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Up Here
When you’ve had two dream marriages, choosing your eternal soulmate in heaven, is one hell of a dilemma.
Can you have more than one soulmate at the same time?
After two blissful marriages are cut short by tragic circumstances, Peter’s own early entry to heaven fills him with skepticism. Peter soon faces an impossible choice: with both wives Up Here, which woman is his eternal soulmate?
Christina and Jane have their own issues to resolve, especially considering they were best friends.
From two marriages made in heaven, all three now have one hell of a dilemma. And with Peter’s mother Up Here, too … well, she’s got her opinion!
The debut novel from Australian film & TV pioneer Jim Shomos. Up Here is a unique love-triangle featuring two dynamic women and one ro-man-tic; it’s a feel-good exploration of a modern romantic dilemma that asks the age-old question: what if?
Can you have more than one soulmate at the same time?
After two blissful marriages are cut short by tragic circumstances, Peter’s own early entry to heaven fills him with skepticism. Peter soon faces an impossible choice: with both wives Up Here, which woman is his eternal soulmate?
Christina and Jane have their own issues to resolve, especially considering they were best friends.
From two marriages made in heaven, all three now have one hell of a dilemma. And with Peter’s mother Up Here, too … well, she’s got her opinion!
The debut novel from Australian film & TV pioneer Jim Shomos. Up Here is a unique love-triangle featuring two dynamic women and one ro-man-tic; it’s a feel-good exploration of a modern romantic dilemma that asks the age-old question: what if?
- GenresRomance
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2020
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Jim Shomos
6 books13 followersJim's stories have skipped across film, TV, web series, songs and novels.
His first novel published in 2020, Up Here, began life as a screenplay and was shortlisted in the top-5 of the Australian Writers’ Guild’s ‘Romantic-comedy competition’ alongside international bestseller, The Rosie Project.
He has collected nominations and awards in Cannes, from Film Victoria and the Australian Writers’ Guild.
A passion for Haigh's Chocolates, Arsenal, Melbourne Victory, cycling, and blueberry muffins. Sometimes cycling for blueberry muffins.
His first novel published in 2020, Up Here, began life as a screenplay and was shortlisted in the top-5 of the Australian Writers’ Guild’s ‘Romantic-comedy competition’ alongside international bestseller, The Rosie Project.
He has collected nominations and awards in Cannes, from Film Victoria and the Australian Writers’ Guild.
A passion for Haigh's Chocolates, Arsenal, Melbourne Victory, cycling, and blueberry muffins. Sometimes cycling for blueberry muffins.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 22, 2020
Unique
The one word I can use to describe this book is unique. Never have I read a book like it, and I’m not sure that I will again. Most authors would shudder at the thought of trying to write about the afterlife (let alone throw a love story in there) because if you don’t do it the right way, you will alienate a great deal of readers. But in Up Here, it’s done in a way that gives you that warm and gooey feeling without moving too far into the religious territory.
The love story aspect was good (although sometimes you want to slap Peter for not being able to make up his mind). If you want incredibly steamy, it doesn’t delve too much into that realm, but the emotion is real and raw and definitely present.
Overall, I give five stars because like I said, it’s unique. And In the world or romance that is so heavily saturated at times, unique is always a good thing.
The one word I can use to describe this book is unique. Never have I read a book like it, and I’m not sure that I will again. Most authors would shudder at the thought of trying to write about the afterlife (let alone throw a love story in there) because if you don’t do it the right way, you will alienate a great deal of readers. But in Up Here, it’s done in a way that gives you that warm and gooey feeling without moving too far into the religious territory.
The love story aspect was good (although sometimes you want to slap Peter for not being able to make up his mind). If you want incredibly steamy, it doesn’t delve too much into that realm, but the emotion is real and raw and definitely present.
Overall, I give five stars because like I said, it’s unique. And In the world or romance that is so heavily saturated at times, unique is always a good thing.
August 20, 2020
I love this quirky story. What a tricky situation Peter finds himself in! I won't say too much to spoil the story but this will have you giggling.
September 7, 2020
Up Here touched my soul. A beautiful romantic-comedy about love, hope and courage.
January 4, 2022
I enjoyed this, it was original
September 15, 2020
4.5 Stars
If I had to describe Up Here by Jim Shomos in one word, it could be any of the following:
Quirky. Debut. Original. Australian Unique. Lovely. Creative. Lively. Utopian. Family. Self-discovery. Loving. Encouraging. Strength. Courage. Passion. Creative. Touching. Enlighting. Inspirational. Encompassing. Welcoming. Compassionate. Brave. Inclusive. Grieving. Second-chances. Wholesome. Romantic. Freeing. Atmospheric. Humorous.
It's a story that captivated my heart and soul.
Up Here is Shomos' debut novel. It's a one-of-a-kind novel that shouldn't work, but somehow it masterfully does. It's heart-wrenching, soul-searching, and it will leave you racing through all 262 pages eager to know more.
Dying was more complicated than he’d ever imagine. So much for ‘Rest in Peace’.
Up Here is an ambitious novel, but one with such a big pay off. Shomos’ world-building of Up Here, the ultimate Heaven was so atmospheric and fantastic. I loved the Australian setting for our characters hail from Melbourne, Australia and thus it reasons their ‘heaven’ will replicate this. I could easily envision their surroundings and felt almost like I was on a ‘holiday of sorts’ with these characters. I was at the markets, and sitting alongside the river, and go-karting at Sennasation (Christina’s go-karting track). It was all so vivid, and such a unique reading experience for me personally during these troubling COVID times where state borders are locked down tight, and the world isn’t quite what we’re used to.
It’s easier to love someone in your imagination. Reality is hard. And eternity is a long reality.
The character’s themselves are lively and so human as they transverse the complicated web of emotions and ego Up Here is subjecting them too. With the worldly ideal of forever with your one true soulmate, our love triangle is subjected to the entire sevens stages of grief as they mourn what they ‘had’ and grapple with their ‘new’ reality. Because of this the narrative twists and turns, navigating its way through humour and light-hearted moments, to instances equally filled with rage, jealousy, hopelessness and love. Just like the characters themselves, your emotions as a reader are twisted, manipulated and heightened to the tenth degree as you make your way through the narrative.
Although I picked the ‘soulmate’ early on, I can still remember feeling the clutch of emotion deep in my chest as decisions were made, and the consequences faced. Gah, it was just a rollercoaster of a ride that was so magical and perfect. The end result was a story that felt just, complete and like it couldn’t have gone any other way. I want to stress here, that although it is emotionally heavy, this narrative remains happy, upbeat and full of hope for the future. It’s a rom-com with so much heart and soul to give its reader. It took me by surprise and just didn’t let me go.
Given all of the above, I wanted desperately to give this book five stars, but on reflection, I had to be brutally honest with myself and deduct a half star. When the narrative opened I struggled to find a way into the story. To connect with Shomos’ writing and his characters. I’m being extremely picky here, but I found the writing style jarring and over-written when we are first introduced to Peter and Jane while they are still alive. I couldn’t connect to them, or the lives. At first, I thought this was most likely because my personal life has been a bit of mess lately, so I wondered initially if perhaps this book wasn’t for me? Or possibly even, not for me right now? In hindsight, I think it’s probably got a lot more to do with the fact that I knew from the synopsis that these characters were going to die … and I didn’t want to feel their pain or be devastated by that. I wasn’t prepared or ready to feel that kind of emotion so I withheld myself.
However, when the narrative hit roughly the 15% mark and Peter had reached Up Here, the writing and indeed my entire relationship with the narrative changed. I was quickly sucker-punched by emotion and crashed headfirst into the story. From there on out, I raced through the pages desperate to know what was happening and who Peter’s soul mate would end up being.
All of this is to say, if you are like me and you struggled with the first part of the book, I beg you to persist. The narrative will pull the carpet from beneath your feet in next to no time and you will be on the ride of your life as you race alongside Peter, Jane, and Christina on a journey of self-discovery (both theirs and your own), love and the afterlife.
I highly recommend this book.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 15th September 2020 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-2ry
If I had to describe Up Here by Jim Shomos in one word, it could be any of the following:
Quirky. Debut. Original. Australian Unique. Lovely. Creative. Lively. Utopian. Family. Self-discovery. Loving. Encouraging. Strength. Courage. Passion. Creative. Touching. Enlighting. Inspirational. Encompassing. Welcoming. Compassionate. Brave. Inclusive. Grieving. Second-chances. Wholesome. Romantic. Freeing. Atmospheric. Humorous.
It's a story that captivated my heart and soul.
Up Here is Shomos' debut novel. It's a one-of-a-kind novel that shouldn't work, but somehow it masterfully does. It's heart-wrenching, soul-searching, and it will leave you racing through all 262 pages eager to know more.
Dying was more complicated than he’d ever imagine. So much for ‘Rest in Peace’.
Up Here is an ambitious novel, but one with such a big pay off. Shomos’ world-building of Up Here, the ultimate Heaven was so atmospheric and fantastic. I loved the Australian setting for our characters hail from Melbourne, Australia and thus it reasons their ‘heaven’ will replicate this. I could easily envision their surroundings and felt almost like I was on a ‘holiday of sorts’ with these characters. I was at the markets, and sitting alongside the river, and go-karting at Sennasation (Christina’s go-karting track). It was all so vivid, and such a unique reading experience for me personally during these troubling COVID times where state borders are locked down tight, and the world isn’t quite what we’re used to.
It’s easier to love someone in your imagination. Reality is hard. And eternity is a long reality.
The character’s themselves are lively and so human as they transverse the complicated web of emotions and ego Up Here is subjecting them too. With the worldly ideal of forever with your one true soulmate, our love triangle is subjected to the entire sevens stages of grief as they mourn what they ‘had’ and grapple with their ‘new’ reality. Because of this the narrative twists and turns, navigating its way through humour and light-hearted moments, to instances equally filled with rage, jealousy, hopelessness and love. Just like the characters themselves, your emotions as a reader are twisted, manipulated and heightened to the tenth degree as you make your way through the narrative.
Although I picked the ‘soulmate’ early on, I can still remember feeling the clutch of emotion deep in my chest as decisions were made, and the consequences faced. Gah, it was just a rollercoaster of a ride that was so magical and perfect. The end result was a story that felt just, complete and like it couldn’t have gone any other way. I want to stress here, that although it is emotionally heavy, this narrative remains happy, upbeat and full of hope for the future. It’s a rom-com with so much heart and soul to give its reader. It took me by surprise and just didn’t let me go.
Given all of the above, I wanted desperately to give this book five stars, but on reflection, I had to be brutally honest with myself and deduct a half star. When the narrative opened I struggled to find a way into the story. To connect with Shomos’ writing and his characters. I’m being extremely picky here, but I found the writing style jarring and over-written when we are first introduced to Peter and Jane while they are still alive. I couldn’t connect to them, or the lives. At first, I thought this was most likely because my personal life has been a bit of mess lately, so I wondered initially if perhaps this book wasn’t for me? Or possibly even, not for me right now? In hindsight, I think it’s probably got a lot more to do with the fact that I knew from the synopsis that these characters were going to die … and I didn’t want to feel their pain or be devastated by that. I wasn’t prepared or ready to feel that kind of emotion so I withheld myself.
However, when the narrative hit roughly the 15% mark and Peter had reached Up Here, the writing and indeed my entire relationship with the narrative changed. I was quickly sucker-punched by emotion and crashed headfirst into the story. From there on out, I raced through the pages desperate to know what was happening and who Peter’s soul mate would end up being.
All of this is to say, if you are like me and you struggled with the first part of the book, I beg you to persist. The narrative will pull the carpet from beneath your feet in next to no time and you will be on the ride of your life as you race alongside Peter, Jane, and Christina on a journey of self-discovery (both theirs and your own), love and the afterlife.
I highly recommend this book.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 15th September 2020 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-2ry
September 17, 2020
A sweet eternal romcom and a quirky story of what happens after you leave this world and enter heaven with two loves waiting for your forever choice.
Peter can’t believe he’s dead, how unlucky after travelling abroad to recuperate from a tragedy.
After two happy marriages and two wives waiting Up Here, how does he decide which one is his everlasting soulmate.
Christina and Jane were once best friends and are having their own issues to work through.
The three of them have to sort it out and decide what’s best for them all and to add to the dilemma, Peter’s mother has an opinion too.
A unique, witty, emotional tale of how love can be just as
complicated even up in heaven.
Fun loving characters in lots of messy and humorous situations which will get the feeling senses working overtime.
A literary recipe of love, hope and the complexities of relationships.
A tale of chaos in that place in the sky between two people who you loved in the living world.
The entrance and drama of entering heaven in the plot was funny and joyful to read about, theses scenes did make me smile and chuckle.
No crazy plot twist or unexpected wow ending here just a good old fashioned amusing love story set in a world we all will enter some day.
Peter can’t believe he’s dead, how unlucky after travelling abroad to recuperate from a tragedy.
After two happy marriages and two wives waiting Up Here, how does he decide which one is his everlasting soulmate.
Christina and Jane were once best friends and are having their own issues to work through.
The three of them have to sort it out and decide what’s best for them all and to add to the dilemma, Peter’s mother has an opinion too.
A unique, witty, emotional tale of how love can be just as
complicated even up in heaven.
Fun loving characters in lots of messy and humorous situations which will get the feeling senses working overtime.
A literary recipe of love, hope and the complexities of relationships.
A tale of chaos in that place in the sky between two people who you loved in the living world.
The entrance and drama of entering heaven in the plot was funny and joyful to read about, theses scenes did make me smile and chuckle.
No crazy plot twist or unexpected wow ending here just a good old fashioned amusing love story set in a world we all will enter some day.
October 2, 2020
Great read, interesting concept. Love the idea of the Up Here and what it holds.
January 10, 2021
This book began life as a screenplay and I would so love to see this movie! It showed an interesting, lovely view of heaven - and hell- that I had never considered. It's rare to have a rom- com told from a male perspective, and it worked. My favourite part of the book: replacing the word god with love. A very satisfying ending for the main character and his three significant others.
January 20, 2022
What an incredibly interesting premise for a human story. This story revolves around two notions that pose questions we often ponder in life – the first relates to finding your soulmate – do we even only have one soulmate? And the second, around the afterlife – how might we expect heaven to look like? Introduce these notions with a three-way love triangle and you have a highly original plot that draws us in and percolates throughout the story. Love and death. These are keystone concepts that we encounter in our search for meaning in our lives and this story is so relatable.
The protagonist is a likeable fellow with a very real problem. Two dream marriages, two loves of his life and without spoiling the surprises, he ends up “Up Here” (heaven) where he is reunited with both wives and this presents problems that one imagines any threesome relationships pose.
Mastering the metaphor, Jim Shomos shines as a debut author with much potential. Indeed, he has won accolades already for his writing in other arenas, so although this is a debut novel, there is no part of this book that is other than professionally written. It’s a page-turner as we don’t know (and we want to know) how the protagonist will resolve his Hell of a dilemma.
Highly recommended debut novel.
The protagonist is a likeable fellow with a very real problem. Two dream marriages, two loves of his life and without spoiling the surprises, he ends up “Up Here” (heaven) where he is reunited with both wives and this presents problems that one imagines any threesome relationships pose.
Mastering the metaphor, Jim Shomos shines as a debut author with much potential. Indeed, he has won accolades already for his writing in other arenas, so although this is a debut novel, there is no part of this book that is other than professionally written. It’s a page-turner as we don’t know (and we want to know) how the protagonist will resolve his Hell of a dilemma.
Highly recommended debut novel.
September 15, 2020
I can't write a review but here's an independent review from another source:
An eternal love-triangle, Up Here by Jim Shomos delves deep into what real love is with humorous results. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt and captivating romantic comedy.
Meet Peter, Jane and Christina, oh and mom of course! I loved this book. On one hand it’s airy and amusing; on the other it’s reflective and profound. It’s definitely movie worthy, and I kept imagining what it would look like on the big screen.
The story starts when forty year old, jam-donut lover Peter, teeters on the verge of a new relationship with Jane. It’s true romance as the two acknowledge they’re in love. The trouble is, Christina has only been dead for five years and Peter is still mourning. Taking the decision that Christina would want them to be happy they take the plunge and get married. With guitars and a red convertible Mustang left to gather dust, Peter embarks on a new marriage full of love.
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but sometimes it does, and Jane is taken by brain tumors. Peter is floored. He’s been lucky to have the love of two wonderful women, and unlucky enough to have lost them both. The crux of this tale hinges on my favorite line from the book: Who are you? Until you know this, you can’t connect with a soul mate.
Heaven is meant to be wonderful, but when told he can only have one soul mate, who will Peter choose, Christina or Jane? There is another line very poignant to the story: Closure is the most elusive ghost, you can sometimes see it, but never grasp it. Life, death and love are all explored with skill and wit in this unique, imaginative romantic comedy.
Jim Shomos must have written this with a twinkle in his eyes. With wonderful characters, a splendid storyline and a fabulous light touch, Up Here is as moving, as it is funny. Up Here by Jim Shomos is a tender, thought-provoking, romantic comedy which comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews.
An eternal love-triangle, Up Here by Jim Shomos delves deep into what real love is with humorous results. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt and captivating romantic comedy.
Meet Peter, Jane and Christina, oh and mom of course! I loved this book. On one hand it’s airy and amusing; on the other it’s reflective and profound. It’s definitely movie worthy, and I kept imagining what it would look like on the big screen.
The story starts when forty year old, jam-donut lover Peter, teeters on the verge of a new relationship with Jane. It’s true romance as the two acknowledge they’re in love. The trouble is, Christina has only been dead for five years and Peter is still mourning. Taking the decision that Christina would want them to be happy they take the plunge and get married. With guitars and a red convertible Mustang left to gather dust, Peter embarks on a new marriage full of love.
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but sometimes it does, and Jane is taken by brain tumors. Peter is floored. He’s been lucky to have the love of two wonderful women, and unlucky enough to have lost them both. The crux of this tale hinges on my favorite line from the book: Who are you? Until you know this, you can’t connect with a soul mate.
Heaven is meant to be wonderful, but when told he can only have one soul mate, who will Peter choose, Christina or Jane? There is another line very poignant to the story: Closure is the most elusive ghost, you can sometimes see it, but never grasp it. Life, death and love are all explored with skill and wit in this unique, imaginative romantic comedy.
Jim Shomos must have written this with a twinkle in his eyes. With wonderful characters, a splendid storyline and a fabulous light touch, Up Here is as moving, as it is funny. Up Here by Jim Shomos is a tender, thought-provoking, romantic comedy which comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews