Thank you Netgalley for giving me an advance copy to read. If you loved the movie “13 Going on 30”, you will love this book! It caught me from page 1! All the characters were relatable and lovable. The main character Lucy is a 26 year old who is going through with what most of did in our 20s, trying to move up the ladder at work, making ends meet and trying to survive our 20s in the dating and work world. She stumbles into a store where there is a “wishing machine” and wishes to get to the “good part” of her life. She wakes up being in her 40s with a husband, kids and the job she always wanted. Her relationship with her son is truly adorable and one of the best parts! You definitely want to root for Lucy, her husband and family. Will Lucy decide to stay once she gets comfortable with her “new life” or go back? Very enjoyable read!

What a joy this book was! With a hint of magical realism and a number of poignant life lessons, this story was such a gem to experience.

Lucy, a 26-year-old who is struggling to make ends meet and is tired of going on terrible dates, makes a wish to skip to the good part of her life after one particularly awful day. The next morning, she wakes up in a nice house, next to a very handsome man, wondering where she is (& why she is suddenly 42). What ensues next is a tale of hard lessons, embarrassment, & a lot of chaos.

I loved Lucy's character, and Sophie Cousens did such a good job of making you feel her growing pains, confusion, and embarrassment throughout the entire book. It was so easy to root for Lucy and the life she wanted, while sympathizing with her for all the rough stuff along the way. I also thought that the way Lucy's predicament played out with all of the other characters - her husband, children, friends, and coworkers - made the story that much more impactful. Once I got into the story, it was nearly impossible for me to put it down. I wanted to know so badly how Lucy's life was going to turn out. My only complaint was the length of the epilogue - I wanted more of how that fateful night turned out (even though the implication is there)!

I would highly recommend checking out this book for some good times, a little magic, and a bit of romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked this story and thought it was a fresh take on a concept I haven't seen a lot of. I loved the characters and felt connected with them and their story.

In "The Good Part," Lucy Young, weary of her mundane life at twenty-six, stumbles upon a peculiar wishing machine during a stormy night. With a heartfelt wish to skip to the brighter side of life, Lucy wakes up to a seemingly perfect future—a loving husband, a high-powered job, and two adorable children. Yet, the surreal twist leaves her questioning if she skipped to the future she desired or omitted a significant part of her life. As Lucy navigates her new reality, the novel explores themes of choice, regret, and the value of the present moment, inviting readers to reflect on their own aspirations. "The Good Part" is a delightful and thought-provoking journey into the unexpected twists of life and the transformative power of self-discovery.

This was such a great book!!!

Time travel can be iffy sometimes in books but this was done so well!

I loved Lucy from the start as a late 20 year old battling the corporate world of TV production for her chance to finally shine. One drunken & bad date night she stumbles upon a wishing machine in a bodega and wakes up as a 42 year old in a house with a husband and 2 kids.

Totally unprepared for this life she’s thrown in, Lucy learns the man is her husband Sam and the 2 kids are actually hers and she is in fact, herself in the future. Lucy goes through the motions of living her life as herself in the future while grappling with the fact that she has no memory of her life in-between.

This was beautiful to read as a mother. The best connection she forms it between her son, Felix, who calls her an alien from the start and asks when his mom will return. The two form an amazing bond and he helps her track down the wishing machine.

The struggles Lucy describes with motherhood, work, and her relationship with her husband would be relatable with everyone.

I really enjoy Sophie’s books. I feel like they always have a unique plot that is obviously not realistic, but then she makes you feel like it is with wonderful writing and in depth characters. I think we have all been there in our twenties, struggling and wanting to “skip to the good part of our life.” This book gave major 13 going on 30 vibes. I absolutely ADORED Felix, he had to be my favorite character in the book. And can we talk about Sam for a minute? Could he be more perfect? This book left me thinking a lot about it when I wasn’t reading it and what I would do in the given situation. And if a book has me thinking about it in my own life, then I know its a good one. The only thing I will say, is that I feel like the ending was a little rushed, I wanted more. And maybe it was just because I was enjoying it that much, I just wasn’t ready for it to end.

This one was so good! I think I have discovered a new favorite plot and it is time traveling. I loved Lucy's family that she had in the future. Sam was so sweet and perfect. Felix was hilarious and I loved how much he was trying to help Lucy get back. The ending was so sweet and the perfect way to see a glimpse of what was going to happen in the future.

This was such a fun concep! I was immediately draw in by the writing and humor. I'd love to check out more from this author.

3.5 stars
I had really high hopes for this one but unfortunately it was just way too similar to The Family Man for my liking.
But, let’s say what I did love!…Felix! My favorite! The old odd neighbor! The amazing friendship Lucy had with her best friends!

Lucy is a struggling adult in her mid-twenties and feeling like she is going no where in life. Then while walking home to her flat share in London she happens upon a wishing machine where she wishes to skip to the good part of her life. If youbare a fan of the movies Big, 13 Going on 30, or The Family Man you will very much enjoy this book.

THE GOOD PART was a fun and nostalgic read by Sophie Cousens, who has quickly become a favorite. Cousens' signature warmth and humor shines throughout,

You’ve heard the viral song, but the latest novel from Sophie Cousens, goes deep in asking the question, “Can we skip to the good part?” Part romance, part fantasy (heck yeah for a time travel trope!), with a side of British ensemble comedy (a la Notting Hill), and a nod to movie classics like Big and. Freaky Friday, there is SO MUCH to love about The Good Part. I often found myself laughing at Lucy’s hijinx, but was equally moved by Cousen’s portrayal of the messy middle of life as a full time working mom. While you may feel the urge to hit the fast forward button on your own life, I implore you not to skip The Good Part. Thank you to Putnam and #NetGalley for my gifted ARC!

4.5 Stars
Sophie Cousens has been hit or miss for me in the past, but I have absolutely loved her last two books— Maybe I Do & now The Good Part.

Twenty-six year old Lucy is fed-up with life and decides to make a wish to skip to “the good part” of life. So what happens when she wakes up as a forty-two year old wife & mother with no memories of the last sixteen years of her life or how she ended up here?

Sophie Cousens cited all the great time traveling movies (Big, The Family Man, 13 Going On 30, etc) as inspiration for her & this book truly made me nostalgic but also felt fresh & interesting. The Good Part really tugged at my heart-strings and made my eyes well a few times! I think a lot of people would really like this book but it especially hit me as a thirty-something mom and wife.

**Be sure to check trigger warnings because it had two major events that could be triggering…but they’re also major spoilers so decide what is best for you before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not gonna lie, this book gave me some anxiety. As fun as time travel may sound, it was a little like the dream where you have to make a presentation or take a test & you’re completely clueless about the subject. Lucy is a twenty something who is over the drudgery of her life & makes a wish to get to the good part of her life. And then she wakes up a forty something with a husband, 2 children, & a big time job. With no idea how she got there. Oof. It was the job that gave me the most anxiety. There was enough warmth & humor with her family relationships to take the sting out of not remembering how she got the family. Really I would’ve read a whole book about Lucy & her son, Felix. I love Felix! Their adventures together were the best. In the end this is a heartwarming book about figuring out how you want to live your life with just a smidge of romance thrown in.
Thank you Penguin Putnam & NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What if you wished to ‘skip to the good part’ of life but when you got there, you realized all the things you’ve missed.

Would you stay? Or go back and risk losing it all, but live your whole life?

Loved reading this!

Wow this is in my opinion one of Sophie Cousens best books ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book is filled with everything a great book needs- imagination, love, friendship, time travel, Compass, & beauty. I can't say enough good things about this book!!!!!! Just go out and buy it and enjoy

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 384 / Fiction

I absolutely loved this book! Time travel and amnesia tropes are my favorite so this one really got me good.

Twenty-six-year-old Lucy Young is an underappreciated junior researcher barely making ends meet. She’s stuck sharing a rundown apartment with inconsiderate roommates and has no love life. When she has a chance encounter with a mysterious old lady and a wishing machine after an especially bad day, she wishes to skip past this struggling part of her life and just get to the good part. This is the part where she’s already paid her career dues and has met the love of her life. The next day she wakes up 16 years older living with a man she doesn’t recognize and two kids calling her mummy. Is the good part all it’s cracked up to be?

I loved all the characters in this book and watching Lucy get to know all the people in her life who love her but with a brand-new perspective. This is such a feel-good story about appreciating all the stages and people in your life—good and bad, because all these experiences feed off each other and add so much more value to your life as a whole.

Thank you @NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the advanced copy of this book. I absolutely loved it!

I was so excited to read the new Sophie Cousens book, and I'm glad to say I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much for an advanced copy.

I love Sophie's writing, and I went into this story with really high expectations. Her previous books swept me away, and I was wanting the same result from The Good Part. I went into this book also expecting a pure contemporary romance, and The Good Part is a lot more than that! It's a story about regrets and reality, friendships, and patience, among other things!

I feel like this book is equal parts romance and women's fiction, with maybe even a bigger slant towards women's fiction this go-around. I didn't hate that, but I would have been more prepared for that if the book wasn't marketed as a romance. That being said, the story gives you all the feels that movies like Big and 13 Going on 30 give you. I loved that aspect of the book because those are some of my favorite movies, and The Good Part manages to be both inspired by those type of movies and also stand apart from them.

There are some pretty emotional aspects to this story, and I don't want to give too much away...but it is not what I'd call a light-hearted book. It blends a serious tone with magical realism in a way only Sophie Cousens can do. I ended up really liking this story, and I hope you will consider reading it! I'm a very character driven reader, and I didn't completely identify with the characters in this book, so that's why I ended up with a 4⭐️ rating. The story itself, though, is very very good!

Star Rating: 4⭐️

Be careful for what you wish for! This story is like a twist on the movie 13 going on 30 but add in motherhood and real life. This is a must read!

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cute book just what I've come to expect from Sophie Cousens. I really liked how Lucy and the people in her future dealt with her leap. I feel like in most leap stories the rest of the cast has no idea what is happening. I like that she told her people and I loved all the different ways they all handled it. Even though I knew it was just a story I was rooting for Lucy the whole way and I'm still hoping for all her dreams to come true. Sometimes I feel like characters really do live on somewhere and this is that kind of book.