Publication Date: June 9, 2026
On the eve of her fortieth birthday, a woman wakes up from a pickleball accident with the unexpected chance to relive her twenties in this sparkling novel from a fresh, new voice.
Sutton Layne is almost-forty and fabulous, with a happy marriage, three beautiful children, and a successful interior design business. But there’s plenty of chaos behind the scenes of early midlife. Her preteen son is going off the rails, her husband is bailing on the party he was supposed to throw her, and that thriving business? If she can’t land her next big client, it might all come crashing down. Then a surprise DM from someone in her past sends her spiraling into what-ifs. What if she settled down too young? Walked away from her big break? Never had her great adventure?
Despite her simmering mini-crisis, Sutton can’t wait for the birthday luncheon and pickleball tournament her friends have planned in her honor. But when an accident on the court knocks her out cold, she wakes up somewhere else . . . and is offered the chance to do it all over again. She can revisit her twenties—out of order and on her own terms. And this time around, anything goes: cities, careers, friendships. Even love.
From star-studded Hollywood nights to the jungles of Nicaragua, from the heat of Coachella to the snowy summit of the Matterhorn, Sutton chases the life she fears she might have missed, with unexpected results.
With a wink to the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, Twenty Something Else is a witty, wistful journey through the dreams we outgrow, the life choices that shape us, and the surprising detours that can lead us home.
- Clean and wholesome women’s fiction with themes of second chances, identity, friendship, and love
- Perfect for fans of Katherine Center, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Courtney Walsh.
With her 40th birthday looming, Sutton Layne wonders what she missed with marriage and motherhood.
Author Stephanie Mack delivers plenty of humor in Twenty Something Else as Sutton gets an opportunity to go back in time and chase her dreams.
There’s a definite advantage to being able to explore new options from an experienced perspective. Sutton’s delight over occupying her younger body—minus scars and sagging breasts—is evident.
There’s an important lesson embedded within the story as Sutton evaluates the choices available to her younger self. Being in control offers a sense of renewal.
Twenty Something Else provides a humorous romp exploring the paths not taken—and the realization that emerges as a result.
Stephanie Mack is an author with a passion for storytelling—on the page, on the mic, and beyond. Her novels blend women’s fiction and romantic elements with meaningful insights for readers navigating the complexities of modern life. Stephanie lives in Orange County, California, with her husband, three daughters, and beloved mini Bernedoodle.
