Maybe in Another Life
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Atria, July 2015, 352pp.

The Short of It:

Romance with a twist.

The Rest of It:

At 29 years old, Hannah Martin is still trying to figure life out. She moves from city to city, always convinced a fresh start is exactly what she needs. But before long, she settles into what’s comfortable, starts feeling restless, and finds herself wanting more. She’s unhappy, far from successful, and her latest breakup with a married man has her packing up once again.

The one constant in her life is her best friend, Gabby. Gabby encourages Hannah to come home. For Gabby, the answer is simple. For Hannah, the bigger question is, what does “home” even mean?

After moving in with Gabby and her husband, yep… awkward, Hannah goes to a party where she runs into an old flame. Back in the day, she and Ethan were a great match, but Hannah’s inability to stay in one place ended their relationship. When he asks her to hang out after the party, she’s torn.

Should she go with Ethan? Or should she get in the car with Gabby and head home?

This is where the story takes on a Sliding Doors premise. Told in alternating chapters, one storyline follows Hannah if she chooses Ethan, while the other follows what happens if she goes home instead.

Both storylines are compelling and surprisingly easy to follow. As the novel progresses, the timelines begin to pick up, and there were moments when I had to stop and remind myself which version of Hannah I was reading about. You’re never quite sure if something supernatural is happening or if Hannah’s emotional state is creating these alternate realities.

Without giving anything away, I was satisfied with the direction the author ultimately took, even if it wasn’t one hundred percent believable. That said, I still think Daisy Jones & The Six is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s stronger book, and I’d recommend that one first. Even so, this was an interesting take on a story concept that’s been done before.

Source: Borrowed
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