The Measure: A Novel

· HarperCollins
4,5
40 reviews
eBook
368
Pages
Eligible
Ratings and reviews aren’t verified  Learn more

About this eBook

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

"A story of love and hope as interweaving characters display: how all moments, big and small, can measure a life. If you want joy, love, romance, and hope—read with us." —Jenna Bush Hager

A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out.

But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.

Ratings and reviews

4,5
40 reviews
Patricia Ogletree
27 January 2025
One of my new favorite books. This book gives me the vibes of They Both of Us Die at the End by Adam Silvera. This book is set a time in the world where people are receiving boxes with strings that can predict the measure of your life span, rich with characters and stories that are impactful and relatable to the times of today and everyday life. I highly recommend reading this book.
Did you find this helpful?
Joelle Egan
15 May 2022
Nikki Erlick describes an interesting scenario in her addictive debut novel, The Measure. The setting is an alternative reality much like our own, but one in which everyone on earth over the age 22 suddenly receives a personal box. The mysterious boxes contain a seemingly simple object that is discovered to have magical predictive qualities. Within this framework, Erlick is able to examine some basic life questions and themes. Some of the more prominent of these are: adaptation to change, familial obligations, prejudice, political manipulation, honor/integrity, and the perceived value of an individual life. The author provides multiple perspectives on these topics with numerous characters and narrators, but the novel avoids feeling too crowded or confusing. There is a fair amount of proselytizing and repetition, and true scientists might bristle at the suspension of disbelief required. The Measure is a timely, thought-provoking work that blends genres in an innovative way. Based on this book, Nikki Erlick could easily become a fresh new voice in contemporary fiction.
Did you find this helpful?
Kelly Reisacher
15 February 2024
This wonderful book has made it to my top 5 list for books that are my favorite. I find myself still thinking about the book days after I was done reading. Yes, the book was that great!
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Nikki Erlick is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Measure, which was a Read with Jenna / Today show book club pick. The Measure has been translated into twenty-four languages worldwide. She has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from Columbia University. She lives in Los Angeles.

Rate this eBook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Centre instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.