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The Second Thread: A life refracted
What if the life you know is only one of the lives you could have lived?
Christopher Cole has the life many people dream of.
A loving wife. Two children. A life that should feel complete.
Yet something feels out of reach. A quiet certainty that he was meant for more. That somewhere along the way, he became a version of himself he never intended to be.
Then, in a single devastating moment, everything changes.
When Christopher wakes after a car accident, he finds himself somewhere a reality where the accident never happened and his life has taken a different path.
But the life he remembers has been erased.
Determined to find his way back, Christopher searches for answers in a reality that feels both familiar and impossible. But the deeper he goes, the more he begins to question everything he thought he knew about his life, his memories, and reality itself.
All the while, the life he is fighting to return to may no longer be waiting for him.
A gripping story of love, loss and impossible choices, The Second Thread
If you were given the chance to live the life you thought you wanted, would you risk losing the one you already had?
Christopher Cole has the life many people dream of.
A loving wife. Two children. A life that should feel complete.
Yet something feels out of reach. A quiet certainty that he was meant for more. That somewhere along the way, he became a version of himself he never intended to be.
Then, in a single devastating moment, everything changes.
When Christopher wakes after a car accident, he finds himself somewhere a reality where the accident never happened and his life has taken a different path.
But the life he remembers has been erased.
Determined to find his way back, Christopher searches for answers in a reality that feels both familiar and impossible. But the deeper he goes, the more he begins to question everything he thought he knew about his life, his memories, and reality itself.
All the while, the life he is fighting to return to may no longer be waiting for him.
A gripping story of love, loss and impossible choices, The Second Thread
If you were given the chance to live the life you thought you wanted, would you risk losing the one you already had?
405 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
A.E. Ward
3 books6 followersHi, I'm Ashley, although you'll find my books under A. E. Ward.
I write stories about ordinary people finding themselves in decidedly unordinary situations, usually involving impossible choices, questionable amounts of science, and at least a little existential crisis.
My debut novel, The Second Thread: A Life Refracted, began with a question I couldn't stop thinking about: what if the life you know is only one of the lives you could have lived?
When I'm not disappearing down research rabbit holes or wondering whether I've accidentally broken the laws of physics, I'm a teacher, mum of three boys, owner of two springer spaniels, and permanently surrounded by half-finished cups of tea in Northumberland.
I love stories that leave you thinking about them long after you've finished reading — and that's exactly the kind of story I hope to write.
I write stories about ordinary people finding themselves in decidedly unordinary situations, usually involving impossible choices, questionable amounts of science, and at least a little existential crisis.
My debut novel, The Second Thread: A Life Refracted, began with a question I couldn't stop thinking about: what if the life you know is only one of the lives you could have lived?
When I'm not disappearing down research rabbit holes or wondering whether I've accidentally broken the laws of physics, I'm a teacher, mum of three boys, owner of two springer spaniels, and permanently surrounded by half-finished cups of tea in Northumberland.
I love stories that leave you thinking about them long after you've finished reading — and that's exactly the kind of story I hope to write.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 16, 2026
5/5 ⭐️
Captivating. I genuinely could not put this book down, total binge read (from
about 18:00 - now! )
The Second Thread is emotionally raw, beautifully conceptualised, scientifically fascinating and utterly heartbreaking. There were moments that felt so relatable, drawing you into the characters’ lives until you find yourself desperately rooting for multiple possibilities.
You want things to “work out” whichever way they go, yet you can’t help feeling heartbroken by all the possible outcomes. Because no matter which path is taken, or which thread - someone is going to face unimaginable loss.
A book as beautiful as it is sad, it really is a thought-provoking story…I think it will stay with me for a while. I would highly recommend this book.
Captivating. I genuinely could not put this book down, total binge read (from
about 18:00 - now! )
The Second Thread is emotionally raw, beautifully conceptualised, scientifically fascinating and utterly heartbreaking. There were moments that felt so relatable, drawing you into the characters’ lives until you find yourself desperately rooting for multiple possibilities.
You want things to “work out” whichever way they go, yet you can’t help feeling heartbroken by all the possible outcomes. Because no matter which path is taken, or which thread - someone is going to face unimaginable loss.
A book as beautiful as it is sad, it really is a thought-provoking story…I think it will stay with me for a while. I would highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review