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Time and Tide
Historical fiction with a touch of time travel, for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Alexis Hall, and Olivia Waite’s Feminine Pursuits series, where a modern bisexual woman is thrown into Regency England and must figure out how to survive, while she falls in love with a woman who will become a famous author.
Just a twenty-first century gal with nineteenth-century problems…
When Sam’s plane crashes catastrophically over the Atlantic, it defies all odds for Sam to be the sole survivor. But it seems impossible that she’s rescued by a warship in 1805. With a dashing sea captain as her guide, she begins to find her footing in a world she’d only seen in movies.
Then Sam is betrayed. At the mercy of the men and morals of the time, and without the means to survive on her own, she’s left with no choice but to throw herself on the charity of the captain's sisters. She resigns herself to a quiet life of forever hiding her true self. What she doesn't expect is that her new landlady is Margaret Goodenough—the world-famous author whose yet-to-be-completed novel will contain the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature, and a clever woman. Clever enough to know her new companion has a secret.
As the two women grow ever closer, Sam must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a place where she doesn’t think she’ll ever fit in, and possibly (accidentally) changing the course of history.
Just a twenty-first century gal with nineteenth-century problems…
When Sam’s plane crashes catastrophically over the Atlantic, it defies all odds for Sam to be the sole survivor. But it seems impossible that she’s rescued by a warship in 1805. With a dashing sea captain as her guide, she begins to find her footing in a world she’d only seen in movies.
Then Sam is betrayed. At the mercy of the men and morals of the time, and without the means to survive on her own, she’s left with no choice but to throw herself on the charity of the captain's sisters. She resigns herself to a quiet life of forever hiding her true self. What she doesn't expect is that her new landlady is Margaret Goodenough—the world-famous author whose yet-to-be-completed novel will contain the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature, and a clever woman. Clever enough to know her new companion has a secret.
As the two women grow ever closer, Sam must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a place where she doesn’t think she’ll ever fit in, and possibly (accidentally) changing the course of history.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
About the author
J.M. Frey
30 books192 followersFrey is an award-winning author and lapsed academic. She spent three years as the entertainment contributor on AMI Radio's Live From Studio 5 morning show, and was an occasional talking head in documentaries and on the SPACE Channel's premier chat show InnerSPACE. She holds a BA in Dramatic Literature and an MA in Communications Culture, and has lectured at conferences and conventions all around the world. Frey is also a professional voice actor, appearing in commercial jingles and animated television shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 30, 2024
I am extremely disappointed this book didn't have any trigger warnings. I have given trigger warnings to many books this year, but nothing like this. Toss out all previous ones if it meant the publisher would actually add one to the book. MAJOR TRIGGER WARNINGS for attempted rape, physical abuse, and PTSD. The scenes are detailed and go one for many pages. Thankfully, it wasn't meant to glorify it, but to show struggles women went through during the time period (and unfortunately still do today). Although it was necessary for the plot, I really don't think all the detail was needed.
Truly did enjoy the book, though. I started out hating the Samantha. Actually, so much that, even though I had only read less than 10 pages, I thought she may get up to Ross Gellar levels of hatred. One scene in an airport and a few references to the past, and I loathed her. But, apparently, all that she needed to change was get in a plane crash and get flung back into the past. Shoved back into the closet. Etc etc. So I did end up liking her.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My review is left voluntarily.
Truly did enjoy the book, though. I started out hating the Samantha. Actually, so much that, even though I had only read less than 10 pages, I thought she may get up to Ross Gellar levels of hatred. One scene in an airport and a few references to the past, and I loathed her. But, apparently, all that she needed to change was get in a plane crash and get flung back into the past. Shoved back into the closet. Etc etc. So I did end up liking her.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My review is left voluntarily.
August 20, 2024
First off, content warnings all. There are multiple scenes of
This was a good novel. It wasn’t perfect or my favorite, but it was a very enjoyable read with some good characters and a lot of great scenes. For me, its on the cusp of a high 4-stars or a low 5-stars, and I wish I could give partial marks. If you like historical fiction, time travel, or novels that point out how terrible things could be in the past sometimes, then this is a great novel for you.
There was a lot of sweet moments in this novel that I appreciated. The HEA was nice and for the most part it was quite satisfying. The exploration of trauma and PTSD was something I appreciated and found realistic, given everything that the MC went through in this novel. That is something which is often glazed over or ignored. This novel was a page turner that kept me reading. The plot wandered a little bit but there was (mostly) a point behind what was happening and I enjoyed following the journey.
The author is a good writer. They did an excellent job of giving each character a distinct voice and personality, which sometimes isn’t the case. The scenes between the two MC’s particularly showcased this as their language usage was very different, which I particularly enjoyed.
A lot of elements in this novel were underdeveloped, or unrealistic. This could be due to the multiple sections where the timeline fast forwarded and we didn’t see all of the action, or just superficial writing. Some of the relationship development I would have liked to have seen happened off screen, which is unfortunate as its one of the elements I was most interested in for a novel like this. I think we would have benefitted from seeing more relationship development between the MC and love interest(s) (which would also be more of exactly what romance readers want!), as well as more scenes between .
Despite all of the difficulties that the MC encountered, I couldn’t help but find myself thinking that things went too easily for her. She went 200 years back in time, but happened to fall in with people who had money, and a convenient job opening she could actually fill, a queer woman, etc. I know its fantasy, but still! She also did a terrible job of fitting in, constantly using language and behavior from her time. I can easily see a time traveler having this issue, however I think it would have caused more of an issue in her day to day interactions than we saw.
I was sad that there was no
This was a good novel. It wasn’t perfect or my favorite, but it was a very enjoyable read with some good characters and a lot of great scenes. For me, its on the cusp of a high 4-stars or a low 5-stars, and I wish I could give partial marks. If you like historical fiction, time travel, or novels that point out how terrible things could be in the past sometimes, then this is a great novel for you.
There was a lot of sweet moments in this novel that I appreciated. The HEA was nice and for the most part it was quite satisfying. The exploration of trauma and PTSD was something I appreciated and found realistic, given everything that the MC went through in this novel. That is something which is often glazed over or ignored. This novel was a page turner that kept me reading. The plot wandered a little bit but there was (mostly) a point behind what was happening and I enjoyed following the journey.
The author is a good writer. They did an excellent job of giving each character a distinct voice and personality, which sometimes isn’t the case. The scenes between the two MC’s particularly showcased this as their language usage was very different, which I particularly enjoyed.
A lot of elements in this novel were underdeveloped, or unrealistic. This could be due to the multiple sections where the timeline fast forwarded and we didn’t see all of the action, or just superficial writing. Some of the relationship development I would have liked to have seen happened off screen, which is unfortunate as its one of the elements I was most interested in for a novel like this. I think we would have benefitted from seeing more relationship development between the MC and love interest(s) (which would also be more of exactly what romance readers want!), as well as more scenes between .
Despite all of the difficulties that the MC encountered, I couldn’t help but find myself thinking that things went too easily for her. She went 200 years back in time, but happened to fall in with people who had money, and a convenient job opening she could actually fill, a queer woman, etc. I know its fantasy, but still! She also did a terrible job of fitting in, constantly using language and behavior from her time. I can easily see a time traveler having this issue, however I think it would have caused more of an issue in her day to day interactions than we saw.
I was sad that there was no
May 14, 2024
Sam has just broken up with her girlfriend, and her parting gift was the famous Queer novel “The Welshman’s Daughters”. Sam knew it well, because her ex quoted it all the time, and she had watched many adoptions on TV of the story. But it was not her favorite,and she threw it in the trash of the plane ride that she had hoped would be a romantic trip for the two of them.
Then, the plane explodes, and Sam is thrown into the ocean off Gibraltar, but instead of 2024, it is 1805, and the Battle of Trafalgar has just taken place, and the Welshman’s Daughter would be published in 1807.
Like any good Victorian or Regency novel, there are a lot of coincidences that tie people together, but this is done without hitting us over the head. Each thing that happens is logical, and explained.
Good time travel stories have to have some logic to them. So, the story can be good, but if the ending doesn’t wrap things up, then it is all a cheat, and all the build up is for nothing. That isn’t what happens with this story, I am happy to say.
I love how Sam manages to make her way in the world, knowing enough that she as a woman can’t do anything without friends or family, or unfortunately, a man.
I also love how Sam tries, but doesn’t always succeed in trying to match the current language, and swears like a sailor. She also is very sexual, and we get descriptions of those sexual encounters. Be warned, the F word is used early and often.
So, amazing book. Really well done. I look forward to anything J. M. Frey writes next. In the meantime, pre-order this one, if you love sapphic regency time travel stories.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 12th of November 2024.
Then, the plane explodes, and Sam is thrown into the ocean off Gibraltar, but instead of 2024, it is 1805, and the Battle of Trafalgar has just taken place, and the Welshman’s Daughter would be published in 1807.
Like any good Victorian or Regency novel, there are a lot of coincidences that tie people together, but this is done without hitting us over the head. Each thing that happens is logical, and explained.
Good time travel stories have to have some logic to them. So, the story can be good, but if the ending doesn’t wrap things up, then it is all a cheat, and all the build up is for nothing. That isn’t what happens with this story, I am happy to say.
I love how Sam manages to make her way in the world, knowing enough that she as a woman can’t do anything without friends or family, or unfortunately, a man.
I also love how Sam tries, but doesn’t always succeed in trying to match the current language, and swears like a sailor. She also is very sexual, and we get descriptions of those sexual encounters. Be warned, the F word is used early and often.
So, amazing book. Really well done. I look forward to anything J. M. Frey writes next. In the meantime, pre-order this one, if you love sapphic regency time travel stories.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 12th of November 2024.
Read
October 2, 2024This book is exactly what you might expect from a Wattpad imprint. Whether or not that's a compliment, I leave it to you to decide.
On the one hand, this book is a disaster. On the other hand, the author embraced the disaster bi stereotype hard when writing the main character. So if your MC is a disaster, it makes sense that the plot would follow. It might, in fact, be entirely the point.
Look, did I love this? No. But there are going to be readers out there who will be thrilled to embrace the chaos. And I will say that the way the end references the beginning, bringing the book full circle was pretty clever.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
On the one hand, this book is a disaster. On the other hand, the author embraced the disaster bi stereotype hard when writing the main character. So if your MC is a disaster, it makes sense that the plot would follow. It might, in fact, be entirely the point.
Look, did I love this? No. But there are going to be readers out there who will be thrilled to embrace the chaos. And I will say that the way the end references the beginning, bringing the book full circle was pretty clever.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
August 13, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Okay in general this was an interesting story, although I found the main character Sam really annoying. Fresh from a breakup, Sam boards a plane to Europe but rather than seducing the men and women of modern-day Spain, the plane crashes into the sea and she finds herself back in time aboard a ship in 1805.
I actually really liked the descriptions of the time period and the cities Sam visits! The author was pretty detailed and it was fun to read about how Sam adjusts to living in this time period. She also has romances with both the ship's captain and his sister in this story (not a spoiler as that is already mentioned in the description), and she is very proud of her bisexuality. I however hated the captain, Fenton, and his betrayal was lowwww, as was that entire situation. There is also a lot of misogyny and attempted sexual assault in this book, so reader be warned.
I liked the first part of the book the most as Sam got to know her new world, and while I personally found Sam obnoxious and annoying, it didn't stop me from finishing the book.
Okay in general this was an interesting story, although I found the main character Sam really annoying. Fresh from a breakup, Sam boards a plane to Europe but rather than seducing the men and women of modern-day Spain, the plane crashes into the sea and she finds herself back in time aboard a ship in 1805.
I actually really liked the descriptions of the time period and the cities Sam visits! The author was pretty detailed and it was fun to read about how Sam adjusts to living in this time period. She also has romances with both the ship's captain and his sister in this story (not a spoiler as that is already mentioned in the description), and she is very proud of her bisexuality. I however hated the captain, Fenton, and his betrayal was lowwww, as was that entire situation. There is also a lot of misogyny and attempted sexual assault in this book, so reader be warned.
I liked the first part of the book the most as Sam got to know her new world, and while I personally found Sam obnoxious and annoying, it didn't stop me from finishing the book.
November 12, 2024
Time and Tide by J.M. Frey is a beautifully woven time-travel tale that explores the intricacies of survival, adaptation, and personal transformation. This magical novel took me on an emotional rollercoaster, pulling me into the world of Sam, a modern-day woman who is abruptly thrust into the past after a plane crash leaves her stranded in a time centuries before her own.
From the very start, we meet Sam as a carefree, adventurous soul, content in her present life without any desire to settle down. Her life, however, is upended in a dramatic twist, and she finds herself in a bygone era, far removed from the conveniences and luxuries of the modern world. As she faces the harsh realities of this new time period, Sam must navigate not only the practical challenges of survival but also the emotional turmoil of being ripped from everything she knows and loves.
What makes *Time and Tide* particularly striking is Frey’s ability to capture the raw, emotional journey of adaptation. Sam’s struggle to fit into a world where societal norms, technology, and language are all unfamiliar is portrayed with authenticity and depth. The reader is right there with her, experiencing the highs and lows of her journey as she attempts to build a new life while grappling with the constant tension of longing for the life she lost. This emotional depth is one of the book’s most compelling aspects, as it explores themes of identity, survival, and resilience.
Frey’s prose is both lyrical and rich, evoking a vivid sense of time and place that is evocative and immersive. The descriptions of Sam's surroundings and the people she encounters are lush without feeling overbearing. The way Frey handles Sam’s emotional development, too, is deft and subtle, allowing us to see her grow, adapt, and mature with each page.
In terms of tone, *Time and Tide* has an almost cinematic quality, which made me think of the Apple TV series *Dickinson*. Like the show, Frey’s novel captures the spirit of a different time while simultaneously giving it a modern sensibility. There’s a sense of anachronistic beauty in how Sam processes her new world—an intriguing mix of contemporary thought against the backdrop of historical struggles.
One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of the emotional complexity of time travel. Sam isn’t just learning how to survive in a different time; she’s also learning to reconcile the person she was with the person she’s becoming. As she faces love, loss, and the unpredictability of fate, Frey crafts a poignant meditation on the personal transformations that come from being displaced in time.
*Time and Tide* is, at its heart, a story about how the tides of time shape us, how we can find resilience in the most unexpected places, and how, no matter where or when we are, the human spirit has a remarkable capacity to adapt and thrive. Frey’s storytelling is both emotionally resonant and thoughtfully introspective, making this novel a timeless read.
Whether you're a fan of historical fiction, time travel, or simply well-crafted character-driven narratives, *Time and Tide* is a must-read. It’s a novel that lingers long after the last page is turned, echoing with the universal truth that no matter what era we inhabit, the complexities of the human heart remain timeless.
May 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! Content warning for sexual assault and abuse (I didn't know this going in, and there are a couple of pretty intense scenes of attempted sexual assault). Spoilers ahead with my full review.
As a queer person and lover of Regency-era romance (Jane Austen my darling!), a sapphic time travel story set in 1806 could not have been more appealing to me. I devoured this book very quickly, as it's mostly plot-driven, unlike novels written during the actual Regency era. I still found the characters well-developed, quirky, and even lovable, though I do think if this book was longer, there could have been more room devoted to developing some of the important side characters. I was sad that Fenton wasn't a bigger part of the story after the first half, as I thought his character was complicated and interesting, and I think that Marigold's dislike of Sam and their conflict could have been given more space as well. Sam's trauma is touched on many times, but could have been explored in more depth; her life in 2024 is given up just a bit too easily.
There was a good bit of sexiness throughout the book, though fair warning & spoilers ahead: there is both M/F and F/F sex depicted with some detail, and our bisexual MC, Sam, does have sex with a man who turns out to be her future girlfriend's brother which is a little uncomfortable for me to think too much about, personally.
I found most of the twists, especially the ending, to be pretty predictable, though not in an entirely bad way. Yes, I expected that Sam would turn out to be The Wealthy Widow, but that didn't stop me from looking forward to how that would wind up happening. I do think that the climax was a bit abrupt (no pun intended), and it almost felt like Frey was just ready to wrap up the story and so did a bit of fast-forwarding to get to the good part at the end. But given how awful Lewis is, the eventual resolution is deeply pleasing; I'm so glad it didn't happen off-page, with Sam just so happening to inherit as he dies or something or other. And boy do I love the ending - yes, let our queer Regency darlings have a happy ending, thank you very much!
All that said, if the blurb appeals to you, I think you'll like this book, and it is definitely worth reading for any fellow queer historial fiction lovers like me!
Rep: female bisexual Canadian MC, lesbian love interest, queer female Muslim ex
As a queer person and lover of Regency-era romance (Jane Austen my darling!), a sapphic time travel story set in 1806 could not have been more appealing to me. I devoured this book very quickly, as it's mostly plot-driven, unlike novels written during the actual Regency era. I still found the characters well-developed, quirky, and even lovable, though I do think if this book was longer, there could have been more room devoted to developing some of the important side characters. I was sad that Fenton wasn't a bigger part of the story after the first half, as I thought his character was complicated and interesting, and I think that Marigold's dislike of Sam and their conflict could have been given more space as well. Sam's trauma is touched on many times, but could have been explored in more depth; her life in 2024 is given up just a bit too easily.
There was a good bit of sexiness throughout the book, though fair warning & spoilers ahead: there is both M/F and F/F sex depicted with some detail, and our bisexual MC, Sam, does have sex with a man who turns out to be her future girlfriend's brother which is a little uncomfortable for me to think too much about, personally.
I found most of the twists, especially the ending, to be pretty predictable, though not in an entirely bad way. Yes, I expected that Sam would turn out to be The Wealthy Widow, but that didn't stop me from looking forward to how that would wind up happening. I do think that the climax was a bit abrupt (no pun intended), and it almost felt like Frey was just ready to wrap up the story and so did a bit of fast-forwarding to get to the good part at the end. But given how awful Lewis is, the eventual resolution is deeply pleasing; I'm so glad it didn't happen off-page, with Sam just so happening to inherit as he dies or something or other. And boy do I love the ending - yes, let our queer Regency darlings have a happy ending, thank you very much!
All that said, if the blurb appeals to you, I think you'll like this book, and it is definitely worth reading for any fellow queer historial fiction lovers like me!
Rep: female bisexual Canadian MC, lesbian love interest, queer female Muslim ex
August 8, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Anyway, before you pick up this book, as others have noted in their reviews... READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS! There are multiple graphic scenes of assault, violence, and misogyny present throughout the book.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get into the actual review.
In my opinion, this is a book that you'll either really like or really hate. I'm not going to lie, although the author has beautiful writing with exquisite imagery, it doesn't shadow how flawed all of the characters are. Because of that, you might greatly dislike the book because of its characters.
Sam, our protagonist is a 24-year-old bi woman in 2024. She, obviously has a lot of 21st century mannerisms so it makes complete sense for her to go slightly bonkers when she is transported back to 1805. Because of how she was raised, she is also quite stubborn and rash. She leaps into things without thought for personal gain and oftentimes hurts people along the way. However, she does become better and learn from her actions.
Now, Fenton and Marigold and Daisy also aren't perfect. Given that they are in the 1800s, they obviously have internalized misogyny and homophobia. Because of that, they hurt Sam and also make bad decisions. But like Sam, they learn.
As for Lewis... he's a son of a bitch who deserves to get punched. That's... all you have to know.
Apart from the characters, the plot was interesting but the pacing felt off sometimes. Although the premise of the book and Sam's spunky character kept me drawn in, I felt like the middle felt long, and the beginning and the ending felt rushed. Speaking of the ending, I felt that it fit the story. However, I would've loved for an epilogue. I thought it ended too abruptly.
Overall, I'll give it 3.5 stars.
If you need a entertaining read with interesting characters that tackle on some darker themes, then this is the book for you.
Anyway, before you pick up this book, as others have noted in their reviews... READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS! There are multiple graphic scenes of assault, violence, and misogyny present throughout the book.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get into the actual review.
In my opinion, this is a book that you'll either really like or really hate. I'm not going to lie, although the author has beautiful writing with exquisite imagery, it doesn't shadow how flawed all of the characters are. Because of that, you might greatly dislike the book because of its characters.
Sam, our protagonist is a 24-year-old bi woman in 2024. She, obviously has a lot of 21st century mannerisms so it makes complete sense for her to go slightly bonkers when she is transported back to 1805. Because of how she was raised, she is also quite stubborn and rash. She leaps into things without thought for personal gain and oftentimes hurts people along the way. However, she does become better and learn from her actions.
Now, Fenton and Marigold and Daisy also aren't perfect. Given that they are in the 1800s, they obviously have internalized misogyny and homophobia. Because of that, they hurt Sam and also make bad decisions. But like Sam, they learn.
As for Lewis... he's a son of a bitch who deserves to get punched. That's... all you have to know.
Apart from the characters, the plot was interesting but the pacing felt off sometimes. Although the premise of the book and Sam's spunky character kept me drawn in, I felt like the middle felt long, and the beginning and the ending felt rushed. Speaking of the ending, I felt that it fit the story. However, I would've loved for an epilogue. I thought it ended too abruptly.
Overall, I'll give it 3.5 stars.
If you need a entertaining read with interesting characters that tackle on some darker themes, then this is the book for you.
May 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐️s rounded up to 4
Thank you so much to Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for review!
Time and Tide is a queer historical romance. Following Samantha, an “obnoxiously bi” 21st century progressive as she nearly dies in a plane crash, only to wake aboard a British naval vessel in the year 1806, it blends the historical drama of Outlander with delightfully uncouth and sarcastic narration any modern girl will surely find relatable. Fending off unwanted marriage proposals and other menaces of the historical patriarchy, Sam’s biggest torment and triumph is meeting the famed literary hero, Margaret Goodenough, known for penning the first lesbian kiss in British history. But Sam knows Margaret’s bravery and literary prowess was born of her secret affair with a rich patron known only as “The Wealthy Widow”, so as Margaret starts to fall for her instead, Sam finds herself torn between the love she’s always wanted and the fear that, in claiming that love, she will change the course of queer history forever.
This book excels in two areas: the concept and the voice! Blatantly queer historical romance is something I am loving. Samantha’s narration is also a treat—it’s funny, digestible, and wonderfully sarcastic. The main reason this was not a 5-star read for me was the pacing. I felt the relationships that Sam develops were largely rushed and ended up coming across a tad shallow at times. However, this was not enough to undercut my enjoyment, and this book was overall a fun adventure of a time. Anyone looking to stan a bi queen should add this to their TBR!
Thank you so much to Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for review!
Time and Tide is a queer historical romance. Following Samantha, an “obnoxiously bi” 21st century progressive as she nearly dies in a plane crash, only to wake aboard a British naval vessel in the year 1806, it blends the historical drama of Outlander with delightfully uncouth and sarcastic narration any modern girl will surely find relatable. Fending off unwanted marriage proposals and other menaces of the historical patriarchy, Sam’s biggest torment and triumph is meeting the famed literary hero, Margaret Goodenough, known for penning the first lesbian kiss in British history. But Sam knows Margaret’s bravery and literary prowess was born of her secret affair with a rich patron known only as “The Wealthy Widow”, so as Margaret starts to fall for her instead, Sam finds herself torn between the love she’s always wanted and the fear that, in claiming that love, she will change the course of queer history forever.
This book excels in two areas: the concept and the voice! Blatantly queer historical romance is something I am loving. Samantha’s narration is also a treat—it’s funny, digestible, and wonderfully sarcastic. The main reason this was not a 5-star read for me was the pacing. I felt the relationships that Sam develops were largely rushed and ended up coming across a tad shallow at times. However, this was not enough to undercut my enjoyment, and this book was overall a fun adventure of a time. Anyone looking to stan a bi queen should add this to their TBR!
November 10, 2024
Thank you to Wattpad and JM Frey for this ARC.
The premise of this book sounded like a blend of Outlander, Pride & Prejudice, and Bridgerton. As a queer historical romance, Time and Tide follows Samantha after a plane crash leaves her stranded in the 1800s.
💜 What did you love the most?
The concept was incredible, and I loved leaning into Sam’s out and proud voice in this narrative. She understands the historical era she is in, yet remains rooted in her identity, and slowly realizes that her actions may have irreversible consequences for her entire community as she becomes fast friends with her famed literary hero. Her voice is funny and wonderfully sarcastic, and I truly enjoyed some of the banter between her and the other characters in this novel.
However, there were some parts where our FMC really annoyed me, and she didn’t really show any character growth by the end of the novel.
🔥Steam level: open-door
💜 How was the romance?
The romance in this book is very believable, which was one of the aspects I loved about it. Sometimes, Samantha’s forthrightness made me cringe a bit, but overall, the romance is sweet.
💜 Do you recommend this book?
Do you want a book that is both queer romance and f*ck the patriarchy all in one…well, I present Time and Tide as the book you’ve been waiting for. I had some issues with the pacing and the rushed relationship development, so my rating is not higher for this one. However, I know that many readers will enjoy this twist of a regency romance tale.
3.5/5
The premise of this book sounded like a blend of Outlander, Pride & Prejudice, and Bridgerton. As a queer historical romance, Time and Tide follows Samantha after a plane crash leaves her stranded in the 1800s.
💜 What did you love the most?
The concept was incredible, and I loved leaning into Sam’s out and proud voice in this narrative. She understands the historical era she is in, yet remains rooted in her identity, and slowly realizes that her actions may have irreversible consequences for her entire community as she becomes fast friends with her famed literary hero. Her voice is funny and wonderfully sarcastic, and I truly enjoyed some of the banter between her and the other characters in this novel.
However, there were some parts where our FMC really annoyed me, and she didn’t really show any character growth by the end of the novel.
🔥Steam level: open-door
💜 How was the romance?
The romance in this book is very believable, which was one of the aspects I loved about it. Sometimes, Samantha’s forthrightness made me cringe a bit, but overall, the romance is sweet.
💜 Do you recommend this book?
Do you want a book that is both queer romance and f*ck the patriarchy all in one…well, I present Time and Tide as the book you’ve been waiting for. I had some issues with the pacing and the rushed relationship development, so my rating is not higher for this one. However, I know that many readers will enjoy this twist of a regency romance tale.
3.5/5
October 5, 2024
TLDR: This book is a goldmine for all the regency romance lovers! The prose is beautiful and lyrical, characters are strong and have distinct personalities. Sam, our 21st century heroine is an embodiment of all us women out here. READ THIS!!!
Detailed: Wow! The story follows Samantha Franklin, an 'obnoxiously bi' woman who is on a flight to Barcelona when it crashes. She is rescued by a ship in 1806, somehow having travelled two centuries back in time! She meets Margaret Goodenough, the iconic queer writer and falls in love with her, possibly changing the course of history.
The writing is extraordinarily beautiful. There is a distinct contrast between Sam and the other people's dialogue style which shows how much effort the authoress has put into her research! As the plot advances, the narration style becomes more subtle and old-timey, in accordance with Sam's adjustment.
Mind you, this is not a fluffy, breezy, no brain romance. It is a witty commentary on the development of feminist rights, the abysmal state of women back in the 1800s with dark themes which add to the plot. The pace is perfect but I have fallen in love with J.M Frey's writing style!
P.S. I absolutely loved the little fun facts thrown in by Sam's dad!
Detailed: Wow! The story follows Samantha Franklin, an 'obnoxiously bi' woman who is on a flight to Barcelona when it crashes. She is rescued by a ship in 1806, somehow having travelled two centuries back in time! She meets Margaret Goodenough, the iconic queer writer and falls in love with her, possibly changing the course of history.
The writing is extraordinarily beautiful. There is a distinct contrast between Sam and the other people's dialogue style which shows how much effort the authoress has put into her research! As the plot advances, the narration style becomes more subtle and old-timey, in accordance with Sam's adjustment.
Mind you, this is not a fluffy, breezy, no brain romance. It is a witty commentary on the development of feminist rights, the abysmal state of women back in the 1800s with dark themes which add to the plot. The pace is perfect but I have fallen in love with J.M Frey's writing style!
P.S. I absolutely loved the little fun facts thrown in by Sam's dad!
June 6, 2024
That was incredible. I loved it so much.
First of all, it's not going to be for everyone. Most people I know won't like it. Totally fair. It's a sapphic historical romance (regency) with time travel. You can read the summary yourself.
I didn't rate it 5 stars because Samantha annoyed me in certain parts. She always has to be right at the expense of others. It causes problems for her, but she never actually overcomes it. Most romances I've read don't actually have character growth anyway, but it made me cringe to read those parts.
Aside from those moments, I was blown away by how well done this was. I'm not typically impressed with sapphic romances, but this one was so well done. The romance was believable and it wasn't anti men (probably due to Samantha being bi). The time travel was so well done and I was so happy at the end.
If it sounds interesting, you'll probably love it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
CW: language, attempted sexual assault, explicit sex (M/F and F/F)
Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
First of all, it's not going to be for everyone. Most people I know won't like it. Totally fair. It's a sapphic historical romance (regency) with time travel. You can read the summary yourself.
I didn't rate it 5 stars because Samantha annoyed me in certain parts. She always has to be right at the expense of others. It causes problems for her, but she never actually overcomes it. Most romances I've read don't actually have character growth anyway, but it made me cringe to read those parts.
Aside from those moments, I was blown away by how well done this was. I'm not typically impressed with sapphic romances, but this one was so well done. The romance was believable and it wasn't anti men (probably due to Samantha being bi). The time travel was so well done and I was so happy at the end.
If it sounds interesting, you'll probably love it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
CW: language, attempted sexual assault, explicit sex (M/F and F/F)
Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 10, 2024
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for feedback.
After a massive breakup right before a couple's trip, Sam finds her plane crashing. Into the 1800s. Saved by a ship after the crash, she finds herself struggling to survive in this new time period, and, after accidentally pursuing an engaged man and escaping the abuser she was almost stuck marrying, she finds herself in the household of the writer credited, in this world, with the first wlw kiss, the author of her ex-girlfriend's favorite novel. Sam spends her first year there trying not to mess up the future, while keeping herself safe.
This was both a sweet and at times stressful story (see the aforementioned abuser) and I had a really good time reading it. I like watching Sam grow out of her bad habits, both real and ones she'd been accused of, and struggling to navigate a safe path in this time before realizing how she fits into this world. It was a fun sapphic tale featuring some great bi rep. I had a really good time with it.
After a massive breakup right before a couple's trip, Sam finds her plane crashing. Into the 1800s. Saved by a ship after the crash, she finds herself struggling to survive in this new time period, and, after accidentally pursuing an engaged man and escaping the abuser she was almost stuck marrying, she finds herself in the household of the writer credited, in this world, with the first wlw kiss, the author of her ex-girlfriend's favorite novel. Sam spends her first year there trying not to mess up the future, while keeping herself safe.
This was both a sweet and at times stressful story (see the aforementioned abuser) and I had a really good time reading it. I like watching Sam grow out of her bad habits, both real and ones she'd been accused of, and struggling to navigate a safe path in this time before realizing how she fits into this world. It was a fun sapphic tale featuring some great bi rep. I had a really good time with it.
November 11, 2024
Time and Tide is the sapphic love child of Outlander and Bridgerton with a dash of Jane Austen thrown into the mix. I loved reading along with Sam’s adventures as she navigated Rengency era England. I laughed at all the faux pas and fun facts while I cried for the life Sam left behind. This was a beautifully written love story between a girl from our time, and a queer Jane Austen type authoress. I loved the story and I can’t wait to read all of J.M. Frey’s other works!
July 15, 2024
CW: some sex, attempted rape, historical misogyny and homophobia. Elevator pitch: a bi cousin to Outlander meets gay Pride and Prejudice. This is the fast-paced, summer-read adventure of (bisexual) Sam. She is on a flight to Barcelona that crashes in the Atlantic but is rescued by a British ship. ...in 1802. This book is lovely.
June 1, 2024
Time travelling sapphic love story??? Yes please! I devoured this book. Absolutely loved it.
June 15, 2024
This was a perfect book to read for pride month! It's a queer historical/science fiction book and I loved it so much! I adore the Outlander series and when I read the synopsis and it said "perfect for Outlander fans," I knew I would love it!
Thank you yo NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!
Thank you yo NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!
June 2, 2024
Thank you author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!!
Ok so the first chapter I was like!!!! This is gonna be great!!!! And then for a while I was bored and kinda annoyed AND THEN! I was like oh yeah that was nice. But there’s something about the ending I was like bruh…
I had a good time reading it but at the same time I could’ve told you exactly what happened in the book right from the start except the ending isn’t as exciting as I would guesses which feels like a let down. Also it was longer than my brain was wanting to spend on this story and I don’t think there’s really that much more pay off for the extra pages tbh.
Ok so the first chapter I was like!!!! This is gonna be great!!!! And then for a while I was bored and kinda annoyed AND THEN! I was like oh yeah that was nice. But there’s something about the ending I was like bruh…
I had a good time reading it but at the same time I could’ve told you exactly what happened in the book right from the start except the ending isn’t as exciting as I would guesses which feels like a let down. Also it was longer than my brain was wanting to spend on this story and I don’t think there’s really that much more pay off for the extra pages tbh.
September 24, 2024
This is such a sweet book!
I’ve never read a time-travel book before so I was hesitant at first reading about a woman from Toronto in 2024 going back to Regency Era England. But I was able to quickly set those concerns aside and immerse myself in the story!
It was a very quick read for me - I devoured it! I really enjoyed seeing how a modern day bisexual woman and enthusiastic feminist made her way through a time where women weren’t as “free” and LGBTQ+ represented was unheard of. That being said, there was a lot of the story where I didn’t love the main character, Samantha. She could be selfish and stubborn and very prideful, but I understood where she came from and her reasons for doing so (she was stuck 200 years in the past, after all).
I don’t want to give too much away, but this book has time travel, the historical regency era setting, and a beautiful sapphic love story. It’s worth checking out if you love any of those things! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!
3.5/5⭐️
I’ve never read a time-travel book before so I was hesitant at first reading about a woman from Toronto in 2024 going back to Regency Era England. But I was able to quickly set those concerns aside and immerse myself in the story!
It was a very quick read for me - I devoured it! I really enjoyed seeing how a modern day bisexual woman and enthusiastic feminist made her way through a time where women weren’t as “free” and LGBTQ+ represented was unheard of. That being said, there was a lot of the story where I didn’t love the main character, Samantha. She could be selfish and stubborn and very prideful, but I understood where she came from and her reasons for doing so (she was stuck 200 years in the past, after all).
I don’t want to give too much away, but this book has time travel, the historical regency era setting, and a beautiful sapphic love story. It’s worth checking out if you love any of those things! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!
3.5/5⭐️
September 13, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc! I could not put this book down! I loved every single thing about this book and I truly enjoyed reading! The plot before reading had me hooked and after finishing I just wish there was more of Sam and Daisy I could read. I fell in love with them and their relationship and I can’t wait for the book to be out so I can buy a physical copy!
October 5, 2024
First, I’d like to say thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I usually really dislike time travel books, but the premise of this story really intrigued me. I am so glad that I didn’t just write it off because of one trope, as I never wanted to stop reading for very long!
The plane crash and PTSD that it caused were both genuinely well written to me. Sam dealing with it felt very real, and I really appreciated that. I did find that I had a love-hate relationship with Samantha as a character. She both inspired and infuriated me, so I guess I have that in common with Daisy (who I loved).
There were some times where I had to close out of my reading app because of how embarrassed I was at some things Sam did or said; however, it was never bad enough that I wanted to stop reading completely, and I liked the other characters so much that I kept coming back.
I loved the climax of the story, and the ending was superb; but I do think the pacing was a bit off. The beginning seemed to fly by, as did the ending, but the middle was a bit slow and took a bit to really get through. I also wish that there had been content warnings at the beginning because I had no idea about the attempted s*xual assault, and while that doesn’t usually bother me, I know many who would’ve been hurt by reading it. Hopefully, that will be addressed in the final copy!
Genuinely, though, I loved this book and I can see myself re-reading it. I feel like in telling some of my friends about it, they too are interested in the story and will be reading. I’d definitely encourage it!
Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I usually really dislike time travel books, but the premise of this story really intrigued me. I am so glad that I didn’t just write it off because of one trope, as I never wanted to stop reading for very long!
The plane crash and PTSD that it caused were both genuinely well written to me. Sam dealing with it felt very real, and I really appreciated that. I did find that I had a love-hate relationship with Samantha as a character. She both inspired and infuriated me, so I guess I have that in common with Daisy (who I loved).
There were some times where I had to close out of my reading app because of how embarrassed I was at some things Sam did or said; however, it was never bad enough that I wanted to stop reading completely, and I liked the other characters so much that I kept coming back.
I loved the climax of the story, and the ending was superb; but I do think the pacing was a bit off. The beginning seemed to fly by, as did the ending, but the middle was a bit slow and took a bit to really get through. I also wish that there had been content warnings at the beginning because I had no idea about the attempted s*xual assault, and while that doesn’t usually bother me, I know many who would’ve been hurt by reading it. Hopefully, that will be addressed in the final copy!
Genuinely, though, I loved this book and I can see myself re-reading it. I feel like in telling some of my friends about it, they too are interested in the story and will be reading. I’d definitely encourage it!
May 21, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded like something exactly for me—sapphic time travel to the regency era. What could be wrong about it? It ended up fun, but as a character over plot girl, I just don't think it was for me.
To give a little more detail, Time and Tide is about Samantha, our main character who has a breakup with her girlfriend in the modern day but still goes on the trip they were meant to, only for her plane to crash in the ocean, and... she's pulled out in the early 1800s. An awesome concept!
Unfortunately, for me, so much of this book fell flat. At the core of my issues was Sam as a main character—besides just fitting into a modern activist bisexual woman archetype and her past relationship, I couldn't tell you anything about her personality or life. And if those things were ever actually mentioned, it was never integrated into her to the point where I felt a desire to empathize with her or understand her. Similarly, the way she settled into the idea of existing in the 1800s felt contrary to the little I knew about her (stubborn, sharp, "pushy"), instead settling into an immediate acceptance and settle for survival mode. Maybe some of this could be attributed to the various long time skips that allowed her to settle in without actually doing any of the character work to get her there.
Sam's ex-girlfriend from the present mainly exists to be a reminder of Sam's insecurities—and to introduce her favorite author, Margaret Goodenough, randomly mentioned early on as the writer of the first published sapphic kiss in literature, who never married and lived with a "mysterious Wealthy Widow" who people theorize she was romantically involved with.
Needless to say, I'd had the entire plot nailed down in the first 10% of the book. Any twists unfortunately felt shoed in almost as if it were a soap opera, which was wild considering how predictable the overarching story was.
The romance had its moments—the love interest, Daisy Goodenough (who happens to be the sister of the captain who rescues Sam from the ocean), is more developed than Sam, but I never felt there was a good reason for her to fall in love with Sam. Lust, sure—Sam is a modern woman with a brash personality and awareness of her body and what she can do with it. But I don't know that I ever fully bought their love and devotion to each other.
The book itself as I mentioned never fully deals with Sam's trauma for 75% of the book, until it really decides to and blows it up big time—only to forget about it shortly thereafter. Despite an eleventh hour sweet twist with some minor characters, any emotional arc this book might have had really didn't follow through for me. The characters for the most part were fun, if inconsistent, and unfortunately much of the plot was simply too convenient or too convoluted, with very little in between.
If you're just looking for a fun little sapphic regency romp with some wild twists and turns and don't need to dive too deep into character, this could be for you—unfortunately as a very character centric reader, it wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
To give a little more detail, Time and Tide is about Samantha, our main character who has a breakup with her girlfriend in the modern day but still goes on the trip they were meant to, only for her plane to crash in the ocean, and... she's pulled out in the early 1800s. An awesome concept!
Unfortunately, for me, so much of this book fell flat. At the core of my issues was Sam as a main character—besides just fitting into a modern activist bisexual woman archetype and her past relationship, I couldn't tell you anything about her personality or life. And if those things were ever actually mentioned, it was never integrated into her to the point where I felt a desire to empathize with her or understand her. Similarly, the way she settled into the idea of existing in the 1800s felt contrary to the little I knew about her (stubborn, sharp, "pushy"), instead settling into an immediate acceptance and settle for survival mode. Maybe some of this could be attributed to the various long time skips that allowed her to settle in without actually doing any of the character work to get her there.
Sam's ex-girlfriend from the present mainly exists to be a reminder of Sam's insecurities—and to introduce her favorite author, Margaret Goodenough, randomly mentioned early on as the writer of the first published sapphic kiss in literature, who never married and lived with a "mysterious Wealthy Widow" who people theorize she was romantically involved with.
Needless to say, I'd had the entire plot nailed down in the first 10% of the book. Any twists unfortunately felt shoed in almost as if it were a soap opera, which was wild considering how predictable the overarching story was.
The romance had its moments—the love interest, Daisy Goodenough (who happens to be the sister of the captain who rescues Sam from the ocean), is more developed than Sam, but I never felt there was a good reason for her to fall in love with Sam. Lust, sure—Sam is a modern woman with a brash personality and awareness of her body and what she can do with it. But I don't know that I ever fully bought their love and devotion to each other.
The book itself as I mentioned never fully deals with Sam's trauma for 75% of the book, until it really decides to and blows it up big time—only to forget about it shortly thereafter. Despite an eleventh hour sweet twist with some minor characters, any emotional arc this book might have had really didn't follow through for me. The characters for the most part were fun, if inconsistent, and unfortunately much of the plot was simply too convenient or too convoluted, with very little in between.
If you're just looking for a fun little sapphic regency romp with some wild twists and turns and don't need to dive too deep into character, this could be for you—unfortunately as a very character centric reader, it wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
November 4, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Time and Tide by J.M. Frey is a first person-POV Sapphic speculative romantic historical involving time travel. When Sam’s girlfriend breaks up with her right before their trip to Barcelona, Sam still goes on the trip solo. However, she falls through time and winds up in the early nineteenth century and sees the side of the Regency period that is often not shown on TV.
Sam is very stubborn and fits the meme of a Bi woman who talks about being Bi all the time, something that is played for laughs and is also meant to play into her character arc. Like many young people, she’s passionate about social justice issues and how history has harmed so many, but being in the Regency period, she needs to learn how to talk to others about her opinions in a way that they can not only understand, but won’t immediately feel like she’s belittling them. We definitely see different worldviews that were common during the nineteenth century on display and how normalized those ideas were.
A large part of the story is a gothic romantic novel featuring the first Sapphic kiss in British literature, The Welshman’s Daughters. Sam’s love interest is the author, Margaret, and a lot of their story is Sam trying to support Margaret while also being aware of how important this novel was to generations of Sapphic women. I really appreciated how this was handled because I fully believe that someone in Sam’s position, who is as passionate about Queer history as she is, would have a constant internal monologue revolving around making sure this novel was written and still contains the material that made it so important. If anything, I think I would find it unrealistic given Sam’s characterization if it wasn’t there.
Content warning for depictions of abuse, sexual assault, and sexism
I would recommend this to fans of romantic historicals involving time travel and readers looking for a Bi lead in this historical fiction
Time and Tide by J.M. Frey is a first person-POV Sapphic speculative romantic historical involving time travel. When Sam’s girlfriend breaks up with her right before their trip to Barcelona, Sam still goes on the trip solo. However, she falls through time and winds up in the early nineteenth century and sees the side of the Regency period that is often not shown on TV.
Sam is very stubborn and fits the meme of a Bi woman who talks about being Bi all the time, something that is played for laughs and is also meant to play into her character arc. Like many young people, she’s passionate about social justice issues and how history has harmed so many, but being in the Regency period, she needs to learn how to talk to others about her opinions in a way that they can not only understand, but won’t immediately feel like she’s belittling them. We definitely see different worldviews that were common during the nineteenth century on display and how normalized those ideas were.
A large part of the story is a gothic romantic novel featuring the first Sapphic kiss in British literature, The Welshman’s Daughters. Sam’s love interest is the author, Margaret, and a lot of their story is Sam trying to support Margaret while also being aware of how important this novel was to generations of Sapphic women. I really appreciated how this was handled because I fully believe that someone in Sam’s position, who is as passionate about Queer history as she is, would have a constant internal monologue revolving around making sure this novel was written and still contains the material that made it so important. If anything, I think I would find it unrealistic given Sam’s characterization if it wasn’t there.
Content warning for depictions of abuse, sexual assault, and sexism
I would recommend this to fans of romantic historicals involving time travel and readers looking for a Bi lead in this historical fiction
October 14, 2024
I wanted to like this book so badly. A sapphic regency time travel sounds like it would be something right up my alley. However I found Sam as a character utterly obnoxious and most of her choices rather foolish. I don't believe that you have to like the characters in a novel in order to enjoy it but leaving me annoyed most of the story is an offense I cannot get past. From the moment she was introduced on page by trying to force her girlfriend out of the closet she was on thin ice with me and then proceeded to seem too much of a walking bisexual stereotype without nearly enough depth outside of that. Not to mention constantly making the worst choices. I feel like I'm not asking too much by saying perhaps when you are transported to another time to at least attempt to blend in and maybe don't try to tell a man that you have only known a few days that you are from a different time.
Outside of that I thought that the writing was entertaining enough. Frey's writing style is enjoyable though I did find the pacing a bit odd. Some moments were very slow while others were rushed or basically even time skipped which made it feel a bit disjointed at points. The romance was cute enough and I enjoyed Daisy enough as a character to balance out my dislike of Sam a little though I did find it rather odd that for a book that is mainly a romance that we didn't even even meet the love interest until well into 25% of the story. Overall if Sam had not made the reading experience such an irksome experience I could have over looked these small factors but she made a book I had desperately wanted to enjoy into a painful experience.
Outside of that I thought that the writing was entertaining enough. Frey's writing style is enjoyable though I did find the pacing a bit odd. Some moments were very slow while others were rushed or basically even time skipped which made it feel a bit disjointed at points. The romance was cute enough and I enjoyed Daisy enough as a character to balance out my dislike of Sam a little though I did find it rather odd that for a book that is mainly a romance that we didn't even even meet the love interest until well into 25% of the story. Overall if Sam had not made the reading experience such an irksome experience I could have over looked these small factors but she made a book I had desperately wanted to enjoy into a painful experience.
October 18, 2024
2SLGBTQIA+ Fantasy Historical Romance in which a modern bisexual woman's thrown back in time to 1805 England and finds herself falling in love with a woman who will become a famous author.
1/5 stars: This is Frey's 2SLGBTQIA+ Fantasy Historical Romance stand-alone which is set is England and follows a modern bisexual Canadian woman who's thrown back in time to 1805 England after her plane crashes over the Atlantic. Betrayed and at the mercy of the men and morals of the time, she’s left with no choice but to throw herself on the charity of the sisters of the ship captain who pulled her out of the ocean. Unexpectedly, she discovers her new landlady is the world-famous author whose yet-to-be-completed novel will contain the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature and is a very clever woman. Clever enough to know her new companion has a secret. As the two women grow ever closer, she must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a place where she doesn’t think she’ll ever fit in and possibly (accidentally) changing the course of history. Frey's writing and character work are nicely done, with characters that are well-rounded and complex while remaining likable. Sam's tough and manages her circumstances with gutsy determination. Frey tackles some very tough and sensitive topics, so please take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, I found that this wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF at 46%.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | W by Wattpad Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
1/5 stars: This is Frey's 2SLGBTQIA+ Fantasy Historical Romance stand-alone which is set is England and follows a modern bisexual Canadian woman who's thrown back in time to 1805 England after her plane crashes over the Atlantic. Betrayed and at the mercy of the men and morals of the time, she’s left with no choice but to throw herself on the charity of the sisters of the ship captain who pulled her out of the ocean. Unexpectedly, she discovers her new landlady is the world-famous author whose yet-to-be-completed novel will contain the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature and is a very clever woman. Clever enough to know her new companion has a secret. As the two women grow ever closer, she must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a place where she doesn’t think she’ll ever fit in and possibly (accidentally) changing the course of history. Frey's writing and character work are nicely done, with characters that are well-rounded and complex while remaining likable. Sam's tough and manages her circumstances with gutsy determination. Frey tackles some very tough and sensitive topics, so please take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, I found that this wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF at 46%.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | W by Wattpad Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
August 14, 2024
DNF at 25%.
Based on the premise, I thought this was going to be a fun, queer time travel novel, and it's sort of set up to be that, except that it starts with a messy breakup and then goes into a plane crash that sends Sam as the only survivor into the early 1800s. The pacing is weird. A quarter of the way through and we still hadn't seen the main love interest, which is weird for a romance. I looked at other reviews to decide if I wanted to keep going and saw content warnings for SA and attempted rape and decided to cut out before it got to that point.
I like that Sam is unapologetically bi and knows when she's leaning into it. I also liked that I kept looking up when random things happened to see if Sam's timeline was right. It was fun that she knows specific things about history and that most of it comes from her dad's fun facts. Maybe this will be someone else's favorite book.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Based on the premise, I thought this was going to be a fun, queer time travel novel, and it's sort of set up to be that, except that it starts with a messy breakup and then goes into a plane crash that sends Sam as the only survivor into the early 1800s. The pacing is weird. A quarter of the way through and we still hadn't seen the main love interest, which is weird for a romance. I looked at other reviews to decide if I wanted to keep going and saw content warnings for SA and attempted rape and decided to cut out before it got to that point.
I like that Sam is unapologetically bi and knows when she's leaning into it. I also liked that I kept looking up when random things happened to see if Sam's timeline was right. It was fun that she knows specific things about history and that most of it comes from her dad's fun facts. Maybe this will be someone else's favorite book.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
November 8, 2024
Samantha is a 24 year old bi woman living in present day Canada. When her planned trip to Barcelona with her girlfriend ends up as a solo trip after a breakup, her plane runs into a storm off the coast of Spain. Everyone on the plane dies, except Sam, who is rescued by a British ship's captain in the year 1806. Traumatized and disoriented, Sam first tries to deny what's happened, but eventually she is reconciled to her fate, especially after she's introduced to the captain's sister, Margaret, an author just beginning her trade but destined to write the first queer novel.
This time travel book is wonderful; completely engaging and well plotted. Sam can be a bit tiresome at times, but she usually owns up to her impulsivity and stubbornness. The research appears to be well done. Overall a fun and really wonderful book.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley.
This time travel book is wonderful; completely engaging and well plotted. Sam can be a bit tiresome at times, but she usually owns up to her impulsivity and stubbornness. The research appears to be well done. Overall a fun and really wonderful book.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley.
June 7, 2024
This was a mixed bag for me. On one hand, Frey's writing is undeniably engaging, drawing you into a richly detailed world with a captivating premise. The blend of historical elements with a dash of fantasy creates an intriguing backdrop that kept me turning the pages.
However, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven. Some parts of the story felt rushed, leaving me wishing for more depth and development, especially in the character arcs. The protagonists had potential, but their growth sometimes felt stunted by the fast-paced narrative.
Additionally, while the plot had its moments of brilliance, there were times it felt predictable. Certain twists and turns didn’t land with the impact I was hoping for, and the resolution left me wanting more.
This was an enjoyable read overall, but it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
However, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven. Some parts of the story felt rushed, leaving me wishing for more depth and development, especially in the character arcs. The protagonists had potential, but their growth sometimes felt stunted by the fast-paced narrative.
Additionally, while the plot had its moments of brilliance, there were times it felt predictable. Certain twists and turns didn’t land with the impact I was hoping for, and the resolution left me wanting more.
This was an enjoyable read overall, but it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
June 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
While this novel seemed so interesting from the blurb, I found I couldn't really connect with the characters and it made it difficult to enjoy reading/finishing this book. Sam herself admitting adhering to a lot of bisexual stereotypes, which as I bi woman myself I was very conflicted on. I did enjoy watching to relationship between Sam and Daisy grow, but Sam always thinking she was the smartest person in the room really turned me off to her as a character. There were also a few instances of attempted sexual assault that kinda threw me for a loop as well. It was expected within the situation Sam found herself in, but it still made my skin crawl. Overall, I would still recommend this novel, just caution other readers to lower their expectations for what this novel is.
While this novel seemed so interesting from the blurb, I found I couldn't really connect with the characters and it made it difficult to enjoy reading/finishing this book. Sam herself admitting adhering to a lot of bisexual stereotypes, which as I bi woman myself I was very conflicted on. I did enjoy watching to relationship between Sam and Daisy grow, but Sam always thinking she was the smartest person in the room really turned me off to her as a character. There were also a few instances of attempted sexual assault that kinda threw me for a loop as well. It was expected within the situation Sam found herself in, but it still made my skin crawl. Overall, I would still recommend this novel, just caution other readers to lower their expectations for what this novel is.
October 6, 2024
I greatly enjoyed this book, but I think part of my enjoyment came from the fact that I am an avid fanfic reader, and I love lots of different genres of romance. I suspect some people very used to a specific style of historical romance would have trouble with this one because of the structure, at the same time. I feel like dark romance readers in particular who are interested in getting into historical romance would love this. Make sure to read the content warnings!
I recommend this book for people who like:
- dark romance
- dry humor, deadpan delivery
- Strong female leads
- unapologetically BI FMC
- Sapphic historical romance
- Tumbling through time
- High drama stories
- True, exhaustivly researched historal accuracy, even when it's not necessarily pretty
I do not recommend this book for people who do not like:
- FMC that has spicy scenes with multiple partners
- Domestic violence
Quotes
* "Apparently my chubby figure in my new attire was lewd enough that the captain implored me to stay in the safety of his cabin"
" If the captain was the person the author of this surreal adventure was trying to throw in my path. They had seriously picked the wrong heroin"
- Maybe it was random. Maybe people slipped through cracks in time. All over the place, here. One minute, gone the next, totally indiscriminate and without design.
- "As soon as my stays were loosened, my wallet and phone thunked to the floor with all the ominous gravitas of the guillotine blade."
Thank you to the author for the beautiful advanced copy!
I recommend this book for people who like:
- dark romance
- dry humor, deadpan delivery
- Strong female leads
- unapologetically BI FMC
- Sapphic historical romance
- Tumbling through time
- High drama stories
- True, exhaustivly researched historal accuracy, even when it's not necessarily pretty
I do not recommend this book for people who do not like:
- FMC that has spicy scenes with multiple partners
- Domestic violence
Quotes
* "Apparently my chubby figure in my new attire was lewd enough that the captain implored me to stay in the safety of his cabin"
" If the captain was the person the author of this surreal adventure was trying to throw in my path. They had seriously picked the wrong heroin"
- Maybe it was random. Maybe people slipped through cracks in time. All over the place, here. One minute, gone the next, totally indiscriminate and without design.
- "As soon as my stays were loosened, my wallet and phone thunked to the floor with all the ominous gravitas of the guillotine blade."
Thank you to the author for the beautiful advanced copy!
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