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Don't You Want Me
After discovering a magical ability to travel through time, Lisa Williams uses her newfound freedom to return to her youth and redo her past to meet her one true love with humorous, heart-warming, and sometimes disastrous results.
It’s 2008 and Lisa Williams is lonely and desperate for love as she grapples with a failing marriage. She is having an extramarital affair with a married man, Adam, who she believes is the true love of her life. Stuck waiting for him—as usual—at a train station one evening, she hears The Human League’s song, Don’t You Want Me, on the radio, and is suddenly transported to her alma mater, Columbia University, as a student in 1982 New York City. There, in her eighteen-year-old body with all her memories of middle age intact, she meets her lover, as if for the first time.
Thus begins her wild journey traveling back and forth through time, unpredictably, to the colorful and musical 1980s. Lisa hopes that while in the past, she can prevent Adam from marrying the woman who becomes his wife in the present day. But each new moment in the past provides new insights into the present, and the twists and turns of time travel combine with fate and friendship to lead Lisa to a surprising new future.
It’s 2008 and Lisa Williams is lonely and desperate for love as she grapples with a failing marriage. She is having an extramarital affair with a married man, Adam, who she believes is the true love of her life. Stuck waiting for him—as usual—at a train station one evening, she hears The Human League’s song, Don’t You Want Me, on the radio, and is suddenly transported to her alma mater, Columbia University, as a student in 1982 New York City. There, in her eighteen-year-old body with all her memories of middle age intact, she meets her lover, as if for the first time.
Thus begins her wild journey traveling back and forth through time, unpredictably, to the colorful and musical 1980s. Lisa hopes that while in the past, she can prevent Adam from marrying the woman who becomes his wife in the present day. But each new moment in the past provides new insights into the present, and the twists and turns of time travel combine with fate and friendship to lead Lisa to a surprising new future.
- GenresRomance
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2025
7 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 30, 2025
I love time travel books, and this one was definitely one good contender! I mean, I did cry at the end. While I didn’t love the characters, I really enjoyed the back-and-forth trips to the eighties. The writing was easy to read, so I flew through the book, and there was just enough tension to keep me hooked. Plus, I always love a good diner scene.
Overall, this was a great take on the time travel genre!
Thank you to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and the author, Derlys Maria Gutiérrez for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, this was a great take on the time travel genre!
Thank you to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and the author, Derlys Maria Gutiérrez for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2025
This book is lighthearted, it made me feel good. It gave me all the 80’s feel, which I loved. I really liked the female main character in this story, but I felt her best friend was annoying at times. It’s about time travel. She is a 40 year old woman that goes back in time as a teenager. This book gave me 13 going on 30 movie vibes, but in reverse. It had humor, romance vibes and gave me all the nostalgia feels. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!
Don’t You Want Me is a book about a woman named Lisa Williams, who is going through a failed marriage and cheats on him with a guy named Adam. Oh, and Adam is Married as well. She sits in her car and the song comes on “Don’t you want me baby” on the radio and gets transported back in the 80’s where she is in College. She is now an eighteen year old. She goes back in fourth time traveling, trying to convince her true love is Adam. Will this end in a happy ending or become completely disastrous?
Thank you to NetGalley, author Derlys Maria Gutiérrez, and Post Hill Press | Regalo Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thought and opinions are my own.
This book is set to be published on April 29, 2025!
Don’t You Want Me is a book about a woman named Lisa Williams, who is going through a failed marriage and cheats on him with a guy named Adam. Oh, and Adam is Married as well. She sits in her car and the song comes on “Don’t you want me baby” on the radio and gets transported back in the 80’s where she is in College. She is now an eighteen year old. She goes back in fourth time traveling, trying to convince her true love is Adam. Will this end in a happy ending or become completely disastrous?
Thank you to NetGalley, author Derlys Maria Gutiérrez, and Post Hill Press | Regalo Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thought and opinions are my own.
This book is set to be published on April 29, 2025!
March 30, 2025
Got this as an early arc from NetGalley! Thank you for the opportunity to have an early copy in exchange for a review.
I really wanted to love this because the premise is right up my alley. 80’s? I’m in! Time travel? Sign me up. Unconventional love story? Yes, yes. Unfortunately the writing for me felt like reading someone’s journal or middle school wattpad writing and needed a lot more edits. The dialogue was extremely flat and gave me no depth to these people. There was little to no character building with our FMC and MMC. I really didn’t understand what made Adam so appealing to begin with. Her best friend was incredibly harsh, but I also don’t know if I could support my best friend being in love with and having an affair with a married man while she’s cheating on her own husband.
I really hope this writer can come back with a better love story, but keep it within the same time period.
I really wanted to love this because the premise is right up my alley. 80’s? I’m in! Time travel? Sign me up. Unconventional love story? Yes, yes. Unfortunately the writing for me felt like reading someone’s journal or middle school wattpad writing and needed a lot more edits. The dialogue was extremely flat and gave me no depth to these people. There was little to no character building with our FMC and MMC. I really didn’t understand what made Adam so appealing to begin with. Her best friend was incredibly harsh, but I also don’t know if I could support my best friend being in love with and having an affair with a married man while she’s cheating on her own husband.
I really hope this writer can come back with a better love story, but keep it within the same time period.
April 9, 2025
Thank you to Post Hill Press and Regalo Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Don’t You Want Me by Derlys Maria Gutiérrez is a cute time-traveling romp that, like the title suggests, takes a place partially in the 1980s. In fact, it’s the very same song from the Human League that propels the main character through time as she attempts to rewrite her own present life by manipulating the events of her past.
This story was very lighthearted, despite the references to child loss and marital infidelity. While the book is scaffolded around a romantic relationship, a lot of the book really has to do with female relationships: motherhood, the role of daughters, female friendship, etc. Arguably the storylines about Lisa’s real and imagined children and her relationships with Emily and her mother were much more compelling than that of her with Adam.
The story was somewhat reminiscent of the movie 13 going on 30. It had the same elements of low-stakes time travel and realizing who you want to be and who you’ve become. I also thought that the story had a very strong theme of “the grass being greener.”
The issue with this book is that the characters are tragically underdeveloped and have very little depth. Adam is the very worst example of this. Despite being the whole catalyst for the events of the book, we see literally nothing about him besides that he has some wealth and is a womanizer. He is portrayed as a cartoonish abusive husband and lecher and the reasons why he’s so desirable to all these women is never shown. Short of a few corny jokes, there’s nothing even remotely pleasant about him and there’s literally no chemistry or sex appeal with a single character. It’s hard to sell a whole concept on the back of a character who reads as a cardboard cutout of a Lifetime-movie cheater.
In spite of the somewhat flat characters, I did think that the book was pretty fun. I thought it moved at a good clip, jumping back and forth in time. It’s imperfect but would be a great option for an easy beach read (especially if you want some 80s nostalgia.)
3/5 stars.
Don’t You Want Me by Derlys Maria Gutiérrez is a cute time-traveling romp that, like the title suggests, takes a place partially in the 1980s. In fact, it’s the very same song from the Human League that propels the main character through time as she attempts to rewrite her own present life by manipulating the events of her past.
This story was very lighthearted, despite the references to child loss and marital infidelity. While the book is scaffolded around a romantic relationship, a lot of the book really has to do with female relationships: motherhood, the role of daughters, female friendship, etc. Arguably the storylines about Lisa’s real and imagined children and her relationships with Emily and her mother were much more compelling than that of her with Adam.
The story was somewhat reminiscent of the movie 13 going on 30. It had the same elements of low-stakes time travel and realizing who you want to be and who you’ve become. I also thought that the story had a very strong theme of “the grass being greener.”
The issue with this book is that the characters are tragically underdeveloped and have very little depth. Adam is the very worst example of this. Despite being the whole catalyst for the events of the book, we see literally nothing about him besides that he has some wealth and is a womanizer. He is portrayed as a cartoonish abusive husband and lecher and the reasons why he’s so desirable to all these women is never shown. Short of a few corny jokes, there’s nothing even remotely pleasant about him and there’s literally no chemistry or sex appeal with a single character. It’s hard to sell a whole concept on the back of a character who reads as a cardboard cutout of a Lifetime-movie cheater.
In spite of the somewhat flat characters, I did think that the book was pretty fun. I thought it moved at a good clip, jumping back and forth in time. It’s imperfect but would be a great option for an easy beach read (especially if you want some 80s nostalgia.)
3/5 stars.
April 24, 2025
This plot was so intriguing!
If you could time travel, what would you change from your past? For Lisa, the answer is simple: she wants to rewrite her love story.
As my first ARC, Don’t You Want Me by Derlys Maria Gutierrez absolutely delivered! I’ve recently been in a romance fantasy black hole and the novelty of Derlys’s magical realism and plot was the breath of fresh air and reset I needed. The plot kept me guessing in the best way—at no point did I feel like I knew what was coming next, which made it all the more entertaining.
As evidence to that, despite Don’t You Want Me including tropes in which I tend to struggle (affairs, death in the family), the writing pulled me in and I found myself lost in the story.
Although I found some moments a little clunky, on the whole I enjoyed Don’t You Want Me and would recommend the story for someone wanting a fun, easy read (especially if you love an 80s flair).
If you could time travel, what would you change from your past? For Lisa, the answer is simple: she wants to rewrite her love story.
As my first ARC, Don’t You Want Me by Derlys Maria Gutierrez absolutely delivered! I’ve recently been in a romance fantasy black hole and the novelty of Derlys’s magical realism and plot was the breath of fresh air and reset I needed. The plot kept me guessing in the best way—at no point did I feel like I knew what was coming next, which made it all the more entertaining.
As evidence to that, despite Don’t You Want Me including tropes in which I tend to struggle (affairs, death in the family), the writing pulled me in and I found myself lost in the story.
Although I found some moments a little clunky, on the whole I enjoyed Don’t You Want Me and would recommend the story for someone wanting a fun, easy read (especially if you love an 80s flair).
April 2, 2025
Be careful what you wish for in this trippy blast to the past! It’s 2008 and Lisa Williams is unsatisfied with her life. A flailing marriage to contend with, her extramarital affair with the equally married Adam is her only comfort. Believing that he is her one true love, she decides to take fate into her own hands by traveling back to the 80s to play matchmaker for her younger self. But she quickly realizes that playing with the past can have disastrous effects on the present!
This was a very quirky novel. I liked the nostalgia and the originality of it. I absolutely could not put this book down until I finished; that’s how hooked I was. Lisa was one of those characters you love to hate, because girl what do you mean your soulmate is a married man?! She was very much delusional at times but watching her antics unfold was entertaining. At its heart, it was a sweet story about friendship. I do, however, have mixed feelings about the way her infidelity was downplayed to a certain extent. And I wish we could have gotten more scenes with her actual husband. He almost felt like a forgotten character until the very end.
Thank you to Regalo Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Catch the release on April 29!
This was a very quirky novel. I liked the nostalgia and the originality of it. I absolutely could not put this book down until I finished; that’s how hooked I was. Lisa was one of those characters you love to hate, because girl what do you mean your soulmate is a married man?! She was very much delusional at times but watching her antics unfold was entertaining. At its heart, it was a sweet story about friendship. I do, however, have mixed feelings about the way her infidelity was downplayed to a certain extent. And I wish we could have gotten more scenes with her actual husband. He almost felt like a forgotten character until the very end.
Thank you to Regalo Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Catch the release on April 29!
May 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Regalo Press for the review copy of this book. My review is honest and my opinions are my own.
Don't You Want Me is an intriguing tale of cheating spouses, unwavering friendship, '80s legwarmers and time travel. The time travel occurs each time the protagonist hears the song Don't You Want Me by The Human League playing on the radio, jukebox or on one occasion even by the band themselves in a tawdry apartment before they found fame. Lisa, the main character, has suffered tragedy in the form of losing both her parents and then losing an infant son, the latter being the final straw emotionally, which has driven a wedge between her and her husband, Marcus. When we meet her, she is waiting for her lover, Adam, whom she wishes she had met in college before he ever encountered his wife Stephanie. Lisa is convinced that if she had met him first, her life would be perfect and she would have a happy family. Her wish comes true when she suddenly finds herself time-travelling whenever the song comes on. Each time she travels, something major changes in her life, and her life becomes a hunt for what she needs to change in the '80s in order to make her present-day life perfect. The pace is fast, and the story is full of unexpected twists and turns and is never predictable. Don't You Want Me is a whole lot of fun, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to fans of '80s culture and time travel stories!
Don't You Want Me is an intriguing tale of cheating spouses, unwavering friendship, '80s legwarmers and time travel. The time travel occurs each time the protagonist hears the song Don't You Want Me by The Human League playing on the radio, jukebox or on one occasion even by the band themselves in a tawdry apartment before they found fame. Lisa, the main character, has suffered tragedy in the form of losing both her parents and then losing an infant son, the latter being the final straw emotionally, which has driven a wedge between her and her husband, Marcus. When we meet her, she is waiting for her lover, Adam, whom she wishes she had met in college before he ever encountered his wife Stephanie. Lisa is convinced that if she had met him first, her life would be perfect and she would have a happy family. Her wish comes true when she suddenly finds herself time-travelling whenever the song comes on. Each time she travels, something major changes in her life, and her life becomes a hunt for what she needs to change in the '80s in order to make her present-day life perfect. The pace is fast, and the story is full of unexpected twists and turns and is never predictable. Don't You Want Me is a whole lot of fun, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to fans of '80s culture and time travel stories!
March 28, 2025
Don't You Want Me is a quirky story of Lisa, a 40 year old married woman who after suffering the loss of her infant son, turns to an affair with Adam to help heal her pain. The story begins with Lisa waiting for her married lover at the train station, only to discover that he is not coming for their rendez-vous. Lisa is distraught and begins to wish that she had met Adam before he was married to his wife, Stephanie, and she was married to her husband, Adam. As she is daydreaming of what could've been, the 80's song "Don't you Want Me" by Human League begins to play and she is somehow magically transported back in time to the year 1982, where she, Adam, Stephanie and Marcus are students at Columbia University. Lisa uses this opportunity to alter the past, with the hope that she can curate the future she has wished for with Adam.
The story progresses with Lisa travelling back and forth in time between present day 2008 and back to 1982, with a series of changes to her life. The time travel is always prompted when hearing the song, "Don't You Want Me." Adding Stephanie, her married lover's wife, to her time-travel, Lisa and Stephanie form a friendship and their lives seem to reverse with each passage, sharing the role of wife, mother, and homemaker to Adam's family. Both women realize that their lives with Adam, who the both desperately want to be with, is not all they hoped for. Each passage through time leads Lisa through more drama as she struggles to bring her life, and Stephanie's back to normal in the year 2008.
I enjoyed the premise of the story and the 80's references. The story was fun and witty, but lacked a lot of substance. Nothing prolific for the reader, but a fun voyage back in time for the 40 and above age group.
The story progresses with Lisa travelling back and forth in time between present day 2008 and back to 1982, with a series of changes to her life. The time travel is always prompted when hearing the song, "Don't You Want Me." Adding Stephanie, her married lover's wife, to her time-travel, Lisa and Stephanie form a friendship and their lives seem to reverse with each passage, sharing the role of wife, mother, and homemaker to Adam's family. Both women realize that their lives with Adam, who the both desperately want to be with, is not all they hoped for. Each passage through time leads Lisa through more drama as she struggles to bring her life, and Stephanie's back to normal in the year 2008.
I enjoyed the premise of the story and the 80's references. The story was fun and witty, but lacked a lot of substance. Nothing prolific for the reader, but a fun voyage back in time for the 40 and above age group.
April 23, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of Don't You Want Me.
The concept of this book was intriguing, but the execution of the plotline wasn’t as engaging as I’d hoped it would be. Part of that had to do with the lack of characterization of the main and supporting characters, and the lack of concrete rules for the time travel that was portrayed in this book.
The FMC, Lisa, was probably the most developed character, but her development seemed off, especially at the end. I’m not sure what she actually learned through all of this. And I wasn’t satisfied with how everything played out.
The other characters weren’t developed enough and some of them, including Adam, seemed to simply become a caricature rather than a fleshed out and fully formed person.
In the original present timeline, Adam seems like the best guy Lisa has ever known because that’s how she presents him. And it’s that “perfect” guy that opens the door to going back to 1982. If only Lisa could meet Adam when they were both younger, her life would be so much better because in her mind, she’s supposed to be with him.
But when Lisa finally finagles time enough to shift the present timeline into something different, he becomes something else entirely. The problem with Adam’s characterization is that there is no development. We only see him through Lisa’s eyes and to say that she’s an unreliable narrator would be an understatement. But it’s up to the author to show us why Adam is a good or a bad or a neutral guy, which I don’t believe Guiterrez fully does. What happens instead is that I couldn’t imagine anyone being with Adam in the present timeline. Once you’ve seen him acting at his worst, it’s hard to forget that, and I wasn’t pleased that anyone ended up with him at all.
The shifts in time were interesting, but I don’t think all of them added up in the end. I’m not sure what Lisa was doing to change things so drastically in the present timeline, and even when she’d go back to the 80s, things were not developed to the point of everything making sense.
Some of the dialogue was clunky and boring at times as well.
Overall, I felt as though this could have used another round of edits and revisions. I did enjoy parts of the book though, but I just wasn’t fully invested in the story.
The concept of this book was intriguing, but the execution of the plotline wasn’t as engaging as I’d hoped it would be. Part of that had to do with the lack of characterization of the main and supporting characters, and the lack of concrete rules for the time travel that was portrayed in this book.
The FMC, Lisa, was probably the most developed character, but her development seemed off, especially at the end. I’m not sure what she actually learned through all of this. And I wasn’t satisfied with how everything played out.
The other characters weren’t developed enough and some of them, including Adam, seemed to simply become a caricature rather than a fleshed out and fully formed person.
In the original present timeline, Adam seems like the best guy Lisa has ever known because that’s how she presents him. And it’s that “perfect” guy that opens the door to going back to 1982. If only Lisa could meet Adam when they were both younger, her life would be so much better because in her mind, she’s supposed to be with him.
But when Lisa finally finagles time enough to shift the present timeline into something different, he becomes something else entirely. The problem with Adam’s characterization is that there is no development. We only see him through Lisa’s eyes and to say that she’s an unreliable narrator would be an understatement. But it’s up to the author to show us why Adam is a good or a bad or a neutral guy, which I don’t believe Guiterrez fully does. What happens instead is that I couldn’t imagine anyone being with Adam in the present timeline. Once you’ve seen him acting at his worst, it’s hard to forget that, and I wasn’t pleased that anyone ended up with him at all.
The shifts in time were interesting, but I don’t think all of them added up in the end. I’m not sure what Lisa was doing to change things so drastically in the present timeline, and even when she’d go back to the 80s, things were not developed to the point of everything making sense.
Some of the dialogue was clunky and boring at times as well.
Overall, I felt as though this could have used another round of edits and revisions. I did enjoy parts of the book though, but I just wasn’t fully invested in the story.
May 29, 2025
Derlys Maria Gutiérrez's Don't You Want Me attempts to blend time travel, romance, and 1980s nostalgia into a compelling narrative. While the premise holds promise, the execution falls short, resulting in a story that may appeal to fans of light, retro-themed fiction but lacks depth and emotional resonance.
Plot Overview
The novel follows Lisa Williams, a 40-year-old woman in 2008 entangled in an affair with a married man named Adam. One evening, while waiting for Adam at a train station, she hears The Human League's song "Don't You Want Me" and is mysteriously transported back to 1982, inhabiting her 18-year-old self. In this new timeline, she meets Adam as a college student, setting off a series of time-traveling escapades aimed at altering her present circumstances.
Strengths
Nostalgic Appeal: The 1980s setting, complete with references to music and culture, provides a nostalgic backdrop that may resonate with readers who appreciate that era.
Conceptual Creativity: The idea of time travel triggered by a specific song adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, offering potential for exploring themes of fate and choice.
Goodreads
Weaknesses
Underdeveloped Characters: Lisa's character lacks depth, and her motivations are unclear. Adam is portrayed as a one-dimensional figure, making it difficult to understand why Lisa is so captivated by him.
Inconsistent Writing: The dialogue often feels flat and unconvincing, hindering emotional engagement. The narrative tone shifts abruptly, detracting from the story's coherence.
Predictable Plot: The time-travel elements, while initially intriguing, lead to a series of repetitive scenarios without significant character growth or meaningful change.
Conclusion
Don't You Want Me offers a nostalgic journey through time with a romantic twist, but its lack of character development and inconsistent writing may leave readers yearning for a more substantial and emotionally engaging story. While it may serve as a light read for fans of 1980s culture, those seeking a deeper exploration of love and time will find this novel lacking.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC
Plot Overview
The novel follows Lisa Williams, a 40-year-old woman in 2008 entangled in an affair with a married man named Adam. One evening, while waiting for Adam at a train station, she hears The Human League's song "Don't You Want Me" and is mysteriously transported back to 1982, inhabiting her 18-year-old self. In this new timeline, she meets Adam as a college student, setting off a series of time-traveling escapades aimed at altering her present circumstances.
Strengths
Nostalgic Appeal: The 1980s setting, complete with references to music and culture, provides a nostalgic backdrop that may resonate with readers who appreciate that era.
Conceptual Creativity: The idea of time travel triggered by a specific song adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, offering potential for exploring themes of fate and choice.
Goodreads
Weaknesses
Underdeveloped Characters: Lisa's character lacks depth, and her motivations are unclear. Adam is portrayed as a one-dimensional figure, making it difficult to understand why Lisa is so captivated by him.
Inconsistent Writing: The dialogue often feels flat and unconvincing, hindering emotional engagement. The narrative tone shifts abruptly, detracting from the story's coherence.
Predictable Plot: The time-travel elements, while initially intriguing, lead to a series of repetitive scenarios without significant character growth or meaningful change.
Conclusion
Don't You Want Me offers a nostalgic journey through time with a romantic twist, but its lack of character development and inconsistent writing may leave readers yearning for a more substantial and emotionally engaging story. While it may serve as a light read for fans of 1980s culture, those seeking a deeper exploration of love and time will find this novel lacking.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC
May 17, 2025
Content warnings: infidelity, infertility, death of a parent, death of a child, miscarriage, medical tests, car accident
==
In 2008, after the loss of her child, Lisa turns away from her also grieving husband, Marcus, and finds solace in the arms of a married man - Adam. Lisa daydreams of what would happen if *she'd* met Adam in college rather than his wife, Stephanie, and a freak accident sends her back to 1982 where she can do just that.
But actions have consequences, and Lisa finds herself changing the future in an attempt to change her past, and learning where hear heart truly resides.
==
I'ma a sucker for a good time travel story, and this one was complicated.
Given the initial focus on infidelity, I was tempted to DNF the book early on, but I'm glad I persevered, as the story did get better (not the people - the main characters are all pretty awful with the exception of Marcus).
The changes with each time jump were really interesting, as Lisa tried to get the perfect version of her life - and the sudden change to the past (how? Why? That jump to 1984 was never explained) threw an interesting twist into the mix.
In a speculative/magic-realism book, there were a few things I found a little too far fetched or unrealistic, (such as Stephanie and Lisa's relationship outside of Stephanie's workplace), and the additional pieces of Lisa's backstory didn't seem as cohesive as the rest of the book.
Overall, though, this was a thought provoking book about the butterfly effect and finding happiness.
~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own~
==
In 2008, after the loss of her child, Lisa turns away from her also grieving husband, Marcus, and finds solace in the arms of a married man - Adam. Lisa daydreams of what would happen if *she'd* met Adam in college rather than his wife, Stephanie, and a freak accident sends her back to 1982 where she can do just that.
But actions have consequences, and Lisa finds herself changing the future in an attempt to change her past, and learning where hear heart truly resides.
==
I'ma a sucker for a good time travel story, and this one was complicated.
Given the initial focus on infidelity, I was tempted to DNF the book early on, but I'm glad I persevered, as the story did get better (not the people - the main characters are all pretty awful with the exception of Marcus).
The changes with each time jump were really interesting, as Lisa tried to get the perfect version of her life - and the sudden change to the past (how? Why? That jump to 1984 was never explained) threw an interesting twist into the mix.
In a speculative/magic-realism book, there were a few things I found a little too far fetched or unrealistic, (such as Stephanie and Lisa's relationship outside of Stephanie's workplace), and the additional pieces of Lisa's backstory didn't seem as cohesive as the rest of the book.
Overall, though, this was a thought provoking book about the butterfly effect and finding happiness.
~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own~
March 27, 2025
What a journey!
Don’t You Want Me is about magic of songs. Well, one song. You might have guessed the title. You’ve probably heard it. But when you did, your reaction was unlike Lisa’s – you probably didn’t travel in time (not literally, at least) to discover your life, and later your unwilling companion’s, changed.
This book is a wild rollercoaster ride. Every time when I thought I finally knew what was going to happen next, the song came on… and things turned upside down. Lisa is bewildered and lost; so was I. This is magical realism at its finest – bordering on urban fantasy – and the Eighties are as vivid and hairsprayed as when I was a kid envying Phil Oakey’s hair with my entire self.
I am not entirely sure whether the version of the book I have read was final (I received a free ARC via NetGalley. This didn’t influence my opinion) but the prose was occasionally clunky, and the proofreader might have slipped once or twice. Apart from three continuity mistakes, but I can forgive those in a book so full of plot twists and time travel altering the realities, I really enjoyed Don’t You Want Me. I’d recommend it to fans of Marian Keyes, The Knight Rider, and Eighties’ pop culture, be it movies, speculative fiction, or The Human League.
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
Don’t You Want Me is about magic of songs. Well, one song. You might have guessed the title. You’ve probably heard it. But when you did, your reaction was unlike Lisa’s – you probably didn’t travel in time (not literally, at least) to discover your life, and later your unwilling companion’s, changed.
This book is a wild rollercoaster ride. Every time when I thought I finally knew what was going to happen next, the song came on… and things turned upside down. Lisa is bewildered and lost; so was I. This is magical realism at its finest – bordering on urban fantasy – and the Eighties are as vivid and hairsprayed as when I was a kid envying Phil Oakey’s hair with my entire self.
I am not entirely sure whether the version of the book I have read was final (I received a free ARC via NetGalley. This didn’t influence my opinion) but the prose was occasionally clunky, and the proofreader might have slipped once or twice. Apart from three continuity mistakes, but I can forgive those in a book so full of plot twists and time travel altering the realities, I really enjoyed Don’t You Want Me. I’d recommend it to fans of Marian Keyes, The Knight Rider, and Eighties’ pop culture, be it movies, speculative fiction, or The Human League.
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
April 17, 2025
This was an interesting read. Each time the song ‘Don’t you want me’ played I hoped that Lisa would get the happiness she craved. I thought the character development was good, we got to see Adam without ever really seeing him. In the original timeline we never actually see or hear from Adam, it’s only from all the trips back that we get to see him. I have to say Lisa is better off without him. Pretty near to the start I thought that Marcus was the right one for her, she talked about the happiness they felt at the start of their relationship and their grief over loosing their son was so palpable.
The friendship she created with Stephanie was nice, if a bit strange. They both loved the same man, and in each reality when they got him they were miserable. Adam really was the bad egg!
I loved the trip back when they realised that the Human League didn’t exist and they had to help create the song they needed to get home.
Time travel always messes with your head, and nothing ever runs smoothly, and the butterfly effect was interesting to read, seeing how Emily was affected by Lisa’s decisions and how over everything, Lisa had to put things right to get her best friend back.
A good, funny read.
The friendship she created with Stephanie was nice, if a bit strange. They both loved the same man, and in each reality when they got him they were miserable. Adam really was the bad egg!
I loved the trip back when they realised that the Human League didn’t exist and they had to help create the song they needed to get home.
Time travel always messes with your head, and nothing ever runs smoothly, and the butterfly effect was interesting to read, seeing how Emily was affected by Lisa’s decisions and how over everything, Lisa had to put things right to get her best friend back.
A good, funny read.
April 10, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. All views and opinions in this review are my own.
I was intrigued by the time-travel premise and 80s nostalgia of “Don’t You Want Me?”, especially since the song it was inspired by was so popular back in the day. Reading the book required some suspension of disbelief, of course, as with most time-travel type stories. There are always “rules” and the possibility of altering the future and creating multiple realities. The book was lighthearted and entertaining enough to not dwell too much on the sci-fi aspect. I would enjoy it more if the characters had more personality, especially the main character Lisa. I know she’s supposed to be dealing with some traumatic events in her life, but I can’t really excuse her infidelity towards her husband. Also, Adam is awful! I couldn’t see what Lisa saw in him to jeopardize her marriage.
The ending felt rushed, probably because of too many time jumps in an attempt to make the story more interesting than it was.
I was intrigued by the time-travel premise and 80s nostalgia of “Don’t You Want Me?”, especially since the song it was inspired by was so popular back in the day. Reading the book required some suspension of disbelief, of course, as with most time-travel type stories. There are always “rules” and the possibility of altering the future and creating multiple realities. The book was lighthearted and entertaining enough to not dwell too much on the sci-fi aspect. I would enjoy it more if the characters had more personality, especially the main character Lisa. I know she’s supposed to be dealing with some traumatic events in her life, but I can’t really excuse her infidelity towards her husband. Also, Adam is awful! I couldn’t see what Lisa saw in him to jeopardize her marriage.
The ending felt rushed, probably because of too many time jumps in an attempt to make the story more interesting than it was.
June 18, 2025
I enjoyed Don't You Want Me. It was a fun and unique read full of drama, crazy twists, and emotion. At times, it was a bit too crazy, with the results of the time travel getting weirder and wilder each time.
I really liked Lisa. She was a strong, charismatic, and complex character. I also really liked Stephanie and Emily.
The storyline was compelling and emotional, I was drawn in immediately.
While I enjoyed it, there were a few scenes that were a bit confusing. I'm not sure why the past or future was changed so much from one single jump. It felt a bit odd. Especially the part in the past with the band. I found it a bit strange and random.
There was also an error with the description of the daughters. At first, they had brown curly hair and deep brown eyes, and then they had blonde hair and blue eyes.
Overall, it was a fun and entertaining read.
3.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley, Post Hill Press, and Derlys Maria Gutiérrez for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked Lisa. She was a strong, charismatic, and complex character. I also really liked Stephanie and Emily.
The storyline was compelling and emotional, I was drawn in immediately.
While I enjoyed it, there were a few scenes that were a bit confusing. I'm not sure why the past or future was changed so much from one single jump. It felt a bit odd. Especially the part in the past with the band. I found it a bit strange and random.
There was also an error with the description of the daughters. At first, they had brown curly hair and deep brown eyes, and then they had blonde hair and blue eyes.
Overall, it was a fun and entertaining read.
3.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley, Post Hill Press, and Derlys Maria Gutiérrez for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book was great. 80´s time travel sounded like something I would like. Growing up I loved the movies 13 going on 30 and back to the future and this book sounded like something in one of those directions.
Unfortunately the writing felt a little flat for me. I did not like most of the characters., I felt like they would say one thing and then 3 pages later had a total opposite opinion. The book starts with Lisa, our married main character who has an affair with Adam. Although the relationship with Adam is sort of the catalyst for the time travel, he barely shows up in the rest of the book and I had trouble seeing why he was supposedly such a catch of a man.
Overall I do think the concept has a lot of fun potential, this version of it just didn´t do it for me unfortunatelyl.
The premise of this book was great. 80´s time travel sounded like something I would like. Growing up I loved the movies 13 going on 30 and back to the future and this book sounded like something in one of those directions.
Unfortunately the writing felt a little flat for me. I did not like most of the characters., I felt like they would say one thing and then 3 pages later had a total opposite opinion. The book starts with Lisa, our married main character who has an affair with Adam. Although the relationship with Adam is sort of the catalyst for the time travel, he barely shows up in the rest of the book and I had trouble seeing why he was supposedly such a catch of a man.
Overall I do think the concept has a lot of fun potential, this version of it just didn´t do it for me unfortunatelyl.
April 1, 2025
don't you want me was such a fun read! i loved the 80s setting, and the way the concept of time travel was tied to music was really well done. the pacing was great, i was never bored, and the writing was easy to get through for the most part (there were a few small errors, but i’m guessing those will be fixed in the final copy).
what didn’t work for me was the ending. without giving away spoilers, the way things wrapped up felt a bit too neat. it felt like the main character's problems were erased instead of actually resolved, which left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.
still, despite my mixed feelings about the way the book ended, i had a good time reading it—it’s easy to get into and overall just enjoyable, so i’m rounding up from 3.75 to four stars.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
what didn’t work for me was the ending. without giving away spoilers, the way things wrapped up felt a bit too neat. it felt like the main character's problems were erased instead of actually resolved, which left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.
still, despite my mixed feelings about the way the book ended, i had a good time reading it—it’s easy to get into and overall just enjoyable, so i’m rounding up from 3.75 to four stars.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
April 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I think I might be heading into a bit of a book slump, so take this with a grain of salt—but Don’t You Want Me didn’t quite work for me. The concept had potential, especially with the time travel twist, but the execution fell a little flat.
The writing didn’t fully pull me in, and I found it hard to connect with the characters. The main conflict—where the FMC goes back in time and falls in love with the MMC before he’s married—felt messy in a way that made it hard to root for their relationship. I get that love can happen unexpectedly, but the emotional cheating undertone just didn’t sit well with me.
Overall, it had a creative premise, but between the writing and the romantic setup, this one didn’t land for me. That said, I might revisit it once I’m out of my slump to see if I feel differently with a fresh perspective.
I think I might be heading into a bit of a book slump, so take this with a grain of salt—but Don’t You Want Me didn’t quite work for me. The concept had potential, especially with the time travel twist, but the execution fell a little flat.
The writing didn’t fully pull me in, and I found it hard to connect with the characters. The main conflict—where the FMC goes back in time and falls in love with the MMC before he’s married—felt messy in a way that made it hard to root for their relationship. I get that love can happen unexpectedly, but the emotional cheating undertone just didn’t sit well with me.
Overall, it had a creative premise, but between the writing and the romantic setup, this one didn’t land for me. That said, I might revisit it once I’m out of my slump to see if I feel differently with a fresh perspective.
May 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
As always my reviews are spoiler free.
3/5 for me
I loved it until I did not. I just wanted it to end.
Lisa's predicament creates very high stakes and I loved that. The time travel was also believable in the reality of the book. I truly did love being thrown back and forth in time. But then it didn't stop. And like Lisa's growing headaches, my head decided to join Lisa's pain. I couldn't wait for the book to end.
The plot and themes explored are kinda great and so are the characters but the constant travelling back and forth, that's what lead me to give this only a 3/5
Would I recommend this? To someone who loves time travel, the early 90s and a morally ambiguous characters, definitely yes. Despite me liking all the above, this book just wasn't for me.
As always my reviews are spoiler free.
3/5 for me
I loved it until I did not. I just wanted it to end.
Lisa's predicament creates very high stakes and I loved that. The time travel was also believable in the reality of the book. I truly did love being thrown back and forth in time. But then it didn't stop. And like Lisa's growing headaches, my head decided to join Lisa's pain. I couldn't wait for the book to end.
The plot and themes explored are kinda great and so are the characters but the constant travelling back and forth, that's what lead me to give this only a 3/5
Would I recommend this? To someone who loves time travel, the early 90s and a morally ambiguous characters, definitely yes. Despite me liking all the above, this book just wasn't for me.
July 26, 2025
Lisa is unhappily married, waiting at the train station for the man she is having an affair with, when inexplicably (as in, never really explained clearly in the book why) she is transported back in time to college after wishing that she had met Adam, the affair partner, back then. The catalyst for the time travel is the Human League song Don't You Want Me, and each time she hears the song she travels between the past and present, trying to engineer her perfect life. This was odd, obviously, but I mostly enjoyed it. Weirdly intriguing book anyway. 3 stars.
April 6, 2025
I clicked on this title because I love the song and from the description of the book, it seemed to be about 80s nostalgia. The book isn't about that at all, it's more about a mid life crisis. And for once it's nice to read about a woman's mid-life crisis. I really liked the book's nuanced take on infidelity, and how in most cases, the path you've taken will probably be the best one for you, and your choices can define how things go. If this all sounds vague, it's because I"m trying not to spoil the plot because it goes in really interesting ways, that I really did not expect. It's not cliched, it's quite feminist and while I'm not entirely on board with one aspect of the ending, I'm willing to forgive that because the book is genuinely compelling.,
April 7, 2025
LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I hope that anyone reading this review reads this book, especially if you’re in your teens or 20’s. I grew up in the 70’s/80’s and this story hits hard… we all will or have had our hearts broken, especially when we were attracted to the bad boy, the chronic cheater, the commitment phobe, the it’s not you, it’s me…girls, run from these guys. Run so fast that your angel wings guide you to a much happier future. This book is about going back in time to change the future but the consequences stay the same - and that cheating boy will never change.
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me with a book I couldn’t put down, didn’t want to end and read in less than 24 hours. To the author, you are amazingly talented. Please write more!
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me with a book I couldn’t put down, didn’t want to end and read in less than 24 hours. To the author, you are amazingly talented. Please write more!
April 23, 2025
If you liked Seven Year Slip, you’ll like this book
This book was a fun, feel-good read that totally gave me all the ’80s vibes—and I loved it. The main character, a 40-year-old woman who goes back in time to her teen years, was super relatable and likable. It reminded me of 13 Going on 30, just flipped the other way. There was a nice mix of humor, a bit of romance, and tons of nostalgia. I even teared up at the end! The writing was easy to get into, so I flew through it, and the back-and-forth trips to the ’80s were a blast. And honestly, who doesn’t love a good diner scene?
Overall, it was a really fun take on time travel, and I’m glad I got to read it. Big thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press, and Derlys Maria Gutiérrez for the advance copy!
This book was a fun, feel-good read that totally gave me all the ’80s vibes—and I loved it. The main character, a 40-year-old woman who goes back in time to her teen years, was super relatable and likable. It reminded me of 13 Going on 30, just flipped the other way. There was a nice mix of humor, a bit of romance, and tons of nostalgia. I even teared up at the end! The writing was easy to get into, so I flew through it, and the back-and-forth trips to the ’80s were a blast. And honestly, who doesn’t love a good diner scene?
Overall, it was a really fun take on time travel, and I’m glad I got to read it. Big thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press, and Derlys Maria Gutiérrez for the advance copy!
June 25, 2025
Very imaginative, and great, unforgettable title/cover/song choice!
I actually spent maybe the first 20% of this book in disgust because I thought it was going to only be about one awful man and one woman who should absolutely know better having an affair, and her justifying it-- which made me want to DNF. However the book turned into a pretty cool time travel saga, with butterfly effects and all.
There was also emotional depth, as the book is also really about grief, and a) how much you want to escape it and b) how it can quickly sour and tear apart marriages and relationships.
We all love an HEA, but the ending was kind of abrupt because the author had to spend most of her time undoing the multiverse she created with various time travel loops. All in all, the friendship love story was more satisfying than the romantic one, and I think I am mainly giving the author props for her ability to weave and maintain a cohesive multiple time travel storyline, than for her ability to write a romance.
** This review is based on an ARC.
I actually spent maybe the first 20% of this book in disgust because I thought it was going to only be about one awful man and one woman who should absolutely know better having an affair, and her justifying it-- which made me want to DNF. However the book turned into a pretty cool time travel saga, with butterfly effects and all.
There was also emotional depth, as the book is also really about grief, and a) how much you want to escape it and b) how it can quickly sour and tear apart marriages and relationships.
We all love an HEA, but the ending was kind of abrupt because the author had to spend most of her time undoing the multiverse she created with various time travel loops. All in all, the friendship love story was more satisfying than the romantic one, and I think I am mainly giving the author props for her ability to weave and maintain a cohesive multiple time travel storyline, than for her ability to write a romance.
** This review is based on an ARC.
April 12, 2025
I looooooooved this book—yes, that many o’s. Don’t You Want Me is a stunning time-traveling rollercoaster with rich, immersive character building that completely pulled me in. Derlys Maria Gutiérrez crafted Lisa and Stephanie so vividly, it felt like I was walking beside them, feeling every emotion, twist, and heartache right alongside them. The time travel element? A perfect 10/10—clever, compelling, and never confusing. I was completely captivated from start to finish and genuinely didn’t want it to end. This one’s an instant add-to-cart for my physical bookshelf the moment it releases!
April 29, 2025
Lisa's desire to change her past relationship decisions reflects a common human tendency to romanticize "what might have been," but the story suggests that such backward-looking fixations may blind us to possibilities in our present and future.
The novel promises an engaging blend of romantic elements with deeper philosophical questions about fate, choice, and the impossibility of knowing how altered past actions might reshape our lives. Its premise offers both emotional satisfaction and intellectual substance for readers who enjoy speculative fiction with psychological depth.
The novel promises an engaging blend of romantic elements with deeper philosophical questions about fate, choice, and the impossibility of knowing how altered past actions might reshape our lives. Its premise offers both emotional satisfaction and intellectual substance for readers who enjoy speculative fiction with psychological depth.
April 5, 2025
I loved the premise of this book where an unhappy woman goes back in time to her college days in the 80s and then back to present any time a certain song plays, but there were some really big plot holes and the writing was not great. There were a few other issues for me but I’ll leave them out to avoid spoilers. It was a great idea but just so-so execution.
I read a digital advance copy of this book via netgalley.
I read a digital advance copy of this book via netgalley.
April 6, 2025
The cover and premise behind this book drew in the Millennial in me so fast. Time travel back to the 80s?! Hell yeah. Human League as the main song that contributes to said time travel?! I’m in.
Except, the characters were kinda bland for me and you didn’t really learn why or how the time travel was happening until about 88% in and by that point, I was kind of done. The ending was sweet though and was a quick read.
Thanks Net Galley for the opportunity to read!
Except, the characters were kinda bland for me and you didn’t really learn why or how the time travel was happening until about 88% in and by that point, I was kind of done. The ending was sweet though and was a quick read.
Thanks Net Galley for the opportunity to read!
May 12, 2025
I had high hopes for this book, and the time-travel aspect was really intriguing. The 80s setting was fun, but unfortunately, there were some major plot issues that took away from the story. I wished how the travel was explained earlier. It's a shame, because the basic concept was good. The ending felt rushed and still had me wondering what actually happened. Thank you to Post Hill Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review all opinions are my own.
August 28, 2025
i actually enjoyed this book. i’ve always hated adam’s kind of characters in any kind of books, cringey as hell. while lisa’s obsession with him was equally annoying, i enjoyed the time travel very much. i was hooked. i guess the premise of this story revolves around adam yet i wish it didn’t because i really can’t stand him. i wish maybe it was more focused on her son, the way it was done with her mother. an easy read for sure, enjoyed the comedy as well.
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