Jeneva Rose

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose is a compelling women's fiction novel with a fantasy twist that explores self-acceptance, grief, and personal growth through time travel. The story follows Alexis Spencer, a woman in her thirties who, after losing her job and relationship on the same day, mysteriously wakes up back in her college town in 2002, inhabiting her eighteen-year-old body alongside her younger self, Lexi. The novel masterfully depicts the tension and contrast between Alexis's bitter, regretful perspective and Lexi's hopeful, carefree spirit, highlighting the internal struggles many face when confronting their past mistakes. Central to the narrative is the unresolved grief over their mother's death, which deeply influences Alexis's present cynicism and self-sabotage. Through the dynamic relationship between the two versions of herself and their journey to reconcile, the book conveys a powerful message about self-forgiveness and the complexities of loving all versions of oneself. It combines emotional depth with humor and nostalgia, making it a heartfelt meditation on how past trauma and choices shape our lives and the possibility of healing by embracing one's full self