Audiobook Review: The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Audiobook Review: The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa SteinkeThe Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke
Narrator: Lisa Larsen
Published by Dreamscape Media on April 26th 2016
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Women, Family Life, General, Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Length: 11 hrs.
Source: Library
Goodreads
four-stars

If you could repeat one year of your life, what would you do differently?

This heartwarming and hilarious novel from the authors of The Status of All Things and Your Perfect Life features three best friends who get the chance to return to the year they turned 40, the year that altered all of their lives in ways big and small - and get the opportunity to change their future.

But it doesn't take long for all three women to learn that reliving a life and making different decisions leads only to new problems and consequences - and that the mistakes they made may in fact have been the best choices of all.

In The Year We Turned Forty, three best friends are struggling with their life choices and get the chance to go back in time to try for a more favorable outcome. Will they decide to stay in the past or go back to the future?

We’ve seen stories like this before in books and movies (Peggy Sue Got Married, anyone?), but in this Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke’s book there are three lives/families at stake. The friends all have to decide together to go back and try and fix things and also whether to stay in the past or cut their losses.

Jessie lost her husband when she confessed that their latest child was the result of an affair. Now he’s getting remarried. Can she save her marriage if she goes back and keeps her infidelity a secret?

Gabriela is a famous author with a loving husband. She’s always had no interest in babies but now she’s having second thoughts. Is it too late to go back and change her mind?

Claire is a single mom who wants to go back to spend more time with her ill mother, fix her relationship with her daughter, and go after an old crush.

This book starts out as such a downer because of where the friends are in their lives at age 50. It wasn’t the escapist type of read I was looking for at first but I’m glad I stuck with it. It’s relatable to want to go back and fix things and also to appreciate the time you have with your loved ones.

The magical aspect was fun. When the friends go back they can’t alter the future too much, and can’t use what they know to get rich. They have to adjust to life ten years ago, with no smartphones at the palm of their hand.

Each small change the trio makes can have big repercussions for their loved ones. The friends are facing problems with their marriages, kids, infertility, and family members, and returning to the past also puts a strain on their own friendship.

Lisa Larsen reads The Year We Turned Forty audiobook. There are three stories in one with this book and Larsen made each voice distinct. She’s an engaging reader and listening made the time fly by.

Looking forward to reading more from Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke- in fact, I think I have a couple other of their books on my shelf. You may guess how this story ends, but it’s an enjoyable journey regardless.

 

Ornament

3 thoughts on “Audiobook Review: The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

  1. I’ve read one of their books in print and really enjoyed the lighthearted way they told a thoughtful story. This sounds good to me!

  2. Sounds like a really interesting book. Don’t we all wonder how things would have turned out if we had made different choices!

  3. stacybuckeye says:

    Sounds like an interesting premise, sure to generate good discussions.

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