What do you think?
Rate this book
Láska môjho lepšieho života
Predstavte si, že sa zobudíte a máte dokonalý život…
Až na to, že nie je váš.
Josie je slobodná Angličanka, ktorá žije v malom byte v New Yorku a oslavuje tridsiate šieste narodeniny. Chýba jej rodina, ale rozhlasový program, ktorý moderuje, sa dobre rozbieha. Je pravda, že by radšej nosila o číslo menšie oblečenie, ale v rádiu na vzhľade nezáleží. Navyše muž, do ktorého je už mesiace zamilovaná, sa rozišiel so svojou priateľkou, a Josie tak svitá na lepšie časy. Cestou do reštaurácie v SoHo, kde sa má stretnúť s priateľmi, kľučkuje hustou premávkou. Vtom sa ozve škripot bŕzd. Josie má nehodu a jej svet sa ponorí do temnoty. No potom sa stane niečo zvláštne. Zobudí sa v nemocnici. Atraktívny muž, ktorý sedí pri jej lôžku, drží ju za ruku a vyznáva jej lásku, je jej manžel. Žijú v luxusnom strešnom byte na Manhattane. Josie pracuje ako maklérka. Váži o pätnásť kíl menej ako v to ráno, keď nasadla na bicykel. Vôbec netuší, ako sa tam ocitla. Nový život však predstavuje všetko, po čom odjakživa túžila. Niečo v ňom však chýba… Josie sa teda musí rozhodnúť. Vráti sa k starému životu v Brooklyne alebo zostane s láskou svojho takmer dokonalého nového života?
Až na to, že nie je váš.
Josie je slobodná Angličanka, ktorá žije v malom byte v New Yorku a oslavuje tridsiate šieste narodeniny. Chýba jej rodina, ale rozhlasový program, ktorý moderuje, sa dobre rozbieha. Je pravda, že by radšej nosila o číslo menšie oblečenie, ale v rádiu na vzhľade nezáleží. Navyše muž, do ktorého je už mesiace zamilovaná, sa rozišiel so svojou priateľkou, a Josie tak svitá na lepšie časy. Cestou do reštaurácie v SoHo, kde sa má stretnúť s priateľmi, kľučkuje hustou premávkou. Vtom sa ozve škripot bŕzd. Josie má nehodu a jej svet sa ponorí do temnoty. No potom sa stane niečo zvláštne. Zobudí sa v nemocnici. Atraktívny muž, ktorý sedí pri jej lôžku, drží ju za ruku a vyznáva jej lásku, je jej manžel. Žijú v luxusnom strešnom byte na Manhattane. Josie pracuje ako maklérka. Váži o pätnásť kíl menej ako v to ráno, keď nasadla na bicykel. Vôbec netuší, ako sa tam ocitla. Nový život však predstavuje všetko, po čom odjakživa túžila. Niečo v ňom však chýba… Josie sa teda musí rozhodnúť. Vráti sa k starému životu v Brooklyne alebo zostane s láskou svojho takmer dokonalého nového života?
408 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2022
560 people are currently reading
2047 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Connolly
3 books86 followersCJ Connolly is the Vancouver-based, UK-born author of The Love of My Other Life, a top-five finalist in the 2023 RNA Awards for Debut Romantic Novel of the Year, The Love I Could Have Had, and The Love of Her Lives. CJ's books are published by London-based Joffe Books, and she is represented by literary agent Victoria Skurnick of Levine Greenberg Rostan in New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews
June 22, 2023
3.25⭐
Genre ~ women's fiction
Publication date ~ June 30, 2022
Page Count ~ 366
Audio length ~ 10 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Claire Storey
POV ~ single 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ debut, 6 part story, dated chapters, amnesia, minimal steamage
Josie's unique story is told in 6 parts ~ 3 for Me told in the 1st and 3 for Her told in the 3rd. It didn't alternate chapter after chapter, but we get 8-10 chapters before the switch up. I thought that was a good way to do it, so it didn't get too confusing. I liked that she kept a journal to help document what was going on with her mind.
There were some slow points when it dragged a bit for me because Josie had two different personalities. Repetition also, when we switch timelines. At times I didn't really care for her. I don't like when there's talk about body image. First thing when she wakes up is that she notices she's 30 lbs lighter. Calls herself plumper once. "And me, my old self - regular Josie, with shoulder-length dark blonde hair, and a bit of extra weight," "It looks lovely, despite the extra weight I'm carrying," blah blah, love yourself girl!.
Overall, a decent debut with an interesting plot. I wonder if there is another one of me running around being awesome somewhere, if so I'm sure she's just as delightful as I am in that parallel universe.
I was able to listen to an audio copy too.
Narration notes ~ was fine. Didn't love her male voices.
*Thanks to the author, Joffe Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Genre ~ women's fiction
Publication date ~ June 30, 2022
Page Count ~ 366
Audio length ~ 10 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Claire Storey
POV ~ single 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ debut, 6 part story, dated chapters, amnesia, minimal steamage
Josie's unique story is told in 6 parts ~ 3 for Me told in the 1st and 3 for Her told in the 3rd. It didn't alternate chapter after chapter, but we get 8-10 chapters before the switch up. I thought that was a good way to do it, so it didn't get too confusing. I liked that she kept a journal to help document what was going on with her mind.
There were some slow points when it dragged a bit for me because Josie had two different personalities. Repetition also, when we switch timelines. At times I didn't really care for her. I don't like when there's talk about body image. First thing when she wakes up is that she notices she's 30 lbs lighter. Calls herself plumper once. "And me, my old self - regular Josie, with shoulder-length dark blonde hair, and a bit of extra weight," "It looks lovely, despite the extra weight I'm carrying," blah blah, love yourself girl!.
Overall, a decent debut with an interesting plot. I wonder if there is another one of me running around being awesome somewhere, if so I'm sure she's just as delightful as I am in that parallel universe.
I was able to listen to an audio copy too.
Narration notes ~ was fine. Didn't love her male voices.
*Thanks to the author, Joffe Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
June 30, 2022
**Available Now!**
“it was the knowledge they existed, in any world, that gave her courage.”
This book destroyed me! It broke my heart and put it back together. I am an absolute sucker for the road not taken, what if, and other universe/alternate timeline stories. It’s actually how I initially found Taylor Jenkins Reid. “Maybe In Another Life” was my first from her and still my favorite of hers. This book reminds me somewhat of it, which is a huge compliment, and it also has shades of “Wish You Were Here” by Jodi Picoult which is another favorite. I hope this author is writing more as we speak, because I love her now!
We meet Josie as she’s about to celebrate her 36th birthday. She lives in Brooklyn, has a successful real estate radio show, great friends and most of all, a loving brother. I have a twin brother so this touched me in particular.
On her way to her birthday dinner, she’s in a bike accident and wakes up in the hospital to a hot husband she doesn’t know! She’s thin and wealthy and works comms for a big real estate powerhouse. This is not her life! It all seems perfect until she finds out her brother is not in this life. She’s honest with everyone about not remembering any of this, but it isn’t “amnesia,” she has memories, but of a different life. A simpler one but one with a brother. She really can’t have it all, it seems.
Josie, our main character, is a bit whiny in both lives. She’s been through a lot, I get it, but sheesh! Being more envious of “other you” than another woman is a little silly and not really in my multiverse theories, but I loved what this author had to say and share. I laughed out loud. The characters were witty and personable. The romance was brooding and painful, just how I like it and not TOO spicy.
Side note: I’m obsessed with the cover. It’s gorgeous. Looks like a Rep era Taylor to me. I also loved that it was about a desired woman in her 30’s, not a 20 year old who’s been looking for love for two years and thinks that’s tough!
This was so thought-provoking. Each life, she loses someone she loves. Can different versions of yourself be happy, through the lives they’ve known and chosen? Can you slip into another life unscathed, even with the knowledge that something different is waiting for you somewhere else? I believe you’re still “you” in any timeline.
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the chance to read and review!
If anyone ends up having a book club to discuss this, hit me up. I have more to say!
“it was the knowledge they existed, in any world, that gave her courage.”
This book destroyed me! It broke my heart and put it back together. I am an absolute sucker for the road not taken, what if, and other universe/alternate timeline stories. It’s actually how I initially found Taylor Jenkins Reid. “Maybe In Another Life” was my first from her and still my favorite of hers. This book reminds me somewhat of it, which is a huge compliment, and it also has shades of “Wish You Were Here” by Jodi Picoult which is another favorite. I hope this author is writing more as we speak, because I love her now!
We meet Josie as she’s about to celebrate her 36th birthday. She lives in Brooklyn, has a successful real estate radio show, great friends and most of all, a loving brother. I have a twin brother so this touched me in particular.
On her way to her birthday dinner, she’s in a bike accident and wakes up in the hospital to a hot husband she doesn’t know! She’s thin and wealthy and works comms for a big real estate powerhouse. This is not her life! It all seems perfect until she finds out her brother is not in this life. She’s honest with everyone about not remembering any of this, but it isn’t “amnesia,” she has memories, but of a different life. A simpler one but one with a brother. She really can’t have it all, it seems.
Josie, our main character, is a bit whiny in both lives. She’s been through a lot, I get it, but sheesh! Being more envious of “other you” than another woman is a little silly and not really in my multiverse theories, but I loved what this author had to say and share. I laughed out loud. The characters were witty and personable. The romance was brooding and painful, just how I like it and not TOO spicy.
Side note: I’m obsessed with the cover. It’s gorgeous. Looks like a Rep era Taylor to me. I also loved that it was about a desired woman in her 30’s, not a 20 year old who’s been looking for love for two years and thinks that’s tough!
This was so thought-provoking. Each life, she loses someone she loves. Can different versions of yourself be happy, through the lives they’ve known and chosen? Can you slip into another life unscathed, even with the knowledge that something different is waiting for you somewhere else? I believe you’re still “you” in any timeline.
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the chance to read and review!
If anyone ends up having a book club to discuss this, hit me up. I have more to say!
June 24, 2022
I really wanted to love this book, but it missed the mark for me. I’m hopeful that some of my gripes with this ARC might be cleared up in editing, which would significantly improve the reader experience!
What I loved:
1. The premise! What a great concept, switching lives with your alternate self at a certain point in your shared history.
2. The writing itself (aside from some of my nitpicks below) flows nicely.
3. I liked the POV change from “me” to “her” and how each was written in that respective voice — a subtle touch, but effective!
4. The sentiment, stated explicitly near the end, that people you lose may be living an alternate timeline somewhere else, with experiences they never got to have “here” (my heart!).
What I disliked:
1. The pace was quite slow for me.
2. The fact that the characters included a “baby” or “honey” or “my love” in nearly EVERY dialogue exchange almost caused me to DNF this story. It was that distracting. Especially in the second half.
3. The fact that Josie is a British woman but doesn’t speak any British English? She says “apartment” for god’s sake — I’ve never met a Brit who didn’t say “flat.” Nothing about Josie screamed British to me.
4. I wasn’t emotionally invested in the characters, really, and some of their lengthier conversations and arguments bored me in their minutiae.
I’m not really a huge fan of the romance genre, so I may be harsher than most. If this book sounds like something that would interest you, please read it! I don’t regret doing so, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m a devil about the details.
Thank you to CJ Connolly, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
What I loved:
1. The premise! What a great concept, switching lives with your alternate self at a certain point in your shared history.
2. The writing itself (aside from some of my nitpicks below) flows nicely.
3. I liked the POV change from “me” to “her” and how each was written in that respective voice — a subtle touch, but effective!
4. The sentiment, stated explicitly near the end, that people you lose may be living an alternate timeline somewhere else, with experiences they never got to have “here” (my heart!).
What I disliked:
1. The pace was quite slow for me.
2. The fact that the characters included a “baby” or “honey” or “my love” in nearly EVERY dialogue exchange almost caused me to DNF this story. It was that distracting. Especially in the second half.
3. The fact that Josie is a British woman but doesn’t speak any British English? She says “apartment” for god’s sake — I’ve never met a Brit who didn’t say “flat.” Nothing about Josie screamed British to me.
4. I wasn’t emotionally invested in the characters, really, and some of their lengthier conversations and arguments bored me in their minutiae.
I’m not really a huge fan of the romance genre, so I may be harsher than most. If this book sounds like something that would interest you, please read it! I don’t regret doing so, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m a devil about the details.
Thank you to CJ Connolly, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
January 28, 2024
2 1/2 Stars
After an accident leaves you in the hospital… Imagine if you woke up with the perfect life…but it wasn't yours?
I've always liked the sliding doors/alternative reality or parallel universe trope, but ultimately, this didn't quite work for me.
I was hoping for something like Taylor Reid Jenkins’ Maybe in Another Life, but although the premise was intriguing… I found myself skimming through parts, which is something I very rarely do.
I did enjoy the moral dilemma of choosing a great romantic love, but with that, the loss of a very close family member…How could you ever choose?
Great idea for a debut… I would try other books by this author.
After an accident leaves you in the hospital… Imagine if you woke up with the perfect life…but it wasn't yours?
I've always liked the sliding doors/alternative reality or parallel universe trope, but ultimately, this didn't quite work for me.
I was hoping for something like Taylor Reid Jenkins’ Maybe in Another Life, but although the premise was intriguing… I found myself skimming through parts, which is something I very rarely do.
I did enjoy the moral dilemma of choosing a great romantic love, but with that, the loss of a very close family member…How could you ever choose?
Great idea for a debut… I would try other books by this author.
July 12, 2022
Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me an eARC of The Love of My Other Life in exchange for an honest and reliable review.
What would you do if you were thrust into another version of your own life?
A young woman named Josie Cavendish who gets into a bike accident and wakes up as another version of herself in an alternate universe. The same thing happens to the “other” version of herself from the other universe. So we have two Josies from two universes struggling to cope with the unfamiliar lives they find themselves in, including different occupations, love interests, experiences, etc.
Honestly, the premise of this book was interesting and had potential to be something great, a completely mind blowing romance-thriller. It was an interesting position that the main character was put in. However, it sadly fell flat for me. The book was 100 pages too long at the end, we didn't need all the detail leading up to the final incident, we just needed it to happen so we could find out what happened to both versions of Josie,
The characters felt really superficial in this book. We didn't get a lot of internal monologue about how the characters were feeling so the reader is not able to connect with any of the characters.
In the end, I actually did like the final outcome but getting to that point was kind of brutal. It feels like every book I'm reading these days (Lydia Bird, See You Yesterday) is about the multiverse and I'm over it. I will be honest, I had to skim through a lot of this book to make it to the end.
What would you do if you were thrust into another version of your own life?
A young woman named Josie Cavendish who gets into a bike accident and wakes up as another version of herself in an alternate universe. The same thing happens to the “other” version of herself from the other universe. So we have two Josies from two universes struggling to cope with the unfamiliar lives they find themselves in, including different occupations, love interests, experiences, etc.
Honestly, the premise of this book was interesting and had potential to be something great, a completely mind blowing romance-thriller. It was an interesting position that the main character was put in. However, it sadly fell flat for me. The book was 100 pages too long at the end, we didn't need all the detail leading up to the final incident, we just needed it to happen so we could find out what happened to both versions of Josie,
The characters felt really superficial in this book. We didn't get a lot of internal monologue about how the characters were feeling so the reader is not able to connect with any of the characters.
In the end, I actually did like the final outcome but getting to that point was kind of brutal. It feels like every book I'm reading these days (Lydia Bird, See You Yesterday) is about the multiverse and I'm over it. I will be honest, I had to skim through a lot of this book to make it to the end.
May 20, 2022
What would you do if you woke up from an accident but in a different version of your life? Josie is off to celebrate her 36th birthday but gets into a biking accident. She wakes up in the hospital to an unfamiliar man. The man happens to be her husband! A husband she never met or remembers even marrying. Josie struggles to understand what is happening. In her “real” life she is finally *hopefully* getting the guy she has crushed on forever, her career is doing okay, and she is single but happy. Now she is in a parallel version of her life. A doting and loving husband Rob, a beautiful home of her dreams, and an amazing career. But she doesn’t recall any of this. Josie struggles to understand what is happening, and tries to uncover how she is living this new life. Josie has a decision to make: go back to her old life or stay in her new life. The book will unfold with Josie’s story and her decision to what she wants. Now what would you do?
What I loved:
-Josie! She is very relatable, endearing, and I really loved her personality. I would feel the same way she did if I woke up to a new life.
-the first chapter had me hooked! I had to know how this story would unfold. I also had to know how this was happening!
-Even though her new life sounds awesome, we still deal with some heartbreaks along the way. This made the story more believable in terms of not everything is greener on the other side. Also creates more at stake on what life she wants.
This book is a great romance, and a perfect summer read. I often loved the romance elements, and the funny moments. But even the heartbreaking moments were realistic and hits you right in the feels. I found the writing style to be great and really sucks you in. I was able to finish this book in less than 24 hours. I honestly couldn't put it down. This is definitely a book everyone needs to add to their summer reads! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 30, 2022
I wanted to like this book so badly, but it was just okay. The plot of The Love of my Other Life and the style of writing feels like something straight out of a creative writing class. It's about a young woman named Josie Cavendish who gets into a bike accident and wakes up as another version of herself in an alternate universe. The same thing happens to the “other” version of herself from the other universe. So we have two Josies from two universes struggling to cope with the unfamiliar lives they find themselves in, including different occupations, love interests, experiences, etc. The synopsis is interesting, sure, but it feels rather predictable, especially with the parallel structure that narrates what happens to the two Josies, and begins to feel repetitive at times. It had the potential to become a really mind-blowing romance-thriller but didn't completely get there.
I guess with all the recent craze over the multiverse in movies and TV shows this is a fitting time for this book to come out. But unfortunately, The Love of My Other Life just wasn’t for me and that's okay.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
I guess with all the recent craze over the multiverse in movies and TV shows this is a fitting time for this book to come out. But unfortunately, The Love of My Other Life just wasn’t for me and that's okay.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
July 6, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! This review contains spoilers.
Honestly, this wasn't the best read of my year. The first like 70 pages were quite easy to read, but after that...there were many aspects I was really conflicted about.
Firstly, the plot is interesting but the plotwist was very predictable and the stroy could feel very repetitive at times. I really liked the aspect of them somehow "communicating" through dreams and if they have a look into it, the story would have been so much more interesting.
Death and the lost of a dear one is treated with respect and it impacts the characters lives. However. when Josie 2.0 discovers that his (death in his world) brother was going to move to Australia, she acted like it was the worst thing it could happen to her, and compared the situation with him being dead. She mentions how she wouldn't really see him, his family, were going to talk less...but they could still have the opportunity of talking and seeing each other, and that she didn't have in her reality. As a foreigner myself, I understand how much a change that can make, seeing your family less can affect you, but every little thing is better than that person not even existing in your reality. This aspect really bothered me because I was so mad with Josie and her attitude towards her brother moving. She already was far away from her family and that didn't matter as much, how much of a difference could make his brother being in another country? I understand this conflict was mainly so they could both change back to their realities without doubts but it was poorly done.
The story is separated in "Me" chapters and "Her" chapters, and the beginning of both very exactly the same, I had to skim through many of the first chapters cause of it. Not only that, there are way too many unnecessary descriptions about food, places etc that really didn't add anything to the plot. It can be great for making a meticulous scenario but really...I couldn't care less about the so expensive food and recipies they were eating etc. Instead of descriptions there could have been moment of maybe interior monologues so we could understand how the characters were feeling about what was happening. This leads me to the characters.
The characters...I couldn't like any of them and I tried really. They were supposed to be like 40 aprox. but they were acting like teenagers and couldn't talk to each other for the love of god. The main characters have conflicts/problems. Didn't solve a single one. They really couldn't express their feelings while having a convo. They tried to talk about it, not really achieve it, act like nothing happened the next day. So almost every relatioship conflict didn't even have a solution cause they didn't.talk.about.it.
Feeling were quite vaguely written. Ithink this is the main reason why I couldn't connect with the characters: I couldn't understand why they were acting the way they were. Characters fall in love and get together with one another but idk because one of them was just being nice?? the bare minimum?? making food or respecting the other's personal place??
Men were just awful. Every one of them (except the brother they gave him a good character development i liked him in the end), but the main love interests left much to be desired. Rob had a mask of being the nice rich guy but he had moment in which he was acting like an asshole, just thinking about himself and not really caring about Josie. Peter? Insisted and insisted and insisted about them being together even while being with his girlfriend... Like I said, seem like they both acted like they were 17 or something.
The Josie's were not much better. The first thing both highlight is their differences in body image. Josie 2.0 was really disrespectful towards the bigger body of Josie 1.0, and that made me uncomfortable. The differences in their physical aspect didn't really impact their other life but it was treated like "slim is better than thick" or at least being slim was "the better/improved option". There were many things that were different about their lives, but that one could really have been portrayed in a better way. Maybe if people around them treated them differently because of their physical aspect, so that it could show the fatphobia in rich people communities...but it had no impact on the plot. None.
I was really struggling to finish it but I didn't want to DNF it. Initially gave it almost 3 stars but going over everything I've written...I don't think I enjoyed it enough to give it that much. I understand other people could like the book, but this just wasn't my type of read.
Honestly, this wasn't the best read of my year. The first like 70 pages were quite easy to read, but after that...there were many aspects I was really conflicted about.
Firstly, the plot is interesting but the plotwist was very predictable and the stroy could feel very repetitive at times. I really liked the aspect of them somehow "communicating" through dreams and if they have a look into it, the story would have been so much more interesting.
Death and the lost of a dear one is treated with respect and it impacts the characters lives. However. when Josie 2.0 discovers that his (death in his world) brother was going to move to Australia, she acted like it was the worst thing it could happen to her, and compared the situation with him being dead. She mentions how she wouldn't really see him, his family, were going to talk less...but they could still have the opportunity of talking and seeing each other, and that she didn't have in her reality. As a foreigner myself, I understand how much a change that can make, seeing your family less can affect you, but every little thing is better than that person not even existing in your reality. This aspect really bothered me because I was so mad with Josie and her attitude towards her brother moving. She already was far away from her family and that didn't matter as much, how much of a difference could make his brother being in another country? I understand this conflict was mainly so they could both change back to their realities without doubts but it was poorly done.
The story is separated in "Me" chapters and "Her" chapters, and the beginning of both very exactly the same, I had to skim through many of the first chapters cause of it. Not only that, there are way too many unnecessary descriptions about food, places etc that really didn't add anything to the plot. It can be great for making a meticulous scenario but really...I couldn't care less about the so expensive food and recipies they were eating etc. Instead of descriptions there could have been moment of maybe interior monologues so we could understand how the characters were feeling about what was happening. This leads me to the characters.
The characters...I couldn't like any of them and I tried really. They were supposed to be like 40 aprox. but they were acting like teenagers and couldn't talk to each other for the love of god. The main characters have conflicts/problems. Didn't solve a single one. They really couldn't express their feelings while having a convo. They tried to talk about it, not really achieve it, act like nothing happened the next day. So almost every relatioship conflict didn't even have a solution cause they didn't.talk.about.it.
Feeling were quite vaguely written. Ithink this is the main reason why I couldn't connect with the characters: I couldn't understand why they were acting the way they were. Characters fall in love and get together with one another but idk because one of them was just being nice?? the bare minimum?? making food or respecting the other's personal place??
Men were just awful. Every one of them (except the brother they gave him a good character development i liked him in the end), but the main love interests left much to be desired. Rob had a mask of being the nice rich guy but he had moment in which he was acting like an asshole, just thinking about himself and not really caring about Josie. Peter? Insisted and insisted and insisted about them being together even while being with his girlfriend... Like I said, seem like they both acted like they were 17 or something.
The Josie's were not much better. The first thing both highlight is their differences in body image. Josie 2.0 was really disrespectful towards the bigger body of Josie 1.0, and that made me uncomfortable. The differences in their physical aspect didn't really impact their other life but it was treated like "slim is better than thick" or at least being slim was "the better/improved option". There were many things that were different about their lives, but that one could really have been portrayed in a better way. Maybe if people around them treated them differently because of their physical aspect, so that it could show the fatphobia in rich people communities...but it had no impact on the plot. None.
I was really struggling to finish it but I didn't want to DNF it. Initially gave it almost 3 stars but going over everything I've written...I don't think I enjoyed it enough to give it that much. I understand other people could like the book, but this just wasn't my type of read.
June 24, 2022
This story introduces us to Josie, a British woman now living in New York. Her life is okay - she works for a local radio station and lives in a tiny apartment, but she misses her family back home. She does have a major crush on a guy called Peter. Peter is seeing someone, but he is on the verge of leaving her, and Josie feels this is her chance to be with him! On her way to meet her friends, she has an accident, and when she wakes up, she discovers she is married to Rob and lives in a big, impressive New York penthouse! She doesn’t know Rob though, or this life that she’s woken up in! Her new life seems perfect in so many ways, but equally there are so many things missing. How does Josie get back to her old life, and does she really want to?
On first impressions this book sounded great – very Sliding Doors! The storyline switched between the two Josie’s lives but it was very easy to understand which Josie you were with, which I was glad about! The new Josie (I’ll call her penthouse Josie for ease!) takes the first part of the book and then we switch back between the two for the rest. I enjoyed both alternative lives, but usually in stories such as these, I would have a favourite and for some reason I struggled to work out which life I preferred! Josie’s original life did probably sound a little better for her, but it didn’t have Rob in it. But then again, penthouse Josie’s life sounded amazing, but there were so many other things missing from that as well!
I have to admit I found the storyline a little slow at times (in both lives) and felt that things could have been moving along a lot faster. The idea of two Josie’s who’d switched over into their alternate lives (as opposed to one Josie living both lives!) was a little confusing but it was written as uncomplicatedly as it could be (unlike this review!). I did like both Josie’s characters though and found myself being empathetic and equally frustrated with both of them. This is a really difficult book to review without giving anyway too many spoilers, and whilst there were a few little niggly things with both storylines, I have to admit that I did enjoy the book and loved the characters and location! The ending for me was absolutely perfect and with it being very reminiscent of Sliding Doors – if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen one way or the other!
On first impressions this book sounded great – very Sliding Doors! The storyline switched between the two Josie’s lives but it was very easy to understand which Josie you were with, which I was glad about! The new Josie (I’ll call her penthouse Josie for ease!) takes the first part of the book and then we switch back between the two for the rest. I enjoyed both alternative lives, but usually in stories such as these, I would have a favourite and for some reason I struggled to work out which life I preferred! Josie’s original life did probably sound a little better for her, but it didn’t have Rob in it. But then again, penthouse Josie’s life sounded amazing, but there were so many other things missing from that as well!
I have to admit I found the storyline a little slow at times (in both lives) and felt that things could have been moving along a lot faster. The idea of two Josie’s who’d switched over into their alternate lives (as opposed to one Josie living both lives!) was a little confusing but it was written as uncomplicatedly as it could be (unlike this review!). I did like both Josie’s characters though and found myself being empathetic and equally frustrated with both of them. This is a really difficult book to review without giving anyway too many spoilers, and whilst there were a few little niggly things with both storylines, I have to admit that I did enjoy the book and loved the characters and location! The ending for me was absolutely perfect and with it being very reminiscent of Sliding Doors – if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen one way or the other!
July 4, 2024
Multiverse women's fiction
On her 36th birthday, British expat, Josie, who has been living in Manhattan for years, is hit by a car while riding her bicycle. She wakes up in a hospital, with members of her family around her and a man she has never seen before whom she is told is her husband. She slowly comes to realize that she has switched bodies with another version of herself in an alternate universe AKA multiverse AKA alternate reality.
The plot of this story is a mashup of body-switching movies such as Freaky Friday (Jamie Lee Curtis, 2003) and alternate-reality AKA "the road not traveled" movies such as The Family Man (Nicolas Cage, 2000). It offers the main features of both of those fantasy tropes. I have personally enjoyed both of those movies, and multiple other ones with a similar theme, but until now I had not encountered a story that combines both body swapping and alternate universe.
This story is told from the rotating point of view of each version of Josie, and both of them are experiencing a similar "fish out of water" scenario. Unlike every body-swapping movie I've ever watched, this novel is not played for laughs. Its tone is sentimentally sad, similar to The Family Man.
Both of the romantic love interests, Peter and Rob, are not given the opportunity to exist as much more than cardboard-cutout placeholders. So if you are a romance fan and are hoping, as I was, based on the plot description in the publisher's blurb, that this would be a romance novel, it is not. It is essentially women's fiction with some magic sprinkled on top.
Once I realized this novel is not romance, I was more interested in how the author was going to set everything to rights by the end of the novel, rather than the main body of the novel, the long road of the two Josies before arriving at the "sadder but wiser," inevitable conclusion of their mystical journey. Regarding that conclusion, there were no surprises for me in the magical resolution. It is similar to how this kind of situation is always resolved when the goal is an HEA.
For those readers hoping for a completely asexual, G-rated read, fair warning that this novel does contain sex. However, it is not descriptive at all, beyond indicating a couple is naked in bed together, and there is no thrilling sexual chemistry anywhere to be found in this book.
On her 36th birthday, British expat, Josie, who has been living in Manhattan for years, is hit by a car while riding her bicycle. She wakes up in a hospital, with members of her family around her and a man she has never seen before whom she is told is her husband. She slowly comes to realize that she has switched bodies with another version of herself in an alternate universe AKA multiverse AKA alternate reality.
The plot of this story is a mashup of body-switching movies such as Freaky Friday (Jamie Lee Curtis, 2003) and alternate-reality AKA "the road not traveled" movies such as The Family Man (Nicolas Cage, 2000). It offers the main features of both of those fantasy tropes. I have personally enjoyed both of those movies, and multiple other ones with a similar theme, but until now I had not encountered a story that combines both body swapping and alternate universe.
This story is told from the rotating point of view of each version of Josie, and both of them are experiencing a similar "fish out of water" scenario. Unlike every body-swapping movie I've ever watched, this novel is not played for laughs. Its tone is sentimentally sad, similar to The Family Man.
Both of the romantic love interests, Peter and Rob, are not given the opportunity to exist as much more than cardboard-cutout placeholders. So if you are a romance fan and are hoping, as I was, based on the plot description in the publisher's blurb, that this would be a romance novel, it is not. It is essentially women's fiction with some magic sprinkled on top.
Once I realized this novel is not romance, I was more interested in how the author was going to set everything to rights by the end of the novel, rather than the main body of the novel, the long road of the two Josies before arriving at the "sadder but wiser," inevitable conclusion of their mystical journey. Regarding that conclusion, there were no surprises for me in the magical resolution. It is similar to how this kind of situation is always resolved when the goal is an HEA.
For those readers hoping for a completely asexual, G-rated read, fair warning that this novel does contain sex. However, it is not descriptive at all, beyond indicating a couple is naked in bed together, and there is no thrilling sexual chemistry anywhere to be found in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2022
Three and a half stars.
Josie is a British woman living in New York, singing in a choir for a hobby, and working as a radio presenter on real estate matters. Then one day, on her thirty-sixth birthday, she has an accident on her bike and wakes up in a different reality. She's the same person (albeit thinner and with better hair and clothes), but now she has a swanky job in real estate marketing, she's married to a construction billionaire and lives in a gorgeous eighteenth floor apartment in Union Square in a building that was named after her! It appears that she has the same memories as her alter-ego until about three years earlier, the night the Other Josie met her husband Rob at a marketing function Josie had an accident on her bike and missed the do. Rob introduced her to the guys who run the company that Other Josie works for and the rest is history. In fact, this would be Josie's fantasy made true but for one terrible fact, in this life her brother and her cousin are dead.
Can Josie adapt and live in this new reality? Does she want to? What about Peter, the guy from choir she was getting close to? And if she does now get close to Rob does that betray Other Josie?
Told from alternating POVs we see Josie and Other Josie trying to adapt to their new lives, but when push comes to shove, will they stay or will they go?
I really liked this to start with, C.J. Connolly says she was inspired by Sliding Doors and Life After Life and I was enjoying the way in which they inhabited each other's lives. It reminded me of the British film Quest For Love starring Joan Collins. But then somewhere in the middle it seemed to flag and I felt that the plot had gone off in a spiral. Maybe it would have worked better for me if we had either had alternating chapters from Josie and Other Josie or just half from Josie and the other half from Other Josie rather than three chunks of each.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Josie is a British woman living in New York, singing in a choir for a hobby, and working as a radio presenter on real estate matters. Then one day, on her thirty-sixth birthday, she has an accident on her bike and wakes up in a different reality. She's the same person (albeit thinner and with better hair and clothes), but now she has a swanky job in real estate marketing, she's married to a construction billionaire and lives in a gorgeous eighteenth floor apartment in Union Square in a building that was named after her! It appears that she has the same memories as her alter-ego until about three years earlier, the night the Other Josie met her husband Rob at a marketing function Josie had an accident on her bike and missed the do. Rob introduced her to the guys who run the company that Other Josie works for and the rest is history. In fact, this would be Josie's fantasy made true but for one terrible fact, in this life her brother and her cousin are dead.
Can Josie adapt and live in this new reality? Does she want to? What about Peter, the guy from choir she was getting close to? And if she does now get close to Rob does that betray Other Josie?
Told from alternating POVs we see Josie and Other Josie trying to adapt to their new lives, but when push comes to shove, will they stay or will they go?
I really liked this to start with, C.J. Connolly says she was inspired by Sliding Doors and Life After Life and I was enjoying the way in which they inhabited each other's lives. It reminded me of the British film Quest For Love starring Joan Collins. But then somewhere in the middle it seemed to flag and I felt that the plot had gone off in a spiral. Maybe it would have worked better for me if we had either had alternating chapters from Josie and Other Josie or just half from Josie and the other half from Other Josie rather than three chunks of each.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
August 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Joffe Books for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
The Love of My Other Life is a nice twist on the expected coma romance trope. Unfortunately, I just didn't like Josie. It feels like no matter her situation, she is incapable of being happy; any spark of joy is quickly extinguished, often for very little reason. To be fair, I don't think there are many characters I did like. There was no complexity - everyone showed up to play the necessary role and then faded into the background. With no exploration into motivations or histories, the entire narrative felt superficial.
I was hoping for a twist - something to turn this multiverse into a psychological thriller - but that's just me trying to force my preferences onto a different kind of story. When everything kept going in the predictable direction, though, I will admit I lost interest. It was pretty clear that regardless of what happened, Josie would find a way to be unhappy and blame it on Rob while taking no responsibility for her actions. I understand I'm being hypocritical - I can't stand instalove, but everything here took. so. long. But not because we got a lot of details. Instead, months seem to go by with no change in these relationships or any plot development. It's easy to skip from Christmas to Valentine's Day to Easter if nothing happens in between these holidays.
Fairly average with a few good moments The Love of My Other Life is a nice change on an expected trope but just didn't do it for me.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
The Love of My Other Life is a nice twist on the expected coma romance trope. Unfortunately, I just didn't like Josie. It feels like no matter her situation, she is incapable of being happy; any spark of joy is quickly extinguished, often for very little reason. To be fair, I don't think there are many characters I did like. There was no complexity - everyone showed up to play the necessary role and then faded into the background. With no exploration into motivations or histories, the entire narrative felt superficial.
I was hoping for a twist - something to turn this multiverse into a psychological thriller - but that's just me trying to force my preferences onto a different kind of story. When everything kept going in the predictable direction, though, I will admit I lost interest. It was pretty clear that regardless of what happened, Josie would find a way to be unhappy and blame it on Rob while taking no responsibility for her actions. I understand I'm being hypocritical - I can't stand instalove, but everything here took. so. long. But not because we got a lot of details. Instead, months seem to go by with no change in these relationships or any plot development. It's easy to skip from Christmas to Valentine's Day to Easter if nothing happens in between these holidays.
Fairly average with a few good moments The Love of My Other Life is a nice change on an expected trope but just didn't do it for me.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
Amazon | Blog | Bookstagram | Reddit | Wishlist
June 13, 2022
2.5 stars
This wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t my favorite. I would pick this based on the storyline, but I was pushing to just finish it.
Cool idea- multiverse, destined love of your life
Few uncomfortable/insensitive comments (this is the ARC version before official publication)
-Other Josie saying she’s 30lbs heavier and it takes longer to dry because there’s more of her.
-Original Josie and Rob always calling each other “baby” got annoying.
-Calling Rob a bigamist- I get it, I don’t like it.
-Other Josie comparing David getting married and having a baby to his death because it’s like “she was going to lose him all over again.”
I don’t feel like I really liked Josie at all. I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters.
Spice- nothing extensive, but more than fade to black.
You do get more info on each life at the end of the book. Your not left wondering how things turned out- no cliffhanger.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for this digital ARC.
This wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t my favorite. I would pick this based on the storyline, but I was pushing to just finish it.
Cool idea- multiverse, destined love of your life
Few uncomfortable/insensitive comments (this is the ARC version before official publication)
-Other Josie saying she’s 30lbs heavier and it takes longer to dry because there’s more of her.
-Original Josie and Rob always calling each other “baby” got annoying.
-Calling Rob a bigamist- I get it, I don’t like it.
-Other Josie comparing David getting married and having a baby to his death because it’s like “she was going to lose him all over again.”
I don’t feel like I really liked Josie at all. I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters.
Spice- nothing extensive, but more than fade to black.
You do get more info on each life at the end of the book. Your not left wondering how things turned out- no cliffhanger.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for this digital ARC.
June 13, 2022
I've always been a fan of the multiverse idea and have adored every single book I've read (there are sadly so FEW!) that used that on the story. Add in a love storyand I was sold! That being said, just because the trope is good doesn't necessarily always mean the book will turn out amazing. Lucky for us this book is absolutely everything I thought it would be and more.
On Josies 35th birthday shes in a bike accident and wakes up in an alternate timeline. Shes the same person, but because of different circumstances her life is completely different on each plane. This book delves into what each Josie goes through to find herself and how each feels moving through a life that doesn't exactly fit. One Josie has lost her brother but married the man of her dreams. The other still has her brother but is single and lives in a completely different financial bracket.
Every page was pure magic and I was honestly sad it ended. The characters were all so fleshed out they felt real and the story was told so perfectly that this is truly one of the very best books I've read this year! And Rob. 😍 Rob was a dream husband! This would be such an emotional thing to deal with and so unbelievable that it would be truly a nightmare to experience. The author took us through such emotional highs and lows with ease and truly showed her gift with a story. I'll forever read anything else she writes and am already anticipating her next book! I can't recommend this one highly enough!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you to Joffe Books, C.J. Connolly, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
On Josies 35th birthday shes in a bike accident and wakes up in an alternate timeline. Shes the same person, but because of different circumstances her life is completely different on each plane. This book delves into what each Josie goes through to find herself and how each feels moving through a life that doesn't exactly fit. One Josie has lost her brother but married the man of her dreams. The other still has her brother but is single and lives in a completely different financial bracket.
Every page was pure magic and I was honestly sad it ended. The characters were all so fleshed out they felt real and the story was told so perfectly that this is truly one of the very best books I've read this year! And Rob. 😍 Rob was a dream husband! This would be such an emotional thing to deal with and so unbelievable that it would be truly a nightmare to experience. The author took us through such emotional highs and lows with ease and truly showed her gift with a story. I'll forever read anything else she writes and am already anticipating her next book! I can't recommend this one highly enough!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you to Joffe Books, C.J. Connolly, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2022
Gah even as I write this review I am still an emotional wreck. I mean pretty much expected to cry when reading this but I didn’t realise how much I really would.
I FRICKING LOVED this book!!!
I mean what more can I say. It had everything I love with a romance book. It had very strong Sliding Doors feels but with an awesome twist to it, which was absolutely fantastic.
I loved living the two lives of Josie and I can’t figure out who had it better. If at all. Both gained and lost things, but I definitely had my favourite Josie, if it is possible.
What an absolute conundrum to be in! To have an accident and then be thrown into a life you could’ve had! I mean wow! I have always wondered what life would be like if I had made certain decisions and what and who would be different. So I found this completely fascinating!!
It is also at heart, not only a romantic love story but a story of strength, acceptance and finding yourself. I would love to know how the two Josies are doing now after the book has ended. I miss them already.
Last year "It's Not Never by Louise Gregory" broke me with its beautiful love story and this year, it is The Love of The Other Life. It is going to be one of my favourite books for a long time. It is beautiful, emotional and refreshing. I sat and read it all in one sitting, once I started I had no intention of letting Josie go. I just now need to find a tissue to wipe my eyes!
July 15, 2022
This is my first In the Love of My Other Life, we find the main character Josie about to celebrate her 36th birthday. She lives in Brooklyn, is a successful real estate radio show host, has a solid group of friends, and a twin who loves her. The trajectory of her life changes when she is in a bike accident on her way to her birthday dinner and wakes up to a life that isn’t hers. She works for a huge real estate company and is married. All seems well until she learns that this life does not include her brother.
I love books told from the "what if" point of view; I think we all wonder "what if" at some point in our lives about what our lives would look like if we'd made a different decision. This story gave me all the feels. I identified with and empathized for Josie as she tried to sort out the differences in her lives. The characters are well developed, believable, and charismatic which added a level of depth to their relationships. The pace of the story is perfect, I found myself staying up late to finish the book. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, C.J. Connolly, Joffe Books, and Zooloo’s Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
I love books told from the "what if" point of view; I think we all wonder "what if" at some point in our lives about what our lives would look like if we'd made a different decision. This story gave me all the feels. I identified with and empathized for Josie as she tried to sort out the differences in her lives. The characters are well developed, believable, and charismatic which added a level of depth to their relationships. The pace of the story is perfect, I found myself staying up late to finish the book. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, C.J. Connolly, Joffe Books, and Zooloo’s Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
October 28, 2022
On her 36th birthday Josie is hit by a car when she wakes up in hospital the man that is holding her hand is telling her he’s her husband but she remembers nothing about him all the life he says they have together.
This is a compelling novel, full of twists and turns.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a compelling novel, full of twists and turns.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this sweet novel but honestly I felt like it could have used a more thorough editor. It got suuuuuper bogged down with page after page of minutia about meals and home decor. It’s a shame because I really did quite love the bones of the story. I love me a good Sliding Doors- esque novel!
June 1, 2022
The Love of My Other Life
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/30/22
Author: C.J. Connolly
Publisher: Joffe Books
Pages: 366
Goodreads Rating: 4.11
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: She’s zipping through traffic on her way to meet friends for dinner at a SoHo restaurant. There’s a screech of brakes, Josie crashes her bike, and her world goes black. Then something extraordinary happens. She wakes up in hospital. The handsome stranger by her side, holding her hand and telling her he loves her, is Rob. Her husband of two years. They live in a chic Manhattan penthouse. She works in real estate. And she’s thirty pounds slimmer than when she got on her bike that morning. Josie has no idea how she got here. This new life is everything she ever wanted. But there’s one thing missing . . . And now she has to decide: should she go back to her old single life in Brooklyn or stay with the love of her nearly perfect new life?
My Thoughts: At one point in our lives, we all think, would my life be different if I had made choice B instead of going with A, this reminds me of this. The story is narrated by Josie, through her perspective, both in first person and third person since she was sitting in two lives. The characters were developed well, especially Josie, she has depth, charisma, she was emotional, and she struggled. I loved the weighing of both lives that Josie goes through to make the best decision. The author’s writing was complex, imaginative, creative, and keep me engaged from page one, and was hard to put down. I know some of the reviews felt like this was a Dr. Strange Multiverse situation and counted down for this, personally I felt this gave the story that extra pizzazz and uniqueness. While this was a romance, it was also a mystery with a plot twist and tension throughout. I do not want to give too much away. The ending was very good and made me happy. I enjoyed reading this book and would read other books by this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/30/22
Author: C.J. Connolly
Publisher: Joffe Books
Pages: 366
Goodreads Rating: 4.11
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: She’s zipping through traffic on her way to meet friends for dinner at a SoHo restaurant. There’s a screech of brakes, Josie crashes her bike, and her world goes black. Then something extraordinary happens. She wakes up in hospital. The handsome stranger by her side, holding her hand and telling her he loves her, is Rob. Her husband of two years. They live in a chic Manhattan penthouse. She works in real estate. And she’s thirty pounds slimmer than when she got on her bike that morning. Josie has no idea how she got here. This new life is everything she ever wanted. But there’s one thing missing . . . And now she has to decide: should she go back to her old single life in Brooklyn or stay with the love of her nearly perfect new life?
My Thoughts: At one point in our lives, we all think, would my life be different if I had made choice B instead of going with A, this reminds me of this. The story is narrated by Josie, through her perspective, both in first person and third person since she was sitting in two lives. The characters were developed well, especially Josie, she has depth, charisma, she was emotional, and she struggled. I loved the weighing of both lives that Josie goes through to make the best decision. The author’s writing was complex, imaginative, creative, and keep me engaged from page one, and was hard to put down. I know some of the reviews felt like this was a Dr. Strange Multiverse situation and counted down for this, personally I felt this gave the story that extra pizzazz and uniqueness. While this was a romance, it was also a mystery with a plot twist and tension throughout. I do not want to give too much away. The ending was very good and made me happy. I enjoyed reading this book and would read other books by this author.
June 9, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Have you ever considered what your life might be like if something that happened to you somehow went differently? What if you were able to get up and walk away from a bicycle accident instead of getting bumped and bruised? What if you never made it to that conference you planned to attend and instead limped home? Well, this is what happens to Josie Cavendish. From that moment on, Josie was living two parallel lives: one living the single life in a cramped Brooklyn apartment as the host of a real estate radio show called Talk New York, and the other working a communications job for a high-end real estate firm and living a life of luxury alongside husband, Rob Billing, developer mogul. But what if, one day, another bicycle accident causes you to switch places with the other version of yourself?
I’ll leave my synopsis there because this book was a whirlwind of emotion. This novel was beautifully written and had me feeling for both versions of Josie. Whether it was sympathy, anger, or excitement, I certainly felt it all! I fell in love with other Josie’s husband Rob and felt his anguish when he discovered his wife did not remember him or anything about the life they built. I was so happy for other Josie when she finally got to hug the brother she lost in her own timeline. But most of all, I love love loved the triumphant ending and desperately wanted for there to be more. Go buy this book!
The Other Love of My Life will be published on June 30, 2022.
Thank you to C.J. Connolly, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever considered what your life might be like if something that happened to you somehow went differently? What if you were able to get up and walk away from a bicycle accident instead of getting bumped and bruised? What if you never made it to that conference you planned to attend and instead limped home? Well, this is what happens to Josie Cavendish. From that moment on, Josie was living two parallel lives: one living the single life in a cramped Brooklyn apartment as the host of a real estate radio show called Talk New York, and the other working a communications job for a high-end real estate firm and living a life of luxury alongside husband, Rob Billing, developer mogul. But what if, one day, another bicycle accident causes you to switch places with the other version of yourself?
I’ll leave my synopsis there because this book was a whirlwind of emotion. This novel was beautifully written and had me feeling for both versions of Josie. Whether it was sympathy, anger, or excitement, I certainly felt it all! I fell in love with other Josie’s husband Rob and felt his anguish when he discovered his wife did not remember him or anything about the life they built. I was so happy for other Josie when she finally got to hug the brother she lost in her own timeline. But most of all, I love love loved the triumphant ending and desperately wanted for there to be more. Go buy this book!
The Other Love of My Life will be published on June 30, 2022.
Thank you to C.J. Connolly, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Love Of My Other Life' by CJ Connolly.
Read and reviewed for CJ Connolly, Joffed Books and Zooloo's Book Tours.
Publication date 30th June 2022.
This is CJ Connolly's debut novel.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and its hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This extraordinary and unforgettable love story is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Audrey Niffenegger, Diana Gabaldon, Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls, Colleen Hoover, Laura Barnett, Rebecca Searle and Holly Miller.' I am a huge fan of Jojo Moyes and the so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Joffe Books. I have yet to read a book published by Joffe Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 40 chapters set over three parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Brooklyn and Manhattan, USA 🇺🇸, Venice, Italy 🇮🇹, London, Cornwall, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧 and more. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited both Cornwall and London so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere mentioned in the book.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonist is Josie. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This book is beautifully written and it is hard to believe it is the authors first book!! The descriptions were so vivid I could feel the sand between my toes, see the canals is Venice and here the rush hour in Brooklyn.
The storyline is definitely unique!! I have never actually come along a book like this before. I will admit that it wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting something more like Bridget Jones with a lot more humour rather than a multiverse scenario. However, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy it, it just wasn't I expected from the synopsis but it could have been me perceiving it incorrectly. Anyway, on with saying more about the storyline. Although it didn't include the amount of humour I expected I did laugh out loud on several occasions. It is an easy read but also a book that will leave you thinking after about how one moment in time can change a lifetime. I loved that it flipped characters, I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for future readers, which is also going to make it hard for me to review the characters but I'll cross that road in a moment. This book has so many emotions from laughter to anger, jealousy to grief. C. J Connolly has managed to cram every conceived emotion into one excellent read. I enjoyed this book and it is one that can be read on front of the fire or on the beach as the time line spans a year. I'm pleased that we get to see everything that is going on from both sides and I loved each of the endings. I also adored the fact that you get to visit so many destinations in one book. It felt like going on am absolutely fantastic holiday and I was gutted to come to the end and have to unpack my suitcase.
Well done CJ Connolly on a great first novel and I am looking forward to reading your next one!!!
The characters were all sturdy and realistic. This is where I need to be careful not to say too much so I'll try my best. I had a mix of feelings when it came to Josie and hopefully you will see what I mean. There were times where I liked her and thought she was very friendly and lovely and yet other times where I found her to be hypoctrical, childish and whiny. This normally affects how much I enjoy a book but in this case it didn't for reasons you will realised when you have read the book. Rob seemed a nice enough guy who was romantic and caring yet at other times I do feel he had a jealous and maybe even an aggressive side which wasn't fully revealed. Suzie was a fantastic friend who was there for Josie throughout. I really liked Peter and did think it was a shame about what happened with him. You'll have to read the book yourself to find out more sorry 😂. I loved David who was an amazing brother, so full of life and character!!! I also loved Mike and Hans who were also the life of the party. I'd love to pull these three guys out of the book and have a night out with them!!! Regardless of whether you love or hate them these characters all worked perfectly together for a fantastic read and it would be a very boring life if we loved or hated everyone in it!!!!
Overall a unique and enjoyable read filled with emotions that will take you on a journey around the world.
Genres covered in this book include Urban Fantasy, Romance, Death & Grief, Relationships and Contemporary Romance amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Audrey Niffenegger, Diana Gabaldon, Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls, Colleen Hoover, Laura Barnett, Rebecca Searle and Holly Miller.
366 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheLoveOfMyOtherLife #CJConnolly #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours #JoffeBooks
@CJConnolly @CJConnollybooks @ZooLoosBT @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @JoffeBooks
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Review for 'The Love Of My Other Life' by CJ Connolly.
Read and reviewed for CJ Connolly, Joffed Books and Zooloo's Book Tours.
Publication date 30th June 2022.
This is CJ Connolly's debut novel.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and its hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This extraordinary and unforgettable love story is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Audrey Niffenegger, Diana Gabaldon, Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls, Colleen Hoover, Laura Barnett, Rebecca Searle and Holly Miller.' I am a huge fan of Jojo Moyes and the so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Joffe Books. I have yet to read a book published by Joffe Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 40 chapters set over three parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Brooklyn and Manhattan, USA 🇺🇸, Venice, Italy 🇮🇹, London, Cornwall, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧 and more. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited both Cornwall and London so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere mentioned in the book.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonist is Josie. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This book is beautifully written and it is hard to believe it is the authors first book!! The descriptions were so vivid I could feel the sand between my toes, see the canals is Venice and here the rush hour in Brooklyn.
The storyline is definitely unique!! I have never actually come along a book like this before. I will admit that it wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting something more like Bridget Jones with a lot more humour rather than a multiverse scenario. However, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy it, it just wasn't I expected from the synopsis but it could have been me perceiving it incorrectly. Anyway, on with saying more about the storyline. Although it didn't include the amount of humour I expected I did laugh out loud on several occasions. It is an easy read but also a book that will leave you thinking after about how one moment in time can change a lifetime. I loved that it flipped characters, I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for future readers, which is also going to make it hard for me to review the characters but I'll cross that road in a moment. This book has so many emotions from laughter to anger, jealousy to grief. C. J Connolly has managed to cram every conceived emotion into one excellent read. I enjoyed this book and it is one that can be read on front of the fire or on the beach as the time line spans a year. I'm pleased that we get to see everything that is going on from both sides and I loved each of the endings. I also adored the fact that you get to visit so many destinations in one book. It felt like going on am absolutely fantastic holiday and I was gutted to come to the end and have to unpack my suitcase.
Well done CJ Connolly on a great first novel and I am looking forward to reading your next one!!!
The characters were all sturdy and realistic. This is where I need to be careful not to say too much so I'll try my best. I had a mix of feelings when it came to Josie and hopefully you will see what I mean. There were times where I liked her and thought she was very friendly and lovely and yet other times where I found her to be hypoctrical, childish and whiny. This normally affects how much I enjoy a book but in this case it didn't for reasons you will realised when you have read the book. Rob seemed a nice enough guy who was romantic and caring yet at other times I do feel he had a jealous and maybe even an aggressive side which wasn't fully revealed. Suzie was a fantastic friend who was there for Josie throughout. I really liked Peter and did think it was a shame about what happened with him. You'll have to read the book yourself to find out more sorry 😂. I loved David who was an amazing brother, so full of life and character!!! I also loved Mike and Hans who were also the life of the party. I'd love to pull these three guys out of the book and have a night out with them!!! Regardless of whether you love or hate them these characters all worked perfectly together for a fantastic read and it would be a very boring life if we loved or hated everyone in it!!!!
Overall a unique and enjoyable read filled with emotions that will take you on a journey around the world.
Genres covered in this book include Urban Fantasy, Romance, Death & Grief, Relationships and Contemporary Romance amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Audrey Niffenegger, Diana Gabaldon, Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls, Colleen Hoover, Laura Barnett, Rebecca Searle and Holly Miller.
366 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheLoveOfMyOtherLife #CJConnolly #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours #JoffeBooks
@CJConnolly @CJConnollybooks @ZooLoosBT @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @JoffeBooks
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
January 4, 2023
When I read the blurb I thought I knew where the book was going to be about. I was so wrong.
I remember a movie with Gwyneth Paltrow called 'Sliding doors' about split decisions that change your life and how this plays out.
This story about Josie is about a bike-accident she has that somehow puts her in a parallel life. She has a different house, career and an amazing husband. But what about the other Josie? And is this life what she wants?
Both Josies struggle and prosper in their new lives. Both lives have ups and downs. It tugged at my heartstrings. The decisions they are faced with, the sadness but also happiness.
What an amazing read. I loved the ending! I highly recommend.
*** I received an ARC via Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. ***
I remember a movie with Gwyneth Paltrow called 'Sliding doors' about split decisions that change your life and how this plays out.
This story about Josie is about a bike-accident she has that somehow puts her in a parallel life. She has a different house, career and an amazing husband. But what about the other Josie? And is this life what she wants?
Both Josies struggle and prosper in their new lives. Both lives have ups and downs. It tugged at my heartstrings. The decisions they are faced with, the sadness but also happiness.
What an amazing read. I loved the ending! I highly recommend.
*** I received an ARC via Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. ***
October 4, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC of this!
I adore a Sliding Doors scenario, and this was no exception. I loved seeing Josie figuring out her lives, what was the same and what had changed, and the idea that they could swap back was very interesting. I really liked the romance, a “forgotten” husband, and I liked that she found someone to confide in in both timelines. The idea that they kind of knew what the other was doing really had me thinking. The end was really surprising to me! Perfect for fans of Maybe in Another Life, the writing duo Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, and Sliding Doors.
I adore a Sliding Doors scenario, and this was no exception. I loved seeing Josie figuring out her lives, what was the same and what had changed, and the idea that they could swap back was very interesting. I really liked the romance, a “forgotten” husband, and I liked that she found someone to confide in in both timelines. The idea that they kind of knew what the other was doing really had me thinking. The end was really surprising to me! Perfect for fans of Maybe in Another Life, the writing duo Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, and Sliding Doors.
July 30, 2022
I really like the sound of this book. The idea of multiverse story line had me intrigued. The book was ok, I thought it could have been better.
I like the whole relationship between Josie and Rob, although they overuse the word ‘baby’ which makes me cringe but there relationship was nice.
The ‘other’ Josie on the other hand really annoyed me. The way she reacted when she found out about Rob and Josie got remarried and had a relationship. What did she expect him to do?! Not to mention that she had a relationship with Pete! I just didn’t enjoy reading the ‘other’ Josie parts at all.
What I did love was the ending when Josie meets with Rob again, that was so nice!
I like the whole relationship between Josie and Rob, although they overuse the word ‘baby’ which makes me cringe but there relationship was nice.
The ‘other’ Josie on the other hand really annoyed me. The way she reacted when she found out about Rob and Josie got remarried and had a relationship. What did she expect him to do?! Not to mention that she had a relationship with Pete! I just didn’t enjoy reading the ‘other’ Josie parts at all.
What I did love was the ending when Josie meets with Rob again, that was so nice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2024
DNF. Just did not care about the protagonist and found her extremely annoying. It’s a shame because the concept was quite interesting, but the characters weren’t great.
November 8, 2025
Jesus they drink a lot in this book. I don’t think there’s a single scene where they’re not drinking, drunk, hungover or about to go out to drink. The Josie’s would probably have fewer life altering crashes if they laid off the booze occasionally 🤪
The writing is average. There’s a lot of detail where there just doesn’t need to be, for example when OG Josie goes on holiday at a beach house and half the characters are coming for a party and we are treated to a blow by blow of where in each character will be sleeping… nobody cares. Rob and Josie constantly calling each other baby is just 🤮
I found the whole book to be a bit on the negative side in general. Both Josie’s just fucking whinged a lot. It was at times an absolute slog to read through. Despite being billed as a romance or rom com, this was neither. There was no comedy and very little romance. Neither Josie had any chemistry with either Rob or Peter. It was more a depressing tale of woe.
All the main characters were supposed to be great people but there was little evidence of it. Peter had a girlfriend but was starting something with OG Josie, OG Josie’s friends were encouraging her to get with Peter, despite his girlfriend. Rob was super pushy with OG Josie and I think showed no real empathy or understanding for anything both Josie’s went through, which was a lot considering her brother died at their wedding and then she switched lives and lost not only her brother all over again, but her whole life. “Can you not make this about you and your issues again” who even says that?
Other Josie is absolutely insufferable. There are so many instances of her just being a shit person like body shaming OG Josie for being 30 pounds heavier and comparing her brother moving to Australia with him dying but when she returns she behaves appallingly towards Rob for sleeping with OG Josie who is his actual wife, all while excusing the fact she had an actual affair with a whole other person. Especially when she knew without a doubt she was married but Rob just knew his wife was different following an accident/amnesia. The whole, scene where she yells at Rob “you should have torn up the universe to find me” sure, maybe he could find you having sex with Peter.
There were some potential plot points that were very underdeveloped. I thought the idea of them communicating through dreams was fascinating and kept waiting for this to be fleshed out more but it just never was. Likewise, the masquerade ball where we were subjected to the excruciating minutiae of them getting ready and the masks and pages and pages of detail where tension was building… I thought oh, other Josie is going to somehow show up…. And. Absolutely. Fucking. Nothing. Happened. Such a wasted opportunity.
I hated that OG Josie’s life was treated as though it was “less than” because she was single and 30 pounds heavier and not as well off. Sure, David was dead but at the risk of stealing a line from Muriel’s Wedding “She’s married!”. The running theme was that Other Josie wanted her life back and that OG Josie had stolen it from her. They swapped lives but in the end OG Josie’s life was so meaningless nobody wanted it and the happy ending could only happen by having both Josie’s wind up with Other Josie’s life.
The writing is average. There’s a lot of detail where there just doesn’t need to be, for example when OG Josie goes on holiday at a beach house and half the characters are coming for a party and we are treated to a blow by blow of where in each character will be sleeping… nobody cares. Rob and Josie constantly calling each other baby is just 🤮
I found the whole book to be a bit on the negative side in general. Both Josie’s just fucking whinged a lot. It was at times an absolute slog to read through. Despite being billed as a romance or rom com, this was neither. There was no comedy and very little romance. Neither Josie had any chemistry with either Rob or Peter. It was more a depressing tale of woe.
All the main characters were supposed to be great people but there was little evidence of it. Peter had a girlfriend but was starting something with OG Josie, OG Josie’s friends were encouraging her to get with Peter, despite his girlfriend. Rob was super pushy with OG Josie and I think showed no real empathy or understanding for anything both Josie’s went through, which was a lot considering her brother died at their wedding and then she switched lives and lost not only her brother all over again, but her whole life. “Can you not make this about you and your issues again” who even says that?
Other Josie is absolutely insufferable. There are so many instances of her just being a shit person like body shaming OG Josie for being 30 pounds heavier and comparing her brother moving to Australia with him dying but when she returns she behaves appallingly towards Rob for sleeping with OG Josie who is his actual wife, all while excusing the fact she had an actual affair with a whole other person. Especially when she knew without a doubt she was married but Rob just knew his wife was different following an accident/amnesia. The whole, scene where she yells at Rob “you should have torn up the universe to find me” sure, maybe he could find you having sex with Peter.
There were some potential plot points that were very underdeveloped. I thought the idea of them communicating through dreams was fascinating and kept waiting for this to be fleshed out more but it just never was. Likewise, the masquerade ball where we were subjected to the excruciating minutiae of them getting ready and the masks and pages and pages of detail where tension was building… I thought oh, other Josie is going to somehow show up…. And. Absolutely. Fucking. Nothing. Happened. Such a wasted opportunity.
I hated that OG Josie’s life was treated as though it was “less than” because she was single and 30 pounds heavier and not as well off. Sure, David was dead but at the risk of stealing a line from Muriel’s Wedding “She’s married!”. The running theme was that Other Josie wanted her life back and that OG Josie had stolen it from her. They swapped lives but in the end OG Josie’s life was so meaningless nobody wanted it and the happy ending could only happen by having both Josie’s wind up with Other Josie’s life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
————————synopsis————————
TOP FIVE FINALIST IN ROMANTIC NOVELISTS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT ROMANCE OF THE YEAR 2023 AWARDS
Imagine you woke up with the perfect life . . . But it wasn’t yours.
Today is Josie’s 36th birthday.
Josie’s a single British woman living in a tiny walk-up in Brooklyn. She misses her family, but her radio show is starting to go places. And sure, she could be a dress size smaller, but no one cares what you look like on the radio. The guy she’s had a crush on for months, is finally going to break up with his girlfriend. She hopes.
She’s zipping through traffic on her way to meet friends for dinner at a SoHo restaurant. There’s a screech of brakes, Josie crashes her bike, and her world goes black.
Then something extraordinary happens.
She wakes up in hospital. The handsome stranger by her side, holding her hand and telling her he loves her, is Rob. Her husband of two years. They live in a chic Manhattan penthouse. She works in real estate. And she’s thirty pounds slimmer than when she got on her bike that morning.
Josie has no idea how she got here. This new life is everything she ever wanted. But there’s one thing missing . . .
And now she has to decide: should she go back to her old single life in Brooklyn or stay with the love of her nearly perfect new life?
What would you do?
This extraordinary and unforgettable love story is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Audrey Niffenegger, Diana Gabaldon, Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls, Colleen Hoover, Laura Barnett, Rebecca Searle and Holly Miller.
————————review————————
i'm extremely behind on my book reviews, so it's been a hot minute since i read this book, but this is a sliding-door plot, which i really love. rob was a good man and he was wonderful about josie's situation.
i'm always fascinated by alternate universes, so i could envision myself in josie's shoes and wonder about what to do. there were pros and cons to both lives, and this story wraps up pretty nicely, especially for one specific josie.
i suspected how the story was going to end, but it was the kind of light read that i needed at the time.
TOP FIVE FINALIST IN ROMANTIC NOVELISTS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT ROMANCE OF THE YEAR 2023 AWARDS
Imagine you woke up with the perfect life . . . But it wasn’t yours.
Today is Josie’s 36th birthday.
Josie’s a single British woman living in a tiny walk-up in Brooklyn. She misses her family, but her radio show is starting to go places. And sure, she could be a dress size smaller, but no one cares what you look like on the radio. The guy she’s had a crush on for months, is finally going to break up with his girlfriend. She hopes.
She’s zipping through traffic on her way to meet friends for dinner at a SoHo restaurant. There’s a screech of brakes, Josie crashes her bike, and her world goes black.
Then something extraordinary happens.
She wakes up in hospital. The handsome stranger by her side, holding her hand and telling her he loves her, is Rob. Her husband of two years. They live in a chic Manhattan penthouse. She works in real estate. And she’s thirty pounds slimmer than when she got on her bike that morning.
Josie has no idea how she got here. This new life is everything she ever wanted. But there’s one thing missing . . .
And now she has to decide: should she go back to her old single life in Brooklyn or stay with the love of her nearly perfect new life?
What would you do?
This extraordinary and unforgettable love story is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Audrey Niffenegger, Diana Gabaldon, Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls, Colleen Hoover, Laura Barnett, Rebecca Searle and Holly Miller.
————————review————————
i'm extremely behind on my book reviews, so it's been a hot minute since i read this book, but this is a sliding-door plot, which i really love. rob was a good man and he was wonderful about josie's situation.
i'm always fascinated by alternate universes, so i could envision myself in josie's shoes and wonder about what to do. there were pros and cons to both lives, and this story wraps up pretty nicely, especially for one specific josie.
i suspected how the story was going to end, but it was the kind of light read that i needed at the time.
July 20, 2022
If you know me well enough, you know I love the question of “What If,” of roads not taken & the parallel universes they lead to.
It’s Josie’s 36th birthday & honestly? She has a pretty good life. Great friends, fun job, caring brother. Then an accident leads to her suddenly waking up…. Well, still her, but different. This Josie now has a penthouse, a hot husband, and is the woman behind a powerhouse company.
But in both lives, lives she swears she’s lived & has memories of…. something seems to be missing.
This book took me by pleasant surprise tbh! Other than knowing it was utilizing the “sliding door” trope/plot device, I went in mostly blind. While I will admit that there were some parts during the story that dragged on for a bit longer than necessary for me, it was otherwise very easy to follow along with both of Josie’s alternative lives.
And, if I were being completely honest, I think that the author did a wonderful job of illustrating how each alternative path had its own realistic sets of positives & negatives — and by this I mean that it was hard for me to choose one life over the other!
Under normal circumstances with “sliding door”romances, I typically find myself rooting for one over the other. But here, I truly wasn’t really able to play favorites because both paths were genuinely authentic & appealing. And the fact that this book, while still formulaic in the sense of how most romcoms are, was able to keep me guessing and on my toes is a testament to how much I enjoyed it overall. This is my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last!
It’s Josie’s 36th birthday & honestly? She has a pretty good life. Great friends, fun job, caring brother. Then an accident leads to her suddenly waking up…. Well, still her, but different. This Josie now has a penthouse, a hot husband, and is the woman behind a powerhouse company.
But in both lives, lives she swears she’s lived & has memories of…. something seems to be missing.
This book took me by pleasant surprise tbh! Other than knowing it was utilizing the “sliding door” trope/plot device, I went in mostly blind. While I will admit that there were some parts during the story that dragged on for a bit longer than necessary for me, it was otherwise very easy to follow along with both of Josie’s alternative lives.
And, if I were being completely honest, I think that the author did a wonderful job of illustrating how each alternative path had its own realistic sets of positives & negatives — and by this I mean that it was hard for me to choose one life over the other!
Under normal circumstances with “sliding door”romances, I typically find myself rooting for one over the other. But here, I truly wasn’t really able to play favorites because both paths were genuinely authentic & appealing. And the fact that this book, while still formulaic in the sense of how most romcoms are, was able to keep me guessing and on my toes is a testament to how much I enjoyed it overall. This is my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last!
May 23, 2022
Told from the perspective of Josie, a 36-year-old woman, we travel with her through space and time to New York City which has her name written all over it. We see why her other self fell in love with her husband and how her life might have turned out if one thing had been different—the butterfly effect in its glory.
To be honest, I did not connect with any of the characters, not even Josie. I felt like the writing relied too much on the dialogue and not enough on the feelings, and descriptions. Characters did not stand out to me and even pissed me off from time to time.
I also found the themes discussed not fleshed out and flat. Some dialogue too made me feel iffy (that could be just me, but I did not think someone saying she's an "invalid" was appropriate as this term is disrespectful or asking if her cursing was caused by Tourette's which Josie doesn't seem to have, it's never been mentioned before or after this point).
3/5, I do like the concept however I did not really enjoy the execution.
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Instagram | Twitter
To be honest, I did not connect with any of the characters, not even Josie. I felt like the writing relied too much on the dialogue and not enough on the feelings, and descriptions. Characters did not stand out to me and even pissed me off from time to time.
I also found the themes discussed not fleshed out and flat. Some dialogue too made me feel iffy (that could be just me, but I did not think someone saying she's an "invalid" was appropriate as this term is disrespectful or asking if her cursing was caused by Tourette's which Josie doesn't seem to have, it's never been mentioned before or after this point).
3/5, I do like the concept however I did not really enjoy the execution.
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Instagram | Twitter
June 9, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
It’s a multiverse romance. NYC Josie takes off on her bicycle to meet friends at the pub for the celebration of her 36th birthday. Birthday girl never arrives safely at her destination, instead crashing her bicycle, and waking up in hospital to a totally different reality. This is when multiple timelines begin to emerge. One version of Josie wakes up to realize that she is married to a lovely, beautiful stranger named Rob, while the other version of Josie wakes up discover that her husband Rob is no longer in her life, but a kind man named Peter would like the job.
Two versions of Josie spend the next year living each other’s lives, friendships, careers, and romances. Both Josies basically fake amnesia, and both are 99% certain that it’s not amnesia at all, but just an alternate version of their own existence.
Josie and Josie, since they are basically the same person, choose to write a journal for each other, just in case they should ever get switched back one day. Each Josie faces the challenge of pining for her previous life while reluctantly learning to love her new one. Both women have an idea about how to swap the timelines and land back into their own reality. She and She must decide whether to sacrifice romantic love or family love. There are no easy choices.
Did I mention also that Josie is British, and this lovely story takes us in one year onto three different continents? Without giving anything away, this reader cried when reading the last sentence. It was just so pure and so sexy.
It’s a multiverse romance. NYC Josie takes off on her bicycle to meet friends at the pub for the celebration of her 36th birthday. Birthday girl never arrives safely at her destination, instead crashing her bicycle, and waking up in hospital to a totally different reality. This is when multiple timelines begin to emerge. One version of Josie wakes up to realize that she is married to a lovely, beautiful stranger named Rob, while the other version of Josie wakes up discover that her husband Rob is no longer in her life, but a kind man named Peter would like the job.
Two versions of Josie spend the next year living each other’s lives, friendships, careers, and romances. Both Josies basically fake amnesia, and both are 99% certain that it’s not amnesia at all, but just an alternate version of their own existence.
Josie and Josie, since they are basically the same person, choose to write a journal for each other, just in case they should ever get switched back one day. Each Josie faces the challenge of pining for her previous life while reluctantly learning to love her new one. Both women have an idea about how to swap the timelines and land back into their own reality. She and She must decide whether to sacrifice romantic love or family love. There are no easy choices.
Did I mention also that Josie is British, and this lovely story takes us in one year onto three different continents? Without giving anything away, this reader cried when reading the last sentence. It was just so pure and so sexy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews