Anticipation Day follows Dr. Joshua Lee, an Australian computer scientist who becomes the unlikely leader of a groundbreaking U.S. government initiative to allow citizens to experience fully immersive simulations of past historical eras or even specific days in their own lives. At the heart of the novel is the concept of “Anticipation Day,” an annual event during which eligible citizens can experience a vivid alternate reality. Through political maneuvering, technical innovation, ethical debates, and deeply personal moments, Michelson crafts a narrative that spans continents, emotional landscapes, and big philosophical questions about memory, identity, and the power of longing.

What struck me first was how real the characters felt. Joshua isn’t a stereotypical genius or a cold bureaucrat. He’s a loving father, a tired husband, and a man caught between ambition and regret. The writing is informal but polished, with a strong conversational voice. Michelson uses humor with a deft hand, not too much, but enough to ground the high-concept tech in everyday moments. This book is packed with big ideas about simulated realities, but it never forgets to be relatable.

Some parts felt like a detailed journal, more than a novel, especially in the first third. The world-building around the simulations is dense, but I appreciated the scientific depth. That said, once Part 2 hits, when we experience individual simulation stories from different characters, it absolutely soars. These sections gave the concept heart, showing not just the tech, but what it means to people: closure, adventure, peace, sometimes even sorrow. The vignettes felt like short stories inside a larger novel, and I enjoyed that structure. It gave the book emotional highs that made me reflect on my own life and what day I might choose to relive.

By the end, I felt something rare: hope. That’s not to say the book is rosy, it deals with trauma, loss, politics, and the ethics of tech, but it never loses sight of the value of memory and imagination. Michelson writes with warmth and sincerity. I’d recommend Anticipation Day to fans of thoughtful science fiction, especially those who enjoy character-driven stories with a speculative edge. If you liked Black Mirror episodes that tug at the heart or enjoyed the moral dilemmas of The Midnight Library, this book might be for you.

Pages: 544 | ASIN : B0DPJB1PMB