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Time Will Tell

Not yet published
Expected 20 Jan 26
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When a mysterious time capsule leads a Toronto teacher to England, she discovers some loves are worth crossing oceans—and decades—to find, from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Bonam-Young.

When a history teacher receives a letter from her deceased grandmother revealing a secret love affair in the 1950s, it leads her to a time capsule hidden decades ago. But it’s the charming grandson of her grandmother’s lost love who changes everything, proving that sometimes the heart knows exactly where—and when—it belongs.

Hannah Bonam-Young’s Time Will Tell is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 20, 2026

16 people are currently reading
1328 people want to read

About the author

Hannah Bonam-Young

18 books10k followers
Hannah is an Amazon bestselling romance author from Ontario, Canada. She lives with her childhood-friend-turned-husband Ben, two kids, and bulldog near Niagara Falls on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples.

Hannah writes romances featuring a cast of diverse, disabled, marginalized, and LGBTQIA+ folks wherein swoon-worthy storylines blend with the beautiful, messy, and challenging realities of life.

When not reading or writing romance you can find her having living-room dance parties with her kids or planning any occasion that warrants a cheese board.

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5 stars
41 (32%)
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59 (46%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Ana.
148 reviews500 followers
January 11, 2026
This was the cutest!! I really liked it, the number of times I giggled while reading this should be illegal.
It truly delivered on everything but the ending, that simply wasn't enough!!

After her grandmother's passing, Georgia is left with a letter and a time capsule to unearth.. A time capsule containing the memories of a great love story.. Georgia contacts Callum, the grandson of the woman her grandmother loved, to find the key for the time capsule. As they get to know each through their e-mails, another love story might be in the making..

Georgia was such a great character, I loved her sense of humour.
I absolutely adored Callum, he was so cute. I, too, would fall in love with him before I even met him, with the dimples and the British accent ahh..
I also loved Phoebe, she was hilarious.

I didn't think you could really deliver a believable love story through e-mails, but I stand corrected.. This was so sweet and endearing, I really enjoyed it.
Their first phone call was adorable, I was reading it with the biggest smile on my face and the scene at the train station was so heartwarming.

The only complaint I have, and the reason I didn't give it five stars, is that we didn't get the scene of them opening the time capsule together.. That was a huge miss, it would've been such an emotional scene and the story felt unfinished without it..

I would honestly love to read more about them. I need to see all of their calls, their date, their time together and to learn more about their grandmothers..

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
Profile Image for Mira.
309 reviews36 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 12, 2026
This was my favorite novella in the collection! The main characters’ grandmothers were in love when they were young, but at the time they couldn’t be together. Georgia’s grandmother left behind a time capsule filled with memories of their love, and in order to open it, the FMC has to find the other woman’s grandson—the one who holds the key.

I absolutely adore the pen pal trope, and oh my God, this was so sweet! Their chemistry was palpable, and their jokes and flirting had me smiling! Can I please get a full-length book about them?

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Larareads.
435 reviews93 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 7, 2026
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am sooo grateful to NetGalley and soo happy that I get to read these short stories early.
Time will Tell is absolutely amazing! There is something about Hannah Bonam-Young and her writing, her characters that just feel sooo real and this was just that. The only thing I regret is that it's so short!!! Could have happily read another 300 pages.
Profile Image for liz.
217 reviews23 followers
January 14, 2026
CUTEEEEEEEEE. Cute cute cute! Highly reccomend doing this one as the audiobook. 3.5 rounded up for good reads.

This was an excellentttttttt audiobook narrated DUET STYLE! The MMC has a British accent and it’s so dreamy. Both narrator’s really acted the script out and I really felt like I was watching a rom com movie.

This is in the same vein of The Exception to the Rule (which is from the improbable meet cute #1 collection) where the couple spends the bulk of their relationship chatting long distance via email. It is very different but I love that premise of pen pals and find it so endearing.

Georgia’s grandma passes away and she leaves her a letter informing her that her grandmother’s truest greatest love was not her grandfather but actually a woman. She explains their love story and that they left a time capsule together that she wants Georgia to uncover. She messages a relative to her grandmother’s lover and the sweetest little email pen pal story begins.

I really love that this was just short, sweet, adorable with no drama.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC!
Profile Image for er.
286 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 14, 2026
4⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!

Time will tell follows Georgia and Callum while they try to uncover their grandmothers’ love story and in the process end up falling for each other.

This was a very emotional story, I loved the little bits and pieces we got of Martha and Bonnie’s love story. I also enjoyed seeing the romance between Georgia and Callum blossom through their email correspondence.
This was my first time reading Hannah Bohnam-Young and I have to say I really enjoyed her style, I might have to check out her other works and see if I like those too!
Profile Image for Maaike.
62 reviews13 followers
January 10, 2026
Literally adorable. Loved this one so so much. Desperately wanted more of it but HBY did a really good job of still making it feel rounded and complete.
Profile Image for Maren’s Reads.
1,201 reviews2,246 followers
January 8, 2026
Overall, this is a sweet novella that was entertaining and a pretty quick read. Although I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it. While I can see what author Hannah Bonam Young was trying to do with this novella, it felt a little lackluster. I was fascinated from the start, as a granddaughter pursues her late grandmother’s buried time capsule, looking to bring her truth to the surface.

I think if the story had just focused on this aspect, I would have enjoyed it more. But that story took a bit of a backseat to the romance between our MC and her grandmother’s lost love’s grandson. That element ended up feeling a little forced and far-fetched for me, unfortunately. That said, it is still fun as a quick holiday novella.

Read if you like:
-elements of historical fiction
-time capsules
-family secrets
-hidden love stories

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
Profile Image for Melissa (honeybee.reads).
1,417 reviews43 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. The story was beautiful and the romance was really cute. It was well written and thought out.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Nicole.
128 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 7, 2026
When Georgia's grandmother Bonnie dies, she leaves behind a letter for her detailing an affair she had when she was young and where to find a time capsule her and her lover left behind. Georgia finds her grandmother's love Margaret's grandson Callum online and they begin a beautiful conversation that eventually leads to love.

I truly enjoyed this one a lot. I thought it was beautifully told. I liked reading about the relationship Georgia and Callum were forming over emails and their strong chemistry.

I also thought the parallels of the two grandkids falling in love after their grandmothers also did was very lovely.

I have no complaints. Truly just a solid, beautiful novella.

Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.
Profile Image for Luce.
761 reviews341 followers
January 11, 2026
This NEEDS to be a full-length novel.

What an original storyline with again, hilarious banter via email!

Novella Ranking:
1. Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren - 4.5 stars
2. Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young - 4.5 stars
3. Second Act Romance by Julie Soto - 4.25 stars
4. Death to Valentine Days by Catherine Cowles - 3.75 stars
5. A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci -3.25 stars
6. Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen - 3 stars

I received an advanced copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Cori.
51 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 6, 2026
HBY has mastered communication through email. The FMC and MMC were so stinkin cute and I think I might be in love with Callum a little. The second chance theme was also cute as it wasn't their second chance but a second chance at love in the story.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

#TheImprobableMeetCuteSecondChancescollection #NetGalley
Profile Image for Jade Bowman.
289 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 7, 2026
preemptively stating that this is my favourite from the collection. only 93 pages but I could have read 500 about Callum and Georgia. it's rare for such a short story to make me tear up but Hannah managed it with this one 🩷
Profile Image for Cam.
260 reviews
January 6, 2026
Time Will Tell - so freaking cute, as always I love a HBY story. I couldn’t stop smiling while reading

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*
Profile Image for Alicia.
135 reviews6 followers
January 13, 2026
I could have devoured this as a full novel. Super sweet. Excellent concept. Undeniably Canadian. 🇨🇦
Profile Image for Mallory Moureau.
482 reviews4 followers
January 7, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Hannah Bonam-Young for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one took me a minute to get into but once I did, I was hooked! I was bummed when it ended. I loved the email and text convos and the siblings.
Profile Image for Erin (erinsreadingroom).
190 reviews178 followers
January 7, 2026
The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances is a series compiled of six romantic novellas written by some of the genres most notable authors. Each love story distinctively stands out on their own with ease whilst staying true to the same cohesive narrative, guaranteeing that there’s something for every reader of the Romance genre to binge and enjoy.

Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young (5 stars):
Time Will Tell was a beautifully crafted tale that divulged into the themes of grief and loss with apparent love and care. The way that Georgia and Callum connected through their loss and the way their bond was forged by the discovery of a secret love story that deserved to shine in the light decades prior made for a compelling (and ultimately bittersweet) story. The way that the characters manage to balance their grief with banter-filled dynamic left me grinning from one chapter to the next, and I absolutely loved getting to witness the strong bonds that both families share with one another. I adored every aspect of this journey as I once again find myself wishing that I could’ve experienced this concept as a full-length novel, whilst at the same time feeling nothing but satisfaction and joy in how this sweet novella concludes.

💌 Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren (5 stars):
Accidentally Yours was a joyous experience from beginning to end that left me feeling giddy and wanting to kick my feet like a teenager. The magnetic connection and undeniable chemistry between Veronica and Jude felt explosive and instantaneous. I would’ve gladly read a full-length novel surrounding these two fun and witty characters that find themselves realising that sometimes fate intervenes and that their perfect match was existing within the same living quarters. This sweet novella was the perfect story to kickstart this series of original stories, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else awaits from the rest of the authors.

🎭 Second Act Romance by Julie Soto (2 stars):
Sadly I didn’t connect with Second Act Romance as deeply as the first two stories despite the electric connection that is shared between the two main characters. For a short romance novella there seemed to be very little emphasis on the romance and more so on the explanation surrounding how a theatre production works and all of the necessary jargon for reader understanding. This would’ve been fine (and more fun to learn about) had the book been longer with more wiggle room in the word count… but ultimately I feel like I was missing opportunity to focus more on the characters as a budding couple as opposed to the build-up towards their current professional lives. I was in awe at the clear passion and enthusiasm that the author imbued into story surrounding the production, but in this circumstance it was unfortunately wasted on me with what I was expecting from the story as a whole. The magnetic final act was what pulled the entire story together for me as both Bex and ‘C.J’ save the production and finally get their chance at the romance that they missed out on eight years prior.

🪽 A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci (5 stars):
A Play for Love is easily my favourite novella within the series thus far as it has delivered on everything that I had been looking for from beginning to end. This was a giddy, feel-good story that felt both earnest and honest in its exploration between two people that missed their chance at love, and whom therefore made sure to take full advantage when their second chance opportunity arose. The witty dialogue and cheesy actions from side-characters left me grinning throughout the entirety of the story to the point that I probably looked insane. The sparks that ignited between Rory and Oliver was undeniable with their keenness to not waste another moment making me want swoon like a cartoon character with hearts in my eyes. Their chemistry felt limitless and their story played out in my mind like a movie.

❤️‍🔥 Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles (4 stars):
As an avid fan and devout reader of all things Catherine Cowles, Death to Valentine’s Day was yet another strong release that delivered on the swoon-worthy romance paired with the anxiety-spiking high stakes that this author is known for. I will admit that I was a little concerned initially with this story being a novella as somebody who is familiar with the method and approach that Cowles takes to her storytelling. However I was immediately put at ease with the inclusion of the ‘ex boyfriend’s older brother’ inclusion which introduced a seamless and believable connection that I felt like I could grasp with my own two hands. The chemistry between Maia and Decker was undeniable from that very first kiss and I’m truly impressed at how intense their connection reflected through the pages. I am yet again put to shame with my inability to accurately guess the identity of the villain prior to its reveal, but ultimately it’s the not knowing that makes part of the reading experience for me. Catherine Cowles is a tried and true author of mine which is further proven through this fast-paced and unputdownable novella.

🪦 Valentine’s Slay by Navessa Allen (4 stars):
Valentine’s Slay was a fast and thrilling read that had me questioning the direction of the plot (in the best way) until the truth was swiftly unveiled. The opening of the story was an unforgettable introduction that I will be scarce to forget for a very long time with its ability to make me question whether I should be laughing or feeling concerned in response to the circumstances being presented. The connection between both main characters felt effortless from the very beginning and I adored the way that Noah strived to be the best support system for Emma after her harrowing and traumatic experience. The fact that he immediately stepped up and proved to be the perfect partner and her equal whilst expecting nothing in return was wonderful to see, and it doesn’t hurt that he’d been quietly yearning for her on the side since they were in high school. This was my first read by Navessa Allen and it will most definitely not be my last. Maybe it’s finally time that I find out about the hype surrounding Light’s Out after loving Valentine’s Slay.
Profile Image for Mia Sage (fantasyfairyreads).
87 reviews3 followers
January 11, 2026
The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances Collection from Amazon’s Original Stories is a must read novella series centered around Valentine’s Day, star crossed lovers and hopeless romantics.

Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young 3/5 stars
This novella felt like a whole string of very unlikely events in a row but was altogether a wholesome ride. What are the odds you connect across the globe and fall in love with a man who happens to be your grandmother’s ex-girlfriend secret relationships grandson? I always love the email communication back and forth, the structuring is super fun visually!

Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen 4/5 stars
This was my second Navessa Allen title and my preferences mesh very well with her writing style. You’re immediately hooked in to Noah’s perspective and sheer horror to learn an old crush of his whom he was currently finishing burying 6 feet under was buried alive! His care for her was honest and wholesome from the beginning. The bedroom scenes are very explicit which is Navessa’s bread and butter but the pacing is frankly completely believable to me. I enjoyed Noah’s POV and the cute epilogue chapter in Emma’s POV.

Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles 2/5 stars
I really loved the author’s writing style so I will be checking out her other novels. I’ve always have a knack for the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope. Decker’s character was fleshed out. Maia’s story was in some ways was understood but in others there were some holes in her words and actions. The setting was a little unsettling for me as well as the “bad guy” twist at the end did not make sense. There was nothing foreshadowing to suggest that the killer was who they were. I think this story’s concept would have done better as a full length novel than a novella.

A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci 2/5 stars
This one unfortunately didn’t really work for me. I can grasp there was a spark in a set-up kiss from a college drama class, but then the situational circumstances seemed too out of reach. You referenced this boy as “Hot Guy”, is a little cringey for me. I didn’t think the characters were cute or funny. I wished I cared, but this one I just didn’t care.

Second Act Romance by Julie Soto 4/5 stars
Julie Soto gave me what A Play for Love didn’t. I was right there in Bex’s dream state thinking about how handsome Colby J. Turner was and their onstage chemistry. The shrimp tacos food poisoning was funny and also growing up in theater myself and the author everything felt authentic “The show must go on!” No matter what. I’ve never seen Oklahoma! but perhaps now I should!

Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren 4/5 stars
Accidentally Yours was my favorite novella of the bunch. Having a nickname for your attractive neighbor in your apartment complex whom you’ve had fleeting interactions with but never knew his real name you already had a crush on! This was very well written and the pacing was spot on. Veronica bartering for a new computer and desk chair being a non-negotiable was hilarious. The witty banter was entertaining and I could have read 100 more pages before and after of these characters. I highly recommend checking out this novella.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARCs of this collection in exchange for my honest review. The covers are so cute and all are a quick, fun read around the holiday for any romance reader!

#NetGalley
Profile Image for TheNextGenLibrarian.
3,027 reviews114 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 2, 2026
💝 Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances is pure Valentine’s Day love. Six short romances, six wildly different vibes, all rooted in fate, timing, and love getting a do-over.

📧 @christinalauren kicks things off with a laugh-out-loud modern meet-cute featuring a wrong Zoom call, flirty emails, and the realization that the perfect match might be closer than expected.

🇬🇧 @authorhannahby delivers a tender, time-spanning romance where a hidden love from the 1950s reshapes the present, proving some connections are simply meant to find their way back.

🎭 @juliesotowrites turns up the heat with theater-kid chemistry, sharp banter, and a swoony showmance as former costars reunite for a Valentine’s Day production, and a long-overdue second chance.

💘 @authortrilinapucci brings playful chaos and big rom-com energy, from a long-ago Romeo and Juliet kiss to an unforgettable reunion involving Cupid wings, gold shorts, and sizzling chemistry.

❄️ @catherinecowlesauthor blends romance and suspense in a snowy, closed-circle mystery where a masquerade ball, a murder, and falling for your ex’s brother raise the stakes fast.

🪦 @navessa.allen goes gloriously dark and steamy with a scream-from-the-grave meet-cute, a hot gravedigger, and a second-chance romance that’s equal parts unhinged, hilarious, and hot.

This is the perfect short story collection for readers who love fate, Valentine’sDay, and romance that refuses to stay buried. These stories release January 20. Thanks @netgalley for the ALCs.

CW: murder, death, blood, homophobia, death of a grandparent (discussed), emesis, medical content
Profile Image for itsallaboutbooksandmacarons.
2,302 reviews51 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 8, 2026
Accidentally Yours — Christina Lauren
I liked this one! Fern’s Zoom mishap was hilarious, and seeing her neighborly crush show up was so sweet. The duo can’t do wrong — they were perfect together. The story was fun, charming, and even though it was short, it made me smile the whole time.

Time Will Tell — Hannah Bonam‑Young
This was my favorite. They wrote emails and fell in love, discovering new things about each other before they even met up. I loved watching their connection grow slowly, learning about each other piece by piece. I was so excited for when they would finally meet in person.

Second Act Romance — Julie Soto
I adored this one! The theater setting was so sweet, and I felt like I was backstage with them, watching all the sparks fly. I was on the edge the most, cheering for them the whole time. The story was funny, heartwarming, and full of little moments that made me smile constantly.

A Play for Love — Trilina Pucci
I really liked this one. The college production and brunch setup felt cozy and charming. Watching the characters slowly realize their feelings was fun and romantic. The story made me feel warm and happy while reading.

Death to Valentine’s Day — Catherine Cowles
This one was elegant. The story mixed mystery and romance in a way I liked. I enjoyed following the events and seeing how the characters interacted throughout the story.

Valentine’s Slay — Navessa Allen
This was nice. I liked the playful suspense, and there were moments that made me smile. The story was fun, and the characters kept me engaged from start to finish.
Profile Image for Heather Joyce.
197 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this entire collection as an ARC!

This book started with Georgia a 12th grade history teacher, Getting a letter from her now deceased grandmother Bonnie’s will. This leads Georgia on the hunt for Bonnie’s long lost girlfriend Martha’s family. They made a time capsule of their love and time together. Bonnie left Georgia the location and Martha had the key.

Bonnie and Martha were together in a time when it was not accepted. Neither of them told their families of their status within the gay community until close to or after their passing for fear they wouldn’t be accepted.

Georgia finds Martha’s grandson in England, Callum. They start corresponding through emails, which quickly lead to the both of them wanting more from each other.

It’s decided that Georgia, her sister and cousin would go to England to meet Callum, his family and open the time capsule together.

This was so heartwarming, a very unique storyline and I absolutely loved it! The story ends with an article that Callum’s brother writes about the whole encounter and opening the time capsule together, it was very sweet!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2,354 reviews86 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 12, 2026
Time Will Tell-The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances Series, #2 (novella)

Hannah Bonam-Young

Published 1/20/26, Read 1/7/26

Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic

-LGBTQIA+
-penpal romance
-forbidden romance
-time capsule
-found family

Setting: Toronto and Nottingham

TW: homophobia

Summary: High school history teacher Georgia wants to revisit the past in real time. She recently lost her grandmother Bonnie and got a letter exposing a hidden secret. Bonnie was in love with a woman named Martha for 7 years when they lived together from 1949-1956. Because of the social climate they kept it secret until now. Georgia contacts one of Martha's living relative-her grandson Callum. They start communicating, things turning flirty, and eventually meetup.

Characters:
Georgia Anderson
Dr. Callum Lewis
Martha Bennett
Bonnie Foster
Henry-Bonnie's husband
Phoebe and Madison-Georgia's twin sister and cousin
Suzette-Martha's daughter/Callum's mother
Graham-Callum's brother
Lena-Callum's sister

My Thoughts: Told in 1st person dual I enjoyed their conversations with cute compliments that led to a true love their grandmothers were ultimately denied.

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Hannah Bonam-Young for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
165 reviews
January 12, 2026
The Improbable Meet Cute: Second Chance Collection by Christina Lauren, Hannah Bonam-Young, Julie Soto, Trilina Pucci, Catherine Cowles, and Navessa Allen—Spoiler Free

This was such a fantastic grouping of novellas to read, all revolving around Valentine’s Day. I think they were all quick to draw you in, which is super important for such short stories, and all finished well. A couple of them I could have read full books about, but there’s something fun about just reading a quick novella and have it started and wrapped up.

These range from super sweet (reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail) to 💀 suspenseful romance for fans of the crime podcasts. I loved that while they weren’t connected at all in the character aspect, they all were about some sort of second chance and all had the characters mentioning something specific for that Valentine’s Day.

Overall, these were great and easy reads, perfect for someone who wants to enjoy a quick story (or listen).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️ (only last two)

I was given an eARC to review by Netgalley, but all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Lili.
43 reviews39 followers
January 14, 2026
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 3⭐️

𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮𝓼, 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 & 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓼 𐙚⋆.˚

★ Romance
★ Short Story
★ New Adult
★ Insta love

࣪ ִֶָ☾. ✨ 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ❣️ .𖥔 ݁ ˖

When a history teacher receives a letter from her deceased grandmother revealing a secret love affair in the 1950s, it leads her to a time capsule hidden decades ago. But it’s the charming grandson of her grandmother’s lost love who changes everything, proving that sometimes the heart knows exactly where—and when—it belongs.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁݁ . ⊹💌 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 🧸ྀི☁️⊹ . ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

The definition of short and sweet! The perfect short story for Valentine’s Day/any day.

This book was so freaking CUTE. I actually listened to the audio book and it was really good. It’s narrated by Victoria Connolly and Maxim Reston.

My only complaint is that everything happens VERY quickly. It’s a short story so UNDERSTANDABLE. But it was overwhelming how fast the characters fell for each other

𝙎𝙋𝙄𝘾𝙀 𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙇: No spice🌶️

💝Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC copy💝
Profile Image for Courtney Vickers.
468 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 7, 2026
In a letter left behind by her grandmother Bonnie, Georgia discovers a hidden time capsule tied to Bonnie’s first love—but the key was left with Martha, Bonnie’s great love, who moved to England after their relationship ended. Determined to uncover the past, Georgia does a little (very light) stalking and finds Callum Lewis, Martha’s grandson, sending him an email explaining everything. What follows is a cute flirtation that grows into daily phone calls and falling in love before they’ve even met.

Time Will Tell is a gentle, heartfelt read, though it felt a bit lacking without fully exploring Bonnie and Martha’s romance—I would’ve loved a dual-timeline story to watch both couples unfold. Still, it’s hard to be too disappointed when Callum and Georgia get such an adorable, well-earned happy ending.
Profile Image for Raelene.
929 reviews29 followers
January 8, 2026
I loved this so, so much. Literally 10/10, no notes. The email exchanges had me giggling and kicking my little feet. The banter was perfect. The dual pov’s just worked so well. It was all just amazing. This reminded me a lot of how my relationship developed with my husbands (the international emails & calls, not the lesbian grandmothers) so honestly, how could I not love this?

Near the end, I was wondering how it was going to finish in a satisfying way with so few pages (often a struggle with short stories / novellas!) but how it was done was perfect, it summed up the story in such a satisfying way and made the pacing just work. I can’t wait to pick up more books by this author now.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this collection! I voluntarily read this story, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
231 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2026
A history teacher receives a letter from a deceased relative and ends up finding love and a hidden time capsule. (TW: past death of grandparent)

📬Bonding over grief
❤️Secret relationship
📬Family secrets
❤️Time capsule

DNF. I have never read this author before but I don’t read infidelity used as plot. It’s a hard no for me.

Part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances collection. Overall, 3 stars. None of these were true second chance romances but they were cute. I loved the comet that’s present in all stories. Release date 1/20/26. Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the ARC! Will be available on Kindle Unlimited.

Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren 5⭐️
Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young 1⭐️
Second Act Romance by Julie Soto 2⭐️
A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci 3⭐️
Death to Valentine's Day by Catherine Cowles 3⭐️
Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen 1⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katie May.
162 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 8, 2026
I was actually kind of confused for a few pages in the beginning because what they’re doing is not explained for a bit. She jumps from writing an email, to complaining about the lack of perks of being a HS history teacher, to asking her students for a grandma centered theme? I had questions. But it comes together quickly once the back story hits.

The romance is actually really sweet and the story is very cleverly set up. The siblings make great side characters and I think the story is the perfect length. This one has a little more story going on than just the romance but I think it fits well and was definitely rooting for the couple.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.


Profile Image for Nina.
134 reviews18 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 11, 2026
"Time Will Tell" is such a sweet, cleverly set-up novella! After Georgia’s grandmother passes away, she leaves behind a letter with instructions to open a time capsule. The only problem? The key belongs to Callum’s grandmother. What follows is an adorable, flirty email exchange that quickly blossoms into something real, even with an ocean between them.

I was a little confused for the first few pages, as the setup takes a moment to fully come together but once the backstory clicks into place, everything works beautifully. The romance between Georgia and Callum is charming and sweet, the sibling side characters add warmth and I loved how the families respond with openness and care. I definitely recommended this novella!💕

Thank you Hannah Bonam-Young, Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for a copy of "Time Will Tell" in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Buried_in_Fiction.
259 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 14, 2026
4.5⭐️

A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and all of the authors for the advanced copy of this collection. My thoughts are my own.
*Note- Reviews are submitted for each book individually, rather than the entire collection

The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances Collection is such a cute set of short stories just in time to get you in the Valentine’s Day spirit! They were fast paced, with sweet characters and adorable plots that kept me engaged and entertained throughout the entire series.

Time Will Tell - Hannah Bonam-Young 4.5/5⭐️-
This was a cute one! The time capsule was so unique and I loved how the grandmothers backstory really tied so much emotion and heart into the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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