A People Magazine Pick * US Weekly “Must” Pick Named “Best Book of the Summer” by Glamour * Good Housekeeping * USA TODAY * Cosmopolitan * PopSugar * Working Mother * Bustle * Goodreads 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 … 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.more
Maybe in Another Life screams Sliding Doors. If you’ve never watched Sliding Doors, it’s a 1998 movie about a girl who’s life takes two very different paths depending on one happenstance: She catches the train or the train doors shut a second too soon and she misses it. Maybe in Another Life also follows a character who’s life alternates between two parallel universes based on one choice. I found this book to be sweet, funny, but also surprisingly stressful at times. As is true in real life, our heroine had some curve-balls thrown at her that she was totally unprepared for. They hurt and it was sad to see such a likable heroine suffer, but all the cinnamon rolls made up for it I guess!
According to an online interview with the author Taylor Jenkins Reid, fate, chance, and soul mates are this story’s most important themes…and it was no surprise to learn that Sliding Doors was indeed a strong inspiration for this book. I enjoyed Maybe in Another Life very much. I liked how Ms. Reid used this novel to stress that despite the endless number of decisions we will make in our lifetime, it will all work out the way it’s supposed to. This theme instantly made me think of a motivational clip I watched once of Oprah discussing destiny. She talks about how there are no mistakes, there are no wrong paths, everything leads to the place you are meant to be. Gives me chills every time.
So…relax. It’s going to be OK 🙂
While this book didn’t blow me away quite as much as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, it was still an absolute joy and I just love this author. Her voice is so accessible and tangible, and I enjoyed every minute of this story. I will absolutely be picking up more of her books in the future, and will be savoring the lovely ending of this one in the meantime!
Did anyone else crave cinnamon rolls the ENTIRE time they read (or in my case, listened to) this book?
Just me??
This book is fun. I am sure TJR hates this comparison but it was very Sliding Doors.
What if Hannah leaves the bar with her bestie?
What if Hannah leaves the bar with her ex?
We get to find out in alternating chapters and it’s fun, rompy, hopeful and perfect for the beach.
This clever premise more than lived up to my expectations. A young woman makes a decision – stay at a party and get reacquainted with an old flame, or give home with her girlfriends. The story splits, following her life along the 2 possibilities and the resulting stories are both utterly gripping.
I love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, and this one was no exception. One of the few 5-star reads I’ve read this year. It explores the question of soulmates and fate and chance. Just an overall life-affirming book. Loved it!
Taylor Jenkins Reid writes heart-felt, immersive novels, and Maybe in Another Life is the perfect example of that. Hannah is approaching the end of her 20s with nothing to show for it. She doesn’t have a career, a house, or a serious relationship. She moves from city to city looking for something that will anchor her, until she finally decides to move back home to L.A. On her first night there, she bumps into her first love, Ethan.
The book is split into two worlds: one where she leaves a bar with her best friend, and one where she lives it with Ethan. She lives out both lives throughout the course of the book, taking readers on an emotional ride each time. If you’re looking for a romance read, this isn’t is, but it is enjoyable nonetheless !
Within all the masses of readers there are varied and eclectic tastes. I have found that it is the voice of the author that draws them in. The story is an important component, but the voice ultimately carries the day. Voice is like a tuning fork and each author is sending out their own individual frequency drawing in certain groups of readers like moths to the flame. The more compelling the frequency the more moths. A reader will be talking about a book and say, “That was the best book I have ever read, I couldn’t put it down.” And you ask them, “What’s it about?” They stop and think for a moment and reply. “I’m not really sure.” That’s because the voice carried the story, instead of the story carrying the voice. I am a moth flying headlong into any book Taylor Jenkins Reid writes. I’m locked into her frequency. “Maybe in Another Life,” has a story that is a well-used trope. No matter, I was entranced from page one. I think she could write a grocery list and I’d feel the same way. I don’t think there is higher praise for an author than one who has conquered voice.
You might read this review, pick up the book and say, “Meh.” And I’d say, no problem, you’re just a moth on a different frequency. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to the moths on my frequency.
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson series.
Who hasn’t wondered what other lives we might have lived if we had taken a left instead of a right, missed that bus, made that flight? This book explores the two possibilities in a young woman’s life, two different endings, two different lives. Interesting and intriguing, witty dialogue.
This is my first book by the author. I made the mistake of reading the blurb too far away from reading so the dual timelines took me by complete surprise! That’s on me. It did take some adjusting to seeing two very different time lines play out, and a few times I got confused. But all in all this was a cute story. If you like playing the “what would have happened?” game then this is for you.
“I know there may be universes out there where I made different choices and they led me somewhere else, led me to someone else. And my heart breaks for every single version of me that didn’t end up with you.”
From now on anytime I am in any sort of a reading slump I will turn to anything written by TJR! This was the third book of hers that I have read and while all three were very different I have absolutely loved every single one. Maybe In Another Life explores how one decision can completely alter your life and it really makes you wonder how much of our lives just happen at random by chance and how much of it is because we decided to react the way we did. It was so uniquely written, you follow Hannah through two different timelines – after a night at the bar in the first timeline she goes home with her friend Gabby and in the second she goes home with her ex boyfriend Ethan. It was crazy how different her life compared in each but yet how some things were the same. I felt like Reid did such an amazing job bringing these stories together perfectly because it read like two completely different books yet somehow also one. I devoured this book. I loved this book. This book made me desperately want cinnamon rolls with extra icing
If you’ve seen the movie Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow then you’ll have an idea of what this story is about. It’s the great “what if” question. What if I’d done this instead of that and how would that change the outcome? I was so engrossed in this story that it occupied my mind for days after I’d finished. I felt the author dropped many truth bombs that made for somber contemplation. Be forewarned that the ending is not wrapped up in a neat bow. I liked it, however, because it represents all the endless possibilities. One of my favourite reads in recent memory.
I loved this book. Makes you think, stays with you. Highly recommend.
I enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books – Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
This took me by surprise. At first, I thought I heard wrong (audiobook) and went back to make sure. Realized It was the same scene but with a different outcome.
The whole story is told in two dimensions. What ifs? Did this not that? Chose this instead and plays the scenarios side by side. She pulls it off wonderfully.
Very entertaining…
One of those books that are easy to read but can make reflect afterward
My second book by this author and definitely not my last. Love the alternate worlds and how neither story played out how I thought it would.
~ C
A woman wakes up and she is flashing back and forth from her current life to the life path she didn’t choose. Eventually she needs to pick one path or another.
Okay, I can officially tell you my secret now. It is pretty sad, but here I go. I’m a sucker for romance novels. I can hear the gasps over the internet now. Shocking, I know. Someone as bitter, and cold-hearted about love, truly enjoys romance novels. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book Maybe in Another Life really made me think there’s true love out there!
Hannah is a 29-year-old who has just moved back to Los Angeles after a horrendous breakup back in New York. She moves in with her best friend Gabby and her husband Mark. She’s feeling lost and doesn’t really know what to do in the romance department.
That night while out with her friends she has to make a decision, go back home with Gabby or stay with Ethan, an old boyfriend she is still hung up on. With that, the book splits into two parallels — one where Hannah leaves with Gabby and the other where she stays with Ethan. Each decision has a different outcomes and we get to see how they both affect Hannah but also the people she loves.
“My life may be a little bit of a disaster. I may not make the best decisions sometimes. But I am not going to lie here and stare at the ceiling, worrying the night away. Instead, I go to sleep soundly, believing I will do better tomorrow. Things will be better tomorrow. I’ll figure this all out tomorrow. Tomorrow is, for me, a brand-new day.”
This is a stunning coming-of-age story that is beautifully written. The characters are likeable, the two parallel story lines are smoothly written, and above all it just makes you feel good about love. While Hannah faces difficulties in both storylines, the plot twists make you fall more in love with her but also her friends and family.
This is my fourth Reid novel and I’m completely hooked. I’ve yet to find one that I didn’t like. If you’re like me, now that I’ve admitted to loving romance novels, you don’t want to miss Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It will make you feel all mushy inside, even if you’re cold heart isn’t used to it, you’ll feel it where it matters!
Read my full review here: https://bit.ly/2CL4RPZ
5 STARS!!
A very original romantic story. Maybe in Another Life consists of two parallel story lines hinging on the different choices Hannah makes at the beginning of the book. The choices bring about two completely different beginning, middle and endings.
The one constant throughout the story is her wonderfully immense and loving friendship with Gabby. I don’t think I have ever been as moved by a friendship in fiction. They are each others rock and provide some lighthearted, laugh-out-loud humor throughout. As for the parallel romances, I found myself rooting for one over the other, but was completely satisfied with the outcome(s.)
This book was a definite 5-star read for me, because of originality, writing prowess, and the near-perfect character development.
What I really liked in this book was the friendship between Gabby and Hannah. I have friends like that, people that feel like siblings, who are not afraid to hold me accountable for my mistakes while still loving me with their whole hearts. It was really refreshing to read a story where friendship was the main focus in some of the most important parts.
That said, I really wanted it to end on that note. I really wanted the friendship to be the moral of the story here. I was kind of disappointed that it wasn’t.
Although I didn’t like the ending that much, I liked the idea that a soulmate doesn’t really exist, that “the one” for each person is defined by the situation they’re in, that it’s not necessarily “written in the stars”.
Maybe in Another Life is a book about choices.
Hannah having returned to L.A. is at a bar to reunite with old friends. Her best friend Gabby has arranged it and when its time to leave , Hannah has a choice whether to leave with Gabby or stay with her high school boyfriend Ethan.
Life is all about choices.
The book then is told from both points of view in alternate chapters, how Hannah’s life would have played out if she left with Gabby or if she left with Ethan.
You can’t help but think of the choices you yourself made and how would things have changed for you.
Maybe in Another Life ( and who has not been told that before) is a thought provoking book that makes you want to turn the pages and see how Hannah would fare in either life.
Great read and it will make you think.