Just Like the First Time

by Lyssa Chiavari

2017: When comics artist Maureen Wilson left California thirteen years ago, she swore she’d never look back. But when her newest graphic novel is adapted into a TV series and her old art teacher invites her back to her hometown for a school visit, against her better judgment Maureen finds herself returning to Weber Point. Little does she expect to be caught in a freak thunderstorm that magically sends her back to 2004… and back into her teenage body.

2004: If she wants to get her old life back, Maureen will have to figure out how to undo the spell that caused her to travel back in time. But the only person who believes her story is Alana, an emo barista whose tough exterior masks a fellow anime-binging, Steps-loving fangirl. Alana knows nothing about witches, magic or curse-breaking, but maybe that’s not what Maureen really needs. Maybe what she needed all along was someone who would see her for who she is on the inside.

Thirteen years ago, Maureen ran away from her past. But now that she’s living it all over again, she might just have a chance at building the future she’s always dreamed of.

13 Going on 30 meets Mean Girls with a paranormal twist in this sapphic time travel novel about finding your people and learning to love who you are.

Paperback

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Lyssa Chiavari is an author of speculative fiction for young adults, including Fourth World, the first book in a sci-fi trilogy set on Mars, and Cheerleaders From Planet X, a tongue-in-cheek send-up of all things sci-fi. Her short fiction has appeared in Wings of Renewal: A Solarpunk Dragon Anthology, Brave New Girls: Tales of Heroines Who Hack, Magic at Midnight: A YA Fairytale Anthology and Perchance to Dream: Classic Tales from the Bard’s World in New Skins. Her first published story, “The Choice,” was named one of Ama-gi Magazine’s Best of 2014. Lyssa lives with her family and way too many animals in the woods of Northwest Oregon.