4.5 Smooches
Synopsis
From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.
At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.
Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?
In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?
Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.
Review
“Life is unpredictable beyond measure.”
Insightful, thought provoking, heart warming and heart breaking, Maybe In Another Life was a book that was impossible to put down and had me talking about it for days. Diving head first into the concept of fate and how one small decision can completely affect the outcome of your life, Maybe In Another Life is unlike any story I have read before. While there are love interest and a falling in love story line, Maybe In Another Life, falls closer to the Chick Lit category than the Romance I an used to reading. Even through it was a departure from my typical read I could not put it down and became so wrapped up into the two stories that I didn’t even care that it was not as sexy or in your face romantic as I am used too.
“I believe I’m destined for something. We are all destined for something. And I believe that the universe, or God, or whatever you want to call it, I believe it keeps us on the right path.”
After a series of bad boyfriends and questionable life choices have lead Hannah back home in LA to her best friend, Gabby. Her first night in town they meet up with old friends including Hannah’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Ethan. At the end of the night she must choose to go slow and return home with Gabby or take the plunge and go home with Ethan. From here on out we get to follow both paths for Hannah and see how that choice changes her life and how some things in life you are just destined for.
“Doesn’t it scare you? To think that you might have gone in the wrong direction? And missed the life you were destined for?”
Alternating chapters follow the two paths and in addition to following Hannah’s life we get glimpses into the lives of those around her, her estranged family, her best friend and her ex-boyfriend. Gabby, the bestie, was a highlight for me. Her storyline was almost as engrossing as Hannah’s and in both tales she brought heart, humor and a true depth to the story.
“Because regardless of our destiny, we still have to answer for our actions. We make choices, big and small, every day of our lives, and those choices have consequences.”
The beauty in Hannah is in her flaws. Not every decision we make is perfect and we all have to deal with the consequences of those decisions. But the true lesson here is that no one decision can define us. What may seem like our worst mistake could possibly lead to our greatest happiness. Both paths have high points and lows and both lead her to the life she was destined to lead. So much changes and yet so much can still stay the same.
“Relationships aren’t neat and clean. They’re ugly and messy, and they make almost no sense except to the two people in them.”
An incredibly engrossing story, Maybe In Another Life will steal your day away and leave you looking at every choice in your life in a whole new way.
~miranda
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