Y’all, she did it again! 🥹✨ I’m convinced she could write anything and it would still be a bestseller! This was such an amazing read—so full of heart and wisdom. It really makes you pause and think about what’s truly important… what really matters in life. And honestly? It makes you wonder: if you had the chance, what would you go back and change?

I am a huge fan of Jeneva Rose and I felt that this was the perfect lean into summer and a comic relief of the others of Jeneva! It’s witty, heartfelt, and reflective. It gives the perfect ambiance to those millennials that are in their adulthood and thinking about the blast to the 2000’s with technology advancement, fashion, slang, parties, and what was to now what is… and who we have become. Each of us changed and become the person we are through the choices we made, the divisions daily, and well here we are! I enjoyed the idea of meeting and encountering my younger self, Alexis/Lexi took me on a journey of the positives and the truth of facing the pain and the challenges from what has made us in a playful way! I loved this! Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Jeneva for this wonderful book that unpacks loss and nostalgia all in one place.

-If you were in high school or college in 2002 I think you will find a lot of nostalgia in this story

This was a cute but cheesy read about a woman who time travels back to 2002 when nothing in her adult life is going right. The catch- 2002 her is still there and they work together to send her back to reality.

This is a rerelease of Jeneva Rose’s first novel before she started writing thrillers. Thanks NetGalley for the copy!

I love all her books and this was no exception. This book gave you all the feels and made you wish you could talk to your younger self. This story was unique and .so much fun to read.

Book Review 📖🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Girl I Was Once by Jeneva Rose

This book? Instant obsession. From page one, Jeneva Rose delivers a gritty and emotionally charged thriller that had me hooked like a secret I wasn’t supposed to know. You think it’s about healing, about identity—but it’s really about the lies we bury so deep we forget they were ever real. Until they claw their way back.

The plot —twisted, raw, and real. It peels back the layers of trauma, family secrets, and revenge like old wallpaper in a haunted house. Every chapter left me chasing the next breadcrumb, and just when I thought I had a grip on the truth, it slipped right through my fingers.

And let’s talk about the characters… complicated, broken, and beautifully human. I didn’t know whether to root for them or run from them—and I loved that.

If you want a story that punches you in the gut and makes you feel everything, this one belongs at the very top of your TBR.

💀ARC gifted - thank you Jeneva, Harlequin Trade & Netgalley
🩶Out July 15th from @jenevaroseauthor
📚Twists, trauma, and truth bombs

#BookReview #TheGirlIWasOnce #JenevaRose #Bookstagram #ARCreview #GrittyReads #MessyBookMagic #TheGirlIWasOnceReview #ReadWithMe

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

I feel like this story would be great as a Freeform Original Movie. It just fell a little flat for me as a good novel.

The author is very upfront that this is not anything like her thriller books. Plot: Alexis is in her 30s and never takes responsibility for why her life is in shambles, instead blaming the universe. Some magic vodka sends her back in time to college when she thinks her troubles started from too much partying..

In a different telling of time travel, she actually interacts with her younger self and they bicker and fight through the whole book on who is the reason for their problems.

This book has lots of millennial nostalgia woven throughout, but sometimes felt like things were thrown in there just to be like “remember that?!”

Overall I didn’t hate it, but also felt like “Alexis” didn’t really learn anything and got lucky that she convinced her younger self to try harder. Would have enjoyed it more as a mindless movie watch.

This was much different than what I expected. I think it is safe to say that in the beginning of this book, I didn't like either version of Lexi. The younger version was a party girl with no ambition, and the older version was melodramatic. For me personally, the story moved slowly and, at times, didn't keep my attention. After finishing it, I can appreciate the sentiment. When Alexis hits rock bottom, she somehow travels back to her college days. Now Lexi and Alexis go on a journey to help her get back to her era. During this time, they go from hating each other to reluctantly working together to growing and maturing. All the while, Alexis knows what the future holds. Some of which she shares and some she keeps to herself. I kept wondering how she was going to make it back. I truly couldn't figure it out. By the end of the book, I was rooting her on and the ending didn't disappoint.

Millennials, you ready to get in your feels with this one?!

THE GIRL I WAS 👩🏼 by JENEVA ROSE

Genre: contemporary fiction
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

This one is totally for us millennials that would love to go back to the good old college days and give yourself a wake up call! I had a fun time reading this one and while I wasn’t expecting that from a Jeneva book, I was very pleasantly surprised. It’s not the typical thriller you’d usually pick up from her.

You’ll probably chuckle, might cry a little, and maybe even rage at times. This story brings out lots of emotions as it brings you back to the early 2000s and encourages you to self reflect.

Our characters are messy, a little annoying, yet totally relatable. There’s a lot of hard truths to face but in the end we get the closure needed. It’s a satisfying read!

So if you ever wondered what you would do if you had a chance to go back in time ⏱️ then this one might be a good pick for you!

Thank you kindly to the author, publisher, and @netgalley for this advanced readers copy! It was a pleasure reading as always 😊

“The Girl I Was” by Jeneva Rose. Was definitely the easiest 5 star rating for me.

If you like 13 going on 30 and freaky Friday vibes then you will love this book. The main character of this book goes through a series of unfortunate circumstances and real life struggles, then a opportunity comes up in a unexpected twist that helps fix things and closure! This book had me laughing, shocked, and crying. This was the first book I read of Jeneva Rose and definitely will not be my last!! I am excited to get her special edition copy for target and Barnes!!

NetGalley thank you for the opportunity!!

I was not expecting this book to make me cry. It was funny and thought provoking. I loved the writing and the storytelling. It definitely made me reflect on my life and what would happen if I could go back and learn from my current life. Highly recommend this read.

Jeneva did it again. This one was so good. It made you think about the would could have happened. It was easy to fall in love with the characters and see them all grow.

It was so fun knowing the places she was talking about. Having spent many years at UW Oshkosh, it brought back memories when she would mention places.

Thanks to Jeneva and NetGalley for the advanced copy of it.

Although this is not what I was expecting from a Jeneva Rose book, I still enjoyed it. Instead of a thriller it seemed more of a self discovery. The main character drove me nuts but that was the point I think because it had good character development. Overall it was a good read and I am glad that I read it.

Alexis manages to loose her job and her boyfriend all in the same day. She has a complete melt down and blames everyone else for her circumstances. Then she gets drunk and ends up back in 2002 on college campus with her younger self. Alexis and Lexi must find away back to 2016. I loved all the college shenanigans and Wi references.

She feels this is her chance to right some wrongs and get her boyfriend back. When she goes home for Thanksgiving and has all the happy memories with her family was my favorite part. She gets a do over and to see things clearly and make a difference and spend time with those she loves. It is heartbreaking, funny and eye opening all at the same time.

She finds ways to be a better friend and to take responsibility for her own actions. It is so well written that I only wish I would have discovered this book sooner.

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose is a heartfelt and humorous coming-of-age story with a unique twist of time travel - a departure from her usual psychological thrillers. This book is packed with all the feels: nostalgia for early 2000s college days, sibling rivalry, grief over what has been lost, and hope for the future. It had me laughing and reminiscing at the start, and in tears by the end.

A central theme woven throughout is captured in the line: “In the end, everything will be all right. If it’s not, then it’s not the end.” As Alexis unexpectedly travels back in time, she’s tasked with fixing something - but she’s not sure what. Navigating a complicated relationship with her younger self proves more challenging than expected, stirring up many emotions: anger, hope, despair, grief, and love.

In one particularly moving moment, Alexis reflects, “I cry for the girl I was, the girl I am, and the girl I might never become.” Her journey becomes one of self-discovery and acceptance, ultimately reinforcing the message that “you have to love yourself before you can truly love anyone else.”

I give this book 4.5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thoughtful, emotional read. Expect laughter, maybe some tears, and reflection on who you once were - and who you’ve become.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, and Jeneva Rose for the advance reader copy.

This book was a little confusing for me. I’m a huge fan of Jeneva Rose because of The Perfect Marriage and this was most definitely not that. As I was reading I felt like the story was a “passion project” for her. It was personal in a way. I was 90% in still confused as to what was going on.

I was going into this book not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by how good the story is. It had a good message.

It follows Alexis whose life isn’t going as planned. She loses her job and boyfriend on the same day and blames the world for her problems. She drinks a little too much and blacks out and wakes up back in her college town in 2002.

This story has such a good meaning on what happens when you get a second chance and realize and see how you can learn from your past. This book had funny moments and emotional moments as well. Jeneva Rose did such a good job telling this story.

Thank you for the ARC. This book wasn’t what I expected at all when I requested it. I know this author as a psych thriller author which is my normal genre. However, this book brought back some nostalgia and memories for me and actually was a pretty quick and easy read. It had some good lessons in it and makes me wish I could go back in time to the old me and make changes that would positively affect my present self.

I love Jenevas thrillers. Top 3 favorite authors, but I was Hesitant on picking up this one. She did NOT disappoint!! The early 00s flashbacks were impeccable. Every teenage girl during that time can relate to all the references made. I felt as if I was In 13 going on 30. It is fiction, but I believe There is always some truth in fiction. I could See Jenevas real life within the story. A lot of people wish they could rewrite their past or rewrite regretful situations and this is the perfect story about it. Love love love this!

This one was a bit of a slow start for me and I found the main character Alexis pretty insufferable for most of the novel, but it definitely picked up and got better towards the end. Would recommend if you enjoy time travel stories and redemption arcs.

The Girl I Was stands as a touching and skillfully crafted departure from Jeneva Rose’s typical thriller work which unexpectedly touched me deeply.

The novel presents itself as a heartfelt tribute to our youthful selves who often remain forgotten or overlooked. Rose uses dual timelines and complex emotional characters to show how people must face their painful pasts before they can learn to accept their present selves.

The book creates a touching effect through its understated approach which avoids using dramatic plot twists or sentimental moments to evoke emotions. The story develops its emotional bond with the protagonist through its gradual and unobtrusive progression across each page. The story will deeply touch anyone who has faced difficulties with their parental bond or continues to be tormented by past decisions made during their younger years.

The story reveals itself through vulnerability while maintaining Rose's signature fast pace while delivering unexpected emotional complexity. The story demonstrates that healing follows no straight path yet remains a valuable process.