Once and Again: A Novel

The Novak women are given a gift, a special ticket. This ticket is a one-time reversal of something that has already happened. Lauren’s is tucked away, almost forgotten. Marcella, her mom, has used hers. Sylvia, her grandmother, isn’t telling. Then, one summer, Lauren’s husband accepts a temporary job in New York. Lauren moves home with her parents and runs into her first love, who broke her heart. As she thinks of all the choices she made, that have brought her to this moment, she wonders if one should be undone.

When given the chance to read this new novel by Rebecca Serle, I jumped at the chance. Thought provoking and beautifully written, this book is filled with family drama, romance and magical realism. I loved the dynamics show more of the three, so different but same at their core. While Lauren would frustrate me, I could understand some of her issues. These women are troubled, real and easily relatable. I love that the men were strong and sensitive at the same time. This book made me think…if given the chance to change one thing in my past, could I? In doing so, how many special moments would be erased? Would I still have the life I have now?

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion. show less

Serle's books highlight relationships, sometimes between a woman and a man, sometimes between parents and their daughter. This one does both. Lauren and Leo are happily married but struggling with the toll of fertility treatments. When Leo travels to NY for work, Lauren rekindles her friendship and feelings towards her first love. Meanwhile, Lauren's dad health is in question.If you had a chance to do things over, would you? That is the question that gets asked in this book - and if you do, is it a good thing? I enjoyed this unique take and also the decision Lauren made in the end.

The Short of It:

Getting a “do-over” in life sounds like a dream come true, but is it?

The Rest of It:

Lauren and Leo are married and, for the most part, happy. The one thing they want most just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Infertility, and the costly treatments that come with it, begin to wear them down piece by piece. You can’t help but wonder if their marriage will survive the strain.

In the back of her mind, Lauren knows she’s been given a gift. The women in her family inherit a single, extraordinary chance to go back in time. It can be used to fix a mistake, undo a tragedy, even prevent a death. She’s never considered using it. Not seriously. But after one terrible moment, she is forced to choose.

How do you live with show more that kind of power? Knowing you only get one chance. Do you fix what’s right in front of you, or hold onto it in case something worse comes later? It’s the kind of pressure that would paralyze most people. I’m not sure I’d ever use it at all.

That tension sits at the heart of Lauren’s story. Choices are made. Secrets surface. And through it all, she wrestles with whether to stay with Leo despite the uncertainty surrounding their future, or return to what feels safe. A past love. A familiar life. The beach house that still feels like home.

Serle handles these questions with care and emotional clarity. The story invites you to sit with every possibility and feel the weight of each one. Yes, there is a way out, but it comes at a cost. What happens to the good memories? Can they ever be recreated, or does one decision shift everything that follows?

It’s a thoughtful, empathetic exploration of love, loss, and the choices that define a life.

I enjoyed this one and the questions it raised about life and what makes a home a home.

Recommend. show less

The premise of this intrigued me more than the execution. There was nothing wrong with the plot, though I found it took longer than expected to get moving. The characters weren't particularly loveable, but they were likeable enough. I really didn't like the use of first names for everyone so early in the book. It took me until 26% of the way through to get Sylvia and Marcella straight. The ending shouldve been an epilogue instead of a last chapter due to the time jump. It was a fine book, but probably not one I'm going to read again.

This is a magical realism romance (allegedly). The premise is genuinely lovely, the ability to turn back time just once, a gift that is both a blessing and a curse to grapple with. I was in. The magical realism was handled well enough, and I liked the family and getting to know these characters. I never found the romance. Where was that part? The shifting narration, sometimes first-person, sometimes third-person, made it lack coherence for me. I hate this main character. She is a selfish menace who refuses to consider anyone's needs or lives beyond her own. It surfaces early, comes to a boil, doubles down, and solidifies. I'll stay vague to avoid spoilers, but this book needed a trigger warning for its lead being an actual piece of show more shit, because I came in expecting someone relatable. Even the “good” thing she does is just to make herself feel less guilty, though of course that's not how she frames it. May this kind of romance never find me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this book. show less

Rebecca Serle books never quite go the way I expect. Sometimes I like that, sometimes I don't. This is one of her stronger books, IMO. The magical realism element doesn't take over the whole book, but it affects the characters in interesting and complicated ways. I enjoyed exploring Serle's latest "what if?" question and finished the book feeling satisfied. Can't ask for much more than that.

Title: Once and Again
Author: Rebecca Serle
Publisher: Atria Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
'Once and Again' by Rebecca Serle

My Review:
'Once and Again' was quite a read, being emotional and all from three women: Sylvia, Marcella, and Lauren [3 generations], all having a special gift. You will find yourself turning the pages to see what's coming next in the story for each of the Novak family members. I found many of these characters somewhat relatable and could easily identify with them; however, some of their choices... well, could leave one pondering long after the read.