Maybe in Another Life
Book: Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Synopsis:
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.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
My Thoughts: This book is a shining example of what Taylor Jenkins Reid does so well — create a completely outlandish premise and then fill it in with realistic, lovable, yet flawed characters. This time the premise is parallel timelines of Hannah’s life based solely on whether she stays at a bar or leaves early with a friend. I definitely found myself rooting for a certain timeline, and in my mind that was the correct timeline and the choice Hannah should’ve made and somehow cemented the rest of her life in. However, the book is split so equally between each world that it’s clear there really wasn’t a wrong decision for Hannah to make. She faces different obstacles and has different highs and lows, but ultimately her life is still going to keep moving and her friends are still going to have her back.
Each timeline alone would’ve made cute standalone romance novels, but putting them together is what I think separates Taylor Jenkins Reid into the higher class of writer. Her books are popular for a reason and Maybe in Another Life is really special.
You can get your own copy of Maybe in Another Life here or borrow it from your local library.
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