A review by drakoulis
When Things Happen Together by Jordan Clayden-Lewis

4.0

A rather unique book in prose and overall messaging.

I'm quite split on it: the majority of it was very sweet, with a main character POV who was fully in love and following his enthusiasm for his new chapter in life and his blossoming relationship.

This was mixed with a sense of doom from the first chapter and the intervening comments of present-day Thomas. The author did a very good job with creating a convincing red herring (so good that I had doubts if I should finish the book since I hate this particular trope that was the red herring) and keeping the suspense about how the love story is going to end.

About that, I was not sold or particularly moved by the individual struggles of Thomas and Bruce. They came way too randomly and without a buildup for me, while some of the descriptions were quite baffling. And the paranormal aspect with 1122 was very strange to me, it should either be skipped or the story to lean more in it (in the end there was something supernatural happening from what I understood, but most of the story gave vibes that it was an allegory).

Overall the story is sweet and the Australian landscape gives it a very different vibe than the usual road trip romances (which take place mostly in USA) and made for a pleasant read.