Versions of Her

By: Andrea Lochen

Narrated by: Adele Adler

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

On the surface, Melanie Kingstad-Keyes’s life is the picture of success. She’s a tenure-track professor at a prestigious university and has a perfect husband. But a recent miscarriage has left her reeling and her marriage tenuous.

Selling her family’s Lake Indigo summer home, which she hasn’t visited in 15 years, feels like the perfect distraction from her problems. Now, she only needs to persuade her younger sister Kelsey to go along with her plan.

Stuck in a dead-end job, Kelsey Kingstad bounces from one doomed relationship to the next as she struggles to jump-start her adult life. Carrying the guilt of her mother’s untimely death, Kelsey is reluctant to let go of the Victorian house filled with memories of her mom and their childhood.

When the sisters find a mysterious hidden door, Melanie and Kelsey discover that they can directly view their mother’s younger years and learn all the secrets she never shared with them.

Delving into her memories is fun at first, but Melanie and Kelsey quickly uncover difficult truths, throwing their own life choices into question and making them wonder if they ever truly knew their mother. Visiting the past may help them find closure, but the cost could be steeper than they realize.

©2019 Andrea Lochen (P)2020 Andrea Lochen

How well do any of us know our mothers?

I was fortunate to receive a copy of Versions of Her from the author at my request, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. I didn't love, love, love, this book, but I wasn't sorry at the end that I had experienced it. Melanie and Kelsey are sisters, and they are trying to deal with a family vacation home on a Wisconsin lake that their mother left them upon her sudden death. I say "deal with" because Melanie wants to sell it and Kelsey wants to keep it. I have a sister, and I have raised sisters. The author thanks her own sister in the acknowledgments, but I had real issues with the relationship between Melanie and Kelsey as it manifested itself throughout much of the story. My sister and I never harbored secrets and resentments the way these two do, and I certainly do not believe my daughters do so. Their relationship changes and improves throughout the course of the book, which in theory is what is supposed to happen as part of developing conflict, but it made the characters far less sympathetic and likable to me than the author may have wanted. (And there was far too much whining!) This is important because the plot revolves around the sisters learning things about their mother they never would have dreamed possible, and they need to process the revelations together in order to move forward. I had no problem with the somewhat fantastical scenario through which they learn everything, and the author brings it all to a satisfactory conclusion. It's a long book, but it will no doubt appeal to readers/listeners who like a long, family-oriented tale complete with plenty of dogs who add to the charm.

Loved the story

One of my favorite things about this book as it is completely relatable to siblings in real life. It’s got a little bit of a twist to the story line that was completely unexpected but is a genuinely heartfelt read. I will definitely recommend this book.

Versions of Her

This was an amazing book!Who wouldn't want to revisit a dead relative?The pull is so strong,you just might change things.The ladies in this book seemed very real to me.Adele Adler was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

great book

I have never read anything from this author this was a awesome book she did a great job and the narration was great as well. I was voluntarily provided this free copy by the narrator or publisher.... thank you

Wonderful

I have been waiting to read this for awhile now. Beautiful story, great characters and twists. ❤️

Very enjoyable story and narration!

I listened to the audio version of this book. Versions of Her was a Women's Literature book with some interesting time travel thrown in.
The premise is that in getting a family property ready to sell, sisters Kelsey and Melanie discover a secret door that allows them to travel back in time to witness different times and events in the life of their now dead mother. The events aren't always what they expect and are sometimes very shocking to them.
Both girls also have things going on in their lives that they are also dealing with. They are sometimes at odds with each other, but are trying to learn to listen to each other. I really enjoyed this book! The story and narration were both very enjoyable.
I was given a complimentary copy of this audio book. All thoughts are my own.

Great time travel novel!!

This awesome, unusual time travel novel kept me captivated from start to finish! I recommend this novel for anyone who loves time travel books!
I was given this book free for an honest review!