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A review by kelly_e
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Title: Maybe in Another Life
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: July 7th 2015
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Multilayered β’ Inquisitive β’ Cordial
π S Y N O P S I S
Following a breakup, Hannah finds herself returning to her hometown of LA, where she lives in her best friend Gabby's spare room. Maybe in Another Life unfolds as parallel storylines hinging on a single choice Hannah makes at the bar one night after running into her high school boyfriend, Ethan. Should she stay? Or should she go? Hannah is about to find out how life unfolds either way, with each version offering a drastically different course of her future.
π T H O U G H T S
This was a enjoyable read for me, and I particularly liked the strong focus on female friendship, the theme of chosen family, and central focus on messy lives, which makes the characters much more relatable. I felt as though everyone needs a Gabby in their lives! It was fast paced, and the concept worked well, although I did find I was getting a bit confused at times as the alternate realties converged around the halfway point. It's quite predictable, something life definitely isn't. And there was something about Hannah's sister I didn't like, yet I can't quite put my finger on it exactly. I, myself, struggle with the concept of our lives being a reflection of our choices. On one hand, yes I agree each choice we make can lead us down a different path, but at the same time on the other hand, there are things in life beyond our control that end up shaping our lives forever. For instance, I didn't choose to be widowed at 30, but it is the event in my life that will shape my life the most. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and how it certainly made me contemplate life.
Maybe in Another Life was my first novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I will definitely be reading more down the road. I would recommend this book to fans of How to Walk Away, or In Five Years, anyone looking for a quick and easy read, or people who enjoy romance with a bit more substance and reflection involved.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ readers who enjoyed In Five Years
β’ anyone looking for romance with more substance
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"I pick up a book from the stack Gabby has made, and I start to read. The book is slow to start, very descriptive. Slow and descriptive would be find on a normal fay, on a day when I'm not trying to quiet my own voice, but that won't work for me right now. So I put it down and pick up another one. I go down the stack until I find a voice quick and thrilling enough to quiet my own."
"Life is unpredictable beyond measure."
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: July 7th 2015
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Multilayered β’ Inquisitive β’ Cordial
π S Y N O P S I S
Following a breakup, Hannah finds herself returning to her hometown of LA, where she lives in her best friend Gabby's spare room. Maybe in Another Life unfolds as parallel storylines hinging on a single choice Hannah makes at the bar one night after running into her high school boyfriend, Ethan. Should she stay? Or should she go? Hannah is about to find out how life unfolds either way, with each version offering a drastically different course of her future.
π T H O U G H T S
This was a enjoyable read for me, and I particularly liked the strong focus on female friendship, the theme of chosen family, and central focus on messy lives, which makes the characters much more relatable. I felt as though everyone needs a Gabby in their lives! It was fast paced, and the concept worked well, although I did find I was getting a bit confused at times as the alternate realties converged around the halfway point. It's quite predictable, something life definitely isn't. And there was something about Hannah's sister I didn't like, yet I can't quite put my finger on it exactly. I, myself, struggle with the concept of our lives being a reflection of our choices. On one hand, yes I agree each choice we make can lead us down a different path, but at the same time on the other hand, there are things in life beyond our control that end up shaping our lives forever. For instance, I didn't choose to be widowed at 30, but it is the event in my life that will shape my life the most. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and how it certainly made me contemplate life.
Maybe in Another Life was my first novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I will definitely be reading more down the road. I would recommend this book to fans of How to Walk Away, or In Five Years, anyone looking for a quick and easy read, or people who enjoy romance with a bit more substance and reflection involved.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ readers who enjoyed In Five Years
β’ anyone looking for romance with more substance
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"I pick up a book from the stack Gabby has made, and I start to read. The book is slow to start, very descriptive. Slow and descriptive would be find on a normal fay, on a day when I'm not trying to quiet my own voice, but that won't work for me right now. So I put it down and pick up another one. I go down the stack until I find a voice quick and thrilling enough to quiet my own."
"Life is unpredictable beyond measure."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
hit and run, divorce, strained parental relationship