The Seven Year Slip

The worst (yet) I have rated a book this year, but come on, 3 is not bad. It’s just not great. Good things first-

- I loved aunt Analea, such a quirky fun personality, her charms adding character to the apartment, always looking out for new adventures. If this book had been about her, I probably would have given it 5/5.

- The way the author describes grief and dealing with loss is just so heartbreaking yet powerful. My favourite quote from the book was “Because the things that mattered most never really left. The love stays. The love always stays, and so do we.” This made me cry. All the parts about grief and loss were beautiful.

- The premise in itself, and the potential of the story. Which was, unfortunately, lost in the romantic plot.

The not so great things -

- I will now vomit if I hear these two words being mentioned one more time - lemon, crooked.

- What is with Iwan’s eyes being pale grey and STORMING up with emotions? I shudder at the thought of having to look at anyone who had weird magical orbs eyes! 👀 🔮

- There is really no connection or chemistry in the romance (first time) and their relationship (?) made no sense at all! Really, you find a stranger at home and decide to give them a nickname LEMON after spending two hours together? Instant love is so out of fashion.

I get why this book is a huge hit, and I can see the appeal in grabbing this book for a quick and light whimsical read, but ahh looks like this is not my kind of pie (ha!).

This book was sooooooo good. It felt like getting wrapped up in a warm blanket on a chilly day. It had all the perfect elements: a main character who learns more about herself, good food, a swoonworthy love interest, and and eccentric, magical apartment. While I could go on about how the plot is well written with jumps back in time and how even the side characters are interesting, it is really the way that the author wrote that sells this book. It is so poetic in its prose that nearly every page, I found another quote that I loved. It beautifully intertwined the aftermaths of grief and how easily it can be to lose yourself in the habituality of life. Not to mention, it wonderfully showed a love story that spanned 7 years in such a way that I wasn’t frustrated with either of the characters for not getting together sooner.

I can’t accurately put into words how good it was. I will be reading this book again!

I didn't really enjoy her first book - The Dead Romantics, so I was very hesitant when I picked this book up. So, I was delightfully surprised when I found myself enjoying it so much that I finished it in a day.

The Seven Year Slip is a lovely timeslip romcom where a woman and a man find themselves entangled in a romance but they exist seven years apart.

It's a sweet book, simple uncomplicated story - I've been drawn to these kind of novels nowadays. The characters are loveable, its romance is really nice. Nothing steamy or smutty, but it was fun nonetheless.

The book also deals with grief and coming to terms with it, but doesn't linger on to too much to make a statement or a point. If I had to pick a failing, it would be that it brings up interesting ideas of self, and how time changes someone and, of course, grief, but it doesn't really stick to everything enough to make a convincing point or leave a message that sticks.

That being said, I really wasn't in the mood for something heavy, so I was happy with this book just the way it was. It was a really fun and light read.

I tried to go in with as few expectations as possible because I have been let down when the internet tells me a book is 5 stars but this was the first book in a bit where it was truly 5 stars for me. I love every second of this book, I gasped repeatedly, giggled while kicking my feet, and had a really great time. I read this in 2 sittings and I was stuck as soon as I connected the dots in the beginning. I would absolutely recommend this to any one who wants a romance with real characters not just the idyllic happy go lucky characters

The Seven Year Slip, penned by Ashley Poston, stands as the first book that the internet compelled me to read, and I am sincerely grateful that it did. This literary gem proved to be a captivating 5-star experience, one that enthralled me from start to finish.

Imagine the plight of falling for an individual who resides seven years in the past. Contemplate the tumultuous emotions that accompany finding the right person at the most inopportune moment. Envision a universe that conspires to create additional hurdles, obstructing any semblance of a happy ending. What if you chance upon the same individual in the present, only to realize that they are not the same person you once adored, and you yourself have undergone profound transformations despite your recent acquaintance?

The novel is a mind-boggling, intricately woven tapestry, a masterful amalgamation of intellect and complexity that requires diligent assembly of its various puzzle pieces to fully savor the richness of the narrative. Upon reaching the last page, I found myself eager to devour every book by this author in one seamless reading session.

The protagonist, Clementine, affectionately known as Lemon, is an idiosyncratic blend of artistic eccentricity, misplaced purpose, and fervent dedication to her work. As she grapples with the profound loss of her beloved aunt and best friend, she is thrust into a tumultuous journey of self-discovery. An individual who has traversed the globe with her enigmatic and vivacious aunt Analea, Clementine has come to understand the very fabric of magic in the world.

Frequent visits to her aunt's magical abode since childhood have acquainted Clementine with the apartment's peculiar ability to traverse time, propelling its inhabitants seven years forward or backward, thereby facilitating serendipitous reunions and poignant farewells. However, as Clementine matured, skepticism seeped into her perception of her aunt's fantastical tales, until the day her aunt departed, bequeathing her the apartment and the responsibility of safeguarding its mystical legacy.

Upon her return to the hallowed confines of her aunt's residence, she unexpectedly encounters a charismatic stranger, his Southern charm a striking contrast to her initial apprehension. In a whirlwind of emotions, she realizes that it is not the stranger who is displaced in time, but herself, flung seven years into the past.

Enter Iwan, the charismatic, red-headed stranger, an aspiring culinary virtuoso determined to honor his grandfather's legacy by carving his path as a dishwasher in an upscale restaurant. He enchants her with the finest fajitas she has ever savored, shares an enchanting dance, and seals their brief encounter with a heartfelt kiss, only to vanish into the ether the following day.

Determined to track down the enigmatic Iwan, Clementine embarks on a desperate quest, only to uncover that the contemporary iteration of Iwan is far closer than she ever anticipated. The looming question arises: has she missed her chance at eternal love, or is there still hope for their paths to converge at the opportune moment?

The novel's allure lies not only in its labyrinthine narrative, but also in the poignant bond shared between the aunt and her niece. It is a tale that warms the heart, a poignant exploration of timing, resilience, self-discovery, and the unwavering pursuit of love amidst the ever-shifting tides of life. With an eager eye, I have glimpsed another work by this author, and I am fervently anticipating the next chapter. If you too wish to embark on this extraordinary journey, simply click the link below to immerse yourself in this captivating tale.

This is so much more than just the paranormal/magical romance that I thought it was. The way the book evolves from something that seemed lighthearted and about finding love to what it ended with was so magical. This book takes you on an absolute journey and I devoured it in one afternoon. 

I was an absolute sobbing mess at the end of it but I love it so so much. Easily one of my top reads this year

The last few chapters made a bawling, sobbing mess out of me. Ashley Poston's description of grief and the process of accepting a death was so relatable which made me bawl my eyes out (they're still pretty puffy). The last bit where Aunt Analea returns to the apartment 7 years in the past where Vera got to reunite with her made me a sobbing mess. The last few paragraphs and lines of love staying always.. killed me. And the way that everything linked with each other and made sense was so good too!

Ashley Poston had me gasping, smiling and sobbing in one afternoon. My heart has been put through a journey and it's gonna take some time to recover but such an amazing read ❤️

I heard so many good things about it and wanted to like this more, but I was really struggling with this. I almost DNF-ed it, but I stuck with it.

I love a good time travel romance, and I was also willing to suspend disbelief and “rules” since it was a lighthearted romp. My gripe is not with that.

My gripe is with the characters. I just didn't connect with them. They seemed a little too perfect and fell a little too quickly and easily. They always knew the right things to say and never felt like they had to struggle too much. Just like I will excuse a story's flaws if the characters are good, it will take me out of it if the characters are bad.

I'm sure other people will enjoy this more, especially those looking for romance novels as an “escape”. I think I also got annoyed by all the food talk, too, which probably won't bother other folks as much.

3.8/5

Yeah, I enjoyed this book more than Dead Romantics. Poston's writing has really matured, with a smoother flow and a deeper dive into her characters' emotions.

The romance definitely took things up a notch compared to her previous novel. The spicy scenes were well-written, but for me personally, they lacked a certain spark. I found myself wanting more butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of romance.

One interesting thread that seems to weave through Poston's work is the theme of grief. Both this and Dead Romantics deal with characters navigating loss and it will be interesting to see if this continues to be a recurring element in Poston's future novels.

Overall, “The Seven Year Slip” was a well-written and enjoyable read about love, passion, and growth.

I just reread this novel. Loved it just as much. It's just so full of soul. My cheeks hurt from smiling and my eyes are full of tears.

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I did not expect to be so blown away by this novel. This time travel love story hits all the right marks for me when it comes to a romance novel. The characters were well developed, the chemistry was strong and believable, and the anticipation and longing were written beautifully. This is a story about finding the perfect person at the wrong time in your life (literally), but also about the compromises that are and are not worth making as we grow up and pursue our dreams. How much do we owe our past self who dreamt up this life? And how do we stay true to that while still celebrating our growth? It also deals with topics of grief and mental health. It has soul and depth, while still being cute as hell! I cannot recommend this highly enough.

3.5 ☆

so cute and cozy, but a bit too insta lovey for me :(

““That was love, wasn't it? It wasn't just a quick drop- it was falling, over and over again, for your person. It was falling as they became new people. It was learning how to exist with every new breath. It was uncertain and it was undeniably hard, and it wasn't something you could plan for. Love was an invitation into the wild unknown, one step at a time together.”

3.5..
It could be partially because I listened to this book and sometimes audiobooks don't capture my attention like physically holding a book. I really like the time travel aspect and some twists along the way. I will say that I am not a romance girlie at all so I feel like 3.5 is a really high rating. I also feel like I have confirmed that I need a little fantasy with my romance in order to enjoy it and although this has some time travel aspect to it, it's really a romance book and for that, I couldn't get too deep into it. If you like romance I think this would be a great book for you! It's very “romantic” and sweet and has some real life issues we can all relate to. Also, do not read while hungry