I couldn’t help but think of the protagonist in Matt Haig’s novel THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY while reading this memoir, as she contemplates what she might have done differently, to live a life without regrets, the what ifs. This is exactly how Alisha Fernandez Miranda, the author of MY WHAT IF YEAR, approached life when she felt burned out by her career. Mid-life, happily married, mother of twins, at the pinnacle of her career, but something was missing. Her ‘what if’ was going to nag her unless she pursued the things that she once dreamt of, contemplated. Would working behind-the-scenes on Broadway be it, learning about the inner workings of hospitality industry, was the booming fitness industry a space she might enjoy, or could it be the art world that always intrigued her. She used her networking skills and reached out to people she knew in these various fields and offered herself as an intern for hire, for a designated period of time. Not only was her year working as a 40-year-old intern quite an impressive feat – being away from her family and trying not just one new thing, but several, identifying and coordinating the internships, putting herself out there, during the pandemic, and then writing this memoir. Truly a remarkable accomplishment. It’s one thing when somebody casually mentions that they have an idea but another thing to actually live it. I admire her tenacity for the pursuit of lifelong learning. Never taking herself too seriously. No matter where your curiosity lies, staying intellectually curious and being open to new experiences clearly can be rewarding in a variety of ways and how remarkable that Alisha shared her cornucopia with readers. No regrets, I’ll say and what an inspiration. I expect to see Alisha on the motivational speaker circuit and no doubt, I imagine she will encourage many others to follow the freedom to their own what if year.

P.S. Great book cover! The shoes are so clever.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful read Alisha Fernandez Miranda decides to change her life as a CEO of a company as a wife and mother living in the uk and heads back to the Us to take the roads not traveled.Following her through internships testing the waters of a life she could of lived.She is outgoing hilarious a pleasure to get to know.A book that will give each of us a lot to think about the road we could of taken.Can’t wait to discuss with my friends.#netgalley #mywhatifyear.

Thank you to Zibby Books for a complimentary ARC through NetGalley.

I loved this unique memoir! Alisha Fernandez Miranda was approaching 40 when she realized she needed a break from her career. What if she pursued the career paths she turned down earlier in life? Encouraged by friends to give it a try, and supported by her husband who would be bearing the brunt of parenting their twins, Alisha lined up some unpaid internships in fields she had been interested in during college.

What began as a desire for various monthly internships lasting a year, started in NYC at an off Broadway theatre company at the end of February 2020. As you can imagine, the pandemic derailed much of the year, but Alisha was still able to pivot and make a few of the internships work.

This memoir is an exploration into seeking fulfillment and not just settling when mid-life is drawing near. Alisha is brave and that bravery is infectious!

4.5 stars

Who hasn’t wondered, “What if?” about all the roads in life not taken? Alisha Fernandez Miranda decided to find out, and My What-If Year is the delightful result. Warm, irreverent and funny, she reminds us to stay flexible, never stop learning, and pursue our passions. Thank you, NetGalley, for a complimentary advance copy.

I absolutely loved this book ! As someone who often wonders what if? Iinstantly knew I had to read and acquire this one! Full review to come, it was so interesting to follow her journey. Although I don’t know if I could leave my kids like that someday. It was so wonderful to watch her experience and grow and no that’s it’s never too late to follow your passions,
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4/5

On the cusp of turning forty, Alisha Fernandez Miranda has climbed to the peak of personal and professional success, but at a price; she’s overworked and exhausted.

Bravely, Miranda decides to give herself a break, temporarily pausing her stressful career as the CEO of her own consulting firm. With the tentative blessing of her husband and eight-year-old twins, she leaves her home in London to spend one year exploring the dream jobs of her youth, seeking answers to the question, “What If?”

What follows is a spirited and hilarious journey for Alisha - and the reader. Contending with her lack of experience (and the onset of a global pandemic), Alisha gofers for two high-profile Broadway productions (and nearly tramples Stephen Sondheim), attempts to master a fitness regimen called Voga (a cross between yoga and “voguing”), feigns confidence while handling multi-million-dollar artwork at Christie’s, and literally sets her shirt on fire while serving rack of lamb in a posh hotel on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. Her experiences are at once challenging and humbling, and push the boundaries of what Alisha thought she was physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of. Alisha’s “What If” year reveals that she can achieve success on her own terms by embodying the spirit of the intern: never stop learning, be flexible, and understand that failure is a prerequisite for growth.

For anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a rut, My What If Year proves that it’s never too late to say yes to second chances and explore the roads untraveled throughout your life.

Reading this book felt like a long, thoughtful conversation with a good friend over a cup of coffee (or maybe, a glass of wine), talking about what could have been….and then actually deciding to go for it. Even at 40. Alisha shares a heartfelt, honest and hilarious account of her year-long experiment as an intern in multiple creative fields across the span of a year AND a pandemic. Her writing voice was so strong that I truly felt like I was sitting next to her as she shared her interning adventures and ultimately, convinced me to try my own. In fact, that’s what I loved most about this book: the inspiration to view life as a long series of internships, giving ourselves permission to pivot, to pursue our passions and find ourselves again. Every woman must read this book.

I couldn’t wait to read Miranda’s story and I thank NetGalley for the advanced copy for the purpose of this review.

Miranda is able to leave her husband and twins in London and go to NYC and become a Broadway intern as a grown woman! What a dream. It was so interesting to read her descriptions of the jobs she got a chance to do and the experiences she had.

I found myself inspired to keep chasing my own dreams!

I really enjoyed reading My What If Year by Alisha Fernandez Miranda, thanks to an early copy from Net Galley. This book covered the author's year during which she, at the age of 40, participated in several internships, each of which were in industries she had always wanted to investigate. Not many people get a chance for a "do-over" but that's exactly what the author has. The author's delightful style makes for an easy and enjoyable read and she makes you feel as if you have come along for the ride. The book is well-written, funny and heart-warming.

I loved Alisha Fernandez Miranda's debut memoir. At the top of her career as CEO of her own company, she decides to explore the career paths she didn't follow when she was younger, offering herself as an intern. I loved the inside looks at Broadway, the fitness biz, the art world, and hospitality, most of which were set within the backdrop of the pandemic.

Alisha's writing and questioning throughout this year-long experience got me questioning my own choices over time--taking a look back and considering what might be ahead as well. I appreciated how her experiences could be universally applied to anyone reading along on her journey.

I very much enjoyed this book.. Alisha is a wonderful writer however Her numerous comments in parenthesis got tiresome. I did struggle with timeframe somewhat she jumps around a lot from past to preset and it wasn’t always clear. I loved how she wrapped up at the end and explained what each internships had taught her. However the ending did drag on a bit. All in all I enjoyed reading about her exploring new potential careers and trying to figure out her next chapter. Good for her for taking the steps. We are all a work in progress and it’s always helpful to remember we never stop learning .

My What If Year is about a busy working mother approaching 40 that feels she needs a change in her professional life, and decides to follow four different career paths through a series of internships. Alisha Fernandez Miranda is a gifted story teller and through each very different internship I felt myself invested in her experiences, and laughing at her ability to not take herself too seriously. Although each aspect of her career exploration differs greatly from my own life experiences, I found this book to be relatable for the dreamer in all of us that may find the courage to take a chance, leaving a comfortable but not joyful career and explore what new possibilities could lie ahead. I would highly recommend this book to friends, but especially perhaps to a friend who is needing some encouragement to take a chance on trying a new path in life.