Intriguing yet insightful book. Asks the question, what would you do if your wishes came true. Follows Emma as she finds out this happens to her and the ramifications that follow. First book I read from Janis Thomas and found myself excitedly waiting to see how she wrapped up this story. Definitely recommend!

This is one where you just have to buy the premise and then you'll enjoy the story. Emma has had a string of rotten luck in her life as well as some rotten people (like her boss). Her husband Colin is well, not the most helpful person in the world, her daughter Katie is a teenager testing limits, and her son Josh has CP. And then in an odd twist, she makes a random wish that comes true. She doesn't connect what's happening at first but then.....Everything has a consequence, both good and bad and Thomas lays those out. It's a little confusing at times but intriguing. The big question- what about Josh? No spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a thought provoking read.

All That's Left by Me by Janis Thomas is my first book by this author. Shortly after the book starts, there's a very descriptive scene between Emma and her boss who tries to be sexual with her right at work. Do I want to read this ? NO! I skimmed several pages after that and as I was skimming, it wasn't getting any better so I just quit. I was given this book through the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow! What a strange story. I wouldn’t categorize it as science fiction but it almost is. Emma is the main character. She is a wife, a Mother of a teenage daughter and a younger son with cerebral palsy. Something strange happens to Emma and her wishes start coming true. This could be good or it could be bad- very bad. This family could use a break. It is a well written book but it’s so close to sci fi that I’m a little put off by it. I liked Emma and actually felt sorry for her at times but she also frustrated me at times. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

It was a difficult book to get into and stick with - part of me was really concerned that she would wish away her son or his disease but then then other part of me could understand why..

This book really made me think about what I would honestly do if I learned that my wishes were coming true. For Emma, all her disappointments begin to crash into each other, starting with a continuously barking dog next door that mysteriously does not exist one day. This is after she wishes the neighbors never got the dog to begin with. Emma’s troubles continue: a sexual predator boss, an uncommunicative teenage daughter, an unsatisfying relationship with her husband, and the biggie-a son with cerebral palsy. Yeah, you can see the road she might travel but to what ramifications? That’s what got me thinking: what would the ramifications be of my wishes-what would change or no longer exist? It is a mind boggling thought when all you really want is for things to be different.

This was very twisty! there is no way I can describe the way the book went. You had to be very clever to pull this off and Janis Thomas does it very well. I wouldn't want to read many books like this as it does havoc with your mind!

Emma Davis is dissatisfied. With her marriage, with her job and generally with everything. She also does not know and hasn't the courage to start anew with a new job or even to admonish Colin her husband who seems so laid back that anyone would give him a kick in the pants.

Into this scenario we have Emma wishing the way we all do. That something could happen differently, or that a person could change, or just disappear and one by one these things happen. Emma has a son with severe cerebral palsy and I did wonder very early in the book why wouldnt she wish for her son to be well rather than just wishing this one away, or that situation to go away. Once granted it cannot be undone and this becomes Emma's downward spiral once she wishes her son whole and healthy again.


The entire book tests your powers of credibility. Time travel was one genre which took some getting used to, this is entirely different. It is like a separate parallel universe running in different mode, so what happens to the mode that existed before. Just not the individual but everyone in that universe changes to fit the new scenario. It was difficult to digest, but very easy for me to read

Definitely a must read. Fascinating look at what happens to a person when you get what you wish for, and it's not always pretty. Great writing style, engrossing plot. Highly recommend!

I was asked to provide a review in exchange for an electronic copy of this book..


This book starts with a BANG! A typical mom getting ready for work, or so we thought. The chaos of the morning routine, the battles we pick as moms. Emma is annoyed by the neighbor's dog who incessantly barks and impedes her sleep and her little to no quiet time. Murphy's Law gets her throughout her morning, only to turn a day that started with a black cloud into a complete and utter disastrous one. We meet Emma's teenage son, Josh who has Cerebral Palsy and her rebellious teenage daughter, Katie as well as her husband, Colin. I quickly read through Chapter 7 in one sitting. I found myself screaming at the book, rooting for Emma, wanting to be a friend to her and just wrap her in a giant bear hug and that was just how I felt up to Chapter 7. Emma quickly realizes that when she makes a wish, it actually comes true. Hmmm, this makes you think, doesn't it? What would you wish for or away? Emma soon realizes that once she makes a wish it actually comes true, but also that she cannot wish it away or change that wish. OOPS. We soon find out that you really do need to be extremely careful what you wish for. Emma keeps a diary so that she can remember certain things from her life, pre-wishes, as her memories of what things were like before the wish soon fades away. As the story unfolds, we see that each wish has it's benefits as well as detriments. Think about how one wish changes so many things. Well, Emma soon finds out what great effects a wish can ultimately have on her life.

Janis Thomas has completely blown my mind with this book. Would I risk changing one thing in my life to risk the negative effects that it could have? This is my first book that I have read of hers and I am hooked. I cried, laughed, screamed, and felt so many emotions with this book. Janis mentions at the end of the book that the idea came to her after the death of her mother. It really changes the way we think. Why should we wish we had more time or spent more time. We should make the time to spend more time with the kids, shut off the electronics and simply be in the now. What a wake up call this book was for me. I fully enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read it again with my reading buddy once it comes out in stores!

You can find this book on June 12, 2018 on Amazon.com or enter the giveaway on Goodreads.com

To be honest I got bored reading this book. The synopsis was so intriguing but I found everything took a long time to happen and the way that Emma spoke about her son and the implication of burden just didn’t sit right with me. Particularly when a little girl with downs was described as pug faces but pretty. Not an enjoyable book for me

This is a very strange book in which the reader must surrender everything he or she knows or believes about consensual reality and enter a parallel universe in which one person’s wishes can have both remarkably good and remarkably bad consequences.


While I was mesmerized by the story and the way it unfolded and Emma’s life unraveled, I found the premise ludicrous, unless the whole story was a dream or psychotic episode. If I allow myself to believe that, then this is a darn good and darn scary story.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers. I am under no obligation to write a positive review, nor have I been compensated for writing this review.