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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Suicide
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Nothing amazing but enjoyable little book about a time traveling apartment. Was cute and a nice summer read but didn’t grab me to elevate it to a higher rating.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Never in my life have I ever run so willingly towards heartbreak. What a beautiful and cathartic book
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sometimes, books don’t grab you right away. You pick them up, read a few pages, maybe even a whole chapter, and then set them down again because something just isn’t clicking. That’s exactly how I felt when I first started Ashley Poston’s The Seven Year Slip. I wanted to love it from the get-go—I mean, the premise sounded amazing, and I’ve heard great things about Poston’s work—but I’ll be honest: the first few chapters didn’t immediately hook me. I found myself picking it up and putting it down several times before I finally committed.
I loved how a book, a story, a set of words in a sentence organized in the exact right order, made you miss places you’ve never visited, and people you’ve never met.
But here’s the thing: once I got into it, I really got into it. Somewhere around the point where the story started to pick up momentum, everything just flowed. Suddenly, what had felt like a bit of a slow, slightly confusing start turned into one of those experiences where you blink and realize you’ve read half the book in one sitting. By the time I was properly invested, I couldn’t stop. I tore through the rest of the book in just a few hours because it became such an easy, immersive read.
And that’s the first thing I’ll say about The Seven Year Slip: don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t immediately grab you. Stick with it. The payoff is worth it.
・❥・ The Story
The novel follows Clementine, who’s grieving the loss of her beloved aunt. She’s trying to figure out adulthood, career ambitions, love, and what it means to truly live a full life. On top of all that, she’s living in her late aunt’s magical apartment—an apartment that doesn’t always behave like a normal apartment. Instead, it sometimes slips through time, allowing Clementine to meet Iwan, a man living seven years in the past.
Naturally, this setup creates all sorts of complications. How do you fall for someone whose present is your past? How do you build a future when you’re not even on the same timeline? It’s a story that blends romance with magical realism and grief in a way that feels both whimsical and deeply emotional.
・❥・ Characters Without Villains
One of the things I really appreciated about this book was that there wasn’t a clear villain. In so many romances, especially contemporary ones, the third act is filled with some kind of contrived breakup, often brought on by miscommunication or a love triangle. That’s not what happens here. Instead, the real antagonist of the story is grief itself—grief for Clementine’s aunt, grief for missed opportunities, grief for the life you thought you’d have but didn’t.
I actually loved this choice. It made the story feel more authentic and grounded, even with its time-bending premise. Rather than relying on drama for the sake of drama, Poston focuses on the emotional journey of her characters, which makes the story resonate more deeply.
・❥・ Clementine and Iwan
Now let’s talk about the romance. Clementine and Iwan’s connection is at the heart of the novel, and for the most part, I loved watching their relationship develop. Their interactions are heartfelt, often tender, and sprinkled with humor that keeps the tone from becoming too heavy. You can really feel the pull between them, which is crucial in a love story that literally defies time.
That said, I found myself wishing we had more “real time” moments between the two of them. So much of their relationship is tied to the magical nature of the apartment, and while that made for an interesting dynamic, I wanted to see more of what they would be like together outside of that context. By the time the book ended, I was satisfied with where they landed, but part of me longed for just a little more. Even one or two extra chapters could have fleshed out their bond beyond the time-slip scenario.
・❥・ The Apartment
The magical apartment is one of the most intriguing—and at times confusing—parts of the book. For a good portion of the story, I wasn’t entirely sure what its purpose was. Was the apartment deliberately pushing Clementine and Iwan together? Was it just a random quirk of the universe? Did it have rules we were supposed to understand, or was it meant to remain a mystery?
I’ll admit that this uncertainty pulled me out of the story a little bit in the beginning. I wanted a clearer explanation of how it worked. But by the end, I decided it didn’t really matter. The apartment is less about logistics and more about creating a space where Clementine could grow, reflect, and ultimately move forward. It’s messy and magical in the way grief is messy and hard to define. Even though I was confused at times, I came to appreciate that ambiguity.
・❥・ Predictability vs. The Journey
Around the 20% mark, I started worrying that the book might be predictable. The setup seemed to point toward a very clear conclusion, and I thought I had already figured out the ending. And, to be fair, I wasn’t wrong—the story does go where you expect it to. But what surprised me was how much I enjoyed the journey.
Even though I could see the destination, the path Poston took to get there was so much richer and more enjoyable than I anticipated. The humor, the emotional depth, the way Clementine’s character developed—those things made the story feel fresh despite its predictability. Sometimes it’s not about the twisty plot but about how much heart the author puts into the telling. And in that regard, The Seven Year Slip really shines.
・❥・ Final Thoughts
When I look back on my experience with The Seven Year Slip, I think about how it’s a book that sneaks up on you. It’s not flashy or overly dramatic. Instead, it’s tender, thoughtful, and surprisingly comforting. It’s a story about love, yes, but also about grief, timing, and learning to let go of the past while still cherishing what it gave you.
Clementine is a relatable heroine, not because she’s perfect, but because she isn’t. She’s messy, grieving, and trying to figure out how to move forward—and isn’t that something we all wrestle with at some point? Iwan is charming and warm, and together they form a couple you genuinely root for, even if you wish you could see more of their day-to-day life.
Nothing lasts forever. Not the good things, not the bad. So just find what makes you happy, and do it for as long as you can.
Ashley Poston has created a novel that blends whimsy and realism in a way that feels both magical and grounded. While the apartment’s mechanics might leave some readers scratching their heads, the emotional core of the story more than makes up for it. And though the ending may be predictable, the journey there is filled with enough heart and humanity to keep you turning the pages.
So yes, it took me a little while to settle into The Seven Year Slip. But once I did, it became one of those reading experiences that stays with you long after you close the book. If you’re willing to be patient with the opening chapters and embrace the magic (and confusion) of a time-bending apartment, you’ll be rewarded with a heartfelt story that’s equal parts romance and reflection.
For me, that makes it more than worth the read.