What do you think?
The Mash Up: A feel-good, nostalgic, utterly addictive rom-com for fans of 13 Going On 30
'Nostalgic, clever, and joyful to the point of effervescence, The Mash Up is the romance I've been dying for.' -Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author of It's a Love Story
MANSION * APARTMENT * SHACK * HOUSE
Ruby Wynne is a staunch rule-follower who lives by the numbers. So when a surprising breakup on her thirty-fifth birthday ruins all her well-laid plans, Ruby makes an unexpected wish. The next day she wakes up inside a totally different version of her life, one from the M.A.S.H. game she and her best friend would play in seventh grade to predict their futures.
Settled in a Technicolor mansion, driving a tie-dye Jeep, and running a roller-disco restaurant, Ruby is living out her childhood dreams come true - with one exception. According to the game, Ruby's "other half" is supposed to be Penn Hayes, her brother's annoying, and annoyingly handsome, best friend. But there's zero romance between them. Just like in real life, all they share is sarcasm. With no rules to follow and desperate to return to reality, Ruby makes her best guess at an escape win Penn's heart so the game comes completely true and she can go home.
It's unthinkable. On Ruby's list of dos and don'ts, Penn Hayes is a lifelong don't. But as Ruby navigates the magical world she dreamed up at thirteen, she wonders if, by finally throwing out her rules, she might just find her way home to the life and love she deserves.
MANSION * APARTMENT * SHACK * HOUSE
Ruby Wynne is a staunch rule-follower who lives by the numbers. So when a surprising breakup on her thirty-fifth birthday ruins all her well-laid plans, Ruby makes an unexpected wish. The next day she wakes up inside a totally different version of her life, one from the M.A.S.H. game she and her best friend would play in seventh grade to predict their futures.
Settled in a Technicolor mansion, driving a tie-dye Jeep, and running a roller-disco restaurant, Ruby is living out her childhood dreams come true - with one exception. According to the game, Ruby's "other half" is supposed to be Penn Hayes, her brother's annoying, and annoyingly handsome, best friend. But there's zero romance between them. Just like in real life, all they share is sarcasm. With no rules to follow and desperate to return to reality, Ruby makes her best guess at an escape win Penn's heart so the game comes completely true and she can go home.
It's unthinkable. On Ruby's list of dos and don'ts, Penn Hayes is a lifelong don't. But as Ruby navigates the magical world she dreamed up at thirteen, she wonders if, by finally throwing out her rules, she might just find her way home to the life and love she deserves.
Audible Audio
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Laura Marie Meyers
1 book301 followersLaura Marie Meyers is an author and journalist whose work is focused on books, trends, and pop culture. As an interviewer and event moderator, she’s led conversations with actors, experts, and bestselling authors. Originally from Chicago, she lives in Northern California with her husband, two sons, and far too many concert t-shirts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,862 reviews
September 12, 2026
4.25
This was actually so cute - escapism romance at it's finest! Laurie Marie Meyers knew what she set out to do and she DID THE THING!
The MASH Up gave all the feelings of romcom nostalgia. It was cheesy and over the top in the best way, but also had a surprisingly good plot that kept me intrigued! SUCH good banter, I love when we have characters that can tease each other in the most familiar way - and the setup of our main characters having 30-ish years of knowing each other under their belt led to the best back and forth interaction.
This premise also allowed the story to embrace the whimsy and inner child in all of us. Not only in the more physical elements of the MASH world we get transported into, but also in the way our characters acted and interacted. We get hit with the classic trope of teasing vs flirting / annoying vs attracting which definitely encompasses the universal experience of a childhood crush - but it makes sense in the whole context of this story so I kind of loved it! I think the pacing really helped as well because if the whole "oh there's no way he likes me because he's mean to me" trope frustrates you, we move on from it so quick that there isn't time to really get annoyed at anything.
Anyways, I had so much fun reading this. It kind of felt like an alternate version of 13 Going on 30. So wholesome, I loved all the side characters and the community coming together element. It's not quite a slow burn, but the nature of the plot gives room for a pining on both ends type of situation which I loved. We don't get too deep into anything because it's quite a short and quick romance book - but it did exactly what it needed to do, and I loved it!
This was actually so cute - escapism romance at it's finest! Laurie Marie Meyers knew what she set out to do and she DID THE THING!
The MASH Up gave all the feelings of romcom nostalgia. It was cheesy and over the top in the best way, but also had a surprisingly good plot that kept me intrigued! SUCH good banter, I love when we have characters that can tease each other in the most familiar way - and the setup of our main characters having 30-ish years of knowing each other under their belt led to the best back and forth interaction.
This premise also allowed the story to embrace the whimsy and inner child in all of us. Not only in the more physical elements of the MASH world we get transported into, but also in the way our characters acted and interacted. We get hit with the classic trope of teasing vs flirting / annoying vs attracting which definitely encompasses the universal experience of a childhood crush - but it makes sense in the whole context of this story so I kind of loved it! I think the pacing really helped as well because if the whole "oh there's no way he likes me because he's mean to me" trope frustrates you, we move on from it so quick that there isn't time to really get annoyed at anything.
Anyways, I had so much fun reading this. It kind of felt like an alternate version of 13 Going on 30. So wholesome, I loved all the side characters and the community coming together element. It's not quite a slow burn, but the nature of the plot gives room for a pining on both ends type of situation which I loved. We don't get too deep into anything because it's quite a short and quick romance book - but it did exactly what it needed to do, and I loved it!
July 9, 2026
4.5 (rounding up) ⭐️✨ oh what FUN!!! this was just such a lovable romance book. the magical realism mixed with all the 2000s nostalgia absolutely worked for me! 🛼
as someone who’s definitely a little risk-averse and responsible-to-a-fault (fellow virgo ✋) ruby’s journey really hit home. underneath all the fun, this is such a sweet reminder that it’s never too late to come back to yourself and build a life that actually makes you happy.
also the BANTER! genuinely some of the best i’ve read this year! every little witty remark had me giddy, and the chemistry between Penn & Ruby was soooo palpable!
this was also just one of those books that was dangerously easy to binge. it’s the perfect palette cleanser & feels lighthearted, heartfelt, funny, and reflective without ever feeling too heavy. plus the fact that it’s a debut? incredible! such a comforting, feel good romance that completely lived up to my expectations 🪩
*little note for my seasonal readers* this takes place mostly in early september, so it’d be such a fun early fall read!
thank you to putnam & netgalley for the e-arc 💌 it’s out now!
as someone who’s definitely a little risk-averse and responsible-to-a-fault (fellow virgo ✋) ruby’s journey really hit home. underneath all the fun, this is such a sweet reminder that it’s never too late to come back to yourself and build a life that actually makes you happy.
also the BANTER! genuinely some of the best i’ve read this year! every little witty remark had me giddy, and the chemistry between Penn & Ruby was soooo palpable!
this was also just one of those books that was dangerously easy to binge. it’s the perfect palette cleanser & feels lighthearted, heartfelt, funny, and reflective without ever feeling too heavy. plus the fact that it’s a debut? incredible! such a comforting, feel good romance that completely lived up to my expectations 🪩
*little note for my seasonal readers* this takes place mostly in early september, so it’d be such a fun early fall read!
thank you to putnam & netgalley for the e-arc 💌 it’s out now!
July 11, 2026
It might be that I’ve been a total 3-star reading rut that reading The MASH Up was an absolute delight!!!! If you’re a millennial, you’ll gobble it up. It’s so fun and endearing and the perfect magical realism story!
Also- audio narration with Brittany Pressley was perfect.
*One tame fade to black sex scene
Also- audio narration with Brittany Pressley was perfect.
*One tame fade to black sex scene
October 27, 2025
Ruby gets stuck in her middle school MASH game where the guy she ends up with, according to the game, is her brother’s loathsome (but obviously unbelievably charming) best friend?! You already know it was bound to be a banger (and it WAS)!
It also reminded me I could’ve ended up with Devon Sawa in a shack 💕
It also reminded me I could’ve ended up with Devon Sawa in a shack 💕
July 14, 2026
I instantly wanted to read this book just based off the premise alone. While it was a nostalgic read, I found it lacked a bit of substance.
The female lead Ruby was hard to like and connect with. I found her to be quite immature and inflexible. I really did not believe that she was 35 since her actions felt more fitting for a child. Her mind was also all over the place in trying to get back to her reality. I just couldn’t keep up with her.
As for the romance, I did like the love interest Penn. However, the relationship between Penn and Ruby felt very surface level. Maybe it is because most romances work better with dual POV and this book was missing Penn’s side of the story. I also think it would have been good to learn more about their past. They have known each other since they were kids but all of that history doesn’t get explored or talked about much throughout the book.
Overall, this was still a decent quick read but forgettable.
The female lead Ruby was hard to like and connect with. I found her to be quite immature and inflexible. I really did not believe that she was 35 since her actions felt more fitting for a child. Her mind was also all over the place in trying to get back to her reality. I just couldn’t keep up with her.
As for the romance, I did like the love interest Penn. However, the relationship between Penn and Ruby felt very surface level. Maybe it is because most romances work better with dual POV and this book was missing Penn’s side of the story. I also think it would have been good to learn more about their past. They have known each other since they were kids but all of that history doesn’t get explored or talked about much throughout the book.
Overall, this was still a decent quick read but forgettable.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was so cute and fun and it made me want to whip my Lisa Frank notebook and fuzzy pen out and play MASH.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★ out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an advanced copy of this book and exchange for my honest review. HAPPY PUB DAY!!
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: On Ruby’s 35th birthday, her best friend gifts her an old MASH game from their school years as a joke. How different her life would have been if she owned that roller rink diner (instead of going into accounting) or owned her own colorful mansion with 2 pools (instead of her sterile apartment with her safe bet boyfriend) or ended up with her brother’s annoying friend Penn? Well, she’s about to find out! A minor head wound lands her in an alternate reality where her MASH came true—but in an effort to get back to reality, she contemplates what, and who, is most important.
– FMC: Ruby (aka “Rubella”). 35 year old who doesn’t realize how unfulfilled she is until shown what life COULD be like.
– FMC: Penn (aka “Pennywise” or “Pennjamin”). Ruby’s twin brother’s childhood best friend. Snarky but level headed.
– Location: burbs of Chicago, Illinois
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 1-2 fade-to-black scenes
– Tropes: magical realism, reluctant friends to lovers, witty banter, forced proximity, millennial nostalgia, brother’s best friend
– Triggers: unrealized potential, remembering the smell of bath and body work’s cucumber melon lotion (🤢), anxiety
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Lovefool by The Cardigans
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ If “13 Going on 30” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” had an early 2000s baby
➼ The dynamics and banter between Emily Henry characters
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Insta Love/Lust—————————✧——Slow Burn
Sweet—✧——————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——✧————————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This was such a fun read! It was light (but had depth) and the romance was a nice slow burn without that insta lust that is found in so many other romance books. Also, any time you have late 90s/early 00s nostalgia, it’s a hit. Lisa Frank inspired house filled with Dunkaroos? Devon Sawa shoutout? Tie dyed jeep? Be still my millennial heart.
I loved the layout and pacing of this story and the writing/banter was so fun. Ruby and Penn loved to jab each other and was honestly my favorite part. They come up with some pretty clever nicknames for each other! I do love when two characters who get under each others skin finally kiss—and the tension built her was perfection.
I loved the cast of side characters as well. My only wish was he had more of them, but my gut tells me we didn’t get that because I could see them eventually getting their own books (please please please!).
I cannot wait for more from this author—what a solid debut!!
——————-
Pre-read thoughts: the amount of school hours I would waste playing M.A.S.H. is astounding (and probably why my teachers told me to “apply” myself more). Giggle. I always ended up in a shack with a hottie but also 32 kids.
Ok, who wants to play M.A.S.H. with me and write those funky s’s on our jeans and shoes?!?
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★ out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an advanced copy of this book and exchange for my honest review. HAPPY PUB DAY!!
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: On Ruby’s 35th birthday, her best friend gifts her an old MASH game from their school years as a joke. How different her life would have been if she owned that roller rink diner (instead of going into accounting) or owned her own colorful mansion with 2 pools (instead of her sterile apartment with her safe bet boyfriend) or ended up with her brother’s annoying friend Penn? Well, she’s about to find out! A minor head wound lands her in an alternate reality where her MASH came true—but in an effort to get back to reality, she contemplates what, and who, is most important.
– FMC: Ruby (aka “Rubella”). 35 year old who doesn’t realize how unfulfilled she is until shown what life COULD be like.
– FMC: Penn (aka “Pennywise” or “Pennjamin”). Ruby’s twin brother’s childhood best friend. Snarky but level headed.
– Location: burbs of Chicago, Illinois
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 1-2 fade-to-black scenes
– Tropes: magical realism, reluctant friends to lovers, witty banter, forced proximity, millennial nostalgia, brother’s best friend
– Triggers: unrealized potential, remembering the smell of bath and body work’s cucumber melon lotion (🤢), anxiety
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Lovefool by The Cardigans
╰┈➤ ❝so I cry and I pray and I beg, love me love me, say that you love me…❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ If “13 Going on 30” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” had an early 2000s baby
➼ The dynamics and banter between Emily Henry characters
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Insta Love/Lust—————————✧——Slow Burn
Sweet—✧——————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——✧————————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This was such a fun read! It was light (but had depth) and the romance was a nice slow burn without that insta lust that is found in so many other romance books. Also, any time you have late 90s/early 00s nostalgia, it’s a hit. Lisa Frank inspired house filled with Dunkaroos? Devon Sawa shoutout? Tie dyed jeep? Be still my millennial heart.
I loved the layout and pacing of this story and the writing/banter was so fun. Ruby and Penn loved to jab each other and was honestly my favorite part. They come up with some pretty clever nicknames for each other! I do love when two characters who get under each others skin finally kiss—and the tension built her was perfection.
I loved the cast of side characters as well. My only wish was he had more of them, but my gut tells me we didn’t get that because I could see them eventually getting their own books (please please please!).
I cannot wait for more from this author—what a solid debut!!
——————-
Pre-read thoughts: the amount of school hours I would waste playing M.A.S.H. is astounding (and probably why my teachers told me to “apply” myself more). Giggle. I always ended up in a shack with a hottie but also 32 kids.
Ok, who wants to play M.A.S.H. with me and write those funky s’s on our jeans and shoes?!?
July 24, 2026
i went into the mash up completely blind, other than the fact that i had seen this book everywhere and apparently there are MANY people waiting for my libby hold from the brooklyn library lol...
i was very pleasantly surprised by this alternate universe / second chance at life inspired by the popular 90s schoolyard game MASH (which lowkey stands the popculture test of time because i played it as a freshman in highschool in 2014).
i’m a sucker for an alternate universe / second chance at life novel, and there have been many pubbed in the past 18 months; while this one was good, it was mostly full of pop culture references, and did not really move me emotionally, BUT it was still a fun read.
i was very pleasantly surprised by this alternate universe / second chance at life inspired by the popular 90s schoolyard game MASH (which lowkey stands the popculture test of time because i played it as a freshman in highschool in 2014).
i’m a sucker for an alternate universe / second chance at life novel, and there have been many pubbed in the past 18 months; while this one was good, it was mostly full of pop culture references, and did not really move me emotionally, BUT it was still a fun read.
August 17, 2026
my audiobook + puzzle combo of the month was this book! this was a fun listen and gives major millennial nostalgia with the MASH game. it was funny and light which was what i needed amidst a reading slump. plus it was narrated by one of my faves, Brittney Pressley.
overall it was laugh out loud funny at parts and cute/enjoyable, unforgettable long term. if you’re looking for a light hearted, easy read, this fits the bill 🩷
overall it was laugh out loud funny at parts and cute/enjoyable, unforgettable long term. if you’re looking for a light hearted, easy read, this fits the bill 🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 / 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this one. Did I understand all of the rules of the alternate reality universe? No. But did I enjoy Penn and Ruby as a couple? Very much yes.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🦄 Romance with magical realism with an alternate universe
🦄 (Twin) brother’s best friend
🦄 Black cat x golden retriever
🦄 Dislike to love
🦄 Pining and yearning and great banter
🦄 90s and 2000s nostalgia
On her 35th birthday, uptight, Type A Ruby travels to an alternate reality where she is living out her 13 year old’s MASH game. She has a mansion with two pools, 13 fish, a tie-dye Jeep Wrangler, she works at a disco roller rink, and she is supposed to be with her twin brother’s best friend. That very last part hasn’t happened yet, but Ruby decides that she should get Penn to fall in love with her to complete the MASH game so that she can go back to the normal universe.
It is a super fun concept and I was very intrigued with how the author would full off the MASH of it all. That part was a tad confusing. When Ruby woke up and started dressing like a Lisa Frank/Jackson Pollack painting, I thought that perhaps she had traveled back in time. But nope, she was in an alternate universe where she still had some of her memories and life experiences but not all of them. And the “not all of them” part was a bit hard to figure out. And you know, why no one wondered why she wore these insane colors.
But if you just go with it, you get to Ruby and Penn’s relationship which was very sweet and filled with pining and yearning. And that really helped sell the story for me. Penn is a man down bad and there are knuckle kisses and longing looks. OH and the BANTER. This is the type of banter that I want – they can make fun of each other but it is super playful and fun and effervescent. It is fade to black spice and it still felt steamy.
The end felt a bit rushed and I had questions about the resolution but the relationship really sold me and I had a fun time reading the book. It was also very funny and hit the spot with all of the nostalgia (I wanted dunkaroos so badly while I read).
Thank you Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: July 7, 2026
ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
I really enjoyed this one. Did I understand all of the rules of the alternate reality universe? No. But did I enjoy Penn and Ruby as a couple? Very much yes.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🦄 Romance with magical realism with an alternate universe
🦄 (Twin) brother’s best friend
🦄 Black cat x golden retriever
🦄 Dislike to love
🦄 Pining and yearning and great banter
🦄 90s and 2000s nostalgia
On her 35th birthday, uptight, Type A Ruby travels to an alternate reality where she is living out her 13 year old’s MASH game. She has a mansion with two pools, 13 fish, a tie-dye Jeep Wrangler, she works at a disco roller rink, and she is supposed to be with her twin brother’s best friend. That very last part hasn’t happened yet, but Ruby decides that she should get Penn to fall in love with her to complete the MASH game so that she can go back to the normal universe.
It is a super fun concept and I was very intrigued with how the author would full off the MASH of it all. That part was a tad confusing. When Ruby woke up and started dressing like a Lisa Frank/Jackson Pollack painting, I thought that perhaps she had traveled back in time. But nope, she was in an alternate universe where she still had some of her memories and life experiences but not all of them. And the “not all of them” part was a bit hard to figure out. And you know, why no one wondered why she wore these insane colors.
But if you just go with it, you get to Ruby and Penn’s relationship which was very sweet and filled with pining and yearning. And that really helped sell the story for me. Penn is a man down bad and there are knuckle kisses and longing looks. OH and the BANTER. This is the type of banter that I want – they can make fun of each other but it is super playful and fun and effervescent. It is fade to black spice and it still felt steamy.
The end felt a bit rushed and I had questions about the resolution but the relationship really sold me and I had a fun time reading the book. It was also very funny and hit the spot with all of the nostalgia (I wanted dunkaroos so badly while I read).
Thank you Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: July 7, 2026
ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
February 7, 2026
So much nostalgia!
This was such a fun read, stuff to the brim with technicolor nostalgia that will have you daydreaming about the roller rink and lisa frank.
Heavy on the 13 Going on 30 vibes but with a unique and fun spin on the concept.
The only gripe I have - that keeps this from being a 5 star read is the ending felt a bit rushed and the time skips during that section stole some of what I’m sure would have been great moments.
Whats to love…
- NOSTALGIA 90s and early 2000s
- brothers best friend
- he’s always been there
- roommates!
- spectacular side characters (they need their own books please and thank you)
- magical realism (alternate reality)
- slow burn
- 30+ MCs
What might not work for some…
- this is heavy on pop culture references and VIBES and nostalgia, if thats not your thing, this probably won’t land for you.
- Rushed ending
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun read, stuff to the brim with technicolor nostalgia that will have you daydreaming about the roller rink and lisa frank.
Heavy on the 13 Going on 30 vibes but with a unique and fun spin on the concept.
The only gripe I have - that keeps this from being a 5 star read is the ending felt a bit rushed and the time skips during that section stole some of what I’m sure would have been great moments.
Whats to love…
- NOSTALGIA 90s and early 2000s
- brothers best friend
- he’s always been there
- roommates!
- spectacular side characters (they need their own books please and thank you)
- magical realism (alternate reality)
- slow burn
- 30+ MCs
What might not work for some…
- this is heavy on pop culture references and VIBES and nostalgia, if thats not your thing, this probably won’t land for you.
- Rushed ending
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2026
This one is so darn cute. At first I was worried it might lean a bit too far into "cheesy" territory, but once the story got flowing, I was completely hooked. I loved being swept up in this nostalgic, MASH-mind-warp world.
For anyone who grew up in the 90s and loves a rom-com with witty banter and genuine "chuckle-out-loud" moments, this one is for you. It’s a true homage to the decade—the stores, the songs, the clothes, the brands, and the food references were 👌🏼👌🏼.
For anyone who grew up in the 90s and loves a rom-com with witty banter and genuine "chuckle-out-loud" moments, this one is for you. It’s a true homage to the decade—the stores, the songs, the clothes, the brands, and the food references were 👌🏼👌🏼.
July 5, 2026
I wanted to love this. A magical M.A.S.H. game? Brother’s best friend? Nostalgia? Sign me up.
Unfortunately, somewhere between the Gushers, Capri Suns, and enough 90s references to qualify as a history lesson, I started wondering if I needed to schedule Ruby a parent-teacher conference instead of rooting for her happily ever after.
Ruby is 35 years old… but spends most of the book reacting to life like she’s 13. And somehow every other adult around her just shrugs and goes, “Yep, this seems normal.” Meanwhile, I’m over here questioning whether anyone has ever introduced this woman to vegetables.
The nostalgia felt less like a fun wink and more like someone repeatedly yelling, “REMEMBER THE 90s? REMEMBER? HOW ABOUT NOW?”
The premise is genuinely clever, and I liked the idea of being trapped inside a childhood M.A.S.H. game. I just wish the execution had trusted readers to appreciate the nostalgia without drowning us in it.
By the end, I wasn’t wondering who Ruby would end up with. I was wondering if she’d ever graduate middle school.
If you adore over-the-top 90s nostalgia and characters who fully embrace perpetual adolescence, this one might work better for you than it did for me. As for me… I survived the sugar rush and moved on to my next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for this review copy.
Unfortunately, somewhere between the Gushers, Capri Suns, and enough 90s references to qualify as a history lesson, I started wondering if I needed to schedule Ruby a parent-teacher conference instead of rooting for her happily ever after.
Ruby is 35 years old… but spends most of the book reacting to life like she’s 13. And somehow every other adult around her just shrugs and goes, “Yep, this seems normal.” Meanwhile, I’m over here questioning whether anyone has ever introduced this woman to vegetables.
The nostalgia felt less like a fun wink and more like someone repeatedly yelling, “REMEMBER THE 90s? REMEMBER? HOW ABOUT NOW?”
The premise is genuinely clever, and I liked the idea of being trapped inside a childhood M.A.S.H. game. I just wish the execution had trusted readers to appreciate the nostalgia without drowning us in it.
By the end, I wasn’t wondering who Ruby would end up with. I was wondering if she’d ever graduate middle school.
If you adore over-the-top 90s nostalgia and characters who fully embrace perpetual adolescence, this one might work better for you than it did for me. As for me… I survived the sugar rush and moved on to my next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for this review copy.
July 7, 2026
┆ ⤿ 🪄 ⌗ started: july 12, finished: july 14
3 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with no spoilers.
tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ magical realism
.ᐟ brother's best friend
.ᐟ childhood game comes to life
.ᐟ opposites attract
.ᐟ slow burn
.ᐟ finding yourself in your 30s
.ᐟ "he was the one all along"
summary: ⋆˚࿔
after being dumped on her 35th birthday, ruby wynne, a woman who has always lived by rules, plans, and practicality, makes a wish that transports her into the life predicted by a seventh-grade game of m.a.s.h. suddenly, she's living out her childhood dream with a colorful mansion, a roller-disco restaurant, and a tie-dye jeep. the only catch? according to the game, she's destined to end up with penn hayes, her brother's frustratingly handsome best friend. determined to find her way back to reality, ruby sets out to make the game come true by winning penn's heart. but as she lets go of the rules she's always lived by, she begins to wonder if the life, and love, she's been searching for has been right in front of her all along.
thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
i know i said i loved this last night, but after sitting with it, i think i just really enjoyed the story. as someone who's not in her 30s, i didn't connect with ruby's struggles as much as i probably would've if i were in a different stage of life. that said, the magical realism was so much fun, penn was incredibly lovable, and i adored the nostalgic m.a.s.h. concept. it was sweet, whimsical, and reminded me that sometimes the life you planned isn't necessarily the one that's meant for you.
ⓘ thank you putnam, laura marie meyers, and netgalley for an arc in exchange for a honest review.
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ OUT NOW
3 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with no spoilers.
“this is real. it's us. ever version of him has known every version of me, and i can't wait to meet whoever we become next. he's my other half, and maybe i always knew it. or maybe it was just a matter of time"
tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ magical realism
.ᐟ brother's best friend
.ᐟ childhood game comes to life
.ᐟ opposites attract
.ᐟ slow burn
.ᐟ finding yourself in your 30s
.ᐟ "he was the one all along"
summary: ⋆˚࿔
after being dumped on her 35th birthday, ruby wynne, a woman who has always lived by rules, plans, and practicality, makes a wish that transports her into the life predicted by a seventh-grade game of m.a.s.h. suddenly, she's living out her childhood dream with a colorful mansion, a roller-disco restaurant, and a tie-dye jeep. the only catch? according to the game, she's destined to end up with penn hayes, her brother's frustratingly handsome best friend. determined to find her way back to reality, ruby sets out to make the game come true by winning penn's heart. but as she lets go of the rules she's always lived by, she begins to wonder if the life, and love, she's been searching for has been right in front of her all along.
thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
i know i said i loved this last night, but after sitting with it, i think i just really enjoyed the story. as someone who's not in her 30s, i didn't connect with ruby's struggles as much as i probably would've if i were in a different stage of life. that said, the magical realism was so much fun, penn was incredibly lovable, and i adored the nostalgic m.a.s.h. concept. it was sweet, whimsical, and reminded me that sometimes the life you planned isn't necessarily the one that's meant for you.
ⓘ thank you putnam, laura marie meyers, and netgalley for an arc in exchange for a honest review.
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ OUT NOW
July 28, 2026
This book is a millennial-soaked fever dream, and I loved every second of it.
What makes it so much fun is how it captures the spirit of the great rom-coms of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. It immediately brought to mind movies like 13 Going on 30 and 10 Things I Hate About You. The whole thing feels incredibly cinematic, and that’s easily one of its biggest strengths. Ruby and Penn are effortlessly lovable, and the world Laura Marie Meyers has created is just plain fun. It’s one of the most enjoyable romance settings I’ve read all year, and I never wanted to leave it.
Is it perfect? Probably not. I can absolutely see some readers bouncing off its particular brand of whimsy. But if you grew up loving teen rom-coms, this book feels like it was written specifically for you.
What makes it so much fun is how it captures the spirit of the great rom-coms of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. It immediately brought to mind movies like 13 Going on 30 and 10 Things I Hate About You. The whole thing feels incredibly cinematic, and that’s easily one of its biggest strengths. Ruby and Penn are effortlessly lovable, and the world Laura Marie Meyers has created is just plain fun. It’s one of the most enjoyable romance settings I’ve read all year, and I never wanted to leave it.
Is it perfect? Probably not. I can absolutely see some readers bouncing off its particular brand of whimsy. But if you grew up loving teen rom-coms, this book feels like it was written specifically for you.
March 12, 2026
“This is real. It's us. Every version of him has known every version of me, and I can't wait to meet whoever we become next. He's my other half, and maybe I always knew it. Or maybe it was just a matter of time.”
Happy pub day to this lovely book 🫶🏼 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher so much for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Ok so this book unexpectedly left me floored as I thought it’d be this silly read but it was so much more that it felt impossible not to love it. My millennial self was LIVINGG for the nostalgia we get here. Listen, I love magical realism, yet wasn’t sure if this would be well executed, but to me it was and was much more than that!! It had the best fun and lighthearted feels when certain aspects were feeling reflective. I was so comforted by it all. The idea of ruby getting sucked into a game she played as a kid; all because she made a wish on what if her life could’ve looked differently immediately got me. This gave me similar vibes to 13 going on 30 (35) without going back to 13 but being reminded of what that version of yourself wanted than what you settled for
Ruby felt like many of us who feel lost at whatever stage in life we’re in and playing it safe in the fear that holds us back without taking risks. She lived in practicality and imposed that on everyone that I felt for her when she realized this. That all resonated deeply with me and the way I overthink my whole life on repeat which made me think of that quote “Nobody is more stressed than a girl in her late early to late 20s or 20s-early 30s Thinking she’s running out of time.” ME. So it made me enjoy her journey of acceptance and letting go as everything in the MASH game—and MASH ruby—reminded her to take risks and that sometimes things not going to plan could be a good thing. Her friendship with Bridget was non judgmental and so understanding and I felt in awe of it as it reminded me of my own
Penn was arguably the best addition to this story in the way him and ruby antagonized each other that I became so smitten with him 🤭 and of course there’s some tension because of that(tell me why was that love language scene more enjoyable than getting a scene of smut here and I love smut); to the way he also made her braver in taking a chance on more than just the version of herself she thought she had to be. I adored the way he was generous with his time, bold and sweet in the way he looked out for others.
And you best believe, considering all that, that I was swooning and grinning so hard whenever Penn and Ruby bantered. It felt like I was third wheeling. But it endeared me to see how they were themselves with each other. I loved that ruby got the chance to truly get to know Penn than she ever let herself before given their history. How she became someone who was in his corner 🥹 there’s something to be said about how these two felt inevitable in both universes; with the pent up longing between them that they just needed a little nudge to make that happen. I do wish we got to see more of them in their past but still enjoyed what was given
And as everyone laughs, I think: This. This is where the magic lies. Because I believe in it now, life's magic.
It fulfilled me to no end to see that we get enough time spent in the MASH game and in reality and seeing ruby’s growth; in being the version that felt true to her and the chance to do things right. It all left me thinking about what I wanted as a teenager and how some of the things I may have wanted then look so differently now, and that’s ok, as I’m still figuring life out and this reminded me of that. I love these type of books (and a debut at that) and the realm of possibilities here sure fed my past delusions 😂 this is one book I’d recommend to anyone and would hope whoever reads it feels similarly! I can’t wait to have it in my hands
Some Quotes
As I stare into the flame, I wish, just for a moment, that I could meet who I might have become, if life had gone a little differently. If I'd been a little less afraid"
But there's no replicating what we've done here. This place is one of a kind. And it's mine. My stupid, silly, perfect dream.
Penn tilts a look at me. “Physical touch," he says again, pleased with himself. "Good to know.” 😩
But you know what? There's never a right time, or a right place. But there is a right person."
I shouldn’t be surprised—of course Penn knows me—but it’s startling, feeling so seen. Even here, where parts of me are different.
Every magical, Technicolor memory flickers and flares, along with the girlish hope that led me to the wildest dream of my life.
“I think this was inevitable,” he admits in the softest whisper. “You and me.”
I've known for a while now that I can't hide from what I want. But knowing and doing are different things, and I'm still finding my way. I'll get there, though. I'm trying.
"I didn't want you to be my warm-up," he says. "You were always supposed to be my closer.
Happy pub day to this lovely book 🫶🏼 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher so much for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Ok so this book unexpectedly left me floored as I thought it’d be this silly read but it was so much more that it felt impossible not to love it. My millennial self was LIVINGG for the nostalgia we get here. Listen, I love magical realism, yet wasn’t sure if this would be well executed, but to me it was and was much more than that!! It had the best fun and lighthearted feels when certain aspects were feeling reflective. I was so comforted by it all. The idea of ruby getting sucked into a game she played as a kid; all because she made a wish on what if her life could’ve looked differently immediately got me. This gave me similar vibes to 13 going on 30 (35) without going back to 13 but being reminded of what that version of yourself wanted than what you settled for
Ruby felt like many of us who feel lost at whatever stage in life we’re in and playing it safe in the fear that holds us back without taking risks. She lived in practicality and imposed that on everyone that I felt for her when she realized this. That all resonated deeply with me and the way I overthink my whole life on repeat which made me think of that quote “Nobody is more stressed than a girl in her late early to late 20s or 20s-early 30s Thinking she’s running out of time.” ME. So it made me enjoy her journey of acceptance and letting go as everything in the MASH game—and MASH ruby—reminded her to take risks and that sometimes things not going to plan could be a good thing. Her friendship with Bridget was non judgmental and so understanding and I felt in awe of it as it reminded me of my own
Penn was arguably the best addition to this story in the way him and ruby antagonized each other that I became so smitten with him 🤭 and of course there’s some tension because of that(tell me why was that love language scene more enjoyable than getting a scene of smut here and I love smut); to the way he also made her braver in taking a chance on more than just the version of herself she thought she had to be. I adored the way he was generous with his time, bold and sweet in the way he looked out for others.
And you best believe, considering all that, that I was swooning and grinning so hard whenever Penn and Ruby bantered. It felt like I was third wheeling. But it endeared me to see how they were themselves with each other. I loved that ruby got the chance to truly get to know Penn than she ever let herself before given their history. How she became someone who was in his corner 🥹 there’s something to be said about how these two felt inevitable in both universes; with the pent up longing between them that they just needed a little nudge to make that happen. I do wish we got to see more of them in their past but still enjoyed what was given
And as everyone laughs, I think: This. This is where the magic lies. Because I believe in it now, life's magic.
It fulfilled me to no end to see that we get enough time spent in the MASH game and in reality and seeing ruby’s growth; in being the version that felt true to her and the chance to do things right. It all left me thinking about what I wanted as a teenager and how some of the things I may have wanted then look so differently now, and that’s ok, as I’m still figuring life out and this reminded me of that. I love these type of books (and a debut at that) and the realm of possibilities here sure fed my past delusions 😂 this is one book I’d recommend to anyone and would hope whoever reads it feels similarly! I can’t wait to have it in my hands
Some Quotes
As I stare into the flame, I wish, just for a moment, that I could meet who I might have become, if life had gone a little differently. If I'd been a little less afraid"
But there's no replicating what we've done here. This place is one of a kind. And it's mine. My stupid, silly, perfect dream.
Penn tilts a look at me. “Physical touch," he says again, pleased with himself. "Good to know.” 😩
But you know what? There's never a right time, or a right place. But there is a right person."
I shouldn’t be surprised—of course Penn knows me—but it’s startling, feeling so seen. Even here, where parts of me are different.
Every magical, Technicolor memory flickers and flares, along with the girlish hope that led me to the wildest dream of my life.
“I think this was inevitable,” he admits in the softest whisper. “You and me.”
I've known for a while now that I can't hide from what I want. But knowing and doing are different things, and I'm still finding my way. I'll get there, though. I'm trying.
"I didn't want you to be my warm-up," he says. "You were always supposed to be my closer.
July 20, 2026
2.5
The vibes were vibing. The nostalgia was there however Ruby the 35 year old FMC, the mash up game she made in middle school and her life with Colin and life with Penn didn’t make sense once the rose colored lenses came off. Shout out to her bestie Bridget though for believing and supporting her in any lifetime💗
The vibes were vibing. The nostalgia was there however Ruby the 35 year old FMC, the mash up game she made in middle school and her life with Colin and life with Penn didn’t make sense once the rose colored lenses came off. Shout out to her bestie Bridget though for believing and supporting her in any lifetime💗
August 25, 2026
“i think this was inevitable. you and me.”
IMMACULATE VIBES!
once you start, you’ll never want to look away. i couldn’t even stop reading while i brushed my teeth.
it’s so disgustingly sweet i want to throw up !!(complimentary)
this was FUNNY & NOSTALGIC & SILLY & IMMERSIVE & FULL OF CHEMISTRY!!
i can already tell this is going to be a comfort read & one i’ll need to reread over and over again when i need some light & joy in my life.
every character is so well written and well rounded. i love them all! penn is PERFECT!! i love a YEARNING man who has to hide his yearning with sarcasm🙂↕️🤏🏼 he had me laughing out loud and also gave me butterflies with his teasing and flirting and bantering.
i loved ruby’s growth & how she came to understand herself better & learn what she wants and deserves. i think we all can see ourselves in ruby which is what makes her so special.
yes, this is a story about waking up in a game of MASH. it’s silly. but it’s also so full of FEELING. it’s about friendship & growth & standing up for what you deserve. it’s about never forgetting what’s right in front of you & taking care of the people around you.
this was just sunshine and streamers and glitter and tie dye in book form and i could literally start over from page one right now and be perfectly content.
🔥SPICE🔥some jokes and references throughout. fade to black scene on page 188 but the scene changes before anything is shown.
🤐LANGUAGE🤐one F word. occasional use of other swear words
IMMACULATE VIBES!
once you start, you’ll never want to look away. i couldn’t even stop reading while i brushed my teeth.
it’s so disgustingly sweet i want to throw up !!(complimentary)
this was FUNNY & NOSTALGIC & SILLY & IMMERSIVE & FULL OF CHEMISTRY!!
i can already tell this is going to be a comfort read & one i’ll need to reread over and over again when i need some light & joy in my life.
every character is so well written and well rounded. i love them all! penn is PERFECT!! i love a YEARNING man who has to hide his yearning with sarcasm🙂↕️🤏🏼 he had me laughing out loud and also gave me butterflies with his teasing and flirting and bantering.
i loved ruby’s growth & how she came to understand herself better & learn what she wants and deserves. i think we all can see ourselves in ruby which is what makes her so special.
yes, this is a story about waking up in a game of MASH. it’s silly. but it’s also so full of FEELING. it’s about friendship & growth & standing up for what you deserve. it’s about never forgetting what’s right in front of you & taking care of the people around you.
this was just sunshine and streamers and glitter and tie dye in book form and i could literally start over from page one right now and be perfectly content.
🔥SPICE🔥some jokes and references throughout. fade to black scene on page 188 but the scene changes before anything is shown.
🤐LANGUAGE🤐one F word. occasional use of other swear words
July 23, 2026
this book felt like someone took every millennial sleepover memory, sprinkled in a little magic, and somehow turned it into the cutest romcom ever.
when Ruby wakes up living the life her 7th grade MASH game, i was immediately hooked. i loved watching someone who had spent years checking all the "responsible adult" boxes suddenly get dropped into the colourful, chaotic life her younger self dreamed up. it was such a clever way to explore whether we're actually living the life we want or just the one we think we're supposed to have.
and then there's Penn Hayes. brother's best friend? yes. lifelong annoyance? absolutely. the banter between Ruby and Penn was perfect because underneath all the sarcasm was history and so much pining. watching Ruby slowly realize that maybe the boy she'd written off for years had actually been seeing the real her all along... i ate. it. up. every moment between them just kept getting better.
i also loved that this wasn't just about the romance. the alternate reality forced Ruby to reconnect with a different side of herself she'd left behind somewhere as she grew up. the disco diner, the lisa frank inspired world... it all could've felt too much like forced nostalgia, but instead it added so much charm.
this was whimsical, funny, nostalgic, and genuinely heartfelt. if you've ever wondered what would've happened if your childhood dreams had actually come true, this is 100% the book for you. now i'm gonna go search for all my old notebooks where my MASH games live lol.
when Ruby wakes up living the life her 7th grade MASH game, i was immediately hooked. i loved watching someone who had spent years checking all the "responsible adult" boxes suddenly get dropped into the colourful, chaotic life her younger self dreamed up. it was such a clever way to explore whether we're actually living the life we want or just the one we think we're supposed to have.
and then there's Penn Hayes. brother's best friend? yes. lifelong annoyance? absolutely. the banter between Ruby and Penn was perfect because underneath all the sarcasm was history and so much pining. watching Ruby slowly realize that maybe the boy she'd written off for years had actually been seeing the real her all along... i ate. it. up. every moment between them just kept getting better.
i also loved that this wasn't just about the romance. the alternate reality forced Ruby to reconnect with a different side of herself she'd left behind somewhere as she grew up. the disco diner, the lisa frank inspired world... it all could've felt too much like forced nostalgia, but instead it added so much charm.
this was whimsical, funny, nostalgic, and genuinely heartfelt. if you've ever wondered what would've happened if your childhood dreams had actually come true, this is 100% the book for you. now i'm gonna go search for all my old notebooks where my MASH games live lol.
January 13, 2026
I loved the idea of this book! I think I would’ve been more invested if there had been more showing of history between Ruby and Penn? The romance didn’t quite hit as hard as I wanted it to. But still a cute, fun and easy read!
August 21, 2026
this was cute!
January 16, 2026
You know what HELL yeah!! I am so glad this lived up to my expectations, it was just FUN. I loved the chemistry between Penn and Ruby, and I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time🫶🏻
Did Not Finish
July 11, 202620% in and so over the top obvious with 90s references and Lisa Frank house, who are we fooling here.
Add to my DNF pile.
Add to my DNF pile.
July 22, 2026
I was really excited for the idea of this story, but the execution was mostly nonsense, unfortunately. I didn't feel like I understood why Ruby regards Penn as a nemesis in her regular life, which means the tension that was supposed to engage me in the complexity of their relationship never really snagged me.
The MASH game itself also didn't play out compellingly—for as much as Ruby talks about navigating the rules of the scenario, I felt like I couldn't follow what exactly was governing the situation or which details were supposed to be significant (did it matter to her ability to finish the game whether the fish died? IDK!).
And then we run into the problem of the story switching back to her real life: the issue of her having to hurriedly apply all the things she learned to her old life just makes it all feel rushed and unsatisfying. I kind of wish she'd just stayed in MASH world. Whatever.
The MASH game itself also didn't play out compellingly—for as much as Ruby talks about navigating the rules of the scenario, I felt like I couldn't follow what exactly was governing the situation or which details were supposed to be significant (did it matter to her ability to finish the game whether the fish died? IDK!).
And then we run into the problem of the story switching back to her real life: the issue of her having to hurriedly apply all the things she learned to her old life just makes it all feel rushed and unsatisfying. I kind of wish she'd just stayed in MASH world. Whatever.
![Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1746468325i/66224803._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
September 12, 2026
4.5 🌟
“Promise you’ll carry me home?“
He tilts down to whisper in my ear. „I’d carry you anywhere.“
That was so so cute and nostalgic?
I want to wake up in my middleschool dream life too (our world would have magic and vampires and all - rather cool world to live in), but waking up in a colorful world where you have your own rollerblade diner??? How freaking cool is that?
I loved the whole vibe, the nostalgic feel and the colorful fun atmosphere.
The only thing I really didn’t need to read about was breast hair. (But that’s a personal preference!)
“Promise you’ll carry me home?“
He tilts down to whisper in my ear. „I’d carry you anywhere.“
That was so so cute and nostalgic?
I want to wake up in my middleschool dream life too (our world would have magic and vampires and all - rather cool world to live in), but waking up in a colorful world where you have your own rollerblade diner??? How freaking cool is that?
I loved the whole vibe, the nostalgic feel and the colorful fun atmosphere.
The only thing I really didn’t need to read about was breast hair. (But that’s a personal preference!)
August 10, 2026
This was really sweet and so nostalgic! I wasn’t obsessed with it like I hoped I would be, but I still had a good time reading it. All of the millennial pop culture references and trends stole the show. ✨ I do think highlighting so many of those elements throughout took me out of the story a bit. There was some depth there to Ruby coming into her own and to her romance with Penn. But, it wasn’t as deep as I typically prefer my books to be, nor did it have life lessons I would extend to myself. I just had trouble fully connecting. But, overall, I’m glad I read this book. It took me down memory lane. I’ve always been a sucker for all things millennial nostalgia. My personality in that regard has never changed. So, getting to discover other people who are still living in the best years (because let’s be real, millennials rock 🤭) in their minds and seeing so many of these trends come back in style is something I am going to soak up for a good, long while! 🩷
* I’m not going to put a lot of content tags on this review like I usually do. The romance is fade to black with some innuendo that’s treated a lot like jokes (in classic early 2000s rom com fashion). The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, so I wouldn’t recommend going into it to nitpick things. Just enjoy the nostalgia trip. 😉
* I’m not going to put a lot of content tags on this review like I usually do. The romance is fade to black with some innuendo that’s treated a lot like jokes (in classic early 2000s rom com fashion). The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, so I wouldn’t recommend going into it to nitpick things. Just enjoy the nostalgia trip. 😉
July 14, 2026
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if your middle school game of MASH suddenly became your real life, The Mash Up delivers exactly that kind of nostalgic, magical-detour premise.
Ruby thinks she has her life figured out until her birthday takes an unexpected turn. Her boyfriend, Connor, announces he’s moving to New York City and asks her to either come with him or try long distance. Neither option feels right. That same night she stumbles across an old MASH prediction from middle school—and wakes up living the life it promised. Instead of being an accountant with an Ann Taylor wardrobe, she’s a roller-skating waitress with a tie-dye Jeep Wrangler, 13 pet fish, a pink mansion, and zero kids. As Ruby navigates this wildly different reality, she’s forced to figure out what she actually wants from her life before finding her way back.
This reminded me a lot of Kate Robb’s books, with that same whimsical “what if your life took a magical detour?” concept. It’s a premise I genuinely enjoyed, and there were plenty of nostalgic details that made me smile.
That said, I liked the idea of this book more than I liked the book itself.
The story follows a fairly predictable path, and because the emotional beats were so easy to anticipate, the ending didn’t have the payoff I was hoping for. The alternate-timeline romance with Penn—Ruby’s brother’s best friend—never fully clicked for me either. He was perfectly nice, but the characterization felt too flat for me to become invested in their relationship.
Overall, the biggest weakness was the characterization. Most of the cast felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wishing for sharper dialogue and more emotional depth. I kept thinking that with stronger character work, this could have been a five-star concept.
Still, if you’re looking for a light, low-spice rom-com with a heavy dose of ’90s nostalgia and magical realism, this may be worth picking up.
And for the vibes? This book smells like cucumber melon Bath & Body Works body spray and sounds like “Lovefool” by The Cardigans.
Ruby thinks she has her life figured out until her birthday takes an unexpected turn. Her boyfriend, Connor, announces he’s moving to New York City and asks her to either come with him or try long distance. Neither option feels right. That same night she stumbles across an old MASH prediction from middle school—and wakes up living the life it promised. Instead of being an accountant with an Ann Taylor wardrobe, she’s a roller-skating waitress with a tie-dye Jeep Wrangler, 13 pet fish, a pink mansion, and zero kids. As Ruby navigates this wildly different reality, she’s forced to figure out what she actually wants from her life before finding her way back.
This reminded me a lot of Kate Robb’s books, with that same whimsical “what if your life took a magical detour?” concept. It’s a premise I genuinely enjoyed, and there were plenty of nostalgic details that made me smile.
That said, I liked the idea of this book more than I liked the book itself.
The story follows a fairly predictable path, and because the emotional beats were so easy to anticipate, the ending didn’t have the payoff I was hoping for. The alternate-timeline romance with Penn—Ruby’s brother’s best friend—never fully clicked for me either. He was perfectly nice, but the characterization felt too flat for me to become invested in their relationship.
Overall, the biggest weakness was the characterization. Most of the cast felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wishing for sharper dialogue and more emotional depth. I kept thinking that with stronger character work, this could have been a five-star concept.
Still, if you’re looking for a light, low-spice rom-com with a heavy dose of ’90s nostalgia and magical realism, this may be worth picking up.
And for the vibes? This book smells like cucumber melon Bath & Body Works body spray and sounds like “Lovefool” by The Cardigans.
January 17, 2026
This was SUCH a lovely debut!! The writing is witty and fun and oh so nostalgic! The concept of falling into a MASH game from your teen years is just so intriguing and I love the way it played out for Ruby and Penn’s story. What I didn’t expect was the the absolutely gut punch it delivered!! This book talks a lot about Ruby’s plans for her life and how now, in her 30s, it looks nothing like what she imagined for herself. As someone also actively going through a career crisis and feeling like I’m too old, or too late to make a change, this was JUST the book I needed. I only wish it wrapped up slightly differently, otherwise it would have been a perfect 5 for me!!
-
full review to come but i had truly the most fun with this!! the nostalgia was everything!! i laughed out out!! a wonderful wonderful wonderful debut!!
-
full review to come but i had truly the most fun with this!! the nostalgia was everything!! i laughed out out!! a wonderful wonderful wonderful debut!!
September 13, 2026
The MASH Up is cute and sweet. It is modern take of second chance romance. I like the story. Miss Meyers put effort on her imagination to have the story alive for her readers.
4 stars
4 stars
August 10, 2026
DNF at 65%. I couldn’t do it anymore. I’m so bummed too. I was looking forward to this book but it was just bad. I didn’t care about any of the characters. The writing was so repetitive I thought I was going insane. The story was such a good idea but the execution was so bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,862 reviews