Review: Maybe in Another Life – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Posted June 18, 2015 by Andi in Books, Review / 3 Comments

Review: Maybe in Another Life – Taylor Jenkins ReidMaybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published by Washington Square Press
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At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



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I don’t normally read Adult Fiction books. I mean I do on occasion but not often. But when I saw that Maybe in Another Life was a parallel life story I was intrigued. And I was pleasantly surprised when I read it by how much I enjoyed it. There were parts that I didn’t like and didn’t fit with my idea of a parallel life book, but all in all it was a good strong story on how lives can easily be changed.

Maybe in Another Life is the story of Hannah Martin, a girl that has never really felt like she had a home. At 29 she has no idea what to do with her life and where she wants to go with it. She is single with no great job that she loves and no roots anywhere. Deciding to return where she grew up to her best friend in LA Hannah attends a party at a bar where she runs into her high school boyfriend. At the end of the night she has to decide to stay with Ethan or go home with her friend Gabby. Each decision leads Hannah on a different life path, one she never expected and she gets to see what life would be like based on making one decision.

This book was very reminiscent of the late 90s movie Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow. I loved how as the reader we got to see how drastically different Hannah’s life became just because she decides to stay or go. Where there similarities? Sure, which I liked. It helped keep the story connected. But there were also huge differences. But either way you looked at it Hannah grew as a person in which ever life ended up being hers and that was what was important. I also liked to see Hannah with the 2 different guys in the story and how they affected her and her life.

I did have some minor issues with how it all unfolded in the end and how I personally felt a little unbalanced from it, but all in all Maybe in Another Life was a great parallel life book. It was a fun read and a quick read. I would definitely suggest picking it up.

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3 responses to “Review: Maybe in Another Life – Taylor Jenkins Reid

  1. I really enjoyed Maybe in Another Life! It’s so fascinating to think about the different ways your life could have gone with just one difference choice, and I think Reid definitely explores that well in her novel.

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