I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In One Life and Out Another
by J. Mercer
Published by Bare Ink on May 16, 2023
Genres: YA Romance Fantasy
Pages: 268
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Books-A-Million
This is the story of how my parents split me in two, and how I ultimately put myself back together...
On the eve of Marin’s birthday, her parents tell her they’re getting divorced—or, in a parallel universe, they don’t tell her anything at all. This defining moment, along with Marin’s subsequent choices, turn her into polar ends of herself and drastically affect the relationships she has with her two best friends, her mom, and soccer player Sam Hanson. The possibilities of ‘what could have been’ play out in alternating scenarios throughout the book.
If Marin can't make it into Wash U and get away from her suffocating mother, she just might self-implode. She’s determined that nothing will stop her, but then she can’t seem to say no to what everyone else wants—or yes to Sam, seeing as her best friend Hannah wants him too.
Things that this Marin puts up with—a narcissistic mother and a buoyant yet selfish best friend—the other never would. But then, the other can’t stop fighting long enough to get who or what she wants. Instead, she marks a path through life that nearly alienates her best friend Whitney and the boy from work she won’t let herself be distracted by, because distractions like Sam Hanson won’t get her into dance school and away from her mom.
One moment may have changed the trajectory of her future, but if Marin can’t find her way back to herself, she’ll not only lose the boy and her best friends, but also the future she’s worked so hard for.
IN ONE LIFE AND OUT ANOTHER will appeal to fans of E.Lockhart, Brenna Yovanoff, and Kristin Dwyer, as well as readers who enjoyed the SLIDING DOOR premise of MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE by Taylor Jenkins Reid or THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig.
Told in alternating chapters, this story asks if the person changes the life, or if the life changes the person.
In One Life and Out Another by J. Mercer allows us to see two different scenarios for the age-old question “what if I” for Marin Greene.
Will Marin Greene have hope that things will work out?
Marin Greene with Divorced Parents
Marin Greene dealing with her divorced parents is the main life for her. This is the one that broke her into two. In this version of her life, she goes back and forth between her parents’ houses while also being friends with Hannah. Marin tries to appease everyone and make everyone happy. Except that by doing that, especially with Hannah, Marin isn’t living her life for herself but conforming herself with other people, especially when it concerns Hannah’s feelings for Sam or how her mom will react to Marin doing anything that isn’t surrounding her mom. Her only way of escape is to go to Wash U… that is if nothing deters her. She definitely grows into a well-balanced person throughout the book in this world.
Marin Greene with Married Parents
Now for the Marin Greene that has her parents still married. Unlike the other Marin, this one isn’t friends with Hannah and isn’t the most popular girl in school. Marin doesn’t even go to some of her classes all the time. She also works two jobs and dances at a studio, where she dreams of getting into a school in LA. Marin works at a grocery store and teaches kids to dance at a studio. She has to pay for her car insurance and is always butting heads with her mom whenever she gets home. I honestly felt sorry for the version of Marin that was stuck in this situation, as it was far worse than if her parents divorced. I liked how she and her mom eventually stopped head-butting long enough to realize that maybe they could fix their relationship with a bit of hope.
The Story
We end up going back and forth between situations that Marin would have taken depending on what happened with her parents, like who her best friend was who stayed with her when her parents divorced and helped her in high school. I like how throughout the story, you can see that Marin, no matter which parallel universe part we were in, how her decisions shaped who she is and how those decisions will keep hurting her unless she changes course. I loved how the whole theme of the book is just a simple thing: Do you have hope? Hope to change your situation in your life?
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to In One Life and Out Another by J. Mercer, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to read a great young adult paranormal romance. I am only adding on the paranormal part because of the parallel or alternate universe that takes place with Marin. Ms. Mercer hooked me from the beginning, and I loved every minute of it. I did get a bit confused at the beginning, but it became easier as I eased into the flow of the style she was going for with this one.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of In One Life and Out Another by J. Mercer.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About J. Mercer
J Mercer grew up in Wisconsin where she walked home from school with her head in a book, filled notebooks with stories in junior high, then went to UW Madison for accounting and psychology only to open a dog daycare. She wishes she were an expert linguist, is pretty much a professional with regards to competitive dance hair (bunhawk, anyone?), and enjoys exploring with her husband—though as much as she loves to travel, she’s also an accomplished hermit. Perfect days include cancelled plans, rain, and endless hours to do with what she pleases.
For updates and news, you can find her on Facebook, but she’s more often on Instagram, talking about what she’s reading and other bookish things. Go there for book recommendations, reading-inspired writing tips, or even to read along.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2023 Goodreads RC
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