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Jason Apsley #1
Jason Apsley's Second Chance
If you were catapulted back to 1976, what would you do?
Meet Jason Apsley, a forty-two-year-old divorcee, who's an opinionated miserable bugger. Struggling with life which is exacerbated by his negative attitude.
A random event shifts time, causing Jason to continue life in 1976, six months before he's due to be born. Leaving behind Beth, his one and only friend who supported him through some difficult times. Can life get any worse?
Although Jason is the same person, he finds himself teleported into the life of another Jason Apsley from a different generation, one with a very different outlook on life. All alone, Jason tries to enlist the support of his grandfather on this turbulent journey and finds he has to adapt quickly as every encounter brings further head-spinning challenges.
But what of Beth, his one true friend who suffered a traumatic childhood. Will Jason be brave enough to seize this opportunity to change her past?
Can Jason change the future and become more like other Jason, or will time refuse to bend?
Will Jason learn from his past and take this second chance?
Meet Jason Apsley, a forty-two-year-old divorcee, who's an opinionated miserable bugger. Struggling with life which is exacerbated by his negative attitude.
A random event shifts time, causing Jason to continue life in 1976, six months before he's due to be born. Leaving behind Beth, his one and only friend who supported him through some difficult times. Can life get any worse?
Although Jason is the same person, he finds himself teleported into the life of another Jason Apsley from a different generation, one with a very different outlook on life. All alone, Jason tries to enlist the support of his grandfather on this turbulent journey and finds he has to adapt quickly as every encounter brings further head-spinning challenges.
But what of Beth, his one true friend who suffered a traumatic childhood. Will Jason be brave enough to seize this opportunity to change her past?
Can Jason change the future and become more like other Jason, or will time refuse to bend?
Will Jason learn from his past and take this second chance?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2021
704 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Cousins
36 books91 followersHello ...
I'm a self-confessed time-travel fan. So, unsurprisingly, my books fit into the time-travel genre.
My third book, Eye of Time, will be published in October 2021.
Please drop onto my website for updates.
I'm a self-confessed time-travel fan. So, unsurprisingly, my books fit into the time-travel genre.
My third book, Eye of Time, will be published in October 2021.
Please drop onto my website for updates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
April 21, 2024
Poignant and quite satisfying!
Our 'hero' is an ordinary man approaching a mid- life crisis. He is self obsessed, has a flashy car, suffers with obsessive compulsive disorder and his girlfriend is now his ex. Driving to work one day he is involved in a serious road accident and is pronounced dead at the scene. Then strange things begin to happen. He awakes and finds himself occupying another man's body and he has been transported back to 1976. A period before he was born. Given another chance at life, can be redeem himself and right all the wrongs that have befallen him? As the saying goes "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions". A very enjoyable tale!
Our 'hero' is an ordinary man approaching a mid- life crisis. He is self obsessed, has a flashy car, suffers with obsessive compulsive disorder and his girlfriend is now his ex. Driving to work one day he is involved in a serious road accident and is pronounced dead at the scene. Then strange things begin to happen. He awakes and finds himself occupying another man's body and he has been transported back to 1976. A period before he was born. Given another chance at life, can be redeem himself and right all the wrongs that have befallen him? As the saying goes "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions". A very enjoyable tale!
November 16, 2021
I loved this. I gave it 4.5, rounded up to 5, and bought the sequel within minutes of finishing reading this one.
Two slight negatives: (1) If you’ve seen Life On Mars, you have to wonder ‘why a car crash and why the ‘70’s?’ That bugged me for a while. (2) I initially thought the writing style was very unsophisticated and that I would, therefore, get bored. However, as the book went on, it seemed that the writing flowed better and, in any event, reflected the way that Jason would’ve told the story.
The main positives, (that far outweighed the negatives,) were that: it is an unusual take on the time-travel theme; I had no idea how it was going to play out, (well, except for one small detail,) and it kept me wanting to read the next chapter.
I think you’d get more out of this book if you were around in the ‘70s, because it brings back many memories and made me laugh at things that a younger reader simply wouldn’t get. However, the story would still work well without knowledge of the era.
This is not a book for those who delve too deeply into how time travel could work. It’s a fun read, but really entertaining.
Now, I’m off to see what happens next……
Two slight negatives: (1) If you’ve seen Life On Mars, you have to wonder ‘why a car crash and why the ‘70’s?’ That bugged me for a while. (2) I initially thought the writing style was very unsophisticated and that I would, therefore, get bored. However, as the book went on, it seemed that the writing flowed better and, in any event, reflected the way that Jason would’ve told the story.
The main positives, (that far outweighed the negatives,) were that: it is an unusual take on the time-travel theme; I had no idea how it was going to play out, (well, except for one small detail,) and it kept me wanting to read the next chapter.
I think you’d get more out of this book if you were around in the ‘70s, because it brings back many memories and made me laugh at things that a younger reader simply wouldn’t get. However, the story would still work well without knowledge of the era.
This is not a book for those who delve too deeply into how time travel could work. It’s a fun read, but really entertaining.
Now, I’m off to see what happens next……
July 30, 2021
Took me an age to read as it never once grabbed me or made an effort to shout ‘pick me up’.
Nothing essentially wrong with it but nothing right either.
Nothing essentially wrong with it but nothing right either.
January 25, 2022
This didn't get a higher rating for two reasons - some boring parts [too descriptive about soccer (football) and the like. I think people into watching sports won't care, i'm only going to games in person and only because it's fun to watch men in tight pants run around].
The bigger issue was the main character's constant use of "nazi" and actual nazis (like Goering) as a comparison to people he didn't like (and not comparing them to those who had nazi beliefs but those who did minor things that annoyed him). Don't do this, this is f-ed up. We are told that he was an unlikable person before his time travel and he has changed, yet he still continues to do this after. (All the while whining about sexist, and '-phobic' things, that most actually weren't sexist (some were mean but mean isn't a phobia and some made sense) but the Nazi thing was the big, not ok.
Regarding the character complaining about sexist things.... He says he will be different, and enlightened /modern.. But it's a virtue signal. I think 3rd wave feminism is an awful joke but if you are going to say you are a supporter - don't be a hypocrite. He's just unlikable. Severely so. He's not so annoying you want to punch him (hence why it got three stars), but still.
The storyline is good. The other characters are flushed out.
Bottom line, there is something seriously wrong with an author who thinks it's totally ok to do this when it wasn't necessary for the character, making it seem the author thought it was appropriate to conflate nazi with people he didn't like. Yes characters are their own "people" but there wasn't a reason to use it here. (Making it a case of the author's thoughts rather than writing the characters personality as
the characters own).
The bigger issue was the main character's constant use of "nazi" and actual nazis (like Goering) as a comparison to people he didn't like (and not comparing them to those who had nazi beliefs but those who did minor things that annoyed him). Don't do this, this is f-ed up. We are told that he was an unlikable person before his time travel and he has changed, yet he still continues to do this after. (All the while whining about sexist, and '-phobic' things, that most actually weren't sexist (some were mean but mean isn't a phobia and some made sense) but the Nazi thing was the big, not ok.
Regarding the character complaining about sexist things.... He says he will be different, and enlightened /modern.. But it's a virtue signal. I think 3rd wave feminism is an awful joke but if you are going to say you are a supporter - don't be a hypocrite. He's just unlikable. Severely so. He's not so annoying you want to punch him (hence why it got three stars), but still.
The storyline is good. The other characters are flushed out.
Bottom line, there is something seriously wrong with an author who thinks it's totally ok to do this when it wasn't necessary for the character, making it seem the author thought it was appropriate to conflate nazi with people he didn't like. Yes characters are their own "people" but there wasn't a reason to use it here. (Making it a case of the author's thoughts rather than writing the characters personality as
the characters own).
September 25, 2021
Not worth reading
Admission: I read only 25 pages of this book. Every time I picked it up, the character on the page peppered every sentence with f-bombs and other profanity. How tiresome.
Admission: I read only 25 pages of this book. Every time I picked it up, the character on the page peppered every sentence with f-bombs and other profanity. How tiresome.
June 24, 2023
An enjoyable and fun read!
I don't usually review a novel unless I really like it. I couldn't put this one down. I like the plot, the characters and the writing. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I don't usually review a novel unless I really like it. I couldn't put this one down. I like the plot, the characters and the writing. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 14, 2021
A time travel tale with a new twist. Rather than going back to a much younger you, with all your memories intact, Jason Apsley takes over from another Jason Apsley. He doesn't have the memories of the older Jason but has his skills. Jason tries to change what happen in the future, including the death of his parents, with mixed success. Much happier second time around but not always a smooth journey. Very well written.
October 19, 2022
A fun romp. As an American who found himself in the UK in the summer of 75 I found familiar cultural references. Reading this reminded me of my college studies of cultural history. Looking forward to the second book.
March 24, 2025
I saw this somewhere on the internet and had to track it down. I love anything time-travel related and the blurb for this got me. I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve read some excellent books already this year, but this one is my favourite book of the year so far.
It’s a thought-provoking paradox that explores fate and the unexpected twists life can take. It crafts a brilliant main character in Jason Apsley, a man who isn’t really making much of a mark on life. He’s bumming a friend’s spare room—his only friend because people don’t like him. And he’s debilitated with OCD. Perfect conditions for a thrust into 1976 (the long, hot summer) but things are very different for him back then.
I’m a sucker for all the mysteries time travel throws at you and … this book has them by the handful.. but only one handful because I see that there are about a dozen more time travel books by this talented author. One down and I’m a fan. Bring it on.
The writing is sharp and funny. It balances humour, fantastic 70s nostalgia, and poignant life lessons with a 100% engaging narrative. We love new—old—Jason. He’s great and we root for him all the way. The book is addictive and easy-going, making it one that I won’t forget. With warmth and introspection, Jason Aspley's Second Chance is right up there with The Time Traveller’s Wife (but without so much mush), though we do have a fine romance. Fans of intelligent fiction with humanism will be totally captivated by this exceptional read.
It’s a thought-provoking paradox that explores fate and the unexpected twists life can take. It crafts a brilliant main character in Jason Apsley, a man who isn’t really making much of a mark on life. He’s bumming a friend’s spare room—his only friend because people don’t like him. And he’s debilitated with OCD. Perfect conditions for a thrust into 1976 (the long, hot summer) but things are very different for him back then.
I’m a sucker for all the mysteries time travel throws at you and … this book has them by the handful.. but only one handful because I see that there are about a dozen more time travel books by this talented author. One down and I’m a fan. Bring it on.
The writing is sharp and funny. It balances humour, fantastic 70s nostalgia, and poignant life lessons with a 100% engaging narrative. We love new—old—Jason. He’s great and we root for him all the way. The book is addictive and easy-going, making it one that I won’t forget. With warmth and introspection, Jason Aspley's Second Chance is right up there with The Time Traveller’s Wife (but without so much mush), though we do have a fine romance. Fans of intelligent fiction with humanism will be totally captivated by this exceptional read.
February 1, 2022
A fun "inadvertent" time-travel book, good humor, interesting situations and twists. Definitely unique.
I knocked off a star since it really took a while to get going. Pretty slow first 20% or so but then it picks up. Also, there wasn't really a big "climax" in the book that everything built towards. Right at the end there is a major twist that sets up the next book, so I suspect that this was always intended to have a sequel, and that's where it's building up to.
The writing style was a bit confusing. Most of the book is written in first-person, but early on in the book the author shifts between this and third-person as the viewpoints of some other characters are used. It's definitely confusing.
Also, if you're not British (I'm not), you definitely need to study up on your British slang! There's a lot of it, and while it doesn't drag the story down and can mostly be figured out by context, it's still very pervasive. Along this line are a lot of pop-culture references which I, from the U.S., definitely didn't catch (such as what I assume were British TV shows or movies). Again, it didn't really cause any problems reading the book. It did make me wonder, though, how much of U.S.-centric fiction has a bunch of references that someone from the U.K. wouldn't understand. Probably way more than we realize!
I knocked off a star since it really took a while to get going. Pretty slow first 20% or so but then it picks up. Also, there wasn't really a big "climax" in the book that everything built towards. Right at the end there is a major twist that sets up the next book, so I suspect that this was always intended to have a sequel, and that's where it's building up to.
The writing style was a bit confusing. Most of the book is written in first-person, but early on in the book the author shifts between this and third-person as the viewpoints of some other characters are used. It's definitely confusing.
Also, if you're not British (I'm not), you definitely need to study up on your British slang! There's a lot of it, and while it doesn't drag the story down and can mostly be figured out by context, it's still very pervasive. Along this line are a lot of pop-culture references which I, from the U.S., definitely didn't catch (such as what I assume were British TV shows or movies). Again, it didn't really cause any problems reading the book. It did make me wonder, though, how much of U.S.-centric fiction has a bunch of references that someone from the U.K. wouldn't understand. Probably way more than we realize!
May 9, 2021
Great read, I could not put it down!
Amazon had recommend this book to me based on some of the other books I had read. I fell into the authors target market being into time travel and from the UK also being born in 1970! A very good book, a little bit of nostalgia thrown in and well edited. I think I only found one spelling mistake and that was larger rather than Lager! Immediately after reading I checked out the author to see if there was any other books and have noticed the sequel is due out this month so will look forward to that. My only thoughts are the author needs to update his website with more information about upcoming books, also would be better to engage with readers with a Facebook page\group as you can follow the page and be updated about upcoming releases. Also subscribing to a marketing list so be updated about new releases. As long as the marketing list is used properly it helps readers who have enjoyed previous books to re-engage with the author on new books and build up a following. Good luck with the sequel and future releases!
Amazon had recommend this book to me based on some of the other books I had read. I fell into the authors target market being into time travel and from the UK also being born in 1970! A very good book, a little bit of nostalgia thrown in and well edited. I think I only found one spelling mistake and that was larger rather than Lager! Immediately after reading I checked out the author to see if there was any other books and have noticed the sequel is due out this month so will look forward to that. My only thoughts are the author needs to update his website with more information about upcoming books, also would be better to engage with readers with a Facebook page\group as you can follow the page and be updated about upcoming releases. Also subscribing to a marketing list so be updated about new releases. As long as the marketing list is used properly it helps readers who have enjoyed previous books to re-engage with the author on new books and build up a following. Good luck with the sequel and future releases!
February 19, 2022
This was a three star review, elevated to four at the last minute.
The writing style didn’t wow me. Little things bugged me, such as dialogue concluding in ha-ha (“Don’t be late, ha-ha!”)
Jenny’s character didn’t work for me at all. She went from insta-love to aggravating to doting to the point where I got whiplash.
I read a lot of time travel novels, and quite a few of characters reliving their lives. I can tell you this particular plot setup didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but perhaps in the continuation we’ll find out more.
As to the ending, there was a question of “Where is Lisa?” but it wasn’t clear to me why that character would be asking that question, nor how that character would know to look for Jason where he did.
Honestly, as I write this, it feels more like a 3.5 star read, but I’ll round up for Don and George, who were both solid characters throughout.
The writing style didn’t wow me. Little things bugged me, such as dialogue concluding in ha-ha (“Don’t be late, ha-ha!”)
Jenny’s character didn’t work for me at all. She went from insta-love to aggravating to doting to the point where I got whiplash.
I read a lot of time travel novels, and quite a few of characters reliving their lives. I can tell you this particular plot setup didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but perhaps in the continuation we’ll find out more.
As to the ending, there was a question of “Where is Lisa?” but it wasn’t clear to me why that character would be asking that question, nor how that character would know to look for Jason where he did.
Honestly, as I write this, it feels more like a 3.5 star read, but I’ll round up for Don and George, who were both solid characters throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
Even though I’ve just downloaded the sequel to read, I’ve given it three stars. I feel it just needs a lil something extra. I think the writer got a tad fed up or lost here and there. The 70’s time travel is what tweeked my interest! And thank you for reminding me of the electronics company Rumbelows! Lol. I thought that had gone from my memory forever! However, I felt more research could have been done on the era rather than dropping product names here and there. I feel he could have added more 70’s culture maybe? I’m not sure but it needed that something extra to make me feel like I was back in the era. Maybe I’m asking to much though?
Even so, I’m ready to read the second book in the series as I’m so pleased he adopted Beth and I really need to know how that turns out! Lol.
Maybe as it’ll be his second from debut novel The author will really get into the swing of things. I’ll let you know in the next review.
Even so, I’m ready to read the second book in the series as I’m so pleased he adopted Beth and I really need to know how that turns out! Lol.
Maybe as it’ll be his second from debut novel The author will really get into the swing of things. I’ll let you know in the next review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2024
Meet Jason Apsley, a forty-two-year-old divorcee, who's an opinionated miserable bugger. Struggling with life which is exacerbated by his negative attitude.
A random event shifts time, causing Jason to continue life in 1976, six months before he's due to be born. Leaving behind Beth, his one and only friend who supported him through some difficult times. Can life get any worse?
Although Jason is the same person, he finds himself teleported into the life of another Jason Apsley from a different generation, one with a very different outlook on life. All alone, Jason tries to enlist the support of his grandfather on this turbulent journey and finds he has to adapt quickly as every encounter brings further head-spinning challenges.
But what of Beth, his one true friend who suffered a traumatic childhood. Will Jason be brave enough to seize this opportunity to change her past?
Can Jason change the future and become more like other Jason, or will time refuse to bend?
Will Jason learn from his past and take this second chance?
A random event shifts time, causing Jason to continue life in 1976, six months before he's due to be born. Leaving behind Beth, his one and only friend who supported him through some difficult times. Can life get any worse?
Although Jason is the same person, he finds himself teleported into the life of another Jason Apsley from a different generation, one with a very different outlook on life. All alone, Jason tries to enlist the support of his grandfather on this turbulent journey and finds he has to adapt quickly as every encounter brings further head-spinning challenges.
But what of Beth, his one true friend who suffered a traumatic childhood. Will Jason be brave enough to seize this opportunity to change her past?
Can Jason change the future and become more like other Jason, or will time refuse to bend?
Will Jason learn from his past and take this second chance?
January 14, 2022
What an epic debut novel!
I predict great success for Adrian Cousins. I started reading but then got frustrated with the whole irrationality of OCD that I stopped reading it. I came back to it a few months later and by golly am I glad I did.
I have had some warped sleeping patterns while reading this book because it was so hard to put down for essential things like eating, sleeping and bodily functions.
I did sleep eventually when my eyes couldn't take the sand paper effect any longer. I won't start the second novel today as I really need to sleep. But tomorrow after a good rest I'll be diving into the next part of this adventure in 'Ahead of His Time'.
I am so amazed to have discovered this author and very thankful to Amazon for suggesting that I might like this book.
I predict great success for Adrian Cousins. I started reading but then got frustrated with the whole irrationality of OCD that I stopped reading it. I came back to it a few months later and by golly am I glad I did.
I have had some warped sleeping patterns while reading this book because it was so hard to put down for essential things like eating, sleeping and bodily functions.
I did sleep eventually when my eyes couldn't take the sand paper effect any longer. I won't start the second novel today as I really need to sleep. But tomorrow after a good rest I'll be diving into the next part of this adventure in 'Ahead of His Time'.
I am so amazed to have discovered this author and very thankful to Amazon for suggesting that I might like this book.
March 16, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this Time Travel adventure. It is a different take on the genre.
Jason Apsley is in his 40’s with a divorce behind him and struggles with his current life. One day he is in a car crash, and he finds himself in 1976. Just before he is born. He is in the body of another Jason Apsley but retains all his thoughts and memories.
He begins to realise what this could mean and the possibility to bend time or change it completely by his actions. He has a second chance to change his life from the start.
I liked the main character even if he could be rude. His speech was also very English. So was the whole book. It is set in England in the 70’s which has very English slangs and words spoken along with 70’s referrals to English culture.
Being born in the 70’s I loved the nostalgia.
Look forward to reading the sequel!
Jason Apsley is in his 40’s with a divorce behind him and struggles with his current life. One day he is in a car crash, and he finds himself in 1976. Just before he is born. He is in the body of another Jason Apsley but retains all his thoughts and memories.
He begins to realise what this could mean and the possibility to bend time or change it completely by his actions. He has a second chance to change his life from the start.
I liked the main character even if he could be rude. His speech was also very English. So was the whole book. It is set in England in the 70’s which has very English slangs and words spoken along with 70’s referrals to English culture.
Being born in the 70’s I loved the nostalgia.
Look forward to reading the sequel!
January 11, 2025
Jason Apsley's Second Chance manages that very tricky balance of hilarity and humanity. It's sharp as a tack, wickedly funny, but never loses sight of the high stakes associated with time travel. In this case, a 40ish man named Jason Apsley opens his eyes post car accident to discover that he has time travelled back to 1976, and that, with the exception of his name, the circumstances of his life are completely different. I enjoyed the period details surrounding 1976, and the political incorrectness of the era is handled with grace and humor. The characters, whether good or evil, always feel very real and the dialogue is superb. Easy to see how this book garnered so many sequels, and it definitely ends on a cliffhanger. Look forward to seeing how Jason gets himself out of this latest mess lol.
August 11, 2025
Humour, mystery, and a time leap to the 1970s. If you were catapulted back to 1976, what would you do?
Could you relive your life and change your past? However, history always repeats … or does it?
… Jason Apsley is about to find out.
Following a bizarre twist of fate, Jason finds himself in 1976, forty years in the past, six months before he’s due to be born.
… fair to say, a somewhat tricky situation.
Although faced with the challenges of living in yesteryear, time travel offers Jason a second chance and an opportunity to improve his life. Which, considering the debacle of his first forty years, wouldn’t be difficult.
As our unwitting time traveller soon discovers, meddling with the past has consequences for the future. However, Jason soon realises that history must change.
… lives are at stake
Could you relive your life and change your past? However, history always repeats … or does it?
… Jason Apsley is about to find out.
Following a bizarre twist of fate, Jason finds himself in 1976, forty years in the past, six months before he’s due to be born.
… fair to say, a somewhat tricky situation.
Although faced with the challenges of living in yesteryear, time travel offers Jason a second chance and an opportunity to improve his life. Which, considering the debacle of his first forty years, wouldn’t be difficult.
As our unwitting time traveller soon discovers, meddling with the past has consequences for the future. However, Jason soon realises that history must change.
… lives are at stake
February 20, 2022
RA
A totally excellent read!!! I can't praise it highly enough! In a similar style to the writing of Keith A Pearson, who I have also greatly enjoyed. Similar themes: a man attempting to change the convoluted strands of Time. But, of course, Time always has a quite determined, if not predetermined, mind of its own. Great characters, great dilemmas and considerable empathy. Also references to the 'career' of the Yorkshire Ripper. But you can't change everything! Delicious time travel quirks like: "My older five-year-old brother." Looking keenly forward in time to the next books in the series. Even if they're not strictly chronological. High quality writing: find TIME for it!
A totally excellent read!!! I can't praise it highly enough! In a similar style to the writing of Keith A Pearson, who I have also greatly enjoyed. Similar themes: a man attempting to change the convoluted strands of Time. But, of course, Time always has a quite determined, if not predetermined, mind of its own. Great characters, great dilemmas and considerable empathy. Also references to the 'career' of the Yorkshire Ripper. But you can't change everything! Delicious time travel quirks like: "My older five-year-old brother." Looking keenly forward in time to the next books in the series. Even if they're not strictly chronological. High quality writing: find TIME for it!
October 29, 2023
Spelling and Grammatical Errors Galore
It's not often I don't finish a book but I couldn't go on with this poorly written, unedited book. The conversation is very stilted and there is an over abundance of profanities which often have there place in fiction when used correctly but were randomly injected into dialogue. I admire the author's ability to not only start and finish a novel but to carry on and write a series. I like the premise of going back to the seventies, which is why I bought the book, but a few sentences in I could tell it was self published. It was also clearly written by a man - when a book is well written you shouldn't be able to determine the gender of the author.
It's not often I don't finish a book but I couldn't go on with this poorly written, unedited book. The conversation is very stilted and there is an over abundance of profanities which often have there place in fiction when used correctly but were randomly injected into dialogue. I admire the author's ability to not only start and finish a novel but to carry on and write a series. I like the premise of going back to the seventies, which is why I bought the book, but a few sentences in I could tell it was self published. It was also clearly written by a man - when a book is well written you shouldn't be able to determine the gender of the author.
September 2, 2025
That was a fun read!
Different to what I normally read (horror & thriller) this made a nice change and I think I’ll check out the sequels.
It was quirky and fun, it’s always enjoyable to see how they play with history and knowledge in time travel books, but this one kept the balance together well. The knowledge was used, but to a believable degree and it still allowed the story itself to travel forward naturally.
The writing was good and flowed well, making it a nice, easy read.
Overall, good job. Recommend to anyone who enjoyed a bit of drama and time travel, I’d say it would appeal more to Brits as there’s a lot of references that others may not fully understand, but yeah. There you have it.
Different to what I normally read (horror & thriller) this made a nice change and I think I’ll check out the sequels.
It was quirky and fun, it’s always enjoyable to see how they play with history and knowledge in time travel books, but this one kept the balance together well. The knowledge was used, but to a believable degree and it still allowed the story itself to travel forward naturally.
The writing was good and flowed well, making it a nice, easy read.
Overall, good job. Recommend to anyone who enjoyed a bit of drama and time travel, I’d say it would appeal more to Brits as there’s a lot of references that others may not fully understand, but yeah. There you have it.
November 10, 2021
A bit different premise for time travel -- but quite satisfying.
Great sense of humor.
The plot moved in a nice understandable way with interesting and fun/clever dialogue.
The author always seemed to anticipate any questions I might have to clear up believability issues.
There was enough going on to keep it interesting without getting lost/confused (didn't have to ask "now which character is this?"
My only regret (and I really shouldn't state it since it is an "ugly American" complaint) is that a lot of the local British stuff was lost on me (TV series, sporting events, etc.). I would have loved the book even more if it took place in 1970's America.
Great sense of humor.
The plot moved in a nice understandable way with interesting and fun/clever dialogue.
The author always seemed to anticipate any questions I might have to clear up believability issues.
There was enough going on to keep it interesting without getting lost/confused (didn't have to ask "now which character is this?"
My only regret (and I really shouldn't state it since it is an "ugly American" complaint) is that a lot of the local British stuff was lost on me (TV series, sporting events, etc.). I would have loved the book even more if it took place in 1970's America.
June 20, 2022
Gloriously unpredictable
After a few pages I didn't think this would be for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The 'Life on Mars' type time travel theme drew me, but I should have realised from the title that there is more to it than that. It really is about second chances.
Some people like to warn 'This isn't a rehearsal - this is your life.' But supposing it is just a rehearsal and one gets another crack at it. Jason does in a way.
The biggest compliment I can give it is that I never knew at any stage what was about to happen next - and that is rare.
I like Jason enough to read his further exploits. After that ending - I just have to.
After a few pages I didn't think this would be for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The 'Life on Mars' type time travel theme drew me, but I should have realised from the title that there is more to it than that. It really is about second chances.
Some people like to warn 'This isn't a rehearsal - this is your life.' But supposing it is just a rehearsal and one gets another crack at it. Jason does in a way.
The biggest compliment I can give it is that I never knew at any stage what was about to happen next - and that is rare.
I like Jason enough to read his further exploits. After that ending - I just have to.
July 10, 2022
Lessons in British slang
John dies and finds himself alive before he was born. He has the same name, but everything else is different being over thirty years in his personal past. History changes as things don't happen as he remembers them. He finds a girl and marries her. He meets up with a serial killer from his previous life, and things happen differently. This book is so full of British slang, it's difficult to read. Luckily, kindle seems to know them so git, gorm, and wanker get explained, but still they are disruptive of the flow of the story. The story itself, well it's a little confusing, but is amusing.
John dies and finds himself alive before he was born. He has the same name, but everything else is different being over thirty years in his personal past. History changes as things don't happen as he remembers them. He finds a girl and marries her. He meets up with a serial killer from his previous life, and things happen differently. This book is so full of British slang, it's difficult to read. Luckily, kindle seems to know them so git, gorm, and wanker get explained, but still they are disruptive of the flow of the story. The story itself, well it's a little confusing, but is amusing.
January 18, 2023
Actual rating 3.5 stars
I was hoping to be blown away by this book because the premise sounded good. Unfortunately it fell short of the mark for me.
Plus points include the fact that by going back Jason managed to change certain things from his previous life. That also means, however, that certain things happened on a different timeline in his ‘new’ life.
I felt there was a lot in the book which we didn’t need to know, and there was a lot of speed reading on my part to get past what I’d call boring parts.
All in all a decent read, and I have downloaded the second book as I feel somewhat invested in the series now. Hoping for good things from book 2.
I was hoping to be blown away by this book because the premise sounded good. Unfortunately it fell short of the mark for me.
Plus points include the fact that by going back Jason managed to change certain things from his previous life. That also means, however, that certain things happened on a different timeline in his ‘new’ life.
I felt there was a lot in the book which we didn’t need to know, and there was a lot of speed reading on my part to get past what I’d call boring parts.
All in all a decent read, and I have downloaded the second book as I feel somewhat invested in the series now. Hoping for good things from book 2.
February 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book via audible, whilst I enjoyed the storyline, I didn’t enjoy the narrator voice , it simply didn’t suit the characters which was somewhat off putting.
I really enjoyed the references to the 70’s bringing back memories of my childhood. I would say to myself I remember that band have a wee smile to myself.
Jason would make comparisons between the 70’s and present day culture and values, which added an additional depth to the story.
The narrator’s voice sounded silly and immature, which goes to show how important it is to match the narrator with the story line.
I shall read the other books in the series as I can’t be doing with the narrator’s voice sadly.
I really enjoyed the references to the 70’s bringing back memories of my childhood. I would say to myself I remember that band have a wee smile to myself.
Jason would make comparisons between the 70’s and present day culture and values, which added an additional depth to the story.
The narrator’s voice sounded silly and immature, which goes to show how important it is to match the narrator with the story line.
I shall read the other books in the series as I can’t be doing with the narrator’s voice sadly.
June 14, 2025
A little bit of Life On Mars crossed with Goodnight Sweetheart. Unfortunately without the style of the former and too much of the attempts at humour if the latter. As the start of a series this story does a reasonable job of setting up a world in which a middle aged depressive gets a second chance at life by somehow time travelling back to the 70s. The issue is that the main character manages to get pretty much everything he wants with limited negative consequences for any actions he takes. Possibly things could unravel in future stories but there wasn't enough in this one to make me interested in finding out.
May 3, 2022
I think you need to be a person of a certain age to really like this book as there are many references to things in 1976 which wouldn’t mean anything to younger readers. Fortunately I am of that age. It was a fun read. Somethings were confusing - like why did he already exist in 1976 with different parents - and where was the ‘other Jasón’? And why did things happen at different times? I guess that may be explained in subsequent books. I liked the ending but not going to rush out and get the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2022
Amazing, simply mind blowing!
I'm a bit flabbergasted by this book. One of the best I've read in ages, and I'm an avid book affection ado.
Imagine being who you are, with all your quirks and idiosyncrasies, and you suddenly die. You wake up back in time with all your memories intact, and a chance to recreate yourself. All the people you knew are alive, but all your actions cause ripples through future events of time. What would you do, and who will you be? What events do you change by your choices, and we you ever know?
I'm a bit flabbergasted by this book. One of the best I've read in ages, and I'm an avid book affection ado.
Imagine being who you are, with all your quirks and idiosyncrasies, and you suddenly die. You wake up back in time with all your memories intact, and a chance to recreate yourself. All the people you knew are alive, but all your actions cause ripples through future events of time. What would you do, and who will you be? What events do you change by your choices, and we you ever know?
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