What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 08:45:42
10 copies available
U.S. only
The Time Traveler's Wife #2
Life Out of Order
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 08:45:42
10 copies available
U.S. only
Two great loves. A world in chaos. And a life that never lands in order.
Discover the highly anticipated new novel from Audrey Niffenegger, which can be read on its own or as a companion to her multi-million copy bestseller The Time Traveler's Wife.
Alba DeTamble has never lived a life in order. Born with the same rare Chrono-Displacement Disorder as her father, Henry DeTamble, Alba is an involuntary time traveler: she slips unpredictably through decades, carrying the weight of a future she can witness but cannot change. Yet she strives to maintain a normal life: as a gifted violinist, Alba finds refuge in her music, as well as her tight-knit community of artists and activists who fight to take care of each other in an increasingly unstable world.
As she dips in and out of time, Alba is haunted by secrets she must keep from those she loves most, including Zach, her safe, supportive anchor in the chaos. Her journey takes her from the riot-torn Chicago streets, to the eerie, timeless “Yellow House” – where she meets Oliver, a handsome fellow time traveler – to the digital corridors of the Museum of Lost Souls, a virtual sanctuary of forgotten memories and lost artifacts. Curating the museum is Isadora, Alba’s mysterious stepsister and an increasingly unsettling presence in their family – whose fate may be intertwined with Alba’s in more dangerous ways than she knows.
At once intimate and sweeping, Life Out of Order is a kaleidoscopic tale of love, resilience, and hope amid our fractured world where time itself is the greatest adversary. With every leap through the years, Alba is forced to reckon with the choices that define her, the people she cannot bear to lose, and the question that haunts every time traveler: can you ever truly belong to the present?
Discover the highly anticipated new novel from Audrey Niffenegger, which can be read on its own or as a companion to her multi-million copy bestseller The Time Traveler's Wife.
Alba DeTamble has never lived a life in order. Born with the same rare Chrono-Displacement Disorder as her father, Henry DeTamble, Alba is an involuntary time traveler: she slips unpredictably through decades, carrying the weight of a future she can witness but cannot change. Yet she strives to maintain a normal life: as a gifted violinist, Alba finds refuge in her music, as well as her tight-knit community of artists and activists who fight to take care of each other in an increasingly unstable world.
As she dips in and out of time, Alba is haunted by secrets she must keep from those she loves most, including Zach, her safe, supportive anchor in the chaos. Her journey takes her from the riot-torn Chicago streets, to the eerie, timeless “Yellow House” – where she meets Oliver, a handsome fellow time traveler – to the digital corridors of the Museum of Lost Souls, a virtual sanctuary of forgotten memories and lost artifacts. Curating the museum is Isadora, Alba’s mysterious stepsister and an increasingly unsettling presence in their family – whose fate may be intertwined with Alba’s in more dangerous ways than she knows.
At once intimate and sweeping, Life Out of Order is a kaleidoscopic tale of love, resilience, and hope amid our fractured world where time itself is the greatest adversary. With every leap through the years, Alba is forced to reckon with the choices that define her, the people she cannot bear to lose, and the question that haunts every time traveler: can you ever truly belong to the present?
544 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Audrey Niffenegger
42 books12.5k followersAudrey Niffenegger (born June 13, 1963 in South Haven, Michigan) is a writer and artist. She is also a professor in the MFA Creative Writing Program at Columbia College Chicago.
Niffenegger's debut novel, The Time Traveler's Wife (2003), was a national bestseller. The Time Traveler's Wife is an unconventional love story that centers on a man with a strange genetic disorder that causes him to unpredictably time-travel and his wife, an artist, who has to cope with his constant absence.
Her Fearful Symmetry (2009), Niffenegger's second novel, is set in London's Highgate Cemetery where, during research for the book, Niffenegger acted as a tour guide.
Niffenegger has also published graphic and illustrated novels including: The Adventuress (2006), The Three Incestuous Sisters (2005), The Night Bookmobile (2009), and Raven Girl (2013). Raven Girl was adapted into a ballet by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and the Royal Opera House Ballet (London) in 2013.
A mid-career retrospective entitled "Awake in the Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger," was presented by the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington D.C.) in 2013. An accompanying exhibition catalogue examines several themes in Niffenegger's visual art including her explorations of life, mortality, and magic.
Niffenegger's debut novel, The Time Traveler's Wife (2003), was a national bestseller. The Time Traveler's Wife is an unconventional love story that centers on a man with a strange genetic disorder that causes him to unpredictably time-travel and his wife, an artist, who has to cope with his constant absence.
Her Fearful Symmetry (2009), Niffenegger's second novel, is set in London's Highgate Cemetery where, during research for the book, Niffenegger acted as a tour guide.
Niffenegger has also published graphic and illustrated novels including: The Adventuress (2006), The Three Incestuous Sisters (2005), The Night Bookmobile (2009), and Raven Girl (2013). Raven Girl was adapted into a ballet by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and the Royal Opera House Ballet (London) in 2013.
A mid-career retrospective entitled "Awake in the Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger," was presented by the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington D.C.) in 2013. An accompanying exhibition catalogue examines several themes in Niffenegger's visual art including her explorations of life, mortality, and magic.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 14, 2026DNF
I enjoy a good time travel story occasionally and since I loved The Time Traveler’s Wife, I was excited to get an advanced copy of this sequel. I’m disappointed that this is a DNF at 38%. Too many characters, too many time frames and too much going on that wasn’t explained, two Albas from different times in the same place - all too much for me to enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins through Edelweiss.
I enjoy a good time travel story occasionally and since I loved The Time Traveler’s Wife, I was excited to get an advanced copy of this sequel. I’m disappointed that this is a DNF at 38%. Too many characters, too many time frames and too much going on that wasn’t explained, two Albas from different times in the same place - all too much for me to enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins through Edelweiss.
Want to Read
May 15, 2026Besties I emailed the publisher and begged for the ARC. Groveled. I need all you with me on this one
*********
Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod TWO drops on NetGalley from my favorite authors I may DIE
It has been literally SIX YEARS since I read the excerpt for this in the back of one of my copies of The Time Traveler's Wife. I truly never thought it would be released. I am SQUEALING
*********
Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod TWO drops on NetGalley from my favorite authors I may DIE
It has been literally SIX YEARS since I read the excerpt for this in the back of one of my copies of The Time Traveler's Wife. I truly never thought it would be released. I am SQUEALING
Want to Read
April 20, 2026I’m crying. FINALLYYYYY 😭
Want to Read
January 30, 2026Let's goooooooo, Alba!
Want to Read
February 16, 2026A sequel - book 2 - to The Time Traveler's Wife??
their child - and it's set in a Dystopian world?! WHAT!? I'm in!
Pub Date: 10/2026
their child - and it's set in a Dystopian world?! WHAT!? I'm in!
Pub Date: 10/2026
May 12, 2026
**am I the first person to leave a review for this!!?? absolute insanity**
I don’t quite know where to begin with writing a review that captures the depth and breadth of this 560 page epic follow up to The Time Traveler’s Wife, but alas I must. My undying gratitude to Hanover Square Press and The Hive for the eARC of one of my most anticipated reads, well ever. #hiveinfluencer
First, as a reader and admirer of The Time Traveler’s Wife (read 6x), I LOVED seeing what happened to some of our beloved characters in the future. Audrey masterfully handled each of their stories. The scenes that overlapped or that I recognized from The Time Traveler’s Wife really got to me. While the is being marketed as a sequel/companion novel, they are also saying it can be read as a standalone. But I would argue that the experience was made much richer having read and loved the first book.
She masterfully switches between multiple distinct POVs. The plot was propulsive and somehow paced perfectly throughout 560 pages that took me nearly 12 hours to read on my kindle. Audrey’s writing has a beautiful cadence and flow to it, making it just feel good to read.
THAT said. It is not the same as the Time Traveler’s Wife. Audrey does something here much more unique and sweeping. At its core, the first book was really about the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare and their love story. This book has a number of love stories, but at it’s core it its quite speculative and dystopian. It’s political. We’re talking AI. Climate change. Upheaval. Pandemics. And time travel in the midst of it all!! Audrey paints a picture of an alternate present, that feels terrifyingly possible, as well as near future that, given the advances in AI and the progression of climate change….doesn’t feel far-fetched. Which is, honestly, horrifying.
It made me think. Feel deeply. Worry. Wonder. Weep. And at times it made me feel uncomfy and unsettled. I must say, there were some parts that got a little weird for me. It felt dark. Mysterious. Haunting. Full of tension. OH! But also, it did feel hopeful. And somehow in the midst of all the loss and despair, there is this thread of uplighting art and music that made my heart sing. It begs the question, does art matter if it’s not inherently useful (if it can’t feed or clothe you)? What will last when we are far gone?
Readers of the Time Traveler’s Wife, take note - this book is not just Alba’s story. Do not expect this to be like Henry and Clare’s story. This book is so much more than a love story (although it does have it). It’s a sharp commentary on our present as well as a peek into a possible unnerving future Audrey has imagined.
CW: loss, AI, climate change, suicidal ideation and attempt, closed door-ish/SLIGHTLY fade to black with a lot of implied intimacy
I don’t quite know where to begin with writing a review that captures the depth and breadth of this 560 page epic follow up to The Time Traveler’s Wife, but alas I must. My undying gratitude to Hanover Square Press and The Hive for the eARC of one of my most anticipated reads, well ever. #hiveinfluencer
First, as a reader and admirer of The Time Traveler’s Wife (read 6x), I LOVED seeing what happened to some of our beloved characters in the future. Audrey masterfully handled each of their stories. The scenes that overlapped or that I recognized from The Time Traveler’s Wife really got to me. While the is being marketed as a sequel/companion novel, they are also saying it can be read as a standalone. But I would argue that the experience was made much richer having read and loved the first book.
She masterfully switches between multiple distinct POVs. The plot was propulsive and somehow paced perfectly throughout 560 pages that took me nearly 12 hours to read on my kindle. Audrey’s writing has a beautiful cadence and flow to it, making it just feel good to read.
THAT said. It is not the same as the Time Traveler’s Wife. Audrey does something here much more unique and sweeping. At its core, the first book was really about the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare and their love story. This book has a number of love stories, but at it’s core it its quite speculative and dystopian. It’s political. We’re talking AI. Climate change. Upheaval. Pandemics. And time travel in the midst of it all!! Audrey paints a picture of an alternate present, that feels terrifyingly possible, as well as near future that, given the advances in AI and the progression of climate change….doesn’t feel far-fetched. Which is, honestly, horrifying.
It made me think. Feel deeply. Worry. Wonder. Weep. And at times it made me feel uncomfy and unsettled. I must say, there were some parts that got a little weird for me. It felt dark. Mysterious. Haunting. Full of tension. OH! But also, it did feel hopeful. And somehow in the midst of all the loss and despair, there is this thread of uplighting art and music that made my heart sing. It begs the question, does art matter if it’s not inherently useful (if it can’t feed or clothe you)? What will last when we are far gone?
Readers of the Time Traveler’s Wife, take note - this book is not just Alba’s story. Do not expect this to be like Henry and Clare’s story. This book is so much more than a love story (although it does have it). It’s a sharp commentary on our present as well as a peek into a possible unnerving future Audrey has imagined.
CW: loss, AI, climate change, suicidal ideation and attempt, closed door-ish/SLIGHTLY fade to black with a lot of implied intimacy
Want to Read
April 25, 2026marked as to-read...but do I? seeing that this exists has stopped my heart
May 25, 2026
I was so excited to get an ARC of this book because I love Time Travelers Wife. It was nice to be back in this chaotic world of time travel with Henry’s daughter Alba and her mom Claire.
It offered a scary look at our present and future. Niffenager creates a world that feels like it could be real. I do feel sad for so many of the characters though as this world doesn’t feel hopeful for most of the time but there are so many moments of true connection even still.
The book could have been a little shorter but I still enjoyed my time traveling with Alba, Oliver and even a little bit of Henry
It offered a scary look at our present and future. Niffenager creates a world that feels like it could be real. I do feel sad for so many of the characters though as this world doesn’t feel hopeful for most of the time but there are so many moments of true connection even still.
The book could have been a little shorter but I still enjoyed my time traveling with Alba, Oliver and even a little bit of Henry
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
So, it’s 2025, and at the age of 23, a woman marries. Then in the 1980’s, the same lady, now age 27, marries another gentleman. On the date of the second wedding the bride is not yet born nor are groom number two’s parents. This is a very feasible life scenario for a time traveler and they fill the pages of the always creative, sometimes brilliant, Life Out of Order.
The chrono-displaced age in a straight line, but can appear at any time, in numerous iterations of themselves at different ages. The concept results in wildly imaginative and potentially disastrous consequences. The brain-bending scenes we grew familiar with in The Time Travelers Wife exist in great abundance here, the sequel to the extraordinary love story. Like the predecessor, intimate relationships are at the heart of the novel, but wider themes like political unrest, the impact of a warming planet, musical theory, and artificial intelligence are included in its scope.
Henry deTramble possessed little control as to where and when his corporeal self relocated, but Alba, Henry’s daughter and the protagonist of Life Out of Order, can manage movement a bit better. She regularly interacts with her younger selves and walks a fine balance of concealing secrets (from herself) and others until the right moment in time. Readers learn in the first chapter that Alba used to date a person named Clark, who is now a trans woman named Caralora, Gomez, a key character from the earlier book has two gay sons, Alba's into polyamory, and Alba’s mother Claire, the life-long love of Henry, is married to a Black woman. I’m not entirely sure what to make of this statement, but calling this a modern, representative cast seems appropriate.
The plot explodes as fascists are drugged and removed by a group we don’t yet understand, cars are torched, and we witness a sprinting escape through tunnels and rooftops reminiscent of an Indiana Jones chase. Throughout this healthy dose of opening action, adventure, and mystery, the author keeps dozens of plates spinning expertly, as different versions of the same character dodge through fragile supporting sticks.
This is a hard book to recap without major giveaways, but a new internet-type system exists in the future which is only accessible by using implanted corporate bioware. AI is revealed to be more integrated into this new system than one might want, and characters in our story are key players in its development. Alba moves through time monitoring the advancement of the project, often unsure who she can trust. As our characters creep into the 2030s, 2040s and further, a soaking dystopia is encountered, and we wonder what went, or is going wrong.
Life Out of Order works fine as a stand-alone, but for the millions of fans who experienced the incredible 2003 novel, most will leave satisfied, many speechless. And who knows, perhaps this is not the end of the story?
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Hanover Square Press for a review copy.
The chrono-displaced age in a straight line, but can appear at any time, in numerous iterations of themselves at different ages. The concept results in wildly imaginative and potentially disastrous consequences. The brain-bending scenes we grew familiar with in The Time Travelers Wife exist in great abundance here, the sequel to the extraordinary love story. Like the predecessor, intimate relationships are at the heart of the novel, but wider themes like political unrest, the impact of a warming planet, musical theory, and artificial intelligence are included in its scope.
Henry deTramble possessed little control as to where and when his corporeal self relocated, but Alba, Henry’s daughter and the protagonist of Life Out of Order, can manage movement a bit better. She regularly interacts with her younger selves and walks a fine balance of concealing secrets (from herself) and others until the right moment in time. Readers learn in the first chapter that Alba used to date a person named Clark, who is now a trans woman named Caralora, Gomez, a key character from the earlier book has two gay sons, Alba's into polyamory, and Alba’s mother Claire, the life-long love of Henry, is married to a Black woman. I’m not entirely sure what to make of this statement, but calling this a modern, representative cast seems appropriate.
The plot explodes as fascists are drugged and removed by a group we don’t yet understand, cars are torched, and we witness a sprinting escape through tunnels and rooftops reminiscent of an Indiana Jones chase. Throughout this healthy dose of opening action, adventure, and mystery, the author keeps dozens of plates spinning expertly, as different versions of the same character dodge through fragile supporting sticks.
This is a hard book to recap without major giveaways, but a new internet-type system exists in the future which is only accessible by using implanted corporate bioware. AI is revealed to be more integrated into this new system than one might want, and characters in our story are key players in its development. Alba moves through time monitoring the advancement of the project, often unsure who she can trust. As our characters creep into the 2030s, 2040s and further, a soaking dystopia is encountered, and we wonder what went, or is going wrong.
Life Out of Order works fine as a stand-alone, but for the millions of fans who experienced the incredible 2003 novel, most will leave satisfied, many speechless. And who knows, perhaps this is not the end of the story?
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Hanover Square Press for a review copy.
Want to Read
March 26, 2026I have been waiting for this since I was a teenager!
Want to Read
May 6, 2026Omg- a sequel to Time Traveler’s Wife!! So exciting after all these years!
May 26, 2026
Haven't stopped thinking about this book since I read it. It's beautiful, brilliant, entertaining. I will never get enough of the DeTambles.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews