Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

"The world is splitting further and further into an infinite number of parallel universes where everything that could happen is happening. This is completely plausible. It's entirely possible that every time we make a decision, there is a version of us out there somewhere who made a different choice. An infinite number of versions of ourselves are living out the consequences of every single possibility in our lives."

Yet another review of a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. In this one, Hannah Martin has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has moved from city to city and held countless meaningless jobs since college, but when we meet her she has suffered a disastrous breakup and returned to her hometown of Los Angeles.

On her first night back, her best friend, Gabby, takes Hannah out to a bar -- where she bumps into her high school boyfriend, Ethan. When Gabby asks Hannah if she is ready to go, Ethan offers to giver 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?

From this point in the book, Reid writes two concurrent storylines, with Hannah living out the effects of each decision. These "parallel universes" develop into surprisingly different stories. This leaves the reader questioning whether anything is meant to be.

How much in our lives is determined by chance? Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Hannah believes there is. And in both worlds, she believes she's found him.

My Verdict: This 2015 novel is a story of life choices, pathways, and destiny. Maybe in Another Life considers the possibility of different realities and life worlds. Which life is Hannah destined to lead?

Part of me wanted to know definitively which path was the one she "really took". But another more philosophical part of me thinks that not knowing that is a stronger, more thoughtful result if I don't know. I felt like this book was more about taking an alternative pathway to see how our lives can go very differently through one seemingly simple act. I appreciated this aspect of the novel and it did give me a chance to reflect on the decisions I have made as well as the possibility of living a very different life through a rather subtle choice. As a person who believes every choice I have made -- good or bad -- has led me to where I am today, this wasn't really a leap for me. I enjoyed the creativity of this story, though.

I gave this novel 4 stars.