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The Good Part
By the New York Times bestselling author of Just Haven't Met You Yet, a downtrodden twenty-six-year-old wakes up to the life she’s always wanted, but is it really a dream come true?
At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and definitely tired of living in a damp flat share with flatmates who never buy toilet roll. She could quit her job for a better living, but she’s not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm and no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she’s got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.
When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job, and storybook perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can’t believe this is real—especially when she looks in the mirror, and staring back is her own forty-something face. Has she really skipped ahead to the future she’s always wanted, or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she’ll have to ask herself: Can she go back, and if so, does she want to?
At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and definitely tired of living in a damp flat share with flatmates who never buy toilet roll. She could quit her job for a better living, but she’s not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm and no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she’s got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.
When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job, and storybook perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can’t believe this is real—especially when she looks in the mirror, and staring back is her own forty-something face. Has she really skipped ahead to the future she’s always wanted, or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she’ll have to ask herself: Can she go back, and if so, does she want to?
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2023
2131 people are currently reading
69198 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Cousens
6 books5,189 followersSophie Cousens has worked in television for twelve years. She attributes surviving this long to always knowing where the Post-it notes are kept, and her ability to carry six coffee cups at once.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,862 reviews
June 26, 2024
This was my first book by the author, and it will definitely not be the last. This is one of those books that reminds you of why you love reading, because it made me feel everything, and made me think about life and what is important in it. I can never get enough reminders of this, and I was in need of it right now. The plot was based on time travel, and it worked well. It created mystery and it almost felt like a thriller in the end. What choices would she make? I had to know. That’s how I generally felt while reading, I wanted to stay with the family forever. Hearing about their everyday lives, not missing a moment of the story. It was just a perfect, touching read and I want more.
September 11, 2025
This delightful blend of women's fiction and fantasy, infused with enchanting romance vibes, may just be Sophie Cousens' most hilarious, entertaining, and heartwarming work yet. It will remind you of Sophie Kinsella's "Remember Me".
Imagine yourself in your mid-twenties, struggling with finances, despising your living situation with three roommates (who bring their eccentric one-night stands and save bones in the bathtub to make homemade bone broth). Meanwhile, your best friends are moving forward in their relationships and high-paying jobs, leaving you stuck in a job you despise, earning significantly less. That's exactly how Lucy Young feels as she experiences the worst night of her life—running away from an app-date gone wrong, walking home in the rain with no phone, no direction, and dissolving ballet shoes.
Amidst her frustration, she stumbles upon a peculiar newsagent store and its intriguing ATM machine known as the "wishing machine." This magical contraption allows you to voice your desires using a coin. In her desperation, Lucy wishes to skip to the good parts of her life, to escape the rut she's stuck in.
To her astonishment, her wish is granted. The next morning, she wakes up in a different room, lying beside a handsome man in his early forties who happens to be wearing a wedding band. Did she have a drunken one-night stand with a married man she can't remember? As she gazes into the mirror, she lets out a scream—she has Jennifer Aniston's hair, and she's aged! She even has a Cesarean scar. The same man hurriedly leaves their home, leaving Lucy with an 18-month-old toddler and a 7-year-old boy named Felix, who believes she's an impostor—an alien who replaced his mother. To make matters worse, a photo on the wall confirms her worst nightmare: her wish has propelled her 16 years into the future, where she's married with two kids and a successful career, but devoid of any memories of how she got there.
Will Lucy regain her lost memories? Is she suffering from a brain condition? Or is she trapped in a parallel universe with no way back to her own timeline? Will she continue living as an impostor in her own life, missing out on the significant years that shaped her into who she was? Dive into this captivating story to uncover the answers.
I can't recall how many times I burst into laughter while reading this book. Little Felix, the boy who tries to help the imposter mother find her way back to her original timeline, quickly became my favorite character.
The love story between Sam and Lucy, told in reverse, is also a highlight of the book.
After the stressful week I had, this book was exactly what I needed. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you, with a warning that your stomach might hurt from excessive laughter.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Imagine yourself in your mid-twenties, struggling with finances, despising your living situation with three roommates (who bring their eccentric one-night stands and save bones in the bathtub to make homemade bone broth). Meanwhile, your best friends are moving forward in their relationships and high-paying jobs, leaving you stuck in a job you despise, earning significantly less. That's exactly how Lucy Young feels as she experiences the worst night of her life—running away from an app-date gone wrong, walking home in the rain with no phone, no direction, and dissolving ballet shoes.
Amidst her frustration, she stumbles upon a peculiar newsagent store and its intriguing ATM machine known as the "wishing machine." This magical contraption allows you to voice your desires using a coin. In her desperation, Lucy wishes to skip to the good parts of her life, to escape the rut she's stuck in.
To her astonishment, her wish is granted. The next morning, she wakes up in a different room, lying beside a handsome man in his early forties who happens to be wearing a wedding band. Did she have a drunken one-night stand with a married man she can't remember? As she gazes into the mirror, she lets out a scream—she has Jennifer Aniston's hair, and she's aged! She even has a Cesarean scar. The same man hurriedly leaves their home, leaving Lucy with an 18-month-old toddler and a 7-year-old boy named Felix, who believes she's an impostor—an alien who replaced his mother. To make matters worse, a photo on the wall confirms her worst nightmare: her wish has propelled her 16 years into the future, where she's married with two kids and a successful career, but devoid of any memories of how she got there.
Will Lucy regain her lost memories? Is she suffering from a brain condition? Or is she trapped in a parallel universe with no way back to her own timeline? Will she continue living as an impostor in her own life, missing out on the significant years that shaped her into who she was? Dive into this captivating story to uncover the answers.
I can't recall how many times I burst into laughter while reading this book. Little Felix, the boy who tries to help the imposter mother find her way back to her original timeline, quickly became my favorite character.
The love story between Sam and Lucy, told in reverse, is also a highlight of the book.
After the stressful week I had, this book was exactly what I needed. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you, with a warning that your stomach might hurt from excessive laughter.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
November 29, 2023
Writing: Punchy, conversational | Plot: solid | Ending: rushed
SYNOPSIS
26-year-old Lucy Young is going through it as all 26-year-olds do. After a particularly bad day/night, she stumbles upon a wishing machine where she wishes she could skip to the good part in her life. But will it really be a dream come true?
MY OPINION
BTW THIS IS NOT A ROMCOM. THIS IS WOMEN'S LIT WITH A LIL DASH OF ROMANCE. NO SPICE, YA FREAK NASTIES. Okay, now that that's settled, let's get into it. I LOVED THIS!!!! It needs to be made into a movie ASAP. The author said she was inspired by 13 Going On 30 and Freaky Friday; you can definitely feel those vibes and I appreciate her citing the inspo.
I'm learning that I'm a sucker for a good time travel (The Christmas Wish: the hilarious new festive Christmas romance from the bestselling author is another solid one). It's a great device to explore the deeper messages of the book and it lets you lean into the shenanigans of the book. I think this is a great read for mid-20s+. 99% of us felt confused AF at that age (esp if you're a millennial and were entering 'adulthood' just as social media really took off). The 1% with their life together: congrats. There were so many times I felt just like Lucy; wanting to close my eyes and wake up when I had a home, a loving partner, a job I at least liked, a comma in my bank account, some hobbies, a dependable group of friends etc... I would've jumped at the chance to use a wishing machine. What could go wrong?
Apparently a lot of things, which the author does a fantastic job of showing. Imagine being thrown into the deep end of motherhood? Or waking up next to your partner but having no idea what path took you there? And how about rocking up to your high-powered job in a new, hyper-digitalized age with not the slightest clue of what's happening? Anxiety on 100000000.
I can't believe I'm saying this but I wish it had been longer. This would've allowed for more exploration of Lucy's relationship with her husband. There's so many layers she could've pulled back that I would've liked to seen. But regardless, I loved Lucy's relationship with her kids. Absolutely hilarious.
In conclusion, I felt all the things. For such a quick read, Sophie Cousens got her point across and elicited some very real feelings. I sincerely hope this gets picked up instead of a Hunger Games pre-pre-prequel series. If you're a fan of Lindsey Kelk, give this a whirl. AGAIN THIS IS NOT A FULL-ON ROMCOM AND THERE IS NOT ONE MEAT LOG IN SIGHT.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: legit funny, heartwarming, did a good job exploring the 'cons' of skipping all the trials and tribulations of life, thought-provoking (not too deep but good enough for some great book club chats), fast-paced, conversational writing, just good vibes all around
Cons: wish it had been longer to explore the relationship between Lucy and her husband, ending was rushed
___
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
SYNOPSIS
26-year-old Lucy Young is going through it as all 26-year-olds do. After a particularly bad day/night, she stumbles upon a wishing machine where she wishes she could skip to the good part in her life. But will it really be a dream come true?
MY OPINION
BTW THIS IS NOT A ROMCOM. THIS IS WOMEN'S LIT WITH A LIL DASH OF ROMANCE. NO SPICE, YA FREAK NASTIES. Okay, now that that's settled, let's get into it. I LOVED THIS!!!! It needs to be made into a movie ASAP. The author said she was inspired by 13 Going On 30 and Freaky Friday; you can definitely feel those vibes and I appreciate her citing the inspo.
I'm learning that I'm a sucker for a good time travel (The Christmas Wish: the hilarious new festive Christmas romance from the bestselling author is another solid one). It's a great device to explore the deeper messages of the book and it lets you lean into the shenanigans of the book. I think this is a great read for mid-20s+. 99% of us felt confused AF at that age (esp if you're a millennial and were entering 'adulthood' just as social media really took off). The 1% with their life together: congrats. There were so many times I felt just like Lucy; wanting to close my eyes and wake up when I had a home, a loving partner, a job I at least liked, a comma in my bank account, some hobbies, a dependable group of friends etc... I would've jumped at the chance to use a wishing machine. What could go wrong?
Apparently a lot of things, which the author does a fantastic job of showing. Imagine being thrown into the deep end of motherhood? Or waking up next to your partner but having no idea what path took you there? And how about rocking up to your high-powered job in a new, hyper-digitalized age with not the slightest clue of what's happening? Anxiety on 100000000.
I can't believe I'm saying this but I wish it had been longer. This would've allowed for more exploration of Lucy's relationship with her husband. There's so many layers she could've pulled back that I would've liked to seen. But regardless, I loved Lucy's relationship with her kids. Absolutely hilarious.
In conclusion, I felt all the things. For such a quick read, Sophie Cousens got her point across and elicited some very real feelings. I sincerely hope this gets picked up instead of a Hunger Games pre-pre-prequel series. If you're a fan of Lindsey Kelk, give this a whirl. AGAIN THIS IS NOT A FULL-ON ROMCOM AND THERE IS NOT ONE MEAT LOG IN SIGHT.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: legit funny, heartwarming, did a good job exploring the 'cons' of skipping all the trials and tribulations of life, thought-provoking (not too deep but good enough for some great book club chats), fast-paced, conversational writing, just good vibes all around
Cons: wish it had been longer to explore the relationship between Lucy and her husband, ending was rushed
___
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
November 20, 2023
If you could magically skip ahead to the good part of your life, would you? Would you bypass the messiness we all have to go through to get there?
This is the question posited by Sophie Cousens’ newest book The Good Part. Lucy is 26 years old and full of creative ideas, working for a TV production studio where none of them are asked for or appreciated. Her best friend and roommate Zoya has just told her that she’s planning to move out of their rather sad London flatshare in search of greener pastures, and Lucy’s latest disastrous date has only furthered her belief that there aren’t any good guys out there to find.
Disillusioned and a little bit drunk one night, she escapes the rain and enters a small shop where a mysterious kindly old woman with a Scottish lilt sees Lucy eyeing the arcade style wishing machine at the back. Seeing Lucy’s state of discouragement, she offers her the penny and ten-pence piece she needs to make a wish.
Lucy’s wish? I wish I could skip to the good part, where my life is sorted. There’s a bit more to her wish, but that’s the gist. A few clinks of the machine and one pressed coin later that says YOUR WISH IS GRANTED, and Lucy wakes up to a whole new life - only she’s bypassed sixteen years of it!
I don’t want to say too much about the new life she wakes up to and the havoc it wreaks for her and those around her to be missing sixteen years of memories, but I will say that it’s a fun, bittersweet and fascinating journey to experience with her! The most touching and sweet parts are watching her learn to interact with and fall in love with a husband and children she’s never known. I particularly adored her relationship with her son, Felix, whose lines are some of the best in the book, but her relationship with her husband Sam stole my heart too!
So here’s the conundrum, if one is inclined to be philosophical for a moment: you’ve now seen the good part you wanted. Do you give up the sixteen years you missed and continue in this new reality, hoping the memories you’ve missed come back, or do you go back and live the life you’ve missed, hoping it leads you back to this same place?
My honest answer: I have no idea. I’m just glad I don’t have to make that decision! What does Lucy choose? You’ll have to read and find out - I can only say it’s worth it to do so! My one and only minor complaint is that I feel a little conflicted about the ending, but nothing that ruined my experience.
I adore Sophie Cousens’ writing, and this story embodies everything I love about it. There’s warmth and humor, but there are also moments of true melancholy, and I appreciate that I can experience a whole range of emotions in her books. I read this on my Kindle while listening to the audio, narrated so beautifully by Kerry Gilbert. The immersive experience was perfect!
The author’s note mentions the classic movies Big, The Family Man, 13 Going on 30, and Freaky Friday as inspirations for this book, and while you’ll certainly find the time switch elements of those, this is a story whose charms stand solely on their own. I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
My thanks to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, NetGalley and author Sophie Cousens for the DRC to honestly review and to Libby/my local library for the audio. It’s now available.
This is the question posited by Sophie Cousens’ newest book The Good Part. Lucy is 26 years old and full of creative ideas, working for a TV production studio where none of them are asked for or appreciated. Her best friend and roommate Zoya has just told her that she’s planning to move out of their rather sad London flatshare in search of greener pastures, and Lucy’s latest disastrous date has only furthered her belief that there aren’t any good guys out there to find.
Disillusioned and a little bit drunk one night, she escapes the rain and enters a small shop where a mysterious kindly old woman with a Scottish lilt sees Lucy eyeing the arcade style wishing machine at the back. Seeing Lucy’s state of discouragement, she offers her the penny and ten-pence piece she needs to make a wish.
Lucy’s wish? I wish I could skip to the good part, where my life is sorted. There’s a bit more to her wish, but that’s the gist. A few clinks of the machine and one pressed coin later that says YOUR WISH IS GRANTED, and Lucy wakes up to a whole new life - only she’s bypassed sixteen years of it!
I don’t want to say too much about the new life she wakes up to and the havoc it wreaks for her and those around her to be missing sixteen years of memories, but I will say that it’s a fun, bittersweet and fascinating journey to experience with her! The most touching and sweet parts are watching her learn to interact with and fall in love with a husband and children she’s never known. I particularly adored her relationship with her son, Felix, whose lines are some of the best in the book, but her relationship with her husband Sam stole my heart too!
So here’s the conundrum, if one is inclined to be philosophical for a moment: you’ve now seen the good part you wanted. Do you give up the sixteen years you missed and continue in this new reality, hoping the memories you’ve missed come back, or do you go back and live the life you’ve missed, hoping it leads you back to this same place?
My honest answer: I have no idea. I’m just glad I don’t have to make that decision! What does Lucy choose? You’ll have to read and find out - I can only say it’s worth it to do so! My one and only minor complaint is that I feel a little conflicted about the ending, but nothing that ruined my experience.
I adore Sophie Cousens’ writing, and this story embodies everything I love about it. There’s warmth and humor, but there are also moments of true melancholy, and I appreciate that I can experience a whole range of emotions in her books. I read this on my Kindle while listening to the audio, narrated so beautifully by Kerry Gilbert. The immersive experience was perfect!
The author’s note mentions the classic movies Big, The Family Man, 13 Going on 30, and Freaky Friday as inspirations for this book, and while you’ll certainly find the time switch elements of those, this is a story whose charms stand solely on their own. I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
My thanks to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, NetGalley and author Sophie Cousens for the DRC to honestly review and to Libby/my local library for the audio. It’s now available.
February 4, 2025
“
Is that what life is — missing out in your twenties because you have no money, then missing out in your forties because you have no time?
”
Of all the great quotes in this book I choose this one in particular because it hides a big truth under the sarcasm: no matter your age, you’ll always feel in the wrong.
I could tell you there’s no such thing as the right time to do something and, ideally, it's true. But we also know that life is not ideal.
In your twenties, you go out and have fun, but also you don't have enough money to treat yourself and no time if you want a career; in your thirties, you're settling down for the first or second time, working and planning a future, but still having fun and maybe push the bar higher sometimes; in your forties, it's more difficult to start a family, to start a career from the scratch, or to have the money and time and energy to go and have fun like you used to - just think about the next morning hungover and you'll give up the second glass of wine.
Does it mean you can't do these things when you feel more ready? Absolutely not.
The Good Part is way more than a sweet story with a nice cover.
The whole concept is extremely terrifying: waking up sixteen years in the future, with no knowledge of what had happened in those years, not only in your personal life but also in the world.
What drove me off at first was the fact that she didn't remember anything, but she still lived those years. That, and the fact that Felix is only seven when he doesn't sound, act or think like a kid at that age at all.
Also, I love the way she makes us believe we're in the future - with smarter cars and smarter technology in general, and political correctness won't be a thing because we're all more attentive -, without actually saying anything about that. The world has not collapsed yet, oceans are still there, and politics is still the mess it has always been, a man and a woman went to Mars. But nothing too crazy that twenty years from now, reading this book someone will laugh at what we thought could be possibly achieved in twenty years.
Now, I can try explaining the anxiety and hopelessness I felt during most of this. If you follow me, you already know my phobia of ageing and - eventually - dying, which labels this book as a huge trigger warning for me.
I could say it healed me, it made me realize that all those cliches people love to say to explain the unexplainable parts of their lives finally have a meaning to me, I can finally look at the future with a new spirit and ready to wake up one day and laugh about the twenty-something version of me… but it’d be a lie.
And it's fine as it is.
You know, at first, I really could understand why she woke up in the future without any memory; but then, when *everything* happened, I realized that if she’d come back with her memories too, her life would have been so much worse.
I'm both very happy and very sad about what is waiting for her but, even if I'd love to know what to expect, then what would be the point of living?
↠ 4 stars
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Of all the great quotes in this book I choose this one in particular because it hides a big truth under the sarcasm: no matter your age, you’ll always feel in the wrong.
I could tell you there’s no such thing as the right time to do something and, ideally, it's true. But we also know that life is not ideal.
In your twenties, you go out and have fun, but also you don't have enough money to treat yourself and no time if you want a career; in your thirties, you're settling down for the first or second time, working and planning a future, but still having fun and maybe push the bar higher sometimes; in your forties, it's more difficult to start a family, to start a career from the scratch, or to have the money and time and energy to go and have fun like you used to - just think about the next morning hungover and you'll give up the second glass of wine.
Does it mean you can't do these things when you feel more ready? Absolutely not.
The Good Part is way more than a sweet story with a nice cover.
The whole concept is extremely terrifying: waking up sixteen years in the future, with no knowledge of what had happened in those years, not only in your personal life but also in the world.
What drove me off at first was the fact that she didn't remember anything, but she still lived those years. That, and the fact that Felix is only seven when he doesn't sound, act or think like a kid at that age at all.
Also, I love the way she makes us believe we're in the future - with smarter cars and smarter technology in general, and political correctness won't be a thing because we're all more attentive -, without actually saying anything about that. The world has not collapsed yet, oceans are still there, and politics is still the mess it has always been, a man and a woman went to Mars. But nothing too crazy that twenty years from now, reading this book someone will laugh at what we thought could be possibly achieved in twenty years.
Now, I can try explaining the anxiety and hopelessness I felt during most of this. If you follow me, you already know my phobia of ageing and - eventually - dying, which labels this book as a huge trigger warning for me.
I could say it healed me, it made me realize that all those cliches people love to say to explain the unexplainable parts of their lives finally have a meaning to me, I can finally look at the future with a new spirit and ready to wake up one day and laugh about the twenty-something version of me… but it’d be a lie.
And it's fine as it is.
You know, at first, I really could understand why she woke up in the future without any memory; but then, when *everything* happened, I realized that if she’d come back with her memories too, her life would have been so much worse.
I'm both very happy and very sad about what is waiting for her but, even if I'd love to know what to expect, then what would be the point of living?
↠ 4 stars
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 29, 2023
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin-Putnam, and Sophie Cousens for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 11.7!!**
Move over, Zoltar...there's a new wishing machine in town!
Lucy Young still feels like an impatient kid on a road trip...she keeps asking herself "Are we there yet?" But when it comes to growing up, finding your place in the world, AND also finding the love of your live and starting a family...the final destination can seem like an ever-moving target. Lucy loves her three roommates...although she could live without their random one-night stands crashing at their pad and the homemade bone broth in the tub (Don't ask). Lucy works in the TV world and likes her job....but she's also waiting for her big break and is tired of being overlooked or being asked to just go get coffee when she knows she has so much more to offer. And Mr. Right could be waiting just around the next corner...
Lucy goes on a Tinder date, crossing her fingers and hoping for the best...but yet again, she's met with an eye-roll-worthy jerk who reminds her just HOW awful online dating can be. On a rainy walk home, she takes temporary cover in an unusual shop with a charming Scottish lady at the counter...and a wishing machine in back. Figuring she has nothing left to lose, Lucy drops a coin in the slot, squeezes her eyes shut, and wishes to simply skip to "The Good Part" of her life. And when she opens her eyes the following morning....EVERYTHING is different. She's in a fancy house, with a drop dead GORGEOUS man in her room, a glittering diamond on her finger...and two kids nearby who seem to be under the impression that she is their mother. When she shows up at work, EVERYONE bows to her knowledge and title...but Lucy hasn't a clue. Even worse, when Lucy looks in the mirror, she sees her own face...but it's a weathered and loved FORTY YEAR OLD version of her face.
Has she LOST the past 16 years to a mysterious form of amnesia...or has her desperately whispered wish become a reality...and if so, is there a way to get back to the life full of possibility that was her twenties? Or is she now trapped in a life she hardly understands with so many people depending on her...permanently?
This is only my second Cousens book, but the rest of hers are on my list...and with good reason. There is a warm, charming, and cozy aspect to her books, but they also manage to explore the trials and tribulations of being a young woman in your mid-twenties with SOME of life figured out...but plenty left to go. This one reminded me of so many books in the genre at its beginning, with the cute cast of lovable, quirky friends and their silly and sometimes impetuous behavior. I'll be honest, I almost struggled with connecting to the characters at the beginning because I was sort of 'feeling my age'...as many in their 30s and 40s do when they realize they are no longer 20 and they attempt to hang out with 20 year old people.
But then we got to the wish, and the time jump....and suddenly, I felt right at home. Although I haven't hit 40 yet (and trust me, I am NOT rushing that particular milestone), so much of Lucy's "adultier" life rang true, from the scramble to get a kid out the door, the maddening rush to stop babies from putting everything in their mouths, the unfortunate reality that earning more money than you did as a renter in your twenties simply means you are going to spend much, much more of it as a homeowner...and that feelings of workplace inadequacy (especially as a woman pitted against a man) can be soul-crushing. It was so easy to get swept away by the 'love story' in reverse that I couldn't fathom HOW Lucy could still be thinking about life in her twenties - at all.
...Until a couple of events from Lucy's past are revealed to her by her husband that are more than just a gut-punch: they're simply tragic. I felt so deeply for her and was as stunned as if I'd received the news myself...and herein lies the greatest conflict. IS there such a thing as 'guaranteed' happiness? If you had the option to skip the pain, would you do it...if missing out on it ALSO meant that you were going to miss all of the happy memories and potential along the way? Although I certainly had my preference for Lucy's final choice, I was on the edge of my seat right up until the end to see if our thoughts aligned. And while I was a TAD let down by how everything played out, the VERY end of the book gave me a bit of the redemptive arc I had hoped to find (and even though it may have strayed into wholly predictable territory at the same time, it's the kind of predictable that feels like one last warm, snuggly hug! 🤗)
When you're in your twenties, you can't wait for your life to REALLY start...but by your forties, you realize that your life is actually more than half over! And just like with a hairstyle, there's no such thing as a PERFECT part...but that doesn't mean you can't find a good one! 💇♀️
😉
4 stars
Move over, Zoltar...there's a new wishing machine in town!
Lucy Young still feels like an impatient kid on a road trip...she keeps asking herself "Are we there yet?" But when it comes to growing up, finding your place in the world, AND also finding the love of your live and starting a family...the final destination can seem like an ever-moving target. Lucy loves her three roommates...although she could live without their random one-night stands crashing at their pad and the homemade bone broth in the tub (Don't ask). Lucy works in the TV world and likes her job....but she's also waiting for her big break and is tired of being overlooked or being asked to just go get coffee when she knows she has so much more to offer. And Mr. Right could be waiting just around the next corner...
Lucy goes on a Tinder date, crossing her fingers and hoping for the best...but yet again, she's met with an eye-roll-worthy jerk who reminds her just HOW awful online dating can be. On a rainy walk home, she takes temporary cover in an unusual shop with a charming Scottish lady at the counter...and a wishing machine in back. Figuring she has nothing left to lose, Lucy drops a coin in the slot, squeezes her eyes shut, and wishes to simply skip to "The Good Part" of her life. And when she opens her eyes the following morning....EVERYTHING is different. She's in a fancy house, with a drop dead GORGEOUS man in her room, a glittering diamond on her finger...and two kids nearby who seem to be under the impression that she is their mother. When she shows up at work, EVERYONE bows to her knowledge and title...but Lucy hasn't a clue. Even worse, when Lucy looks in the mirror, she sees her own face...but it's a weathered and loved FORTY YEAR OLD version of her face.
Has she LOST the past 16 years to a mysterious form of amnesia...or has her desperately whispered wish become a reality...and if so, is there a way to get back to the life full of possibility that was her twenties? Or is she now trapped in a life she hardly understands with so many people depending on her...permanently?
This is only my second Cousens book, but the rest of hers are on my list...and with good reason. There is a warm, charming, and cozy aspect to her books, but they also manage to explore the trials and tribulations of being a young woman in your mid-twenties with SOME of life figured out...but plenty left to go. This one reminded me of so many books in the genre at its beginning, with the cute cast of lovable, quirky friends and their silly and sometimes impetuous behavior. I'll be honest, I almost struggled with connecting to the characters at the beginning because I was sort of 'feeling my age'...as many in their 30s and 40s do when they realize they are no longer 20 and they attempt to hang out with 20 year old people.
But then we got to the wish, and the time jump....and suddenly, I felt right at home. Although I haven't hit 40 yet (and trust me, I am NOT rushing that particular milestone), so much of Lucy's "adultier" life rang true, from the scramble to get a kid out the door, the maddening rush to stop babies from putting everything in their mouths, the unfortunate reality that earning more money than you did as a renter in your twenties simply means you are going to spend much, much more of it as a homeowner...and that feelings of workplace inadequacy (especially as a woman pitted against a man) can be soul-crushing. It was so easy to get swept away by the 'love story' in reverse that I couldn't fathom HOW Lucy could still be thinking about life in her twenties - at all.
...Until a couple of events from Lucy's past are revealed to her by her husband that are more than just a gut-punch: they're simply tragic. I felt so deeply for her and was as stunned as if I'd received the news myself...and herein lies the greatest conflict. IS there such a thing as 'guaranteed' happiness? If you had the option to skip the pain, would you do it...if missing out on it ALSO meant that you were going to miss all of the happy memories and potential along the way? Although I certainly had my preference for Lucy's final choice, I was on the edge of my seat right up until the end to see if our thoughts aligned. And while I was a TAD let down by how everything played out, the VERY end of the book gave me a bit of the redemptive arc I had hoped to find (and even though it may have strayed into wholly predictable territory at the same time, it's the kind of predictable that feels like one last warm, snuggly hug! 🤗)
When you're in your twenties, you can't wait for your life to REALLY start...but by your forties, you realize that your life is actually more than half over! And just like with a hairstyle, there's no such thing as a PERFECT part...but that doesn't mean you can't find a good one! 💇♀️
😉
4 stars
September 30, 2023
This review is really hard for me to write. I adore Sophie Cousens's books--the prior three were all five star reads for me. I eagerly awaited the day The Good Part either came to NetGalley or released, had I not gotten an early copy. And after waiting a little while to download it (I didn't want to read it as soon as I was approved, because then it would be over!), it only took a couple days to fly through it. And it was one of the most emotional reads I've had in a long time.
But what in the Gen Z ageist nonsense was this?
I love a good amnesia storyline. And while The Good Part isn't quite that, it's always the type of thing that immediately draws me in, because I can think of few things more terrifying than waking up one day and not knowing who my husband/kids/coworkers/job are.
But as a main character, Lucy is so incredibly immature and shallow and just downright insulting.
Look, I get it. She's struggling with losing sixteen years of her life and the consequence of not knowing what she did for the remainder of her twenties and all of her thirties. I can absolutely sympathize with her distress over that.
But her horror over being *gasp!* forty two and describing her married suburban life with children a dystopian hellscape worse than death is downright insulting. So many times does she bemoan how saggy and gross and tired her skin is, and how her friends that look great must have the "youthful elixir of being child-free." She completely traumatizes Felix from day one, and the only time she acts content with her current situation is when she's drooling over how hot her husband is. And for goodness' sake--there are plenty of sixteen-year-old babysitters who can change a diaper with less drama than this woman.
Publishing world, I'm just a forty-something-year-old suburban mom begging you to give us more older gals loving life wherever they live and especially if they have children. Because between you and me, Felix was the absolute star and best part of this book. And thinking of my own little guy, I wouldn't trade him for anything--especially to go back to a life that includes a tub that might fall on my head while I sleep and showering with animal carcasses.
So would I recommend this book? To a younger audience maybe, since it's a quick, easy read and this author's previous books are fantastic. But I'd tell fellow Gen-X mamas to stay away--unless I'm just overly sensitive right now. I would hope it was no one's intention to come across as incredibly insulting, but the tone of this book just isn't for me.
Thanks very much to Penguin Group/Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.
But what in the Gen Z ageist nonsense was this?
I love a good amnesia storyline. And while The Good Part isn't quite that, it's always the type of thing that immediately draws me in, because I can think of few things more terrifying than waking up one day and not knowing who my husband/kids/coworkers/job are.
But as a main character, Lucy is so incredibly immature and shallow and just downright insulting.
Look, I get it. She's struggling with losing sixteen years of her life and the consequence of not knowing what she did for the remainder of her twenties and all of her thirties. I can absolutely sympathize with her distress over that.
But her horror over being *gasp!* forty two and describing her married suburban life with children a dystopian hellscape worse than death is downright insulting. So many times does she bemoan how saggy and gross and tired her skin is, and how her friends that look great must have the "youthful elixir of being child-free." She completely traumatizes Felix from day one, and the only time she acts content with her current situation is when she's drooling over how hot her husband is. And for goodness' sake--there are plenty of sixteen-year-old babysitters who can change a diaper with less drama than this woman.
Publishing world, I'm just a forty-something-year-old suburban mom begging you to give us more older gals loving life wherever they live and especially if they have children. Because between you and me, Felix was the absolute star and best part of this book. And thinking of my own little guy, I wouldn't trade him for anything--especially to go back to a life that includes a tub that might fall on my head while I sleep and showering with animal carcasses.
So would I recommend this book? To a younger audience maybe, since it's a quick, easy read and this author's previous books are fantastic. But I'd tell fellow Gen-X mamas to stay away--unless I'm just overly sensitive right now. I would hope it was no one's intention to come across as incredibly insulting, but the tone of this book just isn't for me.
Thanks very much to Penguin Group/Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.
December 1, 2023
Sometimes a lady (me!) just needs a heartwarming story and this one fit the bill perfectly! 💗
Twenty-six year old Lucy feels like her life is going nowhere. All of her friends are finding love or success in their career which makes her only feel like more of a failure. After a horrendous night out she runs into a news agent to keep from the pouring rain. What she finds is a wishing machine. So she drops in a few coins and wishes to be transported to a place in her life where she's content and happy.
Your wish has been granted.
Now Lucy wakes up to find herself in someone else's bed. And there is a man sleeping next to her. Crap!!! How much did she drink last night, she thinks. She tip-toes to the bathroom and to her horror she see's her reflection in the mirror. She's......old. What in the world is happening?
Turns out she has traveled sixteen years into the future. She's married, has two kids, and a successful career at a television studio.
The only problem is that she can't remember anything from the in-between.
What's better? Being happy now but never knowing how you got there or really living the experience for yourself savoring each and every moment that brought you to the place you are today. Lucy must decide.
Such a cute story with lovable characters. Every woman needs a husband like Sam. Lucy hit the marriage jackpot and it's always a wonderful experience to read about a nice guy for a change. A precocious son, a toddler with a mind of her own, and strong group of girlfriends round out the cast of characters. Sophie Cousens is becoming my new feel-good author to read after having loved another of her books. Easy breezy reading yet still touching on heavy topics made this an enjoyable reading experience. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my complimentary copy.
Twenty-six year old Lucy feels like her life is going nowhere. All of her friends are finding love or success in their career which makes her only feel like more of a failure. After a horrendous night out she runs into a news agent to keep from the pouring rain. What she finds is a wishing machine. So she drops in a few coins and wishes to be transported to a place in her life where she's content and happy.
Your wish has been granted.
Now Lucy wakes up to find herself in someone else's bed. And there is a man sleeping next to her. Crap!!! How much did she drink last night, she thinks. She tip-toes to the bathroom and to her horror she see's her reflection in the mirror. She's......old. What in the world is happening?
Turns out she has traveled sixteen years into the future. She's married, has two kids, and a successful career at a television studio.
The only problem is that she can't remember anything from the in-between.
What's better? Being happy now but never knowing how you got there or really living the experience for yourself savoring each and every moment that brought you to the place you are today. Lucy must decide.
Such a cute story with lovable characters. Every woman needs a husband like Sam. Lucy hit the marriage jackpot and it's always a wonderful experience to read about a nice guy for a change. A precocious son, a toddler with a mind of her own, and strong group of girlfriends round out the cast of characters. Sophie Cousens is becoming my new feel-good author to read after having loved another of her books. Easy breezy reading yet still touching on heavy topics made this an enjoyable reading experience. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my complimentary copy.
May 5, 2025
Felix was by far my favorite character, quickly followed by Sam. Unfortunately, I can’t claim to have much love at all for Lucy. Her life at the beginning did sound kind of rough and I felt for her, but once she arrived in the future, all her actions quickly killed any goodwill she had garnered.
Her response to finding out she had a husband and children was nothing short of bizarre. I get that she was in denial initially, but once she understood the situation, wouldn’t she feel some level of awe? She also very clearly identified that she had aged, so why did her denial last so long? Her spending spree also really threw me off and made her less likable in my eyes.
Once the story got rolling, I honestly did enjoy the majority of this book, but this particular storyline had no possible ending that truly would have satisfied me. It wouldn’t have felt right if she gave up so many years of her life but I also did not enjoy her leaving her children and husband behind. She chose to leave with the knowledge that her return to the past could completely erase her children from existence. I’ll be honest and say that if I were given the same choice, I would have sacrificed the years instead. At least we can say with clarity that she is not yet ready to be a mom.
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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Her response to finding out she had a husband and children was nothing short of bizarre. I get that she was in denial initially, but once she understood the situation, wouldn’t she feel some level of awe? She also very clearly identified that she had aged, so why did her denial last so long? Her spending spree also really threw me off and made her less likable in my eyes.
Once the story got rolling, I honestly did enjoy the majority of this book, but this particular storyline had no possible ending that truly would have satisfied me. It wouldn’t have felt right if she gave up so many years of her life but I also did not enjoy her leaving her children and husband behind. She chose to leave with the knowledge that her return to the past could completely erase her children from existence. I’ll be honest and say that if I were given the same choice, I would have sacrificed the years instead. At least we can say with clarity that she is not yet ready to be a mom.
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2024
4.5 star for the story and audiobook experience!
I’m docking half a star for the ending. My heart needed a bit more.
I’m docking half a star for the ending. My heart needed a bit more.
January 22, 2025
‘“Be careful what you wish for,” the old woman says.’
26-year-old Lucy Young is tired of her damp flat, inconsiderate flatmates, being unappreciated and undermined at work, and suffering through one bad date after another. After a particularly trying day – while seeking shelter from the rain in a newsagent – Lucy spies a fairground type ‘wishing machine’ in the back of the store. She inserts a quarter and wishes away her frustration.
‘I wish I could skip to the good part, where my life is sorted’.
The next morning Lucy wakes up in her 42-year-old body. She lives in a beautiful home, works at her dream job, is married to an amazing guy named Sam, and has two adorable children, seven-year-old Felix and baby Amy. Her wish has come true. All of her old worries and problems are no more. But there are new heartaches, and obstacles to contend with. Because no one’s life is ever perfect, at any stage. And more to the point – Lucy has missed out on sixteen years of her life – the good, and the bad.
The Good Part was a contemporary romance with a time travel/magical realism twist. Overnight, Lucy had gone from being a carefree single girl to having marriage and motherhood thrust upon her which made for hilarious, heartfelt, tender, sweet, and fun reading. The chapter where Lucy wakes up in the future with no idea where she is or how she got there was laugh out loud funny. Her reactions, confusion, and horror were spot on. No one copes well with change, so you can imagine how alien it would be if you lost sixteen years, how foreign everything would be. Sophie Cousens included some creative technological advancements. Lucy’s son Felix was so wonderful – you’ll fall in love with him I promise. This author sure writes believable children.
The romance was unique since Sam had loved Lucy for years, had all of the memories of their 12-year relationship, but to her he was a stranger. It also contained some serious and moral topics centred around grief, loss, the shock and pain of not remembering, embracing and living life to its fullest, and not taking a single day for granted. The Good Part is perfect for those who like their contemporary romances with a side of child-rearing and family life, or who love the idea of time travelling to the future. Reminiscent of 13 Going on 30 or Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella. The Good Part is my second read, and also my second five-star read by Sophie Cousens. An utter delight from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more of her backlist.
January 6, 2024
I'm not a big fan of Chick Lit, but this lighthearted, sweet, funny, yet reflective, rom-com type of book had me actually laughing out loud. It's the kind of palate cleanser that I need sometimes between reading psychological thrillers, political or military espionage, or literary fiction books. This one did that perfectly.
At 26-years-old, Lucy is working at a dead-end job in TV in London, living in a depressing apartment with three other people, going on dates with real losers, and constantly out of money. Amidst this chaos she finds a "wishing machine" which catapults her sixteen years forward into "the good part" of her life. (Hence, the title.)
Her foray into adapting into her new life with a house, a perfect husband, two adorable children, and her dream job, with credit cards and money in her wallet is both hilarious and touching.
This story will be especially entertaining to readers who have already lived through these stages of their lives. For me, it was the right book at the right time, and it stole my heart. I hope that it might do the same for you.
At 26-years-old, Lucy is working at a dead-end job in TV in London, living in a depressing apartment with three other people, going on dates with real losers, and constantly out of money. Amidst this chaos she finds a "wishing machine" which catapults her sixteen years forward into "the good part" of her life. (Hence, the title.)
Her foray into adapting into her new life with a house, a perfect husband, two adorable children, and her dream job, with credit cards and money in her wallet is both hilarious and touching.
This story will be especially entertaining to readers who have already lived through these stages of their lives. For me, it was the right book at the right time, and it stole my heart. I hope that it might do the same for you.
February 17, 2025
The older I get, the harder it is for me to enjoy romance and women-coming-into-their-own novels. But The Good Part is good stuff.
You know how it is – I’m late-ish 40s, jaded and mellowed out by age, and I often don’t find much to relate to in most of what’s published in the genre. There are exceptions, though, what with more and more stories being written featuring middle-aged protagonists. (Yay!) But for the most part, what does a 48 year-old woman have in common with a 26 year-old singleton? Not much. And what we do have in common is now housed away in my memories.
Lucky for me, Lucy is only 26 years old for part of the novel. Kinda sorta, at least. She’s 26 at the start of the story, but then she makes a wish on a wishing machine and wakes up the next day to find herself a married mom in her 40s. So while I didn’t have much in common with the first Lucy, I did like the second version of Lucy a bit more, the one stuck in an older body with more responsibilities. She’s more like me.
Sophie Cousens writes with warmth and wit, keeping the story light enough to not require much brain power yet emotional enough to give the story weight and substance. The ending is especially poignant and delivers a wallop to the gut.
There’s a lot to like here, and I’ll be reading Cousens again.
My sincerest appreciation to Sophie Cousens, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
You know how it is – I’m late-ish 40s, jaded and mellowed out by age, and I often don’t find much to relate to in most of what’s published in the genre. There are exceptions, though, what with more and more stories being written featuring middle-aged protagonists. (Yay!) But for the most part, what does a 48 year-old woman have in common with a 26 year-old singleton? Not much. And what we do have in common is now housed away in my memories.
Lucky for me, Lucy is only 26 years old for part of the novel. Kinda sorta, at least. She’s 26 at the start of the story, but then she makes a wish on a wishing machine and wakes up the next day to find herself a married mom in her 40s. So while I didn’t have much in common with the first Lucy, I did like the second version of Lucy a bit more, the one stuck in an older body with more responsibilities. She’s more like me.
Sophie Cousens writes with warmth and wit, keeping the story light enough to not require much brain power yet emotional enough to give the story weight and substance. The ending is especially poignant and delivers a wallop to the gut.
There’s a lot to like here, and I’ll be reading Cousens again.
My sincerest appreciation to Sophie Cousens, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
November 27, 2023
If you are a person of a certain age, the plot for Sophie Cousen’s upcoming release will probably be pretty familiar to you . . .
Rather than requesting to be “big,” when 26-year old Lucy finds herself fed up with a leaky ceiling in her flatshare, what appears to be a dead-end job despite having just earned a promotion and dodging a rainstorm after an unfortunate dating app connection with a disgusting tongue-sucker, she puts (a borrowed) eleven pence into the Wishing Machine and asks simply to “Skip to the Good Part.” You can probably figure out what happens next . . .
It’s 16 years later and Lucy has to figure out how to navigate marriage, motherhood and being a successful television producer – all while trying to get back to her old self.
Yep, this was the bees knees for me. Give me allllllll the 13 Going on 30, The Family Man, Big, 17 Again, Never Been Kissed, etc., etc., etc. I love this trope unapologetically and this needs to be made into a streaming movie so I can watch it on a loop until my husband threatens to murder show me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Rather than requesting to be “big,” when 26-year old Lucy finds herself fed up with a leaky ceiling in her flatshare, what appears to be a dead-end job despite having just earned a promotion and dodging a rainstorm after an unfortunate dating app connection with a disgusting tongue-sucker, she puts (a borrowed) eleven pence into the Wishing Machine and asks simply to “Skip to the Good Part.” You can probably figure out what happens next . . .
It’s 16 years later and Lucy has to figure out how to navigate marriage, motherhood and being a successful television producer – all while trying to get back to her old self.
Yep, this was the bees knees for me. Give me allllllll the 13 Going on 30, The Family Man, Big, 17 Again, Never Been Kissed, etc., etc., etc. I love this trope unapologetically and this needs to be made into a streaming movie so I can watch it on a loop until my husband threatens to murder show me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
November 29, 2023
4.5⭐️ 🎶 “Can we skip to the good part.” 🎵
Twenty-six year old Lucy is down on her luck and tired from life. When she stumbles upon a wishing machine, Lucy decides to give it a go and wishes for what she wants most - to skip to the good part. When she wakes up the next morning, she is 14 years in the future in the middle of a completely different life. But is it the one she wants?
A wonderful blend of women’s fiction, magical realism and romance, this is the perfect book for when you need an escape from the scary of the world, and want to immerse yourself in a feel-good book full of heart. With characters you can’t help but love, including the funniest little kiddos who steal the show at times, and a plot that although not super unique, is a loads of fun, you can’t help but enjoy this charming story perfect for this time of year. The audio is fantastic too.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
•magical realism
•wonderful characters
•mature MCs
•laugh out loud moments
•british romcoms
•the movie Big
Thank you Putnam Books and PRH Audio for my gifted copies.
Twenty-six year old Lucy is down on her luck and tired from life. When she stumbles upon a wishing machine, Lucy decides to give it a go and wishes for what she wants most - to skip to the good part. When she wakes up the next morning, she is 14 years in the future in the middle of a completely different life. But is it the one she wants?
A wonderful blend of women’s fiction, magical realism and romance, this is the perfect book for when you need an escape from the scary of the world, and want to immerse yourself in a feel-good book full of heart. With characters you can’t help but love, including the funniest little kiddos who steal the show at times, and a plot that although not super unique, is a loads of fun, you can’t help but enjoy this charming story perfect for this time of year. The audio is fantastic too.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
•magical realism
•wonderful characters
•mature MCs
•laugh out loud moments
•british romcoms
•the movie Big
Thank you Putnam Books and PRH Audio for my gifted copies.
September 14, 2023
“Be careful what you wish for, life is never quite sorted whatever stage you’re at.”
So the premise of this is what actually influenced me to read it. It was giving big meets freaky Friday with an overall impression of 13 going on 30 and of course that got my attention.
Lucy is a woman in her mid 20s, she’s broke, she’s tired of feeling stuck, she wants love from the right person and she doesn’t know what she wants nor where she’s going in life. One day she’s presented the opportunity with a wishing machine to travel into the future so she could finally get to the good part in her life. But is it everything she might’ve wanted or is it not?
At some point in our lives, we question whether we’re actually living life as we should or could there be more and is it what’s best for us. Can we somehow skip to the good part or should life take its course and let it come to us? seeing that portrayed was a plus as it felt so real seeing it all happen for Lucy. She felt in some ways relatable in her pursuit with her dreams and self-discovery as well.
I pretty much enjoyed each character and that’s unusual. Although I did have some issues with it such as the direction it took towards the end but that’s more of a me thing as it makes sense why. Otherwise this was an enjoyable and lighthearted book.
3.5/4✨
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
So the premise of this is what actually influenced me to read it. It was giving big meets freaky Friday with an overall impression of 13 going on 30 and of course that got my attention.
Lucy is a woman in her mid 20s, she’s broke, she’s tired of feeling stuck, she wants love from the right person and she doesn’t know what she wants nor where she’s going in life. One day she’s presented the opportunity with a wishing machine to travel into the future so she could finally get to the good part in her life. But is it everything she might’ve wanted or is it not?
At some point in our lives, we question whether we’re actually living life as we should or could there be more and is it what’s best for us. Can we somehow skip to the good part or should life take its course and let it come to us? seeing that portrayed was a plus as it felt so real seeing it all happen for Lucy. She felt in some ways relatable in her pursuit with her dreams and self-discovery as well.
I pretty much enjoyed each character and that’s unusual. Although I did have some issues with it such as the direction it took towards the end but that’s more of a me thing as it makes sense why. Otherwise this was an enjoyable and lighthearted book.
3.5/4✨
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 23, 2023
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH OMG SOPHIE COUSINS YOU ARE A MARVEL WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THIS BOOK!!!!!!
November 6, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF at 22%
I'm sorry, but I wasn't feeling this one. It definitely had its moments of comedy in the beginning, but I wasn't connecting to the FMC at all, and I just wasn't liking her personality.
I started forcing myself to pick this back up and honestly I just wasn't feeling anything when I read this, so I must move on :(
DNF at 22%
I'm sorry, but I wasn't feeling this one. It definitely had its moments of comedy in the beginning, but I wasn't connecting to the FMC at all, and I just wasn't liking her personality.
I started forcing myself to pick this back up and honestly I just wasn't feeling anything when I read this, so I must move on :(
Read
February 18, 2024I really enjoyed this one.
November 2, 2023
Cuteness overload! I absolutely loved this book!
The Good Part is a modern day twist on the 80's movie Big, with a dash of 13 Going On 30, and friendships that mirror the bond of the Sex and the City gals.
Lucy Young is in her mid twenties living with roommates in a run down London flat. Despite her new promotion she is feeling a bit under appreciated and stalled out at work. After a couple of really bad days and a sudden downpour, she seeks solace in a quirky shop with an even quirkier shopkeeper who loans her a coin for the store's wishing machine. With nothing to lose, Lucy pops the coin in and wishes for a ceiling that doesn't leak...respect at her job...and to just skip to the good part of life already.
This book was endearing, funny, hopeful, introspective, and tugged at my heart strings. I found myself cheering for Lucy to find her way, but was torn on whether to cheer for the past or the present version. This is my second book by this author and both were 5 star reads for me!
The Good Part is a modern day twist on the 80's movie Big, with a dash of 13 Going On 30, and friendships that mirror the bond of the Sex and the City gals.
Lucy Young is in her mid twenties living with roommates in a run down London flat. Despite her new promotion she is feeling a bit under appreciated and stalled out at work. After a couple of really bad days and a sudden downpour, she seeks solace in a quirky shop with an even quirkier shopkeeper who loans her a coin for the store's wishing machine. With nothing to lose, Lucy pops the coin in and wishes for a ceiling that doesn't leak...respect at her job...and to just skip to the good part of life already.
This book was endearing, funny, hopeful, introspective, and tugged at my heart strings. I found myself cheering for Lucy to find her way, but was torn on whether to cheer for the past or the present version. This is my second book by this author and both were 5 star reads for me!
Read
August 5, 2024I got about 25% done with the audiobook and I’m going to dnf.
-language including Jesus Christ.
-character jumps in time and has no memories of her life in between - acts irresponsible and I couldn’t handle listening to it anymore
Not for me. Wouldn’t recommend. Might read something else from this author.
-language including Jesus Christ.
-character jumps in time and has no memories of her life in between - acts irresponsible and I couldn’t handle listening to it anymore
Not for me. Wouldn’t recommend. Might read something else from this author.
October 27, 2023
I adore Sophie Cousens' books. They are emotional and thought provoking, but it's the humour that really shines for me. I laughed so many times.
The premise is a take on a few known films- Cousens names one of my favourite films '13 going on 30' in her acknowledgements at the end. The author definitely puts her own stamp on The Good Part, when the main character Lucy uses a wishing machine to skip to 'the good part' of her life, and what follows is cute, funny and emotional scenes. Lucy has skipped 16 years of her life and now has 2 children, a handsome husband, and a job she has yearned for. My highlight has to be Lucy's son Felix. He is so so funny, yet realistic and I adored his growing relationship with his 'new mummy'. Lucy has not only skipped to the good part, but in the missing years of her life, she realises what other events she has not experienced. This was handled perfectly by the author and will surely pull on the readers' heart strings.
Fabulous.
The premise is a take on a few known films- Cousens names one of my favourite films '13 going on 30' in her acknowledgements at the end. The author definitely puts her own stamp on The Good Part, when the main character Lucy uses a wishing machine to skip to 'the good part' of her life, and what follows is cute, funny and emotional scenes. Lucy has skipped 16 years of her life and now has 2 children, a handsome husband, and a job she has yearned for. My highlight has to be Lucy's son Felix. He is so so funny, yet realistic and I adored his growing relationship with his 'new mummy'. Lucy has not only skipped to the good part, but in the missing years of her life, she realises what other events she has not experienced. This was handled perfectly by the author and will surely pull on the readers' heart strings.
Fabulous.
December 18, 2023
i wish i had a wishing machine so i could go back in time to tell myself not to read this book 🥰
okay, that’s a bit dramatic. it was fine. it just felt pointless by the end.
okay, that’s a bit dramatic. it was fine. it just felt pointless by the end.
Read
December 11, 2023need to sit down and write a full review but i ended up LOVING this one.
September 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐️stars!
**This book surprised me in the best way**
When I picked it up, I expected a charming time-travel romcom with a touch of wish-fulfillment. What I found instead was something deeper: funny, bittersweet, and surprisingly wise about what it means to want more from life… and what you might lose in the wanting.
“𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨—𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚?”
I really loved how the story doesn’t shy away from real life’s messiness. You can wish for a better future, but it’s the awkward, difficult, in-between moments that shape you. If you’re in your twenties or thirties, feeling unsure of what “the good part” of life should look like, you’ll likely see pieces of your own hope and insecurity reflected in Lucy’s journey.
Of course, it’s not without its flaws. The book isn’t perfect. The ending felt a little rushed, leaving some emotional threads without enough space to fully land. Lucy herself isn’t always easy to like at first, and while the romance is sweet, it never quite feels as developed as it could be.
Still, this is the kind of story that lingers... both thoughtful and relatable, with just enough magic to make you wonder what you’d do if given the same chance.
**This book surprised me in the best way**
When I picked it up, I expected a charming time-travel romcom with a touch of wish-fulfillment. What I found instead was something deeper: funny, bittersweet, and surprisingly wise about what it means to want more from life… and what you might lose in the wanting.
“𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨—𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚?”
I really loved how the story doesn’t shy away from real life’s messiness. You can wish for a better future, but it’s the awkward, difficult, in-between moments that shape you. If you’re in your twenties or thirties, feeling unsure of what “the good part” of life should look like, you’ll likely see pieces of your own hope and insecurity reflected in Lucy’s journey.
Of course, it’s not without its flaws. The book isn’t perfect. The ending felt a little rushed, leaving some emotional threads without enough space to fully land. Lucy herself isn’t always easy to like at first, and while the romance is sweet, it never quite feels as developed as it could be.
Still, this is the kind of story that lingers... both thoughtful and relatable, with just enough magic to make you wonder what you’d do if given the same chance.
December 3, 2023
4+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s. This book is like a fluffernutter sandwich, but made with gourmet ingredients. Light enough to be a fluffy palette cleanser, a bit of nutty laugh out loud humor, but as you take more bites, you realize it’s made of finer stuff than you originally thought.
Having just recently read another time-travel book (Sorry, June Farrow, get to the back of the line) I was pleased that The Good Part didn’t string you along.
If you could have everything you ever thought you wanted, but had to skip the 16 years journey to get there, would you want that life? That’s the meaty question laced through the story of a woman who wakes up with the husband and job of dreams, but no memory of them, no instinctive maternal attachment to her children, and an unfamiliarity with the technology of her “future-present”.
What keeps it from being a 5 for me is the plot element of intentional cluelessness. When a name she doesn’t recognize gets mentioned in conversation, she lets the topic drop very easily. There’s another instance of this, but I won’t spoil a key plot point with details.
In summary, for me to recommend any book that could fall into the genre of rom-com, there has to be more to it than meet-cutes, flirty banter, and side story problems… and this book had much more to offer than that.
Having just recently read another time-travel book (Sorry, June Farrow, get to the back of the line) I was pleased that The Good Part didn’t string you along.
If you could have everything you ever thought you wanted, but had to skip the 16 years journey to get there, would you want that life? That’s the meaty question laced through the story of a woman who wakes up with the husband and job of dreams, but no memory of them, no instinctive maternal attachment to her children, and an unfamiliarity with the technology of her “future-present”.
What keeps it from being a 5 for me is the plot element of intentional cluelessness. When a name she doesn’t recognize gets mentioned in conversation, she lets the topic drop very easily. There’s another instance of this, but I won’t spoil a key plot point with details.
In summary, for me to recommend any book that could fall into the genre of rom-com, there has to be more to it than meet-cutes, flirty banter, and side story problems… and this book had much more to offer than that.
February 1, 2024
“Life is never quite sorted, whatever stage you’re at.”
This was more Chick-Lit than Romance and was reminiscent of Maybe in Another Life.
Lucy, 26 y/o, tired of all the uncertainty and impatience of that stage of life, makes a wish to skip to the good part of her life when her career and love life are sorted out. And, what do you know, it works. She finds herself 16 years into the future with an awesome husband, two kids, and a job where she's respected.
This is the kind of book that works for multiple age ranges, whether you're at that stage where you want to skip ahead (very much where I'm at) or whether you are in your forties in the still-not-sorted-out stage where Lucy found herself.
It promotes enjoying "right now" even if things don't make sense yet, and you have no idea where in the world you're headed or where you'll be in 5 years.
I don't know if I loved this story so much because this book is actually awesome or if it just had a message that I needed at that moment.
Either way, I loved this, and you might too if you like similar themes.
I'm very curious to read what else Ms. Sophie Cousens has to say.
This was more Chick-Lit than Romance and was reminiscent of Maybe in Another Life.
Lucy, 26 y/o, tired of all the uncertainty and impatience of that stage of life, makes a wish to skip to the good part of her life when her career and love life are sorted out. And, what do you know, it works. She finds herself 16 years into the future with an awesome husband, two kids, and a job where she's respected.
This is the kind of book that works for multiple age ranges, whether you're at that stage where you want to skip ahead (very much where I'm at) or whether you are in your forties in the still-not-sorted-out stage where Lucy found herself.
It promotes enjoying "right now" even if things don't make sense yet, and you have no idea where in the world you're headed or where you'll be in 5 years.
I don't know if I loved this story so much because this book is actually awesome or if it just had a message that I needed at that moment.
Either way, I loved this, and you might too if you like similar themes.
I'm very curious to read what else Ms. Sophie Cousens has to say.
August 12, 2024
2.75 ★
This was okay but it felt so long and nothing really happened throughout. I do have to say I loved the idea of the book.
I liked Sam (fmc’s husband) and I thought the kids were okay. I didn't like the fmc. She felt very irresponsible and immature at times. She was also very horny for Sam and it made me embarrassed especially when he rejected her multiple times.
She also embarrassed me when she was drunk with her coworkers and tried to kiss one of her coworkers because she forgot she was married😃.
The scenes would jump in chapters. In one paragraph she would be walking then in the next paragraph she is in a cab talking to the cab driver. Huh? How did that happen?
▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎
Short Synopsis
Lucy is 26 and wanted to skip to the good part of life. She finds this wishing machine at a tiny shop and wishes to be in her life where she is stable with a nice job, and has a husband and children. She wakes up 16 years in the future to a life where she has the perfect husband, job and two children. She has no memory of who they are and how she got there. Can she embrace this new life? Is she ready for it?
This was okay but it felt so long and nothing really happened throughout. I do have to say I loved the idea of the book.
I liked Sam (fmc’s husband) and I thought the kids were okay. I didn't like the fmc. She felt very irresponsible and immature at times. She was also very horny for Sam and it made me embarrassed especially when he rejected her multiple times.
She also embarrassed me when she was drunk with her coworkers and tried to kiss one of her coworkers because she forgot she was married😃.
The scenes would jump in chapters. In one paragraph she would be walking then in the next paragraph she is in a cab talking to the cab driver. Huh? How did that happen?
▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎
Short Synopsis
Lucy is 26 and wanted to skip to the good part of life. She finds this wishing machine at a tiny shop and wishes to be in her life where she is stable with a nice job, and has a husband and children. She wakes up 16 years in the future to a life where she has the perfect husband, job and two children. She has no memory of who they are and how she got there. Can she embrace this new life? Is she ready for it?
October 19, 2023
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens confused me a little. I did really enjoy the whole premise of the novel. I mean, It sounded interesting. As the story progressed and the main twist (sorta like a plot changer?) occurred, then I felt like the plot had also disappeared.
This novel follows an unsuccessful girl, who sleeps in a bed right under a yellow crack in the ceiling that drips water whenever her upstairs neighbor decides to take a bath. One day, she wakes up to find that she's 16 years older than she was when she fell asleep - and she's in bed with a handsome man who keeps calling her his wife. She realizes that she is in her future, and she will be a lot more successful in her future.
This was the first quarter of the book, and I was really enjoying it. It just almost felt as if there were no more ideas for this novel after that twist, which seemed like the main plot point that the book was going to be centered around. Maybe some will like this novel, but for me, seeing a middle-aged woman figure out who she is after getting a total brain wipe was sort of boring.
Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for an e-galley for this title. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This novel follows an unsuccessful girl, who sleeps in a bed right under a yellow crack in the ceiling that drips water whenever her upstairs neighbor decides to take a bath. One day, she wakes up to find that she's 16 years older than she was when she fell asleep - and she's in bed with a handsome man who keeps calling her his wife. She realizes that she is in her future, and she will be a lot more successful in her future.
This was the first quarter of the book, and I was really enjoying it. It just almost felt as if there were no more ideas for this novel after that twist, which seemed like the main plot point that the book was going to be centered around. Maybe some will like this novel, but for me, seeing a middle-aged woman figure out who she is after getting a total brain wipe was sort of boring.
Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for an e-galley for this title. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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