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The Fractured Life of Lucy Hughes: A Novel
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100 copies available
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After a surprise proposal fractures her life into two parallel timelines, a speech pathologist must learn to trust her own inner voice in this hopeful and inspiring story about identity and belonging.
Lucy Hughes has never loved being the center of attention, so she’s shocked when her boyfriend proposes via jumbotron. Frozen under the stadium lights, Lucy’s hesitation fractures her future into parallel lives:
No. A video of Lucy’s refusal goes viral, and the backlash is swift and brutal. Unemployed and sleeping in her best friend’s guest room, she slowly rebuilds her life. She’s barely back on her feet when she’s asked to advocate for victims of online harassment. But it would mean finding the courage to step back into the spotlight.
Yes. Lucy, who grew up in foster care, adores Matthew’s large, loving family. But burying her troubled childhood and her bisexuality to better fit into their Southern political dynasty is causing her to lose her grip on her own identity.
To create a future where she can be her authentic self, both versions of Lucy must confront the childhood trauma that shaped her adult relationships and find her own voice.
Lucy Hughes has never loved being the center of attention, so she’s shocked when her boyfriend proposes via jumbotron. Frozen under the stadium lights, Lucy’s hesitation fractures her future into parallel lives:
No. A video of Lucy’s refusal goes viral, and the backlash is swift and brutal. Unemployed and sleeping in her best friend’s guest room, she slowly rebuilds her life. She’s barely back on her feet when she’s asked to advocate for victims of online harassment. But it would mean finding the courage to step back into the spotlight.
Yes. Lucy, who grew up in foster care, adores Matthew’s large, loving family. But burying her troubled childhood and her bisexuality to better fit into their Southern political dynasty is causing her to lose her grip on her own identity.
To create a future where she can be her authentic self, both versions of Lucy must confront the childhood trauma that shaped her adult relationships and find her own voice.
- GenresFictionContemporaryQueer
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Annie Morgan
1 book13 followersAnnie Morgan studied journalism at the University of North Carolina before moving to Atlanta, GA. She spends her days teaching and her nights running a cottage bakery. When she’s not wrangling kids or decorating cookies, she’s writing about women trying to find themselves and their place in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 21, 2026
I can’t remember the last time I tore through a book this quickly. I started it and simply could not put it down, finishing it in a single day. Every character was fully developed, with personalities and actions that stayed true to their backstories. The two storylines complemented each other beautifully, offering a thoughtful look at how the choices we make in life’s defining moments shape our futures. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read this author’s next one!
June 16, 2026
I didn't realize that the publisher of this book, Lake Union Publishing, is an imprint of Amazon Publishing focusing on book club and upmarket fiction, or I might not have picked this up, because I'm trying to reduce my Amazon consumption. So I was skeptical going in. But I also support authors and these authors have a harder time getting their work into bookstores. But I was pleasantly surprised by this beautiful, introspective book about a woman finding herself in incredibly relatable ways.
Lucy is an anxious introvert who constantly overthinks her decisions. Perhaps you could say she lacks agency or you could find her annoying if you don't also have that personality like me. So I related hard to Lucy from the beginning. She's moving in with her boyfriend Matthew after less than a year of dating, when he proposes to her on a jumbatron at a sports game, her absolute worst nightmare. Same, girl, that would be my biggest fear, too. The moment goes viral.
From there the story splits into dual timelines: What Lucy's life would look like if she said yes, and if she had said no. I thought this was a very compelling concept and it was handled rather well. Dual timelines are not always easy to pull off but this author handled it beautifully.
In one timeline, Lucy says yes and the former foster child gets the family she always wanted, but then she starts to lose herself in all their demands. In the other timeline, Lucy is harassed and doxxed by incels and gets fired from her job, while Matthew makes partner; very realistically, the man gets no repercussions.
I really enjoyed this author's writing style and her characters. Perhaps Matthew could be a little flat and stereotypical, but I was rooting for Lucy the whole time to see through him and find the confidence to take back her life. She does in both timelines, just takes different paths to get there.
This was a solid, thought-provoking work of women's fiction, not too literary but still with a dash of thoughtful introspection. I really connected with the character of Lucy and found her inspiring. I also related strongly to her struggles with her bisexuality and her desire to be accepted as queer enough no matter what circle she was in. A man in her life wasn't just a prop to prove her bisexuality in a show don't tell way in this book, which I appreciated.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lucy is an anxious introvert who constantly overthinks her decisions. Perhaps you could say she lacks agency or you could find her annoying if you don't also have that personality like me. So I related hard to Lucy from the beginning. She's moving in with her boyfriend Matthew after less than a year of dating, when he proposes to her on a jumbatron at a sports game, her absolute worst nightmare. Same, girl, that would be my biggest fear, too. The moment goes viral.
From there the story splits into dual timelines: What Lucy's life would look like if she said yes, and if she had said no. I thought this was a very compelling concept and it was handled rather well. Dual timelines are not always easy to pull off but this author handled it beautifully.
In one timeline, Lucy says yes and the former foster child gets the family she always wanted, but then she starts to lose herself in all their demands. In the other timeline, Lucy is harassed and doxxed by incels and gets fired from her job, while Matthew makes partner; very realistically, the man gets no repercussions.
I really enjoyed this author's writing style and her characters. Perhaps Matthew could be a little flat and stereotypical, but I was rooting for Lucy the whole time to see through him and find the confidence to take back her life. She does in both timelines, just takes different paths to get there.
This was a solid, thought-provoking work of women's fiction, not too literary but still with a dash of thoughtful introspection. I really connected with the character of Lucy and found her inspiring. I also related strongly to her struggles with her bisexuality and her desire to be accepted as queer enough no matter what circle she was in. A man in her life wasn't just a prop to prove her bisexuality in a show don't tell way in this book, which I appreciated.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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September 18, 2026Lucy is taken by surprise when a very public marriage proposal leaves her at the precipice of two very different life paths that us readers are taken along – one if she says yes, and the other if she says no. Each timeline has its complexities and obstacles to work through, providing Lucy insight into what she wants from her life and helping shape her sense of identity.
I loved the insight into Lucy’s job as a speech and language pathologist. The connections she made with her child clients and the detail that Morgan incorporated into providing an overview of therapy sessions brought a relatability to Lucy. Furthermore, the messages that this book conveyed about life, what makes family, the dangers of social media, doxxing and more, particularly at the end when everything was being wrapped up, were insightful and thought-provoking. I was impressed by the creative premise and thought that the dual timelines were well-executed and easy to follow, although they did feel a bit unbalanced at times.
For whatever reason, though, I struggled to connect to these characters or feel anything for them, and the story overall failed to really hit me on an emotional level. I think this was largely due to the writing style, which felt like it focused a lot on telling, rather than showing us what was happening. While I also appreciated the bisexual representation, the constant reminders or ways it was repeatedly integrated into every situation or scene felt a bit overkill and became the character’s entire personality at one point. On a more positive note, I enjoyed how this story was complex and didn’t gloss over childhood trauma or darker themes relating to substance abuse, foster care experiences, etc., which felt nuanced and realistic.
This was a story about family, friendship and redemption that I think many would get a lot out of. Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, Annie Morgan and NetGalley for the opportunity to access this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved the insight into Lucy’s job as a speech and language pathologist. The connections she made with her child clients and the detail that Morgan incorporated into providing an overview of therapy sessions brought a relatability to Lucy. Furthermore, the messages that this book conveyed about life, what makes family, the dangers of social media, doxxing and more, particularly at the end when everything was being wrapped up, were insightful and thought-provoking. I was impressed by the creative premise and thought that the dual timelines were well-executed and easy to follow, although they did feel a bit unbalanced at times.
For whatever reason, though, I struggled to connect to these characters or feel anything for them, and the story overall failed to really hit me on an emotional level. I think this was largely due to the writing style, which felt like it focused a lot on telling, rather than showing us what was happening. While I also appreciated the bisexual representation, the constant reminders or ways it was repeatedly integrated into every situation or scene felt a bit overkill and became the character’s entire personality at one point. On a more positive note, I enjoyed how this story was complex and didn’t gloss over childhood trauma or darker themes relating to substance abuse, foster care experiences, etc., which felt nuanced and realistic.
This was a story about family, friendship and redemption that I think many would get a lot out of. Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, Annie Morgan and NetGalley for the opportunity to access this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I'm Team Matthew. HEAR ME OUT 😂😂😂 Matt for sure has his own emotional/maturing work to do and he is not a good fit for Lucy, but he's not crazy for assuming their relationship was serious after she agreed to move in! I'm still struggling to understand how Lucy thought they were just vibing when Matt is clearly a "Track Man" following the path laid out for him: meet a girl, date, move in, get engaged, marry, have kids, continue working like crazy. Tale as old as time. The main issue here is Lucy's complete refusal to communicate. The second issue is her selfishness. She says it herself in a thought to readers: "Maybe this is why. Because nothing is ever good enough for (Lucy). Because she pushes away anyone who dares to be anything less than perfect." It's either stay and avoid the hard conversation (ironic because of her job!) - devastating peoples lives by denying them the truth- or run away. Lucy villainizes anyone who doesn't naturally support her- even her best friend when Lucy could use her help the most!
Instead of taking responsibility for her actions, going to therapy, maturing, and speaking up for herself, Morgan paints Lucy as a victim. This prideful, self-serving assumption that everyone else is an obstacle, impeding her joy, does Lucy no favors. Lucy shows her immaturity by rejecting others' individuality and right to their own preferences. It is a common tragedy that parents do not give their kids the skills they need to thrive in real life, but adults are responsible for themselves and cannot keep blaming childhood caregivers into perpetuity. Lucy has the Internet, library, and access to therapists. She's choosing to stay toxic.
As someone who was doxxed by an unhinged stranger, I appreciate the plot push to make doxxing illegal. It is illegal in my state and yet nothing was done to protect my family or penalize the woman. This topic is more complex than the book conveys and requires more than just a passed federal law and standard operation procedure for local police. That said, Morgan doesn't establish why Lucy would receive such constant, vitriol hate from strangers after one gaffed jumbotron proposal. This miss bothered me because of my personal experience with it.
Take away: I hope readers see Lucy's actions as a cautionary tale. Refusing to have hard conversations does not remove the hard situation, but often delays it if not exacerbates the situation. Imagining you're a victim does not add to your life, but often alienates people who truly mean well. We only get one life and wasting even one day isn't worth the joy lost. If you identify with Lucy, I hope you also get the help you need to confront your own past and current choices just like Lucy did.
Troupes: lgbtqia+, alternative timelines, troubled protagonist, anti-Elon Musk, anti-Christian, miscommunication drama, emotional growth, friends to lovers, HEA
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Gore: 0/5 🩸
Language: 1/5 👀
Triggers: no communication within relationships, doxxing, divorce
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!
Instead of taking responsibility for her actions, going to therapy, maturing, and speaking up for herself, Morgan paints Lucy as a victim. This prideful, self-serving assumption that everyone else is an obstacle, impeding her joy, does Lucy no favors. Lucy shows her immaturity by rejecting others' individuality and right to their own preferences. It is a common tragedy that parents do not give their kids the skills they need to thrive in real life, but adults are responsible for themselves and cannot keep blaming childhood caregivers into perpetuity. Lucy has the Internet, library, and access to therapists. She's choosing to stay toxic.
As someone who was doxxed by an unhinged stranger, I appreciate the plot push to make doxxing illegal. It is illegal in my state and yet nothing was done to protect my family or penalize the woman. This topic is more complex than the book conveys and requires more than just a passed federal law and standard operation procedure for local police. That said, Morgan doesn't establish why Lucy would receive such constant, vitriol hate from strangers after one gaffed jumbotron proposal. This miss bothered me because of my personal experience with it.
Take away: I hope readers see Lucy's actions as a cautionary tale. Refusing to have hard conversations does not remove the hard situation, but often delays it if not exacerbates the situation. Imagining you're a victim does not add to your life, but often alienates people who truly mean well. We only get one life and wasting even one day isn't worth the joy lost. If you identify with Lucy, I hope you also get the help you need to confront your own past and current choices just like Lucy did.
Troupes: lgbtqia+, alternative timelines, troubled protagonist, anti-Elon Musk, anti-Christian, miscommunication drama, emotional growth, friends to lovers, HEA
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Gore: 0/5 🩸
Language: 1/5 👀
Triggers: no communication within relationships, doxxing, divorce
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻
𝘈𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭, 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵-𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥.
Surprised by a very public marriage proposal, the life Lucy Hughes has known fractures. In a sliding doors moment her answer – yes or no – dictates the future. This is a hopeful and inspiring story about childhood trauma, identity, belonging and the consequences of living life in the public glare of social media.
Lucy Hughes, a speech therapist who has never quite found her own voice is shocked when her boyfriend proposes on the public screen at a sporting event. Frozen under the stadium lights, Lucy’s hesitation fractures her future into parallel lives:
𝘕𝘰 - A video of Lucy’s refusal goes viral, and the backlash is swift and brutal. Losing her job and home, she battles to rebuild her life. Barely back on her feet, Lucy’s asked to advocate for victims of online harassment; it would mean risk stepping back into the spotlight – can she find the courage?
𝘠𝘦𝘴 - Lucy, who grew up in foster care, adores Matthew’s large, loving family. Burying her troubled childhood and her bisexuality to better fit into their Southern political dynasty is causing her to lose her grip on her own identity. Everyone else but she is planning her wedding. Instead of following what everyone else wants, can she choose the life she really wants?
To create a future where she can be her authentic self, both versions of Lucy must confront the childhood trauma that shaped her adult relationships and find her own voice.
***** 𝟱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 *****
I loved this book. It’s well written with a compelling central idea, authentically exploring complex themes including the good and bad sides of social media, discrimination, childhood trauma with an added insight into children’s speech therapy which surprised me by being so engaging as a theme in its own right.
As the consequences of ‘no’ began to play out, with the social media backlash so convincing, I almost put the book down. The story was so believable and disturbing it triggered a visceral response of dismay in me. Yet I had to keep reading, desperate that Lucy would find a way through.
Annie cleverly weaves the parallel narratives of Lucy’s fractured life together, never losing the threads. Each story is convincing and complete, together they make a compelling read. I admit I half expected an easy-going romance, but Annie Morgan unfolds a story with many layers, handling complex themes with grace and authenticity.
I was quickly hooked and quite sad when I turned the page to find the Epilogue waiting, so good was the story. I thoroughly recommend sharing Lucy’s journey.
Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
𝘈𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭, 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵-𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥.
Surprised by a very public marriage proposal, the life Lucy Hughes has known fractures. In a sliding doors moment her answer – yes or no – dictates the future. This is a hopeful and inspiring story about childhood trauma, identity, belonging and the consequences of living life in the public glare of social media.
Lucy Hughes, a speech therapist who has never quite found her own voice is shocked when her boyfriend proposes on the public screen at a sporting event. Frozen under the stadium lights, Lucy’s hesitation fractures her future into parallel lives:
𝘕𝘰 - A video of Lucy’s refusal goes viral, and the backlash is swift and brutal. Losing her job and home, she battles to rebuild her life. Barely back on her feet, Lucy’s asked to advocate for victims of online harassment; it would mean risk stepping back into the spotlight – can she find the courage?
𝘠𝘦𝘴 - Lucy, who grew up in foster care, adores Matthew’s large, loving family. Burying her troubled childhood and her bisexuality to better fit into their Southern political dynasty is causing her to lose her grip on her own identity. Everyone else but she is planning her wedding. Instead of following what everyone else wants, can she choose the life she really wants?
To create a future where she can be her authentic self, both versions of Lucy must confront the childhood trauma that shaped her adult relationships and find her own voice.
***** 𝟱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 *****
I loved this book. It’s well written with a compelling central idea, authentically exploring complex themes including the good and bad sides of social media, discrimination, childhood trauma with an added insight into children’s speech therapy which surprised me by being so engaging as a theme in its own right.
As the consequences of ‘no’ began to play out, with the social media backlash so convincing, I almost put the book down. The story was so believable and disturbing it triggered a visceral response of dismay in me. Yet I had to keep reading, desperate that Lucy would find a way through.
Annie cleverly weaves the parallel narratives of Lucy’s fractured life together, never losing the threads. Each story is convincing and complete, together they make a compelling read. I admit I half expected an easy-going romance, but Annie Morgan unfolds a story with many layers, handling complex themes with grace and authenticity.
I was quickly hooked and quite sad when I turned the page to find the Epilogue waiting, so good was the story. I thoroughly recommend sharing Lucy’s journey.
Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2026
I was SO excited when Annie Morgan sent me a physical ARC of The Fractured Life of Lucy Hughes. First of all, the cover is absolutely gorgeous but the premise sounded really intriguing too! Then I was lucky enough to receive the ALC from the publisher through NetGalley so of course I jumped at the chance to do an immersive read, and ended up absolutely loving it.
The story begins with one very big (and VERY public) marriage proposal and then splits into two timelines: the life Lucy lives if she says yes, and the life she lives if she says no. I love a good “what if?” story, and I thought this one was very well done. I loved that neither version of Lucy’s life felt like the obvious better choice. Saying yes didn’t automatically give her the perfect HEA and saying no didn’t magically put her on the path she was always supposed to take. Both choices came with their own complications, relationships, heartbreaks, and moments that forced Lucy to really look at herself and what she wanted from her life. As different as the two timelines were, both were ultimately about Lucy learning more about herself. She had spent so much time considering what everyone else needed or expected from her that it was really satisfying watching her slowly start making space for her own wants and happiness too. There are some heavier and emotional moments as she works through her past, her identity, family, relationships, and where she belongs, but the story still had this underlying warmth and hopefulness. Without giving anything away, I also loved the little connections between the two timelines. Seeing how certain people continued to cross Lucy’s path was fun. There was something really sweet about watching the two versions of her life unfold and seeing that while our choices absolutely matter, sometimes the people we’re meant to find have a way of finding us too.
I think the writing was easy to fall into and I genuinely looked forward to seeing where BOTH versions of Lucy were headed. The dual timelines never got confusing or difficult to follow. I also really enjoyed the audiobook! Shannon McManus did a great job with the narration and added that extra bit of emotion that made an already heartfelt story even better. It was sweet, emotional, hopeful, and just a really enjoyable experience overall.
Thank you so much to Annie Morgan for the beautiful physical ARC and to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.
The story begins with one very big (and VERY public) marriage proposal and then splits into two timelines: the life Lucy lives if she says yes, and the life she lives if she says no. I love a good “what if?” story, and I thought this one was very well done. I loved that neither version of Lucy’s life felt like the obvious better choice. Saying yes didn’t automatically give her the perfect HEA and saying no didn’t magically put her on the path she was always supposed to take. Both choices came with their own complications, relationships, heartbreaks, and moments that forced Lucy to really look at herself and what she wanted from her life. As different as the two timelines were, both were ultimately about Lucy learning more about herself. She had spent so much time considering what everyone else needed or expected from her that it was really satisfying watching her slowly start making space for her own wants and happiness too. There are some heavier and emotional moments as she works through her past, her identity, family, relationships, and where she belongs, but the story still had this underlying warmth and hopefulness. Without giving anything away, I also loved the little connections between the two timelines. Seeing how certain people continued to cross Lucy’s path was fun. There was something really sweet about watching the two versions of her life unfold and seeing that while our choices absolutely matter, sometimes the people we’re meant to find have a way of finding us too.
I think the writing was easy to fall into and I genuinely looked forward to seeing where BOTH versions of Lucy were headed. The dual timelines never got confusing or difficult to follow. I also really enjoyed the audiobook! Shannon McManus did a great job with the narration and added that extra bit of emotion that made an already heartfelt story even better. It was sweet, emotional, hopeful, and just a really enjoyable experience overall.
Thank you so much to Annie Morgan for the beautiful physical ARC and to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the sliding door concept of this novel by Annie Morgan.
Our main character, Lucy Hughes, a speech pathologist in her late 30s, has not found true love—that is until she meets Matthew, a handsome, single lawyer. Lucy and Matthew's lives truly could not be any more different. Lucy came from a single-parent family, never knowing her father, and her mother overdosed when Lucy was in college. Before that, Lucy had a very unstable childhood, spending time in and out of foster care, finally ending up with an aunt and uncle. Matthew hails from a very wealthy political family that is very close and perhaps even overly involved. Their personalities more or less reflect their upbringings, too. Lucy is an anxious introvert, and Matthew is a very outgoing, sure-of-himself extrovert.
Well, as they say, opposites attract, and after a few months, Lucy moves in with Matthew after she finds herself in a quandary with her housing. Lucy agrees to the move and the living arrangement but with a little bit of trepidation. Soon though, Matthew shockingly surprises Lucy with a very public proposal...at an MLB game on the jumbotron—not only in front of a stadium full of fans witnessing, but also his entire family in attendance. Lucy is flabbergasted and shocked and says No.
Soon, Lucy begins receiving hateful and threatening emails and texts. On top of that, she loses her job, which she loved. Matthew, humiliated and embarrassed with her response, asks her to move out immediately. The remainder of the book then alternates between "what-if" chapters for the next year of Lucy's life—what if she had said yes...what would her life be like? Since she did say no though, what is her life like for the following months?
I did really like the alternate realities and "what-if" scenarios, and I felt this structure enabled the author to reveal roles and personalities of several secondary characters, too. If you've ever read any other books with parallel-universe plots before based on a random moment and enjoyed them, I recommend Annie Morgan's new one due to hit shelves on Sept. 22, 2026. Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for this engaging ARC.
Our main character, Lucy Hughes, a speech pathologist in her late 30s, has not found true love—that is until she meets Matthew, a handsome, single lawyer. Lucy and Matthew's lives truly could not be any more different. Lucy came from a single-parent family, never knowing her father, and her mother overdosed when Lucy was in college. Before that, Lucy had a very unstable childhood, spending time in and out of foster care, finally ending up with an aunt and uncle. Matthew hails from a very wealthy political family that is very close and perhaps even overly involved. Their personalities more or less reflect their upbringings, too. Lucy is an anxious introvert, and Matthew is a very outgoing, sure-of-himself extrovert.
Well, as they say, opposites attract, and after a few months, Lucy moves in with Matthew after she finds herself in a quandary with her housing. Lucy agrees to the move and the living arrangement but with a little bit of trepidation. Soon though, Matthew shockingly surprises Lucy with a very public proposal...at an MLB game on the jumbotron—not only in front of a stadium full of fans witnessing, but also his entire family in attendance. Lucy is flabbergasted and shocked and says No.
Soon, Lucy begins receiving hateful and threatening emails and texts. On top of that, she loses her job, which she loved. Matthew, humiliated and embarrassed with her response, asks her to move out immediately. The remainder of the book then alternates between "what-if" chapters for the next year of Lucy's life—what if she had said yes...what would her life be like? Since she did say no though, what is her life like for the following months?
I did really like the alternate realities and "what-if" scenarios, and I felt this structure enabled the author to reveal roles and personalities of several secondary characters, too. If you've ever read any other books with parallel-universe plots before based on a random moment and enjoyed them, I recommend Annie Morgan's new one due to hit shelves on Sept. 22, 2026. Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for this engaging ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you love a sliding doors/parallel universe concept, then pay attention, books friends! Annie Morgan’s debut, THE FRACTURED LIFE OF LUCY HUGHES is just the book for you. Take a peek at this quick synopsis:
𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨.
Lucy is blindsided at a baseball game with a surprise proposal, and then the novel takes an interesting turn, showcasing what her life would be like if she’d answered the question with a YES, and also a NO. At first I thought that this was just going to be a cute, and perhaps even a little cheesy romance novel, but was I ever wrong. It tackles some serious themes like childhood trauma, belonging, identity, sexual orientation, doxxing and online harassment. I was quite surprised and actually floored by how much depth and layers this story had.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Sliding doors concept
- Adoption/foster care stories
- LGBTQ representation
- Self discovery and growth
- Southern setting
- Female friendship
- Wedding planning
- Social media
- Family drama and dynamics
I must say that the character development in both timelines was on point. The growth and self discovery that Lucy experiences throughout is very admirable. I was on her side the entire time, and rooted for her in each scenario. I appreciated the fact that she had flaws, some baggage, and yet a good head on her shoulders. You gotta love a realistic and relatable lead character!
THE FRACTURED LIFE OF LUCY HUGHES releases on September 22nd, and it gets 4/5 stars from me! I hope you check it out.
𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨.
Lucy is blindsided at a baseball game with a surprise proposal, and then the novel takes an interesting turn, showcasing what her life would be like if she’d answered the question with a YES, and also a NO. At first I thought that this was just going to be a cute, and perhaps even a little cheesy romance novel, but was I ever wrong. It tackles some serious themes like childhood trauma, belonging, identity, sexual orientation, doxxing and online harassment. I was quite surprised and actually floored by how much depth and layers this story had.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Sliding doors concept
- Adoption/foster care stories
- LGBTQ representation
- Self discovery and growth
- Southern setting
- Female friendship
- Wedding planning
- Social media
- Family drama and dynamics
I must say that the character development in both timelines was on point. The growth and self discovery that Lucy experiences throughout is very admirable. I was on her side the entire time, and rooted for her in each scenario. I appreciated the fact that she had flaws, some baggage, and yet a good head on her shoulders. You gotta love a realistic and relatable lead character!
THE FRACTURED LIFE OF LUCY HUGHES releases on September 22nd, and it gets 4/5 stars from me! I hope you check it out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A huge heartfelt thankyou to netgally and brilliance publishing for the arc!🥰
Pre-read; getting this arc has got to be the best thing that has appened to me this month. I requested it more than 6 weeks ago and I was sure I wasn't getting it so I almost pre-ordered it the other day! A huge thank-you to brilliance publishing for giving me the arc that was on nr 1 on my arc wishlist! Anyone who knows Me knows I'm obsessed with parallel universes since I wrote my debut novel about them, so I am very excited to start this one. I almost wished up on a falling star to get this arc y'all🤣 (I didn't actually do it don't worry, I just happened to see one the day i requested the arc I wanted so bad)
Read🥰:
I loved the representation in this novel. There is indept representation for biphobia, bisexual errassure, being raised by a drug addict, death of a parent, parental neglect, homophobia, growing up in fostercare,, aporophobia, slutshaming and mysogyny. I did think this was a heavier read than expected. I was expecting some romance or comedic relief or banter in between hardships but in the first 60%+ Lucy experiences almost nothing but bad things, so the novel left me fealing more emotinally drained and sad than I'd expected. Based on the description and genre i'd expected an uplifting novel but this book left me feeling super sad atleast until the 90% mark. And i also didnt like that the romance didnt start until the 85%. I did love the message that no matter which path you choose life will never be perfect so you shouldnt regret the choices you make. The strong emotions the author made me feel are a sign of good writing, but I bingeread the book in 1.5 day and didn't like feeling sad for almost all of the 8 hours of the audiobook. I loved loved loved the cover though
Pre-read; getting this arc has got to be the best thing that has appened to me this month. I requested it more than 6 weeks ago and I was sure I wasn't getting it so I almost pre-ordered it the other day! A huge thank-you to brilliance publishing for giving me the arc that was on nr 1 on my arc wishlist! Anyone who knows Me knows I'm obsessed with parallel universes since I wrote my debut novel about them, so I am very excited to start this one. I almost wished up on a falling star to get this arc y'all🤣 (I didn't actually do it don't worry, I just happened to see one the day i requested the arc I wanted so bad)
Read🥰:
I loved the representation in this novel. There is indept representation for biphobia, bisexual errassure, being raised by a drug addict, death of a parent, parental neglect, homophobia, growing up in fostercare,, aporophobia, slutshaming and mysogyny. I did think this was a heavier read than expected. I was expecting some romance or comedic relief or banter in between hardships but in the first 60%+ Lucy experiences almost nothing but bad things, so the novel left me fealing more emotinally drained and sad than I'd expected. Based on the description and genre i'd expected an uplifting novel but this book left me feeling super sad atleast until the 90% mark. And i also didnt like that the romance didnt start until the 85%. I did love the message that no matter which path you choose life will never be perfect so you shouldnt regret the choices you make. The strong emotions the author made me feel are a sign of good writing, but I bingeread the book in 1.5 day and didn't like feeling sad for almost all of the 8 hours of the audiobook. I loved loved loved the cover though
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy Hughes has just been asked a very important question by her boyfriend (on a Jumbotron no less), and we are about to see what happens when she says yes...and when she says no. I spent the first half of the book feeling incredibly anxious as we bounced back and forth between alternate versions of Lucy's story. When a book is making me anxious, I will unashamedly commit the readerly sin of flipping to the end and deciding if the tension is worth going back and finishing it. In this instance it was, though it still left me with mixed feelings. Neither of Lucy's stories were particularly uplifting or happy, which made it feel heavier than I had anticipated going in to it, and ultimately left me feeling just ok about the book.
I think the concept of the plot is such a unique one, I don't believe I've ever read a book that follows both outcomes after making a big life decision, and that creativity was what prompted me to continue reading when I may have otherwise chosen to put it down. Other things of note, this tackles a very prescient issue in our current world regarding social media and how it can negatively impact innocent people's lives. It also addresses an aspect of being bisexual that, being straight, I had never considered before, and I appreciated the perspective. While I didn't love it, I am glad I read it, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys alternate timelines and stories about finding your voice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
I think the concept of the plot is such a unique one, I don't believe I've ever read a book that follows both outcomes after making a big life decision, and that creativity was what prompted me to continue reading when I may have otherwise chosen to put it down. Other things of note, this tackles a very prescient issue in our current world regarding social media and how it can negatively impact innocent people's lives. It also addresses an aspect of being bisexual that, being straight, I had never considered before, and I appreciated the perspective. While I didn't love it, I am glad I read it, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys alternate timelines and stories about finding your voice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A “Sliding Doors” concept propels this captivating story of what would happen if you made the “right” or the “wrong” choice and you are captured on camera making that choice.
Lucy Hughes is quiet, no so decisive who grew up as a foster child, so has a strong need to connection. After some months she moved in with her boyfriend, Matthew, and things are going well until he proposes via the Jumbotron at a sports event. In that split second moment Lucy’s life is “fractured” - a NO leading her down one path and a YES down another. Each path brings anxiety, stress and more realization that decisions are neither right nor wrong, they just take you down a different path.
The book alternates between chapters entitled YES or NO as we learn about what happens when each decision is made. I really don’t want to spoil anyone’s read, so I’m not going to give anyone details - you have to read the book; it will be worth it. The ending though is quite clever.
Lucy’s story is a well paced and heartfelt one. Themes of childhood trauma and bi-sexuality are explored sensitively. I particularly enjoyed her journey to self discovery and the realization no decision is ever wholly good or bad. It’s a solid woman’s fiction book, perfect for readers who enjoy this genre and enjoy books that pose challenging questions on what it means to be a woman.
My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this ARC.
Lucy Hughes is quiet, no so decisive who grew up as a foster child, so has a strong need to connection. After some months she moved in with her boyfriend, Matthew, and things are going well until he proposes via the Jumbotron at a sports event. In that split second moment Lucy’s life is “fractured” - a NO leading her down one path and a YES down another. Each path brings anxiety, stress and more realization that decisions are neither right nor wrong, they just take you down a different path.
The book alternates between chapters entitled YES or NO as we learn about what happens when each decision is made. I really don’t want to spoil anyone’s read, so I’m not going to give anyone details - you have to read the book; it will be worth it. The ending though is quite clever.
Lucy’s story is a well paced and heartfelt one. Themes of childhood trauma and bi-sexuality are explored sensitively. I particularly enjoyed her journey to self discovery and the realization no decision is ever wholly good or bad. It’s a solid woman’s fiction book, perfect for readers who enjoy this genre and enjoy books that pose challenging questions on what it means to be a woman.
My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy is very happy with the way things are going. She has a job she loves. She's just moved in with her handsome, successfully wealthy boyfriend Matthew. It seems as if she's finally outgrown her past as a foster child whose mother struggled with addiction. Things are humming along nicely. And then Matthew shocks her by proposing at a baseball game. In front of everyone. On the Jumbotron, no less. As someone who's never liked being in the limelight, this ranks right up there as one of her worst nightmares. Not only is she mortified at being the center of everyone's attention, but she and Matthew are still in the early throes of their relationship and haven't even discussed marriage. Of course an answer to his proposal must be given. The question is, just what is the right answer? One path leads to no, the other leads to yes. Each one comes with its own consequences. I loved this story so much. The author does a great job of showing us just what Lucy's life would be like for each possible choice. And underlying both storylines is a message about staying true to yourself and not living your life to please others. Five stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I LOVED this one. Lucy is such a deeply developed protagonist, her theme so beautifully explored. I shed tears for her, she feels so real.
In life, we only get to make one choice at a time, only get to explore one path. This novel is a look at two different paths Lucy's life could have taken. I have to admit that I relate very intimately to a surprise and unwelcome proposal with the pressure (if not the desire) to say yes. On Lucy's decision hang themes of the deep need for belonging and the mistrust in her own ability to choose. Her NO leads to instant regrets as she faces the fallout of staying true to herself. Her YES leads to a more nuanced and gradual understanding of herself.
Throughout the book, we learn who Lucy is as we see these mirror worlds and we learn about her past to understand why she is who she is. Though the two paths are vastly different journeys, they both end with Lucy as a more actualized and self-loving woman. There are no right or wrong choices.
This is seriously such a gorgeous story. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ALC of this book.
In life, we only get to make one choice at a time, only get to explore one path. This novel is a look at two different paths Lucy's life could have taken. I have to admit that I relate very intimately to a surprise and unwelcome proposal with the pressure (if not the desire) to say yes. On Lucy's decision hang themes of the deep need for belonging and the mistrust in her own ability to choose. Her NO leads to instant regrets as she faces the fallout of staying true to herself. Her YES leads to a more nuanced and gradual understanding of herself.
Throughout the book, we learn who Lucy is as we see these mirror worlds and we learn about her past to understand why she is who she is. Though the two paths are vastly different journeys, they both end with Lucy as a more actualized and self-loving woman. There are no right or wrong choices.
This is seriously such a gorgeous story. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ALC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While the concept of split timelines is not new (Sliding Doors, the musical If/Then), this book tries to bring a fresh take, tackling issues like bisexual erasure and internet hate.
I felt the book would've been more effective if it had been more concise - there were several sections where each timeline seemed to drag. Ultimately, I really struggled with the character of Lucy. In the Yes timeline, Matthew acted in so many ways that were beyond red flags, and yet she stayed with him and . I understand that her growth was the main arc of the novel, but it just took her so long!
The novel's strength was in its exploration of Lucy's relationship with her aunt Marcy, who raised her when her own mother was unable to. These sections were so interesting in each timeline and approached in a really nuanced way.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I felt the book would've been more effective if it had been more concise - there were several sections where each timeline seemed to drag. Ultimately, I really struggled with the character of Lucy. In the Yes timeline, Matthew acted in so many ways that were beyond red flags, and yet she stayed with him and . I understand that her growth was the main arc of the novel, but it just took her so long!
The novel's strength was in its exploration of Lucy's relationship with her aunt Marcy, who raised her when her own mother was unable to. These sections were so interesting in each timeline and approached in a really nuanced way.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy Hughes life is at a crossroads. She has a job she loves in a private practice working with children. Things are going well with her boyfriend so when he invites her to move in she accepts. Her life had never gone especially smoothly. The most stable home she had growing up was with her Aunt never quite feeling she fit in & she had never shared a home with a romantic partner. Matthew was part of a picture perfect affluent family, the kind she'd always dreamed of.
It's Lucy's 37th birthday and they are due at Matthew's work function at tonight's Atlanta Braves game. He had asked to throw her a big party to introduce her to all his friends & family, but she truly hated being the center of attention and convinced him to celebrate quietly. Unfortunately he didn't exactly "hear her" and proposes via Jumbotron. Lucy's life fractured into two lives. No and she becomes an internet pariah. Yes and she is agreeing to someone she knows she is not. Definitely worth your time!
It's Lucy's 37th birthday and they are due at Matthew's work function at tonight's Atlanta Braves game. He had asked to throw her a big party to introduce her to all his friends & family, but she truly hated being the center of attention and convinced him to celebrate quietly. Unfortunately he didn't exactly "hear her" and proposes via Jumbotron. Lucy's life fractured into two lives. No and she becomes an internet pariah. Yes and she is agreeing to someone she knows she is not. Definitely worth your time!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a well written and thought provoking novel. Definitely different from what I am used to reading. I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of the story; it was engaging and kept me so interested in the story that I didn’t put it down until I was finished! I think everyone has a moment in their life where we wish we had made a different decision - hindsight is 20/20, right? I love that the author asks you to examine whether making a different choice would have been better. What effect does our past have on those choices?
We follow along with Lucy on two different journeys after answering her boyfriend’s proposal. Is there a right choice? A better choice? How do you know if you made “the right choice”? What Lucy discovers about herself along the way is informative and a pleasure to read. I think many women will be able to see a lot of themselves in Lucy. This is a book with a unique point of view and characters and experiences you can easily relate to. Highly recommend!
We follow along with Lucy on two different journeys after answering her boyfriend’s proposal. Is there a right choice? A better choice? How do you know if you made “the right choice”? What Lucy discovers about herself along the way is informative and a pleasure to read. I think many women will be able to see a lot of themselves in Lucy. This is a book with a unique point of view and characters and experiences you can easily relate to. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy Hughes is a young woman who faces a big decision: whether or not to accept her boyfriend Matthew’s proposal. But since Matthew chooses the worst possible way to propose, in Lucy’s eyes (in front of thousands of people via Jumbotron), Lucy’s pressured to make her choice quickly.
What follows is this sliding-doors narrative that shows the reader Lucy’s life as it diverges in two directions. In one scenario, she says yes, and in the other, she says no. Her career and relationships are dramatically altered in each one, and we get to see her consider the ramifications in both timelines. Both offer good and bad outcomes, and I was riveted to read both of her stories on parallel train tracks, wondering where she would end up. It’s a powerful story of discovering who you really are and learning to stand up for what you want.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
What follows is this sliding-doors narrative that shows the reader Lucy’s life as it diverges in two directions. In one scenario, she says yes, and in the other, she says no. Her career and relationships are dramatically altered in each one, and we get to see her consider the ramifications in both timelines. Both offer good and bad outcomes, and I was riveted to read both of her stories on parallel train tracks, wondering where she would end up. It’s a powerful story of discovering who you really are and learning to stand up for what you want.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book. Lucy is forced to make a big choice spur of the moment and having the perspective of the "Yes" path and "No" path was a great way to tell this story. Who doesn't look back at these big life choices and wish they could see how it eventually plays out. It was fantastic how each relationship plays out in each scenario. I also liked how we went back and forth between the Yes and No in timeline order. I thought it was a great way see how both would have played out in real time. And the ending was also *chef's kiss*. I really enjoyed this book, the bi-sexual representation, the grappling with the what-ifs in life and finding your voice in all of it. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Fractured Life of Lucy Hughes is a sliding doors story set in Atlanta, and I loved every minute of it. I am definitely a sucker for a sliding doors trope, and Annie Morgan did a great job telling the dual narratives. Each story arc was unique and engaging, I was completely captivated.
This book seriously brought me so much joy. I loved watching Lucy grow and develop. There is one story that is definitely more hopeful and happy, and I absolutely loved that one!
This novel felt emotionally powerful and I speculated that it might have been a bit of art imitating life. Based on the acknowledgements, I was pretty spot on. It felt like a cathartic journey for the author, and I am grateful she took me with her on her journey.
This book seriously brought me so much joy. I loved watching Lucy grow and develop. There is one story that is definitely more hopeful and happy, and I absolutely loved that one!
This novel felt emotionally powerful and I speculated that it might have been a bit of art imitating life. Based on the acknowledgements, I was pretty spot on. It felt like a cathartic journey for the author, and I am grateful she took me with her on her journey.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book via the author herself!!
I LOVED this story. Lucy is a sympathetic, relatable, "real" character, and I was rooting for her throughout. The "Sliding Doors"-style narrative is the perfect way for us to get to know her in two dimensions at once: one in which she says Yes, and one in which she says No to a marriage proposal. I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a kid in the 80s, and this felt like a grown-up version!
Bonus points: Queer representation throughout the book. Lucy's inclusive life makes her story even more enjoyable!
5/5 stars.
I LOVED this story. Lucy is a sympathetic, relatable, "real" character, and I was rooting for her throughout. The "Sliding Doors"-style narrative is the perfect way for us to get to know her in two dimensions at once: one in which she says Yes, and one in which she says No to a marriage proposal. I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a kid in the 80s, and this felt like a grown-up version!
Bonus points: Queer representation throughout the book. Lucy's inclusive life makes her story even more enjoyable!
5/5 stars.
September 12, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley & Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a review.
This was a good read! I love how we had both the saying no and saying yes to the proposal. Through out the reading, I was team No because Matthew is truly the worst and does not care for Lucy’s opinion of things and doesn’t even know her. For starters, if he knew Lucy well enough, he would’ve known not to propose in such a public way. At first, he seems reasonable. Maybe you could forgive him for doing that to her. WRONG! He is just worried about how his family is viewed, which we get a glimpse of in the Yes POVs. I am so glad the Yes POV ended the way it did.
This was a good read! I love how we had both the saying no and saying yes to the proposal. Through out the reading, I was team No because Matthew is truly the worst and does not care for Lucy’s opinion of things and doesn’t even know her. For starters, if he knew Lucy well enough, he would’ve known not to propose in such a public way. At first, he seems reasonable. Maybe you could forgive him for doing that to her. WRONG! He is just worried about how his family is viewed, which we get a glimpse of in the Yes POVs. I am so glad the Yes POV ended the way it did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this before it was released! I knew from the first chapter it would be one of those books I just couldn't put down. I've always wondered how my life would have been different (or the same) had I made a different choice and getting to see how things would've been different for Lucy was so fun! It was kind of like getting to read two books at once! The author also weaved some thought provoking topics into the story gracefully. Five stars all around!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always loved a dual reality storyline and this book did not disappoint.
The story follows Lucy and what happens to her if she says yes or no to a proposal.
I found the story engaging and loved lucy so much. Mathew was annoying. A workaholic and quite boring.
I recomend this book to anyone who loves a what if dual reality storyline.
Thank you netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Lucy and what happens to her if she says yes or no to a proposal.
I found the story engaging and loved lucy so much. Mathew was annoying. A workaholic and quite boring.
I recomend this book to anyone who loves a what if dual reality storyline.
Thank you netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC 📖
As someone who is deeply introspective and always wondering “what if?”, I really enjoyed this book. It centres around Lucy and the two directions her life goes after saying yes or no to a proposal. I found the book to be well written and Lucy was likeable and relatable. I do also love the idea that no matter what life throws at you, some things are just meant to be.
As someone who is deeply introspective and always wondering “what if?”, I really enjoyed this book. It centres around Lucy and the two directions her life goes after saying yes or no to a proposal. I found the book to be well written and Lucy was likeable and relatable. I do also love the idea that no matter what life throws at you, some things are just meant to be.
June 27, 2026
A delight! The Fractured Life of Lucy Hughes features an intriguing hook and a complex, fully-realized cast of characters. Lucy, our main character, is flawed and fragile—Morgan does an amazing job of helping the reader understand why—but you can’t help rooting for her on her journey. Lucy is not simply looking for happiness, but rather to define what happiness looks like to HER. As an added bonus, this story takes place in my beloved adopted hometown of Atlanta. I loved picturing Lucy jogging through Grant Park and visiting other familiar locations in the metro.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an easy read and I found myself wanting to know how the story unfolded.
Read
July 13, 2026I really wanted to enjoy this - I thought the concept was fun but the execution was lacking and the writing a bit on the nose.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely love alternate timeline books and I absolutely ate this one up. Amazing
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