I love Jeneva Rose and I can’t believe I have never read this book. While I haven’t seen the movie 13 going on 30, I know the concept and I can definitely understand the comparisons.

This was one of the funniest books I have read in a while and I think that’s the main reason I enjoyed it as much as I did. The storyline wasn’t anything overly special or unique and once we hit a certain point I was sooooo bored.

Overall I’m glad I read it but there are other books by this author I’d recommend first

I recently read The Girl I Was by Geneva Rose, and I have to say, this book made me so incredibly sad – I genuinely cried. I believe this title was originally independently published in 2021 and then later traditionally published, or something to that effect, indicating a re-release.

The story revolves around our main character who is having a genuinely terrible day. Feeling quite sorry for herself, she ends up drinking some type of alcohol, and she's suddenly transported back to her first semester of freshman year in college. What's really interesting is that she doesn't just inhabit her younger self; she is fully transported. So it's like my older self, if you will, being there with her younger self. And they both initially think the other one is the problem, realizing they need to figure out how to help each other in order to get her back to the future, or whatever comes next.

There's a lot that happens in this book, including a significant amount of grief. It's a lot, in a good way, if that makes sense. But it truly was just so sad. Especially because the younger and the older versions of the same character were so mean to each other. It made me think, "Gosh, if I went back and had to time travel and meet my younger self, I certainly wouldn't be mean to her." And I'd truly hope my younger self wouldn't be mean to my older self either!

The moment that particularly got to me was when she went home and saw her dog, who is no longer around in her current timeline. I just completely broke down and then hugged my own puppies so close to me after that.

Overall, it was a really interesting book. I genuinely enjoyed it, and even though it was quite sad, it was a memorable read.

I absolutely loved this book! The author’s unique sense of humor shines through in the writing, making it both engaging and refreshing. I especially enjoyed how the main character gets so drunk that she ends up traveling back in time and has to confront her past self, a clever and entertaining twist on recognizing her issues and how to solve them.

At its core, the story is about growth, self-discovery, self-love, and understanding that the mistakes we make are often what shape us into who we are. It’s heartfelt, funny, and deeply relatable.

This was an amazing read that I finished relatively quickly, I couldn’t put it down!

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

I found the book to be a slow start but once I got to the middle of the plot I was hooked! I marked it as 4 stars on Goodreads. There were some funny moments throughout the book. When it came time for the ending chapters, I had cried twice due to the way Jeneva wrote about grief allowed me to relate to that deeply.

- 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
Not my typical read or Jeneva’s typical write but I loved this book.
At first I thought I hated Alexis, I didn’t read what this book was about & was completely thrown for a loop with a Time Machine like throw back. It was awesome! & I loved the reminance of all the Y2K things mentioned.
I do believe in the butterfly effect & I love the change for Lexie to become Alexis but 10x better.


Thank you NetGalley for a chance at this ARC. It didn’t disappoint.

I loved this book! It was so nostalgic and very lovely to see two lives intersect into one, even though they’re one person. I was able to binge this in one day!

I really enjoyed this read! I sat on my review for a while, and I still enjoyed it if not more than when I first finished it.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. I knew it was going to be different than the books Jeneva Rose is known for, but I loved this one. The take on a time travel was so well done I quickly read this one. This plot really makes you think and reflect on your own life and where you want to go.

All in all, I think everyone should read this but there are some triggers (ED).

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a big fan of Jeneva Rose’s thrillers, including The Perfect Marriage and The Perfect Divorce. So when I heard she had a new book coming out, I preordered it immediately! The Girl I Was is an incredible story that had me laughing, giggling, and even brought me to tears.

The concept is so much fun: Alexis loses her job and boyfriend, then wakes up in 2002 to find herself face-to-face with her younger self. As she tries to right her past wrongs and change the course of her life, she realizes it's not easy as she has to face her own stubbornness and unresolved issues. Reading this made me wonder what I would do if I could go back to being 18. What would I change?

One of my favorite parts of this book is 2002 pop culture references: everything from music, fashion, to technology made the book so relatable to a millennial. I particularly enjoyed the funny moments, but some parts, especially the Thanksgiving scene, truly moved me to tears. The Girl I Was gives a deep reflection about who I am, decisions/choices I have made, and the little moments that should not be taken for granted. It reminded me that the past doesn’t define who we are, it’s what we make of it that truly matters.

The Girl I Was started out with a story I really wanted to read and then the FMC wakes up in her past and interacts with her past self (a character I could not connect with and found irritating). The story follows these two versions of one Lexi who is trying to change her life and help her younger self make better choices. I really did enjoy the last 1/3 of the book the most. I have read many Jeneva Rose books and this was a nice departure from what we have come to expect from her.

Thank you Net Galley, Jeneva Rose and Harliquin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
31/2 stars rounded up to 4

I LOVE JENEVA ROSE SO MUCH!!!

Do not go into this book expecting her usual thriller, but your heart will be racing all the same with how hard this book hits emotionally.

I genuinely think all women in their 30s+ should read this book. This book healed parts of me that I didn't even realize needed healing.

This book is proof that Jeneva Rose can do it all!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Jeneva Rose, and NetGalley for providing me with a ARC of The Girl I Was!

I never read the original edition, so I can't tell you the differences, but I can tell you this book was such a breath of fresh air. It is so different from the other Jeneva Rose books I have read, yet she still won my heart over. Getting a chance to read both of Alexis's points of view and how the events changed how she either looked back or forward at life is such an interesting and entertaining take on a story. I won't lie, as a Wisconsin resident myself, it was also cool to read about local places and the campus that I'm so familiar with.

I would definitely recommend this book, and Im thoroughly convinced I will enjoy anything Jeneva writes!

I didn't read this title the first time it was released so I'm not sure what content was added since that first publication. I struggle with the first like 60% of this book and took me about a week to get through the book as a whole. The last 40% was more my pace and i enjoyed it.

This was an emotional, sad and uplifting story all at once. I had no idea what I was in for when I decided to read this one and I’m really glad I did. It was very good. Probably outside the norm for this author but what a great read. Never give up on yourself and also look deep inside yourself! You will have to suspend reality slightly but it is so worth it!

This book was amazing. Jeneva Rose has done it again) I really loved the story and the plot. I wish there was more. I want more of Lexi and Andrew’s story after she came back from 2002.

I devoured this book. It’s one of those books that just kind of spoke to me even though it’s mostly simple. The first half was funny with lots of inspirational quotes and pop culture moments that I related to in a major way. The second half was a little emotional and I loved that part in the story the most. It was sad but also uplifting and inspiring. For me, this is a book that had me wondering what I would do if I could go back in time. What are some things that I could change and what are the things that were meant to happen no matter what?
It was a feel good book and I think I happened to be in the perfect age range for it to hit the hardest.
I lived. I laughed. I loved. ♥

Wow! I’m accustomed to Jeneva Rose’s thrillers, but this one truly impressed me! The writing was exceptional, and I couldn’t put it down. The book reminded me of 13 Going On 30, but with far more life lessons embedded within it. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, and I genuinely hope Jeneva continues writing contemporary fiction because she possesses a remarkable talent! I highly recommend this book to anyone born in the ‘90s or ‘00s, as it evokes a lot of nostalgia. However, honestly, anyone should read it because I can guarantee you’ll feel as moved as I did. Well done, Jeneva! Well done!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

As soon as I heard Jeneva had a new book coming out, I ran to NetGalley to find it. I first fell in love with The Perfect Marriage, and then with her and her husband's hilarious presence on social media.

Compared to her thrillers, The Girl I Was feels like it shows more of Jeneva's personality. This story takes us back to 2002, when thirty-something Alexis accidentally time travels and comes face-to-face with her 18-year-old self, Lexi. Alexis is convinced she’s been sent back to stop Lexi from ruining her future, but as they work together to get Alexis home, both versions of her start learning some unexpected lessons.

This one was funny, heartwarming, and full of early 2000s nostalgia. I really enjoyed the mix of humor and heartfelt moments.

Big thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Jeneva Rose for the ARC via NetGalley!

I'm a huge fan of Jeneva's thrillers already and was very pleasantly surprised by her non-thriller novel! It was so fun to be transported back to 2002, a time that feels much simpler than today. Alexis Spencer isn't having the best luck recently having lost her job, and now her boyfriend. She drinks her sorrows away to feel better and ends up waking up back in the year 2002, in her old college town. She meets her younger self and has the chance to do things differently like convince her younger self to change her life for the better. I love a good flash back story. The Girl I Was is very introspective. It made me reflect on if I could redo any part of my life, would I? This book is laugh out loud funny. It's also very bitter sweet.

What would you do if your felt your world was falling apart and you took a swig of vodka only to wake up 20 years in the past? Alexis had no idea what was going on when she woke up in an unfamiliar place. When she got herself together she realized she was at her old college but why? Things started clicking into place and she discovered she is back in 2002. She goes to find herself and ends up staying with the younger version of herself, Lexi. All her friends believe she is Lexi's older sister but together Alexis and Lexi work to get Alexis back to her present life.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose
Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for letting me read this ARC! Just when I thought I couldn’t love Jeneva Rose’s work any more, she totally blew me away with The Girl I Was. The story starts off cute but soon takes you on a deep emotional ride. It really took me back to those family holidays, and I could almost smell the turkey cooking! The concept feels reminiscent of the viral trend “coffee with my younger self,” which I loved—what I would give to get one last hug! There were plenty of eye rolls, some giggles, and it finished off with a good cry from the heart. It’s a beautifully written story that I genuinely enjoyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️