Review: The Heavens by Sandra Newman

Kate and Ben met at a party and took an immediate liking to each other; it was the start of an astonishing relationship. Kate was just the free, fun-loving and unusual person Ben didn’t realise he was looking for until he found her. Kate’s quirks even included repeatedly dreaming about being another woman, Emilia, living in the seventeenth century. Over time, her experiences as Emilia begin to affect her life as Kate, including her relationship with Ben.

In living as Emilia while she sleeps and travelling back in time, Kate has the ability to change the course of history through her every action – a heavy burden to bear, particularly if you’re the only one who remembers how everything was before. To her, navigating two timelines is a constantly evolving dance requiring immense skill, but to her friends, Kate seems to be losing her mind.

The Heavens features the best supporting literary cast I’ve come across in some time; quirky minor characters that really help to bring the story to life – from mail order brides to political wunderkinds, this story has them all. It’s actually deeply reminiscent of a feel-good sitcom, until it isn’t.

I’m a lover of unexpected plot devices, and I must say that Newman impressed me with the addition of time travel. This is an ingenious way to work more complex, meaningful stories into an everyday romcom, with fascinating results. Not one for romance, I nevertheless loved this book – a touching, proper ol’ feel good romance that is challenged by weighty topics such as equality, privilege, beliefs, and sanity. All in all, this is a good book with a great plot; what’s not to love?

The Heavens by Sandra Newman is published by Granta, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.