Book Review
All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson
Adult Fiction | Magical Realism
It’s been a long time since I’ve devoured a book in a single sitting, but this magical realism novel was just the read to break that streak!
Charlie Knight is a small-town doctor with a plan to escape. He dreams of something more and is counting down the days until he makes that plan a reality. But when he shows up to work one morning, Charlie is suddenly hit with the ability to know exactly how long his patients have left to live, down to the day. He considers it a gift, using it to help better the lives of his patients. But this gift comes with unexpected consequences and knowing the fate of others weighs heavily on a person — especially when it’s about the woman you love.
This was a very clever and intriguing read. The question at the heart of this book is not a new one, “What would we do if we knew the exact length of someone’s life?” and yet, this story gave it a fun and absorbing twist. Charlie wrestles with questions about whether this knowledge changes the way we live our lives and how we approach the individuals around us — and it drives us as readers to do the same.
The plot is character-based, exploring the relationships Charlie has with his patients, co-workers, family, and his newly returned ex, Genevieve. I loved the small-town dynamic and the little glimpse of connections Charlie has with his community around him. The magical realism blended with a romance subplot, and you got the sweet anticipation of Charlie and Gen reconnecting (second-chance trope) as you slowly uncovered details of their past history.
Despite the potential depth of the subject matter, this story maintained a lot of lightness throughout. While I was expecting a deeper emotional punch (and I do wish we’d gotten the chance to draw out Gen’s character and/or Charlie’s relationship with his mother a little further) this book didn’t have to be heavy to hit its message home.
Magical realism can be tricky to get right and there were a few holes and “easy ways out” in this novel. However, the premise was fascinating, and the book gripped me from start to finish. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting but it managed to be both easy to read and introspective, and I found it impossible to put down.
For readers looking for unique fiction that will leave you thinking, this was a thought-provoking read about relationships and family, and the messiness of living life together in community.
Recommended for:
Fans of magical realism and character-driven fiction
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Sourcebooks. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(From the publisher): Family doctor Charlie Knight is in his late thirties, still playing tennis against the same people every Friday night. Still jogging the same streets every morning. Still treating the same patients every day—fixing the high blood pressure and arthritic knees of folks who’ve known him since he was a kid. But Charlie has a secret plan to escape. A plan to live the life he wants, even if the woman he was meant to do it with has left him behind.
But then Genevieve Longstaff comes back to their hometown, just as something extraordinary happens. Charlie begins to have a vision of the exact number of days a person has left until they die.
Charlie believes it’s a gift. It certainly seems like one—after all, he’s using it to help his patients, family and friends make the most of their to mend relationships, to travel, to retire. But this gift comes with awful consequences, and soon Charlie realizes there are things he doesn’t want to know—especially about the woman he still loves.