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The Nostalgia Effect
Jennifer Nielsen awakens one morning in a room she doesn't recognize, and next to a sleeping man that she knows all too well -- her ex-husband. Terrified that she has made a horrible mistake, but unable to remember the details of how she came to reunite with him, she quietly attempts to escape only to find her eldest daughter asleep in another room. But on this morning, her daughter is a young child again and not the teenager she is certain she saw the night before.
Now finding herself unexplainably thrown back eight years into a past she doesn't remember, again married to her ex-husband and a mother to only one child, she struggles to make sense of her situation and is determined to seek out the truth of how this new reality came to be. How can she be back in a different time in her life--one that she doesn't recall living? Where is her real husband and the daughter they have together? Is she having a mental breakdown? Does she have amnesia? Was the life she's certain she had, just a figment of her imagination or a vivid dream?
Conventional doctors and rational explanations cannot provide the answers she seeks. Out of desperation she turns to Astrid, a local psychic, and together they unravel the mystery.
Now finding herself unexplainably thrown back eight years into a past she doesn't remember, again married to her ex-husband and a mother to only one child, she struggles to make sense of her situation and is determined to seek out the truth of how this new reality came to be. How can she be back in a different time in her life--one that she doesn't recall living? Where is her real husband and the daughter they have together? Is she having a mental breakdown? Does she have amnesia? Was the life she's certain she had, just a figment of her imagination or a vivid dream?
Conventional doctors and rational explanations cannot provide the answers she seeks. Out of desperation she turns to Astrid, a local psychic, and together they unravel the mystery.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
EJ Axelsson (Formerly EJ Valson)
2 books22 followersWith a passion for writing and a love of books and movies, EJ Valson channeled her personal experiences and emotions into her first book, The Nostalgia Effect. The tale of a mid-thirties woman, who finds herself thrown back into her past still married to her ex-husband and yearning to get back to the life and love she knew before.
EJ currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. In her spare time, she likes to travel, write, read, eat, listen to music and will never turn down a good vodka martini…but her most favorite past time is being with her loved ones.
If you enjoyed The Nostalgia Effect and want to know more about her upcoming titles, visit www.ejvalson.blogspot.com or email
CONTACT: ejvalson@gmail.com.
EJ currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. In her spare time, she likes to travel, write, read, eat, listen to music and will never turn down a good vodka martini…but her most favorite past time is being with her loved ones.
If you enjoyed The Nostalgia Effect and want to know more about her upcoming titles, visit www.ejvalson.blogspot.com or email
CONTACT: ejvalson@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 3, 2014
I received this Ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Don't be mistaken and think that because I listed this to read back in February and only marked it as read today that it is a heavy book to get through. Nothing could be further from the truth. Due to various issues I only had the time to start reading it today and because I enjoyed it so much I read it in one session. The book reads really well and I felt myself drawn to the protagonist Jenni and her plight.
Science fiction/time travel isn't generally a genre I care for, but what struck me about E J Valson's story is that there is a moral to be learned here - we take things and people for granted in life and it is only when those things and people are removed from us that we realize what we have lost and actually how precious they really were to us and that we should value them while we can. This is an uplifting book. It is about hope and second chances.
Don't be mistaken and think that because I listed this to read back in February and only marked it as read today that it is a heavy book to get through. Nothing could be further from the truth. Due to various issues I only had the time to start reading it today and because I enjoyed it so much I read it in one session. The book reads really well and I felt myself drawn to the protagonist Jenni and her plight.
Science fiction/time travel isn't generally a genre I care for, but what struck me about E J Valson's story is that there is a moral to be learned here - we take things and people for granted in life and it is only when those things and people are removed from us that we realize what we have lost and actually how precious they really were to us and that we should value them while we can. This is an uplifting book. It is about hope and second chances.
May 14, 2014
I have a weakness for romantic books involving destiny, and this book is one of them.
It's also one of those stories where someone wakes up in the wrong version of their lives. It's been done in movies, books, and episodes of TV shows.
I thought this book handled the premise very well, mostly because the chemistry between the characters worked for me. Especially the romantic one.
The story: Jenni wakes up to find herself in bed with her ex-husband. Her teenage daughter Olivia is a preschooler again. She's terrified because she's lost her new husband and their young daughter Stella.
Jenni has to deal with being married to someone she doesn't love and she has to figure how whether she actually had this other life. Or did she imagine it?
I think I had only one minor problem with the book. There's a part where Jenni decides to seek out a psychic for help. She flashes back to a time she talked to a free phone psychic and it seems we're supposed to be amazed that the psychic knew Jenni was in a relationship without her telling the psychic. Or at least Jenni seems amazed by this. I think a lot of people are in relationships, so it's a bit too generalized to use as evidence that a psychic really has powers.
It's also one of those stories where someone wakes up in the wrong version of their lives. It's been done in movies, books, and episodes of TV shows.
I thought this book handled the premise very well, mostly because the chemistry between the characters worked for me. Especially the romantic one.
The story: Jenni wakes up to find herself in bed with her ex-husband. Her teenage daughter Olivia is a preschooler again. She's terrified because she's lost her new husband and their young daughter Stella.
Jenni has to deal with being married to someone she doesn't love and she has to figure how whether she actually had this other life. Or did she imagine it?
I think I had only one minor problem with the book. There's a part where Jenni decides to seek out a psychic for help. She flashes back to a time she talked to a free phone psychic and it seems we're supposed to be amazed that the psychic knew Jenni was in a relationship without her telling the psychic. Or at least Jenni seems amazed by this. I think a lot of people are in relationships, so it's a bit too generalized to use as evidence that a psychic really has powers.
April 13, 2014
This book has been the bright spot in my TBR list, and I find myself thinking about it long after the last page.
The idea of the story I grasped immediately, what would happen "if", but the way the author played it all out was just exactly right! Day by day, all the second guessing and emotions that would come up if you found yourself living the wrong version of your life, I felt as if the main character was acting and reacting the same way I would have in her situation. While there were a very few number of grammatical mistakes, I easily skimmed over them because the content was sound. The book touched me deeply. And just after reading it I went inside and started tidying my house and serving my family before picking up the kids for school...taking time to relish each moment for the rest of that day. And today, too...several days after finishing it, I'm more calm and sure that all the choices I've made up to this point in life are the right ones :) With the right people around me. And I should show them I love them every day. Overall, exactly what I think the author was hoping for! Truly a gem.
The idea of the story I grasped immediately, what would happen "if", but the way the author played it all out was just exactly right! Day by day, all the second guessing and emotions that would come up if you found yourself living the wrong version of your life, I felt as if the main character was acting and reacting the same way I would have in her situation. While there were a very few number of grammatical mistakes, I easily skimmed over them because the content was sound. The book touched me deeply. And just after reading it I went inside and started tidying my house and serving my family before picking up the kids for school...taking time to relish each moment for the rest of that day. And today, too...several days after finishing it, I'm more calm and sure that all the choices I've made up to this point in life are the right ones :) With the right people around me. And I should show them I love them every day. Overall, exactly what I think the author was hoping for! Truly a gem.
March 31, 2014
(Note: this review is for the Smashword version of this book, not the Kindle. I'm putting it here since it's the only ebook listed.)
The Nostalgia Effect is a very unique and interesting book. It contains elements of romance, psychological drama, and speculative literature, and offers some intriguing dilemmas to ponder. The protagonist, Jennifer, wakes up in what appears to be eight years in the past. However, there are differences from the past she remembers. She’s still married to her first husband and her father is married to a woman she doesn’t recognize.
She has no idea what happened, and wonders which life is the real one and which must be some sort of delusion. The author, E.J. Valson, does a fine job of keeping the reader guessing whether there is a psychological issue at play or some bizarre merging of parallel lives and time threads. Either way, Jennifer has to learn to navigate a life that seems similar to her own, but isn't quite it.
It was quite a good story very unlike any book that I’ve read lately. Ms Valson has done an excellent job with her first novel, and I’m happy to recommend it.
The Nostalgia Effect is a very unique and interesting book. It contains elements of romance, psychological drama, and speculative literature, and offers some intriguing dilemmas to ponder. The protagonist, Jennifer, wakes up in what appears to be eight years in the past. However, there are differences from the past she remembers. She’s still married to her first husband and her father is married to a woman she doesn’t recognize.
She has no idea what happened, and wonders which life is the real one and which must be some sort of delusion. The author, E.J. Valson, does a fine job of keeping the reader guessing whether there is a psychological issue at play or some bizarre merging of parallel lives and time threads. Either way, Jennifer has to learn to navigate a life that seems similar to her own, but isn't quite it.
It was quite a good story very unlike any book that I’ve read lately. Ms Valson has done an excellent job with her first novel, and I’m happy to recommend it.
December 7, 2018
My bookclub chose this book, as our theme was Dreams and it fit the theme well. If only these Goodreads reviews had been accurate about the book. Where to start? This 300+ page manuscript clearly never had an editor review it. There are so many spelling mistakes and word omissions, we question whether it was indeed proofread. One example, among the dozens, "She apparently see’s my confused and lets out a soft chuckle." What?! Likewise, 1/3 of the book could and should have been cut for brevity's sake. There was no need for this to run over 300 pages.
The plot is intriguing, and our bookclub thought it sounded fantastic. It could have been a great read had this text been edited, proofread, and submitted in a polished condition. We all found the book for 99 cents on Amazon. It's 99 cents we can never get back.
The plot is intriguing, and our bookclub thought it sounded fantastic. It could have been a great read had this text been edited, proofread, and submitted in a polished condition. We all found the book for 99 cents on Amazon. It's 99 cents we can never get back.
November 16, 2019
AN ABSOLUTELY EXCITING BOOK. BUY THIS BOOK NOW!
If you want to read a story with great 👍 characters and breathtaking descriptions, here it is! This book is so
well written and it pulls you into the story !😍 I suggest that everyone who can buy it, GO BUY THIS BOOK NOW!😍
If you want to read a story with great 👍 characters and breathtaking descriptions, here it is! This book is so
well written and it pulls you into the story !😍 I suggest that everyone who can buy it, GO BUY THIS BOOK NOW!😍
January 20, 2015
Imagine... one day you wake up in the morning and realise you are thrown many years into the past. Your currents friends are either not come into your life yet or are not so close yet. Your children are not born yet. Your spouse is still unknown about you. Feeling lost would be just one of the emotions you would feel. And that is exactly what happened to Jennifer Nielsen in "Nostalgia Effect".
Jennifer wakes up one morning and finds herself still married to her ex husband. Her younger baby is not born yet and her teenage daughter is only 5. All her friends are strangers yet and people who she lost touch are still in contact. The first thought in her mind is that she is dreaming. But very soon she realises it is not a dream and somehow a paradigm shift has happened, causing her to go back 8 years into her life. Now, not only is her current past different from what she remembers, there is no guarantee that her future would turn out in the same way as earlier.
The story is about a woman trapped in her own past and desperately trying to find a way to her current life. Apart from the helplessness she faces initially, she beautifully utilizes the chance that almost no one ever gets: to correct some of her mistakes.
EJ has done a truly wonderful work in giving out the message to not take anything for granted in life. There are many times in our lives that we take our closest people for granted and not value them the way they should be valued. And then when we almost lose them to fate, that is when we realise how much they mean to us and the mistakes we made in our lives and relationships. Jennifer was given a chance to see all this first hand and to correct wherever she could. And through her, the readers are also given a glimpse of how precious our loved ones are to us and how we should always ensure that they remain close to us.
EJ has truly given me a new perspective to life itself. The book was a journey for me with a lot of laughter, smiles, sadness and tears. But because it was a fairy tale ending, it helped restore my faith in life that even if I make mistakes I can always correct them as long as I am willing to take those steps ahead.
EJ has brought a wonderful piece of literature to the world and I would truly recommend this book to every single person I know. And I would read it over and over again, myself, for all the lessons given. I am sure my perspective towards my relations have changed since reading "Nostalgia Effect"
Source: www.shvoong.com/writers/dnair
Jennifer wakes up one morning and finds herself still married to her ex husband. Her younger baby is not born yet and her teenage daughter is only 5. All her friends are strangers yet and people who she lost touch are still in contact. The first thought in her mind is that she is dreaming. But very soon she realises it is not a dream and somehow a paradigm shift has happened, causing her to go back 8 years into her life. Now, not only is her current past different from what she remembers, there is no guarantee that her future would turn out in the same way as earlier.
The story is about a woman trapped in her own past and desperately trying to find a way to her current life. Apart from the helplessness she faces initially, she beautifully utilizes the chance that almost no one ever gets: to correct some of her mistakes.
EJ has done a truly wonderful work in giving out the message to not take anything for granted in life. There are many times in our lives that we take our closest people for granted and not value them the way they should be valued. And then when we almost lose them to fate, that is when we realise how much they mean to us and the mistakes we made in our lives and relationships. Jennifer was given a chance to see all this first hand and to correct wherever she could. And through her, the readers are also given a glimpse of how precious our loved ones are to us and how we should always ensure that they remain close to us.
EJ has truly given me a new perspective to life itself. The book was a journey for me with a lot of laughter, smiles, sadness and tears. But because it was a fairy tale ending, it helped restore my faith in life that even if I make mistakes I can always correct them as long as I am willing to take those steps ahead.
EJ has brought a wonderful piece of literature to the world and I would truly recommend this book to every single person I know. And I would read it over and over again, myself, for all the lessons given. I am sure my perspective towards my relations have changed since reading "Nostalgia Effect"
Source: www.shvoong.com/writers/dnair
February 17, 2016
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review - so here are my thoughts -
I am very interested in this whole time travel/parallel reality "theme" at this point. Our heroine wakes up - that's how the book starts - in bed - and to her surprise - her ex husband is still her husband. From there - she finds out - that she still works for the same company - but in a different department, her daughter is the same with the ex husband, but younger - her husbands wife - has passed and she has a new stepmother - her grandparents are alive - her mother appears to be one constant that hasn't changed.
She remembers her current husband, in the other timeline and her child but as time goes by - and she is in the other reality for a year - she begins to lose her memories of them. Then in comes Astrid and John, empaths - who help her regain her memories and try to figure out why she is here.
I think she grew up in this new "reality" - Michael and her, her second husband, were in marriage therapy - and I think this helped her save her marriage. She appeared to me to be somewhat only concerned about herself - and not just trying to get back home - but in general - she seemed shallow - Astrid told her that "it isn't just your life here on the line -but we have all these other lifes on the line".
Eventually John comes up with a way, after he meets a man that had a similar "situation" as she did - to get her back home. I would give it a four -
I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for allowing me to read the book!
I am very interested in this whole time travel/parallel reality "theme" at this point. Our heroine wakes up - that's how the book starts - in bed - and to her surprise - her ex husband is still her husband. From there - she finds out - that she still works for the same company - but in a different department, her daughter is the same with the ex husband, but younger - her husbands wife - has passed and she has a new stepmother - her grandparents are alive - her mother appears to be one constant that hasn't changed.
She remembers her current husband, in the other timeline and her child but as time goes by - and she is in the other reality for a year - she begins to lose her memories of them. Then in comes Astrid and John, empaths - who help her regain her memories and try to figure out why she is here.
I think she grew up in this new "reality" - Michael and her, her second husband, were in marriage therapy - and I think this helped her save her marriage. She appeared to me to be somewhat only concerned about herself - and not just trying to get back home - but in general - she seemed shallow - Astrid told her that "it isn't just your life here on the line -but we have all these other lifes on the line".
Eventually John comes up with a way, after he meets a man that had a similar "situation" as she did - to get her back home. I would give it a four -
I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for allowing me to read the book!
March 5, 2015
Unique and absorbing, ‘The Nostalgia Effect’ is a paranormal mystery that will grip and enthral you.
Imagine if you were suddenly thrust back eight years in time to an alternate reality. Jenni faces this dilemma when she wakes beside her ex-husband Joe having no recollection of how she got there. Initially she is convinced she must be suffering from amnesia or a stroke or experiencing the effects of medication withdrawal. Devastated by the loss of her husband Michael and daughter Stella she must navigate a different past to rediscover her destiny. With the help of Astrid, a psychic, Jenni learns that ‘time is just a way for humans to measure and mark our whereabouts’ and that ‘sometimes there are parallel parts in our life that can cross or intertwine’.
J.S. Valson is a natural storyteller who draws you in and won’t let you go until the last breath on the last page. In this warm, feel-good book, she delves into the psychology and philosophy of human relationships. This book will help you appreciate what you have and to be grateful for it. It teaches you to treasure the present and to value and enjoy what you have. It also explores the theme of destiny and the power of choice in our lives.
This is a brilliantly entertaining read and its effect will linger long after you finish it. I read it in two sittings because it was so compelling and easy to read. I highly recommend it.
Imagine if you were suddenly thrust back eight years in time to an alternate reality. Jenni faces this dilemma when she wakes beside her ex-husband Joe having no recollection of how she got there. Initially she is convinced she must be suffering from amnesia or a stroke or experiencing the effects of medication withdrawal. Devastated by the loss of her husband Michael and daughter Stella she must navigate a different past to rediscover her destiny. With the help of Astrid, a psychic, Jenni learns that ‘time is just a way for humans to measure and mark our whereabouts’ and that ‘sometimes there are parallel parts in our life that can cross or intertwine’.
J.S. Valson is a natural storyteller who draws you in and won’t let you go until the last breath on the last page. In this warm, feel-good book, she delves into the psychology and philosophy of human relationships. This book will help you appreciate what you have and to be grateful for it. It teaches you to treasure the present and to value and enjoy what you have. It also explores the theme of destiny and the power of choice in our lives.
This is a brilliantly entertaining read and its effect will linger long after you finish it. I read it in two sittings because it was so compelling and easy to read. I highly recommend it.
November 18, 2015
I was allowed to read this book in exchange for an honest review. The main character Jennifer questions the choices that lead her to her current life with her husband Michael. Because she wakes up and finds she is married to her ex years earlier than her current time, she is allowed to again view her life choices. This story was easy to get into and flowed well. I would have liked more of an explanation of how she was able to find herself in her new reality. I will talk to friends about this book. I do think it would make an excellent book club selection as there are a lot of things you would want to talk to others about. I would read other books from this author.
February 7, 2014
I loved this book! It was a quick read and totally engaging. Couldn't put it down. I got caught up in the emotion, Jenni's plight, and was on the edge of my seat until the end. Very unique genre -- not fantasy, not sci-fi, but not your ordinary love story either. I found it served as a great reminder of what's really important in life. Read it!
January 12, 2014
Great book with a unique storyline unlike any other book I've read. Will be keeping my eyes open for more books by this author!
September 5, 2017
I found this book to be very unique. The main character has a strength that I am not sure most people would have. I loved the way she figured out her schedule and the routine with her daughter. It was this start that caught me and held me in the beginning of this book.
At this point, I have to be careful what I say because I don't want to tell you the story. But I will say, I loved the way the character grew through her experience. How she learned about herself and others.
This is the author's first book and there are so many emotions held within that you know they are real. My only warning is you will need a box of tissues while reading this book but it is well worth it.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, through Reading Deals, so I could give an honest review. I am very glad I received this copy for it will be a book I will read again.
At this point, I have to be careful what I say because I don't want to tell you the story. But I will say, I loved the way the character grew through her experience. How she learned about herself and others.
This is the author's first book and there are so many emotions held within that you know they are real. My only warning is you will need a box of tissues while reading this book but it is well worth it.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, through Reading Deals, so I could give an honest review. I am very glad I received this copy for it will be a book I will read again.
December 19, 2013
Great book. Left me wanting to read more.
Would recommend this book!
Would recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews