A hilarious and heartfelt novel about how loves and lives are never truly lost, for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath the layers of makeup and hairspray, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip where she knows the grass is greener: Ireland. Specifically, the quaint little village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving—a dream that fell apart when an accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago.

When Meg arrives, the people in town are so nice, treating her not as a stranger, but a friend. Except for the (extremely hot) bartender giving her the cold shoulder. Meg writes it all off as jetlag until she looks in the mirror. Her hair is no longer bleached within an inch of its life, her skin has a few natural fine lines, and her nose looks like… well, her old nose. Her real nose.

Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this little town: with an adorable dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her (ex?) boyfriend; and at a retail job unrelated to acting. Eventually, she comes to accept that she somehow made a quantum slide into an alternate version of her life. But the most shocking realization of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is alive and well…but wants nothing to do with Meg.

Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke. She finagles an opportunity to act in the play Aimee is writing and directing and as the project unfolds, Meg realizes that events as she remembers them may not be the only truth, and that an impossible choice looms before her.

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I have a soft spot for stories that play with reality—especially those that explore the “what if” moments in life. It’s like a therapy session, but you’re not reading about a person working through their issues with a therapist. Instead, the author gives us an everyday situation, throws in a touch of magical realism where characters wake up in a parallel universe, and they work things out by getting to see what their life could have been. This book hits that spot perfectly. It’s got a classic sliding doors vibe, and while the formula might be familiar, it’s still refreshing. I had no trouble sinking into the world or connecting with the characters.

The story follows Meg Bryan, who on the surface has it all—a starring role in a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob. But as is often the case, looks can be deceiving. Beneath her stage name (Lana Lord) and her glamorous life, Meg is a mess. The show is on the verge of being canceled, her boyfriend is likely cheating on her, and she misses Aimee, her best friend who died years earlier. A breakdown at her 30th birthday party sends Meg on a spontaneous trip to Ireland, to a little village she and Aimee had once dreamed of moving to.

And here’s where the magic hits. When Meg arrives, something feels… off. The locals know her, but not as the celebrity she’s become. She’s got her natural hair, her real nose, and pictures on her phone from a completely different life. Turns out, she’s slipped into an alternate version of her life—one where Aimee is still alive but distant, and where a sexy Irish bartender named Cillian seems to have a complicated history with her.

The relationships in this book are what truly make it shine. Meg’s dynamic with Aimee is especially heartfelt. You believe in their friendship, flaws and all. It’s complicated, raw, and full of unspoken regrets—exactly what you’d expect from two people with a lot of history. Cillian is another highlight. Who wouldn’t want a sexy, charming, rugged Irish bartender? Their chemistry feels real, and the push and pull of their interactions kept me invested.

I really loved how you can feel Meg’s longing to stay in this alternate world. I was genuinely worried about what would happen when her time was up—would she be yanked back to her old life? I really didn’t want that to happen. No spoilers, but I will say that the ending is perfect. Things tie up exactly the way they needed to, and it’s both bittersweet and hopeful.

I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author herself. I always love when authors do their own narrations because it feels more personal. It’s like you’re hearing the story exactly how it was meant to be told. Harbison did a great job bringing Meg’s journey to life, capturing both the humor and heartbreak.

If you love stories that make you reflect on your own “what ifs,” this book is for you. The story has a bit of a Rebecca Serle vibe (think “In Five Years” or “The Dinner List”), so if you’re into books that blend reality with a hint of magic and a lot of heart, this one will be right up your alley. There’s an emotional depth here that sneaks up on you, especially in the last few chapters when Meg has to reconcile with her past. It’s not just a feel-good read—it’s one that makes you think about regrets, second chances, and what really matters. Just keep a tissue handy. Highly recommended!