A review by natashaleighton_
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

No one does heartfelt, magical realism or cosy romance quite like Ashley Poston! The emotion she manages to convey through her characters, and the depth and dimension she imbues them with is incredible— I honestly loved every angst-filled, swoon-worthy second! 

First of all, I just want to say that I absolutely LOVED The Dead Romantics (it was one of my favourite reads of 2022) so was unbelievably excited when I got my hands on a copy of The Seven Year Slip. And having pretty much devoured it, I can report that it’s just as whimsically heartwarming and poignant as its predecessor. 

Just like in The Dead Romantics, Poston explores the many facets of grief and loss which, when paired with the P.S. I Love You meets The Lake House-style premise, gives us a nuanced, detailed and beautifully immersive glimpse into Clementine’s emotional journey—in learning to accept the loss of her aunt, rediscover her true self and reignite her love for adventure and creativity (which is what led her to the New York to begin with.)

The magically realist concept was wonderfully refreshing and Clementine was such an endearing and relatable protagonist I couldn’t help but root for. I also liked how understanding and compassionate Iwan was despite dealing with his own grief and career crossroads. His infectious personality and passion (for cooking) was also pretty instrumental in helping to bring joy and creativity back into Clementine’s life, and I loved watching their flirtatious, banter-filled interactions unfold. 

The timelines (Clementine’s present and Iwan’s past) were also seamlessly woven, which created such an intriguing sense of hope, angst and romantic tension that had me desperate to find out if things could (or would) work out for them. Seriously, I’ve not been this invested in a will-they-won’t-they type storyline since the love triangle between Damon, Elena and Stefan in The Vampire Diaries.

It is set within the same world as The Dead romantics (we are treated to a rather delightful—if super quick—cameo from Benji) which I really enjoyed. I’m hoping this means we can look forward to more books set in Poston’s universe (with plenty more cameos from all our faves.) I’d also love to see Juliette get her own novel, she seemed soo sweet and definitely deserves better than Romeo Rob.

So if you love adorably quirky, magic adjacent romances (that also pack an emotional punch) then you definitely have to check this out. 

Also, a massive thank you to HQ for the physical proof. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings