Publisher: Full Quiver Publishing
Release Date: February 26, 2021
Genre: Time Travel-Coming of Age Fiction
Morgan is looking forward to junior high school and all the adventures it holds in store for her. But after a collision on the volleyball court, she wakes up on the first day of school trapped inside her mom’s teenage body circa 1974. It doesn’t take long for Morgan to discover that living life as a seventh-grader in the ‘70s and dealing with everything going on in her mom's life back then — from uncool parents, to annoying older brothers, balancing friendships, and ultimately doing what she can to survive bullying at the hands of the school’s biggest jock — is anything but groovy.
My Review 💛
How can a book be nostalgic even if a person didn't love in a particular era? Well, that's exactly what I felt when I read Anything But Groovy. Originally supposed to be a memoir, but was changed to a youthful time traveling tale, the reader gets to see a glimpse of the authors life and experiences during her seventh grade year in 1974.
My parents were also adolescents in the 1970's, and grew up in similar circumstances, so I spent a lot of my time reading and wondering if either of my parents experienced the same things that Allison experienced, especially with many of the pop culture references. The mentions of particular songs, bands, television shows, movies, and even foods from that era evoked memories of my parents telling me about their own realities. The fact that tv was life during that time, yet there was a ton of time spent outdoors with friends, and even family time that wasn't around a television set, and in Anything But Groovy we got to witness this involvement first hand.
I'm not much for time travel adventures per se, but with this novel it just worked! I did wish that there was more interaction between Allison and her daughter Morgan before the transport to the past takes place though. I feel like this would've helped bring the reader even more into Morgan's mind before her adventure, instead of just feeling thrust into one reality and almost immediately being thrust into another. There are parts that felt mundane, but at the same time the reader truly feels that this was how life was back then, and there is a particular conflict that was hard for me to read. I don't want to spoil the story but trust me, you'll know it when you read it, and I'm sure it'll anger you just as much as it did me.
One thing that would not stop bothering me then entire time I read was how it seemed a little too easy for Morgan to slip into this new, familiar yet unfamiliar existence that she is thrust into, and was shocked that she never once mentioned missing any modern technology! I know if I were to go back in time I would be missing my iPad and the internet at the very least! I know that can't just be me, right??
All in all, I really did enjoy reading Anything But Groovy. It is written like a 7th grader would speak, and I can see this book appealing to all ages, as many will be able to identify with the story in some form or another. For me, it opened up my imagination, making me wonder how it would be to go back, and live a moment in my mom's body. All I can say is man, what a trippy thought!
My Rating: ★★★★
About the Author
Lauer learned the technical aspects of writing as a proofreader in the insurance, newspaper and collegiate arenas. Over the last 14 years she has had nearly 1,500 articles published in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States.
Lauer is the co-author of Celebrate Appleton, A 150th Birthday Photo Album, and contributed to the books Expressions of ITP…Inside Stories, and Living Virtuously — Keeping Your Heart and Home. In addition to her writing career, Lauer is a 6A2 independent distributor with Enagic Corporation that produces ionizers to create Kangen Water®. In keeping with the company mission, she has a passion for spreading the message of true health — physical, mental and financial.
Residents of northeast Wisconsin, Lauer and her husband John have been married 38 years. They are involved in their church and community and in their spare time travel for business and pleasure, play golf, run, bike, read, and further their education in the area of personal development. They are the proud parents of four young adult children, have a son-in-law and daughter-in-law, and are grandparents to three grandsons and two granddaughters and have another grandchild on the way in October of 2019.
Connect with Amanda: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read through Kindle Unlimited. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
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