Book Buzz: Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack
Jill Gundeson (left) and Stephanie Mack (right)
Happy June, Neighbors!
I am overjoyed to introduce you to this month’s pick! “Twenty Something Else” by Stephanie Mack is all things heartwarming, nostalgic and funny. It reads like a best friend telling you a captivating story over a glass of wine, and you don’t want the conversation to end! Stephanie is an Orange County local, a podcast host (“Underline That”), a wife and mom of three girls, and also just happens to be my IRL bestie. So why wouldn’t I want her to tell you all the reasons why this is going to be one your favorite summer reads?
Set in Newport Beach, “Twenty Something Else” includes all your fav local spots and magical realism. On the eve of Sutton Layne’s 40th birthday, she gets knocked out during a pickleball tournament (in her honor) and wakes up to all the choices she’s made, with a chance to redo moments in time that impact her future. Intrigued? I thought so! Now, let’s get into it!
Stephanie, tell us why we are going to fall in love with Sutton, your main character!
My hope is that Sutton is the kind of heroine many women will recognize in themselves. As a working suburban wife and mom of three, she is thoughtful, capable, self-deprecating and trying so hard to do life “right”—yet underneath it all she carries the same deeper questions so many of us do: Have I made the right choices? Am I still becoming who I was meant to be? Do I still matter? Sutton is loyal, tenderhearted, imperfect and brave enough to keep growing and finding her truth.
What inspired you to write this book?
“Twenty Something Else” was born at the intersection of two things: my approaching 40th birthday and my lifelong love for ”It’s a Wonderful Life.” I’ve always been fascinated by the ripple effect of our choices—how one yes or no, from one human being, can shape decades and impact countless other lives. As I stood on the brink of 40, I found myself looking back on my twenties not with regret, but with curiosity. Who was the twenty-one-year-old version of me, that bride and young dreamer? What parts of her are still alive and well? What parts have evolved? From there, Sutton and this story began to take shape.
What takeaway/encouragement will we get from reading “Twenty Something Else?”
My greatest hope is that readers walk away with gratitude instead of regret. We can spend so much energy wondering about the roads not taken, but this story is a reminder that our lives count exactly as they are. The woman you are today did not happen by accident—and it takes Sutton quite the pickleball mishap to see that! She was formed through brave choices, hard seasons, laughter, heartbreak, faith and love. I hope readers close this book with a full exhale, encouraged that what’s ahead is still unfolding and that it’s never too late for joy, growth, or a new beginning.
Friends, I devoured this book and couldn’t wait to find out what other choices Sutton makes in her past that may impact her future, and finding out if it includes her husband, children and best friends. “Twenty Something Else” will be available on June 9 and you will not want to miss out on grabbing your copy! This is Stephanie’s third novel, and she will quickly become one of your newest go-to authors
Happy reading, neighbors!
Jill Gunderson
@ThatShelfLove
About Jill Gunderson:
Hi! I’m Jill, and I'm the author of ‘That Time I Loved You.’ I'm a Canadian living in California (Newport Beach) with my husband, 4 kids, and labradoodle. When I’m not making beds, school lunches or chasing my dog down our street, I’m usually lost in an Audible while folding laundry and sipping wine. I can also be caught stealing my friends and family’s food at restaurants ‘just to taste’. I can’t wait to share with you all the books I have loved along the way!
