If, Then by Kate Hope Day
If, Then by Kate Hope Day
Imagine if Netflix was to do a remake of ‘Sliding Doors’ with Gwyneth Paltrow. That’s kind of ‘If, Then’ because it isn’t really like anything I’ve read in a long time.
‘If, Then’ follows four characters who live in sleepy Clearing, Oregon and have their lives turned upside down when they start having visions of another life that they could of had. Most affected is Ginny, a dedicated surgeon who has disappeared into her work and is often not at home. Ginny first has a vision of her colleague Edith in bed, and Ginny suspects that Edith and her husband are having an affair (though Ginny knows that Edith is openly gay). The second vision, however, sets a different scene, and Ginny lets that vision affect her more than she probably intended to. Samara, a young real-estate agent, who has returned home after her mother dies (on Ginny’s operating table) gets to understand her mother even better. Samara seeks guidance from the visions of her mother of how to live her life, and also discovers her mother’s future dreams for herself.
These visions add a certain thriller element to the book, making it a page-turner for the reader to try understand what these visions are, and how ‘real’ they are. However, they add more than that - you will have to read the book to find out.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. It is well written, and the visions feel believable and true. Kate Hope Day published a column in the New York Times (link below) that is definitely also worth reading about her own experiences with ‘If, Then’ visions. We all know the feeling, and we probably also sometimes reflect on the What’ if, then…’ of our own lives.
This is a beautiful book, and the strength of the book is in painting the characters and how they navigate to protect themselves and handle their faith. There is no doubt that Kate Hope Day has put a lot of heart into this book.
Pick it up if you liked…Little Fires Everywhere
Happy reading!
Reviewed by Lotte Bastholm
Her husband has made a playlist for 'If, Then' - one song per chapter.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3G7WYxIUUdza3gy7n2f0dH
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/15/well/family/carrying-the-ghosts-of-lives-unlived.html