn's chapters and his part of the story ultimately made it hard for me to set this one aside for very long.
It has been a very long time since I read The Lovely Bones, which I loved, and perhaps I'm way off the mark here, but as I was finishing this story I found myself trying to make some parallels to that one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 20, 2024
I love Annalisa Crawford's writing in her short story collections and so this novel from her was automatically on my tbr. It has the same gripping writing that wowed me in her earlier work.
This is definitely one of those books that is best read with not much knowledge of the premise other than the very basic. Which is that there are two protagonists, Finn and Lexi, a couple who wake up one Tuesday to find themselves on an impossible divide in time.
Lexi is in a kind of limbo state where time never moves and everyone and everything she knows has disappeared though she is in the same physical location as always. Finn is woken by Lexi's alarm, only for his annoyance to quickly turn into concern because she is nowhere to be found.
The story comes to us in alternating chapters focusing on Lexi in the second person and Finn in the third person and this is a brilliant choice by the author.
Lexi is alone and struggling to make sense of what's happened and the second voice puts us as readers in her place and we experience her confusion,fear and desperation as she moves through what seems like a fog, never getting anywhere. It's like we are the ones in that position and we feel really bad for her
Finn, on the other hand, is also struggling with the feeling of abandonment, the public censure he feels from anyone and the inability to move on without knowing what actually occurred. We see him from outside, as a person to whom these things are happening and empathize with his feelings as his life changes abruptly, he becomes isolated, and then slowly learns to take steps to live again.
Lexi's solitary journey really evokes the fear inherent in all humans about finding ourselves adrift and without all that is familiar to us. It's written really well to depict the sense of feeling out of control and trying to understand without success. I did feel that it got a little repetitive though which made it seem like it dragged on in the end.
Finn's journey, while more conventional, is beset with the pain of not knowing and never being able to let go of the bitterness of the memories.
The two arcs come together in a way that was not a total surprise to me given well placed clues throughout, but still executed amazingly well. It was me as the reader and as Lexi, finally solving the mystery of what was going on. Almost everything fell into place then and I marvelled at how all the pieces were manipulated to get there.
This is essentially a psychological drama told in a different way and managing to succeed in keeping the reader guessing and speculating. It has the eerie atmosphere of dark fiction and the anticipation of a suspense novel. All enclosed in the feel of a literary fiction book.
The prose is very nice to read, even when it feels like there needs to be more action very soon in the parts featuring Lexi. To do that in a genre where quick chapters and multiple twists are the norm and still keep the reader immersed is a real achievement.
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens and loved reading it. These are my honest thoughts about this book which I would definitely recommend.
This is definitely one of those books that is best read with not much knowledge of the premise other than the very basic. Which is that there are two protagonists, Finn and Lexi, a couple who wake up one Tuesday to find themselves on an impossible divide in time.
Lexi is in a kind of limbo state where time never moves and everyone and everything she knows has disappeared though she is in the same physical location as always. Finn is woken by Lexi's alarm, only for his annoyance to quickly turn into concern because she is nowhere to be found.
The story comes to us in alternating chapters focusing on Lexi in the second person and Finn in the third person and this is a brilliant choice by the author.
Lexi is alone and struggling to make sense of what's happened and the second voice puts us as readers in her place and we experience her confusion,fear and desperation as she moves through what seems like a fog, never getting anywhere. It's like we are the ones in that position and we feel really bad for her
Finn, on the other hand, is also struggling with the feeling of abandonment, the public censure he feels from anyone and the inability to move on without knowing what actually occurred. We see him from outside, as a person to whom these things are happening and empathize with his feelings as his life changes abruptly, he becomes isolated, and then slowly learns to take steps to live again.
Lexi's solitary journey really evokes the fear inherent in all humans about finding ourselves adrift and without all that is familiar to us. It's written really well to depict the sense of feeling out of control and trying to understand without success. I did feel that it got a little repetitive though which made it seem like it dragged on in the end.
Finn's journey, while more conventional, is beset with the pain of not knowing and never being able to let go of the bitterness of the memories.
The two arcs come together in a way that was not a total surprise to me given well placed clues throughout, but still executed amazingly well. It was me as the reader and as Lexi, finally solving the mystery of what was going on. Almost everything fell into place then and I marvelled at how all the pieces were manipulated to get there.
This is essentially a psychological drama told in a different way and managing to succeed in keeping the reader guessing and speculating. It has the eerie atmosphere of dark fiction and the anticipation of a suspense novel. All enclosed in the feel of a literary fiction book.
The prose is very nice to read, even when it feels like there needs to be more action very soon in the parts featuring Lexi. To do that in a genre where quick chapters and multiple twists are the norm and still keep the reader immersed is a real achievement.
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens and loved reading it. These are my honest thoughts about this book which I would definitely recommend.
April 8, 2024
I don't have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to adequately praise this delightful novel.
It is an exploration of the aftermath of a domestic tragedy, told in alternate chapters from the separate points of view of each of the two people involved. Lexi finds herself apparently trapped in an alternative universe in which she is the only person alive in her home town. A town permanently trapped at 6:05 am on the longest, hottest day of the year.
Her experience is related in second person, a device that provides, for the reader, just the right balance between detachment and engagement. As she wanders the sun baked streets she reminisces about her life, her childhood and adolescence, her friends and family and the ups and downs of her relationships, especially the past five years with her boyfriend Finn.
Meanwhile, Finn, alone in the house they've been sharing, is confused about her absence. Why has she left? Where has she gone? As days pass with no news he reports her disappearance to the police but that are unable to help. He enters a deep depression, plagued by grief and guilt. Eventually, however, he pulls himself together, meets a librarian, they marry, move to a different part of town, have a couple of children and settle into a conventional life. Every year, on the anniversary of Lexi's disappearance, he drowns his emotions in Jack Daniels.
Finn's story is told in third person, beginning close but slowly becoming more detached as time passes, permitting fleeting glimpses of the inner lives of the people around him.
Lexi struggles to work out how and why she is in this peculiar situation. Where are all the people? What is the fog that gradually obscures everything beyond the town boundary and gradually creeps closer to her? She ponders life's mysteries, seeking answers in the fleeting glimpses of the lives of the 'lost' inhabitants.
The greatest appeal of this book, for me, is the language: the way the words roll off the tongue. I am a slow reader with a tendency to sub-vocalise. Perhaps this is the consequence of having a mother who regularly read aloud to my sister and I when we were children, long after we learned to read for ourselves. I found myself almost reading aloud myself, as I savoured Ms. Crawford's prose.
The climax, when we discover the nature of the tragedy, is revealed in slow motion, still from each point of view.
This is a heart rending meditation on the lies we tell ourselves and each other. The choices we make and the regrets those choices sometimes give rise to. How strong does love have to be in order for someone to bury regret and accept the reality of unfulfilled aspirations? How is it possible to resolve the conflict between personal ambition and the desire to please a lover?
I hope that someone with the necessary connections to nominate this book for one or more awards picks this book up. For me it stands comparison with any of the recent prize winners.
I received an ARC of One Tuesday, Early via Rosie Amber's book review service. I wish I could award more than five stars but I can't, so that will have to do.
It is an exploration of the aftermath of a domestic tragedy, told in alternate chapters from the separate points of view of each of the two people involved. Lexi finds herself apparently trapped in an alternative universe in which she is the only person alive in her home town. A town permanently trapped at 6:05 am on the longest, hottest day of the year.
Her experience is related in second person, a device that provides, for the reader, just the right balance between detachment and engagement. As she wanders the sun baked streets she reminisces about her life, her childhood and adolescence, her friends and family and the ups and downs of her relationships, especially the past five years with her boyfriend Finn.
Meanwhile, Finn, alone in the house they've been sharing, is confused about her absence. Why has she left? Where has she gone? As days pass with no news he reports her disappearance to the police but that are unable to help. He enters a deep depression, plagued by grief and guilt. Eventually, however, he pulls himself together, meets a librarian, they marry, move to a different part of town, have a couple of children and settle into a conventional life. Every year, on the anniversary of Lexi's disappearance, he drowns his emotions in Jack Daniels.
Finn's story is told in third person, beginning close but slowly becoming more detached as time passes, permitting fleeting glimpses of the inner lives of the people around him.
Lexi struggles to work out how and why she is in this peculiar situation. Where are all the people? What is the fog that gradually obscures everything beyond the town boundary and gradually creeps closer to her? She ponders life's mysteries, seeking answers in the fleeting glimpses of the lives of the 'lost' inhabitants.
The greatest appeal of this book, for me, is the language: the way the words roll off the tongue. I am a slow reader with a tendency to sub-vocalise. Perhaps this is the consequence of having a mother who regularly read aloud to my sister and I when we were children, long after we learned to read for ourselves. I found myself almost reading aloud myself, as I savoured Ms. Crawford's prose.
The climax, when we discover the nature of the tragedy, is revealed in slow motion, still from each point of view.
This is a heart rending meditation on the lies we tell ourselves and each other. The choices we make and the regrets those choices sometimes give rise to. How strong does love have to be in order for someone to bury regret and accept the reality of unfulfilled aspirations? How is it possible to resolve the conflict between personal ambition and the desire to please a lover?
I hope that someone with the necessary connections to nominate this book for one or more awards picks this book up. For me it stands comparison with any of the recent prize winners.
I received an ARC of One Tuesday, Early via Rosie Amber's book review service. I wish I could award more than five stars but I can't, so that will have to do.
May 1, 2024
This book gave me a creepy Groundhog Day vibes.
Lexi is perpetually stuck at 6:05am without knowing what is going on and Finn is going on with life not understanding why Lexi left. The ending tied it together well.
I really enjoyed this book and will look for more by this author.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC
Lexi is perpetually stuck at 6:05am without knowing what is going on and Finn is going on with life not understanding why Lexi left. The ending tied it together well.
I really enjoyed this book and will look for more by this author.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC
March 9, 2024
An ebook copy was provided to me via BookSirens. I leave this review voluntarily.
I did read the synopsis, but I read so much that by the time I started this book, I had forgot what it was about. And to get you into my mindset prior to opening this book, let me state that I read a lot of books in a variety of genre (action, suspense, thrillers, sci-fi, time travel, multiverse, etc.), so I had zero preconceived idea of what I was getting. And I think that really made my experience so much the better. No idea WTF I was getting into.
From the opening paragraph it felt off. The sentence structure was just off kilter. I had to re-read the opening half page more than once before continuing. (Who was this crazy editor?) But as I read on I realized that was just the effect it was supposed to convey. Well done or am I supposed to say "Brilliant!" for all of you Brits.
At one point I was questioning some of the police procedures. Perhaps that is just how they handle things in the UK? Moved on.
The middle story seemed to drag a bit. Likely due to my lack of genre categorization from the get go. Also why in my review, I only state that it is a mystery to aid in your sense of story discovery.
But in the end, I simply loved this story telling. The presentation made all the difference for me.
Have a GoodReads.
I did read the synopsis, but I read so much that by the time I started this book, I had forgot what it was about. And to get you into my mindset prior to opening this book, let me state that I read a lot of books in a variety of genre (action, suspense, thrillers, sci-fi, time travel, multiverse, etc.), so I had zero preconceived idea of what I was getting. And I think that really made my experience so much the better. No idea WTF I was getting into.
From the opening paragraph it felt off. The sentence structure was just off kilter. I had to re-read the opening half page more than once before continuing. (Who was this crazy editor?) But as I read on I realized that was just the effect it was supposed to convey. Well done or am I supposed to say "Brilliant!" for all of you Brits.
At one point I was questioning some of the police procedures. Perhaps that is just how they handle things in the UK? Moved on.
The middle story seemed to drag a bit. Likely due to my lack of genre categorization from the get go. Also why in my review, I only state that it is a mystery to aid in your sense of story discovery.
But in the end, I simply loved this story telling. The presentation made all the difference for me.
Have a GoodReads.
March 2, 2024
I love the plot of this story about a woman, Lexi, who finds herself completely alone in a world with no one else, and her husband, Finn, who awakens to find his wife missing. There was something eerie and unnerving about this which drew me in. Each chapter focuses on either Lexi, told from a second person perspective or Finn, told from a third person perspective, in which both tell their tale. Lexi seems to be stuck at the same time, 6.05am, even though she can do many activities within this time, and Finn continues regularly through his life. Told in the second person perspective, it makes you feel as if you are Lexi and are experiencing what is happening to her. It feels like there’s irony in that Lexi is completely alone feeling lonely and lost, but Finn also feels this way when Lexi is gone. There are also some symbolic elements in the story making the story more resonant. I could also really relate to some of the characters feelings in the story. At points, I felt Lexi’s experiences and feelings felt a bit repetitive, but overall, I wanted to read more to find out what would happen. It also had a great ending, that I didn’t see coming.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2024
Wow that was a crazy ride. I enjoyed the plot, but I was confused on what was going on for the most of the book. There were some hints towards the big reveal I suppose but personally I think I didn't pick up on most of them at the time. Also the second POVs are not my favourite, but this was written well.
May 1, 2024
I am familiar with Annalisa Crawford's writing style, having previously read collections of her stories. Her writing style is characterised by an almost hallucinatory dreamlike quality, which is reminiscent of the work of Anna Kavan (author of Ice – one of my favourite books ever).
As in Kavan's work, Crawford abandons the linear plot and narrative structure. Events are sometimes left unnamed or lie somewhere in the middle, and it is up to the reader to figure out the how, why, and when.
Lexi and Finn live together, but things haven't been going well for a while. They argue. Pay close attention to Lexi and Finn's timelines, as they no longer run side by side. Fade-outs are a recurring theme in her work, with the narrative often concluding with a sense of ambiguity. As the story progresses, the reader gradually learns what transpired on that particular Tuesday.
Crawford has once again delivered a superb piece of writing, characterised by its hypnotic and surreal prose. I am a fan and eagerly anticipate her next work.
4 stars.
As in Kavan's work, Crawford abandons the linear plot and narrative structure. Events are sometimes left unnamed or lie somewhere in the middle, and it is up to the reader to figure out the how, why, and when.
Lexi and Finn live together, but things haven't been going well for a while. They argue. Pay close attention to Lexi and Finn's timelines, as they no longer run side by side. Fade-outs are a recurring theme in her work, with the narrative often concluding with a sense of ambiguity. As the story progresses, the reader gradually learns what transpired on that particular Tuesday.
Crawford has once again delivered a superb piece of writing, characterised by its hypnotic and surreal prose. I am a fan and eagerly anticipate her next work.
4 stars.
March 9, 2024
Please note, I was provided with an ARC of “One Tuesday, Early” and am providing this review honestly and freely.
I thoroughly enjoyed Annalisa Crawford’s latest book. Atmospheric, poignant, lyrical and haunting, it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen to Lexi and Finn, the novel’s two protagonists. Both, in their own ways are terrifyingly isolated.
Initially part of a loving couple, Lexi wakes up at 6:05am one Tuesday morning to find herself confused and utterly alone. Finn, her friends and relations, her neighbours and the residents of the town where she lives have all vanished. Her house and the town itself, all the places she remembers, are still there, but every place is deserted and it’s always 6.05am.
On the same morning, Finn wakes up to an empty house. Lexi has disappeared. No one apparently knows where. While the rest of the world gets on with life, Finn retreats into a claustrophobic world of misery, cutting himself off from the people surrounding him. In many ways, he his stagnating as much as Lexi, except, in his case, time is progressing at what seems like an ever increasing rate.
Crawford’s writing flows enticingly, creating environments that are both domestically familiar and eerily uncanny. Her attention to day to day detail is impressive, creating briefly, but vividly detailed descriptions of places and situations that draw you in, make you believe in the mundane reality of the world her characters inhabit and then confront you with the eldritch nature of the situation.
An eerie tale, cleverly and expertly told.
I thoroughly enjoyed Annalisa Crawford’s latest book. Atmospheric, poignant, lyrical and haunting, it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen to Lexi and Finn, the novel’s two protagonists. Both, in their own ways are terrifyingly isolated.
Initially part of a loving couple, Lexi wakes up at 6:05am one Tuesday morning to find herself confused and utterly alone. Finn, her friends and relations, her neighbours and the residents of the town where she lives have all vanished. Her house and the town itself, all the places she remembers, are still there, but every place is deserted and it’s always 6.05am.
On the same morning, Finn wakes up to an empty house. Lexi has disappeared. No one apparently knows where. While the rest of the world gets on with life, Finn retreats into a claustrophobic world of misery, cutting himself off from the people surrounding him. In many ways, he his stagnating as much as Lexi, except, in his case, time is progressing at what seems like an ever increasing rate.
Crawford’s writing flows enticingly, creating environments that are both domestically familiar and eerily uncanny. Her attention to day to day detail is impressive, creating briefly, but vividly detailed descriptions of places and situations that draw you in, make you believe in the mundane reality of the world her characters inhabit and then confront you with the eldritch nature of the situation.
An eerie tale, cleverly and expertly told.
March 7, 2024
“One Tuesday, Early” is a gem, there’s no other way to describe it. Lexi and Finn are lovers. They’ve lived together for five years when their lives take a colossal turn; dropping each of them into their own separate discombobulated “dream world.” In the words of Bob Dylan, “Something is happening here but you don’t know what it is.” It takes a measure flawless writing to make this tale sing along, and Annalisa Crawford has nailed it. The style lifts the reader off the page, and there’s a wonderful weaving of Hitchcock, Poe and Serling elements that keeps one guessing until the very end. Loved it.
May 15, 2024
I have read several books by this author, and I am never, and I mean never, disappointed. This book was a really great read and had me guessing until the very end.
The book is split between two points of view, Lexi and her boyfriend, Finn. The book begins with Lexi, who awakens to find herself in her home at 6:05 a.m. The alarm is going off and she keeps waiting for Finn to turn it off. Except he doesn't. He's not there. It is the longest day of the year, and also the hottest. She steps outside to look around and quickly realizes she is all alone. No one is around. No one in their homes, on the street or in cars. She spends time walking around, recalling her childhood and the last 5 years with Finn.
Finn is on the other side of this experience. He too awakens only in his universe; she has merely disappeared. He cannot fathom where she has gotten to, and he is confused by her absence. Days pass, then years. Meanwhile, Lexi is still stuck at 6:05 a.m. on the same day. Finn takes a menial job and walk to work every day. He ventures off the path one day to visit the local library, where he meets Amber. Over time they become close and start dating which leads to marriage and children. But Lexi is never far from his mind. Every year on the longest day of the year, he drowns himself in a bottle booze.
As Lexi is stuck in some loop, she goes into people's homes, walks around town and watches the ever-creeping fog. What is this fog and why can't she break through it?
The years pass by, and Finn's life grows and expands. Yet he looks as though he has aged a millennia. Grief and guilt will do that to you. The realization of what happened to Lexi comes into focus in a slow burn. The tragedy that occurred some 20 years before coming to light and allowing Lexi to finally come out of the fog.
This story was such an amazing read. At first, I thought there might be some science fiction reason for Lexi being trapped in some alternate universe where you're stuck at the same time for all eternity. However, the truth of this story was much deeper than that. Lexi spends her time in the fog recounting how she and Finn met and how her life changed so much from the dreams she had before they got together. How much of herself she let go of and the boredom she accepted. Finn ends up moving on with his life, experiencing things he never thought he would and then it all comes crashing down once the truth of that One Tuesday is revealed.
I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
The book is split between two points of view, Lexi and her boyfriend, Finn. The book begins with Lexi, who awakens to find herself in her home at 6:05 a.m. The alarm is going off and she keeps waiting for Finn to turn it off. Except he doesn't. He's not there. It is the longest day of the year, and also the hottest. She steps outside to look around and quickly realizes she is all alone. No one is around. No one in their homes, on the street or in cars. She spends time walking around, recalling her childhood and the last 5 years with Finn.
Finn is on the other side of this experience. He too awakens only in his universe; she has merely disappeared. He cannot fathom where she has gotten to, and he is confused by her absence. Days pass, then years. Meanwhile, Lexi is still stuck at 6:05 a.m. on the same day. Finn takes a menial job and walk to work every day. He ventures off the path one day to visit the local library, where he meets Amber. Over time they become close and start dating which leads to marriage and children. But Lexi is never far from his mind. Every year on the longest day of the year, he drowns himself in a bottle booze.
As Lexi is stuck in some loop, she goes into people's homes, walks around town and watches the ever-creeping fog. What is this fog and why can't she break through it?
The years pass by, and Finn's life grows and expands. Yet he looks as though he has aged a millennia. Grief and guilt will do that to you. The realization of what happened to Lexi comes into focus in a slow burn. The tragedy that occurred some 20 years before coming to light and allowing Lexi to finally come out of the fog.
This story was such an amazing read. At first, I thought there might be some science fiction reason for Lexi being trapped in some alternate universe where you're stuck at the same time for all eternity. However, the truth of this story was much deeper than that. Lexi spends her time in the fog recounting how she and Finn met and how her life changed so much from the dreams she had before they got together. How much of herself she let go of and the boredom she accepted. Finn ends up moving on with his life, experiencing things he never thought he would and then it all comes crashing down once the truth of that One Tuesday is revealed.
I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
April 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this novel by Annalisa Crawford. It wove such an atmosphere of eerieness and mystery that I was immediately immersed in the characters’ experiences and feelings as they progressed rather than jumping ahead to work out what happened.
Lexie and Finn are in an unsettled relationship …..there is love but also resentment and regret.
One Tuesday morning at 6:05 am Lexie awakes to an empty house, empty town, on the longest, hottest day of the year. Time stands still as she tries to work out what is happening, reflecting on her past and trying to remember the night before.
Meanwhile Finn also wakes to find Lexie missing, apparently upped sticks and flown. We follow his bewilderment and grief until he moves on with his life, growing old but never forgetting Lexie.
What was it that caused this separation? How did I feel about the characters, their behaviour and actions? I will be considering this on many levels, five stars from me and look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to Book Sirens for the advance copy and I give this review voluntarily.
Lexie and Finn are in an unsettled relationship …..there is love but also resentment and regret.
One Tuesday morning at 6:05 am Lexie awakes to an empty house, empty town, on the longest, hottest day of the year. Time stands still as she tries to work out what is happening, reflecting on her past and trying to remember the night before.
Meanwhile Finn also wakes to find Lexie missing, apparently upped sticks and flown. We follow his bewilderment and grief until he moves on with his life, growing old but never forgetting Lexie.
What was it that caused this separation? How did I feel about the characters, their behaviour and actions? I will be considering this on many levels, five stars from me and look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to Book Sirens for the advance copy and I give this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2024
Haunting, eerie, and beautiful. I feel as though this story clung around me as I read it like a fog.
This book is told in two points of view, flipping back and forth between Lexi, who had awoken to everyone around her having vanished, and Finn, who is confused and reeling over the disappearance of Lexi. Time stands still in one and steadily passes in the other.
Where is Lexi? She does not seem to know as time seems to have stopped as she tries to find out what has happened to her.
Where is Lexi? That question creates a cloud around Finn with the passage of time.
I read this in nearly one sitting, my heart on edge, and a lump in my throat. I found the concept of this book both interesting and wonderfully executed.
Thanks so much to BookSirens for the advanced copy. My review is my own, and I was not paid for this post.
This book is told in two points of view, flipping back and forth between Lexi, who had awoken to everyone around her having vanished, and Finn, who is confused and reeling over the disappearance of Lexi. Time stands still in one and steadily passes in the other.
Where is Lexi? She does not seem to know as time seems to have stopped as she tries to find out what has happened to her.
Where is Lexi? That question creates a cloud around Finn with the passage of time.
I read this in nearly one sitting, my heart on edge, and a lump in my throat. I found the concept of this book both interesting and wonderfully executed.
Thanks so much to BookSirens for the advanced copy. My review is my own, and I was not paid for this post.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2024
I enjoyed the book, the back and forth chapters as Lexi and Finn struggle with the realities of their situation. Lexi’s world was so dream-like and Finn’s felt dark and bogged down. The book is well written and it kept my attention in order to find out how the dilemma was resolved.
The title is what first caught my eye, and then the synopsis. I would read this author again having just discovered her.
‘But you were smitten; You thought you were enough for him.’
‘Any second without this child in it is no longer relevant.’
‘Make a wish,’ someone calls. But what wish does he have that hasn’t already been granted? He closes his eyes and pretends.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The title is what first caught my eye, and then the synopsis. I would read this author again having just discovered her.
‘But you were smitten; You thought you were enough for him.’
‘Any second without this child in it is no longer relevant.’
‘Make a wish,’ someone calls. But what wish does he have that hasn’t already been granted? He closes his eyes and pretends.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 29, 2024
This book was amazing! A mostly two person story split between his and her interpretation of events. The author has managed to detail the story so well that you have no problem imagining what they see or how they feel. A twist in the end as all good books have IMO, but it wasn't obvious til well through the book. You need to read this story if you're a fan of thrillers or suspense or just simply good books. Highly highly recommend. Thank you to Annalisa Crawford and Booksirens for the ARC.
November 19, 2024
I’m a frequent critic of the style of writing in many contemporary novels, so it seems reasonable to give credit where it is due. Crawford writes sharp and succinct sentences and resists the temptation to pad out the narrative. The result is a brisk read, 200 pages that go by swiftly and hold the attention.
There’s an attractive premise, and though the denouement will not come as a surprise to many readers, some of the entertainment is gained by predicting the mystery.
There’s an attractive premise, and though the denouement will not come as a surprise to many readers, some of the entertainment is gained by predicting the mystery.
May 13, 2024
One Tuesday, Early is a heartbreaking story of a relationship gone sour because of the small things that happen in a couple's daily life and that are not discussed and end up amounting to so much unhappiness. The story is told from two points of view, his and hers, and both are equally sad.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 14, 2024
Another nuanced, atmospheric novel by Annalisa Crawford! I'm such a fan of her work, and this newest release is a perfect read for a moody, rainy day. Her use of 2nd person as the female protagonist's point of view is brilliant; so if you're uncomfortable reading it at first, I promise...just immerse yourself in the semi-detached style of observation and all will make sense.
Thank you to the author and Vine Leaves Press for allowing me an advanced review copy. I'm offering my candid opinion voluntarily, and will be adding this novel to my "read again" pile!
Thank you to the author and Vine Leaves Press for allowing me an advanced review copy. I'm offering my candid opinion voluntarily, and will be adding this novel to my "read again" pile!
May 6, 2024
Absorbing! The dynamic relationship between Finn & Lexi unfolds, bringing an awareness of how tangled feelings & memories can easily become. Time also brings its own distortion, creating misrememberances. Lexi's reality throughout the book always left me thinking whenever I had to stop reading for a moment. It's a great stand-alone story that will definitely suck you in!
I received an advance review copy & am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy & am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
June 4, 2024
Lovely and unexpected
I was surprised to enjoy this so much because I typically hate to read second-person narratives (which is half of the book) but it really worked well and was appropriate to the alienation of the character. Would recommend to people who like well-observed, pensive fiction.
I was surprised to enjoy this so much because I typically hate to read second-person narratives (which is half of the book) but it really worked well and was appropriate to the alienation of the character. Would recommend to people who like well-observed, pensive fiction.
May 20, 2024
A mystery and a fantasy yet it felt very grounded in real life. Mostly it's a love story. Characters that are fully fleshed out, complex and annoying at times, yet you root for them. Such sadness throughout with passages of happiness and rebelliousness too. If you enjoy reading about emotions and emotional journeys this is a story for you.
February 27, 2024
I finished in a jiffy! It's full of turns and twists, situations that seem bizar at the beginning, but only at the end get clear. It's about heartbroken, becoming an adult and having to change everything that one wants and loosing... dissapearing.... and on the other side: looking for oneself, who am I why am I here? So very strange but very entertaining!
I received a free copy by Booksirens and write this review voluntarilyt
I received a free copy by Booksirens and write this review voluntarilyt
March 26, 2024
Lexi and Finn are boyfriend and girlfriend who live together. They have an argument at dinner over a small disagreement/misunderstanding and then they both wake up alone the next morning. Lexi seems to be completely isolated from the world as a whole while Finn wakes up and everything is still moving in the world (ex: the wind blowing, the sun shining, neighbors outside, traffic flowing, going to work) Lexi is just trapped in this foggy desolate void that she has no idea how or why she is the only person around. The story progresses with Lexi and Finn's alternating POV'S. Lexi still remains lost while Finn is still moving on with life. Finn is lost in his own way even though everyone else in the world is present. He is struggling with Lexi's absence and is having trouble even going to work, showering, just the small mundane things in life.
In this story you do see the ending coming. You may not speculate how it exactly came about but you know the premise of it.
xx Potential Spoilers xx
This was a hard book to rate in my opinion. This book started off slow and I didn't like how Lexi's POV was in the 2nd person. Lexi's experiences throughout the book felt repetitive but granted that she was basically in limbo throughout the book, I think that was the point. The other factor I had trouble viewing as realistic is how the police and Lexi's friends handled her disappearance. There was no real thorough investigation until the end of the book YEARS later. Lexi's friends didn't really try to find her. Vanessa, Lexi's closest friend, would call Finn and ask "any update on Lexi" "have you heard anything?" but that was it. If someone you loved and truly cared about was missing, wouldn't you try harder to find them? In the beginning the police just initially came to visit when Finn filed the police report of a missing persons on Lexi. They just asked him some simple routine questions and went on their way and no follow up until many many years later when a secret witness comes forward with some information regarding the night Lexi disappeared and what this witness appeared to have seen that night.
I liked the supernatural aspects of the book and the reference to the cat that was in both Lexi and Finn's separate worlds they were living in. The author did a great job portraying both Lexi and Finn's emotions throughout the story and you truly felt everything as they were experiencing it.
This is a very dark emotional domestic drama. Overall, I give it 3 stars. I did like the book. Just some parts of it felt unrealistic to me. I'll definitely read another book by this author!
Thank you to Book Sirens and Annalisa for this ARC! This book will be available on May 14,2024.
In this story you do see the ending coming. You may not speculate how it exactly came about but you know the premise of it.
xx Potential Spoilers xx
This was a hard book to rate in my opinion. This book started off slow and I didn't like how Lexi's POV was in the 2nd person. Lexi's experiences throughout the book felt repetitive but granted that she was basically in limbo throughout the book, I think that was the point. The other factor I had trouble viewing as realistic is how the police and Lexi's friends handled her disappearance. There was no real thorough investigation until the end of the book YEARS later. Lexi's friends didn't really try to find her. Vanessa, Lexi's closest friend, would call Finn and ask "any update on Lexi" "have you heard anything?" but that was it. If someone you loved and truly cared about was missing, wouldn't you try harder to find them? In the beginning the police just initially came to visit when Finn filed the police report of a missing persons on Lexi. They just asked him some simple routine questions and went on their way and no follow up until many many years later when a secret witness comes forward with some information regarding the night Lexi disappeared and what this witness appeared to have seen that night.
I liked the supernatural aspects of the book and the reference to the cat that was in both Lexi and Finn's separate worlds they were living in. The author did a great job portraying both Lexi and Finn's emotions throughout the story and you truly felt everything as they were experiencing it.
This is a very dark emotional domestic drama. Overall, I give it 3 stars. I did like the book. Just some parts of it felt unrealistic to me. I'll definitely read another book by this author!
Thank you to Book Sirens and Annalisa for this ARC! This book will be available on May 14,2024.
May 14, 2024
3.5 stars (rounded up)
One Liner: Great effort but misses the mark
It's early morning, 6.05 AM, when Lexi finds herself home, alone with absolutely no one anywhere around. She is stuck in time and has to find a way out. But what happened to her?
Finn, Lexi’s partner, doesn’t remember much about the previous night. He realizes Lexi is not home. She vanished. Where is Lexi? What happened? As Finn goes deeper into depression and swims back to the surface, years pass by. Lexi is still not found.
Can the two ever unite?
The story comes in Finn’s third-person POV and Lexi’s second-person POV.
My Thoughts:
After enjoying the author’s short stories, I was excited to read a longer piece by her. This thriller is of the right length, neither too long nor too short.
It’s a bit hard to review this as there’s a risk of revealing a spoiler.
The narration is on the slower side but doesn’t drag. Finn’s chapters are faster, given the POV and the events. Time is erratic, so you have to pay attention. It goes slowly at first and then jumps years.
Lexi’s POV is tricky. I love the attempt at doing something different (it’s a brave decision). However, the results didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters but couldn't connect with it. The repetition doesn’t help, either. Removing a couple of these chapters and expanding on the main narrative might have helped. Reworking the chapters to provide more details about Lexi and removing some of the repetition would also have helped.
I also like the reveal, though we can guess it from the beginning. There’s no attempt to hide the details from the readers or throw in an unbelievable twist. The twist is subtle but well done. 100% marks for this. It also brings a sense of freshness to the tried-and-tested plotline.
The atmosphere is terrific. This is something I expect from the author’s work by default. She is great with darkish and foggy settings, the kind where anything can happen.
A few other elements aren’t convincing. I have many doubts about these aspects but cannot reveal them. I wish those got more attention as they are important in a thriller. This would have been easily 4+ stars otherwise.
To summarize, One Tuesday, Early is a brave attempt to present a known story in a different manner. It could have been better, but it does offer an enjoyable reading experience.
My thanks to BookSirens and the author for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
One Liner: Great effort but misses the mark
It's early morning, 6.05 AM, when Lexi finds herself home, alone with absolutely no one anywhere around. She is stuck in time and has to find a way out. But what happened to her?
Finn, Lexi’s partner, doesn’t remember much about the previous night. He realizes Lexi is not home. She vanished. Where is Lexi? What happened? As Finn goes deeper into depression and swims back to the surface, years pass by. Lexi is still not found.
Can the two ever unite?
The story comes in Finn’s third-person POV and Lexi’s second-person POV.
My Thoughts:
After enjoying the author’s short stories, I was excited to read a longer piece by her. This thriller is of the right length, neither too long nor too short.
It’s a bit hard to review this as there’s a risk of revealing a spoiler.
The narration is on the slower side but doesn’t drag. Finn’s chapters are faster, given the POV and the events. Time is erratic, so you have to pay attention. It goes slowly at first and then jumps years.
Lexi’s POV is tricky. I love the attempt at doing something different (it’s a brave decision). However, the results didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters but couldn't connect with it. The repetition doesn’t help, either. Removing a couple of these chapters and expanding on the main narrative might have helped. Reworking the chapters to provide more details about Lexi and removing some of the repetition would also have helped.
I also like the reveal, though we can guess it from the beginning. There’s no attempt to hide the details from the readers or throw in an unbelievable twist. The twist is subtle but well done. 100% marks for this. It also brings a sense of freshness to the tried-and-tested plotline.
The atmosphere is terrific. This is something I expect from the author’s work by default. She is great with darkish and foggy settings, the kind where anything can happen.
A few other elements aren’t convincing. I have many doubts about these aspects but cannot reveal them. I wish those got more attention as they are important in a thriller. This would have been easily 4+ stars otherwise.
To summarize, One Tuesday, Early is a brave attempt to present a known story in a different manner. It could have been better, but it does offer an enjoyable reading experience.
My thanks to BookSirens and the author for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
March 5, 2024
One Tuesday, Early
Annalisa Crawford
Published by Vine Leaves Press 2024
I’m going to be honest that I had to read other reviews first, thinking I might not have understood the book and its message, or that it is a literature piece of writing. I'm glad I did read other reviews.
The story leaves me with a feeling of ‘missed chance’ and if I need to put a headline to it, that would it: this could have been such a powerful story!
I was afraid in the beginning that this would yet another man hating book but Crawford actually painted Finn, the male character in rather accurate detail. I do believe that expectations towards jobs and providing for families prevent men in general from pursuing their dreams and that is what happens to Finn as well. In the end, this turns out to be a theme between him and Lexi. Lexi had a dream as well, she wanted to go travel and see the world but she ended up getting married and her dream evaporated for a life in suburbia.
It wasn’t hard to figure out that something disastrous had happened to Lexi and it made me curious enough to hope to find a clever twist, like a fold in a time reality of some sort. But the events Lexi goes through then tell about her life and about herself and this got pretty boring after a while, I started skipping parts and found the chapters about Finn the more interesting ones.
It wasn’t a long story and in the end I felt sorry for Finn. But there was no big bang at the end, his end was as tragic as hers and they were both to blame, they didn’t leap into the wild lives they had hoped they would have, it was safety over adventure. Like, well, like anyone of us. And maybe that was Crawford’s message, I don’t know.
I think that Annalisa Crawford’s style in this book is fantastic, even if the second person writing gets a bit too much in the end, I still was there right with Lexi and her thoughts as well as with Finn (not written in second person). Crawford did not end up painting Finn in the typical ‘men are bad’ role where they are the vampires, murderers, fire fighters, no Finn could be our neighbour. Like Lexi. It could be us.
I had hoped for a surprise ending, to see a bigger part for Lexi’s best friend but that wasn’t in the book and so I opted for 3 stars. Well written, good style but the story has pacing issues.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Annalisa Crawford
Published by Vine Leaves Press 2024
I’m going to be honest that I had to read other reviews first, thinking I might not have understood the book and its message, or that it is a literature piece of writing. I'm glad I did read other reviews.
The story leaves me with a feeling of ‘missed chance’ and if I need to put a headline to it, that would it: this could have been such a powerful story!
I was afraid in the beginning that this would yet another man hating book but Crawford actually painted Finn, the male character in rather accurate detail. I do believe that expectations towards jobs and providing for families prevent men in general from pursuing their dreams and that is what happens to Finn as well. In the end, this turns out to be a theme between him and Lexi. Lexi had a dream as well, she wanted to go travel and see the world but she ended up getting married and her dream evaporated for a life in suburbia.
It wasn’t hard to figure out that something disastrous had happened to Lexi and it made me curious enough to hope to find a clever twist, like a fold in a time reality of some sort. But the events Lexi goes through then tell about her life and about herself and this got pretty boring after a while, I started skipping parts and found the chapters about Finn the more interesting ones.
It wasn’t a long story and in the end I felt sorry for Finn. But there was no big bang at the end, his end was as tragic as hers and they were both to blame, they didn’t leap into the wild lives they had hoped they would have, it was safety over adventure. Like, well, like anyone of us. And maybe that was Crawford’s message, I don’t know.
I think that Annalisa Crawford’s style in this book is fantastic, even if the second person writing gets a bit too much in the end, I still was there right with Lexi and her thoughts as well as with Finn (not written in second person). Crawford did not end up painting Finn in the typical ‘men are bad’ role where they are the vampires, murderers, fire fighters, no Finn could be our neighbour. Like Lexi. It could be us.
I had hoped for a surprise ending, to see a bigger part for Lexi’s best friend but that wasn’t in the book and so I opted for 3 stars. Well written, good style but the story has pacing issues.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2024
One Tuesday, Early by Annalisa Crawford was an interesting and unique thriller that follows Lexi and Finn, the two protagonists, as they attempt to get back to each other. Sort of. This book is short, which works for it. The length is perfect and the author is able to tell the whole story in this time.
The plot is unique and well-written. The story begins with Lexi, who has just woken up in her life, except nobody is around. She is trying to figure out how she got there and what is going on, and she wants to go back to her boyfriend, Finn. The story goes back and forth between her POV and Finn’s, who has realized his girlfriend is missing and is struggling. We see his life as he gets older, reconciling with the fact that she is gone. And Lexi is, stuck, I guess, wherever she is.
My one complaint is that Lexi’s POV is entirely in 2nd person, which I really struggled to read. I didn’t understand why it was written this way and it made it difficult for me to really grasp what was going on. I was confused whenever her POV scenes were happening. I did enjoy Finn’s POV and there were lots of twists and unexpected events that happened that kept me hooked, but the only reason I had any idea what was going on was because of his POV.
Finn is well written and through the writing, I feel like I got to know him as a character well. I also feel like I got to know Lexi through his POV as well, since I really didn’t learn much about her from her own POV. There was one or two background characters that were pretty well characterized, but the story mostly centered around Finn and Lexi.
Overall, I would give this story 3/5 stars. It was a super quick read, I read it in a day over the weekend. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept me interested. I just really struggled with Lexi’s POV and didn’t know what was going on there. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a quick thriller.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot is unique and well-written. The story begins with Lexi, who has just woken up in her life, except nobody is around. She is trying to figure out how she got there and what is going on, and she wants to go back to her boyfriend, Finn. The story goes back and forth between her POV and Finn’s, who has realized his girlfriend is missing and is struggling. We see his life as he gets older, reconciling with the fact that she is gone. And Lexi is, stuck, I guess, wherever she is.
My one complaint is that Lexi’s POV is entirely in 2nd person, which I really struggled to read. I didn’t understand why it was written this way and it made it difficult for me to really grasp what was going on. I was confused whenever her POV scenes were happening. I did enjoy Finn’s POV and there were lots of twists and unexpected events that happened that kept me hooked, but the only reason I had any idea what was going on was because of his POV.
Finn is well written and through the writing, I feel like I got to know him as a character well. I also feel like I got to know Lexi through his POV as well, since I really didn’t learn much about her from her own POV. There was one or two background characters that were pretty well characterized, but the story mostly centered around Finn and Lexi.
Overall, I would give this story 3/5 stars. It was a super quick read, I read it in a day over the weekend. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept me interested. I just really struggled with Lexi’s POV and didn’t know what was going on there. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a quick thriller.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 30, 2024
Actual Rating 3.5
Lexi wakes one Tuesday morning, expecting her day to continue as all other Tuesdays before have. But then she slowly realizes that she’s completely alone – no partner, no friends, no neighbors. Just complete silence. The same morning, Finn wakes to an empty house, thinking that maybe Lexi has gone to cool off after their fight the previous night. But when he comes home, she’s still not back, and doesn’t come back the day after, either. Time passes for one and not the other – will either of them be able to find their way back to their normal lives?
This story is told from a dual POV, one in the second person and one in the third. I tend to have a difficult time connecting with POVs using the second person, and this one was no exception. These sections were also mostly introspective, which probably added a bit to me not connecting to them as well. I even started to find these sections on the boring side as the book went on. I did enjoy the sections told in the third person and connected with the characters and Finn’s story. I quite liked how the author portrayed Finn and how well he was written. I also felt like I got to know Lexi better through Finn’s sections than Lexi’s, which was an odd experience.
There were two aspects of this book that I enjoyed the most. First, I had no idea where it was going or what to expect. Second, the ending. The last 15% of this book was strong and I found myself unable to put it down. The punch I was waiting for the whole book finally arrived during this part, and I loved where the story ended up.
If you’re looking for a shorter literary domestic drama about loneliness, isolation, lost dreams, and relationships, you’ll likely enjoy this one. My thanks to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Lexi wakes one Tuesday morning, expecting her day to continue as all other Tuesdays before have. But then she slowly realizes that she’s completely alone – no partner, no friends, no neighbors. Just complete silence. The same morning, Finn wakes to an empty house, thinking that maybe Lexi has gone to cool off after their fight the previous night. But when he comes home, she’s still not back, and doesn’t come back the day after, either. Time passes for one and not the other – will either of them be able to find their way back to their normal lives?
This story is told from a dual POV, one in the second person and one in the third. I tend to have a difficult time connecting with POVs using the second person, and this one was no exception. These sections were also mostly introspective, which probably added a bit to me not connecting to them as well. I even started to find these sections on the boring side as the book went on. I did enjoy the sections told in the third person and connected with the characters and Finn’s story. I quite liked how the author portrayed Finn and how well he was written. I also felt like I got to know Lexi better through Finn’s sections than Lexi’s, which was an odd experience.
There were two aspects of this book that I enjoyed the most. First, I had no idea where it was going or what to expect. Second, the ending. The last 15% of this book was strong and I found myself unable to put it down. The punch I was waiting for the whole book finally arrived during this part, and I loved where the story ended up.
If you’re looking for a shorter literary domestic drama about loneliness, isolation, lost dreams, and relationships, you’ll likely enjoy this one. My thanks to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 29, 2024
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
29th April 2024
TITLE: ONE TUESDAY, EARLY
AUTHOR: Annalisa Crawford
Star Rating: 5
‘A smartly plotted psychological drama packed full of mystery – and suspense. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
It's not often I get pulled instantly into a novel. But that was the case in this intriguingly entitled novel, One Tuesday, Early. It's the story of Lexi and her partner, Finn. It’s Tuesday morning and Lexi finds herself in an empty town – and when I say ‘empty’, there’s nobody there; nobody! Finn, however, is oddly not affected by this phenomenon, waking up and simply finding Lexi’s not there! It’s all very confusing – deliciously so. What follows is a character-led drama as we follow Lexi exploring the empty streets and Finn who thinks Lexi must have left him.
There were a number of aspects of this novel I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, I love the way the author developed the way Lexi feels. As she so aptly puts it - It’s a ball and a fist and a whimper and a yell. All swallowed down and shackled within you. The author is adept at putting over her protagonist’s feelings, developing the suspense along the way. Secondly, I enjoyed the pacing; it’s oddly slow – which is normally a bad thing – but not here, the author in no rush to ‘reveal all’; and that is the novel’s biggest strength. Thirdly, the writing style is wonderful – atmospheric, richly descriptive with strong, thought-provoking dialogue.
So, who’s this book for? Well, I suspect readers who enjoy a good mystery will find this story a blast. They’ll also enjoy getting to know Lexi and Finn and rooting for them to find a way of reuniting. I remember enjoying another book by this author, Small Forgotten Moments, which was excellent too (and also a bit creepy). But I think this latest book is even better.
Enjoy!
‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
29th April 2024
TITLE: ONE TUESDAY, EARLY
AUTHOR: Annalisa Crawford
Star Rating: 5
‘A smartly plotted psychological drama packed full of mystery – and suspense. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
It's not often I get pulled instantly into a novel. But that was the case in this intriguingly entitled novel, One Tuesday, Early. It's the story of Lexi and her partner, Finn. It’s Tuesday morning and Lexi finds herself in an empty town – and when I say ‘empty’, there’s nobody there; nobody! Finn, however, is oddly not affected by this phenomenon, waking up and simply finding Lexi’s not there! It’s all very confusing – deliciously so. What follows is a character-led drama as we follow Lexi exploring the empty streets and Finn who thinks Lexi must have left him.
There were a number of aspects of this novel I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, I love the way the author developed the way Lexi feels. As she so aptly puts it - It’s a ball and a fist and a whimper and a yell. All swallowed down and shackled within you. The author is adept at putting over her protagonist’s feelings, developing the suspense along the way. Secondly, I enjoyed the pacing; it’s oddly slow – which is normally a bad thing – but not here, the author in no rush to ‘reveal all’; and that is the novel’s biggest strength. Thirdly, the writing style is wonderful – atmospheric, richly descriptive with strong, thought-provoking dialogue.
So, who’s this book for? Well, I suspect readers who enjoy a good mystery will find this story a blast. They’ll also enjoy getting to know Lexi and Finn and rooting for them to find a way of reuniting. I remember enjoying another book by this author, Small Forgotten Moments, which was excellent too (and also a bit creepy). But I think this latest book is even better.
Enjoy!
‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
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