In Lieu of You

Synopsis

Gary and Clare Kirk are set to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary … except they’re not. Childless, and with so little in common, the couple finally accept there’s no good reason to remain married.

However, Gary’s idea of an amicable divorce settlement differs significantly from Clare’s, and tensions between the couple soon mount. Money, as is often the case, is at the root of their disagreement.

As Gary explores every avenue to evade his wife’s financial demands, he inadvertently finds himself sitting opposite a relationship resolution advisor by the name of Edith Stimp. The mysterious Mrs Stimp then suggests a solution as unorthodox as it is unbelievable — a brief journey back in time to the day Gary first met Clare.

If he accepts the unlikely trip back to 1996, all Gary has to do is prevent his teenage self from meeting his future wife. If they never meet, they never marry, and there won’t be a financially-crippling divorce — what could be simpler?

For better or for worse, Gary Kirk is about to find out.

About This Book

In Lieu of You centres on a question most people in a long relationship have quietly asked themselves: where would I be today if I hadn’t met that one person? It’s a question we might hypothetically want answered. In reality, though, the answer might be harder to stomach than we’d expect.

Gary Kirk is offered a chance to find out. Facing a bitter divorce and the prospect of financial ruin, he’s given the miraculous opportunity to travel back to 1996 and stop his teenage self from ever meeting Clare. No meeting, no marriage, no divorce. Problem solved — in theory.

What follows is a time travel novel that’s really about the value of the relationships we take for granted, the unintended consequences of rewriting the past, and the uncomfortable truth that the life you didn’t live might not be the one you actually wanted. It’s funny, emotionally charged, and builds to a conclusion that readers describe as genuinely moving.

Like all of Keith’s time travel novels, the period detail is immaculate — 1990s Britain comes alive on the page. But the heart of the story is Gary reckoning with what his marriage actually meant, and whether a life without Clare would be the liberation he imagined or something far worse.

Who Is This Book For?

In Lieu of You appeals to readers who enjoy time travel fiction with genuine emotional depth — stories where the speculative premise is in service of something real about human relationships. If you’ve ever wondered what your life would look like if you’d taken a different path, this book explores that question with honesty, humour, and a few surprises.

It sits alongside Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and the film Sliding Doors — stories built around the idea that one different choice could change everything. It’s also a strong pick for readers going through or reflecting on divorce, midlife crossroads, or the question of whether the grass really is greener.

Fans of Keith’s other time travel novels (The ’86 Fix, A Page in Your Diary, Tuned Out) will find familiar territory here, but In Lieu of You is a completely standalone story with a different emotional register — less nostalgia trip, more reckoning with the present.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this connected to The ’86 Fix or Keith’s other time travel books?
No. In Lieu of You is a completely standalone novel. It shares the same DNA — British time travel with period detail and emotional weight — but the characters, story, and themes are entirely separate.

What’s different about this time travel book?
Most time travel stories ask “what if you could fix the past?” This one asks “what if you could erase it?” Gary doesn’t go back to change a decision — he goes back to prevent an entire relationship from ever happening. That’s a fundamentally different question, and the answer isn’t what he expects.

Is it a love story?
In a roundabout way, yes — though it starts as the opposite. It’s a book about a man who thinks his marriage was a mistake, and has to reckon with whether he’s right. The emotional journey is from resentment to something much more complicated and ultimately more rewarding.

Who is Edith Stimp?
She’s the mysterious “relationship resolution advisor” who offers Gary the chance to travel back in time. Like Clement, Mungo Thunk, and Kenneth, she’s one of Keith’s enigmatic characters who appears at a pivotal moment and changes everything. Who she is and how she can do what she does is part of the mystery.

Who narrates the audiobook?
The audiobook is narrated by Mark Oxtoby and is available on Audible and other audiobook platforms.