In this fresh and entrancing debut novel that is perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Ministry of Time, a jaded immortal woman and a time traveler fall in love across the centuries, learning what it means to really live and love before their time together runs out.
1605, London. Beatrix lives a solitary life in the shadows, wandering the city streets looking for ways to forget. Forget that everyone she has ever loved has been dead for nearly a century. Forget that, for her, love can only ever mean loss. Because Beatrix has a secret: a lifetime ago her deathbed wish was granted, making her immortal.
Until one day, while picking pockets amid the raucous crowds of Shakespeare's Globe, she meets Oliver. They spend a single, perfect day together before he tells her that he has to leave. She’s not surprised; eternity is a lonely place.
When Beatrix and Oliver meet again by chance a century later, recognition hits her like a bolt of lightning. It’s impossible. He’s impossible. Just like her. A chance for Beatrix to truly live – and love – again sparks into existence.
Woven between the biggest events in history and the quiet moments lost to it, from London in 1605 to Woodstock in 1969 and beyond, All We Have Is Time is an unforgettable love story for anyone who believes love can rewrite the rules of time.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ In the year 1605 in England, Beatrix roams the streets of London, alone, hungry, and cursed with the fact that everyone she has ever loved has been dead for nearly a century, and she is still a twenty-three-year-old woman because of a wish she made on her deathbed, and now she is immortal. But one day, as she was picking pockets at The Globe Theatre, she ran into Oliver, a young and handsome man with an odd accent, and together they spent a perfect day until he told her that he had to go. But a century later, Beatrix and Oliver meet again by chance, prompting her to wonder if life is giving her a second chance to truly love and live again as they weave their way through monumental events in history together, after centuries of devastation and loss.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Past Lives by sapientdream, Slushii 0:50 ───ㅇ───── 2:33
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ Oh my gosh, I was a sobbing mess after I finished this book! 😭 My heart was literally breaking, and it took me a good hour or two to recover from that ending because WHAT??!! Excuse me??? I don’t know if I’m happy or not; all I know is that my heart is still broken. 💔
I started reading this book a few weeks ago (I think), and I was kinda bored. The chapters jumping from year to year were hard to keep track of, and it confused me from time to time. But once Oliver entered the scene, the story became much more interesting. And there lies the main problem I have with this book.
The fact that Beatrix is immortal should be interesting in and of itself, without the need of a love interest to make things a little more exciting and dramatic. But Beatrix was a boring character without Oliver, and Oliver was barely an interesting enough character for me to care about. In fact, I cared more about him than I ever did about Beatrix. She frustrated me so much. I get that being immortal and lonely is horrible to live with, I really do, but you choose to be lonely. You can still make friends, create memories, and travel the world, and still be happy, even though you will outlive everyone. Her constant “I want to live, but I also don’t want to” was frustrating. If you don’t want to live like this, then don’t. You have options, so why doesn’t she choose the other one? Oh, it’s because she’s stubborn. Riiight. Look, where that’s gotten you. You either live with your choices, change your ways, or just give in. I know it sounds horrible, but she just made her situation so much more complicated and dramatic than it really needed to be. Life is full of choices, and she chose to be miserable until Oliver came along. And thank God because I would have DNF’d it if he didn’t.
I wish that witnessing historical events would have added something for me since I LOVE history, but it was just a set or a background for Beatrix and Oliver to wonder how long they can actually do this until life gets in the way.
But that ending, man. That really shattered me. I was not ready for that, yet it was exactly what I needed because I got a really good cry out of it. 😅 If the rest of the book were just as poignant, then it would have earned a million stars.
I also want to bring up the fact that several reviews said that this is very, very similar to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Like almost to a t. I haven’t read that book, so that’s probably why I was able to enjoy it, because I didn’t have that comparison in mind, but I understand why this was frustrating for some readers, because it seems like it was copied. I’m sure the book heavily influenced this one, so if you love The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, then bear that fact in mind before reading this book.
Even though I had some problems with this book, I still enjoyed it and the writing. As I said before, I did like Oliver…to a certain extent. Both he and Beatrix were flawed characters, and I respect that and am happy that they were relatable in some way. I haven’t read about an immortal human just cruising through centuries while being in love with a mortal, so that was interesting. I’ve been told that I need to read V. E. Schwab’s book, so I’m definitely going to have to read it this year! ☺
✦ Thank you to Atria Books for inviting me to read this arc via NetGalley! All opinions and statements are my own. This book is now available! ✦
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions
I normally pull my punches when I'm reviewing an ARC, especially if it's a debut author. But I absolutely will not this time. If I could give this book 0 stars I would.
DNF at 50%, although I do intend to flip to the last few chapters out of morbid curiosity.
The book shamelessly calls itself, "perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" and then goes on to blatantly rip off Addie LaRue at every last turn. When I started the book, my first thought was, "oh okay, so this is like a fan fiction of Addie LaRue". Seeing as I'm a huge fan of that book, I was not totally against that and kept reading. But it just got worse and worse. The premise, the characters, the "curse", entire scenes are lifted straight out of Addie LaRue. It honestly feels like someone took Addie LaRue, fed it into ChatGPT with some prompts and published what came out.
I know this is a very, very strong opinion to assert, but when I got to the scene where the FMC and the love interest are literally in a whispering gallery, a scene straight out of Addie LaRue, I could not deal with it anymore. It is unabashed and unapologetic, so I have decided I will be as well.
The in between parts, that aren't taken directly from Addie LaRue, are nonsensical, confusing, and not well written. Things are not explained. There's no motive for the actions of many of the characters.
I will come back and add to my review once I've read the end. I'm curious if the end is going to be what I think it is.
EDIT: I have skimmed the last 4 chapters of the ending. I don't know if this is a spoiler? Can you spoil a book that's ripping off another book? It ends EXACTLY THE SAME as Addie LaRue. Disgusting.
Kind of confused about what's going on with this one. My E-ARC says the Pub Date was Feb 24, 2026, but it looks like it may have been pushed to June. Anyway, this is next up, so hoping it's decent. Heard mixed reviews, and it may be too close to Addie Larue? But I love Addie.
Thank you, Atria Books, for sending me this ARC!!! 😊
Honestly, if you love a good time travel story with dashes of historical fiction and romance, this one is a decent read. The plot has a few twists along the way, and some bits really tug at your heartstrings. The storyline has good depth, and I found it a bit thought-provoking.
Overall, I am looking forward to seeing what comes from this novel and the author. Will there be changes come the true publication day? I imagine so based on what I am hearing. It seems worth a chance.
I just… wow. I finished this book completely in awe and honestly heartbroken.
All We Have Is Time grabbed me from the very first page and did not let go. It is one of those rare books that feels huge and sweeping yet so intimate, like you are right there living every moment with the characters.
Beatrix is unforgettable, lonely, guarded, and immortal, yet somehow still hopeful in ways she does not even realize. And Oliver, their connection is just everything. Every time their paths cross, my heart literally ached.
The story moving from 1605 London to Woodstock in 1969 and beyond is done so perfectly. I felt like I was really there, walking the streets, feeling the crowds, living the history.
And the ending, oh my god. I cried like a baby. It was heartbreaking, beautiful, and somehow so full of hope all at once. This is the kind of book that will sit with me for a long time.
If you love stories about time, fate, and love that refuses to let go even across centuries, this book is a must-read.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am undeniably devastated and heartbroken. A fictional story has no right to hurt me this way.
Beatrix is immortal. Cursed to live through the ages. Through disease, famine and war, without hope love or lasting human connection.That is until she meets Oliver. Oliver is a time traveller, who travels to the past and meets Beatrix several times by chance. Their connection grows, and Beatrix finally sees a light at the end of the tunnel- the love she thought she could never have.
This book took me through so many emotions, i hardly know what to say. I almost feel as if i myself have lived through the ages after reading it. I mean really, this story takes you through time. It is kind of incredible.
I was so terrifed for the ending. I felt so strongly for both Beatrix and Oliver. I was so in love with their story, and with them as a couple. It was really strong and so beautiful. I was simply not prepared for any tragedy.
The only thing that took this from a 5 star read to a 4 star read- was beginning It took me until about the 30% mark to really get into it, it just has a slow start. But, fear not, it does pick up! It quickly becomes incredibly interesting and heartfelt.
I really enjoyed it overall!
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and author Amy Tordoff for providing me with the eARC of “All We Have is Time”, in exchange for my honest review! Publication date: February 24th, 2026
Ya I cried ! This was a beautiful read. My fav book is The Invisible Life of Addie Larue so when I heard this compared to it I knew I had to read this. We meet Beatrix who like Addie makes a wish and she becomes immortal. I really liked to see her character as she was a child and what kind of life she lived before everything happens. What her thought process was and what she wanted out of life.. it was as if she knew somehow she wasn’t meant for this life she had to do bigger things.
As the story progressed were brought to different times in history which I enjoyed and I thought how the characters meet and the way in which the MMC is able to meet her was something I didn’t expect. I thought it would also be something supernatural as well! That was the difference from Addie Larue as I see it being compared a lot to it. The stories are similar but the background and how things are done or even the love story is built on something different.
The way the story end and ties itself all together def made me cry I was so sad for what is to come.. and when it did I was crying at the feelings described by everyone around. Beautifully written. Recommend if you like a tear jerker and time travel.💙
This book was an incredible blend of fantasy, time travel, and historical fiction. I honestly loved this book because it had all of the elements I enjoy in a story. It has also been a while since I have cried so much while reading a book.
Beatrix was born in the late 1400s. She has lived a life as an outcast from her village and even her family because she has two different colored eyes. others see her as something unnatural. She eventually meets someone and falls in love but her life is cut too short. She makes a wish to live and her wish is granted with a twist. She is immortal and forever stuck in her twenties. Her life becomes one of survival until she meets a man named Oliver in London and then sees him again in Italy more than 100 years later. Beatrix and Oliver form a bond that will span centuries and endure so many challenges. This story was heartbreaking but powerful.
I had to give this book 5 Stars because I was so invested in these two characters. It was hard to even fathom being alive as long as Beatrix and to deal with everything she had to go through. The book just stuck with me as I could not stop thinking about life and what it would mean to live that long. Oliver was another fascinating character in a different way. His story was just as heartbreaking. If you love time travel, history, and books that will make you think, this is the book for you.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
if you liked addie larue, this felt like a way better version to me. I loved the story and the time jumps. the characters were loveable. I love that the characters' story took place over so many years and places. The concept of this book is great. clean book no smut.
As a huge fan of VE Schwab's Invisible Life of Addie LaRue I am having a really hard time rating this book. I was so excited for the advanced copy from Net Galley. I love the idea, but it felt like a rip off. Like I have read and loved this book already but it was Schwab's version.
The similarities are undeniable. Swap gods of the Dark for fairies, freckles for 2 different colored eyes, and another terminal love interest who is a time traveler instead of bookshop owner.
Even the places they visit and times they live are almost identical. I can say I loved reading it but I love Addie LaRue so much that ofcourse I love a book just like it. I'd say skip the rip off and read the beautiful original which has way more heart and intrigue anyway.
Beatrix is cursed with immortality. Oliver is a time traveler trying to get the most out of his short life. Time as old as time (haha). Only able to meet intermittently over the course of decades, their relationship spins into a messy romance, complicated by their circumstances and inescapable connection.
As another review says, this is a pretty blatant play on The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. The details of Beatrix's deal for her immortality is actually shockingly similar, as is the ending. They aren't exactly the same what with the time traveling element but also this book is just desperately lacking in what I call flavor. Neither Oliver nor Beatrix are particularly unique or compelling characters, and they would really need to be since this book by nature skips around a lot in a way that evades a really tangible plot or setting. I was hoping for at least some sci-fi stuff but they really don't touch on the details of the time travel or what the future is like. There's not a lot of internal tension or conflict, nothing particularly special about Beatrix and Oliver's relationship, no real flair to the writing, and a noticeable lack of world-building.
I'm not sure I would even recommend this for fan of Addie Larue because it is evidently a lackluster version of the same story. Maybe if you want a pretty straightforward romance with some fantasy/sci-fi elements but really don't expect much because you won't get it.
Thank yo to Amy Tordoff and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
3.5/5 ⭐️ I’m in love with Bea and Oliver and their sweeping adventure through time.
This book is a lovely dance between two characters who meet, part ways, and then come together throughout history for seemingly brief moments to share a space in time. Their reunions find them at significant points in history, that as the reader you’ll want to research and explore on your own. Each character living along their own time line, one moving forward through time… the other visiting from the future.
Bea is cursed to live as an immortal, and Oliver is a time traveler from the future. You’ll want to read on through the centuries with them, experiencing moments that bring them happiness, to terrifying periods of war and disease. They return to each other time and again, feeling the warmth of reunion, the heartaches of goodbyes, to the longing through the years apart.
I loved the characters, traveling through time with them, and learning about moments lost to the past. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially to those who have loved books such as Addie Larue, and the movie The Time Traveler’s Wife.
**If you’re a very big fan of Addie Larue you might be conflicted with the resemblances between this and Addie. I was a bit challenged in writing my review for this, and just wanted to note it.
I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to read this prior to release. Thank you Netgalley for the early read!
I was immediately drawn in by the premise of this story. Love that stretches across time is always a favorite theme of mine, and the writing had a beautiful, atmospheric quality that made Beatrix’s journey feel immersive.
This is very much a romance story centered on an immortal woman and a time traveler whose paths cross throughout history. I appreciated the reflective themes about life, love, and what it means to truly live.
However, I did struggle a bit with how similar it felt to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. While I enjoy that type of story, some elements felt too familiar, and I found myself wishing for a more distinct voice to set it apart.
Overall, this was a solid read with lovely writing and an emotional core. It may especially appeal to readers who enjoy sweeping, time-spanning love stories with a magical touch. Thanks to Atria for the ARC.
All We Have Is Time is a beautifully written story that drew me in right away. Early on, it reminded me so much of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue that it was hard not to make comparisons, but as the story unfolded, it developed its own unique voice and direction. I really enjoyed the characters, and the romance between Oliver and Beatrix was especially sweet and heartfelt. If I hadn’t already read Addie LaRue, I think I would have enjoyed this even more, but regardless, it’s an engaging and emotional read that stands well on its own.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the arc
I was bamboozled by the premise but this was such a slog to get through and overall underwhelming. I really don’t want to leave a negative review but I forced myself to read this. I wanted to dnf at 25% but I trudged on.
Ultimately this book is incredibly boring. Bea is such a boring character. She has immortal life and nothing happens? Like she doesn’t even try to save some money and amass some wealth for herself? 100 years sometimes pass between chapters and the chapters we get just some stuff happens.
It’s such a boring romance. Oliver and Bea have no chemistry. I’m not rooting for them. I literally didn’t care nor wanted to finish reading this but I forced myself to DNF. It doesn’t get better.
I was hoping for some cool subplots. Nope… literally nothing is happening. It’s ok writing and the author clearly likes history. It just didn’t work for me.
I really do hate to be critical because I wanted to love this book but it wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.25-3.5⭐️ did this make me sob for nearly 30 minutes at the last 30%? Yes. Did it also feel like an Addie Larue rip off for a majority of the plot? Also yes.
Tropes/themes: ✨immortal woman x time traveler mmc ✨historical fiction woven in (they meet at iconic events in history) ✨the meaning of life/making the most of one’s time ✨vague Fae lore? ✨romance heavy > plot heavy
As a fan of the Invisible Life of Addie Larue, I’ve read a few books that blurb it as a comp title, but none that actually felt like it took specific plot threads from the original story…until now.
Faustian bargain with vague magical creature in the woods that taunts them for the immortal life to get their soul? Check. < vague other thing that is a spoiler> ? Check.
Yet it somehow still lacks the emotional range in any of the book’s characters other than the main two - i kept forgetting we even had side characters (only in the mmc’s life rlly) until they jumpscared me in his povs. The pacing between our romantic moments and trying to flesh out the mmc’s own tragic lifestory just didn’t flow well to me.
Now, look, I’m a weak woman when it comes to bittersweet romance and I can acknowledge the author’s talent in dragging out the sweet torturous moments. I’m also PMSing right now and heavy in my emotional era, so it’s kind of a self setup moment right now. So yes, I’m typing this review through swollen eyes despite my earlier complaining - the emotional depth is definitely there for me in the last 30% at least.
The book is bingeable enough that I didn’t feel like it took me too long to casually enjoy myself, but I definitely didn’t feel hooked until 60% in, and even then it was more for the emotional impact of the inevitable ending events.
I would’ve liked this more if it maybe leaned more into the time travel aspect to give it a more unique feel when leveraged against the FMC’s copycat Addie storyline. The plot being the romance itself was kinda lackluster to me; I just wanted more details to flesh out our characters, world or inner meanings instead of the author repeating some of the same events or just telling us flatout what the characters mean in every particular moment.
Also the ending kinda confused me, i didn’t even realize where we ended up until the epilogue of sorts. I don’t know if I learned the ending message lmao, but I needed the cry so it did that well. If you want a book that kind of feels like a predictable Hallmark-movie-esque version of Addie Larue and want a little cry, give this a read!
Thank you to Atria for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.
I didn’t expect this book to evolve the way it did. It starts with a young girl shunned for her different colored eyes in a small village in the 1400s. It ends with so much heartbreak and joy and love. An immortal and a time traveler falling in love is a fantastical notion and the author captures the very real human emotions tied up in an impossible situation. If all we do is survive are we living? If all we have is memories are they enough? These questions and so many more are answered and explored in this story about how desperately we need human connection no matter who we are. This book made me cry like a baby. It made me appreciate history all the more. And it definitely made me feel like Bea and Oliver’s story was being told to me by them.
I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 Stars All We Have is Time is marketed as perfect for fans of " The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" and while that is true, it is in ways almost too much like Addie LaRue. Parts of it read the same as Addie, and that can be infuriating when you're expecting something to be slightly like it not almost exactly like it. I will say the characters weren't bad, I do feel that some of their actions and decisions were EXTREMLY questionable and made absolutely no sense whatsoever but like, everyone makes some questionable decisions I guess. They needed more backstory to become fully likeable characters. And the faerie backstory? I needed wayyy more. The use of actual history and going through time was interesting and I did like that. Now what really got me with this one was the formatting and the way paragraphs where and maybe the arc didn't translate that great on my Kobo but there were times that the dialogue wouldn't start in a new paragraph it'd be in the same one as another character was speaking and it was a guessing game of who was actually communicating. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just wow. I read this book in one sitting.. just over 7 hours of being completely lost in this world. What a wonderful book, so full of life and beauty whilst also being completely soul crushing and devastating at the same time. You felt like an outsider looking in on the relationship between Beatrix and Oliver and it almost felt like a privilege to have a window in to their lives, or many in Bea’s case.
This book is a masterpiece, I can already tell it will stay with me a long time. I feel haunted by it as much as thrilled to have read it. I’ve never felt so happy whilst simultaneously being close to tears, and that’s how it felt for the final 10% of this book. Never had a book where I was nervous to read the next page but absolutely could not stop myself from turning.
A five star read for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thank you Amy for writing such a magnificent book.
Thank you to Viking for the ARC of this book, and NetGalley for the eARC.
It kills me to say it, but this one just didn’t hit for me. It’s being marketed as The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’s spiritual twin—and sure, there’s the whole “made a deal with a supernatural being and now immortal” thing—but what Addie had that this one doesn’t is the “nobody remembers her” hook. That was the emotional anchor, the heartbreak, the magic. Without it, we’re just following a jaded immortal wandering through European history, and… yeah. The spark wasn’t there. I was bored and just couldn’t connect with the characters or love story. Beautiful idea (if done before), but flat execution.
DNF at 40%.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All expressed opinions are my own.
DNF at 16%. Is is possible to take too much inspiration from something? This was marketed as perfect for lovers of Addie LaRue which I am but it felt too on the nose for me. While I love dual timelines, this story felt like it didn’t need it. I think the flow would’ve been better if we got the information chronologically or even through flashbacks instead of through different chapters. I also didn’t connect with the characters at all, they were...boring.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Just because the book wasn't for me doesn't mean others won't love it.
As a massive fan of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I went into this hoping for that same atmospheric, haunting feeling, but with its own unique heart. Unfortunately, I found it nearly impossible to separate this story from its predecessor.
Throughout the entire read, the FMC and major plot points felt like a "copy-paste" of Addie’s story right down to the ending. It’s a bit of a Red Queen/Powerless situation. If I had read this before ever knowing Addie LaRue existed, I probably would have loved it. However, having already experienced the original, this felt far too similar.
I realize it might seem unfair to hold a debut author to such a high standard, but this book is being specifically marketed to fans of Addie LaRue and The Ministry of Time. When you invite that comparison, you have to bring something new to the table. While I’ve read my fair share of time-travel stories, this one missed the mark for me because it lacked its own distinct voice. There is a very fine line between being inspired by a work and mirroring it too closely, and for me, this crossed that line.
If you haven’t read V.E. Schwab, you might find this magical. If you have, be prepared for a very strong sense of deja vu. Sadly, the lack of originality made it hard to enjoy this book.
As a reader who loves themes of time travel, time spans, and immortality… this book intrigued me. After reading a review that this is a copycat of Addie LaRue I HAD to read it so I could know the truth for myself.
Are there similarities between these two books? Yes. But All We Have is Time does not feel like a carbon copy of Addie LaRue, there were too many differences in the plot, setting, character work etc.
Addie Larue focuses on being forgotten, on the impermanence of our presence here. But All We Have is Time is about regret, it’s about being too permanent. It felt more emotional.
Addie LaRue comparisons aside…. I really enjoyed this debut novel. It pulled at my heartstrings and spun me through centuries and historical moments. I can’t say it’s a flawless book, but it was a beautiful journey that made me feel.
Worth my time and absolutely not a copycat book is my final verdict.
4.25 ⭐️
Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest feedback.
I loved this book. I enjoyed the premise of the story and travelling along with the character to significant events in time that we have all heard of felt whimsical. I felt the book was well paced and balanced the POVs well; I prefer multiple POV writing so this was a massive plus for me. Character development was done really well; I feel like you really get to know and understand Bea and her decisions, however frustrating some of them were. Oliver's character is as equally developed with insights into his past shaping his present actions and views. I particularly like the differences in passage of time and what that means for each character and how it echoes their individual circumstances. I felt the end was built up well and because of this found it very emotional. It's not often a book makes me cry! Thank you so much for sending me this e-arc, it was an absolute (emotional) pleasure to read.
How do I even explain this book and its beauty! I am a firm lover of Addie Larue and this was just the treat I was looking for! It has its similarities obviously but I feel like this was a much different story.
It was a heartbreaking story about life, loss and love. The journey that the two characters go through, their love for each other and the circumstances of it come to together to make a story I couldn’t put down.
I stayed up until 3 am reading because every chapter left me feeling like I had to know more. The last 20% had me holding my breath and trying not to cry. (Spoiler I definitely cried).
I will say that the ending was VERY similar to Addie Larue. I wish it had ended a bit differently but overall I really enjoyed this book!
I highly recommend this book! It has a similar tone and style to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which I personally enjoy. If you're okay with books that share a similar vibe, you'll likely appreciate this one too. However, if Addie LaRue wasn't your thing, this might not be either.
I’m personally a huge fan of time travel romances and cozy mysteries with a magical touch, and this book brought exactly that. The writing was beautifully lyrical, drawing me right into Beatrix’s world and making it feel truly immersive.
I absolutely loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys enchanting, atmospheric reads.
You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to eat oysters from the dookie waters from the River Thames in 1600’s London.
The premise had me interested right away: a time-travel love story with heart, history, and the promise of romance across centuries. But while the setup was intriguing, the execution fell a little flat for me. It’s definitely one of those stories that’s best enjoyed if you don’t think too hard about the logistics- just let the magic happen and don’t ask questions (which, unfortunately, I couldn’t stop doing).
Everything was so surface-level that it somehow managed to make even incredible historical events feel dull. For a book that moves across time, I kept wishing for a little more depth, texture, and emotional weight. I found myself wondering about little things- like why Beatrix sounded like she was from 2025 instead of the 1500s, or how they somehow always knew exactly where to meet up across centuries. And I couldn’t help but notice how very similar it felt to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Almost too similar at times, just without quite the same emotional pull.
Still, it’s a quick and heartfelt read with an imaginative concept. If you’re in the mood for something light, romantic, and not too serious, this could be a cozy weekend pick. I just needed a bit more depth.