Cousens’s writing is effortlessly readable, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere throughout. The characters are well-drawn: Lucy’s relatable struggles and Sam’s charm make them easy to root for. The family dynamics and friendships are depicted with genuine affection, adding depth and heart to the story.

Although the resolution feels a bit predictable, the emotional payoff and the story’s reminder to appreciate the present are undeniably powerful. The Good Part is another testament to Cousens’s talent for crafting feel-good fiction with real substance.

The 90s nostalgia we all need. Think Big meets Freaky Friday meets The Family Man...The Good Part is yet another hit by Sophie Cousens. I have loved everything this author has written and this is now added to the list. Highly recommend.

The Good Part is a charming, feel-good read with a clever twist on time travel. When Lucy wishes to skip to the “good part” of life, she wakes up years in the future with everything she thought she wanted—but realizes it’s not that simple. It’s funny, heartwarming, and thought-provoking, with plenty of emotional moments. A great pick for fans of rom-coms with a magical touch.

The writing was good but at times the main character felt very immature and slightly ageist with the way she described being older. It had a very interesting premise but I was put off by some of the main characters remarks. 2.5 stars rounded up

When I first heard about The Good Part, it had the 13 Going On 30 vibe going for it. At 2 years old, Lucy feels like she is stuck in a rut. Her career is going no where; a history of poor choices; and some financial troubles. One night, she makes a wish and finds herself waking up sixteen years in the future - married with children and her dream career.

As a character, Lucy had a tendency to drive me crazy. She had a very "poor pitiful me" kind of energy. While some of it was humorous, alot of it was pretty self indulgent. Like I get she was the main character but no everything was going to revolve around her. Especially when there are children involved!

My favorite part of this story of watching Lucy fall for her family. Her dynamic with Tucker was so cute - such an inquisitive kid! Sam was very sweet and you could see the chemistry blossoming over time. During this bonding, Lucy still had her "poor pitiful me" moments but there was some growth as she learned some hard news and had to accept the reality of her current situation.

The Good Part is not my first book by Sophie Cousens whose writing I usually enjoy. This is not my favorite though. Like I said, Lucy as a character is very grating. She did show some character growth though which helped. Certain parts of the book also felt rushed to me especially towards the end. I did enjoy the humor that was sprinkled throughout I think it would make a good movie and would likely work better coming across the big screen. There was a bit of nostalgic vibe to the whole story as if it were a movie from teen years like 13 Going On 30 or BIG.

I really enjoyed this Sophie Cousens book, The Good Part.

Would you trade experiencing the good and the bad just to skip to the good part of life? What happens if that is the case? Are you willing to stay on the happy part of life, if it meant you don’t know what happened before? Or, would you risk the good part and go back and love life again, hoping to find the good part? I loved how this book makes you really think about what you might do when faced with that dilemma.

I really enjoyed this book and the concept of jumping ahead. The conflict was well developed and the resolution satisfying.

This author is becoming more and more popular as talent grows! This nerdy book was great for those who are into the geeks.

I’ve always been a big fan of Sophie Cousen books, and while I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t a top favorite! The FMC wasn’t enjoyable for the first half and was rather… whiney? Once I got past the first 50% I actually ended up really enjoying it, I loved the growth her character had, and I had a really big soft spot for Felix and Sam. This would be a fun movie!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Can we skip to the good part?

26 year-old Lucy, who is struggling to make ends meet and down on her luck, stumble upon a magic wishing machine. She wishes to "skip to the good part" of her life. Lucy wakes up the next morning 14 years later, in a different life, one full of kids, a husband, and her own company.

Definitely read this novel is if you like:
- magical realism
- british romcoms
- hilarious moments
- fun characters

4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Sophie Cousens for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Lucy's journey of skipping to the 'good part' of her life and inevitably missing out on some of her 20s & her 30s along with major life events... was such an interesting, unique, and emotional thing to read about. I love reading romance/women's fiction books with a deeper meaning/moral of the story because it is always so special and thought-provoking! This one was no different, especially as someone who has just graduated college and is truly entering *adulthood* it was so lovely to read a book that reinforces the fact that you should enjoy the little moments in life and there is a 'good part' but to get there you experience a multitude of changes that allow you to grow as an individual! I just adored it!!!!
Also, every single character was so lovable and truly jumped off the page because they were written so well. I loved all of the dynamics and how Sam + Lucy's relationship was portrayed!! This book will stick with me for a while.

If you could magically skip ahead to the good part of your life, would you? Would you bypass the messiness we all have to go through to get there. I honestly don't know after seeing the chaos that happened in this book and the. missing memories lol. This was a cute book overall with a lot of funny moments but also heartfelt moments. This is the first book that I have read by this author and will not be my last.

This is the first time that I've read this author and definitely not the last. I just adored this story. It was an interesting concept and I just love how the author handled it. I admit that I got a little teary eyed at the ending, knowing what all was to come for her. So good!

Easy five stars! Engaging and entertaining. Loved the time travel/alternative reality storyline - be careful what you wish for!

Late to the party but I really enjoyed this one! Sophie Cousens always nails it and this book was no different.

Thank you to @netgalley @putnambooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sophie Cousens has once again crafted a delightful and engaging story with "The Good Part." Lucy's journey into her future, where she grapples with the unknown years that led her there, is both entertaining and emotionally compelling.

Cousens's writing is effortlessly readable, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The characters are well-developed, with Lucy's relatable struggles and Sam's endearing nature making them easy to root for. The family dynamics and friendships are portrayed with genuine affection, adding layers of richness to the narrative.

While the story's resolution may feel somewhat predictable, the emotional impact and the message about appreciating the present moments are undeniably powerful. "The Good Part" is a testament to Cousens's ability to create feel-good stories with substance.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #putnambooks #thegoodpart #sophiecousens

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Good Part by Sophie Cousens in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was giving Freaky Friday vibes and I was here for it. This romance kept me hooked, which I've found hard recently with most of the ones I've picked up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Good Part by Sophie Cousens in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I love anything Sophie writes so I was beyond elated to be approved to read this book prior to publication! This was absolutely a fantastic read that I found myself fully engrossed in and forgetting the world around me! I loved every single page of this book and was incredibly sad to finish it so fast! Now I have to wait for her next release! Do yourself a big favor and read this the first chance you get!

The older I get, the harder it is for me to enjoy romance and women-coming-into-their-own novels. But "The Good Part" is good stuff.

You know how it is – I’m late-ish 40s, jaded and mellowed out by age, and I often don’t find much to relate to in most of what’s published in the genre. There are exceptions, though, what with more and more stories being written featuring middle-aged protagonists. (Yay!) But for the most part, what does a 48 year-old woman have in common with a 26 year-old singleton? Not much. And what we do have in common is now housed away in my memories.

Lucky for me, Lucy is only 26 years old for part of the novel. Kinda sorta, at least. She’s 26 at the start of the story, but then she makes a wish on a wishing machine and wakes up the next day to find herself a married mom in her 40s. So while I didn’t have much in common with the first Lucy, I did like the second version of Lucy a bit more, the one stuck in an older body with more responsibilities. She’s more like me.

Sophie Cousens writes with warmth and wit, keeping the story light enough to not require much brain power yet emotional enough to give the story weight and substance. The ending is especially poignant and delivers a wallop to the gut.

There’s a lot to like here, and I’ll be reading Cousens again.


My sincerest appreciation to Sophie Cousens, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

A unique story. Interesting to see how the character reacted and related to her change of life. Really enjoyed this one.