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Lost Time
Sometimes the only way to find your future is to face your past.
Iris has always carried the heavy weight of disappointment, most of all in herself. Haunted by the death of her mother and her own insecurity, she's convinced she's unworthy of love and pushes away the one person who's stood by her through Billy.
One lonely night, overwhelmed and aimless, Iris wanders into the woods with no destination and even less hope. But just as she's on the brink of a drastic decision, the world shifts. Time itself unravels, and Iris is thrown into a series of alternate realities, each more unexpected than the last.
As she stumbles through these fractured versions of her life-encountering strangers who feel like home-Iris must confront the truth she's always avoided. If she wants to make it back to her own time, to the person who matters most, she'll have to stop running from who she was . . . and start becoming who she's meant to be.
Lost Time is a romantic journey through memory, regret, and redemption-a reminder that even when the past feels impossible to escape, it's never too late to change your future and find your faith.
Iris has always carried the heavy weight of disappointment, most of all in herself. Haunted by the death of her mother and her own insecurity, she's convinced she's unworthy of love and pushes away the one person who's stood by her through Billy.
One lonely night, overwhelmed and aimless, Iris wanders into the woods with no destination and even less hope. But just as she's on the brink of a drastic decision, the world shifts. Time itself unravels, and Iris is thrown into a series of alternate realities, each more unexpected than the last.
As she stumbles through these fractured versions of her life-encountering strangers who feel like home-Iris must confront the truth she's always avoided. If she wants to make it back to her own time, to the person who matters most, she'll have to stop running from who she was . . . and start becoming who she's meant to be.
Lost Time is a romantic journey through memory, regret, and redemption-a reminder that even when the past feels impossible to escape, it's never too late to change your future and find your faith.
- GenresTime Travel
172 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Holly Trost
1 book2 followersHOLLY TROST is a passionate writer who draws on her life experiences. She started as an Instagram influencer who spoke on introversion, and later found a love for sharing poetry and writing stories.
With a BA in social science, Holly works from home, juggling deadlines and two kids like a pro. When she’s not writing, Holly is usually getting lost on a trail, reading, or hanging out with her close-knit family and friends. Her Christian faith is a big part of her life and shows up in her writing, especially in the pieces that reflect the messy, beautiful realities of life.
With a BA in social science, Holly works from home, juggling deadlines and two kids like a pro. When she’s not writing, Holly is usually getting lost on a trail, reading, or hanging out with her close-knit family and friends. Her Christian faith is a big part of her life and shows up in her writing, especially in the pieces that reflect the messy, beautiful realities of life.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 10, 2025
I picked up "Lost Time" by Holly Trost expecting a heartfelt journey through grief, love, and the complexities of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. Instead, I got what feels like a rough draft that escaped into the wild before anyone could teach it proper social skills. I received an ARC from Netgalley and they want my honest opinion so here it goes.
The premise had promise: a young woman who sacrificed years caring for her mother with Alzheimer's gets to magically time-travel through her relationships to figure out her romantic life. It's like "A Christmas Carol" but with more dating confusion and fewer ghosts in chains. Unfortunately, the execution makes you wonder if the author also fell through time—specifically to sophomore year of high school creative writing class, where she got stuck.
Our protagonist is supposedly a deep, complex woman shaped by years of sacrifice and loss. In practice, she has about as much personality as a wet paper towel and roughly the same emotional range. I kept waiting for her to show some spark, some hint of the person who endured such hardship, but she mostly just... exists. She's like human elevator music.
The love triangle (because of course there's a love triangle) features a boyfriend who's such an obvious jerk that he might as well twirl a mustache, and a male best friend who's so perfect he practically glows. The romantic tension between our heroine and Mr. Perfect has all the electricity of a dead car battery. I've seen more chemistry between my grocery list and my refrigerator.
The dialogue deserves special mention, and not the good kind. Characters speak like they're reading cue cards written by someone who learned human conversation from a 1950s etiquette manual. Sample exchange:
"I care about you deeply, Sarah."
"Oh, Jonathan, your words touch my heart in ways I cannot express."
"Perhaps we should discuss our feelings more thoroughly."
I actually checked to see if this was translated from another language. It wasn't. This is just how Holly Trost thinks people talk when they have feelings.
As Christian fiction, the book has the subtlety of a foghorn in a library. The spiritual message gets delivered with all the finesse of someone throwing Bibles at your head while shouting "DO YOU GET IT YET?" I've read plenty of Christian fiction that weaves faith naturally into compelling stories. This reads like someone took a regular romance novel and randomly inserted Bible verses like they were adding chocolate chips to cookie dough—except the cookies are stale and the chocolate chips are preachy.
The time-travel mechanic, which should be the book's most interesting feature, feels tacked on like a band-aid on a broken plot. Our heroine doesn't so much "fall through time" as she occasionally has flashbacks that are slightly more organized than usual. I've had more dramatic temporal experiences rearranging my photo albums.
The supporting characters are so two-dimensional they could be used as bookmarks. The dead mother, who should be a powerful presence haunting the narrative, is less memorable than most people's grocery store cashiers. The friends exist solely to ask leading questions that allow our heroine to explain her feelings at length, like human exposition machines.
What's most frustrating is that the core concept has real potential. Caregiver burnout, delayed grief, and the challenge of rebuilding your identity after years of self-sacrifice—these are meaty themes that deserve better treatment. It's like watching someone take premium ingredients and turn them into cafeteria food.
The writing style itself reads like it was processed through a "Generic Romance Novel Generator 3000." Every emotion is stated rather than shown, every revelation is telegraphed three chapters in advance, and every dramatic moment lands with the impact of a marshmallow hitting a pillow.
I kept hoping the book would find its footing, maybe in the second half when the time-travel elements kicked in. Instead, it doubled down on all its weaknesses while adding plot holes large enough to drive a time machine through.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you're conducting a master class on how not to write dialogue, or if you need something to prop up a wobbly table. The table deserves better, but it's not picky.
What could save this story? A complete rewrite, a dialogue coach, and perhaps a spiritual advisor who understands the difference between "faithful" and "preachy." Also, characters who act like actual humans rather than cardboard cutouts with feelings stapled on.
Rating: ⭐⭐ (One star for the decent premise, one star because I finished it, which shows remarkable dedication to suffering)
Note: No time was actually lost reading this book, though it certainly felt that way.
The premise had promise: a young woman who sacrificed years caring for her mother with Alzheimer's gets to magically time-travel through her relationships to figure out her romantic life. It's like "A Christmas Carol" but with more dating confusion and fewer ghosts in chains. Unfortunately, the execution makes you wonder if the author also fell through time—specifically to sophomore year of high school creative writing class, where she got stuck.
Our protagonist is supposedly a deep, complex woman shaped by years of sacrifice and loss. In practice, she has about as much personality as a wet paper towel and roughly the same emotional range. I kept waiting for her to show some spark, some hint of the person who endured such hardship, but she mostly just... exists. She's like human elevator music.
The love triangle (because of course there's a love triangle) features a boyfriend who's such an obvious jerk that he might as well twirl a mustache, and a male best friend who's so perfect he practically glows. The romantic tension between our heroine and Mr. Perfect has all the electricity of a dead car battery. I've seen more chemistry between my grocery list and my refrigerator.
The dialogue deserves special mention, and not the good kind. Characters speak like they're reading cue cards written by someone who learned human conversation from a 1950s etiquette manual. Sample exchange:
"I care about you deeply, Sarah."
"Oh, Jonathan, your words touch my heart in ways I cannot express."
"Perhaps we should discuss our feelings more thoroughly."
I actually checked to see if this was translated from another language. It wasn't. This is just how Holly Trost thinks people talk when they have feelings.
As Christian fiction, the book has the subtlety of a foghorn in a library. The spiritual message gets delivered with all the finesse of someone throwing Bibles at your head while shouting "DO YOU GET IT YET?" I've read plenty of Christian fiction that weaves faith naturally into compelling stories. This reads like someone took a regular romance novel and randomly inserted Bible verses like they were adding chocolate chips to cookie dough—except the cookies are stale and the chocolate chips are preachy.
The time-travel mechanic, which should be the book's most interesting feature, feels tacked on like a band-aid on a broken plot. Our heroine doesn't so much "fall through time" as she occasionally has flashbacks that are slightly more organized than usual. I've had more dramatic temporal experiences rearranging my photo albums.
The supporting characters are so two-dimensional they could be used as bookmarks. The dead mother, who should be a powerful presence haunting the narrative, is less memorable than most people's grocery store cashiers. The friends exist solely to ask leading questions that allow our heroine to explain her feelings at length, like human exposition machines.
What's most frustrating is that the core concept has real potential. Caregiver burnout, delayed grief, and the challenge of rebuilding your identity after years of self-sacrifice—these are meaty themes that deserve better treatment. It's like watching someone take premium ingredients and turn them into cafeteria food.
The writing style itself reads like it was processed through a "Generic Romance Novel Generator 3000." Every emotion is stated rather than shown, every revelation is telegraphed three chapters in advance, and every dramatic moment lands with the impact of a marshmallow hitting a pillow.
I kept hoping the book would find its footing, maybe in the second half when the time-travel elements kicked in. Instead, it doubled down on all its weaknesses while adding plot holes large enough to drive a time machine through.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you're conducting a master class on how not to write dialogue, or if you need something to prop up a wobbly table. The table deserves better, but it's not picky.
What could save this story? A complete rewrite, a dialogue coach, and perhaps a spiritual advisor who understands the difference between "faithful" and "preachy." Also, characters who act like actual humans rather than cardboard cutouts with feelings stapled on.
Rating: ⭐⭐ (One star for the decent premise, one star because I finished it, which shows remarkable dedication to suffering)
Note: No time was actually lost reading this book, though it certainly felt that way.
August 26, 2025
"Part of me vanished with her."
"He thought about her often, as people do when they love someone more than they think they should, and the idea of something more between them lingered in his heart."
When I acquired this ARC, I was under the impression that it was a Sci-Fi Romance and was really excited at the premise of a Romance novel that I was hoping was a representation of the strength of love across timelines. However I didn't realize that this book was Christian Fiction with a sneeze of dry Romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Koeler Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, my opinions are my own.
Within the first few chapters I was really captivated by Iris and the life she had endured thus far in her young life. I could relate heavily to your life being put on hold while your mother is I'll and needs you, as mine was diagnosed with leukemia and she needed me. Then the description of being misunderstood by those around you as being "lucky" that you don't have to "work" for the money of an inheritance, when in reality it's basically financial compensation for the loss of a loved one that you would rather still have in your life over the money. I felt a heavy connection to the FMC in the beginning of the novel, even down to not feeling completely worthy of having a friend that gives you their all. I figured she was a multifaceted character with real depth and was excited to see where the story went. Then the story just fizzled. The heavy implication of her struggle with religion, while continuously being encouraged to go to church with her golden retriever type best friend-whom she has romantic feelings for but won't reveal due to heavy self esteem issues, began to overshadow anything I was expecting from the storyline. The story turned from what I thought would be small town friends to lovers, to Iris's search for her strength in God. I felt like someone was beating me over the head with a bible while asking if I got the message yet. I wouldn't have minded if the story contained some of the religious aspects, or even if it was Christian Fiction had the ARC been marketed as such. But all in all the over saturation of it really deterred from what could have been an amazing story. I just wished it was more.
"He thought about her often, as people do when they love someone more than they think they should, and the idea of something more between them lingered in his heart."
When I acquired this ARC, I was under the impression that it was a Sci-Fi Romance and was really excited at the premise of a Romance novel that I was hoping was a representation of the strength of love across timelines. However I didn't realize that this book was Christian Fiction with a sneeze of dry Romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Koeler Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, my opinions are my own.
Within the first few chapters I was really captivated by Iris and the life she had endured thus far in her young life. I could relate heavily to your life being put on hold while your mother is I'll and needs you, as mine was diagnosed with leukemia and she needed me. Then the description of being misunderstood by those around you as being "lucky" that you don't have to "work" for the money of an inheritance, when in reality it's basically financial compensation for the loss of a loved one that you would rather still have in your life over the money. I felt a heavy connection to the FMC in the beginning of the novel, even down to not feeling completely worthy of having a friend that gives you their all. I figured she was a multifaceted character with real depth and was excited to see where the story went. Then the story just fizzled. The heavy implication of her struggle with religion, while continuously being encouraged to go to church with her golden retriever type best friend-whom she has romantic feelings for but won't reveal due to heavy self esteem issues, began to overshadow anything I was expecting from the storyline. The story turned from what I thought would be small town friends to lovers, to Iris's search for her strength in God. I felt like someone was beating me over the head with a bible while asking if I got the message yet. I wouldn't have minded if the story contained some of the religious aspects, or even if it was Christian Fiction had the ARC been marketed as such. But all in all the over saturation of it really deterred from what could have been an amazing story. I just wished it was more.
August 9, 2025
Let me start by saying I have never given a book one star. I have DNF’d books because I didn’t like the story or the subject was not of interest to me.
The premise of the story is a forgotten girl who spent years of her life caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s. She has two friends and a boyfriend. The boyfriend is a jerk and she is really in love with her male friend who is helping her through this time after the loss of her mother. She ends up “falling through time” to explore each of her relationships.
The problem is the writing is very sophomoric. The characters have no depth and fell flat. Conversations held between characters are very stilted and sound canned. There is no chemistry between the characters - even the two that are supposed to love each other.
This is Christian fiction which I have enjoyed in the past. But like some Christian fiction - in an effort to deliver the message it becomes very “preachy”. Even if you are a fan of Christian fiction this book did not reach the level of other writers in this genre.
Overall I just would not recommend the book. I’m not even sure what this writer could do to save this story except to start all over. The premise was good - the story just did not deliver.
I did receive an ARC copy of this book.
The premise of the story is a forgotten girl who spent years of her life caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s. She has two friends and a boyfriend. The boyfriend is a jerk and she is really in love with her male friend who is helping her through this time after the loss of her mother. She ends up “falling through time” to explore each of her relationships.
The problem is the writing is very sophomoric. The characters have no depth and fell flat. Conversations held between characters are very stilted and sound canned. There is no chemistry between the characters - even the two that are supposed to love each other.
This is Christian fiction which I have enjoyed in the past. But like some Christian fiction - in an effort to deliver the message it becomes very “preachy”. Even if you are a fan of Christian fiction this book did not reach the level of other writers in this genre.
Overall I just would not recommend the book. I’m not even sure what this writer could do to save this story except to start all over. The premise was good - the story just did not deliver.
I did receive an ARC copy of this book.
August 18, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I truly wanted to enjoy Lost Time; the premise, the characters, and the plot all sounded intriguing. Unfortunately, I struggled to settle into the story.
This novel is undeniably ambitious, but its execution left me more puzzled than engaged. Holly Trost sets out to create something surreal, and I was eager to see Iris’s slipping between realities coalesce into a fully fleshed-out narrative. Instead, the experience felt more disorienting than immersive. The writing was flat and underdeveloped, making it difficult to connect with the story.
The characters, too, lacked depth and dimension. They seemed to function more as devices to move the plot along rather than as believable, fully-realised people. Their interactions with the protagonist felt jarring and unconvincing, and only added to my sense of detachment.
Overall, while the concept held promise, the execution fell short, and I came very close to not finishing the book.
This novel is undeniably ambitious, but its execution left me more puzzled than engaged. Holly Trost sets out to create something surreal, and I was eager to see Iris’s slipping between realities coalesce into a fully fleshed-out narrative. Instead, the experience felt more disorienting than immersive. The writing was flat and underdeveloped, making it difficult to connect with the story.
The characters, too, lacked depth and dimension. They seemed to function more as devices to move the plot along rather than as believable, fully-realised people. Their interactions with the protagonist felt jarring and unconvincing, and only added to my sense of detachment.
Overall, while the concept held promise, the execution fell short, and I came very close to not finishing the book.
August 11, 2025
I really wanted to love Lost Time— I feel that the concept had a lot of potential. The idea of exploring memory, identity, and time itself could have made for a gripping and emotional read. Unfortunately, the execution fell short for me.
The pacing felt uneven throughout; some parts dragged on feeling repetitive, while others—moments that should’ve packed an emotional punch—felt rushed or glossed over entirely. I also expected to connect with the main character, however that was not the case, as to me their decisions often felt inconsistent or poorly justified. Dialogue at times came off stilted, and side characters a lack of any real depth needed to make their stories memorable.
That said, I did appreciate a few of the themes and the ambition behind the narrative. Trost clearly had something important to say, but I think the story would have benefited from more time. Not a total loss, but not a book I’d return to or recommend.
The pacing felt uneven throughout; some parts dragged on feeling repetitive, while others—moments that should’ve packed an emotional punch—felt rushed or glossed over entirely. I also expected to connect with the main character, however that was not the case, as to me their decisions often felt inconsistent or poorly justified. Dialogue at times came off stilted, and side characters a lack of any real depth needed to make their stories memorable.
That said, I did appreciate a few of the themes and the ambition behind the narrative. Trost clearly had something important to say, but I think the story would have benefited from more time. Not a total loss, but not a book I’d return to or recommend.
August 13, 2025
I got the chance to read an arc copy of Lost Time, by Holly Trost, while on my recent vacation! As someone who doesn’t normally read Christian fiction, I was initially drawn in by the premise – I have a thing for time travel. But then, reading the multiple parallels and similarities between Iris and myself, I was hooked.
The storyline with her ex, and everything that happened during their relationship, was eerily similar to my own personal experiences. This made the read a bit more intense, and myself a bit more invested! It was clear the author pulled from her own experiences, making it even more relatable.
One of the hardest things a person can do is put their story out into the world. Writing isn’t easy, and I think Holly did a great job taking readers on an emotional journey (through time), ending with a powerful message.
If you want an easy read that packs an emotional punch, then you’re in the right place!
The storyline with her ex, and everything that happened during their relationship, was eerily similar to my own personal experiences. This made the read a bit more intense, and myself a bit more invested! It was clear the author pulled from her own experiences, making it even more relatable.
One of the hardest things a person can do is put their story out into the world. Writing isn’t easy, and I think Holly did a great job taking readers on an emotional journey (through time), ending with a powerful message.
If you want an easy read that packs an emotional punch, then you’re in the right place!
December 27, 2025
You can finish this time-travel romance in one sitting, but it stays with you long after. For readers who love time travel and love that comes with real risk, Lost Time offers something deeper: an aching, faith-filled story about grief, healing, and love.
The faith element feels personal and honest, especially for anyone who has wrestled with judgment and Christianity. More than being chosen, this story is about being seen. The author really cares about expressing the meaning of empathy.
4.5 stars. Would like a little more detail and a little less detail, she needs to work on packing a punch where it matters the most.
The faith element feels personal and honest, especially for anyone who has wrestled with judgment and Christianity. More than being chosen, this story is about being seen. The author really cares about expressing the meaning of empathy.
4.5 stars. Would like a little more detail and a little less detail, she needs to work on packing a punch where it matters the most.
September 19, 2025
This novel attempted to attack an ambitious topic - that of the slow, surreal journey of Alzheimer's, the fade into the unknown. And I was expecting to explore the paradox of joy and grief, the journey of fading into memories that become more of a reality than the real world. However, I was left feeling like I was in a dizzying experiment of tackling complex emotions and situations poorly. Overall I felt that this was poorly developed but the concept is rich, and deserves exploration. Sadly, I just did not enjoy it and struggled with writing my review because I hate to leave lower reviews.
August 13, 2025
I was given a sweet ARC copy of Lost Time. I loved how Iris changed over time (no pun intended) and how the time travel made her change how she thinks and acts as a person. I loved the idea of the time travel as well as the heartbreak and then hope being mixed in the pot together. It all reminded me of myself and the things I've been through. Great read for those who want a medium sized book full of adventure.
August 25, 2025
I found this story to be heartfelt and honest. I saw others said our heroine didn’t express her emotions well but I personally related to someone who was more reserved and held back, unsure of how to completely express what I’m feeling. Not all of us are poets when it’s come to love and romance, but I still felt the depth of her heart. The storyline is compelling and will having you reading and weeping late into the night. Great book!
November 21, 2025
I dove into this book fully expecting to get a sci/fi romance story but instead what I got was a book that leaned heavily on the mother of the main character being afflicted with Alzheimer's and the implication of this terrible disease on both of these characters. It was a hard book to read as the topic is close to home for me (having a family member with the disease as well) and therefore I had to DNF at the halfway mark.
Thankyou to Net galley and Koehler Books for an arc of this book.
Thankyou to Net galley and Koehler Books for an arc of this book.
August 20, 2025
Lost Time is a poignant and beautifully written story of grief, resilience, and hope. Holly Trost captures the raw emotions of loss while offering a heartfelt look at love, friendship, and renewal. Iris is a deeply relatable character, and her journey is both moving and inspiring. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an aARC in exchange for a review.
yeah, i thought this was a sci-fi romance kind of book and it's my fault with the Christian applications that applies in it etc but i tend to just dive into books headfirst a lot and that's my fault.
overall, this could be a good book for someone else.
yeah, i thought this was a sci-fi romance kind of book and it's my fault with the Christian applications that applies in it etc but i tend to just dive into books headfirst a lot and that's my fault.
overall, this could be a good book for someone else.
September 3, 2025
Lost Time surprised me in the best way. Iris’s story feels so raw and real, even as it takes her through alternate realities that twist and unravel in unexpected ways. Some parts moved a little slower than others, but the emotion and heart behind this book shine through.
September 26, 2025
Love time travel books, and this one has a creative plotline that I typically do not find anything similar to in time travel romance novels. At times, I wanted to feel more life with the characters, more depth, but overall excellent read.
August 11, 2025
My debut book, my rules. I love it. Five stars.
September 24, 2025
This one tore my heart. And then put it back together.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews