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Distant Times
Three lives cross during an unprecedented time.
AMBER's marriage is falling apart, but the reason has always been beyond her control. The stress of being an ICU nurse only adds to her problems, and with the onset of COVID, she's not sure she has the strength to keep fighting.
MICHAEL is not like most kids. He loves going to school because it's a safe haven from the terror at home. However, when schools start closing due to the virus, he fears that his life will only get worse.
CHASE is a dreamer. He is weeks away from checking off his number one bucket list item when the pandemic strikes. Fearing for his mother's health, he moves back home to protect her, but he questions himself at every turn.
AMBER's marriage is falling apart, but the reason has always been beyond her control. The stress of being an ICU nurse only adds to her problems, and with the onset of COVID, she's not sure she has the strength to keep fighting.
MICHAEL is not like most kids. He loves going to school because it's a safe haven from the terror at home. However, when schools start closing due to the virus, he fears that his life will only get worse.
CHASE is a dreamer. He is weeks away from checking off his number one bucket list item when the pandemic strikes. Fearing for his mother's health, he moves back home to protect her, but he questions himself at every turn.
291 pages, Hardcover
Published April 23, 2025
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 17, 2025
Distant Times is a character-driven fictional novel set during one of the most defining global events in recent memory—the COVID-19 pandemic. The story follows three major characters—Amber, Michael, and Chase—as they navigate emotional upheavals, broken relationships, and identity crises, all while the world around them spins into uncertainty and fear. Though fictional, the story is clearly rooted in real events, capturing both the shared and individual experiences many lived through during the global lockdown period of 2020.
The story is clearly inspired by the global COVID-19 pandemic and its widespread effects. It captures the early days of confusion, denial, panic, media speculation, and shifting protocols in hospitals, schools, and public spaces. Each character’s perspective reflects a different societal lens.
Amber, a nurse, represents the overwhelmed frontline workers, facing the brunt of rising hospitalizations and emotional exhaustion.
Michael represents broken homes and the internal psychological chaos intensified by confinement and lack of escape.
Chase, embodies youthful frustration, missed opportunities (like WrestleMania), and the growing mistrust in media narratives.
The storytelling is fragmented yet deeply emotional—mirroring the uncertainty and abrupt changes people endured during the pandemic. Each character’s point of view is authentic and offered understanding on how the pandemic affected different demographics.
Amber’s scenes carry the emotional stress of healthcare work. Her desire to let her husband go, despite still loving him, reveals the emotional self-sacrifice many women made during this period.
Michael’s backstory dives deep into themes of childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and suppressed rage.
Chase’s perspective adds urgency and relatability. His disappointment over canceled games, fear of infection, and ultimate doubt about media integrity reflect the discomfort felt by many.
While reading this book, it felt like an emotional journal, with internal monologues and raw feelings woven into every scene.
The author tackled sensitive issues, including pandemic response, abuse, marital drift, mental health, misinformation, and even mortality, carefully.
Though romance wasn’t the focus, it surfaced naturally through Amber and Michael's relationship. It doesn’t follow a traditional romantic arc, but the underlying love, frustration, and grief between them add realism to their story. It was an unexpected but appreciated element and it gave the novel emotional depth.
The events are fictional but written with such resonance that they feel universal. Whether it’s the chaotic reshuffling of hospital staff, the empty stadiums, or the clashing worldviews inside homes, the author made sure every scene made an impact.
Reading Distant Times felt like reliving a chapter of life many would rather forget, but can’t. It stirred nostalgia, anxiety, reflection, and gratitude. The book reminded me how our fears shifted, from finances and careers to something as primal as breathing close to others.
It also reminded me on how quickly life returned to "normal." As Chase begins to question the validity of pandemic news, the story hints at one uncomfortable truth—how fragile and malleable public trust really is.
The pacing is uneven in parts, with some plotlines (like Camilla’s part or the romance angle) receiving less attention than deserved. However, it might have been intentional, to mirror the chaotic, blurring passage of time during lockdown.
Despite being a fictional account, the story makes space for themes of rebirth and new beginnings. The ending suggests that even though the world changed, not all changes were for the worse. For some, the pandemic became a chance to find new family, meaning, and clarity.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story is clearly inspired by the global COVID-19 pandemic and its widespread effects. It captures the early days of confusion, denial, panic, media speculation, and shifting protocols in hospitals, schools, and public spaces. Each character’s perspective reflects a different societal lens.
Amber, a nurse, represents the overwhelmed frontline workers, facing the brunt of rising hospitalizations and emotional exhaustion.
Michael represents broken homes and the internal psychological chaos intensified by confinement and lack of escape.
Chase, embodies youthful frustration, missed opportunities (like WrestleMania), and the growing mistrust in media narratives.
The storytelling is fragmented yet deeply emotional—mirroring the uncertainty and abrupt changes people endured during the pandemic. Each character’s point of view is authentic and offered understanding on how the pandemic affected different demographics.
Amber’s scenes carry the emotional stress of healthcare work. Her desire to let her husband go, despite still loving him, reveals the emotional self-sacrifice many women made during this period.
Michael’s backstory dives deep into themes of childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and suppressed rage.
Chase’s perspective adds urgency and relatability. His disappointment over canceled games, fear of infection, and ultimate doubt about media integrity reflect the discomfort felt by many.
While reading this book, it felt like an emotional journal, with internal monologues and raw feelings woven into every scene.
The author tackled sensitive issues, including pandemic response, abuse, marital drift, mental health, misinformation, and even mortality, carefully.
Though romance wasn’t the focus, it surfaced naturally through Amber and Michael's relationship. It doesn’t follow a traditional romantic arc, but the underlying love, frustration, and grief between them add realism to their story. It was an unexpected but appreciated element and it gave the novel emotional depth.
The events are fictional but written with such resonance that they feel universal. Whether it’s the chaotic reshuffling of hospital staff, the empty stadiums, or the clashing worldviews inside homes, the author made sure every scene made an impact.
Reading Distant Times felt like reliving a chapter of life many would rather forget, but can’t. It stirred nostalgia, anxiety, reflection, and gratitude. The book reminded me how our fears shifted, from finances and careers to something as primal as breathing close to others.
It also reminded me on how quickly life returned to "normal." As Chase begins to question the validity of pandemic news, the story hints at one uncomfortable truth—how fragile and malleable public trust really is.
The pacing is uneven in parts, with some plotlines (like Camilla’s part or the romance angle) receiving less attention than deserved. However, it might have been intentional, to mirror the chaotic, blurring passage of time during lockdown.
Despite being a fictional account, the story makes space for themes of rebirth and new beginnings. The ending suggests that even though the world changed, not all changes were for the worse. For some, the pandemic became a chance to find new family, meaning, and clarity.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I absolutely loved this book. Of course it was so relatable since I lived through the pandemic but also the way it highlights different types of struggles people endured. From being on the front lines, to losing loved ones, to being forced to stay home when home is a terrifying place, this book showed the side of the pandemic that wasn’t just working from home and living a slower life. The best part of this book was how the characters’ lives intersect, and though there were some tragic events, they persevere and come out in the end. Beautiful writing with an amazing plot!
March 22, 2025
When lives merge, hope renews! This author creates sympathetic characters with believable stories set in the early, "COVID years." I zoomed through this easy-reading story, and enjoyed it even more the second time around, and was reminded how dark times bring out heroes among us all.
June 2, 2025
A quick, captivating read. Very relatable characters in this debut novella by Gary Martin
June 10, 2025
As much as I don’t like to be reminded of our covid years the author tells a sweet story that envelops you in a warm hug and helps you believe in humanity. A great story of love and hope.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews