Another magical story from Poston! The Seven Year Slip follows Clementine through a transitional part of her life. Her beloved aunt has died and left her her apartment. Clementine was always told this apartment was “magical” and now she gets to experience it herself. She meets chef-in-training Iwan who she loves as a young aspiring chef. But will she meet him in the present? Will she love that version? This story is a slow burn and swoon worthy while covering deeper topics of grief, regret and following one’s dreams. Highly recommend for all readers

Quick Stats
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 1/5
Over All: 4.5 stars

Special thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

TW: loss of family member, suicide, grief, sexual content

Ashley Poston is simply phenomenal—and I adore her in this adult romance space. There’s something about her writing—the narration, the emotion—that feels slightly reminiscent of Emily Henry, to me. I find it kind of funny, that EH went from writing YA paranormal romance to adult contemporary, while AP went from writing YA contemporary romance to adult paranormal romance.
Though I think if I had to describe this book and The Dead Romantics, I’d say theyre kind of a soft paranormal romance. Because they’re magical—ghosts, apartments lost in time—but they’re much closer to what you’d think of as contemporary romances than what you’d think of in paranormal romances, or at least how I think of those genres.
All of that is to say, I love what Ashley Poston is doing with her latest books, and I want more of it.
As for this book specifically—I really enjoyed it! I didn’t find it quite to the level of The Dead Romantics, but it was a solid book. Fun and swoony and heartfelt. There were a few instances where I felt like the writing was trying a little too hard to be deep and emotional and introspective, but those instances were greatly outnumbered by moments where those emotions felt genuine and sweeping.
I loved Clementine. Her voice was distinct and easy to get swept up in. I loved watching her grow as a character, and I was sad to part with her at the end.
Iwan, too, was easy to love and easy to fall for. I loved seeing the differences between him in the past vs the present, while Clementine stayed the same. It’s a very interesting juxtaposition to explore, and one that doesn’t often get explored.
The two of them together was just perfection. The chemistry was tangible and their little banter had me kicking my feet. I love nicknames in theory, but in reality they tend to be very hit or miss for me, but this one was definitely a hit! It was a little overused (he referred to her by name [or by nickname, I suppose] at least 5 times as often as she did, sometimes multiple times in a page) but there were so many layers behind him calling her that, that I couldn’t help but love it.
This is, like The Dead Romantics, more of an emotional romance than a romcom, despite the voicy narration and some comedic scenes and aspects. There is a very centralized theme of grief and loss that could easily be triggering to some, especially if you go in unprepared. I really enjoyed the way it was addressed, though. Despite the fact that it was more distanced in timing than the loss explored in TDR, it felt heavier at times in its exploration. I didn’t cry as much as I did reading TDR, yet I felt more depressed while reading the scenes as they occurred—not in a bad way, at all, just in a way that was notable. There is so much love in this book, in many forms, and one of those forms is explored through grief.
All in all, this was a really good book, and I look forward to whatever Ashley Poston releases next, whether its another adult romance or back to the YA sphere.

I really enjoyed The Dead Romantics; so I was very excited to read this one! I loved the "magical realism" side of this book so much. The time "slipping" apartment was genius. Sadly, I didn't connect with the characters the way I hoped to. I liked the "7 years ago" narrative but the present day fell flat for me. I didn't feel chemistry between them. Additionally, it was hard to keep track of when in the timeline they were because there weren't clear transitions between the time shifts.

This book took my breath away. This book made me feel sad, and happy, and loved, and reminded me of how beautiful all of those feelings are.

Iwan and Clementine will make you fall in love. They will remind you of how special love is. Not only romantic love but love between friends and between family.

This book also talks about suicide and someone committing suicide so please be gentle with yourself as you read it.

As someone who lost someone dear to her to suicide this book gave me a sense of healing I didn’t even know I needed.

The way magical realism blends into contemporary is done seamlessly.

I hope you love this book as much as I did because it might be my favorite this year!

oh my gosh I loved everything about this book! The concept of an apartment that transports to the past was so unique and genius. this book gives series The Lake House vibes and I loved it. The banter and chemistry in this book was on another level. This story was magical and heartwarming all at the same time.

Ashley Poston always comes up with interesting premises for her novels; and THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP was no exception. I really liked a lot about this one — the magical apartment, the New York setting, the inclusion of food and book publishing and art. It felt really cozy to read, which was just what I needed at the time I picked this one up.

That being said, the one aspect that didn’t quite stick the landing completely for me was the romance. I could believe the attraction and connection between the characters, sure, but the depth of the devotion didn’t necessarily feel 100% believable all the time. Still, I got emotional at the end and I also appreciated how Poston wrapped things up for Clementine (and not just when it comes to the romance).

I have fallen in love with Ashley Poston's writing style and was so happy to get an early galley of this book! I really enjoyed the premise of this one. Clementine is an overworked publicist who has been a bit lost since the death of her aunt. Clementine's aunt has always told her to chase the moon but Clementine has been finding that hard to do lately and just feels stuck, that is until she finds a strange man in her aunt's apartment. He's attractive, has a southern drawl and is just the kind of man that could steal her heart. The trouble is, he exists 7 years in the past. Clementine's aunt always told her the apartment was magic and now she is experiencing that magic first hand. The stronger the connection between Clementine and Iwan grows the more certain Clementine is that the relationship is doomed especially since she has no control over when the apartment will bring her to him. Things get even more complicated when Clementine crosses paths with Iwan, now going by James in her present.

The Seven Year Slip has such an interesting premise, but it just fell a little flat for me. I loved the setting and the food, but the romance and the predictability made my rating go down a little. There were some loose ends that will annoy me. That being said, this was an enjoyable read and I think many romance readers will love it.

Have you ever been so interested in a story that if you wake up in the middle of the night you look over at the clock to calculate how many hours until you can get up and continue reading? Well this book did that to me. A beautifully written story of what could be. The publicist described it to me as a rom-com and I don't agree with that at all. More of a story of chance meetings and finally realizing what you want out of life. This will be out for sale June 27th and I highly recommend it.

Written by the author of The Dead Romantics. While that was an entertaining book, I enjoyed these characters much more.
#berkley #netgalley #ashleyposton #thesevenyearslip

Also posted on various book groups on Facebook that I belong to.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think Ashley Poston admirably and poignantly writes about grief and change so damn well -- I'd argue that this book is a mix of coming-of-age and romance, rather than strictly a romance so that people's expectations can be adjusted. Regardless, I thought this was a lovely, tender beach read.

I found certain parts of the storyline to feel rushed and thrown in, as to operate as a quick plot or character development device so that Clementine could be steered towards a new epiphany, such as the <spoiler> conversation with Juliette about being told that she was deserving of something better. It's not that I don't believe that messaging or that I don't want Juliette to leave her shitty situationship; it's just that I didn't really get to know Juliette or learn enough about her to invest in caring about her. I feel like that moment could have landed stronger if it was instead about Drew or her wife, who we interact with way more. </spoiler> That's just one example of the writing/pacing/plot choices feelings a bit wonky or out of place to me. Did it take me out of the book and ruin my experience? No, but it just didn't particularly fit, that's all.

There was also a moment where Clementine <spoiler> tries to place her hands on James' face after shitting all over his new restaurant (which granted, was clearly not *his* actual dream, so she was right in her constructive feedback), and it just did not ring true. Just told someone their brand new investment is inauthentic and you're not impressed, then proceed to cup their face in your hands as a sympathetic gesture, especially after not seeing them for seven years? Ummmmmm, couldn't be me girly pop lol.</spoiler> That actually did take me out for a second and I annotated, "Girl, whyyyyyy? So cringe" hahaha.

The one sub-plot that I adored was that of Analea & Vera's romance from decades prior - that was fun & I loved the tie-in with the present timeline! I will say that I guessed the grand gesture at the very beginning of this book & I fully recognize I sound like such a "pick me" pointing that out but I'm just really proud of my romance reader comprehension at this point so let me have my moment hahaha.

Here's what stood out to me as the strongest part of this book: the exploration of Clementine's grief with losing her aunt Analea. This truly hit a chord, and I think it's something that universally can feel relatable to any audience that this is marketed to. We're all human & we are all going to lose our loved ones, so that's a morbid but well-known guarantee of this short time we have on Earth. I appreciated the way Ashley explores grief and nuance within our loved ones this way. She did it well with The Dead Romantics and she did it beautifully again with this novel.

Lastly, I cried reading the author's note about change, and how only this book will remain stagnant, and that every time we read it, we will be different too (even how we feel about the book, which SLAYYYY - that's me hahaha). I am all for growth, change & evolving & it seems Ashley's own journey with grief has led her to this road of acceptance of whatever's to come, including all future versions of her. I think that's a beautiful meditation to sit with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC of this title for review.

After losing her beloved aunt, workaholic book publicist Clementine finds herself going through the motions, working towards a promotion that she is increasingly less sure that she wants and unable to grieve her aunt’s untimely passing. One night, she returns home to her late aunt’s apartment, only to find that she has stepped back in time seven years and that she is not the apartment’s only occupant– as her aunt subleased the apartment that summer seven years ago to an aspiring chef, Iwan. As time passes, Clementine adjusts to the twin timelines in her life (living in the current era outside the apartment and slipping back seven years in time when she enters the apartment). Clementine and Iwan fall in love, but Clementine is sure their romance will never make it in the real world, living seven years apart and knowing that her aunt’s own time-slip romance ended in a rupture. When Clementine meets the current version of Iwan, a slick, established restaurateur, the two timelines of her life converge, and she must learn how to grieve her aunt’s death and decide whether she can take a chance on a current romance with Iwan and follow her dreams.

The Seven Year Time Slip is an ambitious, high-concept novel, and I was so impressed by Poston’s ability to balance an intricate plot alongside a moving portrait of a woman dealing with unexpected grief and a poignant romance. I found myself slowing down in the final chapters of this book, never wanting to leave these characters or this story. We’ve added this book to our collection in physical and digital formats, and I will definitely recommend this book to patrons looking for a tender contemporary romance with depth and warmth. 4.5 stars.

(In accordance with Berkley’s approval preferences, this review will not be posted publicly until one week prior to publication.)

What a delight this book was!

I am not the biggest rom-com fan, but I’ve heard such great things about Ashley Poston, so I really wanted to read this one. I love a good magical realism/time travel storyline, but it has to be done in a believable way, and I think this one is.

I also loved that the romance aspect of this book wasn’t the only purpose: there are stories of friendship, family, career growth, self discovery, grief and so much more, all of which is done with care and nuance.

Definitely recommend this one to rom-com fans and those who want something a little extra from their romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of a loved one (by suicidal overdose, past), grief, dementia (past)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f time slip romance
-forbidden romance elements
-insta attraction
-multiple timelines
-it has always been you
-food is my love language

Gosh this book hurt my heart in the best way. This was such a beautifully written story about grief, about time, and about love. Clementine is reeling after the death of one of her favorite people - her aunt - who left her apartment. Clementine is at a crossroads in her life without even fully realizing it walks into her apartment and finds herself seven years in the past and with a stranger. If you loved The Lake House this book is for you.

I adored Iwan and their relationship together. The yearning of this man and gosh his patience, may we all find a Iwan. Every time he called her LEMON my gosh. A hot chef who just wants to feed you good food and encourage your dreams. How they pushed each other, checked in, both of them at transition points. I don't want to say too much and give too much away but the ways these two continued in and out of each other's lives, the time slips in and out of the apartment that will have you screaming, wondering how these two are ever going to make it work.

What this book says about time, how we change, how what we want can change, but also at our core we're the same person. About timing when you meet someone whether you're in the right place to be with them or maybe it would be better if you met, say seven years later. The whole third act had me screaming, putting my book down for a moment and then diving back in because I had to know how these two will work it out. This book ends just so perfectly and just so well done of the many threads just effortless in the storytelling.

And oof the portions about her aunt, about grief, about her memories and just what her aunt meant to her. It was a beautiful thread throughout the book that would just knock you over with the power of it. This was a beautiful romance, a great book just about having the guts to make changes no matter how old you are, and of trusting yourself and trusting in love.

Steam: 2.5

This is a book I didn't realize I absolutely needed to read! I love when a romance book can make me get into my feels but also keep me hopeful. I loved the characters and thought the concept of traveling back in time because of a magical apartment was so fun!

I mean, what a magical romance. This book was so sweet and had me crying good by the end of it. CW: grief and mentions of suicide.

Ok, I liked this but there were elements that confused me. I am not sure if it was the book or the fact that I didn’t read it consistently for a bit.

I liked the premise - of two people - Clementine and Iwan - meeting from different years. But I felt like the meeting in present day was odd. It felt like I was missing something.

There were other questions I had about the story. I wasn’t quite sure why Clementine had rules for herself about not falling in love. I also wanted to know why there were certain elements that weren’t discussed in present day. And how did Clementine and Iwan fall in love so fast?

Perhaps I needed to suspend more disbelief. But I think some of the plot hole had me not being able to hold onto that.

I still enjoyed this one, and think it will work for people. (3.5)

[cw - suicide, death of relative]

4.5 stars, rounded up. Sometimes sophomore novels that follow a smashing debut can fall flat. However, I didn't find that to be the case with The Seven Year Slip! Utterly enjoyable, charming, and emotional. I adored every single character and the whole concept of timing was such a unique way to bring the main characters together. I really enjoyed this one!!

TW: mentions of suicide, depression
Content: strong language including f words, two open door scenes

Thank you so much to the publisher for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

I don't know what it is about Ashley Poston's writing that makes me sob like crazy, but I am here for it.

In a book that is reminiscent of all other time traveling romance stories, Clementine and Iwan manage to find each other 7 years apart in an apartment that bends the boundaries between time and space. Their story is heartfelt, poignant, and just a bit sad as we see them both come to the realization of what it means to be together across a 7 year span.

This book was beautifully written. I loved the cast of characters and their growth, but especially Clementine. Her emotions leapt off the page - a credit to Poston's literary skill. This book was unputdownable and I read it all in one sitting.

What an absolute treat.

4.5 rounded up / my oh my! This book was such a wonderful surprise. I liked but didn’t love The Dead Romantics but did love Poston’s writing, so I was excited for this one, and boy did it deliver. It felt like parts of this were literally speaking to me directly, and the romance was so so lovely. I really loved that although Clementine was figuring herself out, she was still a formidable woman who although didn’t need no man, she wanted one in particular. One who was oh so swoon worthy. Of course, the magical realism can take a little adjusting, but I think it worked well here and complimented the story instead of overpowering it. I can’t wait for everything else Poston writes!

When Clementine’s aunt passes and leaves her the apartment, she is devastated, but finally gets up the strength to move in. when she arrives home from work to a man at the counter, she is thrown off, but her aunt always did say this apartment was magic. Magic in apparently the way that this man is living seven years in the past. Her aunt always told her to never fall in love though…

This book was a damn delight. I just freaking adore Ashley Poston and the way she can weave a bit of the supernatural into a story which just brings it to the next level. I loved the idea that these two are kept apart by the seven years, and when they are both living in the same time continuum, seven years has past for Ian, while Clementine is still in the same time frame. I just loved every second of this book, so I highly recommend you grab a copy!