Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Maybe in Another Life

maybe in another life for me was the definition of "right book wrong time".
taylor jenkins reid is super talented. her stories pull on your heartstrings and her characters are mature and wholesome (even a bit too perfect at times).

the problem is just that the book is far from where i am at in my life right now. i am not nearly thirty, i am not even close to thinking about marriage and children and all that good stuff. and i think relatability is extremely important when it comes to novels like these, in which the whole plot revolves around the characters and their messy lives and messier life-choices.

the book relies on relatability, because from an objective point of the view, the plot isn't very good nor interesting. the things that happen are quite predictable, because reid uses very common and done-before plot devices (

car accident, death of a sister and henry becoming a nurse because of that, all of them getting a happy ending through very unprobable and unbelievable circumstances

).

the book's theme is undoubtedly hope, based on all the profound pep-talks and conversations about "que será será"—moving on after tragedy, making the best of every situation, etc. it was refreshing, the way the characters never quite allowed themselves to despair completely. reid never lingered on the bad, nearly every chapter ended on a positive note, so you could say that the book was unrealistically perfect. great, of course, if that's what you're into.

i don't know what else to say about this book. it was good, fine, non-threatening. might put this aside for now or sell it and maybe pick it up again in a couple of years.
the characters in this book, especially the protagonist hannah, talk about fate a lot, and things that are "just meant to be". so i'm gonna go ahead and boldly claim that, if this book and i are meant to be, it'll find me again somewhen in the future.

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val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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sophs_mood_reading's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The concept of this book was great. A sliding doors retelling where we dive into two alternate universes of Hannah’s life based on one decision: go home or stay at the bar.

I really enjoyed the storyline’s of the book and found the different paths her life took a great read. However there was way too much repetition.

When describing a story or a conversation it was great to have it in full in one life path but seeing we had read it the chapter before when it’s repeated in entirety in the next it’s very much over done. Something that could easily have been referenced.

And oh my gosh if someone mentions the word cinnamon roll or high bun to me I may hit them! What is with authors creating female characters who’s personalities are based around a hairdo and a type of food. It’s annoying and somewhat condescending.

However if you get past the repetition, breakfast pastries and hairstyle requirements. It is a good read into the possibilities life can take you on. And I must say I don’t think after reading it I could choose which life path I would choose for her.

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thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a sweet book, but I found it majorly lacking in personality. Predominantly in the main character, Hannah, which made it difficult to really connect with the story. As its told in two alternating timelines defined by a single choice (stay out with her ex or go home early with her best friend, Gabby), that sort-of only added to the disconnect I felt like.

The one relationship in the book that I really loved was the only constant in both timelines—Hannah and Gabby’s friendship. I liked one MMC far better than the other, though neither had me in my feelings, as they say. Pretty predictable story arcs on both sides.

However, this is a really optimistic, hopeful read. Good if you’re wanting something light complete with not one, but TWO happily ever afters. It read quite fast, too, so that was a plus.

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xmeganlowe's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

This was such a heartwarming and inspirational book! I really enjoyed the writing in alternate timelines, and how the author explored each possible outcome to Hannah’s decision.
I was really thinking that in each timeline, Hannah would end up in the same place/situation/with the same person/etc. and in some aspects, everything I suppose was meant to happen still happened. But it was still nice to have an ending that made you question how your decisions really impact the course of your life, and make you question if fate and destiny and soulmates really exist. It was definitely a book that gets you thinking!
But overall still makes you feel good and inspired that even if bad things happen or you’re lost, your decisions are leading you to the right place at the right time and everything happens for a reason, even if that reason doesn’t seem clear to us at the time.
It also has greatttt character development, and I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the female friendship along with the romances.

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lily_rumley's review against another edition

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that was literally so good, it was a really interesting concept for a book.

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its_j's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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