The Present

By: Jay Martel

Narrated by: Fred Berman

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Adam Diehl is an 11-year-old in crisis. He knows his parents are going to split up - today - and he'd do anything in his power to stop them. If only he could turn back time....

As it turns out, he can.

What his parents don't know - what his sister and brother would never suspect - is that Adam is a genius, and the computer he stares at all day has opened a gateway to knowledge beyond our comprehension.

But not Adam's.

Now, he has a plan. He's going to repeat this day over and over until he finds the version of it that ends with his parents staying together. But he can't keep resetting the day forever.

Because the laws of time are strict, and they're starting to push back.

©2021 Jay Martel (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

Explosive family drama

A well written, complex exploration of the fall out of an expected divorce announcement. The children’s voices especially powerful and unusual given two of them being on the spectrum. The depth of each child’s fidelity to the concept of family is remarkable. Their parents seem ditzy in comparison. And yet they represent safety and solidity. The length’s the children go through to keep them together are herculean. Definitely recommend to others.

Character Voices

The story was not disappointing, and quite captivating. However, why do you use the same one person to do all the voices? It was difficult sometimes to know “who” was doing the talking.

loved it

if you are into sci-fi I highly recommend this book. it was very clever and interesting especially from the point of a 11 year old autistic boy

Fun Time Travel Story

The day the Diehl's tell their children they are getting a divorce is a very bad day, indeed. The youngest child, Adam, is an autistic six year old computer/math whiz with a bad case of agoraphobia. From his basement refuge where he spends his entire day on his computer, Adam figures out how to repeat D-Day over and over again, hoping to change the outcome to his parents staying married. Good character development, fun story, and great narration. Look forward to more from this author.

Excellent time loop story

I fully enjoyed this story, it was a lot of fun and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves time travel stories. One of the most unique approaches I've seen, and I love time loop stories a great deal.

Thrilling and imaginative

From the producer of Key and Peele comes an well crafted story about divorce and how it can rip the unexpected apart. Imaginatively told from the perspective of different narrators this engaging novel is heartwarming, cleverly written and keeps you engaged from beginnings to ends. Wonderfully narrated bringing the perspectives and emotions of the characters to life.

ehhhhh

Not sure why I finished it. Its an alright story but the overall plot is predictable. Not a book I would listen to again.

Quirky Insightful Captivating

This story by Jay Martel is told from the point of view of each family member. Engaging the reader/listener to question your own view of love, relationships, time and reality. Leaving us to ponder the space-time continuum. Told by someone who understands the searing pain children feel when their parents come apart. And their fervent wish to keep them together.

A clever, well written adventure

I loved this book! I was hopelessly hooked after the first couple of chapters. The story is imaginative and it draws you in...hoping for the same outcome as Adam, the main character. Well done!

fantastic

this book was great, from the plot to the delivery wish it was longer or a part 2