"This experience taught me many things, but, above all, that our choices matter, more than we know. Life can often feel so one-foot-in-front-of-the-other, so prescriptive: Must be successful. Must find the perfect mate. Must check all the boxes... I was so fixated on the finish line that I neglected to see all the beautiful moments along the way. I understand now that we're writing our stories every minute of every day, and all of it counts."

Insignificant Others is a fresh take on the idea of love and felt new and innovative in a way that I've never read in romance books before. I love that as Lena time hops through different potential realities we see while, yes, she could have had a happy life with a few different men, we also get to see that some of the men she could have ended up with wouldn't have had happily ever afters and that just felt so real (while also being really entertaining to follow). I loved that each of the different realities had Lena in a different job, and thriving in them even though she couldn't believe she was capable of doing so. The idea that you can do anything you want and succeed in it if you make the choice to do so and try hard was uplifting to see. It was so fun to follow along with her on all these very different realities she experienced, I didn't want it to end! I think I would have liked this book more if she didn't end up with any particular person at the end but rather left it open ended with her kind of being at peace with not needing to check off the "find a perfect person" box. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I absolutely love time-loops and especially enjoyed the science-fiction aspects of Lena’s adventures! In fact, I think I would’ve enjoyed more about the science and less about the romances, but there are other book for that 😂 A usual romance for sure, but super fun!

Thanks to the author and William Morrow for this #gifted copy and delicious smelling candle, as well as early NetGalley access in exchange for my honest opinion. I spent the morning alternating between listening to the audiobook and reading this physical copy - until the audiobook returned! I finished the last few chapters with my eyes while trying to also give FT all the Caturday pets. He was too active to model with the book, but he is glad that I’ve now finished and can dedicate my weekend to cuddling him (as all weekends should be, of course!).
Insignificant Others is a fun time-loop romance, where the FMC, after dumping her boyfriend when he presents her with Coldplay tickets instead of an engagement ring, flees to where she grew up and proceeds to wake up each day after in a new place with a different significant other. Each experience varies, from living in Paris to working on a yacht near Santorini to vacationing in Hawaii, but each of the men she is dating or married to is someone from her actual past. It’s interesting to see how Lena’s career and lifestyle vary based on the man in each scenario, and the reader begins to wonder who Lena actually is. Some men and situations seemed great, whereas others seemed nightmarish. And I’m sure we’ve all wondered, “what if…” a time or two before. The novel does wrap up rather quickly and smoothly, but I enjoyed reading it. This is the first book I’ve read by Jio, and I will read more. I loved learning about her Farm Jio brand, too, and I can’t wait to burn the candle. The book is now available everywhere!

I feel like there is a lot of romance stories about the one that may have got away. This is sweet story we can all relate to, we all think about the ones that got away. What our life looks like if we stayed?

Lena is perfectionist workaholic, with a perfectly planned life, so when her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her perfect life is shattered. She goes to the only place she feels love, her aunts home in Bainbridge, little island of the coast of Settle. She goes to sleep in the guest house and wakes up in a different life. She learns what is important and what is not, also life is messy, but it is your mess.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for copy of this book for my honest review.

First I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperAudio and William Morrow for the early ARC and audiobooks of this novel.

This was my first Sarah Jio novel but it won’t be my last. I unexpectedly loved this book. I went back and forth between the kindle version and the audiobook and I really enjoyed both but the audiobook was my favorite. Brittany Presley might be my new favorite narrator. This audiobook was so well done.

I loved the touch of magical realism in this book. This book was so unexpectedly touching and lovely I can’t wait to tell everyone to pick up this book. I will admit i have been struggling to enjoy romance books lately but this was a new fresh take on a romance book and i loved it.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending but overall I loved the book.

4.25/5 stars

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

I've been a fan of Sarah Jio's books for many years now, starting with The Violets of March back in 2011. Her novels never fail to impress and delight me. Sarah's latest, Insignificant Others, is an imaginative and heartfelt story with magical realism and romance.

A truly fun read from start to finish, I loved the growth arc of Lena’s character as she meets each new boyfriend/husband and awakens to hopes for the future far different than she had ever imagined. The side characters add tremendously to the story, from Lena’s friend Frankie and her husband, Chris, to Aunt Rosie, the woman who raised Lena after the death of her mother.

Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️magical realism
▪️found family
▪️journey’s of self discovery
▪️The Good Part meets The Husbands

We live a time slip novel and this one hit the spot! I was skeptical going in to this due to another book with a similar premise that left me disappointed but this was wonderful. It was the perfect balance of fun and emotion!

Insignificant Others was an absolute joy to read! I always love Sarah Jio’s books, but this is her best yet. Lena is a young woman who is left heartbroken when her boyfriend asks her to a Coldplay concert instead of asking her to marry him, and through a fluke of the universe, finds herself magically transported to alternate lives each day. After falling asleep in her aunt’s guesthouse on Bainbridge Island, she wakes up in an unfamiliar bed in Paris, married to a man from her past with zero clue on how she got there or any memory of their history together. Every day she wakes up married to a different man from her past. As day after day presents a new life that could have been, she learns more and more about herself and has the opportunity to truly reevaluate what she wants and needs in a partner. Some days are easier than others, some days are true struggles, but each one is an opportunity for Lena to learn more about her true self and values. The story moved along quickly, with the appropriate amount of time spent on each day and partner/relationship. The characters were well-developed, some more likable than others. Despite Lena starting off as a slightly unlikable character, its not long before you take this crazy alternate life trip with her and are on her side, hoping she finds what she’s looking for and what she needs. I also liked that the ending suggests what her happy ending may be, but leaves it a bit to interpretation.

Read If You Like:
• Time-loop romances with a whimsical twist
• Explorations of “what if” scenarios in love and life
• Stories set against vibrant international backdrops
• Protagonists on journeys of self-discovery
• magical realism

Lena Westbrook has meticulously planned every facet of her life. So when her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her on the night she anticipates a proposal, her world unravels. Seeking solace, Lena retreats to her aunt’s home on Bainbridge Island. However, upon waking the next morning, she finds herself in Paris, in bed with a man who believes he’s her husband.   

Thus begins Lena’s unexpected journey through a series of alternate realities, each presenting a different version of her life with past romantic interests. From the charming streets of Kinsale, Ireland, to the bustling avenues of New York City, Lena experiences the myriad paths her life could have taken. Each day offers a new setting and a new partner, prompting her to reflect on her choices and the true meaning of love and fulfillment.  

Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted ALC and ARC!

I loved the premise of this novel—each alternate reality the protagonist wakes up in was imaginative and emotionally compelling. Sarah Jio has a real gift for weaving warmth and wistfulness into even the most fantastical setups. The story offered a much-needed break from some of the heavier content I usually read, and I really appreciated its lighter, reflective tone. That said, the ending leaned a little too heavily on exposition. Not every revelation needs to be spelled out for the reader—some moments would have been more powerful if left to resonate quietly. Still, a charming and thoughtful read overall.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

Overall, this was a cute book with also a good lesson to learn.

In the story, Lena is faced with the consequences of her decisions with both her professional and personal life. When her carefully laid out plan for her life is upended, she finds herself at her Aunt's house, nursing her wounds. But then she has the opportunity to see the "what if's" in life.

There is definitely a fun cast of characters throughout this book, as well as some shady ones. Overall a good story, easy read.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Netgalley and really glad that I read it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This was a unique premise with a twist on the "time loop" theme. Lena who is a workaholic with a life plan mapped out is suddenly dumped by her boyfriend instead of the proposal she expected. While visiting her aunt, Lena falls asleep in the cottage only to wake up each morning to an "insignificant man" from her past who is now a significant other due to choosing a different path in this new timeline. Each morning is someone new! While I enjoyed how the story progressed and the ultimate end, there were a few of the insignificant others (one in particular!) that would have been a good life, and I was sad for him to see how his life was affected when in a different timeline Lena had picked someone else. This book makes you think of all the ways your life could be changed if you went on a different path...

4 stars

Sarah Jio is one of the first authors that really got me into romance reading. I read The Look of Love in 2014 and fell in love with her writing.

When Insignificant Others came out and it was described as an escapist timeslip novel I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!

If you are a fan of the movie Sliding Doors, you are really going to love this one.

You get to meet Lena, an endearing woman that is looking for what we all are, someone that loves her for exactly who she is. She has prioritized her work life over all else and has started to realize how stuck she really is. You get to see her slip between multiple realities, trying on a bunch of different relationships that gave me the feel of Julia Roberts in the Runaway Bride.

I think what I loved most about this story was Lena’s character and how much she grows and learns about herself. I found myself so invested in how this was all going to end!

Thank you so much @williammorrowbooks for the early reading copy!

4.25 stars

For fans of when the coffee gets cold or the musical maybe happy ending, similar vibes and comfort level... Will definatlly keep an eye on this author

Thanks for the gifted e-arc @williammorrowbooks.

What would you do if you had a second chance to say yes to the one who got away? That’s the premise of Sarah Jio’s heartfelt new love story, Insignificant Others.

When we meet Lena, she believes that her boyfriend of two years is about to propose to her. When he instead shows up with Coldplay concert tickets and acts like he’s doing her a huge favor even though she doesn’t even like Coldplay, they fight and break up. Lena, confused and heartbroken, starts to question not just her relationship but everything about the path her life is on.

She heads to see her beloved Aunt Rosie on Bainbridge Island in Seattle, knowing she can stay in her guest cottage and regroup, but when she wakes up the next morning, she finds herself in Paris married to a sexy Frenchman.

Thus begins a time loop Lena finds herself in where every morning she wakes up in a new location with a new man in her life. Sometimes it’s a stranger, sometimes it’s someone she has known from an earlier time in her life. Some of the encounters are magical, some are adventures, while others are downright heartbreaking.

What each has in common is that it provides Lena with a snapshot of what her life might have looked like if she had made different choices.

I love a good time loop story and I loved how the author used the premise in such a unique way here to show Lena all of these “what ifs” in her life. It just had me so invested in Lena’s journey and eager for her to wake up each day to see if today’s path might be the one that would stick. In her journey through all of these insignificant others, who would turn out to be significant?

This one is perfect for fans of time loop stories, magical realism, and second chances.

4 1/2 stars

Ok I was really into this right from the start but it was ruined by the best friend and best friend’s husband thing. I don’t want to read about something like that. Boooo

A fresh, fun take on a time loop romance. I adored Sarah Jio’s latest, in which a broken hearted workaholic explores what could have been with a myriad of her former romantic prospects. I’ve read Jio’s full backlist, and Insignificant Others is among her most engaging and entertaining stories.

Highly recommended to Jio’s many devoted readers and to romance genre fans seeking a few hours escaping into a delightful and insightful novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I liked the idea of this book and loved the magical realism element to it. I always love when you can see how one choice can alter your entire life. Loved that!
I think the thing I didn’t love was that there were so many possible lives. I appreciate all the different examples of a relationship she could have had but I think I would have liked it more if we just spent a little more time with some of them. I feel like that made it a little hard to see Lena actually grow and change from those experiences because we were thrown in and out of them so quickly.
I also wish we maybe had a little more of ‘the real world’ in the end as well. More time with the real Rosie and with the real Frankie and Christian.

I did enjoy it overall. It kind of felt like a romcom movie from the 2000s or something. I would still recommend it. It is a fun premise and a relatively short read.

Workaholic Lena thinks tonight is the big night—her boyfriend is going to propose. That doesn’t happen and she ends up dumping him and heading to her Aunt Rosie‘s home on Bainbridge Island in Washington. When she wakes up the next morning, She finds herself in an alternate reality. She’s in a new home with a new man, her husband. Day after day, Lena finds herself in a new relationship with a new man in a new location. She learns about herself along the way and what she really values in a relationship.

This is a fun idea but I did feel the execution got a bit tiresome. There were a lot of different scenarios with different characters, and I wasn’t necessarily invested in them in anyway. I kind of just wanted Lena to find “the one.”

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy of this book.