Kelley McNeil
Author of A Day Like This
Works by Kelley McNeil
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Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Birthplace
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Associated Place (for map)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Reviews
This story had me from the very beginning with the mother and daughter happy and content in their country home as a storm moves in. The roller coaster ride that followed made this book tough to put down. What would you do if suddenly the life you live is erased and replaced with one that you are not only unfamiliar with but that also makes you someone you barely recognize? What do you do when those you love are no longer the same, or worse yet, not there at all. Kelley McNeil does a show more brilliant job portraying Annie Beyers, mother of Hannah, and loving wife to Graham, as she grapples with the world not being what she has known and cherished. Trying to come to grips with her new life, struggling to piece together memories that are in the periphery of her mind but often don't feel like her own and desperately wishing she could get back to the idyllic life she longs for so that she can be complete again. Is she losing her grip on reality or is there the possibility this is a case of there being something more to the universe? An excellent read. show less
I was intrigued at the beginning of this book, thinking this was going to be a thriller or a mystery. Why was everyone being so secretive around Ann and the circumstances surrounding the car crash? But, then as the book progressed, it turned out to be something completely different. No spoilers here, but WHAT??? This was just too bizarre.
I did like McNeil's writing style, but the concept was too out there for me.
I did like McNeil's writing style, but the concept was too out there for me.
In a Nutshell: Quite an interesting debut novel with a challenging concept. But it aims too high and thus struggles to tie the story together neatly.
Story:
I am not sure how to review this without giving too much away. But I must say that the correct genre of this book isn’t yet present in its currently-assigned GR tags. I guessed the right solution for Hannah’s mystery quite easily so it was just a matter of time before the story started filling in the gaps. Most avid readers will be able to guess the suspense easily, so better not read this as a mystery but as general fiction.
The cover suits the book perfectly. The haziness of the picture represents Annie’s blurred memories. Plus, its ethereal painting-like quality fits Annie’s profession of being an artist.
For a debut novel, its scope is awesome and the narrative, quite convoluted. I appreciate the imagination of the author as she incorporates the concept of “what-if” beautifully in her book. The story is quite emotional at times, and you will empathise with Annie’s situation as she struggles to find the truth of why Hannah exists only in her mind. There are a lot of beautiful descriptions of nature, especially of lilac bushes, that attracted me at first but I soon started skimming through them as they began getting repetitive. At the same time, they add a dark atmospheric aura to the story.
The main problem with the book was that it attempts too much and thereby, the story becomes quite entangled within its own threads. For instance, there is a track about Annie’s mother that wasn’t really required. As is usual in this genre, there are many things left unexplained. I also didn’t like the ending; it seemed like too neat a finish.
The writing seems to be quite quick-paced at first, but until about 60% or so, I felt like no matter how fast I was reading, the percentage indicator wasn't moving upwards fast enough. Only towards the end did I finally manage to surge through it. It took me four days to complete this
Overall, I still liked the book, though I didn’t love it. It is worth a read, in spite of its teeny flaws, for its imaginative storyline. Just keep away your disbelief and your scientific mind to enjoy it better.
3.5 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Day Like This”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun. show less
Story:
Annie is living a happy life with her loving husband Graham and her adorable five year old daughter Hannah in the small country farmhouse. One day while taking Hannah to the paediatrician, her car meets with an accident and Annie wakes up a few hours later in hospital. When she asks about her daughter, the doctors tell her that she wasshow more
alone in the car. Further confusion comes from the fact that there seems to be no evidence of Hannah’s existence. Also, Annie now supposedly stays in Manhattan, her marriage to Graham is almost over, and her estranged sister is now very close to her. Annie is convinced that Hannah exists but no one around her believes her. Are they all lying to her, or has Annie lost her mind after the accident? Was Hannah just a figment of her imagination?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Annie.
I am not sure how to review this without giving too much away. But I must say that the correct genre of this book isn’t yet present in its currently-assigned GR tags. I guessed the right solution for Hannah’s mystery quite easily so it was just a matter of time before the story started filling in the gaps. Most avid readers will be able to guess the suspense easily, so better not read this as a mystery but as general fiction.
The cover suits the book perfectly. The haziness of the picture represents Annie’s blurred memories. Plus, its ethereal painting-like quality fits Annie’s profession of being an artist.
For a debut novel, its scope is awesome and the narrative, quite convoluted. I appreciate the imagination of the author as she incorporates the concept of “what-if” beautifully in her book. The story is quite emotional at times, and you will empathise with Annie’s situation as she struggles to find the truth of why Hannah exists only in her mind. There are a lot of beautiful descriptions of nature, especially of lilac bushes, that attracted me at first but I soon started skimming through them as they began getting repetitive. At the same time, they add a dark atmospheric aura to the story.
The main problem with the book was that it attempts too much and thereby, the story becomes quite entangled within its own threads. For instance, there is a track about Annie’s mother that wasn’t really required. As is usual in this genre, there are many things left unexplained. I also didn’t like the ending; it seemed like too neat a finish.
The writing seems to be quite quick-paced at first, but until about 60% or so, I felt like no matter how fast I was reading, the percentage indicator wasn't moving upwards fast enough. Only towards the end did I finally manage to surge through it. It took me four days to complete this
Overall, I still liked the book, though I didn’t love it. It is worth a read, in spite of its teeny flaws, for its imaginative storyline. Just keep away your disbelief and your scientific mind to enjoy it better.
3.5 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Day Like This”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun. show less
When Annie Beyers wakes up in the hospital with trauma to her head, she freaks out when nobody can tell her where her five-year-old daughter is. After all, Hannah was in the car's back seat when the truck hit her. This could have been the beginning of a ridiculously fascinating thriller, except it isn't. This book is more of a slow, emotional tale of the possibility of time travel and living in parallel worlds. I have read other books on the theory of parallel worlds and find the subject show more interesting but not believable. However, the author does an excellent job of weaving Annie's lives back and forth and delivering a satisfying ending. On the downside, the telling was torturously repetitive, with descriptions of Annie's beloved yellow house, fields of lilac, and obsessive memories of her daughter. show less
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