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Tilt

A Novel

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Tilt

By: Emma Pattee
Narrated by: Ariel Blake
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Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Excellence in Fiction
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
A USA TODAY Bestseller
A Best Book of 2025 for Vogue
Named one of Time’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2025
An NPR favorite fiction read of 2025

Set over the course of a single day, an electrifying debut novel from “a powerful new literary voice” (Vogue) following one woman’s journey across a transformed city, carrying the weight of her past and a fervent hope for the future.

“Utterly gripping.” —NPR, All Things Considered

Last night, you and I were safe. Last night, in another universe, your father and I stood fighting in the kitchen.

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, there’s nothing to do but walk.

Making her way across the wreckage of Portland, Annie experiences human desperation and kindness: strangers offering help, a riot at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. As she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. If she can just make it home, she’s determined to change her life.

“Shocking and full of heart” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), Tilt is a “moving adrenaline rush” (The New York Times Book Review) and “epic odyssey” (NPR) about the disappointments and desires we all carry, and what each of us will do for the people we love. Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Heartfelt Genre Fiction Feel-Good
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Critic reviews

"An earthquake has hit Portland, Oregon, causing widespread chaos, and a woman is trying to find a way home. Ariel Blake narrates this story of nine-months-pregnant Annie, who must find a way to reach her husband and make her way home from crib-shopping through the widespread disorder that has resulted from the quake. Blake’s dramatic narration captures Annie’s fears and concerns as she talks to “Bean,” her unborn child, telling the baby about the earthquake, describing her life with her husband, and pondering her and her husband’s careers. Blake’s voice quavers as she presents a mother-to-be who is full of emotion and self-reflection. Blake conveys Annie’s worries, as well as the day-to-day details of her and her husband’s lives while confronting the natural disaster."
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I throughly enjoyed this story. There are a lot of mixed reviews. I think it ended well. A lot of people leaving reviews say Annie should have went home first. Yeah, that makes sense, but her husband's job was closer, so it makes sense to me that she would go there.

I enjoyed the second person narrative. It flet like Annie's inner dialog talking to her unborn baby. I'm a suckered for EOW stories.

The narrator has a pleasant voice and does a great job bringing this story to life.

YeS

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Lack of description, little character development and a dearth of any real drama render what could have been an intense literary experience into a bland, colorless bore.

Don’t waste your time

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I enjoyed the Writing in the entire story. I could almost see the things she described. I thought the narration was too intense.

The beautiful writing was magical. She weaves a tapestry with her words.

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It felt very real and scary. Well done, well written. The dread of failing in good times vs rising to the occasion in a crisis

Whoa

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Kept me listening. Like nothing I’ve ever read. Loved the seamless transition between past and present. Haunting ending.

Fast moving emotional literature.

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