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thewhitebee's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is the most frustrating type of book. There's just enough going on that you keep reading, thinking any minute it's going to get good, and then it doesn't. If it was worse, you'd just quit and save yourself the slog, so that would honestly be preferable. There's promise in the premise, but I didn't think it ever really panned out. The characters are fine. The writing is a little stilted and on the nose, but not bad. And the ending was not satisfying - parts of it didn't click logically, and where a number of the characters ended up seemed very out of the blue to me. Don't bother reading.
edshara's review against another edition
4.0
This didn’t turn out to be all that I was expecting. I definitely wanted more interaction with the shortcuts. I like Jean and I enjoyed how she grew throughout the book. It was also interesting to see how she and the other characters processed how they felt. I went into this thinking it would be heavy on the sci-fi, but it also read like literary fiction. I genuinely enjoyed this.
itsfreelancer's review against another edition
3.0
There are doors in the city that provide a shortcut. A shortcut to a different location and if you're not careful, a different time. Sounds like a fantastic plot, doesn't it?
It is. The problem with selling dreams is that you have to back it up with something and tie up loose threads. Or even better, get damn good at foreshadowing.
None of which happens here. As endings go, yes we did have an ending but it didn't answer what you wanted. When you open a can of worms, you have to tell me what happened to those individuals worms.
That is what I didn't like.
3.5 stars rounding up.
It is. The problem with selling dreams is that you have to back it up with something and tie up loose threads. Or even better, get damn good at foreshadowing.
None of which happens here. As endings go, yes we did have an ending but it didn't answer what you wanted. When you open a can of worms, you have to tell me what happened to those individuals worms.
That is what I didn't like.
3.5 stars rounding up.
ampkbe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. Time travel (“shortcuts”) in New York. Entertaining speculative fiction that you kind of have to suspend your disbelief for. I feel like the ending was a bit rushed but I enjoyed it.
allisoncrutch's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
i recommend the night shift if you want early 2000s new york time travel that doesn’t make a lot of sense but is kind of fun.
aly36's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was not bad! I was intrigued to learn about shortcuts in New York City. I think that is a wonderful idea and I would love to try one some time. This book caught my attention and kept me wanting to read more about these shortcuts and the mystery in the pages of this story. I was hooked to read more. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
thatswhatiloveaboutreading's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
“But the truth was, the best life in any timeline was the life you let fully in.”
I had never heard of this book but found it in a stack at Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida. I love a time travel novel, and this was a fun one. What starts as an innocent way to get between her two jobs more quickly turns into a problem that only Jean can solve. The “shortcuts” from one part of New York City to another are more sinister than they first seem, and it’s up to Jean and her eclectic group of friends to figure out how to prevent these cuts from having detrimental effects. I thought the premise was creative, and I loved the thrilling, mystery-type element of the story, but I wish the ending had been more conclusive. I was left with several questions, and although that may have been intentional, I prefer a fully wrapped up story.
I had never heard of this book but found it in a stack at Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida. I love a time travel novel, and this was a fun one. What starts as an innocent way to get between her two jobs more quickly turns into a problem that only Jean can solve. The “shortcuts” from one part of New York City to another are more sinister than they first seem, and it’s up to Jean and her eclectic group of friends to figure out how to prevent these cuts from having detrimental effects. I thought the premise was creative, and I loved the thrilling, mystery-type element of the story, but I wish the ending had been more conclusive. I was left with several questions, and although that may have been intentional, I prefer a fully wrapped up story.
smudpu's review against another edition
4.0
Would have liked a longer ending to explain what happened to more of the characters. Especially Jane's parents.