Did You Have the Life You Wanted?: A Novel

PenCraft Best Book Winner, Winter 2026, Women’s Fiction Did You Have the Life You Wanted? is a powerful work of women’s fiction about friendship, feminism, and the choices that shape a life. In 1968, Anita Rappaport leaves her Brooklyn childhood behind and moves to Greenwich Village at the height of cultural and political upheaval. Against the backdrop of the Stonewall uprising, racially charged school strikes, Attica, and the emerging feminist movement, Anita navigates love, work, gender expectations, and the weight of family secrets. As she confronts violence, limited opportunities, and deeply ingrained stereotypes, Anita begins the lifelong work of defining herself on her own terms. Spanning five decades—from the late 1960s through 2019—this multigenerational novel follows Anita and the women around her as they revisit a haunting question: Did you have the life you wanted? Their answers are revealing, heartbreaking, and unexpectedly hopeful. A celebration of the 1970s and the women who lived through it, Did You Have the Life You Wanted? explores legacy, identity, and the enduring, life-affirming power of female friendship. Perfect for readers of literary fiction, feminist novels, and stories about women coming of age in times of social change. About the Author Andrea Simon is the author of three award-winning, published books: the groundbreaking memoir/history, Bashert: A Granddaughter’s Holocaust Quest; historical fiction, Esfir Is Alive; and a novel-in-stories, Floating in the Neversink. Andrea holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the City College of New York, where she has taught writing. Students from her course “Writing About Your Mom without Guilt,” created the anthology, Here’s the Story...Nine Women Write Their Lives, of which Andrea is the editor and a contributor. A native New Yorker, she lives in Manhattan with her husband. Praise for Did You Have the Life You Wanted? “A turbulent but often poignant fictional portrait of a life in progress.” —Kirkus Reviews “A beautifully written novel that captures the essence of human experience.” —Carol Thompson, Readers’ Favorite “This is literary fiction at its finest.” —Jamie Michele, Readers’ Favorite “Entertaining, far-reaching, and wise.”—Katherine Kirkpatrick, author of To Chase the Glowing Hours “Rich and thought-provoking story that explores friendship and the personal and professional lives of women”—Kathleen M. Rodgers, 2024 MWSA Writer of the Year and author of The Llano County Mermaid Club “Celebrates the power of female friendship through the vicissitudes of life.”—Helen Schary Motro, author of The Right to Happiness: After All They Went Through “This provocative novel will urge readers of any age to ponder their own pasts and the underlying forces that shaped their lives.”—Ruth Pennebaker, author of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough “There’s so much to commend about this novel. I loved how simple it began and how complex it became as the story unfolded…. The language is simple, vivid, and measured, making it easier to relate to. I loved the rawness of the narration, which was a perfect fit for this kind of story. The construction of the dialogue was nothing short of perfect… My final rating is a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this to lovers of memoir-like stories that mimic real-life situations and themes.” — Akenga Evanson, OnlineBookClub
ASIN: B0FHKVRKT5
VSKU: BVV.B0FHKVRKT5.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Simon, Andrea
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.