Jeff Winston, forty-three, didn’t know he was a replayer until he died and woke up twenty-five years younger in his college dorm room; he lived another life. And died again. And lived again and died again — in a continuous twenty-five-year cycle — each time starting from scratch at the age of eighteen to reclaim lost loves, remedy past mistakes, or make a fortune in the stock market. A novel of … of gripping adventure, romance, and fascinating speculation on the nature of time, Replay asks the question: “What if you could live your life over again?”
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This book was published decades ago, but it reads like the freshest of fiction. A classic time-travel story that teases with the ultimate what-if: What if you could do your life over again? And again and again… Sadly, the author passed away while writing the sequel. Happily for readers, this emotional, involving story lives on.
I came late to the party on Ken Grimwood’s “Replay.” I didn’t discover it until a reader left a review saying I had essentially copied it for my own time travel book. I hadn’t, because I hadn’t read it, but I ran right out and grabbed a copy.
Man, I loved this book. Yes, it has the classic “Do-over” structure, but it brings some startling twists and turns to the idea. The tension and drama built almost unbearably as the end of the book approached.
Along with Stephen King’s 11/22/63, this is one of my favorite time travel novels.
I learned about this book through a book collecting group I’m in and had to read it. A man dies at age 45 and wakes up as his 18 year old self. He relives his life over and over, and things get more interesting when he encounters a woman who does this same. This book was sooo good and definitely belongs on my re-read shelf.
What if instead of a single groundhog day you could live your entire life once and again? Even more, in the process of living like that, you find someone who has been doing the same as you and became your partner in time?
Brilliant!!!
A fascinating premise and well-executed, easy-to-read story combine with subtle philosophical insights to make an eminently enjoyable novel. The only drawback is that Grimwood remains somewhat hamstrung by his inventive premise. The characters’ knowledge that they will have the opportunity to repeat a segment of their lives, thus wiping away any of their mistakes, reduces the dramatic stakes that could put this novel over the top.
I’ve reread this book about a dozen times. I love it ever time I read it. It never gets old to me.
Possibly one of the most compelling books I’ve read from a soft science fiction genre. I read it on Kindle then bough a hardback to keep. I’ve also bought copies for family and friends.
I usually read humor books, but Replay by Ken Grimwood came highly recommended. The recommendation was perfect. What a fun ride! For anyone that likes the idea of asking, “If you could go back and live your life over, what would you do?” Enjoy this book and then tell a friend.
Amazing book.
This is my absolute favorite book and the reason I started writing. There is a scene where Jeff screams at the sky and it’ll punch you in the gut. Love it. You will too.
A classic, thought-provoking time travel novel.
Before there was Groundhog Day, there was Replay.
Ken Grimwood’s classic tale of ‘Time Travel’ and heartbreak.
I’ve read a lot of time travel stories and Ken Grimwood’s Replay is my favorite. Not only do I think it is quite realistic about what someone would actually do if they were suddenly transported back in time within their own lifetime with their current knowledge base intact, but it is surprisingly nostalgic and reassuring to anyone dealing with midlife angst.
I have read, and re-read this book. I love the idea of – what would you do if you could go back and live your life over. For me – definitely a page turner
This is one of the best books I have ever read. In fact I have a couple of copies of it and have read it 4-5 times over the years. Every time I see something new that I hadn’t seen before.
One day you are in you 50’s and you have a heart attack and die. But suddenly you wake up, you are back in college and you know everything that will happen, to you, to your family and more importantly, in the world over the next 30+ Years. What would you do with this information? This is the premise of this story and for the main character. Read what he does, how he plans for things to be different but somehow the same. Does it work or does he fail? Read this book and find out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.