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Once in Every Life
Tess Gregory's brilliant career as a research scientist hides her longings for husband and child. Though deaf, she is a free spirit--a woman full of life and love. She is struck down all too soon
But for Tess, a new life begins at her death, in post-Civil War America. She is now Amarylis Rafferty, wife and mother of three--and she can hear. Shocked and disoriented by her new surroundings, she is drawn into the savage heartache burdening the family, especially her husband, Jack, a man who fears himself capable of anything.
But for Tess, a new life begins at her death, in post-Civil War America. She is now Amarylis Rafferty, wife and mother of three--and she can hear. Shocked and disoriented by her new surroundings, she is drawn into the savage heartache burdening the family, especially her husband, Jack, a man who fears himself capable of anything.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
66 people are currently reading
18160 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Hannah
150 books287k followersKristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018,
The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.
Her new novel, The Women, about a young woman coming of age during the turbulent 1960's in America, who joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam will be published February 6th, 2024.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.
Her new novel, The Women, about a young woman coming of age during the turbulent 1960's in America, who joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam will be published February 6th, 2024.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
September 27, 2022
3.5 stars
April 2, 2021
You can call this either time travel or reincarnation story, it doesn’t matter:)
The book’s description give us some ideas, what this story all about.
The heroine died because of an accident, but before she goes to the next life, she would get a chance to live again, apparently she hasn’t have a good life, yet. So, the angel give her a pick which live she would like to have and have a wonderful new life with it.
So, she picked one, and she lives again in a woman who just died give birth to a baby boy 😬.
However, no one mentioned to her, that dead woman is an evil woman who’s cruel and loved to terrorised her children and husband, also she lived in 19th century, too. Hah! 😳🥴😂
How she change those situation and made a worthy second chance of living with her new family, it would make a wonderful read and I like it very much! 😍☺️.
I love the ending too, about her previous life memories 😘
This is an oldie book but if you read this author’s books before, you probably would like this one too.
❤️❤️❤️
The book’s description give us some ideas, what this story all about.
The heroine died because of an accident, but before she goes to the next life, she would get a chance to live again, apparently she hasn’t have a good life, yet. So, the angel give her a pick which live she would like to have and have a wonderful new life with it.
So, she picked one, and she lives again in a woman who just died give birth to a baby boy 😬.
However, no one mentioned to her, that dead woman is an evil woman who’s cruel and loved to terrorised her children and husband, also she lived in 19th century, too. Hah! 😳🥴😂
How she change those situation and made a worthy second chance of living with her new family, it would make a wonderful read and I like it very much! 😍☺️.
I love the ending too, about her previous life memories 😘
This is an oldie book but if you read this author’s books before, you probably would like this one too.
❤️❤️❤️
September 5, 2011
This was only the best reincarnation-time travel romance out there!
This theme is a new one for mean I was especially looking for book where a different person gets stuck in a body that is already romantically involved. Believe me when I tell you that this setting makes all kind of romances fun.
Nevertheless, this one was very special because of super character developments and family interaction.
I was a bit uneasy with the fact that the hero even married his wife (who is now gone gone GONE) and how he could have still, like , even looked at her let alone have a new kid with her (an by that we know they haaaaad relations even thou she was a eeeeviiiil witch!!) but hey that is just me.
How even I turn it-it was a book worth reading.
This theme is a new one for mean I was especially looking for book where a different person gets stuck in a body that is already romantically involved. Believe me when I tell you that this setting makes all kind of romances fun.
Nevertheless, this one was very special because of super character developments and family interaction.
I was a bit uneasy with the fact that the hero even married his wife (who is now gone gone GONE) and how he could have still, like , even looked at her let alone have a new kid with her (an by that we know they haaaaad relations even thou she was a eeeeviiiil witch!!) but hey that is just me.
How even I turn it-it was a book worth reading.
March 9, 2018
Me estaba gustando demasiado. La narrativa de la autora me recordó mucho a "Maravilla! de Lavyrle Spencer, una historia que amé con todo mi cora.
Pero ya para el final todo se desarrolla muy rápido. La historia se vuelve repetitiva, tediosa y aburrida.
Todo termina y tu te quedas como... y ya terminó?
Muy predecible la cosa.
Además de que la ondita esa con Carol fue medio creepy. JAJAJAJA
Sorry si estoy haciendo mis reseñas cada vez más cortas pero casi no tengo tiempo últimamente. *se va a llorar al rincón*
Así que por no dejar el libro sin nada mejor hago todo esto corto, conciso. Al punto pues.
Pero ya para el final todo se desarrolla muy rápido. La historia se vuelve repetitiva, tediosa y aburrida.
Todo termina y tu te quedas como... y ya terminó?
Muy predecible la cosa.
Además de que la ondita esa con Carol fue medio creepy. JAJAJAJA
Sorry si estoy haciendo mis reseñas cada vez más cortas pero casi no tengo tiempo últimamente. *se va a llorar al rincón*
Así que por no dejar el libro sin nada mejor hago todo esto corto, conciso. Al punto pues.
July 29, 2014
Not a fan of this book. I usually love everything Kristin Hannah writes, not this time. The story was so unrealistic and boring. Floating in and out of 3 names for the same character was exhausting. The tortured male character Jack was irritating, whiney and irritating. A 20th century women dies and is reincarnated into a women living in the 1800's with her 20th century mind and personality intact, sent to save a man and his family from his tortured and fearful self. All Tess/Amarylis/Lissa has to do is love him unconditionally. Oh brother this was a snooze fest!!!!!!
March 7, 2015
God, in His infinite wisdom, makes sure everyone gets one happy life before they move on
Our heroines life was so-so. When she died she never truly experienced perfect bliss. And so God gave her another chance; a chance of love and happiness.
Then, she met him in his wife's body.
Our hero puts EVERY turtored male hero you have EVER read to shame. He is scarred, wounded, and deathly afraid of himself. Life has stripped him of everything (read: his bi-atch of a wife) and left him an empty shell filled with nothing but grief,sorrow, self-disgust, and guilt. He get's black outs and gets crazy dreams. Even the town folks think he is crazy and dangerous. That BROKE my heart!
He is beautiful! Inside and out. It broke my heart that the woman he had loved amplified he's fears and guilt instead of trying to heal it. I remember reading the book and wanting to be there for him. I wanted so hard to reach out myself, cuddle him, kiss him, love him with all my heart and soul and NEVER leave he's side forever! Gosh he touched me deep!!!!!!
So i was ecstatic when the heroine did exactly that! I understood the heroes hesitation at first. His wife is satan reincarnated- well was anyway- and he had made him feel like a monster that he is far from!
It was hard of course. Her family was scared of her and their home was like a prison. *shiver*.
I love how the heroine never gave up. She did everything she could to brake down the barriers the family have erected against her.
Our hero got scared. He has tried everyday to be numb when it comes to he's wife but when suddenly she was doing everything to seep into his skin and warm his heart, he was terrified he was getting played at. He evaded and the heroine run after him. DOing everything.
Their childrens needed love and affection and were deathly scared of their once-mamma. OUr heroine was wonderful.
The love story was amazing. It showed that Love heals all aches. Forgiveness made a huge difference.
It took reasonable amount of time for Jack to finally open he's heart. And there were a few bumps along the way but our heroine never left our heroes side.
*sigh*...
I love the version of life Kristin has created in here. It makes us think about life and all it's mystery. How great would it be? TO experience a second chance of happiness when your first chance blew up? IN different time, place. Maybe Love does transcend time. And maybe God does make sure everyone has a chance of perfect love...once in every life.
Our heroines life was so-so. When she died she never truly experienced perfect bliss. And so God gave her another chance; a chance of love and happiness.
Then, she met him in his wife's body.
Our hero puts EVERY turtored male hero you have EVER read to shame. He is scarred, wounded, and deathly afraid of himself. Life has stripped him of everything (read: his bi-atch of a wife) and left him an empty shell filled with nothing but grief,sorrow, self-disgust, and guilt. He get's black outs and gets crazy dreams. Even the town folks think he is crazy and dangerous. That BROKE my heart!
He is beautiful! Inside and out. It broke my heart that the woman he had loved amplified he's fears and guilt instead of trying to heal it. I remember reading the book and wanting to be there for him. I wanted so hard to reach out myself, cuddle him, kiss him, love him with all my heart and soul and NEVER leave he's side forever! Gosh he touched me deep!!!!!!
So i was ecstatic when the heroine did exactly that! I understood the heroes hesitation at first. His wife is satan reincarnated- well was anyway- and he had made him feel like a monster that he is far from!
It was hard of course. Her family was scared of her and their home was like a prison. *shiver*.
I love how the heroine never gave up. She did everything she could to brake down the barriers the family have erected against her.
Our hero got scared. He has tried everyday to be numb when it comes to he's wife but when suddenly she was doing everything to seep into his skin and warm his heart, he was terrified he was getting played at. He evaded and the heroine run after him. DOing everything.
Their childrens needed love and affection and were deathly scared of their once-mamma. OUr heroine was wonderful.
The love story was amazing. It showed that Love heals all aches. Forgiveness made a huge difference.
It took reasonable amount of time for Jack to finally open he's heart. And there were a few bumps along the way but our heroine never left our heroes side.
*sigh*...
I love the version of life Kristin has created in here. It makes us think about life and all it's mystery. How great would it be? TO experience a second chance of happiness when your first chance blew up? IN different time, place. Maybe Love does transcend time. And maybe God does make sure everyone has a chance of perfect love...once in every life.
December 12, 2009
Despite the fantastical premise of the book, once the core story started, I couldn't put it down. And this was in spite of the fact that this novel is actually from the romance genre that I generally avoid.
Tess is a lonely microbiologist. She became deaf at age 7 from a bout with spinal meningitis, and spent her life being shunted from foster home to foster home. On her way home from work one evening, she's hit by a bus, and dies. During the death experience she's given a 2nd chance at life, this time as the estranged wife of a Civil War vet suffering from post-traumatic shock syndrome. Because it's a romance, it has a satisfying happy ending. In the author's note at the end, the author says the story was inspired by a real-life incident in her family's history.
I like Kristin Hannah's books, but have only read her contemporary fiction. This is apparently from her early days as a romance writer.
Tess is a lonely microbiologist. She became deaf at age 7 from a bout with spinal meningitis, and spent her life being shunted from foster home to foster home. On her way home from work one evening, she's hit by a bus, and dies. During the death experience she's given a 2nd chance at life, this time as the estranged wife of a Civil War vet suffering from post-traumatic shock syndrome. Because it's a romance, it has a satisfying happy ending. In the author's note at the end, the author says the story was inspired by a real-life incident in her family's history.
I like Kristin Hannah's books, but have only read her contemporary fiction. This is apparently from her early days as a romance writer.
October 25, 2012
WOW!! Beautiful! I was crying like crazy...One of the best time-travel romance I have read and one of the best, awesome tortured hero ever!
Overall, this deserves about 10/5 stars if that was possible!!;p
Overall, this deserves about 10/5 stars if that was possible!!;p
April 13, 2021
Boşuna Kristin Hannah olmamış kadın. Nasıl bir kitaptı bu böyle. Tek kelimeyle harika 🤩🤩
February 3, 2015
I got to page 15 and had to put this down. The premise in Ms. Hannah's usually able hands is utterly absurd. A hearing-impaired woman in 1993 Seattle gets hit by a bus and gets to choose her second chance. She picks a family in the post Civil War era. I enjoy Kristin Hannah, but this one is simply ridiculous. Maybe another author could pull it off, but not this one.
March 21, 2017
Really good. A little different than most Hannah books.
June 13, 2021
"But she might stay. She might take you in her arms and kiss you softly and tell you she loves you anyway."
Family, love and second chances. Tess was given a second chance at life and she is determined to make the most out of it. Jack is a man suffering from something that left him scarred for life. And then a family that brings the two together. Set in 1873, this story did not really go deep about things that happened in history. It was more focused on the family and how they would make it work, despite the challenges. And i did enjoy reading it. Sometimes, all I need to read is a good romance book that would make my heart ache but won't really shatter it completely. The hero had flaws, which had reasons. The heroine has a bit of a saviour complex (JK) Together, they work it out. (I mean, good for them!) They had to because they were married and with children. And they loved each other, despite it all. Definitely an interesting read, to me, because i wanted to know how they would make things work. Well, the plot, reincarnation — (i believe in reincarnations) might be a bit unrealistic and the author doesn't really talk deep about it but i don't really care for the reason that i don't care much for explanations about it, i just believe in it so any story with that concept interests me. In conclusion, it's an interesting romance book that managed to keep me hooked. Though the characters had their flaws, i was still rooting for them and was satisfied with the ending. Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer and i have to read her more popular works.
Family, love and second chances. Tess was given a second chance at life and she is determined to make the most out of it. Jack is a man suffering from something that left him scarred for life. And then a family that brings the two together. Set in 1873, this story did not really go deep about things that happened in history. It was more focused on the family and how they would make it work, despite the challenges. And i did enjoy reading it. Sometimes, all I need to read is a good romance book that would make my heart ache but won't really shatter it completely. The hero had flaws, which had reasons. The heroine has a bit of a saviour complex (JK) Together, they work it out. (I mean, good for them!) They had to because they were married and with children. And they loved each other, despite it all. Definitely an interesting read, to me, because i wanted to know how they would make things work. Well, the plot, reincarnation — (i believe in reincarnations) might be a bit unrealistic and the author doesn't really talk deep about it but i don't really care for the reason that i don't care much for explanations about it, i just believe in it so any story with that concept interests me. In conclusion, it's an interesting romance book that managed to keep me hooked. Though the characters had their flaws, i was still rooting for them and was satisfied with the ending. Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer and i have to read her more popular works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2010
This was my first book that I read by Kristin Hannah and a difficult one to write an honest review. It started out a little slow. Then it caught my interest until, for the umpteenth time, I read that the hero, Jack, loved his wife but he couldn't stand her. Hello???
Even though there were children I found it hard to believe that if they were so unhappy for YEARS that he stayed married to Amarylis AND remained monogamous. I know Jack had a lot of baggage because of what happened during the Civil War. Also, his marriage was poisoned for a long time but I got tired of Lissa/Tess constantly trying to fix things between her and Jack through the first half of the book and Jack never believing her. Jack saw that Lissa was different (it was like night and day) and she never gave him a reason to doubt her after she "changed".
The book also had a quick secondary story that seemed hurried at the end. Still, I kept reading because Ms. Hannah had some good ideas and I can tell you that there was something nice about the romance. I just can't recommend it. I'll try some other titles by this author since I know she has potential to write a better story.
Even though there were children I found it hard to believe that if they were so unhappy for YEARS that he stayed married to Amarylis AND remained monogamous. I know Jack had a lot of baggage because of what happened during the Civil War. Also, his marriage was poisoned for a long time but I got tired of Lissa/Tess constantly trying to fix things between her and Jack through the first half of the book and Jack never believing her. Jack saw that Lissa was different (it was like night and day) and she never gave him a reason to doubt her after she "changed".
The book also had a quick secondary story that seemed hurried at the end. Still, I kept reading because Ms. Hannah had some good ideas and I can tell you that there was something nice about the romance. I just can't recommend it. I'll try some other titles by this author since I know she has potential to write a better story.
January 18, 2012
Seattle, Washington 1994: Tess Gregory -a deaf physician- is walked into the street when she was hit by a bus. She awakes and can suddenly hear, after being deaf since the age of seven, and meets her 'guide' Carol. Carol informs Tess of her death but is given a new chance a life. Tess has the opportunity to select a new life, like a second chance. San Juan Island, Washington Territory, 1873: Tess wakes up in a hospital bed, next to a man. They are married, have three children and plenty of marriage/family issues. She wants to work with this broken family to create the dream she wanted as a child. Tess died for a chance of love, hopefully she will not give up that easily.
Kristin Hannah transformed the life of Tess, by giving her a another chance, but more important another chance for the Rafferty family. The motivation to repair the damage she inherited displays Tess' amazing nature. "Once in Every Life" is every bit an adorable read without the mind bending concepts of other time travel novels. I enjoyed the friendships, family and love this novel was about. It was a fabulous feel-good read that makes you wonder if your fate lies in a different century.
Kristin Hannah transformed the life of Tess, by giving her a another chance, but more important another chance for the Rafferty family. The motivation to repair the damage she inherited displays Tess' amazing nature. "Once in Every Life" is every bit an adorable read without the mind bending concepts of other time travel novels. I enjoyed the friendships, family and love this novel was about. It was a fabulous feel-good read that makes you wonder if your fate lies in a different century.
October 3, 2008
ONCE IN EVERY LIFE - VG
Hannah, Kristin
Tess Gregory's brilliant career as a researach scientist hides her longings for a husband and child. Though deaf, she is a free spirit -- a woman full of life and love. She is struck down all too soon.
But for Tess, a new life begins at her death, in post-Civil War America. She is now Amarylis Rafferty, wife and mother of three -- and she can hear. Shocked and disoriented by her new surroundings, she is drawn into the savage heartache burdening the family, especially her husband, Jack.
Pioneer living is rough for a woman used to modern conveniences, but Tess flourishes, bringing happiness and hope to her daughters and her son -- to all except her husband, a man haunted by angry, violent voices that give no rest to his bitter soul. A man who fears himself capable of anything.
But Tess's faith is unshakable. Sheer determination will drive her as their hearts become entwined in a fierce struggle that can be tamed only by love itself.
Deaf woman dies and is given a second chance with a man suffering PTSD. Very well done.
Hannah, Kristin
Tess Gregory's brilliant career as a researach scientist hides her longings for a husband and child. Though deaf, she is a free spirit -- a woman full of life and love. She is struck down all too soon.
But for Tess, a new life begins at her death, in post-Civil War America. She is now Amarylis Rafferty, wife and mother of three -- and she can hear. Shocked and disoriented by her new surroundings, she is drawn into the savage heartache burdening the family, especially her husband, Jack.
Pioneer living is rough for a woman used to modern conveniences, but Tess flourishes, bringing happiness and hope to her daughters and her son -- to all except her husband, a man haunted by angry, violent voices that give no rest to his bitter soul. A man who fears himself capable of anything.
But Tess's faith is unshakable. Sheer determination will drive her as their hearts become entwined in a fierce struggle that can be tamed only by love itself.
Deaf woman dies and is given a second chance with a man suffering PTSD. Very well done.
January 25, 2019
Disappointing read from Kristin Hannah. I probably enjoyed this book the least out of all the many books of hers I've read over the years. It's very sappy and boring. It seems like a cheap romance novel. It would have been much better if it was 200 pages shorter. Then I probably would have given it 3 stars.
January 29, 2015
When a book makes me cry, it deserves a 5 star rating!!
January 15, 2024
I thought I would love anything Kristin Hannah wrote. This is one of her early ones, and not a good one. It's basically a romance, which I hate, and not well written at all. I would have stopped reading early on, but she is one of my favorite authors so I stuck with it. I ended up basically skimming the second half. I hope her other early ones aren't this bad.
January 27, 2011
I'll have to admit I had reservations when starting it but it turned out to be such an enjoyable read that I've added it to my favorites.
February 8, 2021
2.5 stars cause the heroine was way too good for the hero.
January 24, 2021
3.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book. This is about as woman named Tess who gets hit by a bus and then wakes up in limbo where an angel named Carol tells her she needs to pick a new life. So she gets glimpses into a bunch of them and chooses one where there is a man who is clearly sad because she is intrigued and wants to help. However, when she wakes up there she realizes its back in the 1800's and not at all like she expected. She is in the body of his wife (and mother to 2 girls) but their perception of her is much different than her personality. The mom had been a little bit of a shrew and not very kind and everyone tip toed around her. She didn't do anything for the house but instead left the young daughters to cook, clean etc. It's a very rural setting and a long time ago so Tess is really culture shocked and wants to leave at first. However, she quickly starts falling in love with the girls and wants to help Jack. This book has a lot of disability rep. Tess was deaf in her first life and thats a little under represented but then one of the daughters is dyslexic and Jack suffers from PTSD. This book was really sweet and cozy and the perfect amount of depth. My only complaint is that it was too long and got a little slow at parts.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Jack has blackouts because he froze in the Civil War and because of his lack of action his brother was killed in front of him. He feels a lot of guilt and has a lot of PTSD about the situation and his blackouts are a time when it all becomes too much. He's terrified he's going to hurt his family, so when 2 townspeople are found dead at the time that Jack was gone during a blackout, he turns himself in, assuming he did it but not really caring if he did or didn't. He wants to be imprisoned to protect his wife that he's just fallen back in love with and his daughters. In the end it gets resolved and proven that it wasn't him and he works through his issues and they live happily ever after. The angel comes back and gives Tess the chance to leave and choose a different life but she chooses to stay and have all memories of her past wiped.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Jack has blackouts because he froze in the Civil War and because of his lack of action his brother was killed in front of him. He feels a lot of guilt and has a lot of PTSD about the situation and his blackouts are a time when it all becomes too much. He's terrified he's going to hurt his family, so when 2 townspeople are found dead at the time that Jack was gone during a blackout, he turns himself in, assuming he did it but not really caring if he did or didn't. He wants to be imprisoned to protect his wife that he's just fallen back in love with and his daughters. In the end it gets resolved and proven that it wasn't him and he works through his issues and they live happily ever after. The angel comes back and gives Tess the chance to leave and choose a different life but she chooses to stay and have all memories of her past wiped.
September 22, 2024
What I liked about Once in Every Life:
I love Kristin Hannah. She is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve enjoyed every other book of hers. Unfortunately, Once in Every Life was a struggle for me. While I found it hard to pinpoint many positives, I can see how some readers might appreciate the "feel-good" vibe the story aims to create. The premise of time travel and reincarnation could be intriguing to fans of that genre, but overall, I expected more. This early work just didn’t live up to my hopes.
What I disliked about Once in Every Life:
The story felt incredibly unrealistic and far-fetched, even for a fantasy premise. The reincarnation plot, where a 20th-century woman with her modern mind is sent to save a man in the 1800s, felt forced and poorly executed—it just didn’t work for me. As the story progressed, the plot only seemed to get worse. Jack, one of the main characters, comes across as irritating, whiny, and poorly developed. The last 50 pages were a struggle, and I ended up skimming most of the second half. Overall, the story felt mediocre at best. The book also failed to provide early on what exactly happened between Jack and Lisa and their relationship. I personally feel that if Kristin had provided context about their problems earlier in the story, I would have been more sympathetic and cared more about the outcome of their relationship.
What I think would have made Once in Every Life better:
Look, I know this is one of Kristin Hannah's first books, so I can't knock it too much. We all know that authors have to start somewhere and sometimes they take their creativity elsewhere. However, if Kristin ever decides to rewrite the book I would love to have a better understanding of Jack and Lisa's relationship. Kristin didn't introduce the back story about Jack until the last 50 pages, which made it confusing at times why there was such hostility between them. If Kristn had let readers know about Jack's past and provided more details about the backstory of Jack and Amarylis's relationship, readers would have a better understanding of why there was a disconnect between them.
Would I recommend Once in Every Life by Kristin Hannah:
Look, I love Kristin Hannah, so no matter what, I will always read her books. However, even loyal readers might struggle to enjoy Once in Every Life. Compared to her later works, it falls short of her usual standard and feels like an early, less polished attempt at her craft. The unrealistic plot, underdeveloped characters, and overwhelming focus on romance make it a disappointing read. If you are expecting Kristin’s usual depth and emotional stories, this one may leave you feeling let down.
****
Tess Gregory, a successful research scientist longing for a family, finds her life cut short. Reborn as Amarylis Rafferty in post-Civil War America, she becomes a wife and mother of three—now able to hear. As she adapts to her new life, Tess confronts the deep heartache of her family, especially her husband, Jack, who grapples with his own fears and struggles.
I love Kristin Hannah. She is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve enjoyed every other book of hers. Unfortunately, Once in Every Life was a struggle for me. While I found it hard to pinpoint many positives, I can see how some readers might appreciate the "feel-good" vibe the story aims to create. The premise of time travel and reincarnation could be intriguing to fans of that genre, but overall, I expected more. This early work just didn’t live up to my hopes.
What I disliked about Once in Every Life:
The story felt incredibly unrealistic and far-fetched, even for a fantasy premise. The reincarnation plot, where a 20th-century woman with her modern mind is sent to save a man in the 1800s, felt forced and poorly executed—it just didn’t work for me. As the story progressed, the plot only seemed to get worse. Jack, one of the main characters, comes across as irritating, whiny, and poorly developed. The last 50 pages were a struggle, and I ended up skimming most of the second half. Overall, the story felt mediocre at best. The book also failed to provide early on what exactly happened between Jack and Lisa and their relationship. I personally feel that if Kristin had provided context about their problems earlier in the story, I would have been more sympathetic and cared more about the outcome of their relationship.
What I think would have made Once in Every Life better:
Look, I know this is one of Kristin Hannah's first books, so I can't knock it too much. We all know that authors have to start somewhere and sometimes they take their creativity elsewhere. However, if Kristin ever decides to rewrite the book I would love to have a better understanding of Jack and Lisa's relationship. Kristin didn't introduce the back story about Jack until the last 50 pages, which made it confusing at times why there was such hostility between them. If Kristn had let readers know about Jack's past and provided more details about the backstory of Jack and Amarylis's relationship, readers would have a better understanding of why there was a disconnect between them.
Would I recommend Once in Every Life by Kristin Hannah:
Look, I love Kristin Hannah, so no matter what, I will always read her books. However, even loyal readers might struggle to enjoy Once in Every Life. Compared to her later works, it falls short of her usual standard and feels like an early, less polished attempt at her craft. The unrealistic plot, underdeveloped characters, and overwhelming focus on romance make it a disappointing read. If you are expecting Kristin’s usual depth and emotional stories, this one may leave you feeling let down.
****
Tess Gregory, a successful research scientist longing for a family, finds her life cut short. Reborn as Amarylis Rafferty in post-Civil War America, she becomes a wife and mother of three—now able to hear. As she adapts to her new life, Tess confronts the deep heartache of her family, especially her husband, Jack, who grapples with his own fears and struggles.
August 24, 2025
5⭐️
What a heartbreakingly beautiful story! I teared up and cried at so many parts of this book 😢 it covered alllll the emotions! I typically steer clear of historical fiction/romance, but I am so glad I finally read this and can’t believe it was on my shelf for so long!
The theme of this book was also new to me, but I thought it was so well done. I loved all the characters, well…almost all 😒, and was so invested in their story, I didn’t want to put this down!
🌶️🌶️🌶️: 2 open door scenes (which actually surprised me cause I didn’t expect them to be as detailed)
This book has me wanting to read more Kristin Hannah and more from this genre.
If you want to: be a little mad, smile, cry, laugh, cry some more, and just FEEL, read this book!
What a heartbreakingly beautiful story! I teared up and cried at so many parts of this book 😢 it covered alllll the emotions! I typically steer clear of historical fiction/romance, but I am so glad I finally read this and can’t believe it was on my shelf for so long!
The theme of this book was also new to me, but I thought it was so well done. I loved all the characters, well…almost all 😒, and was so invested in their story, I didn’t want to put this down!
🌶️🌶️🌶️: 2 open door scenes (which actually surprised me cause I didn’t expect them to be as detailed)
This book has me wanting to read more Kristin Hannah and more from this genre.
If you want to: be a little mad, smile, cry, laugh, cry some more, and just FEEL, read this book!
June 5, 2018
Bayildim.Okurken cok buyuk bir keyif aldim.Guzel birikinci sans romani idi...Aile sevgisi,ask temalarinda kurgulanmis nefis bir romandi...
May 29, 2018
I adore this book! I first read this WAY back in 1992 when it was published. I remember racing to the store to buy it with my allowance. I loved Kristin Hannah before Kristin Hannah became cool :) This is a book that I have read and re-read. My copy has a beautiful red cover, that shows its age and how much it has been loved.
I re-read this last night and once again fell in love with Tess; a brilliant scientist who was living a sad, muted life. When she is tragically killed she is given a second chance and awakens as Amaryllis (Lissa) in the 1800's; a wife and mother of three. I don't want to give too much away but Tess finds a family who needs her as much as she need them. She adapts to pioneer living and becomes the woman she was meant to be.
I don't read romance much anymore but this one will forever hold a place in my heart.
I re-read this last night and once again fell in love with Tess; a brilliant scientist who was living a sad, muted life. When she is tragically killed she is given a second chance and awakens as Amaryllis (Lissa) in the 1800's; a wife and mother of three. I don't want to give too much away but Tess finds a family who needs her as much as she need them. She adapts to pioneer living and becomes the woman she was meant to be.
I don't read romance much anymore but this one will forever hold a place in my heart.
July 7, 2022
I liked the premise of the book--that when you die--you get one happy life so you can go somewhere else, on to another life---but the book started to get cheesy and I lost interest in the characters. However, the fact that part of it (albeit the last couple of chapters) was based on true events always makes it interesting.
February 13, 2017
Leído el 23/05/2010
Me encantó esta historia y todos los personajes!
Me encantó esta historia y todos los personajes!
January 31, 2021
I actually read this book in the mid-90s on the suggestion of a college co-worker, and although I am not typically a fan of the romance genre, this book incorporated enough historical fiction with a touch of sci-fi that I enjoyed it. I recently was thinking about the plot, and when I typed in enough hints into Google I re-discovered the title and realized it was written by Kristin Hannah, who wrote The Great Alone that I loved.
Tess is a modern-day scientist who is hit by a bus and is given a chance at a new life, so she chooses to take over the life of a woman who died in childbirth on San Juan Island, which was part of the Washington Territories, in 1873. Her estranged husband Jack is a Civil War veteran with extreme PTSD, and she finds out her new family of two older daughters and newborn son are afraid of her, as the woman whose body she is now in, Amarylis was a bitter woman who looked at her husband as a coward. Of course, Tess shows them love and wins them all over in time, helping heal Jack's war-terrors. The time-travel angle was a bit hokey, and she settled into frontier life with three children too easily, but still an enjoyable book that obviously made enough of an impression on me that I searched it out years later to do a quick re-read of it. (Actual review 3.5/5)
Tess is a modern-day scientist who is hit by a bus and is given a chance at a new life, so she chooses to take over the life of a woman who died in childbirth on San Juan Island, which was part of the Washington Territories, in 1873. Her estranged husband Jack is a Civil War veteran with extreme PTSD, and she finds out her new family of two older daughters and newborn son are afraid of her, as the woman whose body she is now in, Amarylis was a bitter woman who looked at her husband as a coward. Of course, Tess shows them love and wins them all over in time, helping heal Jack's war-terrors. The time-travel angle was a bit hokey, and she settled into frontier life with three children too easily, but still an enjoyable book that obviously made enough of an impression on me that I searched it out years later to do a quick re-read of it. (Actual review 3.5/5)
August 25, 2023
I'm a huge fan of Kristin Hannah's. This book was cute and sweet, and probably a lot longer than it needed to be. Still though, it is heartwarming with some very interesting historical details thrown in about the American Civil War and the settlers in the American West. It is such a joy to see how much Hannah's writing has evolved since this book was published. Her prose is much smoother in more recent publications and her transitions between character perspectives flows better. This book is an early work from a fantastic author.
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