This was a good book, but there were times where I felt like the plot wasn’t going anywhere until the second to last chapter then it immediately jumps to the main character back in her own time.

This novel resonated through my bones and sang to my soul. I could not put it down. Every spare second I had, I dove right back in and devoured it in just two days.

The main character was incredibly relatable—even in moments when I really didn’t want her to be—and that made her story hit even harder.

I’ll be recommending this to everyone I can. There’s so much to unpack, and I need more people to discuss it with!

Did not expect this to make me tear up at the end a.
weirdly this is what I needed
in this time of my life I do wish I could've changed so much but obviously I can't do this was cute to show myself that moving forward I can change or push to do other things
This was a sweet read, the pacing was steady, the tone was emotional and heartfelt I enjoyed this
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper publishing for the earc in exchange for my 100% honest review !

So this wasn’t my favorite.. especially being a Jeneva Rose book. However, I realized that I have been hit or miss on her thriller titles when I looked back on my reviews to refresh my memory on my opinions of her prose in other books.

I got reminded that at times I struggled with her style and this book is no exception. I then realized that this is a rerelease of a title and I’m not clear on why it’s being done. Was it significantly updated or edited? I’m not sure so if you’ve read it before you’ll have to read for yourself.

My biggest issue is Alexis the FMC as she is one of the most unlikable characters that I have read…ever. Now I know that humans, particularly Americans, can have very different intellect as well as education but Alexis? I don’t think a person can be that misguided on reason. The plot in terms of her understanding of life as well as recognition of herself is just not believable. It’s so unbelievable that it takes you right out of the story. This took me weeks to finish as I kept putting it down to read other works but finally pushed through it for the last day of June.

While I think it’ll find a new audience, I don’t think it’ll have the impact that it intends.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from MIRA through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This isn’t your typical Jeneva Rose novel—it’s a heartfelt contemporary fiction that had me legit cackling, tearing up, and reflecting deeply on who I was at 18, especially now that I’m in my 30s.

I loved the dual POVs from both versions of our FMC—her younger and older selves. A few elements gave 13 Going on 30 and Freaky Friday vibes, and the early-2000s nostalgia (shoutout to 2003!) was a fun blast from the past.

I highly recommend this one if you’ve ever wondered about “do-overs,” where life has taken you, or if you’re currently in a season of reflecting on who you were vs. who you’ve become.

Content note: The book does touch on the loss of a parent, so take care if that’s a sensitive subject for you.

Where do I even start with this book? This was my first experience reading Jeneva Rose. I am an avid follower of hers on social media. Her vibes just feel right. I was just waiting for the right book to catch me. This book was so fantastic.

We're following Alexis who looses pretty much everything at the start of the book: her temp job, her long term boyfriend. Her life seems pretty down and out until she gets flung into the past to her freshman year of college. She believes that she is getting the chance to change the past to make her current life better.

This book is such a beautiful exploration of grief. Not only of a parent, but also a bit of grief around the life we always wished for. I like how Alexis and her younger self Lexi get to explore what makes up a person's life.

While this is hard hitting it is also so millenial coded, which made reading this book so much fun. Additionally I loved the little internal monologue at the beginning of the story where Alexis is talking about how complicated understanding time travel stories can be. Cause girl same! Every single time I watch Outlander I end up arguing with myself over how nothing makes sense!

I'm going to go hunt down some my Jeneva Rose books. You certainly will want to do the same after reading this book!

I’ve read several of Jeneva Rose’s books and have enjoyed every one of them — The Girl I Was is no exception. It started off a little slow for me, but once I got to the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down! The second half really pulled me in. I’m always excited to see what she writes next!

What if you woke up after a bender in the past? You need to figure out how to return to the future. What Alexis learns in the past may change her present. This is somewhat like the movie Back to the Future.
This was an easy read with not much to the plot. The characters were not memorable. If you want a quick poolside read, this might be good. If you want something with substance and well written, look elsewhere.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. .

Not your typical jeneva rose book but still such an amazing read. I love what she did with the re release of this book and the meaning behind this. I still have yet to pick up a jeneva rose book that I do not love.

Thank you #NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC copy of #TheGirlIWasStandardEdition.

I have been a big fan of Jeneva Rose for awhile and was super excited to be able to read this ARC as it was one I hadn’t read yet. I love that this one was so different from her usual thriller writings (which I also enjoy).

This book reminds me of a 13 going on 30, but in reverse. Alexis ends up going back in time to her college days and ends up coming face-to-face with her college-aged self, Lexi. I love the back and forth between Alexis and Lexi. One of the best things about this book is I could put myself into the storyline and characters. I could feel all those same feelings if I were to ever go back in time and end up confronting my younger self. I don’t know if anyone else is the same, but I’ve sometimes considered what I would do differently if I could go back and do it again, so this story just brought all those thoughts to life through Jeneva’s writing. I was in highschool during these times and so it brought back so many things I almost forgot about. I also wasn’t expecting to feel so many emotions from this one (especially in the Acknowledgements), but it made me connect with the book that much more. I especially enjoyed that this was based in my home state of Wisconsin, so hearing the towns I know and have been to is always fun.

I think this book would be a good read for:
* Anyone who went through the early 2000s in high school and/or college.
* Anyone who is wanting to feel a little nostalgia and bring back some of those things many of us have maybe forgotten about.
* Anyone who just loves Jeneva Rose
* Anyone from Wisconsin just because it’s fun when your home state is used as a location
* Anyone who just wants a nice, gentle read

This was absolutely fantastic. It started a little slow for me and was unsure where it was going, but it had me in tears by the end! The depth of the main character and her growth was incredible and will encourage everyone to look inside themselves to help them be their very best version, and also a reminder to cherish your family and relationships. !

I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review the latest by Jeneva Rose. This novel was such a deviation from Jeneva's writing style and subject line. While I really tried to give this a fair shot this really wasn't for me. The storyline of going back and changing the past to improve where you are in life feels overdone to me. Unfortunately there was nothing in this that felt unique or stand out to me to keep my interest. I was able to finish and enjoy where Alexis ended up I felt the end was rushed. Overall I didn't enjoy Alexis or her younger self Lexi. I am giving a 3 star overall, would not re-read but was able to finish.

The Girl I Was is a thought-provoking read about identity, regret, and the version of ourselves we leave behind. I went in expecting a thriller, but this felt more like an emotional, introspective journey.

It’s not a book I’ll think about for long, but it does ask important questions about growth and self-discovery and for that, it deserves some credit.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC of “The Girl I Was.” I read this book in ONE DAY! I absolutely devoured it. I started college in 2004 so this was filled with endless nostalgia which made me laugh out loud, but also have those intense feelings of “oh yeah I definitely don’t miss those days!” (Of feeling deathly hungover) and just remembering how dumb I was in my early 20s, and wishing I could talk some sense into my younger self, too. I didn’t think this was the type of book to make someone cry… but oh yeah I completely broke down as well. When you read it… you’ll know. This is a MUST read for EVERYONE at every age!

I am a fan of Jeneva Rose and first read this book back in 2024. Although not one of Jeneva’s thrillers, this is one of my favorite books she has written. This is also the first book she has ever written and in 2025, after her updates and edits in the expanded edition to be released on July 15, it remains one of my favorite books by her. I still cried reading the expanded version having lost my mom almost 20 years ago. A truly moving read. Rating: 4.5 stars Thanks to NetGalley, Mother Goose and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I've only read Jeneva's thrillers, but I was pleasantly surprised with this speculative fiction by her.

The good:
- I was near tears at some points in this book. It was definitely an emotional journey to see someone go back in time to talk to their younger self and talk to other folks who were around that long ago.
- The dynamic between Alexis and Lexi, even though they are the same person, was hilarious and heart warming. I loved their interactions.
- The growth Alexis and Lexi both have was nice to see.
- The side characters you see in the past and learning how Alexis about them was a unique part of a time traveling book that I feel like you don't always see. I usually associate time traveling with doing nothing to affect the past, but clearly, those rules don't apply here.

The loss of a star:
- The resolution felt too short. I wish Alexis would have put the pieces together a bit faster, but that's part of the journey I guess. It slowed down the book a bit for me and then didn't leave the most satisfying ending.

Overall, if you want a book that'll I think has a unique perspective on time traveling without being a full blown sci-fi book, you'd enjoy this!

Upon seeing this title, author, and synopsis, my interest was immediately piqued! I have not read any Jeneva Rose novels and the “13 going on 30” time travel vibes absolutely caught my attention.

I really enjoyed Rose’s style of writing; fast paced scenes that allowed me quickly plow through the plot with descriptions that made me feel like I was having a chat with my best friend. Once our FMC, Alexis, is transported back to 2003, the pop references and nostalgia hit me right in the feels. While reading, it was easy to picture the whole plot as a movie; most scenes felt like they could easily be transported to the big screen.

I found it extremely difficult to connect with the FMC, her past and present self. Her personality came off as very conceited, passing blame to others while easily playing the victim for sympathy. Unfortunately, this lasted far too long throughout the book for me to get past it. I was -so- hoping for a major character arc, and I suppose it did come, but the lengths at which this FMC went with her actions and words was just too much for me to find a lot of redemption.

I enjoyed the overall idea of the novel: Alexis time traveling 14 years to connect with her former self and discover how to become a “better” friend, family member, and partner. My feelings towards this book in no way affect my willingness to read another Jeneva Rose novel. I understand, with appreciation of her note in the beginning of the novel, that this piece is completely different from her other work.

••••••••••
Thank you HTP, MIRA, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a copy of The Girl I Was.
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I always love a Jeneva Rose book. This one was very reflective and I could tell that she wrote it from a place in her heart. While some parts made me cringe (like the brother situation…ew - could’ve left that part out) others made me tearful like her saying goodbye to her mom. Overall I liked it and would recommend.

I’ve tried to start this review in so many different ways- but it’s so hard to put into words how this book made me feel. As someone who is always wishing that I could go back in time and make different decisions, I connected to Alexis/Lexi a lot. (And not just because my name is Alexis and I go by Lexi- though that made it hit that much harder for me personally). I cried, I laughed, had a whole life-altering experience while I absolutely flew through this book. This book will make you want to talk to those friends you grew apart from, call your family, and pretty much just get your life together.

If you’ve read from Jeneva Rose before- be prepared that this is nothing like any of her other books. I usually like to bring up issues I had with books I’ve read so others can be aware going in- but it’s hard for me to do that with this one because I feel like everyone can take something away from this book. Honestly I don’t think I can recommend this book enough. Please go read it so you can also cry alongside me.

I was so incredibly honored to receive an arc of this- so thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an interesting read and very different (in all the best ways) from a Jeneva Rose thriller, which I also love. This one was written from the heart. Being in my early 30s and in a time of reflection really led me to deeply appreciate this book.

Lexi loses her job, and her boyfriend breaks up with her on the day he planned to propose. With everything in life seeming to go wrong, Lexi wakes up in 2002. She finds herself trying to solve how to get back to 2016 with the help of her 2002 self. As they work through two different plans, so much growth happens for Lexi as she copes with grief and a deep self discovery. It was such an interesting take on how we look back and reminisce as we continue to get older.