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Right Place, Right Time: The perfect story to curl up with this Autumn
Could this be the moment they've both been waiting for?
Eve has always loved antiques.
She loves the way an item from the past can offer a glimpse of another world, of another time. It's why she painstakingly researches the stories behind every item in Rainy Day Antiques, her little Cambridge shop, to share with their new owners. It's her way of honouring the past and cherishing the present.
Adam is firmly focussed on the future.
He's only in town to sort his late grandfather's affairs. When he discovers that his grandfather hired Eve to manage his house clearance, he can only hope her methods don't delay his return to London.
What neither of them know is that Adam's grandfather chose Eve for a reason. It's finally the right place and the right time for the two of them to meet. But what did he have planned for them?
Readers love Ali McNamara...
'I utterly love this author'
'I always enjoy reading books from this author'
'Wow. I love Ali McNamara books'
'I really do love this author's books'
'I want to read anything with Ali McNamara's name on it'
Eve has always loved antiques.
She loves the way an item from the past can offer a glimpse of another world, of another time. It's why she painstakingly researches the stories behind every item in Rainy Day Antiques, her little Cambridge shop, to share with their new owners. It's her way of honouring the past and cherishing the present.
Adam is firmly focussed on the future.
He's only in town to sort his late grandfather's affairs. When he discovers that his grandfather hired Eve to manage his house clearance, he can only hope her methods don't delay his return to London.
What neither of them know is that Adam's grandfather chose Eve for a reason. It's finally the right place and the right time for the two of them to meet. But what did he have planned for them?
Readers love Ali McNamara...
'I utterly love this author'
'I always enjoy reading books from this author'
'Wow. I love Ali McNamara books'
'I really do love this author's books'
'I want to read anything with Ali McNamara's name on it'
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
63 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Ali McNamara
34 books1,268 followersAli McNamara is a writer and author.
Her debut novel, From Notting Hill with Love...Actually, the first of three 'Notting Hill' books, became an instant bestseller.
Ali has had much overseas success with her books - particularly Breakfast at Darcy's which was a Top Ten bestseller in Italy. Her novels Step Back in Time and Letters from Lighthouse Cottage were nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year.
Ali lives in Cambridgeshire with her family and beloved dogs. In her spare time she likes to visit antique shops and people watch, more often than not accompanied by a good cup of coffee!
Ali suffers with two chronic illnesses: M.E./CFS and UCTD and is a disability and invisible disability advocate.
To find out more about Ali visit her website: www.alimcnamara.co.uk
or follow her on Twitter: @AliMcNamara, Facebook and Instagram.
Her debut novel, From Notting Hill with Love...Actually, the first of three 'Notting Hill' books, became an instant bestseller.
Ali has had much overseas success with her books - particularly Breakfast at Darcy's which was a Top Ten bestseller in Italy. Her novels Step Back in Time and Letters from Lighthouse Cottage were nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year.
Ali lives in Cambridgeshire with her family and beloved dogs. In her spare time she likes to visit antique shops and people watch, more often than not accompanied by a good cup of coffee!
Ali suffers with two chronic illnesses: M.E./CFS and UCTD and is a disability and invisible disability advocate.
To find out more about Ali visit her website: www.alimcnamara.co.uk
or follow her on Twitter: @AliMcNamara, Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
December 18, 2025
Right Place, Right Time by Ali McNamara
★★★★
Eve, an antiques lover devoted to preserving the past, and Adam, a future-focused Londoner, are brought together while settling his late grandfather’s affairs. Neither realises their meeting was carefully orchestrated, setting the stage for a connection meant to unfold at exactly the right time.
This was my first read by Ali McNamara, and I won’t hesitate to pick up another of her books in the future. Right Place, Right Time was a cozy, easy read. Exactly what I needed and wanted during this busy time of year. I went in blind and was delighted by how lighthearted and effortlessly smooth the story felt.
I loved the way Eve and Adam met, their gentle slow-burn romance, and how their connection went far beyond simple attraction. It was sweet to see how naturally they connected in so many ways. There was even opposites attract at times, making the relationship seem realistic and raw.
This was a beautifully told story, one that now makes me smile every time I look at it on my shelf.
🕰️♥️🔮📜
Thanks to @bloomsburypublishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
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★★★★
Eve, an antiques lover devoted to preserving the past, and Adam, a future-focused Londoner, are brought together while settling his late grandfather’s affairs. Neither realises their meeting was carefully orchestrated, setting the stage for a connection meant to unfold at exactly the right time.
This was my first read by Ali McNamara, and I won’t hesitate to pick up another of her books in the future. Right Place, Right Time was a cozy, easy read. Exactly what I needed and wanted during this busy time of year. I went in blind and was delighted by how lighthearted and effortlessly smooth the story felt.
I loved the way Eve and Adam met, their gentle slow-burn romance, and how their connection went far beyond simple attraction. It was sweet to see how naturally they connected in so many ways. There was even opposites attract at times, making the relationship seem realistic and raw.
This was a beautifully told story, one that now makes me smile every time I look at it on my shelf.
🕰️♥️🔮📜
Thanks to @bloomsburypublishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
TikTok
October 6, 2025
*Coincidences*
This was a great, easy read. At first, I wondered where it was going, but then it took an unusual turn. I don’t want to spoil anything, though.
We meet Eve, one of the owners of a collection of shops with different things but Eve deals in antiques. Part of her job involves house clearance.
When she receives a request to clear a house, she decides to take it on. Her shop is based in Cambridge, and each shop has its own style. The shopkeepers all get along well.
When Eve arrives at the house, she meets Adam. There’s significance in their names. Adam is only there to sell the house and go back to London.
It’s interesting that Eve was chosen for this job, but Eve and Adam start to find they have many things in common. Although Adam is older by a few years, they are both leap year babies, February 29th.
As they go through the contents of Adam’s grandfather’s home, they come across some photos of Adam’s grandfather and Eve’s grandmother, Dotty. They’re dressed in different eras of clothing, and they wonder why. Is it fancy dress? Or is there another reason? They soon realise that there are clues forming about their relatives and where the clues will lead.
Are they prepared for the truth? Some know more than Eve and Adam realise, and what they find out will blow their minds. You definitely need an open mind…
This was a great, easy read. At first, I wondered where it was going, but then it took an unusual turn. I don’t want to spoil anything, though.
We meet Eve, one of the owners of a collection of shops with different things but Eve deals in antiques. Part of her job involves house clearance.
When she receives a request to clear a house, she decides to take it on. Her shop is based in Cambridge, and each shop has its own style. The shopkeepers all get along well.
When Eve arrives at the house, she meets Adam. There’s significance in their names. Adam is only there to sell the house and go back to London.
It’s interesting that Eve was chosen for this job, but Eve and Adam start to find they have many things in common. Although Adam is older by a few years, they are both leap year babies, February 29th.
As they go through the contents of Adam’s grandfather’s home, they come across some photos of Adam’s grandfather and Eve’s grandmother, Dotty. They’re dressed in different eras of clothing, and they wonder why. Is it fancy dress? Or is there another reason? They soon realise that there are clues forming about their relatives and where the clues will lead.
Are they prepared for the truth? Some know more than Eve and Adam realise, and what they find out will blow their minds. You definitely need an open mind…
June 26, 2025
What an amazing book. Right up my street! I thought it was going to be a standard RomCom, however when it veered into the Paranormal, it elevated the story to a new level. I couldn’t put it down.
When Adam travels to Cambridge from London to prepare his grandfather’s house for sale, he expects a straightforward task. But his grandfather had one final request—Eve, a relative stranger, must handle the clearance and antique sales. What begins as an odd stipulation spirals into a chain of uncanny coincidences: Adam and Eve, both born on the rare date of February 29th, and a hidden connection between their grandparents. Inspired, Adam decides to transform his grandfather’s beloved book collection into a bookshop—right next door to Eve’s antique store in the quaint Clockmaker’s Court. The other shopkeepers welcome him warmly, but something about the close-knit community hints at secrets lurking beneath the surface…
This is one of those books that makes you stop and say, ‘Wow.’ The plot twists are brilliantly crafted, keeping you on your toes from start to finish. It’s practically begging for a sequel—and honestly, it has all the makings of a fantastic film adaptation. I absolutely adored it.
When Adam travels to Cambridge from London to prepare his grandfather’s house for sale, he expects a straightforward task. But his grandfather had one final request—Eve, a relative stranger, must handle the clearance and antique sales. What begins as an odd stipulation spirals into a chain of uncanny coincidences: Adam and Eve, both born on the rare date of February 29th, and a hidden connection between their grandparents. Inspired, Adam decides to transform his grandfather’s beloved book collection into a bookshop—right next door to Eve’s antique store in the quaint Clockmaker’s Court. The other shopkeepers welcome him warmly, but something about the close-knit community hints at secrets lurking beneath the surface…
This is one of those books that makes you stop and say, ‘Wow.’ The plot twists are brilliantly crafted, keeping you on your toes from start to finish. It’s practically begging for a sequel—and honestly, it has all the makings of a fantastic film adaptation. I absolutely adored it.
July 4, 2025
Ali McNamara is always a go to author for me. This one started a slow burner getting to know Eve and Adam. Adam grows on you so much throughout. They are the best of leads and the love between them shines without. This is much more than a beautiful love story taking it's bonkers turn in the middle ish point. Once you get to the time travel you become hooked while craving some of the normality. It's a mix of emotions and a fantastic read 4.5 stars
December 11, 2025
This took an unexpected turn! I was expecting your basic, same-old smut-filled rom-com, but instead I got a true mysterious adventure. I picked it up looking for some light reading, and I ended up having a great time with it, so now I’m genuinely curious to see what else McNamara has in store!
August 15, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! We meet Eve who owns an antique shop in Clockmaker Court, Cambridge. She meets Adam when undertaking a house clearance for him at his late grandfather's home. These two characters are just so likeable and if you think their names are just a coincidence, then keep reading as they have more meaning as the book moves on! I have to admit, the story for me is a teeny bit slow at the beginning, but this didn't worry me at all as I knew it would pick up as the book moved on...and oh, how I was right!!!
If you have read other books by this author you'll know that there is always a magical/mystical element to it, and this one is no different. I won't say any more as I really wouldn't want to spoil any part of it, but it's safe to say the twist in the story is absolutely brilliant and I was completely and utterly hooked by this point. Of course, I largely took the storyline with a pinch of salt as surely it just couldn't happen, but there was a little bit of me that was wondering if it really could! It did give me though a massive piece of reality escapism while I was transported to this captivating courtyard of shops and the secrets it was holding!
Filled with lots of love, family and friendships, this heartwarming and emotional read captivated me right through to the very end, and I was genuinely sad to finish it! Would recommend!
If you have read other books by this author you'll know that there is always a magical/mystical element to it, and this one is no different. I won't say any more as I really wouldn't want to spoil any part of it, but it's safe to say the twist in the story is absolutely brilliant and I was completely and utterly hooked by this point. Of course, I largely took the storyline with a pinch of salt as surely it just couldn't happen, but there was a little bit of me that was wondering if it really could! It did give me though a massive piece of reality escapism while I was transported to this captivating courtyard of shops and the secrets it was holding!
Filled with lots of love, family and friendships, this heartwarming and emotional read captivated me right through to the very end, and I was genuinely sad to finish it! Would recommend!
June 17, 2025
This was a quirky read. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but once I started I couldn’t stop. Such a unique story about the possibility of time travel, I loved all the clues and the characters that we met from different times along the way. Having the characters be called Adam and Eve made me chuckle too.
I loved the criss crossing timelines, and really appreciated the effort that must have gone in to making sure that nothing got mixed up, working with time lines and branches, gets confusing and complicated quickly.
This was a lovely read, that really got you thinking about what if?
I loved the criss crossing timelines, and really appreciated the effort that must have gone in to making sure that nothing got mixed up, working with time lines and branches, gets confusing and complicated quickly.
This was a lovely read, that really got you thinking about what if?
December 4, 2025
By far the most boring book I’ve ever read in my life. Even with the surprising plot twist.
September 9, 2025
I totally judged this book by the cover! This wasn’t 1000% not what I expected at all. I was thinking this will be some sort of cutesie small town romance read but it was waaaaay more than that! There’s so much to unpack in this read and if you’re a fan of the back 2 the future movies then this is for you! There’s portals, time travel, wartimes, quantum physics (yes you read that right) past traumas, found families, unexpected plot twists! My head was blown after the halfway mark of this book and it’s nothing like I’d have ever expected! I thoroughly enjoyed this and I’d absolutely recommend this to any Marvel loving geek out there too!
June 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It started off looking like a normal rom-com, but when the two main characters met very early on, I began to wonder what was going to fill the rest of the story. Well, it turns out there was plenty to fill it when it took a very unexpected turn (and something that wasn’t mentioned in the blurb at all!). Yes, you have to go with it, whether you believe in it or not but I really enjoyed all the characters and their outcomes. Would be a great holiday book as nice & easy to read.
June 23, 2025
This isn’t your typical romance read. It’s a lighthearted romance with a swathe of science, a sprinkling of mystery, and plenty of intrigue. It’s a truly refreshing read that captivates from the very beginning. The setting is absolutely divine, with colourful characters that make it a place I’d love to visit. It’s a treat in book form.
Thank you Netgalley.
Thank you Netgalley.
September 18, 2025
I have enjoyed other books by this author but this book was absolutely boring the whole plot was ridiculous the characters were not likeable which was a real shame
June 16, 2025
Eve runs a quaint antiques shop in Cambridge in a ring of 11 shops known as Clockmakers Court. When she’s asked to do a house clearance for a grandson of a deceased gentleman who has specifically named her as the one to do the house clearance in his will, she’s a little shocked to find out that they share a birthday, and that his name is Adam (as in Adam and Eve) When they go through Adam’s grandfather’s belongings they find some mysterious photos with faces and names which are familiar to Eve.
How and why were they taken?
I’ve read a few Ali McNamara books before and I always forget that she adds a little magical twist to many of them. It starts off as a regular rom com kind of vibe but soon twists and turns with a mystery and an unexpected hint of magic.
Thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
How and why were they taken?
I’ve read a few Ali McNamara books before and I always forget that she adds a little magical twist to many of them. It starts off as a regular rom com kind of vibe but soon twists and turns with a mystery and an unexpected hint of magic.
Thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
June 19, 2025
This is a magical read with great characters in Eve, Adam and the Clockmaker Court shopkeepers. Although there are fantastical elements to the story there’s a believability thanks to the characters past and present and a very human element to the story too. There’s lovely chemistry between Eve and Adam and the story has been really well planned with a great mystery to it all. Overall it’s a very warm-hearted and enchanted relaxing read.
June 26, 2025
I like a McNamara book - I’ve read quite a few. They are gentle reads, often sweet with a hint of ‘magic’ thrown in the mix. This is the same premise with this book - but, I didn’t vibe with it as much as some of her others. Right Place Right Time tells the story of Eve, who owns an antique shop in Cambridge. She is asked to clear the manor house of a recently deceased old man - and, whilst there, meets his heir, Adam. What follows is a fairly predictable romance and a plot that involves time travel, surprisingly. I wasn’t as gripped as I usually am, I found myself just plodding through it to get to the end. Some parts are a bit slow with a lot of dialogue and there are so many characters of parents, grand parents, great grand parents, shop owners, friends etc that I had a hard time keeping up with who’s-who. There were some ok parts, but - I’ve preferred her other books compared to this one.
June 12, 2025
A wonderful heartwarming novel mixing past and present. Eve has always loved antiques and she tries to research every piece she has for sake in her shop to give customers some history. She loves to honour the past whilst Adam is focused on the future. They met when Adam hired Eve to clear his late grandfathers house and can’t wait to return to London. Yet it seems Eve was picked by Adam’s grandfather for a reason and they could finally be in the right place at the right time to actually meet. A beautifully enchanting story that will draw you in as the plot unfolds. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and the author for the chance to review.
June 15, 2025
This ended up being a very different kind of book to what I expected which wasn't necessarily bad but I think I spent a lot of it feeling a little confused. The pace of the story was quite slow and there's a lot of dialogue which for me affected the flow also. It's a sweet book with great characters and a good setting especially if you love old buildings with lots of history.
May 30, 2025
I did enjoy this story with its mix of romance and magic. Eve is going to do a house clearance job on April 29th, her birthday, as her antique shop didn't turn out quite as expected. She had a lot more in common with Adam than just their names and birthdays. As the plot slowly unravels, all sorts of unusual occurrences begin to unfold. Are they coincidental?
There are some excellent characters in this story and I did like learning their background stories as the book went on. I did like Adam and Eve; their characters were well developed, and I liked them, which is always a plus in any story.
Overall, it was a really good read. I did feel at times it was a bit long-winded with too much explanation, however, the plot is unusual and intriguing. It is definitely worth a read if you like a few twists and a bit of mystery in your romance books.
There are some excellent characters in this story and I did like learning their background stories as the book went on. I did like Adam and Eve; their characters were well developed, and I liked them, which is always a plus in any story.
Overall, it was a really good read. I did feel at times it was a bit long-winded with too much explanation, however, the plot is unusual and intriguing. It is definitely worth a read if you like a few twists and a bit of mystery in your romance books.
May 31, 2025
The summary of the book, the title and the cover does not give away what this book is actually about. Which could be a good thing, but I went all in for a romance, and got disappointed as there's very little romance in it. After that, and once the main plot and topic of the book was revealed I was curious to know more. It's a cute read for those that like magic realism, but was a bit to childish for me.
April 13, 2025
I love Ali’s books and the way they are written with such mystery around them. This one didn’t disappoint. I loved the host of characters in it and the part each played. The roles in which the characters played (past and present) made the fantasy element in the book more believable. The warmth of Adam and Eve added to their chemistry and there was a perfect balance of fantasy and romance shrouded in mystery.
Ali’s writing in this was as always addictive and I was hooked. It’s one not to be missed.
If you are already a fan of Ali you will love this one and if you haven’t read any by her this is a fantastic starting point. Out on
19th June.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Ali’s writing in this was as always addictive and I was hooked. It’s one not to be missed.
If you are already a fan of Ali you will love this one and if you haven’t read any by her this is a fantastic starting point. Out on
19th June.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
July 26, 2025
An interesting plot, but some parts felt a little convenient.
October 26, 2025
Eve runs an antiques store in Clocktower Court in Cambridge, full of other antique stores/cafes. She is asked to work at a house clearance and meets Adam, who whilst incredibly frustrating she seems drawn to, especially as they share a leap year birthday. She soon finds out this is not a coincidence and they are fated to know each other.
Ali was one of the first authors I truly fell in love with when I first started reading adult romance back in the early 2010s, so as soon as I saw she had a new book out I had to request an ARC. This is very different to those books (noting I haven't read her books since those early 2010s!). It's a magical realism book (with a poorly designed cover that doesn't reflect that and will likely miss it's target demographic) with some romance though admittedly very closed door.
It's hard to talk about the book without getting into spoilers, particularly because the plot only really starts unravelling in the final third.
I think there is a fair bit left under-explained, especially Adam & Eve truly being linked in the first place which I'm still not sure I understand. The topic this book goes into is notoriously difficult to handle in books, especially when the twist is only revealed in the final third after a very slow build, so it's hard to really conclude all of the various storylines. There are a lot of characters to follow and to be honest I did find it confusing and wasn't totally sure who everyone was by the end.
I think Adam & Eve are fairly likeable but I'm not wedded to either of them. The fact they annoyed each other at the beginning didn't really make any sense - I assume it was to avoid insta love but I'm not sure at what point they really got over the not liking each other much part and then suddenly we are in the depths of their advanced relationship. They have been through some trauma which is quite under-explained despite being quite a major part of their backstories.
The writing style was sadly not my favourite. The book is very twee which I've learnt this year isn't for me, but I think if you really like British books and British stories then this is a good one for you. It's got quite a lot of British history and the Cambridge setting plays a part in the story so I can absolutely see there's an audience for this book. It took me quite a while to get through but I did fly through the final third as I wanted to know what happened (which is not entirely satisfying due to unexplained things but if you suspend your scientific disbeliefs I think you'll enjoy!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Ali was one of the first authors I truly fell in love with when I first started reading adult romance back in the early 2010s, so as soon as I saw she had a new book out I had to request an ARC. This is very different to those books (noting I haven't read her books since those early 2010s!). It's a magical realism book (with a poorly designed cover that doesn't reflect that and will likely miss it's target demographic) with some romance though admittedly very closed door.
It's hard to talk about the book without getting into spoilers, particularly because the plot only really starts unravelling in the final third.
I think there is a fair bit left under-explained, especially Adam & Eve truly being linked in the first place which I'm still not sure I understand. The topic this book goes into is notoriously difficult to handle in books, especially when the twist is only revealed in the final third after a very slow build, so it's hard to really conclude all of the various storylines. There are a lot of characters to follow and to be honest I did find it confusing and wasn't totally sure who everyone was by the end.
I think Adam & Eve are fairly likeable but I'm not wedded to either of them. The fact they annoyed each other at the beginning didn't really make any sense - I assume it was to avoid insta love but I'm not sure at what point they really got over the not liking each other much part and then suddenly we are in the depths of their advanced relationship. They have been through some trauma which is quite under-explained despite being quite a major part of their backstories.
The writing style was sadly not my favourite. The book is very twee which I've learnt this year isn't for me, but I think if you really like British books and British stories then this is a good one for you. It's got quite a lot of British history and the Cambridge setting plays a part in the story so I can absolutely see there's an audience for this book. It took me quite a while to get through but I did fly through the final third as I wanted to know what happened (which is not entirely satisfying due to unexplained things but if you suspend your scientific disbeliefs I think you'll enjoy!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
June 16, 2025
Although I usually enjoy the books I read to be firmly grounded in reality, there’s something about Ali McNamara’s books which I can’t seem to resist. Perhaps she has cast a spell on me!
Eve owns an antiques shop in Clockmaker Court in Cambridge and loves finding out the stories behind everything she sells. Clockmaker Court is filled with quirky shops which have equally quirky owners and I enjoyed meeting each of them and finding out about their shops. When she is asked to do a house clearance she meets Adam, the grandson of the late owner and although he wants nothing more than to get the house cleared quickly and move back to London, it seems that fate has other ideas. They quickly realise that their grandparents had known each other and seemed determined to bring them together from beyond the grave.
It was such fun reading about Adam and Eve (yes, really!) starting to realise that there was a mystery regarding both their families to be solved, and that led them to another mystery regarding the shops in Clockmaker Court. I loved all the connections to clocks and time which the author worked into the story. My head was spinning at times with the permutations of time! Adam and Eve were clearly meant to be the people to solve the mystery and two people who were destined to be together.
I’m not really sure I can say much more about the plot of this book without giving too much away. What I will say though is that I was completely caught up in Eve and Adam’s story and absolutely willing to believe that what the author wrote about was possible. That’s quite a talent really. Are you intrigued yet? Good!
Right Place, Right Time is another enchanting read from Ali McNamara. Prepare to be swept away by this magical tale, and be well and truly spellbound!
Eve owns an antiques shop in Clockmaker Court in Cambridge and loves finding out the stories behind everything she sells. Clockmaker Court is filled with quirky shops which have equally quirky owners and I enjoyed meeting each of them and finding out about their shops. When she is asked to do a house clearance she meets Adam, the grandson of the late owner and although he wants nothing more than to get the house cleared quickly and move back to London, it seems that fate has other ideas. They quickly realise that their grandparents had known each other and seemed determined to bring them together from beyond the grave.
It was such fun reading about Adam and Eve (yes, really!) starting to realise that there was a mystery regarding both their families to be solved, and that led them to another mystery regarding the shops in Clockmaker Court. I loved all the connections to clocks and time which the author worked into the story. My head was spinning at times with the permutations of time! Adam and Eve were clearly meant to be the people to solve the mystery and two people who were destined to be together.
I’m not really sure I can say much more about the plot of this book without giving too much away. What I will say though is that I was completely caught up in Eve and Adam’s story and absolutely willing to believe that what the author wrote about was possible. That’s quite a talent really. Are you intrigued yet? Good!
Right Place, Right Time is another enchanting read from Ali McNamara. Prepare to be swept away by this magical tale, and be well and truly spellbound!
June 13, 2025
Time Travelling Portal 3.5*
An interesting story but I found it rather slow; I would have preferred a story with more adventure to it but it was not until 80% through that the discovery was made as to how the portal worked. I also found the time travelling rules a little confusing but this might be because this is not the type of book I usually read.
I had the following questions:
Q1. If Adam followed Ben back to 1904 and Dotty hears about it and follows Adam (Chp 37, loc 4578) how come Dotty is in 1904? Whilst we are told that every time she tried to get through the portal when she helped others, she was then returned to 1904, no one has been forward through the portal since Barney.
If Barney is twelve years younger than Eve, that makes him 24 in 2024 and he has been in our time since he was four. Dotty should surely be in 1924 not 1904? How has she returned 20 years into the past?
Q2. Dotty says that Ben was not given a choice about travelling forward and that’s why she was unable to return to 1944 (though the Portal allowed it until her 2nd attempt after she actually managed to get the year right) but surely neither was Barney? How come the portal opened for a four year old child who couldn’t walk and certainly wasn’t making an informed choice?
Q3. How has Dotty survived through the years? Money etc
Q4. If she forwarded Harriet through the portal from 1952, why didn’t she stay with (or near) her family from 1944 onwards?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An interesting story but I found it rather slow; I would have preferred a story with more adventure to it but it was not until 80% through that the discovery was made as to how the portal worked. I also found the time travelling rules a little confusing but this might be because this is not the type of book I usually read.
I had the following questions:
Q1. If Adam followed Ben back to 1904 and Dotty hears about it and follows Adam (Chp 37, loc 4578) how come Dotty is in 1904? Whilst we are told that every time she tried to get through the portal when she helped others, she was then returned to 1904, no one has been forward through the portal since Barney.
If Barney is twelve years younger than Eve, that makes him 24 in 2024 and he has been in our time since he was four. Dotty should surely be in 1924 not 1904? How has she returned 20 years into the past?
Q2. Dotty says that Ben was not given a choice about travelling forward and that’s why she was unable to return to 1944 (though the Portal allowed it until her 2nd attempt after she actually managed to get the year right) but surely neither was Barney? How come the portal opened for a four year old child who couldn’t walk and certainly wasn’t making an informed choice?
Q3. How has Dotty survived through the years? Money etc
Q4. If she forwarded Harriet through the portal from 1952, why didn’t she stay with (or near) her family from 1944 onwards?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
3.5
Eve Sinclair es una apasionada por las antigüedades y la historia, tiene una tienda de antigüedades Rainy Day Antiques, vive una vida tranquila y metódica, marcada por su amor por los objetos del pasado y su afán por descubrir las historias ocultas tras ellos.
El 29 de febrero, el día del cumpleaños de Eve recibe el encargo de vaciar una antigua casa georgiana en Grantchester. Esta propiedad pertenece al difunto abuelo de Adam Darcy, un hombre encantador, algo misterioso y claramente fuera del molde, con quien Eve comparte no solo una conexión profesional inesperada, sino también la coincidencia de haber nacido en un año bisiesto.
Lo que comienza como una simple limpieza de casa se transforma en un viaje emocional y revelador, tanto para Eve como para Adam. A medida que exploran juntos la residencia y sus objetos, también empiezan a desentrañar secretos del pasado, reflexionar sobre el legado familiar, y explorar sus propios sentimientos. La química entre ellos es evidente desde el principio, y está cargada de diálogos ágiles, bromas inteligentes y una creciente intimidad emocional.
Al principio casi lo abandono porque no lograba conectar con la historia, pero conforme avanzaban los capítulos se volvió entretenido. Se los juro que se van a llevar una sorpresa cuando lleguen a la parte de los secretos de los abuelos.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest
Eve Sinclair es una apasionada por las antigüedades y la historia, tiene una tienda de antigüedades Rainy Day Antiques, vive una vida tranquila y metódica, marcada por su amor por los objetos del pasado y su afán por descubrir las historias ocultas tras ellos.
El 29 de febrero, el día del cumpleaños de Eve recibe el encargo de vaciar una antigua casa georgiana en Grantchester. Esta propiedad pertenece al difunto abuelo de Adam Darcy, un hombre encantador, algo misterioso y claramente fuera del molde, con quien Eve comparte no solo una conexión profesional inesperada, sino también la coincidencia de haber nacido en un año bisiesto.
Lo que comienza como una simple limpieza de casa se transforma en un viaje emocional y revelador, tanto para Eve como para Adam. A medida que exploran juntos la residencia y sus objetos, también empiezan a desentrañar secretos del pasado, reflexionar sobre el legado familiar, y explorar sus propios sentimientos. La química entre ellos es evidente desde el principio, y está cargada de diálogos ágiles, bromas inteligentes y una creciente intimidad emocional.
Al principio casi lo abandono porque no lograba conectar con la historia, pero conforme avanzaban los capítulos se volvió entretenido. Se los juro que se van a llevar una sorpresa cuando lleguen a la parte de los secretos de los abuelos.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest
June 20, 2025
Eve is one of a rare number of people who were born in a leap year on 29th February. Her mother mysteriously disappeared when Eve was young so she was brought up by her grandparents who owned Rainy Days Antiques, one of a collection of small, interesting shops in Clockmaker Square, Cambridge.. As Eve grows up she loves the shop even more and enjoys researching stories behind as many of the objects for sale as possible. Needless to say she inherited the business after the death of her Grandmother and becomes a valued member of te small community of interesting collection of fellow shopkeepers in the Square.
She is very surprised to be summoned to a Manor House in Grantchester to do a house inventory and clearance following the death of the elderly owner whom she did not know and had never met. She is greeted at the door by a grandson who promptly tells her that his name is Adam and that “today” is his birthday - a striking coincidence as “today” is 29th February.
Adam is anxious to get back to is London-based life so willingly joins Eve i getting stuck into the job of identifying objects worth selling or totally discarding, and amongst a box of papers and photographs, many of which look rather dated and odd, Eve finds one that immediately reminds her of her long-lost mother. Is there something strange about this and were Adam and Eve meant to meet? The mystery deepens.
A gripping read that I couldn’t put down!
She is very surprised to be summoned to a Manor House in Grantchester to do a house inventory and clearance following the death of the elderly owner whom she did not know and had never met. She is greeted at the door by a grandson who promptly tells her that his name is Adam and that “today” is his birthday - a striking coincidence as “today” is 29th February.
Adam is anxious to get back to is London-based life so willingly joins Eve i getting stuck into the job of identifying objects worth selling or totally discarding, and amongst a box of papers and photographs, many of which look rather dated and odd, Eve finds one that immediately reminds her of her long-lost mother. Is there something strange about this and were Adam and Eve meant to meet? The mystery deepens.
A gripping read that I couldn’t put down!
May 4, 2025
Another rollicking read from Ali McNamara. This was amazing.
I mean as per normal with this author you do need to suspend all disbelief at things that may not be quite as they seem, as once again there is a hint of I'll say magical realism within the pages, unsure if that is the correct term, but definitely extra ordinary.
And it's all to do with Adam, Eva and Eve's shop in Cambridge, set in the fabulous Clockmaker's Court.
From the moment they meet for the first time, it seems as though they have been drawn to each other, but the reasonings for it are to be discovered.
They have far more in common that first meets they eye, and I loved discovering their stories and those of their family members.
I'm reluctant to say anything else, for fear of spoiling this wonderful book for you, but rest assured it will get you thinking, smiling, possibly crying, and will totally hook you in,.
Just another fabulous book from this author.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I mean as per normal with this author you do need to suspend all disbelief at things that may not be quite as they seem, as once again there is a hint of I'll say magical realism within the pages, unsure if that is the correct term, but definitely extra ordinary.
And it's all to do with Adam, Eva and Eve's shop in Cambridge, set in the fabulous Clockmaker's Court.
From the moment they meet for the first time, it seems as though they have been drawn to each other, but the reasonings for it are to be discovered.
They have far more in common that first meets they eye, and I loved discovering their stories and those of their family members.
I'm reluctant to say anything else, for fear of spoiling this wonderful book for you, but rest assured it will get you thinking, smiling, possibly crying, and will totally hook you in,.
Just another fabulous book from this author.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
June 17, 2025
Fabulous new book from Ali McNamara, full of magic, love, friendship and family. Absolutely brilliant!!
Eve runs her grandparent's antique shop near the centre of Cambridge, in a very unique way by finding out the story behind all the items to make a purchase all the more special. Eve also does the odd house clearance, so when she is asked to go to nearby Grantchester to help with a clearance, the last thing she is expecting is to meet Adam at his late grandfather’s house and feel any connection with him. They share a very unusual birthday for a start!
As this gorgeous tale unfolds the magic is strong and weaves in and out of this very well thought out story!!
Hugely recommended for this summer as a home or holiday read. All the wonderful descriptions of Cambridge, some history and love of course!! I got completely immersed in the wonderful characters, places and captivating storyline.
One of the best yet from Ali McNamara I totally loved this book!!
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the early read!! Just brilliant!!
Eve runs her grandparent's antique shop near the centre of Cambridge, in a very unique way by finding out the story behind all the items to make a purchase all the more special. Eve also does the odd house clearance, so when she is asked to go to nearby Grantchester to help with a clearance, the last thing she is expecting is to meet Adam at his late grandfather’s house and feel any connection with him. They share a very unusual birthday for a start!
As this gorgeous tale unfolds the magic is strong and weaves in and out of this very well thought out story!!
Hugely recommended for this summer as a home or holiday read. All the wonderful descriptions of Cambridge, some history and love of course!! I got completely immersed in the wonderful characters, places and captivating storyline.
One of the best yet from Ali McNamara I totally loved this book!!
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the early read!! Just brilliant!!
April 6, 2025
I absolutely love it when someone in a wheelchair or a person of color is casually mentioned! Yay for diversity (while I actually shouldn't be cheering about this, people are people, there shouldn't be a difference, but hey unfortunately that is not they the world works).
And indeed, we are all supposed to make up our own minds, be conscious of what is important to us personally. Like someone in the book telling Eve she is her own woman, to make her own decisions in life, and to not let anyone tell her what is right or not.
That said, I have to admit I struggled with the storyline that is about overcoming trauma and being perceived as strong. Why can't we just be? Every single one of us, as we're all in this together – hopefully similar to the shopkeepers of the Clockmaker Court. Society is already demanding quite a bit of us these days, and this aspect of the book isn't helping in my humble opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
And indeed, we are all supposed to make up our own minds, be conscious of what is important to us personally. Like someone in the book telling Eve she is her own woman, to make her own decisions in life, and to not let anyone tell her what is right or not.
That said, I have to admit I struggled with the storyline that is about overcoming trauma and being perceived as strong. Why can't we just be? Every single one of us, as we're all in this together – hopefully similar to the shopkeepers of the Clockmaker Court. Society is already demanding quite a bit of us these days, and this aspect of the book isn't helping in my humble opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
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