Cassandra in Reverse

By: Holly Smale

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
"Fascinating...witty...self-deprecating...We meet Cassandra on the worst day of her life. She's getting fired, her boyfriend dumps her, and her roommates hate her. On that same day, she discovers she has the power to go back in time. You'd think you would know how this book is going to end, but it really surprised me. There's a twist at the end that I did not see coming!" —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club June ’23 Pick)

If you had the power to change the past…where would you start?
Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.

• She's just been dumped.
• She's just been fired.
• Her local café has run out of banana muffins.

Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated, but soon she'll discover she's trying to fix all the wrong things.

“A great read-alike for The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore, and The Boys by Katie Hafner.” —Booklist (STARRED)

Loved This!

I know a lot of people will say they can’t finish this book because of the “quirky” main character but please finish this book! It is crazy beautiful! The ending will shock you and you might even need some tissues. This book is worth going through. The ending ties this book in a beautiful bow. READ IT!

The story was an eye-opener for me!❣️

I not only read this book, but I then bought the audible version and listened to it again, and actually preferred the reader’s interpretation of conversations! I loved it for the story, but also for personal reasons!
I’m in my late 70s, and all my life I could not understand one sibling, who was a total “wallflower“ all her life! Always in the background, always different. Never spoke during meals. But when we grew up, there was no such diagnosis as autism.
One of her children was diagnosed “on the spectrum” and I began to see similarities!
Now, this amazing story has revealed and confirmed some doubts. I was having about myself! I’ve never felt like I fit in an always known yet I had a focusing problem!
But, this book helped me see that it’s not having a name for your “condition“ but accepting yourself for your skills and your flaws. and realizing that no one is the person other people see! I’m Kathy, with my ADHD and a side of autism. And more importantly, there are names of people as different as I am, so I have a community.
I’ll be reading this again! Thank you! 🥰

Glad I stuck it out!

If you can make it past the first half of the book, the main character becomes so much more likable. The ending was beautiful and unexpected.

Dang. Really Got Me.

I loved this book. It was exactly what it needed to be. The author has a great command of tension and catharsis.

Really good ending, left me with lots of complicated feels but ultimately very satisfied. Would read again.

Really sad that a couple of the negative reviews call the protagonist 'crazy' and 'stupid' when she is neither. I guess they're not the empathetic or observant types?

Don't listen to other reviews

Some reviewers are saying they didn't like the main character, Cassandra, and I think that is so unfortunate because that is the whole point! Cassandra is a complex, neurodiverse individual. Her brain is wired differently, and this book gives us a glimpse inside what it is like to live in a world that is designed for neurotypical people. Yes, the time travel is part of the story and can feel a bit repetitive at times but I think those who couldn't hang with the character gave up on a beautiful love story with an interesting plot twist. I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to write this one because I don't agree with those who didn't like Cassandra. I think the author did a great job portraying Autism (in a female)!