Another Time, Another Place

by Jo Lovett

The best people in life are worth the wait... When Liv finds herself locked in a shed with handsome stranger Ben (after they try to rescue a cat together), the instant connection they make feels like fate had a hand in it. Has Liv finally found her perfect match? But everything about the timing means there’s no way they can be together. Not least because Ben has a girlfriend and Liv is moving from London to Paris the next day. Over the coming years their paths weave in and out of each other’s lives – together, but always fleetingly. If only they could stop missing each other, who knows what fate may have in store for them…

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, British Literature, New Adult

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2023

Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing: Lindsey Kelk adjacent | Plot: got a lil lost along the way | Ending: BEN, MEET ME OUTSIDE

SYNOPSIS

Liv and Ben keep bumping into each other over the years. Is it fate or do they just live in a really small town? (It's the first one. Sorry for the spoiler.)

MY OPINION

Okkurrtttt I got this one off the ole Prime Reading (like Kindle Unlimited, but included in my Prime Membership) and I was impressed. The writing was quite punchy and the jokey jokes were amusing. It was a short one too and definitely got to the fking point. I liked the premise; it reminded me of the movie One Day with Anne Hathaway or You, Again. I know some people aren't a fan of a lot of timeline jumping, but I think it works in romance because it creates history instead of going 0-insta love.

The first half was honestly four-star clean romance. Is it the best thing you'll ever read? No. But she was delivering what she set out to deliver. Just call her UPS. But then... that last half?? Definitely felt like she needed to meet a deadline. AND THE TWIST??? NAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! COME GET THESE HANDS!!!!!!!!! I REBUKE THEE!!!! JUSTICE FOR LIV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Short and sweet review because I'm behind and slightly (very) lazy. I'll definitely check out another book of hers because that first half was giving it to me. Hopefully her other MMCs are not mega twats. Stay tuned.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: funny, punchy writing, great premise, a lil intrigue

Cons: the actual FK was that twist??? Ben.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super cute and original.
I really enjoyed it!!!!!
Liv is a fun character. Her and Ben through the years is so fun to read and how they see each other and come back together.

[Barbara Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liv and Ben have their “meet cute” moment when they follow a cat into a shed and get stuck in there for hours until they get rescued. They learn a lot about each other while they’re trapped, and there’s no denying that there’s a spark between them, but the problem is, Ben has a girlfriend.
The years go by and Liv and Ben bump into each other at various events and one or the other is involved in a relationship so they can never pursue the spark that still flickers when they see each other. Will the stars ever align so they can be together?
I adored this gem of a book. It made me smile, it made me misty, and I was cheering for them to get together the whole time! They were great characters that you couldn’t help but root for.
Perfect for a beach read or a rainy day with a cup of tea.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[tia · Rating 1 out of 5]

spoilers ahead by the way because i can’t not rant.

i don’t know how to write the absolute confusion and disbelief i feel after finishing this book. it was silly, and many times in romance books i love it when they’re a bit silly. i love a little far fetched moment and i thought that reoccurring meetings and missed chances would be cute and maybe in another book they would.

but not in this one.

the male main character revealed absolutely nothing about himself for 90% of the book and then when the big reveal happens it’s actually just him admitting to playing martyr for pretty much eight years. and while one reason for it is entirely valid, the other reason is absolute bullshit. and truly if he had just asked the female main character whether she would be bothered by either of his so-called reasons for not being together the whole thing would have probably been solved by year 2 of their ridiculous saga.

like tell me why instead of having a conversation he just made eight years worth of stupid decisions for both of them. a woman can make her own stupid decisions, and clearly one of them is being with him.

so yeah, this entire book has solidified that if a man ever says “we can’t be together”, the only self-respecting thing you can do is leave his stupid ass.

[em de · Rating 4 out of 5]

garbage and i loved it - genuinely sat in the fetal position late at night reading like a child (posture reveal 🦐🦐🦐)

side characters i feel were pretty well developed so big slay and also the plot is so eye roll trash addictive that it made me feel warm

[Nia Gigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. A perfect story of right person, wrong timing. Devoured it in two sittings. I'd rate this a 4.5🌟.

[Grace Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was soooo heartwarming!! Such a good multiple meet-cute story line and the characters were so relatable 🥹

[Anjeline R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was about 70% through and I still couldn’t figure out if I liked this or not. The ending was not as big of a deal as I expected, though I know it’s what real people deal with. But the story got repetitive. I didn’t really love the characters much but I didn’t hate them. I think it started off strong but it faltered. I like the idea but execution wasn’t for me. Still glad I finished it though. I’d like to read another book with a similar story.

[Melissa Aubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love This Book but i wanted it to be darker and more complicated. 😂

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Real rating 2.5. Nice enough story that be read rapidly. Not quite a recommend from me - for me the plot takes too long causing suspense over why they can't be together....only for it all to be wrapped up very quickly.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The writing and humor was good, but overall, it fell a bit flat for me. After a great start, the story really dragged and was just so repetitive. All the frustration the MC expressed at the end, echoed my own frustrations with the storyline.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was adorable, I was captivated by the plot and the characters, reading it all in one sitting. I'm definitely going to check out Jo's other books after enjoying this one!

'I love a man who has excellent taste in crisps'

Synopsis
Liv and Ben meet when they're trapped in a shed together, after investigating distressed cat sounds. Thinking it's their 'meet cute' moment, Liv is excited by the prospect... until Ben tells her that he has a girlfriend.

Over the next 8 years, Ben and Liv bump into each other.. but their meetings always seem to fall when one or the other has a partner. Will fate and the stars align for them? Will they finally end up together?

Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the hope and longing for each other throughout the years, and the incredible chemistry they have together. At times I was shouting in my head to 'just communicate with each other'!

It's dual POV which I loved, as we saw insight into both Ben and Liv's feelings, and how they longed for each other over the 8 years - both of them are very likeable characters.

Overall, this is a perfect summer romance and such a cute read.

'And I'm starting to feel as though I might actually be the luckiest woman in the world'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy. This review is voluntary.

[lazybookconqueror · Rating 2 out of 5]

While "Another Time, Another Place" presents a tantalizing premise of star-crossed lovers and the enticing allure of missed opportunities, I found it teetering on the repetitive side. As a reader drawn to tales of wrong timings and missed chances, I eagerly dove into the lives of Liv and Ben. However, it didn’t take long before the story started to feel like a broken record, with scenarios playing out in familiar patterns over and over again.

There's no denying that Lovett has a way with words, and the initial encounters between the protagonists had me hooked. But as the narrative progressed, the excessive miscommunication between the two became hard to overlook. It felt as if the characters were being forcibly kept apart by contrived misunderstandings rather than genuine circumstances, making it harder to root for their eventual reunion.

That said, for those who can overlook the repeated plot devices and are in it purely for the romance and the journey, there is still some charm to be found. However, for me, the frequent missed connections and communication lapses took away from what could have been a heartwarming tale of love finding its way.

[ABookS · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good start and the idea was really good and I kept wondering what Ben’s big secret was. But as I hit the halfway mark I started getting very frustrated with the lack of communication between the two characters!
I mean - Ben never actually tells Liv anything personal and Liv comes off as a weak person who doesn’t speak her mind. I appreciate that she confronts Max at the end, but it still feels weak. And Ben??? Disappearing in such a shitty way? If he truly loved her he would never do that. I mean - talk to the woman you love. All in all I got more and more annoyed as I kept reading.

[sar!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

this honestly may be one of my new favorite romance novels? i absolutely adore it?? everythign about it was so perfect including when i was mad at ben (for obvious reasons) but like oh my god. i will be picking up AS MANY JO LOVETT NOVELS AS I CAN GET IN MY HANDS. FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY. this book just made me feel so many things. everyone should read it :))

[Ayfer Kersu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anfangs wusste ich nicht, was ich von dem Buch halten soll. Es wurde aber immer besser und der plottwist war krank. Didn’t expect that…. Ich musste schon paar Tränen vergießen, als Ben einfach abgehauen ist und sich von Liv distanziert hat, die arme Maus hat nichts gecheckt. Was ich hasse ist, wenn man diesen spice nicht detailliert schreibt, so sorry, aber warum lese ich wohl dieses Buch… Sie hat immer nächsten Tag move gemacht, obwohl die es schon sehr sehr oft getrieben haben. Ein paar mal spice Szenen ausschrieben hätte das alles besser gemacht. Und Liv rennt Ben zu viel hinterher, so eine pussy, wenn Ben nicht Manns genug ist hat Pech, dann musste auch noch Liv den Job machen, den er eig machen sollte(also, um die Beziehung kämpfen)

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wat een vervelend boek. De eerste helft was thans echt goed. Goede dialogen, leuke grapjes, karakterontwikkeling.
Maar dan ongeveer vanaf de helft is het bijna of iemand anders het schrijven heeft overgenomen. Het verhaal slaat nergens meer op, nauwelijks dialoog, geen vragen stellen waar IEDEREEN vragen zou stellen. Het ‘grote geheim’ is niks om zo over te doen, zeker niet op de leeftijd dat Ben en Liv dan hebben.
Echt, het eerste deel kreeg een 3.5 maar de rest was zo slecht en zo saai dat ik het maar half gelezen heb om er vanaf te zijn.

[Shrez (Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so much potential, it started off strong and had me so hooked! Then just stopped being good.

The plot twist was mediocre. Also, I HATE lack of communication between characters.

I wish I could have liked this more because I truly thought I'd found a book that made me feel like I was seeing a classic early 2000's romcom.

[Jesse Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben is an idiot but that's OK because Liv loves him anyway.

That is the non-spoiler summary of the story but as often the case, it is how you get there that matters. I loved spending time with this couple and enjoyed their love journey.

[Alma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was cute until it wasn’t. Ben was annoying AF and Liv’s pseudo stalking was not a good look. The epilogue was super cute so I gave it three stars overall. The writing was good but the characters didn’t engage me and they were annoying.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart. Cute. Entertaining. Those are the words I’d use to describe Another Time, Another Place.

This book is well written and has laugh out loud moments. It will keep you guessing as you cheer for the couple to succeed.

It’s a quick read…highly recommended for the perfect weekend .

[Aennijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it - but it made me angry lol - Ben should get his shit together

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute story but a bit repetitive. The characters were likeable, but not complex.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute but so eye roll cheesy & predictable 😅

[Cat Gandhi (feedmefiction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Time, Another Place was a super quick and cute romance for me, I blasted through in a couple of evenings.

Liv and Ben are the couple and while there is dual POV I found Liv to be more dominating in the storytelling with mystery being around Ben. They meet by chance while rescuing a cat and for years afterwards they find themselves meeting randomly and thinking about each other when they're apart.

While I enjoyed this and read it quite easily, I did find it a bit repetitive and I was frustrated for the characters! I think this would have worked better as a novella to be able to cut out or shorten some meetings and have less mooning (especially at the beginning). Once I had settled into the story it was good and I enjoyed the narrative style and the will they/won't they question as well as the overall development of the characters as it felt natural and satisfying.

[Aaron warners girlfriend · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really wanted to love this book more than i did but i just couldnt connect with the characters with all the time jumps also page 201 is CRAZY work

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this so much BUT I also felt myself getting very angry at Ben.
I just want male characters to communicate, is that too much to ask??? Like just share your thought process bro, it will avoid a lot of heartbreak for everyone involved.
But I did love this. I was invested in the characters, I very much appreciated the diversity and I enjoyed the storytelling.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and didn’t guess what the reason(s) were for Ben upping and leaving. A feel good book with a neatly wrapped up happy ending.

[Nadia Elghor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do i start?

Im gonna be honest, i didnt like this book. I stuck it out to the end, hoping it would hook me, unfortunately it didnt and i ended up reading it just for the sake of it.

Firstly the timeline is not something i can get on board with. The inconsistency just didnt work for me and is what really put me off. The whole time i was reading it, it felt rushed. Granted it is a small book, and the premise of the book is around their inconsistent run ins with eachother, but i didnt feel like it built much of a picture. I couldn’t fully emerse myself in the plot/ get to know Liv and Ben on a deeper level because it kept switching up so quickly. I feel like i had to build my own background of the characters. The second half of the book was more steady, with less time jumps, but this was ruined by again, how rushed it felt? Rent was definitely due lol. Then the 4 year jump at the last chapter was comical. Why have you built up this whole book to finish it in one small weak chapter.

I feel like the writing was ok? It definitely felt like a teen rom/com style book, so if you’re looking for an easy read then i would recommend it.

The plot itself could have potential but then again i dont know how different someone else could have done it without having the time jumps. Unfortunately, i also predicted the majority of the book and felt Ben’s reasoning for leaving Liv in the dark to be extremely weak. I saw it coming but also expected something more. I actually got rather annoyed with Ben and how he had been written.

I think a lot more could of been done with this idea unfortunately.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yowsa! Eight years of waiting. This book read like One Day which I reviewed years ago. However, the ending was much better.

Liv and Ben are strangers who met by accident locked in an abandoned building. The attraction is instant, but the timing is bad. Over the course of eight years, fate has brought them together sometimes across a crowded station, sometimes at a party, and lastly avoiding wedding celebrations for friends and family where the connection is finally acted upon. Then after six unforgettable nights and a loving admission from Ben, he disappears. WTF?!  With a plethora of emotions hitting her all at once, Liv is determined to get closure, but she knows very little about Ben. What is he hiding?

Liv is a foody who has finally found her dream job and she has a good support system of family and friends. Liv is smart, fun, and independent. I respect how she bounces back from setbacks and moves on. Her persistence to learn the truth about Ben's secrets is another admirable trait about her after he ghosts her. Ben is reserved, kind, and conflicted. He fell in love with Liv at first sight, but he can't be with her. Is it a good reason? Perhaps, but I can't give the secret away, so you'll have to determine that yourself by reading the book.

This love story is slow at first as we watch Liv grow and become a confident and savvy woman. The chemistry between Liv and Ben is very strong. Watching them fight it and form misunderstandings that keep them apart way too long is frustrating, but I couldn't wait to find out what Ben was concealing.

If you believe in fate and love at first sight, give this captivating story a try. You won't be able to put it down.

Thank you to Ms. Lovett for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.