What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
30 days and 01:24:05
50 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
The Timefarers: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 13 Apr 27Win a free print copy of this book!
30 days and 01:24:05
50 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
An entrancing new novel from bestselling author Jennifer Robson featuring a secret society of time travelers, an Oxford student with extraordinary powers, and the discovery of a lifetime.
Oxford, England
1992
Newly arrived at the University of Oxford, graduate student Cora Gallant is thrilled when celebrated historian J. S. Waltham agrees to meet with her. Expecting a venerable scholar, she is instead confronted with the enigmatic man who has been haunting her thoughts since a recent chance encounter. When Jack Waltham reveals that the strange visions Cora has been experiencing are not delusions but, astonishingly, glimpses of actual moments from history, her future changes irrevocably. Cora is a Timefarer, gifted with the rare ability to step through ancient doorways and travel into the past.
As wonder gives way to understanding, Cora begins to grasp both the beauty and the burden of her rare gift. With Jack as her guide, Cora walks the streets of wartime Oxford, witnesses the echoes of centuries long gone, and is drawn into the secretive Honorable and Ancient Guild of Timefarers. Her friendship with Jack deepens into love, but their growing bond is shadowed by the devastating knowledge that his fate may hinge on choices she has yet to make.
When unseen enemies attack, determined to erase her and Jack from history altogether, Cora is forced to risk everything. Alone, she must venture into the past to save the man she loves—and the fragile future they dare to imagine—before time itself closes the door forever.
Oxford, England
1992
Newly arrived at the University of Oxford, graduate student Cora Gallant is thrilled when celebrated historian J. S. Waltham agrees to meet with her. Expecting a venerable scholar, she is instead confronted with the enigmatic man who has been haunting her thoughts since a recent chance encounter. When Jack Waltham reveals that the strange visions Cora has been experiencing are not delusions but, astonishingly, glimpses of actual moments from history, her future changes irrevocably. Cora is a Timefarer, gifted with the rare ability to step through ancient doorways and travel into the past.
As wonder gives way to understanding, Cora begins to grasp both the beauty and the burden of her rare gift. With Jack as her guide, Cora walks the streets of wartime Oxford, witnesses the echoes of centuries long gone, and is drawn into the secretive Honorable and Ancient Guild of Timefarers. Her friendship with Jack deepens into love, but their growing bond is shadowed by the devastating knowledge that his fate may hinge on choices she has yet to make.
When unseen enemies attack, determined to erase her and Jack from history altogether, Cora is forced to risk everything. Alone, she must venture into the past to save the man she loves—and the fragile future they dare to imagine—before time itself closes the door forever.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 13, 2027
About the author
Jennifer Robson
14 books3,237 followersJennifer Robson first learned about the Great War from her father, acclaimed historian Stuart Robson, and later served as an official guide at the Canadian National War Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France. A former copy editor, she holds a doctorate in British economic and social history from the University of Oxford. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and young children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An inventive time travel story with an Oxford setting, a secret society, and a compelling romance through centuries that makes for a gripping fantastical tale only the talented Jennifer Robson could pen. Absorbing, beautifully written, and highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Jennifer Robson, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC. The following is my honest review and all opinions are my own.
Minus two stars for a romance without chemistry, poorly plotted intrigue, and messy "science".
This story, about rare individuals with the ability to travel to any point in time for which they possess an appropriate anchor, struggles from not being able to explain its own premise. There is no attempt to give any type of reason for why some people can simply walk into another time, just some vague explanations about how there are only 10-15 people born each year that can do so. Apparently, most of them are British and an inordinate number attend the University of Oxford. The author has hand-waved away why no one has investigated the phenomenon as being due to the secrecy required by the Timefarer's Guild, while also alluding to there not being anyone qualified to undertake the study since they're mostly a bunch of historians. Because time travel was discovered thousands of years ago and no one has ever been able to go rogue and misuse the ability or let it slip to anyone outside the guild.
Setting that aside, Cora is a new grad student at Merton College who somehow knows a senior faculty something in her college even though she's never met him. She finds out over the course of the first term that she's a Timefarer, and so is he. After a handful of meetings with him, she's decided she's in looooove even though he's 12 years older than her and, oh, BTW, he was born in 1794 and she pulled him to the future from 1815 and dumped him in 1979. Or rather, she will do that because she hasn't yet, except she already did. Regardless, she loves him because the philosophical theme of the novel, hammered home with the ouroboros, is that time is a circle and their love is fated. In reality, it's a paradox that should be breaking the time continuum altogether.
Setting that aside, the author tells us that the couple has a spark, but it is never shown. After she met him, she thought about him a lot, but when they're together there isn't a lot of emotion happening. Not surprising that Robson struggles with chemistry in addition to physics. It's also hard to understand Simon's crush on Cora. When and why did that happen?
All that aside, why am I still giving this book three stars? Time travel is hard to write about. Robson's characters may have been wooden, but the world she wrote about felt real. If nothing else, it makes some interesting historical fiction and a decent travelogue--as long as you read her acknowledgments regarding what has changed in Oxford since 1993. Each page was a slog until I hit 67% completion and then the action picked up and things moved along. It's not a bad book, it's just not good one either.
Minus two stars for a romance without chemistry, poorly plotted intrigue, and messy "science".
This story, about rare individuals with the ability to travel to any point in time for which they possess an appropriate anchor, struggles from not being able to explain its own premise. There is no attempt to give any type of reason for why some people can simply walk into another time, just some vague explanations about how there are only 10-15 people born each year that can do so. Apparently, most of them are British and an inordinate number attend the University of Oxford. The author has hand-waved away why no one has investigated the phenomenon as being due to the secrecy required by the Timefarer's Guild, while also alluding to there not being anyone qualified to undertake the study since they're mostly a bunch of historians. Because time travel was discovered thousands of years ago and no one has ever been able to go rogue and misuse the ability or let it slip to anyone outside the guild.
Setting that aside, Cora is a new grad student at Merton College who somehow knows a senior faculty something in her college even though she's never met him. She finds out over the course of the first term that she's a Timefarer, and so is he. After a handful of meetings with him, she's decided she's in looooove even though he's 12 years older than her and, oh, BTW, he was born in 1794 and she pulled him to the future from 1815 and dumped him in 1979. Or rather, she will do that because she hasn't yet, except she already did. Regardless, she loves him because the philosophical theme of the novel, hammered home with the ouroboros, is that time is a circle and their love is fated. In reality, it's a paradox that should be breaking the time continuum altogether.
Setting that aside, the author tells us that the couple has a spark, but it is never shown. After she met him, she thought about him a lot, but when they're together there isn't a lot of emotion happening. Not surprising that Robson struggles with chemistry in addition to physics. It's also hard to understand Simon's crush on Cora. When and why did that happen?
All that aside, why am I still giving this book three stars? Time travel is hard to write about. Robson's characters may have been wooden, but the world she wrote about felt real. If nothing else, it makes some interesting historical fiction and a decent travelogue--as long as you read her acknowledgments regarding what has changed in Oxford since 1993. Each page was a slog until I hit 67% completion and then the action picked up and things moved along. It's not a bad book, it's just not good one either.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating 4.25
An engaging and beautifully atmospheric mix of historical fiction, time travel, romance, and mystery, with richly immersive historical settings that truly bring the story to life.
Robson does a wonderful job bringing each historical period to life. The Oxford setting, in particular, adds depth, richness, and a strong sense of place to the story. I especially enjoyed the contrast between Cora’s world in 1992 and the historical events she encounters through her time travel. The past is much more than a backdrop, it’s an integral part of the story, shaping the characters, influencing their choices, and adding depth to the mysteries they are trying to unravel.
There’s a strong sense of history woven throughout the story, from the settings and social environments to the uncertainty and danger surrounding the characters. These historical details give the time-travel elements more weight and make the transitions between past and present particularly compelling. I also enjoyed the intriguing premise, especially the mystery surrounding the Guild of Timefarers and the rules governing their ability to move through history. Cora and Jack provide an emotional center to the story, and their relationship gives the larger time-travel plot a more personal stake.
That said, the plot occasionally became more complicated than it needed to be. With multiple timelines, time-travel rules, historical connections, and so many moving pieces, there were moments when I found myself focusing more on figuring out how everything worked than simply enjoying the story. Some of the developments also felt a little too convenient.
Still, the historical atmosphere, strong sense of place, and imaginative premise kept me invested. I particularly appreciated how Robson combines her strengths as a historical fiction writer with the very different elements of time travel, mystery, and romance. The historical backdrop gives The Timefarers much of its charm and makes it an immersive and memorable read.
Overall, The Timefarers is a fascinating combination of history, mystery, romance, and time travel. While the plot isn’t always perfectly smooth, the richly drawn historical settings, atmospheric storytelling, and imaginative premise more than made up for its occasional complexity.
An engaging and beautifully atmospheric mix of historical fiction, time travel, romance, and mystery, with richly immersive historical settings that truly bring the story to life.
Robson does a wonderful job bringing each historical period to life. The Oxford setting, in particular, adds depth, richness, and a strong sense of place to the story. I especially enjoyed the contrast between Cora’s world in 1992 and the historical events she encounters through her time travel. The past is much more than a backdrop, it’s an integral part of the story, shaping the characters, influencing their choices, and adding depth to the mysteries they are trying to unravel.
There’s a strong sense of history woven throughout the story, from the settings and social environments to the uncertainty and danger surrounding the characters. These historical details give the time-travel elements more weight and make the transitions between past and present particularly compelling. I also enjoyed the intriguing premise, especially the mystery surrounding the Guild of Timefarers and the rules governing their ability to move through history. Cora and Jack provide an emotional center to the story, and their relationship gives the larger time-travel plot a more personal stake.
That said, the plot occasionally became more complicated than it needed to be. With multiple timelines, time-travel rules, historical connections, and so many moving pieces, there were moments when I found myself focusing more on figuring out how everything worked than simply enjoying the story. Some of the developments also felt a little too convenient.
Still, the historical atmosphere, strong sense of place, and imaginative premise kept me invested. I particularly appreciated how Robson combines her strengths as a historical fiction writer with the very different elements of time travel, mystery, and romance. The historical backdrop gives The Timefarers much of its charm and makes it an immersive and memorable read.
Overall, The Timefarers is a fascinating combination of history, mystery, romance, and time travel. While the plot isn’t always perfectly smooth, the richly drawn historical settings, atmospheric storytelling, and imaginative premise more than made up for its occasional complexity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Timefarers. I loved this book! Jennifer Robson is one of my favorite authors and I was thrilled to get an advanced release! I loved The Timefarers from start to finish. The premise of the book is awesome and the characters are just the icing on the cake. It's a well written love story with thrilling adventure thrown in. This is a book you do not want to miss!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novel swept me away with its richly detailed journey through Oxford and London across different periods of history. Centered on a Canadian history student at Oxford and a man who seems out of place in time, the story blends historical intrigue, romance, and a deep appreciation for the places it brings to life.
While the pacing is slower than some readers may prefer, the author's beautiful prose and vivid imagery more than compensate. The descriptions of Oxford and London are immersive, making the settings feel like characters in their own right.
I found myself completely invested in the characters and especially enjoyed watching their romance unfold. The emotional connection between them felt authentic and heartfelt.
If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction, thoughtful storytelling, and a touch of romance, this is a book worth picking up. Be aware that it's a slower, more reflective read—but one that rewards patience with memorable characters and a strong sense of place.
Content note: No explicit content.
This novel swept me away with its richly detailed journey through Oxford and London across different periods of history. Centered on a Canadian history student at Oxford and a man who seems out of place in time, the story blends historical intrigue, romance, and a deep appreciation for the places it brings to life.
While the pacing is slower than some readers may prefer, the author's beautiful prose and vivid imagery more than compensate. The descriptions of Oxford and London are immersive, making the settings feel like characters in their own right.
I found myself completely invested in the characters and especially enjoyed watching their romance unfold. The emotional connection between them felt authentic and heartfelt.
If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction, thoughtful storytelling, and a touch of romance, this is a book worth picking up. Be aware that it's a slower, more reflective read—but one that rewards patience with memorable characters and a strong sense of place.
Content note: No explicit content.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Timefarers ended up being so much more than the time travel story I expected it to be.
The mystery pulled me in immediately, and I loved how the author slowly revealed the rules of this world without giving us all the answers at once. There is a constant feeling that something bigger is happening just beyond what we understand, and watching those pieces gradually fall into place made this incredibly difficult to put down.
But what I loved most was the heart underneath it all.
For a book built around time travel, some of its best moments are surprisingly quiet and philosophical. It explores how impossibly small we are when compared with the vastness of time and history, and yet how much we can matter to one another. Individually, our lives may feel like tiny moments in an enormous timeline, but the love we give, the people we effect, and the connections we make give those moments meaning.
At its center is Jack and Cora. Their relationship gradually became the emotional anchor of the entire story for me. All the mystery, timelines, portals, and questions about the past and future ultimately lead back to something beautifully simple: finding the person you love despite everything that separates you.
By the end, “I found you” felt like so much more than three words. It felt like the entire book distilled into one moment.
Clever, emotional, thought provoking, and full of heart. Would definitely recommend this quick enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.
The mystery pulled me in immediately, and I loved how the author slowly revealed the rules of this world without giving us all the answers at once. There is a constant feeling that something bigger is happening just beyond what we understand, and watching those pieces gradually fall into place made this incredibly difficult to put down.
But what I loved most was the heart underneath it all.
For a book built around time travel, some of its best moments are surprisingly quiet and philosophical. It explores how impossibly small we are when compared with the vastness of time and history, and yet how much we can matter to one another. Individually, our lives may feel like tiny moments in an enormous timeline, but the love we give, the people we effect, and the connections we make give those moments meaning.
At its center is Jack and Cora. Their relationship gradually became the emotional anchor of the entire story for me. All the mystery, timelines, portals, and questions about the past and future ultimately lead back to something beautifully simple: finding the person you love despite everything that separates you.
By the end, “I found you” felt like so much more than three words. It felt like the entire book distilled into one moment.
Clever, emotional, thought provoking, and full of heart. Would definitely recommend this quick enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Timefarers is a plot-driven historical romance perfect for readers who enjoy a slow-burn romance, an interesting time-travel mechanic, and stories where the setting plays a central role. The novel follows Cora, a new graduate student at Oxford who discovers she has a rather advantageous relationship with time for an aspiring historian.
The prose is wonderfully fluid and easy to read, and the storytelling is particularly well suited to readers who enjoy a generous helping of historical references woven into their fiction. While the story takes some time to find its momentum, I enjoyed the gradual build, particularly the time spent with Cora and Jack as they sought to understand the nature of their relationship and their place along the timeline. Their developing connection was one of the highlights of the novel for me, and readers wanting a memorable romance wont be disappointed.
My biggest critique is the pacing. The first half is largely devoted to establishing the characters and premise, with the action picking up around the 55% mark and some of the most significant developments arriving as late as 80%. This made the narrative feel somewhat back-heavy, and I would have appreciated a more even distribution of the story's major developments. Still, if you're looking to be swept away by a fun premise, enjoyable and relatable characters, and a heaping dose of history, Timefarers is well worth picking up.
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The prose is wonderfully fluid and easy to read, and the storytelling is particularly well suited to readers who enjoy a generous helping of historical references woven into their fiction. While the story takes some time to find its momentum, I enjoyed the gradual build, particularly the time spent with Cora and Jack as they sought to understand the nature of their relationship and their place along the timeline. Their developing connection was one of the highlights of the novel for me, and readers wanting a memorable romance wont be disappointed.
My biggest critique is the pacing. The first half is largely devoted to establishing the characters and premise, with the action picking up around the 55% mark and some of the most significant developments arriving as late as 80%. This made the narrative feel somewhat back-heavy, and I would have appreciated a more even distribution of the story's major developments. Still, if you're looking to be swept away by a fun premise, enjoyable and relatable characters, and a heaping dose of history, Timefarers is well worth picking up.
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This ARC was provided to me for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this. I went into it with such high expectations because of the magical realism setting with bonus time travel and this didn't really land well with me.
The setting and prose of the locations mentioned throughout the novel was what kept me in it. Spending time at Oxford with Cora was immersive and as someone who has never been to Europe, getting to experience it for the first time with someone in that same boat was fun.
But the plot? What plot? The novel opens with a flashback to 1815 and then ... you get maybe a whisper of the idea of a plot line halfway through the book and another hint of a plot point ten percent later. Other than those, it was just a seemingly slow moving, linear story. The real plot finally shows up at the tail end and is very quickly resolved. It didn't feel like there was a true build throughout the story so I really had no investment in anyone involved. The true villain is quite obvious very early on and the romance between Jack and Cora just felt ... unnatural.
Does that mean it was bad? No, not at all. It kept me engaged enough to find out exactly how the book would wrap up but there was never a true point I felt 'hooked'.
Maybe I just wasn't the target audience for this one but YMMV.
I wanted to love this. I went into it with such high expectations because of the magical realism setting with bonus time travel and this didn't really land well with me.
The setting and prose of the locations mentioned throughout the novel was what kept me in it. Spending time at Oxford with Cora was immersive and as someone who has never been to Europe, getting to experience it for the first time with someone in that same boat was fun.
But the plot? What plot? The novel opens with a flashback to 1815 and then ... you get maybe a whisper of the idea of a plot line halfway through the book and another hint of a plot point ten percent later. Other than those, it was just a seemingly slow moving, linear story. The real plot finally shows up at the tail end and is very quickly resolved. It didn't feel like there was a true build throughout the story so I really had no investment in anyone involved. The true villain is quite obvious very early on and the romance between Jack and Cora just felt ... unnatural.
Does that mean it was bad? No, not at all. It kept me engaged enough to find out exactly how the book would wrap up but there was never a true point I felt 'hooked'.
Maybe I just wasn't the target audience for this one but YMMV.
September 15, 2026
Reviewed as an advanced copy from NetGalley
This is the first advanced copy of a book I’ve ever received! I am so grateful and was thrilled to read this book.
Set in 1990s England, Cora, a graduate student from Canada, starts school at Oxford and has an immediate, mysterious connection with Dr. Waltham. She has been plagued with visions throughout her life that she was unable to explain until they meet. You follow their timefaring adventure along with their romance in a heartwarming story.
Though I enjoyed the plot twist and I did not see it coming, it felt compressed into the end of the story and the resolution was quick and easy. I do not think it needed to be extensively drawn out but I do think the ending was abrupt.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those who enjoy time traveling, fantasy, and romance.
This is the first advanced copy of a book I’ve ever received! I am so grateful and was thrilled to read this book.
Set in 1990s England, Cora, a graduate student from Canada, starts school at Oxford and has an immediate, mysterious connection with Dr. Waltham. She has been plagued with visions throughout her life that she was unable to explain until they meet. You follow their timefaring adventure along with their romance in a heartwarming story.
Though I enjoyed the plot twist and I did not see it coming, it felt compressed into the end of the story and the resolution was quick and easy. I do not think it needed to be extensively drawn out but I do think the ending was abrupt.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those who enjoy time traveling, fantasy, and romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review: The Timefarers by Jennifer Robson
Gah! I loved this. My family were laughing at me as I reacted to it and ignored them all day to finish it. The descriptions of Oxford (my family is from there/lives there so special connections) and food were wonderful, the time travel was interesting and not too complicated. I love the delving into history (& learnt a few things) and the mystery. It was interesting and exciting, full of surprises, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Added it to my pre-order list as this is one I want to physically own. Check out the content considerations below and add it to your tbr.
Content considerations: grief, mild violence, one lgbtq scene (side characters), and closed door sex
Gah! I loved this. My family were laughing at me as I reacted to it and ignored them all day to finish it. The descriptions of Oxford (my family is from there/lives there so special connections) and food were wonderful, the time travel was interesting and not too complicated. I love the delving into history (& learnt a few things) and the mystery. It was interesting and exciting, full of surprises, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Added it to my pre-order list as this is one I want to physically own. Check out the content considerations below and add it to your tbr.
Content considerations: grief, mild violence, one lgbtq scene (side characters), and closed door sex
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The timefarers was overall a charming read that was well written and well proofread and edited. However, I had some issues following the laws and logic of the time travel that exists in this universe. I also felt that the romance lacked chemistry until the very end. While it’s a slow start and most of the action happens in the last third of the book, I still had a perfectly nice time reading it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I suppose this one just isn't quite my kind of story. I liked the whole idea and the society of timefarers and I connected with Cora, she's adorable character. But otherwise, the pacing was very slow and the romance felt weak (to me personally). I'd also like to give a special shoutout to the author's pleasant, very smooth, and rich prose, along with the incredible descriptions of Oxford and the historical details.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars. I wanted to love this one- it had the makings of a really great book. But the pacing was just off. It was a bit slow in the beginning while we were learning the magic and history and then boom-80% hits and it picked up and resolved quickly. I would have loved for there to have been more conflict towards the end but it just fell flat. Not a bad read but didn’t blow me away like I’d hoped.
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the arc
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a great story. I'm a huge fan of the time-travel trope and this one didn't disappoint. While the twist wasn't very twisty, it is definitely worth the read.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the eARC. I received the eARC for my honest opinion. The opinions given are mine.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the eARC. I received the eARC for my honest opinion. The opinions given are mine.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews