Five First Chances by Sarah Jost
Release day: 4/18
Rating:

Lou is feeling down after attending the funeral of an acquaintance and finding out her supposed soulmate was engaged to someone else. But when she finds herself falling back to the past and getting a chance to relive the last couple of years of her life, she soon realizes who and what really matters.

I did not expect this book. I laughed. I cried. I fell in love. From beginning to end, I fell into this world and loved every second of it. This isn't a romance, but a look at life and what really matters. I don't want to give much away, and go in blind if you can! But this one is worth the read.

-time loop
-closed door
-emotional (check TW)
-For fans of Groundhog Day style stories

Set between 2017 and 2019 in Switzerland and England. In 2019 Louise attends Nick Harper’s funeral with her friend Yuki. Louise starts remembering how she first met Nick and wonders how things could have been different which sends her back in time to make changes in her life.
Each time Louise goes back to 2017 a little more about her life and family relationships is revealed. I loved the way the characters were developed and how Louise interacted with them.
This was a romance about grief, families and friendships.

Five First Chances by Sarah Jost
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read: 02/01-02/03
Pub date: 04/18/23

📚 Read if you liked: In Five Years, One True Loves

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this digital ARC!

Five First Chances is an emotional, gut-wrenching story with a time-loop and “what if” storyline. What would you do if you had a chance to change your life? How much of life is up to fate, and how much of it is a direct result of the choices we make?

This started out a little slow at the beginning, but about 50% in, I was hooked. Pick this one up if you’re looking for an emotional read about love, life, and second chances.

Louise is a young Swiss woman who moved to England after a bad breakup, but her life has just gotten worse: Her relationship with her mom and sister is strained; she has no close friends; her teaching job is making her miserable; and her romantic life is nonexistent. While attending a funeral for a friend-of-a-friend, she finds out her ex is engaged, which somehow sends her into a time loop, giving her the opportunity to explore many what-ifs, and to relive the past two years of her life until she gets it right.

I love a time loop story and thought this was going to be a cute/funny romcom because I clearly didn’t read the description closely, so here is a PSA: pay attention to the phrase “pull on your heartstrings” because it is HIGHLY RELEVANT. I cried multiple times while reading this book, which is NOT my favorite, but I was so invested in Louise by the third and fourth chances, I couldn’t handle the sad bits (or the happy bits) and had gross emotions.

The only reason I rated this 4 instead of 5 stars is that it took me a while to get into the story and root for Louise - I found her extremely off-putting in the first section and almost didn’t keep reading - but I’m SO glad I stuck with it (even though it made me cry).

This was a unique story that will stick with me for a long time, and I can’t wait to read another book by Jost.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I loved this book! I am a sucker for a time travel trope, and this did not disappoint.
Books like this one, really make you stop and think how one small choice can change the entire outcome of your life.

After attending a funeral (just to be there for her friend) of someone she barely knew, Lou finds out her ex is engaged and starts wondering about all the “what ifs” in life.
I loved watching Lou’s character development through each loop. This book was emotional, beautiful, and well written. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Sarah Jost!


📘: First Five Chances by Sarah Jost
🗓 Pub Date: April 18, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Jost, and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads. Will review on retail once published!

I am honestly so blown away by how beautifully this was written. I felt like I was living this story along with the main characters. I was so invested. I knew pretty quickly this was going to be more of a deep/emotional read and contemplated pausing it. I’m so glad I didn’t wait to finish this though. I loved how each “chance” was not just the exact same path. It really makes you think how one choice or change can affect more than one person’s future. There were many take aways from this book and the author accomplished this by appealing to my emotions rather than being preachy. I like to think of myself as having an ice cold heart but I don’t know anymore because I cried so many times (happy and sad) during this book. This is truly a book that is going to stick with me for a long time.

At the beginning, this book is very hard to read and identify with due to Louise's total lack of self confidence and neediness. Of course other people drove her life choices such as Romain as she didn't even know who she is. As the book unfolded, I can't even imagine how hard it would be to know the outcome but only be able to give cursory information to keep the actions moving along. Despite what happened and when there is uncertainty, love is always enough and makes us realize how life is to be lived. Every moment counts.

I really love these time-bending, Groundhog Day type stories, where the protagonist goes back in time to correct a perceived or actual mistake and ends up learning something about themselves.

This one was unique in that it kept happening and the protagonist vaguely knows it's happening, realizes it more and more with each trip. This was actually a little confusing until explained; I was trying to figure out if she knew or didn't and it came across a little sloppy.

In the end, it was an interesting story but I didn't like it that much. I really wanted to, but it just didn't come together cleanly or clearly enough for me.

Thank you so much Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!!
3.5 stars down up!!
I love the premise of small decisions changing the outcome of your life/love - so I was instantly hooked when I read the premise. I found it hard initially to get connected to the characters, with all the flip-flopping, but towards the end they became my ride or die. Overall,. the premise and the characters are what grabbed me, but I felt it dragged a little in the middle - the end was definitely worth it though!!
I will definitely be looking in to what Sarah Jost has for us next.

Imagine having the chance to re-live your first encounter with a loved one- over and over, and it changes every time? Just one small decision can change your life.

I enjoyed this book, but it was a bit groundhog's day for me and dragged at certain points. The novel went through the same few dates in Lou's life 5 times to let her make different choices and to see the outcome. The ending wrecked me, :(

⭐️Book review⭐️
Release date April 2023
Thank you @netgalley and publisher for the #advancereviewcopy

Summary:
This is a time loop story where the main character, Lou, is given 5 chances to get ‘it’ right.

My thoughts:
I liked it, but I struggled a bit with the format. I usually enjoy time loop stories more but this, to me, was a bit too unstructured, making me lose my bearings. I think in part because I didn’t really connect to the characters for a long time. I did eventually fall into a comfortable rhythm and enjoyed the developments this story offered.

3/5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re having trouble getting through this book, power through the last 30% is worth it. There are lots of fade to black moments that I had to go back and read many times to understand but that added to the allure of the novel. Nick and Lou’s story is heartbreaking, eye opening and a new twist on getting to learn from your mistakes.

Thank you so much Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Lou is stuck in life. After finding out an ex is engaged, she starts wondering what if. She soon discovers that she has the chance to rewrite the past.

I really liked the premise of this, but I felt like all of the what ifs started before I got to connect with Lou. I caught glimpses of her personality throughout the story, but I needed and wanted more. It kind of felt like each chance dragged on, and I didn't feel like I knew a lot of the characters in the story. I wanted to like this more than I actually did.

I love a good time loop story and this was one of my favorites. I really liked the characters and enjoyed watching them grow and also learning more about each of them with each loop. There were some really good life lessons. It was heartbreaking and beautiful, and just a really good read. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had no idea this book would be so heartbreaking. There were times it was slow and hard to read, but overall I thought it was a good read. The way Louise evolved throughout the novel was beautiful to read.

Lou is unhappy and unfulfilled. Her family dynamic is strained, her work-life is stressful, and her love life is non-existant. Then she gets the chance to go back in time in an attempt to change it all.

I've been devouring many time travel/time loop stories lately. This one is an enjoyable one, but the five chances Lou is given to change her future begin to feel drawn out in the last quarter of this 400 page book. I liked the dynamic between Lou and her love interest, but the rest of the relationships in the book feel a little flat.

That being said, I appreciated the overall sentiment of the book. It's a solid read for anyone who enjoys a little time travel/magical realism in their stories. Those who love a love story will also enjoy the love story Ms. Jost has created.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an Advanced Readers' Copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review*

I almost DNF'd this one, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Lou seemed so selfish I almost gave up reading multiple times. That being said, the novel improved as it went forth with the "life do-overs" throughout the book. I think patrons will enjoy the read, so we will be purchasing.

“Five First Chances” is a “life do over” type romance book by Sarah Jost. I must admit that “Groundhog Day” like books are not my favourite, but the publisher’s synopsis of this book sounded interesting. The beginning of this book is incredibly slow and the main character, Louise (Lou), incredibly selfish that I nearly put the book aside. After a while the storyline picked up and Lou became more aware that others also matter in her life story. This is a love story - but it’s also a story about looking outside of oneself - and becoming at peace with things you have no control over no matter how hard you try. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

3.5 Stars Upgraded to 4 based on sustained improvement as the book progressed.

I almost gave up on this novel and labeled it a DNF. However, after struggling through a very slow start with an irritatingly self-centered protagonist, I found that the storyline picked up the pace and the afore-mentioned lead character redeemed herself. By the conclusion, I was glad I persevered.

Louise (Lou) flees to London after failing to complete her PhD and being dumped by her boyfriend for being too needy…but nothing seems to be going right. She has just lost her roommate, is in an unsatisfying teaching job, and has strained relationships with the family she left behind. Unexpectedly she finds herself returning to a point in time with the ability to make different decisions with different outcomes. Over four “repeats” of the initial experience, Lou learns more about herself, becomes more sensitive to the needs of others, and emerges as a true friend and loving partner.

The literary device of a time-loop is not new, but this one seems to be missing a bit of the “magic” usually associated with this phenomenon. What made this novel worthwhile was the transformation of the protagonist from a victim of her self-induced circumstances to an admirable woman willing to grow and expand into trusting herself and those she loves. Ultimately, Lou realizes that her love for the well being of others is greater than her fear of the future.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

4.5 stars

I was blown away by this book. I didn’t want it to end, but I was happy with the ending. (Well, happy and sad). There are so many wonderful things about Five First Chances, first off the writing, I can’t wait to read more by Sarah Jost. Second, the time loop aspect was very interesting and entertaining. I loved watching Louise grow throughout each time loop. She grew so much throughout this book and it made me like her even more every first chance she had. And Nick, it’s hard to find words to appreciate Nick’s character in this book. Just thinking about him pjs a smile on my face, I now know why Louise kept wanting a do over!

This book really had it all, a great story, likable characters and good writing. I can’t recommend it enough!