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Time After Time
From the screenwriter and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel and film Five Feet Apart comes an epic YA sapphic romance, unfolding over two sets of lives, one hundred years apart.
Nineteen-year-old Libby has always been inexplicably drawn to the old Victorian house on Mulberry Lane. So much so that when she sees a For Sale sign go up in the front yard, Libby uses all the money her grandmother left her to pay for college to buy the house instead, determined to fix it up herself—even though she knows her parents will be furious. Soon after moving in, she discovers a journal written by a young woman, Elizabeth Post, who lived in the house nearly a century earlier. It doesn’t take long for the journal to reveal that Elizabeth was madly in love with her personal maid, Patricia. A love that was forbidden and dangerous, especially at that time.
Enter Tish, a brash, broke fellow college student, who passes by the house one day and is mysteriously compelled to knock on the door. Soon Libby offers Tish a room in exchange for her help in fixing up the old house, and the two young women quickly find themselves falling for each other. But as Elizabeth’s journal entries delve deeper into her secret love affair with Patricia, uncanny similarities between that young couple and Libby and Tish are revealed, and it becomes clear that this may not be their first time in this house, or in this love. Is this their chance to get it right?
Nineteen-year-old Libby has always been inexplicably drawn to the old Victorian house on Mulberry Lane. So much so that when she sees a For Sale sign go up in the front yard, Libby uses all the money her grandmother left her to pay for college to buy the house instead, determined to fix it up herself—even though she knows her parents will be furious. Soon after moving in, she discovers a journal written by a young woman, Elizabeth Post, who lived in the house nearly a century earlier. It doesn’t take long for the journal to reveal that Elizabeth was madly in love with her personal maid, Patricia. A love that was forbidden and dangerous, especially at that time.
Enter Tish, a brash, broke fellow college student, who passes by the house one day and is mysteriously compelled to knock on the door. Soon Libby offers Tish a room in exchange for her help in fixing up the old house, and the two young women quickly find themselves falling for each other. But as Elizabeth’s journal entries delve deeper into her secret love affair with Patricia, uncanny similarities between that young couple and Libby and Tish are revealed, and it becomes clear that this may not be their first time in this house, or in this love. Is this their chance to get it right?
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2025
96 people are currently reading
12473 people want to read
About the author
Mikki Daughtry
4 books873 followersMikki is from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from Brenau University, where she studied theatre arts. She is now a novelist and screenwriter living in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
May 14, 2025
This is a sapphic YA romance and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 19 yr old Libby has always felt drawn to this Victorian home. When it comes up for sale, she uses her college money left to her by her grandma to buy the house. She plans to live there and fix it up. She finds a journal in the home that holds secrets to the woman, Elizabeth Post, who lived in the home almost 100 years earlier. Then Libby meets Tish, and offers to let her live in the house with her, in exchange, Tish can help her fix up the house. They quickly start having feelings for each other, and Elizabeth's journal starts to have so many similarities to Libby and Tish's relationship. They start to think maybe, just maybe, this wasn't their first time in this house, or together. Can they get this relationship right this time?
Such a fun, entertaining and romantic book. It's a cozy read and I think teens will really enjoy this queer romance. The writing was smooth and the plot was well done. It had some surprises that I wasn't expecting, maybe a little over the top, but I still enjoyed it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Such a fun, entertaining and romantic book. It's a cozy read and I think teens will really enjoy this queer romance. The writing was smooth and the plot was well done. It had some surprises that I wasn't expecting, maybe a little over the top, but I still enjoyed it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2025
5 Stars
I loved this book. I liked the interweaving of timelines. I adored the characters. I loved that this love story is wrapped up in a house, in fixing it up and making it a home. I loved this book.
I can't say enough good things about it here. I'll save those thoughts for my full review, where they will be coherent. That review will publish May 30, 2025 at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
I loved this book. I liked the interweaving of timelines. I adored the characters. I loved that this love story is wrapped up in a house, in fixing it up and making it a home. I loved this book.
I can't say enough good things about it here. I'll save those thoughts for my full review, where they will be coherent. That review will publish May 30, 2025 at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
May 10, 2025
This book really surprised me, in a good way. It's a sweet and tender slow burn romance set over 100 years. Libby buys a very old house in the present day and finds many secrets about the former owner, Elizabeth. She finds an old diary and learns about the love story of Elizabeth and her employee Patricia in 1925. At the same time, Libby meets Tish, who helps her renovate her new house. Sparks fly, and not just in the present.
The two love stories run almost in parallel - 100 years apart. I found the story fascinating and the tension quickly built up due to the many secrets in the past. I could hardly put the book down and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. My heart ached so much and at the same time it made me happy. The character development was really good and I liked the depth of the four women. Each had their own story that was told. The writing style was also very well done and somehow I still have to think about the message of this book. An emotional slow burn romance about risk, friendship, found family, different time and very big feelings that I can really recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The two love stories run almost in parallel - 100 years apart. I found the story fascinating and the tension quickly built up due to the many secrets in the past. I could hardly put the book down and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. My heart ached so much and at the same time it made me happy. The character development was really good and I liked the depth of the four women. Each had their own story that was told. The writing style was also very well done and somehow I still have to think about the message of this book. An emotional slow burn romance about risk, friendship, found family, different time and very big feelings that I can really recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2025
Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry is a definitive romance for those who believe in—or wish to believe in—a love that is destined and spans lifetimes. If you are a hopeless romantic, then I highly recommend you give this a read. I absolutely adored all of the characters—aside from the "villains" of the story, of course—and found the plot fantastically engaging. A minimal suspension of disbelief is required, but not difficult as it is easy to get swept up in the love story between Elizabeth/Libby and Patricia/Tish.
The dual timeline transports readers from the Victorian era to the present through alternating perspectives and journal entries. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow with lovely imagery. Daughtry successfully presents an emotionally evocative narrative that inspires belief in the enduring power of love amid adversity.
Time After Time has jumped to the top of my favorites list and has earned a place on my "buy a physical copy" list.
#reincarnation #lovestory #VictorianEra #dualtimeline #MCridesamotorcycle #oldhouse #collegestudents #YA #nospice #richgirl/poorgirl #American #Irish
I received this ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
The dual timeline transports readers from the Victorian era to the present through alternating perspectives and journal entries. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow with lovely imagery. Daughtry successfully presents an emotionally evocative narrative that inspires belief in the enduring power of love amid adversity.
Time After Time has jumped to the top of my favorites list and has earned a place on my "buy a physical copy" list.
#reincarnation #lovestory #VictorianEra #dualtimeline #MCridesamotorcycle #oldhouse #collegestudents #YA #nospice #richgirl/poorgirl #American #Irish
I received this ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
January 19, 2025
This book is so devastatingly beautiful. I can't. It hit in all the right ways. It was romance at its finest. The way the plot lines weave together was masterfully done. I found myself simultaneously wanting to flip through pages faster to see what happened next, and not wanting the story to end.
We meet Libby after she has recklessly bought a victorian house she has always loved with the money she is supposed to be using for college. But there is something about this house that calls to her. Tish is just trying to get by in college, she's on a tight budget and knows a little about building things. The two slowly work together to restore Libby's house and the story that unfolds between them is wonderful.
If you love rooting for sapphic couples, love that defies time, and romance this is a must read. This is one that will stick with me. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.75 starts rounded up to 5
We meet Libby after she has recklessly bought a victorian house she has always loved with the money she is supposed to be using for college. But there is something about this house that calls to her. Tish is just trying to get by in college, she's on a tight budget and knows a little about building things. The two slowly work together to restore Libby's house and the story that unfolds between them is wonderful.
If you love rooting for sapphic couples, love that defies time, and romance this is a must read. This is one that will stick with me. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.75 starts rounded up to 5
June 30, 2025
Brilliant. Give me 14 of them right now. 💥💥💥
March 17, 2025
I loved this novel; one of my new favorites for sure. I didn’t have any particular expectations going into this (and for some reason I was avoiding it on my shelf for like 2 months) but WOW am I glad that I read it.
This novel was original and unexpected. I haven’t seen a plotline play out quite like this before and that was remarkably refreshing. In some ways I knew exactly what was coming in this story (the blurb was descriptive) but at the same time there were twists and turns and little mysteries that I didn’t expect at all.
The writing was excellent. The nuts-and-bolts of the writing were well done of course, but more than that the way that the story was structured and delivered was remarkably effective. There was a dual timeline of sorts through this novel and the way that they wove together and were delivered to the reader was simply perfect.
The characters; excellent. They were well formed and complete people with their own minds and motivations. The characters each had their own satisfying character arcs (and some side characters too) on top of the romance and mystery and plotline.
This was simply a beautiful novel. I cried, which isn’t a common reading experience for me, so I know that this novel connected with me in a significant way.
My Rating: “S” (6-Stars)
Converted Rating: 5-Stars
This novel was original and unexpected. I haven’t seen a plotline play out quite like this before and that was remarkably refreshing. In some ways I knew exactly what was coming in this story (the blurb was descriptive) but at the same time there were twists and turns and little mysteries that I didn’t expect at all.
The writing was excellent. The nuts-and-bolts of the writing were well done of course, but more than that the way that the story was structured and delivered was remarkably effective. There was a dual timeline of sorts through this novel and the way that they wove together and were delivered to the reader was simply perfect.
The characters; excellent. They were well formed and complete people with their own minds and motivations. The characters each had their own satisfying character arcs (and some side characters too) on top of the romance and mystery and plotline.
This was simply a beautiful novel. I cried, which isn’t a common reading experience for me, so I know that this novel connected with me in a significant way.
My Rating: “S” (6-Stars)
Converted Rating: 5-Stars
May 30, 2025
YA sapphic romance with some magical realism. Overall cute but the reincarnation plot kinda lost me.
Won in a Goodreads giveaway!
Won in a Goodreads giveaway!
June 1, 2025
Spoiler Free!
✨✨-✨✨✨-✨✨✨✨✨✨
Five star read. All opinions are my own.
Original. Inspiring. Atmospheric. Heartfelt.
A love letter to love and to the human connections that shape our lives.
There is so much to say about Time After Time.
This book has my heart.
To begin this will be my spoiler free review, however I have so much to say about this outstanding story that I will be posting a review that includes spoilers soon!
Please if you can go into this book spoiler free it’s worth it !
Time After Time is timeless and is now one of my favourite reads
✨✨-✨✨✨-✨✨✨✨✨✨
Mikki Daughtry’s Time After Time is a breathtaking, atmospheric love letter to love itself. Told through two parallel love stories that span a century, the novel explores the depth of human connection. It’s haunting in the most magical way, yet grounded in real emotion the kind that leaves you aching and whole all at once.
Though sapphic romance was new to me as a reader, Time After Time quickly reminded me that love at its core is universal. This story speaks to love in its truest form as it’s timeless, and enduring. It opened my heart in a way I didn’t expect and beautifully showed that real love never really ends, no matter who it’s between. It truly surprised me how hard I fell in love with this story.
You feel the butterflies alongside the characters as you experience dual perspectives from each character before and as they meet. Even more beautifully, you get the same from another pair of characters, a hundred years apart. The parallel timelines create a powerful emotional contrast that creates a depth and connection that resonates in both love stories.
In addition to the central love stories, there are other deeply moving relationships: best friends, found family, true family, and even former enemies. This book is a celebration of all the people who touch our lives.
There’s a subplot addressing Alzheimer’s that is written with immense care, respect, and compassion. The emotions are so real, and it helped me connect to this book on a deeply personal level. Without giving spoilers, I can say that one character’s emotional journey through this lens beautifully expands her understanding of time, memory, and what it means to love. Written in such a poetic, yet real way making it so powerful. And yes this brought me to tears.
This story is atmospheric, mysterious, heartwarming, and truly universal to all types of readers. It’s simply beautiful. You will laugh, cry, and have these stunning moments of realization where you suddenly understand how it’s all been connected since page one. When that hit me? I was shocked and inspired warming my heart!
Truly there is something for everyone in this book and I will talk about it to anyone and everyone who will listen to me.
Again, if possible, please read Time After Time spoiler-free. The impact, the mystery, and the emotional resonance of the two timelines are best experienced firsthand. It doesn’t just feel like a book it feels like an experience.
Mikki Daughtry as an author has always had a unique voice, one full of heart and dreams, and with Time After Time, she proves just how timeless her storytelling can be. This is her first solo novel, and her love for love shines on every page. I cannot wait to read what she writes next
✨✨-✨✨✨-✨✨✨✨✨✨
Sarah Evans
✨✨-✨✨✨-✨✨✨✨✨✨
Five star read. All opinions are my own.
Original. Inspiring. Atmospheric. Heartfelt.
A love letter to love and to the human connections that shape our lives.
There is so much to say about Time After Time.
This book has my heart.
To begin this will be my spoiler free review, however I have so much to say about this outstanding story that I will be posting a review that includes spoilers soon!
Please if you can go into this book spoiler free it’s worth it !
Time After Time is timeless and is now one of my favourite reads
✨✨-✨✨✨-✨✨✨✨✨✨
Mikki Daughtry’s Time After Time is a breathtaking, atmospheric love letter to love itself. Told through two parallel love stories that span a century, the novel explores the depth of human connection. It’s haunting in the most magical way, yet grounded in real emotion the kind that leaves you aching and whole all at once.
Though sapphic romance was new to me as a reader, Time After Time quickly reminded me that love at its core is universal. This story speaks to love in its truest form as it’s timeless, and enduring. It opened my heart in a way I didn’t expect and beautifully showed that real love never really ends, no matter who it’s between. It truly surprised me how hard I fell in love with this story.
You feel the butterflies alongside the characters as you experience dual perspectives from each character before and as they meet. Even more beautifully, you get the same from another pair of characters, a hundred years apart. The parallel timelines create a powerful emotional contrast that creates a depth and connection that resonates in both love stories.
In addition to the central love stories, there are other deeply moving relationships: best friends, found family, true family, and even former enemies. This book is a celebration of all the people who touch our lives.
There’s a subplot addressing Alzheimer’s that is written with immense care, respect, and compassion. The emotions are so real, and it helped me connect to this book on a deeply personal level. Without giving spoilers, I can say that one character’s emotional journey through this lens beautifully expands her understanding of time, memory, and what it means to love. Written in such a poetic, yet real way making it so powerful. And yes this brought me to tears.
This story is atmospheric, mysterious, heartwarming, and truly universal to all types of readers. It’s simply beautiful. You will laugh, cry, and have these stunning moments of realization where you suddenly understand how it’s all been connected since page one. When that hit me? I was shocked and inspired warming my heart!
Truly there is something for everyone in this book and I will talk about it to anyone and everyone who will listen to me.
Again, if possible, please read Time After Time spoiler-free. The impact, the mystery, and the emotional resonance of the two timelines are best experienced firsthand. It doesn’t just feel like a book it feels like an experience.
Mikki Daughtry as an author has always had a unique voice, one full of heart and dreams, and with Time After Time, she proves just how timeless her storytelling can be. This is her first solo novel, and her love for love shines on every page. I cannot wait to read what she writes next
✨✨-✨✨✨-✨✨✨✨✨✨
Sarah Evans
May 4, 2025
When 19-year-old Libby impulsively buys a crumbling Victorian home with her college savings, she doesn’t expect to find a hidden journal that reveals a century-old secret: a forbidden love between two women, Elizabeth and her maid, Patricia. As Libby begins restoring the house, she meets Tish, a broke college student with building skills, and the two quickly grow close. But as parallels between the past and present emerge, Libby and Tish must confront the possibility that their connection might span more than one lifetime.
After reading a few young adult novels recently that were not very enjoyable, this book surprised me in the best way possible. I went in expecting a romantic story with a bit of mystery, but what I got was something far deeper and more emotional. Libby and Tish's relationship felt so real and gradual, full of the kind of small, meaningful moments that make you believe in something lasting. Their connection builds gradually, and while there’s chemistry, there’s also conflict, vulnerability, and space for growth. The relationship didn’t feel rushed or romanticized beyond reason. The found family element was heartwarming, and the side relationships—especially between Tish and Joe—were just as impactful as the main romance. The historical storyline between Elizabeth and Patricia was woven in beautifully. I was fully invested in both timelines, and the way they mirrored each other without feeling repetitive was masterfully done. The shifts between eras were easy to follow once you got used to them, and they added layers of meaning that made the ending hit even harder. Overall, this was an original, emotionally resonant read that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a sweet, young adult romance with depth, heart, and a touch of mystery. It struck a good balance between being quietly reflective and deeply engaging, and it is a book I would absolutely read again.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Time After Time in return for my honest review.
After reading a few young adult novels recently that were not very enjoyable, this book surprised me in the best way possible. I went in expecting a romantic story with a bit of mystery, but what I got was something far deeper and more emotional. Libby and Tish's relationship felt so real and gradual, full of the kind of small, meaningful moments that make you believe in something lasting. Their connection builds gradually, and while there’s chemistry, there’s also conflict, vulnerability, and space for growth. The relationship didn’t feel rushed or romanticized beyond reason. The found family element was heartwarming, and the side relationships—especially between Tish and Joe—were just as impactful as the main romance. The historical storyline between Elizabeth and Patricia was woven in beautifully. I was fully invested in both timelines, and the way they mirrored each other without feeling repetitive was masterfully done. The shifts between eras were easy to follow once you got used to them, and they added layers of meaning that made the ending hit even harder. Overall, this was an original, emotionally resonant read that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a sweet, young adult romance with depth, heart, and a touch of mystery. It struck a good balance between being quietly reflective and deeply engaging, and it is a book I would absolutely read again.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Time After Time in return for my honest review.
May 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Mikki
Daughtry, and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry is a multiple POV sapphic YA book. It’s a love story that takes place in two time periods 100 years apart. 19-year-old Libby is drawn to an old Victorian house on Mulberry Lane. She takes a huge chance by purchasing the house and sets out to restore it to its former glory. She finds a chest that contains journals from the previous tenant, Elizabeth. The journals talk of Elizabeth’s love for her maid, Patricia, which for many reasons was forbidden and dangerous at the time. As Libby works on the house, she runs into Tish, a fellow college student. Tish ends up helping Libby in return for a room in the old house. As they spend more time together, the similarities between Libby and Tish and Elizabeth and Patricia become more obvious and lines start to blur.
I really enjoyed this book! I liked the dual timelines and being able to experience Libby and Tish’s story alongside Elizabeth and Patricia’s. I was truly immersed in their world. The author really breathes life into each character’s story. There were a couple twists in this book that I wasn’t expecting, which added even more to the overall story. If you like your romance with more depth and a touch of mystery, then I definitely recommend this book! ✨
Time After Time will be available on May 27th! 🕰️
Daughtry, and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry is a multiple POV sapphic YA book. It’s a love story that takes place in two time periods 100 years apart. 19-year-old Libby is drawn to an old Victorian house on Mulberry Lane. She takes a huge chance by purchasing the house and sets out to restore it to its former glory. She finds a chest that contains journals from the previous tenant, Elizabeth. The journals talk of Elizabeth’s love for her maid, Patricia, which for many reasons was forbidden and dangerous at the time. As Libby works on the house, she runs into Tish, a fellow college student. Tish ends up helping Libby in return for a room in the old house. As they spend more time together, the similarities between Libby and Tish and Elizabeth and Patricia become more obvious and lines start to blur.
I really enjoyed this book! I liked the dual timelines and being able to experience Libby and Tish’s story alongside Elizabeth and Patricia’s. I was truly immersed in their world. The author really breathes life into each character’s story. There were a couple twists in this book that I wasn’t expecting, which added even more to the overall story. If you like your romance with more depth and a touch of mystery, then I definitely recommend this book! ✨
Time After Time will be available on May 27th! 🕰️
May 21, 2025
Time After Time
By: Nikki Daughtry
5 Stars
This was a story about a house. It was a story about forbidden love and heartbreak. It was a story of magic and mystery.
For as long as Libby can remember, she has been drawn to the house on Mulberry Street. When it comes up for sale, she spends her inheritence and buys it. She knows her life will never be the same. The house buy causes strife with her family, she is changing her life by changing her major in school then buying the house. When she meets Tish and they begin working on the house together, her love for the house only grows. Libby knew her life would never be the same, and that's okay.
I fell head over heals for this story. Written in both past and present, it gives a modern and vintage look at life, love, family, friends, and even loss. It was beautifully written. It has a great set of characters, both past and present, that blend to make a magical story filled with love, pain, and everything in between. The subject of love is presented as just that. Their is no her and her or him and her. It's just them. Us. Always.
I absolutely adored this story. It was heartbreaking and sad and happy and joyful. It gave me a smile, and it made me cry. It was simply wonderful.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews
By: Nikki Daughtry
5 Stars
This was a story about a house. It was a story about forbidden love and heartbreak. It was a story of magic and mystery.
For as long as Libby can remember, she has been drawn to the house on Mulberry Street. When it comes up for sale, she spends her inheritence and buys it. She knows her life will never be the same. The house buy causes strife with her family, she is changing her life by changing her major in school then buying the house. When she meets Tish and they begin working on the house together, her love for the house only grows. Libby knew her life would never be the same, and that's okay.
I fell head over heals for this story. Written in both past and present, it gives a modern and vintage look at life, love, family, friends, and even loss. It was beautifully written. It has a great set of characters, both past and present, that blend to make a magical story filled with love, pain, and everything in between. The subject of love is presented as just that. Their is no her and her or him and her. It's just them. Us. Always.
I absolutely adored this story. It was heartbreaking and sad and happy and joyful. It gave me a smile, and it made me cry. It was simply wonderful.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews
May 7, 2025
A very well done dual timeline of love and past lives. I really enjoyed the present timeline with Libby and Tish bonding over renovating Libby's Victorian house. The past lives timeline drove the tension, leaving us to wonder what happened to this story of forbidden love in a time where a happy ending was unlikely. I love how the timelines were woven together through the use of Elizabeth's journals, along with little items that held meaning and still existed in the present timeline. Overall, a heartwarming tale of a love for the ages.
June 18, 2025
I read the majority of this book in a five hour stretch late one night/early one morning. I could not bring myself to put it down. I loved reading the story of Elizabeth and Patricia and how it connected to Libby & Trish. I loved how the house itself was its own character. It was a beautiful story all around.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
June 10, 2025
Tagging this as a spoiler, but just in case!! Major spoilers for the end of this book!!
Tish felt a jolt when she stepped on the perfume bottle because it was where she died in her previous life omg 😭😭😭 I can't stop crying! the last 10-15 chapters had me in a chokehold
Tish felt a jolt when she stepped on the perfume bottle because it was where she died in her previous life omg 😭😭😭 I can't stop crying! the last 10-15 chapters had me in a chokehold
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 12, 2024Best wat dingen op aan te merken, maar ik heb enorm genoten.
May 20, 2025
Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry is a beautifully crafted romance that explores the idea of soul-deep connection and the enduring nature of true love. Centered on two characters destined to find each other across different moments in time, the story offers a fresh and engaging take on the age-old question of whether love can truly transcend the limits of memory and circumstance.
Daughtry skillfully blends emotional depth with an element of mystery, as the characters gradually uncover the hidden threads of their shared past. The result is a narrative that is both fun and heartfelt, full of warmth and unexpected twists. The pacing keeps readers invested, while the romantic tension and evolving revelations add a layer of excitement that carries through to the end.
What stands out most is the joy of the reading experience—light enough to entertain, yet meaningful enough to leave a lasting impression. Daughtry’s talent shines through in her ability to create characters who feel real, vulnerable, and worth rooting for. Time After Time is a touching and delightful journey through love and memory, and it firmly establishes Daughtry as a storyteller to watch.
Daughtry skillfully blends emotional depth with an element of mystery, as the characters gradually uncover the hidden threads of their shared past. The result is a narrative that is both fun and heartfelt, full of warmth and unexpected twists. The pacing keeps readers invested, while the romantic tension and evolving revelations add a layer of excitement that carries through to the end.
What stands out most is the joy of the reading experience—light enough to entertain, yet meaningful enough to leave a lasting impression. Daughtry’s talent shines through in her ability to create characters who feel real, vulnerable, and worth rooting for. Time After Time is a touching and delightful journey through love and memory, and it firmly establishes Daughtry as a storyteller to watch.
May 24, 2025
Review: Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry
👀There’s a number that lingers in this book… one that doesn’t quite make sense until it does. And when it clicks? Whew. You’ll feel it.
I went into Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry completely blind—no synopsis, no expectations. I just dove in, and I’m so glad I did! This book is soooo good!!
It gave me touches of mystery and subtle spookiness, but by the end? Total emotional unraveling—in the best way. It’s a slow burn, but with so much heart. This is not your typical YA. It’s layered, tender, and feels like a love story that echoes through time.
The dual timeline was perfection, the journal twist was chef’s kiss, and the chemistry? Libby and Tish had me rooting for them so hard. There’s something magical about a book that makes you believe maybe, just maybe… love really does find its way back.
If you love Great Gatsby vibes, slow burns, sapphic romance, and a hint of mystery—this one’s a must-read. It comes out May 27th!
#PenguinTeenPartner
Thank you @penguinteen for this epic arc! 🥰
👀There’s a number that lingers in this book… one that doesn’t quite make sense until it does. And when it clicks? Whew. You’ll feel it.
I went into Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry completely blind—no synopsis, no expectations. I just dove in, and I’m so glad I did! This book is soooo good!!
It gave me touches of mystery and subtle spookiness, but by the end? Total emotional unraveling—in the best way. It’s a slow burn, but with so much heart. This is not your typical YA. It’s layered, tender, and feels like a love story that echoes through time.
The dual timeline was perfection, the journal twist was chef’s kiss, and the chemistry? Libby and Tish had me rooting for them so hard. There’s something magical about a book that makes you believe maybe, just maybe… love really does find its way back.
If you love Great Gatsby vibes, slow burns, sapphic romance, and a hint of mystery—this one’s a must-read. It comes out May 27th!
#PenguinTeenPartner
Thank you @penguinteen for this epic arc! 🥰
June 4, 2025
I was down for a lot of stuff in this book. I wanted cute lesbians, Victorian vibes, a house reno, and a story that would bring it together.
Daughtry got lost in the plot in this one. My biggest book pet peeve is when characters think about future and past actions more than actually doing them. We brush over Libby and Tish's first interactions. They meet, and then suddenly Tish is living in her house? This happens again and again. Daughtry uses flashbacks in both the present time and in the 1920s to cover what she glossed over.
This book got seriously incredible at 75-80%, but it was a slog to get there. Big bummed. I was ready for this to blow me away.
Daughtry got lost in the plot in this one. My biggest book pet peeve is when characters think about future and past actions more than actually doing them. We brush over Libby and Tish's first interactions. They meet, and then suddenly Tish is living in her house? This happens again and again. Daughtry uses flashbacks in both the present time and in the 1920s to cover what she glossed over.
This book got seriously incredible at 75-80%, but it was a slog to get there. Big bummed. I was ready for this to blow me away.
May 22, 2025
I will read anything and everything Mikki writes. I mean we are 3/3 and I am already wanting more.
Two love stories. One hundred years apart. As impossible as it is, it feels like somehow these stories are connected. That both lives were fated. That soulmates exist.
One old house, holding all the memories from the past waiting to be uncovered as two college students are drawn to the house.
This was beautiful, and emotional and had so much longing.
Pub Date: May 27
Thank you penguinteenca for the arc 🤍🤍
Two love stories. One hundred years apart. As impossible as it is, it feels like somehow these stories are connected. That both lives were fated. That soulmates exist.
One old house, holding all the memories from the past waiting to be uncovered as two college students are drawn to the house.
This was beautiful, and emotional and had so much longing.
Pub Date: May 27
Thank you penguinteenca for the arc 🤍🤍
May 24, 2025
Ahhh I LOVE love. This whole book is one beautiful, giant love letter and it has me smiling, crying, and squealing omg. The two stories were interwoven together absolutely beautifully. What I felt were going to be plot holes were all filled by the end. I have absolutely ZERO complaints. No notes. All perfection.. This is definitely one of my absolute favorite reads of the year so far.
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for the ARC💕 without you guys I probably would’ve never gotten a chance to read the absolutely beautiful & heartwrenching love story of Libby/Elizabeth and Tish/Patricia.
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for the ARC💕 without you guys I probably would’ve never gotten a chance to read the absolutely beautiful & heartwrenching love story of Libby/Elizabeth and Tish/Patricia.
June 9, 2025
Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry is 5 Stars and beyond!!!! I couldn’t put it down. Rich, complex and relatable characters draw you into to a well woven love story spanning two lifetimes 100 years apart. I cared about everyone and I believed every turn in the story. It’s a moving masterpiece celebrating the timelessness of love and the lengths our souls get to go to set things right. An absolute MUST READ over and over again!!!!
April 23, 2025
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the physical ARC!
I read and loved this author’s other books several years ago, and I think this one holds up with her others. This was a beautiful story, very atmospheric, and balanced the three different POVs as well as past and present day very well!
I read and loved this author’s other books several years ago, and I think this one holds up with her others. This was a beautiful story, very atmospheric, and balanced the three different POVs as well as past and present day very well!
June 17, 2025
True love and a happily ever after. What more could I ask for🥹
August 3, 2025
OMG!!!!!
This book was absolutely amazing! I couldn’t put it down!
The writing style was absolutely amazing and easy to understand. The content of the book was incredible I love how the chapters are mapped out flipping between characters. There were amazing moments of suspense (which is saying something as I typically hate suspense) and moments where things clicked into place. Would 100% recommend as long as you like romance specifically wlw romance!
This book was absolutely amazing! I couldn’t put it down!
The writing style was absolutely amazing and easy to understand. The content of the book was incredible I love how the chapters are mapped out flipping between characters. There were amazing moments of suspense (which is saying something as I typically hate suspense) and moments where things clicked into place. Would 100% recommend as long as you like romance specifically wlw romance!
October 8, 2025
Lol them being reincarnated is fine, but the motorcycle being semi-sentient was a bit much. Libby is Elizabeth and Tish is Patricia, but Lola the motorcycle is the main star of this whole book, apparently.
Read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Sophia Bernard. #booksin25
Read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Sophia Bernard. #booksin25
Read
July 16, 2025Time after Time
@ 0h57 (8%) - Tish reminds me a *little* of Caty Wyly... Projects 'toughness'? 1st gen college??
UPDATE @ 2h21:30 (20% - 7/14/2025) -
I *think* this book was part of a pride month list I came across earlier this year. My turn came up in Libby last night so I grabbed it - easy listening. And it is - exactly that. Having low expectations helps! I added it to my "Want to Read" queue, tho, b/c: sapphic romance + historical... not sure what noun to use. Historical... overlay? Fiction? Anyway - seemed more interesting (and more up my alley) than most sapphic romances out there, so I thought I'd give it a go.
So far I'm glad I did and I'm especially happy to be listening while *also* reading The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists: Coping with the One-Way Relationship in Work, Love, and Family because WOW does the main character's father EVER demonstrate a BUNCH of the manipulation strategies I'm learning about in Payson's book. (See bookmarks starting at 1h57.)
I'm aware of all the shortcuts the writer is taking to tell this story - the parts that SUPER don't match up w/ reality - and wonder if I'm a hypocrite? B/c I get so upset about "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Bean Trees" etc. but the inaccuracies and cheats in this story don't bother me (yet). Some I think is my low expectations. Some I think also is that this book isn't (as far as I know) marketed / celebrated as a life-changing story. Neither does it try to be a heavy- / hard-hitting story. It sets itself up as light and fluffy and that's what it delivers. So.
HOWEVER - the same way that I was so angry at Barbara Kingsolver's "Flight Behavior" - it takes more to change your life around than hanging out with some butterflies - I recognize that the way the main character stood up to her father re: the house is, IRL, prob NOT something she would have been able to do w/o help/support from a therapist. I *do* think it's dangerous to misrepresent the difficulty - near impossibility - of a child standing up to a narcissistic parent. ESPECIALLY, in this case, a NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD child. On one hand, it *is* fantasy / escapism, but on the other, it might establish unreasonable expectations for a naive or earnest reader (*ahem* my younger self).
For some reason I thought the contemporary homeowners were in their late 20s / early 30s AND they bought the house together, as a couple. I need to go back and re-read the summary to see where I got that idea. Def not what's happening here. There *are* more 19-year-olds buying houses these days, I think, than there were when I was 19. (E.g., Michelle Bright's daughter, Katie the firefighter.) So that's not *too* much of a stretch. I'm curious to what extent this house will function as a metaphor for the self? And/or will take on gothic elements? I'm eager to keep listening to find out 📖👂🏚️
UPDATE @ 5h50 (49% - 7/15) - I was up waaaaay too late last night listening to this story. Which is a good endorsement, I think! I like the 2 storylines (1925, 2025(?)) and especially like getting to know Elizabeth (1925) at the same time as Libby (2025). However. There are 2 things that make me uncomfortable.
(1) I'm glad that a few minutes ago Sarah (Elizabeth's - lady's maid?) had a stern talk w/ Elizabeth abt how her affection for Patricia is putting Patricia in danger. B/c bad tho it would be for Elizabeth to be gay, at least she belongs to an established, wealthy family. She might suffer significant social consequences but would likely survive. Patricia, however, doesn't have *any* protection - neither social nor economic. So there's a consideration for he safety.
There's also (which Sarah didn't address) the power dynamic. It's gross that Elizabeth is... romancing? Falling for. One of her family's employees. How is that different from dudes who have affairs w/ their secretaries (outdated reference, but conveys the idea). It's different in that Elizabeth doesn't *really* have *much* power w/in her family / household - in some ways she's just as trapped as Patricia - but no. She's trapped WITH privilege. With privileges that Patricia will never have. And yes, sure, how else would she meet someone? Other than if they enter her family's / household's orbit? Given the social strictures to which she's required to conform. Yes. OK. But still. It doesn't feel good that she's in love w/ an employee. Gross.
(2) In the contemporary story - the echoes back to Elizabeth and Patricia - the ways that both women (Libby and Tish) find themself lit up by the things that lit up Elizabeth and Patricia. Gives a sense of... not exactly *helplessness* but lack of responsibility? Not that either of them are thinking that. But as a reader I'm wondering - do *they* genuinely like each other? Or are they more vessels for the continuation of Elizabeth and Patricia's story? The layering, while interesting, makes me doubt the authenticity of their own emotions / attractions in a way that's... not *morally* questionable (like discomfort #1) but that detracts some from the story.
UPDATE @ 6h24 (57% - 7/15) - It's interesting b/c we kind of get a sense of what's coming in the 1925 story based on how the 2025 characters respond to items in the house. It's a unique narrative technique (shadowing, sort of?) that I'm enjoying.
UPDATE @ 8h40 (72% - 7/15) - Tish is over-protective of ppl (well, of Libby) but ESPECIALLY of Joe. Uncomfortably so. As if protectiveness = love? NOPE. Joe in particular, tho, she's always after to be "safe" and "healthy." Which translates into her telling him what to do. E.g., buy/use a more sturdy ladder. Stop chewing tobacco. Which, #1, implies that he doesn't know how to take care of himself, and #2, is super controlling. On top of that she takes his decisions personally (e.g., re: chewing tobacco). I get that her vigilance is motivated by a fear of ppl she loves dying, but controlling their behavior is NOT the way to cope w/ that fear (*ahem* pls join Al-Anon). Again, protectiveness =/= love. (PS - remember the quote abt safety from The Hero of This Book - that it's overrated.)
UPDATE @ 9h46:30 (82% - 7/15) - I just realized that 1925 is just a few years b4 the Phryne stories take place... how completely different the two households are! (Elizabeth's vs Phryne's.) Obv lots of reasons for that. But good context to realize the variability of opportunities and freedoms, etc. during the (relatively) same time period.
UPDATE @ END - I was up waaaaay too late last night listening to this book... I finished at 12:03 a.m.! (Staying up late wasn't 100% d/t book - I started the LDN trial which made me a little wired.) Still. It's a story I was surprisingly wrapped up in and found myself thinking about a LOT in empty spaces thruout the day. Even found it on my mind first thing after waking up in the morning! Not sure why it was so compelling. The characters were *meh* (Tish, esp, grated on my nerves) and there were some SIGNIFICANT moral/ethical transgressions (due largely to the blindness of privilege). There's something so compelling, tho, about a historical story... Discovering the undiscovered, bringing an alternate world to life... Part of why cemeteries are compelling, and old things in general, I suppose. So much room for imagination! This story def took advantage of that... compulsion? To find out who came before us - to learn about the layers of ppl and events that inhabited the same space I inhabit now, but years before.
It was kind of a magical realism story, tho, what with the re-incarnation (?) element. Ghost element? Not clear. Which is 100% OK. That's not a detail that needs to be pinned down in order for the story to make sense. I liked the irony, tho, or maybe juxtaposition, of Tish's bestie's grandfather dying (and her concern abt Joe dying) and then finding out that yes ppl *die* but it's not as finite as it seems. At the same time, tho, the "c'est déjà écrit"-ness of the whole thing was a little creepy... 🤷♀️
We never found out why Patricia was avoiding Elizabeth on the first days of Elizabeth's parents being out of the country. At least, it was never stated explicitly. I'm assuming it was b/c she didn't want to want what she couldn't have? Which is the same thing Tish kept saying (a little *too* frequently, IMO - point made! move on!).
A few more comments I wrote on a post-it at the end:
- Every time they said "green glass bottle" or "green glass stone" my brain lunged toward "green glass door" which I'm used to saying b/c of the game w/ the same name.
- It sucks that it's another book where the gays die at the end... Or rather, 1 gay person dies. Still. 1 is 1 too many, IMO. The gays are ALWAYS dying. Come on.
- The denouements of both storylines were a *little* over-dramatic - esp the 2025 climax. With the motorcycle "saving Tish's life" by spinning off the cliff. In the snowstorm. Meh.
- Unusual for a romance was that there weren't graphic descriptions of hot sex. Sex was def alluded to - and there was kissing, and nudity, and desire - but no sex scenes. I wonder why the writer made that choice? Maybe she's no good at writing sex! (It's difficult to write, for sure!)
- Overall, tho, the ending was surprisingly satisfying - as was the entire story, TBH.
PS - Ha - the theme of Libby's dad asking Libby's sig others "Do you like Neapolitan ice cream" and them saying things like "Of course! It's 3 flavors for the price of 1!" - is kind of the same here w/ the 2 timelines. It's 2 novels for the price of 1! 😃
Passages I bookmarked:
0h32 (ch2 - 4%) Who is now gently pulling down the back of my boxers. I reach back to slap her hands away. "There's nothing in there for you. You had your chance at prom. And you turned me down so keep your peepers to yourself. [emphasis mine; Bari and Tish]
1h57 (ch6 - 16%) Those mental lists I make every morning, they all come to me in the voice of my father. Every time a thought runs thru my head it's his voice I hear. It has *always* been his voice. His. Not mine.
2h02:30 (ch7 - 17%) I've always known Dad was controlling. But his fury was next-level. His words echo in my mind, bouncing around in stereo. "You have never done one damn thing on your own and this is where you want to start? With a tear-down house, with no money, and no help? Because that's what you're getting from me. Nothing."
2h10:30 (ch7 - 18%) Something about this room makes me sad. Just the vibe of it. Like one of those bad dreams that you can't remember but the feelings stick around for days after.
2h11:30 (ch7 - 18%) I smile and hold the candle in front of me, pushing light into the room. [emphasis mine]
2h21 (ch7 - 20%) Standing up to my father was scary. But it was nothing compared to what Cam does. Every day. Cam is the brave one. [Libby says this abt her bestie, Cam, who's trans. I'm not sure how I feel abt her statement. (1) There's no comparing challenge / suffering / bravery (2) Is she using him for inspo porn? HOWEVER ultimately I took it as a weirdly-delivered statement of love and admiration for the qualities she sees in her friend (ignore the comparison pls).]
2h30:30 (ch7 - 21%) My head snaps back and my eyes water. It's [the perfume in the bottle on the dresser] cloying and noxious, like 400 church ladies packed into one tiny glass vial. [emphasis mine - LOL]
3h00 (ch9 - 25%) Like when I was a kid, trying to run from the emotions I didn't want to feel. It works less and less as I get older.
3h24 (ch11 - 28%) Social mores had become as loose as unstrung bootlaces. Women were wresting control of their lives from the iron grip of history. They were becoming more independent by the day.... Living their lives out from under their fathers' watchful eyes.
10h10 (ch46 - 85%) This is crazy! *I'm* crazy! I've finally flown right off the cuckoo-cliff... [emphasis mine - LOL]
10h25:30 (ch47 - 87%) She's glowing. Like she's lit from the inside.
10h28 (ch47 - 87%) A thrum vibrates thru me at her words, like a deep chord humming. Like someone pulled the world's biggest guitar string and it's attached to me. To my heart. To my soul.
11h04:30 (ch50 - 92%) Anger rose up in Elizabeth for every time she had been dismissed or disregarded. For every time her own wants and needs had been downgraded in favor of a man's.
11h23:30 (ch51 - 95%) Now, from here, I can finally see how small that fear *really* is. That the shadow of fear is always bigger and scarier than the fear itself. [emphasis mine]
11h47:30 (ch54 - 98%) Maybe one day Tish will repair it. Or maybe that's one of the scars we keep, as a reminder that we made it to the other side and back again.
11h56:30 (ch54 - 100%) It doesn't matter. The story is ours. It doesn't need to be believed to be true.
@ 0h57 (8%) - Tish reminds me a *little* of Caty Wyly... Projects 'toughness'? 1st gen college??
UPDATE @ 2h21:30 (20% - 7/14/2025) -
I *think* this book was part of a pride month list I came across earlier this year. My turn came up in Libby last night so I grabbed it - easy listening. And it is - exactly that. Having low expectations helps! I added it to my "Want to Read" queue, tho, b/c: sapphic romance + historical... not sure what noun to use. Historical... overlay? Fiction? Anyway - seemed more interesting (and more up my alley) than most sapphic romances out there, so I thought I'd give it a go.
So far I'm glad I did and I'm especially happy to be listening while *also* reading The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists: Coping with the One-Way Relationship in Work, Love, and Family because WOW does the main character's father EVER demonstrate a BUNCH of the manipulation strategies I'm learning about in Payson's book. (See bookmarks starting at 1h57.)
I'm aware of all the shortcuts the writer is taking to tell this story - the parts that SUPER don't match up w/ reality - and wonder if I'm a hypocrite? B/c I get so upset about "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Bean Trees" etc. but the inaccuracies and cheats in this story don't bother me (yet). Some I think is my low expectations. Some I think also is that this book isn't (as far as I know) marketed / celebrated as a life-changing story. Neither does it try to be a heavy- / hard-hitting story. It sets itself up as light and fluffy and that's what it delivers. So.
HOWEVER - the same way that I was so angry at Barbara Kingsolver's "Flight Behavior" - it takes more to change your life around than hanging out with some butterflies - I recognize that the way the main character stood up to her father re: the house is, IRL, prob NOT something she would have been able to do w/o help/support from a therapist. I *do* think it's dangerous to misrepresent the difficulty - near impossibility - of a child standing up to a narcissistic parent. ESPECIALLY, in this case, a NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD child. On one hand, it *is* fantasy / escapism, but on the other, it might establish unreasonable expectations for a naive or earnest reader (*ahem* my younger self).
For some reason I thought the contemporary homeowners were in their late 20s / early 30s AND they bought the house together, as a couple. I need to go back and re-read the summary to see where I got that idea. Def not what's happening here. There *are* more 19-year-olds buying houses these days, I think, than there were when I was 19. (E.g., Michelle Bright's daughter, Katie the firefighter.) So that's not *too* much of a stretch. I'm curious to what extent this house will function as a metaphor for the self? And/or will take on gothic elements? I'm eager to keep listening to find out 📖👂🏚️
UPDATE @ 5h50 (49% - 7/15) - I was up waaaaay too late last night listening to this story. Which is a good endorsement, I think! I like the 2 storylines (1925, 2025(?)) and especially like getting to know Elizabeth (1925) at the same time as Libby (2025). However. There are 2 things that make me uncomfortable.
(1) I'm glad that a few minutes ago Sarah (Elizabeth's - lady's maid?) had a stern talk w/ Elizabeth abt how her affection for Patricia is putting Patricia in danger. B/c bad tho it would be for Elizabeth to be gay, at least she belongs to an established, wealthy family. She might suffer significant social consequences but would likely survive. Patricia, however, doesn't have *any* protection - neither social nor economic. So there's a consideration for he safety.
There's also (which Sarah didn't address) the power dynamic. It's gross that Elizabeth is... romancing? Falling for. One of her family's employees. How is that different from dudes who have affairs w/ their secretaries (outdated reference, but conveys the idea). It's different in that Elizabeth doesn't *really* have *much* power w/in her family / household - in some ways she's just as trapped as Patricia - but no. She's trapped WITH privilege. With privileges that Patricia will never have. And yes, sure, how else would she meet someone? Other than if they enter her family's / household's orbit? Given the social strictures to which she's required to conform. Yes. OK. But still. It doesn't feel good that she's in love w/ an employee. Gross.
(2) In the contemporary story - the echoes back to Elizabeth and Patricia - the ways that both women (Libby and Tish) find themself lit up by the things that lit up Elizabeth and Patricia. Gives a sense of... not exactly *helplessness* but lack of responsibility? Not that either of them are thinking that. But as a reader I'm wondering - do *they* genuinely like each other? Or are they more vessels for the continuation of Elizabeth and Patricia's story? The layering, while interesting, makes me doubt the authenticity of their own emotions / attractions in a way that's... not *morally* questionable (like discomfort #1) but that detracts some from the story.
UPDATE @ 6h24 (57% - 7/15) - It's interesting b/c we kind of get a sense of what's coming in the 1925 story based on how the 2025 characters respond to items in the house. It's a unique narrative technique (shadowing, sort of?) that I'm enjoying.
UPDATE @ 8h40 (72% - 7/15) - Tish is over-protective of ppl (well, of Libby) but ESPECIALLY of Joe. Uncomfortably so. As if protectiveness = love? NOPE. Joe in particular, tho, she's always after to be "safe" and "healthy." Which translates into her telling him what to do. E.g., buy/use a more sturdy ladder. Stop chewing tobacco. Which, #1, implies that he doesn't know how to take care of himself, and #2, is super controlling. On top of that she takes his decisions personally (e.g., re: chewing tobacco). I get that her vigilance is motivated by a fear of ppl she loves dying, but controlling their behavior is NOT the way to cope w/ that fear (*ahem* pls join Al-Anon). Again, protectiveness =/= love. (PS - remember the quote abt safety from The Hero of This Book - that it's overrated.)
UPDATE @ 9h46:30 (82% - 7/15) - I just realized that 1925 is just a few years b4 the Phryne stories take place... how completely different the two households are! (Elizabeth's vs Phryne's.) Obv lots of reasons for that. But good context to realize the variability of opportunities and freedoms, etc. during the (relatively) same time period.
UPDATE @ END - I was up waaaaay too late last night listening to this book... I finished at 12:03 a.m.! (Staying up late wasn't 100% d/t book - I started the LDN trial which made me a little wired.) Still. It's a story I was surprisingly wrapped up in and found myself thinking about a LOT in empty spaces thruout the day. Even found it on my mind first thing after waking up in the morning! Not sure why it was so compelling. The characters were *meh* (Tish, esp, grated on my nerves) and there were some SIGNIFICANT moral/ethical transgressions (due largely to the blindness of privilege). There's something so compelling, tho, about a historical story... Discovering the undiscovered, bringing an alternate world to life... Part of why cemeteries are compelling, and old things in general, I suppose. So much room for imagination! This story def took advantage of that... compulsion? To find out who came before us - to learn about the layers of ppl and events that inhabited the same space I inhabit now, but years before.
It was kind of a magical realism story, tho, what with the re-incarnation (?) element. Ghost element? Not clear. Which is 100% OK. That's not a detail that needs to be pinned down in order for the story to make sense. I liked the irony, tho, or maybe juxtaposition, of Tish's bestie's grandfather dying (and her concern abt Joe dying) and then finding out that yes ppl *die* but it's not as finite as it seems. At the same time, tho, the "c'est déjà écrit"-ness of the whole thing was a little creepy... 🤷♀️
We never found out why Patricia was avoiding Elizabeth on the first days of Elizabeth's parents being out of the country. At least, it was never stated explicitly. I'm assuming it was b/c she didn't want to want what she couldn't have? Which is the same thing Tish kept saying (a little *too* frequently, IMO - point made! move on!).
A few more comments I wrote on a post-it at the end:
- Every time they said "green glass bottle" or "green glass stone" my brain lunged toward "green glass door" which I'm used to saying b/c of the game w/ the same name.
- It sucks that it's another book where the gays die at the end... Or rather, 1 gay person dies. Still. 1 is 1 too many, IMO. The gays are ALWAYS dying. Come on.
- The denouements of both storylines were a *little* over-dramatic - esp the 2025 climax. With the motorcycle "saving Tish's life" by spinning off the cliff. In the snowstorm. Meh.
- Unusual for a romance was that there weren't graphic descriptions of hot sex. Sex was def alluded to - and there was kissing, and nudity, and desire - but no sex scenes. I wonder why the writer made that choice? Maybe she's no good at writing sex! (It's difficult to write, for sure!)
- Overall, tho, the ending was surprisingly satisfying - as was the entire story, TBH.
PS - Ha - the theme of Libby's dad asking Libby's sig others "Do you like Neapolitan ice cream" and them saying things like "Of course! It's 3 flavors for the price of 1!" - is kind of the same here w/ the 2 timelines. It's 2 novels for the price of 1! 😃
Passages I bookmarked:
0h32 (ch2 - 4%) Who is now gently pulling down the back of my boxers. I reach back to slap her hands away. "There's nothing in there for you. You had your chance at prom. And you turned me down so keep your peepers to yourself. [emphasis mine; Bari and Tish]
1h57 (ch6 - 16%) Those mental lists I make every morning, they all come to me in the voice of my father. Every time a thought runs thru my head it's his voice I hear. It has *always* been his voice. His. Not mine.
2h02:30 (ch7 - 17%) I've always known Dad was controlling. But his fury was next-level. His words echo in my mind, bouncing around in stereo. "You have never done one damn thing on your own and this is where you want to start? With a tear-down house, with no money, and no help? Because that's what you're getting from me. Nothing."
2h10:30 (ch7 - 18%) Something about this room makes me sad. Just the vibe of it. Like one of those bad dreams that you can't remember but the feelings stick around for days after.
2h11:30 (ch7 - 18%) I smile and hold the candle in front of me, pushing light into the room. [emphasis mine]
2h21 (ch7 - 20%) Standing up to my father was scary. But it was nothing compared to what Cam does. Every day. Cam is the brave one. [Libby says this abt her bestie, Cam, who's trans. I'm not sure how I feel abt her statement. (1) There's no comparing challenge / suffering / bravery (2) Is she using him for inspo porn? HOWEVER ultimately I took it as a weirdly-delivered statement of love and admiration for the qualities she sees in her friend (ignore the comparison pls).]
2h30:30 (ch7 - 21%) My head snaps back and my eyes water. It's [the perfume in the bottle on the dresser] cloying and noxious, like 400 church ladies packed into one tiny glass vial. [emphasis mine - LOL]
3h00 (ch9 - 25%) Like when I was a kid, trying to run from the emotions I didn't want to feel. It works less and less as I get older.
3h24 (ch11 - 28%) Social mores had become as loose as unstrung bootlaces. Women were wresting control of their lives from the iron grip of history. They were becoming more independent by the day.... Living their lives out from under their fathers' watchful eyes.
10h10 (ch46 - 85%) This is crazy! *I'm* crazy! I've finally flown right off the cuckoo-cliff... [emphasis mine - LOL]
10h25:30 (ch47 - 87%) She's glowing. Like she's lit from the inside.
10h28 (ch47 - 87%) A thrum vibrates thru me at her words, like a deep chord humming. Like someone pulled the world's biggest guitar string and it's attached to me. To my heart. To my soul.
11h04:30 (ch50 - 92%) Anger rose up in Elizabeth for every time she had been dismissed or disregarded. For every time her own wants and needs had been downgraded in favor of a man's.
11h23:30 (ch51 - 95%) Now, from here, I can finally see how small that fear *really* is. That the shadow of fear is always bigger and scarier than the fear itself. [emphasis mine]
11h47:30 (ch54 - 98%) Maybe one day Tish will repair it. Or maybe that's one of the scars we keep, as a reminder that we made it to the other side and back again.
11h56:30 (ch54 - 100%) It doesn't matter. The story is ours. It doesn't need to be believed to be true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Absolutely incredible. So so many tears.
September 27, 2025
this was so cute!! very rich, and slightly haunting
August 22, 2025
Hands down the best romance I’ve read in a long time!!
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