This was a @netgalley request.

"Here's to you, you dumb wish could fix you, that could go back in time and fix every mistake ever made. I wish you had freaking clue. wish could take back every stupid thing you every did"

Ok so I enjoyed this one. It is not like her horror books but her writing is pure bliss. This was a bit predictable but enjoyable either way. I think Alexis's character was a bit annoying and she had a bit of growth but still could use more. She goes back in time to the year 2000, after a bunch of unfortunate events, one not her fault the other she's responsible for. Her younger self was so self centered when she whines my eyes continuously rolled. Both POV are very me oriented but as the story grows and both Alexis work together on each other. This was pretty funny at times and had some series moments as well.

3.5 stars.

This was a super cute nostalgic book! Not your typical Jeneva thriller so it was coo to read something different from her. I loved the story line and the idea behind the book. I thought it was a super cute idea. Overall enjoyed this one a lot. It made me laugh and want to cry. I would recommend this

This one had me in my feelings! With this being such a different book than her others, I was nervous. I went to an author event this year where she gave a little insight on why she wrote it and was so excited to receive an ARC shortly after. I think we put a lot of blame on past versions of ourselves and this book is all about that. If something isn't going will for us today, we blame choices we made in the past and hang onto that. I did get a little annoyed at the attitudes of the character but if it was a story about me in the same situation, I'd be annoyed with my past self as well! Overall, I enjoyed The Girl I Was and hope everyone else does!

*Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!*

I loved the Perfect Marriage so I was very excited for this. I love seeing the authors versatility in being able to pull off a breath taking thriller and also this heart wrenching story.
I was very pleasantly surprised with this one because it was not what I was expecting! I saw a little bit of myself in this book and loved it that much more.

Review of The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose
The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose was more than just a book to me, it was a balm. Though it’s clear the author wrote it as part of her own healing journey, I found pieces of my own heart tucked into its pages. It made me laugh, cry, and reflect in ways I wasn’t expecting.
The premise, meeting your younger self, hit me harder than I thought it would. It was funny at times, sure, but deeply emotional too. As I read, I caught myself kicking my feet, smiling, wondering: What would I say to the younger me? That question stayed with me long after I closed the book. Because the truth is, at some point, we all have to face the person we once were. We all carry our younger selves inside us, their fears, their wounds, their dreams, and we have to decide what to do with them. Forgive them. Comfort them. Maybe even thank them.
There were so many moments that struck a personal chord. I found myself frustrated with younger Lexi, she could be impulsive, emotional, a little immature. But then it clicked: she was a child. Of course she was still figuring things out. And isn’t that what we all were once? Kids trying to navigate a world that often taught us to shrink ourselves. That realization shattered something in me. I cried, for the little girls who didn’t know they were enough. For the years we spent trying to love ourselves in a world that didn’t always love us back.
One part of the book that truly gutted me was the theme of loss, especially the longing for one more moment with someone we love. I lost my mother five years ago. There isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t give for one last conversation with her. Reading this, my heart cracked open. It broke, and then it mended, and then it broke again. Because I know—I know—she would be proud of the woman I’ve become. I wish she could see her grandchildren. I wish she could see me, now. This book made me feel that loss again, but it also helped me sit with it in a gentler way.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve cried reading a book by Jeneva Rose, but it may be the one that left me changed. If you're looking for a book that will make you feel seen, that will gently peel back your layers and ask you to look inward, this is the one. It’s not just a story, it’s a mirror. And the question it leaves you with is this: If you had to face yourself, raw and bleeding, in order to heal… would you?

Jeneva does it again! Although this is a book that was published years back this reprint version is great. I loved the artwork on the cover and had actually never had a chance to read this title so was thrilled to be selected for the ARC this time around. The storyline was beautifully written and took me through feeling tearful to laughing as well. It makes you reflect on how important it is to let loved ones know you care about them and to make sure you tell your mom you love her. I appreciate Jeneva putting her heart and soul into this book!

This book was such a great read and was so much different than the perfect marriage (in a good way!). Iove seeing authors versatile in their topics and writing. This book gave me 13 going on 30 vibes but with a twist. So many life lessons learned and obstacles they character had to overcome. Great read!

Thank you to Goodreads and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

This was not my typical genre, but I love Jeneva Rose, so I will read anything written by her. This was a really interesting concept for a book. Alexis gets drunk after being laid off and wishes she could go back and change her younger self to fix her current self. Next thing you know she wakes up in 2002 and finds 18-year-old Lexi (her younger self).

This book is about self-love, growing into who you wish to become, maturing, and cherishing memories with your loved ones before it is too late. For her first book I was really impressed with the impact she made with this book, especially with portions of it being true to Jeneva's personal life. Another great book by Jeneva Rose that I will definitely recommend.

This book was not what I was expecting at all. However I still really enjoyed the book! It was fun to read a different side of Jeneva Rose's books. I will defiantly be ordering the special edition of this book.

This was a fast paced read with friendships, second chances, and what ifs. The main character was plagued by the universe owes me everything syndrome and she soon realizes that for every action there is consequences for every action. She is transported back in time and learns so much! This was a cute read and I enjoyed it !

The Girl I Was (STandard Edition)
by Jeneva Rose
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From New York Times bestselling author, Jeneva Rose, comes a fully updated and expanded edition of THE GIRL I WAS, the first book she ever wrote, featuring six brand-new chapters from a fresh point-of-view.
When Alexis loses her job and her relationship on the same day, there’s no quote strong enough to help her cope. In typical fashion, she blames the world for her problems, including her younger self, who should have tried harder. Feeling sorry for herself, Alexis finds a bottle of vodka from her college days and goes on a bender, blacking out in the process. Only this time she doesn’t wake up at home—or even in the right city. In fact, she isn’t even in the right year.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. This obviously is not a groundbreaking novel. It’s a fun read. I think millennials would really enjoy this book. But I also think anyone, any age would love this book and could relate to it in someway.

I adored this book. It literally brought me to tears. It's a beautiful story of second chances. I love Jeneva books, thrillers and others.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Jeneva Rose for the ARC via NetGalley.
5/5 Stars!
Jeneva Rose truly delivers excellence with every book, and this one was no exception. An emotional rollercoaster full of nostalgia, it even brought me to tears.
After a breakup and losing her job, Alexis wakes up in her old college town in 2002, convinced she's been sent back to change her future. This book was a hilariously heartwarming, binge-worthy read that I devoured in one sitting.
Alexis (and her younger self, Lexi) are incredibly relatable, and their interactions, initially wild, lead to admirable emotional growth and self-reflection. It's fascinating to see how the characters in young Lexi's life shaped her future.
Tropes: Time travel, dual timelines, second chances, self-discovery, emotional healing.
Don't skip the acknowledgments—they offer a deeper understanding of Jeneva Rose's writing. This beautifully written, nostalgic book hits you right in the heart. If you love emotional fiction with a magical or sci-fi twist, add this to your TBR immediately!

Holy nostalgia! If you were born in the 90's, The Girl I Was will hit you right in the feels. The pages are oozing with 2000's pop culture... from the music and fashion to the slang everyone was using. It's a nostalgic time capsule that instantly transported me back to my childhood.

Speaking of time capsule...

The Girl I Was is about Alexis, a 30-something-year-old woman, who has not accomplished anything in life and blames the world for her problems. She lives her life by inspirational quotes that have only steered her wrong. After self-sabotaging her engagement, she finds herself mysteriously transported back to 2003. Believing she’s been given a second chance to fix her past and reshape her present, Alexis is forced to confront her younger self... and her own choices.

This book is a fast-paced, emotional rollercoaster packed with raw truths about growing up the weight of decisions made in youth, and how much of life lies outside our control. It's also a powerful reflection on how we respond, heal, and grow from those pivotal moments. This was originally going to be a 4-star read for me, but the ending had me unexpectedly emotional and all in my feels, bumping it up to a solid 5 star read! This is a book that will stick with me for a long time!

✨Time travel
✨Self-reflection
✨Self-Sabotage
✨Accountability
✨Friendships
✨Second chances
✨Loss
✨Connections with others
✨Mental health
✨Redemption

This book is being re-released July 15! Being Jeneva's first self-published novel, she has made revisions and added 6 new chapters!

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC!

Not Jeneva Rose’s usual thriller, but I really enjoyed this heartfelt time-travel story. After hitting rock bottom, Alexis wakes up in 2002 with a chance to rewrite her past—literally face-to-face with her younger self. The early 2000s nostalgia was a fun touch, and the mix of humor and emotion made it a memorable, reflective read. A great pivot that still delivers Rose’s signature insight into personal growth.

The Girl I Was is a sharp, nostalgic, and surprisingly heartfelt time-travel dramedy that delivers both humor and emotional resonance. Jeneva Rose masterfully weaves early-2000s pop culture with a deeply introspective journey, as present-day Alexis is forced to reckon with her chaotic, impulsive younger self. Watching Alexis and Lexi clash, bond, and ultimately confront their shared disappointments and hopes makes for an engaging, binge-worthy read that feels both wildly fun and deeply relatable. Fans of 13 Going on 30 and Freaky Friday will love this fresh twist on second chances and self-forgiveness.

I wanted to root for Alexis, I really did. But I just hated her so so very much. it’s hard when the protagonist self-describes (and proves, repeatedly) that she’s mastered a conflict style that combines avoidance with quick-to-anger rashness—and considers that the full extent of her communication degree’s usefulness. Add to that the line “I am, without fail, emotional and impulsive in almost all situations,” and you start to understand the core frustration: Alexis is a narrator who knows exactly what her issues are but takes zero responsibility for changing them.

The writing is engaging and the story has momentum, but Alexis’s refusal to grow or reflect makes large portions of this book feel like watching someone willfully self-sabotage—and then expect applause for surviving it. It’s like a case study in self-awareness.

Alexis is a selfish person who doesn’t really see anything good in life. She’s engaged to the man of her dreams but doesn’t put effort into the relationship. She was just fired from her job. She thinks the universe owes her and that everything will be okay no matter what happens. She quickly learns that action have consequences and everything will not be okay if you will it. She is transported back in time and meets her younger self. There’s self discovery. Loved it!

This book was beautifully written and I loved every second of it. It was a nice difference from the author’s usual work.

"The hardest things to admit are the ones we have to admit to ourselves. I know now that I was the problem, but I also know I am the solution. There's still time for me to change. Still time to make things better."

Jeneva is republishing The Girl I Was, and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC! I didn’t read the original version, but I’ve heard great things about the changes she made, and now I completely understand why.
This book isn’t her usual murder mystery. It felt more like a heartwarming chick flick, and I really enjoyed the shift in tone. It was a fast read and the perfect palette cleanser between heavier books.

Have you ever felt like life isn’t turning out the way you imagined? Or wished you could go back and give your younger self some advice or see people you miss? If so, this story will hit home. I loved the dual POV and watching both versions of the main character grow and learn from each other. It was touching, emotional, and full of meaningful lessons.

If you loved movies like 13 Going on 30 or Freaky Friday, this book gives off those same nostalgic, reflective vibes.

my girl! This book was amazing! 10/10 5⭐️I haven’t read anything like this before and loved it! One of my favorite Jeneva books for sure! It follows Alexsis from 2016 back to 2002 where she's trying to convince her 18 year old self to change her life. This book was amazing and is going to live rent free in my head for a long time.