29

by Adena Halpern

What if you closed your eyes, blew out the candles, and your wish came true?

Ellie Jerome is a young-at-heart seventy-five-year-old who feels she has more in common with her twenty-nine-year-old granddaughter, Lucy, than her fifty-five-year-old daughter, Barbara. Ellie's done everything she can to stay young, and the last thing she wants is to celebrate another birthday. So when she finds herself confronted with a cake full of candles, Ellie wishes more than anything that she could be twenty-nine again, just for one day. But who expects a wish like that to come true?

29 is the story of three generations of women and how one magical day shakes up everything they know about each other. While Ellie finds that the life of a twenty-something is not as carefree as she expected, the sheer joy of being young again prompts her to consider living her life all over. Does she dare stay young for more than this day, even if it means leaving everyone she loves behind?

Fresh, funny, and delightful, 29 is an enchanting adventure about families, love, and the real lessons of youth.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Book Club, Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Magical Realism

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

BREAKING NEWS: 20th Century Fox has just attained the rights to Adena's most recent novel, 29! Look for it in theaters soon!


Adena Halpern is the author of a memoir TARGET UNDERWEAR AND A VERA WANG GOWN- NOTES FROM A SINGLE GIRL'S CLOSET and the novel THE TEN BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE. Adena has also written for Marie Claire, Daily Variety and The New York Times. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing from New York University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in screenwriting from The American Film Institute. 20th Century Fox has attained the rights to THE TEN BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE with Amy Adams to star. A proud Philadelphia native, she resides in Los Angeles with her husband, screenwriter Jonathan Goldstein.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a truly love-hate relationship with chick lit. Sometimes I read one with real humor or well-written characters that makes me really stand up and defend the entire genre, like Something Borrowed or Bridget Jones' Diary. Sometimes I've enjoyed even the fluffiest of chick lit books under the right circumstances - Who wants to lug an 800-page tome about the human condition to the beach anyway? Give me a quick escapist read with a happy-ever-after!

Sadly, however, the majority of chick lit I come across is pretty terrible. How many times can you tell the story of Big City Girl wins the guy while getting perfect highlights, shopping for OMGSHOES! and one-upping the Mean Girl co-worker at her fashion/publishing/fashion publishing job? (Bonus points if the heroine is clumsy or has a pushy mother.)

I didn't expect 29 to even BE bad chick lit, honestly. After all, the story is told from the viewpoint of a seventy-five year old woman. Alas, I didn't pay attention to that tell-tale pastel cover that ordinarily alerts the reader to a complete and utter lack of substance.

When we first meet our narrator Ellie, she seems slightly regretful about her wasted youth -- But superficially. She spends about one sentence lamenting not going to college, but page after PAGE decrying sun damage and the lifestyle choices that led to "necessary" plastic surgery. (Sigh)

Ellie is vapid and superficial. She magically wakes up in her 29-year-old body for a day, and what is the first thing she wants to do? Go skydiving? Run a marathon? Hop a flight to some exotic "bucket list" destination? Nope, she wants to get a bikini wax and try on thong underwear.

I honestly can't believe I kept reading beyond that point.

Here are the things Ellie does while during her day as a 29-year-old: She gets a haircut that flatters her amazing figure. She wears a cute dress that looks great on her amazing figure. She eats a Philly Cheesesteak without worrying what it will do to her amazing figure. She has a one-night stand with a guy who appreciates her amazing figure. Aaand, that's about it.

One day to revisit and her youth and accomplish things she never did, and she gets a haircut and goes on a date?!?! Ok, she also sorta helps out her granddaughter's business (Granddaughter works in... Wait for it... Fashion!!!) and inspires her [borderline retarded] friend Frida to improve her own life... by getting a haircut and going out on a date.

She also decides that the life she spent with her husband was amazing and that he was the true love of her life. Why she didn't ALREADY know that and needed to have sex with a random guy with pretty eyes is a mystery to me. (And yes, this is one of those books in which the narrator notices a man with pretty eyes, so she OF COURSE bumps into him again later in the story - in the middle of a huge city. Totally plausible.)

At no point did Adena Halpern convince me that I was reading the musings of a 75-year-old. Ellie-as-narrator speaks in a stereotypical chick lit voice; little asides about not knowing who Britney Spears is wasn't enough to create a believable voice. (Worst writing award: "All those gushy things you hear, stuff like how your bodies become one and how you can feel each other's thoughts, I felt all those things." Things? Stuff?! We're supposed to believe that's the voice of a Septuagenarian? Pathetic.)

And finally, there's Barbara. Barbara is Ellie's daughter, and she is the most one-demensionally unpleasant character I've encountered in a long time. She bitches and bosses her way throughout the book, and the reader is constantly being reminded that one should never disagree with, delay or irritate Barbara. But... Why? She was raised by Ellie, and Ellie is our Wonderful Adorable Protagonist! Surely Ellie wasn't a bad mother who raised this creature to be the horrid human being she is today?

Nope, Barbara's a nasty person because she's fat! Fat as in can't refrain from eating icing off of cakes that are in the trash! She didn't get to grow up with Ellie's amazing figure™ (for the love of God, have we established yet that Young Ellie has an amazing figure?) so she's a mean old cow. Luckily for granddaughter Lucy, she DID inherit Ellie's amazing figure™, so she's fun and likable. (I guess Adena Halpern thought she was bucking stereotypes by not making the fat character jolly!)

Oh, and Barbara saves her marriage by discovering oral sex. Yeah.

Terrible, terrible book. I'm glad I got it at the library and didn't waste money or a PaperBackSwap credit on it.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

If the plot of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Pretty Woman had a baby and then dropped it on its tender little head, the result would be the tedious and shallow 29.

Ultimately, this is my fault for picking up what is clearly a chick lit book. However, in my defense, I have read books that are marketed as chick lit and turn out to be thoughtful or amusing diversions with some real intelligence behind them. So, when I read the plot summary and found the book is about a 75 year old woman who gets a second chance at being 29 for a day, I thought it possible that this would be a poignant and amusing look at aging in our society. After all, what might a 75 year old do with one more day in her prime? I assumed it would involve seeking out adventure or righting past wrongs. It was an intriguing premise, but when it quickly became clear that all our protagonist was going to do was go and get a cute pixie haircut, shop for naughty panties and, I assume (because I gave up on the book before I could find out, but so predictable was its plot that I doubt it could go any other way), live out some cougar fantasy by hooking up with a younger man, I decided my life was too short to spend what's left of my *ahem* youth reading about this vain narcissist pretending she's in a Julia Roberts rom-com for a day.

Halpern attempts to give Ellie Jerome, our youth-envying septuagenarian, some depth by having her reflect on a life where her every dream was deferred in favor of being a wife to a philandering husband and mother to a shrill, spoiled brat of a daughter. Unfortunately, she glosses over her intellectual longings (wanting to go to college to become an English major) and repression in a Mad Men-esque society while spending the majority of the opening decrying her lost looks. She explains how her attempts to reclaim her youth have involved every form of cream, potion and plastic surgery known to man. Ellie doesn't seem to miss being young so much as being hot. Now, yes, in an appearance driven, youth-worshiping culture, it is difficult to find oneself aging and, as a result, becoming invisible to the ever younger, ever more beautiful, ever more distant generations that come after one. However, Ellie's fixation on physical appearance seems hollow and inauthentic, maybe revealing the fears a younger woman has of getting older (Halpern, perhaps?). Had this been written by someone of more advanced age with more life experience in her rear view mirror, it could have been a more enlightening look at the aging process. As it is, the basic formula comes down to old + unattractive = sad.

In the book's defense, if you're looking for some very light reading that doesn't require too much intellectual heavy-lifting, this book might be a good beach read. Personally, though, I think I'd just bury it as far in the sand as possible.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

29 is a standalone, women’s fiction novel written by Adena Halpern. The main character, seventy-five-year-old Ellie is a personable and friendly woman. I use these descriptions because reading this book truly felt like sitting down with a sweet, older lady. During the first part of this book, Ellie talks to the reader directly like a conversation is being held - explaining the norms of the generation she grew up in and how things present day are very different, such as women’s rights, dating/marriage choices, etc. I was so optimistic about this reading experience when I started based on the beginning. Not only was it informative, but I just couldn't help but empathize with the compromises she had to make during her younger years. Her honesty even made me chuckle quite a bit. Now, in her later years, she just wants to be young again, but in the present-day. She wants to live the life her granddaughter is living. Well, if you've read the synopsis (or even just the title), you know she gets her wish.

Once Ellie wakes up in a twenty-nine-year-old body, the writing style changes drastically in my opinion. Also, as a reader, I was saddened that the author didn't create a more interesting “I’m 29 again” experience for Ellie. Frankly, I was bored out of my head. However, when I look at the big picture, she still possesses her seventy-five-year-old mindset and personality even if she happens to be in a twenty-nine-year-old body. I’m not sure if I would take full advantage of a situation like this if it were spontaneously available to me. I certainly hope I would, just as I wished Ellie had. I wanted more for her. But when all was said and done, she did get her wish. She experienced her granddaughter’s life while learning important life lessons.

No matter your age, you’re never too old to change the way you live your life. Remember who you wanted to be, and be that person. This book left me with that short and sweet moral.

My favorite quote:
“Only now, and never before, I can honestly say I now know what George Bernard Shaw meant when he said that youth is wasted on the young. How wonderful it would be if everyone could age backward like I did, if even for a moment. You can’t imagine the feeling youth gives you when you haven’t had it for some time. It feels like a treasure that should only be given to those who appreciate it, and not something that is given to people who don’t know what to do with it.”

[Celia || Mil Y Una Páginas · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Cambiarías las decisiones que has tomado?
¿Te gustaría tener una segunda oportunidad para disfrutar de los mejores años de tu vida?

🎊 Una novela romántica narrada en clave de humor, con tintes mágicos.

🎊 Ellie Jerome, una mujer de 75 años, rejuvenece hasta los 29 como deseo de cumpleaños, y decide aprovechar al máximo esta gran oportunidad que le brinda el universo.

🎊 De forma disparatada vamos conociendo a unos personajes muy reales con problemas actuales, que vivirán situaciones de locura. La autoritaria hija de Ellie, preocupada por el paradero de su madre, se unirá a la mejor amiga de la protagonista, una mujer que siempre ha sido muy miedosa y torpona, en una carrera por encontrarla.

🎊 Gracias a la forma sencilla y ágil de escribir de esta autora, veremos la evolución de los personajes a lo largo de su aventura, la importancia de la familia y la comunicación, y los conflictos que se hayan en uno mismo.

🎊 Es un libro ligero, muy divertido y diferente que puedes leer perfectamente en 24 horas.

La trama recuerda a películas como 17 otra vez o El sueño de mi vida, en este último caso a la inversa.

Por último, he de decir que la enseñanza que nos deja me ha parecido extraordinaria: el valor de las relaciones que establecemos a lo largo de nuestra vida.

☆ 4'5 / 5 ☆

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw this in the bookstore and thought it was a clever idea. Last week I picked it up at the library to read it, even though I'd read another book by the same author and been irritated at the poor writing.

Once I finished it, I have pretty much the same thoughts. Really interesting concept, but not well written. It's clear the author is trying for a familiar, hey-we're-girlfriends-just-chatting kind of vibe, but it just doesn't quite work. Something about the descriptions, or lack thereof, is off. I wish I knew how to put it. I remember one good example though: "All those gushy things you hear, stuff like how your bodies become one and how you can feel each other's thoughts, I felt all those things." Stuff? Things? Seriously? That's how a teenage girl writes in her diary. Except she probably sounds more sincere and genuine. And then in school she learns about SHOW, don't TELL. Argh.

Oh! And then there's the four pages where suddenly the tense changes from past to present, and then back again.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really hate it when I suggest a book to the book club and it turns out to be really lame. Thanks, 29, for putting me in that situation once again.

The plot was terrible and under-developed. There could have been so much potential with the idea of a 75 year old turning 29 again, but nothing exciting happened! It's just a bunch of crazy women running around Philadelphia all day! Plus the moral of the story was really weak. I assume that the moral was to appreciate what you have (or had), but I'm honestly not sure because it wasn't very clear. I kept wondering where the author was going with this.

I guess this is the chance you take when you recommend a chick lit book. I honestly didn't expect this one to be so fluffy though. I really thought it sounded like it had potential to be interesting and unique. Sorry, ladies!

[Sheri S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It's insightful view of life, whether at age 29 or 75, was as humorous as it was heartbreaking. The poignant message that what is experienced in life, whatever decisions made and regrets felt, in the past, present and future, are life lessons meant to teach and shape us. But we always have the choice to make changes for the better or make dreams come true. It was a quick and easy read, but truly fresh and heartfelt.

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se retrouver dans la peau d'une mamie de 29 ans et saisir sa seconde chance en croquant la vie à pleines dents... C'est le pari de ce roman touchant (et drôle) qui nous embarque dans des aventures fofolles, sous couvert de messages cachés sur les actes manqués, le temps qui passe, la vie, l'amour, l'amitié, la famille. C'est adorable !
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com

On her seventy-fifth birthday, Ellie takes the time to reflect on her life. She realizes that to the average onlooker, she's had it pretty good. She married a prominent lawyer and spent her days playing bridge at the country club and raising their daughter, Barbara.

Her husband passed away a few years ago and now Ellie lives in an apartment on her own. She goes out with friends and enjoys sitting on her porch. Yet Ellie longs for the life she never had, a life like her granddaughter, Lucy, has now. Lucy is a free-spirited fashion designer who's constantly on the go.

Barbara could only fit twenty-nine candles on Ellie's birthday cake, so it's only appropriate that Ellie wishes to be that age again just for a day. Wishes do come true! She wakes up in the body of a much younger woman! She lets Lucy in on her amazing transformation and together they hit the bustling streets of Philadelphia.

Naturally, she needs a hip new wardrobe to accent her figure, a makeover, and a sleek, modern haircut. She uses the alias of Lucy's cousin and meets many of Lucy's friends throughout the day. The evening would not be complete without meeting a wonderful man who takes her home for a night of passion! What a wonderful time!

Meanwhile, Barbara is extremely worried when she can't reach her mother and enlists Frida's help. Frida is a sensible old woman and together they hunt for Ellie. Where could she be?

What happens when the clock strikes midnight? Will Ellie be able to keep the happiness that she's longed for, or is it too late?

This is a terrific book full of laughs, thoughtful moments, and reflections. I found it inspiring in the sense that we all have the opportunity to make moments worth living for. I highly recommend this novel!

[Meredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book about a peppy grandma who wants to be 29 again for one day would be a fun, lighthearted read. I had to put it down and move on. One of the characters (Barbara; the grandma's daughter) is portrayed as such a one dimensional hag for no apparent reason. There's no real understanding of who she is or why she's such a crabby person. The author has one of the other characters mention that she should never anger Barbara so many times I almost threw this book out the window. We get the point!
I thougth this seemed like a fun light read but it's just pointless. I gave up on page 134.. maybe it gets better but I've invested enough time. Oh well.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and Meaningful Book
29 is a quick and fun book to read. Hard to put down and quite funny at times. I think that all ages of women can relate to this story. I mean who hasn't wished that they could go back in time and change things that have happened or at least do some things over again.
Ellie, Barbara and Lucy are the prime example of 3 generations of a family, with Frida's funny antics making 29 a great read.
I will definitely look for other Adena Halpern's books.

[leynes · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was bad. And totally not memorable. I can't even deal. I got this in a used book store for 1€ so no hard feelings. :D

[kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too sad for what it is trying to be. I was expecting light, funny, and there is a little of that, but not enough to counter the continuous inner dialogue of Ellie.
I really didn't care for the ending, of what she said to Zach. He didn't deserve to have his nose rubbed in how much the "other" Ellie loved someone else. It made me truly dislike Ellie, who was self-centeted enough from the start.
All in all, didn't care much for this one.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard copy.
Who wouldn't want to go back and relive one day in a younger body and do all the things you wished you had done when you had the energy?!?
This is a story about identifying, rationalizing and accepting past choices and regrets in life, and how to push past them to make the best use of the time we have left.
And it was quite entertaining along the way!

[Lyndsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up* Disclosure: I literally only read this book because I saw it on the library shelf and felt compelled to read it in my last 1-2 months of being 29. This was no more than a light-hearted plot, written more so for 75 year olds than 29 year olds. Lots of complaining throughout the book & the plot was overall underdeveloped. Oh well - just a random read!

[Chris Strache · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a 75 year old woman who wishes and becomes 29 years old for a day. Although it was light reading, or “chick lit”, it made me think about aging, life decisions, regret and happiness. A easy read, but thoughtful-I liked it.

[Cheyne Nomura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this because it’s being made into a movie starring Emma Watson. Didn’t expect much from it, but it was hella fun and sweet!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, easy read with some great lines sprinkled throughout. Yes, it’s a little cheesy, but that’s what I was looking for when I picked it up :)

[Shonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Jerome has regrets. Moments before blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, she realizes she has regrets. And not small, trivial regrets. No, they’re big. Did she marry the right man? Was she a good mother? What if she made different choices? What would her life be like now as she’s celebrating her 75th birthday?

If only she could go back in time. To her younger self…when she was full of life and the whole world was at her feet. Yes, if only she could rewrite her past. These are her last thoughts prior to blowing out her candles.

The morning after her party, Ellie wakes up and feels different. She can’t put her finger on it, but she knows something is a bit off. Imagine her surprise when she sees herself—her 29 year old self—in the bathroom mirror. And so begins 29 by Adena Halpern.

Ellie is delighted her birthday wish came true. She’s 29 again and can make a new life for herself. She’s having the time of her life and a bit leery when her granddaughter Lucy finds out the truth. Lucy is initially stunned to see her grandmother as a young, vivacious woman. She quickly recovers and together the women decide to have a girls’ fun-filled day.

Problems arise when Barbara, Ellie’s daughter, and Frida, Ellie’s best friend, become suspicious of Ellie’s whereabouts. The two women team up to find the missing Ellie, both with concerns about what may have happened to her.

I absolutely loved this book! Ellie is a cute, delightful character as a young woman and at 75. Readers can’t help but to love her. I did feel for Ellie as she’s among family and friends and all she can think about is the life she could have had. Many of us would like to turn back time and choose a different path, but instead of looking back, we continue to move forward vowing to make better decisions in order to have the life we still dream of.

Despite the lightheartedness and humorous plot, Ms. Halpern does a great job with character growth and reflection regarding Lucy, Ellie, Barbara and Frida. Themes include mother and daughter relationships, being true to oneself, living your life without holding on so tightly and accepting that you’re where you’re supposed to be.

29 is a great way to spend a day at the pool or reading outside on the deck. I highly recommend this novel.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first saw this book at a bookstore's bargain section and thought I'd write the title down for future reading. When I was at my local library recently, looking at the new fiction, the book jumped out at me a second time. So, I took it as a sign that I should check it out (especially considering that since I turn 30 in June, my fiance said that I better read it before then!).

I read this book very quickly over the span of 2 days. It was a light-hearted, fun read. I've always enjoyed movies that allow the main character to go back/forward in time to be a different age (Big, 13 Going on 30, and 17 Again come to mind), and found this book to be no different. The fun of this book was imagining the spirit of an elderly woman in her 29-year-old body for the day. I oftentimes imagined the main character being my grandmother, as I think she would have had many of the same feelings if she had the opportunity to go back to being 29 again.

I feel that the main question the book asks is, "If you had the opportunity to go back and time and do something differently, would you?" In most of these stories, including this one, the main character chooses to keep the life she lived. I always wonder about this moral. Why would people say they want to do something all over again only to ultimately choose what they've already experienced? Is it because people are afraid of something different? Or, is it that it takes this time traveling experience to realize that what one had really wasn't so bad after all? It was this resolution that frustrated me a bit at the end of this book. However, because it sparked this thoughtful thinking, I still do believe it warrants a reading if you're looking for something light and quick to read.

[Lisa Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I literally forced myself to finish this book because it was a selection for my book club. Besides, I was determined to conquer it even if killed me, which it almost did! The premise of this book is an interesting one, but beyond that, I have few positive things to say. The characters were shallowly crafted, and their dialogue seemed forced in an effort to pigeon-hole the characterizations for which the author was striving. Further, the narration and dialogue were so repetitive that I almost lost my mind! Here is an example: "I had been given a gift. I had been given the greatest gift that could be bestowed on anyone. It was a gift better than diamonds or a closet full of clothes or an extravagant trip. I had been given the gift of starting all over again with someone else." Gee, do you think the author wanted us to know that the main character had been given a gift? It would be one thing if this type of writing occurred once or twice within the pages of this novel; however, the repetitive nature of both dialogue and sentiment was pervasive and spread through the pages and across chapters like a plague! This novel and the ideas presented in it could have been condensed into a book of less than 100 pages at best! What made it worse was the fact that virtually NONE of the characters was even close to likable! With the exception of maybe Frida (a secondary character), they all seemed so self-absorbed that I did not even really care what happened to any of them! Do yourself a favor and avoid this book!

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did you ever wonder what would happen if a birthday wish really came true? That is the question answered in 29: A Novel by Adena Halpern.

In her acknowledgements at the end of the book, Ms. Halpern thanks, first and foremost, "...the amazing seventy-something women I interviewed for this book. Your generosity, honesty, and frankness were more than I could ever have asked for. I hope I've done you proud in creating a character that captures the best of who you are." I think the author accompished this. The dialog between Ellie and Frida as well as incidents in the story are all spot on.

Most of the wisdom passed on by Ellie Jerome was obvious, but it never hurts to be reminded again and again about the value of family and friends.

20th Century Fox has obtained the movie rights to 29, so let's play the "Who Would You Cast in the Movie" game. Here are my choices:

Ellie Jerome - Florence Henderson
Young Ellie Jerome - Cameron Diaz
Lucy Jerome (Ellie's granddaughter) - Anne Hathaway
Barbara Sustamorn (Ellie's daughter) - Susan Sarandon
Frida Freedberg (Ellie's best friend) - Olympia Dukakis
Zachary - Chris O'Donnell

If you read 29, please come back and let me know your dream cast.

[Miss Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summer Book #6 This book was a cute "Freaky Friday"-esque novel. Ellie, a woman grudgingly celebrating her 75th birthday, shuts her eyes and wishes hard to be 29 for a day before she blows out her birthday candles. Guess what happens?

I sat out in the sun and read this whole book this afternoon - it was fluffy and funny, but I found the characters to be unbelievable, or at least flat. After reading the book I could describe the four main women characters to you in detail, but that is mostly because the author did a very good job describing each through narration and fit them into a stereotype - the twenty something big city fashion designer granddaughter, the middle aged controlling mother with weight issues, the best friend of the grandmother who is cautious and feeble and prone to fits, and then the main character, a regal elderly woman obviously born before her time.

Didn't take a huge part of my brain to read, and I'm not sure yet whether that's good or bad.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in three sittings. Warning: do not begin reading this late at night because you will lose sleep getting lost in this engaging story about a 75 year-old woman who wishes she was 29 for a day. The book follows her as she has her wish granted, but it's not a book that focuses on magic. She wished for something and got it--it's as simple as that and not much explanation is given. Instead the focus is on Ellie and the people in her life. The story is simple but fun and engrossing with characters that are well-developed and likable for the most part. There were a couple of lovely and profound moments. I'll admit that I grew attached to Ellie's narrative and voice. She's a funny, feisty character that I'd love to adopt as my own grandma. This is a perfect novel to read at the beach or on a rainy afternoon.

[Kolleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! Ellie is a 75 year-old woman (old, but spunky) who is just sick of it all. On her birthday, she makes a wish to be 29 again, just for a day. And behold- the next morning she is!

I bought this book as a discount book when Borders was going out of business. There wasn't much selection left, but I said I'd give it a try. The book sounded cute enough, but I figured it wouldn't be executed right and would end up being a complete disappointment. There it sat on my shelf for the last year and a half, and I finally picked it up. What a clever, fun, and charming little read after all! Now, I wouldn't go giving this five stars or labeling it one of my favorite books (it did have a couple of odd sex scenes), but it was a nice, quick read of absolute nonsense to break up my typical endeavors of deep novels.

[Kyla · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author straight up says something like this (I'm paraphrasing): the bottom line is this, be happy with what you have. Clang, I have now been beaten into submission by the message author, thank you. Part unfunny screwball, part Freaky Friday (but no 13 going on 30, thank you very much) the first thing this 75 year old wants to do upon being turned into a 25 year old - get a bikini wax and some thong underwear. Lady, we have different priorities, clearly.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha estado bien. Al principio tuve mis dudas, pero al final no ha sido tan malo como creí en su momento. Ciertas paginas se me hicieron un poco cuesta arriba, pero nada que no se solucione leyendo entre lineas.
Un libro divertido, de lectura ágil y con buenas frases para subrayar; y todas muy ciertas.
Una historia que no tiene nada de complicado y apta para cualquiera que desee pasar un buen rato.

[Quanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ale to nebylo vůbec špatný. Sice tak 3,5, ale myslím, že tahle knížka (v češtině Mladá můžeš být jen dvakrát a jsem zase klasický líná vytvářet českou edici) si zaslouží trochu zvednout skóre, tak zaokrouhluju nahoru. Jasně, je to nereálné - ta premisa, ale charaktery a děj jsou vlastně moc milé. Rozhodně vystupuje z klišé ženských románů a nabízí docela hezké zamyšlení o rodině a o tom, čeho v životě (ne)litovat.

[María · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 de 5 estrellas ⭐️⭐️ (no está mal)
Es una novela ligera, sencilla y tontorrona que se lee en un pis pas.
Me ha gustado y bastante las relaciones tan reales entre madre e hija, me parece muy de verdad, muy de la calle, muy de la vida.
El final también me ha parecido coherente y me ha dejado buen sabor de boca. Es ideal como lectura navideña.

[Barbara Giles · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is a 75 year old woman who gets to be 29 for a day. Interesting concept except it isn't executed very well. It reads more like a 20 something person imagining what a 75er would think it would be like as a 29er.