A Temporary Shift

by Emily Buchanan

A whirlwind adventure where rom-com meets sci-fi.

She had thought she’d be answering phones, perhaps a bit of tea-making and filing. But her reality as she has known it, is just about to change, forever…

Sally Sullivan’s work as an office temp just about pays the bills, but her haphazard life lacks direction and meaning. Her latest contract, working in a particle physics laboratory, promises something more interesting, especially when she meets charming physicist, Lockey.

Within moments of entering Lockey’s world, Sally finds herself hurtled into a realm beyond-belief, experiencing life on levels she could never in her wildest dreams have imagined. Where possibilities become realities and nothing is as she had thought it to be. Her life will never be the same, as she battles to make sense of her new and tumultuous existence on a journey, not only across dimensions, but also of self-discovery. Will she ever get back to how things were, and would she want to?

“With humor, heart, and a touch of chaos, A Temporary Shift is a fast-paced, mind-bending adventure through love, discovery, and the infinite possibilities of the universe. Perfect for fans of Matt Haig, Audrey Niffenegger, and Cecelia Ahern.”

217 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2025

About the author

Emily Buchanan is a UK author from the south of England, where she lives with her husband and three children. An avid reader and daydreamer. A Temporary Shift is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Christy Matheson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a clever execution of a fun concept! Every time the main characters fell asleep, they woke up in a new life possibility. The FMC is married — or an artist — or in Japan — depending on what she did in this version of her lifetime. The backstory and family problems were cleverly woven in, and we learn more about the characters and what we hope for their inner happiness as the story progresses.

Whenever the reader might think they know where the story is going... boom, something changes! The pacing was brisk and the plot was super twisty. It reminded me of Holly Gramazio’s The Husbands, but with two main characters changing and working together.

I wish I could have enjoyed the execution of this book more. First of all, I never felt fully grounded in the main characters. It would have helped to have another consistent element, and the sudden leaps in POV were a major disconnect. I wish the author had stayed with the characters more deeply in some of the scenes, so we got more emotional connection.

But the main problem was the writing style was chaotic. The author used commas everywhere, creating sprawling, run-on sentences. Punctuation around dialogue was frequently incorrect, making it difficult to decipher who was talking or acting. Furthermore, the formatting was inconsistent. It went beyond stylistic choices and just plain needed better editing, and I found this distracting to my reading experience. The cover is crisp and professional, and I wish the inside matched that!

Overall, this was a unique idea and a fast-moving plot. If you are a plot-driven reader looking for something a little different, I hope you enjoy it!

[Anita Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly crafted, totally satisfying time-travelling rom-com
From the opening chapter I was completely caught up in this wonderful story, packed with gentle humour, marvellous characters and a time travelling plot so cleverly constructed I am in awe of author Emily Buchanan's storytelling. The action whizzes along with never a dull passage, taking the protagonists, Sally and Lockey, on a fantastic time-looping adventure that just gets better and better as they discover themselves, all the while on a crazy – but somehow believable – journey across time dimensions. The writing is a joy to read and the many layers of the story kept me avidly turning the pages. There's nothing predictable in this plot and the inventiveness of the twists had me gasping and wondering how Emily Buchanan fitted this all together so neatly. This book will get you thinking about your life, the paths you take, and the impact your existence leaves. It will make you laugh, and it might make you shed a tear – I certainly did at the end. 'A Temporary Shift' is an impressive debut novel, and it would make a fabulous film, in the right director's hands. I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants a fun, feel-good read to make you remember that life can be an adventure, full of infinite possibilities, if you just find the courage to embrace them.

[Kristina Kamaeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Sullivan believes that her life is rather bland and uneventful. She is also clumsy and accident-prone. On the first day of her new job, she unintentionally activates a particle accelerator— a machine that sends her into alternative reality. Her boss, who tries to save her from the machine, also relocates. From now on, every time they fall asleep or pass out, they wake up in a new reality.
Most of their experiences in alternate lives are realistic and positive. Sally gets an opportunity to explore what her life would be if she inherited parents’ money and became a famous artist, travelled all over the world and could speak foreign languages, or met the love of her life.
Her alternate selves’ skills transfer to her real self, and she’s relatively comfortable with her new lives, knowing that her stay in each of the parallel realities wouldn’t last long.
In the end, Sally and Lockey need to find a way to return to their original world.
The book has many twists and some soap opera tropes. It's not a thriller, but a feel-good read that will help you envision different possibilities of life and relationships.
And admit it must be fascinating and disturbing not to know where and with whom you’ll wake up!

[Ciera Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Temporary Shift is a heartwarming story about finding destiny and how the life we think we know isn’t always set in stone. I enjoyed watching Sally’s journey from feeling like her life was dull and disappointing to deciding the life that she wanted. When she accidentally sets off a time machine at her new workplace, she has a chance to see the different ways her life could have played out.

I found it intriguing that Sally is moved around between these dimensions by chance but eventually choses which of those lives she wants to keep. The life she thought she knew is so much more vibrant and fuller of possibilities than she ever imagined. Though I would have preferred her to wait until marriage before having a child, her relationship with the guy she chooses was heartwarming and I was definitely rooting for them before the book ended!

From discovering the truth about her family to finding love, Sally’s journey of self-discovery is an inspiring tale full of twists and turns. The story shows that even if we think we ‘missed it’ at certain points in life, it’s never too late to go and live the life that we always wanted.

[Wes Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Temporary Shift by Emily Buchanan is an interesting read. The premise is that the main character inadvertently starts a machine that sends her into parallel lives. The incident happens at the beginning of the book, which caught my attention right away. The main character is a lovable and human individual who is easy to relate to. At first, I was worried that it was going to turn into a romance, which is a genre I am not fond of, but it didn’t. There are romantic elements, of course, but it steers clear of being a full-fledged romance. As the main character passes through different versions of her life, I felt myself pondering the events of life and how a different decision or a certain event could send one’s life in a totally different direction. I have to admit that, during the first few parallel lives, I felt a bit out of sorts because I had begun connecting with other characters only to find her moving on and leaving the characters behind. It does stabilize and I felt better connected with the protagonist and her friends.

[Lucy Brighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Buchanan’s A Temporary Shift is a brilliantly crafted, time-travelling rom-com that delivers both heart and wit in equal measure. From the opening chapter, the novel captivates with its clever structure, engaging plot, and endearing protagonist. Sally, stuck in a life that feels disappointing, accidentally activates a time machine at her new job, launching her into a series of parallel lives. What follows is a charming and thought-provoking journey of self-discovery, where fate, choice, and love are artfully explored. Buchanan’s writing sparkles with humour and emotional depth, offering unexpected twists and profound reflections on life’s infinite possibilities. While romantic elements are present, the story remains focused on Sally’s transformation as she ultimately chooses the life—and the love—that feels most authentic. With vivid characters, a strong narrative arc, and a poignant ending, A Temporary Shift is an uplifting and inventive debut that would translate beautifully to film. Highly recommended.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites! Great sci-fi!

Wow! If you’re not rooting for Sally from page one, you should check your pulse. Definitely more than just a rom-com; an unsuspecting wild trip across time! One of my favorite books ever. Sci-fi is at its best when it puts people in extraordinary and unconventional situations and this book is just like wow so many interesting and great questions just sneak up on you and then stay with you.

The book just kept changing from what I thought it would be and mysteries and questions were posed and they kept getting bigger and bigger and the ending was super satisfying and it all comes together.

Sally, a downtrodden, unlucky in life temp worker gets a job at a physics lab with a particle accelerator and . . . hello sci-fi goodies like multiverse and time travel and all that.
The whole thing reminded me of a clean, Hallmark mix of The Time Traveler's Wife and Sliding Doors and the show The Way Home. Just so much fun!

[Natalie Blank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in just two days. Multiple universes and time travel stories can sometimes be hit or miss for me, but this one was exceptionally well-written and touched my heartstrings in such a beautiful way. I connected with Sally from the very beginning. She’s such a warm, relatable character, and I found her relationship with Lockie to be fascinating. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding them at first. I wondered if they might fall in love, but without giving too much away, the story takes some surprising and emotional turns. I especially loved how the different realities Sally experienced weren’t just random—they all shaped her into who she truly was and helped her realize what she wanted from life. The structure of the book was masterful, with everything tying together in a meaningful way by the end. If you enjoyed The Time Traveler’s Wife, this is absolutely a must-read.

[JaneAustin'sPetticoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for those seeking a light-hearted science fiction rom-com style of book. The author's writing is very clear, and the protagonist, Sally Sullivan, is relatable. Sally takes a temporary gig at a physics lab, and an accident serves as the catalyst to pull her out of the internal and external monotony into an interest journey of self-exploration, reality, and the unpredictability of life. Sally has a nice dry sense of humor, and she has her quirks, but she is overall very likeable nad relatable to the reader.

It's not dense and doesn't contain heavy narration, which is great for a light sci-fi that is meant to be entertaining and a temporary escape from life. There's not a ton of worldbuilding. The themes touch on changes in life, finding meaning in the small things in life, and putting an uplifting spin on things. There is plenty of humor as well, which I liked. I enjoyed the plot and narration, and I look forward to reading more books by Buchanan!

[Helen M Merrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I picked up this book. I’m a fan of rom-coms and sci-fi and this book delivers both in spades along with a generous helping of humour and more plot twists than you can shake a stick at. The characters are both endearing and relatable, the tale of their hapless time traveling antics told with such skill that it’s absolutely believable. The plot is complex, the ‘truth’ of Sally and Lockey’s original reality drip fed in measured doses as each parallel life they encounter uncovers a hidden detail about their life they considered ‘real’. The plot is fast paced and the story engaging from start to finish. This is an intelligent, humerus book with no over-explaining of the plot or the mechanics of time-travel. It’s essentially a rom-com and an easy read despite its complexity. I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to seeing what author Emily Buchanan writes next.

[Natalie Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Temporary Shift is a story full of parallel dimensions, time travelling, likeable characters, and romance, complete with a whole bunch of twists. The plot lines all come together neatly at the end, with many of the threads tying up in a surprising and overall satisfying manner. I can only imagine how many drafts this book went through, and it is all the more impressive as a debut novel.

These days, I don't tend to read books as quickly, but this one had me turning the pages. It is a story about finding yourself in many different ways, and I think we could all benefit from a journey like Sally's through our different possible lives to discover ourselves and the life we truly want to live.

[Jennifer Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was so gripping and unusual! A fabulous cast of characters (I especially adored little Flora!!), time loops and alternate realities, all woven and twisted together in such a clever way. The author's beautifully smooth writing style made this a pleasure to read, too. Highly recommend!

[Karenina Córdova · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a fun book to read, a total joy from start to finish!