The Versions of Us

Its very scope is a joy, the technical achievement seamlessly done, and the ending – all the endings – suitably affecting

Barnett renders an irresistible concept in sweet, cool prose – a bit like a choose-your-own adventure book in which you don’t have to choose.

Maeve Binchy’s death left a gap in the market for stories simply told with no literary affectation. Barnett’s promising first novel reads like early Binchy.. the tantalising ‘what if?’ theme keeps all three stories going at a cracking pace.