Bookseller Reviews
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A fantastic debut
I was drawn to this book by the “what if?” premise (and it's gorgeous cover!). I doubt I'm alone in wondering what life would be like if I'd done something... READ MORE
A wonderfully constructed and poignant novel.
This is the touching and compelling story of Jim and Eva, who we first meet as University students when their paths cross as Eva swerves to avoid a dog, wh... READ MORE
One true love....
Versions of Us is the story of Eve and Jim, their first meeting as Cambridge students and 3 different versions of their lives. The book is about the conseq... READ MORE
Spectacular Read
This book is ridiculously satisfying. The author creates a meet cute, a moment when a future romantic couple meets for the first time, and every movie will... READ MORE
The versions of us or the what if question that possess our mind
Somehow I knew I just had to read this book, the cover was screaming of attraction from the table we set up for our Book of the month and of course I just ... READ MORE
A wonderful debut that you'll not want to put down!
Wow! I've just finished reading this book and can hardly begin to describe how it's made me feel.
The book examines the 'what if', 'road not taken' idea ... READ MORE
The Versions of Us
I loved this. I was a bit concerned that it could be a bit cheesy but in fact it was a thought-provoking read about the impact that life's choices can hav... READ MORE
What if....?
Meet Jim and Eva, meet Jim, meet Eva, then meet Jim and Eva and then separate them.
What a truly outstanding book! Laura Barnett gives us three version... READ MORE
The far-reaching consequences of falling off a bicycle
An ambitious, decade sprawling, page-turner of a debut which poses the age old question, what if?
I know what you’re thinking, so far, so Sliding Doors, h... READ MORE
Beautifully written
A fantastic piece of writing that asks the question "what if?" The same two characters live three different versions of their lives and it's a true testame... READ MORE
Three love stories for the price of one
A simple idea cleverly executed. We follow three different versions of the lives of Jim and Eva, the main characters, depending on what choices they made w... READ MORE
Moving and Poignant - A stunning novel
A beautiful and poignant debut that once started cannot be put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the concept of it - the "what if" theme is ex... READ MORE
Synopsis
Waterstones Book Club Choice 2016
What if you had said yes ...? Eva and Jim are nineteen, and students at Cambridge, when their paths first cross in 1958. Jim is walking along a lane when a woman approaching him on a bicycle swerves to avoid a dog. What happens next will determine the rest of their lives. We follow three different versions of their future - together, and apart - as their love story takes on different incarnations and twists and turns to the conclusion in the present day. The Versions of Us is an outstanding debut novel about the choices we make and the different paths that our lives might follow. What if one small decision could change the rest of your life?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
- ISBN: 9781474600897
- Number of pages: 432
- Dimensions: 195 x 133 x 29 mm
- Weight: 300g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allGreat concept, skilfully executed
This is a fab read for anyone enjoyed Kate Atkinson's Life After Life. Our choices in life can haunt us, and this novel explores the 'what might have been'... READ MORE
Interesting premise but disappointing execution
I was really excited to receive "The Versions of Us" as a Read and Review book. I really liked the premise but I felt that the book was let down by the exe... READ MORE
Keeps you mentally alert
The Versions of Us is a very readable novel, set over the lives of the characters with What If? (they had met, hadn't met, made different choices) scenario... READ MORE
Original and thought provoking (if a touch repetitive!)
“What if” is at the heart of this novel, with three different versions of Eva and Jim’s life. They literally run into each other as students back in 1958... READ MORE
True love?
A beautifully written book showing three versions of a characters possible life. I did have to concentrate to keep the correct 'version' in mind as I progr... READ MORE
Enjoyable read
Well written novel, based on an interesting premise. Finished it in two sittings, thoroughly enjoyable!
I had mixed feelings about this book. I like the basic concept that we’re following three different versions of the main character’s lives. However, I foun... READ MORE
The Versions of Us
This book was bloody brilliant! It was such a well written piece of British Literature that Barnett should be incredibly proud of what she has produced! Co... READ MORE
The Versions of Us
This is an interesting and thought provoking book about the choices we make in life. It gives three different versions of a couples life depending on the p... READ MORE
The Versions of Us
This sounded like an interesting idea for a book. However I found it difficult going. Every time I got into the story it dashed off to an alternative life.... READ MORE
A convoluted way to tell a story about characters who lack morals
This book has frustrated me. A lot. It might have been an interesting idea to start with but, ultimately, I didn't care about the characters enough. I shou... READ MORE
A nice read
I read this one as part of the Waterstones 'Read and Review', and one I'll keep hold of after reading.
The book weaves three versions of Jim and Eva's li... READ MORE
Character is not fate
The Versions of Us is an enjoyable, sprawling yet neatly-plotted exploration of the possible trajectories of two lives, depending on choices made and react... READ MORE
Perfect summer reading for David Nicholls and Kate Atkinson fans
A really well-written and intriguingly plotted novel about the path's taken and abandoned throughout life, with two sympathetic leads. Ideal to take with y... READ MORE
Gripped from Start to Finish
Very rarely does a book come along that really grips you and makes you feel for the characters, but this is one of them.
At first I found the book a littl... READ MORE
Writing in Dull Grey
Laura Barnett's novel comes garlanded with some praise. It received good reviews in the broadsheets and found its way onto a prize longlist but this is a b... READ MORE
What if.....
Quirky and ingenious this novel explores the lives of two students as they grow up from university to old age. It explores the question of what if I did t... READ MORE
A beautiful debut
It's hard to believe that this is a debut from Laura Barnett.
This beautifully written, engaging story is that of Eva and Jim.
It starts in 1958 where we... READ MORE
Which version would you pick?
The Versions of Us is a gripping read, of three possible directions Eva and Jim's lives could have taken if they had met, or not, in Cambridge in the late ... READ MORE
Life can't be reduced to one decision
The only time that people think of 'what if' is when things go wrong. If everything is going along OK and people are happy then the only thing that another... READ MORE
3 Versions of a Love Story - Excellent !
We never know how things will turn out and Laura Barnett reminds us all of this in the brilliant The Versions Of Us. The fickle finger of fate is pointed i... READ MORE
The many roads not taken, the many lives not lived
I loved this book and I didn’t need a chapter or two to get into it. From the first page, I was hooked. The characters are like old friends, I immediately ... READ MORE
Simply stunning
I loved this book and I was not at all sure that I would. It does seem a bit confusing jumping between 3 versions of the story at first, but actually I fou... READ MORE
Confusing
I had great expectations for this book, but I found it very very disappointing. 3 parallel stories, alternating one after the other. So many names, so many... READ MORE
The intricate texture of lace...
The Versions Of Us by Laura Barnett is due for publication on 4th June by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in hardback and ebook formats: the publishers are calling i... READ MORE
What if?
I loved this book. I often wonder what would happen if other decisions had been made in life and this story follows that idea.
Eva and Jim meet when her bi... READ MORE
A love story at heart
Eva and Jim meet in the 1950’s when they are both students at the University of Cambridge. When Eva has to swerve her bike in order to avoid a dog, with Ji... READ MORE
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
It's 1958. A female student has just had a puncture on her way to a lecture in Cambridge. A male student stops to help her. It's the beginning of a love st... READ MORE
Loved it from beginning to end.
I adored this book. It is undoubtedly one of the best I have read all year,
The Versions of Us follows the story of Eva and Jim from when their lives fi... READ MORE
Laura Barnett is a talent to watch out for
I'm a little bit late coming to this book, it has been sitting on the 'to be reviewed' pile for months. Some of my most trusted blogger and reader friends ... READ MORE