what on earth did i just read

the time travel parts were fine and good, the scenes in the past were really well done

there’s really no conflict in the whole book, and the only conflict feels really manufactured and comes from the decision faye makes to keep everything from her husband, for reasons

and there was no good reason to keep all of this from her husband! they had a good marriage! there was nothing in the description of him that made it seem like he would be anything but supportive so all of her fears came across as very unfounded

all of the shouting match fights were very abrupt and weirdly vicious, it didn’t fit the vibe of the book at all

and that ending, hoo boy ( )

I guess I missed out. I never had heard of a space hopper until I read this book.

It was Faye's beloved Christmas gift when she was 6 years old. She was now married in her mid 30s to Eddie with two adoring daughters: Esther and Evie. After finding a photo of her childhood excitement with this gift under the tree, she went to the attic to take another look as this toy was still around after all these years.

Of course, she had to step inside - as she did years ago - to experience it. But then, there was magic and she was sent back into her childhood time traveling. To her surprise, she was now in the home of her mother and a version of herself into the 70s when she was once again six. Her mother died two years later, and the bond was still strong. She had a new life but couldn't let go of the past.

This is a book about a mother-daughter relationship and the love you get from your parents. It's also about different religious views with a husband and wife as she said, "I didn't sign up to be a vicar's wife." And then there was the challenges that her friend had being blind.

Just like Faye went quickly from one part of her life to another, I zoomed through this book. It's simple yet thought provoking in many ways. It gave me a glimpse of the past and reminded me of how much we value those we're connected to in this world. ( )

Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher is an emotional look at grief. It is also a book about faith and belief. The ending, when it comes, is not really a surprise. However, for me, it takes the book from an intellectual and emotional consideration of possibilities into an unrealistic science fiction realm. That being said, the longing for people gone and the pull of an opportunity of more time with them is one I and, I think, everyone will relate.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/06/faye-faraway.html

Reviewed for NetGalley. ( )

Loved this book. It seemed to work. I like the time travel ( )

Faye lost her mother 30 years ago, and miraculously one night, travels back through time to meet her again, as a grown-up. The ensuing drama is engaging enough to keep the reader interested till the end. I liked that the author gives equal space to the emotional drama that unfolds simultaneous to the "time travel" one. It is thus a relationship story as well as a suspenseful science fiction or magical realism story. The drama of the relationships also extends to the one between Faye and her husband, Eddie, who is painted as just about the best husband ever. As such, Faye's "trips" home become a source of division and conflict for him and Faye.

I found there was a little too much exposition, introspection and "telling" rather than showing in the beginning third of the book. The action and drama picks up after that. ( )