Talk about ripping my heart to shreds and finding ways to put it back together again over and over again. Jaclyn Youhana Garver's first novel is beautiful and raw and makes you feel all the emotions!

"𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲—𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲."

The novel follows Asha who is trying to figure out how to keep living after her husband is taken from her. A year after the tragedy, her first love, recently divorced, comes back into town wanting to reconnect. You're transported back and forth between the past and present taking you through every time Asha falls in love and picks up the pieces after being broken.

The tragedy that befalls Asha's husband is heavy, but you don't feel like you're carrying too much of the weight. The sadness is broken up by humor and lightheartedness as Asha tells the story of how they fell in love and how they'll always be in love.

You also get to meet Jason, Asha's first love, who honestly reminded me so much of my own high school boyfriend. Teenage years are weird. You relive awkward middle school dances and first kisses and jealousy. Remembering a time when you felt like you were an adult, but really you were just going through growing pains.

Everything feels so candid, and that's really what makes you forget you're reading a novel. I think it’s a must read for anyone who has felt a heartbreak and needs to remember the hope of what comes after.

Then, Again by Jaclyn Youhana Garver is a deeply emotional and insightful novel that explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The story follows the journey of a woman reflecting on past relationships and pivotal moments that shaped her life. Garver’s writing is rich with introspection, offering a poignant exploration of how the past continues to influence the present. With strong character development and a reflective narrative, Then, Again is a compelling read for fans of literary fiction focused on personal growth and healing.

3/5 Stars

Then, Again by Jaclyn Youhana Garver is a heartfelt story about love, loss, and moving forward. The main character, Asha, is dealing with the emotional weight of her husband Charlie being in a coma, while also reconnecting with her first love, Jason, after receiving a message from him. It’s an interesting premise that explores Asha’s struggle to balance the past and present, especially with her complicated feelings about love and grief.

One thing I really liked about this book was the way Garver portrays Asha’s relationships with her friends and family. Her bond with her best friend and her dad, who’s a first-generation immigrant, added a lot of emotional depth to the story. These connections felt real and helped ground Asha as a character.

Garver’s writing is beautiful, and I could really feel the 1990s and 2000s vibes throughout the book. The music and cultural references from those eras were fun and added a nice nostalgic touch. However, at times, the descriptions felt a bit too detailed, and the pace slowed down, making it harder to stay fully engaged.

The dual timeline approach—jumping between Asha’s past and present—was an interesting way to tell the story, but sometimes it made things feel a little uneven. I did enjoy the way it gave more context to Asha’s emotions, but there were moments where I wished the plot would move faster. And while the ending was satisfying, I couldn’t help but want a bit more, like an epilogue to show where Asha goes from there.

Overall, Then, Again is a solid read that deals with some tough emotions in a sincere way. It didn’t completely blow me away, but I enjoyed it enough to be interested in reading more from Garver in the future.

I think this book would appeal to readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories about love and personal growth. If you're a fan of dual timeline narratives or books that dive deep into relationships and grief, you'll likely appreciate this one. Fans of contemporary fiction with a nostalgic touch will also enjoy it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A poignant and emotionally charged story that explores love, friendship, and the complexities of moving on.
 
This novel follows Asha, a woman whose husband has been in a coma for a year. When her first love, Jason, reappears in her life, she’s forced to confront her past while navigating the delicate balance of loss and hope.
 
What stood out the most to me about this was the compelling aspects of the author's beautiful, poetic writing. Her writing is flawless, perfectly depicting the feelings of young love, those first-time feelings. Her ability to evoke such raw emotion while also delivering moments of humor was immensely admirable.
 
Asha, our heroine, is incredibly relatable, which drew me into this story a whole lot more. Her emotional complexity makes her journey feel authentic, and I really loved seeing her HEA play out. Jason, her first love, is a bit of a disappointment. Which I guess you could say all first loves are, but still. His actions, at times, come off as unloyal and frustratingly typical of a boy who hasn’t fully grown or changed. This made some of the books emotional stakes feel a little muddled, especially when Asha’s feelings towards him seemed so all over the place and shifted so easily. Even still, in the end, I loved him and Asha together. As for Charlie, there’s not enough words to express my love for that sweet man.

Despite this, the plot itself was compelling and kept me turning the pages. It’s a quick read, which I very much appreciated, yet it still carries significant emotional depth. The story touches on topics of love, grief, letting go, and what it means to heal, making it both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. I would love to see this be a movie adaptation one day!

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆!

ᥫ᭡ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀/𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Second chance
Dual timeline
Found family
Love triangle
First love
Husband in a coma

4.3 ★

This was a good read! I loved the jumps back and forth in time and getting the chance to see the characters as then and now. This was a complex story dealing with complex emotions and I really appreciated how realistic the characters were. This was just one of those stories that could hit so close to home and make your heart hurt for the characters. I would definitely recommend this one! I look forward to more from this author. Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this!

This book was good. The story felt somewhat original.

I didn't particularly love any of the characters, and I think that's good. The story felt true. Honest. Heartbreaking. Because of that, the characters made mistakes, which made them slightly unlikeable. Easier to relate to, if I'm honest.

I would recommend this book.

NetGalley provided me with an ARC of this book. I thank them for the opportunity.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to enjoy this, I couldn't finish it. I gave it to page 100, but it hadn't grabbed me, so I DNF'd it. As a debut, I hope the author continues to produce works, as this could be a me problem, rather than creativity.

A dazzling debut that is all the stars ah-mazing! The down to earth conversational tone makes it feel like you're sitting back talking to an old friend. Which is a stellar feat considering, this contains heavy content. It raises hard questions regarding grief and love and how those paths can become entwined and a twisted mess sometimes.

Asha's husband Charlie has been in a coma for a year with a poor prognosis. She has a wonderful father who moved to America from Iran as a boy. I valued their relationship so much. A widowed single father who is lovely and supportive-YES! Her friendship with Bridget spans the multiple timelines in the novel. She's one of those friends who feels like the best kind of family. Everyone needs a Bridget in their lives! Despite the support she receives, Asha's life is filled with grief and uncertainty. An old flame that she grew up with resurfaces bringing with him a lot of memories, emotions to work through, but a bit of hope too.

Multiple timelines featuring the '90's, 2000's, and 2017 show readers the many layers that make Asha who she is. The author painted an authentic portrait of this character; I felt like I really got to know her. It gave insight into the challenges she was facing as she moved forward.

This novel enchanted me from the first line. The connections between characters remain honest despite not shying away from the tough moments.

Well Done!👏👏👏

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the Advance Readers Copy

Beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking, heartwarming. I wanted to dislike Jason because he was so controlling and jealous that it really irritated me. But I remembered what it was like to be a teenager in love. Those feelings are hard. I got so invested in every person. It was a very good read.

Then, Again, A Novel by Jaclyn Youhana Garver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I hated this book to end! A poignant story about the adaptation and evolvement of love from teen-aged angst to a mature, comfortable love.

Asha's husband, Charlie, has been in a coma for a year. Her best friend and her dear father support her through this grief. Asha is confronted with the dilemma of remaining loyal to the love of her life and facing the inevitable and burdensome act of moving forward with her life. The relationships with Charlie's family are strained or non-existent.

Then, her first love, Jason, reemerges in her life while her religious zealot of a sister-in-law stands by judging and accusing Asha about her decisions with both Charlie and Jason.

It is a beautiful yet heart-wrenching story about the colossal quandary of decisions and emotions that accompany life and death decisions.

Splendidly written! The story flowed easily. The perspective alternated between Asha's memories of her first love experiences, to her encounters during her marriage, and her present situation. These perspectives at various times in Asha's life were easy to follow and made sense, one piece at a time. I connected with the characters quickly and was immersed in their development.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #LakeUnionPublishing , for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ThenAgain #WomensFiction #EthicalDilemma
#Romance #LoveStory
@netgalley @lakeunionauthors

THEN, AGAIN by Jaclyn Youhana Garver is that novel you read that feels so close to real life that you could swear you know these people through their joys and sorrows, mistakes and triumphs. Her husband in a coma, Asha visits his rehabilitation/nursing home, ekes out a mindless existence at work, and mulls her past with him and on her own. The story moves through time, much like the way we think of our lives, in memories and moments of connection as well as heartbreak. Her past and present relationships sustain her and nudge her into remembering who she was and who she might be, what she might live with a past lover in her here and now. I enjoyed spending time with Asha, the fluid story that flowed so well, keeping me reading fast and hard to see what happened next while aching at speeding through wonderful dialogue and twists and turns that felt like real life. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Then, Again by Jaclyn Youhana Garver is an incredibly well done debut.
A very relatable story with intriguing characters.
The author did a great job exploring the complex feelings.
I was totally absorbed in the story from the first page. It is a fascinating and well written book.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for this arc. Unfortunately I DNF'd it at 26% i just couldn't get into it at all... and it Unfortunately lost me. I tried to pick it back up but just couldn't. I'm sure it was just not for me.

It's not really a review because I didn't finish. I must admit that I am a very impatient reader. But I think this book wasn't for me. I should have read the blurb more carefully because I didn't like the female protagonist's sudden attraction towards her ex when her husband was in a coma. No matter what. Also, the story switches from present to past and back to present. Honestly, I wasn't interested in the past. I didn't want to know about Asha and Jason's affair in the past. Or how she met her husband. Maybe because I couldn't connect with the characters and the writing style. 

Thank you for the copy. Sorry, it didn't work for me. Not posting the review anywhere else.

Interesting but also feel like a big element of fate:
When her husband Charlie has an aneurysm and falls into a coma, Asha is suddenly alone. He is/was her best friend, their relationship surprisingly perfect. But after a year, it's time for Asha to face reality and try to get out there a little. That's when her old boyfriend (and the one of many "firsts") suddenly calls.
The story is well-written, going back and forth between the present and Asha's childhood and teenage years.
It does however feel like things fall into place a bit too much. There is a lot of back and forth between her and her high school boyfriend Jason, even at the time. Are things every really that much of a "moment of fate"?

Second chances. Not just romance but in life. Asha's husband Charlie isn't dead but he's in a coma from which he won't recover. Her high school love Jason is newly back in town and he brings her some joy. This moves through Asha's life to tell her story in three time periods. Were it just about her choice about Charlie this would still be.a good read but this adds in Asha's father and their shared Iranian heritage as well as her friend Beth. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. There might not be a lot of surprises but it's worth spending time here.

This book is told through multiple timelines. Asha’s tumultuous relationship with Jason, when she met Charlie, and present day with Charlie in a coma. This book was a pleasant surprise. Layered with grief and love and just messy, authentic life. Bridget was an amazing best friend, I loved her character. Also really enjoyed the journey through Asha’s first love and reconnecting with him now. It was a really beautiful book. Thanks netgalley and the publisher.

This engrossing novel introduces us to Asha, whose husband Charlie has been in a coma for a year. Her first love Jason is back in town and recently divorced, and as she negotiates her raw grief, she also finds a second chance at a love that was formative in her life. With a supportive cast including Asha's father, who was born in Iran but emigrated to the U.S. and settled outside of Cincinnati, and her best friend Bridget, Asha's narration explores layers of love and loss with sensitivity and nuance but also with an ultimately hopeful outlook. The book includes three timelines in alternating chapters: The present, Asha's 20s when she met Charlie, and Asha's adolescence-to-college romance with Jason. As I started each chapter, I was a little sad that I was skipping back or forward in time, but by two pages in, I was reinvested in that particular timeline. Charlie's sister provides interesting tension, and I have to say, Charlie is the best. I'm glad we get to meet him in the past--it makes his present so much more heartbreaking because he's such a wonderful match for Asha. The late-'90s and early-aughts vibes are strong, as are the Midwestern ones. Asha's exploration of her inherited Iranian culture--especially the food--provides an interesting subplot. All in all a life-affirming read. I look forward to whatever the author writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

The book is written in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there with Adira, feeling her sadness, joy, and all the ups and downs she faces. There are many moments that make you think about how our memories can shape who we are and how we connect with the people around us.

Overall, Then, Again is a thoughtful and touching story that helps you understand the importance of family and memories. This is a great read if you enjoy stories that are real and relatable!

Title: Then, Again
Author: Jaclyn Youhana Garver
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: November 12, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Considerate • Messy • Moving

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Asha's husband, Charlie, isn't dead, but he's been gone just the same since the day his aneurysm trapped him in a coma. Everything that made him Charlie left this world a year ago for a limbo that has trapped Asha, too. She doesn't want to stay in this situation, but she can't bear to kiss the love of her life goodbye.

Luckily, she's not alone. Asha has the support of her best friend, her father, and then, unexpectedly, Jason. Asha and Jason shared a tumultuous romance from junior high through her early college years, and he's her first love. Now divorced, Jason wants to reconnect. Suddenly, the bittersweetness of her past brings Asha to life again. It feels weird. It feels wrong. But for now, it also feels kind of wonderful.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Discovering new authors and reading stories with the theme of grief weaved into the narrative are two elements I actively seek out in my reading life. Therefore, it was easy to request an advanced reader copy of Then, Again as it ticks both those boxes.

Told through multiple timelines, this multilayered story gives the reader a glimpse into Asha's life at different stages. There is no surprise I felt a deep connection to the MC as I, too, have felt many of the feelings and thought a lot of the thoughts she has throughout the narrative. What really drew me into the story is the authentic relationships, particularly those with her best friend, Bridget, and with her father.

There were a few plot holes and some much needed editing that were equally hard to ignore, yet the reflective nature of the plot kept me invested. The middle does drag, but it ends up being worth it in the end. Additionally, things got a little silly and over-the-top towards the end, which made it all a little less relatable.

Overall, Then, Again is a well thought out exploration of love and, ultimately, loss. I didn't necessarily agree with all of the MC's choices (particularly as a teenager), yet empathized with her situation and the feelings she was having. It is the relationships (beyond romantic love) that truly make this story. I would certainly read more from this author in the future.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• reflective stories
• young love
• the theme of grief

⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, death of partner, grief, medical content, medical trauma, religious bigotry, alcohol, sexual content, infidelity, mental illness, depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, divorce

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"I think it you love someone, a part of you always does. It might look different. It had to look different and change. But it's always there, yes."

"I think you believe you should not be ready for recommencer, but it comes when it must. There's no way to force it. Like the season. We believe we are not ready for the summertime to end, but then we remember the beauty in the falling leaves. There is sadness in recommncer, but there can be goodness, too. I swear on your life, there is goodness."