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Deja vu All Over Again
At 55, Nate Evans is a washed up Hollywood screenwriter whose life has gone to hell in a hand basket he climbed in to by dumping his high school sweetheart 40 years ago. When he learns Julie Cooper is widowed and working at their alma mater in his hometown, Nate writes a script and follows it to recreate their high school days in hopes of starting his life over. It's the ultimate mulligan....
Except that Julie's fear of growing old alone has her settling to marry her boss.
Except that she rejects Nate for being burned by him when they were teenagers.
Except that she doesn't see her rat fink fianc� is in serious need of finking and Nate needs to torpedo the relationship before she gets hurt, without becoming collateral damage himself.
Except for all that, everything is Groovy.
Except that Julie's fear of growing old alone has her settling to marry her boss.
Except that she rejects Nate for being burned by him when they were teenagers.
Except that she doesn't see her rat fink fianc� is in serious need of finking and Nate needs to torpedo the relationship before she gets hurt, without becoming collateral damage himself.
Except for all that, everything is Groovy.
362 pages, Paperback
Published July 20, 2018
About the author
Larry Brill
12 books8 followersLarry Brill has been a storyteller since, well, forever. He began making up stories as soon as he was old enough to tell a fib. It carried him through school and into the world of TV news as an anchor and reporter.
Fudging the facts was never an option as a journalist, so Larry began writing fiction and has unleashed his quirky outlook on life and offbeat brand of humor on the fans of his novels from his home base in Austin, Texas.
Fudging the facts was never an option as a journalist, so Larry began writing fiction and has unleashed his quirky outlook on life and offbeat brand of humor on the fans of his novels from his home base in Austin, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 29, 2018
What a great book!
I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this book but I was immediately captivated by Nate's story of wanting to recapture his life after a bomb destroyed his life. Literally. This funny, romantic, engaging book was an absolute pleasure to read. I think this book would appeal to a wide variety of readers, including men over 40.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this book but I was immediately captivated by Nate's story of wanting to recapture his life after a bomb destroyed his life. Literally. This funny, romantic, engaging book was an absolute pleasure to read. I think this book would appeal to a wide variety of readers, including men over 40.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 20, 2019
Good Times at Mt. Hamilton High
This novel is a fun mix of comedy and romance but from a decidedly male perspective, a middle-aged lonely-heart using whatever bits of wisdom he’s gained in hopes of rekindling his youthful romance. It’s a perspective that is refreshingly comedic and this exceptionally crafted literary novel turns the romance genre on its head.
The protagonist—Nate Evans—is a screenwriter with a lackluster career. The novel opens just after his home is destroyed by an accidental bomb from an Air Force plane. Sifting through the rubble, Nate ruminates on his lowly existence. If his life could have a mulligan—a golfing term for a do-over—and relive his romance with his high school sweetheart, then he would do it in a heartbeat. With his home destroyed, he moves back in with his parents and gets a job at his old high school to put him in close proximity to Jules—his old flame.
There’s a breezy quality to Brill’s prose that is reminiscent of a finely tuned screenplay, a snappiness that initially gives the narrative a similar pace to rom-com movies. But in between comedic high jinx and situational comedy is deep reflection from both Nate and the grown woman his high school crush has become, Jules. Their ruminations about life and love bring a weightiness to the novel from a decidedly more mature place in their lives, a perspective that is sorely needed in our youth-obsessed culture.
Highly recommended!
This novel is a fun mix of comedy and romance but from a decidedly male perspective, a middle-aged lonely-heart using whatever bits of wisdom he’s gained in hopes of rekindling his youthful romance. It’s a perspective that is refreshingly comedic and this exceptionally crafted literary novel turns the romance genre on its head.
The protagonist—Nate Evans—is a screenwriter with a lackluster career. The novel opens just after his home is destroyed by an accidental bomb from an Air Force plane. Sifting through the rubble, Nate ruminates on his lowly existence. If his life could have a mulligan—a golfing term for a do-over—and relive his romance with his high school sweetheart, then he would do it in a heartbeat. With his home destroyed, he moves back in with his parents and gets a job at his old high school to put him in close proximity to Jules—his old flame.
There’s a breezy quality to Brill’s prose that is reminiscent of a finely tuned screenplay, a snappiness that initially gives the narrative a similar pace to rom-com movies. But in between comedic high jinx and situational comedy is deep reflection from both Nate and the grown woman his high school crush has become, Jules. Their ruminations about life and love bring a weightiness to the novel from a decidedly more mature place in their lives, a perspective that is sorely needed in our youth-obsessed culture.
Highly recommended!
July 16, 2026
*Déjà vu All Over Again* is far more than a romantic comedy. At its heart, it's an entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt exploration of regret, second chances, and the enduring hope that it's never too late to rewrite the story of your life. Larry Brill blends sharp humor with genuine emotional insight, creating a novel that is both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply relatable.
What stayed with me most was Nate Evans as a protagonist. He's far from perfect, and that's precisely what makes him so engaging. As a once-successful Hollywood screenwriter whose life has unraveled, Nate carries the weight of missed opportunities, failed dreams, and the lingering question so many people eventually ask themselves: *What if I had made different choices?* Rather than accepting that his best years are behind him, he decides to take one extraordinary gamble by attempting to recreate the circumstances that might allow him to win back the woman he loved decades earlier.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is the clever way it blurs the line between fiction and reality. As a screenwriter, Nate naturally approaches life as though he's writing a screenplay, carefully scripting events in hopes of producing the perfect romantic ending. The concept is wonderfully original because it allows the novel to playfully examine whether life can ever truly follow a script or whether the most meaningful moments are the ones we could never have planned.
Beyond the romance, the novel thoughtfully explores themes of aging, family, identity, forgiveness, and personal reinvention. Nate's return home forces him not only to confront memories of his youth but also to examine the man he has become. His interactions with family, old friends, and people from his past add emotional depth that elevates the story beyond a traditional romantic comedy.
The humor throughout feels effortless, balancing witty dialogue and entertaining situations with moments of genuine vulnerability. That combination keeps the novel emotionally grounded, allowing readers to laugh while also reflecting on their own lives, relationships, and the dreams they may have left behind.
*Déjà vu All Over Again* is ultimately a warm, uplifting, and thoroughly enjoyable novel that reminds us that while we cannot change the past, we can always choose what comes next. Readers who enjoy character-driven romantic comedies, stories about second chances, Hollywood satire, and emotionally satisfying contemporary fiction will find themselves completely invested in Nate's unforgettable journey.
What stayed with me most was Nate Evans as a protagonist. He's far from perfect, and that's precisely what makes him so engaging. As a once-successful Hollywood screenwriter whose life has unraveled, Nate carries the weight of missed opportunities, failed dreams, and the lingering question so many people eventually ask themselves: *What if I had made different choices?* Rather than accepting that his best years are behind him, he decides to take one extraordinary gamble by attempting to recreate the circumstances that might allow him to win back the woman he loved decades earlier.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is the clever way it blurs the line between fiction and reality. As a screenwriter, Nate naturally approaches life as though he's writing a screenplay, carefully scripting events in hopes of producing the perfect romantic ending. The concept is wonderfully original because it allows the novel to playfully examine whether life can ever truly follow a script or whether the most meaningful moments are the ones we could never have planned.
Beyond the romance, the novel thoughtfully explores themes of aging, family, identity, forgiveness, and personal reinvention. Nate's return home forces him not only to confront memories of his youth but also to examine the man he has become. His interactions with family, old friends, and people from his past add emotional depth that elevates the story beyond a traditional romantic comedy.
The humor throughout feels effortless, balancing witty dialogue and entertaining situations with moments of genuine vulnerability. That combination keeps the novel emotionally grounded, allowing readers to laugh while also reflecting on their own lives, relationships, and the dreams they may have left behind.
*Déjà vu All Over Again* is ultimately a warm, uplifting, and thoroughly enjoyable novel that reminds us that while we cannot change the past, we can always choose what comes next. Readers who enjoy character-driven romantic comedies, stories about second chances, Hollywood satire, and emotionally satisfying contemporary fiction will find themselves completely invested in Nate's unforgettable journey.
November 18, 2018
Larry Brill's Deja Vu All Over Again is, for the most part, an immersive story about reconnecting with your past to change your future that is engaging, romantic, and sometimes quite funny. The protagonist, Nate, is a struggling screenwriter with a failed marriage, a destroyed house, and no scripts to sell to fix any of these problems. To recover from the depression that comes with these problems, Nate returns to high school to start again. Or, more specifically, to see if he can start things with his childhood sweetheart, Julie, again.
Any good screenwriter knows that the first act needs to capture the audience, with the first ten pages of critical importance. Unfortunately for this novel, it takes for longer than that to actually hook you in. The first quarter is a struggle, constantly feeling like this is the moment where everything truly starts and never quite getting there. Once it passes that long slog, however, it becomes a really engaging read, investing the reader in Nate and Julie's story.
The way Brill writes his characters is wonderful. There was not one among them that felt forced or under-developed, even when they are effectively the villain of the story. I particularly enjoyed Eppie and wish she featured more in the second half. There was an undercurrent of discomfort in reading some of Brill's character descriptions, however, as there was a disparity in the way he treated female characters against male. Female characters, no matter their role, received a great amount of attention that, while not overtly sexual, was distinctly male even when supposed to be from a female perspective. Women don't tend to note how sensual washing themselves with their hands feels over a washcloth, for example. Men received no such description, indicating that they are the norm (with the notable exception of the one black character Brill describes as having an "a thousand-watt smile and biceps like a pro linebacker"). This uneven treatment makes the novel feel unbalanced and somewhat sexist - a feeling that is then supported by Nate's adamant denial that he is writing a chick-flick, as if writing such a film would be lesser in some way.
Overall, the book improved as it went on and became a truly enjoyable read. It's just a shame that it took so long to get there.
Any good screenwriter knows that the first act needs to capture the audience, with the first ten pages of critical importance. Unfortunately for this novel, it takes for longer than that to actually hook you in. The first quarter is a struggle, constantly feeling like this is the moment where everything truly starts and never quite getting there. Once it passes that long slog, however, it becomes a really engaging read, investing the reader in Nate and Julie's story.
The way Brill writes his characters is wonderful. There was not one among them that felt forced or under-developed, even when they are effectively the villain of the story. I particularly enjoyed Eppie and wish she featured more in the second half. There was an undercurrent of discomfort in reading some of Brill's character descriptions, however, as there was a disparity in the way he treated female characters against male. Female characters, no matter their role, received a great amount of attention that, while not overtly sexual, was distinctly male even when supposed to be from a female perspective. Women don't tend to note how sensual washing themselves with their hands feels over a washcloth, for example. Men received no such description, indicating that they are the norm (with the notable exception of the one black character Brill describes as having an "a thousand-watt smile and biceps like a pro linebacker"). This uneven treatment makes the novel feel unbalanced and somewhat sexist - a feeling that is then supported by Nate's adamant denial that he is writing a chick-flick, as if writing such a film would be lesser in some way.
Overall, the book improved as it went on and became a truly enjoyable read. It's just a shame that it took so long to get there.
November 17, 2018
Those who are a bit older will remember the source of Brill’s title: a saying attributed to New York Yankee Yogi Berra. Describing a situation that repeated itself, he coined the motto “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Yogi Berra was as much admired for his slightly muddled maxims as for the way he played ball. Even if they seemed a little mixed up, his sayings had a kernel of truth at the center. One observation credited to him is a good description of Larry Brill’s tale of going back to high school to straighten out life-changing mistakes: If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.
Both Nate and Julie, Brill’s hero and heroine have found that out the hard way. High school friends severed by a misunderstanding, they have led lives that show the lasting impact of not knowing where you’re going. Nate’s plan to recover his life and correct the mistakes of the past is zany: a return not just to the geography but also the attitudes, appearances, relationships and pursuits of long-departed high school days.
Predictably the mix-ups and misunderstandings get far worse before they get better. Throughout the chaos, however, he continues to seek out the fondness, forgiveness and hopefulness that existed even in small form amid the chaos of adolescence. Watching his crazy scheme falter, fail, revive and eventually triumph will entertain anyone whose high school years were vivid and formative. For those of us who liked high school less, and felt that high school didn’t like us at all, the book is still a good comic yarn with an unexpected but hoped-for happy ending. As Yogi might have said: Take it with a grin of salt.
September 29, 2018
Déjà vu All Over Again by Larry Brill is the story of Nate Evans, a man on the wrong side of fifty who feels like the universe has given him the rotten end of the stick. His wife has had an affair, his home has been annihilated, and his mother has taken up nude Tai Chi. In his youth Nate had a girlfriend named Julie Cooper (later, Cooper-Finch), who he foolishly broke up with in high school. Nate believes this to be the beginning of the end for him and the moment his life started a perpetual nosedive with little respite in between. Then, Nate discovers Julie is widowed...but about to take another trek down the aisle with someone else. In an effort to win back the girl who should have always been his, Nate moves back to his hometown to try and resuscitate the long-lost romance at any cost.
Larry Brill delivers lighthearted entertainment with some good laughs in his novel Déjà vu All Over Again. Nate is a character that is so unbelievably bad that it's actually good, once you get past some seriously cringe-worthy motivating factors behind his plight. The ancillary characters are truly where the fun is at, particularly his liberal, free-wheeling California mother and stepfather, who seem to have the answers to everything. “Your problem is that you should have married a nice girl instead of a lawyer, of all things. I told you that was trouble.” Déjà vu is worth a read over a long weekend, and recommended to all who enjoy light and bubbly satire about looking back while ultimately trying to move forward.
Review written for Readers' Favorite.
Larry Brill delivers lighthearted entertainment with some good laughs in his novel Déjà vu All Over Again. Nate is a character that is so unbelievably bad that it's actually good, once you get past some seriously cringe-worthy motivating factors behind his plight. The ancillary characters are truly where the fun is at, particularly his liberal, free-wheeling California mother and stepfather, who seem to have the answers to everything. “Your problem is that you should have married a nice girl instead of a lawyer, of all things. I told you that was trouble.” Déjà vu is worth a read over a long weekend, and recommended to all who enjoy light and bubbly satire about looking back while ultimately trying to move forward.
Review written for Readers' Favorite.
November 25, 2018
Thought provoking book!
Larry Brill processes great talent for story telling and has a brilliant way of keeping the readers fully engaged from the first page to the last. Generally speaking, I’m not a huge fan of romance novels, but this particular title caught my eye and I’m glad that I read it. Also I would suggest this book for anyone that is in a place in life where one has to examine their past, not to just to learn from it, but to truly embrace it.
This story follows a middle-aged man who decides to take a chance and relive his past and he is transported back to his hometown and relives the adventures of his high school days. He also attempts to repair the mistakes he made decades ago and pursues the girl who got away. The dates, prom and living life under his parents roof all become his new reality. The main character definitely has a broken soul and through reliving his past he learns to make peace with his life and find a better understanding of his own soul.
Brill certainly has the talent to become a widely known author and I believe will one day will join the ranks of well-known romance novelists.
Larry Brill processes great talent for story telling and has a brilliant way of keeping the readers fully engaged from the first page to the last. Generally speaking, I’m not a huge fan of romance novels, but this particular title caught my eye and I’m glad that I read it. Also I would suggest this book for anyone that is in a place in life where one has to examine their past, not to just to learn from it, but to truly embrace it.
This story follows a middle-aged man who decides to take a chance and relive his past and he is transported back to his hometown and relives the adventures of his high school days. He also attempts to repair the mistakes he made decades ago and pursues the girl who got away. The dates, prom and living life under his parents roof all become his new reality. The main character definitely has a broken soul and through reliving his past he learns to make peace with his life and find a better understanding of his own soul.
Brill certainly has the talent to become a widely known author and I believe will one day will join the ranks of well-known romance novelists.
November 7, 2018
Larry Brill's 'Deja vu All Over Again' is a truly wonderful book. From beginning to end it had me hooked - I confess I had to read it all in one sitting, as I was enjoying it too much to put down.
Nate Evans is a very relatable character, a man who seems to have taken just about every wrong turning in life, and been repeatedly hit by bad luck too, to boot. His plethora of regrets and his careful self-analysis makes for an interesting psychological case of ageing, nostalgia and the power of one event to alter the course of a person's life. Brill manages to maintain a perfect balance of regret and introspection, nostalgia and hope for the future, keeping the book engaging and full of light.
I think anyone would find it difficult to read this book without thinking at least a little about their own past, and decisions made in youth that have since directed the whole of their life. In this sense, Brill seems to have really captures the essence of a universal feeling, and that's truly the magic of the book. I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen!
Nate Evans is a very relatable character, a man who seems to have taken just about every wrong turning in life, and been repeatedly hit by bad luck too, to boot. His plethora of regrets and his careful self-analysis makes for an interesting psychological case of ageing, nostalgia and the power of one event to alter the course of a person's life. Brill manages to maintain a perfect balance of regret and introspection, nostalgia and hope for the future, keeping the book engaging and full of light.
I think anyone would find it difficult to read this book without thinking at least a little about their own past, and decisions made in youth that have since directed the whole of their life. In this sense, Brill seems to have really captures the essence of a universal feeling, and that's truly the magic of the book. I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen!
July 22, 2018
I read an advance copy of the book and an happy to say that not only did I enjoy it, I have already recommended it to several friends and will be recommending it to others.
Nate falls on rock bottom times and begins to question where he went wrong, then wonders what it would be like to go back to a good time, before everything started to go wrong, and have a "do over." He can't get that idea out of his head and ends up moving back home to his parent's house where he grew up and went to school. He's convinced that his last month's of high school were the start of things going sour. Can he somehow relive it? Well things turn around for him? Can he make things right?
Lots of laughs in this one but there is also a lot to think about. What do You think? Would you want to go back to a pivotal time in YOUR life?
I think you'll love this one!
Nate falls on rock bottom times and begins to question where he went wrong, then wonders what it would be like to go back to a good time, before everything started to go wrong, and have a "do over." He can't get that idea out of his head and ends up moving back home to his parent's house where he grew up and went to school. He's convinced that his last month's of high school were the start of things going sour. Can he somehow relive it? Well things turn around for him? Can he make things right?
Lots of laughs in this one but there is also a lot to think about. What do You think? Would you want to go back to a pivotal time in YOUR life?
I think you'll love this one!
November 27, 2018
This witty book, brought to us by Larry Brill, examines a man, Nate, whose life hasn’t gone as planned. In fact, it’s not exactly going great at all. Nate ruminates on the idea that there was a pivotal moment in which things started to go downhill. He decides it was the end of his high school years that he was really happy and as a result moves back home to right his wrong doings and hopes he can find that hapiness again.
This book was pleasantly comical and I found that I could relate to the premise more than I thought. Maybe not in high school being the best of times but with the future being wide open. I started to wonder if I would do anything differently if I could go back - even if it was just to my childhood home in the current times. What would be my deja by story.
All in all, this is a witty book that got me thinking! Highly recommend!
This book was pleasantly comical and I found that I could relate to the premise more than I thought. Maybe not in high school being the best of times but with the future being wide open. I started to wonder if I would do anything differently if I could go back - even if it was just to my childhood home in the current times. What would be my deja by story.
All in all, this is a witty book that got me thinking! Highly recommend!
May 31, 2019
When I read Deja Vu, it was easy to see why it’s an award winner. A fetching heroine, a hero with a past he’s trying to outrun, and the fates that try to bring them back together after their time long ago as high school sweethearts. The writing crackles with a bounce that puts humor into every encounter. Death by car wash eliminates one character. While the story mounts, though, it turns to the essentials of our lives: love that lasts, and finding the kind that fits for our soul.
Deja Vu isn’t glib or filled with formula, but it’s a romance award winner. The author deserves the attention he’s won with his Ben Franklin prize. This is the all so rare romance written by a man, but with a tender take on what women want for themselves in love. Highly recommended.
Deja Vu isn’t glib or filled with formula, but it’s a romance award winner. The author deserves the attention he’s won with his Ben Franklin prize. This is the all so rare romance written by a man, but with a tender take on what women want for themselves in love. Highly recommended.
November 8, 2018
Man, this book was fun. Sure, the concept is a tad cliche- going back to your glory days and living it all over again, I can think of quite a few movies with this very premise....but they're all movies I watch over and over again. It may not be a new concept, but Brill does it in such a fresh and funny way. I loved the characters, the plot twists, and the dialogue. This book was such a light, easy read, I even went back and read the first couple chapters again after I finished. If you need a break from the heavy stuff and just want to be entertained by a well-written story that makes you feel good and think about your own glory days, give this book a shot.
November 12, 2018
We’ve all made that one mistake that we wish could be redone. This book follows a man who takes the chance and tries to repair his past mistakes. Nate – the books main character – moves back to his home town and tracks his tumble from grace to one period in his life – high school. He makes it his life ambition to right the wrongs and get that second chance he desperately needs. Larry Brill cleverly illustrates the life of one tormented soul. Even his choice for book title shows his mastery of creative writing. Brill will one day join the ranks of great writers such as Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, and others.
November 19, 2018
Charming book.
You know, this is a book I could see as a movie. It starts with a humorous beginning of some kind of thing made by NASA hitting Nate's house. Now it's in shambles and he ends up with no other choice but to go home to live with his parents. This book ends up being about your first love and never being able to get over them. I enjoyed Nate and Julie's romance, and their interactions with each other. Weirdly, I liked Nate more than Julie at times. I especially liked Nate's parents! Real feeling characters, a town full of personality and a kind of romance makes this book an enjoyable read. There was also plenty of humor too and I enjoyed this a lot. I hope to read more by this author!
You know, this is a book I could see as a movie. It starts with a humorous beginning of some kind of thing made by NASA hitting Nate's house. Now it's in shambles and he ends up with no other choice but to go home to live with his parents. This book ends up being about your first love and never being able to get over them. I enjoyed Nate and Julie's romance, and their interactions with each other. Weirdly, I liked Nate more than Julie at times. I especially liked Nate's parents! Real feeling characters, a town full of personality and a kind of romance makes this book an enjoyable read. There was also plenty of humor too and I enjoyed this a lot. I hope to read more by this author!
November 23, 2018
Deja Vu All Over Again is a comedic romance that draws inspiration from a multitude of movies. The main character, Nate, is a jaded, middleaged screen writer whose life has become "creatively constipated". A failed career; failed marriage; and failed life have him longing for his high school sweetheart and the need to spin a good yarn he can not only weave into a good script, but live out. His Back to the Future journey is filled with hilarious interactions with his parents and his past. Loved how the author weaved the California landscape together with his love for movies. A fun and funny read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews