Quick Reviews: Time Travel Edition

 The Good Part by Sophie Cousens (2023)

Lucy is tired of her mediocre life, and when she comes across a wishing machine, she takes a chance and wishes to be taken to "the good part" of her life, where she's gotten everything figured out.  The next day, she wakes up 16 years older, married with children and a great job.  But, she doesn't remember anything of how she got there.  I mean, how captivating is this premise?  Who hasn't wished for something like this - but would it be worth it?  Watching Lucy navigate a life she literally woke up in was fun - getting to know her husband and children and figure out how to do her job.  She also has to come to terms with the person she has become.  I think it got a little overly long and repetitive at times, but the ending surprised me and Cousens' writing always keeps me engaged, with subtle humor and lots of heart.  4 stars

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (2023)

After her beloved aunt's death, Clementine buries herself in work and tries to plan for the future, but when she moves into her late aunt's apartment, through a bit of magic, she finds herself falling for a man who lives seven years in the past.  I was intrigued by this premise and how Clementine and Iwan would figure out a way to overcome the time difference.  As I'm writing this, the book has a 4.29 starred rating on Goodreads - and unfortunately, I'm going to be an outlier.  I just could not get into this story and considered DNFing it many times.  The writing didn't jive for me - too much purple prose, and every time Clementine and Iwan had a conversation, I just kept thinking to myself that people don't talk like this in real life.  Iwan's character was just too perfect and unbelievable.  The pacing didn't work for me at all, either.  Not enough time spent in the past and too much time in the present focusing on things I didn't really care about, like the side characters, unfortunately.  I felt for Clementine and her grief over her aunt's death, but Clementine was also such a contradictory character.  For instance, when we first meet her, she loves her job so much and is looking forward to moving up in the company; then, when she finds out that will actually be happening, suddenly she is panicking and full of dread.  I know many people have loved this book, but it just wasn't for me.  2.5 stars

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