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Another Life

The stunning love story and BBC2 Between the Covers pick

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Another Life

By: Jodie Chapman
Narrated by: Oliver Chris, Kristin Atherton
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

She could be the girl dancing on tables one night, and the next she'd be hiding in the shadows.

Just when I thought I understood her, she would melt away and become a completely new person, and I'd have to start all over again.

That's how it was with Anna.

Nick and Anna work the same summer job at their local cinema. Anna is mysterious, beautiful, and from a very different world to Nick.

She's grown up preparing for the end of days, in a tightly-controlled existence where Christmas, getting drunk and sex before marriage are all off-limits.

So when Nick comes into her life, Anna falls passionately in love. Their shared world burns with poetry and music, cigarettes and conversation - hints of the people they hope to become.

But Anna, on the cusp of adulthood, is afraid to give up everything she's ever believed in, and everyone she's ever loved. She walks away, and Nick doesn't stop her.

Years later, a tragedy draws Anna back into Nick's life.

But rekindling their relationship leaves Anna and Nick facing a terrible choice between a love that's endured decades, and the promises they've made to others along the way.

© Jodie Chapman 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Contemporary Contemporary Romance Family Life Friendship Genre Fiction Love, Dating & Attraction Multicultural Relationships Romance Fiction

Critic reviews

An astounding debut about sibling grief, religion and sliding doors love (Pandora Sykes)
A modern day Atonement meets David Nicholls. Beautifully written - I couldn't put it down (Emma Gannon)
Absolutely loved it - thought about it as I went to bed, as I was washing up (Giovanna Fletcher)
I loved it, so glad I read it. Beautifully written, made me think about love and breaking out into a world that is completely different (Zoey Lyons)
Really enjoyed the double life aspect of the book. Really good on relationships (Hugh Dennis)
A stunning one-that-got-away romance, this is an intricate story of love entwined with loss that will tug on your heartstrings . . . A beautiful piece of writing
Deep, rich, thoughtful. It reminded me of how I felt when I first read David Nicholls and Jodi Picoult. It's the Romeo and Juliet of our generation (Gillian McAllister)
I loved the brothers' relationship. Very moving. Fascinating (Don Warrington)
This is a little bit Sliding Doors, a little bit One Day, a little bit will-they-won't-they - and you're desperate for a happy ending. Jodie Chapman does a brilliant job of describing what happens when life gets in the way of love. A really special book (Sara Cox)
This beautiful tale of love, loss and sacrifice will break your heart . . . With echoes of David Nicholls' One Day and Sally Rooney's novels, it perfectly captures the agony of falling in love and the razor-sharp reality of pain and loss
All stars
Most relevant
Loved this book. The characters are thoughtfully portrayed and feel real. As i read on I became more and more hooked.

Loved it

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This was a slow burn for me but worth persevering with. Nick is not always admirable but I loved his honest story telling. I totally engaged with the characters and found the story very thought provoking.

A wonderful tale of love.

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A beautifully written love story of hope, loss, and belonging. I adored it from start to finish.

STUNNING

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I loved this book, a story where you aren’t disappointed by the outcome but you feel the pain of and reality of life and how it rarely goes the way you expect.

Can’t wait to read Jodie’s next book!

A beautifully written book - definitely not just a love story

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Wonderful book, such a pleasure to listen to and to follow the bitter, sweet love story of Nick and Anna, through their complex, and completely different lives. Loved the way the story moved backwards and forwards through time in-order to explore the emotional difficulties both Nick and Hannah faced in their early lives and how it impacted on their relationship. One of those books you don't want to finish, but are desperate to know what happens in the end.

Beautiful

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