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Middle Falls Time Travel #11
The Successful Life of Jack Rybicki
Jack Rybicki is a high school senior who loves his girl, likes to party, and doesn't have much of a plan for his life.
Then fate plucks him from obscurity and Jack, now renamed Jack Samuels by his management team, becomes one of the most famous people on the planet.
A teenager who likes to indulge himself with limitless resources is not the best recipe for a successful life.
But, it's never too late in Middle Falls.
The Successful Life of Jack Rybicki is the eleventh book in the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Like all books in the series, it can be read as a standalone story.
Then fate plucks him from obscurity and Jack, now renamed Jack Samuels by his management team, becomes one of the most famous people on the planet.
A teenager who likes to indulge himself with limitless resources is not the best recipe for a successful life.
But, it's never too late in Middle Falls.
The Successful Life of Jack Rybicki is the eleventh book in the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Like all books in the series, it can be read as a standalone story.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2019
173 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 17, 2022
Sorry this one was just flat out boring
January 23, 2021
*Read for free with Kindle Unlimited *
Didn't feel as connected to this one but still a good read.
Didn't feel as connected to this one but still a good read.
April 20, 2022
Another satisfying feel-good entry into the series, with another great audio narrator.
I thought the last few had long first lives--this one is even longer. I am still enjoying the explorations of different time periods and different industries within them--and with this we get a teeny bit of a different culture too with a character from a Polish immigrant family. I'd love to see one of these books explore something other than white middle-to-upper-class characters.
This book also raises more questions (or answers them, depending on your mindset) on how all of the characters resets interact with each other. I've come to the conclusion that this is a multiverse, and every possible combination exists. The author is just telling us the story of this iteration of Jack #1 and #2 etc which overlaps with Thomas #2 and more. There's a version of Jack #1 which overlaps with Thomas #2, and one that overlaps with Michael #83, but that's just not the story we're seeing today.
I thought the last few had long first lives--this one is even longer. I am still enjoying the explorations of different time periods and different industries within them--and with this we get a teeny bit of a different culture too with a character from a Polish immigrant family. I'd love to see one of these books explore something other than white middle-to-upper-class characters.
This book also raises more questions (or answers them, depending on your mindset) on how all of the characters resets interact with each other. I've come to the conclusion that this is a multiverse, and every possible combination exists. The author is just telling us the story of this iteration of Jack #1 and #2 etc which overlaps with Thomas #2 and more. There's a version of Jack #1 which overlaps with Thomas #2, and one that overlaps with Michael #83, but that's just not the story we're seeing today.
August 5, 2019
It's been a couple weeks since I read this now and a lot has faded from my mind. I've enjoyed the Middle Falls series tremendously. You don't HAVE to read these books in order but I think it's better if you do because many books reference previous books. The premise of the books in this series is that a character must keep living their life over again from a "reset point" until they learn and grow in the way that they're supposed to before they "move on." Yet these books never get repetitive. Each character is unique and faces a challenge all their own.
This character was special in that he was the first character in the series who seemed to have it all. There was nothing obviously wrong with him. But, in the end, he DID have something he needed to learn. This series is well worth checking out. It's hard to imagine someone reading it and not liking it.
This character was special in that he was the first character in the series who seemed to have it all. There was nothing obviously wrong with him. But, in the end, he DID have something he needed to learn. This series is well worth checking out. It's hard to imagine someone reading it and not liking it.
August 31, 2019
Disclosure: I downloaded this book for free, have purchased four previous books by the author, and am posting an honest review of this work.
One of the best in the series—and I have read all 11 of them! I read it in one day, wanting to see how it ended and enjoying all the pages leading up to the culminating chapters.
It's easy to relate to Jack, who is a jock with a heart. He's very human, and is hurt very badly (and becomes very lonely) in one of his lives, and although wildly successful (but again lonely) in another life, he doesn't attain happiness. But he grows in self-awareness with each life, learning from his mistakes.
This is a Middle Falls novel that I will read again! It is surprising at times, romantic, and interesting. I also appreciated all the musical references!
One of the best in the series—and I have read all 11 of them! I read it in one day, wanting to see how it ended and enjoying all the pages leading up to the culminating chapters.
It's easy to relate to Jack, who is a jock with a heart. He's very human, and is hurt very badly (and becomes very lonely) in one of his lives, and although wildly successful (but again lonely) in another life, he doesn't attain happiness. But he grows in self-awareness with each life, learning from his mistakes.
This is a Middle Falls novel that I will read again! It is surprising at times, romantic, and interesting. I also appreciated all the musical references!
October 14, 2023
Pretty good book. Follows the usual Middle Falls timeline of a repeated life. As always, I enjoy the details of a time period I’m familiar with. In this book, Jack is good at everything he does. He’s a jock and not much of a brain. He joins FBLA because of his girlfriend and ends winning at speech. He does so well, he’s seen by a talent scout inLos Angeles. Success after success until he dies in a car crash. He starts life number two. He loses his girlfriend this time around and decides to try again. That’s the part I don’t like in the series. People are too willing to chuck it and start over. However, there are some neat twists along the way as well as the usual happy ending.
July 9, 2021
Forever love - this story had me for the romance. Great addition to the series. And Nick Podehl was an excellent choice to narrate the audio.
September 4, 2021
Not my favorite, but still good enough to stay up late and get up early to finish. The book equivalent of comfort food.
October 4, 2022
These can be stand alone books, but I like when characters from previous books are there. And with this one- some of those characters got a different life story than what we heard in their books. Continues to be an interesting series with enough differences from story to story to keep me reading.
November 17, 2020
Another outstanding visit to Middle Falls.
Spoilers for The Successful Life of Jack Rybricki!
This is the story of Jack Rybicki, a second generation American who becomes a star, loses his connection to his roots, and when given the chance to do it over again struggles to find what’s truly important throughout his resets.
What I love most about this series is the diversity and simplicity of its messages, which focus on learning to take care of yourself first and through that those around you. Past books focus on futile attempts of the narrator to control the world around them, when all they can do is control their own actions and lives. Much of Jack’s journey focuses around his treatment of his parents, and his girlfriend Kay. Their relationship survives periods of great strain, and what I loved about this book was the new ground it broke towards the end! I think I caught things a second before Jack.
What took a bit of time to wrap my head around was the multiverse and how it differs from past books. We’ve always known there are different timelines through which the characters reset. I recall specifically Michael Hollister reset eighty times before finding peace with himself, and in one of the resets he encounters a version of Carrie who was never murdered. So there’s one Carrie running the afterlife, and another on Earth hugging Michael. What happens to that one when she dies? Do they have their own versions of afterlife? It’s an interesting thing to consider. In Cassandra’s book, she runs into Veronica after a reset, and I remarked in the reading that this was a version of Veronica that wasn’t a time traveler. Presumably, there are countless versions of these characters living ordinary lives.
That’s not the case here. In Jack’s first life, he encounters Tommy Weaver as we first know him in his second life, and Carrie is murdered. I was left to believe that life coincided with the events of the first book, but when we meet Tommy and Carrie in Jack’s second life, they’re still time travelers. And in the third as well! So I’m left with the understanding that there were a lot of Tommy Weavers having the same experiences, with minor variations. It reminds me of DJ and Veronica, afraid to die and return to a world where the other didn’t have their shared memory. I seem to remember from that story that there were versions of DJ who didn’t reset, and clearly in this one we see that Kay had one fewer life than Jack. Interesting to consider. I’m sure it made the story work better, but I’m curious how much complexity we’ll get in the future.
Highly recommended!
Spoilers for The Successful Life of Jack Rybricki!
This is the story of Jack Rybicki, a second generation American who becomes a star, loses his connection to his roots, and when given the chance to do it over again struggles to find what’s truly important throughout his resets.
What I love most about this series is the diversity and simplicity of its messages, which focus on learning to take care of yourself first and through that those around you. Past books focus on futile attempts of the narrator to control the world around them, when all they can do is control their own actions and lives. Much of Jack’s journey focuses around his treatment of his parents, and his girlfriend Kay. Their relationship survives periods of great strain, and what I loved about this book was the new ground it broke towards the end! I think I caught things a second before Jack.
What took a bit of time to wrap my head around was the multiverse and how it differs from past books. We’ve always known there are different timelines through which the characters reset. I recall specifically Michael Hollister reset eighty times before finding peace with himself, and in one of the resets he encounters a version of Carrie who was never murdered. So there’s one Carrie running the afterlife, and another on Earth hugging Michael. What happens to that one when she dies? Do they have their own versions of afterlife? It’s an interesting thing to consider. In Cassandra’s book, she runs into Veronica after a reset, and I remarked in the reading that this was a version of Veronica that wasn’t a time traveler. Presumably, there are countless versions of these characters living ordinary lives.
That’s not the case here. In Jack’s first life, he encounters Tommy Weaver as we first know him in his second life, and Carrie is murdered. I was left to believe that life coincided with the events of the first book, but when we meet Tommy and Carrie in Jack’s second life, they’re still time travelers. And in the third as well! So I’m left with the understanding that there were a lot of Tommy Weavers having the same experiences, with minor variations. It reminds me of DJ and Veronica, afraid to die and return to a world where the other didn’t have their shared memory. I seem to remember from that story that there were versions of DJ who didn’t reset, and clearly in this one we see that Kay had one fewer life than Jack. Interesting to consider. I’m sure it made the story work better, but I’m curious how much complexity we’ll get in the future.
Highly recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2019
Shawn Inmon - Middle Falls Time Travel Bk 11 - Successful Life of Jack Rybicki - Reviewed 7/22/19
Going with the flow sometimes will give you more than you want….
High school senior Jack Rybicki is playing it cool, he has no plans for the future except to continue working with his dad and when he retires taking over. Oh, of course, that future would include the love of his life, Kay. As he flows with the things around him he falls into the break of a lifetime, a talent scout finds him and he now is a well-known actor with a new name, Jack Noble. Destiny steps in and all that success take over his life…. Losing Kay and his family…
What did I like? I have read all of the books in this series and have loved every one of them. I personally love time travel and this is such a unique difference than any others that I have read in the past. It saddens me to know that there will only be one more in this series but to keep my hope up the author has said this in the past…. Let’s hope that in the future he will come back and write more!!!!!!! Shawn don’t forget us and hopefully, more books will magically appear soon……
What will you like? Great writing, excellent research and a sensational storyline that just keeps getting better and better. The characters are well developed and grow with each page. Jack and Kay are just adorable and the lives of Jack are amazing. The ending is absolutely the best of all of the books! I loved it. Add this to your reading list and soon, you will love it!
Going with the flow sometimes will give you more than you want….
High school senior Jack Rybicki is playing it cool, he has no plans for the future except to continue working with his dad and when he retires taking over. Oh, of course, that future would include the love of his life, Kay. As he flows with the things around him he falls into the break of a lifetime, a talent scout finds him and he now is a well-known actor with a new name, Jack Noble. Destiny steps in and all that success take over his life…. Losing Kay and his family…
What did I like? I have read all of the books in this series and have loved every one of them. I personally love time travel and this is such a unique difference than any others that I have read in the past. It saddens me to know that there will only be one more in this series but to keep my hope up the author has said this in the past…. Let’s hope that in the future he will come back and write more!!!!!!! Shawn don’t forget us and hopefully, more books will magically appear soon……
What will you like? Great writing, excellent research and a sensational storyline that just keeps getting better and better. The characters are well developed and grow with each page. Jack and Kay are just adorable and the lives of Jack are amazing. The ending is absolutely the best of all of the books! I loved it. Add this to your reading list and soon, you will love it!
February 17, 2021
Not a very best Middle Falls Time Travel tale however still a very good read. Features a couple of others caught in a loop locals from the series, following the familiar but well written pattern of trying to find the right balance in Jack's life. Differing paths are taken by Jack although he does learn from previous mistakes. Thought provoking writing as ever from Shawn Inmon.
July 19, 2019
A great entry to the Middle Falls series
Jack Rybicki seemed to be a little bit different than the rest of the protagonists in the Middle Falls series. He doesn't have an immediatly recognized flaw. Yet even without that, he finds himself in the middle of a mess and has to find his way out. As with all the Middle Falls books Shawn writes, I enjoyed reading this one. I ended up staying up much of the night to finish the second half of his book because I wanted to see how it turned out for Jack. I would recommend this book, just as I would recommend all of the books Shawn writes. He has a gift for words that not many can match. You will come away from his books with a smile on your face and wanting to do better as a human being. I encourage you to read anything from Shawn.
Jack Rybicki seemed to be a little bit different than the rest of the protagonists in the Middle Falls series. He doesn't have an immediatly recognized flaw. Yet even without that, he finds himself in the middle of a mess and has to find his way out. As with all the Middle Falls books Shawn writes, I enjoyed reading this one. I ended up staying up much of the night to finish the second half of his book because I wanted to see how it turned out for Jack. I would recommend this book, just as I would recommend all of the books Shawn writes. He has a gift for words that not many can match. You will come away from his books with a smile on your face and wanting to do better as a human being. I encourage you to read anything from Shawn.
July 23, 2019
Another great addition to the Middle Falls series. All can be read as stand alone but there are references to previous characters in all.
I loved this book as much as I have loved them all. The characters are easy to relate to and Shawn's way of writing helps you climb into the book and live their lives alongside them.
I loved this book as much as I have loved them all. The characters are easy to relate to and Shawn's way of writing helps you climb into the book and live their lives alongside them.
August 23, 2020
A trip back to Middle Falls with a meeting of fellow time travellers but first we see Jack Rybicki becoming a famous actor living a hollow lifestyle which ends in dramatic fashion. Those familiar with the series will know what happens to him, it is just a matter of how many trips back it takes to achieve happiness.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
November 29, 2020
Man, this one was the highest rated of the series, so I'm quite surprised to have found the story somewhat mediocre. This is book #8 of the series for me (reading out of order). Some are better than others, but I had said they were all worth the read. Except maybe this one? It wasn't a bad story, it just didn't add any value to the series, IMO.
July 21, 2019
Enjoyable Nostalgia
This is the fourth Middle Falls Time Travel story that I have read. All of these books are a very fast read, most a trip down memory lane, and a chance to reflect on my own ‘what if...’
This is the fourth Middle Falls Time Travel story that I have read. All of these books are a very fast read, most a trip down memory lane, and a chance to reflect on my own ‘what if...’
November 24, 2019
Pretty slow start, and it was nice to see the callbacks to earlier parts in the series. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
January 9, 2020
Another very readable and entertaining entry in the series - a lot of character and not as much with the time travel here - but nice call backs to earlier books.
September 29, 2025
Loops of fun
Good looking, charismatic, and hopelessly in love with High School sweetheart, Kay, Jack Rybicki has got a successful future in the palm of his hands.
Until he doesn’t.
First, he squanders love in a fog of fame.
In a reboot, he lays low in patient waiting and still loses it.
In his third life, he keeps going until he gets the right balance between fame, fortune, and, most of all, authentic honest love.
It’s a perfect soul travel love story.
There are parts that get tricky, though, when he crosses paths with Thomas Weaver of book one and “Cootie” Carrie who has made appearances all throughout the series in various guises and once got murdered by Michael Hollister. The only way to square up the loops is to remember that time is not linear and life is layered. Otherwise, the pieces of their stories won’t quite fit together. There are also other soul travelers looping around, but I don’t want to give spoilers.
This is one of the fun ones in the Middle Falls series, especially for those who’ve ever secretly dreamt of making it big in Hollywood.
Good looking, charismatic, and hopelessly in love with High School sweetheart, Kay, Jack Rybicki has got a successful future in the palm of his hands.
Until he doesn’t.
First, he squanders love in a fog of fame.
In a reboot, he lays low in patient waiting and still loses it.
In his third life, he keeps going until he gets the right balance between fame, fortune, and, most of all, authentic honest love.
It’s a perfect soul travel love story.
There are parts that get tricky, though, when he crosses paths with Thomas Weaver of book one and “Cootie” Carrie who has made appearances all throughout the series in various guises and once got murdered by Michael Hollister. The only way to square up the loops is to remember that time is not linear and life is layered. Otherwise, the pieces of their stories won’t quite fit together. There are also other soul travelers looping around, but I don’t want to give spoilers.
This is one of the fun ones in the Middle Falls series, especially for those who’ve ever secretly dreamt of making it big in Hollywood.
November 14, 2023
Jack and Kay have a pregnancy scare, only a scare. That Christmas Jack gives Kay a promise ring to say he'll always love her. He loves her enough to follow her out to a Future Business Leaders of America conference/competition. He does surprisingly well and it leads to an acting career. Unfortunately it takes him away from Middle Falls and Kay. It's financially rewarding, but he isn't necessarily happy.
After he dies he is back to the day when Kay gives him the news that she is late. With the knowledge of what happened before Jack decides on a different path. He also meets Tommy Weaver (Middle Falls #1) and Carrie, which adds a subplot to the book.
Fun fast read. The book just flew by after his first life. Nice character building, and pretty neat bringing in the Tommy, Carrie, Michael Hollister story. These books are all standalone, but in this case I'd suggest reading #1 before this one. 4.8 stars.
After he dies he is back to the day when Kay gives him the news that she is late. With the knowledge of what happened before Jack decides on a different path. He also meets Tommy Weaver (Middle Falls #1) and Carrie, which adds a subplot to the book.
Fun fast read. The book just flew by after his first life. Nice character building, and pretty neat bringing in the Tommy, Carrie, Michael Hollister story. These books are all standalone, but in this case I'd suggest reading #1 before this one. 4.8 stars.
December 7, 2021
Back to Middle Falls for me ... book 11. This one was interesting, because it was set in the same time frame as the first book. Thomas and Carrie are characters here - and that brings up some really intriguing questions about changing timelines (or alternate universes) when it comes to Michael Hollister (if the events of book 1 didn't happen, then was he ever redeemed? Also, what about Carrie's involvement in the "up above") ... mind boggling!
As for THIS story, I liked it. A Hollywood success story that ends tragically, do you give that up and try and alternate life? Does that one work out?
Sure seems like EVERYONE is living multiple lives though!
As for THIS story, I liked it. A Hollywood success story that ends tragically, do you give that up and try and alternate life? Does that one work out?
Sure seems like EVERYONE is living multiple lives though!
December 26, 2021
So sorry I am at the end of the series!
Of course, I've come to bond with many of the characters, and so now I will wonder what they are doing, and if I will hear of or about them again. This story was different from the other Middle Falls books, in that there wasn't too much drama or strife. I was waiting for Jack's life to be NOT so successful, but that didn't come about. I'll move on to something else, but hope to return to Middle Falls someday.
Of course, I've come to bond with many of the characters, and so now I will wonder what they are doing, and if I will hear of or about them again. This story was different from the other Middle Falls books, in that there wasn't too much drama or strife. I was waiting for Jack's life to be NOT so successful, but that didn't come about. I'll move on to something else, but hope to return to Middle Falls someday.
July 13, 2022
I loved this one too. I could read 100 of these. Ready to keep writing them Mr Inmon ?
The meeting of past characters was s bit confusing but all in good fun.
It was a sweet romantic story ! The ending made me think there’s something in Middle Falls water !
Love all the 70s references as I’m just a little younger than the author. When Jack couldn’t wait for Love will keep us together song to finish and Jethro Tull to come on. I nodded and laughed !
The meeting of past characters was s bit confusing but all in good fun.
It was a sweet romantic story ! The ending made me think there’s something in Middle Falls water !
Love all the 70s references as I’m just a little younger than the author. When Jack couldn’t wait for Love will keep us together song to finish and Jethro Tull to come on. I nodded and laughed !
December 19, 2022
I've read through to book 15 of this series to date. Although I found some stronger than others, and I do think listening to them back to back they become a bit formulaic, but in spite of all that these stories are like crack. You can't eat just one. Once you fall into this world you will feel like one of these characters living groundhog-day lives, over and over trying to get it right.
But it will be inescapable.
Bulk Input Day
But it will be inescapable.
Bulk Input Day
July 12, 2021
In his first life, Jack Rybicki stumbles into fame and fortune but loses his high school sweetheart.
In his second life, he does things differently...but it doesn't quite play out like he planned.
Third time around, and all the wiser, he knows he'll get it right. But does he?...
While having to do with a bit of romance, this was not a sappy read. It even caught me off guard and I had an "awwwww..." moment with some warm fuzzies.
I loved how Thomas and Carrie were big key players in this book. As with most in this series, I loved it and highly recommend.
In his second life, he does things differently...but it doesn't quite play out like he planned.
Third time around, and all the wiser, he knows he'll get it right. But does he?...
While having to do with a bit of romance, this was not a sappy read. It even caught me off guard and I had an "awwwww..." moment with some warm fuzzies.
I loved how Thomas and Carrie were big key players in this book. As with most in this series, I loved it and highly recommend.
January 23, 2022
You already know that I love the middle falls book series. This was another satisfying book. Jack lives out his dreams but at heat cost? When it all implodes, he wakes up back in his senior year of highschool. Hes got another shot to "get it right. I'm always pleased at crossover characters because it's a nod to the reader. There were a few in this book.
I recommend
I recommend
October 5, 2022
I loved Jack’s story! What a great character, and the ending brought tears to my eyes. Loved it, loved it, loved it. What a fun read. I have enjoyed all of Inmon’s Middle Falls series, but this was one of my favorites.
I listened to this on audible, and the narrator was also one of my favorite narrators of this whole series.
I listened to this on audible, and the narrator was also one of my favorite narrators of this whole series.
October 12, 2025
Not much to say with this one. Jack Rybicki is a high school senior. A good guy, with a good family and a girlfriend he loves. Everything seems to go his way, but the consequences of going with the flow have an impact.
I don’t think that this character had as much growth as others and his journey didn’t pack the same punch.
I don’t think that this character had as much growth as others and his journey didn’t pack the same punch.
October 21, 2025
Worth reading
The first few books in the series were quick and to the point. The characters from each book are connected Situations/dialog from previous books are included, almost in their entirety, which makes it seem "long-winded" and I found myself hurrying through. These connections though, are what make this series worth reading.
The first few books in the series were quick and to the point. The characters from each book are connected Situations/dialog from previous books are included, almost in their entirety, which makes it seem "long-winded" and I found myself hurrying through. These connections though, are what make this series worth reading.
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