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Book Jacket

Time of My Life:
A Novel
by Allison Winn Scotch

Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books
Publication date: 10/07/2008.
Novels, 288 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 15
Readers' Consensus: 3.5
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First Impressions: Page 1 of 3
Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Sue (Wauwatosa WI)

A great read
I really enjoyed Time of My Life, I had a hard time putting it down. When Jillian is transported back seven years into her old life she is confronted with the ability to change her life. This story caused me to reflect on my own choices I have made and question the "what ifs". Through Jillian's journey, we learn that hindsight is twenty-twenty and we can learn from our mistakes. I highly recommend this book.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by La Deana (Norman OK)

The Road Not Taken
Time of my Life is a nicely written book of "what ifs" that many women face. What if I chose a different guy? What if I didn't have this child or this job? Do our choices ultimately matter or does how we handle our choices matter more? I enjoyed this somewhat lighthearted look at the road not taken. Ms. Scotch gives us a fun story wrapped around the premise that sometimes what really needs to change is us.I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick read with a little twist!

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Mary (Greeley, CO) (Greeley CO)

Revisiting Choices
Even though I am generally a little too much of a realist to comfortably read and enjoy stories of time travel, I was nonetheless very excited to read Allison Winn Scotch's new novel. I have to admit that the concept of the main character (Jillian) retreating seven years and reliving (possibly even altering) events did strain my brain at times. That aside, I really responded to the emotional honesty of Jilly as she worked her way through issues, and the writing itself was crisp, clever, and engaging. Toward the end, I almost couldn't wait to see how it all resolved, and I always love when I feel that kind of uncertainty and anticipation in a book. It was a great read and a book I will definitely recommend to my friends.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Mary Ellen (Hebron CT)

TIme of My Life Smart Chick Lit
I enjoyed this fanciful flight backwards into a young suburbanite's life to the land of "what ifs?" This story playfully explores what happens when an intelligent, career woman marries and leaves her urban life to pursue motherhood. Jill thought she had the perfect husband, house and baby, but life has settled into a routine that makes her wish that she had a different life.

Unexpectedly, she finds herself pulled backwards seven years to her life with a previous boyfriend and on the cusp of career promotion.What would she have done differently? Does it matter? Should she mend fences with her estranged mother? The drama builds and enlightenment dawns. Would make a great movie.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Meg (Swarthmore PA)

Mommy Lit Meets Back to the Future
I have to confess I wasn't too thrilled when I read the premise of this plot - time traveling always gives me a headache as I end to overthink it, which ultimately ends up taking away from the story. But I decided to go with it and call it 'altered reality' instead of 'time traveling' and ended up enjoying it the way I enjoyed "Freaky Friday" when I was a kid, or the latest Sophie Kinsella (non-Shopaholic) novel. I found myself rooting for just about all the characters in the book (except for a few rather obnoxious ones who I won't reveal here).

About half way through I had to keep myself from turning to the last few pages to find out how it all turned out - but I refrained from doing so, and by the time I got to the end of the book, was happy with the conclusion, and was equally happy I hadn't ruined it for myself by peeking. It was a clever premise and was fun to read, especially with some of the details Allison Winn Scotch sneaks in (the main character can always win bets on who will get kicked off of 'Survivor', since she'd already seen the season several years before in her 'other' life - !). This is a light novel with some poignant moments that will have you plowing through it to see how it all turns out.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Diane (NY NY)

Lively book club discussions
For those who have enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's bestseller "Remember Me", Allison Winn Scotch's "Time of My Life" is the flip side.

Jillian wonders if she made a mistake leaving her artistic, laid-back boyfriend Jack and marrying logical, hard-charging Henry.

I wasn't sure I would like the conceit of Jillian traveling back in time, but Scotch's writing pulled me into the story, and I raced through the book to get to the conclusion.

Book club discussions about this book will be lively, as this novel strikes a chord with any woman who has ever felt overwhelmed with childrearing responsibilities.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Helen (Petaluma CA)

Reflections
Boy, did I enjoy this book. I wonder at the age of Allison Winn Scotch for she has so much life information and she relates it in a manner we can all hear. I felt her tears and I heard her laughter. The arrangement of the novel is no small feat and we, her readers, are the winners. You cannot help but reflect on your life as you share Jillian's.The ultimate what if. Good read.

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