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Melissa's Reviews > Maybe in Another Life
Maybe in Another Life
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This was my third Taylor Jenkins Reid novel and the final nail in the coffin. MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE convinced me it’s time to cut ties with her writing and never look back. Despite the glowing and infectious declarations of adoration from other readers and friends, the promises of emotional and heart-wrenching storylines her blurbs tend to toss out and the often unique look at relationships she strives to deliver, I’m bailing. I’m done trying to convince myself that I should like her writing when
it doesn’t wow me.
The whole notion behind the story, the thought that our lives are shaped by the choices we make, instantly spoke to my optimistic heart. Through alternating chapters, the author explores what Hannah’s life would be like on both sides of the coin. What happens when she makes the choice to go home with her ex-boyfriend and when she opts to pass, instead. While I thought the idea behind it all was compelling, the execution was way off.
I’m blaming most of my discontent on Hannah (the annoyingly vapid main character), the author’s choppy writing style, and the repetition masked as ‘cute’ quirks. How many times do we have to hear about Hannah’s high bun and cinnamon roll obsession?! I’ll tell you . . . eighty times! Cinnamon rolls are mentioned 80 times in this 333 page book. I get the author was trying to be witty, but at a point it becomes excessive. Overkill. Eye-roll inducing.
Reading, much like everything else, is subjective. So take this for what it is - my opinion. Not every reader connects with every author and this just happens to be one of those times. #movingon
*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The whole notion behind the story, the thought that our lives are shaped by the choices we make, instantly spoke to my optimistic heart. Through alternating chapters, the author explores what Hannah’s life would be like on both sides of the coin. What happens when she makes the choice to go home with her ex-boyfriend and when she opts to pass, instead. While I thought the idea behind it all was compelling, the execution was way off.
I’m blaming most of my discontent on Hannah (the annoyingly vapid main character), the author’s choppy writing style, and the repetition masked as ‘cute’ quirks. How many times do we have to hear about Hannah’s high bun and cinnamon roll obsession?! I’ll tell you . . . eighty times! Cinnamon rolls are mentioned 80 times in this 333 page book. I get the author was trying to be witty, but at a point it becomes excessive. Overkill. Eye-roll inducing.
Reading, much like everything else, is subjective. So take this for what it is - my opinion. Not every reader connects with every author and this just happens to be one of those times. #movingon
*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Reading Progress
June 22, 2015
– Shelved
June 22, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 9, 2017
–
Started Reading
February 9, 2017
– Shelved as:
2017
February 10, 2017
–
32.0%
"I hope this gets better because honestly, I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about . . ."
February 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
netgalley
February 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
not-for-me
February 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
predictable
February 11, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 139 (139 new)
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Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words
(new)
Feb 11, 2017 06:40AM
Great review, Melissa. I am sorry to see this one didn't work out for you. I hope the next one is much better for you. I hoping for a 5 star for you.
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Great review! I really liked this one, but I hate repetitive words/phrases when listening to audiobooks. The cinnamon roll/bun mentions were like nails on a chalkboard--I tensed up every time they were mentioned! :D I hope you have better luck with your next book!
I'm giving American mystery/suspense writers a rest for a while. They are at a stage where I find them unimaginative, too similar and incredibly predictable. :( I've switched back to international writers until this phase passes.
Great review. I can't stand repetition like that - drives me crazy!
Brenda wrote: "Great review, Melissa. I am sorry to see this one didn't work out for you. I hope the next one is much better for you. I hoping for a 5 star for you."Thanks, Brenda! I appreciate that! I need one. :)
Sorry this author's writing doesn't work for you, Melissa ;( I am one who loves her books, but hey, we just can't like them all. Great, honest review!
Girl, you really need a 5-star read soon!! Sorry this didn't work for you!
Haha! Great review, Melissa! Yes....the high bun and cinnamon rolls. My eyes were rolling, too. :)
Love your review and honestly, Melissa. So true that not everyone connects with an author. I think I will pass on this one though as I do believe that the repetitive words would drive me crazy! I hope your next read will be so much better!
I totally agree!! I read her One True Loves book and was so disappointed with it. I didn't like her writing or storytelling at all.
Hope you move on to a much better book Melissa! :D
Great review Melissa! Sorry this one didn't work out for you.
Maddie wrote: "Good honest review, Melissa xoxo"Thanks, Maddie! I was hoping to like this one more, but I guess we can't love them all.
I liked this book, but I understand your problems with it. And I say don't try to make yourself like a popular author if you're not feeling his/her work. For instance, I have only found one Colleen Hoover book I liked and just don't understand all the hype with her books.
Taryn wrote: "Great review! I really liked this one, but I hate repetitive words/phrases when listening to audiobooks. The cinnamon roll/bun mentions were like nails on a chalkboard--I tensed up every time they ..."Thanks, Taryn! I'm glad you enjoyed it more than I did. I know she was trying to be cutsie with the cinnamon rolls (gag), but it was too much for me. I didn't mention it in my review, but the dogs name was the same way . . . Charlemagne this and Charlemagne that. I'm so over it. Lol.
Mackey wrote: "I'm giving American mystery/suspense writers a rest for a while. They are at a stage where I find them unimaginative, too similar and incredibly predictable. :( I've switched back to international ..."Hahahaha. . . I wish this one had some mystery! Maybe it would have been better. ;)
I'm not a huge fan of this author either. After I Do just didn't set well with me at all. I feel bad because most of my GRs friends love her. I can understand not loving this when the main character isn't very likable. Cinnamon buns were mentioned 80 times?! Good grief! Lol! Great honest review, Melissa! :)
Sorry this didn't work out, Melissa. Sounds like you gave it a good try! Great review!!
Great review, Melissa! When the eye roll is induced there is no looking back! This hasn't made it to my list and won't be now!
Fair enough review and I say you're wise to move on. Not every author is for everyone. I hope your next read is better!
Great review. The part about the cinnamon roll count was hilarious.
Purple Country wrote: "Great review. I can't stand repetition like that - drives me crazy!"It's just becomes so annoying after awhile. I know she was just trying to be cute about it, but still.
KAS wrote: "Sorry this author's writing doesn't work for you, Melissa ;( I am one who loves her books, but hey, we just can't like them all. Great, honest review!"I just assumed from her blurbs and all the fuss that I would be one of those readers that loved her writing. One True Loves and this one especially just tanked it for me though. Like you said, we can't love them all . . . unfortunately.
Linda wrote: "Girl, you really need a 5-star read soon!! Sorry this didn't work for you!"Right?! WTH is going on?
Dana wrote: "Haha! Great review, Melissa! Yes....the high bun and cinnamon rolls. My eyes were rolling, too. :)"I wasn't exaggerating when I said I was relieved to see that you had also rated it 2 stars. Seems like EVERYONE, besides us, loved this one. I started to wonder if I read this all wrong! Lol.
Norma wrote: "Love your review and honestly, Melissa. So true that not everyone connects with an author. I think I will pass on this one though as I do believe that the repetitive words would drive me crazy! I h..."Thanks, Norma! I appreciate that! It's always a bummer when you assume you're going to like an author's work and it doesn't happen.
Lacey (Booklovers For Life) wrote: "I totally agree!! I read her One True Loves book and was so disappointed with it. I didn't like her writing or storytelling at all."One True Loves was one of the others I was disappointed with, too! Some parts were so far-fetched and the development of that story was off. This was even a tad bid worse though . . . IMO. I probably wouldn't have read this had it not been sitting on my NetGalley shelf . . . FOREVER!
Frances wrote: "Hope you move on to a much better book Melissa! :D"Thank you, Frances! Went back to suspense and I'm reading and loving my first Chevy Stevens! Woohoo.
Kaceey wrote: "Great review Melissa! Sorry this one didn't work out for you."Thanks, Kaceey! Hopefully I make a better pick next time! Lol.
Stephanie wrote: "I liked this book, but I understand your problems with it. And I say don't try to make yourself like a popular author if you're not feeling his/her work. For instance, I have only found one Colleen..."With the exception of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, every one of her blurbs have sounds SO good! They sort of suck me in and make me think it's something I would enjoy, but the execution is always off. About time I finally figured it out. I could see how CoHo might not be for everyone. ;)
♥Rachel♥ wrote: "I'm not a huge fan of this author either. After I Do just didn't set well with me at all. I feel bad because most of my GRs friends love her. I can understand not loving this when the main characte..."Hahaha . . . yes, 80 times! Of course, she was just trying to be quirky and cute about it, but after about the 20th time, I was SO annoyed! After I Do was actually the first of hers I've read and the best of the three I've made it through. It's just continues to go downhill for me though. Time to walk away.
Deanna wrote: "Sorry this didn't work out, Melissa. Sounds like you gave it a good try! Great review!!"Thanks, Deanna! I guess we can't love them all. :)
Marilyn wrote: "Lol! Loved your review, Melissa!!"Thanks, Marilyn! :)
Jen wrote: "Great review, Melissa! When the eye roll is induced there is no looking back! This hasn't made it to my list and won't be now!"Hahaha! And no cinnamon rolls for me anytime soon . . . which might be a good thing. Lol.
JanB wrote: "Fair enough review and I say you're wise to move on. Not every author is for everyone. I hope your next read is better!"Thanks, Jan! I appreciate that. :)
Rachel wrote: "Great review. The part about the cinnamon roll count was hilarious."Thanks, Rachel! I couldn't resist. ;)
Great review! I enjoyed this story, but you were so right about the high bun and cinnamon rolls!
Amy wrote: "Great review! I enjoyed this story, but you were so right about the high bun and cinnamon rolls!"Thanks, Amy! I was hoping I was going to be one of those readers that enjoyed it, but it didn't work out that way. :(
Fun review, Melissa! Thanks for saving me the agony! ;<]
i loved your honest review!!
Linda wrote: "Fun review, Melissa! Thanks for saving me the agony! ;<]"Thanks, Linda! Once again, I'm in the minority . . . so you never know . . . lol. ;)
Andi wrote: "i loved your honest review!!"Thanks, Andi! xo
Oh so glad someone else is on the same page as me!! Exactly why I didn't like this book. So Vapid!
Jana wrote: "Oh so glad someone else is on the same page as me!! Exactly why I didn't like this book. So Vapid!"Hahaha . . . yeah, definitely not one I would recommend. I had such high hopes, too. 🤓
Agreed!! This book was TERRIBLE!!! I had a hard time getting through it and usually I have a hard time not finishing a book. Shut up about the cinnamon rolls and the high bun and the ending was soooo cheesy in my opinion. Bleh. Not for me. Haha
I'm on page 272 of 333 and barley have the will to finish it. It's so predictable that I'm literally skipping over full pages without missing anything important. The amount of story time spent on cinnamon rolls is absurd. The main character's personality is based 60% on cinnamon rolls and 40% on careless decisions.
I felt the very same way! I agree that Hannah is a very one-dimensional character. I honestly forgot that her name was Hannah until over half way through.
Exactly my thoughts on this book!
Yep. I'm not quite sure why some writers cling to those cute quirks. I've been listening to Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson books. In book 4 or 5 she started to give inanimate objects names. At first, it was cute. Now in book 6, I've given it a break although Jones is, for the most part, very funny.
