The Stats
📖 BOOK REVIEW⠀📚
BOOK: Maybe in Another Life
AUTHOR: Taylor Jenkins Reid @tjenkinsreid
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Published: July 7, 2015
The Review
✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
- After reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I had to read more of Taylor Jenkins Reid. This was a book club selection for the month of February so this one was next.
💜 What I liked:
- The subtle differences between the two timelines. I really thought I would be confused between the two, especially since I was listening to the audiobook. But it was such an easy read. Also I had an idea of where I thought this book would go and it totally surprised me.
😱 What I didn’t like:
- I wanted to connect to the main character, Hannah, more than I did.
💁♀️ The Characters:
- Hannah lives in 2 split timelines, with 2 men… Ethan and Henry. Her friend, Gabby gives much needed support in both and plays an important part in her journey.
🚦 The Ending:
- Again, this is a lot more surprising than I thought!
💬 The Narrator:
- Julia Whelan is very clean. She has done a few books I have listened to and she is so great. Pleasant voice and clear sped up!
💭 Reminds me of:
- Sliding doors
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
📘 Summary:
From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.
At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.
Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?
In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?
Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.