Published: 2022
Author: Lynn Painter
Genres: YA Romance, Contemporary, Magic Realism (Time Loop)
Audience: Grades 8–12
Number of Stars: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Goodreads Link: The Do-Over
Content Warnings: Infidelity (cheating), public embarrassment, and divorce-related family tension.
Publisher’s Summary
Emilie Hornby is having a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day. Her boyfriend, Josh, cheats on her; she gets into a car accident; and she ends the night with a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s at her grandmother’s house. But when she wakes up the next morning, it’s Valentine’s Day all over again.
Stuck in a time loop, Emilie is forced to watch her life go up in flames repeatedly. However, as the days reset, she begins to stop playing it safe. She starts running into the enigmatic, quiet Nick in increasingly unexpected ways. When Emilie decides to stop being a passive observer and starts taking risks, she discovers that the “worst day ever” might actually be the start of something good—but what happens when the universe finally stops giving her do-overs?
Full Review
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter is a young adult romance with a fun and meaningful twist. Emilie, a high school senior, is stuck reliving a disastrous Valentine’s Day. While the “Groundhog Day” concept is familiar, Painter uses it to explore how Emilie’s choices affect others and herself. As the days repeat, Emilie grows emotionally and forms an unexpected relationship with Nick, a classmate she hadn’t truly noticed before.
I found this book very relatable for students. At the start, Emilie is insecure and hyper-focused on what others think of her—a feeling common in adolescence. As she navigates the loop, she learns to slow down, think before reacting, and treat others with more kindness. The themes of second chances, personal growth, and learning from mistakes connect perfectly to social-emotional learning. It’s an easy, engaging read that encourages reflection without feeling like a lecture.
🎒 Classroom & Counseling Connections
- Counseling (Social-Emotional Learning): Use Emilie’s “public embarrassment” as a starting point to discuss healthy ways to handle social anxiety. How does her perspective of the “worst day” change when she stops worrying about her reputation?
- ELA (Journaling & Narrative): > Activity Idea: Have students journal about a specific time they wished for a “do-over.” If they could relive that day, what one choice would they change, and how do they think it would alter the outcome?
- Psychology (Decision Making): Discuss the “butterfly effect” shown in the book. How can one small interaction (like Emilie’s run-ins with Nick) lead to a completely different social dynamic?
- Literature (Trope Analysis): Compare The Do-Over to other time-loop stories (like Groundhog Day or Before I Fall). How does the tone (romantic/humorous vs. serious/dark) change the lesson the character learns?
