Midlife Crisis

The Time Bubble #7

by Jason Ayres

If you were offered the chance to live six days of your life over again, which would you choose?

Richard Kent is feeling well and truly fed-up. As he approaches middle-age, his waistline is expanding, his career options are dwindling, and everything from pop music to television seems like it was so much better in his youth.

If that wasn't depressing enough, his wife nags him, his kids ignore him and his boss thinks he's a dinosaur. He's just about ready to give up but then a remarkable encounter with his younger self changes everything.

A trip back to 1984 in the body of his seven-year-old self is just the beginning of an amazing adventure revisiting key moments from his own life. These include an unfulfilled teenage crush and revenge on his evil boss armed only with a large rubber Brontosaurus.

This story is the seventh part of an epic series exploring the time travel genre in original and innovative ways. It can be enjoyed standalone or as part of the main series.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2016

About the author

Jason Ayres fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author when he left the corporate world behind and published his first novel in 2014. Since then, he has written twenty more books, delighting readers with his signature mix of humour, engaging characters, and imaginative storytelling.

His character-driven tales focus on ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations—whether travelling to an uncertain future, revisiting their past, or exploring alternate timelines. Blending elements of sci-fi, romance, and everyday life, his stories offer something for everyone, with relatable characters at their heart.

Jason’s latest series, set in the 1980s, follows present-day protagonists who, down on their luck, get a chance to relive a pivotal year from their past. 1980, 1981, and 1982 are available now, with more to come.

Want to know more about Jason? - You can find him at:

https://www.jasonayres.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/TheTimeBubble/

https://twitter.com/TheTimeBubble/

Reviews

[Chip · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like a modern day "Christmas Carol" in November. Many what-ifs are explored (revenge, heroship, lust, lost youth, hitting it big, being a dad) and we get to living vicariously thru Kent and his trips to the past. Ayres creates a great character that explains what midlife should mean to us. His writing style is fun to read and done well. It is all connected to his other universe. I look forward to other LONGER books in this series.

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dire

This book held such promise but I'm stunned anybody would give it anymore than one star. It has no substance & is poorly written. I'll never get the time I spent reading it hoping for improvement back. Perhaps the author should look for another hobby?

[Sean Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, according to Goodreads, I wrote Ayres was an author to read more of in July 2015. I'd clearly forgotten that though, and even reading the description of the book of his I'd already read didn't trigger a memory, although I did think that'd be the next of his I read.

This one was pretty good, not with any sort of earthshattering brilliance but a solid, dependable sort of story. It was quite clear how things were going to go from early in, but sometimes, being able to switch off with a reliable read is a rewarding thing indeed.

[Daniel Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have probably rated this higher had I not just read a really fantastic space opera book. Its a good chapter in the time bubble series and references some things that happen earlier but in a way that this is definitely one you could read as a standalone. However you will enjoy it more if you had started at book 1. The entire series so far has been really good and I would suggest starting at 1.

[Melissainau · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series is dreadful and borders on a hate-read (if I could bring myself to care about it enough) but this one hits new lows. What would you do if you could relive a handful of days in your life? Remember good times with family and friends, sure. But sexually assault someone you bear a grudge against? That’s completely outside acceptable. Not only is this as badly written as the others but it hits new lows in content.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Time Travel book..don't want to spoil it but one concept was just so inspired !

[Mark Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

So there I was, slogging through a sci fi book that I really wasn't enjoying, it was dull, confusing, yet had won loads of awards and cost me close to six quid, when I get an email to say a new book had been released by Jason Ayres. Well obviously I immediately dumped the award winning nonsense I was reading (Ancillary Justice: 1 if you're interested) and grabbed a copy of this instead!

I was following the author after trying out the Time Bubble books and I've really enjoyed all the books. Although you don't need to have read the other books I'd recommend doing so as the later books are always littered with little references to the previous stories.

I'm really impressed that the author has once again dabbled with time travel and made it different from the other stories. In fact, if I'm remembering correctly this is actually the 4th different take on a time travel mechanic, yet it's still set in the same universe as the previous stories, brilliant!

So without going into too much detail and spoiling the story, this focuses on one of the side characters that pops up in the other books. What's interesting about that is that character chosen isn't an obvious choice as he's generally a bit of a Muppet, however this book shows there are two sides to every story and you get to find out a lot more about the character in question.

I'm by no means a fast reader, but this only took me a few days to get through. In part that's because it's short, but also because I really just wanted to keep reading one more chapter to see what happened.

Really enjoyed the book, it's great to read something that is original but has the feeling of familiarity about it being set in an established story universe.

Great stand alone book, remember that if you like this to check out The Time Bubble and follow up books.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH FUN
Yes, we all either have or will have a mid-life crisis, the realization you are too old to take part in the Olympics or manage a mega company, and it comes as a shock to Richard to the extent when we first meet him he is about to jump off the roof of a parking garage. There is an element of fantasy in the book with the angel who offers him the chance to go back and relive days of his life, but I am always amazed at the detail that Ayres puts into his books (this is not the first one I’ve read, and it won’t be the last) of previous decades. It brings back memories of the music, the pre-electronic age, the household gadgets and car models of the time. I suspect a lot of research went into the writing. Loved this book, devoured it all at one sitting, it flowed well and the characters (even the angel) were very realistic! A thoroughly good read.

[Marbeth Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another binge read

I love Jason Ayres books, I've devoured each of them in one sitting. I love their nostalgia and his inventiveness of imagining life in the future. I love the everyday aspect of his futuristic worlds and the memories he evokes when reminiscing about the past. I'm from the same era and his books remind me of things I'd forgotten about 80s and 90s culture. His books make me think as he poses interesting questions such as picking days from the past to relive and imagining these has given me so much pleasure....Jason Ayres gets me to think like no other author has and he's funny too.

[seasalt · Rating 2 out of 5]

What's the point of all these time travelings? Nothing. The protagonist was still the same person with thick head and bad behaviour, he didn't change for God's sake -_-

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book. Richard Kent, in his forties, overweight, unfit, unhappy and recently made redundant from his job as a policemen is in a bad place, when a strange being offers him the chance to relive six days of his choice from his past. On consecutive nights he goes back to re-experience key days from his life giving him the chance to do them differently. I think that this is a great idea and it certainly gets you thinking how would you use those six days? The revenge on his Police boss seemed to me a bit childish and unnecessary, but the different occasions are generally interesting to read to see what his priorities are and how he handles them. Whilst, in an almost Christmas Carol like process, Richard does seem benefit from these experiences, he really does not behave much differently between his trips back to the past, and it would have been nice to see much more reflection and action based on his experiences. His interactions with his wife and children are minimal throughout. The author has clearly done some research and/or has a good memory for some of the periods covered and and I did feel the nostalgia (Whatever did happen to Beef and Onion crisps?). Although the 'rules' on his trips back might have prevented it, you might have thought that he might have used a day to illuminate an old unsolved police case, but he doesn't seem to even consider this. It is an interesting read, but seems to drift a bit without a clear direction or much drama. The final choice of day is a bit odd and did not make much sense to me as it would seem to me that he could not really satisfy the requirement he is given of not allowing that day to influence his future actions. The ending is then very sudden as if the author had just run out of time or interest and for me was fairly unsatisfying. We never get to see if and how the overall experience changes Richard. I realise that this is part of a series of books and maybe reading more would give more of an overall plot and greater depth to the characters, but based on this one there was no real incentive to rush out and read the others (although I expect I will read more at some point).

[David Robert Bloomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You really need read these books in order as there are established characters throughout the book. I'm saying that this is one you could dip in, as characters are reintroduced in case you've not read about them in a while.
I read the first 6 at the start of the year and thought I'd come back to them later. Really enjoyable read and very entertaining. We have Kent the policeman as our main protagonist here. Who for some as yet unknown reason (knowing this author we'll find out in a later book), gets the chance to relive previous moments of his life.
As a middle aged bloke, I could really identify with Kent's problems. A very good read and a great deal of fun.

[PIETER · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised I liked this book so much. The central character, Richard Kent, had been pretty unlikable in the former books, first as an incompetent but arrogant police detective who threatened teenage Charlie, and then as a fairly disagreeable proprietor of the Red Lion. So when I saw the book was to be about him I expect much. But Ayres showed talent in building the story around him and, while not totally vindicated, Kent is seen in a new light.

[James L Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Kept my attention from start to end

I really enjoyed the book. Having read The Time Bubble series, it's wonderful to have more stories in that time frame and with some of the same characters. It reads quickly, and I'm starting the next one immediately. If you enjoy time travel books, then you need to read this author

[ReneE · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I wasn't impressed by the story line or writing style - too amateurish. I love time travel books, but this one just felt too one note to me. I would suggest something by Shawn Inmon - much better writing and more interesting stories.
(I usually don't comment on other ratings, but 5-stars? Really?)

[C I KESZEI · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting change in the series

Jason Ayres takes a different turn in the series with this seventh book. No less interesting than the others, just different.
As before, I would highly recommend this series if you have any interest in time travel / escapism.
Now time to see what direction book eight takes me in.

[Hil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Probably the result of one of those conversations about where you would go if you could go back in time and what would you want to do differently. There's nothing really clever or imaginative about it but it's a fun topic. I may read Rock Bottom. And some of the others...

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Take on Time Travel

An enjoyable tale with an interesting protagonist. Though a bit of a loser, I found myself liking and watching Richard's Kent evolve. Nice read for a lazy Sunday

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great idea for a book - a chance to relive six days of your life and do things differently, if you choose to. This was an easy to read, fun time jump that lost a star because the writing wasn’t as good as it could have been.

[Steve Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crisis, what crisis?

I loved this book. Especially the way the main character was given the chance to go back in time and gain revenge on people and rectify some wrongs. Even if it was in a parallel universe.

[Debbie Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven knows I'm Miserable Now.....
This is right up my alley. I love the in depth back stories and felt utter empathy to Kent throughout.
I love the references to The Smiths songs as I am a fan.

[AHZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 for this one. This reminded me of the fantastic 'Replay' by Ken Grimwood and that's high praise. This one has a fresh take on the time travel genre and it can actually be a genre on its own - something like time-travel catharsis.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Travel to relive 6 days of your life.

[Gregory Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

No thanks

Was looking for something different but once I started reading I couldn't stop. I am looking forward to reading another book by Jason Ayres .

[Kristi Normandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice story told in an interesting way

I like how the author made the story simple but effective. I look forward to reading more from this series.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. I really enjoyed this book. I've just downloaded the next in the series.

[Michelle Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. A must read if you like time travel books!

[Ian Wardell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating 58/100. It was ok . .ish, although kinda a little depressing.

[Louise Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I love all of Jason's books and have read them all more than once. Easy to read, interesting stories and full of humour they never fail to please.

[S D Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good old asshole Kent. Interesting slant on the series.