I want a... 'what if' novel
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
What if... you had 7 1/2 attempts to stop a murder?
Aiden Bishop is trapped at Blackheath Manor, forced to relive the same day—the day Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered—eight times, each time inhabiting a different host's body. He must identify the killer to break the cycle. Mixing Agatha Christie with Groundhog day, this is a complex, intricate puzzle, with Aiden gathering clues and navigating the distinct personalities and perspectives of his hosts. This is a challenging but rewarding read for fans of twisty mysteries.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
What if... you got to live your life over and over again?
Each time Ursula Todd dies—whether at birth, as a child, or an adult—she is reborn, retaining a vague sense of déjà vu from her previous existences, allowing her to subtly alter choices, trying to avoid past misfortunes, with an ultimately, history shaping goal. Atkinson masterfully weaves historical events into Ursula's myriad lives, from the Spanish Flu to the London Blitz, offering poignant reflections on humanity's resilience and capacity for both beauty and devastation.
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
What if... Europe was wiped out by the plague?
In a world where the Black Death wiped out 99% of Europe's population in the 14th century, Chinese, Islamic, and Indian cultures drive global history, with a scientific renaissance in the Middle East and a Chinese "discovery" of the Americas. A sprawling exploration of a world without Western dominance, showcasing different paths humanity might have taken while still grappling with familiar themes of war, progress, and social justice.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
What if... you could revisit all the life you didn't live?
Nora Seed, filled with regret and believing her life to be worthless, attempts suicide. Instead of dying though, she finds herself in a mysterious library situated between life and death. In this library, every book on the shelves represents a different version of Nora's life – a life she could have lived if she had made different choices at various points. Nora is given the extraordinary opportunity to "try on" these alternate lives, stepping into them to experience what might have been. Her goal is to find a life where she is truly happy and content, free from the regrets that plagued her original existence and as she lives them she begins to understand the complexities of happiness, the impact of her choices, and ultimately, what truly makes a life worth living.
On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle
What if... you got stuck in time?
When Tara Salter wakes up in a Paris hotel on the 18th of November she witnesses a woman drop a piece of toast on the ground in the restaurant, and then goes about her day, buying antiquarian books for her and her husband's business, meeting friends and purchasing a Roman coin as a gift for her husband. The next morning, she again witnesses the same woman drop the same piece of bread, and the 18th of November begins all over again. For 366 days, Tara experiences the same day, trapped in time - or perhaps everyone else is trapped and she is the only one aware of it. Balle's writing is beautiful, spare and lucid, following Tara's exploration of her situation, her relationship with her husband Thomas and her eventual attempt to break free from her situation.
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
What if... one small decision forks your life in two?
When Hannah Martin goes out with friends, her choice to either leave with her best friend or stay with an old boyfriend creates two simultaneous narratives. One follows a path of unexpected pregnancy and new love, while the other explores rekindled romance and different life choices. The novel skillfully explores themes of destiny versus free will, suggesting that while paths may diverge, the pursuit of happiness and connection remains a constant, regardless of which "what if" becomes reality. Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the best storytellers writing today.
Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
What if... five lives didn't end?
On a busy Saturday morning in 1944 a German V2 rocket his a crowded Woolworths in London's New Cross, killed over 160 people including many children out shopping with their mothers. Spufford asks what the lives of five of these children would look like over the course of a lifetime, if they had lived. Through snapshots every 15 years, Spufford meticulously crafts their individual journeys – careers, loves, struggles, and the ways societal changes impact them. It's a poignant meditation on the value of everyday existence, the fragility of life, and the countless unseen possibilities that shape our world. The book highlights the profound significance of even unremarkable lives.
After the End by Clare Mackintosh
What if...a life-support decision created two separate realities, forcing you to live both paths of profound grief?
When 'dream couple' Max and Pip are unable to agree on continuing treatment or palliative care for their son Dylan, their dispute goes to court. The novel then splits, depicting two parallel realities: one where Pip's choice prevails, and another where Max's does. This unique structure allows Mackintosh to delve deeply into the profound grief, marital strain, and divergent paths the couple navigates, highlighting how such a heartbreaking decision impacts every aspect of their lives and relationships, regardless of the outcome.
