The Girl I Was A Novel

By: Jeneva Rose

Published by Harlequin Enterprises ULC, 2026-06-09

From New York Times bestselling author, Jeneva Rose, comes a fully updated and expanded edition of THE GIRL I WAS, the first book she ever wrote, featuring six brand-new chapters from a fresh point-of-view.



"While packing a delightful punch of nostalgia, The Girl I Was delivers one of the most satisfying character transformations I've read in a while...Jeneva Rose's latest is witty and tender." --Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures



"With The Girl I Was, Jeneva Rose proves she's not just a master of thrillers, but also matters of the heart." --Colleen Oakley, USA Today Bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise



"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."



Alexis Spencer will use any inspirational quote to rationalize her failures and shortcomings. Her closest friends are a distant memory, and her college debt is still as high as the day she left. But that's all fine and dandy, because "whatever will be, will be."



However, when Alexis loses her job and her relationship on the same day, there's no quote strong enough to get her through that. In typical fashion, she blames the world for her problems, including her younger self, who should have tried harder.



Feeling sorry for herself, Alexis finds a bottle of vodka from her college days and goes on a bender, blacking out in the process. Only this time, she doesn't wake up at home, or in the right city. In fact, she isn't even in the right year.



Alexis is back in her college town in the year 2002.



Convinced this is her chance to do things over, she heads to her dorm--and comes face-to-face with her eighteen-year-old unruly self, who goes by Lexi because it's "sexier." Getting acclimated to life in the early 2000s is the easy part. Dealing with Lexi is where things prove difficult.



They might be the same person, but they couldn't be more different from one another. Now Alexis and Lexi must learn to get along and come to terms with the fact that alone, they will never make things right, but together, they could change their life for the better.