This Time Could Be Different Published by SparkPress (a BookSparks Imprint) on September 12, 2023 Pages: 400
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Goodreads
A compulsive overachiever, Madeline lives by the credo that easy is synonymous with mediocre--which is why, at forty-nine, she's a senior vice president at a prominent bank, frantically adheres to a five-step nightly face cream regimen, and panics anytime she's a foot away from her phone. Madeline works alongside her best friend, Emma--a master juggler of her own career, marriage, and motherhood to a fourteen-year-old daughter who speaks only in baffling acronyms. The path ahead for both women is brimming with opportunity. There's only one problem: Madeline is miserable.
Seeking purpose in her life while trying to unravel the source of habits she wants to change, Madeline reluctantly agrees to try yoga, meditation, and other wacky suggestions her new-agey therapist tosses her way. She feels as if she's risking everything--but in doing so, she just might unlock a world more fulfilling than she ever could have imagined.
Review:
This Time Could Be Different is a novel about what if we choose something else for our lives? Madeline works at high pressure, demanding job at a bank. She is unhappy, prone to panic attacks, and she feels like her career is sucking every ounce of her life. On a whim, one day, she quits, and now she is left with all this time on her hands and no idea what she will do with her life. The book is billed as Eat, Pray, love meets office space. I expected more comedy with that kind of tag, but I got more thought-provoking questions. I never worked a high-demanding job in an office, but I know the demands of a career that wants to suck your life out.
I admire Madeline for taking that leap and having the stability of her husband’s job to walk away and figure out what would work better for her. I thoroughly enjoyed the split between Madeline trying to figure things out and seeing how her co-worker/best friend navigates work life after Madeline leaves. There is a lot to digest in this novel, and it does bring up a lot of discussion of past emotional trauma that Madeline ingrained in how she navigates life. An excellent book for September release as children head back to school, fresh starts are on the horizon for college students, and it is a chance to decide how your story will continue to be written and what stories you need to rewrite from your past.
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About Khristin Wierman
Khristin Wierman was born and raised in a small East Texas town–which means she came into the world a Dallas Cowboys fan and ardently believes “y’all” is a legitimate pronoun. She spent twenty years rising through the marketing ranks of Fortune 500 companies, building a career that was lucrative, ego-boosting, and a little bit soul-crushing. So she quit. And had no idea what to do with her life. Writing ensued. Some things she really enjoys are playing golf with her husband and stepson, poker, yoga, chocolate, the Golden State Warriors, and the daily adventure of life with an adorably imperfect cat named Rocco. She lives in Oakland, California
