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lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
"Live your life, Agatha. Life your life; every second of it. You can't live without regrets, but don't let the regrets be from not living."
This was an extremely touching novel that dealt with love across time, recovering from abuse, recovering from trauma, finding yourself, and finding new love. I didn't expect to be so deeply affected by it, but sometimes I really was. The three main characters, Beryl, Aggie, and Cory, have such an amazing little story, and I really enjoy the way in which it was told. I especially liked the first half of the book, precisely because of how slowly it moved, how the book took its time setting up Cory's past with Helen, Beryl's toxic relationship with Claire, her blossoming friendship with Ridley, Aggie's family life and relationship with Cory. You can tell where things are going, but it comes together in an extremely satisfying and slow way. My favourite part of the book was Beryl's arc in dealing with Claire, and her friendship with Ridley. It was so touching! Such good mlm/wlw solidarity!
The book kiiiiiinda lost me in the latter half.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Eliza Foss, who has a voice I can only describe as 'old-fashioned'? It 100% worked for the story. I enjoyed it a lot.
Despite a few flaws, this was a really lovely f/f romance, with some great stuff about family, friendships, life, death, and love. 3.5 stars.
This was an extremely touching novel that dealt with love across time, recovering from abuse, recovering from trauma, finding yourself, and finding new love. I didn't expect to be so deeply affected by it, but sometimes I really was. The three main characters, Beryl, Aggie, and Cory, have such an amazing little story, and I really enjoy the way in which it was told. I especially liked the first half of the book, precisely because of how slowly it moved, how the book took its time setting up Cory's past with Helen, Beryl's toxic relationship with Claire, her blossoming friendship with Ridley, Aggie's family life and relationship with Cory. You can tell where things are going, but it comes together in an extremely satisfying and slow way. My favourite part of the book was Beryl's arc in dealing with Claire, and her friendship with Ridley. It was so touching! Such good mlm/wlw solidarity!
The book kiiiiiinda lost me in the latter half.
Spoiler
Beryl and Aggie are good for each other, and I wanted them to get together, but after taking it slow for so long, they seemed to rush into things and all of a sudden it was partnership and living together and ilus. Kinda jarring, given how delicious and slow the first half was. There was a lot of head-hopping which I always hate (though kudos to the author for managing to make it not as jarring as it can be) and as much as I loved Cory and Helen's story, I didn't love the way the flashbacks were done? And I reeeeeeally didn't like how weight-loss was posited as this clear gateway to life improvement. It was great for Beryl to reclaim the physical activity that Claire had taken away from her, but the way her lost weight was treated as almost a necessity for health and happiness... didn't like it.Listened to the audiobook as read by Eliza Foss, who has a voice I can only describe as 'old-fashioned'? It 100% worked for the story. I enjoyed it a lot.
Despite a few flaws, this was a really lovely f/f romance, with some great stuff about family, friendships, life, death, and love. 3.5 stars.
gustus's review
5.0
I think I read the first 3 chapters on 22nd, then continue and finish the read in one sitting on 23rd night till 24th early morning. The book has me HOOK. I tried to put it down to go to sleep multiple times, but after a minute or so, I picked it up again and basically gave up the sleep to finish it. This has rarely happened to me before.
The book contains domestic abuse and PTSD, which I was a bit worried about how they would be handled them i.e. I was worried it would be one of those stories where all those problems are solved by love or by a single person, which is BS. But no, it was handled very well. In fact, the novel made sure that all those bad experiences wont simply go away in one night nor it will ever go away. Sometimes I caught myself thinking out loud "oh no" when they were in a "situation" and breath a sign of relieve when they were safe. These issues are part of the characters development, and don't worry, there are more to the story than this, there are romances, there are "mysteries", that left you wonder "what happened next???" (that was how I got myself skipped my sleep to finish it)
All the characters are developed very well. It makes me feel a lot, e.g. I can't help but feel painful when they were in a bad situations, feel intrigued to know what happened between Corinne and Helen, feel amazed at hearing their love story, and feel grateful to get to know them, as if I was there with Beryl in the story. It makes me feel like I am on the same adventure as her.
Overall, this book can be painful at a time, but it is very soft and tender. Please give this book a chance. You won't be disappointed.
The book contains domestic abuse and PTSD, which I was a bit worried about how they would be handled them i.e. I was worried it would be one of those stories where all those problems are solved by love or by a single person, which is BS. But no, it was handled very well. In fact, the novel made sure that all those bad experiences wont simply go away in one night nor it will ever go away. Sometimes I caught myself thinking out loud "oh no" when they were in a "situation" and breath a sign of relieve when they were safe. These issues are part of the characters development, and don't worry, there are more to the story than this, there are romances, there are "mysteries", that left you wonder "what happened next???" (that was how I got myself skipped my sleep to finish it)
All the characters are developed very well. It makes me feel a lot, e.g. I can't help but feel painful when they were in a bad situations, feel intrigued to know what happened between Corinne and Helen, feel amazed at hearing their love story, and feel grateful to get to know them, as if I was there with Beryl in the story. It makes me feel like I am on the same adventure as her.
Overall, this book can be painful at a time, but it is very soft and tender. Please give this book a chance. You won't be disappointed.
seecaitlinread's review against another edition
5.0
Well, it seems I will be unable to ever escape a Caren Werlinger book unscathed - and I mean that in the best possible way. I was reading the last 1/5 or so of the book on my couch and had to surreptitiously remove myself to my bedroom to finish it before my roommate saw me lose the absolute run of myself and completely break down.
Throughout the book, I kept thinking of Penny's review, where she describes herself tripping in tenderness throughout each and every page - tripping in that capacity of every human being to touch and be touched. I honestly cannot think of a better way to describe what it feels like to read Neither Present Time. Each passage is a dedication to human connection, and the book as a whole is a devotion to our inexorable and unflinching need to see and be seen, in so many different ways, no matter how unending the obstacles may seem or how deeply we've buried that need.
I'm sure I will find myself rereading it many times over many years, but the highest praise I can say for this book is that it will be the one that I gift to the people in my life I hold most dearly.
Throughout the book, I kept thinking of Penny's review, where she describes herself tripping in tenderness throughout each and every page - tripping in that capacity of every human being to touch and be touched. I honestly cannot think of a better way to describe what it feels like to read Neither Present Time. Each passage is a dedication to human connection, and the book as a whole is a devotion to our inexorable and unflinching need to see and be seen, in so many different ways, no matter how unending the obstacles may seem or how deeply we've buried that need.
I'm sure I will find myself rereading it many times over many years, but the highest praise I can say for this book is that it will be the one that I gift to the people in my life I hold most dearly.
elizatanner's review against another edition
5.0
Great new book! I loved the characters and how the separate stories all intertwined. It was hard to put down. I look forward to other books by this author. Thank you!
rainbow_grace's review
5.0
It has been a long time since a book touched me like this
I still have tears in my eyes as I type this. I haven't cried like this over a book in a very long time. I fell in love with every character, and I couldn't put it down. A love that lasts for a lifetime and beyond.
I still have tears in my eyes as I type this. I haven't cried like this over a book in a very long time. I fell in love with every character, and I couldn't put it down. A love that lasts for a lifetime and beyond.
gizmoto16's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a sweet romance story, actually two stories in one.
pandon's review
5.0
This book just kind of grabbed me and didn’t let go. It took me a bit to figure out who was telling what part of the story, but this did not detract from it at all.
It’s about more than one love story and it’s about a love that transcends time, unto death. It’s about a love of rare books, mysteries, sacrifice, and obligations. And about friendship. All parts are woven together wonderfully.
It’s about more than one love story and it’s about a love that transcends time, unto death. It’s about a love of rare books, mysteries, sacrifice, and obligations. And about friendship. All parts are woven together wonderfully.
kimily's review against another edition
4.0
Neither Present Time was the first Lesfic I read way back in 2016. Five years and many lesfics later, it holds up as a very well-written book. One of my favorite things about the story is that most of the angst revolves around truly tragic events, those of Helen and Corinne's lives. While Aggie and Beryl deal with drama and pain, it supplements the narrative, instead of driving it. I appreciate that Ridley is allowed to develop and grow as a side character, as his growth, for me, is a pivotal part of the story. I won't wait so long for my next re-read.