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: Romance, Fiction, Time Travel, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Audiobook, Magical Realism

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.

[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.

[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!

[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

[♡ Lily Jane ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

-ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ-
✅Spoiler free!✅
━━━━━━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━━━━━━
♬ Song Pick: "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone.
━━━━━━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━━━━━━
➥ “Every woman—every soul—contains multitudes. 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.” -from 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘭𝘴𝘦 by Stephanie Mack.

➥ I’ve wanted to read this since I first saw the GORGEOUS cover at Barnes and Noble. I’m so glad I did! Though I don’t normally read women’s fiction (I’m only in high school, LOL), this was an amazing introduction to the genre. Not only was it uplifting and entertaining, but the faith content was prevalent and strong as well! I loved Sutton and her friends, and the Y2K setting! And last, but not least, the cover is SO pretty. Just look at it! I can’t wait to buy a physical copy of this book!
━━━━━━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━━━━━━
-ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs-

🏓 Sutton: I liked how realistic she was, with insecurities and frustrations just like the rest of us! She had great character growth as well.

💗 Quinn: She was such a great cheerleader/encourager/advice giver!

✨Sierra: Gosh she had it rough! But it was cool to see how she grew.

🏖️Camila: I couldn’t believe the plot twist with her character! It had me tearing up!
━━━━━━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━━━━━━
-ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ-

➥ What You Won't Find: Spice, strong profanity, LGBTQ, or magic.

➥ What To Expect: A use of the p-word, some alcohol consumption/mentions of people being drunk. Mentions of drug use. Some romance and kissing/as well as talk of virginity, and some mild innuendos. Some mentions of sexual harassment. Mentions of prayer, faith in God, going to church, praying, and singing worship songs.

➥Trigger Warnings: Some mentions of grief, mentions of a side character's past drug addiction, and mentions of sexual harassment.
━━━━━━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━━━━━━
-ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ-

➥𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺

➥Women's fiction

➥ Strong faith content

➥Time travel
━━━━━━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━━━━━━
★ Final Rating: 5/5 stars!

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Twenty Something Else was not a book for me. I had thought it would be a fun story, but it gave me an icky feeling at times when reading. I felt like she was cheating on her husband when she went back in time because she knew her current life and marriage...so even though she went back in time, her mind still knew and so it just felt that way to me. I also didn't like the whole situation with the angel.

All in all, this was not a book for me.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[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!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might’ve cried. 💕

[Brittany Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Some things extra guac cannot fix.”


This was a lovely and relatable story.

I mean who hasn’t gotten smashed in the face with a pink pickleball that sends them on a time traveling quest back to their twenties in alternate universes to see if they’d rather have a different life??

I am not yet forty, as our main character, Sutton, is just turning, but I have entered my late thirties and am raising four children in a world where aging is seen as a disease to be cured, motherhood depicted as the graveyard of untapped dreams.

I feel the cultural pressure to be young, to see motherhood as a hindrance to ‘following my dreams’ as if my children aren’t the dream. I’ve gone through hard seasons in my marriage as we’ve added each child and had to figure out how to still prioritize each other. I have felt the weariness and my husband and I have reminisced about our younger years.

As Sutton nears her 40th, she laments:

“‘Since when is it a knock against you to be a MOM?’… I might as well be wearing an expiration date like a scarlet letter…

I’m still something, aren’t I?…

…If my choices have been so wonderful, then why am I weary and worn?… I want to be sitting here fully confident in my kids’ love for me, gratified in my accomplishments, satisfied in my marriage. Instead I’m wondering where I might’ve gone wrong. Could there have been other choices or versions of me, ones that led to more contentment and peace? Happiness?”

I think everyone wonders this at some point.

The concept of this story is not original. The writer intentionally wrote her own version of It’s A Wonderful Life— her favorite movie— with the suburban mom twist and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride! (It also felt reminiscent of the rom-com movies About Time and When We First Met).

In an interview (I found online), Stephanie Mack shares part of what was behind this story:

“Even when our dreams have come true, they can feel different than we pictured. That tension is ripe for what-if reflection, not out of regret, but curiosity and meaning-making. We’re a deeply nostalgic bunch. We’re also old enough to have lived several versions of ourselves, yet young enough to still feel the weight of choice. Looking back becomes a way of understanding what truly mattered, what shaped us, and how to carry that wisdom forward.”

While I didn’t fully relate to Sutton’s life— because I live in Iowa and not California and I don’t like coffee, use Instagram, do Botox, or wear make-up— we did have commonalities in having March birthdays, being a mom of twins, having a husband in finance and a friend who taught in a Central American country, marrying at 22 (21 for me) and having kids at 26, playing pickleball, and loving our college years.

It’s intriguing to think— what if I had made a different choice? What would the trajectory of my life had been?


Sutton gets a facial from a pickleball the night before her 40th and wakes up in some sort of limbo with some sort of angel— this isn’t supposed to be straight out of the Bible, folks— and a balloon marked with each year of Sutton’s twenties.

“‘Your unsettled spirit brought you here. You can only go back if you are certain that your old life is what you want.’”

By popping a balloon she enters into this alternate reality where she made different choices. She can see what could have been.

“‘Everyone has roads not taken. Lives not lived, other selves they could have been. You, for instance, chose to marry Reid at twenty-two, become a mother at twenty-six, and follow that wonderful path, leading you here, to your fortieth birthday… Of all the critical decision points and forks in the road of becoming Sutton, this is the one that most powerfully influenced your twenties and future decades.’”

Armed, now, with a pink pickleball that in some ways acts like Dorothy’s red shoes, if she holds it and counts down from 20 she goes back to the limbo place where she can try to assimilate into a different year.

“Benjamin Sutton. Doing time backward.”


Mack shares:

“Twenty Something Else poured out of a very real season of reflection—standing at a milestone as a suburban mother of three who married her college sweetheart nearly twenty years ago, and wondering how the past, the present, and the person I once was all connect.”

With humor and vulnerability this book was hard to put down!

Perhaps her life is more Classic California than mine is but even in the a Midwest without palm trees, women still feel similar pressures and are faced with the same decisions about joining a trend or not.

The messages in this book are good— I wasn’t sure how it was all going to shake out, but I was happy with what the characters learned and what ultimately was prioritized. The storytelling was compelling and entertaining. There was grace while not leaving out the wisdom. Though not a completely original concept, well done nonetheless.

Reading it while traveling added to the overall experience. I was looking at a Delta flying booklet on my own flight when Sutton traveled via Delta to the Matterhorn. There was a 2000s playlist going in the airport when our flight was delayed six hours that took me back to my highschool and college years. It had a great combination of modern and nostalgic references.


I loved the emphasis on female friendship because women need other women who understand the pressure and the struggle and can offer support and encouragement. What a gift to have friends who can pray over you! Too many books portray competitive friendship, fake friendship, or conditional friendship. It’s refreshing to see genuine care.


This book isn’t trying to be unpredictable so I don’t think I’m really spoiling anything by sharing this, but I was glad that Sutton remained true to her family.

I was also worried that she was going to choose her family but that she was going to convince her friend (who was having marital problems in the real timeline) to not marry who she married.

It would have been contradictory that they could both be struggling and one of them learns grace, contentment, and intentionality, and the other one gets the exit path.


I’m also glad that the answer wasn’t just ‘I guess I am happy after all’ but that she recognized how fulfilling her family is, how important her role, recognized areas she can love her husband better, recognized what she’d lose if she’d chosen different.

“The sanctified feeling of family… Crowded and messy and pressing up into my personal space. Hovering, needing, and taking. Loving, knowing, and holding. Stealing my time. Stealing my heart. But giving me everything, multiples more than they could ever subtract if they tried.”

Marriage does take work and intentionality; it’s not always easy. And just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s over or it’s not worth it.

I often look at pictures of my husband and myself when we were first married and I understand Sutton’s sentiment: “I want to reclaim the optimism, wonder, and passion of those years in our twenties— the belief that the world can be changed. That great love exists, even if it evolves.”

There is something beautiful about that wonder. At the same time, I wouldn’t go back there. That earlier version of me was untested. Carefree but untouched yet by the depth of life.

My husband and I have weathered some stuff. We’re different now. But we’ve gained wisdom; we’ve been tested; we’ve grown. And that’s a good thing. It strengthened our bond and prepares us for future hardship. It’s a life that pushed us deeper into the love of our Creator and Savior.

We’re meant to be weathered people. We’re meant to share in the sufferings of Christ.

If you don’t feel content in your life right now, you don’t have the option to visit alternate realities, but know that the Lord’s plan for you is the best plan. He has you where you are for a reason. Seek Him first and contentment will be close behind because he is all we need. He makes the hard times endurable. He offers hope for transformation and ultimately hope for life after death where all is made right.

The wonder can be reclaimed by housing it under the umbrella of God working in our lives for our good and his glory. There are still endless possibilities because we serve a sovereign God.



Negative Reviews?

I was surprised to see as many reviews as I did that were disappointed by the book. There were some that found the book too shallow. Some who took issue with Sutton’s interaction with the male figures in the past. Some who thought the whole concept as a whole of going back and changing the past was unbiblical.

I’d like to offer my own opinion on these things as someone who really enjoyed the story but can see where all of them are coming from.


To the critique of ‘superficiality’ I would argue that I believe women everywhere struggle with the things Sutton is struggling with, superficial as you could argue them to be. They are real questions we ask ourselves, especially if we are ‘aging’ moms. At least in America where the pressure to look a certain way are blasted everywhere and we’re supposed to ‘follow our dreams’ and being mother surely can’t be one of them.

No matter how ‘good’ or ‘not good’ we have it, one of the devil’s most effective tools is whispering ‘discontent’ into our ears. The what ifs. The ‘isn’t there something better somewhere else?’ The ‘isn’t God holding out on you?’

There are a lot of superficial things out there clamoring for our attention, especially as women, and depending where you live and what you’re surrounded by, it takes will power to not get sucked into it all, even though you know just how superficial it is!

In that way, the superficiality is the deep thing because maybe we think we’re immune to it but we’re really not.

True, there are a lot of comments about beauty and appearances. I don’t own make-up and I have zero skin care routine but I can’t say I’ve never wondered if I’m missing something. There can be pride in keeping up our appearances and there can be pride in feeling superior to all the women who DO do those things. That’s why I appreciated the message of grace in this story, that we’re all out here trying our best. We should be encouragers, not tearing one another down with harsh judgments as if we have never cared about our appearance before.


To the critique of whether the concept is biblical or not…. no, it’s not biblical. But it’s not trying to portray itself as a doctrine. It’s very clearly a magical realism type of book. We all know you can’t go back in time. We all know that’s not even a choice we can make or not make. It’s fiction.

Stephanie Mack took a popular time travel trope that explores a curiosity to inspire self-reflection on our own discontentment in our lives. To come away thinking— but God doesn’t offer this to us!— I think, is missing the point. But truly, if that feels like it’s kicking at your conscience, by all means, pass on this book. It is far from required reading!

And if you happen to be a reader that is wondering if time travel actually is a way God works, I can clear that up for you so you can enjoy the divergence from reality: no. God doesn’t deal in time travel. He is outside of time, but we are very much within time. We can’t go back and change the past, but just as the author describes in this story, we can be forgiven for the past and that changes the trajectory of our future.


Probably the biggest critique and the one that is probably the most well-founded is the way Sutton interacts with men in these alternate universes. Isn’t she still married? Isn’t it cheating?

I do think that Mack does a good job of showing that Sutton is very conflicted about how to handle these other ‘relationships’ she finds herself in by entering into this ‘other reality.’ She asks questions about what is okay or not okay. She is told by the angel that her ‘real life’ doesn’t exist here. Reid and her children don’t exist at that point. Does that mean she’s not married and it doesn’t matter or is she still married in her heart? I don’t know.

Alternate universes aren’t real. It’s one of those weird things to grasp when time traveling. It’s not a perfect system and things get tricky when figuring out the moral boundaries because it’s all a fictional scenario.

I believe Sutton understands and exercises wisdom in a lot of ways. She holds hands and kisses (which, yes, is still cheating) but compared to what a lot of secular books would do, it’s mild.

Again, if you have personal convictions that poke at you that you shouldn’t be reading that, then pass on the book. For others, I didn’t find anything categorically problematic with the way Mack handled this in the story. It just felt like the package deal when it comes to entering into your own alternate realities.

I didn’t feel like Mack was even trying to send the message that it was okay for Sutton to do it. I didn’t think it was glorified or made to seem like an awesome thing. The overarching message was that Sutton was realizing how much she loved what she already had and that these lives weren’t for her. I don’t think readers would come away thinking— ‘If only I could go to an alternate universe to mess around with other men because it doesn’t count!’ That was not the vibe I got while reading.


There was one scene where Sutton shares with Reid before they were married that she was not a virgin. She recalls a youth group thing about purity that made her feel like used and damaged goods because of her choices. I’m glad that Mack inserted the message that the intention behind that illustration was good but incomplete. There is forgiveness for sin and there is cleansing of sin. God is in the business of making new creations.

For a nonfiction look at the conversation of purity I would recommend Talking Back to Purity Culture by Rachel Joy Welcher or What Gd Has to Say about Our Bodies by Sam Allberry.

“You are a precious image bearer of God. Your purity has already been won for you in Christ, and your dedication to pursuing sexual purity is not defined by your virginity but by your surrender to Christ and dependence on the Holy Spirit today. Today is a new day to pursue sexual purity out of love for the God who rescued you and brought you safely to himself in Christ.” — Rachel Welcher


Recommendation

I would definitely recommend this book! I think it’s a fun, nostalgic, and relatable book, especially for women in their thirties and forties who are feeling the cultural pressures of anti-aging or the downplaying of motherhood.

Stephanie Mack chose a specific type of book to write with the ‘magic’ of time travel and a reflection of discontentment and I thought she excelled at it.

Even for women who don’t relate to every part of Sutton’s life, I hope readers can connect to the overarching theme of the book and not come away judging Sutton’s life. If she were a real person she would be a sister in Christ and the message of the book is grace, contentment, friendship, and perseverance (and not trusting a guy in a leather vest).

Women tend to tear down when they need to feel better about themselves. I hope this book can remind readers that we’re all out here trying to do our best and encouragement from a friend goes a long way!

I would also recommend reading Jen Wilkin’s book Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World alongside or after this one. Clearly this is a relevant topic for people today and I believe her nonfiction book will offer even further biblical guidance on stewarding our time and our bodies.


**Received an ARC via Tyndale Publishing**

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[Reagan Hogstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Was a 4-star until the last fifty pages but the ending was such a beautiful reminder to love the life we have and soak up every minute. Would I relive my twenties? Probably just for fun. Would I change anything? Hard to say, I’ll keep thinking on that 🙂

[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

[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.

[Erin (jeansandreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. I loved the bit of Christianity that came into play, unexpected but really lovely for the season of life I’m in. Such a good reminder in how every choice leads you to exactly where you are in life.

[Chris Jager · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a different book and I have recommended it. Few times now by saying, “trust me, this a good book.” I am probably not the target audience for this title, but I did enjoy it. The basic message is finding peace with what we have. It was good reminder that we should not spend time wishing for what might have been. A good read, I had trouble liking the main character but grew to understand her as the story went on.

[Lisa McKenzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This sounded fun and relatable! I hit around 50% and had to stop because the religion/christianity was too much. Not at all what I was expecting nor would I have chose this book if I knew that the god vibe was going to be so prevalent. Once we got the sec before marriage lecture I was done.

[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.

[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!