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Brandie's Thoughts:
There's something about Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing that is so brilliant and REAL that I'm left questioning life after finishing one of her books. She became one of my favorite authors after I read After I Do, which was such a fantastic novel that has stayed with me months later. I couldn't wait to read her newest release, and it was fantastic.
In Maybe in Another Life, we meet Hannah, a 29 year old who has no clue what she wants out of life, and decides to move back to her hometown of LA. She moves in with her best friend, and one night they decide to go out to the bar where Hannah meets up with her ex boyfriend.
On this night, Hannah is faced with a decision - go home with her best friend or go home with the ex. Many people would admit they've wondered how their lives would have played out had they made difference choices along the way. The author offers both perspectives in alternating chapters, showing us how Hannah's life would have gone if she had picked one scenario over the other. And by the end of the book, I was on edge praying that Hannah chose the scenario that I loved most.
Such a unique and brilliant story line - it almost felt like I was reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book. I didn't want to put the book down because I had to know how things really worked out for Hannah - which decision did she ultimately choose, and was it the one I was hoping for.
TJR's characters are flawed and real and I always connect to them immediately when reading her books. I loved every minute of reading this one and look forward to more by this author!
ARC kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Arlene's Thoughts
Loved this book!! If I'm thinking about these characters days after I've finished their story… then yes… I'm giving it 5 stars. Taylor Jenkins Reid took an original story and told it in such a way that was both clever and unique.
My first experience with Taylor Jenkins Reid was when I picked up her novel After I Do. I knew right then that Reid has a way of naturally pulling her reader into the story and capturing their full attention with her clever narrative. Maybe In Another Life is no exception! I was immediately drawn into Hannah Martin’s world as she struggled to find a place to call home.
Having been apart from her family since her sophomore year in high school when her parent traveled with Hannah’s sister to London so she could attend a prestigious dance academy, Hannah stayed behind in California to finish school and try to build a life of her own. After high school, Hannah traveled from state to state, not quite finding her place, and after a failed relationship in New York, she decides to head back to California with her best friend Gabby.
When Hannah and Gabby go out one night to celebrate her return, she meets up with her old high school boyfriend Ethan and a hint of their old flame begins to simmer. However, where the story takes a unique twist, we get to experience with Hannah what would happen with her life if she decided to stay out that night with Ethan or head home with Gabby.
To see Hannah get two alternate endings that were both perfect and well deserved is both ingenious and down-right good storytelling. I loved the whole bit about alternate universes and the concept of fate… it all just works and I attribute that to the magic that flows from Reid's pen.
At first, I thought it would be confusing to follow the same character through two walks of life, but the alternate stories are completely differing yet equally enthralling. I loved the characters that took center stage in each alternative. At the end of the novel, I truly couldn’t decide which ending I preferred. They both worked so well!
Overall, Taylor Jenkins Reid once again proves she can captivate her audience with a realistic and relatable story, but what makes her different is her delivery. Loved it!
In Maybe in Another Life, we meet Hannah, a 29 year old who has no clue what she wants out of life, and decides to move back to her hometown of LA. She moves in with her best friend, and one night they decide to go out to the bar where Hannah meets up with her ex boyfriend.
On this night, Hannah is faced with a decision - go home with her best friend or go home with the ex. Many people would admit they've wondered how their lives would have played out had they made difference choices along the way. The author offers both perspectives in alternating chapters, showing us how Hannah's life would have gone if she had picked one scenario over the other. And by the end of the book, I was on edge praying that Hannah chose the scenario that I loved most.
Such a unique and brilliant story line - it almost felt like I was reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book. I didn't want to put the book down because I had to know how things really worked out for Hannah - which decision did she ultimately choose, and was it the one I was hoping for.
TJR's characters are flawed and real and I always connect to them immediately when reading her books. I loved every minute of reading this one and look forward to more by this author!
ARC kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
5 Suns
Loved this book!! If I'm thinking about these characters days after I've finished their story… then yes… I'm giving it 5 stars. Taylor Jenkins Reid took an original story and told it in such a way that was both clever and unique.
My first experience with Taylor Jenkins Reid was when I picked up her novel After I Do. I knew right then that Reid has a way of naturally pulling her reader into the story and capturing their full attention with her clever narrative. Maybe In Another Life is no exception! I was immediately drawn into Hannah Martin’s world as she struggled to find a place to call home.
Having been apart from her family since her sophomore year in high school when her parent traveled with Hannah’s sister to London so she could attend a prestigious dance academy, Hannah stayed behind in California to finish school and try to build a life of her own. After high school, Hannah traveled from state to state, not quite finding her place, and after a failed relationship in New York, she decides to head back to California with her best friend Gabby.
When Hannah and Gabby go out one night to celebrate her return, she meets up with her old high school boyfriend Ethan and a hint of their old flame begins to simmer. However, where the story takes a unique twist, we get to experience with Hannah what would happen with her life if she decided to stay out that night with Ethan or head home with Gabby.
To see Hannah get two alternate endings that were both perfect and well deserved is both ingenious and down-right good storytelling. I loved the whole bit about alternate universes and the concept of fate… it all just works and I attribute that to the magic that flows from Reid's pen.
At first, I thought it would be confusing to follow the same character through two walks of life, but the alternate stories are completely differing yet equally enthralling. I loved the characters that took center stage in each alternative. At the end of the novel, I truly couldn’t decide which ending I preferred. They both worked so well!
Overall, Taylor Jenkins Reid once again proves she can captivate her audience with a realistic and relatable story, but what makes her different is her delivery. Loved it!
5 Suns
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She is the author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @TJenkinsReid.
MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Atria Books/Washington Square Press Paperback | 352 pages | ISBN: 9781476776880 | July 7, 2015 | $16.00
eBook: Atria Books/Washington Square Press | 352 pages | ISBN: 9781476776897 | July 7, 2015 | $11.99
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I'm dying to read this! It's been getting so much buzz lately, especially among my favorite bloggers. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was really worth it. I hope you enjoy it. :)
DeleteSo happy you loved this, I really did too! Wonderful review!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kindlemom! Glad you enjoyed it too. :)
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