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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Initially, the FMC was difficult to relate to but it set the foundation for the rest of the book. The flow and connectedness between the FCM, herself, friends, and family across timelines was seamless. There were so many deep themes embedded throughout that truly can together at the end. I finished this book in about 2 days with no desire to put it down towards the end. Highly recommend!

I sadly ended up DNFing this book. I almost feel like there should be a content warning about all of the references to early 2000s diet culture and fat shaming. It became too much and took me out of the story! I was intrigued by the magical realism aspect of the book and the main character meeting her past self. As someone who grew up in the 00s I enjoyed a lot of the pop culture references in the book!

Pick up if you enjoy:
🪄magical realism
⏰time travel
✌️2000s nostalgia
📖messy main characters

Thank you to MIRA for my eARC!

WHAT did I just read! I love all of her books. This was such a wild ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The main character was a love/hate and I wasn't sure if I could get into it, but a couple chapters in everything went BOOM and I was hooked

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose was a a great story!
I actually listened to the audiobook and loved it!
Anything Rose writes it’s bound to be a great time!

This isn’t your usual Jeneva Rose book but it’s just as amazing. It’s an interesting take on a time travel story. Unlike most stories when someone goes back in the time Alexis interacts with her past self. The relationship is hilarious Lexi has no interest in helping Alexis initially but comes around. They try everything from time travel books and movies to try to send Alexis back to her time and some of them are hilarious.

Alexis spends time with her best friends from college and works to help them while trying to help her younger self be a better person. She gets to go back home and spend time with her family which was heartwarming and funny. She grows tremendously through the story and learns so much. I could imagine meeting my younger self wouldn’t go well either. That girl had issues.

This was such a different and interesting book. Jeneva Rose is a literary genius and the stories she writes really hit you on a deeper level. This one helps you realize we’re all responsible for who we become.