Review: And Again by Jessica Chiarella

And Again

by Jessica Chiarella

Publisher: Touchstone

Pages: 320

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Would you live your life differently if you were given a second chance? Hannah, David, Connie, and Linda—four terminally ill patients—have been selected for the SUBlife pilot program, which will grant them brand-new, genetically perfect bodies that are exact copies of their former selves—without a single imperfection. Blemishes, scars, freckles, and wrinkles have all disappeared, their fingerprints are different, their vision is impeccable, and most importantly, their illnesses have been cured.

But the fresh start they’ve been given is anything but perfect. Without their old bodies, their new physical identities have been lost. Hannah, an artistic prodigy, has to relearn how to hold a brush; David, a Congressman, grapples with his old habits; Connie, an actress whose stunning looks are restored after a protracted illness, tries to navigate an industry obsessed with physical beauty; and Linda, who spent eight years paralyzed after a car accident, now struggles to reconnect with a family that seems to have built a new life without her. As each tries to re-enter their previous lives and relationships they are faced with the how much of your identity rests not just in your mind, but in your heart, your body?

Kritters Thoughts:  Four people were all dealing with something that made their lives debilitating until the SUBlife program came into their lives.  Hannah, David, Connie and Linda were barely living with cancer, paralysis and AIDS and this program gave each of them a new body to live in and a big life do over.  How will they all react to this reset?

I love a book that allows each character to tell their story from their point of view.  The author gave each Hannah, David, Connie and Linda chapters throughout the book that were fantastically labeled!  I always wonder going into these books if I will favor one and dislike another, but thankfully I actually enjoyed each of their journeys and loved reading each person's point of view.  There are some sexy scenes, so if you are sensitive to that kind of reading, I would be aware before going in.  

I feel like this book is sort of dystopian with a program where you can get a new body that has been aged to match your current age and matches your DNA, but not full dystopian with a full new world order, so if you have hesitated diving into this genre, this book could be one to read before trying others.  

I always love to look up an author after I finish and I was sad to see there was only one other book published in 2021 (that I haven't read) and then nothing else.  I hope there is something in the works! 

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Touchstone.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.