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."

What a brilliant read! I felt like I was reading "Are You There God, it's Me, Margaret", for grown-ups! In fact, Judy Blume's iconic book is mentioned in this story, so maybe that was some of the author's inspiration?

Told across multiple timelines, we get to know Asha as a teenager, with her first love, Jason, and in the present as the wife of Charlie, who is in a coma having suffered an aneurysm. Throughout Asha's life, her constants are her wonderful father and her best friend, Bridget.

I absolutely LOVED Asha! She was totally relatable and I felt her anguish, her happiness, her hopes and her struggles. Along with Bridget, she made me laugh, many times, and her bond with her ever supportive dad warmed my heart.

My only criticism, and it's a small one, is that I found the timeline switches confusing at times, and had to go back and check which year we were in.

I can't believe this is a debut and look forward to more from this fabulous author.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Jaclyn Youhana Garver and Lake Union, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a good book. I read it in less than a day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It flips between multiple timelines throughout the book and that was one of my favorite parts, I love how intriguing books can become with that aspect.

I was annoyed with the main character at times but honestly it’s because in one of the timelines she’s a young girl just figuring out life. I had to remind myself she was going to make dumb decisions, because she was just a teenager! I loved/hated the side characters and I think that’s a testament to how well they were written.

For my Christian girlies, there’s a very hypocritical christian character in this book that I could not stand. The author wrote her to be everything we are not and it made me so sad, I wish we weren’t portrayed that way but I know at the end of the day…so many people act that way and claim to be christian. There are also a couple sex scenes that I had to skip.

Overall I enjoyed this! 3.5 stars!!! It will be published on November 12th, 2024

I think every woman always wonders, at some point, what happened to their first love from high school.

After high school, Asha married Charlie (not her first love) and they lived a wonderful life until Charlie suffered an aneurysm and went into a coma for a year. Just as Charlie has been in the coma for one year, Jason, her first love, comes back into Asha's life.

This is a multilayered story. It goes back and forth through various timelines, but not chronologically. The story jumps back to different points of time through Asha's life. We watch her in an off-and-on relationship with Jason. We watch her meet Charlie and marry him.

Asha has many arguments with herself. She suffers guilt. .She doesn't know if she should see Jason. She goes through a multitude of emotions. Love, guilt, need, acceptance. Through it all she has a best friend, Bridget. Everyone should have a BFF like Bridget. For years and years, she stands by Asha, provides a sounding board, support and relief. Just an excellent friend.

Another interesting character is Maura, Charlie's sister. She is a completely off-the-wall religious fanatic. No redeeming qualities at all. I'm not crazy about Jason’s character. He is a very moody and possessive. I honestly don't understand why Asha is always drawn back to him.

I found some parts of the book very good. But parts of it were too wordy for me. That slowed the flow of the story,

The premise was great but I think I would have liked a story better that was a little more fast paced.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

i’m actually a little lost for words.. it’s a breathtaking story of love and loss and love and loss but with different loves. a first love is so strong it can kill you when it ends but when your true love story ends it leads you back to that first love.
a must read this autumn, just beautifully written

This was more relatable and moving than I was expecting it to be.
At first I was a little worried about the dual timeline - which is a form of narrative that most of the times doesn't please me, but the writing is so pure and engaging that I actually didn't mind that.

This book was a lot but also it focused a lot on infidelity and I hate that. I think the story with the love triangle was annoying, like your own husband is in a coma, and she is now distracted by an ex. I hate that, it is so demeaning to her husband. I did not like this

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

What an emotional rollercoaster. This is a slow, emotional immersion into love, loss, and healing.

Asha's struggle with her husband's coma and the return of her first love isn't the typical love triangle, it's more about the messy, real life ways we grieve and move forward. The pacing can feel slow at times, but the emotional development makes up for it.

If you enjoy reflective stories that focus on internal conflicts and growth, this one's worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a hard book to read. Ashley's husband, Charlie, has been in a coma for almost a year and to read about her heartache was difficult, luckily Asha has a wonderful support system in her father and best friend Bridget. Just as she settles into a routine and gains acceptance, her first love, Jason arrives back on the scene and it brings up memories of the past for Asha, and not all of them are good memories.

This was an exceptional debut. I love the author's writing style it was very realistic and flowed wonderfully. I liked getting to know Asha in both incarnations. The younger part of her story was a lovely coming-of-age tale and her current timeline was heartbreaking yet hopeful at the same time.

I loved that the author showed the different ways we grieve and how it isn’t linear. Although there are two men that Asha loves this is not a love triangle, but an exploration of the different kinds of love. Full of humour and wit Then, Again will take you on a journey of love, loss and hope. I won't soon forget this one. All. The. Stars.

This is Asha's journey told in dual timelines. When she was young, in middle school and the things she learned along the way. Her first boyfriend, Jason, her relationship with her father, and her best friend. Then when she grew up, she met Charlie, and then we learn what her life is then. Now her husband is in a coma, and has been for a year. She goes and visits him, reads to him, talks to him, even though he probably doesn't hear her. Her first boyfriend, moves back after getting a divorce, and wants to see her and spend time with her. She still loves her husband Charlie, but it has been a year so she is at a crossroad, as to what to do. The crossroads of life, gives you options, and you have to decide which one you are going to choose, and what happens after making your choice. It makes for an interesting read, but also made me think about what I would do.
I received an ARC from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.

Thank you netgalley for the e-arc of this upcoming novel.

This will appeal to the masses, for its wonderfully written prose and its story that is full of heart.

I am stunned to say the least. 5 stars

I was captivated from the beginning and it brought me back to middle school when I first had my first guy crush. A definite recommend

Thanks publisher and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

Jaclyn Garver's Then, Again is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the journey of moving forward, presented through a masterful dual-timeline narrative. Set against the backdrop of Cincinnati and its suburbs, the novel delicately balances the themes of grief and joy with a touch of nostalgic charm.

At the heart of the story is Asha, who faces an unbearable reality: her husband, Charlie, is in a coma following an aneurysm, leaving behind a shell of the vibrant man he once was. The emotional weight of this situation is intensified when Asha receives a message from Jason, her first love, which stirs up a storm of memories and unresolved feelings. The novel navigates through Asha’s emotional turmoil as she grapples with her past and present loves.

Garver skillfully intertwines two significant phases of Asha’s life, allowing readers to experience her love for both Charlie and Jason. This dual timeline structure enriches the narrative, providing a deeper understanding of Asha's struggles and triumphs. The shifts between the 1990s, the mid-to-late 2000s, and 2017 are executed with finesse, making the transitions smooth and engaging.

One of the novel’s standout features is its authentic portrayal of Asha’s relationships beyond her romantic entanglements. The bonds she shares with her best friend and her father—who is a first-generation immigrant from Iran—are depicted with such sincerity that they elicit genuine emotional responses. The unwavering support and love from these characters add a layer of depth and tenderness to the story.

Garver’s writing is evocative and immersive, capturing the essence of the 1990s and 2000s with vivid references to the music and cultural vibes of the era. This nostalgic element not only grounds the story in its setting but also amplifies its emotional impact. However, while the descriptive quality of Garver’s prose creates a vivid sense of place, it can also lead to a slower pace, which might not appeal to all readers.

Though I was thoroughly engaged throughout the novel, I found myself yearning for more at the end. While the story’s resolution is satisfying, an epilogue might have offered a deeper glimpse into Asha’s future, leaving me almost begging for one.

Then, Again is a compelling read that balances the melancholy of loss with the hope of renewal. Garver’s ability to portray complex emotions and relationships with honesty and humor makes this book a memorable experience. This is my first encounter with Garver’s work, but it certainly won’t be my last. Her portrayal of dynamic, diverse characters and her thought-provoking storytelling mark her as an author to watch.

Though I was deeply engaged in Asha’s romantic relationships with both Charlie and Jason, what touched me most were the connections she had with her best friend and her father. The authentic love and unwavering support they offered Asha, regardless of the situation, felt incredibly sincere and poignant, causing me to say "aww" out loud more than once.

"Then, Again" is a lovely, moving reflection on growth and relationships. The story visits different points in Asha's life, from her first love to her happy marriage to the aftermath of a crisis. But this book is about more than romantic love; it's about the love between friends, between a father and a daughter, and between the family we take on in a marriage. Jaclyn Youhana Garver is a master of writing emotions, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you for giving me a copy. This was my first read of the author and i was really engaged in the writing style. The story was emotional and gave you different sides of the story.

Then, Again by Jaclyn Youhana Garver is a captivating novel that seamlessly blends love, loss, and the journey of moving forward. From the first page, I was hooked and found myself immersed in Asha's story. Her emotional journey—torn between her comatose husband, Charlie, and rekindling a complicated past with her first love, Jason—felt deeply real and relatable.

Garver's use of a dual timeline, moving between Asha’s youth in the 90s and her present, beautifully showcases how past loves can shape our present decisions. The story evokes a full spectrum of emotions, balancing heartbreak with moments of humor. Asha’s interactions with her quirky sister-in-law Maura added much-needed lightness to the heavier themes.

This book is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking, a bittersweet exploration of the complexities of love.

I really enjoyed "Then, Again." It grabbed me from the first page, which I love in a book, and continued to be a very quick read. It is about love and loss and moving on. The timeline jumps back and forth, from current time, where the main character, Asha's adored husband is in a coma, to the past and her first tumultuous love that starts in middle school and continues on and off through college. Will Asha move on from her dying husband? And will she let that first love back into her life? "Then, Again" is a very honest look at love and while sad, it is also at times laugh out loud funny. The husband's sister, Maura, is so delightfully wacky. Garver describes the 1990s-2000s so adeptly. It totally brought me back to what middle school and liking a boy for the first time was like.

In "Then, Again," Asha confronts the heartrending reality of her husband Charlie's year-long coma resulting from a brain aneurysm. This emotional upheaval places her in a state of uncertainty, as she navigates the profound sorrow of his absence while clinging to a flicker of hope. Asha's visits to Charlie in the nursing home, where she engages in conversations and offers small tokens of comfort, illuminate her struggle to relinquish the love they once cherished. This poignant examination of grief encapsulates Asha's internal struggle between her fidelity to Charlie and her desire for a future devoid of him.

In the midst of her challenges, Asha reestablishes a connection with Jason, her first love from her formative years, further complicating her emotional landscape. Their relationship, which was once fraught with turmoil, reignites feelings of affection and remorse as Asha attempts to reconcile her past with her aspirations for the future. The narrative adeptly captures the intricacies of love and the difficulties of rekindling former romances, as Asha contends with memories of her youthful relationship amidst her current anguish. Supporting characters, including Asha’s father and her closest friend, provide vital emotional stability, while her strained relationship with Charlie’s sister, Maura, introduces additional conflict stemming from their divergent perspectives on hope and healing.

Garver's prose is evocative, skillfully portraying the subtleties of Asha's grief and her journey toward acceptance. Although the novel explores Asha's past through various flashbacks, some readers may perceive this structure as overwhelming, occasionally detracting from the compelling present-day narrative. Nonetheless, "Then, Again" presents a thoughtful investigation of love, loss, and the resilience required to embrace new beginnings, ultimately rendering it a poignant narrative for those grappling with the complexities of relationships and the process of moving forward after tragedy.

Tbank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the emotional ride this book took me on. Experiencing various stages of Asha's life, her first love, and all that goes with it was a ride worth taking. The book essentially takes us through three phases of Asha's life and introduces us to Bridget, Jason, and Charlie- three people who play a major role in her life. I did struggle to like Jason in the teenage years and wasn't sure how I felt about him being back in her life as an adult. The author did have Jason address his past issues and talk about them with Asha, but I still had a hard time moving past his character/personality.

I found myself talking about this book with other people, as I was reading it. Wondering how I might respond, if I was in the same situation and asking other people what their thoughts were. It was a book that didn't stray far from my mind when I had to pause my reading and I am thankful to NetGalley for the ARC.