I really wanted to love this book. I really enjoyed The Perfect Marriage by this author, but this one missed the mark for me. I made it a little over 50% but couldn’t find the interest to finish it. My biggest complaints were how often the characters talked about being fat and unattractive. I understand it was part of building the character, but I found it really unhelpful and triggering. The banter between the two characters just got to be annoying. Two stars because though this book was not for me, I know a lot of people would really enjoy it. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a super cute book. One of my favorite things about authors is when they can write books in two completely different genres and a do a great job at it. Jeneva Rose hits the nail on the head with this one.

"you can't help someone who won't help themselves"

Alexis is 33 years old, just lost her "temp" job, her boyfriend of 17 years finally got fed up with her and broke up with her, leaving her a lot and miserable with her life. She thats proceeds to drink herself into oblivion...but when she wakes up she is no longer in her bed and her apartment. She is in 2002, 17 years in the past at her hold college in Wisconsin. after she finally figures out she is in the past, she than has to work with her younger 18 self (who is super annoying) to get their life together.

I really loved the concept of working with your younger self to improve the things you know go wrong in the future. I already really loved how Alexis noticed so many things while in the past that she never noticed before. These little things make a huge difference and it was really sweet to see how it all came full circle.

Jeneva Rose, Girl! You outdid yourself here!
I haven't laughed out loud and cried with the same book in awhile....
But I did with this one.

I'm not going to write the description here just my thoughts on this story...

This book is gold. Seriously. Going back in time to the year 2002 was amazing!
I loved the way Jeneva made me remember things I completely forgot about....
Like... Alexis walks outside and she hears R. Kelly playing from a car stopped at a red light blaring the song Ignition!
Not having cell phones.... But.. Pay phones, and lets not mention the clothing. Cringeworthy!
While listening to this book it made me spark up the conversation with my husband...
What would you do if you could go back to 2002 and meet your 18 year old self?
And we both would change thing's. Many thing's. I know I would learn alot!
I felt this deep in my bones.
I connected with Lexi and Alexis. I loved them and rooted for them.
My favorite part of the story was when they went home for Thanksgiving.
Oh My Gosh! I haven't cried like that in a long time while reading.
Sad and heart-breaking.... it was real.
Jeneva will have you laughing out loud, ugly crying, smiling and feeling all the damn feels in her newest Women's Fiction novel.
This story is about forgiving and loving yourself.
And taking responsibility for your own actions and truth be told no one can fix themselves if they don't want to be fixed.
This was a fun, entertaining, intriguing, fast paced, wonderful book!
And it's probably one of the few I would read again. And I do not re-read anything!

Oh and do yourself a favor a listen to the audio version...
Hillary Huber, I don't think anyone could have done a better job as this lady did.
The narration was freaking phenomenal.

PS. Jeneva Rose, as much as I love your thrillers. You have got to write more WF! Please!
Posting today! 12/5

I am super picky when it comes to Audiobooks.
How picky?
I've listened to many, but have only ever been satisfied with ONE audiobook.
ONE!
That is, before I listened to The Girl I Was. Now that ONE has become TWO!
Jeneva Rose wrote a fun, engaging story and Hillary Huber really brought it to life. Her tone and delivery was on point! I absolutely loved the narration.

If you enjoy listening to Audiobooks and you like Women's Fiction, I highly recommend checking out The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose.

Story Star Rating 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narration: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
______

*TW/CW: Fat phobia; Body shaming; Eating Disorder; Slut shaming; Grief/Loss
**Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing me with a complimentary copy for review.

Alexis is a bit jaded. After losing her job she picks a fight with her boyfriend who ends up breaking up with her. With her self destructive streak she gets drunk and when she wakes up she's at a fraternity house in 2003 with no memory of how she got there. When she meets her former self, she not only does she have to convince her former self that she is in fact herself from the future, but has to convince her to be a better person in hopes she will get back to her original age. Can she get back to the current time? Or will she forever be stuck in 2003.

I really enjoyed the story. It's a bit like Freaky Friday with your younger self! It was a bit emotional when she meets her family from the past. I love how she handled the past vs present self. You love and hate them at the same time. I don't know if this was read through automation or what, but no matter what speed I put it on it sounded very robotic and really affected the story.

What a great book from such a fun author! If you are looking for a fast paced read that is witty and charming, this one is for you!
We go back in time to the year of 2002 and I loved the nostalgia of so many references! I was in college in 2002 and I wish I could go back to 2002 and kick my younger self in the ass 😅!

This heart-warming story really exceeded my expectations! I laughed, I sobbed.. all the feels! I loved the throwback to early 2000’s pop culture. Huber’s audio narration really brought this story to life! This book is for anyone who ever wished they could go back in time and do things differently. I loved it!

Thank you to @Netgalley @Dreamscape_Media for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

**This review will be posted on my IG @silver.lining.reader within the next few days.

I had been seeing this book a lot on IG and the premise peaked my interest. I immediately loved the bratty Alexis Spencer, as bratty as she was she was also relatable. She loses her job and her boyfriend all in one day. Her life is in shambles, she doesn't really have any friends or family that she can call to vent about her current and very unfortunate circumstances. Her life is a mess and it's all her own doing.

The book is about Alexis getting a 2nd chance, a chance to turn it all around but going back in time (accidentally) and meeting up with her younger self to change the course of her future, to try and most importantly save her relationship with her boyfriend, Andrew. While she's hanging out with her younger self, she realizes the relationship with her boyfriend isn't the only relationship she botched.

The book was funny at times (Justin *facepalm*, insightful, nearly made me cry (you'll see when you get to "the note"), nostalgic (references to old Sean Paul & LMFAO songs, Blockbuster, etc.) and just good all around.

The ending wrapped up so quickly that I as I was listening to the book, I truly thought it was going to ruin the whole thing but it didn't, while the ending came fast....it was heartwarming and tied everything up nicely.

Great characters, character development and a fun storyline. Though we’ve all read this storyline before, this was a lot of fun. There is of course the expected HEA that was truly perfect! Terrific narration added to a great listen. Going to go check out more from this author. I have clearly missed out!

I absolutely loved this book! It was so entertaining, I couldn’t put it down. The characters were great and the storyline was so unique. It gave me Oona Out of Order vibes and that was one of my faves from last year so this one was a great surprise! The narration of the audiobook was also excellent. I highly recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

For me, this was a nice change of pace story. While not original, the story was interesting and the characters relatable. This involves time travel and I would be remiss if I didn't sat there were a couple hokey moments.

I was sorely disappointed when the vile profanity started. Up until that point I could see myself gifting this as both a physical and audiobook. The author cheapened the work and herself.

The narrator was really good, and I do look forward to hearing more from her: Hillary Huber.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to read and review The Girl I Was.

#NetGalley
#DreamscapeMedia
#NarratorHillaryHuber
#TheGirlIWas

This was a painful 2 stars for me. I suffered through this mostly because I wanted it to be different than I was experiencing but it just wasn’t for me. I hated the main character, both of them.
I’m absolutely sure I couldn’t be friends with this type of person and I was really interested in how she would find herself. Many people loved this so I’m just going to say again that it’s me not the writing.
I listened to this and thought the narrator was really good.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.

When her life is at a low, Alexis accidentally goes back in time to 2002, when she was a selfish college student. She thinks this is her opportunity to do it all over again, but runs into her college self, Lexi, and realizes they need to work together to get her back to the life she loved, in hindsight.

This was a really good idea, giving nostalgic vibes from early 2000s movies. Unfortunately I didn't love the execution. It didn't draw me in and I found the characters unlikeable. I think it would be a great, fun movie and I may pick it up again to read, but the audio in particular didn't work for me. DNF @ 40%.

I went into THE GIRL I WAS blind. I'd listened to the audio of THE PERFECT MARRIAGE by Jeneva Rose and really enjoyed it so when I saw a new title by the same author I knew I would be interested again.

The story started off with Alexis believing she was getting a promotion at the temp job she's worked hard at for the last year. When she carried her desk items out later that day, her entire life spiraled from there. She intentionally got into an argument with her long-term boyfriend Andrew on what was supposed to be one of the best days of her life.

The next morning after drinking herself to sleep, Alexis wakes up in a bedroom at a frat house in 2002. She quickly learns that she's traveled back in time, meets her 18 year old younger self Lexi, and convinces Lexi to help her figure out how to go back and fix things with Andrew after she utterly destroyed their relationship.

Alexis, Lexi, and Lexi's friends go on a whirlwind of evens that had me laughing out loud multiple times.

Overall I enjoyed this story and thought the narrator did a great job, I will definitely be recommending THE GIRL I WAS to friends! Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this title.

🎧 The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose - Audiobook Review

I was so excited to receive the ARC of The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose. This one is SO different than The Perfect Marriage (which I loved), but I enjoyed it just as much. Alexis’ life is falling apart. She’s lost her job and is sabotaging her love life. When she drinks herself into a stupor during a night of wallowing, she wakes up in the early 2000’s in her old college town, determined to fix her younger self.

Alexis’ interactions with young Lexi are frustrating and relatable, but revisiting her mom was especially moving. For anyone with regret, anyone wanting a do-over or an urge to write a letter to their college-self, this novel is for you. It had major 13 Going on 30 meets Back to The Future vibes, and it made me long for a chat with 18-21 year old Erica. It also made me OK with today Erica.

This was an easy audiobook that sucked me in and made me nostalgic for my college days. Thank you

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced audio edition of The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose.

Alexis Spencer is a mess. She just lost her job, her boyfriend broke up with her, and nothing looks hopeful. Going back to an old coping skill, Alexis goes on an all night booze bender, looking for an escape. But when she wakes up, she isn't it the right place...or time.

Alexis is soon being confronted by her past self Lexi, who Alexis blames for starting the mess of her life. Maybe this is her chance to right all of her wrongs and get herself on a better past? But first they'll have to work together to overcome some hurdles.

Omg, this book was silly silly silly. If you need a quick, fun, and completely ridiculous way to pass the time, this is it. It's cute, heartwarming, a little sad and a lot of fun. It does not dig deep at all, but sometimes that's exactly what you need from a book, a fluffy fun escape.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audio of this in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great story! I had a hard time putting it down every time I would pause the audio. Alexis is in her 30s and just lost her job and boyfriend. She feels like a total loser and doesn’t know what to do. Then she.. wakes up in her college aged body and is reliving that part of her life.

This was a fun read and I highly recommend it!

Okay this was a super cute idea of a book. I loved the narrator and she did a fantastic job.

Jeneva wrote this during an era I also grew up in. It was funny hearing all the old fads I used to enjoy.

I was warned ahead of time there’s some slow moments in the first half. I think that helped because it definitely was a bit slow. I realized I had more than half to get through and I definitely thought I was further along. It wasn’t boring, which is great, but not a ton happens either.

I’m still rating this 4 because I loved the idea. Sure the main character, both of the ages, were a bit hard to like. I didn’t mind that at all. I don’t have to love a character to love the story.

I did think it ended kind of abruptly, but her writing style is awesome and I will still read anything she puts out.

Okay I have to admit I couldn't stand the audio, so this review is based off of the book I purchased for myself. And wow, I'm so glad I did because I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I loveeeee a coming of age story, and one where you can 'go back in time' and hang out and learn from your younger self? so, so good. After finishing this book I immediately recommended it to my mom and some friends. This book just left me feeling so good, I loved it so much!

This book has a “Freaky Friday” vibe, but with a different spin. I enjoyed the fresh take on a “trading places” type story, and it was both well written and well narrated. I wish the main character was more like-able. Overall, it was a solid 3/5 for me.