Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid Published by Dreamscape Media on August 18th 2015
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
Genres: Women's Fiction
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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.
Maybe in Another Life is the third book I’ve read by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I can safely say that I’ve become an avid fan. In this book she weaves a unique story that explores how one brief moment can drastically alter the path a person’s life takes.
Hannah is living an unfulfilling and directionless life. She makes a quick, seemingly insignificant decision one night that causes her world to split into two alternate versions. The story details her two parallel lives, and each version is a distinct story unto itself. There is some crossover at times that some may find repetitive, but combining the two worlds creates a more intricate plot and brings up some thought-provoking issues.
The book examines the legitimacy of fate, and causes you to question how much of our character fundamentally changes as a result of our decisions. Is there even such a thing as a good consequence or a bad consequence?
I love Hannah’s strength and evolution as she travels along the two paths. Her friends and family members are included in both universes, and it’s fascinating to see how that one single choice impacts Hannah’s relationship with each of them.
Life isn’t black or white, and nothing about Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing style is trite. The entire story is creative and immensely satisfying, and the ending is pleasantly unexpected.
I listed to the audio book which features excellent narration by Julia Whelan.
Recommended for fans of:
Quarter-life crisis
Second chance love
Cinnamon buns
It’s a Wonderful Life
About Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and the Six, is currently being adapted by Hello Sunshine into a limited series for Amazon. She lives in Los Angeles.
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