Blog Tour/Review: Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published: July 7, 2015

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Format: Edelweiss

Challenges: 2015 NetGalley/Edelweiss

Rating: 5/5

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Synopsis

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.

My Thoughts

Maybe in Another Life is another winner by Taylor Jenkins Reid! This novel is unlike any book I have ever read before. We all at some point in our lives have played that “what if” game in our mind. “What if” I choose that instead of this well now in this book we see what could’ve happened.

We met Hannah who has come back home to LA after years of bouncing all around. Her parents left to England to follow her younger sister’s ballet dreams and she was left in the care of her best friend’s family. She decides to come back after living in New York a few years and instantly reunites with her ex Ethan. On her first night back old friends met and catch up and at the end of the night one decision can change Hannah’s life forever. In alternating chapters we see two versions of Hannah’s life as it plays out. In one we see the life she could’ve had if she chose to go home with Ethan. In the other we see what happens if she chose to wait and goes home with her friend Gabby.

We see that one choice can drastically change one's life and not only ours but everyone else’s. In both worlds Hannah goes through life changing decisions some good and some bad but in the end both only made her a stronger person. This book was wonderfully written and I was truly torn in which life I thought was better for Hannah. Both had their ups and downs but the constant was always love, support and family. Taylor Jenkins Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and this one read just makes me love her more. If you want a great read look no further than this one I promise you won’t regret it.

    About Taylor

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author, essayist, and TV writer from Acton, Massachusetts. Her debut novel, Forever, Interrupted, has been optioned with Dakota Johnson attached to star. Her second book, After I Do, was called a "must read" by Kirkus. Her most recent novel, Maybe In Another Life has been featured in People, Cosmo, Bustle, Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, USA Today and more. In addition to her novels, Taylor's essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, xoJane, and a number of other blogs. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit.

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