Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Publishing, and author Mitch Albom for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

While reading Twice by Mitch Albom, I was struck by the similarities to The Time Traveler’s Wife, which I have also read but not reviewed. Books about time travel generally fall into two categories. One is usually trying to fix something that shouldn’t have happened, and the other is more individualistic, focusing on the traveler and the mistakes he or she has made in their life. Twice falls into the latter category, which is why it resembles other books that have that theme.

The story begins with Alfred “Alfie” Logan being questioned by casino security about winning $2 million on three straight roulette wheel spins. Alfie explains to the investigator that he didn’t do anything wrong, but Detective LaPorta doesn’t believe him. Alfie tells him all of the answers are in a composition book in which he has been writing his story for his “boss.”

Alfred “Alfie” Logan learns from his dying mother that he has a “gift.” His mother also has it. By tapping their fingers and muttering the word “twice,” they can go back in time and repeat events. However, they can only get a second chance. Everything after that is written in stone and can’t be erased. At the time Alfie learns this, his mother has brought the family to Africa as a missionary. Alfie enjoys the very different life there, especially after he meets Princess, a.k.a. Gianna. The two develop a solid friendship before Alfie’s mother dies and he’s brought back to the States by his father. Death is one of the things that cannot be erased.

Alfie uses the gift to have a smoother ride through adolescence. Following high school, a chance encounter with Gianna in a Miami Zoo rekindles the friendship and something more. Alfie was warned by his mother and his grandmother not to make foolish choices with the power, as well as the caution that you can’t make someone fall in love with you twice. Alfie follows Gianna to college.

The story from there is one of deep love and the mistakes we all make in life. Alfie has the ability to correct them, but he learns that sometimes the corrections are worse than what happened originally. He and Gianna have a pretty good life, but Alfie is selfish and sees everything only from his own perspective. Even though he loves her deeply, he never really takes into account how Gianna feels. When she approaches him about having a baby, he sees it as a burden that will take her away from him. Imagine feeling competitive with a baby who hasn’t even been born. Never mind that Gianna’s life isn’t as fulfilling as Alfie’s is. He genuinely loves her, but he struggles with being able to see things from her perspective.

As they read from the book, the Detective finds the story more and more unbelievable, but he’s hooked. Who is this mysterious boss? (I guessed that pretty early on.) Why did Alfie wire his $2 million winnings to Gianna? Alfie promises there are answers in the book, but the Detective is growing restless.

Twice is a great story about love and the choices we make. It’s not a very long one, and it is very satisfying. I read it in about 48 hours. I got emotional near the end as the book tugs at the heartstrings. Mitch Albom is a great writer, and Twice is a great read. I definitely felt connected to the main characters and drawn into the story. So many of us wish we could have a do-over at times in our lives, but sometimes we might be making things worse.