Ideal Life - by Evelyn Skye (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In New York Times bestselling author Evelyn Skye's warmhearted and lightly magical novel, an opportunity to turn back time gives a scientist the chance to pursue her ideal life, only to realize it might keep her from truly living. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

What if you could rewind the last 24 hours and perfect your life?

Talia Morgan has built her dream: a neuroscience startup poised for a $100 million acquisition that will validate years of relentless work to make the world better through technology. But when a glitch in her app leads to catastrophe, everything she's worked for crumbles in a single night.

Then Talia wakes up with a mysterious watch that lets her rewind the last twenty-four hours. Suddenly, she can prevent the glitch, ace that crucial meeting, and savor perfect Sunday afternoons with Sam, her brilliant best friend who's quietly loved her for nearly two decades. The watch feels like the ultimate optimization tool, a way to debug her life until every moment is flawless.

But Talia's addiction to rewriting her past comes at a devastating cost. Each rewind pulls her further from the people she loves most: Sam, who watches helplessly as she disappears into endless cycles of perfection; Libby, her globe-trotting sister who needs support that Talia is too distracted to give; and most dangerously, from her own true, authentic self.

When Talia discovers a conspiracy to turn her life's work into a tool for mass manipulation, she faces an impossible choice: use the watch to cheat her way to stopping it, or accept that the messy, imperfect version of her life might be the only one worth living.

From New York Times bestselling author Evelyn Skye comes an incisive exploration of ambition, perfectionism, and the modern pressure to optimize our way to happiness--a story that asks whether our relentless pursuit of an ideal life might be keeping us from truly living at all.

Review Quotes

*Praise for THE INCREDIBLE KINDNESS OF PAPER*

"A cozy, uplifting tale that is as romantic as it is sincere. THE INCREDIBLE KINDNESS OF PAPER celebrates human connection and hope, all with a touch of enchantment."-- "Booklist"

"A heartfelt story of fate, love and the quiet power of small gestures that can change lives forever."-- "BookTrib"

"Delightful . . . Readers are in for a treat."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Even the greatest skeptics of happily ever after stories will fall hard for The Incredible Kindness of Paper. . . . Beautifully written, cleverly crafted, creatively detailed. Even on an overcast day, this story will leave you feeling as if the sunshine decided to make an appearance and stay for the long haul."--Alka Joshi, international bestselling author of THE HENNA ARTIST and SIX DAYS IN BOMBAY

"Full of joy, whimsy, and just the right dash of magic. This sweet tale is more than a great comfort read--it also serves as a powerful reminder that small acts of generosity can have a lasting impact."--Margarita Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of OONA OUT OF ORDER

"I don't think I've ever read a book quite like THE INCREDIBLE KINDNESS OF PAPER. It gripped me from the very beginning with its beautiful prose and heartfelt characters. It's touching and whimsical, and it's exactly what the world needs right now."--Ethan Joella, author of THE SAME BRIGHT STARS

"Perfect for readers who like their novels with just a touch of magic, this story shows the way a yellow origami rose brings childhood pen pals Chloe and Oliver back together after over 20 years apart."-- "Bookish, "20 Books by Asian Authors for your TBR""

"Perfect for the end of summer, this feel-good novel will be in bookstores in August...It's just the book you need--beautifully drawn characters and prose and a smile-inducing story."-- "Newsweek, "Favorite Books to Read on Summer Vacation 2025""

"THE INCREDIBLE KINDNESS OF PAPER is a sweet confection of a story, filled with heart."--Nikki Erlick, New York Times bestselling author of THE MEASURE and THE POPPY FIELDS

About the Author

Evelyn Skye is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Incredible Kindness of Paper and The Hundred Loves of Juliet. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, her books have been published worldwide and translated into sixteen languages. Find out more at EvelynSkye.com.