Step Back in Time

Like I already experianced with Aly McNamara's books, the second part is always the better.
With an interesting premise, the first half of the book become a little boring and I wasn't seeing where is was going with those confusing and illogical junps in the timeline. There seemed to be no rule or sense to the time travelling and I started to fear it was all about the Beatles references, and I wasn't enthusiastic. But then around the half or a bit earlier I started to understand and enjoy the story, and the end was sweet and satisfying although not particularly original. If you love beatles and I quick sweet read that's ok, and I was even a little bit moved one time around the end..

Take a step back in time...again and again! Jo Jo is living her life on Fast Forward when she is given a chance to go back in time and not on her own accord. She learns some life lessons along the way. Great story and well done by Katie Scarfe! I have read several of Ali McNamara's books and this one I have read a few times over.

I have a very eclectic reading range, but ranked amongst all the other chick lit books, I'd say it's a very solid read. It's one of the longest chick lit books I've listened to with 11+ hrs but I listened to it all in one sitting. Not necessarily something I'd recommend doing since I was exhausted by bed-time, but it's one of those books you won't mind continuously listening to, or pausing to come back to, since the story is engaging enough.

The closest other I can think of is Sophie Kinsella - 'Remember Me'. More for the heroine being thrown into the deep end, not knowing what's going on, and having to work out who she is and what her life is about. In 'Step Back In Time' it's time travel vs. memory loss, which makes it a harder sell, but it's handled well enough that it's not hard to suspend your belief and take the journey with Jo-Jo.

I really enjoyed her performance. There are distinguishable voices for each character and she kept her narration light, to go with the tone of the novel. There were no annoying habits or weird inflections to throw me out of the story. I had no problems whatsoever, listening for hours.

If pushed, I would say something that is obvious, yet subtle, Beatles themed. Something like 'That Road Before' (from The Beatles - 'The Long and Winding Road'). But really, I think the current title did all right.

As you might have realized, there's a very strong Beatles theme to this book. I think if you're a solid Beatles fan, you'll love picking up all the clues and hidden gems related to the Beatles that are thrown out. You might even want to make a game of it, and see how many you get right. As a regular fan of the Beatles it's a good read, where you'll get some clues but won't feel overwhelmed, and may even laugh when you realize you missed some obvious ones. That being said, this book is about love and friendship. I particularly liked the long and winding road that Jo-Jo takes to finding herself, falling in love, and discovering friendships across the universe, in the sea of time, and in [her] life (okay I'll stop!). Each time she wakes up is an entire story unto itself. You'll forget that you still have hours more to listen to. And once she's down again, you'll be intrigued to know what happens this time. So, a very intriguing story that keeps moving forward. I recommend listening!