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A review by dananana
Time Was by Ian McDonald
2.0
Ok like... I should have listened to the reviews? lmao
Most people who've read this and didn't like it complained that the blurb doesn't accurately represent the plot of the book. The blurb advertises itself as a time travel romance but, as other reviewers have pointed out, the focus is more on the (straight) bookseller who is trying to investigate the mystery. I interpreted people's comments to mean that this was would tell the story of a more subtle romance - the reader would be able to piece together how the two fell in love and lost each other and found each other again and again, through their letters and photographs and other evidence.
Yeah, that's not what this book is about!! Honestly I couldn't tell you want it was about because I felt approximately 0 emotions regarding any of the characters or the plot lmao. Plus
It's disappointing because this story really does have a lot of potential. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if 1. the writing was a lot less pretentious (but that's a personal preference lol), 2. there was less focus on Emmett because he was boring af, 3. Emmett was gay/bi instead of straight to add some more emotional connection between him and Tom/Ben, 4., and 5. more about Tom and Ben falling in love and their actual emotions about being lost in time to get me invested in their story.
At least it was really short so I didn't waste a lot of time on it haha ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Most people who've read this and didn't like it complained that the blurb doesn't accurately represent the plot of the book. The blurb advertises itself as a time travel romance but, as other reviewers have pointed out, the focus is more on the (straight) bookseller who is trying to investigate the mystery. I interpreted people's comments to mean that this was would tell the story of a more subtle romance - the reader would be able to piece together how the two fell in love and lost each other and found each other again and again, through their letters and photographs and other evidence.
Yeah, that's not what this book is about!! Honestly I couldn't tell you want it was about because I felt approximately 0 emotions regarding any of the characters or the plot lmao. Plus
Spoiler
Ben dies in the last 5 pages bc???? the author wanted Tom to be lonely??? I guess???? isn't it enough that they've never truly been together...? :/ I was gonna give it 3 stars but then that happened.It's disappointing because this story really does have a lot of potential. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if 1. the writing was a lot less pretentious (but that's a personal preference lol), 2. there was less focus on Emmett because he was boring af, 3. Emmett was gay/bi instead of straight to add some more emotional connection between him and Tom/Ben, 4.
Spoiler
Ben didn't die!! it's so pointless wtfAt least it was really short so I didn't waste a lot of time on it haha ¯\_(ツ)_/¯