Twice in a lifetime A novel

Baron explores parallel realities in her heart-wrenching debut romance. After overworked Chicago graphic designer Isla Abbott has a breakdown following her mother's death, she decides to relocate to a bungalow just outside of St. Louis, hoping for a fresh start. There she starts receiving mysterious texts from a man named Ewan Park, who claims to be her husband from the future reaching back in time to prevent her eventual death by suicide. Though at first skeptical, Isla comes to believe Ewan and hopes to avoid her original fate by changing the circumstances of her first meeting with Ewan in the present, thus setting them on a different trajectory. It works, and for a time, Isla and Ewan thrive--Ewan expertly supports Isla through her frequent panic attacks, and the pair quickly fall in love. But they can't avoid the apparently fated accident that is the long-term decider, one way or another, of whether Isla and Ewan get their happily ever after. The aching regret of what might be shines through each alternate reality as this couple fights for each other, and a series of shocking twists at the end will steal readers' breath one scene after another. The captivating characters, skillful plotting, and sensitive handling of mental illness make this a knockout. (Dec.)

DEBUT In this blending of speculative fiction and romance, Isla is navigating ongoing mental health struggles and has experienced significant loss. When she is contacted by what she assumes is a wrong number from a man named Ewan, she learns he is her husband in the future. Something happened, and now she is no longer with him. He doesn't want to disrupt the timeline too much, but he starts to encourage her to do things to help her present self, even if that might prevent their meeting. As a new timeline forms, Isla has to find a way to forge the relationship she wants with Ewan without his future self's help. Isla works towards that, while also learning the repercussions of her choices. Baron offers readers enjoyable pacing and characterizations and brings the time travel plot back at the end with a twist. VERDICT Baron's novel has aspects of speculative fiction but is grounded in reality. A good fit for readers interested in exploring a character's inner life, dusted with a light amount of sci-fi.--Sydney Ashby