Challenge Corner discussion

Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.

It starts with a man in a mask kidnapping him at gunpoint, for reasons Jason can’t begin to fathom—what would anyone want with an ordinary physics professor?—and grows even more terrifying from there, as Jason’s abductor injects him with some unknown drug and watches while he loses consciousness.

When Jason awakes, he’s in a lab, strapped to a gurney—and a man he’s never seen before is cheerily telling him “welcome back!”

Jason soon learns that in this world he’s woken up to, his house is not his house. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born.

And someone is hunting him.

Just finished chapter 1! That was quite a long chapter but loved every minute! What a page turner! Already have some thoughts about what might be happening. It certainly has got off to a fast start though and even within this first chapter (30 or so pages) I already feel a connection to the main character, Jason, and want him to be ok. The description of his emotions and fear and desperation are so well caught within the writing of this book and make you feel totally drawn into his story. Excited to keep reading!

Page 76: Loving this book so far. One of the best written and most fast paced thrillers I’ve ever read. I can’t help but feel that the pacing is this book is almost too fast paced sometimes. (view spoiler)[ one second he’s being committed and for being a potential danger to himself and others, and a few sentences later, he’s just wandered out onto the street no questions asked! (hide spoiler)] Don’t get me wrong, I love fast paced page turners, but sometimes I feel like we’d appreciate the intense fast paced moments more if we were more often given slowly more lulled passages to contrast them against.

Ok so just got to chapter 5, page 69. I am still loving it don’t get me wrong, but I managed to predict pretty precisely exactly what has ended up happening (if still my assumptions prove to be correct) within the first chapter of the book. For a thriller I normally enjoy books that keep me guessing a bit more than this but I am still totally sold on this book and finishing it out to its conclusion. I might know what has most probably happened and most likely why; however the end result and what happens next for the situation to resolve is now my main concern. This book’s major selling point for me is the incredible character development and emotional portrayal even within the first chapter of the book that made me so invested in Jason’s story even while some of the mystery disappeared for me. Despite this fact, I still care what happens to him and his family because of the quality of the writing of the book and therefore the overall feeling I have towards the book is still overwhelmingly positive. Here’s to the next chapters!

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ I can’t believe they were going to have him committed ahh! But then oh my word he got out of there easily. I had to reread that section to check I hadn’t missed anything. He is about to be sectioned, the Doctor leaves, he opens the door and just leaves without being stopped? This story is moving damned fast lol! Also... how long is chapter 5! Dang! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 (end of): (view spoiler)[ what the actual living hell?!?? Ok I totally did NOT see that coming!! What the hell!?! That’s tragic! I can’t believe she’s dead in this reality. Finding her was so beautiful and the way they cooked together and it made Jason ok again even for a moment. And now this guy has come and killed her. And it will feel to Jason like it is all his fault. Horrified and tragically sad and intrigued as to what happens next. Emotions all over the place and yet I have to stop reading to sleep ready for work tomorrow. Ahhhhh!!! (hide spoiler)]

Page 84: Quick prediction. Potential spoiler (if I’m right): (view spoiler)[ I bet Jason’s friend from the start of the book who said he was solely driven by work and enjoyed the single life etc. Is now dating Jason’s wife Daniela in this world. He used to have a thing for her we’re told in the first chapter and he berated Jason for not being more dedicated to his work and for getting distracted and letting family and settling down hold him back from his full scientific potential. (hide spoiler)]

Page 87: My prediction was right. (view spoiler)[ :'( (hide spoiler)]

Page 148: PREDICTION/POSSIBLE SPOILER: I think I know who Amanda is. (view spoiler)[ Amanda is the alternate universe Jason Dessen’s wife or girlfriend (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[This. Book. Is. Insane. It isn’t even a thriller so much any more in terms of what is going on and how it has happened (as it started) but more so how the heck is it going to end and will they be ok? There are so many questions this book is making me ask. Not least of those being what the hell happened to the “mauled” Jason they saw in the corridor? Do we ever find out? Or is that just a gruesome edition for the sake of it? Even if it is just that it’s a clever one for what it’s done to my brain. Such a strange phenomenon of a book where the “good” and “bad” characters are both in theory the same person.

Frank, I feel like your prediction might be correct but I don’t have a real clue at this point. Page 92 made me think more so you’re along the right lines when Amanda talks about being “sometimes” his therapist. But I’m hoping we find out more about that before the end of the book. Generally I’d like the sorry of Amanda to be completed more rather than her being left as a sidekick character to Jason who is trying to find his own family. I really hope she finds happiness or fulfilment in her own way after giving so much up for him. (hide spoiler)]

Page 243: the only thing I can say right now is I can’t stop reading this book tonight. It is 00:43 and I WILL finish this book tonight no matter what time it is. It is way too good to stop.

I have always loved thrillers and mysteries but have a soft spot for the lighter romance tales as well as sci-fi. This book is a beautifully written intertwining of all of the above. At its heart it is a romance of how Jason fights all odds to find his wife and child through time and space. What makes it so special though is the definition of love that this book takes. Not a selfish or lust based love. But one that explores what life would look like with all the possibilities it brings to us. One where every choice we have had a different crossroad junction to create another reality. One of the most poignant scenes for me was in the last pages of the book where the “other” Jasons move aside to let Daniela have what she wants and needs even at massive cost to themselves, knowing they would never have their own happy ending. That is love. The complete level of self sacrifice to know someone else’s desires come before your own, no matter what you have done for them to get to the point you are at.

At the same time as being a romance this book is fascinating from a science fiction and thriller perspective. In my “buddy read” thread with my husband on the challenge corner group we belong to, we both managed to pretty precisely predict the premise of the book within the first chapters. This would normally turn me right off a book. However I could never have guessed the journey the book would take the reader on and how the twists would evolve. Yes, the general idea was obvious, but the rest of how it unfolded was far far far from obvious and left me shocked and unable to put the book down. By the end of the read I was dedicated to finishing it even though it meant staying up until 2am.

Honestly I can’t think of a single group of people that wouldn’t enjoy this book. It is not a “jack of all trades, master of none” but one of the rare masterpieces that manages to be a master of multiple genres.

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025


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I just got about halfway into chapter 5 and wow this book wastes no time throwing me into the deep end. I wasn't expecting to be this hooked so early on (even though someone told me they finished it in a day and a half so maybe I should have expected this!) but the tension is already creeping in and I am sooooo intrigued.

(view spoiler)[ I really like how Blake Crouch writes. I actually love the fast-pacing and it makes me feel like I'm inside Jason's head with him. He's obviously going through something absolutely wild but he's still thinking things through so logically! I think I would probably just sit in a corner and cry but he's over here using his scientist brain and I love it!

I'm super curious about the award he won and what his big project actually does. I feel like that's going to matter in some way or maybe I'm just overthinking but I need more details!!!

The place he woke up in/the people there in the science place...I really don't trust them. Something about it feels off to me in a way I can't explain yet but I definitely have my guard up with them!

Right now my brain is going through so many possibilities of what can be going on....like alternate worlds/alternate timelines (like in The Flash!!) and I am so so so excited to see where this goes! And I'm already very attached to his little family! So I hope Daniela and Charlie are real and okay because their family dynamic seems so sweet!

Okay back to reading! (hide spoiler)]

my entire schedule was thrown away this month because of ACOTAR but as soon as I finish I am coming here next

Grace wrote: "my entire schedule was thrown away this month because of ACOTAR but as soon as I finish I am coming here next"

ACOTAR is definitely worth it!! Excited to see your thoughts on Dark Matter after you're done!!!

will probably join you end of next week!

sorry I'm so behind too bc of Alchemised! I have one short book to read that im starting today then I'll be starting this one prob mid week :)

Amanda wrote: "sorry I'm so behind too bc of Alchemised! I have one short book to read that im starting today then I'll be starting this one prob mid week :)"

Oh yay! I'm pausing too to finish The Knight and the Moth and I'll probably get back to Dark Matter in a couple days!

I'm loving this! I feel like every assumption I make/theory I come up with is wrong which I love!!! I'm about to start chapter 11 but some thoughts I had while I was reading chapters 5-10...So definitely spoilers ahead!

(view spoiler)[
Chapter 7:
I was thinking that they put Ryan in the cell with Jason to get information out of him...like maybe they offered Ryan a deal to join Velocity if he agrees to get more information about Jason...I did NOT expect them to kill him! Ryan wasn't really giving me good friend vibes so I felt like that's something he'd agree to.

I'm happy Amanda is helping him! I wonder if she's Jason2's girlfriend or something. I understand she's upset with Velocity killing people but I dunno...she's putting her life on the line for Jason so I feel like he has to be of some importance to her!

Chapter 8:
I'm so scared Jason isn't going to find his way home! They have a limited amount of times they can try and I'm scaaaared. Also...is Amanda just going to live in Jason's world!? Isn't there an Amanda there already!? I really hope that their theory of thinking/feeling matter as to what will be out there when they open a door. Like hopefully Jason can just think "I want to go home" and then the door will bring him to the right place.

Chapter 9:
Daniela noticing all of Jason's little differences and then wondering if he's cheating and that's why he's changed is so ME. But I'm glad she's noticing and questioning! I don't think she'll ever think like..."Hey. This isn't my Jason!" but I'm hoping that realizing all these differences will somehow help in the future. But like...what if she's faced with needing to choose her Jason and she keeps Jason2 because she likes how she feels with him haha...

Chapter 10:
My heart hurts! I know that wasn't his Daniela but that still has to be so freaking hard! And I'm a little bit mad at Jason. I understand that it feels like it's his family and he wants to help but he put him and Amanda in so much danger by not leaving immediately. Bleh. I really hope they have enough ampoules to make it home!

(hide spoiler)]

Still really into this book and I wish I had more time to just sit down and finish the whole thing immediately!!! Chapters 11-13 thoughts/spoilers....

(view spoiler)[
Chapter 11:
This chapter felt SO heartbreaking!!! Seeing Daniela & Jason2 together, expecting another baby, living their little life...I wanted to cry for Jason! Also, something feels so OFF about Amanda to me...She seems way too connected to Jason2 so there had to have been something going on with them, right?! Like there's a little too much protectiveness and familiarity. She kinda creeps me out but also feels comforting at the same time (just because I'm sad that Jason is without his family!!!)

And the ampoule countdown is making crazy. So stressed. I need him to find his world before the end. But then I'm also nervous about what happens if he does make his way back home!!!

Chapter 12:
Another depressing chapter my goooodness. Jason losing it is freaking me out. Watching Jason2 and Daniela sleep was super creepy hahaha...but I get it. He's desperate. I hate that he's questioning his own sanity! I'm actually kind of terrified about what's going to happen in the upcoming chapters.

Chapter 13:
The way Jason got himself arrested was so clever! I had no idea what he was doing leading up to it. I was VERY confused. I mean, I figured he was trying to get himself purposely arrested but I wasn't sure WHY.  I'm so happy he finally found a way to get back to Daniela and Charlie but now I'M SPIRALING. Because!! What about all the other Jasons who also made it home!? They all probably fought just as hard, they all love Daniela and Charlie, too! They're all technically him! So who's to say our Jason is the right Jason??? He's only the right Jason to us because he's the main character of the book, right?! But that doesn't really mean he's the only one that deserves to get his life back! I hate this. My brain hurts. I wanted to be excited that he's home but now I feel even more stressed hahaha...
(hide spoiler)]

This book was such an easy 5/5 for me. I'm very, very easy to please with books but THIS WAS JUST SO FREAKING GOOD IN MY OPINION!!! I didn't expect go through such a wide range of emotions reading a science fiction/thriller but holy moly I felt it all! Okay my final thoughts/spoilers for the last two chapters (14 & 15)!!!

(view spoiler)[
Chapter 14:
Okay so I feel like my heart feels like it has been through a rollercoaster.

All the texts from the other Jason's felt so OFF...like I know they're technically the same Jason but something is DEFINITELY broken in them. And then Charlie just repeating "he's not my dad" to Jason when he wanted to know about how Jason2 was so sweet. Protect that baby. I'm feeling so incredibly bad for Daniela...trying to protect her son, figure out what's happening and process the fact that multiple versions of her husbands are fighting to get to her. And thennnnn Jason!! Who finally has what he's been fighting for right in front of him but everything is just so freaking messed up now!!!

I hate the idea of the Jason lottery. I haaaate it. I want MY Jason to win! The breakfast scene destroyed me too. Jason realizing it might be their last family breakfast was soooo sad. Also I can't stop thinking about what the police are going to think with all these dead Jasons everywhere!? Like I wish there was a book or tv show that showed the aftermath and how all of that went down haha...

So since they found the ampoules in the car, I'm assuming they're going to try to go into a different world but I'm STRESSED. Will they have to go to another world and change their identities!? Because won't there be a Jason and Daniela in the new world, too!?

Chapter 15:
I am so sad about all the other Jasons in the warehouse. Seeing how they let them go because that's what Daniela wanted hurt my heart. I know I want my Jason to win but it's so sad to think that these other Jasons are actual people who love Daniela and Charlie and fought so hard to get back to them and they didn't get what they wanted so badly.

And why am I crying so much when the ending isn't even technically that sad!? I'm HAPPY Jason and Daniela are together but it still feels so bittersweet. Like even though I'm so hopeful for their future, there's sooo much heaviness with all of it, too!!! And that last line "For anyone who has wondered what their life might look like at the end of the road not taken."....I LOST IT. I was not prepared for that. Happy ending (kinda) but I AM SOBBING.
(hide spoiler)]

Okay now it's time for my brain/heart to recover. I just know I'm going to be thinking about these characters for a looooong time!!!

this makes me so happy!
I am honestly going in completely blind when I do, but I'm glad to see this is the kind of books to expect