A review by sixelad03
The Things We Lost by Maggie Giles

mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

Maggie is a woman in her thirties, an author and a mother whose marriage seems to be falling apart. She goes to bed one night consumed with guilt over the betrayal she has committed. However, she wakes up the next day ten years younger, with a man in her bed who is not her husband and her two little girls never born. She has to learn to adapt to this new reality and bear the consequences of it.

The version I read of this book is an uncorrected proof, so my opinion may be based on elements that will not be present in the final version.

This is Maggie Giles’ first novel, and it really is very promising. I was quickly drawn into the story and couldn’t put the book down all day. I am one of those people who often ask, ‘what if?’ and this book is a representation of that question that is often on our minds.

‘What if I had done things differently? What if I had made different choices? Where would I be today? Would I have a better life?’ All of this is set against a background of mystery that we try to unravel along with Maddie, the main character. However, I was a bit frustrated not to know more about why Maddie woke up in this new reality, I admit I would have liked to know more about that. The ending wasn’t necessarily to my taste either, I’m left with far too many unanswered questions.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Rising Action Publishing Co and Maggie Giles for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.