Book Review: Oona Out of Order

I recently read Oona Out of Order (Margarita Montimore) on my Kindle. It had been recommended a few times in a Facebook book group I’m part of, so I snagged it when it was on a Kindle deal and it sat on my Kindle for a while. I downloaded it before our trip to the beach, but didn’t read it until after that trip. I’ve been accused of making travel partners “beach widows”, so I was really trying to enjoy

This book came out in 2020, and I’m not sure why, but for some reason I thought it was a knock off of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (which I read years ago and still recommend), but it’s totally not. If I’m thinking about books I’ve read recently-ish that it was most similar to, I’d say the The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, but even that isn’t really close.

This book opens on New Years Eve, 1982, with Oona ready to celebrate her nineteenth birthday. But at midnight, instead of finding herself celebrating her nineteenth birthday she finds herself thirty-two years in the future, celebrating her fifty-first birthday. We spend the rest of the book following Oona as she makes non-sequential jumps throughout her life at midnight on New Years Eve.

I’d give this book a solid three stars. Perhaps even 3.5. It was a fun read, and I liked some of the plot twists, but I felt like when I really started feeling invested in characters the book was essentially over, and some of the earlier bits felt slow moving. I would have read more, because at the end I was invested. Also, full disclosure: there are instances of casual sex, drug use, and one instance of homophobia.

I super hate giving spoilers, so I don’t really want to tell you more. Overall this book was a fun read and I felt really vested in the characters, and there are definitely poignant moments; it would work well on vacation or for a spa day. It has a little more substance than a beach read, but it’s still light and fun.

TL;DR: give this book a go on your next vacation for a fun, light read.