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Câu chuyện bắt đầu trong thời kỳ Chiến tranh thế giới thứ hai, thành phố Bath hứng chịu liên tiếp những trận oanh kích ban đêm. Đôi vợ chồng trẻ Will và Elsa bị đánh thức giữa đêm bởi tiếng máy bay vần vũ ngay phía trên đầu.
Tiếp đó là những vụ nổ ì ùng, màu đỏ rực của các đám cháy, mùi khét của hắc ín, cả khu phố bị ném bom. Trong cơn loạn lạc, Will ngất đi giữa thứ ánh sáng chói lòa. Khi tỉnh dậy, Will vội vã lao đi tìm Elsa… Hơn sáu mươi năm sau, cô gái trẻ Laura xuất hiện trước cửa nhà ông Will Emerson gần chín mươi tuổi. Cô đảm nhận vai trò nhân viên chăm sóc tại nhà của ông lão độc thân, bị coi là mắc chứng mất trí nhớ, sống tách biệt với mọi người, trong ngôi nhà cũ kĩ và bụi bặm. Ông lão Will Emerson sống ẩn mình này thực sự là người ra sao mà lại có quá nhiều đồn đoán đáng sợ về ông ấy đến vậy? Liệu Laura sẽ phát hiện ra những bí ẩn động trời nào vì mỗi khi cô đến ngôi nhà Avon Lodge cũng già nua kia, cô lại cảm nhận thấy những tần số vô hình kỳ bí?
Tiếp đó là những vụ nổ ì ùng, màu đỏ rực của các đám cháy, mùi khét của hắc ín, cả khu phố bị ném bom. Trong cơn loạn lạc, Will ngất đi giữa thứ ánh sáng chói lòa. Khi tỉnh dậy, Will vội vã lao đi tìm Elsa… Hơn sáu mươi năm sau, cô gái trẻ Laura xuất hiện trước cửa nhà ông Will Emerson gần chín mươi tuổi. Cô đảm nhận vai trò nhân viên chăm sóc tại nhà của ông lão độc thân, bị coi là mắc chứng mất trí nhớ, sống tách biệt với mọi người, trong ngôi nhà cũ kĩ và bụi bặm. Ông lão Will Emerson sống ẩn mình này thực sự là người ra sao mà lại có quá nhiều đồn đoán đáng sợ về ông ấy đến vậy? Liệu Laura sẽ phát hiện ra những bí ẩn động trời nào vì mỗi khi cô đến ngôi nhà Avon Lodge cũng già nua kia, cô lại cảm nhận thấy những tần số vô hình kỳ bí?
528 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2021
234 people are currently reading
2966 people want to read
About the author
Keith Stuart
17 books232 followersKeith Stuart is a veteran journalist who has been covering video games and digital culture for over 20 years. In 2015 he wrote his first novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, which was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. It has sold over 200,000 copies and is translated into 24 languages. His second novel, Days of Wonder, is available in paperback, audio and ebook, and his third, The Frequency of Us, was selected for BBC2's Between the Covers series and is available in hardback, ebook and audio. His latest, Love is a Curse is available now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews
January 22, 2023
The first 95% of this book was an absolute joy to read. The prose was every bit as excellent as it was in Stuart's first two offerings, A Boy Made of Blocks and Days of Wonder, and the story moved on at a cracking pace. The dual-timeline was cleverly thought-out and perfectly executed, so that I was kept guessing all the time at what would happen next.
Then the end happened.
I have no problem with the ending as such. The idea was great. It's just the execution that I failed to appreciate. The ending gave Stuart the perfect opportunity to resolve the relationship between Laura and her father, and between her estranged parents, and would have created a memorable final chapter. But instead, Stuart ignored the parents entirely, choosing to introduce an entirely new and utterly one-dimensional character, and what followed was the most clumsy mess of dialogue and contrivance I've read in months.
I finished the book 24 hours ago now, and the more I think about it, the bigger my issues with these final pages of the book become. It's such a shame, and incredibly frustrating.
Then the end happened.
I have no problem with the ending as such. The idea was great. It's just the execution that I failed to appreciate. The ending gave Stuart the perfect opportunity to resolve the relationship between Laura and her father, and between her estranged parents, and would have created a memorable final chapter. But instead, Stuart ignored the parents entirely, choosing to introduce an entirely new and utterly one-dimensional character, and what followed was the most clumsy mess of dialogue and contrivance I've read in months.
I finished the book 24 hours ago now, and the more I think about it, the bigger my issues with these final pages of the book become. It's such a shame, and incredibly frustrating.
January 8, 2021
Book reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Author Keith Stuart is back with another outstanding novel after the success of ‘A Boy Made of Bricks‘ and ‘Days of Wonder‘, which were also five star reads for me.
In the Frequency of Us, we meet elderly Will Emerson and young carer Laura who has been given the job of assessing Will, who lives alone, to see whether he has dementia and if he needs to go into a care home.
The book opens in 1942 with the road that Will and his wife Elsa live on being bombed and Will being injured. When he wakes there is no sign of Elsa or that she ever existed. Will is certain that he hadn’t made her up but as the years go by he can find no proof that she really did exist, though at times he slips back into the past and goes in search or cries out for her.
Laura has some mental health issues brought on by issues with her father when she was a child. She suffers from depression and anxiety and is grateful to be given the job to assess Will, though she finds him a little scary and hard work at first.
As Laura listens to Will’s stories about Elsa she is convinced that he couldn’t be making her up and goes in search of the truth, but sometimes the truth is not what you expect it to be.
This was a book that I didn’t want to put down. The story is told in the present and the past, between 1938 and 1942, leading up to the bombing of Bath, where Will lives. The plot has you second-guessing everything you think you know. One minute you are convinced Elsa was real, the next you are not so sure, could this be all in Will’s head who suffered a breakdown and PTSD after the bombing.
The characters are realistic, flawed humans that are juggling and plodding on through life. Neither has had it easy. With Will sometimes living in the past and Laura still dealing with her past which is having a negative impact on her present.
Author Keith Stuart writes mental health issues as harsh and debilitating as they often truly are. He shows the true nature of what someone with them goes through, sometimes it isn’t an easy read, but it is essential to the story.
I can’t say much more without giving away some of the plot, but be prepared to be open about the world and try to make out what the title may mean.
A fabulous book and I can’t wait to read Keith Stuart’s future novels.
Author Keith Stuart is back with another outstanding novel after the success of ‘A Boy Made of Bricks‘ and ‘Days of Wonder‘, which were also five star reads for me.
In the Frequency of Us, we meet elderly Will Emerson and young carer Laura who has been given the job of assessing Will, who lives alone, to see whether he has dementia and if he needs to go into a care home.
The book opens in 1942 with the road that Will and his wife Elsa live on being bombed and Will being injured. When he wakes there is no sign of Elsa or that she ever existed. Will is certain that he hadn’t made her up but as the years go by he can find no proof that she really did exist, though at times he slips back into the past and goes in search or cries out for her.
Laura has some mental health issues brought on by issues with her father when she was a child. She suffers from depression and anxiety and is grateful to be given the job to assess Will, though she finds him a little scary and hard work at first.
As Laura listens to Will’s stories about Elsa she is convinced that he couldn’t be making her up and goes in search of the truth, but sometimes the truth is not what you expect it to be.
This was a book that I didn’t want to put down. The story is told in the present and the past, between 1938 and 1942, leading up to the bombing of Bath, where Will lives. The plot has you second-guessing everything you think you know. One minute you are convinced Elsa was real, the next you are not so sure, could this be all in Will’s head who suffered a breakdown and PTSD after the bombing.
The characters are realistic, flawed humans that are juggling and plodding on through life. Neither has had it easy. With Will sometimes living in the past and Laura still dealing with her past which is having a negative impact on her present.
Author Keith Stuart writes mental health issues as harsh and debilitating as they often truly are. He shows the true nature of what someone with them goes through, sometimes it isn’t an easy read, but it is essential to the story.
I can’t say much more without giving away some of the plot, but be prepared to be open about the world and try to make out what the title may mean.
A fabulous book and I can’t wait to read Keith Stuart’s future novels.
March 21, 2021
In the Second World War, Bath, a young naive wrieless engineer, Will, meets German refugee Elsa Klein. She is sophisticated, witty and worldly. At last his life seems to make sense. But soon after the newly married couples house is bombed, and Will awakes from the wreckage to find himself alone. But no one has heard of Elsa. They say he never married. Seventy years later, Laura is battling her way out of depression. Her new case is with Will to find out whether he is suffering with dementia.
I quite like a story that mixes historical facts with fiction. This is one of those books i don't want to say too much about as i don't want to spoil it for potential readers. This story spans two timelines, the presen day and during the war. This is another beautifully written novel. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #KeithStuart for my ARC of #TheFrequencyOfUs in exchange for an honest review.
I quite like a story that mixes historical facts with fiction. This is one of those books i don't want to say too much about as i don't want to spoil it for potential readers. This story spans two timelines, the presen day and during the war. This is another beautifully written novel. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #KeithStuart for my ARC of #TheFrequencyOfUs in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2021
I seemed to have a love-hate relationship with this story. I loved it at first; the first pages really took me by surprise, then the pacing slowed down, some weird things happened, and I fell out of love for a long time. And at about 70% of the story, I fell in love again; I even got goosebumps reading a story I sighed about earlier. And the ending? Well, I’m not sure if I love or hate it. It definitely left me baffled.
I choose this book because of the premise, a man who lost his Austrian wife in WWII and a woman in the present who is depressed and has anxiety attacks and becomes the old man’s caretaker. But this story is more. It’s about radios, memories, and imagination, always doubting what is real and not.
The writing style is active and captivating, a little too wordy for me at times (very descriptive). The premise and the elaboration are undoubtedly original. It has a couple of plot twists; I guessed one of those at about 15-20% of the story, and I was a little proud of that one 😂. I won’t say much about the content because I don’t want to spoil anything. If you like a story with dual timelines, and read about an 87-yo and a 29-yo who bond in a special way with a couple of plot twists, this could be a nice read for you.
I received an ARC from Little, Brown Book Group UK in exchange for an honest review.
I choose this book because of the premise, a man who lost his Austrian wife in WWII and a woman in the present who is depressed and has anxiety attacks and becomes the old man’s caretaker. But this story is more. It’s about radios, memories, and imagination, always doubting what is real and not.
The writing style is active and captivating, a little too wordy for me at times (very descriptive). The premise and the elaboration are undoubtedly original. It has a couple of plot twists; I guessed one of those at about 15-20% of the story, and I was a little proud of that one 😂. I won’t say much about the content because I don’t want to spoil anything. If you like a story with dual timelines, and read about an 87-yo and a 29-yo who bond in a special way with a couple of plot twists, this could be a nice read for you.
I received an ARC from Little, Brown Book Group UK in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2020
Wow this book was amazing! As soon as I finished it I wanted to read it all over again, something I never do!
I loved Days of Wonder when I read it a couple of years ago, and was so excited when I received an email from the publisher to read the author’s latest book. Well it grabbed me from the first page! I had to know more about Will and his wife Elsa and if Laura was able to help him.
I love dual timeline stories and this is one of the best I’ve read. It’s told through Will’s journals from the late 1930s, and from Laura’s point of view in 2007.
I loved Will, Elsa and Laura, they were fabulous characters who I believed in and wanted the best for. I sympathised with Laura as she struggled to make sense of Will’s situation. Was he telling her the truth or was the dementia making him make everything up about Elsa?
This was one of those books that captivated me and made feel like I was inside the book with the characters. I could see everything that was happening to them and could almost feel the electricity and here the buzz of the radio in the house when strange things were happening every time Laura visited Will. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, the withdrawal affects from her medication or something spooky going on! I didn’t know either and really hoped it was real. There were some fantastic reveals in this story with one near the end that really took me by surprise.
I loved the period details from the wartime story and went scurrying off to Google to check out Sham’s Castle. I can easily see this as a film, it’s ripe for a book to screen adaption, and I can imagine David Warner playing Will.
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy dual timeline novels partly set in World War Two.
Thanks so much to Clara Diaz at Little Brown Group for my digital copy via the NetGalley app.
I loved Days of Wonder when I read it a couple of years ago, and was so excited when I received an email from the publisher to read the author’s latest book. Well it grabbed me from the first page! I had to know more about Will and his wife Elsa and if Laura was able to help him.
I love dual timeline stories and this is one of the best I’ve read. It’s told through Will’s journals from the late 1930s, and from Laura’s point of view in 2007.
I loved Will, Elsa and Laura, they were fabulous characters who I believed in and wanted the best for. I sympathised with Laura as she struggled to make sense of Will’s situation. Was he telling her the truth or was the dementia making him make everything up about Elsa?
This was one of those books that captivated me and made feel like I was inside the book with the characters. I could see everything that was happening to them and could almost feel the electricity and here the buzz of the radio in the house when strange things were happening every time Laura visited Will. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, the withdrawal affects from her medication or something spooky going on! I didn’t know either and really hoped it was real. There were some fantastic reveals in this story with one near the end that really took me by surprise.
I loved the period details from the wartime story and went scurrying off to Google to check out Sham’s Castle. I can easily see this as a film, it’s ripe for a book to screen adaption, and I can imagine David Warner playing Will.
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy dual timeline novels partly set in World War Two.
Thanks so much to Clara Diaz at Little Brown Group for my digital copy via the NetGalley app.
July 25, 2021
This is going to be a good one for the Matt Haig fans. It’s set in Bath, it’s got an interesting slightly sci-fi slant, but I did struggle with it a little bit. The first half is more than a bit of a slog, the characters are a bit flat and not much beyond their flaws, which makes them hard to relate to, and the plot feels a bit cardboard. I could trace it onto a plot graph exactly, but it lacked a spark of real feeling for me, and there wasn’t much depth. The way that mental health was handled made me a bit uncomfortable to be perfectly honest, and the weird sort of moral resolution. But I’m probably not the intended audience and I’m sure there are people out there who will really love it.
February 28, 2021
This book got off to a really great start. It's war time Britain in the city of Bath. The Germans are dropping their bombs every night, causing people to flee to their bunkers for their safety. Fast paced, and exciting, straight away I was totally drawn to Will and was fascinated by the story. How could his wife, Elsa Klein, just disappear without a trace? I loved Will's character; grumpy, mean and totally broken by the disappearance of his wife. Laura, sent by Adult Social Care to find out whether Will can copy alone at home or if he needs to go into care, is drawn in by his story and sets out on a mission to find out what happened to Elsa. Did she really exist, or is she a figment of Will's imagination? The downside to the book was that to me personally, it just went on for too long and by the time the end came I'd lost a bit of interest and I admit I skipped bits to find out how the book ended. I would recommend it though.
April 21, 2021
Plot - 4/5
The plot was very engaging. I cannot claim to know the scientific accuracy behind the concepts mentioned in this book (It's not very heavy, don't worry) but I liked the plot and the story. It made sense to me. It also served the purpose of feeding me a good, entertaining, heartwrenching, and satisfying story. Am good with that.
Pacing - 4.5/5
The pacing was excellent. I was thinking, like other historical fiction novels, this too will sag in the middle and pick up in the end. But I am surprised and happy to say that this book didn't have the lagging middle problem. The author has maintained an even and steady pacing throughout the story, like a good cup of coffee that's warm from the beginning to finish.
Characters - 4/5
I didn't get attached to any of the characters. I probably might even forget all about them by next week but I still found the characters to be very well thought out and written about. Especially the relationship between Laura & Will, Will & Elsa, and Laura and her mother were heartwarming, good models that let me sink slowly into the story.
Set-up - 4/5
I am not a huge set-up person. I couldn't care less for descriptions of places, monuments, etc. My brain generally just casually skips over any such descriptions, be it about people, places, architecture, or weather. I cannot be bothered to read it with any interest. So I cannot judge the set-up accurately in this case, but whatever was there in the book worked for me and was not overdone.
Writing - 4.5/5
Writing is very approachable and good. I didn't have any trouble following through the timelines nor did I find the characters' names or stories confusing. I am surprised I haven't read this author before. An author with excellent potential indeed.
Overall rating - 4.2
Objective Rating - Invest grade - Book worth buying and adding to your collection.
Subjective Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The plot was very engaging. I cannot claim to know the scientific accuracy behind the concepts mentioned in this book (It's not very heavy, don't worry) but I liked the plot and the story. It made sense to me. It also served the purpose of feeding me a good, entertaining, heartwrenching, and satisfying story. Am good with that.
Pacing - 4.5/5
The pacing was excellent. I was thinking, like other historical fiction novels, this too will sag in the middle and pick up in the end. But I am surprised and happy to say that this book didn't have the lagging middle problem. The author has maintained an even and steady pacing throughout the story, like a good cup of coffee that's warm from the beginning to finish.
Characters - 4/5
I didn't get attached to any of the characters. I probably might even forget all about them by next week but I still found the characters to be very well thought out and written about. Especially the relationship between Laura & Will, Will & Elsa, and Laura and her mother were heartwarming, good models that let me sink slowly into the story.
Set-up - 4/5
I am not a huge set-up person. I couldn't care less for descriptions of places, monuments, etc. My brain generally just casually skips over any such descriptions, be it about people, places, architecture, or weather. I cannot be bothered to read it with any interest. So I cannot judge the set-up accurately in this case, but whatever was there in the book worked for me and was not overdone.
Writing - 4.5/5
Writing is very approachable and good. I didn't have any trouble following through the timelines nor did I find the characters' names or stories confusing. I am surprised I haven't read this author before. An author with excellent potential indeed.
Overall rating - 4.2
Objective Rating - Invest grade - Book worth buying and adding to your collection.
Subjective Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 6, 2021
I can confess I hadn’t heard Of Keith Stuart before. So, The he frequency of us is my first book from the author that I have read.
Laura is a carer and has been given the task to visit 87-year-old Will Emerson and devised a report to see if her is capable of still living at home on his own in a depilated house called Avon Lodge. As he has the first signs with dementia and has been told to talk to himself. In his younger days, Will was a Radio engineer and his house and garden shed portrays that as it is full of old transistor radios and its components and dream of his younger day back in Bath in 1942 and his memories of his loving wife Elsa.
Laura herself has her own problems. She suffers from Anxiety and depression. This is her first job and she hoped to make a difference. But after devising her report. She got Will all wrong and she goes out of her way to find out the truth to what happened to Elsa.
Thank you, Little brown, for a copy of The frequency of us. This is a moving story of courage, love, loss and also mental health. I really enjoyed this historical tale. Although a bit slow to start, this has a unique story line of two lonely people brought together which changes both their lives for the better. 4 stars from me.
Laura is a carer and has been given the task to visit 87-year-old Will Emerson and devised a report to see if her is capable of still living at home on his own in a depilated house called Avon Lodge. As he has the first signs with dementia and has been told to talk to himself. In his younger days, Will was a Radio engineer and his house and garden shed portrays that as it is full of old transistor radios and its components and dream of his younger day back in Bath in 1942 and his memories of his loving wife Elsa.
Laura herself has her own problems. She suffers from Anxiety and depression. This is her first job and she hoped to make a difference. But after devising her report. She got Will all wrong and she goes out of her way to find out the truth to what happened to Elsa.
Thank you, Little brown, for a copy of The frequency of us. This is a moving story of courage, love, loss and also mental health. I really enjoyed this historical tale. Although a bit slow to start, this has a unique story line of two lonely people brought together which changes both their lives for the better. 4 stars from me.
January 10, 2023
DNF. Any book that uses the word 'invalid' as a synonym for a disabled person has no place being published in this decade. I overlooked it the first few times due to the historical context of the book and societal attitudes at the time that some of the chapters were set in, but by the third mention (in a scene that took place in the 2000s) of an 'invalid carriage' that added absolutely nothing of substance or value to the story, I was done. I absolutely loved A Boy Made Of Blocks by the same author and thought the conversation starters around neurodivergence were great in that one, so I was really caught by surprise by the gut-punching ableist language here.
November 11, 2021
This was a really captivating book and very intriguing. A little disappointed with the ending in that Laura's relationship with her father wasn't dealt with. Other than that I really enjoyed it
March 6, 2021
3.5/5 stars
It’s been a while since I read a historical, contemporary fiction but this was an easy reintroduction to the genre. The Frequency of Us is a poignant story that follows two main characters - Will and Laura - alternating chapters with their point of views, past and present. We open with Will’s perspective during a bomb raid in his neighborhood where he discovers that his was completely wiped from his life. Cut to the present where Will is now a 90 year-old man living in solitude, Laura finds herself assigned with evaluating him for social services. Laura, with her own set of secrets, decides to help Will reconnect the pieces from his past.
Ultimately the story is about grief, trauma and healing.
I do enjoy stories that feature two timelines weaved together, as one of the characters slowly uncover some mystery of the other. This was similarly enjoyable, though I did feel more invested in one pov for majority of the book (Laura), so non Laura pov chapters felt a little bit of a bore but the prose was smooth so they were still easy to get through.
Both characters were great but Laura stood out more to me, I love how her struggles with mental illness and medication were shown. The author really wrote these characters with care and you can tell, there were several more subtle, mellower moments that somehow hit harder due to how relatable they are. Will in the past did not interest me as much, his personality felt a little monotonous compared to older, present Will. His grumpy yet compassionate personality bounces off Laura’s anxious yet stern personality really well.
Overall, the book was a quick and nice read. It might drag a little bit but still a lovely story for people who are looking for a heartwarming, historical fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a honest review.
It’s been a while since I read a historical, contemporary fiction but this was an easy reintroduction to the genre. The Frequency of Us is a poignant story that follows two main characters - Will and Laura - alternating chapters with their point of views, past and present. We open with Will’s perspective during a bomb raid in his neighborhood where he discovers that his was completely wiped from his life. Cut to the present where Will is now a 90 year-old man living in solitude, Laura finds herself assigned with evaluating him for social services. Laura, with her own set of secrets, decides to help Will reconnect the pieces from his past.
Ultimately the story is about grief, trauma and healing.
I do enjoy stories that feature two timelines weaved together, as one of the characters slowly uncover some mystery of the other. This was similarly enjoyable, though I did feel more invested in one pov for majority of the book (Laura), so non Laura pov chapters felt a little bit of a bore but the prose was smooth so they were still easy to get through.
Both characters were great but Laura stood out more to me, I love how her struggles with mental illness and medication were shown. The author really wrote these characters with care and you can tell, there were several more subtle, mellower moments that somehow hit harder due to how relatable they are. Will in the past did not interest me as much, his personality felt a little monotonous compared to older, present Will. His grumpy yet compassionate personality bounces off Laura’s anxious yet stern personality really well.
Overall, the book was a quick and nice read. It might drag a little bit but still a lovely story for people who are looking for a heartwarming, historical fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a honest review.
January 22, 2024
Wonderful wonderful wonderful book that has filled me with joy. I raced through it. It was both heart stopping and fascinating. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to end, until the very end!
January 23, 2021
It is wartime, April 1942 and Will Emerson and Elsa Klein’s love affair has only just begun when the bombing raids of the city hit their home at Avon Lodge, Bath. Wireless research engineer Will and Austrian music lover Elsa are separated, a blinding light a precursor to the bomb falling, with Will glimpsing the shadow of his lover in the doorway of the kitchen just before he loses consciousness. Found in his garden and taken to the Royal United hospital Will is more concerned about the safety and whereabouts of Elsa and a young boy David he was trying to protect when the bomb fell. Discharging himself and waking up to the reality of the devastation around him, Will finds Avon Lodge miraculously still standing but where is Elsa? The house holds no clues as to her whereabouts, and disconcertingly no evidence remains of her existence. How can Elsa have disappeared without trace? The Frequency of Us is the story of one man’s lifetime journey to discover the truth.
Now 87 years of age Will’s health and safety, given Avon Lodge is now more or less a death trap, is the prime concern of social services. Laura James, working for Regency Home care agency is tasked with assessing Will’s suitability to remain at home and it is thanks to her appearance in his life and her belief in him that he can finally reconcile the past. Hints of her own troubled upbringing coupled with her ability to listen to the ramblings of an elderly man suggest Laura is well placed to help decide Will’s future.
Give me a wartime story combining a sense of history with a sweeping magical love affair and you’re guaranteed to hold my attention and make me happy. The Frequency of Us has elements to hopefully satisfy everyone. Part love story and part mystery it has its roots both firmly in the past and present, with a ghostly transcendental theme at its core. Will’s story alongside Laura’s allows the author sufficient scope to analyse the powerful inner workings of the mind plus its inherent fragility that gives rise to all manner of conditions afflicting the human psyche. Both Will and Laura’s lives are blighted and controlled by thoughts and emotions that overwhelm them making them kindred spirits. Will her appearance in his life help the pair face up to their ghosts/demons or will Laura’s investigations prompt further decline in her own mental health? I feared for both Will and Laura’s sanity as this young woman becomes equally entrenched in the past of the man she is caring for.
With writing that sweeps you up in a maelstrom of emotions, depositing you right in the middle of this surreal, ethereal mystery you can only marvel at the delicate way the author handles these characters. As you listen to Will’s retelling of his love affair with Elsa you have to ask yourself certain questions. Is it entirely confabulation, the product of a mind descending into madness or succumbing to dementia? Is Laura, in her agitated and disturbed state following Will down the same path, inhabiting a world of make believe? Or is it something else entirely? The author gives his readers space and time to consider all theories as you relinquish reality and lose yourself in Will’s memories. For me it was enough that this lonely and misunderstood elderly man finally had someone willing to listen to his version of events and like Laura I became an avid listener, caring about the validity of his memories because it was vital for my peace of mind that I believed in the existence of this beautiful love affair. When you believe what your heart wants you to believe nothing else matters and I did not want for Elsa to be nothing more than a figment of Will’s imagination. For any reader, aspects of a novel will resonate more strongly than others so for me the actual outcome of this mystery almost became immaterial, secondary to the details of Will and Elsa’s enchanting love affair which is incredibly romantic.
The Frequency of Us is a sublime piece of storytelling that is breathtakingly sad, poignant and profound. That “everything is always happening” is significant in a storyline that forces you to consider the constructs of time whilst being baffled by the mystery surrounding Elsa’s disappearance, uncertain how the author will provide an explanation for this inexplicable turn of events. Will’s passion for innovations in radio transmitting technology is also fascinating and crucial to a storyline in which time really is of the essence. If the author intended to move me beyond words then he did so effortlessly with certain passages prompting the tears to flow yet I found the whole process cathartic. Will is an unforgettable character whom I struggled to envision as anything other than a man who has lost everything he holds dear, living in a dilapidated shrine to the past for whom in his own words “the past is terrifying but so is hope” summing up an entire lifetime in which time has stood still. I hoped with all my heart that Laura was the right person to bring peace and understanding into the life of this male equivalent of Miss Havisham and that in doing so she could also find her own happy equilibrium. Intricately crafted, well researched, with complex characters, I was mind blown by the beauty of this storyline and the effect it had on me. Rarely does a novel impact on me to the extent I could read it more than once but The Frequency of Us is one of those novels. The very final passage is simply exquisite, making perfect sense of all that has come before. I know there’s a long way to go before 2021 is over but this surely will rank as one of my all time favourite reads. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Now 87 years of age Will’s health and safety, given Avon Lodge is now more or less a death trap, is the prime concern of social services. Laura James, working for Regency Home care agency is tasked with assessing Will’s suitability to remain at home and it is thanks to her appearance in his life and her belief in him that he can finally reconcile the past. Hints of her own troubled upbringing coupled with her ability to listen to the ramblings of an elderly man suggest Laura is well placed to help decide Will’s future.
Give me a wartime story combining a sense of history with a sweeping magical love affair and you’re guaranteed to hold my attention and make me happy. The Frequency of Us has elements to hopefully satisfy everyone. Part love story and part mystery it has its roots both firmly in the past and present, with a ghostly transcendental theme at its core. Will’s story alongside Laura’s allows the author sufficient scope to analyse the powerful inner workings of the mind plus its inherent fragility that gives rise to all manner of conditions afflicting the human psyche. Both Will and Laura’s lives are blighted and controlled by thoughts and emotions that overwhelm them making them kindred spirits. Will her appearance in his life help the pair face up to their ghosts/demons or will Laura’s investigations prompt further decline in her own mental health? I feared for both Will and Laura’s sanity as this young woman becomes equally entrenched in the past of the man she is caring for.
With writing that sweeps you up in a maelstrom of emotions, depositing you right in the middle of this surreal, ethereal mystery you can only marvel at the delicate way the author handles these characters. As you listen to Will’s retelling of his love affair with Elsa you have to ask yourself certain questions. Is it entirely confabulation, the product of a mind descending into madness or succumbing to dementia? Is Laura, in her agitated and disturbed state following Will down the same path, inhabiting a world of make believe? Or is it something else entirely? The author gives his readers space and time to consider all theories as you relinquish reality and lose yourself in Will’s memories. For me it was enough that this lonely and misunderstood elderly man finally had someone willing to listen to his version of events and like Laura I became an avid listener, caring about the validity of his memories because it was vital for my peace of mind that I believed in the existence of this beautiful love affair. When you believe what your heart wants you to believe nothing else matters and I did not want for Elsa to be nothing more than a figment of Will’s imagination. For any reader, aspects of a novel will resonate more strongly than others so for me the actual outcome of this mystery almost became immaterial, secondary to the details of Will and Elsa’s enchanting love affair which is incredibly romantic.
The Frequency of Us is a sublime piece of storytelling that is breathtakingly sad, poignant and profound. That “everything is always happening” is significant in a storyline that forces you to consider the constructs of time whilst being baffled by the mystery surrounding Elsa’s disappearance, uncertain how the author will provide an explanation for this inexplicable turn of events. Will’s passion for innovations in radio transmitting technology is also fascinating and crucial to a storyline in which time really is of the essence. If the author intended to move me beyond words then he did so effortlessly with certain passages prompting the tears to flow yet I found the whole process cathartic. Will is an unforgettable character whom I struggled to envision as anything other than a man who has lost everything he holds dear, living in a dilapidated shrine to the past for whom in his own words “the past is terrifying but so is hope” summing up an entire lifetime in which time has stood still. I hoped with all my heart that Laura was the right person to bring peace and understanding into the life of this male equivalent of Miss Havisham and that in doing so she could also find her own happy equilibrium. Intricately crafted, well researched, with complex characters, I was mind blown by the beauty of this storyline and the effect it had on me. Rarely does a novel impact on me to the extent I could read it more than once but The Frequency of Us is one of those novels. The very final passage is simply exquisite, making perfect sense of all that has come before. I know there’s a long way to go before 2021 is over but this surely will rank as one of my all time favourite reads. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
August 19, 2021
Another great book by Keith Stuart.
This is the third book I've read by Keith Stuart and it certainly lived up to his previous form. It was beautifully written and although a little far fetched at times, it took me with it the whole way.
It's a dual time line, split between the present day and WWII, centred around the bombing of Bath. Both were well done but I think I marginally favoured the descriptions of the past.
Both the main characters are struggling with life. Laura has dropped out of university and is haunted by her fear of bumping into her father who had ruined her childhood. Will still mourns the loss of his one great love, six decades previously.
Laura becomes Will's carer, tasked with the job of deciding whether he is capable of living alone or whether he should be taken into care. He's a great character, but Laura is a good match for him.
The book is a wonderful mix of humour and emotion, along with a bit of detective work as Laura tries to piece together Will's past. Did the love of his life really exist, or is it all part of the onset of dementia?
I listened to the excellent narration by both Elliot Chapman (Will) and Katy Sobey (Laura), which really brought the story to life.
Recommended.
This is the third book I've read by Keith Stuart and it certainly lived up to his previous form. It was beautifully written and although a little far fetched at times, it took me with it the whole way.
It's a dual time line, split between the present day and WWII, centred around the bombing of Bath. Both were well done but I think I marginally favoured the descriptions of the past.
Both the main characters are struggling with life. Laura has dropped out of university and is haunted by her fear of bumping into her father who had ruined her childhood. Will still mourns the loss of his one great love, six decades previously.
Laura becomes Will's carer, tasked with the job of deciding whether he is capable of living alone or whether he should be taken into care. He's a great character, but Laura is a good match for him.
The book is a wonderful mix of humour and emotion, along with a bit of detective work as Laura tries to piece together Will's past. Did the love of his life really exist, or is it all part of the onset of dementia?
I listened to the excellent narration by both Elliot Chapman (Will) and Katy Sobey (Laura), which really brought the story to life.
Recommended.
June 28, 2021
I was hoping to like this book, as I'd seen some really positive reviews in various media and I did really rate the previous novel by Keith Stuart that I’d read - A Boy Made of Blocks. But this was just so slow, far too long and drawn out. While the two key characters, Will and Laura, were written sympathetically I still felt that Will in particular was 'under-developed'. As all the energy was sucked from the story by Laura's anxieties, I didn't get enough insight into Will's inner voice, so he remained too unknown. As a result I wasn't very invested in solving the mystery of what happened to him and to Elsa. The ending, when all was finally revealed, and Laura's 'issues' with her father were dragged into the story in a completely far-fetched 'grasping at straws' way, it felt so inexplicable and sketchy that it added to the general disconnect. This book left me unsatisfied I'm afraid.
November 19, 2021
I enjoyed the start, wasn't too keen on the middle but then really enjoyed the end part too.
I think the middle was just a bit too slow and slightly confusing. The ending fit together really well, but I felt like there was a lot left unsaid.
I also didn't really find Laura a very likeable character and preferred the parts of the story about Will and Elsa
I think the middle was just a bit too slow and slightly confusing. The ending fit together really well, but I felt like there was a lot left unsaid.
I also didn't really find Laura a very likeable character and preferred the parts of the story about Will and Elsa
April 10, 2021
I seem to be out of step, because so many people have posted positive reviews. Well written? Tick. Engaging narrative? Tick. Perhaps the problem for me is an unwillingness to engage with the supernatural elements of this book, the 'things that go bump in the night'. The further into the book we go, the more we're introduced to a plot in which events might have gone the other way, and looking at how the future might have turned out. And I simply didn't buy it. This is a tricky concept to pull off. Matt Haig didn't manage it for me in The Midnight Library. In fact the only author I can call to mind who does is Kate Atkinson in Life after Life. in The Frequency of Us, so many loose ends get tied up that it felt as if the book might have ended 'and they all lived happily ever after'.
July 19, 2021
I was really enjoying this book and really felt ingratiated into the romance of Elsa and Will…but then it all went a little far-fetched. Although the idea of multiverse theory was interesting, it was a bit out of the blue. Laura went from private investigator, piecing together a fractured life to some kind of supernatural sleuth and it was all a bit jarring and didn’t really flow for me. Interesting and mostly enjoyable, the ending was just not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: An audiobook ARC was provided by The Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
There are books that are at times an absolute joy to listen on the audiobook format!
The Frequency of Us was one such book for me - told in dual PoV; past and present - it was an intriguing plot with captivating characters until the climax.
We get alternate timelines - One of the past of Will, whose memories of WWII is somehow very different from what others around him know to be true, especially when it comes to his wife.
Laura, in her 20s, is trying to get back on her feet, after a traumatic experience- and her path crosses with that of Will’s; now in his 80s.
Laura seems to be the only person who seems to believe Will’s version of his past - and it takes her on a quest to understand the small anomalies that seems to crop out.
b>Like I said at the start, I so enjoyed the audiobook of this book until the climax - the climax was over the top and the introduction of a character at this time somehow made the whole plot seem.. off.
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April 8, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and to Little, Brown and Company UK (Clara Díaz in particular) for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
I have read and reviewed Keith Stuart’s previous two novels, both wonderful: A Boy Made of Blocks and Days of Wonder, and I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to read this one as well. Although in some ways this is a pretty different reading experience, less reassuring and more puzzling at times, I’ve enjoyed it as well.
It is difficult to talk about the plot of this novel without revealing too much of what happens, and although this is not a conventional mystery, a lot of the story hinges on what is real and what is not, on different versions of events and of people’s lives, on how the past makes us what we are, and on how a small decision can change many things and send our lives in totally different directions. The story is set in the historical city of Bath, in two different eras, in 2008 (the present, as far as the novel is concerned) and during WWII (mostly 1942). There are many themes explored in this novel: the nature of memory, depression and anxiety, PTSD, the changes in the city of Bath over the years, old-age care, war time (WWII) in the UK and the experience of German/Austrian refugees there, the development of radio technology, family relationships, psychological abuse, love in wartime... There are strange happenings in the book that at times can make us think of a paranormal element, although they can also be explained away in totally rational ways (almost), and there is also a science-fiction background (very light on the science part) that might feel almost an afterthought (but it probably is anything but).
When trying to come up with a category or definition that truly fitted my reading experience I only came up with movies and plays that popped into my mind as I read, but I wouldn’t say that is because they are closely related. In any case, here they go, in case they might give you a clue: Frequency (a movie from 2000, where radios played an important part and different generations managed to communicate), Sliding Doors, Match Point (those two about the effect a small decision can have), and J.B. Priestley’s time plays, particularly two I’ve watched: An Inspector Calls, and Time and the Conways.
Ultimately, this is a book about two people, Will (an old man when we meet him first, living alone and holding on to a love story nobody else seems to think was ever real), and Laura (a woman in her late twenties), who seemingly have nothing in common but quickly connect. Laura, who suffers from anxiety and depression as a result of years of psychological abuse from her father (we come to learn some of the reasons for his behaviour later, but that is no justification), has to visit Will for work, and trying to confirm his life story, one that doesn’t seem to match facts, gives her a reason to live. In the process of trying to learn about him, she gains in confidence, confronts some truths about her life and her family and learns to trust in herself. The connection between these two people, who never felt they quite belonged in their current lives, becomes clearer as the novel progresses.
Apart from the two main characters, who narrate the story in the first person each one in a different time frame (and Stuart is as good as ever at getting inside of the characters’ minds and making us experience both, Laura’s anxiety symptoms, her insecurity, and her dread, and Wills’ sense of wonder and excitement on meeting Elsa and falling in love with her), we also have Elsa Klein, a wonderful character, colourful, vibrant, magical, who haunts much of the novel, and whose voice we also hear, if only occasionally, and many other secondary characters (Laura’s boss, her mother, her father, Will’s neighbours and his friends from youth...) who play smaller parts but are also convincingly and realistically portrayed.
The novel flows well. The descriptions of Bath in the past and in the present don’t disrupt the narrative, giving it instead an anchor and a privileged setting that help carry the story along. The action takes place along different historical times, but these are clearly indicated in the novel and aren’t confusing to readers, and although some of the events are not easy to explain, this is not due to the way the story is told. The love story between Will and Elsa is very moving ,and I was touched by the story and on the verge of tears more than once. I highlighted so much of the novel that I’d find it difficult to choose only one or two quotes. I recommend future readers to check a sample of the book to see if it would be a good fit for their taste.
I’ve talked about mysterious goings on when referring to the plot, and there are some false endings, when you think that is it and feel disappointed (at least I did), but don’t worry, it is not. I know some readers weren’t totally convinced by the ending, and well, I’m still thinking about it (and will probably be thinking about it for a long time), but I liked it. I won’t go into suspension of disbelief, etc., etc. Yes, depending on how you look at it, it might not make sense from a conventional point of view, but that is not what this novel is about.
In sum, this is another great novel by Keith Stuart, perhaps his most ambitious to date, where he goes exploring not only historical fiction, but also speculative Physics, the nature of time and memory, multiverses, enduring love, and a world full of wonderful characters. If you need a story with a little bit of magic, imagination, a hopeful ending and a lot of heart, I recommend it.
I have read and reviewed Keith Stuart’s previous two novels, both wonderful: A Boy Made of Blocks and Days of Wonder, and I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to read this one as well. Although in some ways this is a pretty different reading experience, less reassuring and more puzzling at times, I’ve enjoyed it as well.
It is difficult to talk about the plot of this novel without revealing too much of what happens, and although this is not a conventional mystery, a lot of the story hinges on what is real and what is not, on different versions of events and of people’s lives, on how the past makes us what we are, and on how a small decision can change many things and send our lives in totally different directions. The story is set in the historical city of Bath, in two different eras, in 2008 (the present, as far as the novel is concerned) and during WWII (mostly 1942). There are many themes explored in this novel: the nature of memory, depression and anxiety, PTSD, the changes in the city of Bath over the years, old-age care, war time (WWII) in the UK and the experience of German/Austrian refugees there, the development of radio technology, family relationships, psychological abuse, love in wartime... There are strange happenings in the book that at times can make us think of a paranormal element, although they can also be explained away in totally rational ways (almost), and there is also a science-fiction background (very light on the science part) that might feel almost an afterthought (but it probably is anything but).
When trying to come up with a category or definition that truly fitted my reading experience I only came up with movies and plays that popped into my mind as I read, but I wouldn’t say that is because they are closely related. In any case, here they go, in case they might give you a clue: Frequency (a movie from 2000, where radios played an important part and different generations managed to communicate), Sliding Doors, Match Point (those two about the effect a small decision can have), and J.B. Priestley’s time plays, particularly two I’ve watched: An Inspector Calls, and Time and the Conways.
Ultimately, this is a book about two people, Will (an old man when we meet him first, living alone and holding on to a love story nobody else seems to think was ever real), and Laura (a woman in her late twenties), who seemingly have nothing in common but quickly connect. Laura, who suffers from anxiety and depression as a result of years of psychological abuse from her father (we come to learn some of the reasons for his behaviour later, but that is no justification), has to visit Will for work, and trying to confirm his life story, one that doesn’t seem to match facts, gives her a reason to live. In the process of trying to learn about him, she gains in confidence, confronts some truths about her life and her family and learns to trust in herself. The connection between these two people, who never felt they quite belonged in their current lives, becomes clearer as the novel progresses.
Apart from the two main characters, who narrate the story in the first person each one in a different time frame (and Stuart is as good as ever at getting inside of the characters’ minds and making us experience both, Laura’s anxiety symptoms, her insecurity, and her dread, and Wills’ sense of wonder and excitement on meeting Elsa and falling in love with her), we also have Elsa Klein, a wonderful character, colourful, vibrant, magical, who haunts much of the novel, and whose voice we also hear, if only occasionally, and many other secondary characters (Laura’s boss, her mother, her father, Will’s neighbours and his friends from youth...) who play smaller parts but are also convincingly and realistically portrayed.
The novel flows well. The descriptions of Bath in the past and in the present don’t disrupt the narrative, giving it instead an anchor and a privileged setting that help carry the story along. The action takes place along different historical times, but these are clearly indicated in the novel and aren’t confusing to readers, and although some of the events are not easy to explain, this is not due to the way the story is told. The love story between Will and Elsa is very moving ,and I was touched by the story and on the verge of tears more than once. I highlighted so much of the novel that I’d find it difficult to choose only one or two quotes. I recommend future readers to check a sample of the book to see if it would be a good fit for their taste.
I’ve talked about mysterious goings on when referring to the plot, and there are some false endings, when you think that is it and feel disappointed (at least I did), but don’t worry, it is not. I know some readers weren’t totally convinced by the ending, and well, I’m still thinking about it (and will probably be thinking about it for a long time), but I liked it. I won’t go into suspension of disbelief, etc., etc. Yes, depending on how you look at it, it might not make sense from a conventional point of view, but that is not what this novel is about.
In sum, this is another great novel by Keith Stuart, perhaps his most ambitious to date, where he goes exploring not only historical fiction, but also speculative Physics, the nature of time and memory, multiverses, enduring love, and a world full of wonderful characters. If you need a story with a little bit of magic, imagination, a hopeful ending and a lot of heart, I recommend it.
February 1, 2024
3.5* rounded up to 4
I enjoyed what this book was trying to achieve with its slight sci-fi slant, but I think it fell short of what it could have been. The ending, which had been wrapping up promisingly, missed a chance to resolve Laura's issues with her dad, which I would have liked to have seen.
Unusually for a dual timeline narrative, the chapters set during WWII didn't grab me as much as the modern-day chapters, but I still enjoyed finding out about Will's past.
All in all, I felt the book was a little lengthy. However, it had a strong start and (mostly) good ending. For those who enjoy historical fiction, dual timeline narratives, and romance, The Frequency of Us is worth a read.
I enjoyed what this book was trying to achieve with its slight sci-fi slant, but I think it fell short of what it could have been. The ending, which had been wrapping up promisingly, missed a chance to resolve Laura's issues with her dad, which I would have liked to have seen.
Unusually for a dual timeline narrative, the chapters set during WWII didn't grab me as much as the modern-day chapters, but I still enjoyed finding out about Will's past.
All in all, I felt the book was a little lengthy. However, it had a strong start and (mostly) good ending. For those who enjoy historical fiction, dual timeline narratives, and romance, The Frequency of Us is worth a read.
January 6, 2022
A WW2 mystery set in Bath, I thought this would be just up my street, and , to be fair the first part of the book did not disappoint! It was a pleasure to read about the young Will, his important work in radios and transmitters and of course his budding romance with Elsa an Austrian refugee. For me the book was great til around 60% in when it seemed to suddenly take rather an odd turn… I don’t really know what the author wanted to achieve so I read on impatiently …. What a disappointing end ! It was by turns baffling and silly :-(
July 7, 2025
Incredible and unique plot line. British authors still have ideas out there and IM HERE FOR IT
April 10, 2021
Review to follow.
June 29, 2021
I really enjoyed the first 90-95% of the book and was totally absorbed in the characters and story but I loathed the ending. It seemed too confused and convoluted to me and completely at odds with the rest of the book that was so beautifully and sensitively written. This could so easily have been 5* read but that ending has left me feeling dissatisfied and cross. I'm not alone in having mixed feelings about the book although I think many more people loved it all the way through. Read it and see what you think!
April 15, 2022
Mixed feelings about this one!
Initially it took me long to actually get into the plot but later on I just loved it. The dual timeline is what got me hooked into because I was constantly trying to guess how is it all going to tie up at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!!
Initially it took me long to actually get into the plot but later on I just loved it. The dual timeline is what got me hooked into because I was constantly trying to guess how is it all going to tie up at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!!
March 27, 2021
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com.
Sweet, charming and gripping: The Frequency of Us is another brilliant novel from the author of A Boy Made of Blocks and Days of Wonder, both novels I hugely enjoyed.
The main character Laura, who is currently working as a care worker, has been assigned an elderly gentleman living on his own in Bath to assess and see if he can stay in his home despite showing signs of dementia. Laura had her fair share of problems and difficult times herself, but getting through to Will, the man to whom she is assigned, is certainly not an easy task.
We soon find out that the house Will is living in has plenty of memories which may mean his head is still stuck in the past. We wonder if the Elsa he speaks about is actually real, or a figment of his damaged memory?
Alongside the present day narrative, we are taken back to 1942, during the Second World War, as we see Will as a young man and his sweetheart Elsa. What follows is a poignant and heartbreaking story. Switching between the two timeframes allows us to find out much more about Will, and I love books that have dual timeframes in them – this is no exception! For me it adds an extra layer of richness to the story.
Laura is a likeable and interesting character. She has her own problems and feels realistic and well-rounded as a person. I think author Keith Stuart shows the effects of ill mental health in an honest, frank and fresh way because although we see how it has affected Laura, she is still not defined by this.
There are mysterious elements that feel like they can’t be happening but we’re never sure if it’s the effect of Laura’s state of mind or something else. I don’t want to give too much away but I found the two storylines captivating in their own ways and would have happily read a lot more.
Sweet, charming and gripping: The Frequency of Us is another brilliant novel from the author of A Boy Made of Blocks and Days of Wonder, both novels I hugely enjoyed.
The main character Laura, who is currently working as a care worker, has been assigned an elderly gentleman living on his own in Bath to assess and see if he can stay in his home despite showing signs of dementia. Laura had her fair share of problems and difficult times herself, but getting through to Will, the man to whom she is assigned, is certainly not an easy task.
We soon find out that the house Will is living in has plenty of memories which may mean his head is still stuck in the past. We wonder if the Elsa he speaks about is actually real, or a figment of his damaged memory?
Alongside the present day narrative, we are taken back to 1942, during the Second World War, as we see Will as a young man and his sweetheart Elsa. What follows is a poignant and heartbreaking story. Switching between the two timeframes allows us to find out much more about Will, and I love books that have dual timeframes in them – this is no exception! For me it adds an extra layer of richness to the story.
Laura is a likeable and interesting character. She has her own problems and feels realistic and well-rounded as a person. I think author Keith Stuart shows the effects of ill mental health in an honest, frank and fresh way because although we see how it has affected Laura, she is still not defined by this.
There are mysterious elements that feel like they can’t be happening but we’re never sure if it’s the effect of Laura’s state of mind or something else. I don’t want to give too much away but I found the two storylines captivating in their own ways and would have happily read a lot more.
November 28, 2020
I’ve read two books by Keith Stuart and have always been impressed by the way he can handle emotive subjects and people who are on the edge. This is no exception. Laura suffers from crippling anxiety and is given a job by her mum’s friend. She’s asked to act as carer to Will, nearing his nineties, to see if he’s safe in his home or needs residential care. He’s curmudgeonly, but Laura persists with him.
I found myself really caring about them both. He seemed to live in the past, yearning for his wife, Elsa, though she was never recorded anywhere as living at that address. We watched the story unfold and had to decide whether he really had lost his wife in the bombing, or had fantasised a relationship that never existed. We jump through time to the war and back to 2008, wanting Will to be right, and not a dementia victim. Laura has her own demons, and we begin to find out why. The story intertwines these separate lives in a brilliant way. I adored the final outcome. I wish all the books I read were this good!
I found myself really caring about them both. He seemed to live in the past, yearning for his wife, Elsa, though she was never recorded anywhere as living at that address. We watched the story unfold and had to decide whether he really had lost his wife in the bombing, or had fantasised a relationship that never existed. We jump through time to the war and back to 2008, wanting Will to be right, and not a dementia victim. Laura has her own demons, and we begin to find out why. The story intertwines these separate lives in a brilliant way. I adored the final outcome. I wish all the books I read were this good!
March 7, 2021
I loved 'A Boy made of Blocks' and 'Days of Wonder' so I was very excited to read this book, and it didn't dissapoint. The story is told in two timelines, the second world war and more current times, and switches between the two. The story is amazing for fans of Science Fiction/Romance but is so beautifully written you would enjoy it whatever your preference.
Laura is taken on as a favour to her mum, as a carer in a private firm. It is her job to asses 87 year old Will and decide whether he is safe to be living in his house, or whether he should be taken into a care home.
Will was involved in a bombing during the second world war, and when he awoke the love of his life, Elsa, had dissapeared along with everything she owned in the house, and everyone told him she didn't exist, and that he was single. Did she exist or not.
An intriguing, magical mysterious love story spanning the centuries. Beautifully written, and cleverly crafted. I loved it.
Laura is taken on as a favour to her mum, as a carer in a private firm. It is her job to asses 87 year old Will and decide whether he is safe to be living in his house, or whether he should be taken into a care home.
Will was involved in a bombing during the second world war, and when he awoke the love of his life, Elsa, had dissapeared along with everything she owned in the house, and everyone told him she didn't exist, and that he was single. Did she exist or not.
An intriguing, magical mysterious love story spanning the centuries. Beautifully written, and cleverly crafted. I loved it.
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