The story begins at a New Year’s Eve party in 1982. Oona is about to turn 19. She’s in a good place, excited about the possibilities ahead of her while enjoying the party with her handsome boyfriend and her bandmates. But when midnight strikes, she’s jolted forward and suddenly wakes up in her 50s. She soon learns that this is just how things are for her: every NYE on her birthday, she doesn’t know what age she’ll be next, jumping forward and backward in time totally at random.
The concept of Oona Out of Order sparked my interest, and I’m glad I picked it up. It’s well-executed! I don’t generally gravitate toward science fiction books, but this is very light on the sci-fi and focuses more on her relationships, particularly with her mother, friends, and love interests.
The time travel plot allows for the exploration of themes like nostalgia and loss, as every year she has to reacquaint herself with the people in her life. Who has she lost? Who will she meet? Imagine having a husband who you’re supposedly in love with yet are meeting for the very first time.
The book also explores the extent to which our decisions affect our lives. How much of our lives are truly predetermined or ruled by fate? Being that Oona has insight into what her life will be like in her 50s, can she change her fate when she jumps back in time?
I would have liked more of an explanation for why the whole time travel thing was happening. Why Oona and no one else in her life? I can, of course, suspend my disbelief and believe that this weird phenomenon is really happening to Oona, but I’d at least like a hint of an explanation. Also, I feel like the challenge with this concept is that we’re going to miss a lot. I’m curious about some of those other in between years, from 1982 to the present. While I understand it couldn’t possibly all be covered in a novel of this length, I can’t help but wonder. Though ultimately, I understand that this book was not about time travel, and rather Oona’s development and growth.
Overall, I enjoyed Oona Out of Order. It’s a fun, light read but with a lot of heart. The plot is unique, the characters and Oona’s relationships are complex, and it has a little bit of something for everyone. There’s a little sci-fi, a little romance, and even some music and pop culture references!
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