An enjoyable, relatable, and well-written read with an intriguing premise.

"I can't decide if I want kids or just feel like I should want them." Everything about the main character is so painfully relatable.

Frankie feels like she is stuck in life. Her friends are married, excelling in their careers, and having children, while it feels like she is not moving forward. So when a freak kebab accident lands her in purgatory, where she gets to re-live five potential outcomes of her life based on her major decisions, she has to make a decision whether she wants to begin again or move onto the afterlife.

This book was like a happier, lighthearted version of the Midnight Library. While I really enjoyed the premise of this book, I found the main character to be quite juvenile and frustrating. Because she followed five different possibilities for her life, it felt like each path just really scratched the surface and didn’t allow for much personal or relational growth. I think had there been more time spent on fewer of the possible outcomes of her life, I would have felt much more fulfilled from the book and could have connected to Frankie more. However, all that being said doesn’t detract from the fact that this was a fun read that I blew through.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

Begin Again by Helly Acton reminds me of my favorite book The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. They share the same premise of the protagonist dying but having the chance to explore other lives they could have lived had they made different choices. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book up until the last 15% of it, I felt like the story got really predictable and slow. I also finished the book wishing they had developed more of the story once she chooses a life, it felt like the story ended too quickly. I thought that the dialogue was really well thought out though and I enjoyed the plot and all of the characters.

Frankie’s life abruptly ends in a freak accident. What does this mean for her? She gets to travel to different moments in time to see what versions of her life could look like. It was a really interesting premise for a book and I was very curious to see which path she would choose. This book heavily focuses on self growth and reflection as Frankie gets glimpses into how her life could be different and all the what ifs. I would have loved more romance, but I still enjoyed it!

Thank you so much HarperCollins and NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the eARC! The idea behind this book truly appealed to me. Stories with magical realism, or in this case, several alternate realities, have always piqued my curiosity - so I was very excited to read this "sliding doors" story. I liked how Frankie examined her life from several angles and viewpoints, she was given the opportunity to start her story anew each time and attempt to make things right, which is something I believe most of us would like to do - making this story relatable and genuinely interesting. You couldn't help but root for Frankie, The pace was a little too slow for my taste,  but that's my only real critique! Highly recommend!

This book included some of my favorite topics and tropes. As everyone does, I wonder sometimes how my life would have been forever altered had I chosen certain paths versus the ones I ultimately took. I enjoyed reading through Frankie’s experiences and seeing her epiphany that her life wasn’t so terrible after all and loved the ending.

Frankie McKenzie feels lost in her job, her friend group and her dating life. And then she trips on a kebab and dies. But she gets a special opportunity to find out what would have happened if she had chosen a different path at five crossroad moments in her life. Each moment has it's pros and cons and offers enlightening lessons to Frankie along the way. In the end, she will have to decide if any of them are worth going back to, or if she wants to just continue to a mysterious “final destination."

***
I really enjoyed the way this book wove humor into the tough decisions Frankie had to make. Having to acclimate to a situation you just got basically dropped into made for some hilarious moments. Even though the book has magical realism, it feels genuine in its emotion and weighty choices.

Also, this book was so thought-provoking. What if you could go back and change just one decision you made? How would it affect your journey? I love the idea that you might not want to “fix” your past because your “mistakes” might just be what leads to your success.

Begin Again had an amazing storyline. I absolutely loved the magical realism and multiple realities. It was so interesting and entertaining. If you liked " The Midnight Library ", this one is definitely going to be your cup of tea!

3.5/5 ⭐️ Alternate universes and a witty FMC make this read so fun!

Summary
Have you ever wanted to change the past and discover the result of choices not taken? Frankie McKenzie has never taken any risks and her life is uninspiring, she's standing still with no direction. After yet another dud of a first date, Frankie dies in a freak accident. Miraculously, she is offered a second chance. She gets to revisit key moments from her past to see how making different decisions could lead her to the fulfilling life she’s always dreamt of.

What I Liked
This book captivated me from the beginning. Have you ever had a first sentence of a book just make you so excited to read what happens next?

Had Frankie McKenzie known she was going to die in a puddle of kebab sauce in precisely one hour and thirty-two minutes, she wouldn't have worn her favorite white chiffon top.

The next chapters do an amazing job of introducing the unique character that is Frankie. While she starts as very pessimistic and self-loathing, you see a sense of humor and quirkiness that makes her still likable. She is witty and brings a lightness to serious situations that made her seem like a lot of fun. Though, I think I liked her immediately after she references the Reese Witherspoon/Mark Ruffalo romcom, Just Like Heaven.

Throughout the book, we get to explore not one, not two, but FIVE different alternate realities for Frankie. Each one only lasts 24 hours, which was the perfect amount of time. I was interested in seeing how each would turn out, and it didn't drag on too long before moving on to the next.

What I Didn't Like
I wouldn't classify this book as a Romance. There is very little romance. It is a feel-good. thought-provoking story about a woman faced with the decision of her life (literally). I didn't mind that it was about Frankie's personal journey, but then there was a large amount of focus on how her relationships may impact the life she will choose (even a potential relationship with someone she has only known for a day).

I'm not sure she had a lot of character growth by the time she makes her final choice. It seems that most of the change in Frankie is going to happen after the book ends.

Overall, I really enjoyed the alternate reality backdrop of this tale of self-discovery. I love this type of story because it keeps me entertained from beginning to end! What will they choose? I have to find out!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This review is posted to Goodreads, Instagram (_@bookish.brittany), Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

BEGiN AGAIN by Helly Acton was a funny, heartwarming story about a young woman who falls on a kebab and dies, only to find herself in the "waiting room." When she's given a second chance at life, she takes it - but which moment will she find herself in - literally! I love stories with that little bit of magical surrealism mixed. Haven't we all experienced those 'what if?' moments? Acton does a fanatastic job of giving us this question answered through Frankie's perspective. It's summer for me right now, and this was the perfect poolside read!

This was such a heartwarming read, it resembles the midnight library in its premise but I found this one to be a much more enjoyable and entertaining read.

The story follows Frankie in her 36th birthday were she slips on a kebab and dies. She finds herself in a sort of waiting room were she is able to go back and she how her life would have turned out if she made different decisions.

I feel everyone has moments in their life where they have what ifs and this story is a chance for someone to go back and actually see what if.

It’s a heartwarming relatable read. 3.5/5 stars

After another bad first date (on her birthday no less) Frankie falls in a freak kebab accident hits her head and wakes up in essentially purgatory. There she is given the chance to see what would have happened if in five major crossroads she had made other choices and then she can decide which life she wants to go back to. I always love a story where the person gets the chance to see other ways their life could have played out with magical realism. I really liked the main character Frankie and felt she was easy to connect to and I liked all her friends and side characters in the story. Rating this one 4 stars I really enjoyed it and would read more from Holly Acton for sure. I want to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book, with my honest review below*

This was such a wonderful read, engaging and showing not telling throughout. I was very interested in the premise and the plot delivered every step of the away.

I don’t know if anyone can say they haven’t wondered ‘what if?’ before, and due to an unpleasant twist of fate we get to experience Frankie, our MC’s, what ifs. Just as ours would be, seeing the other side is complex and not always wholly positive or negative. I loved the character development Frankie shows throughout, her confidence build up was needed and such a great payoff.

I loved the journey Helly Acton took me on, a mini series of vacations and thrills, with her strong friend group consistent throughout. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a light read that tugs on your heartstrings just a little.

Thank you again for the ARC, Avon and Harper Voyager. I had been eager to read books by Helly Acton as the plots seem interesting, but they were not available in ebook format. I’ll be taking the plunge and purchasing those books now as her writing is great and she delivers!

A cute feel-good read that I could see being made into a movie one day! The family/friends/found family dynamics were really well done and one of my most loved book tropes. This book does start off a little slow but the character development and interactions definitely kept me interested!
4 ⭐️

What an easy read! I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a fun read!

Delightful! Frankie is feeling insecure in her job, her romantic life, well, with her life in general. When she’s given a chance to revisit past decisions to see what would happen if she had made a different choice, Frankie learns more about herself than she thought possible.

I so enjoyed this - the plot is great, Frankie was lovely, and there is so much humor infused into a fairly dark premise.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

In her captivating novel, "Begin Again," author Helly Acton takes readers on a journey with Frankie McKenzie, a woman who finds herself yearning for something more in life. Despite her seemingly comfortable existence, Frankie's inner discontent pushes her to question the missing piece in her puzzle of happiness. Is it a place to call home, the allure of travel, a more fulfilling career, or a meaningful relationship? However, before she can decipher the answer, tragedy strikes, and Frankie meets an untimely demise in a bizarre kebab-related accident, immediately following yet another disappointing first date. But Frankie's story doesn't end there. In a twist of fate, she is miraculously granted a second chance at life. Frankie is presented with the extraordinary opportunity to revisit pivotal moments from her past, enabling her to make different choices and explore alternate paths towards the fulfilling life she has always yearned for. With a multitude of possibilities laid out before her, Frankie contemplates various options. Should she indulge in the allure of warm Mexican waters alongside the seductive Raphael? Or should she accept the heartfelt proposal from her reliable university sweetheart, Toby? Alternatively, Frankie ponders the prospect of a worry-free existence within the gilded cage offered by Callum. And let's not forget the high-powered media career she once aspired to attain. As the narrative unfolds, readers are brought along on Frankie's journey to explore the different lives she could have led. Will she finally stumble upon her elusive Mr. Right? Or will she discover that the answers she seeks have been right in front of her all along? With each turn of the page, Frankie grapples with the question that plagues her repeatedly: What would she change if she could begin again? Helly Acton expertly weaves a compelling tale that delves into the universal human desire for self-discovery, growth, and fulfillment. Through Frankie's trials and tribulations, Acton prompts readers to reflect on their own lives and ponder the possibilities that lie dormant within the choices they have made. "Begin Again" is an enthralling novel that captures the essence of second chances and the profound impact our decisions can have on our lives. Acton's storytelling prowess keeps readers engaged, eagerly flipping pages to uncover the outcomes of Frankie's alternate paths. This book is a poignant reminder that life's journey is not merely about the destinations we reach, but the choices we make along the way. In conclusion, "Begin Again" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant work of fiction that will captivate readers who enjoy exploring themes of self-discovery, love, and the unending quest for fulfillment. Through Frankie's captivating journey, Helly Acton delivers a compelling narrative that encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and contemplate the potential for change and growth.

I really liked the premise of this book. I've always been interested in stories with magical realism and in this case with multiple realities.

I enjoyed seeing Frankie looked back at her life from different points and perspectives. The story teach us a few lessons and the importance of how life will always get better, no matter the adversities. Frankie got the change of begin her story again and again every single time and try to fix things which I feel like is something that most of us would like to do.

This whole idea of her of visiting five possible lives seemed incredible to me and it kept my attention most of the time.

My only critique is that I wished that the pacing wasn't as slow as it was but overall, I really enjoyed this story.

I stopped after chapter 2 (8%). The book is written in third person present tense, which conceptually skeeves me out (who is the narrator watching their every move?) but I thought the countdown to death was cool and would maybe knock us into past tense upon death. It definitely didn’t happen before the tense stopped being fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

#NetGalleyARC Who doesn't want the chance to redo their past? After falling and knocking her head extremely badly, catch my drift?, Frankie is given the chance to revisit 4 different paths in her life that could have changed everything for her. Frankie is super relatable and written like she could be you or your best friend. I love the idea of seeing how life could have changed for you, keeping in mind that hindsight is 20/20. A great read!