Maybe in Another Life: A Novel Paperback – July 7, 2015

After I Do completely wrecked me, in the best way possible. This book made me cry, reflect, and feel all the emotions. Taylor Jenkins Reid has such a gift for capturing the complexities of love, identity, and growth, and she absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.What I loved most is how both of the character’s paths felt perfect in their own way. It really makes you sit back and think about how the universe has a way of unfolding exactly how it’s meant to, no matter which direction you choose.TJR’s writing is raw, real, and incredibly moving. If you’ve ever questioned what love looks like after the honeymoon phase or wondered how to find yourself again in the midst of a relationship, this book will hit home. A stunning read from an author who just keeps delivering masterpiece after masterpiece.

This is a book about choices. What would happen if you went down a different path, made different choices, refused someone?I originally purchased this book because a 'friend' of mine was starting another book club, and she was so complimentary of my intellect, I fell all over myself to find this book and read it--at her request. So I read the book, made some notes, and told this person I'd read the book...and she blithely informed me that no one else wanted to finish the book (all three of the other 'readers') and they'd already picked another book to replace the one I'd diligently read.Thank God I liked the book. I think the author did a very good job of weaving two different realities/paths into one book. But I bought this book because it was compared to Sliding Doors, one of my favorite movies, and that was a mistake. Sliding Doors was more about showing you that no matter what path you take, you will end up where you need to be. This book was more about exploring quantum physics, kinda sorta.But I did like the book. I loved the characters. And there were plenty of paragraphs I read twice, because I loved how choices were explained. I loved anticipating how the characters were going to handle choices in their reality. It was a nice book, with lots of sweet moments. I really enjoyed it.I would recommend this book, because it was clever and quick. It wrapped things up at the end, which I like. But I really (really really) hate it when authors write in first person. I get that she was probably trying to make it all feel like it was happening right *now,* but it always feels like a YA book when someone writes in first person.I liked this book. I am going to go look for more books this author has written.

Hannah Martin is a young lady who has lived in multiple places and held many dead-end jobs. She struggles to be content with her life, never feeling at home anywhere, particularly since her family lives across the ocean in London. So she decides to start afresh (again), and hauls herself back to LA where her best friend, Gabby, lives. She moves in for what is supposed to be a temporary period of time. It is here that Hannah decides to implement her version of growing up. She makes a plan with every intention of sticking to it. Then she runs into her old boyfriend, Ethan, and it is here that the universe divides, playing out various story lines depending upon what decision Hannah makes in that moment. In essence, the plot is a decision-tree of sorts. What decision will grow into what branch of her life, and on it goes. From chapter to chapter we see a different Hannah in a situation based on the decision she made she made at various points. Two lives of Hannah play out and the reader moves along wondering which life Hannah ended up with. It is an interesting concept to ponder and may create moments of self-reflection in the reader starting with, "What if I..."Hannah, herself, is a flat character. She is fraught with fear, indecision, lack of confidence, and parent issues that at the age of 30 she should have resolved or be very close to resolving. In this capacity she is insipid and from time to time very annoying. The reader may find herself saying, "Just get on with it." On the other hand, without these character flaws, there is no novel. Gabby, her best friend, is much better developed and more interesting in any universe we examine for Hannah.If you are hardcore romance reader, this book is not for you. The romance in this book is implied and not graphically depicted. Nevertheless, romantic tension does exist for both Hannah and Gabby. And there is happy ending, although one the reader may not expect. The parental subplot is predictable and boring and isn't necessary to the plot whether the parents live in LA or London or Paris or the moon. But it is a small part and not overly complicated or distracting.As far as writing ability, the author writes well. The pace is steady and I can imagine readers flipping pages at a pretty good clip to see what happens next. In that aspect, the novel itself is worth your time in escapism.