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Feels Like the First Time
Blink and your life’s halfway over. What if that happens literally?
College party girl Emily Murray bounces through majors and boys until an ill-advised art major leads her to a rebellious relationship with an aspiring rock star. When her father cuts off the college fund—and her boyfriend ditches her to chase a record deal—Emily spirals, hard.
One shaved head and emotional black out later, she wakes up thirty years in the future, living a life she doesn’t recognize as a successful therapist and engaged to a total stranger.
With no apparent way to rewind the clock, Emily scrambles to make sense of her new reality. With a wedding date looming and a competitive therapist threatening her fragile career, Emily is forced to question: Was this really the future she was meant for?
Witty, sharp and unexpectedly heartwarming, Feels Like the First Time, the highly anticipated follow up to This Time Around, is a love letter to our younger selves, reminding us that even when we feel lost, we often end up exactly where we need to be.
College party girl Emily Murray bounces through majors and boys until an ill-advised art major leads her to a rebellious relationship with an aspiring rock star. When her father cuts off the college fund—and her boyfriend ditches her to chase a record deal—Emily spirals, hard.
One shaved head and emotional black out later, she wakes up thirty years in the future, living a life she doesn’t recognize as a successful therapist and engaged to a total stranger.
With no apparent way to rewind the clock, Emily scrambles to make sense of her new reality. With a wedding date looming and a competitive therapist threatening her fragile career, Emily is forced to question: Was this really the future she was meant for?
Witty, sharp and unexpectedly heartwarming, Feels Like the First Time, the highly anticipated follow up to This Time Around, is a love letter to our younger selves, reminding us that even when we feel lost, we often end up exactly where we need to be.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Kimberly Packard
8 books304 followersKimberly Packard is an award-winning author of women’s fiction.
She began visiting her spot on the shelves at libraries and bookstores at a young age, gazing between the Os and the Qs. Kimberly received a degree in journalism from the University of North Texas, and has worked in public relations and communications for nearly 20 years.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found running, planning her next trip, asking her dog what’s in his mouth or curled up with a book. She resides in Texas with her husband Colby, a clever cat named Oliver and a precocious black lab named Tully.
Her debut novel, Phoenix, was awarded as Best General Fiction of 2013 by the Texas Association of Authors. Other published works by Kimberly includes a Christmas novella, The Crazy Yates, and the sequels to Phoenix, Pardon Falls and Prospera Pass, and her stand-alone titles, Vortex, Dire’s Club and This Time Around. She was honored as one of the Top 10 Haute Young Authors by Southern Methodist University in 2019 (she was most excited about the young part). Vortex was the 2019 winner of the Pencraft award in Women’s Fiction, and Dire’s Club, was awarded the 2021 General Fiction of the Year by the North Texas Book Festival. Her most recent novel, This Time Around, was an America Book Fest finalist in romance and winner of a 2025 Stiletto award from the Contemporary Romance Writers.
She began visiting her spot on the shelves at libraries and bookstores at a young age, gazing between the Os and the Qs. Kimberly received a degree in journalism from the University of North Texas, and has worked in public relations and communications for nearly 20 years.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found running, planning her next trip, asking her dog what’s in his mouth or curled up with a book. She resides in Texas with her husband Colby, a clever cat named Oliver and a precocious black lab named Tully.
Her debut novel, Phoenix, was awarded as Best General Fiction of 2013 by the Texas Association of Authors. Other published works by Kimberly includes a Christmas novella, The Crazy Yates, and the sequels to Phoenix, Pardon Falls and Prospera Pass, and her stand-alone titles, Vortex, Dire’s Club and This Time Around. She was honored as one of the Top 10 Haute Young Authors by Southern Methodist University in 2019 (she was most excited about the young part). Vortex was the 2019 winner of the Pencraft award in Women’s Fiction, and Dire’s Club, was awarded the 2021 General Fiction of the Year by the North Texas Book Festival. Her most recent novel, This Time Around, was an America Book Fest finalist in romance and winner of a 2025 Stiletto award from the Contemporary Romance Writers.
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May 29, 2026I love all my characters, even the ones we shouldn't love, but there is something truly special about Emily. She's that irreverent, funny friend we all have, the one who's down for anything - whether it's last minute drinks or hiding a body. But yet, beneath her confident smile is someone just trying to hold it all together. Throughout writing this book, she made me laugh, but her vulnerable moments made me cry harder. I hope you'll enjoy the ride with Em as you laugh with her, cry with her, and, ultimately, love with her.
June 25, 2026
If you were in college in the 1990s, you will relate to this book!
Emily Murray has gone through a tragedy that we have all experienced, a breakup. She was sure that this was her soul mate, but anyone could have told her otherwise. Musicians can be flaky, and this one definitely was. However, she never expected to wake up thirty years in the future, engaged to another man, and a life she didn't expect. I can only imagine how hard it was to navigate this new life and wondered how she could go back in time. Technology grew by leaps and bounds, and even the mindset of the different generations, as we saw with the counselor who opened up shop just down the street. Her only constant is a fortune teller that she spoke to in the 1990s, and is trying to help guide her the best she can in the present. Will she make it back to her own time or is she destined to live in the present forever?
This novel was such a fun read, that I devoured it in a day. It is light-hearted, funny yet serious, and begs the question, how would you handle this situation if you were in Emily's shoes? I don't know how I would answer that question. The one thing it reminds us is that we are in charge of our own destinies. We have the power to make our lives what we want, no matter what is thrown at us. It is all about choices!
While this is a sequel/prequel to This Time Around, it isn't necessary to read it before this one. Granted I did several years ago, but I didn't remember anything about the book until I looked it up. Both are excellent books and well worth reading.
We give this book 5 paws up.
Emily Murray has gone through a tragedy that we have all experienced, a breakup. She was sure that this was her soul mate, but anyone could have told her otherwise. Musicians can be flaky, and this one definitely was. However, she never expected to wake up thirty years in the future, engaged to another man, and a life she didn't expect. I can only imagine how hard it was to navigate this new life and wondered how she could go back in time. Technology grew by leaps and bounds, and even the mindset of the different generations, as we saw with the counselor who opened up shop just down the street. Her only constant is a fortune teller that she spoke to in the 1990s, and is trying to help guide her the best she can in the present. Will she make it back to her own time or is she destined to live in the present forever?
This novel was such a fun read, that I devoured it in a day. It is light-hearted, funny yet serious, and begs the question, how would you handle this situation if you were in Emily's shoes? I don't know how I would answer that question. The one thing it reminds us is that we are in charge of our own destinies. We have the power to make our lives what we want, no matter what is thrown at us. It is all about choices!
While this is a sequel/prequel to This Time Around, it isn't necessary to read it before this one. Granted I did several years ago, but I didn't remember anything about the book until I looked it up. Both are excellent books and well worth reading.
We give this book 5 paws up.
July 17, 2026
I finished reading this book last night/this morning at 6a.m.... Another one of my favorites!!! It was so hilarious and the romance is now one of my favorites! I can't wait for the next book by this author!
12/9/23 and 12/7/24 I got to meet this author at an event! She was very kind and down to earth! She even signed my book, took a picture with me, and answered all of my burning questions!
If you loved this book, then I suggest:
All of the books by this author
The Seven Year Slip
The Dead Romantics
Sounds Like Love
Timeless by Alexandra Monir
12/9/23 and 12/7/24 I got to meet this author at an event! She was very kind and down to earth! She even signed my book, took a picture with me, and answered all of my burning questions!
If you loved this book, then I suggest:
All of the books by this author
The Seven Year Slip
The Dead Romantics
Sounds Like Love
Timeless by Alexandra Monir
June 16, 2026
This romantic tale has an unusual twist. Instead of going back in time, this story jumps forward in time. How would you deal with new technologies you'd never seen or worked before? Could you blend into a new life in the future? Emily finds herself twenty years ahead in her life and completely unprepared to deal with her future self. She scrambles to fit in and misses all the years it took away from her.
Time travel forward in time is a new plot for me and what fun it was! Moving forward in time leaves you wondering what happened in between. Feels Like the First Time explores these questions in a wonderful, humorous way. This is a fun ride as Emily deals with changes on every level to fit into a life she has no memory of creating.
One star taken because of the f-bombs. If you don't mind those, it's a great story that I recommend you get. You won't be able to put it down.
Time travel forward in time is a new plot for me and what fun it was! Moving forward in time leaves you wondering what happened in between. Feels Like the First Time explores these questions in a wonderful, humorous way. This is a fun ride as Emily deals with changes on every level to fit into a life she has no memory of creating.
One star taken because of the f-bombs. If you don't mind those, it's a great story that I recommend you get. You won't be able to put it down.
June 28, 2026
An emotionally devastating breakup sends an aimless college junior 30 years into her future.
Feels Like the First Time is a warm and witty women’s fiction novel by veteran author Kimberly Packard in which an emotionally immature young woman is suddenly thrust into her own life 30 years in the future. It’s the Spring semester of 1996, and after a heated public argument with her father about her aimless college performance, Emily Murray runs to her musician boyfriend’s place to discover he and his band are packing up and heading for L.A., where a possible recording contract awaits. However, while she thought she would be part of that move, he did not and planned to slip away without an explanation. Devastated, she returns to her shared apartment, and in an emotionally impulsive act, shaves off all of her hair and blacks out. But rather than awakening to follicular mayhem, Emily comes to in a strange bed, with a gorgeous older man singing in the shower. She’s 30 years older, and it’s 2026.
Emily Murray is such a great character; I was in her corner from start to finish. She’s a fun, free-spirited girl with a sassy wit and a love for live music and her lead-singer boyfriend, Wick. Unfortunately, Wick is all about Wick, seeing Emily as only an accouterment to his current self-image as a struggling Austin, Texas, musician on his way to the top. He has no problem leaving her behind to pursue his big break in L.A. Emily, however, has had an emotionally undernourished childhood, the result of her suddenly single mother being thrust unprepared into the role of breadwinner when her marriage to Emily’s emotionally and physically distant father breaks up. But when she awakens in 2026, she finds herself engaged to Dr. Craig Harrison, the complete opposite of the men in her earlier life. He’s understanding, supportive, and only has eyes for her and her wellbeing. Their chemistry is palpable, even as she initially thinks he’s the product of her dreaming. But once she realizes she’s living in her own future, she begins to back away from this warm-hearted man, who in reality is a total stranger. As she falls for him, she worries she’s an imposter in her own life, living a lie, and she can’t do that to this good man.There are several pivotal supporting characters in Emily’s life, in both timelines. There is the mysterious Astrid, the psychic Emily consults on a whim after her blow-up with her father, and who is still in business in her future. While Emily repeatedly returns to Astrid to beg for help getting back to her life in 1996, Astrid is actually a source of wisdom and good advice when Emily is considering her options and contemplating some suspect choices. There are also Emily’s lifelong friends, Josie and Sofia, and her loyal and wise assistant in her therapy practice, Monique. The story really celebrates the power and value of strong, supportive female friendships. In the end, Emily, who has grown into a gifted therapist, must learn some personal lessons of her own before she can live the life she was meant to live.
I recommend FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME to readers of women’s fiction.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Feels Like the First Time
~Kimberly Packard
Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard is a neon-lit dive back into the 90’s college scene, that gloriously chaotic era of grunge music, garage bands, late-night diner runs, and life choices that probably should have come with warning labels. While this is the follow-up to This Time Around, it can absolutely stand on its own, though I’d still highly recommend reading the first book for the full emotional experience.
Emily is your classic college student: convinced she has life figured out while simultaneously holding everything together with duct tape and caffeine. She’s navigating divorced parents with expectations she considers wildly unrealistic for HER future, all while changing majors often enough to make her father question every life decision he’s ever made. Her boyfriend, Wick, is the lead singer of a band teetering on the edge of making it big, and Emily is right there beside him, emotionally invested, physically exhausted, and carrying the sound equipment by herself. But when Wick signs that “big deal” and disappears without so much as a goodbye, Emily’s world gets flipped upside down and then hurled straight into the future. Literally.
Packard delivers a beautifully crafted cast of characters who balance each other perfectly on the page. Emily is sharp, self-aware, emotionally messy in the most believable way, and trying desperately to figure out how to balance independence with love. Wick is equal parts charismatic and infuriating, driven almost entirely by ego and ambition. Meanwhile, Josie and Sophia step in as the kind of supportive best friends every emotionally spiraling college student needs in their corner.
Packard’s writing flows effortlessly between timelines without ever feeling jarring or confusing. The humor and emotional depth are perfectly balanced, creating moments where you’re laughing one second and then suddenly staring into space thinking, wait... did that really just happen? This is very much a character-driven story rather than an action-heavy one, built on emotional honesty, nostalgia, and deeply relatable relationships. The plot twist leans less toward shocking drama and more toward emotional realism, where the quiet moments of realization and the painful lessons that come with learning to choose yourself first deliver the strongest impact.
Overall, Feels Like the First Time is a story about discovering whether you’re truly the main character in your own life, or just playing a supporting role in someone else’s.
I would like to thank Lone Star Literary Life and Kimberly Packard for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Feels Like the First Time. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest opinion.
~Kimberly Packard
Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard is a neon-lit dive back into the 90’s college scene, that gloriously chaotic era of grunge music, garage bands, late-night diner runs, and life choices that probably should have come with warning labels. While this is the follow-up to This Time Around, it can absolutely stand on its own, though I’d still highly recommend reading the first book for the full emotional experience.
Emily is your classic college student: convinced she has life figured out while simultaneously holding everything together with duct tape and caffeine. She’s navigating divorced parents with expectations she considers wildly unrealistic for HER future, all while changing majors often enough to make her father question every life decision he’s ever made. Her boyfriend, Wick, is the lead singer of a band teetering on the edge of making it big, and Emily is right there beside him, emotionally invested, physically exhausted, and carrying the sound equipment by herself. But when Wick signs that “big deal” and disappears without so much as a goodbye, Emily’s world gets flipped upside down and then hurled straight into the future. Literally.
Packard delivers a beautifully crafted cast of characters who balance each other perfectly on the page. Emily is sharp, self-aware, emotionally messy in the most believable way, and trying desperately to figure out how to balance independence with love. Wick is equal parts charismatic and infuriating, driven almost entirely by ego and ambition. Meanwhile, Josie and Sophia step in as the kind of supportive best friends every emotionally spiraling college student needs in their corner.
Packard’s writing flows effortlessly between timelines without ever feeling jarring or confusing. The humor and emotional depth are perfectly balanced, creating moments where you’re laughing one second and then suddenly staring into space thinking, wait... did that really just happen? This is very much a character-driven story rather than an action-heavy one, built on emotional honesty, nostalgia, and deeply relatable relationships. The plot twist leans less toward shocking drama and more toward emotional realism, where the quiet moments of realization and the painful lessons that come with learning to choose yourself first deliver the strongest impact.
Overall, Feels Like the First Time is a story about discovering whether you’re truly the main character in your own life, or just playing a supporting role in someone else’s.
I would like to thank Lone Star Literary Life and Kimberly Packard for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Feels Like the First Time. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest opinion.
June 27, 2026
Feels Like the First Time is a wonderful love story with delightful people to invite into your reading space.
At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the time-travel aspect, as that isn’t a plot device I usually enjoy, but this one works! Emily is a quirky, loveable character and her reactions to waking up one morning 30 years into her future are great, although she could’ve been a little more alarmed about the situation and that hunky stranger in the shower. But then that would be my reaction as a much older woman and as more of her character was revealed, it made sense.
Plus the introduction to the humor that makes the story so much fun would’ve been delayed. In addition to how she responds to the situation that first day, figuring out what a smartphone is, as well as other technological advances that affect so much of daily life in the modern era.
How Emily comes to grips with her ‘new life’, introduces some interesting characters, like Astrid, the psychic she visits first as a nineteen-year-old, then thirty years later, and the reader meets Emily’s parents, who are well presented as unlikeable people is some ways, making them real. And we meet the best friend from before, who is still in the “now”, and much of how Emily pieces together the threads of her life are through conversations with Josie.
Through much of the story, Emily is conflicted about her feelings for her fiancé Craig. The initial alarm slowly changes to love, even though she has difficulty admitting that, and that part of the plotting works well. The back and forth as to whether she should forget about her past and just live in the future, with this wonderful man, or try to make her way back brings tension to the story that keeps a reader engaged. I read the book in just a couple of sittings, even though I was spending more time with breakfast than I’d planned. 🙂
Feels Like the First Time is a well-written novel that surpsises a reader along the way to a very satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a story with romance, time-travel, humor, and a super cast of characters.
At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the time-travel aspect, as that isn’t a plot device I usually enjoy, but this one works! Emily is a quirky, loveable character and her reactions to waking up one morning 30 years into her future are great, although she could’ve been a little more alarmed about the situation and that hunky stranger in the shower. But then that would be my reaction as a much older woman and as more of her character was revealed, it made sense.
Plus the introduction to the humor that makes the story so much fun would’ve been delayed. In addition to how she responds to the situation that first day, figuring out what a smartphone is, as well as other technological advances that affect so much of daily life in the modern era.
How Emily comes to grips with her ‘new life’, introduces some interesting characters, like Astrid, the psychic she visits first as a nineteen-year-old, then thirty years later, and the reader meets Emily’s parents, who are well presented as unlikeable people is some ways, making them real. And we meet the best friend from before, who is still in the “now”, and much of how Emily pieces together the threads of her life are through conversations with Josie.
Through much of the story, Emily is conflicted about her feelings for her fiancé Craig. The initial alarm slowly changes to love, even though she has difficulty admitting that, and that part of the plotting works well. The back and forth as to whether she should forget about her past and just live in the future, with this wonderful man, or try to make her way back brings tension to the story that keeps a reader engaged. I read the book in just a couple of sittings, even though I was spending more time with breakfast than I’d planned. 🙂
Feels Like the First Time is a well-written novel that surpsises a reader along the way to a very satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a story with romance, time-travel, humor, and a super cast of characters.
July 25, 2026
Most people have imagined a “do-over,” a chance to go back and make different choices in life. Few people over the age of ten imagine skipping thirty years into the future. For college party gal Emily Murray, her life feels over at twenty. Her rich lawyer father is on her case about the future she’s still not sure about. The man she loves moves on and leaves her behind, shattering her heart into messy pieces. Alone and despairing, she shaves her head, blacks out, and wakes up... thirty years later in what might as well be a mansion.
Emily doesn’t know what a smart phone is, the cars look like something out of a sci-fi movie, not to mention the T.V. She barely even recognizes the contents of her fridge, and she absolutely does not recognize the silver fox who shows up. If she can figure out her phone, she just might find the intel she needs to sort out her new life. Hilarity ensues as Emily struggles to get her bearings, all while keeping everyone in the dark so she doesn’t end up in the hospital.
What can I say about this nearly flawlessly structured story? Kimberly Packard is clearly a master of her craft. Even though this is a standalone sequel, it’s easy to pick up the threads and enjoy the ride as Packard brings us on a surreal journey to future’s past. The 90s intro felt authentic and nostalgic, without veering into stereotypical territory. Emily and her friends and family, especially Perfect Craig, felt like living, breathing people by the end.
My only non-issue was my annoyance with how perfect her future life seemed, even if it served as a perfect antithesis to how chaotic college-Emily’s life has become. But part of me wanted her to strike out and live a little more dangerously, maybe bring some of that 20-something energy into future-Emily’s life. And Craig, while totally swoon-worthy, was far too perfect at times. Again, he is the ideal foil for Emily’s emotional immaturity, of course. Have I said Packard is a brilliant writer yet? Don’t just take my word for it, dive into Feels Like the First Time and enjoy the ride.
Emily doesn’t know what a smart phone is, the cars look like something out of a sci-fi movie, not to mention the T.V. She barely even recognizes the contents of her fridge, and she absolutely does not recognize the silver fox who shows up. If she can figure out her phone, she just might find the intel she needs to sort out her new life. Hilarity ensues as Emily struggles to get her bearings, all while keeping everyone in the dark so she doesn’t end up in the hospital.
What can I say about this nearly flawlessly structured story? Kimberly Packard is clearly a master of her craft. Even though this is a standalone sequel, it’s easy to pick up the threads and enjoy the ride as Packard brings us on a surreal journey to future’s past. The 90s intro felt authentic and nostalgic, without veering into stereotypical territory. Emily and her friends and family, especially Perfect Craig, felt like living, breathing people by the end.
My only non-issue was my annoyance with how perfect her future life seemed, even if it served as a perfect antithesis to how chaotic college-Emily’s life has become. But part of me wanted her to strike out and live a little more dangerously, maybe bring some of that 20-something energy into future-Emily’s life. And Craig, while totally swoon-worthy, was far too perfect at times. Again, he is the ideal foil for Emily’s emotional immaturity, of course. Have I said Packard is a brilliant writer yet? Don’t just take my word for it, dive into Feels Like the First Time and enjoy the ride.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It’s 1996. Nineteen-year-old Emily Murray is a college student who has had multiple majors, a controlling father set on her finding a career, and a budding rock star for a boyfriend. When a record scout signs the band, boyfriend Wick is off to L.A. and stardom. Em is thrilled. Is this the answer to her problems? She tells her bestie, Josie, that she’s following Wick to California. On a whim, she stops at a psychic who tells her she has a long journey ahead. Excited, she races to tell Wick she’s coming with him, but things do not turn out the way she envisions.
It’s 2026. Nineteen-year-old Emily wakes up in an unknown bed with a giant diamond engagement ring on her finger. There’s a sexy older man in the bathroom who seems to know her. Everything is different. Confusing. A woman arrives, wondering why she isn’t at work. Emily looks in the mirror and sees a face, her but older staring back. She’s gone forward in time. How will she get back to her own time!
Feels Like the First Time is a fun time-slip romance by author Kimberly Packard. I really enjoyed the 1996 references, and the imagined feeling of finding yourself suddenly 30 years in the future. Discovering cell phones and flat screen TVs, and laptops. I can only imagine how strange it might feel. I laughed when Emily tried to figure out how to start her car without a key.
I enjoyed Emily’s journey of self-discovery as she tries to come to grips with her ‘new life’, piecing together the threads that led her to this moment, all the while wishing she could return to her nineteen-year-old life. As her feelings for her fiancé Craig develop and she can almost picture herself staying everything changes again.
This was an entertaining, well-written read with laughs and a feel-good vibe. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A great summer/ beach read! I highly recommend it to romantics who love a great love story with a super HEA.
July 6, 2026
Feels Like the First Time, the follow-up to Kimberly Packard’s This Time Around, was worth the wait. In this time-slip romance, Josie’s best friend, Emily, is the lead, and her adventure takes her from 1996 to 2026.
As someone of the same generation as Emily, it was a hoot to imagine what it would be like to be transplanted from my early twenties to my early fifties. Packard nails the distress of time travel using her signature humor, with observations that had me laughing out loud, such as: “Does my mom live with us?” (when first looking through her closet), “So everything else in the world got more advanced, except bronzer?” and “Are mullets still a thing in the future? That’s unfortunate.” Not to mention figuring out her smartphone and getting a crash course on all the people in her life using social media.
The zingers and funny moments are balanced with poignant wisdom as Emily attempts to answer coming-of-age questions in a fifty-year-old body. She ponders the definition of maturity, what it takes to achieve dreams, and what it means to be an adult. She navigates big feelings about the neglect she experienced after her parents’ divorce, even as she’s faced with a man whose love for her contradicts her belief that “no matter how many people she surrounds herself with, ultimately she’s alone in the world.” And we are along for the ride as she struggles to figure out what normally takes a lifetime to discover—what real love looks like for you in the day-to-day trenches of life.
With the guidance of a sage and sarcastic psychic, Emily eventually accepts that what’s meant to be happens in its own due time. The resolution of Emily’s story, while bittersweet, rings true.
Feels Like the First Time is perfect for fans of time-travel romance and those who enjoy a transformative character arc.
As someone of the same generation as Emily, it was a hoot to imagine what it would be like to be transplanted from my early twenties to my early fifties. Packard nails the distress of time travel using her signature humor, with observations that had me laughing out loud, such as: “Does my mom live with us?” (when first looking through her closet), “So everything else in the world got more advanced, except bronzer?” and “Are mullets still a thing in the future? That’s unfortunate.” Not to mention figuring out her smartphone and getting a crash course on all the people in her life using social media.
The zingers and funny moments are balanced with poignant wisdom as Emily attempts to answer coming-of-age questions in a fifty-year-old body. She ponders the definition of maturity, what it takes to achieve dreams, and what it means to be an adult. She navigates big feelings about the neglect she experienced after her parents’ divorce, even as she’s faced with a man whose love for her contradicts her belief that “no matter how many people she surrounds herself with, ultimately she’s alone in the world.” And we are along for the ride as she struggles to figure out what normally takes a lifetime to discover—what real love looks like for you in the day-to-day trenches of life.
With the guidance of a sage and sarcastic psychic, Emily eventually accepts that what’s meant to be happens in its own due time. The resolution of Emily’s story, while bittersweet, rings true.
Feels Like the First Time is perfect for fans of time-travel romance and those who enjoy a transformative character arc.
June 23, 2026
Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard - We meet Emily Murray as an aimless college student in 1996, uncertain of the direction of her life but loyal to her boyfriend. When her boyfriend’s band gets a chance at the big time, he breaks up with her, and she melts down, shaving off her hair and falling to the floor in her bathroom.
She awakens in a cushy bed thirty years in the future—with hair—and a huge diamond engagement ring. Disoriented and confused, with her mind stuck in 1996, she tries to make sense of her surroundings. She hears a man singing in the shower and studies the room, looking for clues. After finding a picture of her with a handsome man, she confronts the singer in the bathroom. She’s attracted to him despite what she thinks is a thirty-year age difference, until she looks in the mirror and sees what time has wrought. After he leaves to catch a flight out of an airport that hasn’t been built in her old timeframe, she finds a save-the-date card and learns she’s getting married to Craig in a few weeks, in 2026.
As Emily navigates the technology of current times and figures out how to perform her duties as a psychologist, with no memory of her schooling, she’s assisted by a well-crafted cast of characters, both from her past and her present. After all, she has a wedding to plan.
As the wedding approaches, Emily’s attraction to Craig increases, but then everything changes again, giving Emily a chance to get things right.
Feels Like the First Time is an enjoyable, well-written time-slip romance. Highly entertaining, the novel delivers a relatable main character with warmth and humor. Perfect for readers of romance who love happily-ever-after endings.
She awakens in a cushy bed thirty years in the future—with hair—and a huge diamond engagement ring. Disoriented and confused, with her mind stuck in 1996, she tries to make sense of her surroundings. She hears a man singing in the shower and studies the room, looking for clues. After finding a picture of her with a handsome man, she confronts the singer in the bathroom. She’s attracted to him despite what she thinks is a thirty-year age difference, until she looks in the mirror and sees what time has wrought. After he leaves to catch a flight out of an airport that hasn’t been built in her old timeframe, she finds a save-the-date card and learns she’s getting married to Craig in a few weeks, in 2026.
As Emily navigates the technology of current times and figures out how to perform her duties as a psychologist, with no memory of her schooling, she’s assisted by a well-crafted cast of characters, both from her past and her present. After all, she has a wedding to plan.
As the wedding approaches, Emily’s attraction to Craig increases, but then everything changes again, giving Emily a chance to get things right.
Feels Like the First Time is an enjoyable, well-written time-slip romance. Highly entertaining, the novel delivers a relatable main character with warmth and humor. Perfect for readers of romance who love happily-ever-after endings.
July 10, 2026
Emotional and original
Ms. Packard’s remarkable talent in giving a fresh twist to the classic theme of time-travel fiction is once again in full display in Feels Like the First Time. I read and loved the first book, This Time Around, and raved about it in my review, so I had huge expectations about this second book in the series. To say that I was completely satisfied is putting it mildly. Emotional and original, this book is one of my Top 26 Books of 2026.
I was in awe of the author’s audacity to tell the ending right smack in the middle of the story. While a happy-ever-after is guaranteed in Romance, the convention is that it’s always found at the end of the book. Ms. Packard’s skill in subverting the norm while staying true to the genre’s essence is truly admirable.
As in the first book, the fantastical element of the time jump feels absolutely believable, possible even. Emily’s characterization in both timelines comes across as authentic and relatable. Her reactions to the confusing events happening in both personal and professional life come across as natural, never over-the-top or underwhelming. Several times while reading, I found myself thinking that if I were in Emily’s situation, I would have done the same thing. She’s a lead character who is easy to sympathize with and root for. Her personality is well-rounded, with failings and strengths in equal measure. The same can be said about the support characters, starting with Craig, Monique, Josie, and Astrid. Even the ones who caused heartache to the heroine—Wick and Em’s dad—are not altogether hateful. Just a good balance that is desirable in a story.
As always, the themes of family, close friendships, and swoony romance will always earn my approval. Especially when woven in the evocative way as Ms. Packard did in this book.
Ms. Packard’s remarkable talent in giving a fresh twist to the classic theme of time-travel fiction is once again in full display in Feels Like the First Time. I read and loved the first book, This Time Around, and raved about it in my review, so I had huge expectations about this second book in the series. To say that I was completely satisfied is putting it mildly. Emotional and original, this book is one of my Top 26 Books of 2026.
I was in awe of the author’s audacity to tell the ending right smack in the middle of the story. While a happy-ever-after is guaranteed in Romance, the convention is that it’s always found at the end of the book. Ms. Packard’s skill in subverting the norm while staying true to the genre’s essence is truly admirable.
As in the first book, the fantastical element of the time jump feels absolutely believable, possible even. Emily’s characterization in both timelines comes across as authentic and relatable. Her reactions to the confusing events happening in both personal and professional life come across as natural, never over-the-top or underwhelming. Several times while reading, I found myself thinking that if I were in Emily’s situation, I would have done the same thing. She’s a lead character who is easy to sympathize with and root for. Her personality is well-rounded, with failings and strengths in equal measure. The same can be said about the support characters, starting with Craig, Monique, Josie, and Astrid. Even the ones who caused heartache to the heroine—Wick and Em’s dad—are not altogether hateful. Just a good balance that is desirable in a story.
As always, the themes of family, close friendships, and swoony romance will always earn my approval. Especially when woven in the evocative way as Ms. Packard did in this book.
June 28, 2026
Feels Like the First Time feels like reading a time-travel and out-of-body coming-of-age experience (think Freaky Friday with some Back To The Future mixture) all over again. This story is an engaging blend of fiction, romance, and speculative time travel that explores a question many people have wondered: what if you could suddenly see the life your younger self eventually built? Rather than focusing on changing the past, the novel examines how our seemingly messy choices can lead to unexpected fulfillment
One of our author's greatest strengths is her characterization. Our main character, Emily Murray, is a directionless college student whose life falls apart after a failed relationship and a series of bad decisions. Emily is flawed, funny, impulsive, and relatable, making her transformation feel earned rather than forced. The side characters add warmth and emotional depth to the story, while the romantic story line complements rather than overshadows Emily's journey of self-discovery.
While the pacing occasionally slows during Emily's emotional reflections, the story remains compelling because the stakes are deeply personal rather than action-driven.
Overall, Feels Like the First Time is a heartfelt, humorous novel about growing into the person you're meant to become—even if that path looks nothing like you imagined. If you're into contemporary women's fiction with a touch of magical realism, then you'll find it an enjoyable and uplifting read. Readers who have read Packard's earlier novel This Time Around will also appreciate the connections between the two books, although this story can be enjoyed on its own.
Until next time, Happy Reading!
One of our author's greatest strengths is her characterization. Our main character, Emily Murray, is a directionless college student whose life falls apart after a failed relationship and a series of bad decisions. Emily is flawed, funny, impulsive, and relatable, making her transformation feel earned rather than forced. The side characters add warmth and emotional depth to the story, while the romantic story line complements rather than overshadows Emily's journey of self-discovery.
While the pacing occasionally slows during Emily's emotional reflections, the story remains compelling because the stakes are deeply personal rather than action-driven.
Overall, Feels Like the First Time is a heartfelt, humorous novel about growing into the person you're meant to become—even if that path looks nothing like you imagined. If you're into contemporary women's fiction with a touch of magical realism, then you'll find it an enjoyable and uplifting read. Readers who have read Packard's earlier novel This Time Around will also appreciate the connections between the two books, although this story can be enjoyed on its own.
Until next time, Happy Reading!
June 30, 2026
Super fast and fun read!
I enjoyed this book! It was a perfect transition novel between my normal genres and was easy to follow. The chapters were short which makes for a great travel or on-the-go read and as someone who takes my current read everywhere it was definitely nice to have a book that I could paus every 3-6 pages for a break if need be!
Kimberly Packard's writing style is refreshing and engaging. She did great with the transition between settings and added just enough details to distinguish between the 90's and now without it feeling like a total 2020's cliche trope dump.
Emily was a good character. I liked her. She was funny and relatable in some parts but I felt like I couldn't really connect with her how I wanted to. Especially since a lot of people, author included, loved her. I felt like her background was not really expanded upon as well as her circle of VIP's. If a character's friends are so important to her then why don't we know more about them? Why not incorporate those relationships into the storyline more.
I also was not a fan of Emily's obsession with her ex and I felt like that whole part of the storyline could've been cut out and the plot would've progressed just fine. It was more of a fluff side-plot if anything.
Overall, I recommend this book for people who are fans of 13 Going On 30 and like sweet time-piece comedies. It will definitely make you laugh in some parts and you will feel all the feels with Emily in others. 4/5 Stars
I enjoyed this book! It was a perfect transition novel between my normal genres and was easy to follow. The chapters were short which makes for a great travel or on-the-go read and as someone who takes my current read everywhere it was definitely nice to have a book that I could paus every 3-6 pages for a break if need be!
Kimberly Packard's writing style is refreshing and engaging. She did great with the transition between settings and added just enough details to distinguish between the 90's and now without it feeling like a total 2020's cliche trope dump.
Emily was a good character. I liked her. She was funny and relatable in some parts but I felt like I couldn't really connect with her how I wanted to. Especially since a lot of people, author included, loved her. I felt like her background was not really expanded upon as well as her circle of VIP's. If a character's friends are so important to her then why don't we know more about them? Why not incorporate those relationships into the storyline more.
I also was not a fan of Emily's obsession with her ex and I felt like that whole part of the storyline could've been cut out and the plot would've progressed just fine. It was more of a fluff side-plot if anything.
Overall, I recommend this book for people who are fans of 13 Going On 30 and like sweet time-piece comedies. It will definitely make you laugh in some parts and you will feel all the feels with Emily in others. 4/5 Stars
June 18, 2026
Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard is a time-slip story that is a companion to Packard’s previous book, This Time Around. Feels Like the First Time is about Emily Murray, a woman who spends her college years floating amongst relationships, majors, and questionable life choices. While she is experiencing a break up, and therefore a breakdown, she finds herself waking up 30 years in the future. She realizes that she’s constructed a pretty nice life for herself…so how did she get there?
I loved how this story blended contemporary romance with speculative elements while keeping personal growth and self-discovery at the heart of the narrative. The emotional moments hit hard, but they're balanced perfectly with humor, making for an engaging and enjoyable read.
I love romance novels, but I really love novels that have one or both main characters show personal growth. And in Feels Like the First Time, it is very much about looking back to your past and wondering (and appreciating) how all the messy decisions we make are what makes up our lives. Emily is relatable and enjoyable to read as she discovers (or re-discovers) who she is.
I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys seeing the full circle in novels - the growth and emotion of it all.
I loved how this story blended contemporary romance with speculative elements while keeping personal growth and self-discovery at the heart of the narrative. The emotional moments hit hard, but they're balanced perfectly with humor, making for an engaging and enjoyable read.
I love romance novels, but I really love novels that have one or both main characters show personal growth. And in Feels Like the First Time, it is very much about looking back to your past and wondering (and appreciating) how all the messy decisions we make are what makes up our lives. Emily is relatable and enjoyable to read as she discovers (or re-discovers) who she is.
I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys seeing the full circle in novels - the growth and emotion of it all.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Feels Like the First Time is an utterly charming prequel/sequel to This Time Around that finally gives Emily—Josie’s best friend—the spotlight she deserves. In this story, we truly get to know and love Emily as she struggles to figure out her purpose and direction in life, making her immediately relatable.
After waking up from an emotional breakdown beside a gorgeous stranger she doesn’t recognize, Emily realizes that she’s more lost than she ever imagined. I loved watching her navigate unfamiliar technology, language, and experiences, all while embarking on a heartfelt journey of self-discovery. Her growth—both personal and romantic—felt genuine and deeply satisfying.
This book is warm, funny, and thoughtful. I highly recommend reading both books together; otherwise, you might miss some delightful references and connections that make the experience even richer.
Thank you to the wonderful Author for the early release.
After waking up from an emotional breakdown beside a gorgeous stranger she doesn’t recognize, Emily realizes that she’s more lost than she ever imagined. I loved watching her navigate unfamiliar technology, language, and experiences, all while embarking on a heartfelt journey of self-discovery. Her growth—both personal and romantic—felt genuine and deeply satisfying.
This book is warm, funny, and thoughtful. I highly recommend reading both books together; otherwise, you might miss some delightful references and connections that make the experience even richer.
Thank you to the wonderful Author for the early release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Everybody knows an Emily. Heck, everybody IS an Emily for at least one chapter in their lives! Full of untapped potential and charmingly cheeky energy, Emily pours all of her own ambitions into her college boyfriend. When her trajectory suddenly leaps forward thirty years into the future, the only way she can find her footing is to look inside herself.
Finding her footing is a journey I loved taking with Emily in Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard. I laughed and nodded as our heroine navigates all the puzzling realities of today's modern world. I swooned as she discovers the differences (wink) between that college boy and a real man. And I cheered her on as she grapples with the seemingly altered realities of her past, present and future.
Feels Like the First Time is a prequel/sequel, and while it can and does stand on its own, you'll have even more fun getting to know Emily if you read This Time Around first. Thank you, Kimberly, for the early release.
Finding her footing is a journey I loved taking with Emily in Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard. I laughed and nodded as our heroine navigates all the puzzling realities of today's modern world. I swooned as she discovers the differences (wink) between that college boy and a real man. And I cheered her on as she grapples with the seemingly altered realities of her past, present and future.
Feels Like the First Time is a prequel/sequel, and while it can and does stand on its own, you'll have even more fun getting to know Emily if you read This Time Around first. Thank you, Kimberly, for the early release.
August 7, 2026
This story is by an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up. One of the things that I enjoy most about this author is their creative characters that are written with a lot of heart and soul. The other thing is their ability to pull me into the story from the start. This story is no different. This is a story about Emily. She is a college student but when her father cuts her off and her boyfriend dumps her. What will happen when she wakes up thirty years in the future? She now questions what her future reality is. I enjoyed Emily’s character and how well developed she is. She is connectable and made me want to know more about what would happen to her next. I also enjoyed watching her growth throughout. The other characters are connectable and supportive to Emily. I found this story easy and entertaining to read. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story and one you don’t want to miss. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author.
August 8, 2026
I’ve really enjoyed Kimberly Packard’s other books, so I was excited to read Feels Like the First Time, especially with the 1990s setting and time-travel twist. I liked the idea of Emily waking up thirty years in the future and having to figure out the life she somehow built for herself, and there were definitely some funny and nostalgic moments along the way. Emily’s confusion about modern technology and her messy, uncertain personality made her easy to relate to, and I enjoyed watching her work through some of her choices. That said, I just couldn’t fall into the romance as much as I did in the author’s other books, and my connection to Emily and Craig never quite reached the level I wanted it to. I still enjoyed Packard’s writing and the way she mixed humor, relationships, and the time-slip premise, but this one didn’t grab me quite as strongly. I’m glad I read it, and I’ll definitely keep picking up Packard’s books because I’ve enjoyed her work before.
August 8, 2026
4.5 Stars
Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard is a witty, heartfelt, and surprisingly introspective time-slip romance that blends nostalgia with self-discovery – it gave me some ‘Sliding Doors’ vibes.
The story follows Emily, who is navigating a sudden, bewildering leap from 1996 into the present day…… and I was hooked!
Ms. Packard captures the charm of the ’90s with playful cultural nods, but the real magic lies in how she uses time travel as a lens for personal growth and self-(re)discovery. Emily’s journey isn’t just about adapting to smartphones and streaming -it’s about confronting the choices that shaped her life and asking whether the future she’s heading toward is truly hers. While the romance is sweet and satisfying, it was Emily’s evolving relationship with herself that made the book linger in my mind.
Another superb read from Ms. Packard. Can’t wait to see what she delivers next.
Happy Reading…
Feels Like the First Time by Kimberly Packard is a witty, heartfelt, and surprisingly introspective time-slip romance that blends nostalgia with self-discovery – it gave me some ‘Sliding Doors’ vibes.
The story follows Emily, who is navigating a sudden, bewildering leap from 1996 into the present day…… and I was hooked!
Ms. Packard captures the charm of the ’90s with playful cultural nods, but the real magic lies in how she uses time travel as a lens for personal growth and self-(re)discovery. Emily’s journey isn’t just about adapting to smartphones and streaming -it’s about confronting the choices that shaped her life and asking whether the future she’s heading toward is truly hers. While the romance is sweet and satisfying, it was Emily’s evolving relationship with herself that made the book linger in my mind.
Another superb read from Ms. Packard. Can’t wait to see what she delivers next.
Happy Reading…
July 16, 2026
What would you do if you wake up 30 days in the future, about to get married to a great guy, but a complete stranger to you, a career where you are excellent in, one that is being threatened by a newcomer, and without remembering how did you end up in this life? What would you do with your life?
That's the premise of this book and the soul searching and growing up that the character Emily goes thru in the book.
With a very clever writing, excellent characterization and a plot that engages the reader from beginning to end, this book really hold my interest and made a very good reading.
That's the premise of this book and the soul searching and growing up that the character Emily goes thru in the book.
With a very clever writing, excellent characterization and a plot that engages the reader from beginning to end, this book really hold my interest and made a very good reading.
August 7, 2026
This was a nice change to my reading genre. Sometimes its good to haveca slightly different style. The author creates a very different world that brings the reader to the edge of their seats. I like how the main character had a rebelious streak and how the author reflects how sometimes life really does speed by when one sort of emtionally blacks out. That we life isnt straightforward and that eventualy we do end up where we should be. I loved the the main character reflects on herself and that the story was in the end heartwarming. Will definitely read more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is a gem! Fantastic plot and dynamic main character. Universal struggles and great moral lessons. I eagerly await for what comes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a feel good wonderful read!
I loved the characters, they each felt so real.
The message was heartwarming and makes you think…
I loved the characters, they each felt so real.
The message was heartwarming and makes you think…
June 22, 2026
3.5⭐️
Very sweet, very likeable FMC ❤️
Very sweet, very likeable FMC ❤️
goodreads-book-wins
July 30, 2026Thank you GoodReads for this Kindle copy!
June 25, 2026
A fun time traveling romance!
Loved this unique story that balanced moments of light-heartedness with emotional depth. Emily was an incredibly relatable character and I found myself laughing along with her as she figured her way through all the weirdness that comes with jumping 30 years into the future. A great read and pairs perfectly with the prequel/sequel This Time Around!
Loved this unique story that balanced moments of light-heartedness with emotional depth. Emily was an incredibly relatable character and I found myself laughing along with her as she figured her way through all the weirdness that comes with jumping 30 years into the future. A great read and pairs perfectly with the prequel/sequel This Time Around!
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