Maria and Will are both doctors. The morning their story starts, Maria's alarm did not go off (maybe was not set) and she is an hour late starting the morning ritual: getting herself and her 2 young girls out the door. Everything is CHAOTIC!! Reminds me why I never wanted to be a mother. I wouldn't change a thing either!!!

These were my impressions after the first chapter. In Chapter 2, events became very serious. Maria is a psychiatrist and her first patient of the day has some disturbing things to say.

The tale unwinds beautifully from this point. No spoilers here, if OK. But I will share this one thing: the blurb describes that Maria goes back in time. The frustration Maria feels as she lives in 1988 with knowledge of what will happen 22 years later is palpable. The writing and the story line is that good. She also has decisions to make and she shows how hard it is to make those decisions when each option is bad.

This is a tale of a woman in love and where that love takes her. Very compelling and a read hard to put down.

5 stars

I was offered an advanced review copy of this one and hesitated at first because it is a “suspend believability at the door” kind of story. However, since I was due for an “out-of-the-box” reading experience of a book I wouldn’t normally pick up, I accepted the challenge. I was pleasantly rewarded by doing so!

She Wouldn’t Change a Thing is a complex time travel tale. Maria, a 39-year-old psychiatrist who is living with her husband, two daughters and an in-utero son in 2010 Mississippi suddenly finds herself flung back into 1988 Alabama and her 17-year-old body. There is a specific reason for her to be sent there. BUT, if she does figure out what that is and carries through with her “purpose”, she cannot return to her life in 2010. Simple decision—blow off whatever this purpose is and just find a way to get back to her family in 2010, right? Maybe, maybe not.

This book required me to pay close attention, but that was not an overwhelming task as I was so engrossed in trying to figure out what the heck was going on. There is so much to this story. What is Maria’s purpose? How can she possibly choose between carrying out her purpose versus going back to her family? Can she live with herself if she abandons her purpose? Can she live with herself if she goes back to her family? How can she possibly explain to others what has happened to her when she doesn’t understand it herself? The story is much more complex (in a good way) than I am describing here, but I do not want to give anything away. Suffice to say the premise is intriguing, the characters are well developed, and the multiple threads are absorbing and suspenseful. The story had me grappling with what I would do in Maria’s situation. I could not think of any easy answers for myself and was compelled to fly through the book in order to find out what Maria would do.

If you are looking for a different kind of story, are willing to give the time travel premise a chance, and are ready for a real thought-provoking experience, give this one a try. I almost passed it up and am so happy I didn’t. Amazingly this is Ms. Adlakha’s debut novel; I’m very interested in seeing what she writes next.


Many thanks to Elizabeth Hosty of Tor/Forge, Net Galley, and Ms. Sarah Adlakha for gifting me an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either.
It was just kind of new agey- mysterious things for me.
I'm fine with complete fantasy- Give me True Blood, Tolkien, Outlander, etc.
However this was sort of based in real life, but more spiritual, in that when you die if you get it wrong you become a 'repeater"
First I have to say I'm pretty averse to faith-based books although this wasn't tied to any specific faith.
It was just a bit too unbelievable and goofy for me.
It never really explained the WHY behind why these things were happening.
Parts were well-written- so I wouldn't completely ding it, but it's just not the book for me.

She Wouldn’t Change A Thing – Sarah Adlakha
Wow what a book! It has an interesting premise and for a minute in the middle I couldn’t understand what was happening with the storyline. When I figured it out, all I could think was wow what a premise. The twists and turns in this book made it hard to turn down. There is romance and mystery and something that I can’t explain. You have to read the book yourself to find out what happens because my lips are sealed!

I was given this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com. My opinions and words are my own freely given, there was no requirement. #SheWouldn’tChangeAThing #SarahAdlakha #NetGalley

Description as given from NetGalley.com:
Sliding Doors meets Life After Life in Sarah Adlakha's story about a wife and mother who is given the chance to start over at the risk of losing everything she loves.

A second chance is the last thing she wants.

When thirty-nine-year-old Maria Forssmann wakes up in her seventeen-year-old body, she doesn’t know how she got there. All she does know is she has to get back: to her home in Bienville, Mississippi, to her job as a successful psychiatrist and, most importantly, to her husband, daughters, and unborn son.

But she also knows that, in only a few weeks, a devastating tragedy will strike her husband, a tragedy that will lead to their meeting each other.

Can she change time and still keep what it’s given her?

Exploring the responsibilities love lays on us, the complicated burdens of motherhood, and the rippling impact of our choices, She Wouldn't Change a Thing is a dazzling debut from a bright new voice.

This one kinda messed with my head. The concept was really interesting, but there were multiple times I had to reread paragraphs and focus on each character (who belonged to what story). You follow Maria and Jenny. Their paths cross over and mix together. I think I understand the ending but I’m not 100% sure.... still a pretty good read.


Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan -Tor/Forge Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinion.

I just finished Sarah Adlakha’s debut novel, “She Wouldn’t Change a Thing”, a story about a career motivated mother who endures an unexpected second chance at life. When faced with the decision to keep her life as it was with devastating consequences for others or make life altering changes that would devastate herself and her family, she struggles contemplating if “it’s important to do the right thing, even if you have to suffer the consequences” (chapter 2). This story is about more than second chances though; it’s about family, morality, destiny, and finding your true identity in the world. And as I personally wondered what choice I would make if miraculously placed in a similar situation, Adlakha’s writing kept me turning pages to discover Maria’s decision. Although the final chapter ends rather abruptly, the epilogue ties it all together, including a few twists that would tug on any mother’s heartstrings. Definitely recommend this book.

I received a digital ARC of Sarah Adlakha’s debut novel “She Wouldn’t Change a Thing” through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of the book.

I have always enjoyed a good “turn back time” scenario, which is why I was so excited to read this novel. Needless to say, I was not disappointed! A great plot with surprising twists!

This story was a huge surprise and absolutely fabulous! I easily gave it 5 stars and plan to buy copies to give as gifts!

The cover and description really drew me in but as soon as you meet pregnant Psychiatrist Maria Forssmann, her loving husband and her silly daughters you will be hooked. After an odd meeting with a new patient she finds herself questioning her faith. After making a mistake she wakes up as her seventeen old self and is willing to do almost anything to get herself home. What decision could you make to save the life you always wanted!

What an incredible novel! Sarah Adlakha really knocked it out of the park with her debut novel She Wouldn't Change a Thing! I love time travel novels and this gem is the perfect example of why! I was completely hooked from the beginning and as the novel progressed, I literally could not put it down! Sarah Adlakha does a fantastic job with creating a multi-layered storyline that is packed with so much depth! I found myself pondering so many things throughout this book, I love a book that makes me think! She Wouldn’t Change a Thing is a 5 star novel that would make a perfect book club selection! I am so excited to what Sarah Adlakha comes out with next, I for sure will absolutely be 1-clicking it! She Wouldn’t Change a Thing is officially on 2021 favorites list!

What can I say? I loved “She Wouldn’t Change a Thing.” Written by Sarah Adlakha, this novel has everything you want in a good novel, including an intriguing premise, developed characters and plot with enough twists and turns that you will find yourself dizzy if you don’t hold on.

Maria is a psychiatrist, trying to balance her two (soon to be three) children and a surgeon husband that is not always as helpful as he could do. A new patient walks into her office and informs her that she is from the future. She has a warning about Maria’s receptionist who has recently lost a baby to SIDS. What happens next sends Maria back to her own teenaged past where she has to decide whether she should let events play out the way they already had the first time around or make a change that could prevent tragedy but alter the events of her own life.

I realize this sounds a lot like science fiction, but while the concept is a little “out there,” what this novel is really about is trusting and believing in yourself. There are some truly laugh out loud moments in this story; the way Maria—warts and all—jumps off the page really makes you want to root for her to get back to her husband and kids. Did I mention how much I loved this novel? This novel isn't released until August, but I am already anxiously awaiting Ms. Adlakha’s next work.

Thanks to Sarah Adlakha, the publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

I adored this book!

I've always been intrigued by time travel so I was so excited to read thia book.

I won't give any spoiler but there was more than one instance of time travel in the book.

The book has everything, family dynamic, work life balance, romance and mystery.

Loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine books for my ARC!

A little twisty and hard to follow, especially at the end, but an overall intriguing premise. It was a very interesting thought to follow of people who are caught in a repeating loop of living over and over again. Definitely an interesting premise!

The heroine, Maria, a psychiatrist married to a doctor, mother of two girls and expecting and a son any day, receives a patient that claims to have time travelled and warns her against doing two things, first she must keep her distance from her secretary Rachel and she must bring evidence held in a storage unit only after the birth of her son.

Soon after she wakes up as a seventeen year old self, at first she will do anything in her power to get back to her family. But as she adjusts to the change she comes to believe that she slipped back in time to fulfil a certain purpose, but carrying out the mission means changing the course of several lives and giving up on getting her family back.

This was a captivating read albeit more women's fiction than Sci-Fi (more Taylor Jenkins Reid than Blake Crouch) as it relied more on the moral dilemma and it's emotional impact than the science of what took place. As a lover of speculative fiction, I was lured in by the subject of time travel, however, some aspects of the time slip did not work for me here. It was less logical and more religious in tone, with reflections on fate, and reincarnation of the soul.

I believe this is a debut novel and I must say I could not tell that by the writing. It felt vey polished and adept with a very engaging premise.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review

What an amazing debut novel! I loved it. And yes, it made me cry, more than once. It’s a beautiful, complex, and very emotional story.

This novel is a perfect bookclub choice. Besides the big question: could you give up everything you loved to fulfill what you believe is your purpose, there were many, many times that you could ask, ‘ in this situation, what would I do?’ This is a book that you will want to think on contemplate, and discuss with others.

This had me interested from the beginning. I usually have trouble getting into books with dual perspectives or timelines, but I didn’t with this. It worked. She Wouldn’t Change a Thing started out as a five star read for me, but by the end, my big question still wasn’t answered and it left me a little confused, so I dropped a star.

Overall, I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

Great! Now I'm crying!
This was a deep and emotionally gut-wrenching book. And I loved it! I like the reincarnation or time travel aspect of it. I don't think I've ever read a book that used it in this way. I thought it was clever and well thought out. I'm surprised it was a debut. I need some time to think this one through. And someone to talk to about it! This would be a good one for our book club!

Ok I’m mixed on this one. The first half I loved. I was rooting for Maria to find her way back to Will and her kids. But then every few chapters, there would be a chapter with Jenny. Some random character that does end up connecting to everything in the end. I didn’t care for her, so it ruined the flow for me. I love time travel books but I think Maria made the wrong choice and I felt there were a lot of loose ends that were thrown together in the epilogue. Overall, it was a quick read. But I enjoyed the first half much more than the second.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel!

I definitely thought this would be more lighthearted than it ended up being. I enjoyed it, but my pandemic brain usually prefers more upbeat reads these days. The story moves back and forth between a couple characters and timelines. The main character, Maria, must make an impossible choice - save her husband's younger sister from imminent death, or get her family back? Be prepared to suspend disbelief!

Emotionally gripping be ready for it. This book is layered and intense.

Clever,I’d recommend to anyone who wants an authentic, emotional book to read for any occasion.

Not an easy book to read it is mostly the story of Maria ,a psychiatrist and mother . 9 months pregnant with her third child, she has an appointment with a patient which starts a chain of events which affected the rest of her life.
The patient warned her off doing something, which piqued her interest and which resulted in an accident.
The rest of the book is about parallel lives, changing events which then go on to change the course of some ones existence. This is what I found difficult to get my head around, though it certainly gives you plenty to think about. The whys and wherefores of decisions and the consequences they bring in your life.
Despite the time travelling, this book feels very realistic. Feelings are well described and believable . Still thinking about the different families though and some parts seem a little surreal. .Not the sort of book I normallyy read, but I enjoyed it and will look out for more fro this author .
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was a nice mix of mystery and suspense along with family and emotional aspects. It’s not always easy to combine mysterious and emotional, and here we add in time travel too. Goodreads tells us that this is a “story about a wife and mother who is given the chance to start over at the risk of losing everything she loves.”

This book is a great one for contemplation and thinking about changing fate and our own destiny. It will make you question what would or could happen if you were able to alter events of your life or those around you, or even change places or timing. What would happen to the people in your life, how would their paths change, and what exactly would that do to them. We know that even negatives and traumas form the people we are today.

It is clear a lot of thought went into the many layers of this book. Based on early reviews here so far I am appearing to be an outlier on this one. I think I was hoping for a little more of a connection with the characters, or was hoping they would evoke a little more feeling and emotion in me. I do enjoy time travel books and alternate realities and did find this very interesting. If you enjoy these types of books or mystery and suspense even I would encourage you to give it a try.

If you are cautious of certain topics I would recommend you pull up potential triggers as there are some deep and heavy topics. It is hard to believe this one is a debut, I will be watching for more from this author. Many thanks to our author Sarah Adlakha, Lizzy, Forge and Net Galley for the ability and opportunity to receive a widget ARC in exchange for a honest review. This book is set to be released on August 10th, 2021.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3871160796