Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Two people. One life-changing connection.”

I’m feeling so incredibly thankful for the people around me and the opportunities I have after finishing this book! Tom Ellen is a new author for me, but I’m now such a huge fan after reading and loving this beautiful beautiful book. The Lifeline is everything I could possibly want from a romcom, the plot, the characters and the life lessons taking me on a unforgettable journey, one I never expected at the start. I’m so so happy to be sharing my review for this absolute gem. Please take a look! ❤️

About the book

Will is sleepwalking through life. He works a dead-end job and volunteers at an anonymous crisis line to avoid facing his own problems.

Annie is sure she has her five-year plan all worked out. But when things start falling apart, she just needs someone who will listen. . .

They’re practically strangers but soon Will and Annie rely on their regular phone calls, challenging each other to be brave and rebuild their lives.

They’ve found connection in the most unlikely of places but is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met?

The beginning

I knew straight away that I was going to absolutely adore this book. It was already funny and emotional, the characters super loveable and relatable. I really warmed to Will as soon as we were introduced; he has a heart wrenching backstory that is mentioned in passing, but something we would learn about over time. For five years, he’s volunteered at Green Shoots, an anonymous crisis line, and even the first call we witness nearly reduced me to tears (sweet Eric!) I also really loved Annie; she’s getting by in life – a decent (but not exactly thrilling) job, great friends, a long term relationship. She’s suffered a big loss in her life, something she’s still grieving. The author has written these characters so incredibly well; it was so easy to sympathise with their stories and feel each and every emotion alongside them. It’s been such a long time since I’ve felt so connected to two characters like this!

“She’s obviously comfortable with me opening up to her, showing her something of myself. The question is: am I?”

Will and Annie, even though living their separate lives now, were once connected. I loved learning more about each character’s past, how their paths crossed back then and wondering what it was that forced them apart. When Annie calls the crisis line after a particularly hard day, she’s connected to Will. With each of them using different names, they have no idea who they are really talking to. It gave me big You’ve Got Mail vibes and I was completely in love with it. It was so beautifully written, with each of these characters very slowly letting the other in. They listened, made each other laugh, and genuinely made a difference to each other’s day. We continue to learn more about the kinds of people these characters were, about things in the past that they aren’t particularly proud of. Everything slotted together so perfectly, the dual narrative and everything both of the these characters experience kept me so invested.

The middle

The detail and the feeling in every word this author writes was just mind blowing. Will’s complex past is written to perfection; not knowing all the details of his heartache and his failed career kept me intrigued, and as we’re fed some snippets of this information throughout the book, I wanted nothing but happiness for him. Some details are so heartbreaking and there are mentions of mental health issues and suicide, but the author’s delicate coverage of this kept things light and hopeful. Annie’s relationships with her boyfriend Dom, her mother and her sister were also complex, and I really enjoyed being alongside her on a journey of self discovery, forgiveness and acceptance. Will and Annie’s weekly phone calls (or should I say Jack and Pia’s) were soon a huge highlight of my own days. I became so obsessed with their lives and their connection that I was thinking about them constantly!

“This week, we both have to do something brave. We have to take one step each outside of our comfort zones, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem.”

Annie tries her hardest to get hold of Will for an interview about life after his old band, The Defectors. Her boss is on her back and she has a lot going on. To Will, the idea of speaking about the old band days has him on the verge of a panic attack. If only Annie knew who she was really on the phone with each Sunday as she calls the crisis line. If only she knew exactly how he was feeling. I loved how with the back and forth timelines, we see such contrasting versions of these characters, especially Will. We see the fun, spontaneous side of Past Will, and the cautious, timid and anxious side of Present Day Will. It was so powerful and felt so real, perfectly showing us just how much life has changed for them in five years. On one of their weekly calls, Will and Annie take an extremely brave step and plan to meet. In person. I couldn’t wait to see how they would react to the realisation of who they’d been speaking to. I hoped to God it would the reunion I was craving, and I hoped they’d each be brave enough to embrace this second chance opportunity.

The end

The build up to Will and Annie (Jack and Pia) meeting in person was absolute *chef’s kiss* and I couldn’t get enough! I felt the nerves, the feelings of excitement, uncertainty and the apprehension these characters feel, and it was written so brilliantly. But things don’t go exactly as Will had planned in his daydream. The endless list of emotions I felt had me racing through every chapter at this point. I wanted them to both be on the same page. I wanted him to listen to what Annie had to say instead of throwing away something that could be lifechanging. And I had so many questions about what happened on that evening in Paris five years ago. So much happens here that it was difficult to stop my eyes from tearing up. Aside from Will and Annie reconnecting, we see Will in the most difficult situation, and Annie facing her fears and returning home. The book is so much more than a romcom, and it just shows how talented a writer this author is.

“Things don’t happen without a bit of effort, Will. Things happen because you make them happen. You know?”

Despite the pain and the emotion these characters experience towards the ending of the book, this is also balanced perfectly with hope and opportunity. I love a thought-provoking read, one that makes you think about your own life, ones that encourage you to take risks and accept opportunities that come your way. This book was so satisfying in that sense, and had me wanting to run to everyone I love and to check in on everyone I care about. The impact this ending had on me was so powerful. We get an ending you’d expect, but it was perfectly written and I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome for these characters I’d grown to love so much. It will be hard to let them go! I think after reading this book, this author will be an auto-buy author for me now! I loved every word, and I just know you will too if you love a romcom full of heart ❤️

Overall thoughts

The Lifeline is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read. It’s such a raw and honest read, exploring the highs and lows of life in so many intricate and thought-provoking ways. There’s the most perfect second chance romance between Will and Annie, but aside from that, the book also explores the impacts of loneliness, mental health and grief. It will completely shatter your heart into pieces, but also fix it up again and fill it with love and warmth. Such a captivating and moving book you’ll just fly through. I loved it!

A huge thanks to the author, Tom Ellen, and the team at HQ for my copy of this beautiful book, one I’m sure will be in my top reads of the year! You can grab a copy of The Lifeline right now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books. Make sure you’re following the author over on Twitter/X for more updates!

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