Book Review | Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Maybe in Another Life follows 29-year-old Hannah Martin.
She's recently moved back to her hometown Los Angeles and is ready to find out what fate has in store for her. What kind of career will she pursue? Who is her one true love? Will she finally feel content, and will she finally feel at home?
During a night out with her best friend Gabby, Hannah catches up with Ethan, her former college boyfriend. Sparks fly as the two quickly realise the old flame was never entirely snuffed out. At the end of the night, Hannah must choose; to go home with Ethan and potentially pick up where they left off or go home with Gabby, her best friend and favourite person in the world.
Lucky for us, we get to know what happens with both versions. The novel proceeds as two parallel universes. Each chapter toggles, unfolding Hannah's fate piece based on whether she goes home with her best friend or ex-boyfriend. Will she find the life that she wants?
A book based on parallel universes by Taylor Jenkins Reid? Is it my lucky day or what? This book is right up my street; needless to say, I devoured it in a single day.
Following Hannah's parallel universes was a real treat! Although, it's a bit tricky to favour just one. In both universes, she is faced with similar challenges as she tries to shape her world into the perfect one. But of course, as cliche quotes often say, the same challenge will show up, albeit in a different form, over and over until you learn the lesson. This rings true in the novel as Hannah experiences some themes in both lives but along a different timeline.
One thing that stays strong throughout is Hannah and Gabby's sturdy friendship. I love to believe that the people we meet in life are for a reason. To teach us something, help us grow, and have a meaningful connection. I love how Jenkins Reid ensures that the right people are in Hannah's life in both universes, at one point or another.
Overall, an uplifting and easy read. Another one to tick off the list by this fantastic author. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy all of her other books.