This book was absolutely fantastic. I laughed, I cried...oh boy did I cry, I reminisced about my teenage years, though I was younger than the character in the book. It was a flashback to a simpler time. It was full of emotion, hell, even the acknowledgements made me cry (could be the perimenopause).
But this book was fantastic. I bought the deluxe edition and the B&N edition just to make myself cry some more with the letter from her mother. Seriously, you'll want to read this one. It's not a thriller, but it's going to hit your emotions deeply.

Thank you to MIRA for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this one. It is different from Rose usually writes, but the themes within are so incredibly important. Grief, loss, realizing you are not heading to wear you think you are, and just general concepts of growing up and taking accountability are so important, and not really discussed within adult fiction. I loved how Rose used humor to tell her story, weaving in sarcasm to get the poitn across. This may not be a thriller, but it was still just as good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose is a beautifully emotional and unique take on time travel. Instead of relying on sci-fi tropes, the story places Alexis face-to-face with her younger self, Lexi, forcing both to confront the choices that shaped their lives.

I was drawn in by the tension between Alexis’ knowledge of what’s to come and Lexi’s carefree disregard for the consequences. Their dynamic creates a compelling exploration of growth, accountability, and the question of whether changing the past can truly alter the future.

Rose’s writing is character-driven, heartfelt, and thought-provoking, with a balance of emotional depth and life lessons that will resonate with readers. Fans of contemporary fiction with a time-bending twist will find this story unforgettable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am shook. This book had me pondering if would I want to go back in a comment in time to change the course of my life? Alexis is struggling, in work, her relationship…in life. She blames her younger self for her present issues and after a bender wakes up to see she is back in the time her life could have changed course with different choices she could have made. Funny and relatable, and very contemplative, I flew through this book and will think about it for a long while. 4.25 stars

I loved this read

So different from her normal writing

It was though provoking, kept me interested, and provided quite a few laughs with some of the quotes.

This was not super enjoyable for me. It's not a typical Jeneva book and it took me awhile to read. Personally I feel like it just isn't my taste and that's okay!

I loved this book SO much! It's definitely a change of pace from her other books, but it was incredible! It had magical vibes that made me smile throughout the entire book.

I found myself relating to Lexi in so many ways. I laughed with her, cried with her and ached to just talk to my past self. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't know what to start fixing, but then again- I wouldn't be who I am today if I changed anything!

The writing flowed easily, the characters were likable and the life lessons were reflective and thought provoking. It was a wonderful, nostalgic read. I'd def recommend to others.

I was given an ARC and I'm so grateful. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I didn’t love the writing and felt like it was a bit cliche of a plot. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me!

A nostalgic, witty, and heartfelt read. The Girl I Was blends fun, therapy, and tough truths as Alexis meets her younger self. Simple yet clever, it tugged at my emotions and felt like a warm blanket on a chilly night. A quick, meaningful story I’ll treasure.

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy of The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose. This book was DELIGHTFUL! I was intrigued by this book not only because I have enjoyed Jeneva Rose's books in the past, but also because the premise sounds amazing. A down-on-her-luck Alexis tries to make her life better with inspirational quotes to no avail. Through some mysterious turn of events, she finds herself transported back in time in this speculative fiction to college in 2002. There she comes face to face with what she feels in the problem with how her life has turned out: her 18-year-old self. Determined she will go back to the future if she gets herself to turn her life around in the past, she finds herself in a game of tug-of-war with her younger self.

I loved this book so much. It was such a reflective read with twists and turns. The fact that I was in college in 2002 made the book very nostalgic for me. It was full of humor and heart, and I loved every second.

Jeneva Rose is one of my favorite authors, so I was stoked to get approved for the ARC of The Girl I Was. This is nothing like her other thriller books, but I knew that going in. It was a really great book and I loved all the throwback details..

The Girl I Was is an engaging, thought-provoking story that combines emotional depth with a unique twist of perspective. Jeneva Rose does a wonderful job capturing the voice of a younger self while weaving in themes of regret, forgiveness, and second chances. The concept of literally facing the person you used to be is powerful and makes you reflect on your own choices and how they’ve shaped your life.

I especially enjoyed how relatable the struggles felt, from friendships and ambitions to the difficult reality of adulthood not always matching our youthful expectations. The writing is fast-paced and keeps you hooked, though at times the story felt a little predictable and some moments could have gone deeper emotionally.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and creative novel that stands out for its originality and message. While not perfect, it’s definitely worth the read, and it left me thinking about my own “girl I was” long after turning the last page.

Love reading Jeneva Rose, and this was no exception.

I found myself drawn into the story and continuosly turning pages.

Jeneva Rose is typically known for her thriller books but I have read this and another non thriller with a bit of magical realism and both are a hit!

The Girl I Was follows Alexis, a mid 30's woman struggling to find her professional and personal fit in life. When her recent contract role expires and doesn't convert to permanent she takes it out on her long time amazing boyfriend. Now everything has gone to S and she is wallowing in her sorrows both emotionally and with an old bottle of alcohol from her early 2000's college days.

Alexis...Lexi wakes up with a hangover in a place she doesn't recognize??? We get a fun and quirky story of being sent back in time to evaluate her past decisions, friendships and family relationships....with her past self. This was so nostalgic as I myself was in college during the same time frame!!

I loved how funny, serious and sometimes self-centered Alexis could be but it was fun being on her past path to discovery.

Pick this up if you want a sweet, fun and 2000's nostalgic read with a little magic realism.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this as it was another rendition of Groundhog Day, which can be done well or not so well. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it. I grew up in the 90’s and early 2000’s so all of the nods to outfits and music were so nostalgic. It wasn’t just the sentimental value with this one, but also how the FMC grew and learned her lessons. Very enjoyable!

Jeneva Rose has always been one of my top authors due to her unique ways of pulling me into her stories. The Girl I Was is no exception! This book is part coming-of-age and part self-discovery, but it has just the right amount of emotional depth and relatability. The premise of revisiting a younger version of yourself felt nostalgic and powerful. Throughout the book I found myself thinking about choices I have made in the past and how I have continued to grow. The main character’s journey was honest, sometimes messy, and very human, which made her easy to root for. She balanced humor with heartfelt moments really well, and I loved how the story left me reflecting even after I finished. Overall, this book was uplifting, thought provoking, and moving.

Such an incredible book! So different from the books Jeneva typically writes. It will leave you feeling nostalgic and yearning to give your younger self a hug!!

Alexis suddenly finds herself back in time, face to face with her 18 year old self, determined to undo the choices that left her thirty something life in shambles. Yes, the story leans a little on the cheesy side, but I absolutely loved it! It’s packed with humor, genuine heart, and such a fun dose of nostalgia. The early 2000s throwbacks, complete with all the music, fashion, and cultural quirks, made my millennial heart so happy. It’s a light, entertaining read that reminds you how messy, complicated, and unexpectedly meaningful second chances can be.

This was my first Jeneva Rose book, and I really enjoyed it! It's 4.5 stars for me :)

Alexis, Lexi, wakes up in 2003 as a 30-something-year-old whose life is slowly but surely falling apart. Her relationship is shot. Her job is shot. Her friendships are mostly nonexistent. But in 2003, she's in college and everything is still okay as it can be. However, now she's forced to pretend to be her older sister to figure out why she was sent back in time and how to get back to her own reality.

This was such a fun book. I love the storytelling and plot twists that Jeneva writes. Nothing in this book was too too heavy, but it still touched on a lot of personal relationships and about how you can adjust your ideology in order to have the life that's the best fit for you. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers of thrillers even though this really feels more like a mix between mystery and lit fic. Very different from her other book Home is Where the Bodies Are.

Thanks NetGalley for this edition for review.

In The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose (book cover is in image), Lexi travel back in time, given the opportunity to go back to her college self in an effort to "fix" the trajectory of her life.

This was a fun book for me to read and extremely nostalgic for me, being of the same generation as the main character in the book. This short, easy, fast paced read would make a great beach read.

Thank you @htpbooks, @readmirabooks, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date: Jul 15 2025
Rating: 3 Stars

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