Lena thinks she knows where her life is headed. That's until things take a very different turn. She tries to get away and visit her aunt, but when she wakes up in the morning, she's living a completely different life... and this happens every time she wakes up for a new day. Men from her past appear, along with very different lives (different jobs, locations, relationships). Are any of these men who she is really supposed to be with? Lena's journey helps show her what she values in life and eventually gets her right where she's meant to be.

I thought this was an interesting take on how to find what your true priorities are in life. Some things may seem ideal but are missing something that's truly more important.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

In this novel, main character Lena has everything in her life all planned out in her very driven life. After her boyfriend breaks up with her on the night she thinks he’s going to propose, she wakes up the next day in a totally different life where she’s married to someone else - and the same thing happens the next day, and so on. As Lena seeks to find her way back to her real life, she also learns more about herself and what she’s really looking for in love and in life.

This was a cute read with a fun exploration of the paths not taken. It makes an interesting counterpoint to last year’s The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, except in this one each of the guys was someone from Lena’s past rather than someone random. In reality it seems a little unlikely to me that Lena’s life would be quite that different depending on the guy, but I did like that the book was also examining her choices in career, friendship, and family, not just romance.

I’m a huge fan of Sarah Jio and have read all ten of her previous novels. I do miss the dual time period historical fiction of her early novels, but I love her contemporary books too. Definitely a can’t miss writer for me. This one would make a fun movie or tv show too.

After her latest breakup (which was unexpected since she thought the night was going to lead to a proposal), Lena goes to her aunt's to recuperate. The morning after arriving at her aunt's, rather than waking up in the bed she slept in, Lena wakes up in a different bedroom with a man that she doesn't recognize. Then she realizes she does know the man, she dated him years ago and spends the day living the alternative life. Every morning thereafter Lena wakes up in a new place with another man that she dated or met at some point in her life. These glimpses of lives that could have been help Lena realize what she actually wants in life and love.

✨My Review✨
This is my fourth Sarah Jio novel and I always have enjoyed them (although in all honesty I don't think I've read one in a while). This one reminded me of The Husbands and The Good Part, that concept that you get a peek at a different life (or lives) if you had made different choices (although the twist here is that all of these men have come in and out of Lena's life rather than being a stranger or strangers). I love the concept of different paths and in this case the execution worked really well, although maybe one too many alternate lives as I started to want the "what if" to end and for Lena to get back to her life (but since the character felt that way too, I get it). Now I remember why I loved to read Jio's novels and I will pick up the ones I haven't yet gotten to.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Sarah Jio's last book, which I read, I loved, this one I have very mixed opinions about. I felt the premise fell short of what it cold have been. Waking up every morning with a different male companion seemed so far fetched. I felt that there really was no story line until the very end. Sorry to say but this novel I could live without. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've loved most of Jio's books, especially her earlier books. The magic is back with Insignificant Others. I was absolutely enthralled with this book.

We start off as Lena is nearly 2 weeks into a bizarre scenario in which she wakes up in a different alternative universe with a different husband or fiancé in a different city / location.

Lena is in finance and is hoping her boyfriend of 2 years is about to propose to her, but he breaks up with her after his surprise of Coldplay tickets fails to impress her. She goes to visit her aunt Rosie on Bainbridge Island, who raised her after her mother died. Lena falls asleep in the guest house and wakes up..... in Paris.

Each day brings a new awakening, discovering someone Lena had a chance romance or passing - the first being Sebastian, someone she met at her best friend Frankie's wedding. We travel from Paris to Lancaster County, Ireland, the west coast, even Florida and the Aegean Sea. In some versions, she and Frankie aren't close. In some, she has a child or stepchild, different kinds of jobs. She tries and usually fails to reach her aunt on the phone. Of all the potential husbands, I liked Colm the best. And the worst, probably Mike or "Derrick/Greg." Lena discovers a lot about herself and finds her way home so she can create her own reality. I pretty much saw the ending coming as far as who she ended up with and would have liked to see a more flushed out ending.

A small quip - i think at the beginning she said the date was April 8, 2023 (Rex Manning Day iykyk), and towards the end mentioned, it was 2024. Otherwise, I loved this book. Available April 1, 2025.

I am a sucker for any kind of time slip stories, and this was an uplifting story of the roads not taken. It's like a happier version of The Midnight Library. I loved exploring the different paths and how they all tied together in the end. Cute and hopeful!

Thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy of this book!

“The most beautiful things in life are almost always right in front of our eyes.”

After NOT getting proposed to by her boyfriend of two years, Lena flees to her aunt’s house on Bainbridge Island, falling asleep in the guest house and waking up in an alternate timeline. In a series of parallel lives a la Groundhog Day, Lena comes to realize which encounters in her life were most significant.

I’ve been reading Sarah Jio for years and I love going into a read knowing it’s going to be a total win! Unlike most of her other books that alternate timelines for a contemporary / historical blend, this is a contemporary fiction novel with romance and magical realism. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t stop reading! It was fun to go through all the timelines and see all of Lena’s “what ifs” — because we all have those. I really appreciated that love wasn’t quite where she expected it and that she came to find what really mattered. This is a great blend of an engaging and fun read and a meaningful narrative. Another win from Sarah!

I absolutely devoured this book. It isn’t your typical romance so if romcom is your vibe, this isn’t that, but still, I hope you give it a chance!

The premise is interesting and refreshing from the typical time loop story because it’s more of a choose-your-own-adventure (or in this case, husband) feel. Lena lives various what-if lives with men she’s known in the past- the catch is, it only lasts for a day, and when she wakes up, it’s a new husband.

This is my first Sarah Jio book, but it won’t be the last. I absolutely love the way she tells a story and it kept my interest the entire time. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Where do I start from?

Thank you to the William Morrow Epic Tastemakers program and NetGalley for this ARC!

Book: after a disastrous incident with her boyfriend, Lena finds herself stuck in a romantic time loop after visiting her aunt. She ends up in relationships with past “what ifs,” leading her to discover a lot about herself and her life.

My thoughts: Lena learns a lot about herself in this book, and I found myself learning from it too. You can pinpoint the moment she begins to realize how she had viewed her life before the time loop, and it was fascinating to read.

What I liked: I enjoyed the writing. The “what ifs” made me laugh, swoon, and reflect. It was both an easy and meaningful read.

What I did not like: it’s not a big deal, but the main character did something that put me off. I chose to overlook it, but every time I remember, I think, really?

Since I read this book as an ARC, I wasn’t surprised to find a few mistakes.

All in all, I really liked this book, and I can’t wait to see what others think!

Ever wondered what it’d be like to wake up married to a different ex every day? In this wild ride of a book, Lena does just that after dumping her boyfriend of two years. One morning she’s hitched to a guy she barely remembers, the next she’s with another blast from the past—each day a new husband, a new life, and a fresh lesson. I loved the quirky premise (totally new to me!) and the characters were a blast—Lena’s sass kept me grinning. I devoured it in nearly one sitting, though I’ll admit the ending felt a little rushed. Still, a super fun read—perfect for anyone who’s ever second-guessed their love life!

Lena has just broken up with her most recent boyfriend and goes to visit her aunt for some time away. However, when she goes to sleep there she enters into a time loop of all her past relationships with men. She continues to wake up to a future she hadn't imagined before and grows more and more attached to them. I thought this was a fun read overall with a lot of character growth. It was fast-paced and I loved the elements of magical realism.

A toxic workaholic who keeps her personal life less than personal becomes stuck in a time-loop of one-day relationships with men she has encountered in the past. Lena Westbrook, fresh off a recent breakup, goes home to visit her aunt and get away from her life for a bit. While there, she falls asleep in the guest house, only to awaken in a stranger’s bed. But as she begins to grow more and more attached to each person she awakens to, she realizes she might just want more than a partner who looks good on paper.

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.

There were quite a few laugh-out-loud scenes, one involving a baby, a Frappuccino, and a blow-out, that really set this book apart from other recent time-loop novels. Although there was a small dangle of a relationship I had concerns about, I was very happy to see it didn’t end up going where I thought it might be going. All in all, a fast-paced, very enjoyable romcom with more emotional depth than most.

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

Thank you William Morrow for the gifted copy.

After an unexpected breakup, Lena seeks refuge and comfort with her Aunt Rosie on Bainbridge Island. Unexplainably, she becomes a time traveler waking up seven days in a row in the bed of a different man that she had previously only met in passing. For less than 24 hours each day, she gets a look at what her life would have been like if the relationship had been pursued.

Interesting and unique premise that becomes so intriguing that you can’t put it down. I loved the fast paced story and the handsome and sometimes quirky characters. I definitely recommend “Insignificant Others” for your enjoyment.

This is my second Sarah Jio novel, both very different, and I can truthfully say that I am now a huge fan and am looking forward to catching up on her earlier books.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Grade: B ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️ out of 5. Only a few simple smooches.
CW: Childhood trauma, unresolved mental health issues, loss of a parent/parent figure, miscarriage, infertility issues.

I love a good magical time loop/alternate universe story and this one did not disappoint! The growth and development of Lena as she experiences all of the missed connections of her past was a joy to read. The revolving door of men, each one helping bring out the Lena that she needs to be to fully embrace love, had me devouring the pages and excited to see what would happen next. I didn't quite feel the connection between Lena and her HEA, and I think the ending kind of fizzled a bit. Overall, this was a really beautiful read that had me thinking. Recommend!

I've read some of author Sarah Jio's back-list and really enjoyed those titles, so I was happy to get her latest, "Insignificant Others" which is a "time-loop" type of a rom-com. I liked it & the way the MC, workaholic Lena, went through a different life each day with a former man she'd met before. I also liked the side characters like her grandmother Rosie. Lena goes through a great deal of character growth here and I like that aspect as well - my only quibble was that the pacing seemed a bit off, with the beginning slower than the ending, which felt rushed. Overall, I quite enjoyed it and found it an easy and entertaining read. My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my advance readers copy - my please to read & review it.

I’m a big fan of Sarah Jio’s writing. I haven’t read a book I didn’t love and Insignificant Others is one of my favorites of hers.

I love the imaginative story line - Crazed workaholic gets dumped. She runs off, and wakes up in the morning in a completely different life. Her own, but with a past love. What follows is a Groundhog Day like scenario but with past loves. Can she find the one who got away? Can she wake up from the nightmares of past boyfriends to find him?

Insignificant Others was a fast read, enjoyable, laugh out loud funny - at times, and filled with a great cast of characters (including her best friend Frankie and her husband Chris). Just wish it were a bit longer so the ending could be flushed out more.

I would highly recommend this to all my friends. Another 5-star read by Sarah Jio.

Thank you to William Morrow and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am a fan of time-travel and time loop fiction, so this book was right up my alley. The writing is good, the main character, a heartbroken workaholic is very relatable to me, and the supporting characters actually support the story. Definitely recommend this book..

I enjoyed the book but it did seem to keep going on & on. Maybe if there would have been less insignificant others and a little more substance in each one.

Insignificant Others attempts to answer the age old question of “what if” - would life be better if you didn’t lose “the one who got away” or is your life better because you let them go? Lena finds herself trapped in a cycle of “what ifs” when she goes to sleep one night and wakes up in an alternate life, married to a man she met at a wedding and a life she doesn’t know. Lena is living her own Groundhog Day when she continues to wake up next to a different man from her past every day in a life that isn’t her own. The most beautiful part about this book is the lessons she learns from every “what if” or “Insignificant Other”. Some of the lessons are hard to learn, while others showed Lena sides of herself she never considered, but realized she was missing in her real life. I know it made me think about my own past and decisions I have made. This was a very fast-paced romance that I think will resonate with a lot of people.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read this e-arc early. Each “adventure” shows her how valuable each day is in her life and what a true connection means & what she really wants for her future.
This book was very enjoyable & I would recommend it to anyone.