Twenty Something Else

by Stephanie Mack

On the eve of her fortieth birthday, a woman wakes up from a pickleball accident with the unexpected chance to relive her twenties in this sparkling novel from a fresh, new voice.

Sutton Layne is almost-forty and fabulous, with a happy marriage, three beautiful children, and a successful interior design business. But there’s plenty of chaos behind the scenes of early midlife. Her preteen son is going off the rails, her husband is bailing on the party he was supposed to throw her, and that thriving business? If she can’t land her next big client, it might all come crashing down. Then a surprise DM from someone in her past sends her spiraling into what-ifs. What if she settled down too young? Walked away from her big break? Never had her great adventure?

Despite her simmering mini-crisis, Sutton can’t wait for the birthday luncheon and pickleball tournament her friends have planned in her honor. But when an accident on the court knocks her out cold, she wakes up somewhere else . . . and is offered the chance to do it all over again. She can revisit her twenties—out of order and on her own terms. And this time around, anything cities, careers, friendships. Even love.

From star-studded Hollywood nights to the jungles of Nicaragua, from the heat of Coachella to the snowy summit of the Matterhorn, Sutton chases the life she fears she might have missed, with unexpected results.

With a wink to the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, Twenty Something Else is a witty, wistful journey through the dreams we outgrow, the life choices that shape us, and the surprising detours that can lead us home.

Clean and wholesome women’s fiction with themes of second chances, identity, friendship, and lovePerfect for fans of Katherine Center, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Courtney WalshIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Time Travel, Contemporary, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Christian Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Stephanie Mack is an author with a passion for storytelling—on the page, on the mic, and beyond. Her novels blend women's fiction and romantic elements with meaningful insights for readers navigating the complexities of modern life. Stephanie lives in Orange County, California, with her husband, three daughters, and beloved mini Bernedoodle.

Let's Connect!

Email: stephanie@stephaniemack.com

Instagram: @stephanienmack

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephanienicolemack

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephanienmack/

www.stephaniemack.com

Reviews

[Samantha | samanthakreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this one and thought the premise sounded fun, with a bit of 13 Going on 30 vibes, perfect for spring and summer.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite work for me. It felt a bit superficial and surface-level.

Some things rubbed me the wrong way. I thought the angel and second chance from God were odd, and the interactions with men in the past timeline didn't sit right with me, impacting my ability to enjoy the story.

I got what the book’s message was trying to do, which is why I kept reading rather than DNF. It was hard to connect with a story about an FMC who had a great life yet was so unhappy and focused on the what-ifs. Within the story, there is a focus on appearance, including comments on beauty, looking young, and pop culture references to be relevant.

I've read and loved quite a few Tyndale books, and for me, this didn't quite feel like a book typically published by this company.

I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, and I would try another one of Stephanie's books in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale for the complimentary ARC/ALC copies. All thoughts are 100% my own.

[Paris (parismaereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG REVIEW

My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genre 📚womens fiction
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 none/kisses only
- Content 🤔 use of drugs/alcohol, infidelity

This one surprised me ✨

I am NOT a women’s fiction reader and didn’t think this title would be for me but gosh it just hit on all the things. As someone who has had lots of defining moment in life and different choices/paths I could’ve taken, this book felt like a warm hug.

Targeted at millennials, this title wrestles with aging and life regrets. I was completely surprised by how much I loved this book. I teared up multiple times and the author had some great threads and quotes throughout the narrative.

A great read anytime of the year and one I’ll be recommending frequently!

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book thankful that I’m middle-aged!

The wish to recapture youth and experience a do-over is something most of us desire, regardless of age. This book reminds us that while self-reflection is a powerful journey, sometimes our impetuous wishes aren’t well thought out and that our ‘glory days’ aren’t really what we thought they were, given our garnered experience and wisdom.

The main character in this book is living in a vortex of chaos; everything is loud, fast, and judged for its surface-level representation. As she’s about to turn 40, an unexplainable series of events is triggered, and she’s sent back to do her twenties all over again … without her husband appearing in the new reality.

Although slightly predictable, I enjoyed the journey. The author truly captured the essence of this time period in our lives, and I found myself nodding and smiling as I read. This truly is a rags-to-riches story!!!!

Reading this book as an early reader at Thanksgiving made it a more poignant read. I’m thankful for my life, and after much thought, I’d pass on an invitation for a do-over.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[LaurenLoveReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!! Such a fun one for summertime!

Get my full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/bMSrB4jnpLM?si=-xlPs...

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝑻𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒆}

🩷 Release Date: June 9, 2026 🩷
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The premise of this book sounded incredibly intriguing to me—especially considering it was published by one of my favorite publishers—so I decided to give it a shot. Sadly, though, this story was not quite what I was hoping to find when I signed up for this ARC. While the pacing was very well done, and it kept my interest—for the most part—there were just too many aspects to the story that rubbed me the wrong way.

My number one complaint with this story is the way the second chance was presented as being a gift from God, presented by a redheaded angel. I personally feel like if you’re gonna include a unique storyline—such as going back in time—in a book, then don’t try to make it sound like God was giving the opportunity because we are only given one chance at life—unless you count recovering from a freak accident or such like as a second chance. I realize it’s simply a fictional story, but it just felt wrong (and weird) to present it this way—especially with the whole angel thing too.

Secondly, why was Sutton so unhappy with her life, but so unwilling to make the changes needed? That’s completely on her, and if she wants to make her life different or better, that’s also totally up to her to make those changes. None of this complaining about her family and husband and the way her life ended up. She chose to get married at twenty-two, which honestly isn’t even that young, and now she has a beautiful family. But she’s hounded by the thoughts of “what-if” and, therefore, goes on this whole journey to discover that—guess what—she actually does love her life.

It felt very icky that Sutton was carrying on with other men the way she was when she went back in time. I know in that timeline she wasn’t married yet, but she still was technically married, and it just felt so wrong to me. But if she was going to act as though she wasn’t married, why the cob did she keep insisting, in her mind, that she was x amount of years older than these men—since she was technically forty? She was only in her twenties in those timelines. Like, make it make sense!

With all that being said, would I recommend this book to other readers? Honestly…I’m not sure. I can recognize what this book was trying to teach, but I really didn’t appreciate the way it was brought about. I wasn’t able to enjoy it because of my concerns, but I don’t think they’ll be an overly big issue for everyone else. So if none of my concerns bother you, then go for it and see what you think of this story!
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I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

[Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎧 Audiobook

This was such a pleasant surprise. I picked it up because I wanted something light and easy to listen to, and it ended up being one of those books that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.

I loved how clean and positive it was. It had plenty of humor, and I laughed out loud more than once. The references to things like TikTok, social media, Taylor Swift, the Britney Spears memoir, and even heatless curlers made it feel very relatable for this stage of life without feeling like the author was trying too hard to be trendy.

Sutton is about to turn 40, and as she looks at her marriage, friendships, family, business, and the choices she’s made over the years, the story naturally leads you to think about your own life. I found myself reflecting right along with her. There were several moments that hit close to home, especially the years of raising kids and managing everyday life together.

I also loved the friendship between Sutton, Quinn, and Sierra. Their history together felt genuine, and the mystery surrounding their fourth friend, Camilla, added an emotional layer to the story.

The faith element was present but subtle. It felt like a natural part of the characters’ lives rather than something forced into every conversation.

The audiobook narration was fantastic. The narrator brought so much emotion and personality to the story that I was invested from the beginning. She handled both the funny moments and the more serious ones really well.

There was one point where I wasn’t entirely sure how Sutton’s trips back in time were working, but the author eventually explained it in a way that made sense and tied everything together nicely.

This Christian contemporary romance is much more than a love story. It’s a thoughtful look at friendship, family, faith, marriage, and the paths we choose in life. It left me smiling, but it also left me reflecting on my own life and the choices that make us who we are. That’s a combination I always appreciate. ❤️📚

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

At its heart, this is a story about perspective, reflection, and appreciating the life you’ve built. I’d say it’s especially perfect for married mothers approaching their forties and anyone who loves magical realism stories that involve alternate realities. (Me! Me!) With such an easy, effortless flow, the story follows Sutton on the eve of her 40th birthday, when a pickleball accident gives her the opportunity to revisit her twenties and explore the roads not taken.

I will say, I'm not familiar with Tyndale publishing, so I didn’t realize this was Christian fiction. The faith elements were definitely more prominent than I expected, but I wouldn't say they were overpowering. They appeared naturally throughout the story, without feeling overly preachy, which was nice. I thought the story offered some great moments of relatability, early 2000s nostalgia, humour, and thoughtful lessons reminding you to appreciate the good in your own life.

But ok, there were a couple of things that bothered me. First, is it considered cheating if you’re in a different timeline? Heh. Knowing that Sutton is technically married in her original timeline, I felt a little uncomfortable with some of her actions. And while I think it’s completely natural to ponder the “what ifs” of life, I couldn’t imagine seriously entertaining a version of life that didn’t include my husband and child … ? But the intended message came through in the end, ultimately leaving me feeling super warm and happy. I really enjoyed this one!

(spice level: kisses only)

I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

As her fortieth birthday approaches, Sutton Layne is plagued by a subtle dread about the struggles of parenting teenagers, an aging body, and a disconnected marriage. A freak accident throws her into an alternate world where she gets to live out a number of what-might-have-been scenarios.

I loved a lot about this book. It was refreshing to read about a main character in her upper 30s, even as she came to grips with no longer being a "spring chicken." I enjoyed the reflective nature of the narrative, which looked honestly at regrets and the need to accept your past. There were subtle faith elements, the strongest of which handled effects of purity culture really well in my opinion. Last but not least, I think it showed a realistic portrayal of marriage over the long haul.

I have two main issues with the book. First, the middle dragged a bit. There were some storylines as she revisited her twenties that I felt could have been consolidated or at least shortened a bit. Second, (*tiny spoiler alert*) though I appreciated her realisation of contentment in her actual life, I would have loved to see a bit more hope through God's sovereignty discussed, rather than just happiness in her family.

This was a thought-provoking and tender story of learning to love the life you have, with some coming-of-age and magical realism themes mixed in. I would recommend for fans of The Midnight Library and The Good Part.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Tyndale House for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you wish you could go back in time to your younger self and possibly make some changes? I love time travel books and sometimes I wish I could!

Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack was a sharp thought-provoking book as readers journey with Sutton Layne as she travels back into her twenties on her 40th birthday. Our milestone birthdays can hit differently so I can see where Sutton had some struggles with that age.

As the book begins, life is stressful with her family and Sutton is facing her "big" birthday coming up. On the big day, Sutton plays in a pickle-ball tournament and luncheon in her honor for her special birthday. She gets hit by the ball which knocks her out. . .and she takes a trip back to her twenties, with an angel guiding her way. She goes back with the knowledge that things could be different this time. She works as an up-and-coming actress, teaches pre-school in Nicaragua, and attends Coachella. She has the chance to see how different relationships would have played out. She has to ask herself, does she really want the life she has now?

Twenty Something Else is one of my favorite reads this year. I thought this time travel book was well done and well thought out. I liked how Sutton learned and grew through the experiences. I could also imagine, as a middle-aged woman myself, how I would also look at my young body and marvel at how well it works and looks, which Sutton did. Another thing she marveled at was the changes in phone/internet usage through the years. So much of her thoughts and actions were realistic within the magic of the book to me. I think there were ways we all would act and reflect on these things to a degree if we were in her position. There is also some humor and I liked that. I think the ending was well done but I don't want to share any spoilers. I enjoyed Twenty Something Else and appreciate the way it made me think and reflect on my own life.

I received an advanced E-copy of this book through NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions are my own.

[Brenna (brennas_book_corner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sutton, a wife and mother of three, is about to turn 40 and has an accident while playing pickleball. She wakes up to find out she has the chance to relive her 20s. What happens next?

Having just recently turned 40 this book was the perfect read for me! I love a good magical realism/sliding doors/time travel novel and this one was so much fun and heartfelt. I think it’s easy to occasionally wonder what would’ve happened if you had taken a different road in the past. Although I am personally so thankful where life took me, turning 40 has made me reflect a lot about my life and this new decade.

All of the pop culture references were so fun and I loved how faith was woven throughout. Time to go back and rewatch The OC for the 6th or 7th time. 😂 Chapter 34 was the sweetest and made me want to give my own husband a big hug. 😍

If you are looking for a fun sliding doors novel that makes you reflect then check this one out! Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy! 🩷🩷 All opinions are my own.


Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🤬: none
🔥: no spice

[Kayla ✧♥︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐

My bad for not realizing that this was a fairly religious book.

That said, that was a minor part in why I didn't really like this one. The whole reason for why she goes back just didn't sit well with me. It was very shallow of her and her beginning attitude to it just wasn't right (IMO). Sutton just wanted to be pretty and young again, which sure whatever. But she was excited to cut out her husband and kids from her life to have it. "It's like a vacation!" Which didn't sit good with me. Sutton didn't even have a bad life to begin with. It was more focused on her looks and age. Which 40 is friggen young.

The whole dating other men thing also didn't sit with me. It just seemed like she was trying to justify and give herself a hall pass (with how before she was talking about how this is like a vacation from her other life) to date other men... while still thinking about her husband and how she will go back to him eventually. It gave me the ick. No thank you.

There were parts of the book that I did enjoy, but it was just overshadowed by the other stuff that I couldn't bring myself to rate it any higher than a 2. I debated even a 1 star rating, but I did like the friendship parts of it. So, there is that.

[M.L. Sizemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of funny and deeply relatable moments about being in your 40s, raising kids, and reflecting on the choices that shape your life. I especially enjoyed the current-event references, which made the story feel contemporary and authentic. The audiobook narrator was excellent and added warmth and personality to the experience.
One of the strongest elements of the novel was its exploration of revisiting the past and imagining how differently we might handle pivotal moments with the wisdom and perspective we have now. I really connected with the narrator’s thoughts about lost love, wondering “what if,” and questioning whether you’re on the right path in life. Those emotions felt honest and recognizable, making the character easy to relate to.
I didn’t realize going in that this was a Christian novel, and I probably would not have picked it up had I known. While I don’t mind religious themes in books, it’s not typically what I gravitate toward. To the author’s credit, the messaging wasn’t overwhelmingly preachy at first, but as the story progressed, the religious overtones became much more prominent. Eventually, it began to feel like the biblical connections and lessons were taking priority over the actual plot.
There were still several standout moments I genuinely loved. The conversation between the narrator and her mother about her favorite age — and thanking her for loving her through every phase of life — was especially touching. And the line, “I almost got a boob job once,” completely caught me off guard and made me laugh out loud.
That said, the overall plot felt fairly predictable from the beginning. There wasn’t much mystery about where the story was headed, so the emotional journey sometimes felt less compelling because the ending seemed obvious early on. Around the 60% mark, I found myself losing interest, and if this hadn’t been an ARC, I likely would have stopped reading.
Overall, I think readers who enjoy gentle, faith-based women’s fiction with humor, family reflections, and a calm emotional journey will probably appreciate this book more than I did. The writing itself is solid, and there are meaningful, heartfelt moments throughout — I just wish the plot had been stronger and the religious messaging a bit more balanced

[Chelsea Crosswait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the ARC of Twenty Something Else! This book was so sweet to me. I loved the Christian themes woven throughout, even though I didn’t completely agree with the way some of them were portrayed. I moved through the story quickly and really appreciated the heart behind it. It’s emotional and thought-provoking, yet still easy to digest and simply enjoy. I’d definitely recommend this book & I look forward to reading more from Stephanie Mack!

[Madi unruh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh

First of all what a creative concept

I laughed, I teared up multiple times.

This will be one I think about for a long time ❤️

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 easy listen, similar vibe to other stories when you can go back in life

[Allison Sanden · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining book about celebrating life while taking one back to moments of “what if’s”. Fast paced with moments of laughter and fun. If you’re in midlife or even younger this is a fun read that would yield some great discussion with friends!! Audio is fantastic!

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House for this advanced audio copy.

If you could go back and live your life all over again would you make the same choices?

39 year old Sutton is on the eve of celebrating her milestone birthday of turning 40. She’s a millennial mom who was married at 22 and had kids by 26. She’s starting to question her life choices and if they really were wonderful ones then why is she feeling so weary and worn at this stage of her life?

She makes a birthday wish to be young again. “Not to merely feel loved, happy and free but to embody those definitions”.

You may have to suspend your belief as this is a time-traveling book complete with its own guide/angel very much like Clarence in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Sutton goes on a journey to discover “what might have been after all?”

Twenty-Something Else was fun and relatable. It’s full of wisdom and beautiful messages as well as tackles the weight of the “what ifs” we all carry. I loved the New York speech near the end- it gave me all the feels!There were so many memorable nuggets of wisdom and truth scattered throughout this book that made it such a heart warming read for me.

If you like time-travel books definitely give this a read!

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Books like Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack are exactly why I love stories that incorporate magical/supernatural realism. Especially when they come with tenderly written lessons like the kind you’ll find in movies like It’s a Wonderful Life or 13 Going on 30. And our heroine Sutton definitely learns a few things about herself, the roads not taken, the things (and people) we take for granted, and contentment with the blessings we already have.

First off, I loved that the narrative was from Sutton’s POV – I thought it added a lot of depth and heart, as well as helping me feel like I was walking through this alternate timeline right along with her. As someone who’ll turn 50 next year, I could really relate to her emotions and restlessness as she approaches her own milestone birthday. I’m sure I’m not the only woman like Sutton who hit 40 and wondered ‘what if’ I’d made different choices in my 20s. What if I married a different person? What if I’d had kids? What if I’d pursued that dream I was too scared to try? I wasn’t discontented with my life, per se, but I couldn’t help reflecting on where I thought I’d be at that point vs. where I was. And the truths that Sutton comes to realize (after a pickleball accident on the eve of her 40th birthday sends her to a portal of sorts where she’s given the chance to revisit each year of her 20s in any order she wishes) reminded me of the blessings I’d had been taking for granted before 40 too.

I enjoyed so many things about this story, including three of Sutton’s dearest friends who are consistently ‘hers’ no matter what timeline she’s living. Quinn particularly embodies a true sister-bond with Sutton, and I really loved the role she ends up playing in Sutton’s journey in both paths. Sierra’s relationship with Sutton is multi-layered in each timeline but especially so in the alternate-20s, and then there’s Sutton’s third close friend who I’ll let you discover for yourself. All three of these women profoundly represent the power of a choice, of a series of choices, and their friendships with Sutton are probably my favorite part of the novel. There’s also Sutton’s mother, her grandmother, her kids, and of course her ‘real life’ husband Reid – all of whom I liked and each of whom added more dimension to Sutton’s growth arc. Author Stephanie Mack does a wonderful job of capturing the ups and downs of marriage, the stress of juggling kids & a career & your friends & staying relevant, and she gently weaves in a natural faith thread that doesn’t get in your face but sets a foundation. And the way Mack ties everything together between Sutton’s alternate path and her real one was cinema-worthy and just perfect!

Bottom Line: Part Touched by an Angel, part The Family Man, part its own unique identity, Stephanie Mack’s Twenty Something Else engagingly explores the tension between longing for something different and finding God’s goodness in the life we’ve been given. I loved watching Sutton approach her second chance at her twenties with the grit and grace – and wisdom – of a woman who’s lived a whole other lifetime. This subtle shift in perspective for our own lives is both freeing and thought-provoking, which is one of the things that makes this the perfect book club read. The fact that Twenty Something Else beautifully captures real life against the backdrop of a supernatural object lesson is another. It’s creative, witty, poignant, and insightful, and I think it would be a great next read for fans of T.I. Lowe, It’s a Wonderful Life, Serendipity, and Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Ava Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some things, I'm starting to realize, we can learn only one way. Through.

Four stars!!

Twenty Something Else had some of my favorite tropes, the coolest storyline, and such a pretty cover!

As Sutton, on the brink of turning 40, reflects on her past 39 years, she is presented with an opportunity to revisit her 20s with the wisdom she has in the present. She returns to 20-year-old Sutton, taking a break from her stagnant marriage, irritated kids, and ache of the loss of one of her friends, and gets to explore her past circumstances: a toxic relationship, the college scene, a chance at acting, and the development of her close friendships. However, as she dives deeper into her 20s, she begins to realize how much she misses her family. But the only way she can get back to them is to come to the true conclusion that the life she currently lives is better than any alternate path she could have taken.

Sutton has the chance to see what could have been. How does it compare to what God gave her?

How can I forget something I can't remember?

This book was absolutely gripping in a contemporary sort of way. Sutton was not only constantly faced with the conflict of jumping into a scenario with no prior knowledge, but she also had to completely reevaluate her vocabulary and habits being that she traveled back in time. There were a lot of references to present pop culture, which I know not everyone appreciates, but I personally enjoyed it and thought that it totally added to the story (Benson Boone, Britney Spears, 2020 toilet paper, etc).

Sutton had the chance to go back and pursue relationships that she wouldn't have gotten to pursue otherwise, which taught her a lot about herself and also about her contentment in her present marriage. At first, I was a little wary about the fact that she was dating so many people in these situations, but she never truly fell in love with them, which I think the author handled well in order to protect the importance of marriage and dating. Instead, it pointed back to her love for her present-day husband.

"In the February when I'm thirty-six years old, and news breaks out of a mysterious virus detected in Asia..." he parrots.
"Buy toilet paper," I say. "Buy lots--and lots--of toilet paper."

The author also incorporated incredible Christian themes without being preachy. She touched on purity and redemption, the power of friendship, loving people well, the importance of church, and the goodness of God's plan.

There were some great role model characters in this story, and Sutton truly had amazing sidekicks who helped her navigate something so insane.

"But you choose your path. You trust God to direct it. Then you celebrate wins. Mourn the heartaches. And you love your people enough to let them keep dreaming forever."

I would recommend this to older teenagers and adults enjoy the show The Way Home and who love:
- hollywood settings
- country club moms
- time travel
- sweet friendships
- chasing down a cheating boyfriend at coachella
- sorority scenes

"It's almost like you have amnesia."
Astute, dear Rachel. Impressive.

Content to note:
Twenty Something Else is a Christian novel, and all topics below are handled well. However, for younger audiences or those sensitive to these topics, here are the content warnings.
- alcohol, intoxicated characters, and mild substance use
- occasional sexual references
- attempted sexual assault, though it remains implied, and nothing really happens
- romance, not beyond kissing

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Katie Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

The day before her fortieth birthday party, Sutton is overwhelmed by the growing distance between her and her husband and the disconnect with her kids. After an unexpected pickleball to the head, she wakes up with the opportunity to relive her twenties as if she had never married Reid or had children. With the same nostalgic charm as It's a Wonderful Life, Sutton is given the chance to step back into an entirely different version of her life.

I had a really hard time reading this book. No, it had nothing to do with the dream-like writing, warm characters, or nostalgic magical realism plot—those elements were genuinely excellent. But as a thirty-year-old single woman with no kids who has moved multiple times for career opportunities and prioritized education, it felt deeply diminishing to repeatedly watch Sutton realize she didn’t want a life that looked like mine.

And what makes this complicated is that no, I don’t think the story should have ended with Sutton choosing singleness and childlessness. Her journey is clearly meant to be a beautiful rediscovery of the life she originally chose, and in many ways, it succeeds at that. But the book repeatedly frames marriage and motherhood not simply as fulfilling, but as more fulfilling—as the fuller, richer, more meaningful life. Sutton’s alternate years feel intentionally glamorous, adventurous, successful, and exciting, yet they are still ultimately portrayed as emptier because they lacked a husband and children.

If you regularly read my reviews, you know I rarely spend this much time critiquing a book’s messaging. But because this story is published by a Christian publisher—and because the Church already so often elevates the traditional American dream as the pinnacle of fulfillment—I found the lack of meaningful space for singleness especially disappointing. There’s little acknowledgment that a single life can also be whole, purposeful, joyful, and deeply fulfilling rather than merely a placeholder before marriage and family.

This book will be perfect for you if you’re a middle age wife and mom wanting to be reminded of the wonderful blessings those two things are.

Thank you @tyndalehouse for the eARC and ALC! #netgalley

Perfect for you if you like:
Marriage and motherhood reflections
Second chances and identity
Warm, nostalgic-feeling women’s fiction
A millennial mom

Similar:
Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens (I have not read)
The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose (I have not read)

🌶️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️sleazy producer, cheating boyfriend

[Kelsey | kelseys.booknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a Wonderful Life is one of my alltime favorite movies. Every Christmas, I make sure to set aside a day to watch it without any interruptions. I laugh, and then I sob like a baby every single time, especially when the town of Bedford Falls rallies around our dear George Bailey, and at the very end when Harry Bailey raises a toast and says, “To George, the richest man in town.” Absolutely wrecks me.

So when I saw the premise of Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack, I was all in. There’s something so interesting about the idea of looking back through the years of your life and seeing where you’ve been, where you are now, and all the inbetween. But also, the "what could have been". Like, we've all thought about that before, right?

When she gets the chance to revisit her twenties and relive certain moments, the story becomes heart-wrenching, sweet, nostalgic, hilarious, and deeply moving. (And the 35 year old me absolutely loved all the millennial references!) Sidenote-I could have done without the intimacy with other men throughout her time travel. I did not care for that and don't think it was needed.

That’s exactly what Sutton gets to do in this story. After a pickleball accident, she gets the chance to revisit different moments from her life, many of them filled with "what if" questions. What if she had made a different choice? What if she had gone down a different path? What if things had turned out differently? I think we've all had those moments where we wonder how our lives would look if we had made a different decision. It's so easy, no matter how blessed we are, to focus on the hard things, our regrets, or the things we wish had gone differently. As Sutton revisits these moments, she starts to see her life in a new way. She gets the chance to look back on her relationships, choices, and experiences and realize that even the messy and difficult parts helped shape who she is.

This book beautifully shows the importance of relationships and the ways they shape us. No one in our lives is perfect, but sis, neither are we. There was so much grace woven throughout this story. It’s a chance to appreciate the life the Lord has graciously given.

This was a moving, memorable read that I highly recommend. And after finishing it, I want to continue seeing the beauty in the small and big moments of life. To cherish the mundane and be present in the busy. Because life is a gift, and God is so, so good.

Thank you to Tyndale House and NetGalley for the gifted ebook copy!

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty Something Else is a women's fiction novel about a woman who, on her 40th birthday, experiences a type of identity crisis where all she can think about are the "what-ifs". What if she never married her husband? What if she took a different career path? Then after an accident, she is given the opportunity to relive her twenties. It has elements of magical realism, faith, has no spice, and is focused primarily on the personal growth of one woman with small subplots of romance.

I enjoyed this book, and I feel that it was perfect for my stage of life.: 25, married, two beautiful and perfect kids. I was able to relate with the FMC in her earlier years, and connect with her with some of the things she was thinking she wanted to change although I am a bit younger than her. What she went through made me appreciate what I have in my life so much more.

I loved the elements of faith that were throughout the book, although I do not feel like it always made sense for her character at times. It did allow for personal lessons and seasons of growth, but at her age (40) it did not seem to have the impact that it should have had after years of having the faith she claimed to have. I'm not trying to be judgmental of her spiritual maturity but it just seemed unrealistic. The plot was fun to follow and entertaining through all the different ages she got to re-experience, but I feel like I didn't get the closure that I wanted by the end. The FMC still seemed overly concerned about her appearance and what she didn't have versus what she was blessed with in her real life. She also seemed to resent her husband and children because of what they were keeping her from. That just gave me a sour taste in my mouth as a mother and a wife because she seemed so unhappy with what she had and disappointed with her life in general. That's not a critique to the writing itself, but a criticism to the actual character, who is fiction obviously.

The narrator did a great job at bringing the story to life and giving it a voice, but for me personally I feel like a hard copy of the book might have been easier to follow at some points. I got a few of the side characters mixed up, and a couple other minor things, but that led to being confused during a few scenes. The writing was easy to understand though, it hooked me from the start and the voice of the perspective fit with the character and what she was going through. There weren't many moments that stalled in pace, and the author didn't rely of a ton of plot twists or dramatic scenes to keep my attention. It was well thought out and it delivered in terms of flow and emotional depth.

Overall I would recommend this book to others looking for a women's fiction book that is easy to read but is also full of life lessons and gets you thinking. I rate it 3.5 stars because I enjoyed it, but there was not a lot that made it stand out from other women's fiction books I have read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale for the audiobook in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

First off, a small disclaimer: I am NOT even a tiny bit religious and most of the books I review are focused on the opposite of church, purity culture, and angels, so this book is out of my normal review wheelhouse. This book is unapologetically Christian.

Twenty Something Else takes the magical time travel trope and adds an angelic twist. Sutton gets hit in the head with a pickleball on the eve of her 40th birthday and wakes up in her twenties in California. I really enjoyed the moments with her friends, the romantic moments, and the early 00s nostalgia. The book manages to pepper in a lot of pop culture along with a lot of her faith.

The book cover, the writing style, and the audio narration were all really well done. I recommend this book to Christian readers and women’s fiction readers (especially women born in the mid 80s.)

[Laura Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 rounded up to a 3!

Where to start with this one…. There were aspects of this I really enjoyed and others that I didn’t like in the least. Going into this I was expecting the play with time and was so incredibly excited because everyone knows that’s my favorite, but this one just didn’t hit for me like I was expecting.

The things I liked: that it was normal to feel completely overwhelmed by motherhood at times and also the thoughts of being young again. The message behind the book was good, but I felt like it suffered from how it was done. The narrator for the audiobook was great!

The things I didn’t like: I really disliked how it was God that was giving our main character a second chance. This felt bizarre. Along with that, the angel… so odd. I think this would have been better done if those aspects weren’t mentioned. Another thing, when you’re marrying someone… you should know for a fact without any hesitation that’s the person you want to be with. I get life changes people, but this almost felt like a trial for another guy that she had feelings with previously and I didn’t like that at all. Another thing, she can go back to her other life, and I was really shocked she didn’t end up back in it sooner. If you have a husband and kids, can you imagine being away from them like that? Also, there’s a scene that talks about sex before marriage and our main character talked about how it puts “fear” in people. While I get you don’t want your relationship with the Lord to be fear based, fear of the Lord is so incredibly important.

Overall, it was an ok book but not one I loved like I was expecting.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

[Lyndsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! As someone who is 39 and really dreading the flip over to 40, it really resonated with me. Even though my lifestyle is very different from the main character, I have found myself feeling many of the same feelings.
A lot of people write this type of book—getting hit in the head and going back in time, or waking up in a new body. But Stephanie Mack approached it differently from anything I’ve read before.
We all have questions of “what if…” But Sutton Layne gets to actually live it. She gets to see her life as if she’d made different choices. She learns along the way that her life was better than she thought.
I cried multiple times, and finished this book with a new appreciation for my life and my family. Maybe what I have is better than what I don’t. If you’ve ever felt dissatisfied or overwhelmed with your life (and who hasn’t?), you’ll love this book!

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know about you, but stories like this always get me. There’s something so fascinating about looking back at the choices we’ve made and wondering what might have happened if we’d taken a different path.

This book was simply delightful, heartwarming, moving, funny, emotional, and incredibly hard to put down.

A thoughtful story about love, family, second chances, and the endless “what ifs” that follow us through life. By the final page, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own choices, and appreciate the life those choices have created.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sutton lives a privileged life. Gorgeous, successful husband, 3 kids in private school and her own budding interior design business. It’s easy to think “how could she be unhappy” but the reality of life is that no matter your circumstances, we can all lose sight of how good we really have it. It’s easy to focus on the negatives and to get bogged down in the minutia of our day to day lives, especially as the years roll on.

So when she gets the chance to revisit her 20’s and explore alternative realities that never played out in her current life, we get to go on that journey of discovery with her.

I found this book entertaining and so many of the “I’m turning forty” mid-life crisis moments to be really relatable. Who are we still, deep inside, when we’re not mom or wife? Have the choices we’ve made in our lives been the right ones?

If you loved 13 going on thirty or freaky Friday, you’ll love the heart and joyride of this book. The entire time I imagined Sutton as Elle Woods, if Elle was an almost 40, married mom in the middle of a pre-birthday life crisis.

Thanks for the ARC and chance to read this early!

[Kimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed the first 40% of this book, but then it became kind of repetitive and lost my attention. I did enjoy the writing style, however the slight religious undertones at the beginning of the book morphed into over the the top and was just way too much. It would be nice to have warning about this.

[Sarah Goebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautiful, relatable and set where I grew up. Talk about nostalgia!! I had tears finishing this for so many reasons.

[Dashea Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to listen to this book based on the plot because it is a unique idea. I did not love how she interacted with men and especially her ex. For me, it may could have worked if she didn’t remember that she was married. However, the fact that she had some undesirable interactions while married was hard to listen to. So I took a break, went back to it a few weeks later and skipped a chapter or two….I am SO glad I went back to it. What I thought was going to end up being a two star rating for me ended up being a four star. Overall it was a good book with good narration on audio.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.