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Sixteen Minutes
"A thoughtful, otherworldly story about loss, hope, and the risks we take for the ones we love."—Dustin Thao, New York Times bestselling author of You’ve Reached Sam
When a new girl arrives in town, seemingly from the future, three teens' lives are turned upside down in this speculative YA novel full of love and loss, and the power of the unknown.
Seventeen-year-old Nell knows two things for sure—she’s never going to get out of her rural, dead-end hometown of Clawson, NY and her best friend Stevie B and longtime boyfriend Cole are never going to leave her. That is until Charlotte, a new girl, arrives at their school and their lopsided friend triangle is turned on its axis. While Nell and Stevie B are certain that Charlotte isn’t who she says she is, Cole is caught fully in her thrall. There are secret calls and meetings between the two, and Nell knows Cole is keeping something big from her. Now, for the first time in their lives, Nell worries she could lose Cole.
When Nell and Stevie B finally confront Cole and Charlotte, they learn the impossible—Charlotte is actually from the future, and for life altering reasons none of them could have imagined, she wants Cole to jump to the future with her, leaving Nell behind. It’s dangerous, it’s reckless, but Charlotte convinces them that it’s the only choice they have. The trio’s future has always seemed set—but with the knowledge that time travel is real, and with a multiverse of futures before them, they now have the option to live lives they could have only dreamed about. The only questions are, who will take the leap and who will be left behind?
When a new girl arrives in town, seemingly from the future, three teens' lives are turned upside down in this speculative YA novel full of love and loss, and the power of the unknown.
Seventeen-year-old Nell knows two things for sure—she’s never going to get out of her rural, dead-end hometown of Clawson, NY and her best friend Stevie B and longtime boyfriend Cole are never going to leave her. That is until Charlotte, a new girl, arrives at their school and their lopsided friend triangle is turned on its axis. While Nell and Stevie B are certain that Charlotte isn’t who she says she is, Cole is caught fully in her thrall. There are secret calls and meetings between the two, and Nell knows Cole is keeping something big from her. Now, for the first time in their lives, Nell worries she could lose Cole.
When Nell and Stevie B finally confront Cole and Charlotte, they learn the impossible—Charlotte is actually from the future, and for life altering reasons none of them could have imagined, she wants Cole to jump to the future with her, leaving Nell behind. It’s dangerous, it’s reckless, but Charlotte convinces them that it’s the only choice they have. The trio’s future has always seemed set—but with the knowledge that time travel is real, and with a multiverse of futures before them, they now have the option to live lives they could have only dreamed about. The only questions are, who will take the leap and who will be left behind?
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First published October 15, 2024
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August 23, 2024
5 stars! ✨
A magical, shockingly beautiful tale about love, friendship, and who we consider our home.
“I only want one. One universe. One life. One you. One me.”
Thank you to Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In “Sixteen Minutes” we follow the pov of Nell. She is a seventeen-year-old who has never known a life outside of her small town in Clawson - and tends to feel trapped in this space she grew up in. The brightest light in her life is her boyfriend, Cole. Boyfriend feels like a light term because to Nell, Cole is everything. They have known each other since they were children and understand one another better than they understand themselves. Finn - Cole’s younger sister suffers from a disease with no current cure that affects her breathing and more often than not lands her in the hospital. When she was born Nell and Cole always wanted to give her “one lung from you, and one lung from me.” They spend their days with their close friend Stevie B. swimming the quarry, going to school, and looking forward to the future (in hopes for a better one) until one day a mysterious girl Charlotte arrives and changes the trajectories of their lives as we know it. Our trio must trust the universe, and accomplish the impossible to save the person closest to their hearts.
The way the author describes human emotions and relationships is so raw and relatable. I truly connected with Nell as I too have lost my father at a young age, and felt trapped in my “seventeen year old” teen years. For a sci- fi YA novel I was not expecting this to be as emotional or in depth as it was. These characters are so special to me.
“If you’re too scared to jump, I will hold you and keep you safe forever.”
Nell is such a unique individual. Collecting expired passports to imagine all of the places she wants to go broke my heart. She is so young and has her whole life ahead of her, and she doesn’t even realize this yet.
The way Nell and Cole care for one another and have found their safety nets and home in each other’s souls makes me so incredibly happy - after all the trauma they have endured they deserve to find peace. In whatever that may be.
Stevie B - the most loyal, loving, and hilarious friend. I hope he finds the love he deserves. 🥹
Such a heartfelt tale. This is going to stay with me for quite some time.
A magical, shockingly beautiful tale about love, friendship, and who we consider our home.
“I only want one. One universe. One life. One you. One me.”
Thank you to Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In “Sixteen Minutes” we follow the pov of Nell. She is a seventeen-year-old who has never known a life outside of her small town in Clawson - and tends to feel trapped in this space she grew up in. The brightest light in her life is her boyfriend, Cole. Boyfriend feels like a light term because to Nell, Cole is everything. They have known each other since they were children and understand one another better than they understand themselves. Finn - Cole’s younger sister suffers from a disease with no current cure that affects her breathing and more often than not lands her in the hospital. When she was born Nell and Cole always wanted to give her “one lung from you, and one lung from me.” They spend their days with their close friend Stevie B. swimming the quarry, going to school, and looking forward to the future (in hopes for a better one) until one day a mysterious girl Charlotte arrives and changes the trajectories of their lives as we know it. Our trio must trust the universe, and accomplish the impossible to save the person closest to their hearts.
The way the author describes human emotions and relationships is so raw and relatable. I truly connected with Nell as I too have lost my father at a young age, and felt trapped in my “seventeen year old” teen years. For a sci- fi YA novel I was not expecting this to be as emotional or in depth as it was. These characters are so special to me.
“If you’re too scared to jump, I will hold you and keep you safe forever.”
Nell is such a unique individual. Collecting expired passports to imagine all of the places she wants to go broke my heart. She is so young and has her whole life ahead of her, and she doesn’t even realize this yet.
The way Nell and Cole care for one another and have found their safety nets and home in each other’s souls makes me so incredibly happy - after all the trauma they have endured they deserve to find peace. In whatever that may be.
Stevie B - the most loyal, loving, and hilarious friend. I hope he finds the love he deserves. 🥹
Such a heartfelt tale. This is going to stay with me for quite some time.
November 6, 2024
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
“Because you can’t fit a lifetime of words into a hurry of a moment.”
I've always been fascinated with time travel. I really love the cover. I was intrigued by the premise. But, Sixteen Minutes needed a lot more convincing, if not appealing parts to it for it really to be a worthwhile read. I cannot even begin to relate how - not confused I was, but at how indirect and in-cohesive the story-telling was. Like it was literally trying to be more than what it actually was. I think the idea was a good one; what would you do if someone you love was about to die, and the only way to prevent it was to cheat time? What would you risk to save them from something not in their control?
Anything. 🥺
And when that option arrives, it is upto the three of them to find a way to defy the odds of the future. It is enough to spring into action and hope for the best, even when expecting the worst. I get that rush of adrenaline and the daring of cheating the odds - I do. I just think the way to approach it, got away from the author. 😟 Like they were introducing multiple points to make it deeper and more impactful, while also allowing room for all said characters not to be completely lost or left behind. Plus, every new plot line that was introduced came so - at random - that I could not take it seriously. 😮💨
“Something might be something, but sometimes it’s not enough. Even though it might be all that we have.
Then I tell myself that Nell Bannon is brave enough to do just that: to fix the stuff that’s not enough.”
Seventeen-year-old Nell Bannon reminded me of those female protagonists, who literally make everything about themselves. And that is like my number one flag - when it is portrayed so blatantly apparent that it makes it hard to stomach. She went from vapid to jealous quicker than I could blink, then to brave and determined and headstrong, like she was born for it! 😩 I do get what the author was trying to do; that how her reserved state of mind made her closed off from new experiences and willfully keeping herself trapped, and by having the time travel experience, it awakened new possibilities inside of her. But, it just was not convincing me of feeling it; I tried, I really did. 😔
And I love soulmate love stories. But, gosh, talk about overkill with Nell and Cole's love; it felt too unbelievable at times - so intimate, but stilted at times, that I could not take it seriously. I just couldn't. 'There’s something about me and Cole that makes us fated and destined and inseparable.' Even Cole's reluctance to shield Nell from the truth about his relationship with Charlotte was so oddly depicted that it made me feel weird. 😕 Plus, the love triangle also not only came out of nowhere, but Stevie B. definitely got the short end of the string. Not only as the second love interest, but also for character development. He felt like he was just there as an enabler, not one who had any other significance to Cole and Nell's journey; despite the well-meaning hints, of course. He did deserve better... 💔💔
I'll be fair and say that it is a Young Adult read - so I should not delve into the technicalities of time travel specifics; but, at least make it feel real enough. Charlotte's arrival as the mysterious liaison between worlds was laid on so thick, that I wanted to shake someone and say, hello, there's another step to that connection!??? Which everyone willfully chose to ignore. Plus, it could have been approached in a whole different way and it would have still made sense, rather than the rigamarole that we were then introduced to. 🙄 Although, that story-line - I would be interested in reading. Not to mention Nell's mother's story-line related to substance abuse also felt like an unnecessary inclusion to the plot that I felt really did not matter in its entirety, save to paint Nell as more of a victim of isolation and loneliness.
“There is magic to this life.
And now I know that the magic is us, in the here and now.
And that it’s precious.”
Suffice to say, I was not entirely moved or impressed by it. Of course, the theme is an important one about recognizing that you are more than just the small world you encase yourself in, and if you're brave enough to take a leap - 'feet first. Heart second. Head a distant third' - then the possibilities truly are endless of what is to come. If there could have been a tighter grip on capturing that, with a more convincing and believable portrayal that had me invested, I would have really loved to have liked it. 😢
“Because you can’t fit a lifetime of words into a hurry of a moment.”
I've always been fascinated with time travel. I really love the cover. I was intrigued by the premise. But, Sixteen Minutes needed a lot more convincing, if not appealing parts to it for it really to be a worthwhile read. I cannot even begin to relate how - not confused I was, but at how indirect and in-cohesive the story-telling was. Like it was literally trying to be more than what it actually was. I think the idea was a good one; what would you do if someone you love was about to die, and the only way to prevent it was to cheat time? What would you risk to save them from something not in their control?
Anything. 🥺
And when that option arrives, it is upto the three of them to find a way to defy the odds of the future. It is enough to spring into action and hope for the best, even when expecting the worst. I get that rush of adrenaline and the daring of cheating the odds - I do. I just think the way to approach it, got away from the author. 😟 Like they were introducing multiple points to make it deeper and more impactful, while also allowing room for all said characters not to be completely lost or left behind. Plus, every new plot line that was introduced came so - at random - that I could not take it seriously. 😮💨
“Something might be something, but sometimes it’s not enough. Even though it might be all that we have.
Then I tell myself that Nell Bannon is brave enough to do just that: to fix the stuff that’s not enough.”
Seventeen-year-old Nell Bannon reminded me of those female protagonists, who literally make everything about themselves. And that is like my number one flag - when it is portrayed so blatantly apparent that it makes it hard to stomach. She went from vapid to jealous quicker than I could blink, then to brave and determined and headstrong, like she was born for it! 😩 I do get what the author was trying to do; that how her reserved state of mind made her closed off from new experiences and willfully keeping herself trapped, and by having the time travel experience, it awakened new possibilities inside of her. But, it just was not convincing me of feeling it; I tried, I really did. 😔
And I love soulmate love stories. But, gosh, talk about overkill with Nell and Cole's love; it felt too unbelievable at times - so intimate, but stilted at times, that I could not take it seriously. I just couldn't. 'There’s something about me and Cole that makes us fated and destined and inseparable.' Even Cole's reluctance to shield Nell from the truth about his relationship with Charlotte was so oddly depicted that it made me feel weird. 😕 Plus, the love triangle also not only came out of nowhere, but Stevie B. definitely got the short end of the string. Not only as the second love interest, but also for character development. He felt like he was just there as an enabler, not one who had any other significance to Cole and Nell's journey; despite the well-meaning hints, of course. He did deserve better... 💔💔
I'll be fair and say that it is a Young Adult read - so I should not delve into the technicalities of time travel specifics; but, at least make it feel real enough. Charlotte's arrival as the mysterious liaison between worlds was laid on so thick, that I wanted to shake someone and say, hello, there's another step to that connection!??? Which everyone willfully chose to ignore. Plus, it could have been approached in a whole different way and it would have still made sense, rather than the rigamarole that we were then introduced to. 🙄 Although, that story-line - I would be interested in reading. Not to mention Nell's mother's story-line related to substance abuse also felt like an unnecessary inclusion to the plot that I felt really did not matter in its entirety, save to paint Nell as more of a victim of isolation and loneliness.
“There is magic to this life.
And now I know that the magic is us, in the here and now.
And that it’s precious.”
Suffice to say, I was not entirely moved or impressed by it. Of course, the theme is an important one about recognizing that you are more than just the small world you encase yourself in, and if you're brave enough to take a leap - 'feet first. Heart second. Head a distant third' - then the possibilities truly are endless of what is to come. If there could have been a tighter grip on capturing that, with a more convincing and believable portrayal that had me invested, I would have really loved to have liked it. 😢
September 23, 2024
I really loved this book! It was fast-paced and full of twists I didn’t expect, especially when the time travel element kicked in. e story follows Nell, Cole, and Stevie B, whose close-knit trio is shaken when Charlotte, a mysterious new girl, arrives in their small town. The way she turns their world upside down—revealing she’s from the future—hooked me immediately.
Nell’s fear of losing Cole felt so real. I could really relate to her emotions, especially as she starts to question everything she thought was secure. The friendship between her, Cole, and Stevie B was written so well, and I loved how they had to navigate these new, life-altering choices together. I was rooting for all of them in different ways.
Charlotte was such an interesting character. I loved the mystery surrounding her and how she introduces the idea of the multiverse. The concept that one choice can create completely different outcomes in alternate realities really made me think about life and all the "what ifs." It added depth to the story, which I wasn’t expecting from a YA novel.
The time travel and multiverse aspects were explained in a way that made sense without getting too technical. It had just the right mix of science and magic, keeping me immersed without pulling me out of the emotional journey.
This book was such an engaging read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves YA with a time travel twist. It’s full of heart and adventure!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Nell’s fear of losing Cole felt so real. I could really relate to her emotions, especially as she starts to question everything she thought was secure. The friendship between her, Cole, and Stevie B was written so well, and I loved how they had to navigate these new, life-altering choices together. I was rooting for all of them in different ways.
Charlotte was such an interesting character. I loved the mystery surrounding her and how she introduces the idea of the multiverse. The concept that one choice can create completely different outcomes in alternate realities really made me think about life and all the "what ifs." It added depth to the story, which I wasn’t expecting from a YA novel.
The time travel and multiverse aspects were explained in a way that made sense without getting too technical. It had just the right mix of science and magic, keeping me immersed without pulling me out of the emotional journey.
This book was such an engaging read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves YA with a time travel twist. It’s full of heart and adventure!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 3, 2025
Absolute YA perfection. This was a beautifully written story filled with magic, mystery, intrigue, and the intensity of young love. A thoroughly enjoyable read with a great ending.
November 6, 2024
4/5 ⭐️ I love time traveling but also love it when it’s done in middle grade and young adults! This was a fun ride and of course the best parts is when discussing what happens when you time traveling! The conversations are the best!
November 5, 2024
Seventeen-year-old Nell feels trapped in her hometown of Clawson, NY. She is also trapped in a sort-of love triangle between her longtime boyfriend, Cole, and their longtime best friend, Stevie B. When their school admits a new girl, beautiful Charlotte, Nell is faced with potentially losing Cole for the first time in their entire relationship. They learn that Charlotte is actually from the future, and one if them is needed to travel with her back to the future to save their entire future.
This was definitely more hard hitting than I anticipated it to be! For a YA Speculative Fiction, I was expecting to lean more in to the Sci-Fi of it all (and don't get me wrong that is definitely well explored), but I wasn't expecting the relationships to be so raw and relatable. I felt myself yearning for the love that Nell & Cole have for each other, but also for the love that Stevie B has for Nell. It was very refreshing to see these relationships portrayed so healthily for high schoolers - so full of love for each other and the need to protect each other. I'm tearing up as I write this - just like I teared up as I read this. These characters and their story are definitely going to stick with me for a while, and I could honestly see myself re-reading this again in the future (I really don't like re-reading things if that is any indication as to how much I liked this story).
I also think the Sci-Fi elements were explained in a way that made you understand the science behind the time travel, but not too technical to the point where you needed prior knowledge of Quantum Physics to understand what was happening.
Thank you to K. J. Reilly, Nancy Paulsen Books, & NetGalley for the eARC!
This was definitely more hard hitting than I anticipated it to be! For a YA Speculative Fiction, I was expecting to lean more in to the Sci-Fi of it all (and don't get me wrong that is definitely well explored), but I wasn't expecting the relationships to be so raw and relatable. I felt myself yearning for the love that Nell & Cole have for each other, but also for the love that Stevie B has for Nell. It was very refreshing to see these relationships portrayed so healthily for high schoolers - so full of love for each other and the need to protect each other. I'm tearing up as I write this - just like I teared up as I read this. These characters and their story are definitely going to stick with me for a while, and I could honestly see myself re-reading this again in the future (I really don't like re-reading things if that is any indication as to how much I liked this story).
I also think the Sci-Fi elements were explained in a way that made you understand the science behind the time travel, but not too technical to the point where you needed prior knowledge of Quantum Physics to understand what was happening.
Thank you to K. J. Reilly, Nancy Paulsen Books, & NetGalley for the eARC!
July 18, 2025
This was a really interesting book which I did not expect time travel to be so large an idea within the book. But it was written wonderfully. And I think I might have a new favorite author.
I loved the teenage angst that was so feverently present within the writing, coupled with the mostly theoretical science basis this was actually really good.
Highly recommend anyone who loves science fiction and a little bit of fantasy.
I loved the teenage angst that was so feverently present within the writing, coupled with the mostly theoretical science basis this was actually really good.
Highly recommend anyone who loves science fiction and a little bit of fantasy.
Read
December 13, 2025I'm a sucker for a good time travel story. This one has a gorgeous writing style, and it incorporates some pretty detailed actual science by the end, an interesting and unexpected combination. If you're a fan of magical realism, love triangles, and the butterfly effect, you'll love this book!
I received a copy for review via NetGalley.
I received a copy for review via NetGalley.
December 24, 2024
One of my favorite reads of 2024! Nell, Cole and Stevie B find out the universe is bigger than they imagine. Their reality exceeds preconceived notions of space and time. Rooted in scientific theory, Sixteen Minutes carefully examines issues of health and class, including sparks of romance and the importance of family and how the individual can be a great part of a team. I was left loving this and wanting more.
June 29, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Intriguing premise, but definitely a Young Adult book due to length, pacing, and language. I would buy this for a high school library.
Intriguing premise, but definitely a Young Adult book due to length, pacing, and language. I would buy this for a high school library.
October 11, 2024
A time-travel romance in which a young couple will go to extreme lengths to save the life of a little girl who will have a huge impact on the world if she is given the chance to live in it.
Nell and Cole have a love that can never be broken, despite their youth. That is, until a mysterious girl by the name of Charlotte appears and draws Cole's attention away from Nell. With Cole distracted, Nell turns to her best friend Stevie B to try to discover the many secrets that Nell is hiding. After some investigating, the pair learn that Charlotte is from the future and she has convinced Cole to accompany her back to her timeline in order to steal a cure that might just save Cole's terminally ill younger sister. With someone they love life on the line, Nell is forced to accept that the universe is bigger than she ever thought possible and that love might be the strongest force contained within it.
I went into this one thinking that it was about two people from different time periods who fall in love with each other. Boy was I wrong. In actuality, it is a story about how even the smallest choices can have the biggest impact, the bonds that we have for our friends and family defy all limits, and the risks we are willing to take in order to help those we love. I was quite touched by all the messages in this one, despite the often slower pace of the story line.
I think my favorite type of sci-fi has to be stories with time travel and multiverses. These stories tend to really hit on how chance encounters and small acts of kindness can truly change the world for the better. Much of the science elements flew right over my head in this one, but I felt the reason that Cole and Nell took the risk of traveling through time was way less selfless than the usual reasons that people leave their time period. The way that they had to travel through time was also very unique. I had my doubts about it upon its first mention, but I came to find it really interesting as the story progressed.
Another thing I found fascinating about how time travel is approached in this one is that Nell, the narrator wasn't the one to initially travel in time. Much of the book is spent with Nell and Stevie B trying to come to terms with Cole's risky decision and hope that he makes it back alive. I just thought that this was a neat perspective to explore and sets it apart from the usual time travel experience. In the end, we do get some action with Nell getting to jump herself, which gave this book the dosage of high intensity action that it needed.
I found Cole and Nell's relationship to be really complicated, but super sweet. Nell often babysits Cole's little sister and Cole's mother practically treats Nell as her own daughter. Cole and Nell have been dating for awhile, even though they are still in high school. This is one of those couples you can't help but hope works out forever, and this feeling only intensifies as the story progresses. The banter that these two have and their little inside jokes were quite fun to follow along with, and my heart goes out to Nell with for all the anxiety she felt on Cole's part. I didn't love the fact that Nell was also attracted to Stevie B throughout the course of this story, but I can understand how this would come to be when your longtime boyfriend jumps through time and may never return. It would be hard not to have your doubts about his homecoming and turn to your best friend for support in this time of strife.
The fact that Cole's sister has a chronic lung condition and Nell's mother is a severe drug addict really adds to the intensity of this story. The stakes are high with both of these issues, which sets a sort of deadline that keeps the intensity level raised throughout the majority of the book. Towards the end, I'm not sure I could have drawn myself away from it, due to how worried I was that everything was going to turn out okay in the end.
I just wanted to shout out some of the repeating motifs in this book. I love the importance of the sixteen minutes, both in time traveling and for the urgency factor at the end of the book. The segment "Feet first. Heart bursting. Head, a distant third," was one of my favorite in the entire story. I love its double meaning with its physical connotations as well as its emotional ones. The sweet little phrases that Nell and Cole share with each other such as their forever bit which evolves into "beyond forever" really melted my heart, as did their "normal pretend stuff" game. These two seriously had some of the sweetest conversations.
Overall, I am quite pleased to report that "Sixteen Minutes" is a speculative fiction book that really hit for me. I connected to the characters, enjoyed the urgency of the plot, and adored the romantic elements. I'm glad that I was given the chance to read this one before its publication date. It is truly a sweet read that is also quite intense. It delivers some great themes and leaves the reader with the reminder that everyone is important, even when one doesn't feel that they are.
Nell and Cole have a love that can never be broken, despite their youth. That is, until a mysterious girl by the name of Charlotte appears and draws Cole's attention away from Nell. With Cole distracted, Nell turns to her best friend Stevie B to try to discover the many secrets that Nell is hiding. After some investigating, the pair learn that Charlotte is from the future and she has convinced Cole to accompany her back to her timeline in order to steal a cure that might just save Cole's terminally ill younger sister. With someone they love life on the line, Nell is forced to accept that the universe is bigger than she ever thought possible and that love might be the strongest force contained within it.
I went into this one thinking that it was about two people from different time periods who fall in love with each other. Boy was I wrong. In actuality, it is a story about how even the smallest choices can have the biggest impact, the bonds that we have for our friends and family defy all limits, and the risks we are willing to take in order to help those we love. I was quite touched by all the messages in this one, despite the often slower pace of the story line.
I think my favorite type of sci-fi has to be stories with time travel and multiverses. These stories tend to really hit on how chance encounters and small acts of kindness can truly change the world for the better. Much of the science elements flew right over my head in this one, but I felt the reason that Cole and Nell took the risk of traveling through time was way less selfless than the usual reasons that people leave their time period. The way that they had to travel through time was also very unique. I had my doubts about it upon its first mention, but I came to find it really interesting as the story progressed.
Another thing I found fascinating about how time travel is approached in this one is that Nell, the narrator wasn't the one to initially travel in time. Much of the book is spent with Nell and Stevie B trying to come to terms with Cole's risky decision and hope that he makes it back alive. I just thought that this was a neat perspective to explore and sets it apart from the usual time travel experience. In the end, we do get some action with Nell getting to jump herself, which gave this book the dosage of high intensity action that it needed.
I found Cole and Nell's relationship to be really complicated, but super sweet. Nell often babysits Cole's little sister and Cole's mother practically treats Nell as her own daughter. Cole and Nell have been dating for awhile, even though they are still in high school. This is one of those couples you can't help but hope works out forever, and this feeling only intensifies as the story progresses. The banter that these two have and their little inside jokes were quite fun to follow along with, and my heart goes out to Nell with for all the anxiety she felt on Cole's part. I didn't love the fact that Nell was also attracted to Stevie B throughout the course of this story, but I can understand how this would come to be when your longtime boyfriend jumps through time and may never return. It would be hard not to have your doubts about his homecoming and turn to your best friend for support in this time of strife.
The fact that Cole's sister has a chronic lung condition and Nell's mother is a severe drug addict really adds to the intensity of this story. The stakes are high with both of these issues, which sets a sort of deadline that keeps the intensity level raised throughout the majority of the book. Towards the end, I'm not sure I could have drawn myself away from it, due to how worried I was that everything was going to turn out okay in the end.
I just wanted to shout out some of the repeating motifs in this book. I love the importance of the sixteen minutes, both in time traveling and for the urgency factor at the end of the book. The segment "Feet first. Heart bursting. Head, a distant third," was one of my favorite in the entire story. I love its double meaning with its physical connotations as well as its emotional ones. The sweet little phrases that Nell and Cole share with each other such as their forever bit which evolves into "beyond forever" really melted my heart, as did their "normal pretend stuff" game. These two seriously had some of the sweetest conversations.
Overall, I am quite pleased to report that "Sixteen Minutes" is a speculative fiction book that really hit for me. I connected to the characters, enjoyed the urgency of the plot, and adored the romantic elements. I'm glad that I was given the chance to read this one before its publication date. It is truly a sweet read that is also quite intense. It delivers some great themes and leaves the reader with the reminder that everyone is important, even when one doesn't feel that they are.
December 7, 2025
THIS BOOK IS FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES ROMANCE AND IS LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO SAY, “OH, I’VE READ A SCI-FI BOOK, ONCE.”
Sixteen Minutes left me feeling as I did with every parallel universe troped novel I’ve ever read, even though it was a time travel book. It’s a much lighter version of Dark Matter and Midnight Library; although that might be subjective, but those ones left me feeling like I’d just run a marathon.
Now, let’s dive into it.
The book is a YA science fiction book that cycles along the lives of Cole Wilder, his best friend Stevie B, his girlfriend Nell Bannon (let’s call her Nelly), and his dying sister Finn.
Nelly’s world is very normal and perfect until a new girl arrives at her school — Charlotte.
She’s so pretty, and has this kind of vibe that tells everyone she should be anywhere but in such a town as theirs.
Things get stranger for Nelly. Her boyfriend seems to recognise this new girl and, worse, it feels like he’s hiding something.
Something that really struck me about this book is how each character portrays an emotionally rich backstory. Take Nelly’s mum, for instance.
Mrs Bannon is constantly on drugs and loses herself daily to her work in the town’s prison where she serves as a guard of sorts. Digging deeper, we see she struggles daily from the emotional blow of losing her husband. It’s so bad that she refuses to sleep in their room to avoid any emotional backlash from the sheer presence of his clothes in the wardrobe, etc. She sleeps at an abandoned corner, not minding the cold.
There’s so much to dissect, like the science in this book, or how deep the individual characters are, (and my brain is screaming to be let out) but I’ll leave you to your own discovery.
It’s a whopping five-star read for me, and you should definitely give it a chance.
Sixteen Minutes left me feeling as I did with every parallel universe troped novel I’ve ever read, even though it was a time travel book. It’s a much lighter version of Dark Matter and Midnight Library; although that might be subjective, but those ones left me feeling like I’d just run a marathon.
Now, let’s dive into it.
The book is a YA science fiction book that cycles along the lives of Cole Wilder, his best friend Stevie B, his girlfriend Nell Bannon (let’s call her Nelly), and his dying sister Finn.
Nelly’s world is very normal and perfect until a new girl arrives at her school — Charlotte.
She’s so pretty, and has this kind of vibe that tells everyone she should be anywhere but in such a town as theirs.
Things get stranger for Nelly. Her boyfriend seems to recognise this new girl and, worse, it feels like he’s hiding something.
Something that really struck me about this book is how each character portrays an emotionally rich backstory. Take Nelly’s mum, for instance.
Mrs Bannon is constantly on drugs and loses herself daily to her work in the town’s prison where she serves as a guard of sorts. Digging deeper, we see she struggles daily from the emotional blow of losing her husband. It’s so bad that she refuses to sleep in their room to avoid any emotional backlash from the sheer presence of his clothes in the wardrobe, etc. She sleeps at an abandoned corner, not minding the cold.
There’s so much to dissect, like the science in this book, or how deep the individual characters are, (and my brain is screaming to be let out) but I’ll leave you to your own discovery.
It’s a whopping five-star read for me, and you should definitely give it a chance.
October 20, 2024
Huge thanks to Penguin and Nancy Paulsen Books for the E-Arc of this book.
What would you do if someone you loved was going to die and you had the possibility of saving them but it meant risking your life and believing in the unbelievable. What if it meant the possibility of missing out on their final days on earth if you failed, or if you were wrong?
Sixteen Minutes follows Nell as she navigates her relationships with her boyfriend Cole, her best friend Stevie B. and the introduction of a new girl at school into their lives. Cole's sister is sick, she has been her whole life, and when the new girl claims to be from the future and to know how to save Finn, who she pronounces will die in days without her, Nell, Cole, and Stevie B must decide whether or not to believe the unbelievable, or risk losing Finn and possibly each other in the process.
This is a very character driven novel. Their world, and the one that Charlotte claims to come from in the future, aren't very strongly built but that's okay, because this book is about Nell. Its about friendship and the lengths that we as humans are willing to go to for the ones we love.
Sixteen Minutes reminded me a lot of reading Vampires, Hearts and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston. I absolutely adored both books and how they explored the the complete dismissal of self preservation when we are faced with the possibility of losing someone we love. How in more cases than we probably know, we are willing to believe in impossibility if it gives us a little hope.
I loved Sixteen Minutes. I love books that make you feel and this one did not disappoint. I highly recommend Sixteen Minutes for those who enjoyed Vampires, Hearts and Other Dead Things, or enjoy really well crafted YA novels of love and hope and a little science fiction.
What would you do if someone you loved was going to die and you had the possibility of saving them but it meant risking your life and believing in the unbelievable. What if it meant the possibility of missing out on their final days on earth if you failed, or if you were wrong?
Sixteen Minutes follows Nell as she navigates her relationships with her boyfriend Cole, her best friend Stevie B. and the introduction of a new girl at school into their lives. Cole's sister is sick, she has been her whole life, and when the new girl claims to be from the future and to know how to save Finn, who she pronounces will die in days without her, Nell, Cole, and Stevie B must decide whether or not to believe the unbelievable, or risk losing Finn and possibly each other in the process.
This is a very character driven novel. Their world, and the one that Charlotte claims to come from in the future, aren't very strongly built but that's okay, because this book is about Nell. Its about friendship and the lengths that we as humans are willing to go to for the ones we love.
Sixteen Minutes reminded me a lot of reading Vampires, Hearts and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston. I absolutely adored both books and how they explored the the complete dismissal of self preservation when we are faced with the possibility of losing someone we love. How in more cases than we probably know, we are willing to believe in impossibility if it gives us a little hope.
I loved Sixteen Minutes. I love books that make you feel and this one did not disappoint. I highly recommend Sixteen Minutes for those who enjoyed Vampires, Hearts and Other Dead Things, or enjoy really well crafted YA novels of love and hope and a little science fiction.
May 25, 2024
In this gripping speculative YA novel, the arrival of Charlotte, a mysterious new girl, disrupts the lives of three friends: Nell, her best friend Stevie B, and her boyfriend Cole. Seventeen-year-old Nell has always felt trapped in her dead-end hometown, secure in the belief that Stevie B and Cole would always be by her side. However, Charlotte's sudden appearance and quick connection to Cole, leaves Nell feeling insecure and suspicious.
As secret meetings between Cole and Charlotte increase, Nell's fears grow. She and Stevie B are determined to uncover the truth about Charlotte. Their confrontation with Charlotte and Cole leads to a mind-bending revelation: Charlotte is from the future, with a mission that involves taking Cole back with her. This revelation challenges everything Nell and her friends have known, thrusting them into a whirlwind of emotions and choices.
The novel explores themes of love, loyalty, and the unknown possibilities of time travel. It raises compelling questions about fate and the courage to face uncertain futures. With a multiverse of potential paths before them, the characters must decide who will embrace the leap into the unknown and who will remain anchored in the present. This gripping tale is a thought-provoking journey through the intricacies of relationships and the power of choice.
As secret meetings between Cole and Charlotte increase, Nell's fears grow. She and Stevie B are determined to uncover the truth about Charlotte. Their confrontation with Charlotte and Cole leads to a mind-bending revelation: Charlotte is from the future, with a mission that involves taking Cole back with her. This revelation challenges everything Nell and her friends have known, thrusting them into a whirlwind of emotions and choices.
The novel explores themes of love, loyalty, and the unknown possibilities of time travel. It raises compelling questions about fate and the courage to face uncertain futures. With a multiverse of potential paths before them, the characters must decide who will embrace the leap into the unknown and who will remain anchored in the present. This gripping tale is a thought-provoking journey through the intricacies of relationships and the power of choice.
October 16, 2024
4.5 (but dare i say this could be a 5 star)?? - I LOVED this. The concept was so cool and made me want to go learn everything I can about the multiverse and quantum physics. It felt like such a warm hug and comforted me about my role in the universe and how each person affects the events of the world and everyone surrounding us. Just such a wonderful wonderful book, such a cool scifi concept and I loved the story and characters so much 😭 THIS is the type of YA books I love, that really explore broader themes and make you think about life and your existence and purpose, even at an older age.
Sixteen Minutes is about Nell, Stevie B and Cole. Nell and Cole are in a long time relationship and all three of them have been best friends forever. When a new girl shows up in town, Cole starts acting weird. They discover that he is planning to travel to another dimension through a time warp in their world, to try and save his little sister before she dies from an incurable disease. Nell has to grapple with whether the universe is larger than she ever imagines and her role in saving those she loves.
The book explores so many fascinating concepts. The ability to travel to the future and see how things play out, and how each action we take in one timeline has a direct effect on everyone in other universes. The concept of the multiverse and quantum physics is SO interesting to me and the author did a really fantastic job pulling in that information and making me want to learn more!! The romance was super cute, but above all I loved the focus on family, friends, and loving those in your life. The sacrifices and selfishness of these teens was so wonderful to witness. This book was fast paced and just beautiful, and I loved every second of it!!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Sixteen Minutes is about Nell, Stevie B and Cole. Nell and Cole are in a long time relationship and all three of them have been best friends forever. When a new girl shows up in town, Cole starts acting weird. They discover that he is planning to travel to another dimension through a time warp in their world, to try and save his little sister before she dies from an incurable disease. Nell has to grapple with whether the universe is larger than she ever imagines and her role in saving those she loves.
The book explores so many fascinating concepts. The ability to travel to the future and see how things play out, and how each action we take in one timeline has a direct effect on everyone in other universes. The concept of the multiverse and quantum physics is SO interesting to me and the author did a really fantastic job pulling in that information and making me want to learn more!! The romance was super cute, but above all I loved the focus on family, friends, and loving those in your life. The sacrifices and selfishness of these teens was so wonderful to witness. This book was fast paced and just beautiful, and I loved every second of it!!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!
September 2, 2025
Wow...this story was fun. I'm not typically one for contemporary fiction, but with the wonderful added element of time travel, I was hooked. Reilly did a great job stringing me along, veiling pieces of the puzzle from me until their reveals. The characters are endearing, the themes of love and the importance of even the smallest actions are strong. And I loved the repeating story elements that cycle through the book. Repeating parallelisms and promise/payoff are always my favorite features of a good story, but it worked especially well for this one.
I appreciated the science added for us nerds, though, as most time travel fiction goes, if you think too deeply about it, you start to run into paradoxes and plot holes. But that comes with the genre.
Truly, my only strong criticism is the sheer amount of profanity I had to skim over. Everything else was an enjoyable ride.
I appreciated the science added for us nerds, though, as most time travel fiction goes, if you think too deeply about it, you start to run into paradoxes and plot holes. But that comes with the genre.
Truly, my only strong criticism is the sheer amount of profanity I had to skim over. Everything else was an enjoyable ride.
October 14, 2024
Sixteen Minutes is an incredible, heart-opening, and gorgeously written book! It is about Nell, a young girl uninspired about her hometown and her opportunity to meet Charlotte-- a new girl in her town. This book is amazingly written and inspirational throughout, causing you to think deeply and question the themes as they relate to your own life. I love the time-travel aspect of this book and the possibility to change one's fate. This is an incredible, introspective read. I felt so many emotions while reading this story. I can't recommend this book highly enough!
October 18, 2024
This is a beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, and the power of the unknown. I am not a huge fan of time travel books but this one had me glued to the pages! The writing is vivid; you have no problem feeling all of the characters emotions and picturing the settings! The character development is done so well that you feel like you are their best friend and you can't help but care for them and want them to find their happily ever after. This was a great speculative YA fiction book! Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours, Penguin Teen and K.J. Reilly for sharing this book with me!
October 20, 2024
What would you do……….if you found out someone you love would die within days? What would you do if you found out there was a way to save them? And what would you do if you discovered the world you lived in wasn’t what it appeared? Sixteen Minutes explores all those questions, more than those and much more to consider. It is a work of fiction, however, who knows if elements exist in our world today. Four stars for this unusual YA novel that makes you truly question how you would react and what would you do….
October 26, 2024
This was an incredible story, I really appreciated the beautiful storytelling, very visual and immersive. Nell felt like such a real person, fleshed out and well-rounded, and with dynamic and complex relationships with her mother, Finn, Stevie B, and of course, Cole. The way Nell's personality is presenting throughout this book is the feature I enjoyed the most, but the plot throughout was totally unique and unexpected! I love the author's note at the end, explaining the use of real world science and a touch of magic combined that went into creating this incredible world.
October 11, 2024
This type of sci-fi feels believable, adventurous, and heartening.
The story is written from a teenager's perspective but covers many serious topics, and the character development is amazing.
The sci-fi concepts were well-researched, and a little fiction was thrown in, making this a majorly enjoyable read. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for a copy of this book. It is out on October 15th!
The story is written from a teenager's perspective but covers many serious topics, and the character development is amazing.
The sci-fi concepts were well-researched, and a little fiction was thrown in, making this a majorly enjoyable read. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for a copy of this book. It is out on October 15th!
March 20, 2025
A beautifully written book. Sometimes a little TOO good. I'll admit I had to skim the parts where they dived into the quarry; the vivid descriptions made me feel a bit claustrophobic! But the story was too compelling to put down. I loved how Nell's bond with Cole was an anchor as she faced so much uncertainty. This is one to read if you want to feel unwavering faith in the future despite impossible challenges, struggle, and loss.
April 25, 2025
4.5: Listen, this book was so so good!! If you're into YA, pick this up now!! I would recommend going in blind. Unfortunately, the blurb gives away one of the major twists that would have been really fun to not see coming! This was such a pleasant surprise!!
December 17, 2024
An adventurous YA time travel novel with a bit of romance.
January 28, 2025
omg loved this book the love and the science and possibility of time travel loved it
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August 18, 2024**Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! These thoughts are my own.**
I did not have time to read this book, and to be honest, the parts I did read didn't particularly make me want to continue. As a Christian reader, the relatively frequent curse words were annoying, and I just couldn't get behind the writing style. The main character girl's POV (which I'm pretty sure is the only one) really grated on my nerves. She annoyed me so much that I just couldn't continue.
It's very possible this book gets better as it goes on and I just didn't have the time to reach that part, but I just couldn't do it.
I did not have time to read this book, and to be honest, the parts I did read didn't particularly make me want to continue. As a Christian reader, the relatively frequent curse words were annoying, and I just couldn't get behind the writing style. The main character girl's POV (which I'm pretty sure is the only one) really grated on my nerves. She annoyed me so much that I just couldn't continue.
It's very possible this book gets better as it goes on and I just didn't have the time to reach that part, but I just couldn't do it.
July 5, 2024
When a new girl arrives claiming to be from the future, Nell and her friends face a choice that could change everything: stick with the life they know or embrace the unknown possibilities of time travel.
This was a really fast paced time travel YA novel. I have to admit - a lot of time travel and time loop stuff goes way over my head but I am a sucker for these stories every single time. I love imagining different universes and time loops and time travel and apparently, theoretically, it is possible. The author gives a whole list of books to read in the author’s note!
I liked how brave Cole, Nell and Stevie B were. I also liked how they acknowledged the multiverse. Charlotte was a mystery for sure and I really enjoyed how she and Levi fit into the story. This one went by so quick! I’d definitely recommend it for a perfect weekend read. The stakes are just high enough and it’s just tense enough to keep you finding the pages.
I was provided a digital copy for review by NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own.
This was a really fast paced time travel YA novel. I have to admit - a lot of time travel and time loop stuff goes way over my head but I am a sucker for these stories every single time. I love imagining different universes and time loops and time travel and apparently, theoretically, it is possible. The author gives a whole list of books to read in the author’s note!
I liked how brave Cole, Nell and Stevie B were. I also liked how they acknowledged the multiverse. Charlotte was a mystery for sure and I really enjoyed how she and Levi fit into the story. This one went by so quick! I’d definitely recommend it for a perfect weekend read. The stakes are just high enough and it’s just tense enough to keep you finding the pages.
I was provided a digital copy for review by NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own.
April 14, 2025
I don’t know what is more unbelievable, that a girl with no training and can’t hold her breath for more than two minutes can miraculously hold it for 16 minutes after jumping or that a well prepared girl with all the answers wouldn’t think to use some sort of scuba oxygen tank?
This book was awful. It claims to be a time travelling romance and it fails on both accounts.
The main character is obsessive and controlling and we don’t even learn if time travel is possible until the last 40-50 pages, only for the characters to waste more time before completing their mission in a page or two.
I could go on, but why spoil it for those who may still want to read it.
All in all this was pointless.
This book was awful. It claims to be a time travelling romance and it fails on both accounts.
The main character is obsessive and controlling and we don’t even learn if time travel is possible until the last 40-50 pages, only for the characters to waste more time before completing their mission in a page or two.
I could go on, but why spoil it for those who may still want to read it.
All in all this was pointless.
November 25, 2024
This book is about time travel and parallel universes (multiversity ideas). There was a lot going on and I'm not sure why the main character Nell had a love triangle going on with her boyfriend Cole and friend Stevie B. That storyline was just strange. Most of the story centers around the idea if traveling through time to bring back life saving medicine for Cole's little sister. There really isn't anything else here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2025
LOVED this time travel romance!
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