Maybe in Another Life in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 26, 2025 Colleen Chi-Girl rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, contemporary, feminism, 2025, california, us-no-amer

This is about 29 year old Hannah Martin who realizes, after living in 6 different cities, that her life isn't going the way she would have liked to and heads home to L.A. where her BFF Gabby lives with her husband. These 2 are besties like I've never heard about - they would do anything for each other and Hannah moves into Gabby's guestroom. Hannah's parents moved to London with another daughter who had a dance scholarship or placement. There's more to this fact, but better to let it unfold whil This is about 29 year old Hannah Martin who realizes, after living in 6 different cities, that her life isn't going the way she would have liked to and heads home to L.A. where her BFF Gabby lives with her husband. These 2 are besties like I've never heard about - they would do anything for each other and Hannah moves into Gabby's guestroom. Hannah's parents moved to London with another daughter who had a dance scholarship or placement. There's more to this fact, but better to let it unfold while you read about it. Another very important character is Hannah's ex-boyfriend, Ethan, who lives in L.A.

Here's where everything begins to change. One of my fave. authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid, wrote the remaining story with dual and concurrent timelines. In one situation, Hannah does not go home with Ethan and in the other, she does go home with him. If you've seen the movie "Sliding Doors" (with Julianne Moore), you'll understand what the reader gets to see and be privvy to in each of Hannah's different timelines. AND IT IS IMPACTFUL!

I can't say enough about how well developed and well-written this fun, but deep thinking novel, was thanks to the talented Jenkins-Reid. There are life lessons and what if's, and so much the characters go through themselves and with others. I read this on audiobook (thank you Libby app) and there were many characters (female and male) that the narrator had to voice. And that's the same for the reader to keep track of....within the back and forth of 2 timelines no less. It was done artfully by Julia Whelan.

One small con for me: In the beginning as the story is being set-up, I thought to myself that I didn't remember that it was a novel about young adults and that I'd need patience as they went through the bar drinking and girl friend/boy friend break-ups or hook ups. Don't let it dissuade you bc that portion ends fairly quickly and I suddenly felt I was dropped into a parallel life right with them.

This novel might appeal to more readers in a book format, and would require less of the reader, but I really enjoyed it on audiobook. ...more

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Feb 16, 2019 Ra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scribd, romance_fluff

Total fluff of a novel, which tries to explore the influence of choices on our lives. I liked the parallel stories, and the way they switched back and forth at very crucial moments in the narrative.
The love stories were cute, and for this reader who has only discovered heartbreaking love at middle age, they were uplifting. It is nice to believe that there are second chances even if life does not give you the one you cared about. Perhaps there are other soul mates out there?

That said, I realize ...more

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Feb 22, 2022 Tammy AZ rated it liked it

I’ve really enjoyed some of Reid’s recent books so I picked this one up. Pretty good but not at the level of Malibu Rising or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Reid is definitely becoming a better plotter and writer.

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