Another Life

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

She could be the girl dancing on tables one night, and the next she'd be hiding in the shadows.

Just when I thought I understood her, she would melt away and become a completely new person, and I'd have to start all over again.

That's how it was with Anna.

Nick and Anna work the same summer job at their local cinema. Anna is mysterious, beautiful, and from a very different world to Nick.

She's grown up preparing for the end of days, in a tightly-controlled existence where Christmas, getting drunk and sex before marriage are all off-limits.

So when Nick comes into her life, Anna falls passionately in love. Their shared world burns with poetry and music, cigarettes and conversation - hints of the people they hope to become.

But Anna, on the cusp of adulthood, is afraid to give up everything she's ever believed in, and everyone she's ever loved. She walks away, and Nick doesn't stop her.

Years later, a tragedy draws Anna back into Nick's life.

But rekindling their relationship leaves Anna and Nick facing a terrible choice between a love that's endured decades, and the promises they've made to others along the way.

© Jodie Chapman 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Critics Review

An astounding debut about sibling grief, religion and sliding doors love

Pandora Sykes

A modern day Atonement meets David Nicholls. Beautifully written – I couldn’t put it down

Emma Gannon

Absolutely loved it – thought about it as I went to bed, as I was washing up

Giovanna Fletcher

I loved it, so glad I read it. Beautifully written, made me think about love and breaking out into a world that is completely different

Zoey Lyons

Really enjoyed the double life aspect of the book. Really good on relationships

Hugh Dennis

A stunning one-that-got-away romance, this is an intricate story of love entwined with loss that will tug on your heartstrings . . . A beautiful piece of writing

Sunday Express

Deep, rich, thoughtful. It reminded me of how I felt when I first read David Nicholls and Jodi Picoult. It’s the Romeo and Juliet of our generation

Gillian McAllister

I loved the brothers’ relationship. Very moving. Fascinating

Don Warrington

This is a little bit Sliding Doors, a little bit One Day, a little bit will-they-won’t-they – and you’re desperate for a happy ending. Jodie Chapman does a brilliant job of describing what happens when life gets in the way of love. A really special book

Sara Cox

This beautiful tale of love, loss and sacrifice will break your heart . . . With echoes of David Nicholls’ One Day and Sally Rooney’s novels, it perfectly captures the agony of falling in love and the razor-sharp reality of pain and loss

Daily Mail

Prepare for all the feels in this heart-breaking must-read

Sun

Very readable, very enjoyable. We loved it!

Sara Cox

This love (in every sense of the word) story will speak to anyone who has felt an enduring, painful, yet wonderfully beautiful love. From first loves that never really leave you to difficult family dynamics we can spend our whole lives trying to cope with, Another Life is astounding

Inside Kent

It broke my heart to close the book on this romance . . . Chapman is a master at bringing her story to life on the page

Daily Record

Stunning. Written with such poignancy, full of nostalgia, unspoken longing and the agony of wrong turns

Beth Morrey

Fans of David Nicholls will adore this complex love story

Prima

A complex, beautiful, multilayered debut exploring love in all its forms

Woman's Weekly

If you love sweet, sorrowful coming-of-age tales, you’ll love this beautifully written debut

Heat

Beautiful. Finished with a lump in my throat. A never-ending daisy chain smoking summer of first love

Ericka Waller, 'Dog Days'

A beautifully written story of love in all its forms . . . The writing is stunning and intuitive, and the story is one I don’t think I will forget

NB Magazine

Teeming with acute observations and wired with suspense, this novel explores how we are the architects of our own lives

Irish Times

More from the same

About xigxag

Enjoy the best audiobooks on xigxag, an innovative, user-friendly audiobook platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and enjoy your favorite books in audio format. xigxag’s flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less – affordable prices and the best audiobook deals with no subscription required.  Give the perfect gift with our audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

xigxag’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices ensures a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform – an exciting alternative to big tech.  Enjoy audiobooks from the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service and a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Search effortlessly, read honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the book and the narration, and discover hidden gems.  Download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere and get the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app.  Experience the future of audiobooks today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.