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The Do-Over
A teenage girl gets the chance to redo her past in this smart and charming YA novel by the author of When Life Gives You Demons.
Emilia has always wanted to fit in with the A crowd. So, when Ben, the hottest guy in school, asks her out, she chooses him over Alistair, her best friend—even after he confesses his feelings to her.
Six months later, Emilia wonders how her life would have been different if she'd chosen Alistair instead. Haunted by her mistake, she finds a magical solution that promises to rectify the past. As a result, everything in her life is different. What happens if her second chance is her only chance to make things right?
Emilia has always wanted to fit in with the A crowd. So, when Ben, the hottest guy in school, asks her out, she chooses him over Alistair, her best friend—even after he confesses his feelings to her.
Six months later, Emilia wonders how her life would have been different if she'd chosen Alistair instead. Haunted by her mistake, she finds a magical solution that promises to rectify the past. As a result, everything in her life is different. What happens if her second chance is her only chance to make things right?
211 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2020
19 people are currently reading
2231 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Honeybourn
6 books152 followersJennifer Honeybourn is a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. She is the author of several young adult novels, including Wesley James Ruined My Life, When Life Gives You Demons, Just My Luck and The Do-Over. She also writes middle grade books under the pseudonym J.E. Hailstone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 5, 2020
For fans of Morgan Matson, you would love this book. It's about a girl who makes a decision that changes her life. She's popular and she's with everyone who is someone. But she is also surrounded by superficial people who don't truly care about one another so she decides to have a little bit of help from magic. Her life is suddenly turned back to 'normal' where her decision is reversed but everything isn't what it seems. She lost a chunk of life during the do-over that she won't ever get back and she has to navigate the new one.
I found this one to be really fun to read. It was light and so fluffy. Our hero is cute and nerdy while our female heroine is basically the same quirky character as him. What I didn't like so much was the fact that we lost a chunk of her life. The story doesn't go too deeply into resolving what she doesn't know. Overall, the book was too short. It didn't have the explanation I needed to make this a perfect rating.
Thank you Raincoast Books and Macmillan for the arc!
I found this one to be really fun to read. It was light and so fluffy. Our hero is cute and nerdy while our female heroine is basically the same quirky character as him. What I didn't like so much was the fact that we lost a chunk of her life. The story doesn't go too deeply into resolving what she doesn't know. Overall, the book was too short. It didn't have the explanation I needed to make this a perfect rating.
Thank you Raincoast Books and Macmillan for the arc!
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March 25, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
Not much to say about this one... it was short, bland, and featured shallow annoying characters embroiling themselves in shallow problems. Two stars only because I finished it. I'm starting to realise that no matter how awesome Jennifer Honeybourn's plots sound, she never executes them well, so it's pointless reading her.
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Not much to say about this one... it was short, bland, and featured shallow annoying characters embroiling themselves in shallow problems. Two stars only because I finished it. I'm starting to realise that no matter how awesome Jennifer Honeybourn's plots sound, she never executes them well, so it's pointless reading her.
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July 25, 2021
I actually want to give it a 4 star because I guessed what was happening. But yeah, it's a really quick read and easy to breeze through.
Parallel timelines, 16 year old regretting love, you know. The usual. I didn't warm up to any of the characters tbh, but it was fun overall.
Parallel timelines, 16 year old regretting love, you know. The usual. I didn't warm up to any of the characters tbh, but it was fun overall.
July 16, 2020
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Emilia finally got her shot at being part of the upper crust, when one of the most popular boys at school asked her to the winter formal. However, this coincided with her best friend, Alistair, finally confessing his feelings for her. Her heart was torn, but Emilia was blinded by the allure of popularity. It's a decision she grew to regret. Six months later, she found herself wishing she could go back to that night and make a different choice, and somehow, the universe made this happen.
This is the fourth book I have read from Honeybourn, and as always, I enjoyed it. It was on the lighter side, with some depth, and I appreciated the BIG ideas in the story. She touched upon friendship, regret, making good choices, being true to yourself, appreciating our loved ones, and accepting that some things are out of our control. These are definitely things I have personally struggled with, and I appreciated the way they were worked into the story.
I was immediately drawn to the main characters, because they reminded me so much of my own friends from my teen years. This trio was more likely to be found playing Settlers of Catan than at a party on a Friday night. Swap Catan for Trivial Pursuit, and you just described me in my wild teen years. I also loved that Alistair would speak in movie quotes. This is something very popular among my family, and there is nothing that delights me more than a well placed quote.
For me, the focus of the story was Emilia. Her choice had some repercussions, and she grew to deeply regret the choice she made. She lost so much more than she gained and also seemed to lose herself in the process. Even with the do-over, she stumbled, but she learned a bit along the way. She was an improved version of herself at the end of it all. She still had a ways to go, however she got to a point of understanding and acceptance.
Although I was entertained throughout, I wish there had been an epilogue. Rushed endings always rub me the wrong way, and this ending felt a bit rushed. It ended well, but it wasn't enough to sate me.
Overall: A cute story about being careful what you wish for and learning to be a better version of yourself.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Emilia finally got her shot at being part of the upper crust, when one of the most popular boys at school asked her to the winter formal. However, this coincided with her best friend, Alistair, finally confessing his feelings for her. Her heart was torn, but Emilia was blinded by the allure of popularity. It's a decision she grew to regret. Six months later, she found herself wishing she could go back to that night and make a different choice, and somehow, the universe made this happen.
This is the fourth book I have read from Honeybourn, and as always, I enjoyed it. It was on the lighter side, with some depth, and I appreciated the BIG ideas in the story. She touched upon friendship, regret, making good choices, being true to yourself, appreciating our loved ones, and accepting that some things are out of our control. These are definitely things I have personally struggled with, and I appreciated the way they were worked into the story.
I was immediately drawn to the main characters, because they reminded me so much of my own friends from my teen years. This trio was more likely to be found playing Settlers of Catan than at a party on a Friday night. Swap Catan for Trivial Pursuit, and you just described me in my wild teen years. I also loved that Alistair would speak in movie quotes. This is something very popular among my family, and there is nothing that delights me more than a well placed quote.
For me, the focus of the story was Emilia. Her choice had some repercussions, and she grew to deeply regret the choice she made. She lost so much more than she gained and also seemed to lose herself in the process. Even with the do-over, she stumbled, but she learned a bit along the way. She was an improved version of herself at the end of it all. She still had a ways to go, however she got to a point of understanding and acceptance.
Although I was entertained throughout, I wish there had been an epilogue. Rushed endings always rub me the wrong way, and this ending felt a bit rushed. It ended well, but it wasn't enough to sate me.
Overall: A cute story about being careful what you wish for and learning to be a better version of yourself.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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September 6, 2020
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
Short and Simple Review
To be honest, I didn't expect this book to wow me, but I really wanted to read a fun, quick book, and I think this book delivered on that. One of my not-so-guilty pleasures when it comes to book tropes are books that show parallel timelines, or just how things could go different if one thing changed. So, of course the concept of this book interested me. This book doesn't really delve too deeply into the timeline aspect. The MC early on gets the chance to get a "do-over" and once she makes her choice, she is unable to go back or make another "do-over". The book did show the butterfly effect, how her one change affected other people, and how she didn't quite get the outcome that she hoped. Most of this book read a lot like a cute contemporary book, but with added messiness with the MC not understanding this timeline. The romance was okay, the MC seems to have feelings for Alistair out of the blue, but this book was exactly the kind of quick, fun read that I just needed right now. I also liked that it had some board game fun.
Short and Simple Review
To be honest, I didn't expect this book to wow me, but I really wanted to read a fun, quick book, and I think this book delivered on that. One of my not-so-guilty pleasures when it comes to book tropes are books that show parallel timelines, or just how things could go different if one thing changed. So, of course the concept of this book interested me. This book doesn't really delve too deeply into the timeline aspect. The MC early on gets the chance to get a "do-over" and once she makes her choice, she is unable to go back or make another "do-over". The book did show the butterfly effect, how her one change affected other people, and how she didn't quite get the outcome that she hoped. Most of this book read a lot like a cute contemporary book, but with added messiness with the MC not understanding this timeline. The romance was okay, the MC seems to have feelings for Alistair out of the blue, but this book was exactly the kind of quick, fun read that I just needed right now. I also liked that it had some board game fun.
August 25, 2020
The Do-Over is a decent and fun read, but it's a bit too short to really get anywhere special. The hook of getting to repeat her past ultimately did not really feel like it added to the story. The friends to lovers romance had really nice potential, but it's a little hard to get past the fact that she didn't choose him in the original timeline and just kept not choosing him over and over. The reset itself reminded me of Parallel by Lauren Miller, and I think if you're into the concept, I'd recommend that one.
This took me less than two hours to read, so if you need something fast you don't have to think about too hard with an f/f secondary ship, this might hit the spot.
This took me less than two hours to read, so if you need something fast you don't have to think about too hard with an f/f secondary ship, this might hit the spot.
May 3, 2020
The Do-Over
by Jennifer Honeybourn
Pub Date 14 Jul 2020
Read Courtesy of NetGalley.com
The Do-Over shouldn't have done it over. Many others have already done it, movies like Big, 17 Again, 13 Going on 30, Peggy Sue Got Married, etc. "But these are movies," you might argue... OK, here's a sample of just one list of similar books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..., and without having read them, I'd bet at least some of them are better than The Do-Over.
The main character's all-or-nothing thinking probably is a real teen's thinking; however, in The Do-Over it gets repetitive and whiny rather than coming across as true self-insight. Even before she finds a way to do-it-over, she says if she "could take it all back, I'd do everything differently." She can - it's called making amends and being humble. This is a character with low self-esteem who acts like a victim. She has every opportunity to do things differently, and she doesn't take the steps to do-over. She wants magical thinking, literally, to make things right for her. Her character growth is as translucent as her wishing stone is.
This is only for teens who thrive on wish stories.
by Jennifer Honeybourn
Pub Date 14 Jul 2020
Read Courtesy of NetGalley.com
The Do-Over shouldn't have done it over. Many others have already done it, movies like Big, 17 Again, 13 Going on 30, Peggy Sue Got Married, etc. "But these are movies," you might argue... OK, here's a sample of just one list of similar books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..., and without having read them, I'd bet at least some of them are better than The Do-Over.
The main character's all-or-nothing thinking probably is a real teen's thinking; however, in The Do-Over it gets repetitive and whiny rather than coming across as true self-insight. Even before she finds a way to do-it-over, she says if she "could take it all back, I'd do everything differently." She can - it's called making amends and being humble. This is a character with low self-esteem who acts like a victim. She has every opportunity to do things differently, and she doesn't take the steps to do-over. She wants magical thinking, literally, to make things right for her. Her character growth is as translucent as her wishing stone is.
This is only for teens who thrive on wish stories.
July 14, 2020
I really like the magical realism that seems to be Jennifer Honeybourn's recurrent theme, and I can never resist it. For this book, we meet Em, who had to choose a boy over her friends, including Alistair, for whom she notices too late her feelings. One day she gets an only chance of changing something in her life, and she finally manages to get into a timeline in her life where she never chose the other boy. However, things unraveled in a way that she can only describe as a disaster.
I would say this deserves a 3.5.
As predictable as the trope could have been, I'll say Honeybourn managed to surprised me at times. It's still your usual YA setting but there was something different with the path the story takes. What I could point out is that, usually, this trope will lead you to conclude your previous life was better despite all our complaints. The book didn't follow this, which is a good way to play with a cliche, I really liked how this went.
While I still enjoyed the story, I couldn't get too into it. I feel that I kept waiting for the book to start and then it ended. Aside from not liking the main character enough, one issue I can point out is that while this is very centered on Em's feelings for Alistair, it was like they never got a truly romantic moment aside from the beginning. Em chooses the other boy then, and then, why did she fall for Alistair? I couldn't feel the progression of her feelings very well, and the lack of swooning moments would already have been a problem for me in a romance. I'd say this book is made for those readers who aren't that into romances but would still like to read one once in a while, because while it's one, it's definitely not the reason I'd recommend the story.
Although it was disappointment the development issue for the romance, I liked the side things going on. Em finding new friends, us having new insights of her other friends now we're in a different timeline, there was even some small mystery—although it was easy to solve. In all, it wasn't a good romance, but a nice book nevertheless.
Honest review based on an ARC provided for the book tour through Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
I would say this deserves a 3.5.
As predictable as the trope could have been, I'll say Honeybourn managed to surprised me at times. It's still your usual YA setting but there was something different with the path the story takes. What I could point out is that, usually, this trope will lead you to conclude your previous life was better despite all our complaints. The book didn't follow this, which is a good way to play with a cliche, I really liked how this went.
While I still enjoyed the story, I couldn't get too into it. I feel that I kept waiting for the book to start and then it ended. Aside from not liking the main character enough, one issue I can point out is that while this is very centered on Em's feelings for Alistair, it was like they never got a truly romantic moment aside from the beginning. Em chooses the other boy then, and then, why did she fall for Alistair? I couldn't feel the progression of her feelings very well, and the lack of swooning moments would already have been a problem for me in a romance. I'd say this book is made for those readers who aren't that into romances but would still like to read one once in a while, because while it's one, it's definitely not the reason I'd recommend the story.
Although it was disappointment the development issue for the romance, I liked the side things going on. Em finding new friends, us having new insights of her other friends now we're in a different timeline, there was even some small mystery—although it was easy to solve. In all, it wasn't a good romance, but a nice book nevertheless.
Honest review based on an ARC provided for the book tour through Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
July 14, 2020
**Visit me at Smada's Book Smack **
Emilia has a crush on one of her best friends Alistair but doesn't want to ruin her friendship so she ignores her feelings and jumps at the chance to date cute, popular Ben. When her friend confessions his feelings to her, she rejects him to give her new feelings for Ben a shot. Emilia has no idea that her one action would cause her whole life to change and that she would be so unhappy. When she meets a fortune teller at the night market(fair) she is drawn to a crystal that "will change her life". Not believing, but still hoping, Emelia wishes on the crystal so she can have a chance to choose better for love. But one action can have far reaching consequences that Emelia never saw coming- be careful what you wish for because your second chance may not be what you want.
I picked up this book mainly due to the author since I have enjoyed her past stories. This is the third book I have read by this author and I can report that all her books are adorable, lighthearted, fun and quick! I started this one morning and was shocked to find I had finished it by the evening, reading it here and there throughout the course of the day since the chapters were nice and short and the plot kept moving. Any of this author's books are the perfect, light escapism reading that I enjoy. I hadn't read the synopsis when I started reading the book, instead I went into the story blindly and expected a straightforward contemporary romance with a love triangle, and next thing I know, there was a fair and a psychic and a second chance life! I grew up on the movie Big, so I know how making wishes on anything at fairs/carnivals never plays out as expected. I really liked how this had a touch of magic, more like an idea of it to help keep the story going, but the main plot was very down to earth. The main take-home message for this book is to not make wishes from mysterious fortune tellers at carnivals!
Overall this was an easy, engaging read, heavy on the romance and angst and light on the magic. I love that this is a standalone read and wraps up the story, even though I wish there was a little bit more about the status of the parents/school situation at the end. I recommend The Do-Over for anyone who enjoys ya contemporary romances with a touch of paranormal flair.
Emilia has a crush on one of her best friends Alistair but doesn't want to ruin her friendship so she ignores her feelings and jumps at the chance to date cute, popular Ben. When her friend confessions his feelings to her, she rejects him to give her new feelings for Ben a shot. Emilia has no idea that her one action would cause her whole life to change and that she would be so unhappy. When she meets a fortune teller at the night market(fair) she is drawn to a crystal that "will change her life". Not believing, but still hoping, Emelia wishes on the crystal so she can have a chance to choose better for love. But one action can have far reaching consequences that Emelia never saw coming- be careful what you wish for because your second chance may not be what you want.
I picked up this book mainly due to the author since I have enjoyed her past stories. This is the third book I have read by this author and I can report that all her books are adorable, lighthearted, fun and quick! I started this one morning and was shocked to find I had finished it by the evening, reading it here and there throughout the course of the day since the chapters were nice and short and the plot kept moving. Any of this author's books are the perfect, light escapism reading that I enjoy. I hadn't read the synopsis when I started reading the book, instead I went into the story blindly and expected a straightforward contemporary romance with a love triangle, and next thing I know, there was a fair and a psychic and a second chance life! I grew up on the movie Big, so I know how making wishes on anything at fairs/carnivals never plays out as expected. I really liked how this had a touch of magic, more like an idea of it to help keep the story going, but the main plot was very down to earth. The main take-home message for this book is to not make wishes from mysterious fortune tellers at carnivals!
Overall this was an easy, engaging read, heavy on the romance and angst and light on the magic. I love that this is a standalone read and wraps up the story, even though I wish there was a little bit more about the status of the parents/school situation at the end. I recommend The Do-Over for anyone who enjoys ya contemporary romances with a touch of paranormal flair.
June 29, 2020
This newest story from author Jennifer Honeybourn was one that I couldn't put down. It tells you that old saying of "Be careful what you wish for". It also gives the message of not allowing past mistakes to dictate your future. I loved how the story all unfolded and how it ended up. Although we do not get an epilogue the ending was pretty perfect.
I really love how Honeybourn's writing is so vast even though her stories are under 300 pages. They do an amazing job with making you care about characters and giving you a full story that feels like its over 400 pages. I can not wait to see what she does next!!
I really love how Honeybourn's writing is so vast even though her stories are under 300 pages. They do an amazing job with making you care about characters and giving you a full story that feels like its over 400 pages. I can not wait to see what she does next!!
February 7, 2021
Yeey, dit boek van Honeybourn was weer genieten! Niet haar allerbeste boek - dat is voor mij toch echt 'When Life Gives You Demons' - maar alsnog weer een heerlijk verhaal met fantastische personages, vriendschap/familie/liefde in de hoofdrol en een schrijfstijl die ervoor zorgt dat je maar bladzijdes blijft omslaan. Vier dikverdiende sterren.
July 29, 2023
OH MY GOD WHERE DO I START this book got me out of my reading slump the twists and turns i didn’t see them coming but i’m kinda dumb so idk how it will be for you but i 100% recommend this book for anyone who likes happy endings and a little bit of magic 😝
May 12, 2021
For some reason, I love books about dual timeline or multiverse, so I was excited to pick this one up. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it as much as I was expecting to. The mc gets a do-over and is suddenly thrown into a completely different timeline with no way to get back to the first one. I was expecting her to learn how to repair the first one - not eliminate it entirely - so I was a little disappointed. It was interesting to see how different her life was, but the parents’ divorce wasn’t really handled. The crush on Alastair seemed to come out of nowhere too, but it was still a cute and fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2020
5 Cranky Stars
Emelia aka Em is our courageous heroine who is unhappy about her own life. She always wanted to be a part of the popular crowd; little does she know that she will regret choosing popularity over true love.
I swear I heard Cher singing If I Could Turn Back Time as I read this story. It was that magical. The story was beautifully written. I loved how interwoven Em’s life was with her best friends Alistair and Marisol. It was reminiscent of my favorite movie 13 Going on 30, but with a major swerve. If you love young adult books then this one is for you.
Emelia aka Em is our courageous heroine who is unhappy about her own life. She always wanted to be a part of the popular crowd; little does she know that she will regret choosing popularity over true love.
I swear I heard Cher singing If I Could Turn Back Time as I read this story. It was that magical. The story was beautifully written. I loved how interwoven Em’s life was with her best friends Alistair and Marisol. It was reminiscent of my favorite movie 13 Going on 30, but with a major swerve. If you love young adult books then this one is for you.
September 30, 2020
A charming YA book about regrets and second chances with surprising twists. I read it in one sitting!
Emelia picks the popular boy over her best friend. Six months later, she regrets it and buys a magical crystal for a do-over. Except the stone doesn’t change her past but her present. Her parents are getting a divorce, she has a new job, and a new friend. The worst part, she’s still not with Alistair. Can she get a second do-over or will she have to make the best of the life she’s in?
I loved how both of Emelia’s lives were imperfect. There wasn’t one answer or one thing that made everything better. The relationships are complex and felt realistic. Friendship shines throughout, including positive lgbtq rep. The romance was sweet!
Emelia picks the popular boy over her best friend. Six months later, she regrets it and buys a magical crystal for a do-over. Except the stone doesn’t change her past but her present. Her parents are getting a divorce, she has a new job, and a new friend. The worst part, she’s still not with Alistair. Can she get a second do-over or will she have to make the best of the life she’s in?
I loved how both of Emelia’s lives were imperfect. There wasn’t one answer or one thing that made everything better. The relationships are complex and felt realistic. Friendship shines throughout, including positive lgbtq rep. The romance was sweet!
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May 9, 2022Unfortunately, this book wasn't that great and would be a 2 stars from me.
The main character, Emelia, is extremely self-centered and annoying, the side characters are different shades of bland, and Emelia's love interest, Alistair, is just repeatedly described as "hot" and wearing a beanie. (Every single time Emelia sees him, her first comment to herself is always how "hot" he is.)
The plot was also not very original and there was nothing that really jumped out at me.
The main character, Emelia, is extremely self-centered and annoying, the side characters are different shades of bland, and Emelia's love interest, Alistair, is just repeatedly described as "hot" and wearing a beanie. (Every single time Emelia sees him, her first comment to herself is always how "hot" he is.)
The plot was also not very original and there was nothing that really jumped out at me.
June 18, 2020
Emelia's dream finally comes true....the hottest guy in school is interested in her and she has an opportunity to be accepted by the in-crowd. Never mind that Ben (aka hottest guy in school) is a jerk and a bully to her two best friends and that she has to give up some of her favorite hang-outs and things to do...THE HOTTEST GUY IN SCHOOL IS INTERESTED IN HER!! On the night of Ben's party, Emelia chooses him over Alistair, one of her best friends who finally admits he is interested in being more than friends. Fast forward six months and Emelia has a shaky spot with the in-crowd and her two former best friends have parted ways with her. During one date night that has become like every other in which Ben and his buddy are finding targets to bully and the other girl in the in-crowd is ignoring her, Emilia realizes how unhappy she really is and wishes there was a way to repair the friendship with her former BFFs. Suddenly, she stumbles upon a psychic's tent. She doesn't have enough money for a reading, but can buy a crystal that is guaranteed to allow her to go back and change one thing from her past (as long as it isn't trying to raise the dead). The next morning Emelia wakes up to a whole different world with no memory of the "new" past six months. She was able to undo the fateful night when she chose Ben, but she is left with a new reality that took turns and curves she never expected based on the change of one moment in time.
The premise of the book is the Chaos Theory which says that anything happening in any given moment, no matter how small, can cause enormous and sometimes catastrophic changes elsewhere in the world. I do believe everything happens of reason and that any changes can have not only unintended changes to a life, but sometimes quite drastic ones. I loved the whole "be careful what you wish" for vibe of the story. I also loved the diverse cast of characters and that Honeybourn allowed the happy ending to be right but not perfect.
Although I don't feel this is a standout, knock-your-socks-off literary effort in the field of YA, it is definitely a quick, fun read and would make a solid addition to a middle school library collection.
The premise of the book is the Chaos Theory which says that anything happening in any given moment, no matter how small, can cause enormous and sometimes catastrophic changes elsewhere in the world. I do believe everything happens of reason and that any changes can have not only unintended changes to a life, but sometimes quite drastic ones. I loved the whole "be careful what you wish" for vibe of the story. I also loved the diverse cast of characters and that Honeybourn allowed the happy ending to be right but not perfect.
Although I don't feel this is a standout, knock-your-socks-off literary effort in the field of YA, it is definitely a quick, fun read and would make a solid addition to a middle school library collection.
September 22, 2020
Jennifer Honeybourn has got such an engaging writing style that readers of all ages cannot help but be charmed by her latest novel. The Do-Over.
Emelia has always wanted to fit in with the popular crowd at school. She adores her friends, Alistair and Marisol, and loves spending time with them, but she cannot help but wish that she was one of the cool kids and that she enjoyed all the adulation and popularity which comes so easily to do the A crowd. Emelia cannot believe her luck when Ben, the captain of the basketball team, asks her to a party at his house. Every girl at her high school would love to be Ben’s girlfriend, so she is absolutely overjoyed when things get serious between her and Ben. However, she ends up paying a high price for being popular as she begins to drift further and further away from her two best friends. Emelia’s dream of being popular has come true, so why isn’t she happy?
As the weeks go by, Emelia realizes that being Ben’s girlfriend isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ben is a bully who likes making others suffer and the more time Emelia spends with him, the more she realizes that maybe she should have followed her gut and not refused Alistair’s invitation to the school dance. Emelia has never felt lonelier in her life and would love nothing more than for things to go back the way they were. When she finds a magical solution that could undo the last six months, Emelia thinks that she has found the answers to her prayers, but will she end up learning that sometimes it’s best to be careful what you wish for?
Will this do-over provide Emelia with the means to untangle the mess she has got herself in? Or has she only made things worse for her and her friends?
Funny, enjoyable and heartfelt, Jennifer Honeybourn’s The Do-Over is a charming, chatty and delightful read that I raced through. Readers are sure to relate to Emelia and find themselves rooting for her as she struggles with peer pressure, fitting in, making the right decisions and listening to her heart and trusting herself.
A witty and immensely entertaining read, Jennifer Honeybourn has written a fabulous YA novel readers will devour in one sitting.
Emelia has always wanted to fit in with the popular crowd at school. She adores her friends, Alistair and Marisol, and loves spending time with them, but she cannot help but wish that she was one of the cool kids and that she enjoyed all the adulation and popularity which comes so easily to do the A crowd. Emelia cannot believe her luck when Ben, the captain of the basketball team, asks her to a party at his house. Every girl at her high school would love to be Ben’s girlfriend, so she is absolutely overjoyed when things get serious between her and Ben. However, she ends up paying a high price for being popular as she begins to drift further and further away from her two best friends. Emelia’s dream of being popular has come true, so why isn’t she happy?
As the weeks go by, Emelia realizes that being Ben’s girlfriend isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ben is a bully who likes making others suffer and the more time Emelia spends with him, the more she realizes that maybe she should have followed her gut and not refused Alistair’s invitation to the school dance. Emelia has never felt lonelier in her life and would love nothing more than for things to go back the way they were. When she finds a magical solution that could undo the last six months, Emelia thinks that she has found the answers to her prayers, but will she end up learning that sometimes it’s best to be careful what you wish for?
Will this do-over provide Emelia with the means to untangle the mess she has got herself in? Or has she only made things worse for her and her friends?
Funny, enjoyable and heartfelt, Jennifer Honeybourn’s The Do-Over is a charming, chatty and delightful read that I raced through. Readers are sure to relate to Emelia and find themselves rooting for her as she struggles with peer pressure, fitting in, making the right decisions and listening to her heart and trusting herself.
A witty and immensely entertaining read, Jennifer Honeybourn has written a fabulous YA novel readers will devour in one sitting.
July 11, 2020
What if there was an opportunity to change a big decision made in life? Given that chance, someone’s life could be set on an entirely different path. Emelia has made a decision she thought was the right one in the moment, but as time goes on, she wishes she would have chosen another. Another boy that is. Emelia initially thought she was making the right decision, choosing the popular boy she never thought would like her. Six months later, she starts regretting her decision and wishes she would have actually told her best friend how she felt about him. Emelia is given the chance to choose her best friend instead but was warned there may be consequences.
This book really makes you see how different decisions can effect your lives in major ways. Unfortunately, a lot of us don’t have to opportunity to change decisions and just have to go with what life gives us.
Reading this book as an adult, I can see a lot of issues myself or other people dealt with back when I was in high school. The book was very relatable in that way. However, Honeybourn was able to keep the book light and fun despite dealing with issues such as friendships, desperation to be liked by others, peer pressure, the future, parents and sexuality.
I enjoyed the representation of one of Emelia’s friends figuring out their sexuality and relationships. I hope this will give other’s in high school more confidence and understanding that this is normal.
I really enjoyed the references like Settlers of Catan and Ohio because they actually relate to my life. Back in high school, a lot of my friends and other people played Settlers. I never did because it seemed like too long of a game to hold my attention! Also Ohio because it is the state next to me :p
Thank you Swoon Reads and Jennifer Honeybourn for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book really makes you see how different decisions can effect your lives in major ways. Unfortunately, a lot of us don’t have to opportunity to change decisions and just have to go with what life gives us.
Reading this book as an adult, I can see a lot of issues myself or other people dealt with back when I was in high school. The book was very relatable in that way. However, Honeybourn was able to keep the book light and fun despite dealing with issues such as friendships, desperation to be liked by others, peer pressure, the future, parents and sexuality.
I enjoyed the representation of one of Emelia’s friends figuring out their sexuality and relationships. I hope this will give other’s in high school more confidence and understanding that this is normal.
I really enjoyed the references like Settlers of Catan and Ohio because they actually relate to my life. Back in high school, a lot of my friends and other people played Settlers. I never did because it seemed like too long of a game to hold my attention! Also Ohio because it is the state next to me :p
Thank you Swoon Reads and Jennifer Honeybourn for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 28, 2020
This book was very cute! It was one of those books that you fly through because you are so invested in the story.
The Do-Over follows Emelia. She has great friends, Alistair and Marisol. However, she desperately wants to be part of the cool crowd. So, she drags them to a party thrown by Ben, a popular athlete at their school. She is trying to convince herself that she is into Ben in order to ignore her feelings for Alistair, because she worries that revealing her true feelings would ruin their friendship. Emelia gets her wish and ends up with Ben, only to realize too late that he is not the right person for her. He doesn���t treat her with respect and because of her choice, has lost both Alistair and Marisol as friends. Feeling regretful, Emelia purchases a stone at their local night market. According to the woman that sold it to her, the stone will give her an opportunity to make things right. However, what Emelia doesn’t realize is that one choice can have a ripple effect and change everything. It’s only the next day when she wakes up that she realizes she has made a mistake. Everything is wrong and nothing is what she thought it would be. In order to change things back, Emelia searches for the woman that sold her the stone. When she finally sees her again, the woman insists that what has happened is for the best and that it’s her chance to be better. In the end, Emelia has to deal with her new reality and figure out how to make the best of things, despite challenges that she feels she is facing.
This book explores the thought all of us have had at one point or another. The one of what could have happened if we made a different choice. Would we be happier? Would things be different if we went left versus right? And how would that change things?
Overall, I highly recommend this book and thought it was a very cute story. 🥰📖
The Do-Over follows Emelia. She has great friends, Alistair and Marisol. However, she desperately wants to be part of the cool crowd. So, she drags them to a party thrown by Ben, a popular athlete at their school. She is trying to convince herself that she is into Ben in order to ignore her feelings for Alistair, because she worries that revealing her true feelings would ruin their friendship. Emelia gets her wish and ends up with Ben, only to realize too late that he is not the right person for her. He doesn���t treat her with respect and because of her choice, has lost both Alistair and Marisol as friends. Feeling regretful, Emelia purchases a stone at their local night market. According to the woman that sold it to her, the stone will give her an opportunity to make things right. However, what Emelia doesn’t realize is that one choice can have a ripple effect and change everything. It’s only the next day when she wakes up that she realizes she has made a mistake. Everything is wrong and nothing is what she thought it would be. In order to change things back, Emelia searches for the woman that sold her the stone. When she finally sees her again, the woman insists that what has happened is for the best and that it’s her chance to be better. In the end, Emelia has to deal with her new reality and figure out how to make the best of things, despite challenges that she feels she is facing.
This book explores the thought all of us have had at one point or another. The one of what could have happened if we made a different choice. Would we be happier? Would things be different if we went left versus right? And how would that change things?
Overall, I highly recommend this book and thought it was a very cute story. 🥰📖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the publisher, Swoon Reads, in a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest opinion of this book. Rating: 4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this book! I have not read Honeybourn's other books before reading this ARC, but will probably check them out now. I enjoyed the writing and the flow of the book, as well as the diverse and flawed yet likable characters and the character development. This was an easy, fun, feel-good read. It is a magical young adult (YA) rom com about a girl who finds a magic crystal to get a second chance to fix her relationship/friendships to how she thinks she should have done the first time around--only to find out that changing one thing in life in turn changes everything and affects everyone else in your life.
It was a bit short--I think I would have wanted a bit more of the story especially between chapter 3 and the '6 months later' announcement before chapter 4--but I think besides that, the plot and character development was well planned and flowed well. I did enjoy the ending.
I liked the messages: Don't take things for granted, don't waste your time doing things you'll regret/things you don't enjoy, be thoughtful and don't be selfish with the people in your life, face the consequences of your actions and learn from these mistakes--most people do not get a 'do-over' for anything in life, so it is best to do the right thing and acknowledge and learn from your mistakes--no one is perfect!
This book could be suitable for younger readers (my ARC states age 13+) as well as older readers. Very few cuss words (I think I remember 1 instance off the top of my head); no sex scenes or explicit conversations of that type, just kissing scenes and underage drinking mentioned at a party.
I really enjoyed this book! I have not read Honeybourn's other books before reading this ARC, but will probably check them out now. I enjoyed the writing and the flow of the book, as well as the diverse and flawed yet likable characters and the character development. This was an easy, fun, feel-good read. It is a magical young adult (YA) rom com about a girl who finds a magic crystal to get a second chance to fix her relationship/friendships to how she thinks she should have done the first time around--only to find out that changing one thing in life in turn changes everything and affects everyone else in your life.
It was a bit short--I think I would have wanted a bit more of the story especially between chapter 3 and the '6 months later' announcement before chapter 4--but I think besides that, the plot and character development was well planned and flowed well. I did enjoy the ending.
I liked the messages: Don't take things for granted, don't waste your time doing things you'll regret/things you don't enjoy, be thoughtful and don't be selfish with the people in your life, face the consequences of your actions and learn from these mistakes--most people do not get a 'do-over' for anything in life, so it is best to do the right thing and acknowledge and learn from your mistakes--no one is perfect!
This book could be suitable for younger readers (my ARC states age 13+) as well as older readers. Very few cuss words (I think I remember 1 instance off the top of my head); no sex scenes or explicit conversations of that type, just kissing scenes and underage drinking mentioned at a party.
July 10, 2020
This is a fairly light and breezy treatment of the Many Worlds theory; how does a teenage girl's life differ depending on which boyfriend she chooses? Apparently, it...leads to her parents splitting up in one reality for reasons that are never explained, despite them seeming far more likely to split up in the other version.
I liked that in the second reality, Emelia had branched out and found some more friends. Pretty good friends, it seemed, too. But since we never see any of the missing six months, we never find out how it happened. We never find out about her parents, either, despite her telling us that she texts about everything with Alistair and Marisol. Apparently not about life changing events like her parents' divorce.
I liked the moral; that instead of worrying about and wishing to change past events, we should be concentrating on the time we're in right now. It's something a lot of people could stand to learn, I think.
Spoiler:
Oh, and if you need a fake boyfriend, don't ask Alistair. He'll say yes, but then never do anything even remotely boyfriendy with you, and he'll be very intense with other people.
Show/Hide
I liked this overall; it's light, fluffy and a quick read. I just wish there was more explanation on some of the mysteries. I almost feel like the story of how Emeline pieced together her missing months might be a better story than the story of how she hunted down the tarot reader. But the tarot and stones used in here were very accurate! I did like that. And I did enjoy the read, don't get me wrong. It's just - good, not great.
I liked that in the second reality, Emelia had branched out and found some more friends. Pretty good friends, it seemed, too. But since we never see any of the missing six months, we never find out how it happened. We never find out about her parents, either, despite her telling us that she texts about everything with Alistair and Marisol. Apparently not about life changing events like her parents' divorce.
I liked the moral; that instead of worrying about and wishing to change past events, we should be concentrating on the time we're in right now. It's something a lot of people could stand to learn, I think.
Spoiler:
Oh, and if you need a fake boyfriend, don't ask Alistair. He'll say yes, but then never do anything even remotely boyfriendy with you, and he'll be very intense with other people.
Show/Hide
I liked this overall; it's light, fluffy and a quick read. I just wish there was more explanation on some of the mysteries. I almost feel like the story of how Emeline pieced together her missing months might be a better story than the story of how she hunted down the tarot reader. But the tarot and stones used in here were very accurate! I did like that. And I did enjoy the read, don't get me wrong. It's just - good, not great.
July 16, 2020
This is my second book of Jennifer Honeybourn's that I've read. I'm also part of the Xpresso Book Tours!
Just after Christmas, Emma makes a decision between two guys; she picks popular Ben over her best friend Alistair. Six months later, at the beginning of summer, after witnessing Ben and his friends be rude to Alistair and another friend, she starts to regret her choice. After talking with Alistair and finding out he doesn't want anything to do with her, she ends up purchasing a crystal that can change one of your past regrets. She uses it and wakes up in an alternate world where she picked Alistair. But she soon learns the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side.
What drew me to this book was one, I was familiar with the author and two, a "what-if" universe scenario. And I love how Emma finds out that making one wish to change one thing doesn't mean she's going to wake up in a perfect new world.
Some of the other characters I enjoyed we're lesbian Violet and Alistair, who in this new world seems to be trying to help all the people he cares about, even if it means withholding facts from another friend.
I would have loved to see her reveal to someone (hopefully Violet or maybe Alistair) about the world she came from. It would have been interesting to see what another person in her life thought.
Anyway, this is a good romantic-comedy teen book with a good "what-if" world twist.
Just after Christmas, Emma makes a decision between two guys; she picks popular Ben over her best friend Alistair. Six months later, at the beginning of summer, after witnessing Ben and his friends be rude to Alistair and another friend, she starts to regret her choice. After talking with Alistair and finding out he doesn't want anything to do with her, she ends up purchasing a crystal that can change one of your past regrets. She uses it and wakes up in an alternate world where she picked Alistair. But she soon learns the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side.
What drew me to this book was one, I was familiar with the author and two, a "what-if" universe scenario. And I love how Emma finds out that making one wish to change one thing doesn't mean she's going to wake up in a perfect new world.
Some of the other characters I enjoyed we're lesbian Violet and Alistair, who in this new world seems to be trying to help all the people he cares about, even if it means withholding facts from another friend.
I would have loved to see her reveal to someone (hopefully Violet or maybe Alistair) about the world she came from. It would have been interesting to see what another person in her life thought.
Anyway, this is a good romantic-comedy teen book with a good "what-if" world twist.
May 13, 2021
But somehow I never got around to sending her those messages. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and soon enough my eyes would skip over Alistair and Marisol when I saw them in the cafeteria. The three of us had once been entwined like the roots of a tree, but now we’d become strangers. All because of me.
If they only know how much I wish that I could take it all back. I’d do everything differently, if I only had the chance.
“Is there something that you regret in the past? Something that you wish to change?”
A shiver goes through me. How did she know that?
Probably just a good guess. She must be trained to read body language or something.
“Doesn’t everyone have something in their past that they’d like to change?” I replied.
“Some more than others.”
“Introvert hangovers are a real thing.”
What would you do if you brought a crystal that can give you the opportunity to change the past? Would you take that opportunity and change the past? Or would you just forget about the crystal and the chance for a do-over?
This book was fun, light and so fluffy. There was a six month time jump, and I felt like the story didn’t go too deeply into resolving what she doesn’t know. The story was really short. The story’s themes are friendship, regret, being true to yourself, appreciating what you have, accepting that things are out of your control. Overall, 3.75 stars.
If they only know how much I wish that I could take it all back. I’d do everything differently, if I only had the chance.
“Is there something that you regret in the past? Something that you wish to change?”
A shiver goes through me. How did she know that?
Probably just a good guess. She must be trained to read body language or something.
“Doesn’t everyone have something in their past that they’d like to change?” I replied.
“Some more than others.”
“Introvert hangovers are a real thing.”
What would you do if you brought a crystal that can give you the opportunity to change the past? Would you take that opportunity and change the past? Or would you just forget about the crystal and the chance for a do-over?
This book was fun, light and so fluffy. There was a six month time jump, and I felt like the story didn’t go too deeply into resolving what she doesn’t know. The story was really short. The story’s themes are friendship, regret, being true to yourself, appreciating what you have, accepting that things are out of your control. Overall, 3.75 stars.
July 15, 2020
From Emelia's experience, don't mess with your life's trajectory and just accept what happens. Otherwise, your life may be even more complicated than before.
Em is your typical nerdy teenager who wants to try something new without thinking of the consequences. Unfortunately, she loses sight of what is important and wants a do-over. Luckily, she is able to get that, but then the butterfly effect occurs. I have been in Em's shoes and only wish I could have done things differently in high school, but then I wouldn't be where I am today. I was happy by how Em grew from the changes in her life and how everything worked out in the end. As for the supporting characters, Em's best friend Alistair is a great character and reminds me of Ducky in Pretty in Pink. When you read the book, you will understand why. Also, Violet is also a fun character who is gutsy and creative with her grand gesture towards her crush at work.
Overall, I found this to be a unique and fun YA novel with a paranormal twist that makes one think carefully about the choices one makes in life.
Thank you to Ms. Honeybourn for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Em is your typical nerdy teenager who wants to try something new without thinking of the consequences. Unfortunately, she loses sight of what is important and wants a do-over. Luckily, she is able to get that, but then the butterfly effect occurs. I have been in Em's shoes and only wish I could have done things differently in high school, but then I wouldn't be where I am today. I was happy by how Em grew from the changes in her life and how everything worked out in the end. As for the supporting characters, Em's best friend Alistair is a great character and reminds me of Ducky in Pretty in Pink. When you read the book, you will understand why. Also, Violet is also a fun character who is gutsy and creative with her grand gesture towards her crush at work.
Overall, I found this to be a unique and fun YA novel with a paranormal twist that makes one think carefully about the choices one makes in life.
Thank you to Ms. Honeybourn for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
July 13, 2020
The Do-Over feels reminiscent of a lot of the fun teen rom-coms, notably 13 Going On 30. I also felt it had some slight vibes of the more recent Isn’t It Romantic, but for the teen set. It’s fairly predictable, in the sense that the moral is to “be careful what you wish for,” but the story also provides some comfort in that predictability, particularly when things fall into place at the end.
Emilia isn’t always likable…she makes bad, self-serving choices, and that’s the whole reason for wanting to do things over to begin with. But on some level I could still identify with her, as I remember what things were like for me at her age and not really belonging.
I love her relationship with her friend-turned-love-interest, Alistair, and how they complement each other. I wish the plot had allowed for more exploration of their relationship, instead of her figuring out how to make things right with him when things kept going wrong, but I understand why.
This is fairly cute, but I do think this is a book that is solely for teen readers going through this stuff right now, and I don’t think it should be critiqued too harshly for accurately suiting the audience it’s meant for.
Emilia isn’t always likable…she makes bad, self-serving choices, and that’s the whole reason for wanting to do things over to begin with. But on some level I could still identify with her, as I remember what things were like for me at her age and not really belonging.
I love her relationship with her friend-turned-love-interest, Alistair, and how they complement each other. I wish the plot had allowed for more exploration of their relationship, instead of her figuring out how to make things right with him when things kept going wrong, but I understand why.
This is fairly cute, but I do think this is a book that is solely for teen readers going through this stuff right now, and I don’t think it should be critiqued too harshly for accurately suiting the audience it’s meant for.
August 10, 2025
Very short book that is predicated entirely on misunderstandings that could be resolved with a 30-second conversation. You can bet that this conversation will not occur until the end of the book, so the reader is strung along in frustrating fashion for about 200 pages.
This isn't really worth a long review, but let me say that nerds who don't do sports but instead eat junk food and game all day and all night don't generally have lean, muscular physiques. It would be OK to write a male character with an average or normal build. People can still be attractive and even sexy if their stomach is not perfectly flat, as the author goes out of her way to tell us this geek's is.
I didn't hate this, but I was moderately annoyed by it. If you play Catan, you might enjoy it as that game features in this tale.
This isn't really worth a long review, but let me say that nerds who don't do sports but instead eat junk food and game all day and all night don't generally have lean, muscular physiques. It would be OK to write a male character with an average or normal build. People can still be attractive and even sexy if their stomach is not perfectly flat, as the author goes out of her way to tell us this geek's is.
I didn't hate this, but I was moderately annoyed by it. If you play Catan, you might enjoy it as that game features in this tale.
August 12, 2020
A tiny, sweet YA book with a fun premise. I read it in a flash. I wouldn't have minded one more twist, but then again it was pretty short and sweet. Reading it as a parent of a teen, I think the writer does a great job capturing the way that teens can both be very perceptive and sensitive, and yet still occasionally act in a self-centered or insensitive way. The struggles of the main character to do the right thing while resisting social pressure and her own selfish desires struck me as very accurate to my own experience, and what I see my teenager dealing with. While the book does focus on romance, it also shows how important friendships are, and throws out a lot of good ideas about healthy relationships and healthy breakups that I was glad to see represented.
June 10, 2022
This totally had potential, but was ultimately soooo underdeveloped. The story began *immediately* with no character build up and sure, that had me interested very quickly, but ultimately I was just interested…not invested. Most of these friendships made no sense, came (quite literally) out of nowhere, and the romances were the same. I also found the divorce plot line to be SO unresolved and silly. Seriously, the Catan scenes were the most developed which was HILARIOUS to me. The good news? It was a less than two hours read, it had LGBTQ representation (which I didn’t know when I picked it up!), and it will fit my “time travel” requirement on a challenge I’m working on (another pleasant surprise!)
July 8, 2020
Well, This was extremely fun! I was drawn into the story from the very first page by Jennifer's compelling writing and Em's unique and relatable voice. This would be a perfect movie with it's great premise and realistic characters. This was my second Jennifer Honeybourn novel and I will definitely be coming back for more.
My only issues that prevented this from being a five star read for me was that I felt like some of the issues went unresolved and it left the book feeling a bit unfinished. But, overall this is a funny, intriguing, and totally irresistible story that you can't help wanting to read.
My only issues that prevented this from being a five star read for me was that I felt like some of the issues went unresolved and it left the book feeling a bit unfinished. But, overall this is a funny, intriguing, and totally irresistible story that you can't help wanting to read.
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