The One That Got Away
Fiction
Hachette Books
May 31, 2016
Audiobook
12 hours 31 minutes (384 pages)
Publisher via Hachette audio
In this irresistible debut novel, a freak accident allows a wife and mother to explore the alluring alternative of the Road Not Taken. Abbey Lahey is a married, harried working mother of two, struggling to make ends meet in a blue-collar suburb of Philadelphia. When a tumble down a Nordstrom escalator lands her in an alternate reality, Abbey finds herself happily married to the one who got away--a dashing Philly blueblood she met briefly years earlier--and living a Cinderella life of privilege and luxury. It's everything Abbey ever dreamed of. Or is it? At first dazzled by the clothes, the penthouse, the nannies, and the glittering social functions, Abbey begins noticing troubling flaws in her new fourteen-karat life . . . and wonders what happened to the people she left behind. Torn between two vastly different realities, Abbey takes increasingly dramatic steps to reclaim herself---whoever that may be.
My review:
A cute read about what might have been. This was a solid story, marred for me mostly by the fact that I've read its premise before. I have read In Another Life and The Bookseller within the past year (click links for my review), so that definitely had an effect on my enjoyment of this novel. Having said that, I don't want to discourage others from reading this as it's entertaining (albeit not a new theme). The characters were well formed. I actually thought the main character was a bit shallow, but some of the supporting characters were spot on. It was a great glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, who don't always appear as they seem. Mostly it was a well done commentary on how our lives, while they might not seem great in that moment, are exactly where we should be. Lots of pop culture references in this book, particularly when it comes to fashion.
I listened to the audio of this book, and thought the narrator did a good job with all the voices. My only complaint was that I can't change the speed on itunes, and felt that it was slow compared to the speed at which I could have read it. A problem with the media outlet, not necessarily the narrator.
A fun look at what might have been, my only real issue was that I wish it had a different spin that wasn't already explored. Thanks to Hachette audio for the audiobook. My opinions, as always, are my own.
Maybe in Another Life immediately to the front of my mind, too, so I'm not sure I couldn't help comparing the two. I can see where it would mar your thoughts on it, but it does look interesting.