Review: Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster

Here I Go Again 
by Jen Lancaster

Release Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: NAL
Pages: 320
Genre: Adult Chick Lit/Women's Fiction
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
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Twenty years after ruling the halls of her suburban Chicago high school, Lissy Ryder doesn't understand why her glory days ended. Back then, she was worshipped...beloved...feared. Present day, not so much. She's been pink-slipped from her high-paying job, dumped by her husband, and kicked out of her condo. Now, at thirty-seven, she's struggling to start a business out of her parents' garage and sleeping under the hair-band posters in her old bedroom. Lissy finally realizes karma is the only bitch bigger than she was. Her present is miserable because of her past. But it's not like she can go back in time and change who she was...or can she?

ADD TO GOODREADS

I love books and movies where people go back to high school to learn a lesson or change their lives. I've seen Peggy Sue Got Married a million times. LOL I mostly only read Chick Lit from Sophie Kinsella but I'm so glad I accidentally requested this because it was so much fun. Seriously made my day. Similar to Kinsella it was laugh out loud hilarious, but also emotional and real at times where I could connect to the main characters thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Lissy thinks her life is perfect. She was popular in high school and married her high school boyfriend. Super job and super marriage until she is fired and her husband leaves her. Moving back into her parents house in her 30s she has hit rock bottom. Lissy decides to start her own company and that the perfect place to get new clients would be her high school reunion where everyone loves her.  Except they don't and never did.

At first I liked Lissy. She may be a bit shallow but nothing wrong with wanting pretty things, a great career, and not wanting a family. Everyone has something that makes them happy and that is great. But then at the reunion we see what a horrible bully she was back in high school. Everyone says the only way they would give her business is if she had never done those things. So one of her hippy classmates lets her go back in time. Lissy takes a close look at how she acted in high school and works hard to make everything right. Then when she comes back, everyone from her high school is no longer successful. Turns out while she was horrible it made everyone else stronger and work harder. So here we go again and she heads back to high school to fix things.

Back and forth she goes a couple times! LOL It was really great that Lissy would work so hard to make sure things worked out for everyone else. While I never found her to be purposefully mean she was self-centered. As I saw Lissy with her mom I realized where a lot of her pressure and problems came from. Her mom put so much pressure on her to be skinny, popular, and marry some wonderful guy. Going back in time with all her knowledge allows Lissy to see things in a new light. Lissy wanted to be a better friend, wife, and daughter.

One of Lissy's big regrets was the way she treated her nerdy neighbor, Brian, who I loved! Lissy is realizing that maybe she shouldn't end up with her husband. She wishes she had been strong enough to date the less popular guy. Brian was so understanding with Lissy and sweet. But can she change it all without destroying all their futures? I was really getting worried about how this could all possibly work out for everyone but it actually ends perfectly! I'll definitely be checking out more books from this author! If you love to laugh and visit your high school days then this is the perfect ride!



"But how could they not be in perfect shape? These bitches have no responsibilities save for workouts and waxing. I mean SOME of us aren't a size two anymore because SOME of us have day jobs."

"But do you know how expensive it is to keep up this face and body after you hit the down side of thirty-five? Placenta-based wrinkle creams and eyelash extensions and personal training aren't free, you know."

"Your dress is in the bathroom. When we got here, you cried that your underwear was 'murdering' you and you stripped down."
"Ah, yes. Spanx are a hard mistress."

"Oh, Lissy, yes, baby. 'Course you can eat whatever you want." Before I could even sigh in relief, she added, "Soon as you're married."

Rating: 5/5