Fiction

Review: The Time of My Life by Samantha Tonge

April 2, 2026

Synopsis:

How far would you go to change your life?

When Eliza Woods sees an advertisement for someone’s whole life for sale – their house, car, all their belongings, even their clothes and cat – not to mention a trial-run in their job and an introduction to their friends… she decides it’s fate.

Grabbing a different life with both hands is exactly what she needs. Even if 26-year-old Carrie’s wildly-social life and job in a bar couldn’t be more different from Eliza’s quieter existence.

As for Carrie, she’s heading off to Greece, desperate to run away from everything she’s familiar with in England. The two women message each other after the deal has gone through, with Eliza excited to go for cocktails with Carrie’s friends before her first shift at her new job.

What Carrie doesn’t tell her is why she put her life up for sale. And what Eliza doesn’t tell Carrie is that she’s about to turn 75. And that isn’t her only secret…

Review:

We all go through phases where we wish we could swap our lives with someone else’s – whether to escape a situation, gain distance, or simply try something new without long‑term commitment. That’s the premise of this book, and it’s one I really enjoyed.

When the opportunity arises for our main characters to step out of their current lives and switch places, it sets the stage for a story about self‑discovery, stepping outside one’s comfort zone, and finally facing difficult decisions they’ve avoided for far too long. As they navigate their new realities, they begin to understand each other in unexpected ways, and their connection proves to be deeper than they initially thought.

While I appreciated the overall story – especially the alternating POVs and the added past timeline – the occasional one‑off chapter from an additional character didn’t contribute much for me. I also struggled to fully connect with the personal journeys of both main characters. Some aspects worked well, while others felt a bit overstated. And although I appreciated seeing a seventy‑five‑year‑old character living her life rather than staying home, parts of that storyline stretched believability for me.

All in all, the book has a lot of potential. Some elements landed beautifully, while others didn’t quite work for me.

🌙 Recension: The Time of My Life by Samantha Tonge
📚 Genre: Fiction
📅 Release Date: March 10, 2026
📖 Publisher: Boldwood Books
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 368
⭐️ 3/5