Well written love stories do exist!
4/5 stars.
Hardcover, 518 pages.
Read from July 11 to 13, 2016.
This is one of those books that kept popping up for me. It has been repeatedly added to some of the top to-read lists, like the “100 Books to Read Before you Die”, which I tend to check once an a while to see how many I’ve read. That was this motivating factor that made me pick up this novel. Though the list hasn’t always provided me with good reading, for example “On the Road“, this one turned out to be a real gem. I also knew it was popular but had no idea what the plot was about, which is just how I like it.
Claire meets the love of her life when she is six years old. His name is Henry and at the time of their first meeting he is a grown man. Now, this isn’t as creepy as it sounds! Henry has the ability to travel through time, though he cannot control it. It often happens during times of stress and he does not know where he will end up, though usually on a different plane of his own history. Henry discovered he had this ability as a young boy and with his abilities was actually able to mentor his young self. However, this ability is far from a gift as it has often puts him in very dangerous situations.
When Henry time-travels, his clothes do not come with him and this is how he meets Claire. Claire who is sitting in her favourite spot in a pasture comes across Henry, naked. She provides him with clothes and the two of them begin to get to know each other, well, Claire gets to know Henry anyway, as Henry has already shared part of his life with Claire in his present. Claire becomes infatuated with Henry as she grows older and Henry does his best to keep the knowledge of the future from her. Claire worries about Henry and about what situations he will find himself in when he travels naked and alone. She does not know how long he will be gone for and if he will be okay.
As the two of them work to try and determine the cause of Henry’s genetic mutation for time travel, Henry learns something about his future that will shake the love that they share.
Now what was great about this novel is that the plot wasn’t overly romanticized. You know what I mean, the cheesiness that comes with sappy romance plots. I can honestly say, that I enjoyed every bit of this novel because of that. The author managed to pull off a well written love story that didn’t make me want to barf by the end! The author also did a magnificent job with the rotating time frames and narrators. I never felt lost or confused so the author set out her chapters appropriately. Additionally the book deals with a science fiction topic, like time travel and makes it relatable and realistic. The author doesn’t glorify time travel, in fact she shows us the nitty grittiness of it and how much it devastates Claire and Henry. Time travel brings them together but it also tears them apart.
Overall this is one of the better novels I have read this last year. I would recommend this book to nearly everyone. I mean, unless you’re completely against romance stories. Or time travel. Then don’t. But it’s your loss!
The Pluviophile Writer 
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