Book Rating: 4/5
Narration Rating: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The concept was fun and engaging, and I was eager to see how it would play out. The story uses a Groundhog Day-style time loop in a women’s fiction setting, following Lena, a driven workaholic who prefers to keep her personal and professional lives separate. She suddenly finds herself in a magical scenario, repeatedly waking up next to a stranger she gradually begins to connect with.

The unfolding of the story was both entertaining and thought-provoking, especially as Lena’s personal growth took center stage. While the magical realism elements added a unique twist, what truly stood out to me was Lena’s journey of self-discovery. Her evolution felt authentic, and I saw so much of my own experience reflected in her, especially as a woman navigating ambition, identity, and vulnerability in today’s world.

It was refreshing, relatable, and uplifting. If you're looking for a light, easy read with depth and a dash of magic, this one is definitely worth picking up.

This is such a hard one to rate. Honestly, it was such a great premise but I felt like it just ended. It didn't really build to anything. I expected a much bigger, life altering perspective change or something, but it really just...ended. I don't necessarily feel like I wasted my time listening to it but it's not something I'd reach for again.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for this ALC. I attest I am leaving my review honestly and voluntarily.

Welcome to the romance novel version of Groundhog Day! Insignificant Others was such a ride—I was completely swept away by the journey this character takes.

The story follows Piper, a woman who seems to have it all together, until one night turns her entire life upside down. After a pivotal moment in her life, Lena wakes up the next morning—and the morning after that, and the morning after that—with a new life and a new husband. As she navigates this repeating day, she learns surprising truths about the people around her (and about herself).

I loved how each revelation built on the last, and how beautifully everything tied together in the end. There were so many moments when I thought I knew where the story was headed, but Sarah Jio kept surprising me in the best way.

This book is perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and anyone who loved the emotional journey of Groundhog Day. A beautiful, heartfelt read that stays with you long after the final page!

I listened to the Audiobook version narrated by Brittany Pressley. Pressley is very talented lending different dialect, tone/ pitch to each character. Truly an incredible job on this Audiobook.
A female version of relationships Past, Present and Future. Comical and heartbreaking listening to her pain and joy as she searches for her true love.
Have you thought how each one of your failed relationships could have turned out if you stayed together? Would you be Rich? poor? Would you be chartering Yachts or working on one? What career would you have? Each day she wakes up with a new person a new life each posing different challenges.
I like to listen to an audiobook at bedtime while playing a game on my phone. My partner usually doesn’t pay much attention to what’s playing until… He yelled out “KEVIN! Who the H&$$ is Kevin?” He got hooked somewhere in the middle and I had to get him up to speed. He really liked the book and could not wait to find out who she would end up with. He gave it 4 out of 5 stars because it didn’t end how he wanted it to.
Insignificant others is unlike any story I have read. You couldn’t guess what was going to happen. Unpredictable and Bingeworthy. Great beach read or Book Club pick. There is a lot you can discuss.
I am curious to know who you thought she would end up with…. Leave it below.

This was my second Sarah Jio book I loved her first one I read and really enjoyed this one. I really like that it had a time travel aspect and getting to experience how her life would have been with all the partner she had over the years. Which then gave her clarity that she didn’t need to rush everything and do what society expects as to do at a certain age!

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || INSIGNIFICANT OTHERS [thank you to William Morrow and Harper Audio for my #gifted copies!]

Title: Insignificant Others
Author: Sarah Jio
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Format: audio
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Narrator: Brittany Presley
Narration: ★★★★★

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
If you’ve ever looked back on your life and wondered: how did I get here? What if I’d made a different choice? Then this is the book for you!

In this book, I think the FMC enters about 8 or 9 different alternate realities - each one centered around a man that she met in her past (no matter how brief their previous involvement) and each one ending with her learning something about herself and what she’s looking for in a partner.

Looking at her life, Lena has checked off all the boxes she thought she was supposed to. She’s dating the “perfect” guy, she has a “perfect” (albeit demanding and draining) job, and a best friend who’s stuck by her through everything…but she’s still unhappy. She dreads going to work, she doesn’t actually love the man she’s been dating for 2 years, and she’s stuck.

But watching her go through each alternative reality and just seeing her being willing to take on and do anything that was asked of her in that timeline (sort of adultery) was really refreshing to see. A lot of timeline or time loop stories you spend a great deal of time watching the MC being confused and rejecting the reality that they’re in -- but not here, Lena jumped right in, and I loved that!

🎧 Pressley can do no wrong in my opinion, and she’s the main reason I ended up requesting this in audiobook format. She was so easy to listen to and really highlighted the variety of feelings and situations that Lena found herself in. 100% read this one via audio — you won’t regret it.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
The Good Part by Sophie Cousins
The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
Time Travel Romance
What If
Multiple Timelines

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.85⭐️
# of Hours: 9 hours, 11 minutes
Pub Date: April 1, 2025

Wow. When I say I skipped out on sleep to listen to this book. It was so cute. I loved the story, absolutely adored Lena and her journey, not only through love but her self growth journey! Such a cute clean read. It snatched me up and held me all the way until the last minute. Definitely worth reading.

The audio was also really good. I loved the emotion that came through from the narrator, it really helped engage with Lena's story even more!!!

10/10 would recommend!

Thank you to HarperAudio & Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review!

At first I was worried this would be yet another book about the main character losing her memory and all of the inconveniences that came thereafter. Fortunately, I was wrong! This was a wonderful book that definitely made me think about all of the places I could be in life had I made ONE different decision and ONE different turn in my life. It's a book that reminds you that you are meant to be where you're at, and that life could look much different had you made different decisions. I loved seeing all of the different possibilities for our FMC. I very much enjoyed Brittany Pressley, as always, as our narrator.

After breaking up with her boyfriend the night she expects a proposal, Lena takes a bit of a trip down memory lane, waking up each morning as though she's spent the last few years with a different man from her past. These alternate lives range from terrible to amazing, but all of them make her reevaluate her real life and what she wants out of it.
I was drawn in very quickly, and found myself anxious to see what would come up next and how Lena would navigate it. I really loved this book and couldn't put it down. I will definitely be reading more by Sarah Jio!

Insignificant Others is a unique tale from consummate storyteller Sarah Jio. Having been deeply disappointed by longtime boyfriend Kevin, Lena Westbrook heads home to her wonderful Aunt Rosie on Bainbridge Island. Welcomed with open arms, Aunt Rosie gives Lena a special piece of rose quartz which Lena takes to the old guesthouse with her. Falling into a deep sleep, Lena awakens to city noises to discover she’s not on Bainbridge Island anymore, but rather she is in Paris and apparently married to French hotelier Sebastian. As the day unfolds and Lena begins piecing together things as they occur, she is still mystified as to how she got where she is and what will happen next.

But Lena doesn’t have to wonder very long as the next morning she awakens to the sound of farm animals in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as another husband, Nathan, makes her breakfast. After a very busy day in a life quite foreign to Lena she falls into a dead sleep only to awaken elsewhere the next morning. For days afterward Lena goes through this same process, each time in a different place with a different man from her past, sometimes someone she knew well and sometimes someone she only met in passing, but all were roads not taken. This time warp gives Lena a glance of the what ifs with each of the men she again encounters, her insignificant others

This is such a good story. The character development and world building are exceptional. Ms. Jio is such a talented storyteller and this story is exceptional. I very much enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!

I listened to 90% of this audiobook and then dropped it. The book concept was cute (like choose your own adventure) but the execution was not great. The story contained too many significant others and the time spent was each one was too short. This resulted in the characters being one dimensional (the cheater, the con artist, etc.). There was no growth of the main character based on these experiences.

I really enjoyed this book and Brittany Pressley did a phenomenal job with all of the different characters and their individual voices & accents! The plot of this book was different and unique (some said it was similar to magic realism), but with a twist of romance as well. It was lighthearted and a very easy read. I really like how it played out and how it ended! Would recommend to a friend.

There was a part in one of the last chapters that the MC had some great quotes as she reflected on her journey. I (loosely) noted them: “...my time out there left me a sense of clarity, what matters and what doesn't. Above all, I realize I was given an impossibly rare gift; the chance to see how life might've turned out, had I chosen one path or another.... Our choices matter, more than we know. Life can often feel so 'one foot in front of the other'.. 'must be successful', 'must find the perfect mate', 'must check all the boxes'.... I was so fixated on the finish line, I neglected to see all the beautiful moments along the way. I understand now we are writing our stories every minute of every day and all of it counts.”

Insignificant Others by Sarah Jio is a magical realism “what-if” time-loop novel.

The story centers around Lena, who has her life planned out for her. When an assumed proposal doesn’t happen, it throws Lena off and unsure what to do. When she ends up at her aunts house, she falls asleep and wakes up next to a French man who says they are married! Turns out, Lena is stuck in a time loop where each day she wakes up with a new romantic partner with a male from some point from her past. Each day, Lena discovers more about herself and what she does and doesn’t want out of life until she’s able to escape the loop.

If you are a fan of “The Midnight Library” by Haig, then you’ll enjoy this book. For me, it was fine. I got tired of listening to each day and Lena freaking out, each. day. I think time loop stories just aren’t for me. The narrator was great, even listening to it in 2.5x speed. This would be a great book club for those who want to discuss their “what ifs”.

i LOVED this book SO MUCH! Ah, it was so so so good! I couldn’t stop listening to see where Lena would go! Each man was so different and added so much to the story! The message was so inspiring and the ending was so incredibly satisfying! This is a must read!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Lena Westbrook was wearing a beautiful red sequin dress as she awaited the arrival of her boyfriend. The restaurant was perfect with a violinist playing close by. He comes in late, sats down and reaches in his pocket and pulls out an envelope, not a ring.
Lena is a perfectionist with a type A personality. She is a planner and organizes every part of her life. After breaking up with “envelope guy” her heart is broken, she is confused, hurt and angry. She escapes to her aunt’s home on Bainbridge Island. She needs to heal and re-tune her life. When she wakes up the next morning, she is no longer in the guest house, neither is she on Bainbridge Island. She is in an elegant Parisian flat. She is clothed in lavish silk lingerie. Lying next to her is a sexy, handsome French man … who thinks he is married to Lena.
Each morning Lena is transported to a different place. Each time she is married to a different person and ex or a brief encounter. She sees a glimpse of what her life could have been like if she had made a different decision. What if?????
This is an interesting read. We could all benefit from a few what if moments. As Lena revisits the men of her past, she begins questioning decisions she has made. She becomes attached to some of the men of her past. This tale has its humorous moments.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy for review.

This book was ok. The main issue is that I have read similar stories that did the idea of exploring possible different lives better than I feel this one did. Also the fact that the main character seemed to change to fit the person she was with made it hard to understand who she really is.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for a copy.

NetGalley + HarperAudio Review
5 stars — I am dramatically unwell over this book in the BEST possible way.

Insignificant Others by Sarah Jio was a total delight—a time loop romance that managed to be surprising, emotional, and fun all at once. I genuinely never knew what was coming next, and that unpredictability made the whole thing feel so fresh and original.

The audiobook? OBSESSED. I flew through it thanks to the amazing narration—huge thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advance listen! I was fully locked in, gasping mid-sip of my coffee, and whisper-screaming “NO WAY” at least three times.

It’s romantic, it’s twisty, it’s heartwarming with just enough chaos to make me feel like I was living through the time loop myself.

Highly recommend if you’re into:
• Second (and third and fourth) chances
• Romance that messes with time
• Unexpected emotional gut punches wrapped in charm
• Books that feel like a rollercoaster you immediately want to ride again

This one has already been featured on my list of favorite audiobooks this month!!

"What If?". That's the question being asked in "Insignificant Others" by Sarah Jio. When instead of being proposed to, she gets broken up with, Lena Westbrook flees to her aunt's house in search of solace and perhaps a fresh perspective, and does she ever get that! Lena falls asleep in the guest house and wakes up in Paris, France, next to a man who is supposedly her husband.

As Lena falls alseep each night in one bed with one partner but wakes up the next in a whole new situation, Lena explores a series of romantic "what ifs" and also explores the concept that one change, one life, can be very different from the next.

It's been a while since I read a Sarah Jio book but I'm a fan of hers from the early days.of her writing. This story did not disappoint! Entertaining but also thought-provoking, the reader (or listener in my case!) is in for a fun and entertaining ride. I listened to the audiobook version of this and found myself eager to listen on my way home from work each day. The narrator does a great job of differentiating between the various characters voices and she was a pleasure to listen to.

"Insignificant Others" ran a little long towards the end but overall it was a book that also left me to reflect on my own romantic paths not taken. I enjoyed the story overall and the conclusion was what I was hoping for. A fun read, I can definitely recommend this one.

I was a little apprehensive about picking this one up. I enjoy the author's work, but I typically do not enjoy even the slightest foray into anything fantasy. However, I did enjoy this Groundhog Day-esque story.

Lena thought he was going to propose- but he was just giving her Coldplay tickets. And she doesn't even like Coldplay. She runs home to her aunt's house- and wakes up in France- in bed with a man who claims he is her husband. Over the next week or so, every morning she wakes up with a new husband. Someone from her past. Someone who could have been. Did she miss the one? If so, can she fix it?

This makes you think about what could have been. And in Lena's case, I think she could have been happy in most iterations of her life. She had a lot of character growth- helping her see what is actually important in life.

I'm a little miffed by the Irishman's storyline...

Brittany Pressley narrates the audiobook and is great, as always.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.