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Time After Time
Time has an interesting way of showing you what you fear most.
Geneviève St. James
At 20, Geneviève feels like something is missing. Nothing takes her breath away the way she’s heard it should. Her father pushes her toward universities far from Golden Sands, the small European coastal town she’s always called home. But as summer slips by, Geneviève can’t shake the worry that she’s destined to live a life that doesn’t fit, full of regret. The pressure to find her passion is suffocating, and she’s haunted by a nightmare of a future where she’s lost everything that matters: her family, her sister, and most of all, Sebastian. She refuses to let that become her reality.
Sebastian Ventura
Sebastian has always loved baking. At 21, he’s been working tirelessly toward landing an apprenticeship with the pastry chef he admires. It’s his dream, and he’s doing everything he can to make it a reality. But the thought of leaving Golden Sands—and the people who matter most—hits him harder than he expected. He loves this town, the comfort of his family, and most of all, he loves Geneviève. She’s been his best friend, the one constant in his life, and the girl he’s been secretly in love with for years. The idea of leaving her behind isn’t something he’s ready to face, and it’s a reality he’s not sure he can accept.
With summer drawing to a close, Geneviève and Sebastian face an impossible decision: risk their friendship for love or let their dreams take the lead. Because it’s one or the other... right?
Geneviève St. James
At 20, Geneviève feels like something is missing. Nothing takes her breath away the way she’s heard it should. Her father pushes her toward universities far from Golden Sands, the small European coastal town she’s always called home. But as summer slips by, Geneviève can’t shake the worry that she’s destined to live a life that doesn’t fit, full of regret. The pressure to find her passion is suffocating, and she’s haunted by a nightmare of a future where she’s lost everything that matters: her family, her sister, and most of all, Sebastian. She refuses to let that become her reality.
Sebastian Ventura
Sebastian has always loved baking. At 21, he’s been working tirelessly toward landing an apprenticeship with the pastry chef he admires. It’s his dream, and he’s doing everything he can to make it a reality. But the thought of leaving Golden Sands—and the people who matter most—hits him harder than he expected. He loves this town, the comfort of his family, and most of all, he loves Geneviève. She’s been his best friend, the one constant in his life, and the girl he’s been secretly in love with for years. The idea of leaving her behind isn’t something he’s ready to face, and it’s a reality he’s not sure he can accept.
With summer drawing to a close, Geneviève and Sebastian face an impossible decision: risk their friendship for love or let their dreams take the lead. Because it’s one or the other... right?
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2025
10 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Covelheart
1 book8 followersVictoria Covelheart is a Spanish-born author who’s been writing romance since she was 6 (back when her stories featured knights, dragons, and princesses, of course). Now, she focuses on contemporary romance, creating characters who are strong yet vulnerable, and romances that feel as comforting as the warmth of the sun on your skin at sunset. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her studying, working, cuddling her dogs, getting tattooed, listening to music way too loudly, or rewatching Pride and Prejudice (2005) for the billionth time this week. Yes, really—this week.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 24, 2025
What can I say other than: talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before.
But in all seriousness, an amazing debut from an amazing author who put her whole heart into this novel and it shows!
A perfect end of summer read☀️
But in all seriousness, an amazing debut from an amazing author who put her whole heart into this novel and it shows!
A perfect end of summer read☀️
August 26, 2025
✮✮✮✮✮✮✮/5 stars
ARC REVIEW ⋆⭒˚.⋆
This book was more than a story, it was an unraveling of love and time, a weaving of souls bound by fate and persistence. It’s a novel that whispers of second chances and what it truly means to be chosen, again and again, even when the world seems determined to pull two people apart.
I’m going to miss reading this, because finishing it felt like losing a piece of myself I hadn’t realized had already taken root in its pages. I really loved this book, not in the casual sense of enjoying a story, but in the way that it left fingerprints on my heart. It healed me in places I didn’t even know were bruised, uncovering wounds of people-pleasing, of self-doubt, of longing to be seen and loved wholly for who I am. And somehow, in the gentlest and most unexpected ways, it reminded me that healing is possible, even from the hurts you’ve carried silently.
I swear, Mr. Whiskers must have orchestrated this whole story like some sort of magic cat (if you know, you know). Because nothing else explains the slowest slow burn I have ever read in my life. And yet, it wasn’t frustrating, it was transformative. Every page felt like a careful build, a steady unraveling of a bond that had always been there, waiting, lingering, glowing quietly until it couldn’t be ignored anymore. I was literally melting with every chapter. The scenes were crafted with such perfection that I kept sobbing, overwhelmed with emotions I didn’t want to put down. This wasn’t just a book, it was an experience.
Sebastian and Genevieve aren’t just characters. They’re soulmates. They embody the red string theory, tethered across time and space, proving that love isn’t about chance but inevitability. The title itself says it all: time after time. Sebastian will choose her, over and over and over again. That kind of devotion, that kind of constancy, it doesn’t just warm your heart, it reshapes it. And honestly? If my future boyfriend isn’t like Sebastian, then I don’t want him. Sebastian is the greenest of green flags. The way he believes in Genevieve when she can’t even believe in herself, the way he steadies her, reassures her, loves her, he’s the embodiment of the partner we all secretly (or not so secretly) dream of.
But love in this book wasn’t portrayed as easy. It was powerful, unruly, consuming. It’s something that must be shared and released, or else it burns everything in its path. The story tested my patience in the most beautiful way, making me question what love should look like. Because how could they say “we’re just friends” while living in a rhythm that screamed intimacy? The forehead kisses, the way he holds her by the waist, hugs her like she’s the anchor of his world, comforts her daily, tell me that isn’t love.
The time travel element made me ache. Because sometimes you do need that impossible chance to go back, to risk it all by finally saying the words you’ve swallowed for too long. And when Genevieve kept that album of childhood pictures, my heart broke and healed at the same time. It was her quiet way of holding onto him, to them, even when words failed.
I adored the literary threads woven throughout. References to Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice, it was like the author reaching out to all of us who understand that literature is love language too. And when the photobooth scene happened? I nearly screamed, because photobooths are my soft spot. It wasn’t just cute, it was eternal, a tangible fragment of their love preserved in pictures.
Sebastian, once again, showed himself as the man who looks for Genevieve in every crowd, the man who reassures her like it’s his second nature, the man who helps her find her passion and calm the storms inside her. Reading his presence was like being reminded that love doesn’t need to be grandiose, it just needs to be consistent, steady, and real.
And Genevieve, her people-pleasing tendencies, her need for perfection, her hidden doubts, felt like looking into a mirror. I sobbed because I saw myself in her. That desperate ache of wanting to be enough, of thinking love requires perfection, it’s a wound I’ve carried too. But this book reminded me that love isn’t earned by perfection, it’s given in the cracks, the flaws, the moments when you’re most yourself.
There was a moment that brought back my own pain too, my injury, the helplessness, the sadness of being slowed down in a life that demands so much. Somehow, this book touched that part of me and soothed it, as if saying, “you’re not broken, you’re just healing.” It was personal, deeply so, and I wasn’t prepared for how much it would move me.
The lessons stayed with me long after the last page: that sometimes your soulmate is right in front of you all along, that love must be spoken, that time is both enemy and ally, and that healing often comes through being truly seen.
Even the songs woven into the story, Michael Sembello’s “Maniac,” Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” Adele’s “One and Only,” they became part of the narrative, echoes of the emotions pulsing through each scene.
This book felt like it carried its own soundtrack, and the songs mentioned wove themselves into my reading experience in the most haunting way. Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” mirrored the intensity of Genevieve’s inner battles, the way her heart and mind sometimes danced recklessly between fear and desire, like she was running on the edge of something unstoppable. Billy Joel’s “Vienna” whispered the reminder she needed most that she doesn’t have to rush through life, that slowing down and choosing love is not weakness but strength. Taylor Swift’s “Style” slipped in like an echo of Sebastian and Genevieve’s timeless pull toward each other, a love that feels inevitable, magnetic, impossible to shake no matter how much time tries to pull them apart. And then Adele’s “One and Only” captured the very core of Sebastian’s devotion, his plea wrapped in patience and certainty, as if every word he breathed to her carried the same promise: choose me, I’ll choose you, over and over, one and only. These songs didn’t just appear in the story, they became part of it, amplifying the ache and the healing, until it felt like I wasn’t just reading their love—I was listening to it too.
This book isn’t just for romance readers. It’s for the overthinkers, for those terrified of losing people, for those who carry the weight of being left behind, and for those who need to be reminded that healing is possible. It’s for anyone who needs to know that love, real, patient, enduring love, exists.
I would rate this book seven stars, even though that’s outside my system. It deserves a million, honestly. Because I wasn’t just reading, I was sobbing, healing, and falling apart in the best ways possible. Every hour, every minute, this book had me, and I’ll never forget it.
Tropes :
୨ৎsecond chance at life
୨ৎ the slowest burn you'll ever experience
୨ৎsmall town romance
୨ৎchildhood besties to idiots w/benefits to lovers
ARC REVIEW ⋆⭒˚.⋆
This book was more than a story, it was an unraveling of love and time, a weaving of souls bound by fate and persistence. It’s a novel that whispers of second chances and what it truly means to be chosen, again and again, even when the world seems determined to pull two people apart.
I’m going to miss reading this, because finishing it felt like losing a piece of myself I hadn’t realized had already taken root in its pages. I really loved this book, not in the casual sense of enjoying a story, but in the way that it left fingerprints on my heart. It healed me in places I didn’t even know were bruised, uncovering wounds of people-pleasing, of self-doubt, of longing to be seen and loved wholly for who I am. And somehow, in the gentlest and most unexpected ways, it reminded me that healing is possible, even from the hurts you’ve carried silently.
I swear, Mr. Whiskers must have orchestrated this whole story like some sort of magic cat (if you know, you know). Because nothing else explains the slowest slow burn I have ever read in my life. And yet, it wasn’t frustrating, it was transformative. Every page felt like a careful build, a steady unraveling of a bond that had always been there, waiting, lingering, glowing quietly until it couldn’t be ignored anymore. I was literally melting with every chapter. The scenes were crafted with such perfection that I kept sobbing, overwhelmed with emotions I didn’t want to put down. This wasn’t just a book, it was an experience.
Sebastian and Genevieve aren’t just characters. They’re soulmates. They embody the red string theory, tethered across time and space, proving that love isn’t about chance but inevitability. The title itself says it all: time after time. Sebastian will choose her, over and over and over again. That kind of devotion, that kind of constancy, it doesn’t just warm your heart, it reshapes it. And honestly? If my future boyfriend isn’t like Sebastian, then I don’t want him. Sebastian is the greenest of green flags. The way he believes in Genevieve when she can’t even believe in herself, the way he steadies her, reassures her, loves her, he’s the embodiment of the partner we all secretly (or not so secretly) dream of.
But love in this book wasn’t portrayed as easy. It was powerful, unruly, consuming. It’s something that must be shared and released, or else it burns everything in its path. The story tested my patience in the most beautiful way, making me question what love should look like. Because how could they say “we’re just friends” while living in a rhythm that screamed intimacy? The forehead kisses, the way he holds her by the waist, hugs her like she’s the anchor of his world, comforts her daily, tell me that isn’t love.
The time travel element made me ache. Because sometimes you do need that impossible chance to go back, to risk it all by finally saying the words you’ve swallowed for too long. And when Genevieve kept that album of childhood pictures, my heart broke and healed at the same time. It was her quiet way of holding onto him, to them, even when words failed.
I adored the literary threads woven throughout. References to Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice, it was like the author reaching out to all of us who understand that literature is love language too. And when the photobooth scene happened? I nearly screamed, because photobooths are my soft spot. It wasn’t just cute, it was eternal, a tangible fragment of their love preserved in pictures.
Sebastian, once again, showed himself as the man who looks for Genevieve in every crowd, the man who reassures her like it’s his second nature, the man who helps her find her passion and calm the storms inside her. Reading his presence was like being reminded that love doesn’t need to be grandiose, it just needs to be consistent, steady, and real.
And Genevieve, her people-pleasing tendencies, her need for perfection, her hidden doubts, felt like looking into a mirror. I sobbed because I saw myself in her. That desperate ache of wanting to be enough, of thinking love requires perfection, it’s a wound I’ve carried too. But this book reminded me that love isn’t earned by perfection, it’s given in the cracks, the flaws, the moments when you’re most yourself.
There was a moment that brought back my own pain too, my injury, the helplessness, the sadness of being slowed down in a life that demands so much. Somehow, this book touched that part of me and soothed it, as if saying, “you’re not broken, you’re just healing.” It was personal, deeply so, and I wasn’t prepared for how much it would move me.
The lessons stayed with me long after the last page: that sometimes your soulmate is right in front of you all along, that love must be spoken, that time is both enemy and ally, and that healing often comes through being truly seen.
Even the songs woven into the story, Michael Sembello’s “Maniac,” Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” Adele’s “One and Only,” they became part of the narrative, echoes of the emotions pulsing through each scene.
This book felt like it carried its own soundtrack, and the songs mentioned wove themselves into my reading experience in the most haunting way. Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” mirrored the intensity of Genevieve’s inner battles, the way her heart and mind sometimes danced recklessly between fear and desire, like she was running on the edge of something unstoppable. Billy Joel’s “Vienna” whispered the reminder she needed most that she doesn’t have to rush through life, that slowing down and choosing love is not weakness but strength. Taylor Swift’s “Style” slipped in like an echo of Sebastian and Genevieve’s timeless pull toward each other, a love that feels inevitable, magnetic, impossible to shake no matter how much time tries to pull them apart. And then Adele’s “One and Only” captured the very core of Sebastian’s devotion, his plea wrapped in patience and certainty, as if every word he breathed to her carried the same promise: choose me, I’ll choose you, over and over, one and only. These songs didn’t just appear in the story, they became part of it, amplifying the ache and the healing, until it felt like I wasn’t just reading their love—I was listening to it too.
This book isn’t just for romance readers. It’s for the overthinkers, for those terrified of losing people, for those who carry the weight of being left behind, and for those who need to be reminded that healing is possible. It’s for anyone who needs to know that love, real, patient, enduring love, exists.
I would rate this book seven stars, even though that’s outside my system. It deserves a million, honestly. Because I wasn’t just reading, I was sobbing, healing, and falling apart in the best ways possible. Every hour, every minute, this book had me, and I’ll never forget it.
Tropes :
୨ৎsecond chance at life
୨ৎ the slowest burn you'll ever experience
୨ৎsmall town romance
୨ৎchildhood besties to idiots w/benefits to lovers
August 31, 2025
⭐ 4.5
Y pensar que yo estuve desde el primer momento en el que este libro se empezó a escribir, Victoria tiene una manera de escribir que llega a lo profundo, pocos autores han echo eso por mi y saber que una querida amiga lo hizo lo hace aun mejor. La historia se sintió como un abrazo al corazón, me hizo llorar pero me hizo enamorarme. Cada personaje, cada escena, se siente bien cuidado. No puedo esperar a ver que sigue en este camino y me alegra saber que estaré igual en el.
---
And to think that I was there from the very beginning when this book was first written. Victoria has a way of writing that touches you deeply and few authors have done that for me, and knowing that a dear friend did it makes it even better. The story felt like a hug to the heart. It made me cry, but it made me fall in love. Every character, every scene, feels well crafted. I can't wait to see what comes next on this journey, and I'm glad to know that I'll be right there with her.
📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
Y pensar que yo estuve desde el primer momento en el que este libro se empezó a escribir, Victoria tiene una manera de escribir que llega a lo profundo, pocos autores han echo eso por mi y saber que una querida amiga lo hizo lo hace aun mejor. La historia se sintió como un abrazo al corazón, me hizo llorar pero me hizo enamorarme. Cada personaje, cada escena, se siente bien cuidado. No puedo esperar a ver que sigue en este camino y me alegra saber que estaré igual en el.
---
And to think that I was there from the very beginning when this book was first written. Victoria has a way of writing that touches you deeply and few authors have done that for me, and knowing that a dear friend did it makes it even better. The story felt like a hug to the heart. It made me cry, but it made me fall in love. Every character, every scene, feels well crafted. I can't wait to see what comes next on this journey, and I'm glad to know that I'll be right there with her.
📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
September 1, 2025
thank to the author for the ARC.
this read was absolutely one of the loveliest i've read this year, and probably of all time too. it became very quickly one of my favourite read, and the author will be probably be an auto buy author.
gen and seb are so sweet together, and i love their chemistry, and their behaviour together.
the chemistry? i ate that. the angst? i ate that too.
the ending was everything i didn't know i needed.
this read was absolutely one of the loveliest i've read this year, and probably of all time too. it became very quickly one of my favourite read, and the author will be probably be an auto buy author.
gen and seb are so sweet together, and i love their chemistry, and their behaviour together.
the chemistry? i ate that. the angst? i ate that too.
the ending was everything i didn't know i needed.
September 4, 2025
Time is officially on our sides, because Time After Time is here! I am so incredibly proud of my sweet friend for writing this smash of a debut novel.
👙 Slow Burn
🐚 Small Town
🍰 He Falls First
🐈⬛ Coming of Age
🕰️ Second Chance at Life
🌊 Mental Health Rep
🐷 Childhood Friends to Idiots w/Benefits to Lovers
This was the absolute perfect read to end the summer with! A warm and cozy summer romance between childhood friends that will warm you up from the inside out. I was absolutely hooked from the first line.
Sebastian and Geneviève were the absolute cutest! They are truly as close as two best friends can be, and I loved watching them both yearn and pine after the other throughout this. Although I will say Sebastian's level of yearning was on a whole other level!! There is truly nothing that he wouldn't do for Gen, and he proves it time and time again. Ugh what a lovely boy, I could talk about him for hours.
But I must talk about our heroine Geneviève! Gen is on a journey of self-discovery and feels lost trying to find her purpose in life. With Sebastian's help she goes on this quest of sorts trying to figure out what her calling is by the end of summer (which OOF talk about pressure 🫣). I feel like a lot of people would relate to this, this struggle to really figure out where you fit and what lights your fire. Her vulnerability and fear when it came to this task, certainly was relatable. Even as a much older woman than Gen who just stared her 20's, I could relate to every bit of it. Watching her slowly figure out her purpose was inspiring.
I found Victoria's writing in this to be impeccable. Every detail was described so vividly I truly felt like I could feel the sand between my toes, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, and smell one of Sebastian's delicious baked goods. Every aspect was so well thought out, and the little callbacks to previous lines later on in the story were so smart. And oh man were their twist and turns and emotional moments that shocked me from what I presumed to be such a light and fluffy book. You will laugh, cry, and quite frankly scream “WHY?!”, on a number of occasions... but honestly that's half the fun isn't it? 😏
Yes this is Seb and Gen's story, but the side characters were just as vivid with storylines that pulled at your heart strings just as much. The whole community became such a vital part of the story, and I truly fell in love with all of them. Maybe none as much as my beloved pig Cooper 🐷... but I am nothing if not a sucker for a quirky animal 🤭
Lastly, I must scream about the love confession at the end!! Omg I love a passionate speech and one character in particular took us on a rollercoaster ride that left me in a puddle. My god it was good 😭. It made me feel like I was watching the end of a really good romcom, and I was clutching my heart like a mad woman. PERFECT!
Overall, I clearly had a good time with this one. I have been waiting for this for what feels like forever, and this certainly did not disappoint. I cannot wait to see what's in store for Victoria next. I know without a doubt I will be first in line waiting.
P.S. LONG LIVE COOPER 🐷
** Thank you Victoria for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
👙 Slow Burn
🐚 Small Town
🍰 He Falls First
🐈⬛ Coming of Age
🕰️ Second Chance at Life
🌊 Mental Health Rep
🐷 Childhood Friends to Idiots w/Benefits to Lovers
This was the absolute perfect read to end the summer with! A warm and cozy summer romance between childhood friends that will warm you up from the inside out. I was absolutely hooked from the first line.
Sebastian and Geneviève were the absolute cutest! They are truly as close as two best friends can be, and I loved watching them both yearn and pine after the other throughout this. Although I will say Sebastian's level of yearning was on a whole other level!! There is truly nothing that he wouldn't do for Gen, and he proves it time and time again. Ugh what a lovely boy, I could talk about him for hours.
But I must talk about our heroine Geneviève! Gen is on a journey of self-discovery and feels lost trying to find her purpose in life. With Sebastian's help she goes on this quest of sorts trying to figure out what her calling is by the end of summer (which OOF talk about pressure 🫣). I feel like a lot of people would relate to this, this struggle to really figure out where you fit and what lights your fire. Her vulnerability and fear when it came to this task, certainly was relatable. Even as a much older woman than Gen who just stared her 20's, I could relate to every bit of it. Watching her slowly figure out her purpose was inspiring.
I found Victoria's writing in this to be impeccable. Every detail was described so vividly I truly felt like I could feel the sand between my toes, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, and smell one of Sebastian's delicious baked goods. Every aspect was so well thought out, and the little callbacks to previous lines later on in the story were so smart. And oh man were their twist and turns and emotional moments that shocked me from what I presumed to be such a light and fluffy book. You will laugh, cry, and quite frankly scream “WHY?!”, on a number of occasions... but honestly that's half the fun isn't it? 😏
Yes this is Seb and Gen's story, but the side characters were just as vivid with storylines that pulled at your heart strings just as much. The whole community became such a vital part of the story, and I truly fell in love with all of them. Maybe none as much as my beloved pig Cooper 🐷... but I am nothing if not a sucker for a quirky animal 🤭
Lastly, I must scream about the love confession at the end!! Omg I love a passionate speech and one character in particular took us on a rollercoaster ride that left me in a puddle. My god it was good 😭. It made me feel like I was watching the end of a really good romcom, and I was clutching my heart like a mad woman. PERFECT!
Overall, I clearly had a good time with this one. I have been waiting for this for what feels like forever, and this certainly did not disappoint. I cannot wait to see what's in store for Victoria next. I know without a doubt I will be first in line waiting.
P.S. LONG LIVE COOPER 🐷
** Thank you Victoria for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
September 12, 2025
"At that moment in time, l was certain that all the choices I had made were the right ones."
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity! I was immediately drawn in after the first chapter. Who casually drops a twist like that?! Time After Time is a slow burn, friends to lovers story of Genevieve(FMC) and Sebastian(MMC). They are both trying to get as much as they can out of their last summer before adulthood. Sebastian has applied for a culinary internship in the US, while Genevieve feels pressured by her father to purse a career she has no interest in. Together they embark on taking odd jobs during the summer in hopes of finding Gen a career path she'll enjoy. Throughout the story, it feels like time is constantly working against our MCs. I really enjoyed the coming of age element and how supportive they were towards pursing their passions. I loved how they overcame their struggle to accept their love for one another. The growth they experienced from allowing themselves to be vulnerable really shined towards the end.
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity! I was immediately drawn in after the first chapter. Who casually drops a twist like that?! Time After Time is a slow burn, friends to lovers story of Genevieve(FMC) and Sebastian(MMC). They are both trying to get as much as they can out of their last summer before adulthood. Sebastian has applied for a culinary internship in the US, while Genevieve feels pressured by her father to purse a career she has no interest in. Together they embark on taking odd jobs during the summer in hopes of finding Gen a career path she'll enjoy. Throughout the story, it feels like time is constantly working against our MCs. I really enjoyed the coming of age element and how supportive they were towards pursing their passions. I loved how they overcame their struggle to accept their love for one another. The growth they experienced from allowing themselves to be vulnerable really shined towards the end.
September 2, 2025
"It's thrilling and terrifying all at once, making me want to scream into the endless sky, just to release everything I'm holding inside. But I don't even know what I'm holding."
This is an excellent debut and I am honored to be a part of it in any shape or form. First of all, I found the writing to be absolutely wonderful. From the prose and language to the development of characters who were all treated with the utmost care. The side characters and I especially mean the families St. James and Ventura were depicted in a manner that you can see them as real people in the real world. They were written with so much love and love their family so much that every interaction in either of the families immediately warms the heart. I loved the coming of age journey of both Gen and Seb and I think they are both such kind, precious souls and the moments of them discovering their attraction and acting on it, being afraid of losing one another were some of my favorite parts. I have to admit that I am VERY excited about Sylvie, Gen's sister, and her book because she is amazing!
This is an excellent debut and I am honored to be a part of it in any shape or form. First of all, I found the writing to be absolutely wonderful. From the prose and language to the development of characters who were all treated with the utmost care. The side characters and I especially mean the families St. James and Ventura were depicted in a manner that you can see them as real people in the real world. They were written with so much love and love their family so much that every interaction in either of the families immediately warms the heart. I loved the coming of age journey of both Gen and Seb and I think they are both such kind, precious souls and the moments of them discovering their attraction and acting on it, being afraid of losing one another were some of my favorite parts. I have to admit that I am VERY excited about Sylvie, Gen's sister, and her book because she is amazing!
August 22, 2025
Oh this is such a sweet and cozy read! I felt so good while i read this!
Even tho i cryed while i read this still is so sweet!
Cooper the pig, how i lauhged! He is such a fun little trouble maker!
Genevie and sebastian, i love you guys! You are the sweetest ever!
Everything about this book is so sweet and i loved this! And yes, there is spice too, a little bonus for me!
I don’t know what to say about this! This is such a sweet sweet story! This really made me feel better and forget about my own life. I really needed this story at this moment.
Victoria, thank you so so so much for this book and these characters!
September 2, 2025
Oh man… this book!!! From the very beginning I knew this book was going to be a five star read. When i first read it as an alpha reader for Victoria, I could already tell that it was going to be a truly special book. Time After Time isn’t just another romance book, it’s a beautiful and unique story that’s unlike anything i’ve ever read before.
The world and the characters are so clearly written that I found myself longing to step right into Golden Sands and be apart of their lives on more than one occasion. Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a warm hug, comforting and impossible to let go of. I was completely entranced while reading it, when i reached the ending I felt genuinely sad because i didn’t want it to end.
This is a book for anyone who loves longing, slow burns, and soulmates. I can’t wait to read the next book!!!
The world and the characters are so clearly written that I found myself longing to step right into Golden Sands and be apart of their lives on more than one occasion. Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a warm hug, comforting and impossible to let go of. I was completely entranced while reading it, when i reached the ending I felt genuinely sad because i didn’t want it to end.
This is a book for anyone who loves longing, slow burns, and soulmates. I can’t wait to read the next book!!!
September 5, 2025
I would like to start this review by thanking Victoria Covelheart for the ARC of Time after Time.
This book has quickly become one of the best reads I've experienced this month. Time after time follows Geneviéve and Sebastian.
Geneviéve and Sebastian are absolutely great together, and I adore their chemistry and interactions. The chemistry? I was all in! The angst? I savored every bit of it. The ending was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Rating :5 stars, would highly recommend.
This book has quickly become one of the best reads I've experienced this month. Time after time follows Geneviéve and Sebastian.
Geneviéve and Sebastian are absolutely great together, and I adore their chemistry and interactions. The chemistry? I was all in! The angst? I savored every bit of it. The ending was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Rating :5 stars, would highly recommend.
August 30, 2025
Seb and Wheels completely stole my heart! Their story was such a sweet blend of friendship, banter, and the slow-burn magic of realizing you’ve been falling for your best friend all along. I laughed, I swooned, and I found myself grinning at so many of their moments together.
Victoria Covelheart captured that perfect “friends-to-more” spark—the little inside jokes, the teasing, the unspoken feelings just waiting to surface. Watching their relationship grow was equal parts heartwarming and exciting, like watching two puzzle pieces finally click into place.
Time After Time is charming, feel-good, and impossible not to adore.
Victoria Covelheart captured that perfect “friends-to-more” spark—the little inside jokes, the teasing, the unspoken feelings just waiting to surface. Watching their relationship grow was equal parts heartwarming and exciting, like watching two puzzle pieces finally click into place.
Time After Time is charming, feel-good, and impossible not to adore.
September 13, 2025
4.5
“I understood the fear of unrequited love. Imagine spending years longing for someone who might not feel the same. The idea of that kind of pain is unbearable.”
“I had once been terrified of time, yet it was time itself that had woven our lives together.”
After what it felt like an eternity of waiting, Time after Time is here!
Read if you like:
- Slow Burn
- Small Town
- Coming of Age
- Childhood Friends to Idiots w/Benefits to Lovers
Time after Time is quite literally a cozy summer romance between two friends that you want to root for not only as a couple but as individuals. Yes, romance is a huge part of this book, falling in love for the first time is scary, falling in love with your best friend even more (there’s a lot to lose if things go wrong), but at its core, I think the coming-of-age aspect of the book it’s what makes it truly special. There is beauty in seeing characters finding themselves, their purpose and having WONDERFUL people surrounding them to guide them through everything (Robert, you are my MVP).
The way Victoria’s writing could capture the vulnerability of Gen and Seb, their fears and struggles was very endearing. It is VERY much present how much she cares for both. She does a great job of describing the surroundings, to a point where you can easily close your eyes and picture yourself there.
I do want to say that Without giving much away, there’s a little (or at least that is how I saw it) twist towards the end, that had me grinning from ear to ear, a little call back to the first chapter of the book!! That was a great touch to end the story.
I can't wait to see what else Victoria comes out with in the future, and I will be cheering her on as she grows.
** Thank you Victoria for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review
“I understood the fear of unrequited love. Imagine spending years longing for someone who might not feel the same. The idea of that kind of pain is unbearable.”
“I had once been terrified of time, yet it was time itself that had woven our lives together.”
After what it felt like an eternity of waiting, Time after Time is here!
Read if you like:
- Slow Burn
- Small Town
- Coming of Age
- Childhood Friends to Idiots w/Benefits to Lovers
Time after Time is quite literally a cozy summer romance between two friends that you want to root for not only as a couple but as individuals. Yes, romance is a huge part of this book, falling in love for the first time is scary, falling in love with your best friend even more (there’s a lot to lose if things go wrong), but at its core, I think the coming-of-age aspect of the book it’s what makes it truly special. There is beauty in seeing characters finding themselves, their purpose and having WONDERFUL people surrounding them to guide them through everything (Robert, you are my MVP).
The way Victoria’s writing could capture the vulnerability of Gen and Seb, their fears and struggles was very endearing. It is VERY much present how much she cares for both. She does a great job of describing the surroundings, to a point where you can easily close your eyes and picture yourself there.
I do want to say that Without giving much away, there’s a little (or at least that is how I saw it) twist towards the end, that had me grinning from ear to ear, a little call back to the first chapter of the book!! That was a great touch to end the story.
I can't wait to see what else Victoria comes out with in the future, and I will be cheering her on as she grows.
** Thank you Victoria for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review
September 7, 2025
ARC reader
(no spoilers)
Since reading the first lines I already knew I'd be hooked on this story right away; after all, what's better than a friends-to-lovers trope? There is nothing better than two best friends who have known each other for a very long time slowly falling in love… Or maybe realize that they have loved each other all along.
First of all, I have to say that Sebastian is probably the best of friends and even though it's obvious from miles away (since page 1) that he's completely in love with Genevieve, at the beginning he's capable of being just a good friend and wait for Genevieve to understand her feelings when the moment is right. He is able to just be there for her and help her realize what is her passion in life without pushing her too much. Who doesn’t love someone like that? Someone who is ready to be whoever Genevieve needs at that moment?
Genevieve is instead an inspiring main character because I think it represents how everyone feels at certain points in their lives: confused, lost, and alone. She tries in every way to please her family and choose what her father thinks is best for her. The only person who doesn't judge her, and never has, is Sebastian. I loved Genevieve's journey as she discovered herself and discovered, or rather realized, her love for her best friend.
Finally, I would like to thank the author for entrusting me with the advance reading of her novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a simple love story between two best friends that can make you feel emotional and think at the same time.
(no spoilers)
Since reading the first lines I already knew I'd be hooked on this story right away; after all, what's better than a friends-to-lovers trope? There is nothing better than two best friends who have known each other for a very long time slowly falling in love… Or maybe realize that they have loved each other all along.
First of all, I have to say that Sebastian is probably the best of friends and even though it's obvious from miles away (since page 1) that he's completely in love with Genevieve, at the beginning he's capable of being just a good friend and wait for Genevieve to understand her feelings when the moment is right. He is able to just be there for her and help her realize what is her passion in life without pushing her too much. Who doesn’t love someone like that? Someone who is ready to be whoever Genevieve needs at that moment?
Genevieve is instead an inspiring main character because I think it represents how everyone feels at certain points in their lives: confused, lost, and alone. She tries in every way to please her family and choose what her father thinks is best for her. The only person who doesn't judge her, and never has, is Sebastian. I loved Genevieve's journey as she discovered herself and discovered, or rather realized, her love for her best friend.
Finally, I would like to thank the author for entrusting me with the advance reading of her novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a simple love story between two best friends that can make you feel emotional and think at the same time.
September 6, 2025
This was my first time reading Victoria Covelheart. Time After Time is Golden Sands Book 1, an interconnected standalone. It’s mostly set in a small, vaguely European town.
Characters:
Geneviéve St. James
Sebastian Ventura
What would you do if you could go back in time and make a different choice? Time After Time is time traveling x Jane Austen’s Persuasion. The burn is slowwww. So much “will they?” It was so good once they got together, and of course there are the moments that make you wonder if it’s all going to come off in the end.
What to Expect:
🕰️ Dual POV
🕰️ Coming of age
🕰️ Small town
🕰️ He falls first
🕰️ Only one bed
🕰️ Mental health rep
🕰️ Slow burn
🕰️ Childhood friends to lovers
🕰️ Extended epilogue
Spice
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Edit: The author provided an extra chapter post ARC and it changed the story for me, erasing issues I had with the plot. This should be in the original book and increased my rating.
Thank you Victoria Covelheart for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!
Characters:
Geneviéve St. James
Sebastian Ventura
What would you do if you could go back in time and make a different choice? Time After Time is time traveling x Jane Austen’s Persuasion. The burn is slowwww. So much “will they?” It was so good once they got together, and of course there are the moments that make you wonder if it’s all going to come off in the end.
What to Expect:
🕰️ Dual POV
🕰️ Coming of age
🕰️ Small town
🕰️ He falls first
🕰️ Only one bed
🕰️ Mental health rep
🕰️ Slow burn
🕰️ Childhood friends to lovers
🕰️ Extended epilogue
Spice
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Edit: The author provided an extra chapter post ARC and it changed the story for me, erasing issues I had with the plot. This should be in the original book and increased my rating.
Thank you Victoria Covelheart for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!
August 30, 2025
ARC REVIEW!
This second chance romance was so sweet and cozy. I really love when MCs have the possibility to rebuild their relationship: it shows how deeply they care for each other, despite some hard feelings and tough times. Sebastian and Genevieve are soulmates, they are meant to be despite everything they have to face. The whole reading felt so consuming, powerful and heartwarming. The use of time travel trope was the right tool to describe perfectly how sometimes time is what you really need to make things better or even change them!
If you want a good, intense story, read this book!
This second chance romance was so sweet and cozy. I really love when MCs have the possibility to rebuild their relationship: it shows how deeply they care for each other, despite some hard feelings and tough times. Sebastian and Genevieve are soulmates, they are meant to be despite everything they have to face. The whole reading felt so consuming, powerful and heartwarming. The use of time travel trope was the right tool to describe perfectly how sometimes time is what you really need to make things better or even change them!
If you want a good, intense story, read this book!
September 4, 2025
4.5 stars
Not only was this book well written, the characters were also too.
When i signed up for this ARC, i ijust wanted a romance story , not knowing i would get something a whole lot more in return.
Genevieve is relatable, considering we are the same age. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, they weren't an afterthought in this book. They also were a part in making this book shine.
i honestly couldn't believe this is just her debut novel.
If you love small town romance, a MMC who bakes, and fleshed out characters, this is for you
Not only was this book well written, the characters were also too.
When i signed up for this ARC, i ijust wanted a romance story , not knowing i would get something a whole lot more in return.
Genevieve is relatable, considering we are the same age. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, they weren't an afterthought in this book. They also were a part in making this book shine.
i honestly couldn't believe this is just her debut novel.
If you love small town romance, a MMC who bakes, and fleshed out characters, this is for you
October 30, 2025
ARC Review of Time after Time by @victoriacovelheart
Im a bit behind in posting my reviews so unfortunately the book isn't a fresh in mind as it could be but I really enjoyed Seb and Gen's story, getting to watch their feelings grow over a summer. I love seeing Gen figured out what her calling was, and Sebastian being her biggest cheerleader the whole way!
This was such a sweet summer read 💚
Im a bit behind in posting my reviews so unfortunately the book isn't a fresh in mind as it could be but I really enjoyed Seb and Gen's story, getting to watch their feelings grow over a summer. I love seeing Gen figured out what her calling was, and Sebastian being her biggest cheerleader the whole way!
This was such a sweet summer read 💚
September 8, 2025
If you’ve followed me for a while, you might know that I LIVE for friends-to-lovers. The yearning, the slow burn, the inner turmoil, and the startling discovery that this person who you knew for what feels like your whole life is also someone who makes your heart and body sing. And then a simple hand on your waist becomes the hottest thing you’ve ever experienced.
This is what I felt while reading this book. Seb and Gen are so tender together: he literally cannot take his eyes off her, and she is so freaking oblivious. It’s a slow burn, but when it burns, it’s hot and bright and beautiful.
I could strongly relate to Gen’s struggles with finding her path. As someone who worked her whole life but found her passion only at 34, I know this feeling well.
This story will make you feel like a warm embrace of summer. It’s a perfect read for the fall months when we want to feel cozy but also crave a little sun.
If you’re a fan of friends-to-lovers, coming of age stories, delicious slow burn and baked goods—this book is for you!
This is what I felt while reading this book. Seb and Gen are so tender together: he literally cannot take his eyes off her, and she is so freaking oblivious. It’s a slow burn, but when it burns, it’s hot and bright and beautiful.
I could strongly relate to Gen’s struggles with finding her path. As someone who worked her whole life but found her passion only at 34, I know this feeling well.
This story will make you feel like a warm embrace of summer. It’s a perfect read for the fall months when we want to feel cozy but also crave a little sun.
If you’re a fan of friends-to-lovers, coming of age stories, delicious slow burn and baked goods—this book is for you!
September 6, 2025
This book was very much a slow rolling, slow burn and it was good!
August 25, 2025
Okay minor points out of the way first:
- I was totally confused with that jump in time and kept thinking it would be a Groundhog Day scenario.
- The epilogue was maybe a tad too long.
- I didn't really understand the geography of this book. Is it England? Where is Golden sands?
- I do not act like Seb and Gen with my best friends, but then again, I'm not in love with my best friends so that might explain it :-)
But OTHER THAN THAT , You will LOVE Seb and Gen.
Though friends to lovers isn't always my go-to trope (enemies-to-lovers through and through) ; this was just so well done. The absolute ease of the MMC and FMC with each other, the inevitability of them together, the pain and fear of falling for someone who has the power to seriously hurt you.
THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS - STOP READING IF YOU DON't LIKE SPOILERS!!
I also just loved how it's not always about *leaving* your dream, or leaving for a big city or coming back to your hometown with failed hopes.
This one was about both persons finding their passions through the mutual support and respect, it was about being able to leave to the big city, because you know your love is strong enough to bridge that gap.
and just how special is that?
- I was totally confused with that jump in time and kept thinking it would be a Groundhog Day scenario.
- The epilogue was maybe a tad too long.
- I didn't really understand the geography of this book. Is it England? Where is Golden sands?
- I do not act like Seb and Gen with my best friends, but then again, I'm not in love with my best friends so that might explain it :-)
But OTHER THAN THAT , You will LOVE Seb and Gen.
Though friends to lovers isn't always my go-to trope (enemies-to-lovers through and through) ; this was just so well done. The absolute ease of the MMC and FMC with each other, the inevitability of them together, the pain and fear of falling for someone who has the power to seriously hurt you.
THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS - STOP READING IF YOU DON't LIKE SPOILERS!!
I also just loved how it's not always about *leaving* your dream, or leaving for a big city or coming back to your hometown with failed hopes.
This one was about both persons finding their passions through the mutual support and respect, it was about being able to leave to the big city, because you know your love is strong enough to bridge that gap.
and just how special is that?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book. It gives me iconic 90s/2000s rom-com vibes, and it's everything I have been craving in contemporary romance for a while. The characters yearn, genuinely care for one another, AND have their own arcs. They both have personal issues to resolve that are not centered around the relationship. They are their own people, and their feelings/attraction do not spur irrationally out of thin air all of a sudden. They feel like real people, with a real relationship, and that's what I loved.
The spice was also on point, as well as the comedy. Moreover, the setting and secondary characters make it a very cozy read.
I cannot wait for the next book!
The spice was also on point, as well as the comedy. Moreover, the setting and secondary characters make it a very cozy read.
I cannot wait for the next book!
September 11, 2025
I am so honoured to have read my friend's debut and to also be an arc reader. I fell in love with this gorgeous book, the way Seb and Gen had such a good friendship but ultimately are in love. Victoria has an incredibly vivid and beautiful way of writing, she had me hooked within the first chapter. I also loved the relationship between Gen and her sister Sylvie, it reminds me of my own with my sisters. The side characters were brilliant and helped to shape the story. I am so proud of her and I can't wait to see what she achieves in the future. I am eager to read the next book for sure.
September 6, 2025
ARC review 🫠
I unfortunately did not enjoy this as much as I did, however, it was a fun read!
The beginning was quite slow paced and I thought the ending was a bit rushed considering the rest of the story🫣
As usual, for me, the best character was the pet cat 🙂↕️
2.75 ⭐
I unfortunately did not enjoy this as much as I did, however, it was a fun read!
The beginning was quite slow paced and I thought the ending was a bit rushed considering the rest of the story🫣
As usual, for me, the best character was the pet cat 🙂↕️
2.75 ⭐
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