The Measure by Nikki Erlick
This compelling first novel asks a challenging, life-changing question. What if every adult could learn the length of their life? How would our priorities change? In the opening pages, all adults receive a box containing information that can measure their lifespan. There are no instruction, no proof, just the boxes. Suddenly, nothing else seems to matter.
Do we want to know? What if our partner will have a longer or shorter life than ours? Support groups are formed for those with shorter measures, and the story follows the eight members of one group, along with their family members. While the effects on society are not dystopian, they are significant, though everyday life continues. Can scientists or doctors have any effect on the measure? What if someone lies about their measure? Some people, predictably, leave their jobs to travel. Others consider whether or not to marry, or to have children. While this is definitely a thought-provoking novel, it’s also an engaging, and occasionally heartwarming read.
Readalikes include In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
Brenda