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The Cassandra Complex
CASSIE IS NOT A PEOPLE PERSON. BUT SHE IS ABOUT TO WIN YOUR HEART. . .
Cassie has never really fitted in. She remembers everything. Understands nothing. And consistently says the wrong thing.
So when she gets dumped, fired AND her local café runs out of banana muffins - all in one day - it feels like the end of the world.
But then Cassie discovers she has the power to go back and change things.
With endless chances to get it right, can she stop it all from going wrong?
Not your average story. Not your average character.
But, after all, maybe fitting in is overrated. . .
Cassie has never really fitted in. She remembers everything. Understands nothing. And consistently says the wrong thing.
So when she gets dumped, fired AND her local café runs out of banana muffins - all in one day - it feels like the end of the world.
But then Cassie discovers she has the power to go back and change things.
With endless chances to get it right, can she stop it all from going wrong?
Not your average story. Not your average character.
But, after all, maybe fitting in is overrated. . .
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
3372 people are currently reading
64280 people want to read
About the author
Holly Smale
34 books2,310 followersHolly is the Number One bestselling, multi-award winning author of the GEEK GIRL series.
She fell in love with writing at five years old, when she realised that books didn't grow on trees like apples. A passion for travel, adventure and wearing no shoes has since led her all over the world: she has visited 27 countries, spent two years working as an English teacher in Japan, volunteered in Nepal, been bartered for in Jamaica and had a number of ear-plugs stolen in Australia, Indonesia and India.
Holly has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Shakespeare, and currently lives in London or at @holsmale.
The GEEK GIRL series has been an internationally bestselling no1. smash-hit. It won the Waterstones Teen Prize of the Year and the Leeds book award, was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Branford Boase award, and was long-listed for the Carnegie.
She fell in love with writing at five years old, when she realised that books didn't grow on trees like apples. A passion for travel, adventure and wearing no shoes has since led her all over the world: she has visited 27 countries, spent two years working as an English teacher in Japan, volunteered in Nepal, been bartered for in Jamaica and had a number of ear-plugs stolen in Australia, Indonesia and India.
Holly has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Shakespeare, and currently lives in London or at @holsmale.
The GEEK GIRL series has been an internationally bestselling no1. smash-hit. It won the Waterstones Teen Prize of the Year and the Leeds book award, was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Branford Boase award, and was long-listed for the Carnegie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,051 reviews
December 1, 2023
This is such an interesting book with a quirky, neurodivergent, unique heroine. It's quite a mashup of Oona Out of Order meets Sliding Doors! This book is more than just a time travel and stuck-in-a-loop story. It's about second chances, self-growth, changing your life path, and learning more about yourself, your capabilities, dreams, and potentials.
I found the plot interesting, and Cassandra is definitely an original, unique, one-of-a-kind character with a different perception. You can easily connect with her and get a close look at her journey. She's dealing with the worst kind of day when she loses everything she cares about: her job, her place to live, her boyfriend. Then time moves backwards to give her a chance to make different decisions, following different paths to reach different outcomes. But eventually, she has to find out who she really is and what she wants to do with her life. She's named after Cassandra, a Trojan priestess in Greek mythology dedicated to the god Apollo, fated by him to utter true prophecies but never to be believed.
There are so many Greek mythology references in this book because of Cassandra's special interest in the subject. This slows down the pace and adds a little philosophical approach to the book. The time-loop theme turns into a repetitive cycle, which also bored me a little.
But overall, I'm still rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 for its interesting concept and likable character.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I found the plot interesting, and Cassandra is definitely an original, unique, one-of-a-kind character with a different perception. You can easily connect with her and get a close look at her journey. She's dealing with the worst kind of day when she loses everything she cares about: her job, her place to live, her boyfriend. Then time moves backwards to give her a chance to make different decisions, following different paths to reach different outcomes. But eventually, she has to find out who she really is and what she wants to do with her life. She's named after Cassandra, a Trojan priestess in Greek mythology dedicated to the god Apollo, fated by him to utter true prophecies but never to be believed.
There are so many Greek mythology references in this book because of Cassandra's special interest in the subject. This slows down the pace and adds a little philosophical approach to the book. The time-loop theme turns into a repetitive cycle, which also bored me a little.
But overall, I'm still rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 for its interesting concept and likable character.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 20, 2023
This is a Reese’s Book Club Pick.
I really wanted to like this one.
But, part of liking a book, is liking its main character, and well, that wasn’t likely to happen for me.
I am a fan of magical realism. I was so ready for the magic. But this magic was pushing me in directions that just didn’t feel fun.
Premise: Cassandra is neurodivergent. The author portrays her as an annoying and anal character. She is dumped by her boyfriend and her job in the same day. Also, her flat mate situation has become untenable. So, let’s just say it is a very bad day for her.
And it isn’t looking good for me as a reader, either.
Now here is where the magical realism comes in.
Through mental effort, Cassandra can travel back along her own timeline and relive her life at any point. Not a long distance – but at least 4 months to possibly save her relationship – her living situation and her career – right?
A do-over button.
Groundhog Day?
And this is where it gets blurry. Living a single day over and over is one thing – redoing it weeks at a time?
Too many unanswered questions.
First, there is no explanation for her special ability.
Second, why arbitrarily only about 4 months?
Third, why put readers through this blurriness?
Doesn’t time travel alter people’s lives?
Why should I care about getting answers as a reader when I don’t even care about the main protagonist?
I don’t know. I have been debating this book since I started to read it. I really, really wanted to like it.
What gives Reese?
I really wanted to like this one.
But, part of liking a book, is liking its main character, and well, that wasn’t likely to happen for me.
I am a fan of magical realism. I was so ready for the magic. But this magic was pushing me in directions that just didn’t feel fun.
Premise: Cassandra is neurodivergent. The author portrays her as an annoying and anal character. She is dumped by her boyfriend and her job in the same day. Also, her flat mate situation has become untenable. So, let’s just say it is a very bad day for her.
And it isn’t looking good for me as a reader, either.
Now here is where the magical realism comes in.
Through mental effort, Cassandra can travel back along her own timeline and relive her life at any point. Not a long distance – but at least 4 months to possibly save her relationship – her living situation and her career – right?
A do-over button.
Groundhog Day?
And this is where it gets blurry. Living a single day over and over is one thing – redoing it weeks at a time?
Too many unanswered questions.
First, there is no explanation for her special ability.
Second, why arbitrarily only about 4 months?
Third, why put readers through this blurriness?
Doesn’t time travel alter people’s lives?
Why should I care about getting answers as a reader when I don’t even care about the main protagonist?
I don’t know. I have been debating this book since I started to read it. I really, really wanted to like it.
What gives Reese?
June 17, 2023
This reminded me of the Adam Sandler movie "Click." When Cassandra figures out she can time travel, there are scenes where she is rewinding over and over to achieve her desired result. She has three prime objectives: job, boyfriend, and flatmates. I was rooting for Cassandra. Her autism manifests in many ways. One I was most fascinated with was the colors that she could perceive coming from those around her, revealing the inner emotions. Her own colors were at times overwhelming. There are a lot of Greek mythology references and the book got a bit long. The Geek Girl series is still my favorite of Holly Smales" titles.
May 31, 2023
I’ve just put this book down and I’m genuinely sad, angry and frustrated. This was possibly my most anticipated release of the year and it was a huge letdown.
I’ve never read anything by Holly Smale before, but I’ve listened to her on various autism podcasts, read articles about her and followed her on Twitter. I love what she’s doing to raise awareness and advocate for the autistic community. I knew she is an esteemed YA author who got a late diagnosis, so her writing about an autistic protagonist seemed absolutely perfect to me. Finally we’d get a work of fiction by an own voices author who’s known to be a good writer!
The Cassandra Complex is definitely very readable, and the white pages before each chapter, as well as short chapters themselves, make this an especially easy read. Because of this I started out really enjoying this novel. After the first 50 pages or so I got slightly worried that this entire book would focus on Cassandra’s breakup with Will. When I kept on reading and figured this would be the case, I really wanted to DNF it.
Before reading this I really hoped this book would center Cassandra. I’ve read so many (romance) books featuring autistic characters at this point, where there’s always a midway point where the character either gets diagnosed or explains to others around her that she’s autistic. That this book set out with a very obviously autistic person (special interest, struggles with sensory input, gets meltdowns, communicates differently, takes things literally, struggles with certain foods) made me really happy initially, because I thought the focus would be about her living her live as an autistic woman. It would’ve been such a nice change from the other stories I’ve read so far! I thought we’d read about how she finds a job which suits her, about how she finds a friend who loves Greek myths just as much as she does, and generally speaking gets to live her best life.
Instead we get a story about Cassandra clinging onto a non-functioning relationship, changing herself and crossing her own boundaries constantly to please her ex, whilst also clinging onto a work environment that doesn’t suit her. It’s an incredibly depressing read if you view it this way.
The breakup is meant to be what sets the story on motion and what makes you want to keep reading, but I really don’t think this worked. Will and Cassandra have been together for 4 months when they break up. Will himself acknowledges that this is not a long time, but Cassandra is clinging on, because she was getting close to falling for him. We don’t know what basis their relationship has, they have nothing in common and seem constantly confused at what the other person wants. So as a reader, I thought this breakup made perfect sense. I didn’t want to read on to see how their love story would develop, I never thought it would work out in the first place.
The autism rep in this is very visible but, as it turns out, the fact she’s autistic was apparently meant to be a plot twist. She and those around her had no idea (yet the person who reveals this to her is suddenly an expert on the matter, even knowing modern discourse on it, which even most psychologists aren’t aware of). How, though?! I know in hindsight this is a question lots of autistic women (or anyone with a late diagnosis) ask themselves, but Cassandra was so stereotypical in so many ways! She takes things literally, doesn’t do well being around people, can’t make eye contact, wears the same things every day of the week, has a meltdown in public and says very detailed things in response to questions (which can be about Greek myths, but also specifics about numbers. At one point she says she’d have 80,000 seconds to do something, for instance). She doesn’t mask either (even though she says she does, but I’ve never seen her mask in this book) so she’s never fully hid away who she is, either. It’s all very visible, to the point where her colleagues, family members and flatmates comment on it. How is the diagnosis such a shock, then? I wish they’d just not have named it at all.
Aside from the storyline about her relationship and her getting her diagnosis, there’s a lot more this book covers.
There’s simply too much that’s happening at once, and in the end nothing stuck with me. Cassandra’s family history is something which is referenced in the beginning, then doesn’t show up again until the last 100 pages or so, but it turns out to be significant anyway. Then there’s the situation with her work, and oh - I guess this entire novel is based around the concept of time travel. To top it all off Greek myths are referenced thoroughly on every page. I genuinely love Greek myths - the author and I both loved Stephen Fry’s books! - but every page contained very detailed (and often obscure) references, to the point where I skimmed entire sections. I actually got most of these references but even I found them tiresome, so I can’t imagine what someone who’s not into myths must be thinking when they read these segments.
I really expected this to be an easy 5 stars. But this was too much of everything, and none of it felt executed right. Cassandra lacks personality to me. Her entire life seems to be shaped by those around her, and except for her love of banana muffins I can’t name a single thing which really defines her. Even her special interest isn’t of her own making. The issues she faces in this novel aren’t really solved either, or at least not in the long-term. I don’t know if there will be a ‘happy ever after’ because it feels like her story is only beginning. (Which makes me think the author is set on making a sequel?) I really wanted to see how Cassandra found her way into this world and learned to thrive. Instead we got a lot of other things - but not that.
I’ve never read anything by Holly Smale before, but I’ve listened to her on various autism podcasts, read articles about her and followed her on Twitter. I love what she’s doing to raise awareness and advocate for the autistic community. I knew she is an esteemed YA author who got a late diagnosis, so her writing about an autistic protagonist seemed absolutely perfect to me. Finally we’d get a work of fiction by an own voices author who’s known to be a good writer!
The Cassandra Complex is definitely very readable, and the white pages before each chapter, as well as short chapters themselves, make this an especially easy read. Because of this I started out really enjoying this novel. After the first 50 pages or so I got slightly worried that this entire book would focus on Cassandra’s breakup with Will. When I kept on reading and figured this would be the case, I really wanted to DNF it.
Before reading this I really hoped this book would center Cassandra. I’ve read so many (romance) books featuring autistic characters at this point, where there’s always a midway point where the character either gets diagnosed or explains to others around her that she’s autistic. That this book set out with a very obviously autistic person (special interest, struggles with sensory input, gets meltdowns, communicates differently, takes things literally, struggles with certain foods) made me really happy initially, because I thought the focus would be about her living her live as an autistic woman. It would’ve been such a nice change from the other stories I’ve read so far! I thought we’d read about how she finds a job which suits her, about how she finds a friend who loves Greek myths just as much as she does, and generally speaking gets to live her best life.
Instead we get a story about Cassandra clinging onto a non-functioning relationship, changing herself and crossing her own boundaries constantly to please her ex, whilst also clinging onto a work environment that doesn’t suit her. It’s an incredibly depressing read if you view it this way.
The breakup is meant to be what sets the story on motion and what makes you want to keep reading, but I really don’t think this worked. Will and Cassandra have been together for 4 months when they break up. Will himself acknowledges that this is not a long time, but Cassandra is clinging on, because she was getting close to falling for him. We don’t know what basis their relationship has, they have nothing in common and seem constantly confused at what the other person wants. So as a reader, I thought this breakup made perfect sense. I didn’t want to read on to see how their love story would develop, I never thought it would work out in the first place.
The autism rep in this is very visible but, as it turns out, the fact she’s autistic was apparently meant to be a plot twist. She and those around her had no idea (yet the person who reveals this to her is suddenly an expert on the matter, even knowing modern discourse on it, which even most psychologists aren’t aware of). How, though?! I know in hindsight this is a question lots of autistic women (or anyone with a late diagnosis) ask themselves, but Cassandra was so stereotypical in so many ways! She takes things literally, doesn’t do well being around people, can’t make eye contact, wears the same things every day of the week, has a meltdown in public and says very detailed things in response to questions (which can be about Greek myths, but also specifics about numbers. At one point she says she’d have 80,000 seconds to do something, for instance). She doesn’t mask either (even though she says she does, but I’ve never seen her mask in this book) so she’s never fully hid away who she is, either. It’s all very visible, to the point where her colleagues, family members and flatmates comment on it. How is the diagnosis such a shock, then? I wish they’d just not have named it at all.
Aside from the storyline about her relationship and her getting her diagnosis, there’s a lot more this book covers.
There’s simply too much that’s happening at once, and in the end nothing stuck with me. Cassandra’s family history is something which is referenced in the beginning, then doesn’t show up again until the last 100 pages or so, but it turns out to be significant anyway. Then there’s the situation with her work, and oh - I guess this entire novel is based around the concept of time travel. To top it all off Greek myths are referenced thoroughly on every page. I genuinely love Greek myths - the author and I both loved Stephen Fry’s books! - but every page contained very detailed (and often obscure) references, to the point where I skimmed entire sections. I actually got most of these references but even I found them tiresome, so I can’t imagine what someone who’s not into myths must be thinking when they read these segments.
I really expected this to be an easy 5 stars. But this was too much of everything, and none of it felt executed right. Cassandra lacks personality to me. Her entire life seems to be shaped by those around her, and except for her love of banana muffins I can’t name a single thing which really defines her. Even her special interest isn’t of her own making. The issues she faces in this novel aren’t really solved either, or at least not in the long-term. I don’t know if there will be a ‘happy ever after’ because it feels like her story is only beginning. (Which makes me think the author is set on making a sequel?) I really wanted to see how Cassandra found her way into this world and learned to thrive. Instead we got a lot of other things - but not that.
May 22, 2023
DNF. Not my cup of tea.
Keeping this short and sweet.
While I enjoyed having a neurodivergent main character, this book fell flat for me. I ended up quitting it at 37%. There is a lot of Greek mythology references which do not interest me, and although I like ground hog type scenarios, this one got repetitive and didn’t hold my attention.
Keeping this short and sweet.
While I enjoyed having a neurodivergent main character, this book fell flat for me. I ended up quitting it at 37%. There is a lot of Greek mythology references which do not interest me, and although I like ground hog type scenarios, this one got repetitive and didn’t hold my attention.
March 15, 2023
Well that was a surprise. I really thought after the first chapter or so that I was really going to get irritated or Cassandra was going to get on my nerves but instead I quit trying to read it a bit at a time and read the last half in one go. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
The story is that Cassandra has been dumped but after the dumping she ends up reliving the same day. It's a miracle. She can time travel. Not quite back to where she wants to be bit at least she can not get fired, not get dumped, not get made homeless - again.
But it's not as easy to control time as she first thinks and through a series of time re-runs we discover Cassandra's history, her odd personality traits and who the woman she is trying to avoid at all costs is.
It's a very readable book. There's quite a lot of Greek myth references but they're interesting rather than distracting. Its not a re-telling by any stretch of the imagination. Its simply the story of a woman who has struggled to be heard, to fit in, to be accepted her whole life.
Holly Smale has done an excellent job with this adult debut and I'd highly recommend it but do be prepared to ignore the housework for several hours once you've got into it. Just remind yourself that dust can only get so thick before the bottom layer breaks down. You'll be fine.
The story is that Cassandra has been dumped but after the dumping she ends up reliving the same day. It's a miracle. She can time travel. Not quite back to where she wants to be bit at least she can not get fired, not get dumped, not get made homeless - again.
But it's not as easy to control time as she first thinks and through a series of time re-runs we discover Cassandra's history, her odd personality traits and who the woman she is trying to avoid at all costs is.
It's a very readable book. There's quite a lot of Greek myth references but they're interesting rather than distracting. Its not a re-telling by any stretch of the imagination. Its simply the story of a woman who has struggled to be heard, to fit in, to be accepted her whole life.
Holly Smale has done an excellent job with this adult debut and I'd highly recommend it but do be prepared to ignore the housework for several hours once you've got into it. Just remind yourself that dust can only get so thick before the bottom layer breaks down. You'll be fine.
July 11, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up. I really struggled to connect at the beginning of this one - the title character was just so unlikeable & hard to relate to, especially how she was so hyper-focused on her ex-boyfriend of 4 whole months. But I hung in & the second half was much better and faster paced, so I am glad that I finished it. I did appreciate all the mythology references, as that aspect along with the time travel, was what drew me to this one. I never did really understand either how or why she got her gift, and similar to another major character, I did feel that she squandered it, but I was pleased with her self-realizations.
June 17, 2023
Endings are crucial, and this ending infuriated me as a reader. I don't want to go through a whole book and end up thinking, as Slappy says in an "Animaniacs" episode, "That was pointless." I felt nothing was accomplished.
As other readers have mentioned, what is intended to be a late-in-the-game plot twist was something that I assumed from the first couple chapters: I also assumed she knew and simply didn't say it outright.
What was a fluffy timeslip romance turned into a book I would not recommend.
As other readers have mentioned, what is intended to be a late-in-the-game plot twist was something that I assumed from the first couple chapters: I also assumed she knew and simply didn't say it outright.
What was a fluffy timeslip romance turned into a book I would not recommend.
July 10, 2023
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale is what you get when you mix a contemporary romance and a time travel fantasy. The story is told from the point of view of the lead character who is neurodivergent as she bounces around in time trying to fix her own life after it has fallen apart.
Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is not having a good day when she gets to work only to find the cherry on the rotten cake of the day is she’s being fired. Cassie doesn’t know what to think after starting the day off with a break up before it all spiraled out of control and being a creature of habit this is all just too much for her to handle.
In the blink of an eye though Cassie finds herself right back to the beginning of it all and living the trauma over until she wonders if anything she does can change the outcome. Cassie learns that she can start over if things go wrong and time travel just may be the answer she was looking for to fix her life before it went off the rails.
Holly Smale is an author that I was already familiar with having tried some of her young adult contemporary romance novels. I found her writing a ton of fun and seeing a this was an adult romcom that also mixed in another genre when I love books that mix genres I couldn’t help but get excited. The incredibly great part to this new series for me was finding that an autistic lead was at the front of this story and I couldn’t help but be enamored with it. This one turned into just what I hoped, a ton of laughs along with a lot of character growth as she finds herself and navigates the world so I couldn’t help but to enjoy it as I read along.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is not having a good day when she gets to work only to find the cherry on the rotten cake of the day is she’s being fired. Cassie doesn’t know what to think after starting the day off with a break up before it all spiraled out of control and being a creature of habit this is all just too much for her to handle.
In the blink of an eye though Cassie finds herself right back to the beginning of it all and living the trauma over until she wonders if anything she does can change the outcome. Cassie learns that she can start over if things go wrong and time travel just may be the answer she was looking for to fix her life before it went off the rails.
Holly Smale is an author that I was already familiar with having tried some of her young adult contemporary romance novels. I found her writing a ton of fun and seeing a this was an adult romcom that also mixed in another genre when I love books that mix genres I couldn’t help but get excited. The incredibly great part to this new series for me was finding that an autistic lead was at the front of this story and I couldn’t help but be enamored with it. This one turned into just what I hoped, a ton of laughs along with a lot of character growth as she finds herself and navigates the world so I couldn’t help but to enjoy it as I read along.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 6, 2023
A time-loop story that exceeded all my expectations! I can’t stop thinking about it.
After getting dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her PR job in the same day, Cassandra Dankworth miraculously gains the ability to manipulate time from the past four months. And she'll do anything to fix her mistakes!
I absolutely ADORED Cassandra. With her passion for Greek mythology threaded throughout, she was such a delight. I loved being in her wonderfully quirky head and genuinely laughed out loud multiple times!
But Cassandra is often misunderstood by others. She's unintentionally brash, prefers predictable situations, and frequently misses social cues. A very big part of this story is piecing together her experiences as a neurodivergent person.
What I loved most was the mysterious detour it leads Cassandra on—one with a surprising twist and a much bigger purpose than she intended. The utterly heartfelt, vulnerable moments along the way made my heart so full.
It’s hard to encapsulate how this book made me feel after finishing. An easy five stars!
(heat level: closed door)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After getting dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her PR job in the same day, Cassandra Dankworth miraculously gains the ability to manipulate time from the past four months. And she'll do anything to fix her mistakes!
I absolutely ADORED Cassandra. With her passion for Greek mythology threaded throughout, she was such a delight. I loved being in her wonderfully quirky head and genuinely laughed out loud multiple times!
But Cassandra is often misunderstood by others. She's unintentionally brash, prefers predictable situations, and frequently misses social cues. A very big part of this story is piecing together her experiences as a neurodivergent person.
What I loved most was the mysterious detour it leads Cassandra on—one with a surprising twist and a much bigger purpose than she intended. The utterly heartfelt, vulnerable moments along the way made my heart so full.
It’s hard to encapsulate how this book made me feel after finishing. An easy five stars!
(heat level: closed door)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 4, 2023
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
Contemporary fiction. Diverse “on the spectrum” main character.
Cassandra has her routines and she is the most comfortable when she sticks to them. When her boyfriend breaks up with her, and she’s fired on the same day, she’s sure it’s because of her habits and unsuccessfully handling social events. She finds out she can time travel and goes back over and over again trying to fix her relationship with Will and her job. Eventually she learns more about herself along the way and finds that time travel is not the answer.
Self discovery and awareness become the byproduct for Cassandra as she tries to fix her responses to Will in their dating events. It’s half way through that she looks outside herself to discover the other side and it’s not just about her and Will anymore. Other relationships must come into play.
Heart wrenching and ultimately healing.
Quote:
“If you give the power of time travel to a woman who eats banana muffins ever day, for three decades, you can’t go expecting her to be someone else with it”
I received a copy of this from the publisher.
Contemporary fiction. Diverse “on the spectrum” main character.
Cassandra has her routines and she is the most comfortable when she sticks to them. When her boyfriend breaks up with her, and she’s fired on the same day, she’s sure it’s because of her habits and unsuccessfully handling social events. She finds out she can time travel and goes back over and over again trying to fix her relationship with Will and her job. Eventually she learns more about herself along the way and finds that time travel is not the answer.
Self discovery and awareness become the byproduct for Cassandra as she tries to fix her responses to Will in their dating events. It’s half way through that she looks outside herself to discover the other side and it’s not just about her and Will anymore. Other relationships must come into play.
Heart wrenching and ultimately healing.
Quote:
“If you give the power of time travel to a woman who eats banana muffins ever day, for three decades, you can’t go expecting her to be someone else with it”
I received a copy of this from the publisher.
September 25, 2024
This book will stay with me for a long while. Really disliked Will, but I loved all the characters. I was prepared to hate Artemis, but because Cassandra could love her, so did I. While I often dislike the Groundhog Day trope, it worked really well in this case because Cassandra was so well written.
August 17, 2023
DNF but did finish the book skimming the rest in order to read enough of it to rate & review it. I couldn’t wait to be done with it even though I liked some things about it. I did sort of like the end so I’m glad I didn’t just stop and neglect to check out what happens.
I enjoy speculative fiction and time travel. I loved the movie Groundhog Day and loved the premise of this book.
However; I found it to be so incredibly tedious. To be fair I am finding it hard to find the right book at the right time this year but for me this book fell short.
I liked the family/sister/parents storyline (however overdramatic it was) and all of the Greek mythology references, in the names and in Cassandra’s thoughts and its importance to her.I ended up liking the female roommate. Yes, the “message” of accepting yourself as you are and expecting that also from others is a good one as is being fine not being neurotypical. There are some quotes that I loved!
What a waste of a gift though. It was one reason I didn’t enjoy the story. I was hoping and thinking that Cassandra would start to do better or do things differently (not Will much, much earlier) but all I can say is that I would think it would be hard to make time travel boring but I was bored. I will add that I don’t often feel bored. Even the “romance” storyline felt boring. I don’t like romance books but this wasn’t even one. Not really. I don’t know exactly what it was. I think that what Cassandra eventually does is interesting though and I wish it hadn’t taken so very long to get there.
Perhaps it was my mood. Other readers who also enjoy Greek mythology, neurodivergent characters, time travel/speculative fiction, just ignore my review. I should have looked at the average rating of this book though before I tried it. It’s not horrible but it’s not as good as most books I read and should not have tried to read it. Many readers loved/liked it but it wasn’t for me. Disappointing because it had a tremendous amount of potential.
I do appreciate how both the author and the main character are autistic.
2-1/2 stars, at least with my current mood
I enjoy speculative fiction and time travel. I loved the movie Groundhog Day and loved the premise of this book.
However; I found it to be so incredibly tedious. To be fair I am finding it hard to find the right book at the right time this year but for me this book fell short.
I liked the family/sister/parents storyline (however overdramatic it was) and all of the Greek mythology references, in the names and in Cassandra’s thoughts and its importance to her.I ended up liking the female roommate. Yes, the “message” of accepting yourself as you are and expecting that also from others is a good one as is being fine not being neurotypical. There are some quotes that I loved!
What a waste of a gift though. It was one reason I didn’t enjoy the story. I was hoping and thinking that Cassandra would start to do better or do things differently (not Will much, much earlier) but all I can say is that I would think it would be hard to make time travel boring but I was bored. I will add that I don’t often feel bored. Even the “romance” storyline felt boring. I don’t like romance books but this wasn’t even one. Not really. I don’t know exactly what it was. I think that what Cassandra eventually does is interesting though and I wish it hadn’t taken so very long to get there.
Perhaps it was my mood. Other readers who also enjoy Greek mythology, neurodivergent characters, time travel/speculative fiction, just ignore my review. I should have looked at the average rating of this book though before I tried it. It’s not horrible but it’s not as good as most books I read and should not have tried to read it. Many readers loved/liked it but it wasn’t for me. Disappointing because it had a tremendous amount of potential.
I do appreciate how both the author and the main character are autistic.
2-1/2 stars, at least with my current mood
June 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this one!!!
I do think the audiobook was the way to go! The development of Cassandra’s character was wonderful and I wish it started to wrap up before the 75%. I think the time travel trope can get a bit repetitive and exhausting, but I focused more on the development of Cassandra.
If you’re a fan of Oona Out of Order and Eleanor Oliphant, you’ll enjoy this one!
I do think the audiobook was the way to go! The development of Cassandra’s character was wonderful and I wish it started to wrap up before the 75%. I think the time travel trope can get a bit repetitive and exhausting, but I focused more on the development of Cassandra.
If you’re a fan of Oona Out of Order and Eleanor Oliphant, you’ll enjoy this one!
June 12, 2024
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I listened to this on audio I liked the premise of the book time travel. For me this could have been shorter it was 13 hours but honestly part of that was me because I didn’t have the opportunity to listen to it consistently due to life circumstances
if you like time travel give it a go!
if you like time travel give it a go!
January 26, 2024
Unexpectedly captivating, I couldn't put the book down.
The story follows Cassandra, who, after a breakup, inexplicably starts reliving the same day, gaining the power of time travel. However, she can only go a short time back in time and uses this ability to reverse unpleasant experiences. Soon, she discovers that some things just can't be changed, and others could potentially become worse.
A series of time re-runs unveils Cassandra's complex history, her peculiar personality traits, and her relentless quest to avoid a certain woman at all costs.
The author skillfully weaves Greek mythology into the story, making it intriguing and enjoyable. Five stars.
The story follows Cassandra, who, after a breakup, inexplicably starts reliving the same day, gaining the power of time travel. However, she can only go a short time back in time and uses this ability to reverse unpleasant experiences. Soon, she discovers that some things just can't be changed, and others could potentially become worse.
A series of time re-runs unveils Cassandra's complex history, her peculiar personality traits, and her relentless quest to avoid a certain woman at all costs.
The author skillfully weaves Greek mythology into the story, making it intriguing and enjoyable. Five stars.
April 27, 2023
This is a really difficult book to review. There was a lot I liked about this book, but there was also a ton of things that I found jarring.
First off -I love Holly Smale's writing style - I have read lots of her YA/middle grade books previously and she writes so personably. Its like reading a diary. Her characters are always so vivid and this book is no exception.
However I feel like this book tried to be too many things for it to work fully. I was confused by the time travel element. It appeared out of nowhere but then I got used to it - however the rules of the travel seemed to change and I was unsure where it was going in terms of the overall plot. Also, the constant reference to Greek mythology and storytelling was super random - it took a long time to understand why Cassandra kept bringing it up. It seemed to come together a bit more when the character of Artemis was introduced - but still it just didn't really work for me. It was shoe-horned in and I don't think it had any relevance to what was really going on.
So, theres time travel and there's greek myth - thats not all.
Then there's the constant reference to Cassandra being 'different' or 'odd' which was very obvious to me that the character was probably on the autistic spectrum. This was addressed towards the end of the book but quickly brushed over. I don't think it really needed the 'big announcement' - I think Smale should have given the reader more integrity and didn't need to address it like she did.
So thats, time travel, greek myth, autism, and to add to that....
The 'mystery woman' - this character (i wont explain more as I don't want spoilers) but this woman that keeps appearing and getting brushed off by Cassandra.
There was just too much going on, and I don't think these new plot elements/themes complimented each other.
Overall I enjoyed the reading experience, but it was very much a mish-mash of lots of different things that left me feeling confused by the end of it.
First off -I love Holly Smale's writing style - I have read lots of her YA/middle grade books previously and she writes so personably. Its like reading a diary. Her characters are always so vivid and this book is no exception.
However I feel like this book tried to be too many things for it to work fully. I was confused by the time travel element. It appeared out of nowhere but then I got used to it - however the rules of the travel seemed to change and I was unsure where it was going in terms of the overall plot. Also, the constant reference to Greek mythology and storytelling was super random - it took a long time to understand why Cassandra kept bringing it up. It seemed to come together a bit more when the character of Artemis was introduced - but still it just didn't really work for me. It was shoe-horned in and I don't think it had any relevance to what was really going on.
So, theres time travel and there's greek myth - thats not all.
Then there's the constant reference to Cassandra being 'different' or 'odd' which was very obvious to me that the character was probably on the autistic spectrum. This was addressed towards the end of the book but quickly brushed over. I don't think it really needed the 'big announcement' - I think Smale should have given the reader more integrity and didn't need to address it like she did.
So thats, time travel, greek myth, autism, and to add to that....
The 'mystery woman' - this character (i wont explain more as I don't want spoilers) but this woman that keeps appearing and getting brushed off by Cassandra.
There was just too much going on, and I don't think these new plot elements/themes complimented each other.
Overall I enjoyed the reading experience, but it was very much a mish-mash of lots of different things that left me feeling confused by the end of it.
June 17, 2023
I really like it when a book totally surprises me. This is not a book I would normally pick up and this is not a genre I normally read. But I'm glad I did. It's a great story and by the end of the book I fell in love with quirky Cassandra.
December 6, 2023
Is it just me or was this awful? I had to DNF it.
January 1, 2026
I am SO glad that I picked this ARC up at my local bookshop. I knew I was going to enjoy it just by reading the back, but I didn’t expect to love it this much. The book took such a beautiful turn in the middle, and I hate (but also truly love) the way it ended. Cassandra learns so much about relationships and connections and love in this story about time travel. The best part, though? Cassandra Dankworth is SO me. I have never related to a character more, and I felt so seen and understood reading this book. I cannot wait for this to be released so that everyone can read it.
P.S. I do wish the US version was called The Cassandra Complex.
Reread 3/8/24-3/10/24: This is a perfect #ownvoices book that has only been criticized by neurotypicals. Any review focused solely on Cassie’s narration or unlikeable traits are ableist 🫶🏽 Anyway, I want to close my eyes and reread this over and and over and over again. Will probably do that every year now :’)
P.S. I do wish the US version was called The Cassandra Complex.
Reread 3/8/24-3/10/24: This is a perfect #ownvoices book that has only been criticized by neurotypicals. Any review focused solely on Cassie’s narration or unlikeable traits are ableist 🫶🏽 Anyway, I want to close my eyes and reread this over and and over and over again. Will probably do that every year now :’)
March 17, 2023
What a big, warm, fuzzy surprise. I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much but I loved it.
March 8, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Cassandra in Reverse.
Going back in time is the newest trend in novels.
I've read more novels with this premise last year than the year before and I know I'll see more novels with this narrative this year.
I liked the premise but not Cassandra.
I get that she's autistic, on the spectrum, and likes things a certain way.
I definitely likes things a certain way myself, but I always wonder if authors who write from the POV of an individual like Cassandra is generalizing people with autism or truly knows someone with her attributes?
I don't any autistic adults, I know a few children with autism so I don't have anyone in the adult category to go by.
But I feel all these characters in these novels sound like they're cut from the same cloth.
Next, I didn't understand how the concept of time travel worked in this novel: Cassandra just closes her eyes?
Seems really silly.
Then, she spends the majority of the book trying to re-establish her relationship with her boyfriend. That got boring fast.
I did enjoy the Greek mythology references but I found Cassandra an unlikable character.
I didn't dislike her. I just didn't care about her.
The narrative dragged toward the end until the appearance of Cassandra's sister, but by that time I found it hard to care about anyone or anything.
Going back in time is the newest trend in novels.
I've read more novels with this premise last year than the year before and I know I'll see more novels with this narrative this year.
I liked the premise but not Cassandra.
I get that she's autistic, on the spectrum, and likes things a certain way.
I definitely likes things a certain way myself, but I always wonder if authors who write from the POV of an individual like Cassandra is generalizing people with autism or truly knows someone with her attributes?
I don't any autistic adults, I know a few children with autism so I don't have anyone in the adult category to go by.
But I feel all these characters in these novels sound like they're cut from the same cloth.
Next, I didn't understand how the concept of time travel worked in this novel: Cassandra just closes her eyes?
Seems really silly.
Then, she spends the majority of the book trying to re-establish her relationship with her boyfriend. That got boring fast.
I did enjoy the Greek mythology references but I found Cassandra an unlikable character.
I didn't dislike her. I just didn't care about her.
The narrative dragged toward the end until the appearance of Cassandra's sister, but by that time I found it hard to care about anyone or anything.
June 13, 2023
Cassandra in Reverse wants to be Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. But while Eleanor won me over, Cassandra is... lacking.
Cassandra in Reverse's core problem is that it doesn't earn what it's trying to earn. Books have to earn things from readers all the time: earn loyalty to a character, earn believability to a problematic decision, etc.
I also was surprised that the book made it a big finale reveal that, shocker, Cassandra is autistic. I'm not bothering to put that reveal in spoiler tags because Cassandra is demonstrating extremely classic autism signs from page one and not attempting to mask them to others in the slightest. The book mentions certain anecdotes from Cassandra's childhood that make it clear that only the most negligent of parents would fail to get such a child evaluated, so I'm really losing all credulity here.
I'm being harsh on Cassandra in Reverse, but it wasn't all unearned plot points. Cassandra is an interesting and believable POV, and her experiences rang true. The book has a lot of empathy for Cassandra and her inability to deal with things neurotypical people can handle without a thought, and it does a good job explaining why those things are so hard for Cassandra. There are some lovely passages where Cassandra describes her experiences interacting with other people.
I also really love the book's take on time travel: really exhausting. Resetting the timeline doesn't reset Cassandra's energy or hunger levels. At one point, Cassandra notes that after a dozen or so attempts at a perfect date, she cumulatively hasn't slept for a day and a half. In another scene, Cassandra is wiped out after multiple attempts at the perfect sex - and then she says something awkward during the aftermath and has to start all over again.
Ultimately, though, Cassandra in Reverse can't succeed. I can't root for the characters the book wants me to root for, and I can't support or understand the decisions that the book wants me to support and understand.
Cassandra in Reverse's core problem is that it doesn't earn what it's trying to earn. Books have to earn things from readers all the time: earn loyalty to a character, earn believability to a problematic decision, etc.
I also was surprised that the book made it a big finale reveal that, shocker, Cassandra is autistic. I'm not bothering to put that reveal in spoiler tags because Cassandra is demonstrating extremely classic autism signs from page one and not attempting to mask them to others in the slightest. The book mentions certain anecdotes from Cassandra's childhood that make it clear that only the most negligent of parents would fail to get such a child evaluated, so I'm really losing all credulity here.
I'm being harsh on Cassandra in Reverse, but it wasn't all unearned plot points. Cassandra is an interesting and believable POV, and her experiences rang true. The book has a lot of empathy for Cassandra and her inability to deal with things neurotypical people can handle without a thought, and it does a good job explaining why those things are so hard for Cassandra. There are some lovely passages where Cassandra describes her experiences interacting with other people.
I also really love the book's take on time travel: really exhausting. Resetting the timeline doesn't reset Cassandra's energy or hunger levels. At one point, Cassandra notes that after a dozen or so attempts at a perfect date, she cumulatively hasn't slept for a day and a half. In another scene, Cassandra is wiped out after multiple attempts at the perfect sex - and then she says something awkward during the aftermath and has to start all over again.
Ultimately, though, Cassandra in Reverse can't succeed. I can't root for the characters the book wants me to root for, and I can't support or understand the decisions that the book wants me to support and understand.
June 15, 2023
Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s such a disappointment because I was riding the high of my last book or if it’s just a bad book. It was just awful. I couldn’t get into it. I should’ve stopped reading, but I had hoped it would get better. It never did. It was full of the same story, over and over (which I’ve read books like that before and they were good. This one was just poorly written). I typically get wrapped up in the characters, but I just couldn’t with her. I didn’t like her and didn’t like the book. Just my opinion, so don’t take it personal!
July 28, 2025
#️⃣3️⃣7️⃣4️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🏩🌷🦩
Date :💮 Sunday, July 27, 2025 🌸🌸
Word Count📃: 104k Words 🧼💒
🦑 ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 🍧
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ ♡ My 59th read in "Why is Kesha's latest album so good" 🩷 July
4️⃣🌟, time travel romance?
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
Id just want to say that this is a very unique experience and an idea for a romance book! It's not that contemporary and it's also not that sci-fi but it's something in the middle. It's very funny and casual but it's still has the depth of a well written character driven story.
The story is basically just Cassandra discovering this time control thing and she is it to basically have a second chance at dating and trying to fix a failed relationship with Will. The character development of hers is inspirational and something to strive to. The conversations between them and also the other characters is such a pleasure to read and the ending is a great comeback to even the first chapter of this story.
But i don't really think that the autistic representation in here is pretty accurate. There are many times that it tries to do stereotypical things. It also doesn't go in depth towards that and is just a side characteristic. It may be quite saddling for people who experience this, trying to connect to and feel like they are represented through these characters.
Date :💮 Sunday, July 27, 2025 🌸🌸
Word Count📃: 104k Words 🧼💒
🦑 ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 🍧
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ ♡ My 59th read in "Why is Kesha's latest album so good" 🩷 July
4️⃣🌟, time travel romance?
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
Id just want to say that this is a very unique experience and an idea for a romance book! It's not that contemporary and it's also not that sci-fi but it's something in the middle. It's very funny and casual but it's still has the depth of a well written character driven story.
The story is basically just Cassandra discovering this time control thing and she is it to basically have a second chance at dating and trying to fix a failed relationship with Will. The character development of hers is inspirational and something to strive to. The conversations between them and also the other characters is such a pleasure to read and the ending is a great comeback to even the first chapter of this story.
But i don't really think that the autistic representation in here is pretty accurate. There are many times that it tries to do stereotypical things. It also doesn't go in depth towards that and is just a side characteristic. It may be quite saddling for people who experience this, trying to connect to and feel like they are represented through these characters.
June 30, 2023
Really disliked this story. There were so many moments when I decided I was going to stop reading and then continued on because a part of me felt committed to hear out what was the point of this book. To help save time.. there wasn't one. I felt it was too long and just continued in circles for no reason. It was obvious that the book was heading in the direction of Cassandra being on the spectrum but I felt the author made her out to be too unrelatable to her surroundings that it made me dislike her charcter so much but I felt bad doing that because I know she was undiagnosed and couldn't self identify her triggers. The end of the book I felt it was finally coming together and then the ending just makes absolutely no sense still. Truly a waste of a read.
May 30, 2023
Title: Cassandra in Reverse
Series: n/a
Author: Holly Smale
Release date: June 6, 2023
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: time travel, fantasy
Anytime I see a new book pop up with a time travel theme, I'm automatically excited to read it. I'm a bit obsessed with time travel, and frankly, there isn't enough out there to whet my voracious appetite for it. Let me start off by saying that Cassandra in Reverse started off with a bang.
Cassandra, the main character, has some great philosophical, original thoughts that effortlessly pulled me into the story. As she begins her narration, she even breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the reader. It was a really promising first impression, and even better, she only became more interesting the more I read. I could see how many people might be frustrated or annoyed with her horrible interactions with everyone around her. After all, she hasn't a clue how to engage in small talk or polite, casual conversation. She inevitably manages to offend or anger the person she is speaking to-completely unintentionally. Still, for me, her clumsiness at personal and professional relationships made me feel so sympathetic towards her struggles. The author spent a lot of time explaining Cassandra's differences, daily challenges, and feelings of despair that she couldn't stop pushing people away. Based on all of these things, it became crystal clear very early on that Cassandra is autistic, but was never diagnosed.
The book begins with her getting fired from her job, getting dumped by her boyfriend, and her living situation with her roommates is pretty well destroyed. So far, it was reminding me very strongly of Penny Reid's Neanderthal Seeks Human just without the huge dose of humor. (One of my top favorite books, btw) Cassandra doesn't care much for her PR job in the first place, considering she just isn't a people person. However, nobody wants to be fired and lose their financial stability, so she is naturally distraught. Even more upsetting is her unexpected break-up with her lovely boyfriend Will of four months. She truly cares for Will, and was completely blindsided by his sudden extraction from their relationship. Will seemed to genuinely admire Cassandra's intelligence and wasn't put off by her differences. What seemed to be a breaking point for him was her issue with opening up to him about her feelings and sharing herself with him. No matter how many times he asked her to share what she was thinking and feeling, she didn't know how to give that to him.
Somewhere after this disaster of a day when her life implodes, she discovers that she inexplicably went back and started repeating the day over again. She's stunned to discover that she has a strange ability to manipulate time, rewinding moments and re-doing them to fix what she feels like she broke. The catch is that she can only go back to the beginning of that one day and no further. This time travel aspect is left pretty vague and not at all fleshed out. The rules seem arbitrary and erratic, fluid even. But putting that aside, if you suspend disbelief and explore the yawning possibilities with her, there's still potential.
When I woke up this morning, it suddenly occurred to me that I’m not using my newfound abilities to their full capacity. I can travel through time, which means I can draw the day in pencil and then simply erase it when it’s done. I can have a holiday whenever I feel like it.
She struggles with questions of morality: should she even be re-doing so many failures with Will in order to prevent their break-up? If she keeps rewinding situations that end badly until Will is happy with her, isn't that a form of control and manipulation? Eventually, it doesn't sit well with her. She briefly thinks about doing illegal things just because she can and then erasing them, but she is an honest person at heart so she discards the possibility. In the end, what she cares most about is finding out where she went wrong with Will, preventing herself from getting fired, and preventing the day with her roommate Derek that ruins everything at home. So she begins an exhausting effort to reset everything. Along the way, she starts to learn things about herself as well as start to become more friendly with Salini and Sophie. Unfortunately, even with some successes, she keeps hitting walls when it comes to Will and the mystery woman named Diana that keeps popping up no matter what she changes. She starts to think that the harder she tries to put things back together again, perhaps she's just better off letting things fall where they may and accepting her life, flaws and all.
The mystery woman, Diana, set the story on a whole new course that I was not expecting. After Cassandra's reconciliation with her, the storyline with Will is completely altered. At first, I was extremely annoyed. After all, wasn't this book partially a romance? Now it wasn't feeling like one so much. Then the more I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that maybe there was a reason she and Will keep having issues in every alternate reality she creates. As sweet as he is, perhaps they really are too different, and she was wrong about fate. She can keep altering it, but in the end, things will eventually realign in the way they were meant to go. Different journey, same results. So I adjusted my thinking about her new projected ending. This is all about her deciding not to time travel anymore because she finally accepts herself for who she is, differences and all. Except...she starts making mistakes again with Diana, time traveling again to fix it (after declaring that she won't anymore), and then deciding to contradict everything she claimed to have learned and start COMPLETELY over again.
By the end, I was left floundering. I wondered what the lesson was. What was the message, the timeline of anything, the takeaway from everything I just read...? It's so unfortunate, but the promising beginning fizzled out to confusion in the final chapters. Everything I thought the book was about changed to something else, then left completely unresolved and undone. I decided on three stars, but this really was a tough one to rate. I enjoyed the author's writing style a lot, unfortunately the execution left something to be desired. Also, a minor complaint I have is the excessive references/comparisons to ancient Greek Gods. I understand that it was Cassandra's obsession, but there were so many insertions into the story that it became boring and I started skimming over them.
I wish I could have loved this one more, but I ended up having very mixed feelings. I will say that despite my issues, this was an original concept that held my interest pretty much the whole way through. I might be willing to give this author another try in the future if the right synopsis catches my eye again.
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September 6, 2025
3.5 stars! I’ve really been loving some magical realism lately, and this was another great read.
Cassandra was an absolute gem—sharp-tongued, delightfully sarcastic, and just the right amount of emotionally avoidant. I loved that her use of time travel not only “fixed” things, but also helped her build deeper, more authentic relationships. Her growth felt real, and I was especially glad to see her let go of her original love interest (who, let’s be honest, had the emotional depth of a houseplant). Honestly, her evolution was the best part of the book.
That said, I really wish we got more backstory on how the time travel actually worked—that part of the plot felt pretty underdeveloped. And after such a strong emotional journey, the ending fell flat. It left me wondering what the point of everything was. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did leave a frustrating aftertaste. Still, for Cassandra and some of the lovable minor characters, I’d relive this read—just maybe not the last chapter.
If you’re considering a book by Smale, I’d highly recommend “I Know How This Ends” as I thought it was a stronger book overall (and honestly, probably one of my top reads of 2025!).
Cassandra was an absolute gem—sharp-tongued, delightfully sarcastic, and just the right amount of emotionally avoidant. I loved that her use of time travel not only “fixed” things, but also helped her build deeper, more authentic relationships. Her growth felt real, and I was especially glad to see her let go of her original love interest (who, let’s be honest, had the emotional depth of a houseplant). Honestly, her evolution was the best part of the book.
That said, I really wish we got more backstory on how the time travel actually worked—that part of the plot felt pretty underdeveloped. And after such a strong emotional journey, the ending fell flat. It left me wondering what the point of everything was. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did leave a frustrating aftertaste. Still, for Cassandra and some of the lovable minor characters, I’d relive this read—just maybe not the last chapter.
If you’re considering a book by Smale, I’d highly recommend “I Know How This Ends” as I thought it was a stronger book overall (and honestly, probably one of my top reads of 2025!).
July 8, 2023
So much potential!
Reese always makes her book club picks sound so amazing, but they’re hit or miss for me. This one leaned more towards a miss.
Cassandra loses her boyfriend, job, and probably her living situation all at once. After a meltdown (maybe a panic attack) she discovers she can go back in time and have some do-overs. She focuses her newfound ability on repeatedly going back in little spurts to try to save her relationship, her job, and her roommate arrangement. Over and over and over. But the relationship that she ultimately saves is a bit of a surprise and the most meaningful one in her life. And maybe she saves herself, too. It’s a very long and tortuous road to get there- but maybe there’s hope for Cassandra Dankworth after all.
I’m not a big fan of ‘groundhog day’ types of repetitive scenarios, especially when they repeat someone’s worst day of terrible encounters over and over again. So much awkwardness and pain. Ugh! The repetitiveness went on too long and just wasn’t enjoyable to read. I wanted to stop. But I persevered and did find redeemable aspects to the story.
It’s obvious early on that Cassandra has some neurodivergent issues, so it’s frustrating to see others (and herself) just label her as rude, selfish, and other characteristics that are considered to be negative. I thought surely other characters could see and appreciate what the reader can perceive about Cassie, but the reality of her situation isn’t revealed until late in the story. This seemed unlikely to me. But then I read in the author’s bio that , “At the age of 39, Holly was diagnosed as both autistic and dyspraxic.” So it’s safe to say the author knows more about this late diagnosis at the age of 31 for Cassie than I do. But it was still really hard to read about how poorly she was treated. I think I just wanted her to be treated with more empathy. I’m frustrated again just thinking back on the ways her boss (Barry,) her client (Jack,) her boyfriend (Will,) her flatmates (Sal and Derek,) and others spoke to and about her.
Seeing the other characters through Cassie’s lens and reading about their mean comments and behaviors made most everyone an unlikable character, which isn’t fun to read about. The reading journey became much more enjoyable for me as little changes were made that helped Cassie make some connections with others and see more little kindnesses. These were the good parts. But I have to admit I wanted more good parts for Cassie. The ending was definitely better than the beginning, but I still didn’t love the end.
The book includes loads of Greek mythology references, which were interesting (to a point) and revealed part of Cassie’s way of processing; but it became a bit much for me. And there are a lot of descriptions of seeing emotions as colors, which is also interesting as it relates to Cassie’s way of processing information; but it’s also overdone. It really is enlightening to get a glimpse behind the curtain to see Cassie’s internal functioning.
So many aspects of the book have good parts with great potential. But something about how it all comes together just doesn’t make it a great book for my tastes. I could give it 4⭐️ because of the good parts and the great effort for neurodivergent representation. But the reality that at many points I didn’t want to continue reading the book has me giving it 3⭐️. Many readers seem to love it, and I’ve seen glowing reviews. But it’s not one I’ll be telling everyone to read this summer.
Reese always makes her book club picks sound so amazing, but they’re hit or miss for me. This one leaned more towards a miss.
Cassandra loses her boyfriend, job, and probably her living situation all at once. After a meltdown (maybe a panic attack) she discovers she can go back in time and have some do-overs. She focuses her newfound ability on repeatedly going back in little spurts to try to save her relationship, her job, and her roommate arrangement. Over and over and over. But the relationship that she ultimately saves is a bit of a surprise and the most meaningful one in her life. And maybe she saves herself, too. It’s a very long and tortuous road to get there- but maybe there’s hope for Cassandra Dankworth after all.
I’m not a big fan of ‘groundhog day’ types of repetitive scenarios, especially when they repeat someone’s worst day of terrible encounters over and over again. So much awkwardness and pain. Ugh! The repetitiveness went on too long and just wasn’t enjoyable to read. I wanted to stop. But I persevered and did find redeemable aspects to the story.
It’s obvious early on that Cassandra has some neurodivergent issues, so it’s frustrating to see others (and herself) just label her as rude, selfish, and other characteristics that are considered to be negative. I thought surely other characters could see and appreciate what the reader can perceive about Cassie, but the reality of her situation isn’t revealed until late in the story. This seemed unlikely to me. But then I read in the author’s bio that , “At the age of 39, Holly was diagnosed as both autistic and dyspraxic.” So it’s safe to say the author knows more about this late diagnosis at the age of 31 for Cassie than I do. But it was still really hard to read about how poorly she was treated. I think I just wanted her to be treated with more empathy. I’m frustrated again just thinking back on the ways her boss (Barry,) her client (Jack,) her boyfriend (Will,) her flatmates (Sal and Derek,) and others spoke to and about her.
Seeing the other characters through Cassie’s lens and reading about their mean comments and behaviors made most everyone an unlikable character, which isn’t fun to read about. The reading journey became much more enjoyable for me as little changes were made that helped Cassie make some connections with others and see more little kindnesses. These were the good parts. But I have to admit I wanted more good parts for Cassie. The ending was definitely better than the beginning, but I still didn’t love the end.
The book includes loads of Greek mythology references, which were interesting (to a point) and revealed part of Cassie’s way of processing; but it became a bit much for me. And there are a lot of descriptions of seeing emotions as colors, which is also interesting as it relates to Cassie’s way of processing information; but it’s also overdone. It really is enlightening to get a glimpse behind the curtain to see Cassie’s internal functioning.
So many aspects of the book have good parts with great potential. But something about how it all comes together just doesn’t make it a great book for my tastes. I could give it 4⭐️ because of the good parts and the great effort for neurodivergent representation. But the reality that at many points I didn’t want to continue reading the book has me giving it 3⭐️. Many readers seem to love it, and I’ve seen glowing reviews. But it’s not one I’ll be telling everyone to read this summer.
June 16, 2023
3.5 stars.
The latest pick by Reese’s Book Club is an easy and fun read.
We follow a unique character who is stuck in a time loop.
I found the story quite fascinating and entertaining.
The situations are quite funny and I loved the dialogues.
The writing is very good.
The only problem is that, with the ability to time travel (although limited to 4 months back - I think) trying to fix the same problems, the story becomes repetitive.
There are no explanations as to how she gained this ability, but that did not bother me.
I had some good laugh.
Although this kind of concept has been done before (a single example: Groundhog Day), the main character shines.
But I wished that the character was not so obsessed in saving a job that she hated or a relationship that wasn’t older than 4 months.
There is a reveal at the end that should have been a surprise. Unfortunately lots of reviewers spoiled that one.
I do recommend the audiobook narrated by Kristin Atherton, who did a fabulous job (but sounding older than 31 years, the protagonist’s age.
Hardcover (Mira): 368 pages
e-book (Kobo): 326 pages (default), 101k words
Audiobook narrated by Kristin Atherton: 13.3 hours
The latest pick by Reese’s Book Club is an easy and fun read.
We follow a unique character who is stuck in a time loop.
I found the story quite fascinating and entertaining.
The situations are quite funny and I loved the dialogues.
The writing is very good.
The only problem is that, with the ability to time travel (although limited to 4 months back - I think) trying to fix the same problems, the story becomes repetitive.
There are no explanations as to how she gained this ability, but that did not bother me.
I had some good laugh.
Although this kind of concept has been done before (a single example: Groundhog Day), the main character shines.
But I wished that the character was not so obsessed in saving a job that she hated or a relationship that wasn’t older than 4 months.
There is a reveal at the end that should have been a surprise. Unfortunately lots of reviewers spoiled that one.
I do recommend the audiobook narrated by Kristin Atherton, who did a fabulous job (but sounding older than 31 years, the protagonist’s age.
Hardcover (Mira): 368 pages
e-book (Kobo): 326 pages (default), 101k words
Audiobook narrated by Kristin Atherton: 13.3 hours
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