Book Recommendation – Twice

I have found that people either love or hate Mitch Albom’s books. I have read quite a few and there were a couple that were just “ok” for me, but I wouldn’t say that I hated them. I had the chance to pick up his latest book recently and I really enjoyed it. It is called, Twice.

Those of you who have read my blogs in the past know that I enjoy stories with a “time travel” element to them. Someone asked me why recently. The only answer I could come up with is that there is a lot in my past that I wish I could undo. I know it is not possible and I understand that I am who I am today because of all the decisions I made in the past. It still intrigues me to wonder “What if …?”

Here is the Goodreads synopsis for Twice:

What if you got to do everything in your life—twice? The heart of Mitch Albom’s newest novel is a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.

When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: he must accept the consequences of his second try—for better or worse.

He grows up correcting his mistakes and saving himself from adolescent embarrassments. He even takes foolishly dangerous risks, just to see what it’s like to come close to death, before tapping back to safety. Eventually, Alfie turns his gift to his love life, studying his crushes and going back to make himself more appealing. In time, he falls deeply in love with Gianna, the woman he believes is the one. He seems to find contentment.

But as the years pass, Alfie’s eye begins to wander. Which is when he learns a lone caveat to his power: once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing if he gives into to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever.

The book begins many years later, after an ailing Alfie is arrested for allegedly cheating and winning millions at a casino roulette wheel. As a curious detective interrogates him, he slowly uncovers Alfie’s incredible story, and its most unlikely conclusion.

In Twice, America’s favorite storyteller, Mitch Albom, is at the top of his powers. A love story that is enchanting, probing, and clairvoyant in matters of the heart, Twice will make you think, weep, and overflow with love from beginning to end.

I really found this story hard to put down. In the story, Alfie has a collection of notebooks. It is in these notebooks that he keeps track of where he has been and what he has changed. When he is arrested, Alfie has the latest notebook. The notebook includes a confession to his boss about the things that have led to this point in his life. It is through this notebook that the detective and the reader come to understand everything. Little by little more and more light is shed on what led to Alfie’s arrest, how he came to get his power, and the love story that is part of it all.

Albom truly knows how to tell a story. This did not disappoint.

5 out of 5 stars.