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The Minute Givers
Not yet published
Expected 26 Jan 27A woman uses her ability to rewind time to conduct her own investigation when her exes start mysteriously dying – in this irresistible debut novel that is part thriller, part mystery, part love story, all wrapped up in a clever speculative twist.
Click.
And for the eighth time in my life, my ability to rewind time gains a new minute.
Renee Carron can rewind time. Sixty seconds for every man she’s ever A minute from her childhood pen pal, one from her most recent ex-boyfriend, and now her latest crush delivers number eight.
But when Renee loses a minute of her rewind powers, and then another, and another—each corresponding to a minute giver’s suspicious death—it becomes clear that someone is targeting her exes...and her.
As her powers dwindle, Renee must use what she has left of them to clear her name and track down a killer who seems intent on erasing all eight minutes and minute givers from existence. But beyond that, Renee has to reckon with the chaos her powers have wrought on her life and decide just how far she's willing to go for true love. In this universe of unlimited do-overs, can she create a perfect reality?
Click.
And for the eighth time in my life, my ability to rewind time gains a new minute.
Renee Carron can rewind time. Sixty seconds for every man she’s ever A minute from her childhood pen pal, one from her most recent ex-boyfriend, and now her latest crush delivers number eight.
But when Renee loses a minute of her rewind powers, and then another, and another—each corresponding to a minute giver’s suspicious death—it becomes clear that someone is targeting her exes...and her.
As her powers dwindle, Renee must use what she has left of them to clear her name and track down a killer who seems intent on erasing all eight minutes and minute givers from existence. But beyond that, Renee has to reckon with the chaos her powers have wrought on her life and decide just how far she's willing to go for true love. In this universe of unlimited do-overs, can she create a perfect reality?
Audible Audio
Expected publication January 26, 2027
About the author
Christine Smonk
1 book47 followersChristine Smonk is a writer and product manager based in Toronto. She graduated from Western University with a degree in media, information, and technoculture. When she’s not writing, she enjoys learning piano, playing video games, and orchestrating credit card points hacking schemes. The Minute Givers is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Want to Read
September 14, 2026· ˚ 🛸⊹ ⌇ pre-read:
THAT COVER?? Do I need to say more?
So happy that I go the arc!
THAT COVER?? Do I need to say more?
So happy that I go the arc!
June 25, 2026
I really loved this book and cannot believe this is the author’s debut novel!
The story follows a flawed, (albeit like-able) character who has the ability to rewind time. Without the murder mystery, romance, or any of the additional plot I would have already loved this concept.
I went into this expecting an average read, and instead had a quick-paced love affair with a book that hasn’t even been released yet. I can’t wait to recommend this to people.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story follows a flawed, (albeit like-able) character who has the ability to rewind time. Without the murder mystery, romance, or any of the additional plot I would have already loved this concept.
I went into this expecting an average read, and instead had a quick-paced love affair with a book that hasn’t even been released yet. I can’t wait to recommend this to people.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Did Not Finish
September 10, 2026Had a really hard time getting into this one unfortunately 😕
Currently Reading
April 24, 2026I won a NetGalley widget from Berkley marketing today.
September 30, 2026
I loved this book. It was such a fresh take for a thriller fiction. It also had a message or two if you read it correctly. lol. Just a really fun read I couldn’t put down. I mean it has death and murder but I just couldn’t put it down. I finished in two days. I read lots of books so that might not sound fast but I have been in a bit of a reading slump. I am good at starting books but I keep putting them down because they don’t really catch my interest. I usually will finish books sooner rather than pot it down. So I was so excited when this book drew me in and couldn’t stop reading. Thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for this ARC. Look for it in January.
July 17, 2026
4 ⭐️ For every man you fall in love with, you gain an extra minute of time to change the past?? Sign me up! And add in the fact that your minutes start to disappear and the men from your past begin to die, so it’s up to you to figure out who is behind this???? Double yes!
This was such a fun blend of genres—exploring romance and mystery with a twist of speculative fiction (also executed perfectly)! The balance was just enough of each to truly satisfy each respective part of the plot without trying to do too much. This book tackles a broad question/plot (“Who is killing my ex boyfriends?”) and does it with lots of grace. It had the ability to be overwhelming, but the author did a great job of explaining things in a seamless and effortless way, not confusing at all but left a slight mystery for you to uncover alongside the main character.
The growth Renee, our main character, experiences is such a gratifying part of this story. The person on page 1 is not at all who you see on the final page in the best possible way. She started out (and remained for most of the book) as one of those narrators that you can’t stand but also secretly love. Loved the way she was able to actually see the consequences of her special abilities (whether she intentionally caused these or not) and change was amazing.
I didn’t feel an overall emotional connection to Renee, but the plot and storyline really made up for this. And honestly, my reading experience was not impacted by this at all. I was so locked in and invested in this story. I found it incredibly interesting and really well thought-out! Def recommend
This was such a fun blend of genres—exploring romance and mystery with a twist of speculative fiction (also executed perfectly)! The balance was just enough of each to truly satisfy each respective part of the plot without trying to do too much. This book tackles a broad question/plot (“Who is killing my ex boyfriends?”) and does it with lots of grace. It had the ability to be overwhelming, but the author did a great job of explaining things in a seamless and effortless way, not confusing at all but left a slight mystery for you to uncover alongside the main character.
The growth Renee, our main character, experiences is such a gratifying part of this story. The person on page 1 is not at all who you see on the final page in the best possible way. She started out (and remained for most of the book) as one of those narrators that you can’t stand but also secretly love. Loved the way she was able to actually see the consequences of her special abilities (whether she intentionally caused these or not) and change was amazing.
I didn’t feel an overall emotional connection to Renee, but the plot and storyline really made up for this. And honestly, my reading experience was not impacted by this at all. I was so locked in and invested in this story. I found it incredibly interesting and really well thought-out! Def recommend
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Renee Carron can rewind time. Sixty seconds for every man she’s ever loved: A minute from her childhood pen pal, one from her most recent ex-boyfriend, and now her latest crush delivers number eight.
But when Renee loses a minute of her rewind powers, and then another, and another—each corresponding to a minute giver’s suspicious death—it becomes clear that someone is targeting her exes…and her.
As her powers dwindle, Renee must use what she has left of them to clear her name and track down a killer who seems intent on erasing all eight minutes and minute givers from existence. But beyond that, Renee has to reckon with the chaos her powers have wrought on her life and decide just how far she’s willing to go for true love. In this universe of unlimited do-overs, can she create a perfect reality?
I am absolutely blown away by this debut. I'm usually not one for speculative fiction (though I've been finding more and more books I love in this genre). The magic system, the characters, the cast, the plot, the stakes... Smonk creates an irresistible narrative that is part thriller and part urban fantasy. It's absolutely addicting, from opening act to closing, and I couldn't get enough.
One of my favorite parts of this novel was how masterfully the setup of the mystery (and the twists and reveals) was. In fact, there were several mysteries throughout the novel that had my tipping over in my seat and longing to know more. The characters were likewise rich and personal, and the main character's ambition to save the exes who are dying (and save her time) is such a propulsive and engaging conflict that it kept me turning pages until the very end.
I sometimes have a difficult time with first person narratives, but this novel was written in such flawless and evocative first person that it kept me interested and entertained throughout. There was a perfect balance of tension, tragedy, and toughness, and I couldn't get enough. I would absolutely read dozens more books like this one from Smonk, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
But when Renee loses a minute of her rewind powers, and then another, and another—each corresponding to a minute giver’s suspicious death—it becomes clear that someone is targeting her exes…and her.
As her powers dwindle, Renee must use what she has left of them to clear her name and track down a killer who seems intent on erasing all eight minutes and minute givers from existence. But beyond that, Renee has to reckon with the chaos her powers have wrought on her life and decide just how far she’s willing to go for true love. In this universe of unlimited do-overs, can she create a perfect reality?
I am absolutely blown away by this debut. I'm usually not one for speculative fiction (though I've been finding more and more books I love in this genre). The magic system, the characters, the cast, the plot, the stakes... Smonk creates an irresistible narrative that is part thriller and part urban fantasy. It's absolutely addicting, from opening act to closing, and I couldn't get enough.
One of my favorite parts of this novel was how masterfully the setup of the mystery (and the twists and reveals) was. In fact, there were several mysteries throughout the novel that had my tipping over in my seat and longing to know more. The characters were likewise rich and personal, and the main character's ambition to save the exes who are dying (and save her time) is such a propulsive and engaging conflict that it kept me turning pages until the very end.
I sometimes have a difficult time with first person narratives, but this novel was written in such flawless and evocative first person that it kept me interested and entertained throughout. There was a perfect balance of tension, tragedy, and toughness, and I couldn't get enough. I would absolutely read dozens more books like this one from Smonk, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating 3.75 Rounded up
What if you could rewind time by one minute for every person you've ever loved? But when those precious minutes begin to disappear, you're forced to uncover why your ex-lovers are dying before your time runs out.
The mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace, striking a nice balance between suspense and emotional reflection. I especially appreciated that this wasn't simply a story about catching a killer. At its core, it's about regret, perfectionism, and the irresistible urge to replay every awkward conversation and life-changing mistake. Renee is a realistically flawed protagonist, and watching her grapple with the consequences of constantly chasing the "perfect" outcome made her easy to root for.
The blend of genres is another strength. Mystery, romance, speculative fiction, humor, and even a bit of behind-the-scenes movie-set atmosphere all come together seamlessly without feeling overcrowded. For a debut novel, Smonk handles multiple storylines with impressive confidence.
The speculative elements are fairly light. Rather than focusing on scientific explanations, the novel uses its central time-rewinding concept to drive the mystery, and that approach works well. That said, I never felt completely immersed in the world. Some of the supporting characters blended together, making it harder to form strong emotional connections, and although the ending tied everything together nicely, I would have liked a bit more foreshadowing leading up to the final reveal. I also found myself wishing the story explored the mythology behind Renee's gift in greater depth instead of asking readers to simply accept it.
Overall, The Minute Givers is an engaging speculative mystery with a fresh premise, compelling emotional themes, and plenty of suspense. While it didn't quite become an all-time favorite, it kept me turning the pages from beginning to end, and I'd gladly pick up another novel by Christine Smonk.
What if you could rewind time by one minute for every person you've ever loved? But when those precious minutes begin to disappear, you're forced to uncover why your ex-lovers are dying before your time runs out.
The mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace, striking a nice balance between suspense and emotional reflection. I especially appreciated that this wasn't simply a story about catching a killer. At its core, it's about regret, perfectionism, and the irresistible urge to replay every awkward conversation and life-changing mistake. Renee is a realistically flawed protagonist, and watching her grapple with the consequences of constantly chasing the "perfect" outcome made her easy to root for.
The blend of genres is another strength. Mystery, romance, speculative fiction, humor, and even a bit of behind-the-scenes movie-set atmosphere all come together seamlessly without feeling overcrowded. For a debut novel, Smonk handles multiple storylines with impressive confidence.
The speculative elements are fairly light. Rather than focusing on scientific explanations, the novel uses its central time-rewinding concept to drive the mystery, and that approach works well. That said, I never felt completely immersed in the world. Some of the supporting characters blended together, making it harder to form strong emotional connections, and although the ending tied everything together nicely, I would have liked a bit more foreshadowing leading up to the final reveal. I also found myself wishing the story explored the mythology behind Renee's gift in greater depth instead of asking readers to simply accept it.
Overall, The Minute Givers is an engaging speculative mystery with a fresh premise, compelling emotional themes, and plenty of suspense. While it didn't quite become an all-time favorite, it kept me turning the pages from beginning to end, and I'd gladly pick up another novel by Christine Smonk.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Minute-Givers was a fun read that kept me up past my bedtime for a couple of nights. I never would have guessed this was a debut novel, but Christine Smonk knocked it out of the park! The writing style is tight and easy to read/follow. Given the main character's ability to rewind time for a few minutes it would be easy to get lost with a less-skilled writer. But Smonk keeps the reader on track while also somehow allowing the main character to be confused.
The story is written in first-person - which is my preference - with a likable (if flawed) main character. The author manages to build in a lot of backstory and context as the story unfolds without giving the reader information overload. It all just flows pretty seamlessly, never seemed to drag, and it was easy to get caught up in Renee's story. I feel like we learn who the killer is right alongside the main character. I feel like we could have had a little more information around the real killer leading up to the reveal (although as I am writing this I am remembering there were a couple of very vague hints in hindsight...I don't want to spoil anything but I feel like at least one of the hints could have been developed a bit more). There is also a side character who ends up being an important component in the finale who I would have liked to see just a little bit more of - mainly because when her name was mentioned it took me a minute to remember who she was talking about.
The Minute-Givers has murder-mystery, light romance, sarcasm and wit, with a slight supernatural twist in Renee's ability to rewind time. The last chapter - which is really an epilogue - leaves the door open for a sequel or a spin-off, which I would love to read! I think this would also make a great movie - if only so we can get a glimpse of the movie being made during the story.
The story is written in first-person - which is my preference - with a likable (if flawed) main character. The author manages to build in a lot of backstory and context as the story unfolds without giving the reader information overload. It all just flows pretty seamlessly, never seemed to drag, and it was easy to get caught up in Renee's story. I feel like we learn who the killer is right alongside the main character. I feel like we could have had a little more information around the real killer leading up to the reveal (although as I am writing this I am remembering there were a couple of very vague hints in hindsight...I don't want to spoil anything but I feel like at least one of the hints could have been developed a bit more). There is also a side character who ends up being an important component in the finale who I would have liked to see just a little bit more of - mainly because when her name was mentioned it took me a minute to remember who she was talking about.
The Minute-Givers has murder-mystery, light romance, sarcasm and wit, with a slight supernatural twist in Renee's ability to rewind time. The last chapter - which is really an epilogue - leaves the door open for a sequel or a spin-off, which I would love to read! I think this would also make a great movie - if only so we can get a glimpse of the movie being made during the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Early book buzz 🐝
I won an EARLY copy of this book through a Berkley promotion, so here I am reviewing a book that doesn’t publish until January 26, 2027!
It took me a MINUTE to grasp the UNIQUE PREMISE of this SPECULATIVE FICTION read, (about 20% of the story) so let me try to simplify it for you. Every time Renee Carron falls in love, she gains the ability to rewind time by 60 seconds, and it is cumulative.
So, when she falls for someone for the eighth time, she can now rewind time by eight minutes, plenty of time to EDIT her mistakes-the things she could’ve said or done better, and create a more perfect world.
She is supposed to meet SEVEN (all of her loves are referred to by number) but he doesn’t show-and then she LOSES a minute of her rewind powers. Does this mean that the reason SEVEN didn’t show up is because he is DEAD?
Then Renee loses another minute and another—is a SERIAL KILLER targeting her exes? And, if so, WHY?
She will need to figure it out before more people lose their lives, and her special ability disappears forever.
Although Christine Smonk DELIVERS an interesting CONCEPT, it ended up feeling very ONE DIMENSIONAL in execution.
I think it’s because it reads very YA to me-which I definitely was NOT expecting-and I am far removed from that demographic. Her language, her drinking, and her gaming are some of the reasons that this comes across that way.
And, each time she loses a minute, she tracks down all of her exes to figure out who was the latest to die. It became very repetitive, as not much else seemed to happen. I prefer books with more character development, so this will only earn 3 stars (an average read) for me.
But, if it intrigues you, give it a try-you might have better luck with it!
Thank You to Berkley for providing this ARC through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
I won an EARLY copy of this book through a Berkley promotion, so here I am reviewing a book that doesn’t publish until January 26, 2027!
It took me a MINUTE to grasp the UNIQUE PREMISE of this SPECULATIVE FICTION read, (about 20% of the story) so let me try to simplify it for you. Every time Renee Carron falls in love, she gains the ability to rewind time by 60 seconds, and it is cumulative.
So, when she falls for someone for the eighth time, she can now rewind time by eight minutes, plenty of time to EDIT her mistakes-the things she could’ve said or done better, and create a more perfect world.
She is supposed to meet SEVEN (all of her loves are referred to by number) but he doesn’t show-and then she LOSES a minute of her rewind powers. Does this mean that the reason SEVEN didn’t show up is because he is DEAD?
Then Renee loses another minute and another—is a SERIAL KILLER targeting her exes? And, if so, WHY?
She will need to figure it out before more people lose their lives, and her special ability disappears forever.
Although Christine Smonk DELIVERS an interesting CONCEPT, it ended up feeling very ONE DIMENSIONAL in execution.
I think it’s because it reads very YA to me-which I definitely was NOT expecting-and I am far removed from that demographic. Her language, her drinking, and her gaming are some of the reasons that this comes across that way.
And, each time she loses a minute, she tracks down all of her exes to figure out who was the latest to die. It became very repetitive, as not much else seemed to happen. I prefer books with more character development, so this will only earn 3 stars (an average read) for me.
But, if it intrigues you, give it a try-you might have better luck with it!
Thank You to Berkley for providing this ARC through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have to be honest - this book wasn't for me, but your mileage may vary.
This is a time travel story, and I'm all about time travel. In this case, the heroine of the novel can rewind time by 7 minutes whenever she wants... but she starts losing her rewind powers minute by minute as her previous love interests are murdered one by one. Does it make sense? Not really, so try not to think about it.
The story takes place while the main character is beginning filming of a Christmas movie, and there's a lot of time spent on set and talking about it, and the Christmas movie sounds completely zany, and I'm not sure why it was chosen to be at the heart of everything. The main character is also unlikable, but maybe that's not a problem. She had a long affair with a married man (a much older one with a thick mustache... who runs a Christmas movie production company that makes horrible movies... and treats her like trash...), chain smokes, manipulates almost every interaction with her powers to make herself look as good as possible, has an intense stalker friend who clearly needs a stay in a psych facility, and doesn't have much of a personality on the page other than crushing on some guys and trying to shape herself and their relationship.
The ending wraps up the big murder mystery plot, and there are some answers about the time travel. The message seems to be you don't need romantic love or soulmates aren't really a thing, and there's no romance at the end, so it's not that kind of a story.
This was an odd one, and it didn't hit for me, but maybe it will for you.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a time travel story, and I'm all about time travel. In this case, the heroine of the novel can rewind time by 7 minutes whenever she wants... but she starts losing her rewind powers minute by minute as her previous love interests are murdered one by one. Does it make sense? Not really, so try not to think about it.
The story takes place while the main character is beginning filming of a Christmas movie, and there's a lot of time spent on set and talking about it, and the Christmas movie sounds completely zany, and I'm not sure why it was chosen to be at the heart of everything. The main character is also unlikable, but maybe that's not a problem. She had a long affair with a married man (a much older one with a thick mustache... who runs a Christmas movie production company that makes horrible movies... and treats her like trash...), chain smokes, manipulates almost every interaction with her powers to make herself look as good as possible, has an intense stalker friend who clearly needs a stay in a psych facility, and doesn't have much of a personality on the page other than crushing on some guys and trying to shape herself and their relationship.
The ending wraps up the big murder mystery plot, and there are some answers about the time travel. The message seems to be you don't need romantic love or soulmates aren't really a thing, and there's no romance at the end, so it's not that kind of a story.
This was an odd one, and it didn't hit for me, but maybe it will for you.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 Stars- I picked this book because I love a time travel novel. In this novel the main character can only travel back in time 7 minutes. She earns a minute from men that she has a spark with but if they die she will lose that minute.
Renee has always been able to rewind time. She tried telling her family but they didn't believe her. Her entire life has been defined by this trait. She takes a job in movies where she makes sure everything stays the same. She earns money by rewinding time until she gets winning scratch off tickets. Renee has not been lucky in love and has even gone so far to have an affair with a married man that she is still struggling to get over. When he goes missing Renee is determined to find him but then she loses a minute that she can rewind. She fears that he is dead and she is determined to find out who did it. Only things go from bad to worse when she begins to lose more minutes. She must figure out what is going on before she is considered the murderer.
The premise was an interesting one and it is what drew me to this book. However, I had a hard time with Renee. I just didn't really care for her. Her actions frustrated me at times. She did get better as the book went on. Also there were times when the book dragged a little for me. I did think the book got much better as it went on, but this was a definitely a slow burn for me.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Renee has always been able to rewind time. She tried telling her family but they didn't believe her. Her entire life has been defined by this trait. She takes a job in movies where she makes sure everything stays the same. She earns money by rewinding time until she gets winning scratch off tickets. Renee has not been lucky in love and has even gone so far to have an affair with a married man that she is still struggling to get over. When he goes missing Renee is determined to find him but then she loses a minute that she can rewind. She fears that he is dead and she is determined to find out who did it. Only things go from bad to worse when she begins to lose more minutes. She must figure out what is going on before she is considered the murderer.
The premise was an interesting one and it is what drew me to this book. However, I had a hard time with Renee. I just didn't really care for her. Her actions frustrated me at times. She did get better as the book went on. Also there were times when the book dragged a little for me. I did think the book got much better as it went on, but this was a definitely a slow burn for me.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
What would you do if you could turn back time, even just a bit?
I for one would try to avoid my F*** ups -- precisely in the way Renee Carron does, the messy, clever, dramatically self-concious protaganist does in this superb book. But guess what? As the author explores, trying to live your life perfectly -- even augmented with literal magic time powers -- doesn't end in perfection.
The Minute Givers is a rip-roaring mystery/thriller/sci-fi genre mashup that quite literally has something for everyone. It's even got a delightfully romantic B plot (and just a dash of spice, if you're into that kinda thing.)
While the time turning and murders are what I tuned in for, it was actually the setting on the C-tier film studio that I was most delighted by. The bizarre plot of the Christmas movie they're filming had me nearly as intrigued as Renne's investigation, and the author's detail-rich descriptions of production and the ins and outs of movie-making really felt written by someone with firsthand experience.
Suffice to say -- I loved it. Christine Smonk is a hell of a storyteller, and one fantastic world builder. Oh, and the descriptions of Renne's living area made me immediately go and tidy my bedroom lol.
I for one would try to avoid my F*** ups -- precisely in the way Renee Carron does, the messy, clever, dramatically self-concious protaganist does in this superb book. But guess what? As the author explores, trying to live your life perfectly -- even augmented with literal magic time powers -- doesn't end in perfection.
The Minute Givers is a rip-roaring mystery/thriller/sci-fi genre mashup that quite literally has something for everyone. It's even got a delightfully romantic B plot (and just a dash of spice, if you're into that kinda thing.)
While the time turning and murders are what I tuned in for, it was actually the setting on the C-tier film studio that I was most delighted by. The bizarre plot of the Christmas movie they're filming had me nearly as intrigued as Renne's investigation, and the author's detail-rich descriptions of production and the ins and outs of movie-making really felt written by someone with firsthand experience.
Suffice to say -- I loved it. Christine Smonk is a hell of a storyteller, and one fantastic world builder. Oh, and the descriptions of Renne's living area made me immediately go and tidy my bedroom lol.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a debut novel?! Consider me blown away.
Renee Carron receives the ability to rewind time one minute for every man she falls in love with. Unfortunately, someone is trying to get rid of all her minutes - by killing each of these men.
We join Renee on her journey to discover who is killing her former crushes/lovers but this book ends up being about so much more than a thriller revolving around finding a serial killer. It's about friendship, what it truly means to fall in love, and ethics surrounding how our "powers" should be used.
With the multitude of characters (Renee, her friends/coworkers, and her 8 former partners), this novel could have been so confusing for the reader, but Smonk's writing is straight-forward and easy to follow. I could have finished this in 2 days if it hadn't been my turn for multiple Libby holds...
PSA: Renee works on the set of a low-budget Christmas film. This was my least favorite part of the whole thing but I'm choosing to ignore it because I personally don't love reading books with Christmas settings outside of winter. That being said, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller option during jolly season!
Renee Carron receives the ability to rewind time one minute for every man she falls in love with. Unfortunately, someone is trying to get rid of all her minutes - by killing each of these men.
We join Renee on her journey to discover who is killing her former crushes/lovers but this book ends up being about so much more than a thriller revolving around finding a serial killer. It's about friendship, what it truly means to fall in love, and ethics surrounding how our "powers" should be used.
With the multitude of characters (Renee, her friends/coworkers, and her 8 former partners), this novel could have been so confusing for the reader, but Smonk's writing is straight-forward and easy to follow. I could have finished this in 2 days if it hadn't been my turn for multiple Libby holds...
PSA: Renee works on the set of a low-budget Christmas film. This was my least favorite part of the whole thing but I'm choosing to ignore it because I personally don't love reading books with Christmas settings outside of winter. That being said, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller option during jolly season!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I definitely enjoyed this book more than I thought I would but I would not say this was a book that I was itching to pick back up. It was perfect for the summer (despite a Christmas movie being so central) and a beach read (as in it was fast paced and engaging enough).
The concept was quite interesting to me, Renee has had 8 crushes/loves in her life and can incidentally now rewind her life 8 minutes at a time. She does this generally in conversations so that she comes across as always saying the perfect thing. But suddenly she can only rewind seven minutes and it turns out that one of her ex's is missing and presumed dead.
This is definitely not a romance despite it being such a central focus of the plot but a thriller. I have to say that I did not suspect the killer at all so that was a pleasant surprise however I keep going back and forth if I thought who did it was satisfying or not. The killers explanation made sense and could argued as being a perfect fit for the books themes but also I was felt a bit like "okay but still why?".
Im in a bit of a reading rut but had no problem getting through this in a matter of days.
The concept was quite interesting to me, Renee has had 8 crushes/loves in her life and can incidentally now rewind her life 8 minutes at a time. She does this generally in conversations so that she comes across as always saying the perfect thing. But suddenly she can only rewind seven minutes and it turns out that one of her ex's is missing and presumed dead.
This is definitely not a romance despite it being such a central focus of the plot but a thriller. I have to say that I did not suspect the killer at all so that was a pleasant surprise however I keep going back and forth if I thought who did it was satisfying or not. The killers explanation made sense and could argued as being a perfect fit for the books themes but also I was felt a bit like "okay but still why?".
Im in a bit of a reading rut but had no problem getting through this in a matter of days.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Minute Givers was a delightful surprise. It isn’t a book I would have normally picked up on my own, but I’m so glad NetGalley introduced me to it.
This debut blends romance, mystery, and time travel into a story that kept me turning the pages. The murder mystery gave the plot momentum, while the concept of rewinding time had me completely captivated. I couldn’t help but daydream about what I would do if I were given the chance to go back and change a single minute.
The premise is imaginative, and the story moves quickly; it was an easy, engaging read that kept me curious to see how everything would come together.
One of my favorite parts of reading ARCs is discovering books I might have otherwise overlooked, and The Minute Givers is exactly that kind of book.
I’m grateful to have experienced this story months before its January 2027 release, and I’ll definitely be interested in seeing what this debut author writes next.
The Minute Givers was a delightful surprise. It isn’t a book I would have normally picked up on my own, but I’m so glad NetGalley introduced me to it.
This debut blends romance, mystery, and time travel into a story that kept me turning the pages. The murder mystery gave the plot momentum, while the concept of rewinding time had me completely captivated. I couldn’t help but daydream about what I would do if I were given the chance to go back and change a single minute.
The premise is imaginative, and the story moves quickly; it was an easy, engaging read that kept me curious to see how everything would come together.
One of my favorite parts of reading ARCs is discovering books I might have otherwise overlooked, and The Minute Givers is exactly that kind of book.
I’m grateful to have experienced this story months before its January 2027 release, and I’ll definitely be interested in seeing what this debut author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Did I even know what fun was before this book?
The Minute Givers, at first, had a pretty unhinged premise.
Renee Carron can rewind time. Literally gaining a new minute to her magical ability every time she has a crush.
Oh, and it's a murder mystery.
I picked up this book purely because I want to explore the magical realism genre at its fullest. But God, what a great surprise of a book this turned out to be.
I fell in love with the writing. With how cleverly Christine Smonk writes the ins and outs of her main character. The concept of the magic itself gets better and better the deeper we get into the story. By the end, I was just... satisfied.
This is a solid, clever, and—most importantly—fun debut novel.
A huge Thank You to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this one early!
The Minute Givers, at first, had a pretty unhinged premise.
Renee Carron can rewind time. Literally gaining a new minute to her magical ability every time she has a crush.
Oh, and it's a murder mystery.
I picked up this book purely because I want to explore the magical realism genre at its fullest. But God, what a great surprise of a book this turned out to be.
I fell in love with the writing. With how cleverly Christine Smonk writes the ins and outs of her main character. The concept of the magic itself gets better and better the deeper we get into the story. By the end, I was just... satisfied.
This is a solid, clever, and—most importantly—fun debut novel.
A huge Thank You to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this one early!
Review of advance copy received from Author
On the surface, The Minute Givers is a thrilling murder mystery with a supernatural twist. On a deeper level, it’s a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between imperfection, sense of self, and what it means to live authentically.
Renee Carron can rewind time one minute for every man she’s ever loved, a power which allows her to perfect every social interaction and erase any blunders. Throughout the novel we see the ways in which this power affects Renee’s connection and relationships with others, all while trying to keep up with a fast-paced, gripping mystery.
I recommend The Minute Givers to anyone who likes:
- A fast-paced, suspenseful murder mystery
- An opportunity for some self-reflection
- A Toronto setting
- A sprinkle of laugh-out-loud humour
Renee Carron can rewind time one minute for every man she’s ever loved, a power which allows her to perfect every social interaction and erase any blunders. Throughout the novel we see the ways in which this power affects Renee’s connection and relationships with others, all while trying to keep up with a fast-paced, gripping mystery.
I recommend The Minute Givers to anyone who likes:
- A fast-paced, suspenseful murder mystery
- An opportunity for some self-reflection
- A Toronto setting
- A sprinkle of laugh-out-loud humour
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of The Minute Givers via NetGalley.
At first glance the premise of this story was very interesting, but after finishing I'm not sure it was interesting enough to make an entire book out of. The rewinding of time was fun at first but quickly felt repetitive. I also really struggled with the fact that the main character was supposed to be in her mid to late twenties but her thoughts and conversations felt very immature, almost like a teenager, and as a result the book had a very YA feel to me. Overall, the best word I can use to describe this book is "fine", but I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone except those who enjoy YA romance.
2.5 stars
At first glance the premise of this story was very interesting, but after finishing I'm not sure it was interesting enough to make an entire book out of. The rewinding of time was fun at first but quickly felt repetitive. I also really struggled with the fact that the main character was supposed to be in her mid to late twenties but her thoughts and conversations felt very immature, almost like a teenager, and as a result the book had a very YA feel to me. Overall, the best word I can use to describe this book is "fine", but I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone except those who enjoy YA romance.
2.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75/5
I really did get a kick out of "for the love of god, quiet on set." The film girlies understand. That's so real.
This felt like a unique take on a time travel/time controlling kind of story. And I really appreciated it. It did a while for me to truly understand how it worked, but I did feel like that was kind of on purpose. But I don't know how to explain that.
I did like that the time travel was used to solve mysteries and learn things, I did think that was really well done. And it kept my attention.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I really did get a kick out of "for the love of god, quiet on set." The film girlies understand. That's so real.
This felt like a unique take on a time travel/time controlling kind of story. And I really appreciated it. It did a while for me to truly understand how it worked, but I did feel like that was kind of on purpose. But I don't know how to explain that.
I did like that the time travel was used to solve mysteries and learn things, I did think that was really well done. And it kept my attention.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 17, 2026
This book was just the perfect combination of so many things I love in books. It had a speculative and magical aspect, where it actually utilized and explored that power to a really satisfying level. It also had well-done character development, so I genuinely felt like I understood the main character. The overall tone of this book was “feel good” but had enough intrigue/mystery to not be too cheesy. Also, the idea that if you just do everything perfectly, everything will turn out exactly the way you hope is unfortunately very relatable! This book is a debut and I would love to read whatever Christine Smonk publishes next!
Thank you to NetGallley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGallley for the ARC!
August 9, 2026
3.75/5 rounded up. This debut is a fun blend of thriller, romance, and time travel. Some of the twists I guessed correctly, others I really didn't. I kinda love how Renee has clearly been negatively affected by her rewind powers, her maturity and sense of self stunted by the ability to fix even the slightest social faux pas. I'd like to think I'd be wiser and a more effective detective with the same powers, but honestly... I'd probably be worse lol
I received this ebook for free via Netgalley. This review is my honest opinion. The Minute Givers releases on January 26th, 2027.
I received this ebook for free via Netgalley. This review is my honest opinion. The Minute Givers releases on January 26th, 2027.
Review of advance copy
I received an ARC of this book through a reading retreat I participated in, and I’m so glad I did. This was a really fun read, and I especially loved the ending. The main character was funny and relatable, as were each of the side characters. The author did a great job weaving in some unexpected twists throughout the book, and I enjoyed the pacing. The storyline jumped around a bit, and at times, it made the story bit confusing, but I’ll still be recommending this one to all my friends. I look forward to following this author’s future works.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Minute Givers By Christine Smonk is a speculation fiction thriller that will keep you reading late into the night! The way Renee has lived her life, is not like anything ever ever heard of! This book is full of suspense, wonder, hope, amazing characters, with a plot that will keep you flipping those pages late into the night! By the end of the book, Renee learns so much about herself & the true capabilities of her power! This was such an awesome book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an arc of this book.
The concept snagged my attention right away and it paid off. The murder mystery parts keep you guessing and I sped through the book in a couple days. There’s some great personal growth for the main character as she explores her relationships with others and herself.
Perfect for anyone who replays moments in their head.
The concept snagged my attention right away and it paid off. The murder mystery parts keep you guessing and I sped through the book in a couple days. There’s some great personal growth for the main character as she explores her relationships with others and herself.
Perfect for anyone who replays moments in their head.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
pretty good debut, but definitely felt myself getting tired of renee's "rewinds" by the end of the book, which started to feel more like a party trick than a true magical ability. i could see this novel succeeding if it were billed as more of a YA thriller/romance with time travel magical realism elements given the MC's age and dialogue. thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 26, 2026
The Minute Givers is a whimsical blend of speculative fiction and mystery. The concept of gaining the ability to rewind time through the important people in your life was fun, and I enjoyed how the story balanced a twisty murder investigation with the consequences of time travel. A fun, fast read that stands out from the typical mystery/thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a marvelous hook! And Smonk delivers, in this wildly creative and oh so fun debut! Despite its seemingly breezy and propulsive nature, there’s a deeper layer to this tale. We see how our protagonist initially gives up so much of herself, and how she views her minute-givers with such rosy glasses, only to evolve by the end of the book into an objective woman who is true to herself. Well done!
July 1, 2026
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of this book was completely original and unlike anything I’ve encountered. It was gripping enough to keep me hooked, and I never saw the twist regarding the culprit coming.
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