Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Best of 2024 ezine!

Read advance reader review of Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid, page 2 of 5

Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Maybe in Another Life

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Published:
  • Jul 2015, 352 pages
  • Rate this book

About this book

Reviews


Page 2 of 5
There are currently 35 member reviews
for Maybe in Another Life
Order Reviews by:
  • Melissa M. (Leesburg, FL)
    A refreshing adult read.
    I was surprised by this book. It was fun, witty, romantic and totally enjoyable to read. I have been stuck on reading only YA novels, because a lot of writers that write for adults forget that we want to be made to feel, not just be given pointless descriptions that illicit no emotion...however Mrs. Taylor Jenkins Reid is not one of those writers that make me steer from adult novels. I will definitely read her other novels and look forward to reading anything else she may write in the future. And, lastly there may be other universes out there were I chose to read a James Patterson novel or something else equally as boring, and I feel sorry for every version of me that missed out on this book.
  • Shawna, (TX)
    Enjoyable and Thought Provoking
    The concurrent story lines make for a very interesting approach to the premise of one night, two possibilities. Written in a very engaging manner that keeps you reading, the book will be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers. Very enjoyable as a personal read, but will lend itself to a lively discussion about fate, choices, and the road not taken. My favorite line was one the author wrote for her husband (read the acknowledgments.)
  • Carol N. (Indian Springs Village, AL)
    Maybe in Another Life...
    "...I know there may be universes out there where I made different choices that led me somewhere else, led me to someone else. And my heart breaks for ever version of me that didn't end up with you." And cue the tears.

    Usually I don't like the books that go back and forth from one story line to another in alternating chapters. I feel confused, trying to keep track of who said what, in what universe to whom and what secrets does which character know. But in this case, it really worked for me. I didn't want to like Hannah when I first met her, thinking her some kind of whiny slacker but she really grew on me as she grew through these very different life experiences. I adored her friend Gabby and their friendship. I don't have a friend like this in my life but I wish I did. I've been through a lot of health issues lately and I could feel Hannah's frustrations as I have felt those same ones. I wish the book had been a little longer to give us more insight into how the women coped together on their own but I did really enjoy the book. I think this would be a very good book for a book club to read as there would be a lot for them to discuss. I will be looking for more books by this author.
  • Karen L. (Wilton, IA)
    Couldn't put it down!
    I loved this book! I want to read the rest of this authors books! It reminded me of another book I read Time of my Life by Allison Winn Scotch Which I also liked. This one was even better. This book would be good for book clubs and for anyone who ever thought about the effect their choices have on their life. Just one choice whether to stay with Ethan or go home with her friend took Hannah's life in two different directions. Some things stayed the same in both story lines which shows good character development. I cared about and liked most of the characters except Mark and Michael. I loved the friendship between Hannah and Gabby.
  • Mary Lou F. (Naples, FL)
    Choices/chances
    Very different style of writing. Two different choices to every action. Confusing at first but once you catch on, it makes for a very good read. I would like to read her other books to see how she handles situations.
  • Lisa G. (Riverwoods, IL)
    Maybe In Another Life
    This was a very quick and enjoyable read, perfect for the summer. At 29 Hannah moves back to where she grew up after a traumatic break up with a married man to reevaluate her life, The author shows us two different paths that her life could have taken which are set forth in alternating chapters. As the threads of each life seem to unravel I found myself thinking that maybe the outcome of our decisions is what is ordained, how we get there is not. And if we have a soul mate are there different paths to finding that special person? For Hannah her quest made for a good read that book groups would enjoy.
  • Joan V. (Miller Place, NY)
    Parallel lives?
    I LOVED this book! Ms. Jenkins Reid captured my attention at the beginning and I read it in one big gulp. Two story lines are written about the main character "Hannah Martin." They revolve around her making two different choices on her first night in LA each one leads her down a different path, however they run parallel to each other. The chapters alternate between Hannah's life choices. Ms. Jenkins Reid weaves these stories very skillfully and allows them to overlap in some places making the story very credible. At times I was tempted to peek ahead and see what was going to happen, but I resisted that impulse and just read faster.

    I think this would make a terrific book club choice; there are many points for discussion. Is there a parallel universe, who knows, but this book makes it something that is fun to think about. I want to read her other books and will definitely recommend this one to my friends.

Read-Alikes

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket
    The Frozen River
    by Ariel Lawhon
    "I cannot say why it is so important that I make this daily record. Perhaps because I have been ...
  • Book Jacket
    Prophet Song
    by Paul Lynch
    Paul Lynch's 2023 Booker Prize–winning Prophet Song is a speedboat of a novel that hurtles...
  • Book Jacket: The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
    The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
    by Lynda Cohen Loigman
    Lynda Cohen Loigman's delightful novel The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern opens in 1987. The titular ...
  • Book Jacket: Small Rain
    Small Rain
    by Garth Greenwell
    At the beginning of Garth Greenwell's novel Small Rain, the protagonist, an unnamed poet in his ...

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
The Berry Pickers
by Amanda Peters
A four-year-old Mi'kmaq girl disappears, leaving a mystery unsolved for fifty years.
Book Jacket
In Our Midst
by Nancy Jensen
In Our Midst follows a German immigrant family’s fight for freedom after their internment post–Pearl Harbor.
Who Said...

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Big Holiday Wordplay 2024

Enter Now

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.