I've always enjoyed books with elements of time travel, so I was excited to get my hands on The Girl I Was, where an aimless 30-something Alexis finds herself back in her college days after a rough day and a little too much to drink. Perfect for fans of Oona out of Order or Rebecca Serle books, this book was fun and full of feelings at the same time, though I did find the end of the story a bit rushed and I would have loved to see a little more development on both sides of the time leap.
I enjoyed the audiobook format for this story and thought the narrator did a great job with these characters and with keeping the story engaging.
Overall I'd recommend if you'd like a book that will have you entertained and reflecting - on both the early 200s nostalgia and the choices we make in life.

I requested this audiobook to get an early look at it, since I wrote it, and I have to leave a review for feedback ratio. I'm rating it 5 stars because I enjoyed writing it, and I'm happy to see it has resonated with so many already.

This book was great but a little predictable. I loved this main character. She was funny and found herself in a crazy predicament. There were some very heart-felt moments. There was a very strong beginning that had me hooked. I had to know how she got herself out of this situation. I was a little disappointed in the predictable resolution but also happy with it. If that makes any sense…I don’t know of any other way to get out of that situation but I was hoping for more I guess. Overall a great story! Funny and heart-felt.

I’m convinced Jeneva Rose doesn’t know how to write a bad book. I’m a thriller lover and rarely do I read women’s fiction, but because Jeneva wrote it I had to, and I loved every word of it!

This gave me all the 13 Going on 30 vibes and I felt like I was a fly on the wall throughout the entire novel. I was rooting for both Lexi and Alexis and wanted them to each find their way and figure things out.

I think my favorite part of the book was when the two girls went home for Thanksgiving—it was an emotional rollercoaster… laughter, joy, sadness, closure.

I couldn’t put down this book and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a feel-good story.

Bravo to Jeneva for hitting it out of the park yet again. Can’t wait to start reading her new thriller, One of Us is Dead now!

Anyone looking for a book to read this (American) Thanksgiving weekend (when you are not watching football 🏈 or scarfing down turkey 🦃 leftovers?

I just finished listening to #thegirliwas by @jenevaroseauthor. It was the perfect book for this weekend, because a good part of it takes place over Thanksgiving, and I was #blackfriday shopping together with the characters in the book! How neat is that?

Alexa, has hit rock bottom (or so she believes). At 30, she’s lost her job, had broken up with her boyfriend and has no close friends. She goes to the dingiest bar, gets drunk 🥴 and poof - when she finally wakes up, she’s time travelled back to 2002, to Chicago, where she finds her old self, “Lexi”.
Alexa, becomes Alex, and she reunites with her college buddies. This is Alex’s 2nd chance … could she change herself and save her future?

Like I said, this is a great story to read in the company of #family (if not possible, then it’s also great to read all by yourself). Either or any permutation is acceptable- as long as you read it. I really enjoyed 💕 THIS book!

Thank you 🙏🏻 #netgalley @jenevaroseauthor and @dreamscape_media for the complimentary audiobook of #thegirliwas in return for my honest review. #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, then it’s not the end.”

“Sometimes I wish life was written (in) pencil ✏️, so we could erase it and write it all over again.” - Thisuri Wanniarachchi.

Shout out to the book cover designer, who I am unable to find sadly. ❤️I love it!

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁

This was a completely different read than I expected. I enjoyed it! It kept my interest through the entire read. I look forward to reading more by Jeneva Rose. Definitely not predictable.

Another problem, another day out of Alexis Spencers control and then a botched proposal! She takes to blaming the world and her past for all of her bad outcomes until she finds herself back in time, face to face with wild 18-year old Lexi. Can she change the future by changing her younger self?

This is a very relatable book of discovery. All problems are not caused by other people. Sometimes the things that need changing are you and the decisions you are making.

The storyline ran a little long for me but wrapped up nicely in the end. I appreciate an ending that shows the outcome of all characters involved. The note from Alexis's mom truly had me in tears.

3.5 stars for Jeneva Rose’s first contemporary fiction book.

Alexis has lost it all. Her boyfriend. Her job. Just when things couldn’t be worse she wakes up and finds herself in 2002, as a college student. She must convince her 18-year-old self (“Lexi”) that it’s really her (from the future) and the two must work together to get Alexis back to her time, without completely wrecking their lives.

I laughed at the banter between Alexis and Lexi plus all of the references to things like dial up internet and Blockbuster. The moments when Lexi to Alexis back home for Thanksgiving was heartwarming.

I’d recommend this for anyone who wants a fast-paced read and loves characters to really root for.

Recommended if you like:
-time travel
-13 Going On 30
-Back to the Future
-nostalgia


TW: grief, loss

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC copy. The Girl I Was is out now!

The premise of this book is absolutely horrific to me. Being sent back in time to try and convince my snotty, sassy, know it all teenage self to do better…… HECK NO! Ha ha ha, but honestly, it’s a fun read that will inspire readers to reflection on their own past, present, and future. This book is deeply thought provoking while maintaining a light hearted and hilarious tone. Be ready to laugh, cry, and shake your head in frustration that only talking to a teenager/young adult and invoke. My only wish is that the main character had been a bit more likeable.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars for a fun read with a slightly annoying protagonist.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Girl I Was is a fast paced read. Jeneva Rose was a new author for me, but this has me wanting to pick up anything else she writes. I loved the premise of this book, and I think most women would identify with some of the themes. In my mid to late 20s I often wondered what would happen if I could go back in time and redo a few early years. This was also one of the best audio books i've listened to!

Thank you NetGalley for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED "The Girl I Was". I was an emotional roller coaster with tears and laughter, realizations about how I could be doing life differently, appreciating everything I have, and the list goes on.

If you're wanting a pick me up book, this is it. I feel like this should be on everyone's TBR pile.

Thank you Jeneva Rose for sharing this gem with us.

Thank you so much to net galley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book. This book was pretty good. It’s about finding yourself and it also brought back some killer nostalgia!

3.5 stars rounded down.

Short synopsis: Alexis Spencer is at a stage in her life where she isn't happy with herself/where she is going. She blames her younger self for the outcomes in her current stage of life. When she goes somewhat "off the rails," she blacks out one night, and wakes to find herself back in the year 2002- in her college town, going by the nickname "Lexi." Confused and overwhelmed with what is happening, Alexis must find a way to get along with frustrating young "Lexi," and sort out the mess of their lives.

I was so very excited for this release, because I loved The Perfect Marriage, which was Jeneva Rose's debut novel. While I did not find this one as exciting, intriguing, or memorable, I still enjoyed it. I loved the ending and how everything came together; especially how Lexi + Alexis were able to mend their relationship and work things out for the better, in order to have a happy ending/happy life.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend to those who are interested in "time-travel" books, mended family stories, and somewhat of a more new/young adult storylines.

An interesting take on time travel. Alexis’ life is spinning out of control when she wakes up back in her college years in today’s body and mind. She has to figure out what to do to get back to the present. I listened to this on my daily walks, and it was so enjoyable. Hilary Huber was a great narrator. She really pulled me into the story.

I enjoyed watching both Alexis and her previous self Lexie grow into better people. I wanted to know what happened to them, what caused the time travel and know how it was resolved. While this is so different from The Perfect Marriage, I am a fan of this author and can’t wait to read her next book.

Well, this was different. What would you do if you could go back in time and change your life for the better? This was interesting and at times I needed a tissue. This was not like any other time travel book I have ever read. Alexis goes back in time, but she is not sure how it happened. Her purpose is to help her old self, Lexi, make changes before she ruins her life which is really Alexis' life. There was some bad language,
but it fit with the persona of the characters. High praise for Hillary Huber as the narrator. She has an uncanny knack for getting into character and adapting her voice to fit each character in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, LLC for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jeneva Rose for this audio-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

Alexis is at a point in her life where nothing seems to be going right. She has just been fired from her job and her boyfriend has had enough. When she wakes up she finds herself in an unfamiliar but familiar place. She is back in 2002 and has to deal with her younger self, Lexi. They have to work together to get Alexis back to her time.

This is not the kind of book I came to expect of Jeneva Rose because of her previous book A Perfect Marriage. This book took me by surprise in a good way. I've read time travel novels before and enjoyed them. I thought oh man this may just be another run of the mill girl goes back in time book but I was shocked it was not. This book had me thinking something was one way when it was another. I really liked this change of pace from my normal thriller/mystery books. I'd love to see more of stories like this from Jeneva Rose.

I have to give five stars to a book that made me cry so hard. brief synopsis: Alexis’s life isn’t what she wants. she finds herself transported from 2019 to 2002 back in college. she faces convincing ‘Lexi’ that she’s older her so that they can work together to improve their life. started out incredibly light, like I thought it was total chick lit. 2002 style fatphobia included. But then content becomes heavy. content warning for parent death omfg. even when it was light, GIRL I WAS is so well-written. Jeneva Rose is incredibly talented & quickly becoming a must-read.

was excited to read this, but was archived before I got to it. Want to know what the buzz around this author is!

Rating is not a reflection of the book, but on the fact I didn't listen to it.

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose is a very sweet story of self discovery, healing and forgiveness. I enjoyed the transported back in time trope more than I thought I would, initially. I wasn't sure what kind of story I was getting into when I started and at first I thought, oh dear this is going to be cheesy. But it was actually very touching. Also entertaining and well written. This is chicklit, contemporary women's fiction at it's finest.

I want to thank @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for the chance to listen to the audiobook for The Girl I Was. I know two other bookstagrammers who gave this book 5 stars, so I was intrigued to give it a go.

It was good, but not great. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I would recommend, but I wouldn’t shout it from the rooftops for being fantastic. 🙃