Living Backwards

Author: Tracy Sweeney

Author Website/Blog: http://www.tracysweeney.net

Publication Date: January 21, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:Twenty-nine-year-old Jillian Cross refuses to believe that a pair of skinny jeans has led to her untimely demise. Life just isn't that cruel. But when an overly-enthusiastic attempt at squeezing herself into them leads her to fall and lose consciousness, she is faced with just that possibility. When she awakens with both a bruised ego and a bump on her head, she's not in her tiny apartment but her childhood bedroom circa 1999-the spring of her senior year in high school. Jillian knows that time travel isn't logical. But then again, neither was her decision to wear skinny jeans. As she attempts to navigate her way through the halls of Reynolds High, walking the same path and making the same choices she made years before, she knows that any change she makes can have a catastrophic effect on her future. But when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with motorcycle-riding, cigarette-smoking Luke Chambers, can she pretend to be the same shy girl she once was? At least she has her pink sparkly flask to take the edge off. One little change won't hurt, right? 

Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: I was sucked into this book within the first few sentences and immediately liked the main character, Jillian. A few chapters in, I was totally hooked; I literally stayed up until 3:30am to finish it. I loved it and I highly recommend this book!The synopsis makes this book sound like a cheesy chick-lit book, but trust me it is NOT cheesy and it is not your typical chick-lit book.

The plot moved at a natural pace and it was unpredictable. The writing was really good: some of the dialog is hilarious, there were parts that I laughed out loud; I also found myself feeling the emotions of the characters. The changing point of views and the well-developed, honest characters reminded me of Emily Griffin’s work (but minus the heavy issues). I also loved seeing the characters grow in a way that seemed true to who they were.

I imagine this book will take off this summer, when women start looking for books to read on the beach – it’s perfect! I’ll be looking forward to more work from Tracy Sweeney. (I read this book from February 1 – 3, 2013)