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The Year We Turned Forty
If you could repeat one year of your life, what would you do differently? This heartwarming and hilarious novel from the authors of The Status of All Things and Your Perfect Life features three best friends who get the chance to return to the year they turned forty—the year that altered all of their lives, in ways big and small—and also get the opportunity to change their future.
Jessie loves her son Lucas more than anything, but it tears her up inside that he was conceived in an affair that ended her marriage to a man she still loves, a man who just told her he's getting remarried. This time around, she’s determined to bury the secret of Lucas’ paternity, and to repair the fissures that sent her wandering the first time.
Gabriela regrets that she wasted her most fertile years in hot pursuit of a publishing career. Yes, she’s one of the biggest authors in the world, but maybe what she really wanted to create was a family. With a chance to do it again, she’s focused on convincing her husband, Colin, to give her the baby she desires.
Claire is the only one who has made peace with her her twenty-two year old daughter, Emily, is finally on track after the turmoil of adolescence, and she's recently gotten engaged, with the two carat diamond on her finger to prove it. But if she’s being honest, Claire still fantasizes about her own missed a chance to bond with her mother before it was too late, and the possibility of preventing her daughter from years of anguish. Plus, there’s the man who got away—the man who may have been her one true love.
But it doesn’t take long for all three women to learn that re-living a life and making different decisions only leads to new problems and consequences—and that the mistakes they made may, in fact, have been the best choices of all…
Jessie loves her son Lucas more than anything, but it tears her up inside that he was conceived in an affair that ended her marriage to a man she still loves, a man who just told her he's getting remarried. This time around, she’s determined to bury the secret of Lucas’ paternity, and to repair the fissures that sent her wandering the first time.
Gabriela regrets that she wasted her most fertile years in hot pursuit of a publishing career. Yes, she’s one of the biggest authors in the world, but maybe what she really wanted to create was a family. With a chance to do it again, she’s focused on convincing her husband, Colin, to give her the baby she desires.
Claire is the only one who has made peace with her her twenty-two year old daughter, Emily, is finally on track after the turmoil of adolescence, and she's recently gotten engaged, with the two carat diamond on her finger to prove it. But if she’s being honest, Claire still fantasizes about her own missed a chance to bond with her mother before it was too late, and the possibility of preventing her daughter from years of anguish. Plus, there’s the man who got away—the man who may have been her one true love.
But it doesn’t take long for all three women to learn that re-living a life and making different decisions only leads to new problems and consequences—and that the mistakes they made may, in fact, have been the best choices of all…
322 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
417 people are currently reading
12918 people want to read
About the author
Liz Fenton
11 books1,682 followersLiz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have been best friends for over thirty years and survived high school and college together. They’ve co-authored nine novels, including the Amazon Charts bestseller, The Good Widow.
In addition to writing books, they created a podcast, We Fight So You Don’t Have to: Lessons from a thirty-year friendship.
They both reside in San Diego, California with their families and several rescue dogs.Connect with Liz and Lisa on Instagram at @lisaandliz or at www.lizandlisa.com.
Connect with Liz and Lisa on social media: www.lizandlisa.com
Instagram: @lisaandliz
FB: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Substack: lizandlisa
In addition to writing books, they created a podcast, We Fight So You Don’t Have to: Lessons from a thirty-year friendship.
They both reside in San Diego, California with their families and several rescue dogs.Connect with Liz and Lisa on Instagram at @lisaandliz or at www.lizandlisa.com.
Connect with Liz and Lisa on social media: www.lizandlisa.com
Instagram: @lisaandliz
FB: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Substack: lizandlisa
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 938 reviews
February 16, 2017
I think most of us can probably look back on our past and pinpoint that one moment where we can say "That right there. That's the moment." that altered the course of our lives. But what if you were given the chance to go back in time to that moment and possibly change the outcome of your life? Would you take it?
At the age of fifty, three best friends; Jessie, Claire, and Gabriela are not entirely happy with the way their lives have turned out. Each woman is living with regret from mistakes and decisions made mainly during the year they all turned forty. When the opportunity presents itself to go back ten years and redo the most crucial year of their lives, of course they take it.
They have exactly one year to change their decisions and hope for a better outcome this time around. But what they'll soon realize, with each new decision made comes a new repercussion unwittingly impacting the lives of the people around them. Will they choose to stay in this new life or will they return to the old? There's just one rule, they must all agree on the same path.
We see these women struggling to make everything right this go round but it becomes apparent that certain things are going to come about no matter what, just maybe in a different manner. The story deals with real life issues, making it relatable to a variety of us. Fertility issues, infidelity, death, divorce, and raising children.
I loved how thought provoking this story was. We all have those what if moments that we wish we could change. Unfortunately we're not all lucky enough to time travel though. This novel really makes you appreciate the life you do have and not to take it for granted.
Overall, I really loved this book and highly recommend it! I was on the fence when I first started but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself so invested in these characters' lives. I definitely think this is a book everyone should read at some point. THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY releases April 26, 2016. Preorder your copy now!
*Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
At the age of fifty, three best friends; Jessie, Claire, and Gabriela are not entirely happy with the way their lives have turned out. Each woman is living with regret from mistakes and decisions made mainly during the year they all turned forty. When the opportunity presents itself to go back ten years and redo the most crucial year of their lives, of course they take it.
They have exactly one year to change their decisions and hope for a better outcome this time around. But what they'll soon realize, with each new decision made comes a new repercussion unwittingly impacting the lives of the people around them. Will they choose to stay in this new life or will they return to the old? There's just one rule, they must all agree on the same path.
We see these women struggling to make everything right this go round but it becomes apparent that certain things are going to come about no matter what, just maybe in a different manner. The story deals with real life issues, making it relatable to a variety of us. Fertility issues, infidelity, death, divorce, and raising children.
I loved how thought provoking this story was. We all have those what if moments that we wish we could change. Unfortunately we're not all lucky enough to time travel though. This novel really makes you appreciate the life you do have and not to take it for granted.
Overall, I really loved this book and highly recommend it! I was on the fence when I first started but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself so invested in these characters' lives. I definitely think this is a book everyone should read at some point. THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY releases April 26, 2016. Preorder your copy now!
*Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
April 25, 2016
3 1/2 stars. I recently read a few heavy themed books, and I definitely needed something light and fluffy, and The Year We Turned Forty did the trick. The book starts off when best friends Jessie, Claire and Gabriela turn 50. They each have regrets about the course their lives have taken that they trace back to key events that happened around when they were 40. Magically -- literally -- they are given a chance to go back to age 40 for a year, after which they will have to choose whether to stay the course reliving their 40s or jump back to being 50. This premise gives co-authors Fenton and Steinke an opportunity to be quite playful in unpacking what it might mean to consciously get to relive a part of your life. There are plenty of unintended consequences -- good and bad -- and many moments of reckoning. It's all quite cheesy and delivered in bite sized emotions, but it made for a very decent light fast read. If I had read it at another time, I might have been harsher about the premise and its unfolding. But I went in needing something light, and it kept my attention, and it kept me guessing until the end about whether Jessie, Claire and Gabriela would choose to relive their 40s or jump back to their 50s. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
January 25, 2016
Like its predecessors, THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY is an absolutely gem of a novel by the very talented Liz & Lisa duo. This book will have you laughing and crying all at the same time, as it dives into three women's lives as they go back in time to try and amend their wrongs for a second chance to make things right. It's beautifully written and thought provoking, too, discussing issues which as women we can all relate to: marriage, motherhood, infertility, careers, and more. A flawless book. Must read! Thrilled to get my hands on this one a bit early, but look for it in April - well worth the wait!
November 20, 2015
Dear Reader,
We really enjoyed writing THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY, about three best friends who get the opportunity to re-live a year of their lives, one that they each made choices that altered things forever. I hope you enjoy and can't wait to hear what you think! xoxo, Liz
We really enjoyed writing THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY, about three best friends who get the opportunity to re-live a year of their lives, one that they each made choices that altered things forever. I hope you enjoy and can't wait to hear what you think! xoxo, Liz
January 11, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this story. I found that this book grabbed my interest right from the start and was a rather solid read until the very end. I found that I wanted the best for these three women and hoped that the choices that they were making would work out for them. I wondered what I would do if I were thrust into the same situation that they were presented with and still haven't decided on an answer.
Jesse, Claire, and Gabriela have been best friends for years and have always celebrated their birthdays together. The celebration for their fortieth birthday was one of the more memorable parties since it ended with Jesse going into labor with her son, Lucas. Fast forward ten years and the trio is celebrating their fiftieth in Las Vegas where they are given the chance to go back and relive the year they turned forty.
I loved the concept behind this story. Who doesn't have things in their past that they would love to go back and change? I know I could compile a rather long list of things I wish I had done differently without a problem. These three ladies all of have major things that they want to change. Jesse wants to save her marriage, which fell apart after the birth of her son. Gabriela wants to have a baby. Claire wants to save her mother who died from cancer that year. The changes that they are making create such an impact that other unexpected changes start occurring and they have no idea how to handle everything.
I liked these three characters. They were all flawed and made some pretty big mistakes in their lives. I found Jesse and Claire to be my favorites of the group. Gabriela was so focused on her single goal of having a baby that she pushed everything else aside. Jesse wasn't able to change the biggest obstacle to saving her marriage but she could change how she handled things. I wasn't always happy with the choices she was making but I understood why she made them. Claire had a lot to deal with and I understood her desperation to save her mother and improve her relationship with her daughter.
This was my first experience listening to Lisa Larsen's narration but I think she was a great choice for this story. She was able to capture these three characters along with all of the emotions that they were experiencing. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no problems listening to her for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a thought-provoking story of three friends trying to repair some of the mistakes in their lives. There were no easy fixes in this story and all of the changes they accomplished took a lot of hard work. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from this talented writing pair in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library via Hoopla.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed this story. This book takes a look at three friends who get the opportunity at age 50 to go back 10 years and try to do things differently. It was a rather interesting plot that made me wonder if I would have made the same decision in their place. Of course, there are things in my life I wish I could change but if I did where would I be right now? Their 40th year was memorable, to say the least, and it was interesting to see how many things changed often unexpectedly. I thought that the narrator did a great job with the story and added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
I really enjoyed this story. I found that this book grabbed my interest right from the start and was a rather solid read until the very end. I found that I wanted the best for these three women and hoped that the choices that they were making would work out for them. I wondered what I would do if I were thrust into the same situation that they were presented with and still haven't decided on an answer.
Jesse, Claire, and Gabriela have been best friends for years and have always celebrated their birthdays together. The celebration for their fortieth birthday was one of the more memorable parties since it ended with Jesse going into labor with her son, Lucas. Fast forward ten years and the trio is celebrating their fiftieth in Las Vegas where they are given the chance to go back and relive the year they turned forty.
I loved the concept behind this story. Who doesn't have things in their past that they would love to go back and change? I know I could compile a rather long list of things I wish I had done differently without a problem. These three ladies all of have major things that they want to change. Jesse wants to save her marriage, which fell apart after the birth of her son. Gabriela wants to have a baby. Claire wants to save her mother who died from cancer that year. The changes that they are making create such an impact that other unexpected changes start occurring and they have no idea how to handle everything.
I liked these three characters. They were all flawed and made some pretty big mistakes in their lives. I found Jesse and Claire to be my favorites of the group. Gabriela was so focused on her single goal of having a baby that she pushed everything else aside. Jesse wasn't able to change the biggest obstacle to saving her marriage but she could change how she handled things. I wasn't always happy with the choices she was making but I understood why she made them. Claire had a lot to deal with and I understood her desperation to save her mother and improve her relationship with her daughter.
This was my first experience listening to Lisa Larsen's narration but I think she was a great choice for this story. She was able to capture these three characters along with all of the emotions that they were experiencing. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no problems listening to her for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a thought-provoking story of three friends trying to repair some of the mistakes in their lives. There were no easy fixes in this story and all of the changes they accomplished took a lot of hard work. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from this talented writing pair in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library via Hoopla.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed this story. This book takes a look at three friends who get the opportunity at age 50 to go back 10 years and try to do things differently. It was a rather interesting plot that made me wonder if I would have made the same decision in their place. Of course, there are things in my life I wish I could change but if I did where would I be right now? Their 40th year was memorable, to say the least, and it was interesting to see how many things changed often unexpectedly. I thought that the narrator did a great job with the story and added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
April 26, 2016
A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Contemporary authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, BFF’s in real life, return following their hit, The Status of All Things, with THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY —an exploration (wild ride), turning back the clock, for some "time travel" and a little magical fantasy of, “what if.”
Mixed with humor, pop-culture, friendship, relationships and chick-lit domestic contemporary drama—a story of three California best friends, Gabriela, Jessie, and Claire.
Gabriela, Jessie, and Claire's birthdays fall within a few months of each other—Gabriela in late May, Claire in June, and Jessie in July—and they’d made a vow almost twenty years before, while sipping beers at a dive bar in Newport Beach-- to always celebrate together.
Each of the women have their own personal and professional issues. From infidelity, marriage, divorce, fertility, death, children and years spent building career, with motherhood put aside. Regrets, second chances, second guessing decisions, made over the years. Re-thinking their choices and if they had taken different paths, how would their lives be different.
The gals head to Vegas to celebrate their 50th birthday-- a chance at a do over, to go back 10 years. One year to change decisions, and hope for a better outcome--the second time around. Excited for a chance to change the course of their lives; however, maybe their decisions were not so bad, after all.
Mixed with wit, wisdom, charm, and life’s messiness—The power of female friendship, with Liz and Lisa’s own trademark-special entertaining style.
JDCMustReadBooks
Contemporary authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, BFF’s in real life, return following their hit, The Status of All Things, with THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY —an exploration (wild ride), turning back the clock, for some "time travel" and a little magical fantasy of, “what if.”
Mixed with humor, pop-culture, friendship, relationships and chick-lit domestic contemporary drama—a story of three California best friends, Gabriela, Jessie, and Claire.
Gabriela, Jessie, and Claire's birthdays fall within a few months of each other—Gabriela in late May, Claire in June, and Jessie in July—and they’d made a vow almost twenty years before, while sipping beers at a dive bar in Newport Beach-- to always celebrate together.
Each of the women have their own personal and professional issues. From infidelity, marriage, divorce, fertility, death, children and years spent building career, with motherhood put aside. Regrets, second chances, second guessing decisions, made over the years. Re-thinking their choices and if they had taken different paths, how would their lives be different.
The gals head to Vegas to celebrate their 50th birthday-- a chance at a do over, to go back 10 years. One year to change decisions, and hope for a better outcome--the second time around. Excited for a chance to change the course of their lives; however, maybe their decisions were not so bad, after all.
Mixed with wit, wisdom, charm, and life’s messiness—The power of female friendship, with Liz and Lisa’s own trademark-special entertaining style.
JDCMustReadBooks
September 15, 2025
“Sometimes you have to fight like hell for something, even when you doubt you deserve it.”
― Liz Fenton, The Year We Turned Forty
Imagine if you had a chance to go back in time and change things a bit..or alot. You had the chance to alter certain choices that you made at the time, certain decisions. But that would also mean anything that happens after that, would change as well. Your whole life would change. Do you do it?
That was the premise in this delightful book about a group of women who get just that choice. What they choose to do and what choices they regret are the story. And what a story it is! It manages to be both fun and sweet as well as introspective and serious..all at the same time.
I don't honestly know ANYONE in life who has no regrets about SOMETHING..and it is usually more than one thing. The power of this book is taking it one step further..with a bit of magical realism. What if one COULD go back and change destiny? What would happen?
I usually do not like books involving time travel but this story really is not about the time travel itself. It's about human choices. And how we feel about our lives. I found this book poignant, tender and at times funny while also being quite thought provoking. This is an excellent choice.
― Liz Fenton, The Year We Turned Forty
Imagine if you had a chance to go back in time and change things a bit..or alot. You had the chance to alter certain choices that you made at the time, certain decisions. But that would also mean anything that happens after that, would change as well. Your whole life would change. Do you do it?
That was the premise in this delightful book about a group of women who get just that choice. What they choose to do and what choices they regret are the story. And what a story it is! It manages to be both fun and sweet as well as introspective and serious..all at the same time.
I don't honestly know ANYONE in life who has no regrets about SOMETHING..and it is usually more than one thing. The power of this book is taking it one step further..with a bit of magical realism. What if one COULD go back and change destiny? What would happen?
I usually do not like books involving time travel but this story really is not about the time travel itself. It's about human choices. And how we feel about our lives. I found this book poignant, tender and at times funny while also being quite thought provoking. This is an excellent choice.
October 31, 2018
Thank you Goodreads First Reads for my copy of The Year We Turned Forty! :) I am looking forward to reading it!
May 15, 2016
Do you ever wish you could go back and relive a moment even if just for the sole purpose of making a different choice about something? In The Year We Turned Forty, three fifty-year-old women get the opportunity to do just that. Co-authors: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke incorporate magical realism in the storyline to assist their characters in going back in time and doing a year over, their 40th to be exact. Issues addressed in this book include parenting, fertility, faithfulness, priorities, regret, second chances, and letting go/moving on. Overall, I liked this book. I understand that there is always a "turning point" in one's life that seems to set events in motion and it's easy to feel that if that period of time was different then life would be much easier, and that may be very true. However, I strongly believe every day is a chance to start fresh and make things right again. Learn from your past, let it go, and move forward anew. We all possess the power to take control of our own life - use it!
My favorite quote:
"You never really get over losing someone or something you love. But the world keeps moving and you have to also or you will get lost. Learning to accept things and move on isn't a weakness, it's a strength."
Note: Authors and best friends: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have colaberated on several standalone, women's fiction novels. Take a look at the synopses and consider checking them out!
Your Perfect Life (2014)
The Status of All Things (2015)
The Year We Turned Forty (2016)
May 19, 2016
This one really fell flat for me. I get the point they were trying to make but with the ending, I think they missed it (or maybe I did, I don't know lol).
I felt like too much of this book was just stress and whining and negativity and towards the end, the last 20 or so pages, I just felt myself skimming to get through it.
I felt like too much of this book was just stress and whining and negativity and towards the end, the last 20 or so pages, I just felt myself skimming to get through it.
May 27, 2016
I think this genre isn't for me. I found this to be a painful read. The lack of insight these characters seemed to display, despite having a second go at things was beyond frustrating. I found myself wanting it to be over well before I was halfway through. I'm sure this holds appeal for the right reader. That reader just isn't me.
June 29, 2020
Personally, I have spent most of my adulthood stating "no regrets" and I really don't spend much time reflecting on going back in time. However, this book has me thinking that maybe I might want to go back to a specific year and maybe have a do-over. Because for friends Jessie, Gabriela, and Claire that is exactly what happens when they go to Vegas to celebrate their 50th birthdays. A chance to go back ten years in time and perhaps fix the events that turned their personal lives upside down. Of course, nothing goes exactly as any of the women believes that it will. But that just makes it even more relatable and heartfelt as all three women are forced to actually deal with their issues.
Quite simply, I really enjoyed being in the lives of these three women who all go through their heartaches- infidelity, childbirth, tensions with children, career moves, etc. This novel truly moved me and I considered it one of my favorites of 2020.
Goodreads 29/06/20
Quite simply, I really enjoyed being in the lives of these three women who all go through their heartaches- infidelity, childbirth, tensions with children, career moves, etc. This novel truly moved me and I considered it one of my favorites of 2020.
Goodreads 29/06/20
September 14, 2016
3.5 stars: This was a book club read. It’s summer, so we wanted something light and airy, yet entertaining. This is a perfect novel for those mid-lifers who question some of their previous life decisions. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to go back in time and get a “do-over”?
Three friends turn fifty in one year, and when the youngest of the three turns fifty, they get a chance to re-live their fortieth year….together. Yes, they will know what they know now, and get a chance for some do-overs. All three will go back in time, but the deal is, at the end of that year, they have to make a group decision as to whether they stay at that point in time, or they go forward to their 50th year.
What I enjoyed is that the authors allowed their characters to “tweak” their lives, although there were unforeseen consequences of those tweaks. It was very “realistic” as to decision consequences. Each character grew and realized sometimes there are no black/white answers. Life is grey and all you can control is yourself.
It’s an interesting premise. At book club, we discussed if we would want a do-over and what year in our lives it would be.
I recommend it as a great summer fluff piece.
Three friends turn fifty in one year, and when the youngest of the three turns fifty, they get a chance to re-live their fortieth year….together. Yes, they will know what they know now, and get a chance for some do-overs. All three will go back in time, but the deal is, at the end of that year, they have to make a group decision as to whether they stay at that point in time, or they go forward to their 50th year.
What I enjoyed is that the authors allowed their characters to “tweak” their lives, although there were unforeseen consequences of those tweaks. It was very “realistic” as to decision consequences. Each character grew and realized sometimes there are no black/white answers. Life is grey and all you can control is yourself.
It’s an interesting premise. At book club, we discussed if we would want a do-over and what year in our lives it would be.
I recommend it as a great summer fluff piece.
January 11, 2016
Another winner from Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke. Three best friends who are turning 50 are given a chance to relive the year they turned 40. Liz & Lisa's skill is not only in creating likable, relatable characters (even if you don't agree with them...my heart was right there with each woman) but emotional, wonderful endings. In all three of their books it's a case of will a) happen or will b) happen (in this, will the women stay in their "new" life or go back to age 50) and I can never decide what I want to happen or what I think WILL happen. And in every case (most definitely in this one), the story is concluded perfectly and I'm like, of course that's the right answer! The perfect gift for your girlfriends, sister, or mom on a milestone birthday.
April 3, 2016
Liz and Lisa did it again - took a magical premise and brought it to life. Bravo.
May 31, 2016
I'll be a little more generous and give this a 2.5. SO out of my comfort zone. It was like a poor man's Post Birthday World/Sliding Doors. A chance to try out the "what if." Would life have been better had you made one different decision? My life may have been better had I not spent prime pool time reading this book. The characters were flat. The premise was ridiculous and I'm not sure that reliving their fortieth year accomplished anything or even had a good resolution (or a resolution at all). And the fact that these three friends all agreed to do this based upon the suggestion of a magician...well, yuck. Not to mention the logistics of it all and how some of what happened in the do-over could never have happened. Just poorly thought out. This book was neither heartwarming nor hilarious. If anything, it was just annoying.
July 5, 2016
Please note that I gave this book 2.5 stars and rounded it up to 3 stars on Goodreads.
I honestly don't want to spend a lot of time on this review. The book synopsis spoils a ton of things so I can't claim I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
I was honestly not that engaged with the character of Jessie or Gabriela. I liked Clarie's story-line the most. Maybe because that one felt the most honest and she actually seemed to be learning from the trios gift to go back and relieve their 40th birthday year again.
I felt like Jessie and Gabriela's story-lines were not developed enough and honestly I didn't have much sympathy for either character.
Jessie has an affair and suffered the consequences from that affair for 10 years after her husband divorced her. What I don't see is any sense of remorse from her at all. Jessie blames her husband and even the man she had an affair with. She does her best to keep her son's real father away from him because all she can think of is that it will mess up her life all over again if the affair comes out. I just wish that there had been more there.
Gabriela decides after watching her friend Jessie with her new born son that she wants a baby. Even though she was the one to tell her husband time and time again that she didn't want to have kids. I really didn't get the sense ever that Gabriela wanted kids. In fact, nothing about her sudden switcharoo made any sense though I think the authors kept trying to over explain it. Her storyline delves into Lifetime Movie territory with Gabriela deciding that having a baby may be even more important than staying married to a man that she claims to love.
Claire's storyline got me the most. She really doesn't want to go back and revisit her 40th year. She has some regrets. But she's in a good place finally with her daughter and is now engaged to a man. She does it though because her two friends ask her to. It was good to see Claire realizing that she allowed her daughter Emily to bully her, that because she allowed her anything she wanted, she had raised a self absorbed brat that ruined her last relationship. I also loved that we get to see Claire spending time with her mother during her second chance.
The secondary characters are not developed at all. There are husbands and a boyfriend in this one and I honestly can only remember the one guy's name. They didn't stand out at all. And in Jessie's case I needed to see more why her going back in time to fight for her husband this time through needed to happen, because from what I read, there was nothing there to write home about.
I can honestly say that I hated for all of the story-lines each women was in the wrong somehow. Heck, Jessie's story-line though I hated it, there were some kernels of truth in there on how her husband started seeing her as a glorified roommate. But she could have stepped up and demanded date nights, told him how she was feeling, etc.
The writing was fine, but I am not going to lie, I was not wholly engaged while reading this. This is a perfectly serviceable book, but not one I would go out of my way to read.
The flow was bad from beginning to end though. I think it was because even though we have the characters who go back on their 50th birthday to their 40th birthday year, we had each one of them bringing it up constantly. We had Jessie and Claire keeping secrets from Gabriela and it didn't make a lot of sense why. Jumping from person to person wrecked the whole book. I think it would have been better to focus on one or maybe even two people and that was it.
The ending pretty much made me roll my eyes. Every character had a happy ending. And even though people in this story (secondary characters) made different choices prior to the three women going back in time, they somehow all were these picture pefect people.
I honestly don't want to spend a lot of time on this review. The book synopsis spoils a ton of things so I can't claim I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
I was honestly not that engaged with the character of Jessie or Gabriela. I liked Clarie's story-line the most. Maybe because that one felt the most honest and she actually seemed to be learning from the trios gift to go back and relieve their 40th birthday year again.
I felt like Jessie and Gabriela's story-lines were not developed enough and honestly I didn't have much sympathy for either character.
Jessie has an affair and suffered the consequences from that affair for 10 years after her husband divorced her. What I don't see is any sense of remorse from her at all. Jessie blames her husband and even the man she had an affair with. She does her best to keep her son's real father away from him because all she can think of is that it will mess up her life all over again if the affair comes out. I just wish that there had been more there.
Gabriela decides after watching her friend Jessie with her new born son that she wants a baby. Even though she was the one to tell her husband time and time again that she didn't want to have kids. I really didn't get the sense ever that Gabriela wanted kids. In fact, nothing about her sudden switcharoo made any sense though I think the authors kept trying to over explain it. Her storyline delves into Lifetime Movie territory with Gabriela deciding that having a baby may be even more important than staying married to a man that she claims to love.
Claire's storyline got me the most. She really doesn't want to go back and revisit her 40th year. She has some regrets. But she's in a good place finally with her daughter and is now engaged to a man. She does it though because her two friends ask her to. It was good to see Claire realizing that she allowed her daughter Emily to bully her, that because she allowed her anything she wanted, she had raised a self absorbed brat that ruined her last relationship. I also loved that we get to see Claire spending time with her mother during her second chance.
The secondary characters are not developed at all. There are husbands and a boyfriend in this one and I honestly can only remember the one guy's name. They didn't stand out at all. And in Jessie's case I needed to see more why her going back in time to fight for her husband this time through needed to happen, because from what I read, there was nothing there to write home about.
I can honestly say that I hated for all of the story-lines each women was in the wrong somehow. Heck, Jessie's story-line though I hated it, there were some kernels of truth in there on how her husband started seeing her as a glorified roommate. But she could have stepped up and demanded date nights, told him how she was feeling, etc.
The writing was fine, but I am not going to lie, I was not wholly engaged while reading this. This is a perfectly serviceable book, but not one I would go out of my way to read.
The flow was bad from beginning to end though. I think it was because even though we have the characters who go back on their 50th birthday to their 40th birthday year, we had each one of them bringing it up constantly. We had Jessie and Claire keeping secrets from Gabriela and it didn't make a lot of sense why. Jumping from person to person wrecked the whole book. I think it would have been better to focus on one or maybe even two people and that was it.
The ending pretty much made me roll my eyes. Every character had a happy ending. And even though people in this story (secondary characters) made different choices prior to the three women going back in time, they somehow all were these picture pefect people.
August 17, 2019
3 stars.
It was an OK read. Nice, but not exciting.
I enjoyed the first part the most, and after the three main characters return to the past it went downhill. The rest of the book was just mundane for the most part.
It was an OK read. Nice, but not exciting.
I enjoyed the first part the most, and after the three main characters return to the past it went downhill. The rest of the book was just mundane for the most part.
April 25, 2016
[4.5 stars]
THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY is a story you feel—relatable, heart rending, poignant with its steady, measured pace. It’s a story of friendship and marriages, lovers and exes, parents and children. Three best friends get a second chance to get things right, to fix regrets, to meddle with their fate and the fate of those they love. Theirs is a story rife with both introspection and action as they trudge through their emotional mire to seize their best chance at happiness.
For long-time friends Jessie, Gabriela and Claire, turning fifty was bittersweet—life battles had been fought, lovers had been lost, marriages had broken, children had grown. And despite trying to look forward, the actions from the past still weighed heavily on their present. So when in a twist of birthday magic they get the chance to rewind ten years, to the year they turned forty, they take tremulous leaps of faith to smooth out their life’s wrinkles.
For Jessie, going back meant fighting for her marriage. Back then, she’d felt discarded, unseen, until one night, a drink too many and a growing desperation freed, she’d had an affair and conceived a son. One night, one decision had torn apart her relationship. Going back would mean keeping the truth buried, but keeping her marriage in tact too. She couldn’t let the opportunity pass.
Gabriela was a famous, bestselling author, but she’d chosen not to start a family with her husband Colin, until turning forty changed everything… by then Colin wasn’t willing to have a baby. The ache of that decision had never ebbed, and to her, going back meant a final chance to convince her husband that having a child was the right choice.
Of the three of them, Claire had made peace with her life. She’d struggled with her spirited daughter for years, but now they were finally on track. Yes, her husband had been the kind of father they were better off without and so she’d raised Emily on her own. She’d always wondered, however, if she’d let the one go—a man who was good and loving and had stayed clearly in her past as a result of one of her choices. Could going back mean she’d not only further smooth her relationship with her daughter, but also keep the man she’d loved? And could she help save her mother who had died of cancer?
With a nod, the three of them were sent magically back to try to improve their happy ever afters.
What each of them realize, however, is that going back and making decisions would alter more than they had the power to control. Suddenly there were things and people at play that changed everything, made things more complicated. Worse yet, as time ticks on and emotions run high, a rift begins to grow between them and the one thing they’ve counted on for so long—their friendship—begins to splinter under the pressure.
I loved feeling my way through their story. So much of their experiences were relatable, rooted in emotions most of us can understand. It truly was an exploration of the big IF and what it means to really consider our actions, their outcomes and the awareness we have around the goodness in our lives. With a mix of sadness, determination, love, wit and an irresistible effervescence, these three women discover what (and whom) matters the most. THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY is a wonderful, heart-warming novel to pick up, enjoy!
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow Vilma's Book Blog: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY is a story you feel—relatable, heart rending, poignant with its steady, measured pace. It’s a story of friendship and marriages, lovers and exes, parents and children. Three best friends get a second chance to get things right, to fix regrets, to meddle with their fate and the fate of those they love. Theirs is a story rife with both introspection and action as they trudge through their emotional mire to seize their best chance at happiness.
"I’ve thought about it a lot. And I think the point of going back to that year wasn’t to make everything perfect. It was to learn how to face things head on, instead of running from them or hiding them.”
For long-time friends Jessie, Gabriela and Claire, turning fifty was bittersweet—life battles had been fought, lovers had been lost, marriages had broken, children had grown. And despite trying to look forward, the actions from the past still weighed heavily on their present. So when in a twist of birthday magic they get the chance to rewind ten years, to the year they turned forty, they take tremulous leaps of faith to smooth out their life’s wrinkles.
"So what now?…"
"We try to fix the things we broke the first time.”
For Jessie, going back meant fighting for her marriage. Back then, she’d felt discarded, unseen, until one night, a drink too many and a growing desperation freed, she’d had an affair and conceived a son. One night, one decision had torn apart her relationship. Going back would mean keeping the truth buried, but keeping her marriage in tact too. She couldn’t let the opportunity pass.
"… she was determined to get it right this time.”
Gabriela was a famous, bestselling author, but she’d chosen not to start a family with her husband Colin, until turning forty changed everything… by then Colin wasn’t willing to have a baby. The ache of that decision had never ebbed, and to her, going back meant a final chance to convince her husband that having a child was the right choice.
Of the three of them, Claire had made peace with her life. She’d struggled with her spirited daughter for years, but now they were finally on track. Yes, her husband had been the kind of father they were better off without and so she’d raised Emily on her own. She’d always wondered, however, if she’d let the one go—a man who was good and loving and had stayed clearly in her past as a result of one of her choices. Could going back mean she’d not only further smooth her relationship with her daughter, but also keep the man she’d loved? And could she help save her mother who had died of cancer?
With a nod, the three of them were sent magically back to try to improve their happy ever afters.
"Was it a good year for any of us? No. But I don’t know if the point is to compare. Maybe we need to revise our definition of what better means.”
What each of them realize, however, is that going back and making decisions would alter more than they had the power to control. Suddenly there were things and people at play that changed everything, made things more complicated. Worse yet, as time ticks on and emotions run high, a rift begins to grow between them and the one thing they’ve counted on for so long—their friendship—begins to splinter under the pressure.
"Life wasn’t meant to be played like a game of chess, moving the people you love like pawns to win the game.”
I loved feeling my way through their story. So much of their experiences were relatable, rooted in emotions most of us can understand. It truly was an exploration of the big IF and what it means to really consider our actions, their outcomes and the awareness we have around the goodness in our lives. With a mix of sadness, determination, love, wit and an irresistible effervescence, these three women discover what (and whom) matters the most. THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY is a wonderful, heart-warming novel to pick up, enjoy!
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow Vilma's Book Blog: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 30, 2015
Review on blog: http://www.bookbaristas.org/2015/12/r...
There is something to be said about a book that feels more like life than fiction, that makes you forget how long you’ve been sitting in that reading chair until your legs are cramping and you’ve got to get up and move around. Those kinds of stories grab you, take you in, invite you for a cup of coffee and never let you leave. Those of the stories that Liz & Lisa write because even after closing THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY, I could swear I was still living inside of Gabriela, Claire, and Jessica’s world.
“Was it a good year for any of us? No. But I don’t know if the point is to compare. Maybe we need to revise our definition of what better means.”
THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY follows three best friends who are stuck in life. At the age of fifty, they are living with regrets, mainly mistakes that they made during the year they all turned forty. When the opportunity to actually go back in time to relive their 40th year presents itself, they are apprehensive. If they go back, they might be able to fix what was broken, perhaps make their lives great again. But they soon realize that going back in time to change their lives will indirectly change the lives of those around them.
“Life wasn’t meant to be played like a game of chess, moving the people you love like pawns to win the game.”
I loved this story so much because it gives you a little fiction and a whole lot of real life messes. It makes you question your own actions, how you live the one life you’re given (unless time travel truly is real and we just aren’t aware of it yet). Regardless, you begin to question what you find to be important and what just doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY allows you to see these three best friends struggle through their lives – twice— and ultimately realize that being happy doesn’t mean not having regrets; it means living the life you were given in spite of the bumps in the road.
“…maybe the only way people could know how much they loved something was to be faced with a chance they might lose it. It didn’t mean you should live in constant fear, but rather it should serve as a reminder that love should never be squandered.”
In conclusion, this story is one that you need to read at least once, if not twice, in your lifetime. Everyone needs a kind of reminder that says: love the life you're given, and live it like tomorrow isn't real. Another A+ read from Liz & Lisa! Releases April 26, 2016 -- preorder now!
There is something to be said about a book that feels more like life than fiction, that makes you forget how long you’ve been sitting in that reading chair until your legs are cramping and you’ve got to get up and move around. Those kinds of stories grab you, take you in, invite you for a cup of coffee and never let you leave. Those of the stories that Liz & Lisa write because even after closing THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY, I could swear I was still living inside of Gabriela, Claire, and Jessica’s world.
“Was it a good year for any of us? No. But I don’t know if the point is to compare. Maybe we need to revise our definition of what better means.”
THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY follows three best friends who are stuck in life. At the age of fifty, they are living with regrets, mainly mistakes that they made during the year they all turned forty. When the opportunity to actually go back in time to relive their 40th year presents itself, they are apprehensive. If they go back, they might be able to fix what was broken, perhaps make their lives great again. But they soon realize that going back in time to change their lives will indirectly change the lives of those around them.
“Life wasn’t meant to be played like a game of chess, moving the people you love like pawns to win the game.”
I loved this story so much because it gives you a little fiction and a whole lot of real life messes. It makes you question your own actions, how you live the one life you’re given (unless time travel truly is real and we just aren’t aware of it yet). Regardless, you begin to question what you find to be important and what just doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY allows you to see these three best friends struggle through their lives – twice— and ultimately realize that being happy doesn’t mean not having regrets; it means living the life you were given in spite of the bumps in the road.
“…maybe the only way people could know how much they loved something was to be faced with a chance they might lose it. It didn’t mean you should live in constant fear, but rather it should serve as a reminder that love should never be squandered.”
In conclusion, this story is one that you need to read at least once, if not twice, in your lifetime. Everyone needs a kind of reminder that says: love the life you're given, and live it like tomorrow isn't real. Another A+ read from Liz & Lisa! Releases April 26, 2016 -- preorder now!
April 25, 2016
I always know that I'll get a winner when I pick up a book by Liz and Lisa. The Year We Turned Forty cements this belief. I really can't believe that two writers collaborated on this novel. The writing is so fluid that it sounds like it came from one brain. Each of the three women had a compelling situation and reliving the year they turned forty made for many new changes and complexities.
Normally, time travel books tend to be predictable. However, this novel kept me guessing the entire time. Would they get to go back to how things were or would they get a second chance after their year was up? I was on my toes, anxious for the outcome.
The dialogue and interactions between the women, as well as in their other relationships, was very genuine and realistic. Aside from that, you need to have a suspension of disbelief. Of course that's true whenever time travel is involved. The only thing that seemed a little off to me was the way they were sent back to relive their year. It just felt a bit forced, especially with all the rules involved.
There were some happy moments and some sad ones. I definitely got teary-eyed at times. Bravo to Liz and Lisa for another amazing story. I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve for next year.
Hollywood casting time!
Gabriela: Cote de Pablo
Jessie: Reese Witherspoon
Claire: Charlize Theron (I know I also cast her as Casey in Your Perfect Life, but she was the only one I pictured as Claire.)
Grant: Alex O'Loughlin
Mason: Dax Shepard
Colin: Chris O'Dowd
Normally, time travel books tend to be predictable. However, this novel kept me guessing the entire time. Would they get to go back to how things were or would they get a second chance after their year was up? I was on my toes, anxious for the outcome.
The dialogue and interactions between the women, as well as in their other relationships, was very genuine and realistic. Aside from that, you need to have a suspension of disbelief. Of course that's true whenever time travel is involved. The only thing that seemed a little off to me was the way they were sent back to relive their year. It just felt a bit forced, especially with all the rules involved.
There were some happy moments and some sad ones. I definitely got teary-eyed at times. Bravo to Liz and Lisa for another amazing story. I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve for next year.
Hollywood casting time!
Gabriela: Cote de Pablo
Jessie: Reese Witherspoon
Claire: Charlize Theron (I know I also cast her as Casey in Your Perfect Life, but she was the only one I pictured as Claire.)
Grant: Alex O'Loughlin
Mason: Dax Shepard
Colin: Chris O'Dowd
May 27, 2024
Some people can look back at their life and recognize the instant that it all started to go downhill. What if you were given the chance to go back and make decisions with the advantage of hindsight? It is most definitely a tempting dream. In The Year We Turned Forty, three friends are given such a chance on their fiftieth birthday. They all believe that forty was the year their lives took a turn for the worse. Jessie lost her husband after revealing that the child she was carrying was not his, Claire lost a mother she never had the chance to get close to while also raising a selfish and unruly teenager, and Gabriela put childbirth on the back burner while she focused for too long on her writing career. A magician gives the friends a chance to go back and make different life choices, but after just one year they must decide if they want to stay in the new life they have been given or if they want to return to the future.
This book was so beautifully written. The authors' words kept me engaged and wanting to turn the pages. I could feel the characters' heartache... feel how they longed for things to have turned out differently in their lives. I have never read a book by either author, but they write very well together. The words naturally flowed. I felt like a friend was telling me a story.
I only have two complaints about the book. First, I felt like the ladies believed the magician had the ability to send them back through time too quickly and too easily. If someone told me they could do this, I would likely laugh and walk away. Second, sometimes when all the ladies were in the same scene, the point of view would quickly change from one character to the other, and it could be a bit confusing. I had to re-read a sentence or two a few times to refocus my mind.
I would like to thank Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke, Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so beautifully written. The authors' words kept me engaged and wanting to turn the pages. I could feel the characters' heartache... feel how they longed for things to have turned out differently in their lives. I have never read a book by either author, but they write very well together. The words naturally flowed. I felt like a friend was telling me a story.
I only have two complaints about the book. First, I felt like the ladies believed the magician had the ability to send them back through time too quickly and too easily. If someone told me they could do this, I would likely laugh and walk away. Second, sometimes when all the ladies were in the same scene, the point of view would quickly change from one character to the other, and it could be a bit confusing. I had to re-read a sentence or two a few times to refocus my mind.
I would like to thank Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke, Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2016
Everyone looks back at their lives and finds a point that they wish they could go back to and make changes that would affect their current life. In this fantastic book, Jessie, Gabriela and Claire get to do just that. As the three friends are celebrating their 50th birthdays together in Vegas, they get a chance to go back to their 40th birthday. They can spend one year there and make changes to their lives. At the end of the year, they can decide whether they want to remain in the past or come back to the present. The novel follows all three women as they try to make changes in their lives at 40 always being reminded of the butterfly effect -- that even small changes can create drastically different outcomes. Will the changes they make lead to happier lives or just to different problems? The book is entertaining and the characters are very likable and the story line keeps you turning pages -will they stay or go back?? And the whole time I was reading the book, I kept asking myself, what would I change if I could go back to being 40 again!
December 21, 2015
Witty, warm, and wonderful! Grabbed me from page one and didn't let go until the final page was turned! Fenton and Steinke at the height of their literary powers!
August 23, 2017
Hands up- Who is guilty of reading the book description, adding a book to their to-reads list and then eventually picking the book up and essentially going in blind? Just me? I confess to having no idea what this book was going to be about when I started reading it, despite having added to my to-read list sometime last year, indicating I must have liked the description.
I am a sucker for anything in time travel/alternate dimension/sliding doors genre. This story, about three best friends (Jessie, Gabriela and Claire) who had a chance to go back to a tumultuous time in their lives, the year they turned forty, was captivating.
I had such an anxious feeling the entire book, both because I couldn’t trust it was real and also because I worried that the outcomes would end up being worse than the first time around. Jessie had a terrible secret that blew up her life the first time around. Could she somehow avoid it the second time around? Claire had many regrets over how she handled most of the relationships in her life. Gabriela wanted to have a baby.
Jessie and Claire’s navigation through age forty for the second time was very engaging. I bonded with both characters and the tough choices they had to make. In my opinion, Gabriela was a COMPLETE HYPOCRITE! She thought it was okay to deny Colin a baby for all those years (because she didn't want one even though he did) and when she decided she wanted one, Colin was all of a sudden just supposed to get in line? (Even though he had resolved himself to not having a baby and had moved on from the idea) I had a real problem with this and as such, had ZERO sympathy for her story. In a word, I found her to be completely selfish.
I loved the impacts them going back and making changes had on all of the secondary characters. It really is interesting to think how different decisions at different points of lives can so drastically change what might have been.
I can pinpoint several moments in my life where, had I made a different decision, my life would have went in a completely different direction. I often wonder where I would be now if I had made even one of those decisions differently. Would I be happier? What would my life look like? I struggle with it because it could mean the the good things in my life might not exist anymore. I think of the hard work I have done and wonder, would that potentially have been erased? It’s a tough call and one that I’m not sure I would want to face.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read!
I am a sucker for anything in time travel/alternate dimension/sliding doors genre. This story, about three best friends (Jessie, Gabriela and Claire) who had a chance to go back to a tumultuous time in their lives, the year they turned forty, was captivating.
I had such an anxious feeling the entire book, both because I couldn’t trust it was real and also because I worried that the outcomes would end up being worse than the first time around. Jessie had a terrible secret that blew up her life the first time around. Could she somehow avoid it the second time around? Claire had many regrets over how she handled most of the relationships in her life. Gabriela wanted to have a baby.
Jessie and Claire’s navigation through age forty for the second time was very engaging. I bonded with both characters and the tough choices they had to make. In my opinion, Gabriela was a COMPLETE HYPOCRITE! She thought it was okay to deny Colin a baby for all those years (because she didn't want one even though he did) and when she decided she wanted one, Colin was all of a sudden just supposed to get in line? (Even though he had resolved himself to not having a baby and had moved on from the idea) I had a real problem with this and as such, had ZERO sympathy for her story. In a word, I found her to be completely selfish.
I loved the impacts them going back and making changes had on all of the secondary characters. It really is interesting to think how different decisions at different points of lives can so drastically change what might have been.
I can pinpoint several moments in my life where, had I made a different decision, my life would have went in a completely different direction. I often wonder where I would be now if I had made even one of those decisions differently. Would I be happier? What would my life look like? I struggle with it because it could mean the the good things in my life might not exist anymore. I think of the hard work I have done and wonder, would that potentially have been erased? It’s a tough call and one that I’m not sure I would want to face.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read!
March 21, 2016
Would you go back in time to fix past mistakes if you had a chance?
This is exactly what happened to these three women who are about to turn fifty. Gabriela, Claire, and Jessie have the option to return to the year they turned forty.
Jessie is desperate to do it. She wants to go back in time to fix her marriage. She gave birth to Lucas but her husband Grant is not the father. She lost Grant when the truth came out. Now, he's about to get married to someone else.
For the last decade, Gabriela has become a best seller novelist. It all started ten years ago when she decided she wanted a baby but her husband Colin was against it. Colin had wanted a child for so long but by the time Gabriela changes her mind, he's over the idea of becoming a father. Gabriela wants to go back in time to get a chance to convince him about having a baby.
Claire is the only one of the three who is at peace with her current life. The worst part of her daughter's teenage years are over. She's in a new relationship and ready to get married to this nice man. However, going back can give her a chance to spend more time with her mother before her death. Besides agreeing with her friends is easier than going against them.
~~
What a terrific novel The Year We Turned Forty was for me. It had such a great story line. All three women had secrets and despite being very close they hid some part of themselves from each other. I sympathized and loved all three of them. They have experienced tremendous loss and unhappiness.
Jessie loves Grant dearly but believing he had lost interest in her, pushes her into another man's arms. This night has a consequence in the form of baby Lucas. When Jessie goes back in time she knows she wants to fix her marriage. She just didn't count on Lucas's father wanting a relationship with his son.
Gabriela was desperate for a pregnancy. In her desperation, she loses herself, her relationship and her self-esteem. She has to learn to get up after falling hard. She becomes a much stronger person.
Claire who was the one who didn't want to go back gets a chance to get a better relationship with her parents and her daughter. She also gets a chance at getting her true love back into her life.
I can't say enough how much this book impacted me. It was a learning experience with a side of humility.
If anything, I learned that going back doesn't guarantee happiness. You can create more problems and secrets have a way of coming out when you least expect them.
Nothing that we care about in life is easy, you have to fight for what you want.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
May 6, 2016
Review
If you could go back in time for one year to make changes to your life would you? That is the opportunity offered to Jessie, Claire and Gabriela. On their 50th birthday trip they are offered the chance to go back to the year they were 40. They would stay one year and live life knowing the things that had happened and what they wished to change and would have the chance to either stay in that life or return back.
All of these women in the 10 years from age 40 to 50 have dealt with many issues ranging from divorce, to loss of loved ones, to strained relationships with children, to living with regret of not having children. With this second chance they will each try correct the things that the did wrong or missed last time. But will the outcome be better this around?
I loved the concept of this one!! It had the feel of a parallel universe book without the back and forth (if that makes any sense). I mean the way the "magic" of going back 10 years was all set up a bit cheesy I think it still kind of worked. Once back in their former lives though I found it so interesting what the women chose to do to change their lives. Also, even though they were told their actions could affect others around them I don't believe they could truly understand this until it started ot happen. Also, maybe some things were always meant to play out no matter what choices you make. I found all this really interesting and fun to watch as it unfolded.
The three women's friendships were so believable and real. In a trio there is often two that are closer and one kind of left out. This was true here as well - whether intentional or not. Certain things put more strain on friendships than others and with this bunch they had a lot of things pressing down on their relationships. It was refreshing to see things not always be the best among them and how they worked through that or didn't.
The ending was super satisfying in a realistic way. I think all the ladies wound up where they should have. It did make me wonder what I would do if given the chance and if I would be more scared of what would change if I went back in time. Highly recommend this one!This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
If you could go back in time for one year to make changes to your life would you? That is the opportunity offered to Jessie, Claire and Gabriela. On their 50th birthday trip they are offered the chance to go back to the year they were 40. They would stay one year and live life knowing the things that had happened and what they wished to change and would have the chance to either stay in that life or return back.
All of these women in the 10 years from age 40 to 50 have dealt with many issues ranging from divorce, to loss of loved ones, to strained relationships with children, to living with regret of not having children. With this second chance they will each try correct the things that the did wrong or missed last time. But will the outcome be better this around?
I loved the concept of this one!! It had the feel of a parallel universe book without the back and forth (if that makes any sense). I mean the way the "magic" of going back 10 years was all set up a bit cheesy I think it still kind of worked. Once back in their former lives though I found it so interesting what the women chose to do to change their lives. Also, even though they were told their actions could affect others around them I don't believe they could truly understand this until it started ot happen. Also, maybe some things were always meant to play out no matter what choices you make. I found all this really interesting and fun to watch as it unfolded.
The three women's friendships were so believable and real. In a trio there is often two that are closer and one kind of left out. This was true here as well - whether intentional or not. Certain things put more strain on friendships than others and with this bunch they had a lot of things pressing down on their relationships. It was refreshing to see things not always be the best among them and how they worked through that or didn't.
The ending was super satisfying in a realistic way. I think all the ladies wound up where they should have. It did make me wonder what I would do if given the chance and if I would be more scared of what would change if I went back in time. Highly recommend this one!This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
January 21, 2016
Redoing and/or reliving a certain time period in one's life- who wouldn't want to do that? I think most people can look back on their lives and wish that they had handled a situation or event differently and given the opportunity would love to alter that particular situation. The authors start with this fascinating premise and craft a thought provoking and entertaining tale that kept me reading to see how the story would play out.
Three friends, Claire, Jessie and Gabriela, have birthdays within months of each other. The year they all turn forty, each woman makes decisions that they later regret. As they are turning fifty, the women are given the choice to go back and relive the year they turned forty. However, they all three have to agree to return to this time period or none of them can go back. After deliberating, the three decide to return to 2005 and try to redo the year. At the end of the year, Claire, Jessie and Gabriela will have to decide whether to stick with this new life or return to the life they lived previously. Ten years is a long time, and it is fun to watch the women adjust to their younger selves and the changes in technology- the iPhone and iPad were not around in 2005.
This novel really made me think about the choices I make every day. As each character tries to change the event she wished had gone differently, it quickly becomes apparent that some events will happen no matter what - just differently than the first time around. Other choices the characters make bring about drastically different and unexpected results.
I highly recommend this book; I know it will stay with me for a long while.
Three friends, Claire, Jessie and Gabriela, have birthdays within months of each other. The year they all turn forty, each woman makes decisions that they later regret. As they are turning fifty, the women are given the choice to go back and relive the year they turned forty. However, they all three have to agree to return to this time period or none of them can go back. After deliberating, the three decide to return to 2005 and try to redo the year. At the end of the year, Claire, Jessie and Gabriela will have to decide whether to stick with this new life or return to the life they lived previously. Ten years is a long time, and it is fun to watch the women adjust to their younger selves and the changes in technology- the iPhone and iPad were not around in 2005.
This novel really made me think about the choices I make every day. As each character tries to change the event she wished had gone differently, it quickly becomes apparent that some events will happen no matter what - just differently than the first time around. Other choices the characters make bring about drastically different and unexpected results.
I highly recommend this book; I know it will stay with me for a long while.
April 29, 2016
Have you ever wished for an opportunity to do something over? Go back in time to a specific event to make a different choice? Do something different, hoping for a different outcome?
Three best friends–Jessie, Gabriela and Claire–are given an opportunity to turn back the clock and “relive” their fortieth year. A year that was life-altering for each one of them. Jessie would keep the paternity of her son, Lucas, a secret. Gabriela would listen to her biological clock and have a baby. And Claire would spend more time with her mother before it's too late.
But is it really that simple? Really that “easy” to fix the past when each “different” choice brings its own ramifications and unexpected results. Jessie, Gabriela, and Claire quickly learn that reliving their past isn't what they thought, but are the differences better or worse than what happened originally?
I LOVED this book! Honestly, there have been times in my life I've wished I could go back and make different choices–things like going to a different college, having a different career, moving back home after college, not changing jobs… But if I could go back, I wouldn't necessarily have the wonderful things in my life–my daughter, my husband, my house, my job, my friends… The Year We Turned Forty is intensely thought provoking, beautifully written, and a great testament to long-enduring friendships and love. You'll run through a whole gamut of “feels”–happiness, sadness, frustration, disbelief–but, in the end, experience complete and total satisfaction. ~ Missy, 5 stars
Three best friends–Jessie, Gabriela and Claire–are given an opportunity to turn back the clock and “relive” their fortieth year. A year that was life-altering for each one of them. Jessie would keep the paternity of her son, Lucas, a secret. Gabriela would listen to her biological clock and have a baby. And Claire would spend more time with her mother before it's too late.
But is it really that simple? Really that “easy” to fix the past when each “different” choice brings its own ramifications and unexpected results. Jessie, Gabriela, and Claire quickly learn that reliving their past isn't what they thought, but are the differences better or worse than what happened originally?
I LOVED this book! Honestly, there have been times in my life I've wished I could go back and make different choices–things like going to a different college, having a different career, moving back home after college, not changing jobs… But if I could go back, I wouldn't necessarily have the wonderful things in my life–my daughter, my husband, my house, my job, my friends… The Year We Turned Forty is intensely thought provoking, beautifully written, and a great testament to long-enduring friendships and love. You'll run through a whole gamut of “feels”–happiness, sadness, frustration, disbelief–but, in the end, experience complete and total satisfaction. ~ Missy, 5 stars
July 14, 2016
This book is like pancakes. Sounds pretty enticing, and the first couple bites are pretty satisfying, but then pretty soon you find yourself asking why you even wanted pancakes, and are they even worth finishing.
These characters are fairly tired middle aged women tropes who are neither relatable nor likable. In particular, I'm pretty sure Gabriela is meant to be a sympathetic character. But she spends twenty years insisting she doesn't want children, changes her mind in one night, immediately tells her husband who has wanted children all this time, and now that has changed his mind because he's finally accepted HER point of view, she screams and him, berates him, and throws and smashes things.
REALLY?!? I'm sorry, but if this character was written as a man he would be scary. This is probably one of the most selfish characters I've ever read and the sad part is, I don't believe the writers intended or even recognized it. I love a good anti hero if s/he is written as one.
The time travel plot made me want to cry more than once. Only the most deft and knowledgeable writers should explore this concept. Time travel is not for pancakes.
The ending was ultimately predictable and bland, much like..... do I even need to say it? ;)
These characters are fairly tired middle aged women tropes who are neither relatable nor likable. In particular, I'm pretty sure Gabriela is meant to be a sympathetic character. But she spends twenty years insisting she doesn't want children, changes her mind in one night, immediately tells her husband who has wanted children all this time, and now that has changed his mind because he's finally accepted HER point of view, she screams and him, berates him, and throws and smashes things.
REALLY?!? I'm sorry, but if this character was written as a man he would be scary. This is probably one of the most selfish characters I've ever read and the sad part is, I don't believe the writers intended or even recognized it. I love a good anti hero if s/he is written as one.
The time travel plot made me want to cry more than once. Only the most deft and knowledgeable writers should explore this concept. Time travel is not for pancakes.
The ending was ultimately predictable and bland, much like..... do I even need to say it? ;)
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