Book Review | Book Chatter

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
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Fox
By Joyce Carol Oates
Hogarth, June 2025, 672pp.

The Short of It:

An exploration of temptation and the need for love.

The Rest of It:

*No Spoilers*

Mr. Fox is quite popular, with a certain group of girls.

Francis Fox, an English teacher at the prestigious Langhorne Academy possesses charm and wit and knows just what to say to a select few. Many of his students hang on his every word and seek his approval whenever they can, often leading to days of misery when not in the radius of his attention.

But when Fox’s car is found submerged in a local nature reserve’s pond, and the unidentified body is strewn about, while Fox is nowhere to be found, detectives begin to ask the tough questions.

Who is Fox? What’s his story? How did he arrive at this sleepy little town? As Detective Horace Zwender and his partner begin questioning school administrators and really anyone who Fox came in contact with, they slowly discover another side to him that begs to be further explored.

I found myself completely enthralled with this book. It speaks to forbidden wants and desires and how they play out between people when the conditions are just right. The tension! Fox’s private life is not so private as each page is turned. Oates creates flawed vulnerable characters that pull you in, even when the subject matter is difficult to digest.

The nuanced writing takes center stage. The tone is subtle while creating tension that will have you reading each word, slowly. It’s mesmerizing and satisfying.

It checked all my boxes:

Imperfect characters
Surprising twists
Highbrow academia setting
Intellectually thoughtful, reflective
Delicate handling of a tough topic

At nearly 700pp, I did not feel its length whatsoever. I flipped those pages in awe because Oates takes you gently by the hand and then as you get further in, you end up running full speed to those final pages.

I didn’t want it to end. My mind got such a workout while spending time with Fox. I guess you could say he charmed me as well.

Highly recommend. Not sure how I missed this book when it was first released.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

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