Release date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Synopsis:
A hilarious and heartfelt novel about how loves and lives are never truly lost, for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.
With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath the layers of makeup and hairspray, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip where she knows the grass is greener: Ireland. Specifically, the quaint little village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving—a dream that fell apart when an accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago.
When Meg arrives, the people in town are so nice, treating her not as a stranger, but a friend. Except for the (extremely hot) bartender giving her the cold shoulder. Meg writes it all off as jetlag until she looks in the mirror. Her hair is no longer bleached within an inch of its life, her skin has a few natural fine lines, and her nose looks like… well, her old nose. Her real nose.
Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this little town: with an adorable dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her (ex?) boyfriend; and at a retail job unrelated to acting. Eventually, she comes to accept that she somehow made a quantum slide into an alternate version of her life. But the most shocking realization of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is alive and well…but wants nothing to do with Meg.
Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke. She finagles an opportunity to act in the play Aimee is writing and directing and as the project unfolds, Meg realizes that events as she remembers them may not be the only truth, and that an impossible choice looms before her.
Synopsis:
I absolutely devoured this one, I’ve always been drawn to stories that explore the concept of alternate lives or “sliding doors” moments, and this one delivered in such a compelling and heartfelt way. The author takes the age old question—what if?—and spins it into a beautiful, emotional journey that really makes you pause and reflect.
I especially loved the main character, Meg, she felt so real and relatable. And I have to say, the version of Meg who lives in Ireland completely stole my heart. That storyline was so atmospheric and emotionally rich, it added an extra layer of depth that I didn’t expect but thoroughly enjoyed and her grief and vulnerability was raw and touching.
The premise felt fresh yet familiar in the best way, and I found myself completely immersed in the characters’ lives. It was equal parts emotional, thought provoking, and hopeful. A truly delightful read that lingers with you after you finish the last page and enough to make me add the author as an auto buy.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
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