Reid, Jenkins Taylor -- Maybe In Another Life informal buddy read starts April 8, 2020

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is open to discuss Maybe in Another Life byTaylor Jenkins Reid.



Synopsis
From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Laura]

Wahoo, another book by Reid!

[Brooke]

I've had this on my Kindle for years. Happy to finally be able to get to it!

[Geri]

I’ve borrowed this from hoopla. I got the booktrack version. Hopefully, I don’t find it annoying. Sometimes the soundtrack is over the top and actually takes away from enjoying the book. I’ll let you both know later.

[Brooke]

I think this one has an interesting premise! There have been many times where I try to imagine what my life would look like today if I made different decisions. The 2 that come to mind the most are:
What if I would have went to medical school? (I've had a lot of great experiences and been around the world with my current career, but where would I be living and would I have a family?)
What if I said no to drinks with a guy I thought was going to be my Mr. Big and instead went to my solid, nice boyfriend's house? (The Mr. Big candidate ended up being the worst person I've ever met. A solid scam artist. If I was still with the boyfriend, what would our stable life look like?)

Do you guys play the "what if" game as much as me? ;-)

[Geri]

Brooke wrote: "I think this one has an interesting premise! There have been many times where I try to imagine what my life would look like today if I made different decisions. The 2 that come to mind the most are..."

Oh yeah. I have thought about how things would be different if I made different choices. When I first went to college I majored in computer science. Not because I loved it but because my parents wanted me to study something that would lead to a lucrative career. I ended up failing my classes. And went through years of “finding myself”. My life has been great, don’t get me wrong. And I probably wouldn’t be where I am now and with my husband if I made different decisions. But I probably would do things differently if I had the chance to redo my life.

The book has been compared to the movie Sliding Doors. Have you seen that movie? I will probably watch it again after reading this book.

[Brooke]

I think I saw it years ago. I'll have to watch it (again) after I finish the book, too!

[leah]

i’m so excited to start this book it looks incredibly interesting !!!

[Laura]

I'll have to check out that movie.... I'm not sure I've seen it.

Brooke... I play the "what if" game entirely too much.

Hi Leah!

[leah]

hi Laura!

[leah]

about to give that movie a watch!

[Laura]

Let us know how it is Leah.
Have you read stuff by Reid?

[leah]

no. this is my first book i’ve ever read by her, is she a good author?

[Laura]

Oh yes! She has definitely grown as an author. She 's not afraid to try something different.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- this was really good, though not her newest one.

[leah]

ooooo i’ll give that a read, it looks really good!

[Laura]

How was the movie?

[Brooke]

I got about 1/4 read earlier today. I like it so far and so far have no idea which timeline I like better. Both are equally interesting and very different from each other. The only thing consistent is Gabby, who I love as a character.

I doubt I'll read more today since I never learn my lesson and have probably 6 books in process, but I'm looking forward to reading more tomorrow!

[Geri]

I’ll be starting Wednesday, Brooke. Too many other books on my plate. But I’m glad you are enjoying it. Makes me want to start now.

[Laura]

I haven't started either.. it wasn't a great reading day for me. I'm also trying to read two other books first. I can't wait to read and discuss:-)

[Brooke]

Haha - oops. I guess I did start it early. I'm so used to buddy reads starting on a Monday. :-)

[leah]

my copy still hasn’t arrived in the post yet, it’s meant to be here by tomorrow though!

[Felicity]

This is all new to me. Since my IRL book clubs can’t meet I thought I would try a Buddy Read. I loved Daisy Jones and the Six and I loved the movie Sliding Doors so I am looking forward to this book. I just started listening to the audiobook this morning.

[leah]

my copy just arrived, due to start it later!!

[Laura]

I will also be starting later today. Hurray for your copy arriving, Leah.

Happy to have you join us Felicity. Usually we use spoilers and make comments about what we ve read. Our buddy reads are pretty informal and we all read at different paces so just have fun.

[Geri]

I’m about 1/3 through. Ethan and Hannah just found a dog. I agree with Brooke, the different stories are interesting.

(view spoiler)[ The “with Ethan” story is sweet and lighthearted. But I wonder if it will stay that way. The other story where Hannah gets injured is a little sadder. I am irked with Ethan for so easily forgetting about Hannah to sleep with someone else. Doesn’t make me feel like he deserves Hannah. But of course a new door/romance seems to be opening for Hannah. And maybe that is the point? When one door closes another opens. (hide spoiler)]

I also like Gabby. It’s nice that she is a constant in both stories.

[Brooke]

I'm at about the halfway point. I forced myself to stop, but it was so hard! I wanted to keep reading.

The 2 story lines are still very different, and I still can't decide which one I like better. Very unusual for me...In other books with choices I generally find it pretty easy to pick a favorite and stick with it/him.

(view spoiler)[ I hate that Gabby's husband is a jerk in the non-accident version! It is interesting, though, that it forced Hannah to realize the full consequences of her affair, more than the pregnancy news did. I'm not sure what is going to happen with Ethan at this point, although I do like Hannah being there for Gabby. She doesn't need a man. :-)

In the accident version, I really feel for Hannah. I could understand how she felt about her family being there and how emotional she got being able to get out of her room in a wheelchair. I like the nurse in this one. I stopped right after the spark between him and Hannah, so I'm anxious to see what happens there! I didn't think jealousy was a good look on Ethan. (hide spoiler)]

[leah]

I have just reached the same point in the story as you, Geri and i am really enjoying it.

i was expecting the whole concept of the concurrent storylines to be confusing and interrupt the flow of the story, however i have found it quite interesting reading about how just one small decision could affect your life so dramatically. The story has made me wonder how different my life could be if i had made different choices.

Like you Brooke, i am still unsure as to which perspective i prefer, bower we, the one where Hannah chose to be with Ethan has definitely had more action (even if it isn’t so drastic)

I’m aiming to get to about 2/3 of the way through tomorrow but i wouldn’t be surprised if i finished the whole book as it is one you can’t put down!

[Laura]

I've caught up... hopefully!

I'm 51% - beginning of chapter 28
(view spoiler)[

I also thought the two story lines would be confusing and I think for me they were for the first few chapters but I actually like how Reid is doing it. No two books of her are really the same- I love how she tries different formats and plots. It makes me wonder if there will be one ending or two??

I have a preference and I like the accident story line better- though I hope she keeps the dog in the non accident story line.Gabby is a great friend- I suspect they will help each other!
(hide spoiler)]
Definitely agree with Leah.. its easy to keep reading this one!

[Laura]

wahooo, the movie is on Netflix.. I will make a plan to watch it this weekend after I finish the book:-)

[Brooke]

Laura wrote: "wahooo, the movie is on Netflix.. I will make a plan to watch it this weekend after I finish the book:-)"

I think I will too!

[leah]

i’ll join you all with that :)

[Geri]

I finished. I really enjoyed how everything came full circle. And some things were the same in both storylines. (view spoiler)[Hannah’s pregnancy from her married lover, Michael. And Gabby finding true love with Jessie. (hide spoiler)]

The book definitely made me think about knowing when you have found “the one”. I do think it is special when you find the right person. When I met my husband, I remember feeling like we had known each other for years. An instant feeling of being comfortable and happy. It worked for us. We have been friends and partners in crime ever since. But I do wonder what everyone else thinks. Do you just “know” when someone is right for you?

I will definitely be watching Sliding Doors this weekend too. We should all come back and post our thoughts on the movie too. I remember liking the movie. Saw it so many years ago now.

[Laura]

I 'm finished- It was a 3.5 read for me.

I'll definitely come back and post my thoughts on the movie.

(view spoiler)[ So, I really liked the first 3/4 quarters of the book but not so much the ending. I didn't like that Gabby's birthday party scene was basically the same in both story lines. I did like both story lines but I think I liked the accident story line better.
Which story line did everyone else better? Were you rooting for the night nurse or Ethan?

@Geri, I believe that you just know when someone is right for you, though I haven't met that person yet.

I have a set of discussion questions at the back of my book. Here is my favorite.
#8- While on the surface, the novel may seem to focus on which man Hannah will end up with, there are several types of love explored in Maybe in Another Life. Discuss these as a group. Which of the many relationships depicted was your favorite? How did they change and grow in each story line?

Gabby and Hannah's relationship was my favorite in both story lines. I enjoyed reading that when they each needed someone the most they were both there for each other. Hannah's growing relationship with her dad was a close second.
(hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

I finished too! I enjoyed it overall, and as the stories progressed I did find I preferred one over the other.

(view spoiler)[ Laura, I also enjoyed the accident story better. I really liked the strength Hannah had during her rehab, how she was able to be there for Gabby and the night nurse. I think I liked Hannah better with the nurse than Ethan because it felt more realistic. The non-accident story had Hannah run into her high school boyfriend after over a decade and they immediately were good. That could happen, but I think it is more likely that Hannah has changed because of her life experiences since they broke up, so it wouldn't be a given they would fall right back into a relationship. I do like that Ethan eventually came back after finding out about the pregnancy, though.

That is a good discussion question! I loved Gabby & Hannah's relationship best as well and how in both story lines they each had a chance to stand up for the other. I also liked the family love, showing that family doesn't necessarily mean blood relatives. I am a firm believer that friends can become family over time, and it is okay if you aren't as close to your blood family. (hide spoiler)]

Geri, I do believe you can just know when someone is right for you. I also believe that there can be more than one right-for-you person. People change, and what was right for me at 22 isn't necessarily the same thing that is right for me in my 40's. I think it is amazing that you and your husband are still partners in crime!

[Geri]

After reading your spoilers, I agree that Gabby and Hannah had a great relationship. And that family doesn’t need to be a relative by blood.

Not sure why but I didn’t prefer one storyline over the other. I think I was too busy comparing what happened and what the similarities were. I liked how Reid did interweave some similarities throughout the book. I actually liked that Gabby’s story did end the same in both storylines.

But the theory that every decision we make creates another timeline gives me a headache! LOL

I definitely agree that there are more than one right person for everyone. And that was ultimately what the book was about. Hannah found her happy ending with different men. I think I’ll be thinking about this book for a bit.

I will see the movie Sliding Doors this weekend too.