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3.12 AVERAGE
3.12 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like the premise. The execution was okay. I really liked the ending.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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:
Yes
Wow! This is my first book by Annette Christie, and I will definitely be checking out her previous book and any future ones.
To be fully transparent, at first I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like this. Here is some background. Layla thinks things are finally going well for her. She has a job she loves and the perfect boyfriend, Ian. When he abruptly breaks up with her because they “don’t spend a lot of time together,” she’s left devastated. Imagine her surprise when she gets a call from the hospital saying that he’s been in an accident and she’s his emergency contact. When she arrives, the nurses tell her how he’s been raving about his girlfriend. It seems as though Ian has completely forgotten that he dumped her. She goes along with it and eventually starts to think that it’s the universe giving them a second chance.
This whole situation really gave me the ick. The way he broke up with her seemed so silly and really did a number on her, but she was willing to just pretend it never happened, never mind the fact that their “second chance” was starting off on a lie. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth, but it turned out to be much more complex than that and as the entire story unfolded, I really found myself invested. The character development in this was *chef’s kiss* and I legit didn’t find any of the characters unlikable. On top of that, the grumpy/sunshine was perfect! That’s a solid win for me.
Thank you to Little Brown and Company for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This was such a great read!
To be fully transparent, at first I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like this. Here is some background. Layla thinks things are finally going well for her. She has a job she loves and the perfect boyfriend, Ian. When he abruptly breaks up with her because they “don’t spend a lot of time together,” she’s left devastated. Imagine her surprise when she gets a call from the hospital saying that he’s been in an accident and she’s his emergency contact. When she arrives, the nurses tell her how he’s been raving about his girlfriend. It seems as though Ian has completely forgotten that he dumped her. She goes along with it and eventually starts to think that it’s the universe giving them a second chance.
This whole situation really gave me the ick. The way he broke up with her seemed so silly and really did a number on her, but she was willing to just pretend it never happened, never mind the fact that their “second chance” was starting off on a lie. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth, but it turned out to be much more complex than that and as the entire story unfolded, I really found myself invested. The character development in this was *chef’s kiss* and I legit didn’t find any of the characters unlikable. On top of that, the grumpy/sunshine was perfect! That’s a solid win for me.
Thank you to Little Brown and Company for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This was such a great read!
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to start with the positives: I loved Christie’s first book The Rehearsals and I was so excited to get an arc of this one. However, what I loved about her first book was really missing for me in this second one.
This felt very off pace to me. The entire first 1/2 felt very slow, very off, then bam we had some action and a fun story line, then it ended. The ending literally was just there. All of a sudden. Over.
I needed more in the ending - it needed more development before we got there and the opening half could have been condensed.
I never connected with the characters, even though I so badly wanted to.
This felt very off pace to me. The entire first 1/2 felt very slow, very off, then bam we had some action and a fun story line, then it ended. The ending literally was just there. All of a sudden. Over.
I needed more in the ending - it needed more development before we got there and the opening half could have been condensed.
I never connected with the characters, even though I so badly wanted to.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are certain romance troupes where I proceed with a little caution because society/pop culture has created an ominous association. Amnesia stories falls into that category (thank you soap operas); and yet, Annette Christie somehow took this concept when creating For Twice in My Life, added in twists, turns, and clever misdirections (a reminder why one should never assume), creating a story so captivating, I was guessing and gasping until the very end.
For Twice In My Life isn't a book about second chances or redos. Yes, on the surface that is the premise but it dives much deeper. Through Layla, we witness how someone (when given a second chance) can overcorrect themselves to ensure the same "mistakes" are not made. Despite her growth, she chose to live in a world of subtext, battling perceived assumptions and inevitable disappointment. Through each second chance, she became the ideal and supportive girlfriend, the model employee, the responsible adult her family didn't think she could be, not realizing that the more engrossed she became with each transformation, the more she abandoned her core identity, what made Layla - well, Layla.
What I liked about this book: As this is the first book I have ever read by Annette Christie (her second novel), her talent for parallel writing is impeccable. When reading For Twice in My Life, you are unaware that you are reading two different stories - the one she is writing and the one you assume she is writing. For some writers who have attempted this strategy, they have created frustration with the reader because the author consistently hints at what is not being said, holding on to that pertinent information until the very end. Annette’s approach was to sprinkle breadcrumbs about Layla’s life throughout the story, keeping you emotionally invested in her character, while at the same time - placing red herrings into the subplot. The reader has no idea how much they have been left in the dark until Annette finally turns up the lights, unleashing conclusions so clever that my exact commentary as I was reading (with hand clasped over the mouth for the full shocked effect) was “Ohh...DID NOT see that coming!".
What I LOVE about this book: My favorite part about this book is that once you finish, once you know everything, you will find yourself “reliving” moments with fresh eyes, seeing the characters with a different perspective. For those who are analytical, your brain is elated. Even now, I find myself still reeling from the conclusion and commenting on certain characters and their actions.
What I am indifferent about but feel I should mention: This book comes at you from all angles - throwing a lot of information at you at once, some relevant in the moment, some necessary to understand a plot point later in the book. That, and the emotional undertones right out the gate, can be a little overwhelming for the unsuspecting reader but Annette does a great job in making sure to spoon feed you recaps, revealing a little more information each time.
Slow but engaging, For Twice in My Life breaks the barriers of what second chances are and what they could mean. We are all human and we make mistakes. Being given a second chance does not mean we need to abandon who we are as a person, we just need to incorporate that lesson into who we are becoming, holding onto our identity as we grow.
For Twice In My Life isn't a book about second chances or redos. Yes, on the surface that is the premise but it dives much deeper. Through Layla, we witness how someone (when given a second chance) can overcorrect themselves to ensure the same "mistakes" are not made. Despite her growth, she chose to live in a world of subtext, battling perceived assumptions and inevitable disappointment. Through each second chance, she became the ideal and supportive girlfriend, the model employee, the responsible adult her family didn't think she could be, not realizing that the more engrossed she became with each transformation, the more she abandoned her core identity, what made Layla - well, Layla.
What I liked about this book: As this is the first book I have ever read by Annette Christie (her second novel), her talent for parallel writing is impeccable. When reading For Twice in My Life, you are unaware that you are reading two different stories - the one she is writing and the one you assume she is writing. For some writers who have attempted this strategy, they have created frustration with the reader because the author consistently hints at what is not being said, holding on to that pertinent information until the very end. Annette’s approach was to sprinkle breadcrumbs about Layla’s life throughout the story, keeping you emotionally invested in her character, while at the same time - placing red herrings into the subplot. The reader has no idea how much they have been left in the dark until Annette finally turns up the lights, unleashing conclusions so clever that my exact commentary as I was reading (with hand clasped over the mouth for the full shocked effect) was “Ohh...DID NOT see that coming!".
What I LOVE about this book: My favorite part about this book is that once you finish, once you know everything, you will find yourself “reliving” moments with fresh eyes, seeing the characters with a different perspective. For those who are analytical, your brain is elated. Even now, I find myself still reeling from the conclusion and commenting on certain characters and their actions.
What I am indifferent about but feel I should mention: This book comes at you from all angles - throwing a lot of information at you at once, some relevant in the moment, some necessary to understand a plot point later in the book. That, and the emotional undertones right out the gate, can be a little overwhelming for the unsuspecting reader but Annette does a great job in making sure to spoon feed you recaps, revealing a little more information each time.
Slow but engaging, For Twice in My Life breaks the barriers of what second chances are and what they could mean. We are all human and we make mistakes. Being given a second chance does not mean we need to abandon who we are as a person, we just need to incorporate that lesson into who we are becoming, holding onto our identity as we grow.