The Me I Used To Be

by Jennifer Archer

THAT WAS THEN
Me, Allyson Cole. Age sixteen. Living in the world of endless summers, of going wherever you wanted. And yes, my parents may have worried that I was riding into trouble—but I was young and in love and growing up was something I had to do….

AND THIS IS NOW
Me, again. Allyson Cole. This time, age fifty-one. I have everything I always wanted—almost. I don't have him…and I don't have me. Now's the time to find what I lost. To do that, I have to hit the road, and find the father of my child. And start a journey I never could have anticipated….

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Jennifer Archer is an award-winning author of eleven novels and three novellas in the young adult, romantic comedy, and women's fiction genres and has co-authored a non-fiction book. Her novels have been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s Rita Award and Romantic Times Bookclub’s Reviewer’s Choice Award. The Texas Library Association selected her debut young adult novel Through Her Eyes for their first Spirit of Texas Reading Program – Middle School and for the TAYSHAS High School reading list. Jennifer also writes and edits for clients through her business, Archer Editing & Writing Services www.archereditingandwriting.com. She lives in Texas with her husband and three dogs.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JTyFMP
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Reviews

[Jennifer Archer]

I wrote the book so I might be just a bit prejudiced. ;) I will say, however, that it was one of my favorite books to write!

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this nice tale about forgiveness, moving on, reconciling the past and accepting what is.

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Archer paints a vivid picture of a mother who gave up a child for adoption and how it comes back to haunt her in a good way.


The characters in The Me I Used To Be are very complex and very human. But aren't all people that way. Allyson goes to Woodstock with her bad boy boyfriend and when it is over she's left alone and then later finds out she's pregnant.



Flash forward 30 some years and a teenage boy shows up telling her he's her grandson and that the daughter she gave up has died of cancer.


Wow!


Pass the Kleenex!

Through this meeting, we watch Allyson finally grow up and come to terms with her past. She makes peace with the man/boy she loved first and finds herself able to commit to the man she loves now.


It may be a lot to pack into about 290 pages, but Jennifer Archer does it well and she even inserts some humor as well. Life isn't all about the serious stuff. It was hard not to laugh when Allyson and Nick are climbing over a fence at the carnival to get away from a Pitbull and to get in to the carnival for free. And then there was the fight with the biker over a dog, that landed them in jail for a few hours. It was moments like that really leave you smiling.

There are a lot of moments when you will cry while reading this. Daughter Sarah's journals will definitely do that, but all in all this is a beautiful book about a second chance to make things right.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the original Woodstock, sixteen-year-old Allyson Cole found herself pregnant and alone when her boyfriend Sonny runs away without a word, and her parents forced her to give the baby up for adoption.

Thirty years later, Allyson is stunned to find an eighteen-year-old boy on her doorstep: Nicholas, the son of the daughter she gave up for adoption. Before Allyson's daughter died of cancer, she found where Allyson lived and told Nicholas to go to her "because she owes me". Allyson and Nicholas go on a search for Sonny to find out if they can be a family.

I like the twist on "baby given up for adoption comes back", and I really liked Jennifer Archer's writing. So rare for me these days, I didn't find myself pulled out of the story once for strange sentence structure or weird choices of words. Thinking back on it now, I can see an inconsistency in the story line but it didn't bother me at the time and I don't think it's a big deal even now.

I haven't read anything else by Jennifer Archer but I will now.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I left behind

A very moving story SPOILED for me by the author's abuse of GOD's Names. This is blasphemy and is NEVER acceptable.
Therefore loses 1 *

[Lucille Bransfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo, apparently I read this book about 15 years ago. I didn’t remember anything about it so that was good. It was a good book, so at least there’s that. I liked the flashbacks to Woodstock and the 70’s. The characters were well thought out and I liked them all. It was a tough, who should she go with kind of book. She chose well, if you ask me.

[Suzannah Fussell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads. It was excellent. I could not put it down. Wonderful story that keeps you hoping until the very end. Read this book it was great!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about the Woodstock days was a perfect read for me. Full of adventure, memories and emotions. The author did a great job:)

[Teresa Langheim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Christina Eder · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a yummy fast read! This fun-spirited story blends everyday situations with enough realistic understanding of relationships without being overly dramatic. Refreshing and I'm grateful for a mind break from "reality show" reading!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice story of a 51 year old woman trying to find out what she's lost and what she has.

From back cover:

"That was then...Me, Allyson Cole. Age sixteen. Living in the world of endless summers, of going wherever you wanted. And yes, my parents may have worried that I was riding into trouble - but I was young and in love, and growing up was something I had to do...

And this is now...Me, again. Allyson Cole. This time, age fifty-one. I have everything I always wanted - almost. I don't have him...and I don't have me. Now's the time to find what I lost. To do that, I have to hit the road, and find the father of my child. And start a journey I never could have anticipated..."

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/08/05 #176
TITLE/AUTHOR: THE ME I USED TO BE by Jennifer Archer
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Women's Fiction, 2005, 289 Pgs
COMMENTS: Enjoyable read. At 16, in 1969, Allyson Cole
was at Woodstock. At 51, in 2004, Allyson owns the Slender
Pea -- a succesful Health Food Restaurant. Allyson is
finally ready to make the commitment to marriage (her 1st)
but can she fully say yes when there are parts of her
past she has not come to terms w/.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, quick read. Its about this couple that goes to Woodstock, they get JIggy with it there and he leaves her after. She finds out that shes pregnant with him and gives the baby up for adoption. Then its years and years later and who comes to her doorstep but a boy claiming to be her grandson. She goes on a journey finding the the answers she needs to move on with her life. Its a good, touching book. I enjoyed it.

[Jordin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast read. I really liked it. It felt to me like a simple, easy read which was exactly what I'd been looking for. It's about a woman who meets her grandson for the first time after sixteen years. It explores her new relationship with him and her past. I really enjoyed the book.

[Cathy]

Great book! This was about a woman who gave her daughter up for adoption 35 years ago. She is now searching for the father of their child. He knew nothing about the baby because he left with no notice. There's a very important reason why she's doing this now. You'll have to read it to find out.

[Yousra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The me I used to be by Jennifer. archer
Awesome read!!