In Universes

Emet North's debut novel, In Universes, is unlike anything I've ever read. It's beautiful, challenging, and the very best kind of strange. Each chapter is just a glimpse into Raffi's life in one of an unlimited number of possible universes. On their own, the chapters could be short stories—all entertaining for different reasons—but together, they weave a tale of grief, love, heartbreak, and the search for self.

Anything is possible when we're talking about infinity, so some of Raffi's lives take place in fairly recognizable universes much like our own, while others take place in universes in which aliens inhabit animal bodies and attack humans, or, in my favorite (because it was both entertaining and absolutely brilliant), mothers fracture into hordes of animals when they give birth to daughters. What the universes all have in common though, is that they all fall within timelines in which Raffi connects with Britt, Kay, Graham, or Alice, and each of Raffi's lives is unique in a perfect way that doesn't make them unrecognizable as the same person. Raffi's shifting and changing relationships with these recurring characters were fascinating, especially the one they had with Britt, who is always important no matter the universe.

Raffi is a remarkable character. They truly read as if they are a real person. They have fully fleshed out hopes, dreams, flaws, and plenty of endearing qualities. It's easy to relate to and love a character as genuine and realistic as Raffi. Their friends and lovers were also great people. I wanted to choose a favorite to mention here but I couldn't do it. Too hard. It might be Graham though.

Often, when I (and many people, I imagine) read a book, I insert myself into it. What would I do if I was the main character? What would I say if I was the side character? I did do that sometimes while reading In Universes, but more often, I inserted the concept of the book into my life instead. I've lost so much sleep the past couple nights, lying awake thinking about the points at which my life could have split into different universes and what those universes might be like. Or thinking about the universe in which I never met someone I love, or I did, but I love them in a different way, or they are merely an acquaintance. Or, hey, what kind of animal horde my mother would have fractured into when I was born (polar bear).

When I wasn't losing sleep over In Universes, it was affecting my dreams. I won't go into detail because reading other people's dreams is kind of boring and that's not what this is anyway, but my dreams have been incredibly weird and 100% influenced by this book. I loved In Universes while I was reading it, and I love it even more because it had such a strong hold over both my dreams and waking thoughts.

If you're looking for something thought-provoking that will take you on a multifaceted journey, this is it. This is the book.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins, from whom I received this ARC. It was a pleasure to read and review In Universes!