What if I hadn't met my husband in the infield of the Kentucky Derby?
5 Thoughts I'm Having
Dear Friend,
Do you ever consider pivotal moments in your life when you could have made a different decision that may have altered the outcome of your life? While every choice we make can set us on a different path, I can think of three very specific moments in my life when a decision I made would definitely have pivoted the course of my life—decisions that might have affected whether I would have met my husband when I did (if ever) or decisions that might have affected the timing of when I had children, therefore affecting the children I have today.
I recently picked up Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. And this story made me consider those very moments. For example, what if I had turned down the opportunity to go to the infield of the Kentucky Derby in 1995? I probably would never have met my husband, Mike. Yes, seriously!
I was invited by my brother’s girlfriend at the time, a kind girl he dated for like 5 minutes—a girl I barely knew and a girl I haven’t seen since, I don’t think. My brother couldn’t go. I knew no one else going. But I decided it was probably the last possible opportunity I would have chosen to experience all that is the beer-fueled (and not the good kind) mud pit, overflowing porta-potties (gross, I know!), and fashion that includes everything from daisy dukes, halter tops, and the best of the best homemade Derby hats (for women) on one side of the spectrum and seersucker suits, bow ties, and fedoras (for men, obviously) on the other. The infield of the Kentucky Derby is a party like none other. Anything goes! And it’s not really my cup of tea, so to speak.
The point is: I could easily have said no. I only knew the one person, and I’d only met her once. And a drunk fest is not really my scene. But had I said no, I wouldn’t have met Mike. My soul mate. The man who gave me two incredible children. Mike was only visiting Kentucky from Oregon for one week. It was a chance meeting that turned into a long-distance relationship before we had cell phones or social media, and later, a life-long marriage.
The novel, Maybe in Another Life, takes a hard look at two alternate realities that Hannah Martin, age 29, faces when she uproots her life in New York City and moves to Los Angeles. Her life is a bit of a mess, and after an evening out with several friends at a bar, she’s faced with a decision: go home with Gabby (the friend she’s staying with) or stay out longer with a past boyfriend (and possibly the love of her life), Ethan. In a plot that I don’t typically get excited about (Sliding Doors stressed me out), Hannah’s life splits into two alternate realities based on that single decision.
In one direction, something truly frightening happens to her and one wonders if she’ll ever have a second chance with Ethan. And in the other, Hannah rekindles her relationship with Ethan, but something from her past threatens to derail that special relationship. In true, Taylor Jenkins Reid-fashion, the reader goes on an emotional journey with a cast of beautifully written characters, extremely witty dialogue, and an expertly crafted plot that keeps you fully engaged until the very end.
Purchase the book on Bookshop. Or purchase on Amazon.
“I know there may be universes out there where I made different choices and they led me somewhere else, led me to someone else. And my heart breaks for every single version of me that didn't end up with you.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, Maybe in Another Life
Here are the 5 Thoughts I’m Having about Maybe in Another Life:
This book is not a new release. So, maybe you’ve already read this book. I pay zero attention to when a book was released when I’m looking for what I want to read next. Do you pay attention to this? I guess there might be people who search new releases, but why would I discriminate against books simply because of their age?
I’m still in love with Taylor Jenkins Reid (as an author, of course). You can read my thoughts on two other books I’ve read by Reid: One True Loves and After I Do. I can officially recommend all three of these books. Also, Julia Whelan narrated each of these books on audio, and she’s one of my absolute favorite narrators.
Reid also wrote Daisy Jones & the Six. If you haven’t read this book, maybe you watched the Netflix series starring Riley Keough, Elvis Presley’s granddaughter. It was excellent.
I’m so happy I picked up Maybe in Another Life simply because it jumpstarted me into picking up fiction reads to start 2025. I’d been gravitating toward nonfiction in recent months, and I really needed some fiction to escape into recently. Now, I’m on a roll with fiction reads. The book I’m currently listening to is making me laugh out loud, which is incredibly cathartic. (Yes, unfortunately, I’ve needed this.)
Not going to lie… Maybe in Another Life made me wonder what alternate reality I’d be living had I not met my husband that fateful first Saturday in May in Kentucky in 1995. Glad I don’t have to find out, but it was an interesting mental path to travel.
“When you sit there and wish things had happened differently, you can’t just wish away the bad stuff. You have to think about all the good stuff you might lose, too. Better just to stay in the now and focus on what you can do better in the future.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, Maybe in Another Life
Tell me: have you read Maybe in Another Life? You can purchase the book on Bookshop, or buy on Amazon.
Better still, tell me if you ever think about the choices you made that altered the trajectory of your life. Going down this road is risky though. It can be an emotional journey.
Before I leave you, I’m also curious about your reading goals for 2025. I don’t really make reading goals, but I love that I’m starting the year out reading more fiction. If you’re feeling up to it, would love to chat in the comments.
Until next time,
Heather
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter is a consistently inconsistent publication of my thoughts, though I’ve vowed to be more consistent in 2025. You can find more of my shorter thoughts and links to things I’m reading in my Notes.
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