The Watchmaker's Doctor

If you could go back in time and redo one thing in your life, what would it be?

The Watchmaker’s Doctor is the first novella in Erase and Rewind, a collection for new adults that delves into the biggest regrets of the dying, and follows their stories of what might have been.

Anaya, a disillusioned, thirty-five-year-old doctor, has been looking after Gregory, a retired watchmaker and resident of an aged care facility. On her last visit, he gifts her his final creation, an exquisitely-crafted watch, knowing she will die tragically that very day. It will turn back time.

With one condition: she must choose the time and place to reset the clock, and redo just one thing in her life. Regrets, it seems, are easy to realise when you’re dying. Hers was dropping out of school at seventeen.

But what if, after one small change, her life would become much worse than it was? Or unthinkable disasters result from a single step off her path? When the alternative is die now, her choice makes itself. And so, Anaya’s story begins with her last thought. Would I have done this if I had any option but the grave?


My Review

What would you do if you were told to live by this motto? "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

This is exactly what Anaya was living by when she was given the second chance to redo her life. This time Anaya decided to make the most of it. She made better choices. This led her to meet Matt. He was kind and loving. Yet as Anaya learns when it is your time to meet your maker, it is your time. No matter the outcome of your second chance. Anaya learns that she is to become the new watchmaker.

I just fell in love with this book. It turned out to be even better than I had hoped or imagined. There was an ease about the storyline and the characters. Where I did not have to work hard to find myself connecting to both. A quick read that left me wanting more. In fact, I am saddened that this book ended so quickly as the wait to the next book will be long. In this case, I would not want to turn back time but fast forward it. A must read. Author, G.M.T Schuilling dazzled me with this book filled with a great storyline and endearing characters!