A review by penguinna
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I took this book on vacation, expecting a light-hearted romance that would create butterflies in my stomach while I ate ice cream by the seaside on a hot summer day. What I did not expect was a profound exploration of grief that resonated so deeply with me.

What the blurb says:

An overworked book publicist, Clementine, meets Iwan, a perfect young man living in the past in her apartment, full of enthusiasm to fulfill his dreams of becoming a chef in New York.

What the blurb does not say:

Clementine lost her aunt Analea six months ago. Analea left Clementine her apartment, which sometimes takes you seven years back in time. Analea was vibrant and adventurous – dancing in the rain in front of the Louvre, backpacking through Europe, laughing while being chased by a walrus in Norway. She was full of life and love. Then, six months ago, she suddenly ended her life on New Year's Eve.

I expected a cheesy love story with a touch of magical realism, but instead, I received an incredible narrative about grieving the loss of a loved one and starting anew. This is a story of how we all change over time, how time heals us and makes us stronger. It is a story about finding happiness and the importance of discovering your true self. This book is a time capsule, reminding us that we all live here and now, and there will never be another day like today.

The Seven Year Slip is like a warm hug in the kitchen of a small, cozy New York apartment that smells like lemon pie. This book is quiet and clandestine, making you want to hide in its pages and paint them with watercolors on a stuffy summer night, with pigeons cooing on your windowsill under the moonlight.

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