Originally published: 11 June 2020

Author: Holly Miller

Published by: Hodder & Stoughton

Genre: Romance

Length: 352 pages

Reading dates: 30-31 May 2020

Joel and Callie are two strangers who might just be perfect for each other. But they are both living with secrets.

Joel is living a lonely life. Trained as a vet he is taking a career break, lives alone and his social interactions involve dog walking for the neighbourhood old ladies. Joel also has premonitions – from when he was just a boy, he has had dreams in which he can see the future for the people he loves. Sometimes it is small things, like seeing them getting stuck in traffic, other times they are huge like knowing his mum was going to get cancer.

One day, he meets Callie who is running a café. Callie is coasting – her best friend has died, and she has taken over the café for her, despite her true love being the outdoors. Her dream job would be working with nature. She has always wanted to travel but has never quite done it and now doesn’t have the courage to take that leap.

There is an instant attraction between the two and when by pure coincidence, Callie ends up renting the upstairs flat to where Joel lives, the pair start dating and fall for each other. Joel is able to confide in Callie about his visions and she is supportive and doesn’t think he is mad! Joel is able to push Callie into applying for a dream job at the local nature reserve. They are great for each other.

But then Joel sees a vision of how it’s going to end.

Would you choose love, if you know how it would end?

This book!! I jumped on an Instagram readalong of this and then spent the whole weekend in the garden and finished it in less than 48 hours. I LOVED Joel and Callie – they are a wonderful couple, both broken and cautious about life but together, they bring out the best of each other. It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance story where I loved the characters and there were no annoying misunderstandings (that often seen to be the backbone of a love story).

It made me think about what a burden Joel has with the visions – he hasn’t been able to confide in anyone because they would understandably think he was mad. He doesn’t want to get close to anyone in case he sees something in their future. What he sees in the visions can be altered: for example, he sees a vision of a friend having a car accident, so he lets down his tyres to prevent it. It also made me think about if I would want to be told about something that might happen to me. Joel carries with him the guilt of not telling his mum she would get cancer and it makes him wonder if she would of preferred to have known so she could do the things she wanted in the time she had left.

I don’t want to say much more about the plot because you need to read this book. Just have the tissues ready!

A wonderful debut by Holly Miller. There has been a lot of hype around this book (it was pre-empted in less that 24 hours and already has a major Hollywood studio deal to make the movie version). I adored it!

Many thanks for Hodder & Stoughton for my proof copy. There is a bookstagram tour happening this week so please check out the posts from this lovely lot!

About the author

Holly Miller was born and grew up in Bedfordshire. Since university she has worked as a marketer, editor and copywriter. Holly currently lives in Norfolk with her partner and their dog.

Website: https://www.hollymillerauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/byhollymiller