⏳🎸 Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore – Book Review (4/5 Stars)
👉 What if you lived your life out of order? Would you change anything?
📌 Affiliate link: Grab Oona Out of Order on Amazon
⚠️ Spoiler Alert!
This review contains FULL spoilers — the ending, the twists, the surprises — so if you’re planning to read the book and want to go in blind, bookmark this and come back later!
💭 My Thoughts — A Book That Made Me Reflect on Life
Let me just say: What a unique book! I love the premise of living life out of order. It really made me stop and think — if I were jumping through different years of my life randomly, would I try to change anything?
Personally? I don’t think I would. Sure, I’ve had bad experiences — like my childhood, which was confusing and at times so painful it left me feeling lost. But I survived, and it shaped who I am. And my fight with cancer? Brutal. But it made me stronger. I believe you need the bad to appreciate the good — without it, you wouldn’t even know what good is.
So, while this book isn’t perfect, I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars because the premise is brilliant and it left me pondering life long after I finished.
🚨 Trigger Warnings
✅ Drug use / addiction
✅ Nonconsensual sex (under false pretenses)
✅ Infidelity
✅ Gambling / theft
✅ Death of a parent
✅ Suicidal thoughts
✅ Anti-LGBTQ sentiment (brief, from minor characters)
📖 Plot Summary — Full Spoilers Ahead!
🎉 1982: The Leap Begins
We meet Oona Lockhart, almost 19, at a New Year’s Eve party, torn between studying abroad or touring with her band. She’s in love with Dale, her boyfriend. But at midnight — POOF! — she faints and wakes up in 2015, age 51.
🏠 2015: Rich, confused, and… older?
Enter Kenzie, her assistant, who helps her adjust to this wild time-travel situation. Oona mourns Dale (who died young) and struggles with the reality of her new age. She starts learning to enjoy the moment (with some Kate Bush on the soundtrack).
💊 1991: Party girl phase
Next stop: 1991. Oona is 27, high on ecstasy, and… oops, sleeps with a stranger, forgetting she has a boyfriend, Crosby. She spirals into drugs and partying, but eventually realizes this isn’t the answer.
🍽️ 2004 + 2003: The Edward Era (aka The Disaster Years)
✅ 2004: Oona wakes up married to Edward, a chef. They’re opening a restaurant. Sounds romantic? Nope. Edward is charming but bad news. Oona falls for her guitar teacher, Peter Han, but it doesn’t work out.
✅ 2003: Oona time-jumps backward and meets Edward for the first time on a flight. She falls for him (again) and supports his restaurant dream, hoping it’ll end differently. Spoiler: it doesn’t. Edward cheats, steals from her, and breaks her heart twice.
🌍 1995: Healing and music
Oona escapes to Vietnam, reconnects with her mom Madeleine, plays guitar for strangers, and starts living in the moment.
🍼 1999: The biggest twist — she has a son
Oona wakes up to learn that Kenzie (yes, that Kenzie!) is her biological son. She gave him up because of her time-leaping life. She tries to connect with him secretly… and it blows up in her face.
💔 2017: Family, forgiveness, and goodbyes
Oona gets a chance to bond with Kenzie for real. Meanwhile, Madeleine is dying of cancer. They share beautiful final moments together.
🎶 Back to where it all began
Finally, Oona wakes up back at her 1983 party. She’s wiser now. She kisses Dale, stands up for herself, claims her guitar (no more letting the boyfriend call the shots!), and sets off on the right foot.
🤔 Final Verdict — Why This Book Stuck With Me
✔️ Brilliant concept — The time travel felt fresh and gave me so much to think about.
✔️ Emotional depth — Family, love, regret, growth... it’s all there.
✔️ Slightly uneven pacing — Some parts dragged (I’m looking at you, Edward drama), but overall it was worth it.
💫 Would I change anything about my own life if I could? Maybe not. And maybe that’s the point.
📌 Get Your Copy Today!
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore — Buy on Amazon
📚 If You Liked This, You Might Also Enjoy:
👉 The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (life choices + alternate realities)
👉 The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (messy love + time travel)
👉 Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (a day on repeat, with emotional impact)
🌟 Final Words
Oona Out of Order isn’t just about time travel — it’s about learning to live in the moment, forgive yourself, and appreciate life’s ups and downs. 4 out of 5 stars.
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