Atria | 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.

Once and Again
By Rebecca Serle
Atria, March 2026, 256pp.

The Short of It:

Getting a “do-over” in life sounds like a dream come true, but is it?

The Rest of It:

Lauren and Leo are married and, for the most part, happy. The one thing they want most just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Infertility, and the costly treatments that come with it, begin to wear them down piece by piece. You can’t help but wonder if their marriage will survive the strain.

In the back of her mind, Lauren knows she’s been given a gift. The women in her family inherit a single, extraordinary chance to go back in time. It can be used to fix a mistake, undo a tragedy, even prevent a death. She’s never considered using it. Not seriously. But after one terrible moment, she is forced to choose.

How do you live with that kind of power? Knowing you only get one chance. Do you fix what’s right in front of you, or hold onto it in case something worse comes later? It’s the kind of pressure that would paralyze most people. I’m not sure I’d ever use it at all.

That tension sits at the heart of Lauren’s story. Choices are made. Secrets surface. And through it all, she wrestles with whether to stay with Leo despite the uncertainty surrounding their future, or return to what feels safe. A past love. A familiar life. The beach house that still feels like home.

Serle handles these questions with care and emotional clarity. The story invites you to sit with every possibility and feel the weight of each one. Yes, there is a way out, but it comes at a cost. What happens to the good memories? Can they ever be recreated, or does one decision shift everything that follows?

It’s a thoughtful, empathetic exploration of love, loss, and the choices that define a life.

I enjoyed this one and the questions it raised about life and what makes a home a home.

Recommend.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

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