The Butterfly Effect
I thought I was done reminiscing about the past but turns out, I still carry some regrets. The kind that regardless of how many therapy sessions I have, I’ll always ponder what could have been. The sort of grief that never goes away. I wonder if it’s akin to what soccer players experience on a grand stage like the World Cup where missing a crucial penalty kick can result in a devasting exit. An almost but not quite goal that makes the difference in a tournament where time and age are unforgiving. They too have to move on, consider the next time, vow to be better and learn from the past but I doubt they forget. It’s the reason why Kylian Mbappé rarely misses a penalty nowadays since that decisive final kick in the Euro 2020 against Switzerland that sent France home. At least, that’s my assumption.
We all reminisce, whether it be about sports, our youth or how life used to be in general before AI and a pandemic changed everything. Perhaps it’s why sequels to movies that defined a generation are in the works and the artists and bands that marked our childhood are reuniting and touring. Maybe it’s us trying to reclaim a piece of what we lost along the way or a second chance to do what we couldn’t the first time around. Maybe that’s what I’m doing in going back to school to study film in my thirties, taking the opportunity to rectify a regret and in doing so, realizing how different my experience could have turned out had I done it years ago.
It’s what Natalie Messier’s debut novel, Every Version of You, is all about, the very notion of time-traveling to the past to rewrite your tomorrows. It reminded me a lot of that one film, The Butterfly Effect, with Ashton Kutcher, though definitely not as bleak but with a similar concept of going back in time and to your horror realizing one decision can alter the future, and not just yours but also the fate of those around you. But again, I promise you, Natalie’s book is not as dark as that film, it’s actually one hell of a romance that spans literal death and multiple timelines and most importantly, has a happy ending. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves to dwell in the past and ponder what could have been.
And to be clear, I wouldn’t go back in time if I was given the chance, at least not anymore. There are too many things that I love right now in my life to want to dispose of it all. I’m just fascinated with the idea of the possibilities of another existence. It’s the reason I write the stories in my head. The only explanation for why I love reading so much. It’s a way for me to experience what otherwise would be impossible. On that note, I’d like to think that in a parallel universe or another life, younger me took the chances and risks I didn’t and now lives a different reality where she doesn’t know the regrets that I do.
But okay, enough philosophy. Here are my July memorable mentions:
- Every Version of You by Natalie Messier
Every Version of You was a literal mind bending read and definitely one of my favorite books about second life chances, right up there with Kristy Greenwoods’s The Love of My Afterlife (which if you haven’t read, seriously what are you waiting for?). In this case, Natalie Messier’s debut novel follows Joey Vasquez, a thirty-two-year-old lawyer who, despite having what’s considered to be a successful corporate career and a wonderful and adorable cat named Ruthie waiting at home for her, she’s unhappy. She doesn’t like her job and the love of her is married to someone else. And what’s worse than pining away for your best friend? Knowing you had a chance. That at one point, they had a crush on you too. It’s that single fact, confessed in an alcohol induced state by Elijah, the best friend in question, that Joey, upon an unexpected instant death, takes the offer of a second chance. The opportunity to travel back in time to redo the past to erase her regrets and lead a happy life. But of course, there are consequences to rewriting history, as Joey soon realizes and no amount of pleading to the heavens to take it all back is going to change that. Joey is stuck in her eighteen-year self and what ensues is both what you’d consider a catastrophe of events but also unexpected plot twists that have our heroine falling for the unlikeliest of people aka not the man she literally bends the hands of time to have. But isn’t that much more exciting? I won’t spoil it further for you, just know if you decide to read this book, it’ll have you wondering if parallel universes exist.
2. FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
Oh, the world cup, once every four years, where the best soccer teams battle it out to be crowned champions of the world and bring glory and the golden trophy to their country, if only temporarily since we all know it gets eventually sent back to FIFA until next time. I love soccer, think it’s one the greatest sports and I watched almost every game. And like with every world cup, there were many surprises like Cape Verde, a small nation near Africa no one had heard of really, that nearly knocked Argentina from the world cup and drew zero to zero in the group stage with Spain. Cape Verde, all I can say is you will be remembered and the world was rooting for you. We also had some pretty viral moments in this tournament. Yes, you know it, I’m talking about Haaland, the tall, long blonde-haired Norwegian player who gave us the best laughs, memes and unforgettable song that’s still stuck in my head. How does it go? Come on you know it, sing it with me!. Haaland, Haaland….haha Okay moving on, soccer is also all about the heartfelt moments that leave a mark on us, whether it be legends like Luka Modrić, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer playing their last world cup or watching Jude Bellingham give it his all in the Azteca stadium in front of 80,824 fans where the stacks seemed all but against the three lions yet they managed a historic win. Speaking of England, in an alternate universe I’d like to believe maybe France and England didn’t play for bronze but at the final with the three lions bringing it home (sorry France) and Prince William and his family in attendance cheering enthusiastically. But Spain, in this reality deserved that win. They played well and who can forget Ferran Torres’ winning goal? How much it meant to him? We are all Ferran fans now after that and booking our next vacation to Spain now or is that just me? Haha actually no, my dream is to attend okay, yes a world cup game at least once in my life but really the Euros which happen to be in 2028 in the U.K with games spread across the other hosting countries. So, who knows, maybe I’ll be there with my England Jude Bellingham jersey out there cheering and singing ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Hey Jude’.
3. My Royal Nemesis
This Korean drama is on Netflix and was one I had a reminder set to watch as soon as it premiered but didn’t end up getting to it until this month. But when I finally did I was hooked and had the worst decisions to make sometimes like, do I watch the soccer game or next episode of My Royal Nemesis? I’m telling you, decisions, decisions, decisions but now that the world cup is over, I can finish the rest of the episodes I hadn’t gotten to. And what’s this drama about? A woman from the Joseon era who reincarnates or should I say whose soul travels to occupy a modern-day struggling actress. So, what’s a girl to do but navigate a whole new world and hey, achieve dreams while we’re at it and if we happen to run into a ridiculously rich and handsome suited man that turns out to be a yearner do anything for the woman he likes? Even better.
Other Deserving Mentions:
- Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador
A president’s daughter gets banished to a place called Mystic Hallow after an incident at the White House that may or may not have involved a charming photographer and pineapple pizza? Sounds like a hallmark movie, and honestly it reads like one too. We have the vice president’s son who is our heroine’s best friend and who everyone including the world ships her with but then our heroine discovers there’s more to life than the white house when a small-town photographer needs help saving his family’s business and she rises up to the task, falling in love with the guy as he helps her complete her summer bucket list. The absolute perfect and I mean perfect 4th of July read.
2. The Lucky Ride by Yasushi Kitagawa
My father recently commented how negative I am, which was like a bucket of ice water being poured on me. Obviously, it wasn’t the first time I heard such a remark aimed at me about my ahem unique outlook on life, but from my father??? That was a shocker. So, imagine my surprise when the book I pick up thinking it’s about second life chances, turned out to be about a man who is so pessimistic he needs a magical taxi driver to show him his ways and make him realize having a positive outlook on life is just the beginning of how to turn your life around. Coincidence? I think not. Better change my ways. Universe, I heard you loud and clear.
Well, that’s it from me in this post. Until next time.
And remember, we are always one decision away from a new life and always have been.
Choose wisely.