Review by Samantha

January 27, 2021

The Do-Over by Jennifer Honeybourn

The Do-Over by Jennifer Honeybourn stars Emilia, a high school girl who loves spending time with her best friends Marisol and Alistair. Emilia’s life seems to be perfect, but then she is asked to prom by two guys: her crush Ben (the most popular boy in school), and her best friend Alistair. Not wanting to mess up her friendship, Emilia chooses Ben, but after dating for a few months, Emilia realizes that she isn’t content with her choice. When a fortune teller at the town fair offers Emilia a crystal that will take her back in time to redo a moment in her life, Emilia jumps at the chance to take it and reverse her choice. Although it seems like a good decision, going back in time and making changes doesn’t turn out the way Emilia expects. When one small tweak begins to unravel her life, Emilia doesn’t know what to do. This book explores Emilia’s life and the difference that each small choice truly makes.

I’d rate this book 3 stars because it was a really good book to read, but not a favorite. I thought the story was well written, had a nice flow, and had a satisfying ending. However, while I enjoyed the story, I wish the book’s characters had been developed past their love life. The entire book is based on romantic relationships and a fairly predictable story, so I wish Emilia and the supporting characters had more depth and complexity rather than the traditional romance leads. Although this wasn’t my personal favorite, I think it is a great choice if you are looking for an easy to read teen romance.