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The Things We Can Change
Change the past to embrace a new future...
Rae has no interest in being a hero who changes the past, but in her grief she signs up for time travel anyway, eager for its guaranteed side memory loss. She’s paired up with Beau, who’s determined to stop the release of the Mortem virus that’s decimated the population. Tasked to remain in the future as Rae’s handler, it’s his job to convince her amnesic mind that the voice in her head is real and she’s the world’s only hope for preventing the deadly outbreak.
But when Rae is kidnapped by an anti-time travel faction soon after her arrival in the past, it's clear she wasn't the only traveler sent back for this mission—a mission this new faction claims is outright impossible. With mere weeks before the research facility’s bombing releases the virus, Rae and Beau scramble to find a way to stop Mortem. Now that enemies lurk in both the past and future, they’re no longer fighting just to stop an outbreak—they’re fighting for their lives.
Rae has no interest in being a hero who changes the past, but in her grief she signs up for time travel anyway, eager for its guaranteed side memory loss. She’s paired up with Beau, who’s determined to stop the release of the Mortem virus that’s decimated the population. Tasked to remain in the future as Rae’s handler, it’s his job to convince her amnesic mind that the voice in her head is real and she’s the world’s only hope for preventing the deadly outbreak.
But when Rae is kidnapped by an anti-time travel faction soon after her arrival in the past, it's clear she wasn't the only traveler sent back for this mission—a mission this new faction claims is outright impossible. With mere weeks before the research facility’s bombing releases the virus, Rae and Beau scramble to find a way to stop Mortem. Now that enemies lurk in both the past and future, they’re no longer fighting just to stop an outbreak—they’re fighting for their lives.
- GenresScience Fiction
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2026
1 person is currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Karyne Norton
14 books183 followersWant a FREE short story from Karyne Norton?
Grab the prequel to her fantasy series, The Half-Light Chronicles, here: https://BookHip.com/BNBMKQG
Or grab a standalone sci-fi time travel novella here: https://BookHip.com/RMHZCDJ
Karyne Norton hasn’t found the key to time travel, immortality, or infinite lives, so she’s taking a break from nursing and photography to focus on raising four human beings while writing epic fantasy and science fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, which is why she’s also the host of the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, where she reads a new short story every week from a variety of fantasy authors. Blood of the Stars, the first book in the Half-Light Chronicles, is her debut fantasy novel and The Things We Can Change is her debut sci-fi time travel thriller.
On reviews: I usually give 4-5 stars to every book I finish because a) I don't have time to finish books unless I'm loving them b) even books that have content or themes I disagree with can positively impact me c) stars don't mean a ton to readers, but they mean a lot to the authors. If you want more detailed impressions on books I'm reading, come find me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karynenorton/) or head over to my website and sign up for my newsletter: https://karynenorton.com
Grab the prequel to her fantasy series, The Half-Light Chronicles, here: https://BookHip.com/BNBMKQG
Or grab a standalone sci-fi time travel novella here: https://BookHip.com/RMHZCDJ
Karyne Norton hasn’t found the key to time travel, immortality, or infinite lives, so she’s taking a break from nursing and photography to focus on raising four human beings while writing epic fantasy and science fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, which is why she’s also the host of the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, where she reads a new short story every week from a variety of fantasy authors. Blood of the Stars, the first book in the Half-Light Chronicles, is her debut fantasy novel and The Things We Can Change is her debut sci-fi time travel thriller.
On reviews: I usually give 4-5 stars to every book I finish because a) I don't have time to finish books unless I'm loving them b) even books that have content or themes I disagree with can positively impact me c) stars don't mean a ton to readers, but they mean a lot to the authors. If you want more detailed impressions on books I'm reading, come find me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karynenorton/) or head over to my website and sign up for my newsletter: https://karynenorton.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 5, 2025
Time travel, rebel factions, a deadly virus, and romance—what’s not to love? Karyne Norton has a winner with The Things We Can Change! I thoroughly enjoyed this action/adventure romp across time with heart-stopping characters that I quickly fell in love with. Clever and inventive, this is a story you won’t want to miss.
January 7, 2026
My reading experience with this novel?- Absolutely loved it!!!! I could actually read it again already! My first 5-star book of 2026 and well-deserved. This story is filled with high-stakes, tension (I may have had to close the book and walk away muttering “I better not have read what I think I read” a time or two), I wasn’t quite sure who to trust or who to believe but that made the stakes higher and the experience even better.
If you’ve been around my blog for a while then you know I love time travel, it is one of my top favorite plotlines, and this book is one of the best I have read! The plot felt all too real, but in a good way. The thought such a widespread pandemic could happen (*ahem, again*) is a bit worrisome but yes, as we know, is possible. I think too, because the past timeline was so near to our current year (the timelines were 2082 and 2030) made it feel even more real.
The characters have personalities and depth that made them feel real. I could easily picture them in my head, and I was very invested in what would/could happen to them. The relationship between Rae and Beau is one of my favorite book relationships I have read.
Because there are so many possibilities of the way time travel could work I was curious how Ms. Norton would explain her version for us readers, without it being an info-dump. She does it well. She has it woven into conversations and thoughts so it becomes part of the story. I appreciated that.
This is my first book by Karyne Norton but I hear she is working on another sci-fi story, and I am definitely interested in learning more about it.
*What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*
Content Warnings– Mention of Death; Mention of War; Mention of Murder; Mention of Death of Parents; Mention of Animal Death; Mention of Blood; Cursing; Drug Use; Mention of Car Accident; Mention of Death of Spouse; Mention of Child Death; Mention of Suicide; Vomit; Pandemic; Alcohol; Physical Abuse; Gun Violence; Injury; Blood; Kidnapping; Bombing; Torture; Terrorism; Murder; Grief
If you’ve been around my blog for a while then you know I love time travel, it is one of my top favorite plotlines, and this book is one of the best I have read! The plot felt all too real, but in a good way. The thought such a widespread pandemic could happen (*ahem, again*) is a bit worrisome but yes, as we know, is possible. I think too, because the past timeline was so near to our current year (the timelines were 2082 and 2030) made it feel even more real.
The characters have personalities and depth that made them feel real. I could easily picture them in my head, and I was very invested in what would/could happen to them. The relationship between Rae and Beau is one of my favorite book relationships I have read.
Because there are so many possibilities of the way time travel could work I was curious how Ms. Norton would explain her version for us readers, without it being an info-dump. She does it well. She has it woven into conversations and thoughts so it becomes part of the story. I appreciated that.
This is my first book by Karyne Norton but I hear she is working on another sci-fi story, and I am definitely interested in learning more about it.
*What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*
Content Warnings– Mention of Death; Mention of War; Mention of Murder; Mention of Death of Parents; Mention of Animal Death; Mention of Blood; Cursing; Drug Use; Mention of Car Accident; Mention of Death of Spouse; Mention of Child Death; Mention of Suicide; Vomit; Pandemic; Alcohol; Physical Abuse; Gun Violence; Injury; Blood; Kidnapping; Bombing; Torture; Terrorism; Murder; Grief
January 9, 2026
First of all, normally time travel books seriously mess with my brain, but Karyne managed to wrangle it in a way that made perfect sense and didn't give me a headache.
The first part was giving serious Bourne Identity vibes, which was an absolute blast. It was fast paced and kept me hooked all the way through.
The characters were all very compelling, and I especially liked Beau and Rae. They played off of each other extremely well. There were sort of a lot of side characters, especially for the length, but I managed to keep track of them all fairly well, and they all had their own motivations and goals.
There was a lot of action and opposing governmental/rebel groups and fights, but there was also an an emotional depth that I appreciated, and some nice questioning of the morals of different decisions. It was also very clean, aside from some more mature conversations. There was no swearing, (something I was really relieved about), and nothing beyond a few kisses. It gets pretty intense, but perfect for older teens.
Overall this was a solid read, and if you like action and light science fiction with a character driven plot, then I would definitely recommend this! (Or if you're looking to try a new genre!) And you can download a free novella by signing up for Karyne's newsletter, which I would highly recommend! (I read it beforehand, though it's technically a sequel).
The first part was giving serious Bourne Identity vibes, which was an absolute blast. It was fast paced and kept me hooked all the way through.
The characters were all very compelling, and I especially liked Beau and Rae. They played off of each other extremely well. There were sort of a lot of side characters, especially for the length, but I managed to keep track of them all fairly well, and they all had their own motivations and goals.
There was a lot of action and opposing governmental/rebel groups and fights, but there was also an an emotional depth that I appreciated, and some nice questioning of the morals of different decisions. It was also very clean, aside from some more mature conversations. There was no swearing, (something I was really relieved about), and nothing beyond a few kisses. It gets pretty intense, but perfect for older teens.
Overall this was a solid read, and if you like action and light science fiction with a character driven plot, then I would definitely recommend this! (Or if you're looking to try a new genre!) And you can download a free novella by signing up for Karyne's newsletter, which I would highly recommend! (I read it beforehand, though it's technically a sequel).
January 11, 2026
The Things We Can Change was not my usual read, but I ended up really enjoying it. The storyline was unique and engaging, and from page one it was clear the story would be action-packed and filled with danger.
The book follows Rae, who volunteers to travel back in time to stop Mortem, a virus that has killed thousands. What makes her choice especially compelling is that time travel causes memory loss, which is something Rae desperately wants. I found her to be a very relatable character. Often in life, we wish we could forget the things that have caused us pain.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Rae and Beau. Their dynamic was sweet, with a fun sunshine-and-grumpy reversal, since Beau is the optimist. One theme that stood out to me was the importance of having people you can trust and rely on. Life feels much lonelier without strong relationships.
The main reason I docked one star was the pacing and writing style, which felt a bit lacking at times. Still, overall this was a delightful read that I would recommend to fans of sci-fi and time travel.
Spice🌶️: 2/10
Profanity🤬:0/10
Violence🗡️: 4/10
The book follows Rae, who volunteers to travel back in time to stop Mortem, a virus that has killed thousands. What makes her choice especially compelling is that time travel causes memory loss, which is something Rae desperately wants. I found her to be a very relatable character. Often in life, we wish we could forget the things that have caused us pain.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Rae and Beau. Their dynamic was sweet, with a fun sunshine-and-grumpy reversal, since Beau is the optimist. One theme that stood out to me was the importance of having people you can trust and rely on. Life feels much lonelier without strong relationships.
The main reason I docked one star was the pacing and writing style, which felt a bit lacking at times. Still, overall this was a delightful read that I would recommend to fans of sci-fi and time travel.
Spice🌶️: 2/10
Profanity🤬:0/10
Violence🗡️: 4/10
January 12, 2026
What if, all of a sudden, you were given the chance to do something that could change the lives of millions of people, but at the same time forced you to start over—literally from scratch? With nothing holding you back, would you accept a mission so risky that you wake up with no memory of your former life?
Rae accepted this opportunity without a second thought and begins living in a present where everything seems possible. It feels like a true upgrade: anything can be done, even things she never imagined herself capable of.
There’s just one catch. That familiar voice in her head—the one most people hear from time to time—is no longer just a stream of random thoughts. The voice has a name… and knows her better than she can remember herself.
The future remains uncertain until the very last page.
Rae accepted this opportunity without a second thought and begins living in a present where everything seems possible. It feels like a true upgrade: anything can be done, even things she never imagined herself capable of.
There’s just one catch. That familiar voice in her head—the one most people hear from time to time—is no longer just a stream of random thoughts. The voice has a name… and knows her better than she can remember herself.
The future remains uncertain until the very last page.
Review of advance copy
I got this book through the author's Kickstarter, hence the "pre-publication" review!
I always love a good time travel story, so I was really looking forward to this one! It really did the genre justice. It kept me guessing and the pages turning, and it was hard not to read "just one more chapter" over and over again (mostly I gave in). I loved the way the time travel was done, I loved the humanity of the characters, and I loved how well-woven everything was. If I hadn't literally gotten this book through Kickstarter I don't think I would've realized it was self-published -- in the best possible way.
5 stars!!
I always love a good time travel story, so I was really looking forward to this one! It really did the genre justice. It kept me guessing and the pages turning, and it was hard not to read "just one more chapter" over and over again (mostly I gave in). I loved the way the time travel was done, I loved the humanity of the characters, and I loved how well-woven everything was. If I hadn't literally gotten this book through Kickstarter I don't think I would've realized it was self-published -- in the best possible way.
5 stars!!
January 14, 2026
I knew going into this one I was probably going to like it and I was right!
The premise is wonderfully mind-bending and thought-provoking. I've always loved time travel stories but this one really made me think.
Rae and Beau are awesome characters and I love the development of their relationship. It's an interesting journey with the various challenges posed by their futuristic sci-fi world to overcome.
I usually prefer my sci-fi with a lot of spaceships and battles but I didn't miss it with the conflict and tension in this one.
I would probably classify this book more of a sci-fi/romance than straight sci-fi but that's probably why I loved it so much!
The premise is wonderfully mind-bending and thought-provoking. I've always loved time travel stories but this one really made me think.
Rae and Beau are awesome characters and I love the development of their relationship. It's an interesting journey with the various challenges posed by their futuristic sci-fi world to overcome.
I usually prefer my sci-fi with a lot of spaceships and battles but I didn't miss it with the conflict and tension in this one.
I would probably classify this book more of a sci-fi/romance than straight sci-fi but that's probably why I loved it so much!
January 14, 2026
First off this book is gorgeous. I loved the black pages for the first page in every chapter. I was not sure what to expect from the story but the premise caught my attention. Wow, what world building. I loved the concept of traveling back in time. The characters were so believable in how they wrestled with all the changes. I loved this story and hope maybe there will be another one? I would love to know what happens next! Clean amazing fiction without language,s3x and agenda.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book. It's exactly what I was in the mood for: trippy time travel that actually plays by its own rules and uses the concept to explore some great themes. It sort of reminded me of Christopher Nolan's Tenet if that film had actually matched the cool concept with compelling characters. At any rate, it's a great read if you're looking for some smart time travel action.
November 16, 2025
This was a very good book. The character relationships are engaging. The mystery of what will happen keeps you reading and the romance is clean, sweet and based ok a relationship, not lust. I would highly recommend this book. Especially for people who are just dipping their toes into Sci Fi.
December 9, 2025
This is incredible Sci-Fi!
With time travel, bombs, viruses, romance, and everything in between. If you love keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat action and adventure fiction, then you will love this book as much as I did!
See my full review at: "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"
With time travel, bombs, viruses, romance, and everything in between. If you love keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat action and adventure fiction, then you will love this book as much as I did!
See my full review at: "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved this story! I love time travel stories, and this plot was well done! It takes a while before we find out all of the details as to why Rae wanted to time travel in order to forget her past. She quickly discovers that having your memory erased isn't the cure all that she hoped it would be. Beau is steadfast in his care for Rea and is willing to sacrifice it all for her. All in all this was an excellent time travel story....and bonus, it is a standalone....so no cliffhanger! 😄
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews