By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication Date: 2015
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
The Backstory
I’ll admit, I never actually intended to become a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan. It started when my daughter was determined to buy The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for herself, but wanted to get me a birthday gift while we were at the bookstore. My husband told me to pick something out so she could “surprise” me with it, very hush-hush, of course!
I chose Daisy Jones & The Six and loved it (both the print and the audiobook), but Evelyn Hugo was what truly cemented my obsession. Naturally, when a recent Kobo sale rolled around, I didn’t hesitate to add her entire back catalogue to my cart. That’s how I finally landed on Maybe in Another Life.
The Premise
If you’re a fan of “what if” stories (think the movie Sliding Doors or Look Both Ways), this will be right up your alley.
The story follows 29-year-old Hannah. She’s a bit adrift; she hasn’t settled into a “real” career, and after a messy breakup, she moves back to Southern California to stay with her best friend, Gabby and her husband Mark.
During a night out at a bar, Hannah’s life literally splits into two parallel timelines based on one single choice:
- In one reality, she leaves the bar early with her high school sweetheart.
- In the other, she stays out late with Gabby and Mark.
My Thoughts
While I didn’t give this quite as high a star rating as Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo, I still thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It’s a fascinating exploration of the choices we make and the different versions of ourselves that could have existed.
The book hits on those universal questions we all ask: Did I make the right choice? Where would I be if I’d said no instead of yes? It’s a comforting reminder that while some things feel like fate, in the end, we have the strength to be okay regardless of the path we take.
Verdict: A light, thought-provoking read for anyone who loves contemporary fiction with a touch of “parallel universe” whimsy.