X-Book

The World as We Know It

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Listen to a sample

What to expect

From the author of the acclaimed novel Eternal on the Water, whose style is described as "Henry David Thoreau meets Nicholas Sparks" (Publishers Weekly), comes a novel about two brothers who save a girl from drowning when they are young—an experience that intertwines their destinies and changes their lives forever.

On an early spring afternoon in rural New Hampshire, two brothers, Ed and Allard, are ice skating when they discover a girl who, with her dogs, has broken through thin ice and is caught in the river's eddy. They are able to rescue her, and as a result, a special bond forms among all three—but particularly between Allard and Sarah.

As they grow up, the brothers remain close, creating their own film production company to shoot nature footage in the wild. Sarah, gaining success on her own as a writer, always manages to remain a part of their lives. In the days before Allard's wedding, tragedy strikes during a bachelor's outing in the remote mountains of Wyoming. The heartbreaking incident puts the grief-stricken Allard and Sarah on separate trajectories that will test the bonds of their relationship and time's unremitting power to heal.

Set against the sweeping natural backdrops of rural New England and Wyoming, The World as We Know It is subtle, heartrending, and transformative—a love story of friendship, nature, and the surprising twists that can alter our destinies forever.

Critics Review

n

u201cJoe Monninger beautifully captures the essence of childhood adventure and the sweet innocence of falling in love for the first time. Fans of John Irving, you have a new author to love.u201d

n
Lisa Genova,u00a0New York Timesu00a0bestselling author
n

u201cA tender, gentle, achingly beautiful tale that is impossible to put down.u201d

n
Jamie Ford,u00a0New York Timesu00a0bestselling author
n

u201cThe beauty and brutality of nature unfolds in The World as We Know Itu2014a touching tale of love, the wounds of loss, and the fragile complexities with the human heart.u201d

n
Beth Hoffman,u00a0New York Timesu00a0bestselling author
n

u201cThe combination of romantic love with adventure and bone-deep understanding of the wild is both compelling and transcendentu2026With echoes of Hemingway, The World as We Know It is nothing short of brilliant.u201d

n
Luanne Rice,u00a0New York Timesu00a0bestselling author
n

u201cMonningeru2019s imagery resonates long into the night, while your lamp burns oil because you cannot put the book down until the last page is turned.u201d

n
Romantic Timesu00a0(four stars)
n

u201cCritically acclaimed Monninger, known for outstanding character development and lavish landscapes, does it again with this tale of young New Hampshire brothers and the world they constructu2026Monninger presents a fascinating exploration about true love, fate, and the roads taken in life.u201d

n
Publishers Weekly
n

u201cMonninger has homed in on the beauty and cruelty of the natural world in this gripping and moving story of loss and understanding. Readersu2026will revel in Monningeru2019s warm and graceful descriptions of rural New Hampshire and his adept understanding of the landscape of human relationships.u201d
n

n
Booklist
n

u201cThis ruminative, poetic novel may resonate with modern fiction readers as well as lovers of the outdoors.u201d

n
Library Journal

u201cAs a narrator, Goldstrom strengthens the novelu2019s perspective on how grief and the pivotal moments it brings can change the course of a life, the people involved, and a story.u201d

AudioFile
Author Joseph Monninger
Narrator Michael Goldstrom
Duration 8 hours and 58 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781481593984
Format Audiobook
Publisher Blackstone Publishing
Genre Family life fiction, Fiction: general and literary
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.