Goodreads | Amazon

When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn’t that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he’s the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn’t match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn’t as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who’s losing her sight but won’t admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shouldn’t be here at all, but who wants to be here the most.
And one more person, who will bring them together again on the same day every year.

I read a preview of this book at YALC last year, and I loved it. This is genius. A mixture between the darkness of One of Us is Lying and the great hopefulness of The Breakfast Club. I knew, after reading that preview, that I would want to read more. So when I saw this book was out, I eventually picked this up.

I’m glad I picked this one up, but I’m not sure if it lived up to the preview for me. I enjoyed it, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“Maybe disappointment does lie in the gulf between what you would do for someone and what they will do for you,”

I just wish this was a mystery! If it wanted to be the lightness of The Breakfast Club, why did someone die? If you’re bringing so much darkness into the story, why not make it more interesting and bring a mystery element into it. Why not make us question why the guy died when they were all in the lift? Bringing that suspense would have worked so well with a book like this.

But I have to say, that was probably my only issue with this book. Other than that, I’m so impressed with how 6 different authors can come together and make such a compatible novel. It really worked, and the story flowed so well. I also loved that this book was set in the UK! It’s not often I read a contemporary set in my own country, and it was awesome. I’ve actually been to these places!

“but she knows then, in that moment, as she’s looking out of the rain-speckled window at the black, black sky, that she needs to stop focusing on what she’s willing to do for other people and start focusing on what she’s willing to do for herself.”

I also felt like having the 6 different characters worked well! Each of them had their own personalities (some more dominant than others) and I really liked them all. Overall, I have to say I did really enjoy reading this book. It’s quick and fun, and if that’s what you’re looking for then this book is definitely for you. But if you’re looking for something darker and more of a mystery, please go for One of Us is Lying instead!

★★★★
3.5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

| Goodreads |Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Redbubble |