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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.
Unknown Binding
Published February 23, 2026
5 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Karyne Norton
16 books189 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 - 23 of 23 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 16, 2026
An exhilarating sci-fi thriller that had me at the edge of my seat the whole way through while simultaneously rooting for Rae and Beau to find their happily ever after they deserve!
In a future haunted by the dangerous virus, Mortem, time travelers are sent back into the past in the hopes of stopping the viral outbreak. Rae doesn't care about saving humanity, but she volunteers herself anyway in the hopes that she can forget her devastating past. Beau is her handler who she has trained with day in and day out in the hopes that they can survive the dangerous mission together. Rae is sent into the past, and Beau remains in the future to walk her through her assignment there. Soon after arriving in the past, Rae finds herself almost assassinated and then kidnapped by a group of anti-time travelers. With mere weeks to prevent Mortem's initial outbreak, Rae and Beau must fight to save not just themselves, but also the world at large.
I've been following Karyne Norton for a while now, but this is the first full-length novel of hers that I've read. This past fall, I decided to back her Kickstarter for her first sci-fi release, and I count myself honored to be listed among the names in the back of this book. This was such a beautifully penned novel; it has me wanting to binge read the rest of her books despite their length!
It is hard to put into words how wonderful this story is. For one, any story involving complicated time travel is a nightmare to try to piece together, but Norton did it so artfully! There are so many potential paradoxes, timelines, and other complexities that I could never have kept it all straight myself. It's insane that she managed to juggle it all and penned a story that truly blew my mind.
I think the best thing about this book is the characters. Beau and Rae one hundred percent feel like real people that one comes to love as this book progresses. Rae is a kickbutt protagonist who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and prefers to keep her emotions close to her chest. Beau, on the other hand, is an intellectual, sweet boy who wasn't made to work the field, but will do anything in his power to keep Rae safe. I love the banter between these two and the lengths that they are willing to go in order to protect each other. Their relationship is quite complicated with all the time travel related amnesia and the fact they could speak in each other's head, but I was definitely shipping them the entire way through!
Rae's grief that she carries with her is another thing that makes her so real and likable. Obviously, living through an apocalypse is tragic in and of itself, but her family went through so much due to Mortem. It saddens me that she had to live through all that (I mean, she wanted to travel in time to forget all the grief she carries), but it makes her such a strong person. My heart goes out to those in similar situations.
The side characters in this one are just as lovable as Rae and Beau. Jeff and Sam have quite the colorful personalities with their flirtatious tendencies and their in-your-face natures. It is hard not to fall in love with Thuy, Nick, and little Binh. The dynamic between this family is so wholesome; I didn't want anything to happen to their perfect family in this dangerous world. Even Rae's roommate, Val, was extremely likable with her grumpy cat, Henry, and her reluctance to take no as an answer.
I usually am not a huge fan of books with such high intensities, but I think that is because those books usually come with such graphic violence, gore, and overtly rated R scenes. Norton's work, however, isn't like that at all! I can't say that this book isn't filled with violent acts or that many characters don't die, but vulgarity never happens for the sake of vulgarity.
When I first started reading this book, my brain jumped to Orwell's "1984." The group that Rae and Beau initially work for, Animo, reminded me of Big Brother and how they warped history to fit their own narrative. This book does a great job of conveying many of the same messages as "1984" does in a way that is much more palatable to the modern reader (in my opinion, obviously). Rae and Beau have always believed these inherent truths about their world until members of the anti-time travel group, Serenity, introduced them to a new possibility. The two then had to reconsider everything that they had ever known and come to their own conclusions about what was actually the truth.
It also brings to mind questions about how much power a government should have and what sort of procedures should be put in place in scientific dwellings to prevent the start of pandemics such as Mortem. The government in both the past and the future in this society both thought they knew what was best for their people, but they were in actuality sending innocent civilians to their deaths again and again. The release of Mortem at first seems like a freak accident, but as more of this story unravels, the reader becomes more entangled in the web of lies that every party is spouting. No one is completely in the right or completely in the wrong in this story, and I feel that brings many talking points to life.
This book was so intense and filled with such complicated time travel that I had to read it in small doses over a series of days when my brain was well rested and alert. It was hard not to just binge read it in a single sitting because the story was so enthralling, but I didn't want my sleepy brain to dull the reading experience. Seriously, I feel this one is going to be a top read of 2026 and it is only mid-January!
Overall, "The Things We Can Change" is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that had me hooked from the very first page! The time travel elements are so complex but done in a way that my brain could easily comprehend most of the time. I also love the relationship between Rae and Beau; I truly only wished the best for them the entire time. This book was so intense with the multiple factions constantly at each other's throats and the literal ticking time bomb of a disaster that they were trying to prevent. I absolutely loved my time with this book and I'm super excited to check out more of Norton's work in the near future!
In a future haunted by the dangerous virus, Mortem, time travelers are sent back into the past in the hopes of stopping the viral outbreak. Rae doesn't care about saving humanity, but she volunteers herself anyway in the hopes that she can forget her devastating past. Beau is her handler who she has trained with day in and day out in the hopes that they can survive the dangerous mission together. Rae is sent into the past, and Beau remains in the future to walk her through her assignment there. Soon after arriving in the past, Rae finds herself almost assassinated and then kidnapped by a group of anti-time travelers. With mere weeks to prevent Mortem's initial outbreak, Rae and Beau must fight to save not just themselves, but also the world at large.
I've been following Karyne Norton for a while now, but this is the first full-length novel of hers that I've read. This past fall, I decided to back her Kickstarter for her first sci-fi release, and I count myself honored to be listed among the names in the back of this book. This was such a beautifully penned novel; it has me wanting to binge read the rest of her books despite their length!
It is hard to put into words how wonderful this story is. For one, any story involving complicated time travel is a nightmare to try to piece together, but Norton did it so artfully! There are so many potential paradoxes, timelines, and other complexities that I could never have kept it all straight myself. It's insane that she managed to juggle it all and penned a story that truly blew my mind.
I think the best thing about this book is the characters. Beau and Rae one hundred percent feel like real people that one comes to love as this book progresses. Rae is a kickbutt protagonist who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and prefers to keep her emotions close to her chest. Beau, on the other hand, is an intellectual, sweet boy who wasn't made to work the field, but will do anything in his power to keep Rae safe. I love the banter between these two and the lengths that they are willing to go in order to protect each other. Their relationship is quite complicated with all the time travel related amnesia and the fact they could speak in each other's head, but I was definitely shipping them the entire way through!
Rae's grief that she carries with her is another thing that makes her so real and likable. Obviously, living through an apocalypse is tragic in and of itself, but her family went through so much due to Mortem. It saddens me that she had to live through all that (I mean, she wanted to travel in time to forget all the grief she carries), but it makes her such a strong person. My heart goes out to those in similar situations.
The side characters in this one are just as lovable as Rae and Beau. Jeff and Sam have quite the colorful personalities with their flirtatious tendencies and their in-your-face natures. It is hard not to fall in love with Thuy, Nick, and little Binh. The dynamic between this family is so wholesome; I didn't want anything to happen to their perfect family in this dangerous world. Even Rae's roommate, Val, was extremely likable with her grumpy cat, Henry, and her reluctance to take no as an answer.
I usually am not a huge fan of books with such high intensities, but I think that is because those books usually come with such graphic violence, gore, and overtly rated R scenes. Norton's work, however, isn't like that at all! I can't say that this book isn't filled with violent acts or that many characters don't die, but vulgarity never happens for the sake of vulgarity.
When I first started reading this book, my brain jumped to Orwell's "1984." The group that Rae and Beau initially work for, Animo, reminded me of Big Brother and how they warped history to fit their own narrative. This book does a great job of conveying many of the same messages as "1984" does in a way that is much more palatable to the modern reader (in my opinion, obviously). Rae and Beau have always believed these inherent truths about their world until members of the anti-time travel group, Serenity, introduced them to a new possibility. The two then had to reconsider everything that they had ever known and come to their own conclusions about what was actually the truth.
It also brings to mind questions about how much power a government should have and what sort of procedures should be put in place in scientific dwellings to prevent the start of pandemics such as Mortem. The government in both the past and the future in this society both thought they knew what was best for their people, but they were in actuality sending innocent civilians to their deaths again and again. The release of Mortem at first seems like a freak accident, but as more of this story unravels, the reader becomes more entangled in the web of lies that every party is spouting. No one is completely in the right or completely in the wrong in this story, and I feel that brings many talking points to life.
This book was so intense and filled with such complicated time travel that I had to read it in small doses over a series of days when my brain was well rested and alert. It was hard not to just binge read it in a single sitting because the story was so enthralling, but I didn't want my sleepy brain to dull the reading experience. Seriously, I feel this one is going to be a top read of 2026 and it is only mid-January!
Overall, "The Things We Can Change" is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that had me hooked from the very first page! The time travel elements are so complex but done in a way that my brain could easily comprehend most of the time. I also love the relationship between Rae and Beau; I truly only wished the best for them the entire time. This book was so intense with the multiple factions constantly at each other's throats and the literal ticking time bomb of a disaster that they were trying to prevent. I absolutely loved my time with this book and I'm super excited to check out more of Norton's work in the near future!
January 24, 2026
I don't read much sci-fi, so this wasn't my typical read. But was it a fun one! Rae and Beau were both engaging characters to follow, and I loved the twisty time-travel plotline. I'll definitely be picking up Karyne's next sci-fi book!
February 23, 2026
This book was a departure from the author's previous awesome series, but no less amazeballs! If anything, this book confirmed that Karyne could rewrite the alphabet and I'd be gaga over it! This book can only be described as a sci-fi fantasy, time travel meets big brother, with intensity and action off the charts, with emotional turmoil, and the most beautiful story of a love that endures, that penetrated through all of me too. I'm not sure what Karyne enspells her books with, but every book of hers I read, I feel it sucking me in from the onset. She encapsulates her characters with realism, their reactions and actions extremely apt, appropriate for what they endure and what they undertake.
Broken, hurt, grieving Rae sets off to the past, leaving everything she knows, everyone she knows, behind. Time travel erases all memory of the present, her friends, her past, her love. Which is why Rae is doing this, by going back, she wouldn't have to deal with her pain of losing him, but, she's also on a mission. A mission to prevent a deadly virus from surfacing. A virus that took so many. And there's a teensy complication, Rae and Beau are linked, mentally. They can hear each other through thoughts. That's not the complication, the complication is HER. She feels something for Beau, she just can't name it through the guilt she carries about Caleb. Beau is her lifeline and now it's severed and when she "comes to", in the part, it's all gone, who she is, where she is, why she is. Karyne portrayed her confusion, her disbelief, her fear was so palpable, so real. And then she thinks she's going looney, a voice starts "talking" to her in her head. And then she's targeted, shot at. Oh my heck, if all this isn't a mind spin, being "kidnapped" by a faction called Serenity and hearing their point of view sure is! And now, it's Beau who's confused and in a tail spin!
Oh my good glory do I LOVE Beau! His character is not only lively and positive, he hides all his feelings for Rae, in the future and in the past. But he would do anything for her, and he does. Time and again he comes to her rescue. I simply adored seeing "in both their heads", this is a dual POV that works like a well oiled machine, smooth and seamless. Her guilt, his uncertainty, geez, I just wanted to wrap them both in my arms! What incredible vividry, what incredible emotions! This world, these characters are OMG impressive! The entire storytelling was utterly stupendous, I was so riveted, I actually switched my phone to mute lest I got interrupted. Not only did Rae and Beau tug my emotions insanely, so too did Sam, Jeff, Nick, Thuy and oh my heck, poor Grayson! I wanted to cry at all this man was put through! First Rae entered the past, then, through betrayal and sacrifice, Beau joins her. Except, neither knew each other, with Rae having to rifle through what Beau was telling her from the future, talking in her head, yeah, I got her when she said, "You don’t know what it’s like being here, stripped of all memories. Drowning in emotion that has no context, pain that has no association. Relying on a voice in my head and a group of conspiracy theorists." to the tables turning and Rae doing exactly the same for Beau.
Scientists who have no moral compass, organisations who hide behind semi truths and Ms Norton convinced ME that I was as clueless as the players in this tale! Was the organisation Animo villain or saviour trying to right a wrong? Was Fitzhugh? With all the crumbs the author littered around, I was pulled one way, then the other as she eloquently twisted, turned, stretched and straightened, each thread she cast. The serpentine course she set, enticed, compelled and took over my entire consciousness. The lies and deception abound, from all sides, knowing what to reveal and what not to, is literally a matter of life and death. And about halfway through the book, all their fears, and mine, came to be realised. I was about to have an embolism! Good grief did Ms Norton pull out all the tools in her arsenal! Then she did THAT to Beau, but she didn't stop, oh no, she took it to....THAT, which made me want to howl at the injustice! The action was off the charts intense, the emotions were off the charts intense, this book was off the charts intense! When the revelations start hitting, goodness me, I was ducking and diving from the, yes, INTENSITY!
This is a complex and multi layered book, just as the characters are. The nuances are so fine, refined and, as Rae said to Beau in the future, "When sunshine meets rain you get a rainbow, Beau. You’re my rainbow." this book IS rainbows and sunshine after the storm had passed. This is not technically a Romantasy but shoot, it so is! The love, the angst, the lengths Beau and Rae go through to protect each other, to "relearn" their feelings for one another, hits the gushy "awww" zone. Ms Norton might be shocked that I "call" this a Romantasy, because, it's essentially a sci-fi fantasy novel, full of deadly viruses, deadly intent by scientists, time travel, assassins and a novel of discovery, self discovery and discovery of lies, manipulation and hidden truths. I would never have guessed which way the author was going, I sobbed a few times, I giggled a few times, my heart was crushed a few times and, then, like an expert pilot, Ms Norton lands smoothly, gently into a gorgeous HEA that I wanted to hug both her and the book! Fabulous fabulous read!
Broken, hurt, grieving Rae sets off to the past, leaving everything she knows, everyone she knows, behind. Time travel erases all memory of the present, her friends, her past, her love. Which is why Rae is doing this, by going back, she wouldn't have to deal with her pain of losing him, but, she's also on a mission. A mission to prevent a deadly virus from surfacing. A virus that took so many. And there's a teensy complication, Rae and Beau are linked, mentally. They can hear each other through thoughts. That's not the complication, the complication is HER. She feels something for Beau, she just can't name it through the guilt she carries about Caleb. Beau is her lifeline and now it's severed and when she "comes to", in the part, it's all gone, who she is, where she is, why she is. Karyne portrayed her confusion, her disbelief, her fear was so palpable, so real. And then she thinks she's going looney, a voice starts "talking" to her in her head. And then she's targeted, shot at. Oh my heck, if all this isn't a mind spin, being "kidnapped" by a faction called Serenity and hearing their point of view sure is! And now, it's Beau who's confused and in a tail spin!
Oh my good glory do I LOVE Beau! His character is not only lively and positive, he hides all his feelings for Rae, in the future and in the past. But he would do anything for her, and he does. Time and again he comes to her rescue. I simply adored seeing "in both their heads", this is a dual POV that works like a well oiled machine, smooth and seamless. Her guilt, his uncertainty, geez, I just wanted to wrap them both in my arms! What incredible vividry, what incredible emotions! This world, these characters are OMG impressive! The entire storytelling was utterly stupendous, I was so riveted, I actually switched my phone to mute lest I got interrupted. Not only did Rae and Beau tug my emotions insanely, so too did Sam, Jeff, Nick, Thuy and oh my heck, poor Grayson! I wanted to cry at all this man was put through! First Rae entered the past, then, through betrayal and sacrifice, Beau joins her. Except, neither knew each other, with Rae having to rifle through what Beau was telling her from the future, talking in her head, yeah, I got her when she said, "You don’t know what it’s like being here, stripped of all memories. Drowning in emotion that has no context, pain that has no association. Relying on a voice in my head and a group of conspiracy theorists." to the tables turning and Rae doing exactly the same for Beau.
Scientists who have no moral compass, organisations who hide behind semi truths and Ms Norton convinced ME that I was as clueless as the players in this tale! Was the organisation Animo villain or saviour trying to right a wrong? Was Fitzhugh? With all the crumbs the author littered around, I was pulled one way, then the other as she eloquently twisted, turned, stretched and straightened, each thread she cast. The serpentine course she set, enticed, compelled and took over my entire consciousness. The lies and deception abound, from all sides, knowing what to reveal and what not to, is literally a matter of life and death. And about halfway through the book, all their fears, and mine, came to be realised. I was about to have an embolism! Good grief did Ms Norton pull out all the tools in her arsenal! Then she did THAT to Beau, but she didn't stop, oh no, she took it to....THAT, which made me want to howl at the injustice! The action was off the charts intense, the emotions were off the charts intense, this book was off the charts intense! When the revelations start hitting, goodness me, I was ducking and diving from the, yes, INTENSITY!
This is a complex and multi layered book, just as the characters are. The nuances are so fine, refined and, as Rae said to Beau in the future, "When sunshine meets rain you get a rainbow, Beau. You’re my rainbow." this book IS rainbows and sunshine after the storm had passed. This is not technically a Romantasy but shoot, it so is! The love, the angst, the lengths Beau and Rae go through to protect each other, to "relearn" their feelings for one another, hits the gushy "awww" zone. Ms Norton might be shocked that I "call" this a Romantasy, because, it's essentially a sci-fi fantasy novel, full of deadly viruses, deadly intent by scientists, time travel, assassins and a novel of discovery, self discovery and discovery of lies, manipulation and hidden truths. I would never have guessed which way the author was going, I sobbed a few times, I giggled a few times, my heart was crushed a few times and, then, like an expert pilot, Ms Norton lands smoothly, gently into a gorgeous HEA that I wanted to hug both her and the book! Fabulous fabulous read!
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 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.
January 17, 2026
I’ve always found time travel stories a fascinating puzzle. Karyne Norton’s The Things We Can Change did not disappoint as a high-octane entry into the time travel genre that delivers on page-turning tension and imaginative world-building. From the first page, the high stakes drive a plot loaded with action and high drama that rarely slows down.
Norton anchors the shifting timelines with sympathetic characters and weaves in gentle, sweet romances that provide am emotional counterweight to the adrenaline. The author includes her own medical training to add a layer of authenticity to the story of people trying to stop a lethal virus. The fast-moving time travel mechanics plus the shifting information about viruses may be confusing at times, but the last chapter is a satisfying conclusion.
I had trouble putting this one down.
Norton anchors the shifting timelines with sympathetic characters and weaves in gentle, sweet romances that provide am emotional counterweight to the adrenaline. The author includes her own medical training to add a layer of authenticity to the story of people trying to stop a lethal virus. The fast-moving time travel mechanics plus the shifting information about viruses may be confusing at times, but the last chapter is a satisfying conclusion.
I had trouble putting this one down.
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!
February 2, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!! Time travel can get so confusing sometimes, and while my brain had to stop and think about things multiple times, this was brilliantly done!! I was biting my nails through all of the last half of the book. There were so many unexpected twists, and I am thrilled with how things ended. Rae and Beau are such a perfect team. I love the grumpy/sunshine nature of their relationship. They each have a great POV and it was a nice balance in the story with the switches between them. The side characters are the icing on the cake. I am only sad that it is over. I want to know more!
January 30, 2026
An excellent read from author Karyne Norton. Lots of twists and payoffs made this an exciting read, but there was a deeper message too, which I appreciated. I didn’t understand how the romance would come into it at first, but that was another twist, and a nice one at that! The characters were all well-formed, their motivations understandable, and their actions made sense for them. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
February 2, 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.
February 3, 2026
This page-turner never lagged. The puzzle of the two time lines was interesting and well-developed. Mind-to-mind communication across time (along with amnesia) added unique twists to character and relationship development. The central question of whether or not the past can be changed was fascinating. Losing memories and the disconnection of characters from God and community felt sad, but there were moments of sacrifice and redemption that hinted at hope.
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.
February 23, 2026
This sci-fi time travel story was interesting to say the least! It had clean romance, several theories on time travel being tossed around in the book, and a relatively happy ending (even though there was some blood and violence). I enjoyed the character growth and watching the blooming romance that formed between the two main characters! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.
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/"
January 28, 2026
I’m not generally one for time travel books (I’m too logical minded, the endless opportunities for circular thinking make me mad and hurt my brain), but I truly enjoyed The Things We Can Change. It addressed real, hard issues head on with respect and gentleness.
It seemed like Karyne Norton truly tried to avoid the many pitfalls and plot holes that naturally occur when you start messing with time, and I loved how she went about it. I really enjoyed the incorporation of the Serenity Prayer, and how the story arc really explored what it means.
Rae had a wonderful character arc (going from a major pessimist to a toned down pessimist😆), and seeing Beau grow in confidence was inspiring. I really enjoyed and appreciated the many lessons that can be learned from Rae and Beau’s story.
If you like science fiction (is time travel a genre of its own?) with sweet romance and themes of redemption and growing beyond loss, I would definitely recommend you check out The Things We Can Change.
It seemed like Karyne Norton truly tried to avoid the many pitfalls and plot holes that naturally occur when you start messing with time, and I loved how she went about it. I really enjoyed the incorporation of the Serenity Prayer, and how the story arc really explored what it means.
Rae had a wonderful character arc (going from a major pessimist to a toned down pessimist😆), and seeing Beau grow in confidence was inspiring. I really enjoyed and appreciated the many lessons that can be learned from Rae and Beau’s story.
If you like science fiction (is time travel a genre of its own?) with sweet romance and themes of redemption and growing beyond loss, I would definitely recommend you check out The Things We Can Change.
January 24, 2026
This story grabbed me from the first page. I thought the characters were interesting, The story was fast paced and intriguing. I really enjoyed it.
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! 😄
February 5, 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).
February 2, 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.
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