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Shift Change
Twenty-five years ago a war broke out when robots, invented to save Americans, evolved and turned against them.
Now, in overpopulated Canadian cities that took in American refugees, citizens are forced to live their day to day lives in shifts.
But what if the love of your life was on the opposite shift? What if you could only see them in passing, making the most of the moments in between shifts? Would it be enough?
Now, in overpopulated Canadian cities that took in American refugees, citizens are forced to live their day to day lives in shifts.
But what if the love of your life was on the opposite shift? What if you could only see them in passing, making the most of the moments in between shifts? Would it be enough?
413 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2025
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 14, 2025
I went into Shift Change not knowing what to expect, but I came out the other side completely floored in the best possible way. This book hit me like a gut punch in the emotions more times than I could count. From Lily and Henry’s pre-war love story to Noah and Rae’s post-collapse connection, every relationship was layered, honest, and deeply human.
The dual timeline structure usually bugs me in some books, but here? It worked beautifully. The transitions between “before” and “after” felt seamless, and each storyline enhanced the other. You feel the weight of history bearing down on Noah, and you root so hard for him and Rae despite the obstacles their world throws at them, especially the unique “shift” system that keeps them apart 12 hours a day. It’s such a clever metaphor for how hard it is to connect when the world itself feels broken.
The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming. The rise of the Bellator robots, the tech billionaire who made them, the refugee crisis that followed, and the eerie realism of how society adapted all felt plausible, terrifyingly so. Yet despite the dystopian backdrop, this is a book about love, survival, and how we find moments of connection in the spaces between destruction.
The characters are what made this story unforgettable for me. Every interaction from Lily’s moments with Tom and Claire, Lily & Henry's pre-war interactions to Noah trying to navigate adulthood while watching his mother slowly slip away, brought real tears to my eyes. The writing doesn’t try to manipulate your emotions; it earns them, scene by scene.
When I turned the last page, I felt satisfied and hopeful. That kind of ending is rare, especially in stories built around loss and separation. I took my time with this one because I didn’t want the story to end, and that’s always a sign of something special.
Would I reread this? Absolutely.
Would I recommend it? Without hesitation.
Did it leave a lasting impression? Yes, and then some.
The dual timeline structure usually bugs me in some books, but here? It worked beautifully. The transitions between “before” and “after” felt seamless, and each storyline enhanced the other. You feel the weight of history bearing down on Noah, and you root so hard for him and Rae despite the obstacles their world throws at them, especially the unique “shift” system that keeps them apart 12 hours a day. It’s such a clever metaphor for how hard it is to connect when the world itself feels broken.
The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming. The rise of the Bellator robots, the tech billionaire who made them, the refugee crisis that followed, and the eerie realism of how society adapted all felt plausible, terrifyingly so. Yet despite the dystopian backdrop, this is a book about love, survival, and how we find moments of connection in the spaces between destruction.
The characters are what made this story unforgettable for me. Every interaction from Lily’s moments with Tom and Claire, Lily & Henry's pre-war interactions to Noah trying to navigate adulthood while watching his mother slowly slip away, brought real tears to my eyes. The writing doesn’t try to manipulate your emotions; it earns them, scene by scene.
When I turned the last page, I felt satisfied and hopeful. That kind of ending is rare, especially in stories built around loss and separation. I took my time with this one because I didn’t want the story to end, and that’s always a sign of something special.
Would I reread this? Absolutely.
Would I recommend it? Without hesitation.
Did it leave a lasting impression? Yes, and then some.
October 11, 2025
This book was so sweet and only a little heartbreaking thankfully! It's like iRobot meets Nicholas Sparks and I'm here for it! Loved the two different love stories across the time periods and how it all came back around. All I can say is, do we get a book 2??
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews