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Once and Again

Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26

Win a free print copy of this book!

17 days and 18:42:07

100 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book
7 hours

New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Serle, the author behind “heartbreaking, redemptive, and authentic” (Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author) modern classic In Five Years , returns with an unforgettable tale of a family of women with an astonishing the ability to redo one moment in their lives.

The women of the Novak family were each born with a they can, just once, turn back time.

Lauren has known since she was fifteen that her mother Marcella saved Lauren’s father from a deadly car accident. Dave is alive and happy, and out on the Malibu waves. But ever since, Marcella, her power spent, has lived in fear of what she won’t be able to reverse. Her own mother, Sylvia, is her polar a free-spirited iconoclast with a glamorous past she only hints at. Lauren has spent her life between these two role models—and waiting for her own catastrophe to strike.

Then one summer, Lauren’s husband takes a job in New York and she moves back to Broad Beach Road, back into her childhood home on the shores of Malibu. Lauren looks forward to surfing with her dad again and perhaps repairing an unspoken fracture in her relationship with her mother. What she doesn’t expect is for the boy next to door to return home as Stone, Lauren’s first love, who broke her heart nearly a decade before.

As Lauren falls into familiar patterns, with her family and, more dangerously, Stone, she finds herself thinking about all the choices, large and small, that have brought her to this moment. And wondering, finally, if one of them should be undone.

Audible Audio

Expected publication March 10, 2026

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About the author

Rebecca Serle

20 books11.7k followers
Rebecca Serle is the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years, The Dinner List, and the young adult novels The Edge of Falling and When You Were Mine. Serle also developed the hit TV adaptation Famous in Love, based on her YA series of the same name. She is a graduate of USC and The New School and lives in Los Angeles. Find out more at RebeccaSerle.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
Profile Image for Nilufer Ozmekik.
3,080 reviews60k followers
September 5, 2025
I have no bad feelings about this book—quite the opposite, I truly enjoyed it. At its heart, this is a story about three generations of women whose complex, sometimes problematic differences create distance between them. Their contrasting personalities and values prevent them from forming fully open and honest bonds, leaving them with carefully restrained, almost neutral relationships where big truths often remain unspoken. Beneath the surface, however, each woman carries a shared legacy: a secret, a gift, a burden, a punishment, and a reward, all bound to one magical object. Passed down through the family by a mysterious woman who once offered a free shoe repair in exchange, this “silver ticket” allows each woman only once in her lifetime to reverse time and change the past.

At ninety-three, Sylvia is a vibrant grandmother who refuses to fade quietly into old age. Adventurous, eccentric, and joyful, she still cooks delicious Mediterranean dishes, practices tai chi, and hosts lively parties for her friends—always with plenty of laughter and alcohol. Her daughter Marcella, on the other hand, is her opposite in almost every way: practical, analytical, tidy, and focused on creating a safe, stable environment for her family. Less maternal and more problem-solving in nature, Marcella has dedicated her life to caring for her husband Dave, who once died in a tragic accident. Desperate to keep him, she used her one chance with the silver ticket to rewrite time and bring him back. But that choice means her magic is now spent—and the cost of altering fate weighs heavily on her.

Meanwhile, Lauren—the third generation—faces her own struggles. Married to her cinematographer husband Leo, she has endured years of exhausting fertility treatments that have drained not only their savings but also their spirits. Their marriage is increasingly strained, especially as Leo hesitates to continue with more treatments. When Leo lands a potential job in New York, they decide to rent out their West Hollywood home on Airbnb, and Lauren temporarily moves into her family’s Malibu beach house. There, she discovers that her first love, Stone—her childhood sweetheart—is back in town. Their shared past, tied closely to her stepmother, resurfaces. Early morning surf sessions and long talks with Stone awaken old memories and force Lauren to confront the question she’s avoided for years: Did she make the right choice when she turned down his offer to build a simple family life together?

Now caught between her present struggles with infertility and a faltering marriage, and the haunting possibility of what might have been with Stone, Lauren wonders if she could rewrite her own story. After all, she holds the silver ticket. But will she use her one precious chance for a second shot at love—or for something else entirely?

Overall Impressions
The magical element could have been woven more deeply into the plot instead of being treated in such a restrained, almost philosophical way. Still, I appreciated how the author chose to highlight motherhood, womanhood, and the different ways love is experienced across generations. Those explorations felt rich and authentic. Personally, I’m not a big fan of love triangles, and I found the romance angle less compelling. If Leo had been written as more of a villain, the “second chance at love” message would have resonated more strongly. But the theme of fearing the loss of loved ones—something universal—was moving and effectively carried through to the end.

I also loved how the author showcased the beauty of Malibu, sprinkling in real places that made the setting vivid (Tony’s Tavern got a wonderful nod, though I can’t say the same for Paradise Cove Beach Café!).

While I didn’t love this book as much as the author’s previous works, I still found it to be a solid, heartfelt, and fast-paced read, full of beautiful and inspirational messages. I believe many readers will adore it, and I look forward to diving into the author’s future books with the hope that I’ll fall completely in love with them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this women’s fiction novel with fantasy elements in exchange for my honest review.

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Profile Image for ⋆˙⟡ ashley marie ⟡˙⋆.
44 reviews4 followers
October 31, 2025
⁺˚⋆。°✩ 𝟣.𝟩𝟧 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈, 𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓅 ✩°。⋆˚⁺

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review

Ngl, I wanted to dnf this multiple times. The only reason I finished was because it was an arc and I wanted to be able to give my full honest review.

First and foremost - the layout and writing was so confusing. The past and present settings with multiple pov’s and no title header as to show whose pov I’m in.. I had no idea what was going on half the time. Please consider adding “then” and “now” chapter titles along with “Lauren” or whoever’s pov we are being shown.
⟢ I hope since it’s unpublished that this is something that can be fixed to give readers a better experience ༯

I found the writing to be very bullet point as well which I didn’t really like. It felt like information was just being dumped but the story wasn’t actually flowing.
⟢ Example: I like flowers. They are pretty. Roses are my favourite.
Get what I mean?
⟢ Again, something the author might plan to work on before publishing so take this with a grain of salt. Just was not an enjoyable experience for me reading the arc imo.

Now for the story- it seemed like an extremely cool concept! Magic realism is right up my alley and the idea sounded very unique. It also looked to touch on familial bonds, infertility and relationship struggles which was relatable to me.

Once and Again follows three generations of women. Every woman born into the family is granted one silver ticket. This ticket is a chance to go back in time. A second chance to rewrite history - a do over. But the catch is, once it’s used, it disappears. So you think you would use it wisely? Not our lovely fmc!

I’m not going to post spoilers here but OH MY GOSH. I was so frustrated how she used her ticket. This concept could have been executed so much better. And the ending? I wanted to throw the book I was so upset. I’m sure there’s some hidden deeper meaning behind everything. I really do appreciate what message the author was trying to convey but I just couldn’t get over the stupidity of it to even try and dig deeper.

I also can’t explain to you how much I dislike Lauren, the main character. Her actions and the decisions she made really bothered me personally. She was SO SELFISH.😳

I’m sorry but this book was just not for me. 🫤
Profile Image for Rachel Hanes.
672 reviews1,000 followers
October 19, 2025
Rebecca Serle has written two of my favorite books of all time, which are “In Five Years” and “Expiration Dates”. So when I received an early digital review copy of this book, I was jumping for joy! But, (here comes the but), I unfortunately didn’t love this book like I had thought or hoped I would.

This book mainly focuses on that of Lauren. Lauren, her mother Marcella, and her grandmother Sylvia, were all born with a special gift. The special gift that these women all share is that they can turn back time just once in their lives. Lauren knows what her mother used her gift for, and now Lauren hopes to use her special gift accordingly as well.

I’m not going to get into too much more about this book, because for one, I feel like I would be giving half the book away. I also feel like the synopsis gives a very lengthy description of the book as well.

I will say that I really enjoyed this book until just past the halfway point. After that, I began to lose interest and became a little bored. Maybe I was hoping for a different outcome, a different ending? I’m not sure. Either way, I’m left feeling a little underwhelmed and I don’t really have much to say about this one. I do think this book may appeal to others more than me though.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: March 10, 2026
Profile Image for Liana Gold.
281 reviews33 followers
November 2, 2025
Contrary to semi-decent reviews, this book is quite thought provoking with a moving tale of family, free will and the essence of time.

Magical realism was very surface level but it hit all the right places and the idea of reversing back time was written in a very heartfelt manner that made the sadness of the book bring comfort by the end of it.

If you could redo a moment in your life, would you do it?

Full review to follow!! Have to think about it a little bit.


Big thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books Publisher and the author, Rebecca Serle for sending me this eARC!

Publication date: March 10, 2026
Profile Image for katie ⋅♡.
42 reviews4 followers
September 27, 2025
This book was different than I had anticipated it to be. I thought it was going to lean more towards Laurens past love with Stone and them finding each other again. It was more of her family & how the women in it were given the opportunity to turn back time, just once.
Parts of the books were slow for me, others were frustrating, some sad. Overall, it was a bit of a roller coaster for me lol.
The ending wasn’t my favorite, at one point I dropped my kindle and said “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?”, and just sat there for a moment. I guess I didn’t really relate to the FMC so I found it hard to understand her actions.
Overall, I liked the idea of of this book, a ticket granting one redo. It’s a cool, unique idea for a book!

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Release Date 🗓️:
March 10, 2026
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Rebecca Serle, & Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
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Profile Image for ଘRory .
103 reviews382 followers
anticipated-books
October 23, 2025
I am so excited for this one 💌.
Profile Image for Meagan (Meagansbookclub).
750 reviews6,961 followers
October 8, 2025
Middle of the road. Writing was weak and the story was flat. I’m happy to say this book will be my last from this author. Just don’t think she’s for me.

*updated my review after sitting on it for a few days. Dropped it to 2 stars because I felt like the plot of her using her once in a lifetime chance to change history to delete her cheating infuriates me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,365 reviews213 followers
September 7, 2025
The truth is, we all need and deserve a second chance, a do-over, every now and again.

What if you were born with a gift that allowed you, just once, to turn back time and enjoy a do-over?

That’s the premise of Rebecca Serle’s upcoming book.

I sat back in awe at how three generations of the Novak women —Sylvia, Marcella, and Lauren —came to terms with their messy lives. They discovered that, despite the best-laid plans, life was unpredictable and imperfect. I loved how Serle allows readers space to rediscover that it isn’t planning, perfection, or even isolation that will ensure success in life …it’s connection. Each woman’s ‘do over’ was a bridge back to what they’d lost … connection. You see, they were born with the gift of turning back time - once and again.

I appreciated the subtle nudge to discover what I allow to become the root of my happiness and the opportunity to reevaluate and refocus. We’re all imperfect, but we can make better choices - ones that don’t cause the journey to be uncomfortable. Not everything comes with a do-over opportunity, and we need to be reminded about choices and consequences every so often.

I was completely lost in a fantastic book and couldn’t set it down. I cared about all of the characters and easily slipped into the setting and observed the Novak family from afar. I believe this is Serle’s best book … ever!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Profile Image for sydney.
75 reviews11 followers
September 21, 2025
this book navigates between three generations of women where they have the opportunity to go back in time to change things differently if they wanted.

it did feel a little whiplash while reading this to figure which timeline i’m in. also, it was a very slow build up in the beginning and it wasn’t until halfway that it had me turning pages quickly.

in addition, this book creates an emotional and nostalgia feel due to going back in the past and going through memories. i did like that aspect when reading it.

tw: infertility issues, mild cheating

thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the digital ARC.
Profile Image for Kate.
343 reviews43 followers
September 24, 2025
This was a sweet and thought-provoking story that nudges you to slow down and cherish every moment you have left!

I’ve read all of Serle’s books and always enjoy her warm, unique writing style, but I’ll be honest—this one wasn’t my absolute favorite. It starts off as more of a slow burn, but once I hit the halfway point, I really loved how the pacing picked up and carried me to the end.

The subtle suspense of how each ticket is/was used and the main twist kept me engaged, and the overall premise was both intriguing and refreshing. I certainly didn’t expect infertility and surfing to be two of the main threads woven through this story, but Serle made them work in an authentic way.

What really stood out to me was the portrait of three generations of women—messy, complicated, but so real—and getting to know them better with each page.

Overall, it’s a moving story with a unique mix of heart and surprise—one that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book!

** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
Profile Image for SJARR ✨.
275 reviews35 followers
August 26, 2025
I was super excited for this! My first ever Rebecca Serle book!
It was actually quite different from what I was expecting- but I am not disappointed! This entire story is like one huge plot twist and I love it.
*Full review to be posted closer to official publication date, as requested by the publisher!
Profile Image for Jace.
120 reviews1,005 followers
September 28, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ There is something so sweet about a short magical story by Rebecca Serle! This one gave me that same feeling you get while watching About Time {one of my favorite movies} and I LOVED the concept— however what I will say is that although I love her how her books are always short and move quickly I feel like this book and storyline deserved SO much more! We could have really thrived with another 100 pages or so of really diving into each woman’s past and history with this “golden ticket”. I also reallllly hope the editors label the POV on each chapter for the final copy because that was SO confusing to figure out whose head I was in and what timeline it was. Overall I did enjoy my time reading this book and would recommend but this one did really leave me wanting more!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Shannon.
8,033 reviews407 followers
September 14, 2025
As a long-time Rebecca Serle fan I have to admit that her magical realism stories almost always hit just right with me. So to say I was eagerly anticipating this newest from her would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, while I did enjoy this quick read and found it thought-provoking, entertaining and heartfelt, it wasn't my favorite of hers.

I would still recommend it for fans of intergenerational stories about strong Jewish women dealing with life challenges (infertility, single parenthood, chronic heart conditions, etc) and those who enjoy authors like Annabel Monaghan.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: infertility, accidental pregnancy, congenital heart disease, death of a parent from cancer
Profile Image for Megan.
239 reviews35 followers
September 22, 2025
Loved this book. I couldn’t put it down.
I love the magic that Rebecca Serle brings to her books.
Lauren has the gift to be able to do one event over in her life. The women her family were handed a silver ticket. The book tells the story of Lauren, Marcella, and Sylvia.

Such a good read!!!
Profile Image for PalmPages.
284 reviews68 followers
Want to read
September 25, 2025
Shout out to NetGalley & Atria Books!

I’m so excited!!!
Profile Image for Pallavi.
231 reviews3 followers
September 21, 2025
RATING: 2.75/5 STARS

So… ONCE AND AGAIN was not quite what I was expecting from Rebecca Serle. As with her previous magical realism books the premise was quite interesting, but the execution was lackluster in this one. There were just too many plot holes, and I could not wrap my head around the characters’ decisions or motivations. I couldn’t make much sense of the ending—there was not enough character development for it to be satisfying. Overall, Serle’s latest was a very quick read, with engaging writing, but I didn’t click with it.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
334 reviews34 followers
October 9, 2025
This is an emotional and complex story of four generations of the Novak family. The women are each are gifted a silver ticket when they're born that can undo something that happened.

It is a delightful blend of magical realism and emotional storytelling. Rebecca's immersive and beautiful writing pulled me in from the beginning. I felt that I could feel the sand, smell the ocean, and taste the food.

This character-driven story is a journey of complicated family relationships, marital issues, the fear of loosing loved ones, and infertility. The characters and family dynamics are relatable, flawed, and loveable.

I did struggle with the main character. I didn't find her decisions agreeable. I'm also not a fan of second chance romance with the cheating trope. Thankfully, the book was redeemed and I ended up loving it in the end. It became a highly emotional read that I didn't want to put down.

I did find it frustrating that the different points of views for each chapter were not noted at the beginning of the chapter. In addition, the ending didn't align with the depth of the rest of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. While it is not my favorite Rebecca Serle book, I enjoyed its depth, complexity, and how thought-provoking it is. This would make a great book club pick as there's a lot to discuss.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Christina | readingthroughatlanta.
443 reviews69 followers
October 5, 2025
3.5 Stars.

A quiet but intriguing read.

The Novak family possesses the unique gift of being able to redo one moment in their lives, a power that blesses and curses them as they grapple with the complexities of family, love, and fate.

Leans very contemporary literary fiction. Shifting POVs. Complicated family relationships - Mothers & Daughters. Fertility journey. Marital issues.

Appreciated getting to know Lauren, her mom, Marcella, and her grandmother, Sylvia. I didn't feel especially connected to them, but I understood why they did the things they did and felt like their characterization was nuanced and done well.

Overall, it's a pretty low stakes but thoughtful, easy read. Not much happens until 70% in; otherwise, it is just this family existing and aging with a lot of flashbacks and context gained throughout.

It's almost boring? But as a atmospheric, laid back summer read at the beach, I think it works well.'

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Gianna Guido.
165 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2025
Wow, what a story. Magical realism at its finest! It was just so original and it really kept me guessing the entire time as to what would happen. The whole thing was so well written.

I loved the 3 different point of views and the way they were executed and how they intertwined with one another. I also loved how all of the different stories were so well developed and mostly I really did like the ending. I feel like there was no better way to do it.

I really enjoyed this! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria books for the early copy of this book. I highly recommend it!!
Profile Image for Jackie.
1,257 reviews
October 9, 2025
Once and Again was one of those rare stories that felt both magical and deeply human. Rebecca Serle delivered a heartfelt, beautifully layered tale that pulled me in right from the start and left me feeling moved and hopeful by the end.

Once and Again followed three generations of Novak women who each get one magical chance in their lifetime to go back and change a single moment. Years ago, Lauren’s mom used her gift to save Lauren’s dad after a tragic accident and left Lauren to grow up in the shadow of that life-altering choice. Now grown Lauren moved back to her childhood home for the summer and found herself caught between old memories, a complicated family dynamic, and the return of her first love. All this forced her to wonder what she’d do if her own second chance ever came.

Rebecca Serle’s writing in Once and Again was warm and heartfelt with a touch of magic. Her style felt intimate and easy to read. It blended real-life emotions with a nostalgic, reflective tone that made the story feel personal and inviting.

When I compared Once and Again to Serle’s earlier novels I’ve read—In Five Years, Expiration Dates, and One Italian Summer—they all shared that signature magical-realism twist and her warm, reflective, conversational tone that focused on relationships and the characters’ inner lives. What set Once and Again apart was its deeper dive into generational dynamics, the weight of choices, and the lasting impact of family legacy. By weaving past and present together, Serle’s writing felt more layered and emotionally rich while it kept the heartfelt, accessible style that made all her stories so easy to sink into.

Overall, I liked how Once and Again engaged me with questions of regret, choice, fate, and whether we would—or should—use a second chance if we had one. I’d happily recommend Once and Again to anyone who loved the heartfelt, “what-if” premise of In Five Years or enjoys contemporary stories with a hint of magical realism woven through. It carries that same mix of warmth, emotion, and thought-provoking twists that make Serle’s novels so easy to connect with, while offering something fresh for longtime fans and new readers alike.

Thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for this heartfelt advance copy in return for my honest feedback.
Profile Image for Elizabeth O'Keefe.
897 reviews20 followers
October 21, 2025
Once and Again by Rebecca Serle is pure magic.

What if you had the ability to turn back time—just once? Would you fix a mistake, relive a love, or try to change something you wish had gone differently? This beautiful, thought-provoking premise sets the stage for what I truly believe is Rebecca Serle’s best book yet.

I was completely swept away by the story of the Novak women—Sylvia, Marcella, and Lauren—three generations each grappling with their own lives, their pasts, and their one chance at a "do over." Watching them wrestle with choices, regrets, and ultimately rediscover what really matters—connection—left me in awe. Serle doesn’t just tell stories; she invites you to feel them. Every page is layered with emotion, reflection, and raw honesty.

What I loved most was how Serle gently reminds us that perfection isn’t the goal—connection is. These women weren’t flawless. Their lives were messy and real, and that’s what made them so deeply relatable. The subtle push to reevaluate what we allow to define our happiness really resonated with me. We don’t always get second chances in life, and this novel is a beautiful reminder of how powerful our choices are—and how much growth can come from imperfection.

I found myself completely immersed, unable to set the book down. The world, the characters, the emotions—it all felt so real. I cared about every single character and could easily picture myself standing just outside the Novak family’s circle, watching their stories unfold.

If you’re already a fan of Rebecca Serle, you’ll fall in love with this one. If you’re new to her writing—what a perfect place to start. Her signature emotional depth is here, but with even more nuance and richness than ever before.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this early—I screamed when I got approved! This book delivered everything I hoped for and more. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your heart long after the final page. Emotional, thought-provoking, and full of heart—Once and Again is a must-read, and I already can’t wait to talk about it with everyone I know.
Profile Image for Dallas Strawn.
939 reviews118 followers
October 18, 2025
I would kiss the ground Rebecca Serle walks on—I truly believe she’s that incredibly gifted as a writer. Her prose shines once again in her latest novel, Once and Again, and her talent for blending heartfelt emotion with a touch of magical realism remains unmatched.

That said, this is the first of her books I haven’t given a full 5 stars. As much as I wanted to love it, I struggled to connect with the story and its characters. The premise—where the women in Lauren’s bloodline are each given a silver ticket that allows them to undo a single life event—is undeniably compelling and classic Serle. But the way the plot unfolded just didn’t resonate with me.

One important thing to note: infertility is a central theme in this book, discussed frequently and deeply throughout. Because of how prominent and emotionally intense those discussions are, I strongly feel that a content warning should have opened the novel. I think that kind of forethought would have better prepared readers who may be sensitive to the topic.

Still, Rebecca’s writing remains deeply emotional, and she did manage to bring me to tears more than once. Her ability to tap into the complexities of womanhood are as powerful as ever. While this one wasn’t a personal favorite, I deeply respect what she was trying to do—and I know it will be incredibly meaningful to many readers. A mixed bag for me, but she still leaves an impression.

3.75 ⭐️
Profile Image for Rebekah McCallie Winter.
529 reviews16 followers
October 23, 2025
This was my first Rebecca Serle, and I was so excited. Everyone loved Expiration Dates and In Five Years, and so I was thrilled to get an early copy of this arc. I read this book in basically one sitting. It's an extremely easy read, which moves quickly, and it sucks you in. The plot is extremely interesting: what would you do with your life if you had a second chance? What moment would you pick to do over? And how do you go on from knowing you've used your one chance at a rematch?

Unfortunately, I could not stand these characters nor the choices they made. This story has three generations of women who cannot communicate with one another to save their lives, their happiness, or the happiness of their daughter. Mother/Daughter relationships are hard, I get it. BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN these women lied to each other in such horrific ways for decades? I could not get on board with characters who would make these decisions. And don't get me started about the relationship of the main FMC. I cannot even discuss it. It would be spoilery anyways.

I hate that I did not like this, because like I said the plot is so interesting. I think others could enjoy the family drama here, unfortunately it just upset and enraged me.
Profile Image for Eyre_i_breathe.
256 reviews24 followers
October 14, 2025
There's just something about books that contain a dose of magical realism that calls to me every time, and Rebecca Serle writes this theme so well. It's no surprise then that I was ecstatic to be gifted an ARC of Once and Again.

The storyline follows three generations of women who each receive a silver ticket upon birth that can be used only once to turn back time... one do-over of any moment, any decision of their individual choosing. This was a surprisingly tender and heartfelt read. I loved being immersed in the dynamics of these three generations of women. I didn't always agree with all the decisions they made, but seeing all the beauty and turbulence that comes from a life well lived through their perspectives was beautiful. Once and Again was full of heart, romance, second chances, and of course...a dash of magic. I thoroughly enjoyed this gem.

Profile Image for Theresa Petty.
581 reviews11 followers
October 14, 2025
I loved this book.
Has anything ever happened in your life where you think “if I could just turn back time, this would all be different”?
This story is a multigenerational tale wrapped in the age old question of time, it’s importance, where is goes, and what we would do to change it.
I always love Serle’s writing. She knows how to create layered and complicated characters in such a short time. They are honest and not always pretty, but looking to grow. This story stays true to her strengths as a writer while also surprising me with characteristics I haven’t seen in her writing before.
If you love her, you will love this.
Unpopular opinion so far, but I loved the end. It was perfect, and proved that our POV truly grows the way we think she did.
Thank you so much netgalley and Atria books! I jumped up and down when I received this one, and it did not disappoint!
Profile Image for Katie’s Bookshelf.
528 reviews97 followers
October 9, 2025
3.5⭐️
A story about three generations of women who have the ability to redo one mistake- who possess a ticket to change a moment in their lives. Our main character is Lauren, the youngest women in her family. We also have povs from her mother Marcella and grandmother Sylvia- how they moved through the world, how they viewed life and how they treated their gift. Despite that magical realism at play here this is really more of a character driven story.

This was an interesting enough story that I wanted to finish the book and find out how everything ends, but honestly not enough that I genuinely enjoyed it. I just thought this would be a more thrilling story- we have literal time travel involved and yet it managed to be so bland. I thought the 'tickets' would be a much bigger act, instead of it just being something that our characters think about and talk about. It's really just Lauren living out the summer and us hearing all about how she relates to her different family members.

I would have rated this a little higher right up until the end- I had read a few reviews that mentioned (without spoilers) Lauren makes some wild choices. Some of those choices I understood and some had me shaking my head, but honestly what bothered me the most was how easily everything was wrapped up. Like way too perfect of an ending without us really seeing it get to that point

It also bothers me that this is being marketed as a romance book- it is not a romance novel. The romance in Lauren's life is such a small focus of this story, Leo and Stone are both barely on the page in comparison to her family. Having romance in a story and the story being a romance are not the same thing in my opinion. Like, the Lord of the Rings has a romance in it, doesn't make The Return of the King a romance novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Catherine Kalogeros.
179 reviews33 followers
September 22, 2025
Rebecca Serle did the thing again. She wrote about time in the most beautiful way imaginable. I’m writing this with tears in my eyes 🤍🌊

This book isn’t out until next year so I’ll hold on a full review but I’ll say this:

Once and Again is an incredibly moving story about family, fertility, and the blessing and curse of time. This one really hit home for me in a lot of ways. Dare I say this is my favorite RS novel?! I adored One Italian Summer but… this might be the new top.
Profile Image for Corinne Carson.
241 reviews17 followers
October 8, 2025
This story is about 3 generations of women and their very complex & real relationships with each other. From birth, they were all given a “silver ticket” that they could use just once in their lives to erase or change the outcome of any particular event of their choosing. Sylvia has always been secretive of how she used hers. Marcella used hers to save her husband from an accident, which then lead her to live her life very cautiously afterwards. And Lauren uses hers to erase one evening of bad choices which lead her to cheat on her husband. And then one night, when Marcella’s husband has a heart attack and the prognosis is not good, all hell breaks lose when Marcella realizes that Lauren had already used her ticket. A lot of unspoken things from the past come to a head, and it forces all 3 women to come to terms with how they have been living their lives because of these “silver tickets.” While this wasn’t one of my favorites of Rebecca Serle’s, I still enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Profile Image for Julianna.
104 reviews3 followers
October 27, 2025
“You’re here…that’s what life mostly comes down to- where you are and when.”

4.5! Thank you Netgally and Simon&Schuester for this ARC. I have come to enjoy Rebecca’s writing, and her elements of magical realism. Our main characters are three women, a grandmother, mother and daughter, who care for each other, and are willing to sacrifice anything for them. I loved the story of Lauren who had to make some tough choices between her past and present, and her future. We always wonder “what if” and sometimes that can cause us to lose sight of what’s actually in front of us.
Profile Image for Maggie Elliott.
181 reviews3 followers
October 24, 2025
Is 2.5 stars too mean ugh! I flew through it but just truly didn’t love it at all
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