Review by Booklist Review
The Mulligan family has the ability to rewind time exactly once per person, per life. Dixie Mulligan plans to use her Rewind to fix a mistake she made with her best friend, Sawyer, with whom she's in love. She arrives in Cielo Springs, California, for summer break, desperate to leave behind her life in New York City and make up with Sawyer. Except on the first night there, she discovers he's in some sort of relationship with another girl. So Dixie embarks on her plan to use her Rewind. But life is more complicated than it seems, and messing with time and people's memories has consequences. Morris' follow-up to Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet (2024) is equally tinged with magic, both in the actual speculative elements and the storytelling structure. The book is full of twists that build on one another; reading it is like unraveling layers of brilliance. Dixie and Sawyer's friendship is the foundation upon which this surreal tale of family, film, and friendship takes place. With a cast full of lovable side characters, a vibrant setting, and much to say about the film industry and art, Morris' latest is a fabulous ride that will entice readers across age groups.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A high school graduate plans to tell her best friend that she loves him during her annual summer vacation to California but winds up wishing she could have a do-over instead. Dixie Mulligan arrives in Cielo Springs with a plan: forget about the fight she had with her parents, help her aunt Kate fix the fire damage to her 110-year-old movie theater, and tell her best friend, Sawyer, that she loves him. The problem is that Dixie hasn't spoken to Sawyer since he visited her in New York over spring break--and everything between them "exploded." But when Dixie sees Sawyer kissing another girl, she decides to use her Rewind. Each member of the Mulligan family has a magical gift that allows them to redo one moment from the past year. Dixie submits her application, and if it's approved, her Rewind will go into effect four days after she watches her Movie, which is "like watching secret CCTV footage of yourself"--showing the alternate timeline of her life. But will this be enough to save their relationship? In this story that's full of secrets, surprises, and unexpected twists, Dixie and Sawyer's relationship isn't the only one affected by her decision. The worldbuilding, including the Rewind rules, is carefully explained, and the chapters open with excerpts from the Mulligans' writings about their magic. The main characters are cued white. A charming love story that delves into relationships and regrets with a touch of magic.(Romance. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
