• Replay

  • By: Ken Grimwood
  • Narrated by: Adam Sims
  • Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (96 ratings)

Pick 1 title (2 titles for Prime members) from our collection of bestsellers and new releases.
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
Your Premium Plus plan will continue for $14.95 a month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.
Replay  By  cover art

Replay

By: Ken Grimwood
Narrated by: Adam Sims
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.16

Buy for $19.16

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Jeff Winston's life is not how he imagined it would be.  

An unhappy marriage and unrewarding job - and then he died. Aged 43. And woke up again, back in his college room, in 1963, age 18. With all his memories intact. If he applies those memories, he can be rich - he can have anything he wants - in this new chance at life.  

Until he dies at 43 and wakes up in his 18-year-old body again...and again in a continuous 25-year cycle, each time starting from scratch at the age of 18 to reclaim lost loves, make a fortune or remedy past mistakes. And then, in one replayed life, he meets a woman who knows all too well what he is experiencing.   

Replay is a novel of gripping adventure, romance and fascinating speculation on the nature of time. Replay asks the question, 'What if you could live your life over again?'  

©2019 Ken Grimwood (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group

More from the same

What listeners say about Replay

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    64
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    61
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    58
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my all time favourites

This is the one, every reader has one, dog eared, coffee stained, read repeatedly.

The audio version didn't disappoint.

I first read this in the 80s and King's novel about JFK's assassination has some similarities.

The story poses an interesting question. Would you do things differently if you were given a second chance? How much of that decision is based on who you've become and how much is based on local knowledge? How much would you remember if you found yourself reliving your youth?

Like Ground Hog day, the answer for most is in the nuance. Its not about drastic change, but rather fine tuning. Including of one's self.

People say hindsight is an exact science. This tends to sway us towards being more negative about the lows and more positive about the highs.

I think Replay is an example of how most of us would approach such a situation. And in that it has a reality that some other stories miss.

Highly recommend,

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a gem

First off, the book is absolutely fantastic. It messed me up good, wrenched my heart, and stirred my emotions. It also made me appreciate life, and realize just how little time we all have here.

Second, the narrator did a terrific job. If I could choose one audiobook to convince someone to start listening to books, this would be the one.

His cadence was always on point, and he did the voices in a way I never had to wonder who he was speaking on behalf of. The different accents he portrayed seemed impeccable to me, and even the slight differences in male and female voices he did made things easy to follow. I can't wait to listen to more of the books he narrated.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Don’t hesitate just buy

Been a while since I loved every single minute of a newly found book. It can scratch the itch of everyone who likes time travel and at the same time drowns you in the characters’ ups and downs in a consuming way.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Groundhog Day but over many years and much deeper

The story feels familiar but there is no Bill Murray… a chance to live again… to know the future. I was completely absorbed in this and terrified if I was put into it. It’s hard discuss the depth of this book without giving away the plot. It might be loosely termed Sci-fi but it’s a book of introspection.

“You and I have passed through many births, Arjuna. You have forgotten, but I remember them all.”

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great time travel novel

Great storyline with some of the usual paradoxes, but with a neat finish. Very enjoyable listen.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed it... Loved it...!!!

I really liked how the story developed and wished that there was a sequel to this.

Also, the performance was really great.

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

A real feel-good story that doesn't get boring.
The reason this book is super difficult to review without spoilers, is because it has very little plot, making mostly everything a spoiler. The lack of plot is usually something that turns me off right away, but there's a feel-good essence about this book, and you're never bored with it either, even if it IS pretty darn slow in the beginning.

I feel like Ken Grimwood glanced over way too many things that would have been great to have been dived a bit more into. I feel like too many times was something started, but not concluded, and I feel like maybe Mr. Grimwood might have written this book without planning anything ahead, as it often seems to go a certain direction, only for that direction never to be explored again.
This honestly bothered me quite a bit (also the fact that, at one point, the difference between Cinema movies and TV is explained, and the conclusions he makes are dead wrong, but this is not a major thing in the book, it just really bothered me personally).

So why did I give it four stars Overall?:
Well, like I said, it's a nice feel-good book, and it does all seem like the exact thing someone might do, if he/she was granted this gift/curse of reliving ones life multiple times. It also explores, or at least touches upon, many interesting ideas and many emotions that one might have to go through, that are unique to an experience like this.
A very interesting read. A very thoughtful read. And it's funny how the ending almost has an ominous feeling to it, even though it isn't.

A similar (better?) book:
I couldn't help but compare this book to a somewhat similar book; "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August"
Replay came first, with almost 30 years. But this other "Harry August" book has a very specific plot, and a great story, so I suggest maybe checking both of these two books out and see for yourself, which one you think is better.
I will say, though, that I think these two books as very different in story, plot, and style, though extremely similar in concept.

Would I recommend Replay?:
Yes. Though it would never win any prices for outstanding writing, character development, or plot outlining. It makes sense that it won the "Best novel" at World Fantasy Award in 1988, as this was a great and somewhat groundbreaking idea and read back then. And like I said it really IS a nice read and has a very rare feel-good feeling to it, even though it isn't always happy.
I wish it had more relevant and thought-through conflict though, but oh well, to each their own, and it's still a great and wholesome read, written in a somewhat unique way.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

I am a science fiction /alternative reality fan on my heart (alternative reality = Dark Tower series by Stephen King etc) so this book ruled. It became so much more than I expected! So I will recommend it wildly! (Also Dark Tower, I think you will enjoy it if you like this! The movie is ruining the story btw.)

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a great book!

What a nice surprise, one of those rare books I just couldn't put down, absolutely lived it.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books I've ever listened to

A great story with a great narrator. A beautiful book about the delicacy of life and the struggle to make the most out of it.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Pepps
  • Pepps
  • 02-25-19

A True Classic of Science Fiction

Wonderful book examining the Time Travel genre. A proper grown up novel!
Replay starts slowly and builds it’s momentum, though not ever frenetic, it instils a real need to find out what happens next.
It draws out the story in such a superbly written style, you will enjoy not only the story but the beautiful way it is told
One piece of advice I would add is, don’t give up on it in the first couple of chapters, persevere, it is worth it

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Miss Ah
  • Miss Ah
  • 02-24-19

Epic!!!!

I absolutely loved this book, listened to it in two days and hated having to take breaks.
Best time travel book I've read.
Gone straight into my top books of all time.
I usually start another straight away, but I feel like I need time to settle down after finishing this one.

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Harri Nielsen
  • Harri Nielsen
  • 04-02-21

Yuck

After two chapters I stopped. Pervy old man in a young body ranting about how the youth of the 80s are dead eyed and the progress of the 80s is apocalyptic compared to the naivete and joy of the 60s (what about those rights though Jeff huh) and commenting that his 18 year old girlfriend is so much more innocent than any young girl in the future because Madonna. Ew. Waste of money.

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for N. Hill
  • N. Hill
  • 05-05-19

Wonderfully Rich

The ability to combine an initiative take on a well explored genre with such a descriptive and compelling world the characters find themselves living in is truly immersive. One of favourite reads of all time. Finished this in two sittings. Books like this are all too rare a treat.

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Len
  • Len
  • 04-30-19

inevitably overly sentimental

Good premise if not original. Starts well but there are only so many times a life can be relived without it becoming boring and the journey becoming internal and ultimately depressing and futile.
Managed to finish but it was a bit of a slog. Nothing surprising .
Narrator was reasonable .

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ellen Cooper
  • Ellen Cooper
  • 04-04-20

Interesting premise that turns into nothingness

I didn't want to give less than two stars because I only got about two hours in, but let me tell you, in those two hours this writer somehow manages to turn what could be a really interesting premise into something that sends you to sleep. It just felt like the protagonist - who is pretty much an empty shell of a human from what I can tell - monotonously telling us about all the chicks he's BANGED and all the money he's made and what he's bought with that money. It just all felt a little bit hollow. It really wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe it gets better? But as I was fed up with two hours of it, I couldn't really see the point in sticking with it as I was just annoyed by that point.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mrs F
  • Mrs F
  • 03-18-20

Mysoginistic

This story is the wet dream of the author who had the opportunity to start over , over and over again whilst bringing his knowledge and cognisance from past lives in order to gamble become instant billionaire and screwing anything with a pulse and that includes his restarted 14 year old wife who is hounded by the mysoginistic restarter like some entitled pedophile.

Seriously , this is more like a trashy paper back for men who possibly read Lolita more than once and more than they ought.

Don't buy it!!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mr. B. R. Masterman
  • Mr. B. R. Masterman
  • 08-09-19

Brilliant original story

So glad I bought this book. A little like Ground Hog Day but with a life span rather than a day.
Hope there will be a sequel.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Daran G. Rowlands
  • Daran G. Rowlands
  • 03-18-19

Great concept - slightly disappointing ending

Won’t spoil it for anyone but the book had me intrigued all the way through, the ending was a bit of a let down as I was expecting more in terms of answers.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for ITC
  • ITC
  • 09-04-19

Finished in 22 hours...

Listened to this book in 2 sittings, over 22 hours. What an incredible insight into the human condition of love, loss, regret and ‘what if.’ One of my most engrossing and engaging reads ever and incredibly intellectual, whilst being entertaining via a great performance. Can’t recommend enough.

2 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Magda 'chipmunk' L.
  • Magda 'chipmunk' L.
  • 10-23-19

Too much soft porn.

I wanted a time travel novel and got porn. While this time travel story is more of a re-living of one's life, there's a lot more that's added which could have been cut out.
I had to skip many moments of the book when it started to read soft porn to me and I just thought it wasn't necessary and had too much of it. It does nothing to propel the story forward and felt like the writer had put it in because it was his only chance to talk about through every step of sex for the sake of it. The amount of times I had to skip these annoying parts almost made me want to return the book and get my credit back.
Apart from that, the story was interesting enough to keep reading. Sometimes I wondered why so much useless information was given to me that we never went back to. It felt like the story wasn't going anywhere for a while but it picked up at the end.
Not sure if its worth reading but I didn't hate it.

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 01-16-20

The main character is an A-hole.

This one started off interesting. A lot of unnecessary sexual conduct. I don’t mind that, but in this case it was just not needed. The story didn’t call for it.

The main issue I had with this character was that he just moves onto whomever is next to him. His life motto would be, ‘if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with’ but not in a good way.

The why of this story is left open to interpretation but mostly ignored. This was a good concept poorly executed. Narration was excellent though.

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Xravia
  • Xravia
  • 02-22-20

More of a thought experiment than a story wrth it

There isnt much to solve, as there is to understand. Its like playing a game that is the mcs life while making several key choices which determine the ending. There arnt any explorations into the flow on effect/butterfly effect and the MC wastes all of his time. He has the entire world at his fingertips, he could funnel hundreds of millions into research and development and learn the results to bring to the future. yet all that is redeemed from the entire collective consciousness of humanity is an experienced killer, an artist and a writer...

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Shaz
  • Shaz
  • 08-31-19

Fast forward replay

I liked the way it started off, but felt like it went on for too long and was getting nowhere. Without giving up too much of the story, I was hoping there would be an explanation of why, but it did not. By the time I finished half of the book, I wanted to fast forward sections of chapters to reach the end. So, I was disappointed that I was left with questions that did not get answered even at the end.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anthony
  • Anthony
  • 06-17-20

Sits Among the Greatest Time Travel Fiction

A couple of odd reviews here so I have to give my two cents. I think I’ve read just about every Time travel novel out there. Somehow I hadn’t seen this. I didn’t know about it. Somehow I lived through the eighties and didn’t hear of it. Ironic? I raced through this book from beginning to end. It reminded me a little of Stephen King. Loved the characters - no, he is not an a-hole as someone wrote. What book were you reading? No, it’s not soft porn as one reviewer wrote. There was a pretty raunchy chapter. Get over it. We are all entitled to our opinions though.
I 100% absolutely loved this book. In my Top ten favourite books of all time. Great characters and ideas. Made me stop and think about my own life many times. Had a mini existential crisis.. Can’t believe Ken is no longer with us. That makes my head spin more than a little. I want to keep this book on my shelf forever. I encourage you to give it a crack. Very easy read. Immediately gets you into it. Why are you still reading this? Go on!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 12-13-19

Argh the ending!!!!

Really intriguing storyline, but ugh the ending ruined it for me! The story raised thought-provoking and gripping questions that I desperately wanted answered, unfortunately the storyline became more about the relationship between the main characters and didn't answer some of the fundamental questions it initially asked.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Matt
  • Matt
  • 11-02-19

bit dull

was a fraction boring for me and the narrator sounded smug. no definitive reason for anything either

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Daine Williams
  • Daine Williams
  • 06-11-19

Absolutely enthralling!

One of the deepest and richest time travel novels with a really great plot and a couple of unexpected twists and superb attention to detail! Hard to believe it was first published in 1986! The story is so well written that I didn’t pick up on the age of the novel until I researched the author. Unfortunately Ken Grimwood is no longer with us however I am looking forward to reading more of his work only just now discovering his talents. This novel Replay is well worth a listen!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 02-03-23

fantastic book

i loved every minute of it, i was getting bored with most of the books i was listening to but not this one

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Steve
  • Steve
  • 01-25-23

Amazing

I absolutely loved this book. So sad that it has ended. I highly recommend it to any fan of time travel stories!