What do you think?
Rate this book
Out of Time, Into You
After graduating high school, a freak accident whisks Reggie Valentine back in time to the 1950s where he meets Daniel Parker, a sweet and wholesome guy his grandmother used to date. Reggie learns that Daniel is not only closeted, but unaware that two men can fall in love or even marry. They soon form a bond that is shrouded in secrecy, and as their feelings for each other intensify, leaving becomes unthinkable. But can their relationship survive in a bygone era where attitudes about race and sexuality are so old fashioned?
Out of Time, Into You tells the unforgettable story of two young men and the incredible love they feel for each other as they struggle to find their place in the universe.
Out of Time, Into You tells the unforgettable story of two young men and the incredible love they feel for each other as they struggle to find their place in the universe.
307 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2021
110 people are currently reading
1275 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bell
47 books2,216 followersJay Bell is a proud gay man and the award-winning author behind dozens of emotional and yet hopelessly optimistic stories. His best-selling book, Something Like Summer, spawned a series of heart-wrenching novels, a musically driven movie, and a lovingly drawn comic. When not crafting imaginary worlds, he occupies his free time with animals, art, action figures, and—most ardently—his husband Andreas. Jay is always dreaming up new stories about boys in love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can get the kettle boiling by visiting www.jaybellbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
September 14, 2023
The Time Machine meets Eyes on the Prize? Pleasantville meets Noah’s Arc? Black to the Future?
This new novel by Jay Bell is the best kind of M/M romance. It’s a mixture of many topics; from the civil rights struggle to 50s culture, to women’s rights, to the gay rights movement. Plus there’s making out with granny's “bent” boyfriend. And ya gotta admit... 65 years makes for a heck of an age-gap story.
When black and openly gay 18 year old Reggie gets transported from 2021 back to 1950s Chicago, one is immediately struck by the dangers involved. After all, Chicago was the hometown of Emmett Till. Being transported into a land where bigotry was in full flower didn’t exactly work out well for him.
Seeing 21st century Reggie meet and fall for very white, very closeted, Eagle Scout Daniel Parker was sweet to see but knowing that the young man had grown up regularly promising to be “morally straight” had me seeing the potential for catastrophe.
There are several new twists in the time-travel theme that I’ve never thought of before and so many fresh perspectives came up. When Reggie’s talent as a musician comes to the fore, I fully expected to see the book take a familiar turn. When it didn’t I was happy to see that what did follow was much more interesting. As with any really good novel, the author allows the reader to stumble upon some new perspectives without beating them over the head with them. Time travel romances are bittersweet at best. This one certainly had me misting up a time or two. When the “should I stay or should I go” dilemma arises, we get to the real heart of this story.
I loved seeing Daniel’s progressive doctor/father debating Reggie about conversion therapy. Such therapy, and whether or not homosexuality is a psychological disorder would still be cutting edge in some parts of this country. Police raiding a gay dance club is something we hear about. But having the main characters that you’re emotionally invested in, in fear of that very thing, gives the reader a whole new perspective.
I love reading M/M romances and enjoy them. But I do think of them as a guilty pleasure. The truly great books are those with more nutritional value. Here, there’s plenty of food for thought… as well as some sweetness. This is perhaps the best book I’ve read in 2021.
***Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
If you're an audiobook fan this one's available to listen to (narrated by Kevin R. Free) at https://youtu.be/PdB38RQb9KY?si=d335W...
This new novel by Jay Bell is the best kind of M/M romance. It’s a mixture of many topics; from the civil rights struggle to 50s culture, to women’s rights, to the gay rights movement. Plus there’s making out with granny's “bent” boyfriend. And ya gotta admit... 65 years makes for a heck of an age-gap story.
When black and openly gay 18 year old Reggie gets transported from 2021 back to 1950s Chicago, one is immediately struck by the dangers involved. After all, Chicago was the hometown of Emmett Till. Being transported into a land where bigotry was in full flower didn’t exactly work out well for him.
Seeing 21st century Reggie meet and fall for very white, very closeted, Eagle Scout Daniel Parker was sweet to see but knowing that the young man had grown up regularly promising to be “morally straight” had me seeing the potential for catastrophe.
There are several new twists in the time-travel theme that I’ve never thought of before and so many fresh perspectives came up. When Reggie’s talent as a musician comes to the fore, I fully expected to see the book take a familiar turn. When it didn’t I was happy to see that what did follow was much more interesting. As with any really good novel, the author allows the reader to stumble upon some new perspectives without beating them over the head with them. Time travel romances are bittersweet at best. This one certainly had me misting up a time or two. When the “should I stay or should I go” dilemma arises, we get to the real heart of this story.
I loved seeing Daniel’s progressive doctor/father debating Reggie about conversion therapy. Such therapy, and whether or not homosexuality is a psychological disorder would still be cutting edge in some parts of this country. Police raiding a gay dance club is something we hear about. But having the main characters that you’re emotionally invested in, in fear of that very thing, gives the reader a whole new perspective.
I love reading M/M romances and enjoy them. But I do think of them as a guilty pleasure. The truly great books are those with more nutritional value. Here, there’s plenty of food for thought… as well as some sweetness. This is perhaps the best book I’ve read in 2021.
***Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
If you're an audiobook fan this one's available to listen to (narrated by Kevin R. Free) at https://youtu.be/PdB38RQb9KY?si=d335W...
August 26, 2024
2.5 stars
Note to traditional romance readers:
My thoughts on the above are mostly due to my expectations of what kind of book this was going to be. If you set your expectations accordingly, there are still many things to enjoy here and I think a lot of people will enjoy this book even though I didn't.
The scene is very well set, and I found the characters to be well fleshed-out, including some very strong and nuanced female characters (who I find are sometimes lacking in MM romance). Being a white woman, and also not an American, I can't speak personally to the accuracy of the Black representation but I found that the characters were well executed without being in any way token or stereotypical.
I also really liked the relationship development between Reggie and Daniel. I thought the timeline was good, and I enjoyed the gradual escalation of the sexual side of their relationship that culminates in a rush that felt very natural for people of their age.
Unfortunately, that impression notwithstanding, there were a number of things I didn't love.
I initially struggled to get into this book, I didn't find the writing particularly engaging at first and thought the intro was strange. Though you do get some weird vibes from Reggie's friend Hannah in the first chapter, I was surprised at how she just disappeared entirely from Reggie's mind.
I found the politics and social aspects, as valid as they are, were introduced in very heavy-handed way. It felt overly moralistic, especially considering that in the book Reggie is speaking to characters who have a completely different perspective due to their era.
Though the premise of this is a time travel novel, it's mostly about characterisation and I thought the time travel trope was under-utilised. I wanted to see more
At the end of the day, my biggest issue is that I guess I didn't really like Reggie all that much. I think outside of the obvious struggle of being from a different time and having different societal expectations, he was just pushy and insensitive, and I thought he spent a lot of time shoving his opinions down peoples' throats. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I didn't like the comment Reggie makes
So yeah, here we are. I guess with all of the above I can't justify rating this over 2 stars, and I probably won't recommend it even though for a lot of it it was a good read.
___________
Initial impression
This book really upset me and I can't talk about it right now.
I can't rate this yet but I plan to come back to it once I can think about it without crying.
Full ending spoiler here for those who don't want to go in blind.
I tried to read something fluffy after finishing this but I still cried myself to sleep.
Note to traditional romance readers:
My thoughts on the above are mostly due to my expectations of what kind of book this was going to be. If you set your expectations accordingly, there are still many things to enjoy here and I think a lot of people will enjoy this book even though I didn't.
The scene is very well set, and I found the characters to be well fleshed-out, including some very strong and nuanced female characters (who I find are sometimes lacking in MM romance). Being a white woman, and also not an American, I can't speak personally to the accuracy of the Black representation but I found that the characters were well executed without being in any way token or stereotypical.
I also really liked the relationship development between Reggie and Daniel. I thought the timeline was good, and I enjoyed the gradual escalation of the sexual side of their relationship that culminates in a rush that felt very natural for people of their age.
Unfortunately, that impression notwithstanding, there were a number of things I didn't love.
I initially struggled to get into this book, I didn't find the writing particularly engaging at first and thought the intro was strange. Though you do get some weird vibes from Reggie's friend Hannah in the first chapter, I was surprised at how she just disappeared entirely from Reggie's mind.
I found the politics and social aspects, as valid as they are, were introduced in very heavy-handed way. It felt overly moralistic, especially considering that in the book Reggie is speaking to characters who have a completely different perspective due to their era.
Though the premise of this is a time travel novel, it's mostly about characterisation and I thought the time travel trope was under-utilised. I wanted to see more
At the end of the day, my biggest issue is that I guess I didn't really like Reggie all that much. I think outside of the obvious struggle of being from a different time and having different societal expectations, he was just pushy and insensitive, and I thought he spent a lot of time shoving his opinions down peoples' throats. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I didn't like the comment Reggie makes
So yeah, here we are. I guess with all of the above I can't justify rating this over 2 stars, and I probably won't recommend it even though for a lot of it it was a good read.
___________
Initial impression
This book really upset me and I can't talk about it right now.
I can't rate this yet but I plan to come back to it once I can think about it without crying.
Full ending spoiler here for those who don't want to go in blind.
I tried to read something fluffy after finishing this but I still cried myself to sleep.
Want to read
March 7, 2022I bought this because it's currently on sale for $0.99.... but who else has a sneaking suspicion that this book doesn't actually have a HEA and is a "love story"??
November 17, 2021
4 1/2 stars. Jay Bell really knows how to write characters and get you emotionally involved with them. I started off with very ambiguous feelings in the beginning of the story but by the end, well, I didn’t want it to end.
October 20, 2023
I don't know why I keep reading Jay Bell novels since I clearly don't like his style. So many things just made me cringe/grimace. It was also very repetitive.
The ending was the worst, though.
Rep: Black gay mc, gay love interest, Black side characters
The ending was the worst, though.
Rep: Black gay mc, gay love interest, Black side characters
March 12, 2022
4.75 - Stars
While time travel isn’t a genre I normally read, knowing that Out of Time, Into You was written by one of my favorite authors, Jay Bell, I decided to give it a try.
I am SO glad I did.
Bell’s penchant for researching time and place, his vivid imagination, and his mastery of language, all came to together to create a spectacular read.
If you’re not familiar with Bell’s writing, you definitely owe it to yourself to check out his website and sign up for his newsletter (https://jaybellbooks.com/).
Part of my enjoyment of this extraordinary novel stems from the fact like its main characters, Reginald (Reggie) Valentine and Daniel Parker, I too graduated from a high school in the Midwest in 1957 - the year in which Reggie finds himself after being transported back in time from 2022.
The third major character, Gloria, Daniel’s best friend who he's also dated, is a black high school senior with ambitions of becoming a fashion designer.
Out of Time, Into You deals with critical social issues such as homophobia; racial injustice; and discrimination against women - and compares the situation today for each of these issues with that in the 1950s. Clearly progress has been made. It’s equally clear that much more needs to be done.
There are two major themes of tension throughout.
The first is the ‘forbidden’ love that develops between Reggie and Daniel.
Daniel is a white teenager, Eagle Scout, living in Chicago in 1957, who desperately wants to be an engineer rather than becoming a physician as his father wants him to be. Daniel’s father is a pediatrician who, like most physicians at the time, believes homosexuality is a mental illness.
Reggie is an openly gay black teen who wants to become a musician
The second tension is one of ‘Should I stay or should I go?’.
Reggie has to decide whether to stay in 1957 with the man he loves or try to return to 2022 to his friends and family whom he also loves. And, even if he can find a way to get back, will Daniel want to - or be able to - go with him.
This illustration
by Cassy Fallon (https://www.instagram.com/fallon_cassy/) of Daniel and Reggie seated at a piano in 1957 illustrates the bond that music creates for the two young men.
Bell captures the vibrant hidden musical nightlife of downtown Chicago’s ‘Members Only’ clubs during the decades when homosexuality was a crime and interracial dating was relatively uncommon.
At one point Out of Time, Into You became just a bit too ‘preachy’, and at another point too brutal, although, sadly, that brutality was all too realistic.
However, the story quickly got back on track and concluded as realistically as any time-travel novel might, with a mixture of emotions on the part of the protagonists, and, certainly on the part of this reader.
Please do not miss this extraordinary read.
While time travel isn’t a genre I normally read, knowing that Out of Time, Into You was written by one of my favorite authors, Jay Bell, I decided to give it a try.
I am SO glad I did.
Bell’s penchant for researching time and place, his vivid imagination, and his mastery of language, all came to together to create a spectacular read.
If you’re not familiar with Bell’s writing, you definitely owe it to yourself to check out his website and sign up for his newsletter (https://jaybellbooks.com/).
Part of my enjoyment of this extraordinary novel stems from the fact like its main characters, Reginald (Reggie) Valentine and Daniel Parker, I too graduated from a high school in the Midwest in 1957 - the year in which Reggie finds himself after being transported back in time from 2022.
The third major character, Gloria, Daniel’s best friend who he's also dated, is a black high school senior with ambitions of becoming a fashion designer.
Out of Time, Into You deals with critical social issues such as homophobia; racial injustice; and discrimination against women - and compares the situation today for each of these issues with that in the 1950s. Clearly progress has been made. It’s equally clear that much more needs to be done.
There are two major themes of tension throughout.
The first is the ‘forbidden’ love that develops between Reggie and Daniel.
Daniel is a white teenager, Eagle Scout, living in Chicago in 1957, who desperately wants to be an engineer rather than becoming a physician as his father wants him to be. Daniel’s father is a pediatrician who, like most physicians at the time, believes homosexuality is a mental illness.
Reggie is an openly gay black teen who wants to become a musician
The second tension is one of ‘Should I stay or should I go?’.
Reggie has to decide whether to stay in 1957 with the man he loves or try to return to 2022 to his friends and family whom he also loves. And, even if he can find a way to get back, will Daniel want to - or be able to - go with him.
This illustration
by Cassy Fallon (https://www.instagram.com/fallon_cassy/) of Daniel and Reggie seated at a piano in 1957 illustrates the bond that music creates for the two young men. Bell captures the vibrant hidden musical nightlife of downtown Chicago’s ‘Members Only’ clubs during the decades when homosexuality was a crime and interracial dating was relatively uncommon.
At one point Out of Time, Into You became just a bit too ‘preachy’, and at another point too brutal, although, sadly, that brutality was all too realistic.
However, the story quickly got back on track and concluded as realistically as any time-travel novel might, with a mixture of emotions on the part of the protagonists, and, certainly on the part of this reader.
Please do not miss this extraordinary read.
October 31, 2021
I've always loved Jay Bell's writing, and he definitely does not disappoint with this latest release. I'm a big fan of sci fi stories, so the time travel element, with gay characters, was right up my alley. I couldn't put the book down, eager to find out what would happen next or how the story would end. I definitely recommend this book.
August 22, 2023
So good!
Um, wow. This was so so special. What a love story! Very well researched and written too. I loved it. Also, this cover!!
Um, wow. This was so so special. What a love story! Very well researched and written too. I loved it. Also, this cover!!
October 29, 2021
My first thought was to compare it to Doctor Who's Weeping Angels, but a gay Somewhere in Time is a much better comparison. There's enough different that that's not a spoiler if you've read the book or seen the movie though. If you haven't, the basic premise is someone gets sent into the past and falls in love with someone there, resulting in the dilemma of staying there or trying to return to the present. It is a very engaging story, with some pointed commentary on racism and homophobia, both in the 50's and now, and the dilemma makes for a really difficult decision - regardless of who stays or goes, someone loses someone they love.
The only low points I found:
1. When he gets there, the reaction to his actions are...highly optimistic. On the other hand, if they were realistic, this would be a tragedy instead of a romance, and probably a short story as well, so I'll give him a pass on this one.
2. His best friend plays a large part in the beginning, but is invisible afterwards. I think she should have had more of a presence.
3. I can't say much without spoilers, but I think what happens after the book ends may not be ideal. Again though, the book is much better the way it's written, so I have to overlook that too.
The only low points I found:
1. When he gets there, the reaction to his actions are...highly optimistic. On the other hand, if they were realistic, this would be a tragedy instead of a romance, and probably a short story as well, so I'll give him a pass on this one.
2. His best friend plays a large part in the beginning, but is invisible afterwards. I think she should have had more of a presence.
3. I can't say much without spoilers, but I think what happens after the book ends may not be ideal. Again though, the book is much better the way it's written, so I have to overlook that too.
May 18, 2022
An emotional rollercoaster.
It’s pretty rare that a book brings me to tears, but this one had me sobbing on at least 3 separate occasions, especially near the end.
An incredibly sweet and heartwarming tale about a boy from the present that gets stuck in the 1950s and falls in love with another boy while simultaneously learning both how to survive in this strange era and trying to find a way back home. Highly recommended.
It’s pretty rare that a book brings me to tears, but this one had me sobbing on at least 3 separate occasions, especially near the end.
An incredibly sweet and heartwarming tale about a boy from the present that gets stuck in the 1950s and falls in love with another boy while simultaneously learning both how to survive in this strange era and trying to find a way back home. Highly recommended.
June 9, 2022
I knew going into this Jay Bell was going to break my heart, mend it, and break it again, but I bought the audio (for an extra dose of emotional upheaval) and went into it willingly. And, yes, it was all I expected...but also so much more!
When I wake up at 4 a.m. and can't fall back to sleep because I need to know what happens to Reggie and Daniel... When I learn more about racism in the late fifties than I ever did in a history book... When I bleed tears over blatantly acceptable homophobia against two young men who only want to dance with each other and enjoy themselves... And when I absolutely cannot forget two characters who entered and left my life within the course of a few days but became a part of my life forever... I know I have just lucked out with an all-star story performed by an outstanding voice actor and written by a superb author who previously brought Ben and Tim into my life.
The blurb tells the tale and yet it only skims the surface. Is it possible for these two men to walk into the sunset together? One who is 18 when he slips through "a stitch in time" to 1957 and falls in love with the other who is also 18 and totally innocent in his personal outlook and his role in a changing world. Sixty-five years later.... Yes, without giving away spoilers, I can say there is.
When I wake up at 4 a.m. and can't fall back to sleep because I need to know what happens to Reggie and Daniel... When I learn more about racism in the late fifties than I ever did in a history book... When I bleed tears over blatantly acceptable homophobia against two young men who only want to dance with each other and enjoy themselves... And when I absolutely cannot forget two characters who entered and left my life within the course of a few days but became a part of my life forever... I know I have just lucked out with an all-star story performed by an outstanding voice actor and written by a superb author who previously brought Ben and Tim into my life.
The blurb tells the tale and yet it only skims the surface. Is it possible for these two men to walk into the sunset together? One who is 18 when he slips through "a stitch in time" to 1957 and falls in love with the other who is also 18 and totally innocent in his personal outlook and his role in a changing world. Sixty-five years later.... Yes, without giving away spoilers, I can say there is.
July 26, 2024
"So far, I’ve not only met my grandmother when she was my age, but I’ve also discovered that we share the same taste in men."
I love time travel fiction!! Oh, how I adored these two wonderful, beautiful guys. Daniel- sweet, kind, innocent, nerdy, caring and Reggie- dynamic, funny, forgiving, hopeful and full of life.
I was nervous so much of the book, always braced for racism and homophobia. Things have changed, but nowhere near as much as they should have since the 50's.
There were some incredibly harrowing accounts of real history that were hard to read and left me sobbing.
It was difficult to guess how this book would end. It was unexpected and different. I felt like the author could have taken an easy, fluffy path or a sad realistic path but somehow landed somewhere in between.
The cover art on both editions (photo and illustration) is just so gorgeous I could cry.
I love time travel fiction!! Oh, how I adored these two wonderful, beautiful guys. Daniel- sweet, kind, innocent, nerdy, caring and Reggie- dynamic, funny, forgiving, hopeful and full of life.
I was nervous so much of the book, always braced for racism and homophobia. Things have changed, but nowhere near as much as they should have since the 50's.
There were some incredibly harrowing accounts of real history that were hard to read and left me sobbing.
It was difficult to guess how this book would end. It was unexpected and different. I felt like the author could have taken an easy, fluffy path or a sad realistic path but somehow landed somewhere in between.
The cover art on both editions (photo and illustration) is just so gorgeous I could cry.
June 19, 2022
I never cry at books but came close with this one, so beautifully written and thought out. Perfect ending. Cant recommend it enough.
December 29, 2021
Jay Bell knows exactly how to create characters in his books who are so engrossingly real it is impossible not to fall in love with them.
This Back to the Future themed tale of a gay black teen going back to the late 50s when equality wasn’t remotely probably for people of color or for the LGBTQ+ community gave it full depth and gravitas to build upon. We see him interact with future family members and Reggie even wondering if would start to disappear at one point links is to that familiar tale so well.
It does not disappoint. Of course there are time travel traps every sci-fi time travel story has to deal with. Will this change the timeline? Is this supposed to happen? Can I go back and fix it? There were nice mysteries involving the time holes and the archway to unravel and I was there for it.
This is well researched but not overly historical fiction. It is pretty seamless. Life for black people in the 50s, even in a big city was fraught with racism. Gay people were still treated openly as having a disorder. The cops here are painted with that big brush of intolerance and violence. We also get to see how money and influence plays a part in how Daniel and Reggie are treated so dramatically different.
I loved the jazz club vibes and the trips to the queer bar hidden in a back room. These were all too real and what happens in the book is based on many true stories.
Love spans time, color, money, and society. That is the joy of this book and what brings the amazing feels at the end when this “accidental” dip into the past brings a lifetime of events to pass, many told in a hand crafted memory book or in a well-loved picture frame. Well done.
This Back to the Future themed tale of a gay black teen going back to the late 50s when equality wasn’t remotely probably for people of color or for the LGBTQ+ community gave it full depth and gravitas to build upon. We see him interact with future family members and Reggie even wondering if would start to disappear at one point links is to that familiar tale so well.
It does not disappoint. Of course there are time travel traps every sci-fi time travel story has to deal with. Will this change the timeline? Is this supposed to happen? Can I go back and fix it? There were nice mysteries involving the time holes and the archway to unravel and I was there for it.
This is well researched but not overly historical fiction. It is pretty seamless. Life for black people in the 50s, even in a big city was fraught with racism. Gay people were still treated openly as having a disorder. The cops here are painted with that big brush of intolerance and violence. We also get to see how money and influence plays a part in how Daniel and Reggie are treated so dramatically different.
I loved the jazz club vibes and the trips to the queer bar hidden in a back room. These were all too real and what happens in the book is based on many true stories.
Love spans time, color, money, and society. That is the joy of this book and what brings the amazing feels at the end when this “accidental” dip into the past brings a lifetime of events to pass, many told in a hand crafted memory book or in a well-loved picture frame. Well done.
November 11, 2021
Another welcome new release from one of my favourite authors! I love stories about time travel and alternative universes, so I enjoyed this and read it in one sitting.
Reggie, a recent high school graduate, manages to go though a time hole and has gone back in time 65 years to 1958. In this time his grandmother is his age and her best friend Daniel, the local doctor's son is living in Reggie's childhood home. The two boys meet, fall in love and start to make a life together, but eventually Reggie has to make the hard decision to stay in the 1950's for love or return to his own time and risk losing Daniel.
This book really makes you question the choices we make in life and all those "what if's" we sometimes dwell on. It is a heart warming story, but also bittersweet. Reggie's hometown in the 1950's isn't the liberal and accepting world that he is use to, but sometimes a racist, homophobic and small minded environment. It is heart-breaking to read what the boys had to endure. However, it is still a sweet love story, with endearing characters that stay with you and who you'll want to revisit again. I loved the relationship between Reggie and Daniel and how their true love ended up transcending age and time.
I read this a few weeks ago now, but I still think of Reggie and Daniel and how their story ended or how it could've ended up for them. One of my favourite releases for 2021, 5 stars!
Reggie, a recent high school graduate, manages to go though a time hole and has gone back in time 65 years to 1958. In this time his grandmother is his age and her best friend Daniel, the local doctor's son is living in Reggie's childhood home. The two boys meet, fall in love and start to make a life together, but eventually Reggie has to make the hard decision to stay in the 1950's for love or return to his own time and risk losing Daniel.
This book really makes you question the choices we make in life and all those "what if's" we sometimes dwell on. It is a heart warming story, but also bittersweet. Reggie's hometown in the 1950's isn't the liberal and accepting world that he is use to, but sometimes a racist, homophobic and small minded environment. It is heart-breaking to read what the boys had to endure. However, it is still a sweet love story, with endearing characters that stay with you and who you'll want to revisit again. I loved the relationship between Reggie and Daniel and how their true love ended up transcending age and time.
I read this a few weeks ago now, but I still think of Reggie and Daniel and how their story ended or how it could've ended up for them. One of my favourite releases for 2021, 5 stars!
October 30, 2025
Wow. So I feel like I give a lot of book 5 stars lately. I do feel guilty low rating books because I know how much hard work has gone into its writing and is often an authors labour of love but I will mark down if needed.
Back to this one though.
I absolutely adored it from the outset, both main characters are ridiculously cute and wonderful and I fell in love with the first few pages.
The story is really interesting, a back to the future twist with a MM love story with themes around race and sexuality in the 1950s and it really is a history lesson and clearly well researched by the author. Parts of it broke my heart, parts made me gush and parts made me LOL.
My only real issue I had is with the ending, I don't want to spoilt it but it didn't sit all that well with me and may have ended it differently, but it was never my story to tell and I respect the author for that!
Back to this one though.
I absolutely adored it from the outset, both main characters are ridiculously cute and wonderful and I fell in love with the first few pages.
The story is really interesting, a back to the future twist with a MM love story with themes around race and sexuality in the 1950s and it really is a history lesson and clearly well researched by the author. Parts of it broke my heart, parts made me gush and parts made me LOL.
My only real issue I had is with the ending, I don't want to spoilt it but it didn't sit all that well with me and may have ended it differently, but it was never my story to tell and I respect the author for that!
November 13, 2021
I really liked it. Not sure if I agree with your choice of ending though. It left me thinking that there has to be more. Slightly unsatisfactory. I can think of several other endings. I still gave it 5 stars, because the story deserves it.
October 20, 2022
4* just bc of the ending otherwise its well written and i loved it
( i cried at the end:'))
( i cried at the end:'))
March 8, 2022
4/5⭐
I liked this a lot because, y'know, time travel and all, but the ending kinda threw me off and made me uncomfortable. no spoilers so I won't elaborate but can we just pretend the last few pages don't exist? because I pretty much liked everything else.
so anyway, it's like this amazing time travel story which I already love as a concept, and add star-crossed lovers into the mix and I'm sold. I actually expected it to be YA based on the cover alone but it's.... not lmao. the main character was 18 but I found his and his love interest's behavior a bit childish so some of the steamier scenes came a bit out of the blue. but I still liked how the author managed to make every character so distinguishable and full of personality. the romance was very sweet and there was a lot of discussion about racism and homophobia, especially in terms of the differences between the decades. the writing style was very solid and made this book very easy and pleasant to read.
I liked this a lot because, y'know, time travel and all, but the ending kinda threw me off and made me uncomfortable. no spoilers so I won't elaborate but can we just pretend the last few pages don't exist? because I pretty much liked everything else.
so anyway, it's like this amazing time travel story which I already love as a concept, and add star-crossed lovers into the mix and I'm sold. I actually expected it to be YA based on the cover alone but it's.... not lmao. the main character was 18 but I found his and his love interest's behavior a bit childish so some of the steamier scenes came a bit out of the blue. but I still liked how the author managed to make every character so distinguishable and full of personality. the romance was very sweet and there was a lot of discussion about racism and homophobia, especially in terms of the differences between the decades. the writing style was very solid and made this book very easy and pleasant to read.
March 6, 2022
A sweet and sexy fantasy, but a little too unrealistic for full suspension of disbelief, .
March 26, 2022
This could have been a tighter narrative. For much of the story, it felt like the plot was resting on the strength of the premise. Instead of the kinds of plot twists and complications you would expect to happen in a narrative about time travel (pre-destination paradoxes, butterfly effects, etc), the narrative focuses more on how a queer POC Gen Z'er would adapt to living in the 1950s, forming a friendship with his grandmother (who is his age) and starting a relationship with her best friend, who lives in the house Reggie would later grow up in. Time travel-related complications are brought up a lot in theoretically but at no point do they drive or complicate the narrative. The result is for much of the story, a fantastical premise is tethered to a prosaic story. It almost feels like Jay Bell wanted to use a science fiction premise as set dressing for a romance novel.
Since Reggie becomes so invested his relationship with Daniel so early in the story, he really doesn't seem driven to get home. A narrative needs some form of drive and impetus to help give it shape and form. Characters need to want something so much that it makes the readers feel compelled to see whether they get it in the end. Granted, to start with, both Reggie and Daniel want each other, but then they both are committed to each other pretty quickly in the narrative. Maybe if the differences that crop up in their relationship weighed more on them, they'd have more impact, but they feel more like creative writing prompt, "how would a gay teen from the 2020s and a gay teen from the 1950s interact? How would their values differ?"
Just as an aside, I didn't hate the book because of this issue, but I do think the first 3/4's of the story start to drag after awhile because of that lack of narrative complexity. Granted, seeing how a gay black teen react to the more racially and gender stratified and sexually conservative world of the 1950s is worth reading for that point, but it doesn't make up for how plodding it gets.
It really isn't until the book is at the 3/4's point that Reggie and Daniel have an experience that really feels impactful. Up until the struggles of being an interracial queer couple in the 1950s felt either hypothetical-- just cautionary stories on the news, people they sneak around, or situations they can walk away from. But after finding themselves exposed and placed in circumstances that makes the dangers of living their authentic selves in the time feel very real, suddenly the book feels like it has stakes. The boys have a sense of drive and the narrative feels like its purposeful again.
****************************************
Spoilers for the end of the book after this point.
****************************************
Reggie and Daniel's goal becomes for Daniel to accompany back to the 2020s with Reggie, but Reggie ends up being the only one sent back to 2022. And the method by which he was sent back in the first place isn't replicable. The tragedy of this understandably wrecks him. And then we find out Daniel is still alive. And he literally has lived three blocks down from Reggie for years, if not his entire life. We learn that after the initial heartbreak of their separation the time he shared with Reggie eventually helped send him down a path that led him to a very fulfilling life, including a historically significant career in the field of his own choosing, and eventually finding love again. Reggie's takeaway is, "But you're widowed now, right? We can start where we left off." Daniel is nearly 90 and asserts that he's generally only attracted to men his own age. Plus he goes on to describe he was present the day Reggie was born and helped babysit him on multiple occasions and how surreal it is for Reggie to show up now looking exactly like he did the day he vanished.
You would think that would be the end of the story after present Daniel established that boundary. But then Reggie invites him to visit his childhood bedroom. And then Daniel changes his mind. That's the beat we end the story on. It's not the age difference I find disconcerting as much as it is the fact that Daniel as a full grown adult has been at minimum a liminal presence in Reggie's life since the day he was born. They do make a point of mentioning that Daniel tried to minimize his presence by the time Reggie was old enough to really form lasting memories, so this isn't quite a case of grooming, but it inches in that direction and it makes me uncomfortable. Plus, it's a bit of a specious to believe the boy you knew at 18 would be the same person at 88. He had a lifetime of experiences that shaped and changed him subsequently. How did living through the sexual revolution impact his view of sex and monogamy? How many friends did he lose during the AIDS crisis? He didn't vote for Trump, did he?
TL;DR: Just like I think Jay Bell's pacing didn't quite know how to keep the plot moving, I also think he could have had a better ending if he'd had the wherewithal to end the story 10-20 pages sooner.
Since Reggie becomes so invested his relationship with Daniel so early in the story, he really doesn't seem driven to get home. A narrative needs some form of drive and impetus to help give it shape and form. Characters need to want something so much that it makes the readers feel compelled to see whether they get it in the end. Granted, to start with, both Reggie and Daniel want each other, but then they both are committed to each other pretty quickly in the narrative. Maybe if the differences that crop up in their relationship weighed more on them, they'd have more impact, but they feel more like creative writing prompt, "how would a gay teen from the 2020s and a gay teen from the 1950s interact? How would their values differ?"
Just as an aside, I didn't hate the book because of this issue, but I do think the first 3/4's of the story start to drag after awhile because of that lack of narrative complexity. Granted, seeing how a gay black teen react to the more racially and gender stratified and sexually conservative world of the 1950s is worth reading for that point, but it doesn't make up for how plodding it gets.
It really isn't until the book is at the 3/4's point that Reggie and Daniel have an experience that really feels impactful. Up until the struggles of being an interracial queer couple in the 1950s felt either hypothetical-- just cautionary stories on the news, people they sneak around, or situations they can walk away from. But after finding themselves exposed and placed in circumstances that makes the dangers of living their authentic selves in the time feel very real, suddenly the book feels like it has stakes. The boys have a sense of drive and the narrative feels like its purposeful again.
****************************************
Spoilers for the end of the book after this point.
****************************************
Reggie and Daniel's goal becomes for Daniel to accompany back to the 2020s with Reggie, but Reggie ends up being the only one sent back to 2022. And the method by which he was sent back in the first place isn't replicable. The tragedy of this understandably wrecks him. And then we find out Daniel is still alive. And he literally has lived three blocks down from Reggie for years, if not his entire life. We learn that after the initial heartbreak of their separation the time he shared with Reggie eventually helped send him down a path that led him to a very fulfilling life, including a historically significant career in the field of his own choosing, and eventually finding love again. Reggie's takeaway is, "But you're widowed now, right? We can start where we left off." Daniel is nearly 90 and asserts that he's generally only attracted to men his own age. Plus he goes on to describe he was present the day Reggie was born and helped babysit him on multiple occasions and how surreal it is for Reggie to show up now looking exactly like he did the day he vanished.
You would think that would be the end of the story after present Daniel established that boundary. But then Reggie invites him to visit his childhood bedroom. And then Daniel changes his mind. That's the beat we end the story on. It's not the age difference I find disconcerting as much as it is the fact that Daniel as a full grown adult has been at minimum a liminal presence in Reggie's life since the day he was born. They do make a point of mentioning that Daniel tried to minimize his presence by the time Reggie was old enough to really form lasting memories, so this isn't quite a case of grooming, but it inches in that direction and it makes me uncomfortable. Plus, it's a bit of a specious to believe the boy you knew at 18 would be the same person at 88. He had a lifetime of experiences that shaped and changed him subsequently. How did living through the sexual revolution impact his view of sex and monogamy? How many friends did he lose during the AIDS crisis? He didn't vote for Trump, did he?
TL;DR: Just like I think Jay Bell's pacing didn't quite know how to keep the plot moving, I also think he could have had a better ending if he'd had the wherewithal to end the story 10-20 pages sooner.
March 19, 2022
Brilliant - just brilliant! Thank you for an enthralling and satisfying read Mr Bell.
November 2, 2021
Finished the book a few days ago since I received it as an ARC. I’m usually not a fan of supernatural stories but this was just such a good story and so well written my heart just melted. The going back to the 50’s and meeting your family etc. is familiar but the love story and the cultural shock of a black and gay teen from now ending up in racist homophonic then adds a lot to this one. And the end, it’s not what you expect but just so good! Well done Jay, you’ve done it again! Another bestseller, definitively, everyone will just love this.
January 23, 2023
“I’ll miss the future, but I also know I’ll miss the past.”
Out of Time, Into You is exceptional. Author Jay Bell takes the lovers across time trope in new, unexpected directions, delivering a fresh, emotional and thoroughly satisfying story.
Having just graduated from High School, Reggie Valentine finds himself whisked back to 1956 - not a good year to be black or gay, and certainly not both. There he meets a brown-haired, green-eyed boy next door, Daniel Parker, except Daniel isn’t next door - he and his family are living in the same house Reggie’s family owns in 2022. The boys soon fall for each other, starting a fraught journey together where little is for certain except their love.
“When you let someone into your heart, they haunt your entire world.”
This is my second book by Mr. Bell, and both were rewarding - although this one was especially well done. His writing isn’t that of a literary aesthete, but it’s no less effective for his aims. If his characters seem to be a bit too good to be true - you won’t find their emotions or thoughts divided against themselves, and they tend to be more grounded and mature than most adults I’ve met - he more than makes up for this in smoothly flowing stories that dwell as much or more on life’s positives than its negatives, yet they still have challenges that pack an emotional punch. In the last book I read, Mr. Bell took on the inequity of the justice and juvenile psychiatric systems. In this one, he’s done his historical research to paint a convincing portrait of America’s racist and homophobic past in ways eschew sensationalism for the feel of a deeper narrative truth.
Well done on all counts, and I look forward to reading more by this author. I’ve just ordered the hardback of this book for my personal library.
Out of Time, Into You is exceptional. Author Jay Bell takes the lovers across time trope in new, unexpected directions, delivering a fresh, emotional and thoroughly satisfying story.
Having just graduated from High School, Reggie Valentine finds himself whisked back to 1956 - not a good year to be black or gay, and certainly not both. There he meets a brown-haired, green-eyed boy next door, Daniel Parker, except Daniel isn’t next door - he and his family are living in the same house Reggie’s family owns in 2022. The boys soon fall for each other, starting a fraught journey together where little is for certain except their love.
“When you let someone into your heart, they haunt your entire world.”
This is my second book by Mr. Bell, and both were rewarding - although this one was especially well done. His writing isn’t that of a literary aesthete, but it’s no less effective for his aims. If his characters seem to be a bit too good to be true - you won’t find their emotions or thoughts divided against themselves, and they tend to be more grounded and mature than most adults I’ve met - he more than makes up for this in smoothly flowing stories that dwell as much or more on life’s positives than its negatives, yet they still have challenges that pack an emotional punch. In the last book I read, Mr. Bell took on the inequity of the justice and juvenile psychiatric systems. In this one, he’s done his historical research to paint a convincing portrait of America’s racist and homophobic past in ways eschew sensationalism for the feel of a deeper narrative truth.
Well done on all counts, and I look forward to reading more by this author. I’ve just ordered the hardback of this book for my personal library.
October 21, 2022
Almost perfect, like up until the last two chapters it would be my favourite book of all time. It's so cute, I had to keep putting it down because I just adored Reggie and Daniel so much. I always wanted more of them. I liked the book dwelled into the the struggles black and gay people alike struggle with in the 50's, and how they could overcome it. The dangers they were in, but the joy they found in their private moments. And the superficial stuff like the music references, and the fashion (yes cute guys in tighty whities!!). I was so addicted to their love and just couldn't get enough, I wanted it to go on and on.
Honestly it could've stopped at Chapter 15 and it would've been the perfect book for me. But then the ending... ugh. SPPOILERS BELOW
I have never been so upset a book ending before after being so invested in these two. It almost came out of nowhere, there was no need for Reggie to go back to the past even if he didn't mean to leave Daniel behind. But it was heartbreaking, and I wish I could forget it happened. I wanna write my own ending where they both stay in the 50's, be trailblazers while living in peace and quiet, with it being Reggie's destiny to go back in time in a time loop. There could've been so many better ways to end it, it could've been worse, but didn't need to rip my heart out and crush it forever.
Maybe I'm just romanticizing an era for it's fashion and music, but in my mind, they're still living happily together in the 50's.
Honestly it could've stopped at Chapter 15 and it would've been the perfect book for me. But then the ending... ugh. SPPOILERS BELOW
I have never been so upset a book ending before after being so invested in these two. It almost came out of nowhere, there was no need for Reggie to go back to the past even if he didn't mean to leave Daniel behind. But it was heartbreaking, and I wish I could forget it happened. I wanna write my own ending where they both stay in the 50's, be trailblazers while living in peace and quiet, with it being Reggie's destiny to go back in time in a time loop. There could've been so many better ways to end it, it could've been worse, but didn't need to rip my heart out and crush it forever.
Maybe I'm just romanticizing an era for it's fashion and music, but in my mind, they're still living happily together in the 50's.
August 28, 2024
um…. wow… that ending was shocking. This book was relatively weak for the majority of it imo. Young black man (Reggie) from the present time travels (????) 50years in to the past and ends up hanging out with his grandmother and her closeted white bff (Daniel). the 1st 3rd of the book was a chore to get through. the middle of the book was cute but unassuming. Reggie and Daniel spark a romance and are eachother’s first love :) Here is where the reader gets a history lesson of how america was very racist and homophobic but in a very digestible way, still important history to know. the last 3rd was WILD. they figure out how to get Reggie back to the future and when he gets there Daniel is the same age as his grandmother, he’s had a husband who has since passed, and they SPARK A ROMANCE AGAIN!!! I’m not kidding. an 80yo white man with a 20yo black man. The last scene of the book is Reggie walking Daniel in to a bedroom to “learn his changed but same, beautiful, body” ….. 3 stars for shock value, 2 stars for character/world building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2024
3.5
It is not a HAE story, I bawled my fucking eyes out. Proceed with caution!
Ok, so... I think it's a cute, emotional book and very valuable, especially for a contemporary teenager (+16 at least tho). It contains some important conversations, regarding consent and healthy dynamic in the relationship. We also get to know a bit about Black history, the Little Rock Nine, police brutality, racial and sexual discrimination in the fifties and the struggles of living in the 50s, as a non white cis straight man.
That being said... I'm not sure about the ending (not like 30 last pages, just one aspect - if you read ykwim). Even though I can see how beautiful and touching it may be, I have a moral issue ig. It also felt a bit uncomfortable for me personally.
Bear in mind that there are scenes of police brutality, violence, slurs, homophobia and racism. If you're vulnerable to that I would suggest putting it down, as one chapter is extremely hard to read, even though I'm privileged enough the problem doesn't concern me, as a non-American, white woman.
It is not a HAE story, I bawled my fucking eyes out. Proceed with caution!
Ok, so... I think it's a cute, emotional book and very valuable, especially for a contemporary teenager (+16 at least tho). It contains some important conversations, regarding consent and healthy dynamic in the relationship. We also get to know a bit about Black history, the Little Rock Nine, police brutality, racial and sexual discrimination in the fifties and the struggles of living in the 50s, as a non white cis straight man.
That being said... I'm not sure about the ending (not like 30 last pages, just one aspect - if you read ykwim). Even though I can see how beautiful and touching it may be, I have a moral issue ig. It also felt a bit uncomfortable for me personally.
Bear in mind that there are scenes of police brutality, violence, slurs, homophobia and racism. If you're vulnerable to that I would suggest putting it down, as one chapter is extremely hard to read, even though I'm privileged enough the problem doesn't concern me, as a non-American, white woman.
May 10, 2025
I admire Jay Bell for writing deeply moving stories that resemble real life, with all its ups and downs. Life doesn’t always have a HEA ending. But did you enjoy the journey? For those whiners that criticize Bell’s writing because it doesn’t always have your expected HEA ending, don’t get started on the “Something Like…” series. You’re sure to be disappointed.
November 15, 2021
I loved this book. I was born in England in 1960 when homosexuality was illegal, so I identified with many of the issues the two lovers had to deal with. I have read most of Jay Bell’s “Something Like…” books and several of his other ones, and this is my favorite of all of them!
February 12, 2022
Jay Bell, at his best. This review concerns the audiobook.
Kevin R Free is the narrator and brings his usual skill to make the characters come to life. He also narrated all the Something Like stories also by Jay Bell.
This story blends elements of 'Back to the Future' with an LGBT romance set against the America of the 1950s with its bigotry, prejudices, and homophobia in raw view. But at the same time, it is heartwarming as two young guys find, and attempt to seal their love and dedication to each other.
It will make you laugh and cry.
Kevin R Free is the narrator and brings his usual skill to make the characters come to life. He also narrated all the Something Like stories also by Jay Bell.
This story blends elements of 'Back to the Future' with an LGBT romance set against the America of the 1950s with its bigotry, prejudices, and homophobia in raw view. But at the same time, it is heartwarming as two young guys find, and attempt to seal their love and dedication to each other.
It will make you laugh and cry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews