What do you think?
Rate this book
Once and Again
The women of the Novak family were each born with a gift: they can, just once, turn back time.
Lauren has known since she was fifteen that her mother Marcella saved Lauren’s father from a deadly car accident. Dave is alive and happy, and out on the Malibu waves. But ever since, Marcella, her power spent, has lived in fear of what she won’t be able to reverse. Her own mother, Sylvia, is her polar opposite: a free-spirited iconoclast with a glamorous past she only hints at. Lauren has spent her life between these two role models—and waiting for her own catastrophe to strike.
Then one summer, Lauren’s husband takes a job in New York and she moves back to Broad Beach Road, back into her childhood home on the shores of Malibu. Lauren looks forward to surfing with her dad again and perhaps repairing an unspoken fracture in her relationship with her mother. What she doesn’t expect is for the boy next to door to return home as well: Stone, Lauren’s first love, who broke her heart nearly a decade before.
As Lauren falls into familiar patterns, with her family and, more dangerously, Stone, she finds herself thinking about all the choices, large and small, that have brought her to this moment. And wondering, finally, if one of them should be undone.
Lauren has known since she was fifteen that her mother Marcella saved Lauren’s father from a deadly car accident. Dave is alive and happy, and out on the Malibu waves. But ever since, Marcella, her power spent, has lived in fear of what she won’t be able to reverse. Her own mother, Sylvia, is her polar opposite: a free-spirited iconoclast with a glamorous past she only hints at. Lauren has spent her life between these two role models—and waiting for her own catastrophe to strike.
Then one summer, Lauren’s husband takes a job in New York and she moves back to Broad Beach Road, back into her childhood home on the shores of Malibu. Lauren looks forward to surfing with her dad again and perhaps repairing an unspoken fracture in her relationship with her mother. What she doesn’t expect is for the boy next to door to return home as well: Stone, Lauren’s first love, who broke her heart nearly a decade before.
As Lauren falls into familiar patterns, with her family and, more dangerously, Stone, she finds herself thinking about all the choices, large and small, that have brought her to this moment. And wondering, finally, if one of them should be undone.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
1122 people are currently reading
41051 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Serle
21 books12.3k followersRebecca Serle is the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years, The Dinner List, and the young adult novels The Edge of Falling and When You Were Mine. Serle also developed the hit TV adaptation Famous in Love, based on her YA series of the same name. She is a graduate of USC and The New School and lives in Los Angeles. Find out more at RebeccaSerle.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,720 reviews
March 10, 2026
I have no bad feelings about this book—quite the opposite, I truly enjoyed it. At its heart, this is a story about three generations of women whose complex, sometimes problematic differences create distance between them. Their contrasting personalities and values prevent them from forming fully open and honest bonds, leaving them with carefully restrained, almost neutral relationships where big truths often remain unspoken. Beneath the surface, however, each woman carries a shared legacy: a secret, a gift, a burden, a punishment, and a reward, all bound to one magical object. Passed down through the family by a mysterious woman who once offered a free shoe repair in exchange, this “silver ticket” allows each woman only once in her lifetime to reverse time and change the past.
At ninety-three, Sylvia is a vibrant grandmother who refuses to fade quietly into old age. Adventurous, eccentric, and joyful, she still cooks delicious Mediterranean dishes, practices tai chi, and hosts lively parties for her friends—always with plenty of laughter and alcohol. Her daughter Marcella, on the other hand, is her opposite in almost every way: practical, analytical, tidy, and focused on creating a safe, stable environment for her family. Less maternal and more problem-solving in nature, Marcella has dedicated her life to caring for her husband Dave, who once died in a tragic accident. Desperate to keep him, she used her one chance with the silver ticket to rewrite time and bring him back. But that choice means her magic is now spent—and the cost of altering fate weighs heavily on her.
Meanwhile, Lauren—the third generation—faces her own struggles. Married to her cinematographer husband Leo, she has endured years of exhausting fertility treatments that have drained not only their savings but also their spirits. Their marriage is increasingly strained, especially as Leo hesitates to continue with more treatments. When Leo lands a potential job in New York, they decide to rent out their West Hollywood home on Airbnb, and Lauren temporarily moves into her family’s Malibu beach house. There, she discovers that her first love, Stone—her childhood sweetheart—is back in town. Their shared past, tied closely to her stepmother, resurfaces. Early morning surf sessions and long talks with Stone awaken old memories and force Lauren to confront the question she’s avoided for years: Did she make the right choice when she turned down his offer to build a simple family life together?
Now caught between her present struggles with infertility and a faltering marriage, and the haunting possibility of what might have been with Stone, Lauren wonders if she could rewrite her own story. After all, she holds the silver ticket. But will she use her one precious chance for a second shot at love—or for something else entirely?
Overall Impressions
The magical element could have been woven more deeply into the plot instead of being treated in such a restrained, almost philosophical way. Still, I appreciated how the author chose to highlight motherhood, womanhood, and the different ways love is experienced across generations. Those explorations felt rich and authentic. Personally, I’m not a big fan of love triangles, and I found the romance angle less compelling. If Leo had been written as more of a villain, the “second chance at love” message would have resonated more strongly. But the theme of fearing the loss of loved ones—something universal—was moving and effectively carried through to the end.
I also loved how the author showcased the beauty of Malibu, sprinkling in real places that made the setting vivid (Tony’s Tavern got a wonderful nod, though I can’t say the same for Paradise Cove Beach Café!).
While I didn’t love this book as much as the author’s previous works, I still found it to be a solid, heartfelt, and fast-paced read, full of beautiful and inspirational messages. I believe many readers will adore it, and I look forward to diving into the author’s future books with the hope that I’ll fall completely in love with them.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this women’s fiction novel with fantasy elements in exchange for my honest review.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter<
At ninety-three, Sylvia is a vibrant grandmother who refuses to fade quietly into old age. Adventurous, eccentric, and joyful, she still cooks delicious Mediterranean dishes, practices tai chi, and hosts lively parties for her friends—always with plenty of laughter and alcohol. Her daughter Marcella, on the other hand, is her opposite in almost every way: practical, analytical, tidy, and focused on creating a safe, stable environment for her family. Less maternal and more problem-solving in nature, Marcella has dedicated her life to caring for her husband Dave, who once died in a tragic accident. Desperate to keep him, she used her one chance with the silver ticket to rewrite time and bring him back. But that choice means her magic is now spent—and the cost of altering fate weighs heavily on her.
Meanwhile, Lauren—the third generation—faces her own struggles. Married to her cinematographer husband Leo, she has endured years of exhausting fertility treatments that have drained not only their savings but also their spirits. Their marriage is increasingly strained, especially as Leo hesitates to continue with more treatments. When Leo lands a potential job in New York, they decide to rent out their West Hollywood home on Airbnb, and Lauren temporarily moves into her family’s Malibu beach house. There, she discovers that her first love, Stone—her childhood sweetheart—is back in town. Their shared past, tied closely to her stepmother, resurfaces. Early morning surf sessions and long talks with Stone awaken old memories and force Lauren to confront the question she’s avoided for years: Did she make the right choice when she turned down his offer to build a simple family life together?
Now caught between her present struggles with infertility and a faltering marriage, and the haunting possibility of what might have been with Stone, Lauren wonders if she could rewrite her own story. After all, she holds the silver ticket. But will she use her one precious chance for a second shot at love—or for something else entirely?
Overall Impressions
The magical element could have been woven more deeply into the plot instead of being treated in such a restrained, almost philosophical way. Still, I appreciated how the author chose to highlight motherhood, womanhood, and the different ways love is experienced across generations. Those explorations felt rich and authentic. Personally, I’m not a big fan of love triangles, and I found the romance angle less compelling. If Leo had been written as more of a villain, the “second chance at love” message would have resonated more strongly. But the theme of fearing the loss of loved ones—something universal—was moving and effectively carried through to the end.
I also loved how the author showcased the beauty of Malibu, sprinkling in real places that made the setting vivid (Tony’s Tavern got a wonderful nod, though I can’t say the same for Paradise Cove Beach Café!).
While I didn’t love this book as much as the author’s previous works, I still found it to be a solid, heartfelt, and fast-paced read, full of beautiful and inspirational messages. I believe many readers will adore it, and I look forward to diving into the author’s future books with the hope that I’ll fall completely in love with them.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this women’s fiction novel with fantasy elements in exchange for my honest review.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
November 5, 2025
⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ Time is a funny thing, we don’t take it into consideration and most of the time we take it for granted. It’s given to us but we are not owed anything. Time is vast but it’s also limited. Sometimes it’s all we have and sometimes we need more or less of it. But what if you were given a golden ticket just once to redo a moment in your life, would you do it? I certainly would. Once and never again might be all we need to make things right.
Once and Again is a generational saga about 3 women (a grandmother, mother and daughter) who have a special gift to turn back time, just once in each of their lives. Each woman goes through their own struggles and the book explores many themes that will send you on an emotional rollercoaster while giving you a deeper understanding about how certain life events, decisions and the essence of time shape us.
The book explored many themes such as infertility, financial strain, partner resentment, death and cheating. Lauren is our main protagonist who has been struggling to conceive and after multiple failed infertility treatments, debt and mental exhaustion, she moves back into her parents beach house while her husband is cross country attempting to secure a steady job. Her return is what sets the events of the book in motion.
I loved how Serle explored relationships in her novel from all the angles and I think many people can relate to the mother-daughter relationship in this one. Lauren’s relationship with her mother is complicated and distant. They dance around each other, sometimes together, often stepping on each other’s toes and stepping away when things get tough. Serles’ accurate portrayal of “keeping things at a distance yet within reach” had the book carry a particular sadness that I couldn’t identify until closer to its end.
Lauren’s relationship with her husband Leo was very frustrating. While initially built on solid foundations, Leo often travels for work. With that, came the evasiveness that bothered me so much that it made me feel a range of emotions. From poor communication to never picking up the phone, I felt Laurens melancholy.
I have to say that Serle written very unlikable characters but because she’s given them so much emotional depth and strain, the reader is easily able to sympathize with the women and feel their struggles. I was able to feel Lauren’s struggles, the resentment between the lines and the ache of motherhood while understanding her desire for more than what she has.
I loved Serle’s take on motherhood, womanhood and all the problems that come with it. The women felt very real, relatable. I may not have agreed with their decisions or how they used this magic ticket, but I understand their why’s. I understood Lauren’s desperation, Marcella’s analytical personality and Sylvia’s eccentrism . Even Lauren’s father had a sense of spunk and spirited freedom to him that I so enjoyed.
I think we all deserve a do-over, a second chance, to make things right. This was a stunning and thought provoking book and my first my first by Rebecca Serle. I’m truly impressed how she packed so much in under a 300 page novel while being able to pull on all my emotional strings. The right blend of romance, women’s fiction and magic had me so invested from the very first chapter. I’ll be sure to read her previous books!
Big thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books Publisher and the author, Rebecca Serle for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: March 10, 2026
Once and Again is a generational saga about 3 women (a grandmother, mother and daughter) who have a special gift to turn back time, just once in each of their lives. Each woman goes through their own struggles and the book explores many themes that will send you on an emotional rollercoaster while giving you a deeper understanding about how certain life events, decisions and the essence of time shape us.
The book explored many themes such as infertility, financial strain, partner resentment, death and cheating. Lauren is our main protagonist who has been struggling to conceive and after multiple failed infertility treatments, debt and mental exhaustion, she moves back into her parents beach house while her husband is cross country attempting to secure a steady job. Her return is what sets the events of the book in motion.
I loved how Serle explored relationships in her novel from all the angles and I think many people can relate to the mother-daughter relationship in this one. Lauren’s relationship with her mother is complicated and distant. They dance around each other, sometimes together, often stepping on each other’s toes and stepping away when things get tough. Serles’ accurate portrayal of “keeping things at a distance yet within reach” had the book carry a particular sadness that I couldn’t identify until closer to its end.
Lauren’s relationship with her husband Leo was very frustrating. While initially built on solid foundations, Leo often travels for work. With that, came the evasiveness that bothered me so much that it made me feel a range of emotions. From poor communication to never picking up the phone, I felt Laurens melancholy.
I have to say that Serle written very unlikable characters but because she’s given them so much emotional depth and strain, the reader is easily able to sympathize with the women and feel their struggles. I was able to feel Lauren’s struggles, the resentment between the lines and the ache of motherhood while understanding her desire for more than what she has.
I loved Serle’s take on motherhood, womanhood and all the problems that come with it. The women felt very real, relatable. I may not have agreed with their decisions or how they used this magic ticket, but I understand their why’s. I understood Lauren’s desperation, Marcella’s analytical personality and Sylvia’s eccentrism . Even Lauren’s father had a sense of spunk and spirited freedom to him that I so enjoyed.
I think we all deserve a do-over, a second chance, to make things right. This was a stunning and thought provoking book and my first my first by Rebecca Serle. I’m truly impressed how she packed so much in under a 300 page novel while being able to pull on all my emotional strings. The right blend of romance, women’s fiction and magic had me so invested from the very first chapter. I’ll be sure to read her previous books!
Big thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books Publisher and the author, Rebecca Serle for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: March 10, 2026
October 31, 2025
⁺˚⋆｡°✩ 𝟣.𝟩𝟧 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈, 𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓅 ✩°｡⋆˚⁺
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review
Ngl, I wanted to dnf this multiple times. The only reason I finished was because it was an arc and I wanted to be able to give my full honest review.
First and foremost - the layout and writing was so confusing. The past and present settings with multiple pov’s and no title header as to show whose pov I’m in.. I had no idea what was going on half the time. Please consider adding “then” and “now” chapter titles along with “Lauren” or whoever’s pov we are being shown.
⟢ I hope since it’s unpublished that this is something that can be fixed to give readers a better experience ༯
I found the writing to be very bullet point as well which I didn’t really like. It felt like information was just being dumped but the story wasn’t actually flowing.
⟢ Example: I like flowers. They are pretty. Roses are my favourite.
Get what I mean?
⟢ Again, something the author might plan to work on before publishing so take this with a grain of salt. Just was not an enjoyable experience for me reading the arc imo.
Now for the story- it seemed like an extremely cool concept! Magic realism is right up my alley and the idea sounded very unique. It also looked to touch on familial bonds, infertility and relationship struggles which was relatable to me.
Once and Again follows three generations of women. Every woman born into the family is granted one silver ticket. This ticket is a chance to go back in time. A second chance to rewrite history - a do over. But the catch is, once it’s used, it disappears. So you think you would use it wisely? Not our lovely fmc!
I’m not going to post spoilers here but OH MY GOSH. I was so frustrated how she used her ticket. This concept could have been executed so much better. And the ending? I wanted to throw the book I was so upset. I’m sure there’s some hidden deeper meaning behind everything. I really do appreciate what message the author was trying to convey but I just couldn’t get over the stupidity of it to even try and dig deeper.
I also can’t explain to you how much I dislike Lauren, the main character. Her actions and the decisions she made really bothered me personally. She was SO SELFISH.😳
I’m sorry but this book was just not for me. 🫤
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review
Ngl, I wanted to dnf this multiple times. The only reason I finished was because it was an arc and I wanted to be able to give my full honest review.
First and foremost - the layout and writing was so confusing. The past and present settings with multiple pov’s and no title header as to show whose pov I’m in.. I had no idea what was going on half the time. Please consider adding “then” and “now” chapter titles along with “Lauren” or whoever’s pov we are being shown.
⟢ I hope since it’s unpublished that this is something that can be fixed to give readers a better experience ༯
I found the writing to be very bullet point as well which I didn’t really like. It felt like information was just being dumped but the story wasn’t actually flowing.
⟢ Example: I like flowers. They are pretty. Roses are my favourite.
Get what I mean?
⟢ Again, something the author might plan to work on before publishing so take this with a grain of salt. Just was not an enjoyable experience for me reading the arc imo.
Now for the story- it seemed like an extremely cool concept! Magic realism is right up my alley and the idea sounded very unique. It also looked to touch on familial bonds, infertility and relationship struggles which was relatable to me.
Once and Again follows three generations of women. Every woman born into the family is granted one silver ticket. This ticket is a chance to go back in time. A second chance to rewrite history - a do over. But the catch is, once it’s used, it disappears. So you think you would use it wisely? Not our lovely fmc!
I’m not going to post spoilers here but OH MY GOSH. I was so frustrated how she used her ticket. This concept could have been executed so much better. And the ending? I wanted to throw the book I was so upset. I’m sure there’s some hidden deeper meaning behind everything. I really do appreciate what message the author was trying to convey but I just couldn’t get over the stupidity of it to even try and dig deeper.
I also can’t explain to you how much I dislike Lauren, the main character. Her actions and the decisions she made really bothered me personally. She was SO SELFISH.😳
I’m sorry but this book was just not for me. 🫤
March 22, 2026
*+:｡.｡ Since she was fifteen, Lauren has known that the women of the Novak family were different because each was born with a gift, one that can turn back time just once in their lives. Lauren’s mom, Marcella, saved Lauren’s father, Dave, from a deadly car accident. Even though Dave is happy and alive, Marcella lives in fear of what she can’t change, while her mother, Sylvia, is a free spirit and has never revealed what she has done with her gift and only alluded to what her colorful past was really like. So Lauren waits for her own catastrophe to happen, so she can use her gift.
One summer, Lauren’s husband gets a job in New York, so Lauren moves back into her childhood home on the shores of Malibu with her parents and grandmother. Looking forward to surfing with her dad again and possibly fixing her rocky relationship with her mother, the last thing Lauren expects is for her childhood friend and first love, Stone, to return home as well. As she gets comfortable being back home and with Stone, Lauren ponders all the decisions she made that led her to that moment–and if any of the choices she made, large or small, should be undone.
●～●～●～●～
*+:｡.｡ At first, I rated this book two stars because I didn’t think I hated it, but the more I think about it, the more I think I do, so I’m dropping it down to 1 star because I feel like 2 stars is too generous. If you love this book, I am so sorry for all the bad things I am about to say about it. I am so, so happy you enjoyed it. I wish I did, too.
Can I use one of their silver tickets to go back and stop myself from requesting this book, please? I’m begging, at this point. 😭
I didn’t go into this ready to hate it. I was actually very excited to read my first book by Rebecca Serle because I‘ve heard great things about her books. And as I started reading, I genuinely liked it. The writing is great. I liked Dave a lot. The whole “gift” thing was also really neat, and I thought it was super cool. But then, my grin started to fade as I kept reading, and once I reached a certain point in the story, I knew we were in trouble.
I did not like Lauren. At. All. I honestly think she was selfish and annoying, especially after WHAT SHE DID!! Like, I’m sorry, queen, but no. I don’t condone that, no matter what you are going through. There’s no excuse for that. And then the way she was with her mom?? Yeah, no. There’s the door, girlfriend. You can leave because there’s really no reason to be so rude to the woman who gave birth to you and raised you. And Marcella wasn’t even that bad! Like, I get it. She was a little over the top with her fear sometimes, but cut her some freaking slack. She’s gone through a lot. The least you can do is, oh, I don’t know, give her some grace! And I think it’s funny how she states how certain people irritated her when the only person who was irritating was her. I did feel bad for her, and I tried my hardest to show her some grace as she struggled to get pregnant and was so heartbroken when the fertility treatments wouldn’t work. But whatever ounce of pity or sympathy I had for her was slowly waning as the story progressed.
Then there’s Sylvia, but she didn’t annoy me as much as Lauren. I could find instances where I think she was just as selfish as her granddaughter, but I really don’t want to get into that. She was an okay character. I’ll leave it at that.
And then there’s Leo. He was…okay, I guess. I didn’t like him much, but he seemed to be an okay character. I honestly don’t know what to think about him, so I won’t say much else.
I stated before that I really liked Dave. He was sweet, funny, and was a genuinely good dad and husband, even though it seemed like the only thing he could actually do was surf. But I won't hate him for it. I just wish his daughter were more like him.
I totally regret reading this. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was nothing like this. I mean, the ending was decent. I also liked that part of the book. But that’s about it. I was so mad and annoyed that by the 45% mark, I was literally skimming through the chapters. And I still have a decent grasp of what the book was about. Imagine if I took the time and effort to read every single word, period, and comma. I’d be even more pissed that I put myself through that torture.
Anyways, even though I hated the book, that doesn’t mean you won’t! I sincerely hope you love it if you give it a shot. This just wasn’t for me. Maybe I’ll like another book by the author. I’ll have to see. ☺
❁ Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ❁
One summer, Lauren’s husband gets a job in New York, so Lauren moves back into her childhood home on the shores of Malibu with her parents and grandmother. Looking forward to surfing with her dad again and possibly fixing her rocky relationship with her mother, the last thing Lauren expects is for her childhood friend and first love, Stone, to return home as well. As she gets comfortable being back home and with Stone, Lauren ponders all the decisions she made that led her to that moment–and if any of the choices she made, large or small, should be undone.
●～●～●～●～
*+:｡.｡ At first, I rated this book two stars because I didn’t think I hated it, but the more I think about it, the more I think I do, so I’m dropping it down to 1 star because I feel like 2 stars is too generous. If you love this book, I am so sorry for all the bad things I am about to say about it. I am so, so happy you enjoyed it. I wish I did, too.
Can I use one of their silver tickets to go back and stop myself from requesting this book, please? I’m begging, at this point. 😭
I didn’t go into this ready to hate it. I was actually very excited to read my first book by Rebecca Serle because I‘ve heard great things about her books. And as I started reading, I genuinely liked it. The writing is great. I liked Dave a lot. The whole “gift” thing was also really neat, and I thought it was super cool. But then, my grin started to fade as I kept reading, and once I reached a certain point in the story, I knew we were in trouble.
I did not like Lauren. At. All. I honestly think she was selfish and annoying, especially after WHAT SHE DID!! Like, I’m sorry, queen, but no. I don’t condone that, no matter what you are going through. There’s no excuse for that. And then the way she was with her mom?? Yeah, no. There’s the door, girlfriend. You can leave because there’s really no reason to be so rude to the woman who gave birth to you and raised you. And Marcella wasn’t even that bad! Like, I get it. She was a little over the top with her fear sometimes, but cut her some freaking slack. She’s gone through a lot. The least you can do is, oh, I don’t know, give her some grace! And I think it’s funny how she states how certain people irritated her when the only person who was irritating was her. I did feel bad for her, and I tried my hardest to show her some grace as she struggled to get pregnant and was so heartbroken when the fertility treatments wouldn’t work. But whatever ounce of pity or sympathy I had for her was slowly waning as the story progressed.
Then there’s Sylvia, but she didn’t annoy me as much as Lauren. I could find instances where I think she was just as selfish as her granddaughter, but I really don’t want to get into that. She was an okay character. I’ll leave it at that.
And then there’s Leo. He was…okay, I guess. I didn’t like him much, but he seemed to be an okay character. I honestly don’t know what to think about him, so I won’t say much else.
I stated before that I really liked Dave. He was sweet, funny, and was a genuinely good dad and husband, even though it seemed like the only thing he could actually do was surf. But I won't hate him for it. I just wish his daughter were more like him.
I totally regret reading this. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was nothing like this. I mean, the ending was decent. I also liked that part of the book. But that’s about it. I was so mad and annoyed that by the 45% mark, I was literally skimming through the chapters. And I still have a decent grasp of what the book was about. Imagine if I took the time and effort to read every single word, period, and comma. I’d be even more pissed that I put myself through that torture.
Anyways, even though I hated the book, that doesn’t mean you won’t! I sincerely hope you love it if you give it a shot. This just wasn’t for me. Maybe I’ll like another book by the author. I’ll have to see. ☺
❁ Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ❁
March 13, 2026
4 solid stars - not my fav of Serle's, but I did like it. I appreciate her generally light touch with mixing romance with magic realism, however, in this one I was a bit confused about what the objective was - use your magic or save it?? I also didn't care that much for the selfish FMC, but liked the secondary characters - her mother & grandmother primarily and her long-suffering husband. Also, the City of Angels, which usually is prominent in this authors work. Overall a decent read
October 19, 2025
Rebecca Serle has written two of my favorite books of all time, which are “In Five Years” and “Expiration Dates”. So when I received an early digital review copy of this book, I was jumping for joy! But, (here comes the but), I unfortunately didn’t love this book like I had thought or hoped I would.
This book mainly focuses on that of Lauren. Lauren, her mother Marcella, and her grandmother Sylvia, were all born with a special gift. The special gift that these women all share is that they can turn back time just once in their lives. Lauren knows what her mother used her gift for, and now Lauren hopes to use her special gift accordingly as well.
I’m not going to get into too much more about this book, because for one, I feel like I would be giving half the book away. I also feel like the synopsis gives a very lengthy description of the book as well.
I will say that I really enjoyed this book until just past the halfway point. After that, I began to lose interest and became a little bored. Maybe I was hoping for a different outcome, a different ending? I’m not sure. Either way, I’m left feeling a little underwhelmed and I don’t really have much to say about this one. I do think this book may appeal to others more than me though.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: March 10, 2026
This book mainly focuses on that of Lauren. Lauren, her mother Marcella, and her grandmother Sylvia, were all born with a special gift. The special gift that these women all share is that they can turn back time just once in their lives. Lauren knows what her mother used her gift for, and now Lauren hopes to use her special gift accordingly as well.
I’m not going to get into too much more about this book, because for one, I feel like I would be giving half the book away. I also feel like the synopsis gives a very lengthy description of the book as well.
I will say that I really enjoyed this book until just past the halfway point. After that, I began to lose interest and became a little bored. Maybe I was hoping for a different outcome, a different ending? I’m not sure. Either way, I’m left feeling a little underwhelmed and I don’t really have much to say about this one. I do think this book may appeal to others more than me though.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: March 10, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
REVIEW TO COME!!
🧸☁️Three generation's of women that each have a gift- they can turn back time, but just ONCE🧸☁️!!!!!!!
🧸☁️Three generation's of women that each have a gift- they can turn back time, but just ONCE🧸☁️!!!!!!!
February 8, 2026
This books asks the question, "If you had a do-over, would you use it?" Some people use it at their first mistake or devastating accident. Others hold on too long. And yet still, some know they shouldn't use it but want to get it out of their hands for good. What kind of person are you?
I liked the way the story raises curiosities in its readers, to decide for themselves how important it is to know your own strengths, weaknesses, and temptations. I'd probably never use it, always worry something far worse would happen and I'd wish I still had the silver ticket.
What would you do?
I liked the way the story raises curiosities in its readers, to decide for themselves how important it is to know your own strengths, weaknesses, and temptations. I'd probably never use it, always worry something far worse would happen and I'd wish I still had the silver ticket.
What would you do?
February 8, 2026
i’m so torn on this one!!!!! binged one of my most anticipated releases of 2026 and think it fell a bit flat for me. let’s discuss 👇🏼
first, the TLDR: did i enjoy it? yes!! but it’s not my fave of hers (IN FIVE YEARS or EXPIRATION DATES is). would highly recommend the audiobook route!
what i liked:
- the audiobook narration by queen Julia Whelan 🎧👑
- moved fast, you got into it fast
- the premise: every girl in this family gets 1 “do-over” ticket where they can use it to go back in time and change something. you guys know i loooove magical realism
- the characters were all pretty enjoyable
- the dad 🫶🏼 i love how she writes about daughter/dad relationships so much (hence why i love EXPIRATION DATES)
- the Malibu beach setting
- the open ended ending?? to me it can be interpreted a few ways which i like the idea of
- her writing is beautiful as always. this was my fave quote that gave me pause and i re-read it 3x:
“I think how happiness is determined not by getting what you want, but by determining which things to hold on to and which things to let go. That there is joy in relinquishing.“
what didn’t work:
- in general: the execution. oh there was SO MUCH potential with this amazing premise and plot
- what the MC used her ticket on. not going to spoil anything but COME ON!!!!! for me, this trope in books is so tough and it didn’t work for me here
- while i liked all the characters, i felt like we knew them all at a surface level. at the end we got a bit more from the mom/grandma but i felt like there coulda been a lot more done there
- the length of the book. her books are always v quick and i’m amazed at what she can fit into them, but i wanted this to be 100 more pages! more character development, more in the ending, just more!
thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted early audiobook copy
first, the TLDR: did i enjoy it? yes!! but it’s not my fave of hers (IN FIVE YEARS or EXPIRATION DATES is). would highly recommend the audiobook route!
what i liked:
- the audiobook narration by queen Julia Whelan 🎧👑
- moved fast, you got into it fast
- the premise: every girl in this family gets 1 “do-over” ticket where they can use it to go back in time and change something. you guys know i loooove magical realism
- the characters were all pretty enjoyable
- the dad 🫶🏼 i love how she writes about daughter/dad relationships so much (hence why i love EXPIRATION DATES)
- the Malibu beach setting
- the open ended ending?? to me it can be interpreted a few ways which i like the idea of
- her writing is beautiful as always. this was my fave quote that gave me pause and i re-read it 3x:
“I think how happiness is determined not by getting what you want, but by determining which things to hold on to and which things to let go. That there is joy in relinquishing.“
what didn’t work:
- in general: the execution. oh there was SO MUCH potential with this amazing premise and plot
- what the MC used her ticket on. not going to spoil anything but COME ON!!!!! for me, this trope in books is so tough and it didn’t work for me here
- while i liked all the characters, i felt like we knew them all at a surface level. at the end we got a bit more from the mom/grandma but i felt like there coulda been a lot more done there
- the length of the book. her books are always v quick and i’m amazed at what she can fit into them, but i wanted this to be 100 more pages! more character development, more in the ending, just more!
thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted early audiobook copy
March 21, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Premise: The women of the Novak family were each born with a gift: they can, just once, turn back time.
Well, this certainly hit me in the heart. The Novak women are Sylvia( Grandmother), Marcella( Mother), and Lauren( granddaughter). Although it is largely Lauren's narrative, we are treated to a few times where readers learn more about Marcella and Sylvia's ups and downs.
I have adored the literary journey that Rebecca Serle likes to take her readers on, and so I am okay with a little spark of the fantastical to get that happy ending. It worked for me because I am a sucker for these types of stories. Lauren's storyline was at times hard for me, as it deals with infertility, and as that has been a road my partner and I have walked. Overall, I am glad that I stuck with the story because Marcella and Sylvia's revelations really brought everything together.
I think if you ever wondered about "the road not taken" and the choices we often make in our lives, this book will certainly resonate with you.
Publication Date 10/03/26
Goodreads Review 14/03/26
Premise: The women of the Novak family were each born with a gift: they can, just once, turn back time.
Well, this certainly hit me in the heart. The Novak women are Sylvia( Grandmother), Marcella( Mother), and Lauren( granddaughter). Although it is largely Lauren's narrative, we are treated to a few times where readers learn more about Marcella and Sylvia's ups and downs.
I have adored the literary journey that Rebecca Serle likes to take her readers on, and so I am okay with a little spark of the fantastical to get that happy ending. It worked for me because I am a sucker for these types of stories. Lauren's storyline was at times hard for me, as it deals with infertility, and as that has been a road my partner and I have walked. Overall, I am glad that I stuck with the story because Marcella and Sylvia's revelations really brought everything together.
I think if you ever wondered about "the road not taken" and the choices we often make in our lives, this book will certainly resonate with you.
Publication Date 10/03/26
Goodreads Review 14/03/26
September 27, 2025
This book was different than I had anticipated it to be. I thought it was going to lean more towards Laurens past love with Stone and them finding each other again. It was more of her family & how the women in it were given the opportunity to turn back time, just once.
Parts of the books were slow for me, others were frustrating, some sad. Overall, it was a bit of a roller coaster for me lol.
The ending wasn’t my favorite, at one point I dropped my kindle and said “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?”, and just sat there for a moment. I guess I didn’t really relate to the FMC so I found it hard to understand her actions.
Overall, I liked the idea of of this book, a ticket granting one redo. It’s a cool, unique idea for a book!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Release Date 🗓️:
March 10, 2026
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Rebecca Serle, & Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Follow me on my socials ↓
Instagram
Parts of the books were slow for me, others were frustrating, some sad. Overall, it was a bit of a roller coaster for me lol.
The ending wasn’t my favorite, at one point I dropped my kindle and said “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?”, and just sat there for a moment. I guess I didn’t really relate to the FMC so I found it hard to understand her actions.
Overall, I liked the idea of of this book, a ticket granting one redo. It’s a cool, unique idea for a book!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Release Date 🗓️:
March 10, 2026
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Rebecca Serle, & Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Follow me on my socials ↓
March 11, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Expiration Dates and the magical realism throughout Serle's work. However this one as a miss for me. First off, there was no indication that this was a book about infertility and the struggles the couple goes through with this. Otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up. There were other topics too such as struggles with grief, death, and parenting, and these were done well. However, though it was a short book it was still quite slow to get anywhere and I did find my mind wandering at times. I will definitely still try more from the author.
I really enjoyed Expiration Dates and the magical realism throughout Serle's work. However this one as a miss for me. First off, there was no indication that this was a book about infertility and the struggles the couple goes through with this. Otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up. There were other topics too such as struggles with grief, death, and parenting, and these were done well. However, though it was a short book it was still quite slow to get anywhere and I did find my mind wandering at times. I will definitely still try more from the author.
March 20, 2026
Ohmygoodness, haven't we all dreamed of a Do-Over?
For the women in one family, dreams really do come true. ✨
A delightful quick read for when you're in need of a little magic in your life...
anticipated-books
October 23, 2025I am so excited for this one 💌.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Once and Again
⤷ ⭑.𝟱
⋆˚ʚɞ The story follows three generations of women in a family. Each female born into the family receives a special silver ticket that allows her to travel back in time. However, there’s a catch: each ticket can only be used once, making every decision to go back incredibly significant for the uncertain future.
Release Date : March 10, 2026 ⟢
⌗ What a crazy rollercoaster. A ride I wanted to get off once I hit the 20% mark. I’m not sure if it’s because I have an early copy, but I found myself very confused while reading. I understood the events, but I struggled to follow the story's overall flow.
We mostly followed Lauren's perspective, the daughter, and there were lots of moments when she referenced her 'mom' and 'grandmother' in one sentence, then literally called them by name in the next. I couldn't get into it by the end of the book, even. We also switch perspectives and timelines in between, and since there was no clear distinction regarding whose perspective we were following. I go into the next chapter with my brows furrowed, trying to figure out whose story we were experiencing now.
NOW, with the premise of a person getting a silver ticket for a 'do-over' being so intriguing that it piqued my interest from the beginning, and why I picked up this book in the first place. But Lauren... god being Lauren's mind was so frustrating. She is having a great life with an amazing husband and loving family, but she still doesn't feel it's enough and only thinks of herself. Like really? You've been happily married for years to a guy everyone loves, and the moment you see your ex, you're pissed that he's not affected by the news of your marriage? Red flag right there.
OF COURSE SHE USES HER TICKET FOR THE STUPIDEST THING EVER. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT? I'm glad she admitted to using it for 'that', but what was the point of using it then? Also, the ending, and I literally meant the scene that ends the book. You would've thought she learned her lesson by then, but nope.
I wanted to finish this mainly because I was curious about how it would turn out. I stayed interested because of her family, especially after what happened to Dave. SYLVIA, her grandmother, WHAT A SUPERSTAR. I wished the story revolved around her instead. This star is for her, and a half-star goes to Dave and maybe Leo. If we get a Sylvia story, I will definitely pick it up!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, and, of course, Rebecca Serle for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
˖᯽ ݁˖
post-read : rtc bc this book made me sooo mad
pre-read : just realized this is coming out next week so watch me rush 😅
⤷ ⭑.𝟱
⋆˚ʚɞ The story follows three generations of women in a family. Each female born into the family receives a special silver ticket that allows her to travel back in time. However, there’s a catch: each ticket can only be used once, making every decision to go back incredibly significant for the uncertain future.
Release Date : March 10, 2026 ⟢
⌗ What a crazy rollercoaster. A ride I wanted to get off once I hit the 20% mark. I’m not sure if it’s because I have an early copy, but I found myself very confused while reading. I understood the events, but I struggled to follow the story's overall flow.
We mostly followed Lauren's perspective, the daughter, and there were lots of moments when she referenced her 'mom' and 'grandmother' in one sentence, then literally called them by name in the next. I couldn't get into it by the end of the book, even. We also switch perspectives and timelines in between, and since there was no clear distinction regarding whose perspective we were following. I go into the next chapter with my brows furrowed, trying to figure out whose story we were experiencing now.
NOW, with the premise of a person getting a silver ticket for a 'do-over' being so intriguing that it piqued my interest from the beginning, and why I picked up this book in the first place. But Lauren... god being Lauren's mind was so frustrating. She is having a great life with an amazing husband and loving family, but she still doesn't feel it's enough and only thinks of herself. Like really? You've been happily married for years to a guy everyone loves, and the moment you see your ex, you're pissed that he's not affected by the news of your marriage? Red flag right there.
OF COURSE SHE USES HER TICKET FOR THE STUPIDEST THING EVER. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT? I'm glad she admitted to using it for 'that', but what was the point of using it then? Also, the ending, and I literally meant the scene that ends the book. You would've thought she learned her lesson by then, but nope.
I wanted to finish this mainly because I was curious about how it would turn out. I stayed interested because of her family, especially after what happened to Dave. SYLVIA, her grandmother, WHAT A SUPERSTAR. I wished the story revolved around her instead. This star is for her, and a half-star goes to Dave and maybe Leo. If we get a Sylvia story, I will definitely pick it up!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, and, of course, Rebecca Serle for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
˖᯽ ݁˖
post-read : rtc bc this book made me sooo mad
pre-read : just realized this is coming out next week so watch me rush 😅
September 24, 2025
This was a sweet and thought-provoking story that nudges you to slow down and cherish every moment you have left!
I’ve read all of Serle’s books and always enjoy her warm, unique writing style, but I’ll be honest—this one wasn’t my absolute favorite. It starts off as more of a slow burn, but once I hit the halfway point, I really loved how the pacing picked up and carried me to the end.
The subtle suspense of how each ticket is/was used and the main twist kept me engaged, and the overall premise was both intriguing and refreshing. I certainly didn’t expect infertility and surfing to be two of the main threads woven through this story, but Serle made them work in an authentic way.
What really stood out to me was the portrait of three generations of women—messy, complicated, but so real—and getting to know them better with each page.
Overall, it’s a moving story with a unique mix of heart and surprise—one that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
I’ve read all of Serle’s books and always enjoy her warm, unique writing style, but I’ll be honest—this one wasn’t my absolute favorite. It starts off as more of a slow burn, but once I hit the halfway point, I really loved how the pacing picked up and carried me to the end.
The subtle suspense of how each ticket is/was used and the main twist kept me engaged, and the overall premise was both intriguing and refreshing. I certainly didn’t expect infertility and surfing to be two of the main threads woven through this story, but Serle made them work in an authentic way.
What really stood out to me was the portrait of three generations of women—messy, complicated, but so real—and getting to know them better with each page.
Overall, it’s a moving story with a unique mix of heart and surprise—one that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
March 14, 2026
In Five Years and Expiration Dates are two of my favorite books. THANK YOU, Atria Books, for sending me this ARC.
If you had the chance to do it all again, would you? Gosh, what a loaded question.
This book is real, raw, and authentic. It highlights human life and the experiences of many, and I think that is what sets Rebecca's writing apart from other authors. She has such a way with magical realism, I truly cannot get enough!!!
The premise of this book revolves around the concept of a ticket. What a tangible way of capturing such power. I loved the characters, the family dynamics, the POVs and perspectives, the realistic portrayal of real-life troubles, and honestly, everything in between.
I am a sucker for books like this, but I am torn on my rating. So close to being a five star read but the last page of book made me so angry…and not in a good way. I can only hope it was meant for something else because you can’t tell me after hearing her mother’s story, that is her second choice?? 🤯 there’s no way. Knocking this down to 4 stars ✨ and praying the ending gets rewritten before publication.
Pub Date: Mar 10, 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💕✨
If you had the chance to do it all again, would you? Gosh, what a loaded question.
This book is real, raw, and authentic. It highlights human life and the experiences of many, and I think that is what sets Rebecca's writing apart from other authors. She has such a way with magical realism, I truly cannot get enough!!!
The premise of this book revolves around the concept of a ticket. What a tangible way of capturing such power. I loved the characters, the family dynamics, the POVs and perspectives, the realistic portrayal of real-life troubles, and honestly, everything in between.
I am a sucker for books like this, but I am torn on my rating. So close to being a five star read but the last page of book made me so angry…and not in a good way. I can only hope it was meant for something else because you can’t tell me after hearing her mother’s story, that is her second choice?? 🤯 there’s no way. Knocking this down to 4 stars ✨ and praying the ending gets rewritten before publication.
Pub Date: Mar 10, 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💕✨
February 10, 2026
I was super excited for this! My first ever Rebecca Serle book!
It was actually quite different from what I was expecting- but I am not disappointed! This entire story is like one huge plot twist and I love it.
What would you do if you had once chance to change the past?
Lauren does.
Every woman in Lauren’s family is granted a ticket at birth. A one time opportunity to undo anything they wish.
With fertility issues, problems in her marriage, and the impending death of a loved one, she has no shortage of things she is desperate to fix. But, she only has one card to play- and one shot at making things right.
I thought this was pretty amazing. I was literally so invested in this story.
This is one of those books where the plot is thickening constantly.
I was surprised at every turn, and very anxious to find out how things would end for Lauren and her family.
I was fully prepared to cry at the end- because I was pretty sure it was going to be devastating no matter what. (To my delight- I did not cry.)
I really love the writing. I know this author is very popular, and I think it is pretty obvious why.
This has all of the intelligence and beauty of classic literature, but with the ease, understandability and plot of a contemporary novel.
Bravo for that.
Pretty incredible this one. I think people will love this.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and author Rebecca Serle for providing me with the eARC of “Once and Again", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 10th, 2026
It was actually quite different from what I was expecting- but I am not disappointed! This entire story is like one huge plot twist and I love it.
What would you do if you had once chance to change the past?
Lauren does.
Every woman in Lauren’s family is granted a ticket at birth. A one time opportunity to undo anything they wish.
With fertility issues, problems in her marriage, and the impending death of a loved one, she has no shortage of things she is desperate to fix. But, she only has one card to play- and one shot at making things right.
I thought this was pretty amazing. I was literally so invested in this story.
This is one of those books where the plot is thickening constantly.
I was surprised at every turn, and very anxious to find out how things would end for Lauren and her family.
I was fully prepared to cry at the end- because I was pretty sure it was going to be devastating no matter what. (To my delight- I did not cry.)
I really love the writing. I know this author is very popular, and I think it is pretty obvious why.
This has all of the intelligence and beauty of classic literature, but with the ease, understandability and plot of a contemporary novel.
Bravo for that.
Pretty incredible this one. I think people will love this.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and author Rebecca Serle for providing me with the eARC of “Once and Again", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 10th, 2026
March 19, 2026
dnf • 51%
I promise I tried, but the writing is a no for me.
I promise I tried, but the writing is a no for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 stars "The women of the Novak family were each born with a gift: they can, just once, turn back time."
Would you turn back time if you could?
Lauren and her husband are stressed out. They want a baby and money is tight. When her husband has an opportunity in New York, they rent their LA house and she moves back in with her parents and grandmother in Malibu. Lauren knows her mother saved her father, Dave in a car accident when she was fifteen. This has left Marcella anxious that she won't be able to use it again in the future. Her grandmother Sylvia is a free spirit with a mysterious past. As the summer progresses, Lauren contemplates the option of using her gift.
I enjoyed the family connections in this book. The characters are relatable and fleshed out and there is enough tension and choices needing to be made throughout to keep it interesting. The magical realism element was thought-provoking and makes you consider if it would be worth it to go back in time to change certain events. I did enjoy this book and recommend it to those who want to read a romance with magical realism that is focused on family.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Rebecca Searle for a gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
Would you turn back time if you could?
Lauren and her husband are stressed out. They want a baby and money is tight. When her husband has an opportunity in New York, they rent their LA house and she moves back in with her parents and grandmother in Malibu. Lauren knows her mother saved her father, Dave in a car accident when she was fifteen. This has left Marcella anxious that she won't be able to use it again in the future. Her grandmother Sylvia is a free spirit with a mysterious past. As the summer progresses, Lauren contemplates the option of using her gift.
I enjoyed the family connections in this book. The characters are relatable and fleshed out and there is enough tension and choices needing to be made throughout to keep it interesting. The magical realism element was thought-provoking and makes you consider if it would be worth it to go back in time to change certain events. I did enjoy this book and recommend it to those who want to read a romance with magical realism that is focused on family.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Rebecca Searle for a gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2025
Rebecca Serle’s Once and Again has a premise that hooked me right away. The Novak women each have a single chance in their lives to turn back time, and that idea alone carries a quiet sort of magic. The book centers on Lauren, who moves back to her childhood home in Malibu after her husband takes a job in New York. She’s surrounded by her parents, her complicated mother, and the boy she once loved, and the story slowly untangles what it means to live with choices that can’t be undone.
I liked the intimacy of the writing. Serle has a way of capturing small, familiar moments that feel personal: the awkward tension between family members, the comfort of returning to a childhood routine, the ache of seeing someone you never stopped wondering about. The Malibu setting feels alive, and I could picture every scene on the beach.
Still, I found myself losing interest about halfway through. The pacing dragged, and the emotional tension didn’t always feel earned. The time-turning aspect, which I thought would be central, ends up feeling more like a quiet metaphor than an active part of the story. By the end, I wanted a little more spark, a little more weight behind the “what if.”
It’s a thoughtful story about memory, regret, and second chances, but it didn’t quite move me the way I hoped it would. Readers who love reflective, slow-building stories might find more to hold onto here than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review..
I liked the intimacy of the writing. Serle has a way of capturing small, familiar moments that feel personal: the awkward tension between family members, the comfort of returning to a childhood routine, the ache of seeing someone you never stopped wondering about. The Malibu setting feels alive, and I could picture every scene on the beach.
Still, I found myself losing interest about halfway through. The pacing dragged, and the emotional tension didn’t always feel earned. The time-turning aspect, which I thought would be central, ends up feeling more like a quiet metaphor than an active part of the story. By the end, I wanted a little more spark, a little more weight behind the “what if.”
It’s a thoughtful story about memory, regret, and second chances, but it didn’t quite move me the way I hoped it would. Readers who love reflective, slow-building stories might find more to hold onto here than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review..
October 8, 2025
Middle of the road. Writing was weak and the story was flat. I’m happy to say this book will be my last from this author. Just don’t think she’s for me.
*updated my review after sitting on it for a few days. Dropped it to 2 stars because I felt like the plot of her using her once in a lifetime chance to change history to delete her cheating infuriates me.
*updated my review after sitting on it for a few days. Dropped it to 2 stars because I felt like the plot of her using her once in a lifetime chance to change history to delete her cheating infuriates me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2025
The truth is, we all need and deserve a second chance, a do-over, every now and again.
What if you were born with a gift that allowed you, just once, to turn back time and enjoy a do-over?
That’s the premise of Rebecca Serle’s upcoming book.
I sat back in awe at how three generations of the Novak women —Sylvia, Marcella, and Lauren —came to terms with their messy lives. They discovered that, despite the best-laid plans, life was unpredictable and imperfect. I loved how Serle allows readers space to rediscover that it isn’t planning, perfection, or even isolation that will ensure success in life …it’s connection. Each woman’s ‘do over’ was a bridge back to what they’d lost … connection. You see, they were born with the gift of turning back time - once and again.
I appreciated the subtle nudge to discover what I allow to become the root of my happiness and the opportunity to reevaluate and refocus. We’re all imperfect, but we can make better choices - ones that don’t cause the journey to be uncomfortable. Not everything comes with a do-over opportunity, and we need to be reminded about choices and consequences every so often.
I was completely lost in a fantastic book and couldn’t set it down. I cared about all of the characters and easily slipped into the setting and observed the Novak family from afar. I believe this is Serle’s best book … ever!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
What if you were born with a gift that allowed you, just once, to turn back time and enjoy a do-over?
That’s the premise of Rebecca Serle’s upcoming book.
I sat back in awe at how three generations of the Novak women —Sylvia, Marcella, and Lauren —came to terms with their messy lives. They discovered that, despite the best-laid plans, life was unpredictable and imperfect. I loved how Serle allows readers space to rediscover that it isn’t planning, perfection, or even isolation that will ensure success in life …it’s connection. Each woman’s ‘do over’ was a bridge back to what they’d lost … connection. You see, they were born with the gift of turning back time - once and again.
I appreciated the subtle nudge to discover what I allow to become the root of my happiness and the opportunity to reevaluate and refocus. We’re all imperfect, but we can make better choices - ones that don’t cause the journey to be uncomfortable. Not everything comes with a do-over opportunity, and we need to be reminded about choices and consequences every so often.
I was completely lost in a fantastic book and couldn’t set it down. I cared about all of the characters and easily slipped into the setting and observed the Novak family from afar. I believe this is Serle’s best book … ever!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I really enjoyed this book!! It did start slow, but the premise was interesting, so I stuck with it. It's about 3 generations of women who are gifted a ticket, essentially a do over. It really explored the ins and outs and also consequences of choices made. There is even a twist that was surprising. I definitely recommend!
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
September 21, 2025
this book navigates between three generations of women where they have the opportunity to go back in time to change things differently if they wanted.
it did feel a little whiplash while reading this to figure which timeline i’m in. also, it was a very slow build up in the beginning and it wasn’t until halfway that it had me turning pages quickly.
in addition, this book creates an emotional and nostalgia feel due to going back in the past and going through memories. i did like that aspect when reading it.
tw: infertility issues, mild cheating
thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the digital ARC.
it did feel a little whiplash while reading this to figure which timeline i’m in. also, it was a very slow build up in the beginning and it wasn’t until halfway that it had me turning pages quickly.
in addition, this book creates an emotional and nostalgia feel due to going back in the past and going through memories. i did like that aspect when reading it.
tw: infertility issues, mild cheating
thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the digital ARC.
Read
March 16, 2026i honestly dont even know where i stand with this one, overall i really liked the concept but it was super frustrating at times and entirely too hard to tell whos pov i was in… if we are not only follow 3 different povs and multiple timelines there needs to be some kind of mention at the beginning of each chapter lol
November 28, 2025
Would you turn back time knowing you only had one opportunity to do so? In Once and Again, the Novak women were gifted with a ticket that allows them to undo an event but only once. Told primarily from the point of view of Lauren, the novel explores how a do over can have the ultimate impact on your life.
Lauren has been married to Leo for 3 years and infertility is taking over her life. When her husband has a job opportunity in New York, she decides to return home to Malibu for the summer. Her mother, father and grandmother all live together at their home on the beach. Lauren has a rocky relationship with her mother but loves cooking with her grandmother and surfing with her dad. Lauren's ex-boyfriend is also back home and she ends up seeing him often as he is out surfing. As the story unfolds we learn about the complex relationship of all three women and the impact of their choices.
The premise of this novel was really intriguing. One ticket to take back any bad decision or bad event that happens in your life. It sounds like such a gift however it was interesting to see how it played out in this book. I did think that I had the book figured out at one point but I was completely wrong. There was a twist that I did not see coming. I didn't always love the characters and at times was a little frustrated with their actions or lack there of. I'm giving this one 4 stars though because it was such a great concept and I did enjoy the ending. The novel is also one that will stick with you. I think this book will be a great pick for any book clubs!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Lauren has been married to Leo for 3 years and infertility is taking over her life. When her husband has a job opportunity in New York, she decides to return home to Malibu for the summer. Her mother, father and grandmother all live together at their home on the beach. Lauren has a rocky relationship with her mother but loves cooking with her grandmother and surfing with her dad. Lauren's ex-boyfriend is also back home and she ends up seeing him often as he is out surfing. As the story unfolds we learn about the complex relationship of all three women and the impact of their choices.
The premise of this novel was really intriguing. One ticket to take back any bad decision or bad event that happens in your life. It sounds like such a gift however it was interesting to see how it played out in this book. I did think that I had the book figured out at one point but I was completely wrong. There was a twist that I did not see coming. I didn't always love the characters and at times was a little frustrated with their actions or lack there of. I'm giving this one 4 stars though because it was such a great concept and I did enjoy the ending. The novel is also one that will stick with you. I think this book will be a great pick for any book clubs!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 9, 2026
If you had a magic ticket to undo the biggest mistake of your life, would you choose the right one or would you be like Lauren?
November 7, 2025
Please note that I read this book via NetGalley. This does not affect my rating or review.
Honestly not too much to say about this. It's typical Serle at this point. Magical realism with no explanation, a character does a major betrayal, the book eventually gets to an ending. I was more intrigued on the premise of this one (at a baby's birth in this family, a ticket appears that allows them to go back to a point in time and change things) but it just didn't work in the end. Maybe because so many of the characters we follow are still an enigma towards the end. I think the jumping around showing the different points of view from Lauren, Marcella, and Sylvia just didn't work. I really wish we could have explored the before and after of using the ticket more. The twist that gets tossed in there towards the end just made zero sense to even include and I just wish it had been skipped. I will say that the highlights was the description of surfing via Lauren's point of view. The descriptions made me feel like I was right there, but other than that, just a solid 3 star read.
Honestly not too much to say about this. It's typical Serle at this point. Magical realism with no explanation, a character does a major betrayal, the book eventually gets to an ending. I was more intrigued on the premise of this one (at a baby's birth in this family, a ticket appears that allows them to go back to a point in time and change things) but it just didn't work in the end. Maybe because so many of the characters we follow are still an enigma towards the end. I think the jumping around showing the different points of view from Lauren, Marcella, and Sylvia just didn't work. I really wish we could have explored the before and after of using the ticket more. The twist that gets tossed in there towards the end just made zero sense to even include and I just wish it had been skipped. I will say that the highlights was the description of surfing via Lauren's point of view. The descriptions made me feel like I was right there, but other than that, just a solid 3 star read.
September 28, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ There is something so sweet about a short magical story by Rebecca Serle! This one gave me that same feeling you get while watching About Time {one of my favorite movies} and I LOVED the concept— however what I will say is that although I love her how her books are always short and move quickly I feel like this book and storyline deserved SO much more! We could have really thrived with another 100 pages or so of really diving into each woman’s past and history with this “golden ticket”. I also reallllly hope the editors label the POV on each chapter for the final copy because that was SO confusing to figure out whose head I was in and what timeline it was. Overall I did enjoy my time reading this book and would recommend but this one did really leave me wanting more!
Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,720 reviews