Josie is a young, single woman who lives in New York. The day of her birthday she has a bike accident. And when she wakes up in hospital her world is completely different.
Family, work and status changes. But mainly there is a handsome man, Rob, who claims to be her husband.
She soon realizes something weird has happened. That is not her life anymore. But does she want to go back to her old life?
I found the plot really original. And I mostly enjoyed it. Although I didn't particularly like some twists. Or reactions.

This story introduces us to Josie, a British woman now living in New York. Her life is okay - she works for a local radio station and lives in a tiny apartment, but she misses her family back home. She does have a major crush on a guy called Peter. Peter is seeing someone, but he is on the verge of leaving her, and Josie feels this is her chance to be with him! On her way to meet her friends, she has an accident, and when she wakes up, she discovers she is married to Rob and lives in a big, impressive New York penthouse! She doesn’t know Rob though, or this life that she’s woken up in! Her new life seems perfect in so many ways, but equally there are so many things missing. How does Josie get back to her old life, and does she really want to?

On first impressions this book sounded great – very Sliding Doors! The storyline switched between the two Josie’s lives but it was very easy to understand which Josie you were with, which I was glad about! The new Josie (I’ll call her penthouse Josie for ease!) takes the first part of the book and then we switch back between the two for the rest. I enjoyed both alternative lives, but usually in stories such as these, I would have a favourite and for some reason I struggled to work out which life I preferred! Josie’s original life did probably sound a little better for her, but it didn’t have Rob in it. But then again, penthouse Josie’s life sounded amazing, but there were so many other things missing from that as well!

I have to admit I found the storyline a little slow at times (in both lives) and felt that things could have been moving along a lot faster. The idea of two Josie’s who’d switched over into their alternate lives (as opposed to one Josie living both lives!) was a little confusing but it was written as uncomplicatedly as it could be (unlike this review!). I did like both Josie’s characters though and found myself being empathetic and equally frustrated with both of them. This is a really difficult book to review without giving anyway too many spoilers, and whilst there were a few little niggly things with both storylines, I have to admit that I did enjoy the book and loved the characters and location! The ending for me was absolutely perfect and with it being very reminiscent of Sliding Doors – if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen one way or the other!

Magical realism and multiverse stories are my guilty pleasure. Which is why I had to read this book after I glance at the cover and the description, and I must confess that it didn't let me down. It was a great read and at times, I wanted to be Josie.
It's a great summer read.

💫 The Love of My Other Life 💫
By CJ Connolly
Publisher: Joffe Books (June 30.2022)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

“You get to fall in love all over again. And that’s the best feeling in the world”.

Just like the book I feel split into two half’s. one part of me loved it, was refreshingly changing the pages, in love with Rob and Josie finding each other after the accident.

And then on the flip, I was slightly confused on what Josie it was at what part of the book.

The multiverse genre is one that is hit or miss for me. And it all comes down to whether I can keep the characters straight in my head.

So while this review may feel confusing, it feels true to how I felt about the book.

Part of me loved it so much (ugh, the love of Rob is a dream)… and part of me was confused and trying to keep the story straight in my head. Perhaps the most at the end.

I loved it and disliked parts. The writing was fresh and smooth; and so I think I would recommend this to ppl who enjoy the two universes colliding books. Because I can see how some may not.

3.5-4 ⭐️ for me. I enjoyed it and appreciate the chance to read and review it!

This is a story that requires readers willingness to buy into the story’s premise. This is that Jose, an ex-pat living in Brooklyn, wakes to a completely different life following a crash. Which life should Josie pick? What would you do?

Follow along with Josie in this debut novel. It is not perfect but those who enjoy alternate lives may enjoy it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 30 June 2022

I could not put this book down. It was a real page-turner. I was so invested in these characters. I ran the gamut from laughing to crying, to joy and hope. It was well written, the characters were developed, and the premise was unique.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So the alternate reality switch premise isn't exactly new, but it is always interesting to see how it's executed. This book came off a bit amateurish but it's hard for me to discern if it's the plot or the writing style. The first few chapters were so clunky. The dialogue was very cheesy and stilted. I wasn't really certain that I was going to be able to make it through the book. After a few chapters it seemed to find it's pace and improved.

The overanalyzing that each Josie does of her "other self" could be a bit much at times. Like girl, it IS you! And then to accused your husband of cheating. With YOURSELF! wtf Rob is too good for either version of Josie. Not to mention, ya f*cked Peter you self righteous hypocrite.

I enjoyed that everything came full circle for both Josie's in the end. Like a nicely wrapped present. Not sure if the multiverse would really work that way. What if one Josie had made it back, and the other was stuck in some other Josie's life. That would have been f'ed up! lol but guess you wouldn't go that way to get a HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I am conflicted about this one. I really enjoyed parts of it but the last part really didn't work for me. I enjoyed the Me Josie perspective a lot more than the her Josie and probably would have enjoyed the book more if it was only her POV.
I felt in the middle that it was building to them both being happy in their other lives but I didn't think it would go that way because that's not how these stories go. Even still I didn't feel like that was fleshed out enough so the climax felt very abrupt.

I really wanted to love this book, but it missed the mark for me. I’m hopeful that some of my gripes with this ARC might be cleared up in editing, which would significantly improve the reader experience!

What I loved:
1. The premise! What a great concept, switching lives with your alternate self at a certain point in your shared history.
2. The writing itself (aside from some of my nitpicks below) flow nicely.
3. I liked the POV change from “me” to “her” and how each was written in that respective voice — a subtle touch, but effective!.
4. The sentiment, stated explicitly near the end, that people you lose may be living an alternate timeline somewhere else, with experiences they never got to have “here” (my heart!).

What I disliked:
1. The pace was quite slow for me.
2. The fact that the characters included a “baby” or “honey” or “my love” in nearly EVERY dialogue exchange almost caused me to DNF this story. It was that distracting. Especially in the second half.
3. The fact that Josie is a British woman but doesn’t speak any British English? She says “apartment” for gods sake — I’ve never met a Brit who didn’t say “flat.” Nothing about Josie screamed British to me.
4. I wasn’t emotionally invested in the characters, really, and some of their lengthier conversations and arguments bored me in their minutiae.

I’m not really a huge fan of the romance genre, so I may be harsher than most. If this book sounds like something that would interest you, please read it! I don’t regret doing so, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m a devil about the details.

Thank you to CJ Connolly, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

3.9⭐️
0.5🌶 (not quite young teen friendly, but not spicy either)

This book was so interesting and trippy lol it was unlike any book I’ve read before and got me really thinking and questioning life🤣

This book read really slow for me and took me several days to get through, which normally would have only taken a day or two. I’m not sure why, it just didn’t grip me like I wanted it to.

It was a fade-to-black spicy novel, which I think also contributed to the speed of my reading. Ya girl likes the spice, OK!?🫣

Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a very interesting plot line!

It releases in a week from today! Go getcha a copy🤩

DNF. This was all dialogue, no world-building. Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book.

The entire premise of it was so interesting to me. Multiverses and the idea behind them has always interested to me. So, the fact that this was set in one(or two?) was cool. I loved the characters. Both of the Josie’s were great characters to me. I did find The Other Josie a little selfish, but it wasn’t so bad that I was annoyed. I especially loved the brother, David.

Overall, this was a super quick read that drew me in from the very beginning. Lots of conflict and problems that needed solving.

Read this one if you’re interested in parallel universes and dual POV romances!

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the advance read of this book.
Wow, what a well written debut! I can't wait to see what this author writes next! I really enjoyed part 1 and instantly loved Rob.
I read this book in parts as it flowed better that way. It was a quick read. I really enjoyed it. Wow it really makes you think of the possibilities of our life choices
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh Josie. Talk about a choice! Josie finds herself in the multiverse after an accident. Is she the woman who lives in a. walk up and has a radio show or is she the wife of Rob with a fancy apartment and a job in communications for a real estate empire? She knows something is wrong- well both Josies do- so they write a diary documenting their lives. The problem for Josie is that if she chooses to stay in her upscale life, she loses her brother and cousin but if she choses downtown, she loses Rob. But there's someone else waiting for her downtown isn't there? This got a little repetitive in spots (only natural given the premise) but it was an interesting read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I know what my choice would have been.

Absolutely lovely book! I was in a horrible reading slump during June and this book really helped pull me back into my reading without making it seem like a chore.

Such a great spin on Sliding Doors, it's the question we all ask ourselves, what would my life be like if...
Refreshing writing style, detailed and descriptive to suck you in and help you build a vivid image in your mind of the characters and their surroundings as the story unfolds.

Definitely an author to look our for in the future

With thanks to netgalley for allowing me to review. The love of my other life.

Sadly this book was a did not finish.

The love of my other life, sounded like a really good premise, but it just didn't hold my interest and I felt that I couldn't continue to read the book.

When I read the blurb from this book, I knew I wanted – no needed – to read this. And I was hooked from the beginning.
Josie wakes up in a completely different version of her life. Suddenly she is married, has a different job and she looks different. I loved the fact the book was written from both the Josie’s perspectives.
This book makes you think about what kind of choices you would make. Would you go back to your own life, if your new life seems to be everything you ever wanted?
This story shows how a life may seem perfect, but could be everything but. The way the author wrote this, with the different perspectives kept me addicted from start to finish. And it also broke me a little bit. The way Josie has to choose, the way she has to choose for herself to be happy was so well written and did so many things to my heart.
Though this book was different from any other book I have read, it also didn’t really feel new? While reading I got the idea that I already read this some time. I still loved the story and it was the perfect summer read, but I didn’t experience a complete wow-feeling, if that makes sense.
I would totally recommend!

*I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I'm pretty picking when it comes to alternate reality, time difference stories, and this one did not disappoint. It was a really unique take on the idea of the multiverse and I enjoyed both versions of Josie a lot. The author did an incredible job giving them individual personalities while keeping them the same person, which is a big feat to pull off. I found myself rooting for them both and wondering where their lives would go. The whole David portion was so heartwarming in one universe and heart wrenching in the other.

I will say that while I enjoyed a lot of the pop culture references, those things tend to throw me out of my suspension of disbelief so it was a little distracting at times but overall not too bad.

The Love Of My Other Life by C.J. Connolly delivered a fresh and fun twist to the alternate universe trope! I really loved the dual POV and getting to see the lives of both Josie's. Josie is a relatable and charming character in both timelines and the book touches on a hard question for any of us, choosing between your family and the love of your life. I can't wait to read more of C.J. Connolly's books and would definitely pick up a sequel to this one if there ever is one. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Joffe Books for granting me access to an ARC for The Love Of My Other Life by C.J. Connolly in exchange for an honest review.