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leah08855's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Vomit, Car accident, Medical content, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
angelofthetardis's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A simple choice faces Hannah; go home with a friend, or stay out and party with an ex-boyfriend. But what consequences await her? Does she make the 'right' decision? Watch her life unfold in both scenarios in a 'Sliding Doors'esque tale and consider the concepts of fate, soul mates and whether everything happens for a reason.
I've never really been drawn to this author's works as they're just not my usual genre, but she was the latest pick for my work's book club. When I looked at the blurb for this book, it seemed like the most logical choice for me; the 'what if' scenario is one I do tend to enjoy and so I hoped that would make it a bit easier for me to get through.
Generally speaking, this is a perfectly good book. Despite jumping between two alternative realities, the narrative is easy to follow, engaging and a little thought provoking. There are certainly darker moments within it, but overall it's also quite a light read. I did enjoy the examination and comparison of the two timelines and how the smallest decision can lead to far reaching consequences, while also being able to see the threads of life weaving their way through both realities.
That being said, the pairing of certain moments in both realities meant that the story was ultimately very predictable. When taking the genre of the story into consideration, it became even more so - it feels like there should have been more surprises after the major difference at the outset, but there just aren't any. It therefore very quickly became a game of trying to work out where in the other narrative particular events would happen.
I loved the soulmate element, particularly the premise that your soulmate depends on what universe you're in (yay for the multi-verse theory!). It actually fits very well with my own outlook on life - I absolutely believe there is one perfect person out there for everyone. But the choices you make might just change who that person is. I thought this was a very clever spin on the subject and I have to applaud the writer for her beautiful explanation and illustration of the theory.
But, overall there is something missing from this book for me. For a story that does deal with some quite deep ideas and themes, it feels incredibly shallow - I can't say that I engaged with the characters or felt the world coming to life around me as I read. The introduction felt like a last minute addition to serve purely as an info-dump and was pretty much entirely unnecessary, and even those moments where you should have been deeply feeling the characters' feelings were tempered by a lack of anything below the surface.
It's not that there's anything inherently wrong or bad about the book... it just didn't speak to me in the way I hoped it would.
I've never really been drawn to this author's works as they're just not my usual genre, but she was the latest pick for my work's book club. When I looked at the blurb for this book, it seemed like the most logical choice for me; the 'what if' scenario is one I do tend to enjoy and so I hoped that would make it a bit easier for me to get through.
Generally speaking, this is a perfectly good book. Despite jumping between two alternative realities, the narrative is easy to follow, engaging and a little thought provoking. There are certainly darker moments within it, but overall it's also quite a light read. I did enjoy the examination and comparison of the two timelines and how the smallest decision can lead to far reaching consequences, while also being able to see the threads of life weaving their way through both realities.
That being said, the pairing of certain moments in both realities meant that the story was ultimately very predictable. When taking the genre of the story into consideration, it became even more so - it feels like there should have been more surprises after the major difference at the outset, but there just aren't any. It therefore very quickly became a game of trying to work out where in the other narrative particular events would happen.
I loved the soulmate element, particularly the premise that your soulmate depends on what universe you're in (yay for the multi-verse theory!). It actually fits very well with my own outlook on life - I absolutely believe there is one perfect person out there for everyone. But the choices you make might just change who that person is. I thought this was a very clever spin on the subject and I have to applaud the writer for her beautiful explanation and illustration of the theory.
But, overall there is something missing from this book for me. For a story that does deal with some quite deep ideas and themes, it feels incredibly shallow - I can't say that I engaged with the characters or felt the world coming to life around me as I read. The introduction felt like a last minute addition to serve purely as an info-dump and was pretty much entirely unnecessary, and even those moments where you should have been deeply feeling the characters' feelings were tempered by a lack of anything below the surface.
It's not that there's anything inherently wrong or bad about the book... it just didn't speak to me in the way I hoped it would.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexism, Stalking, Abortion, Animal death, Grief, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
culzean's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Vomit, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Car accident, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
morahsharon1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Interesting exploration of meta-universe and our ideal life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Vomit, and Miscarriage
musicmagician823's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Vomit and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I guess the point is that both realities can be happening concurrently but that really stretches the boundaries of my brain function. I found myself liking one version of the story more than the other but not really loving the outcomes of either. This is not, imo, TJR’s best novel. It was cute, interesting, heart-wrenching but ultimately, just okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Vomit, Stalking, Sexism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Ableism, Car accident, Infidelity, and Medical trauma
bookswithlauren's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the queen of writing timelines and perspectives. I have nearly made my way through every book she has written and you can really see her writing improve with each book she writes. I definitely enjoyed "Maybe in Another Life" and 'One True Loves more than "Forever, Interrupted" and "After I Do" but every Taylor Jenkins Reid book I consume, draws me in and provides an experience so different to the last. So far nothing has come close to Evelyn Hugo for me. That book and woman will have my heart and soul forever.
The concept for Maybe in Another Life is really interesting. I have always found the idea of alternate and parallel universes equally fascinating and completely overwhelming, so to explore that concept played out in a book was really a fun and new reading experience for me. I really loved Hannah and Gabby's friendship. I really loved Hannah and Ethan's relationship and their friendship. I really loved Hannah and Henry's relationship. I loved Carl and Tina as parents and Gabby teaching her dad about the importance of feminism and equality. There was just so much to love about this book.
The concept for Maybe in Another Life is really interesting. I have always found the idea of alternate and parallel universes equally fascinating and completely overwhelming, so to explore that concept played out in a book was really a fun and new reading experience for me. I really loved Hannah and Gabby's friendship. I really loved Hannah and Ethan's relationship and their friendship. I really loved Hannah and Henry's relationship. I loved Carl and Tina as parents and Gabby teaching her dad about the importance of feminism and equality. There was just so much to love about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Vomit, Sexism, Body horror, Cancer, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
ashlikes's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, Car accident, Grief, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Child death, and Death
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
meltheissa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit
kelleyedwards_96's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Vomit