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In Some Other World, Maybe
In December 1992, three groups of teenagers head to the theater to see the movie version of the famed Eons & Empires comic books. For Adam it's a last ditch effort to connect with something (actually, someone, the girl he's had a crush on for years) in his sleepy Florida town before he leaves for good. Passionate fan Sharon skips school in Cincinnati so she can fully appreciate the flick without interruption from her vapid almost-friends—a seemingly silly indiscretion with shocking consequences. And in suburban Chicago, Phoebe and Ollie simply want to have a nice first date and maybe fool around in the dark, if everyone they know could just stop getting in the way.
Over the next two decades, these unforgettable characters criss-cross the globe, becoming entwined by friendship, sex, ambition, fame and tragedy.
A razor-sharp, darkly comic page-turner, In Some Other World, Maybe sheds light on what it means to grow up in modern America.
Over the next two decades, these unforgettable characters criss-cross the globe, becoming entwined by friendship, sex, ambition, fame and tragedy.
A razor-sharp, darkly comic page-turner, In Some Other World, Maybe sheds light on what it means to grow up in modern America.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 13, 2015
About the author
Shari Goldhagen
4 books88 followersAfter serious pursuits of literature at Northwestern (BSJ) and Ohio State (MFA), Shari Goldhagen discovered she had a knack for sifting through celebrity trash and worked as a gossip writer for publications including The National Enquirer, Us Weekly, and Life & Style Weekly. And her articles on pop culture, travel and relationships have appeared everywhere from Cosmopolitan to Penthouse. She has received fellowships from Yaddo and MacDowell and currently lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
January 14, 2015
3.5 stars
The book begins as the characters are teenagers, each of them are going to see a movie based on a series of graphic novels called Eons and Empires.
Adam: He wants out of the small town that he has grown up in but before he leaves he wants that one date with the guy he has had a crush on for years. He accepts her invitation to go see the movie.
Sharon: A painfully shy introvert sneaks out of school to go to the movie by herself. She has been reading the books in secret at her babysitting job.
Phoebe: Wants that first date with her friend Ollie. Her friends want to tag along and it ends up that her younger brother Chase sneaks his way into accompanying her on the ride.
These characters are complex, there are times you like them and times you really almost hate them. The author does a really great job on making them real. The reason for the 3.5 star? The book does lag at times and I wanted it to move on faster than it did.
The story was well done with each of the characters and supporting characters interweaving throughout each others lives.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book begins as the characters are teenagers, each of them are going to see a movie based on a series of graphic novels called Eons and Empires.
Adam: He wants out of the small town that he has grown up in but before he leaves he wants that one date with the guy he has had a crush on for years. He accepts her invitation to go see the movie.
Sharon: A painfully shy introvert sneaks out of school to go to the movie by herself. She has been reading the books in secret at her babysitting job.
Phoebe: Wants that first date with her friend Ollie. Her friends want to tag along and it ends up that her younger brother Chase sneaks his way into accompanying her on the ride.
These characters are complex, there are times you like them and times you really almost hate them. The author does a really great job on making them real. The reason for the 3.5 star? The book does lag at times and I wanted it to move on faster than it did.
The story was well done with each of the characters and supporting characters interweaving throughout each others lives.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2014
I really enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I enjoyed every frustrating and unique story line, and found something relatable in each character (good and bad). I couldn't put this book down and I was completely engrossed throughout 85% of it (the last of the book was a little slow).
As a reader who is not usually a fan of interconnected narratives/story lines, Ms.Goldhagen completely sold me.This author is very talented and I look forward to reading her other material. The bittersweet ending of this novel will probably stay with me for a long while.
Buy,Borrow or Bin verdict: Buy
February 27, 2015
This is between 4.5 and 5 stars for me, so I'll just round up.
If life always turned out the way we hoped, the way we planned, the world would be a very different place. And so would literature, movies, theater, and music. Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the case for the characters in Shari Goldhagen's terrifically warm In Some Other World, Maybe , and the reader is better for that fact.
It starts in 1992. The popular Eons & Empires comic book series has been turned into a movie. In three different cities, three different teenagers experience the movie in different ways.
Adam, a popular, talented high school senior from Florida, gets a surprise date with a girl he used to have a crush on when she was in high school. He's hoping for one last connection before he can leave his sleepy town and head to NYU. In Cincinnati, Sharon, who used to read the comic books in secret, skips school to go to the movies during the day, but her infatuation with the movie leads her to make a choice that has the potential for disastrous consequences. And in Chicago, Phoebe is excited to go on her first date with her classmate, Oliver, despite the presence of her two best friends and their dates, as well as her younger brother, who has tagged along with them.
The book follows the paths of these characters through the years, as they achieve successes and confront failures, experience unbridled happiness and are hit by unexpected tragedy, take risks and settle for less than they want and deserve, fall in and out of love, and try to figure out which are the right decisions to make. Their lives intersect and separate, and just like real life, they often don't understand the weight of their decisions and their secrets and their knee-jerk reactions until it's too late.
In Some Other World, Maybe is a book about trying to make your dreams come true and what you do when they don't. It's about the age-old dilemma of whether to follow your head or your heart, and how hard it often is to make the right connections. It's also about the periodic forces that take us back to where we came from, and how fighting our true natures doesn't always work out for us.
I really loved this book. Goldhagen has created such memorable characters which truly resonate, even as they make decisions you might not always agree with. I enjoyed each of their stories, and honestly, could follow each one of them in a story all their own, but the shifting among perspectives made this story an even richer one. She is a terrific storyteller who truly cares about her characters, which is why you do, too.
If I had one tiny criticism, it was the periodic sprinkling in of historical events to set the time period of a particular portion of the story. Some of those felt tremendously pat and unnecessary—it honestly didn't matter when the story took place, because the themes and the issues the characters dealt with were fairly universal and timeless. But this is a minor quibble that didn't detract from how much I enjoyed this book. Really well done.
See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
If life always turned out the way we hoped, the way we planned, the world would be a very different place. And so would literature, movies, theater, and music. Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the case for the characters in Shari Goldhagen's terrifically warm In Some Other World, Maybe , and the reader is better for that fact.
It starts in 1992. The popular Eons & Empires comic book series has been turned into a movie. In three different cities, three different teenagers experience the movie in different ways.
Adam, a popular, talented high school senior from Florida, gets a surprise date with a girl he used to have a crush on when she was in high school. He's hoping for one last connection before he can leave his sleepy town and head to NYU. In Cincinnati, Sharon, who used to read the comic books in secret, skips school to go to the movies during the day, but her infatuation with the movie leads her to make a choice that has the potential for disastrous consequences. And in Chicago, Phoebe is excited to go on her first date with her classmate, Oliver, despite the presence of her two best friends and their dates, as well as her younger brother, who has tagged along with them.
The book follows the paths of these characters through the years, as they achieve successes and confront failures, experience unbridled happiness and are hit by unexpected tragedy, take risks and settle for less than they want and deserve, fall in and out of love, and try to figure out which are the right decisions to make. Their lives intersect and separate, and just like real life, they often don't understand the weight of their decisions and their secrets and their knee-jerk reactions until it's too late.
In Some Other World, Maybe is a book about trying to make your dreams come true and what you do when they don't. It's about the age-old dilemma of whether to follow your head or your heart, and how hard it often is to make the right connections. It's also about the periodic forces that take us back to where we came from, and how fighting our true natures doesn't always work out for us.
I really loved this book. Goldhagen has created such memorable characters which truly resonate, even as they make decisions you might not always agree with. I enjoyed each of their stories, and honestly, could follow each one of them in a story all their own, but the shifting among perspectives made this story an even richer one. She is a terrific storyteller who truly cares about her characters, which is why you do, too.
If I had one tiny criticism, it was the periodic sprinkling in of historical events to set the time period of a particular portion of the story. Some of those felt tremendously pat and unnecessary—it honestly didn't matter when the story took place, because the themes and the issues the characters dealt with were fairly universal and timeless. But this is a minor quibble that didn't detract from how much I enjoyed this book. Really well done.
See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
December 5, 2014
Brilliant eloquent adolescent beauty going on in this novel! Intoxicating page-turning storytelling!
Shari Goldhagen keeps us totally engaged with these fragile creatures, who get under our skin and ultimately into our hearts! She has created characters who stay with you long after you finish the book.
The complexities of the relationship between Adam Zoellner and Phoebe Fisher for example is one I think most of us can relate to. Have you ever had a close friend of the opposite sex become a lover? Later an official boyfriend or girlfriend? How did it work out?
Did any of you have a childhood friend who had dreams of being an actor? Then later in their adult life become a big name star? How did the relationship change --and how did it stay the same after he/she hit it 'big'? I do have such a friend --who was once a lover --and we are still friends --still in communication.
Everything about this story touches on aspects of reality --friendships, sex, fame, love, loss, nostalgia.
Its entertaining -funny -heartbreaking -witty. A genuine terrific book to read!
Shari Goldhagen keeps us totally engaged with these fragile creatures, who get under our skin and ultimately into our hearts! She has created characters who stay with you long after you finish the book.
The complexities of the relationship between Adam Zoellner and Phoebe Fisher for example is one I think most of us can relate to. Have you ever had a close friend of the opposite sex become a lover? Later an official boyfriend or girlfriend? How did it work out?
Did any of you have a childhood friend who had dreams of being an actor? Then later in their adult life become a big name star? How did the relationship change --and how did it stay the same after he/she hit it 'big'? I do have such a friend --who was once a lover --and we are still friends --still in communication.
Everything about this story touches on aspects of reality --friendships, sex, fame, love, loss, nostalgia.
Its entertaining -funny -heartbreaking -witty. A genuine terrific book to read!
November 28, 2014
I kept logging my complaints while reading this book. I have seen these characters before. All of them. Many times. I have seen this structure of ridiculously intertwined lives before. I have seen these stories before. I am not really sure I care about any of the characters or where they end up.
And yet I read this book in about 24 hours... so perhaps the reader doth protest too much?
Yes, it may feel repetitive. But Goldhagen took me in and I just didn't stop. Which is a pretty big compliment since I've been hopping from book to book and quitting them right and left.
A solid read. I'd like to see the author do something bolder and more ambitious in the future.
And yet I read this book in about 24 hours... so perhaps the reader doth protest too much?
Yes, it may feel repetitive. But Goldhagen took me in and I just didn't stop. Which is a pretty big compliment since I've been hopping from book to book and quitting them right and left.
A solid read. I'd like to see the author do something bolder and more ambitious in the future.
January 26, 2015
It would seem that I am one of the very few who is not enamored by this book. The premise drew me in because it is about a group of people my age, and for the premise alone I have awarded not one, but two, stars. Otherwise, I could not find much to enjoy about the writing style, the characters, or the plot.
For example, the author uses the second person point of view for a specific character, which, instead of being effective, seemed like a forced reminder that we were switching characters again. Ho hum. Telling a story from multiple points of view can be quite effective, but in this book it merely seems like an exercise for a creative writing class.
Also, it may be helpful for non-Chicagoans to know that Leona's is not the only eating establishment in Evanston; other similar references felt like an attempt to make those sections of the story feel Chicago-y, but reminded me of the annoying place dropping in "The Time Traveler's Wife." Perhaps, if one is not familiar with the area, it is less annoying.
Frankly, the characters were boring. I had hoped to find at least some commonalities with one of the voices, as I did when recently watching "Hits So Hard" about the drummer from the band, Hole (and I am not a drummer or a lesbian, nor have I done heroin). Perhaps, that's because the author is trying too hard. Or at least that's what I took away from reading the book. I can say that it is a quick read, but cannot recommend it for any other reason.
For example, the author uses the second person point of view for a specific character, which, instead of being effective, seemed like a forced reminder that we were switching characters again. Ho hum. Telling a story from multiple points of view can be quite effective, but in this book it merely seems like an exercise for a creative writing class.
Also, it may be helpful for non-Chicagoans to know that Leona's is not the only eating establishment in Evanston; other similar references felt like an attempt to make those sections of the story feel Chicago-y, but reminded me of the annoying place dropping in "The Time Traveler's Wife." Perhaps, if one is not familiar with the area, it is less annoying.
Frankly, the characters were boring. I had hoped to find at least some commonalities with one of the voices, as I did when recently watching "Hits So Hard" about the drummer from the band, Hole (and I am not a drummer or a lesbian, nor have I done heroin). Perhaps, that's because the author is trying too hard. Or at least that's what I took away from reading the book. I can say that it is a quick read, but cannot recommend it for any other reason.
October 22, 2014
Sometimes you read a book, and it's just so terrific you have to shout. A fabulous novel about six degrees of separation, IN SOME OTHER WORLD, MAYBE by Shari Goldhagen had me reading well into the wee hours of the morning.
RELEASE DATE: January 2015
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press
DISCLAIMER: Novel was sent via NetGallery in exchange for a honest review
SYNOPSIS: In December 1992, three groups of teenagers head to the theater to see the movie version of the famed Eons & Empires comic books. For Adam it's a last ditch effort to connect with something (actually, someone, the girl he's had a crush on for years) in his sleepy Florida town before he leaves for good. Passionate fan Sharon skips school in Cincinnati so she can fully appreciate the flick without interruption from her vapid almost-friends—a seemingly silly indiscretion with shocking consequences. And in suburban Chicago, Phoebe and Ollie simply want to have a nice first date and maybe fool around in the dark, if everyone they know could just stop getting in the way. Over the next two decades, these unforgettable characters criss-cross the globe, becoming entwined by friendship, sex, ambition, fame and tragedy. A razor-sharp, darkly comic page-turner, In Some Other World, Maybe sheds light on what it means to grow up in modern America.
REVIEW: In one word, this novel is downright terrific. A breath of fresh air again the monotonous novels that seem to be filling our book shelves.
In the early nineties in Florida, Adam closes up his grandparent's ice cream shop two hours early in hope of catching the film Eons & Empires with his longtime crush, Molly. The night ends with him bloody, alone, and on the outskirts of town. In the early nineties in Cincinnati, Sharon fakes an illness to skip school and sees Eons & Empires twice. The night ends with her jumping out of a moving vehicle and walking home in the rain. In the early nineties in Chicago, Phoebe just wants a quiet first date with Oliver at the movie Eons & Empires. The night ends with her brother chaperoning the date. Over the next two decades, the lives of these four individuals intersect at breakneck speed. You'll be surprised at how one little film could change the lives of four people so monstrously.
This novel is six degrees of separation on speed. Literally, I couldn't believe the way the lives of these four people intertwined, but it's done in such a way that it just feels natural. Goldhagen takes the readers on such a wonderful adventure from the early years of our adolescence to the later years of our adult hood. Everything about this novel is expertly crafted - almost coincidental and magical in nature.
The characters are expertly woven. Each character is unique enough to hold their own chapters and executed perfectly to leave us wanting to know more about them. Goldhagen is beyond perfection in the little details of each character's personality and quips. It's lovely to watch it play out.
The novel switches character point of views often, but it never feels rushed or forced. We can first hand accounts of the two decades from each of the characters, and the motivation behind their actions that ultimately allow their lives to intersect across the globe. I challenge you to try and put this book down once you start. If you're anything like me, you'll be up all hours of the night.
The novel doesn't come out until early January 2015, but be sure it's on your reading list. You wouldn't want to skip what is sure to be, one of the best novels of the year.
Fun tidbit: I often thought that this novel would make the perfect movie. Here's hoping it's beauty one day translates to screen.
RELEASE DATE: January 2015
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press
DISCLAIMER: Novel was sent via NetGallery in exchange for a honest review
SYNOPSIS: In December 1992, three groups of teenagers head to the theater to see the movie version of the famed Eons & Empires comic books. For Adam it's a last ditch effort to connect with something (actually, someone, the girl he's had a crush on for years) in his sleepy Florida town before he leaves for good. Passionate fan Sharon skips school in Cincinnati so she can fully appreciate the flick without interruption from her vapid almost-friends—a seemingly silly indiscretion with shocking consequences. And in suburban Chicago, Phoebe and Ollie simply want to have a nice first date and maybe fool around in the dark, if everyone they know could just stop getting in the way. Over the next two decades, these unforgettable characters criss-cross the globe, becoming entwined by friendship, sex, ambition, fame and tragedy. A razor-sharp, darkly comic page-turner, In Some Other World, Maybe sheds light on what it means to grow up in modern America.
REVIEW: In one word, this novel is downright terrific. A breath of fresh air again the monotonous novels that seem to be filling our book shelves.
In the early nineties in Florida, Adam closes up his grandparent's ice cream shop two hours early in hope of catching the film Eons & Empires with his longtime crush, Molly. The night ends with him bloody, alone, and on the outskirts of town. In the early nineties in Cincinnati, Sharon fakes an illness to skip school and sees Eons & Empires twice. The night ends with her jumping out of a moving vehicle and walking home in the rain. In the early nineties in Chicago, Phoebe just wants a quiet first date with Oliver at the movie Eons & Empires. The night ends with her brother chaperoning the date. Over the next two decades, the lives of these four individuals intersect at breakneck speed. You'll be surprised at how one little film could change the lives of four people so monstrously.
This novel is six degrees of separation on speed. Literally, I couldn't believe the way the lives of these four people intertwined, but it's done in such a way that it just feels natural. Goldhagen takes the readers on such a wonderful adventure from the early years of our adolescence to the later years of our adult hood. Everything about this novel is expertly crafted - almost coincidental and magical in nature.
The characters are expertly woven. Each character is unique enough to hold their own chapters and executed perfectly to leave us wanting to know more about them. Goldhagen is beyond perfection in the little details of each character's personality and quips. It's lovely to watch it play out.
The novel switches character point of views often, but it never feels rushed or forced. We can first hand accounts of the two decades from each of the characters, and the motivation behind their actions that ultimately allow their lives to intersect across the globe. I challenge you to try and put this book down once you start. If you're anything like me, you'll be up all hours of the night.
The novel doesn't come out until early January 2015, but be sure it's on your reading list. You wouldn't want to skip what is sure to be, one of the best novels of the year.
Fun tidbit: I often thought that this novel would make the perfect movie. Here's hoping it's beauty one day translates to screen.
January 15, 2015
YES, I enjoyed it immensely. YES, I finished it in a single sitting. YES, I'm positive it'll show up again in June as part of my Top Reads of 2015 (part one!) post. While the layers weren't quite as deep and far-reaching, I couldn't help but be reminded of Kate Atkinson's Life After Life (a top read of 2013 and one I need to revisit before the companion novel comes out later this year). In Some Other World, Maybe is sure to receive buzz and bestsellers spots and it wholeheartedly deserves each and every mention and I can easily see myself recommending this one to customers looking for something a little off, something a little quirky and different, but full of emotion with characters that pack a punch.
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
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June 7, 2023Excuse me what.
November 22, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. It's one of the types of story lines that I tend to really like and it's particularly well done. A disparate group of characters are portrayed starting in late adolescence into their late thirties. They are connected in various ways, and we see their lives intersect as the few plot lines evolve. The concept is similar to Meg Wolitzer's The Interestings and a few other books I have read over the years. What pushed this one into a relatively rare 5 star rating for me is that I found myself really liking the characters -- despite all of their flaws and obvious blind spots -- and also enjoying their various stories and how they were connected. And the writing was lovely -- simple but elegant with its occasional clever repetitions, 2nd person narrative and reliance on the link to the Star Wars like movie all characters had seen--or not seen--in the opening chapter. I had the luxury of being able to read this book in a day while spending much time in airplanes and airports, and it was a great way to enjoy a book I would have had trouble putting down. Highly recommended for anyone who likes books in this genre.
April 3, 2015
This isn't exactly Great Literature, but it's perfect for when you want something light but not empty. I loved all the main characters; it was a little off balance since Adam and Phoebe's lives were so fully enmeshed with each other's while Sharon was kind of on the periphery. In fact, at least twice I got to a Sharon chapter and thought, oh I forgot about her. But I guess it does illustrate how sometimes you can kind of know a person without ever really interacting with them. My favorite sections were about Adam and Phoebe's early years trying to make it in Hollywood. I just loved how their lives were sort of glamorous yet shitty at the same time; it's embarrassing to admit, but it's totally how I used to imagine being a grownup would be like. This was a really solid, enjoyable read for me, and please let there be an Evie-focused sequel.
September 11, 2014
Brought me to the depths and heights of those wonderful and difficult years where you lose your innocence, find your heart, and, if you're lucky, discover your true self. I loved the interconnecting stories of characters who were real and familiar and journeying. Terrific, terrific, terrific.
June 3, 2019
This started out clunky, and repetitive, and slow. It didn't get any better.
The way the characters lives intermix feels like a bad version of six degrees of separation. This book was trying way too hard. There wasn't enough real drama to keep me invested in the story or the characters. I wasn't rooting for anyone, or all that curious to find out what would happen to them. The only reason I kept reading it was to see if it redeemed itself.
It didn't.
This feels like a random mashup of characters, whose connection/interweaving is supposed to be some comic book that's turned into a TV show, and the people that surround all of that. Also there are odd interjections of what I'd call modern history events, like the Bush V. Gore presidential election, a recounting of September 11, 2001, and the emergency landing on the Hudson river.
These events are thrown in for some odd reason but have no actual meaningful bearing on the story, except for one reference to the Bush V Gore election near the end of the book, but even that is weak as a connector at best.
I can't understand how Adam seems like a nice kid, but then almost drowns his friend as a teenager. He also grows up and becomes a complete dick, but he has these nice moments. I can't tell if he's a narcissist, or just unbalanced.
Honestly, I don't even know what the real point of this story was. Maybe something about choices, some odd Sliding Doors, "consider what would have happened if..." situation?
Whatever it was meant to be, it just doesnt' work.
Probably the most off putting thing? The cover of this book. It makes no sense with the story, and just doesn't go at all.
Definitely do not recommend this.
The way the characters lives intermix feels like a bad version of six degrees of separation. This book was trying way too hard. There wasn't enough real drama to keep me invested in the story or the characters. I wasn't rooting for anyone, or all that curious to find out what would happen to them. The only reason I kept reading it was to see if it redeemed itself.
It didn't.
This feels like a random mashup of characters, whose connection/interweaving is supposed to be some comic book that's turned into a TV show, and the people that surround all of that. Also there are odd interjections of what I'd call modern history events, like the Bush V. Gore presidential election, a recounting of September 11, 2001, and the emergency landing on the Hudson river.
These events are thrown in for some odd reason but have no actual meaningful bearing on the story, except for one reference to the Bush V Gore election near the end of the book, but even that is weak as a connector at best.
I can't understand how Adam seems like a nice kid, but then almost drowns his friend as a teenager. He also grows up and becomes a complete dick, but he has these nice moments. I can't tell if he's a narcissist, or just unbalanced.
Honestly, I don't even know what the real point of this story was. Maybe something about choices, some odd Sliding Doors, "consider what would have happened if..." situation?
Whatever it was meant to be, it just doesnt' work.
Probably the most off putting thing? The cover of this book. It makes no sense with the story, and just doesn't go at all.
Definitely do not recommend this.
March 9, 2015
At first I wasn’t sure I should give In Some Other World, Maybe five whole stars. It had pulled me in so completely that when it was over, I wasn’t sure if the tingling feeling it left me with was the aftershocks from an intense crush rather than true love. I wondered if Shari Goldhagen’s second novel was the equivalent of that handsome bad boy who sweeps you off your feet, takes you on 100-miles-per-hour motorcycle rides on ocean-side cliffs, tells you you’re beautiful, and then rides off into the sunset without leaving so much as his number. This book took me by surprise and did the right thing, in the end: it stuck with me.
In Some Other World, Maybe reminds me of the movie version of Short Cuts, where a lot of different stories happen to a large cast of characters, and slowly but surely, their paths cross and you start to see how everything and everyone is connected. The novel opens in the early 1990s, when all our main players catch a different screening of a large-budget sci-fi film called Eons & Empires. This gives all our characters a common experience, and it introduces a theme that resonates throughout the novel: Our lives intersect with other people’s lives—sometimes by chance, sometimes because of decisions we make. In some other world, maybe . . . things would have gone differently. But we live in this world, and we have to make the most of it. We have to make sure not to take the people in it for granted.
The characters at the center of the novel are Phoebe and Adam. They were both in high school when Eons & Empires came out, but they don’t meet until they’re in their twenties. Both aspiring actors, they’re roommates who hook up sometimes. They’re drawn to each other, attracted to each other, but for various reasons have never managed to make it work as a committed, monogamous couple, even though deep down, that’s what each of them most desires.
Over the course of the book, twenty years go by, and the relationship between Adam and Phoebe evolves. They go from friends to lovers to friends again. Years into their friendship, a family tragedy brings them closer together, and they’re forced to confront their feelings for each other. They resemble no one I know in real life—Adam is a handsome television actor with a chip on his shoulder, Phoebe is glamorous and spoiled, her body perfected by plastic surgeons, her heart wide-open and true. Still, they emerge as fully-developed three-dimensional characters. I became immersed in their relationship drama to the point that I cried—actually shed real tears!—at four separate points in the book. I just really believed in them, and longed for them to make it work. The obstacles they faced rang true, even if I did want to shake Adam by the shoulders at several points and yell in his face, “Don’t let her go, you idiot!”
Other characters orbit Adam and Phoebe’s world, too. It’s always a risk to crowd a book with too many characters. Readers might be tempted to skip over the characters they don’t like to get to the “good stuff.” For me, this wasn’t a problem. I found myself really rooting for all of them.
Over the years, the paths of each main character and several minor ones zigzag back and forth over each other. Sometimes they realize it—Oliver will recognize Phoebe’s mother while on a trip overseas, for example. Other times, they don’t—one time, Adam is standing in line next to Sharon in an airport, but they are (at that point) strangers to each other. It might sound unbelievable, as if the plot relies on too many of these coincidental connections, but those connections reinforce the point the book is trying to make—that all of us are tied together in ways we don’t even realize.
In Some Other World, Maybe is the book I wanted The Interestings to be. It is relevant, engrossing, moving, and an all-around entertaining read. Five stars!
In Some Other World, Maybe reminds me of the movie version of Short Cuts, where a lot of different stories happen to a large cast of characters, and slowly but surely, their paths cross and you start to see how everything and everyone is connected. The novel opens in the early 1990s, when all our main players catch a different screening of a large-budget sci-fi film called Eons & Empires. This gives all our characters a common experience, and it introduces a theme that resonates throughout the novel: Our lives intersect with other people’s lives—sometimes by chance, sometimes because of decisions we make. In some other world, maybe . . . things would have gone differently. But we live in this world, and we have to make the most of it. We have to make sure not to take the people in it for granted.
The characters at the center of the novel are Phoebe and Adam. They were both in high school when Eons & Empires came out, but they don’t meet until they’re in their twenties. Both aspiring actors, they’re roommates who hook up sometimes. They’re drawn to each other, attracted to each other, but for various reasons have never managed to make it work as a committed, monogamous couple, even though deep down, that’s what each of them most desires.
Over the course of the book, twenty years go by, and the relationship between Adam and Phoebe evolves. They go from friends to lovers to friends again. Years into their friendship, a family tragedy brings them closer together, and they’re forced to confront their feelings for each other. They resemble no one I know in real life—Adam is a handsome television actor with a chip on his shoulder, Phoebe is glamorous and spoiled, her body perfected by plastic surgeons, her heart wide-open and true. Still, they emerge as fully-developed three-dimensional characters. I became immersed in their relationship drama to the point that I cried—actually shed real tears!—at four separate points in the book. I just really believed in them, and longed for them to make it work. The obstacles they faced rang true, even if I did want to shake Adam by the shoulders at several points and yell in his face, “Don’t let her go, you idiot!”
Other characters orbit Adam and Phoebe’s world, too. It’s always a risk to crowd a book with too many characters. Readers might be tempted to skip over the characters they don’t like to get to the “good stuff.” For me, this wasn’t a problem. I found myself really rooting for all of them.
Over the years, the paths of each main character and several minor ones zigzag back and forth over each other. Sometimes they realize it—Oliver will recognize Phoebe’s mother while on a trip overseas, for example. Other times, they don’t—one time, Adam is standing in line next to Sharon in an airport, but they are (at that point) strangers to each other. It might sound unbelievable, as if the plot relies on too many of these coincidental connections, but those connections reinforce the point the book is trying to make—that all of us are tied together in ways we don’t even realize.
In Some Other World, Maybe is the book I wanted The Interestings to be. It is relevant, engrossing, moving, and an all-around entertaining read. Five stars!
January 19, 2016
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
After reading it myself now, I have to admit that I'm stumped as to why Shari Goldhagen's new novel In Some Other World, Maybe has been receiving such effusive praise; for while it's not bad at all, it's certainly not a book I would call great, a story that just sort of sits there like a Lifetime movie without making much of an impression at all. A character-based slice-of-life tale, the novel does all kinds of clever things to try to set itself apart, a clear reflection of the author's MFA status -- for one example, she traces back all our twenty-something characters at the beginning of the book to show what they were all doing, scattered across the country, on opening day of a Harry-Potter-type genre franchise movie that came out when they were all teenagers, before then bringing them all together as adults through things like shared college experiences and roommate hookups in the LA struggling-actor community -- but the problem is that she simply never does much with it all, a book with not enough plot to be a great story-based novel and with not interesting enough people to be a great character-based novel. About as slow and inconsequential as contemporary literature even gets, this is getting only a limited recommendation from me today, specifically for those who like genteel story arcs that feel just like the blase day-to-day events of their actual friends' lives.
Out of 10: 8.0
After reading it myself now, I have to admit that I'm stumped as to why Shari Goldhagen's new novel In Some Other World, Maybe has been receiving such effusive praise; for while it's not bad at all, it's certainly not a book I would call great, a story that just sort of sits there like a Lifetime movie without making much of an impression at all. A character-based slice-of-life tale, the novel does all kinds of clever things to try to set itself apart, a clear reflection of the author's MFA status -- for one example, she traces back all our twenty-something characters at the beginning of the book to show what they were all doing, scattered across the country, on opening day of a Harry-Potter-type genre franchise movie that came out when they were all teenagers, before then bringing them all together as adults through things like shared college experiences and roommate hookups in the LA struggling-actor community -- but the problem is that she simply never does much with it all, a book with not enough plot to be a great story-based novel and with not interesting enough people to be a great character-based novel. About as slow and inconsequential as contemporary literature even gets, this is getting only a limited recommendation from me today, specifically for those who like genteel story arcs that feel just like the blase day-to-day events of their actual friends' lives.
Out of 10: 8.0
February 9, 2017
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I really wanted to like it and assumed I would based on the description of multiple stories coming together, which I typically love.
Lots of people seem to really love it from their reviews, so maybe I'm just the weird one!
Overall, this was a frustrating read for me. It was hard to keep track of all the characters - with so many details thrown in constantly, it was difficult to tell which names I really needed to pay attention to and which were just added in.
I disliked the second person "you" point of view that was used from time to time. It felt jarring and constantly distracted me from the storyline. There were a lot of typos and missed words, but I'm assuming that will all get sorted out as this was an advanced copy. I guess I haven't read many advanced copies, but that many typos really shocked me, as if editors hadn't really read it yet at all. Is that typical?
Even though I wasn't thrilled with it, it kept me interested and I read it quickly. So there must have been something there!
I love the cover art!
Lots of people seem to really love it from their reviews, so maybe I'm just the weird one!
Overall, this was a frustrating read for me. It was hard to keep track of all the characters - with so many details thrown in constantly, it was difficult to tell which names I really needed to pay attention to and which were just added in.
I disliked the second person "you" point of view that was used from time to time. It felt jarring and constantly distracted me from the storyline. There were a lot of typos and missed words, but I'm assuming that will all get sorted out as this was an advanced copy. I guess I haven't read many advanced copies, but that many typos really shocked me, as if editors hadn't really read it yet at all. Is that typical?
Even though I wasn't thrilled with it, it kept me interested and I read it quickly. So there must have been something there!
I love the cover art!
August 21, 2015
SO MANY FEELINGS. I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS. I gave it 5 stars based solely on the amount of time I have spent telling people how many feelings I had while listening to this book. It was great. It was a total accidental find, but I'm so glad! The story was really compelling, and I was so invested in the characters and their lives. It's one of those interconnected kinds of stories, but the connections here are all really strong and obvious, which I appreciated; I hate these kinds of books that only have the most nebulous of links between the different narratives, but this is one story about four different people, and it's so well done. I thought the ending was a little abrupt, but I think that has more to do with the fact that I started the car with only 5 minutes left in the book, because upon further reflection, it was so lovely and wonderful, and and you could really see how much everyone had grown over the course of the novel.
February 21, 2015
I wanted to like this book but the pacing and the ending didn't satisfy me. Plus, I hated Phoebe's guts! Who falls in love with a complete stranger?! Who?! Ugh!
I could care less about Ollie and Sharon, Adam and Phoebe were the only characters I wanted to read about. Oh Adam... I would have stayed with you!!!
I could care less about Ollie and Sharon, Adam and Phoebe were the only characters I wanted to read about. Oh Adam... I would have stayed with you!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2017
I randomly picked up this book, not knowing anything about the plot, or the author. And I'm glad I did. The novel traces the interconnected lives of four main characters, revealing them in surprising, and affecting ways.
I'll look for more by this author.
I'll look for more by this author.
January 25, 2015
"In Some Other World, Maybe" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways Sharon Goldhagen creatively intertwines the lives of three groups of teenagers who go to see the movie adaptation of the comic book series Eons & Empires. Sparked by their ambitious hopes for the future, Adam Zoellner, Phoebe Fisher and Sharon Gallaher leave behind a small town, insipid friends and high school romances to pursue their dreams only to cross paths through family relationships, fame, friendship, sex and tragedy.
In a captivating plot the world of these three characters intertwines in a unique and imaginative way as they grow from naive teens with a high expectations for their future into frustrated, disheartened,broken and angry adults who face pitfalls in their lives that have them hurtling through tragic loss, heartbreak and scandal. But in the end their connection in some way brings each a sense of triumph, deliverance, hope and promise. With a mood that's often gloomy and sad, and a pace that gains momentum as events unfold, the author steadily builds emotional intensity and passion. Surprisingly,the plot never loses its initial link to the movie Eons & Empires.
Adam Zoellner is a smart, athletic teen with good-looks and charm who wants to pursue an acting career much to the consternation of his single mom whose world revolves around her only son. With a strength-of- will, grit and a silver tongue that makes a lie ring with truth, his career that will bring him money, fame and heartbreak.
Phoebe Fisher from suburban Chicago lacks direction as she struggles to find acting or modelling jobs, working as a bartender at the Rosebud and rooming with Adam. Sex and bad choices in men are her downfall, making her brother Chase and her parents anxious about her welfare. Only when tragedy strikes does Phoebe's aspirations change and love take a different direction.
Sharon Gallaher a graduate of NYU aspires to be a writer, but is locked into a dead-end job. She's ambitious but when her manuscripts receive constant rejections she becomes depressed, shutting out Chase Fisher the man she loves. When struck by shock, grief and guilt after a tragic loss, Sharon has to find a way to survive her heartbreak, to move forward and to find love again. Although she rejects Ollie's overtures, a strange encounter will have her changing her attitude and knocking on his door.
The personalities of the main characters are unforgettable, complex and realistic, each one building the emotional power in the fabric of a hauntingly beautiful story with their passion, energy and drama. Among those that propel the action forward providing a connection between the characters are; Phoebe's protective brother Chase Fisher, an astute and compassionate accountant whose romance falls apart as his health shatters; Evie Saperstein the sharp and clever publicist who keeps Adam's career afloat through scandal, and Ollie Ryan the globe-trotter who finds happiness again with the most unlikely woman. Like the plot the characters are well-developed and mesmerizing with all their flaws and faults.
I wasn't sure I'd like "In Some Other World, Maybe", but instead enjoyed it immensely. I liked the uniquely crafted plot with its realistic and human characterizations.
In a captivating plot the world of these three characters intertwines in a unique and imaginative way as they grow from naive teens with a high expectations for their future into frustrated, disheartened,broken and angry adults who face pitfalls in their lives that have them hurtling through tragic loss, heartbreak and scandal. But in the end their connection in some way brings each a sense of triumph, deliverance, hope and promise. With a mood that's often gloomy and sad, and a pace that gains momentum as events unfold, the author steadily builds emotional intensity and passion. Surprisingly,the plot never loses its initial link to the movie Eons & Empires.
Adam Zoellner is a smart, athletic teen with good-looks and charm who wants to pursue an acting career much to the consternation of his single mom whose world revolves around her only son. With a strength-of- will, grit and a silver tongue that makes a lie ring with truth, his career that will bring him money, fame and heartbreak.
Phoebe Fisher from suburban Chicago lacks direction as she struggles to find acting or modelling jobs, working as a bartender at the Rosebud and rooming with Adam. Sex and bad choices in men are her downfall, making her brother Chase and her parents anxious about her welfare. Only when tragedy strikes does Phoebe's aspirations change and love take a different direction.
Sharon Gallaher a graduate of NYU aspires to be a writer, but is locked into a dead-end job. She's ambitious but when her manuscripts receive constant rejections she becomes depressed, shutting out Chase Fisher the man she loves. When struck by shock, grief and guilt after a tragic loss, Sharon has to find a way to survive her heartbreak, to move forward and to find love again. Although she rejects Ollie's overtures, a strange encounter will have her changing her attitude and knocking on his door.
The personalities of the main characters are unforgettable, complex and realistic, each one building the emotional power in the fabric of a hauntingly beautiful story with their passion, energy and drama. Among those that propel the action forward providing a connection between the characters are; Phoebe's protective brother Chase Fisher, an astute and compassionate accountant whose romance falls apart as his health shatters; Evie Saperstein the sharp and clever publicist who keeps Adam's career afloat through scandal, and Ollie Ryan the globe-trotter who finds happiness again with the most unlikely woman. Like the plot the characters are well-developed and mesmerizing with all their flaws and faults.
I wasn't sure I'd like "In Some Other World, Maybe", but instead enjoyed it immensely. I liked the uniquely crafted plot with its realistic and human characterizations.
August 20, 2015
this is a strong 4.5 stars... really good, and got better the more i thought about it afterword... the book spans 10-15 years in the life of a handful of characters, and the author does a great job portraying the inevitable highs and lows everyone is susceptible to when life "happens". Whether these defining moments be conscious choices or the results of events beyond their control, the message i heard throughout this book was simple, but still poignant: "We'll be okay/Everything will be alright." The innate instinct to survive and persevere... And by the book's end, the author had reinforced this idea realistically through her characters' lives and personal growth.
I'm a sucker for a book (or prologue) that wraps up everyone's story nice and neat, with a satin bow on top. And even though that was not the case here, I was definitely left with the feeling that no matter what these characters would face in the next few decades, their lives would indeed be just fine.
I'm a sucker for a book (or prologue) that wraps up everyone's story nice and neat, with a satin bow on top. And even though that was not the case here, I was definitely left with the feeling that no matter what these characters would face in the next few decades, their lives would indeed be just fine.
January 21, 2015
Friends, I’ve been looking forward to reading Shari Goldhagen’s IN SOME OTHER WORLD, MAYBE for a while now. I found so much of it appealing, based on the synopsis: the movie that ties all of the teenagers together, the way all of their lives connect as they age, how all of them are just growing up and living their lives. I don’t usually talk too much about adult books here, but this one is great exception to make. When I was asked to be a part of the blog tour for IN SOME OTHER WORLD, MAYBE I jumped at the chance, and that wound up being a really good call, if I may say so myself.
Check out the rest of my review here at Tripping Over Books!
Check out the rest of my review here at Tripping Over Books!
May 11, 2023
Where are all of my 90s nostalgia readers at?! This one is for you! I loved joining Adam, Sharon and Phoebe on this beautifully written literary journey but this book also took me on my own trip down my own memory lane. Remembering life before smartphones made me smile so many times.
I enjoyed multiple points of view, following each character on their journey of growing up and growing into a person they choose to become. Secrets, heartbreak, beautiful writing. It's the kind of story I see myself rereading at some point.
Grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed multiple points of view, following each character on their journey of growing up and growing into a person they choose to become. Secrets, heartbreak, beautiful writing. It's the kind of story I see myself rereading at some point.
Grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
July 23, 2017
The setup for this book is promising, unusual, and subtly entertaining, and I thought it would only get better from there. Unfortunately, for me it became a very "meh" read.
While this book has some interesting moments, ultimately I felt disconnected from and bored with the story. The writing style as well as the slow pacing kept it from being consistently engaging to me. Based on the blurb and the beginning I was expecting to really like this book. Didn't turn out that way. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the story focused only on the Adam and Phoebe characters.
2.5/5 stars
While this book has some interesting moments, ultimately I felt disconnected from and bored with the story. The writing style as well as the slow pacing kept it from being consistently engaging to me. Based on the blurb and the beginning I was expecting to really like this book. Didn't turn out that way. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the story focused only on the Adam and Phoebe characters.
2.5/5 stars
March 11, 2015
I wish that Goodreads gave me more than five stars to assign to a book. I absolutely loved everything about this book! The way that the author intertwined the lives of the characters, along with the fictional Eons & Empires series was amazing! I was engrossed with each person's storyline and wanted to know more and more about them and see where their lives took them. My only complaint was that the ending felt a little unfinished but maybe that was because I didn't want to end my relationship with these characters.
October 25, 2014
AMAZING! It's been a while since I've really loved a book from a non-favorite author. I found the story totally compelling and the characters really draw you in. Toward the end it did drag a little bit and maybe did not end as strongly as the first 2/3 of the book, but that also could have been because of the day the plot was developing vs how I wanted it to develop. Totally neat concept.
March 1, 2017
Intertwining narrative of three groups of teens in the early nineties and over the next two decades. It's fun to see how the all affect each others lives when they only start with a beloved comic book series in common. I'd go see a movie adaptation happily. Just what the doctor ordered after the epic IT. Light, just enough romance and drama.
January 13, 2021
I cannot recommend this book enough. The complexities of each character are so relatable, so human. It is a reminder that you don't always get to wrap things up with pretty little bows in real life - feelings and people get hurt, stay hurt; with that hurt comes growth, happiness, hope. Beautiful, human novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
This is not my usual reading fare. I bit rom com, a very bit young folks, but I fell into it and enjoyed it. The characters had a vitality to them and the plot kept me engaged. I leave it to others to explain more....
July 18, 2022
This book was way better than I thought it would be. I picked it up thinking it’d be some cheesy romance, but it had some grit to it that made it very worth the read. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style— might be looking into her other works.
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