Wow what a RELATABLE while entertaining introspection of marriage with young children. Being a new mom is so hard and I loved how the author delved into female friendships as well as the struggles of connecting with your partner after kids enter the picture. Would recommend to anyone especially parents in the throws of child raising!

Dogs should live forever in books and in real life, thanks. I cried!! I really loved this. Seeing both perspectives come together was so good

Audrey’s marriage is struggling as she balances her full time job as a realtor and caring for her two daughters. When a slip down the stairs causes her to wake up five years in the past, she gets a fresh examination of her marriage and what went wrong.

Loved this examination of not only marriage, but motherhood. I especially loved how it showed our preconceived notions can effect our perspectives so drastically; so many great sliding door moments in this one. Another huge part of it was how special our pets can be in our life. This was truly a heartwarming read, and while sad at times it ends on a happy note.

“No one wants to think about what happens when the love of your life becomes part of your past instead of your future.”

The Marriage Slip comes out 10/7.

Audrey is a mom of two and a real estate agent; she starts to find her life unravelling due to the pressures of being a working mom. She and her husband decide on a trial separation, and then she falls down the stairs. This accident sends her five years into the past. Audrey wakes up to her children being five years younger and her marriage still going strong. Given a second chance with knowledge of the future, she must carefully navigate her decisions so she doesn't make the same mistakes. This gives her a moment to reflect on her own culpability for her crumbling marriage. Will Audrey learn from the errors of her ways, or will she repeat the same mistakes of the past? The five-year jump back will force her to see what it is she truly wants from her marriage and career.

This book was a heartfelt and engaging read that mixes a bit of magical realism with women's fiction, focusing on the ordinary struggles of marriage, motherhood, and career. I loved the idea of waking up five years ago and being able to fix what you can and learn what you really want out of life. What is really important: the kids, the job, or your marriage? Laura Barrow asks these questions in a fun and charming way. The book is deep; don't be fooled. It reminds you that relationships are built on love and respect, but also on the choices we make. Being thrown back in time gives Audrey a different perspective, and I liked the way the author handles it. The writing is relatable, witty, and tender all at once. It was also very insightful. Who among us hasn't asked, "What if?" This is more than just a romance; it's a warm, insightful, and ultimately uplifting story about choosing love and rediscovering the magic in the everyday. A truly delightful read, The Marriage Slip is a hopeful and uplifting story, perfect for those who enjoy books about love, family, a touch of magic, and the possibility of rewriting one's future.

The Marriage Slip is an interesting concept as I am not usually into time travelish stories. The premise is the FMC and MMC have gotten lost in the small things in their marriage and they are separating and then an unexpected event happens that propels the FMC back in time 5 years. The idea of having a do over is interesting but can you really change the future? The FMC was witty and funny, which I really enjoyed. I identified with how easy it is to get lost in the day-to-day minutia of life when working, married and having small children and all that comes with this. It reminded me that you both have to work to make it work and not take even the smallest moments for granted.
Pretty quick, easy read.

Thank you Net Galley, Laura Barrow and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
The Marriage Slip is expected to be released Oct. 7, 2025

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

"It occurs to me that you never know when you're in the best moments of your life until they are swallowed by the next moment and the next, until all you have left is the devastating knowledge that, when all is said and done, you actually had everything you ever wanted."

What if you got a second chance? A do-over? Would you change anything?

That’s exactly the question this book made me think about. From the outside, Travis and Audrey look like they have a happy marriage. But once you step inside their world, you see how much they’re struggling. Since having their second daughter, Audrey feels like she’s carrying the weight of everything on her own while Travis pulls away. No intimacy, no real connection, and she’s left wondering if separation—or even divorce—might be the only answer.

But then comes the twist I didn’t see coming. Audrey suddenly wakes up in the past—five years earlier, in the hospital, giving birth to her second daughter, Ruby. Her firstborn is just a toddler again, her marriage with Travis isn’t yet broken, and her dog Willow, who she’s lost in the future, is alive.

I loved how this story explores the “what ifs.” Audrey is stuck wondering: where did things go wrong? Could she have done something differently? Could Travis? And is this her chance to save not just her marriage, but everything she’s lost along the way?

This book really had me thinking about how easy it is to get lost in the day-to-day of marriage, parenting, and responsibilities—and how the little things add up over time. It’s emotional, heartfelt, and gave me that bittersweet mix of hope and heartbreak.

If you’ve ever thought about what you’d do with a second chance, The Marriage Slip will hit you right in the heart.

Thanks to @negalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #themarriageslip in exchange for my honest review.

Here’s the thing about ratings: different people are looking for different things in their books. Revelatory, I know. I generally like marriage romances and that’s why I requested The Marriage Slip on NetGalley, but it was not for this reader. I found it cliched and I thought it painted the MCs as the most one dimensional caricatures of themselves. I didn’t believe the sudden turnaround, nor did I believe the love story. Both the FMC and the MMC seemed wildly immature. The most interesting part of the story was the FMC’s blossoming friendship with her neighbor, but that was, unfortunately, a very small part of the book. I also thought the loop with the MMC remained open, and I would have liked to see some closure there. I was waffling between two ratings, but I had to go with the lower one when, in the epilogue, the FMC directly spells out the lessons she has learned and that we are to have learned from her journey. Show me, don’t tell me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Lake Union Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love Laura Barrow's writing so much - and the magical realism and time travel in this one were absolutely done so well! It's so easy to truly cause damage in your marriage and the age old question exists - if we could do it all over again, would we do it the same?

This game made me think a lot - and made me really question what I would do as well!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I love a time skip/travel story. Audrey is the epitome of how so many women feel: over worked, overwhelmed, under appreciated. It's easy to blame her unassuming husband Travis (and for the record I've also lived the "what can go down the garbage disposal" argument so...) for the chaos of their lives.
When Audrey falls and wakes up 5 years earlier so realizes she may be able to make some changes. When changes are actually more like "revelations" for her, Audrey learns how she can get a hold of some things and be a little less overwhelmed by other things. Her realizations about friendship and loss are especially important.
A super quick read with humor and lessons and love. Some things are going to happen, no matter what. And many things need conversations with those we love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

What a delightful read! This is my first book from this author but I hope to discover more in the future.

Audrey is an overwhelmed and under appreciated mother that has had it with her husband Travis. She does still feel love for him and admits he has his good attributes but he is not the most helpful husband. A fall brings her back 5 years in the past and she gets to see another version of that her life could have been, based on making different choices. I loved the second chance romance, and different friendships she ends up with in the end. It’s such a wonderful story about how to choose love.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

Imagine having a do-over in life! Audrey’s life is chaotic as a married woman with two daughters, and a full-time job selling real estate. She is clinging to life and her marriage is strained with Travis. She has also lost her dog Willow.
After an excited, she wakes up five years in the past. What will she change? Can you change her life and find out what truly matters?
I absolutely love this book and recommend to everyone. Life gets busy and you need to stop and realize every day matters! Live is too short for regrets, and taking chances in life are worth it.
Thank you Lake Union and Suzy Approved Book Tours along with the author for having me on tour.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy! The cover and title caught my attention, but I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. Audrey and Travis were relatable and their story could be anyone's story, except for the slip. When the book changed directions, literally going back in time, I thought for a second that I probably would not finish. I couldn't see how this very relatable, fiction account of married with children could turn into some kind of magical realism. I am so glad I was wrong. The storyline worked, I loved rooting for the characters, I thought going back in time gave me more insight into where Audrey was coming from. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The concept worked, and I highly recommend!

While this was my first read of this author, I plan on looking at the other books she has written!

Love the book. Love the premises and idea. Should read.

Selling real estate full time, raising two young daughters, clinging to a slipping marriage—Audrey’s life is definitely a balancing act. But when a tumble down the stairs leaves her with more than just a bump on the head, she wakes up five years in the past, before the first tear in her marriage threatened her trust in Travis.

thank u to netgalley & the publisher for this ARC ! this book had me crying so much! i really liked this, and also could not put it down because i just needed to know what happened. only thing ill say is at times i really did feel like she was too obsessed w that dog lol

I really liked this book! I didn't find the husband so likable, but ended up loving him in the end. There were some pieces I did not expect, which made it all the more exciting. It was heartwarming to listen to the main character reflect on her life and watching her kids age.

⏳ One slip, one second chance… but will she rewrite her story? 💍✨

Title: The Marriage Slip
Author: Laura Barrow
Format: eARC 📖
Narration Style: N/A
Tropes: Time-Slip, Second Chance Romance, Marriage in Trouble, Working Mom Juggle, Sliding Doors

Trophy Worthy: 🏆 (sweet but not a total game-changer)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: ❄️ (fade-to-black)

Quote: “Sometimes the gift isn’t starting over—it’s finally seeing what was there all along.”

Author Review
Laura Barrow is a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed how she blended emotional depth with a dash of “what if” magic. Her writing feels warm and relatable, especially for anyone balancing marriage, career, and the chaos of parenting. She captured the bittersweet nostalgia of looking back at earlier chapters of life.

Book Review
Audrey’s life is in full juggle mode—selling real estate, raising two daughters, and trying to keep her marriage afloat. Then one very unexpected tumble down the stairs throws her five years into the past… back when her kids were babies, her marriage felt stronger, and her career was just taking off.

This isn’t a flashy, sci-fi kind of time travel—it’s a heartfelt “do-over” story about noticing where things began to shift and asking yourself if you’d make different choices. I enjoyed watching Audrey slowly re-appreciate her husband and family, and the parenting moments were sweet and relatable.

That said, this is very much Audrey’s journey—heavy on relationships and self-reflection, lighter on the romance arc. At times I wished for more spark between Audrey and Travis earlier on, but I appreciated the way the story came full circle.

If you enjoy books like The Midnight Library or Maybe in Another Life, this one’s a warm, cozy pick that might make you reflect on your own “what if” moments.

Overall Thoughts
💍 Time-slip second chances
👩‍👧‍👧 Relatable mom moments & nostalgia
📚 Emotional, heartfelt pacing over high drama
☕ Perfect for a weekend curled up on the couch

Thank you Laura Barrow, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Out October 7th, 2025
A heartfelt time-slip tale that blends second chances with emotional depth. Audrey’s tumble into the past gives her a rare shot at rewriting her story—and maybe her marriage. Laura Barrow captures the chaos of motherhood, the ache of regret, and the hope of healing with warmth and honesty. If you love stories like The Midnight Library or Maybe in Another Life, this one will tug at your heartstrings and make you believe in do-overs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC!

This book is a representation of one of my most cherished traumas and desires: imagine being able to analyze the source of what went wrong and, better yet, perhaps change everything? What would the implications be?
Would I be happy?
Would I be a different person?
Films have worked on this theme excellently. I'd only read a few books, but this one was really good.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t my favorite book. The premise is interesting and it’s what drew me to the book but I felt the execution was lacking. I found the story to be very slow moving and couldn’t connect to the characters .

I love time- loop stories, and this one was no different. Happily ever after- or not? Read it and find out!