A letter from Justin A. Reynolds, author of THE OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS
OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS
by Justin A. Reynolds
on shelves now!
Dear Reader,
This story began with heartbreak.
I’d just lost one of my closest family members, followed by the unexpected and sudden death of my best friend (still in his twenties). Understandably, questions abounded – namely, why did they have to die? – but I struggled for satisfying answers.
There was this overwhelming feeling I couldn’t shake: I’d do anything to see them again. And I let myself entertain that idea of being reunited with my family, with my best friend. The things I’d finally say: I’d hold nothing back. And for a while, these thoughts offered a kind of solace, a strange peace.
Until I remembered that no matter how amazing such a reunion would be, it too would inevitably end in goodbye.
Opposite of Always is my refusal to say goodbye. Instead, it is my love letter to Life and all its complicated and oft-hilarious brilliance. This is a story about time travel, yes. But more than that, it’s a story of falling.
Falling through time and space.
Falling to the ground in fits of uncontrollable laughter.
Falling wholly in love.
This story may have begun with heartbreak, but it’s a journey filled with terrible jokes and near-embarrassing amounts of joy, a story of fairly decent music and best friendship, of weird dolphin T-shirts and March Madness basketball mania. This story is for the people who inspire us, who laugh with us, who love us in all our flawed and corny glory, who leave this world for whatever awaits.
I hope you enjoy.
