The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

Title: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

Author: Mitch Albom

Genre: Fiction/Psychological Fiction

Published: 2018

Obtained: Amazon

In The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Albom’s prequel to this novel, we met Eddie. Eddie was an elderly war veteran who died saving a child at a pier; Albom took the reader along on Eddie’s journey to Heaven where he met five people who helped him understand his purpose in life. In the sequel, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, we are introduced to the child Eddie saved, Annie. Annie’s life was forever changed by the accident on the pier that took Eddie’s life; after tragedy strikes again, Annie ventures to heaven to meet her own five individuals who help her find the meaning of her time on Earth. Full of emotional and profound life lessons, we learn that all lives are connected and that each life is significant.

This is the sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven—which is one of my favorite books of all time. Albom’s second installment does not disappoint. The opening of The Next Person You Meet in Heaven was much more difficult for me to get through. Eddie’s death in the first novel was horrible, but he was also an elderly man who died trying to protect a child. In this book, we read about Annie, the little girl Eddie saved at the pier. Annie is a young newlywed; as the premise of the story is about her journey through heaven, it was hard to read the opening chapters that counted down her final hours. Perhaps being near Annie’s age and also recently married, I found her storyline comparable (in some ways) to my own life and, therefore, found it more difficult to digest.

Similar to its predecessor, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven follows a similar plot with the main character, Annie, meeting five people in heaven who help her understand her purpose in life. I think what readers will find immediately intriguing is the underlying theme of the novel—that each person serves a purpose on Earth, even if we don’t understand it until after our life is over. It’s one of the great questions of the world, isn’t it? We’re constantly trying to figure out our life’s meaning…trying to determine if everything happens for a reason or if we’re all just drifting about aimlessly. As someone who was not raised religiously, I can say that The Five People You Meet in Heaven gave me hope and inspired a way of thinking about the afterlife and the time I have left in the world. The Next Person You Meet in Heaven builds upon this vision; while I find I wanted more from the story (more depth from the various characters’ teachings) I also found comfort in the lessons and tales.

Albom has a way with storytelling. The Next Person You Meet in Heaven is full of beautiful prose and moving dialogue. This novel isn’t long and didn’t take me much time to read—with the exception of having to re-fill my wine glass and tissue stash every other page. Albom weaves together not only the lives of those in this book, but those from the previous novel, as well. The idea that we are all connected is strongly rooted in this novel. Albom writes in a tactful, imaginative and beautifully simplistic way…a way that forced me, as a reader, to look into my own life with a more open and optimistic mind. As I was reading, I found myself thinking of all the time I (and those around me) have wasted holding onto grudges or being angry when it is, ultimately, so much more rewarding to let all that go. This book is a strong reminder that our lives here are short and we’re better off spending this time finding ways to be happy rather than to hold on to those things that fill us with anger, fear and doubt. Perhaps more importantly, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven serves as a reminder to hold on to those you love and to make it known how you feel as often and sincerely as possible…for we never know when our time will end.

When I was in college earning my degree in English Literature, I took a senior class that concentrated on the concept of “grace.” I was unfamiliar with this topic. As I said before, I wasn’t raised religiously one way or another, and was woefully ignorant on the subject. We read texts and wrote papers all about different theological ideas of grace. It was because of this class that I learned to expand my reading genres. As someone who can remain fairly objective when reading and talking about religious topics, I absolutely love this idea of heaven that Albom has created. Some people may say this book is corny or that it reads like a fluffy Hallmark channel film…full of lessons of love and what we can learn from heartache and tragedy. But, that makes no difference to me. His vivid storytelling brings me comfort and a sense of hope…hope for what lies ahead and comfort that my loved ones who are gone are waiting somewhere where they are at peace, full of the exhilarating and fulfilling emotions they cherished in life. Albom creates this world without agenda of cramming it down the reader’s throat, but with an air of one showing the reader a glimpse of a possible answer to one of our greatest questions: What happens after we die?

I recommend this novel (along with The Five People You Meet in Heaven) to anyone who enjoys a real tear-jerker with a feel-good message. My initial complaint was that there wasn’t enough backstory to the main character, Annie, and her husband, Paulo; but, as the story continues, Albom reveals more about their relationship and history in a poignant style. My only other criticism is that it was much too short! I wanted the book to last longer and I found myself taking more breaks between chapters to expand my reading time. On the other hand, I appreciate Albom’s ability to pack such a powerful and compelling story into such a small book. I gave this book 5/5 stars—I just can’t help it! I love it! The vivid and emotional braiding of characters and storylines was far more memorable than any flaws that may exist in the novel. I reserve my 5 star rating for books that I find stellar and impeccable, and The Next Person You Meet in Heaven fits the glove. I recommend pairing Albom’s novel with a pinot grigio; I sipped (or gulped between heavy sobs) Dark Horse Pinot Grigio while reading. I took a break from red wine for this read as I wanted something refreshing to help digest some of the more emotionally-saturated parts of the story. This wine is crisp and airy and pairs well with the delicate and peaceful feel of Albom’s heaven.