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mrsglovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
sarahhyatt's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted so much to like this but it just never got better. It should have been right up my alley (time travel! Autistic/synesthetic main character!) but it did neither of those things in ways that worked for me. The time travel part just meant we experienced the same, inconsequential, unemotional events incessantly, while the main character bumbled around making a series of increasingly ridiculous Looney Tunes-esque mistakes every time. The bit got old after the first three times and then kept going on. Undo! Undo! Undo! GIRL STOP. She literally discovered she had the power to go back in time and chose to continue to go to work, use her ability to bend the universe to her will to attend endless meetings, write awkward emails to her boss at the job she hated, and relive her worst day ever. Impeccable decision making there.
None of the overly caricatured characters were likeable, which made it impossible to care what happened for them. It was hard to believe Cassandra even cared about her bland boyfriend because the internal monologue meant to showcase her social difficulties so often felt more like misanthropy than autism -- literally nobody was ever portrayed positively. We saw no instances of Cassandra comfortable around ANYONE or connected to ANYONE in a meaningful way. This woman actively disliked and resented everybody she encountered on a daily basis. While that may have been part of the point, it made for a depressing slog of a read.
None of the overly caricatured characters were likeable, which made it impossible to care what happened for them. It was hard to believe Cassandra even cared about her bland boyfriend because the internal monologue meant to showcase her social difficulties so often felt more like misanthropy than autism -- literally nobody was ever portrayed positively. We saw no instances of Cassandra comfortable around ANYONE or connected to ANYONE in a meaningful way. This woman actively disliked and resented everybody she encountered on a daily basis. While that may have been part of the point, it made for a depressing slog of a read.
ammijani's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hookerkitty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
(Choosing to mostly ignore the last chapter, but knocking off a quarter star for it and only it)
The end of this made me practically sob, but in a good way. I’m 37 and we’ve (me and my mental health peeps) only just within the last year or so really realizing that I probs have autism (had a LOT of other stuff override focusing on that. Gotta love PTSD and treatment-resistant depression, amongst others). While my experience doesn’t exactly mirror Cassandra’s, the overall themes/features are the same (something’s wrong with me/I’m different/weird being a huge one). I looked it up and learned the author wasn’t diagnosed until she was 35, so I felt kinship there as well.
I don’t remember how I found out about this book (autism sub on Reddit probs), but I’m DEF glad I did. It just further cements that yeah, this explains me.
Part of me grieves for myself and wonder how much different my life would’ve turned out had I been diagnosed earlier on (same goes for some of my rare-ish health conditions too). Just one more thing that I want to go back to people in my past, smack them hard in the face, and yell “IT WASN'T ALL IN MY HEAD I WAS AND AM NOT FAKING ANYTHING.” But I’m grateful to at least know now.
I don’t know why it never really occurred to me to seek out books with neurospicy main characters. But I also wasn’t finally diagnosed with ADHD until a couple years ago (around 34-35 I think?). This book def makes me want to find them and not just come across them. Sometimes reading books with characters who do everything (or just a lot) “right” can bum me out since I would have probs doing that stuff. It feels less lonely reading about characters with similar issues, (esp since it wasn’t a downer book).
The end of this made me practically sob, but in a good way. I’m 37 and we’ve (me and my mental health peeps) only just within the last year or so really realizing that I probs have autism (had a LOT of other stuff override focusing on that. Gotta love PTSD and treatment-resistant depression, amongst others). While my experience doesn’t exactly mirror Cassandra’s, the overall themes/features are the same (something’s wrong with me/I’m different/weird being a huge one). I looked it up and learned the author wasn’t diagnosed until she was 35, so I felt kinship there as well.
I don’t remember how I found out about this book (autism sub on Reddit probs), but I’m DEF glad I did. It just further cements that yeah, this explains me.
Part of me grieves for myself and wonder how much different my life would’ve turned out had I been diagnosed earlier on (same goes for some of my rare-ish health conditions too). Just one more thing that I want to go back to people in my past, smack them hard in the face, and yell “IT WASN'T ALL IN MY HEAD I WAS AND AM NOT FAKING ANYTHING.” But I’m grateful to at least know now.
I don’t know why it never really occurred to me to seek out books with neurospicy main characters. But I also wasn’t finally diagnosed with ADHD until a couple years ago (around 34-35 I think?). This book def makes me want to find them and not just come across them. Sometimes reading books with characters who do everything (or just a lot) “right” can bum me out since I would have probs doing that stuff. It feels less lonely reading about characters with similar issues, (esp since it wasn’t a downer book).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Vomit, and Car accident
alyssawagg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
beth_sandyeggo's review against another edition
3.0
The concept of this book is interesting, with the time travel. I am not sold on the main character being on the spectrum. It was reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant. The book didn't fully interest me until the second half.
funmzz's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the story telling and Cassandra’s many lives. It feels very original and relatable at the same time. I love the repair she is able to have in different parts of her life. Only a 4 because the story seemed to go on a lil longer than j expected. But it was so worth it!
annakeinonen's review
5.0
Pidin tästä kirjasta jotenkin paljon enemmän kuin olisin ajatellut ennakkoon!
Tässä oli sopivan kevyt ote, mutta myös vakavia aiheita. Kiinnostavasti yhdistetty aikamatkailua, autismia, ihmissuhteita ja työelämän vaatimuksia.
Tässä oli sopivan kevyt ote, mutta myös vakavia aiheita. Kiinnostavasti yhdistetty aikamatkailua, autismia, ihmissuhteita ja työelämän vaatimuksia.
aitchfrost's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely breathtakingly poignant and heart wrenchingly brilliant. If you can’t tell I loved this book unconditionally in its entirety.
The day to day saga and struggles of someone living with autism were open, honest, sometimes funny but always relatable on some level or other even though I’m not on the spectrum myself officially, although I’ve started to empathise with the main character so many times I’m slightly considering the possibility on some level. I think a lot of the moments were entirely recognisable though to most of us especially the social awkwardness and wanting to express the frustrations in a formal setting at work but being unable to due to social conformity and protocol. The whole premise behind the book of time travel and going back to endlessly correct but not necessarily get any perfection or the results you want were genius and hugely enjoyable to read.
The added level of Greek mythology was incredibly well done, I like / dabble in the likes of mythology but am by no means an expert. The references entirely added to the storyline without requiring any prior knowledge or being patronising to any degree.
Honestly a brilliant read, I’m devastated I’ve finished it, would love to read more.
The day to day saga and struggles of someone living with autism were open, honest, sometimes funny but always relatable on some level or other even though I’m not on the spectrum myself officially, although I’ve started to empathise with the main character so many times I’m slightly considering the possibility on some level. I think a lot of the moments were entirely recognisable though to most of us especially the social awkwardness and wanting to express the frustrations in a formal setting at work but being unable to due to social conformity and protocol. The whole premise behind the book of time travel and going back to endlessly correct but not necessarily get any perfection or the results you want were genius and hugely enjoyable to read.
The added level of Greek mythology was incredibly well done, I like / dabble in the likes of mythology but am by no means an expert. The references entirely added to the storyline without requiring any prior knowledge or being patronising to any degree.
Honestly a brilliant read, I’m devastated I’ve finished it, would love to read more.
kellia's review against another edition
DNF. listened to it so just speed through which is mostly the same as DNF. Not for me. Didn’t love tone or characters.