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Anything but Groovy
Morgan is looking forward to junior high school and all the adventures it holds in store for her. But after a collision on the volleyball court, she wakes up on the first day of school trapped inside her mom’s teenage body, circa 1974.
It doesn’t take long for Morgan to discover that living life as a seventh-grader in the 1970s and dealing with everything going on in her mom's life back then—from uncool parents, annoying older brothers, balancing friendships, and ultimately doing what she can to survive bullying at the hands of the school’s biggest jock—is anything but groovy.
It doesn’t take long for Morgan to discover that living life as a seventh-grader in the 1970s and dealing with everything going on in her mom's life back then—from uncool parents, annoying older brothers, balancing friendships, and ultimately doing what she can to survive bullying at the hands of the school’s biggest jock—is anything but groovy.
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Published March 27, 2023
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About the author
Amanda Lauer
19 books84 followersAn avid reader and history buff since childhood, Amanda Lauer fulfilled a lifelong goal with the publication of her debut novel, A World Such as Heaven Intended, in October, 2014. A Life Such as Heaven Intended, A Love Such as Heaven Intended, and a Freedom Such as Heaven Intended were released between 2019 and 2021. The fifth book in the Heaven Intended series is scheduled to be released in 2023.
Lauer learned the technical aspects of writing as a proofreader in the insurance, newspaper and collegiate arenas. Over the last 22 years she has had more than 1,600 articles published in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States.
Lauer won Best Writer (Red Letter Awards) with her team for the movie The Islands and is the co-author of Celebrate Appleton, A 150th Birthday Photo Album and contributed to the books Expressions of ITP…Inside Stories, The Best is Yet to Come, The Catholic Grandparents Handbook, and Living Virtuously — Keeping Your Heart and Home.
Residents of northeast Wisconsin, Lauer and her husband John have been married 41 years. They are involved in their church and community and in their spare time travel for business and pleasure, play golf, bike, read, and further their education in the area of personal development. They are the proud parents of four young adult children, have two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, and are grandparents to seven stellar grandchildren.
Lauer learned the technical aspects of writing as a proofreader in the insurance, newspaper and collegiate arenas. Over the last 22 years she has had more than 1,600 articles published in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States.
Lauer won Best Writer (Red Letter Awards) with her team for the movie The Islands and is the co-author of Celebrate Appleton, A 150th Birthday Photo Album and contributed to the books Expressions of ITP…Inside Stories, The Best is Yet to Come, The Catholic Grandparents Handbook, and Living Virtuously — Keeping Your Heart and Home.
Residents of northeast Wisconsin, Lauer and her husband John have been married 41 years. They are involved in their church and community and in their spare time travel for business and pleasure, play golf, bike, read, and further their education in the area of personal development. They are the proud parents of four young adult children, have two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, and are grandparents to seven stellar grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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February 23, 2021I’ve been a fan of author Amanda Lauer for quite a while. Her captivating writing completely immersed me in the Civil War through her Heaven Intended series. So, I was thrilled to discover she had a new novel in the works. This time Lauer brings her writing talents to a more contemporary story. Lauer expertly captures the details of the 70s in this coming-of-age novel with an intriguing Freaky Friday type of storyline.
No matter what era we grow up in, there are certain issues that all teens must deal with—families, friendships, and bullying. While technology and circumstances change, relationship fundamentals remain the same. I thought this glimpse into a parent’s childhood was such a clever way to explore the walking-a-mile-in-another’s-shoes theme. This book might be a fun one for mothers and daughters to enjoy together while sharing the differences and similarities of their own childhoods.
No matter what era we grow up in, there are certain issues that all teens must deal with—families, friendships, and bullying. While technology and circumstances change, relationship fundamentals remain the same. I thought this glimpse into a parent’s childhood was such a clever way to explore the walking-a-mile-in-another’s-shoes theme. This book might be a fun one for mothers and daughters to enjoy together while sharing the differences and similarities of their own childhoods.
March 7, 2021
I haven't read a YA novel in some time. When I was in grade school, I do remember getting lost in the story, and the characters in Amada Lauer's 'Anything but Groovy' is definitely one of those books. As an adult, it was a great ride to go back to the time of my youth and feel as if I was actually there again. For young adult readers, the story is an enjoyable way to live in a different time, to appreciate what they have, and to see the world from another's perspective - find out who they are and see them with different eyes. I highly recommend, 'Anything but Groovy' is well-written and with much to enjoy for young adults and adults readers as well. Well done.
February 26, 2021
Anything But Groovy is a contemporary time-travel novel for teens by Catholic Christian historical fiction author Amanda Lauer. The book was obviously going to be different from the last of her novels I'd read, and I didn't know what to expect.
Lauer's foray into teen fiction is not heavily Catholic or Christian. Few religious references appear, and I think the book should have wide appeal. I'd like to caution parents about the frequent use of one crude word in case they don't allow its use by their kids or teens.
The story is an entertaining one. Although I could relate well to the time-travel setting of 1974 because of my age, the 1970s have become a fascinating period for young people to delve into. This novel would be a fun way for parents or grandparents to introduce their young family members to the period in a more lighthearted way than history books provide, with the caution mentioned above.
The ending, although predictable, was a sweet one. l would've liked the final scene drawn out a bit more.
Lauer's foray into teen fiction is not heavily Catholic or Christian. Few religious references appear, and I think the book should have wide appeal. I'd like to caution parents about the frequent use of one crude word in case they don't allow its use by their kids or teens.
The story is an entertaining one. Although I could relate well to the time-travel setting of 1974 because of my age, the 1970s have become a fascinating period for young people to delve into. This novel would be a fun way for parents or grandparents to introduce their young family members to the period in a more lighthearted way than history books provide, with the caution mentioned above.
The ending, although predictable, was a sweet one. l would've liked the final scene drawn out a bit more.
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February 23, 2021Using a Freaky Friday-type premise, Amanda Lauer takes the reader back in time to the 1970s, where she can experience all the groovy and not-so-groovy elements of growing up in bell bottoms, eating Spam sandwiches, and more.
My memory goes back to the mid- to late-'70s, and so many details shared made me smile or recall a product or way of doing things that I'd nearly forgotten. Those details are fun for middle-aged readers but can also be amusing or eye-opening for young readers.
Whatever the decade, people and relationships remain much the same, and readers of any age can relate to the parent, sibling, and friend dynamics in Anything But Groovy - even, unfortunately, the bullying.
Move over Brady Bunch, for an experience that's true to the decade that brought us disco.
My memory goes back to the mid- to late-'70s, and so many details shared made me smile or recall a product or way of doing things that I'd nearly forgotten. Those details are fun for middle-aged readers but can also be amusing or eye-opening for young readers.
Whatever the decade, people and relationships remain much the same, and readers of any age can relate to the parent, sibling, and friend dynamics in Anything But Groovy - even, unfortunately, the bullying.
Move over Brady Bunch, for an experience that's true to the decade that brought us disco.
February 17, 2021
So much fun reliving life as a teenager back in the '70s! Kids in this day and age will enjoy reading what life was like in that "groovy" time period. They may appreciate more growing up in this time or they may come to see what a neat time it was for their parents or grandparents growing up in those memorable days. Baby Boomers will enjoy all the pop culture references and the remembrances of days gone by.
June 10, 2021
How can a book be nostalgic even if a person didn't love in a particular era? Well, that's exactly what I felt when I read Anything But Groovy. Originally supposed to be a memoir, but was changed to a youthful time traveling tale, the reader gets to see a glimpse of the authors life and experiences during her seventh grade year in 1974.
My parents were also adolescents in the 1970's, and grew up in similar circumstances, so I spent a lot of my time reading and wondering if either of my parents experienced the same things that Allison experienced, especially with many of the pop culture references. The mentions of particular songs, bands, television shows, movies, and even foods from that era evoked memories of my parents telling me about their own realities. The fact that tv was life during that time, yet there was a ton of time spent outdoors with friends, and even family time that wasn't around a television set, and in Anything But Groovy we got to witness this involvement first hand.
I'm not much for time travel adventures per se, but with this novel it just worked! I did wish that there was more interaction between Allison and her daughter Morgan before the transport to the past takes place though. I feel like this would've helped bring the reader even more into Morgan's mind before her adventure, instead of just feeling thrust into one reality and almost immediately being thrust into another. There are parts that felt mundane, but at the same time the reader truly feels that this was how life was back then, and there is a particular conflict that was hard for me to read. I don't want to spoil the story but trust me, you'll know it when you read it, and I'm sure it'll anger you just as much as it did me.
One thing that would not stop bothering me then entire time I read was how it seemed a little too easy for Morgan to slip into this new, familiar yet unfamiliar existence that she is thrust into, and was shocked that she never once mentioned missing any modern technology! I know if I were to go back in time I would be missing my iPad and the internet at the very least! I know that can't just be me, right??
All in all, I really did enjoy reading Anything But Groovy. It is written like a 7th grader would speak, and I can see this book appealing to all ages, as many will be able to identify with the story in some form or another. For me, it opened up my imagination, making me wonder how it would be to go back, and live a moment in my mom's body. All I can say is man, what a trippy thought!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read through Kindle Unlimited. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
My parents were also adolescents in the 1970's, and grew up in similar circumstances, so I spent a lot of my time reading and wondering if either of my parents experienced the same things that Allison experienced, especially with many of the pop culture references. The mentions of particular songs, bands, television shows, movies, and even foods from that era evoked memories of my parents telling me about their own realities. The fact that tv was life during that time, yet there was a ton of time spent outdoors with friends, and even family time that wasn't around a television set, and in Anything But Groovy we got to witness this involvement first hand.
I'm not much for time travel adventures per se, but with this novel it just worked! I did wish that there was more interaction between Allison and her daughter Morgan before the transport to the past takes place though. I feel like this would've helped bring the reader even more into Morgan's mind before her adventure, instead of just feeling thrust into one reality and almost immediately being thrust into another. There are parts that felt mundane, but at the same time the reader truly feels that this was how life was back then, and there is a particular conflict that was hard for me to read. I don't want to spoil the story but trust me, you'll know it when you read it, and I'm sure it'll anger you just as much as it did me.
One thing that would not stop bothering me then entire time I read was how it seemed a little too easy for Morgan to slip into this new, familiar yet unfamiliar existence that she is thrust into, and was shocked that she never once mentioned missing any modern technology! I know if I were to go back in time I would be missing my iPad and the internet at the very least! I know that can't just be me, right??
All in all, I really did enjoy reading Anything But Groovy. It is written like a 7th grader would speak, and I can see this book appealing to all ages, as many will be able to identify with the story in some form or another. For me, it opened up my imagination, making me wonder how it would be to go back, and live a moment in my mom's body. All I can say is man, what a trippy thought!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read through Kindle Unlimited. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
March 30, 2021
This is the fourth book I have read by Amanda Lauer. Each of her books carefully creates a vision in your head, almost like you are living through the story yourself. “Anything But Groovy” was a fun and easy read that reminded me of many books I grew up with as a child -- I missed reading stories like that! As I was reading, I found myself thinking of how my Mom or my Grandmother had grown up, and if maybe it was something similar to this. It gave me an excitement to learn more about my family’s past and a thrill to imagine the world of time travel some day. This is a perfect book to gift to a pre-teen or teen in your life!
February 9, 2024
This is your chance to take a trip back to memory lane in the 1970's. Whether you're youth or an adult you'll find it to be informative, entertaining, and fun. I appreciated it because I got to remember and see so many things in my life reflected in those times. It warmed my heart!
August 12, 2024
It was fun living in the mind of a modern day teen who time traveled to 1974 and into her mother’s body as she enters the 7th grade. This book read like a young adult novel, but I would guess any adult who grew up in the 70s will enjoy it the most!
Also, (trigger warning) bullying is universal.
Also, (trigger warning) bullying is universal.
March 26, 2021
What a fun, intriguing story!
I recently watched Freaky Friday with my daughters, and this book definitely felt a bit along those lines, except with a very different twist - the main character doesn't switch bodies with her mom, but actually goes back in time! Whew! What a ride!
I loved it. It was fun seeing Morgan's reactions to life back in the 70s. Seeing her appreciate her mom more, and recognizing that each era has its own hard things to deal with.
And while the times are different, yet, there are always similarities.
I found this book to be well written and fun. A great YA read.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I recently watched Freaky Friday with my daughters, and this book definitely felt a bit along those lines, except with a very different twist - the main character doesn't switch bodies with her mom, but actually goes back in time! Whew! What a ride!
I loved it. It was fun seeing Morgan's reactions to life back in the 70s. Seeing her appreciate her mom more, and recognizing that each era has its own hard things to deal with.
And while the times are different, yet, there are always similarities.
I found this book to be well written and fun. A great YA read.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews