I listened to this entire book in one day. As a fan of Brittany Pressley, I was thrilled to hear she narrated it, and as always, she brought the perfect emotion and nuance to every scene. Her voice truly elevated the story.

The premise itself is a blend of Groundhog Day and Sliding Doors, which made it a really fun ride. My usual genre is spicy romance, so diving into a novel with intertwining timelines and a touch of fate was a refreshing change. I loved how each tiny story wove into the larger narrative, keeping me on my toes and constantly guessing what might happen next.

The only downside for me was the ending—it felt a bit rushed. With so many threads and each storyline having something to overcome, I expected the final resolution to have a few more bumps or surprises. Instead, it wrapped up more neatly than I anticipated. I think the ending would’ve been even stronger with just a bit more time and tension.

That said, I really loved the journey, and I’ve already recommended it to a friend. If you enjoy thoughtful, heartfelt fiction with a hint of magic and multiple “what if” moments, definitely give this one a listen.

Story: 3 stars
If you love time loops, you will love this book! I really enjoyed many of the timelines she woke up in, and it was fun comparing them to each other. I think overall a couple could have either been shortened or taken out, it got a bit *too* loopy….(pun intended). It was a fun premise and teaches great lessons on life!

Audio production: 5 stars
This audiobook was well done! Brittany Pressley is the narrator and I always think she does a great job of voicing both female and male voices. It was just over 9 hours in length.

Average of both brings me to 4 stars!

Thank you HarperAudio and NetGalley for my free advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own

As someone who enjoys a ground hog day scenario i was disappointed to find out that this instead was very similar to the plot of The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. Instead of coming out of the attic, the fmc woke up everyday with a different husband but other than the that I found the plot to be very similair. Our fmc never really learns anything or grows from her different days with these different from men and there are a lot of different men. The ending also felt very rushed and kind of out left field in a way that maybe the author could call it a romance when it definitely fits better as women's fiction.

The concept for this book was very intriguing but the execution fell flat. I thought this was confusing and a bit annoying. I also did not connect to the main character.

After Lena's boyfriend of two years breaks up with her on the night she thought he was going to propose, she flees to her beloved aunt's home in Seattle to recalibrate. The next morning, she wakes up in Paris with a husband and an entirely new life. Each morning after that, Lena awakens to find herself somewhere else—from a farm in Pennsylvania to Ireland to below deck of a yacht—with a new husband. In each experience, she gets a glimpse of what life might have looked like with romantic partners from her past.

"Insignificant Others" is a heartfelt and thought-provoking time loop novel. I love magical realism, and it's always interesting to see how authors take on the alternate realities trope. This book was different from the others I've read, in a good way. As Lena faced new "what ifs" each morning, she tackled some heavy, real-life issues. I think readers will resonate with her journey and the challenges she overcame. Lena was a lovable main character, and she grew so much throughout the story. Even though there were some serious themes, there were also a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. I especially enjoyed her day waking up as a mother to a one-year-old. This was a great book, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley. As always, she did a wonderful job bringing the story and characters to life. She is very talented, so I am always happy to listen to her storytelling. I was especially impressed by her accents—from French to Irish to Australian, she nailed them all! Highly recommend this one on audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

**Review of *Insignificant Others* by Sarah Jio**

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for providing me with an ARC of *Insignificant Others*.

"The longest journey you’ll ever take is from your head to your heart."

This quote beautifully encapsulates the heart of *Insignificant Others*, a novel that follows Lena Westbrook, a woman who has spent her life prioritizing logic, work, and perfectionism. Lena is financially successful and has always chosen relationships based on a strict set of criteria—men who meet her specific standards of prestige and ambition.

However, when a sudden breakup shakes her to the core, Lena retreats to her aunt’s home to recover. This retreat leads her into an unexpected experience: each day, Lena wakes up in a new reality, exploring different paths she could have taken in her life if she had embraced one of the "insignificant others" she once overlooked. These men didn't fit her preconceived narrative of who she should be with, but they offer her a different perspective on what truly matters.

This book is a compelling story of self-discovery. It challenges Lena’s rigid sense of self and shows her the value of stepping outside the confines of her logic and allowing her heart to guide her. While *Insignificant Others* is not your typical romance, it offers a deeply satisfying journey toward a happier, more authentic life for Lena.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evolution of Lena’s character through the different chapters, and I appreciated how the story unfolded, revealing the complexity of her journey toward understanding herself and those around her. If you enjoy stories about personal growth and discovering what truly matters in relationships, I highly recommend this book. It delivers a gratifying and transformative ending that leaves you with a much more likeable and relatable protagonist.

Definitely worth a read!

Lena's had a life filled with missed opportunities or Insignificant Others if you please. After the failure of one of these opportunities, she runs home to her aunt for comfort. Once Rosie goes to bed, Lena remembers the studio in the backyard and decides to check it out. Once inside, she falls asleep and is thrust into a series of "what if" scenarios of the men she's met in her life. Some of the instances are great, and some... just NOT! The lessons Lena learns throughout this book are invaluable and are some lessons we all should learn.

Ms. Jio did an excellent job piecing together this tangled web. I enjoyed getting to know Lena and all the men in her life... well, almost all of them.

I did find that this book could have done with one or two less men since it seemed to drag out a bit. And at the end I was prepared to be very upset that the book wasn't going to end the way "I" wanted it to, but... it did and I'm so happy!

I'd like to thank the publisher/author/NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

#NetgalleyARC #audiobook

3.75 🌟 rounded up to 4 🌟

Enjoyed the narrator, The audiobook flowed well. I felt like the book started and went pretty much right into "Groundhogs day" mode. Among the different reiterations, the ones with the kids were very heartfelt. I always feel like these storylines don't end the way that I want but this book did have a satisfying end.

What a fun ride! I love a good time hop multiverse journey of what could have been. Lena falls asleep and wakes up with a past “insignificant other” and what their life would have been had she ended up with them. I thoroughly enjoyed the wild ride of what if’s. I found myself rooting for a couple and the way they nixed one wasn’t enough for me to understand but when it ended I understood why it was written that way . I do love this isn’t a love story with anyone but herself and how she grows through each leap! Highly recommend this one to get you out of a reading slump! I inhaled this audiobook. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC.

Lena, reeling from a breakup that she thought was going to be a proposal, goes back home to her aunts house to lick her wounds. When she falls asleep in the guest house, she isn't prepared for what will happen. Lena is transported to a new life every time she goes to sleep. Back with her exes and could have beens, to see if she somehow along the way missed out on what was right in front of her.
She feels love, she feels betrayal and she feels pain through these 24 hour experiences. She goes on journeys not just physically, but mentally. Understanding what love is and what it feels like so that she isn't just going through the motions.
I wasn't prepared for how much I loved this story. The premise sounded fun, so I decided to grab it, but I wasn't prepared for how this story would touch my heart and remind me of my own journey through life. Looking back on what could have been and finding love and comfort in places that weren't given a second glance before. Finding a HEA in something that was so unsuspected. Lena touched my heart and I love that fate played a hand in helping her see what had been in front of her before and bring it back to her.
The narrator was absolutely perfect bringing this story to life.
Thanks to Harper, Netgalley and Sarah Jio for an ALC.

This book was unexpected and I am not really sure how to give it a proper review without giving away too many spoilers.
Lena was sure her boyfriend of 2 years Kevin was going to propose to her, but when he presents her with coldplay tickets, she breaks up with him and heads to her aunts house to nurse her heartbreak. She fell asleep in the guest house and each morning, wakes up married to a new man from her past to see how her life might be if she would have chosen a different path. Will she ever find her happily ever after?

4.75

Entertaining with each new partner and story. I definitely had my hopes for how this would end and I was so happy it came true! This was a great reminder that the choices you make could change your life, that every little moment or action can choose your trajectory.

Lena’s journey of waking up with a new “insignificant other” was surprising each time, not just for her but for readers. I was surprised how different each life was - from a glamorous life in Paris to the guy that was her first kiss. Each one was very telling on how you can never predict who you end up with, life is always full of twists and turns you don’t see coming. It was such a fun listen as she took on different lives that “could’ve been”.

I think along with reflection there was also a sense of grief through the book. She grieved each life she left behind the day before and also how she believed the world worked - that control and safe doesn’t mean happiness but also that going off path won’t necessarily lead to happiness either.

Lena thinks she knows where her life is headed. That's until things take a very different turn. She tries to get away and visit her aunt, but when she wakes up in the morning, she's living a completely different life... and this happens every time she wakes up for a new day. Men from her past appear, along with very different lives (different jobs, locations, relationships). Are any of these men who she is really supposed to be with? Lena's journey helps show her what she values in life and eventually gets her right where she's meant to be.

I thought this was an interesting take on how to find what your true priorities are in life. Some things may seem ideal but are missing something that's truly more important.

Audiobook Update: The audiobook is single narrator. I usually speed audiobooks up to 2x+, but I felt more comfortable listening to this one at 1.75. The narrator speaks a bit more quickly than others, and you might recognize her from a variety of other audiobooks! She keeps things engaging and is able to differentiate between characters.

Thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.

Insignificant Others was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed the concept and for awhile I had fun seeing the myriad potential life scenarios play out. However, there were so many different pathways and they were so abrupt that it started to feel disjointed and overwhelming. I did really enjoy the narration and the friendship between Lena and Frankie, their bond was a shining light for sure.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow and Harper Audio for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Sarah Jio, with the audio narrated by Brittany Pressley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Lena is convinced that her perfectly planned life is going just as she wants, right down to knowing that her boyfriend of two years is going to propose to her at dinner. When he instead breaks up with her, she flees back to the safety of her beloved Aunt Rosie's house on a Seattle island for a break. She falls asleep the first night in Rosie's guesthouse, only to wake up the next morning in Paris with another man. Each morning when she awakens, she's in a different place with a different man.

Haven't we all thought about the what if's? What if we would have stayed with that high school/college/first job boyfriend? What would our life look like? This novel was an absolute joy exploring that thought - it was hilarious (the baby scenes!) and poignant to watch Lena explore all these other lives she might have lived. I liked how some main characters (best friend and her husband and Aunt Rosie) were stalwarts through all her lives, just a bit different in each life story. The perfect magical realism story that will have you reflecting on just what's important in life. I love to listen to Brittany Pressley narrate, so the audiobook was perfection!

Jio is one of my favorite authors. I find her style and storytelling to be profoundly beautiful.
This premise was fun and really different. While I enjoyed it, I definitely found it to start dragging out a but too long in the end. Then the ending happened and felt way too rushed to be believable.
However, I really did enjoy the ride and find her writing style to be effortlessly beautiful.

Have you ever wondered what if about a one night stand, a passing fling, or generally just felt like all of that good guys had already passed you up? That is how main character Lena felt after her longtime boyfriend showed up to what she thought would be a proposal dinner with Coldplay tickets, rather than a diamond ring.

This Groundhog Day style story is full of twists, turns, heartbreaks, and loves that never were—insignificant others.

This book exceeded my expectations, and may be one of the favorite romance books I’ve read in the past few years. It’s unique, witty, and heart wrenching, all at the same time. Plus, who doesn’t love a little magic in their life.

I highly recommend diving head first into Lena‘s story. And don’t forget to expect the unexpected.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 0/5

✨Thank you, William Morrow and HarperCollins, for this ALC!✨

Insignificant Others is a lighthearted and enjoyable read about a woman in her mid-thirties who wakes up in alternate timelines she did not choose. The sliding doors trope is one of my favorites in romance and fiction, so I really liked this one. When we meet Lena, she is 35, professionally successful, and hoping to get engaged to her long-term boyfriend, who is perfect on paper.

Soon after, Lena goes to stay with her Aunt Rosie, who has raised her for much of her life. When she wakes up, she finds herself in Paris, with a man she only fleetingly remembers meeting some years before. Lena continues to wake up each day in a different life, with a man she had chemistry with, but the relationship didn’t develop or last.

The story moves how you would expect, but I really enjoyed the premise and characters. It really emphasized the importance of being true to ourselves and open to new experiences. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a comforting read and enjoy Rebecca Serle’s books.

The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley who is absolutely top tier! She is such a fantastic, expressive narrator and perfect for this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audiobook ARC, all thoughts are my own.

The you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for this Audio ARC. The audio production was of the highest quality, as always, and Brittany Pressley is always a stellar voice actor. I have not read much of Sarah Jio's work, but I have enjoyed the depth of the stories I have read. I love a good speculative fiction and this hit the spot. Reminiscent of The Midnight Library, Insignificant Others follows FMC Lena in living out one day in a life with a parade of partners that could have been. I enjoyed the adventure, the character arc, the lessons learned along the way, especially knowing this was above all classified as a romance, and would have its HEA neatly delivered after all the chaos of the string of lives lived. Very interesting and well=paced.

I wanted to love this book because I've never met a magical realism romance I didn't like, but this book was just kind of...wompwomp.

I will say, I LOVED the narration and performance of this book! The narrator did a beautiful job and I probably would have DNFed if it wasn't for her fantastic work.

This book had a super interesting premise, but unfortunately the execution just fell flat. I honestly felt like the book just ended too soon and I didn't totally understand the message we were supposed to get at the end? As much as I enjoyed her journey throughout her past relationships, I felt like it didn't give me enough time to get to know her as a main character. Because of that, I just wasn't invested in her story at all and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be getting from it.

2.75 stars rounded up