1997

90s Flashback #2

by Kirsty McManus

Anna Matthews is moving on. After a tumultuous year where her life took an unexpected turn, she is now looking to the future with the help of a few old friends.

Everything gets off to a great start with Anna and her high school friend Kelsey planning a new business together. And along with the emotional support of her sister Amy and acquaintances Rachel and Jackson, Anna’s life is almost back to normal.

However, a bizarre night out with Rachel leaves Anna craving the company of a certain charismatic sales assistant she met in 1996. But when she unpacks the box she thought contained the time-travelling compound that can take her back to him, it is nowhere to be found.

Will Anna be able to track down the missing jar? Or will she finally have to accept a future without someone who means so much to her?

Genres: Chick Lit, Time Travel, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2018

Reviews

[carinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved traveling back in time with Anna in the first book.i remember it being fun and witty, and Anna having a blast reliving her teenage years. She also managed to leave a bad marriage in her adult life and reconnect with her best friend. (In fact this book inspired me to reach out to my own BFF from highschool and let me tell you she was so happy.)

So why only three stars for this book (actually it's more like two and a half). When the other book received a cool five.

It's simple Anna uses the youth compound as an escape from real life in this book, and I found it so depressing. While she did have some sweet moments with Kurt she was going through so much drama in waking life that she seemed desperate in 1997. All of this book is spent chasing Kurt when there was so much more that could have been explored.

I would have liked her to connect more with Ed in 1997. Instead we see Ed humanized in one episode and for the rest of the book he's an ass. With the ending being him just being a shity person.in fact every guy in this book is a shity person but Kurt.

Bill
Kelley's brother
Ed
Todd
Aaron

On fact the only guy in this book who is not is Kurt


I stopped reading for a while it was lagging and not worth picking up sometimes, of maybe life got in the way. Not sure which is more true.


I do know that I do not want to read it again. Where as I feel like I can read the first over and over again.


I


This book was provides by Hidden Gems in exchange for a honest review.

[Lauren Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything that was missing from 1996 - I loved 1997 even more! Luckily I had some free time today because other than some unavoidable pauses to pick up my kids, feed them and put them to bed, I could barely put it down. The characters are a lot of fun, and they have so much heart. I miss Anna & Kurt and the gang already.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf @ 52%

I was interested in reading the sequel but omg this is so boring. The first one wasn’t that great in the first place. I thought it would get better

[Riley K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back again with Anna and her best friend Kelsey. Anna's life has changed drastically since the last time I saw her. With her back and forth time travel, she is learning to let go and finally chase her dreams.

The second story was amazing. Great character development. There were a few times where my heart broke for Anna, but she handled herself with grace and a kick@ss determination. Will recommend this story to others.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as 1996!

So original. I absolutely love these books. McManus has created a story about love and destiny, and it’s wonderful. Highly recommended.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!

I loved it! I liked the beginning, but when the flashbacks started it became love. I loved the twists. And I loved how the story flowed; quite a feat when there’s frequent time travelling, but it worked!

Going back in time is amazing, but not every time! Still, Anna gets seriously addicted to it. Needing her ‘fix’ when times get rough in the present.

This book has a HEA. Where the first book had a cliffy, everything is completed now.

Love!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the 1997 book a lot faster than the 1996 book. I believe this was because it was a happier, upbeat book than the previous one. I liked it a lot more than the previous book. I’m excited to see what happens in the final book I didn’t like, the whole thing with her ex. I do like how they’ve incorporated all her friends from the past. I wish somehow the parallel universes would catch up or say how they affecting the here and now. This is a really cute series.

[Sandra J Cronin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end felt like the author got tired of writing it. The story was good, but the ending was lacking at best.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌅How can Anna succeed in the now when she keeps escaping to the past?!😕
November 26, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍Fun, imaginative and romantic at the same time, set in sunny Queensland in 1997 and twenty years later. I found this book a great follow up to the author's 1996, and loved the relationships between heroine🍰 baker Anna and her supportive friends, especially her business partner Kelsey, formerly Anna's teenage BFF. Kurt, the cool guy who resurfaces time and again in Anna's excursions to her 1997 teenage life, seems ever unobtainable and thereby his attractiveness grows in her mind with every encounter (well, all but one!). Since the story is told solely from Anna's point of view, Kurt remains a bit of a mystery man, especially in the present, which makes the drama of whether they will manage a present-day relationship more suspenseful as we really don't know much about the man he's become.

I am a solid fan of Kirsty McManus's writing and love the strong and mostly upbeat women characters she creates. 1996 and 1997 throw in a mysterious potion leading to mind bending time travel. They should be read together. They made me somewhat nostalgic for the '90's and, in 1997, the relatively carefree life of a teen during summer holidays. I loved it, right through to the end, which came all too soon!

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

1997 started off strong, but just didn’t hit the same refreshing nostalgic mark as 1996. Don’t get me wrong, the feeling of being back in the 90s was still quite strong off the hop- however, it really started to dwindle for me during the dark themed speed dating. I actually put the book down for a quite a while and could only do a page or two at a time. The twist that came along with the dark dating was actually a pleasant surprise, so I’m glad I pushed through. I loved when Ed took the compound and wished we had a bit more focus on him.. rather now we have Kelsey traveling back with Anna (being somewhat careless) and then Kurt 🥴 It just doesn’t hit the same as when Anna was solo-adventuring (do I have sharing issues?.. probably😂), visiting her grandma etc. You could almost feel that aspect in the pit of your stomach. I found myself trailing to my own memories (what if I had a few more minutes with someone who has now passed on). If you grew up in the 80s/90s and miss the atmosphere, friendships and feeling of it all, you know exactly what I mean about the vibes 🥹 Although I am looking forward to continuing the series with 1998, it will most likely take me a while to pick up. I have a feeling the whole gang (which now includes Maddie 🙄 and Ed is still MIA) will end up back there and it just doesn’t have me wanting to down the youth compound along with them.

[Diane Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirsty McManus’ novel, “1996,” was one of my favorite recent reads, and it left me clamoring to know what was in store for Anna, for Kurt, for Anna and Kurt…. Happily, Anna, Kurt, et al. are back in “1997.”

Anna and her high school BFF Kelsey are prepped to open their new café, a project that should keep Anna’s mind from wandering to the past and a certain record store clerk. Dipping her toes in a dating pool set in the present—and what a pool it is!—only serves to upset the waters. Throw in a missing bottle of youth compound and an ex husband no one should miss, and Anna is up to her eyeballs in conflicts. I especially appreciated how McManus portrayed Anna when she began to crack from the pressure as more like a teenager in contrast to the adult sensibilities Anna brought with her when she inhabited her teenaged self in her first few trips into the past. With the addition of a toe-curling kiss or two, this novel will sweep you away like a dose of youth compound. While it concludes with far fewer loose ends than “1996,” I can still imagine—and yearn for—a continuation to this series.

[maria arcara · Rating 5 out of 5]

aw! What a great continuation of Anna's story after 1996. I loved it! I was so looking forward to seeing more of Kurt: the sense that Anna was meant to have him in her life was so profound after the first book, I barely contained my eagerness in waiting for this second installment to find out if/how that was going to happen. The journey Ms. McManus takes us on to find out was thoroughly entertaining for me. And though it was very focused on the romantic developments with Kurt and the time travel factors, I thought it was still quite well-rounded, including elements of Anna's career, friendships, resolutions of past relationships, and presence of her family. I really enjoyed how Ms. McManus wove so many different pieces together over the course of these two books and, although it feels like the story could very well be wrapped up at this point, I do very much hope there's more to be explored in the future!

[Jennifer Olivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit that the first thing on my mind when I finished the first book in this series (1996), was, what was going to happen to Anna and Kurt? I totally felt like they really had a connection that could be cultivated into something more. This would, of course, require more trips back to 1997. When her bottle of magical elixir comes up missing, I was sweating it until she got it back from her ex. She continues to take trips back to 1997 many times, while at the same time starting a business with her friend Kelsey in the present. I won't spoil it by telling you what happens, but, many things get resolved along the way, and there is a happily ever after, for some of the characters. I really loved this series, and was sad to see it end. So if you like a little romance, and have a little nostalgia for the 90's, give this a look. I did receive a free copy of this book, and this is my honest review.

[J_McA 251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice sequel to 1996. It wrapped up loose ends and had a few surprises along the way. There is a very funny speed dating incident in the present (I figured that one out) and Anna returns to the 90s a few times. I didn’t much care for how the author used Ed; it seemed to be only an opportunity to get back to the 90s as his experience didn’t really seem to factor in the big picture. I also felt that the explanation of the serum was a throwaway, like it wasn’t that big of a deal (which it obviously was). All in all, the whole end seemed a little disjointed compared to the rest of this book (and the first one). That being said, it was still fun to follow Anna and Kurt to see how things ended, and I was satisfied with the ending itself. Thank you to the author and Hidden Gems for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laurie Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best ending ever!

I had read the first book via a Hidden Gems promo, having never heard of the book or author before. Once I left my review and realized the second book was available on KU, I quickly downloaded it and sped through it in a little over an hour. (It’s THAT good!)
We pick up almost where we left off, with Anna moving into her own place, Ed still being with Maddie and Anna and Kelsey working on opening their own restaurant. This book is absolutely amazing and I’m so glad I discovered this author and series. It really is fabulous and I highly recommend both books.

[Goth Gone Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely escapism

This is a light, primarily fun read. I picked it up immediately after the first, but it summarizes events of the first book succinctly at the start to makes sure the reader isn't lost.

Time travel, friendships, music, romance, coffee, and pastry - such a great combination! While this won't make it to any classic literature lists, it's an engaging, light read that drew me in entirely. I'll be watching for more from this author.

An example of the writing:

"I start washing up and think about how funny life is. I thought my experience with the Youth Compound was strange, but it might just turn out that reality is the strangest of all."

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have now read multiple books by this and each book gets better. I thought this book was such a quick and fun read. I love Anna, the main character. She is self-aware, independent, and funny. I love that in this book she is more self-assured and the relationship between her and Kelsy, her best friend, was probably the highlight of the story for me! They are both strong women who go after what they want and consistently had each other's back. Not to mention, their banter was hilarious.

Overall, I think this book is worth reading and I am going to check out more books from this author as well.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need to read 1996 before you read this book for it to all fit into place. The first time Anna travels back it is a bit of a shock to her senses. Each time she travels she learns more about herself and her present day reality, and she does not always like what she is thinking. Yet, it spurs her to make some big changes and it is fun to see her grow more confident and come out of her shell. Sometimes I found her a bit frustrating in 1997. What these books shows is that true friendship can stand the test of time. Both 1996 and 1997 were far better than I was anticipating. Good fun fast reads.

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A continuation of the first book. There were a couple odd things I didn't love SPOILER the whole dark date speed date feel the faces and only the women should initiate the kissing ... that was a little weird. Also the single chapter of Ed taking a dose and going back to 1997, then nothing more on that until the very end ... I mean at least it DID finally come up again, but I was wondering the whole time why that chapter had been dropped in there. I got a kick out of Kelsey bringing Kurt back though! but overall, this was fluffy fun, a quick and easy read.

Present tense/1st person
KindleUnlimited - Text only

[Kara Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love time travel books - super easy to read. Anna receives an elixir from a brand that she represents called Youth Compound, and after taking it - realizes she can time travel back to 1997 for 12 hours. Every time she does this, she runs into Kurt, a good-looking 20-something record store employee with whom she seems to have a connection. It's a fun story to think about what you would do if you could travel back in time to when you were a teen, but with the knowledge now. What I like about this ridiculous idea is that anything she does doesn't alter the future, so talking to people/doing something doesn't change future events like in Back to the Future.

[Raena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series from Kirsty McManus. You have to read the first (1996) to understand the time travel . I don’t think this would work as a stand alone.
I only gave ‘1996’ 2 stars, but this one was SO much better. There was a lot more content than in the first book, which I really loved. I was happy Anna reconnected with the people from her past and I would even love to read what happens next. Overall, a lovely, easy and quick read. Something a little different with the time travel element.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flashback series rocks!

I picked up this book as soon as I finished reading book 1 in the duet as I needed to know what happened next. And book 2 didn’t disappoint. Although it took a lot longer than I’d have liked for modern Kurt to appear it was worth the wait. And that blind date kiss! So, so good!
I really enjoyed all the flashbacks from 1997 (& 1996 in book 1) and the way the two time lines come together as the book progresses. The Flashback series rocks!

[Vikkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!!! Another @kirstymcauthor book I’ve loved. I’m feeling really sad, I have no more that I haven’t read ☹️
Anna continues to time travel in this book, I’ve loved the difference between the then and now in this book. I couldn’t put it down, fun, enjoyable and engaging read!! I seriously cannot wait for new releases.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[E.D. Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I read 1996 and enjoyed it, but loved the storyline in 1997. It didn’t end as I predicted, which made the story engaging. I loved how there were little seeds planted that my be addressed in the next book. I found myself paying attention to all the details. I’m really enjoying getting to know Anna (both as a teenager and as an adult). I’m looking forward to 1998!

[Drew Bozard · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are quick reads. I liked this book even better than the first. The plot was even more exciting, and the time travel aspect actually did have a few unexpected twists and turns even though a few things were a little predictable. But that’s not always bad. Overall, a very enjoyable and quick read. Can’t wait to see what happens in 1998!

[Kary Bobbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is better.
Usually the second of a trilogy is my least favorite book (just drama to expande the story). But in this trilogy, the second one is primordial (now I'm scared I won't like the last one).
I love how all this "time traveling" thing it IS having an imprint somehow after all. (It's so damn sweet!).

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so much better than the first book and just hooked me in a way that 1996 didn’t. I love that more people in Anna’s life were able to know and experience the compound too because I would have had the hardest time keeping that to myself. Definitely a cute little 13 going on 30 romance read

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the first book- 1996 in March 2023 so its been a while to catch up, however it was so easy to get back into this one, it's like without going into every detail the author needed to I remembered the basis of the first book.
A short and sweet 2nd book, interested to see what the third one is all about!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

New year, new adventures.
I think the time travel aspect is good. 12 hours at a time etc. But I don't know how I feel about the no effect on actual events. Like, if Anna went back to 97 and assassinated the Prime Minister, would it matter to the present time?
Maybe it would have been nice if Jurt remembered her and she could have changed her entire future.

[Samantha Cress · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book, but this one was definitely better. I’m glad I stuck with it all.

The main character, Anna, is a little…annoying in this book. She just gets worked up and won’t let things go.

The book is predictable but sweet. The shift in writing threw me off a little, especially when it came to Ed. Overall, Im excited to read the next one.