Come Again by Robert Webb

A review by Emma Streeton

Come Again is the first novel by award-winning British actor, comedian and author, Robert Webb. Nine months widowed, and not coping, all Kate Marsden wants to do is drink herself into oblivion, where at least she can dream of Luke.

On reaching the anniversary of ten thousand days since they first met, Kate decides to end her life. But before taking the pills and vodka Kate needs just one more Luke dream. When she wakes Kate is in her single bed in university, in her eighteen-year-old body, on the day she first met Luke Fairbright, back in October 1992. It is not a dream.

Do over

A sneaky, slow-growing tumor Luke had since before they met took him suddenly. Kate sees this time travel as an opportunity to save him and subsequently change the course of both their lives. Surely it won’t be that difficult to convince 19-year-old Luke to get a brain scan right?! Kate certainly doesn’t think so:

it was perfectly straightforward. She was going to convince Luke that she was from the future and he needed to get a tumor removed from his brain otherwise he would drop dead at the age of forty-seven in his kitchen, which was incidentally also her kitchen because she was his wife. Fine.

Of course things do not go at all according to the plan in Kate’s head. Thus lies the foundations of a quirky, fun and heartwarming read. Thoroughly enjoyable with lots of laugh out loud moments, Come Again immediately hooked me. What I initially thought would be a rom-com turned out to be a memorable story about love and loss, with a whole lot of humor and unexpected twists thrown in.

The verdict

I highly recommend Come Again if you want an easy read with an outrageous story-line and a heavy dose of 90s nostalgia. It is quite a far-fetched, silly read at times so my advice is when you read this book just giggle to yourself and take it for what it is. The crazy scenes just add to the magic and enjoyment of the story. If you are a fan of Robert Webb from his comical TV shows then I am sure you will especially love his work here. Overall, I enjoyed it and would easily recommend it to others.

Book details

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
ISBN: 9781786890139
Imprint: Canongate Trade (A&U Canongate)
Format: paperback, 304 pages
Released: 2020
Category: Fiction, time travel, do over, comedy