Cover Image: The Summer of Impossible Things

The Summer of Impossible Things

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Member Reviews

Beautifully written, and utterly engaging.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this title.

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Sadly this one wasn't for me and I had to DNF it...all rhe science bits had me zoning out quite a bit, I didn't like the language either it was a bit too flowery for me.

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This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

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The book began well and peaked my interest, however, the increased requirement for suspension of disbelief, combined with a rather repetitive nature to the plot etc meant that, whilst I enjoyed the book, I didn’t find myself reaching for it as frequently as I would usually expect.

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I think that this is a 'me' rather than a 'book' thing. Romance novels tend to make slightly sleepy and even when they're well written. Another annoying thing with this galley copy however is that it was rife with typos which made it quite difficult to really get into. The plot felt quite cliched and predictable and I did not engage with the characters. It was like an odd little fairytale but one that just didn't grab my interest. But I have enjoyed a lot of other books by the same author so I wonder if I was just having an off week when I read it.

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As much as I have loved previous books by this Author, I did not like this book at all. The mixture of sci-fi and time travel and a love story too just did not sit well with me. I found it very difficult to relate to and get into it and so unbelievable to be ridiculous.

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This is a great book about time travel - normally ones that are described as Time Travel Romance are not my cup of tea, but this one has a hint of romance, but it is not built around that romance. There is a lot of love involved, but not the normal romance kind of love, and that makes this book intriguing and unusual. Also a very good read!
The characters were compelling, and the book hard to put down, to see if Luna could possible get things all the right way round.

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If you had the opportunity to change the past, would you? Could you intervene, knowing that you were protecting someone, even if there was a chance it would have repercussions for you? That is the dilemma Luna faces when she finds herself in Brooklyn, preparing to sell her deceased mother’s home, and is told some shocking news.
This revelation comes at the time that Luna finds herself experiencing what can best be described as something magical. She doesn’t know how, but she finds herself able to go back in time. Luna finds herself back in 1977 where she meets her mother, a young woman vibrant and full of life. A woman who has not yet experienced the awful event that Luna has learned about. So, should Luna protect her mother even if it means losing herself?
We follow Luna as she travels back and forth between the past and present. Watching her see her mother before she was traumatised makes Luna determined to prove her love and to protect the young woman she owes so much to even if it costs her. Alongside this we also see Luna experience her own moments.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading, and feel bad that this has been on my TBR shelf for so long. While it won’t appeal to everyone, I found it a captivating read and one that bears testimony to love in its many forms.

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A beautifully captivating book that had me hooked from the start. My only annoyance is that it took me so long to read it! This is the first book I've read by this author but now I'll be looking to see what else she has to offer.

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Wow, where do I start? I tend to read mostly crime and thrillers with the odd romance book thrown in. This book, well I am not sure what genre this would fall into but what I would say is that it blew me away! The synopsis was enough to make me have pre-conceived ideas, I mean c’mon…. what would you do if you could change time??? C’mon gimme a break…that was until I started reading. So, the first thing to note is my apology to the author for making such a stupid first impression before I had even read a page, and the second is a thank you to the same author for giving me a book that was an absolute joy to read.

First off yes, this book does feature time travel, even writing that is odd because if somebody recommended a book to me on this topic my eyes tend to glaze over. However, Rowan Coleman has created a story that pulls you in as a reader and after a few pages you want to know more and before you know it, you are completely and utterly immersed in this wonderful book.

Luna and her sister Pea are making their way to Brooklyn to settle their mothers’ affairs following her death. When Luna arrives, strange things start happening and she fears she is finally losing her mind. This book is very hard to review without spoiling it for people but I would urge you to give it a go. It’s unlike anything I have read before and a book that swept me away. I have nothing negative to say about this wonderful story and the characters in it, and please even if it doesn’t sound like you kind of book just give it a go…I don’t think you will regret it. This is by far one if the best books I have read all year, I am just sad I waited this long to read it.

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I found this book quite difficult to get into but was glad I persisted.
The book involves two sisters seeking answers to their mum’s suicide. Along the way they make a number of discoveries that take the book down a darker route.
When Luna discovers that she can travel back in time she wants to change things to prevent her mother’s suicide.

The story is very interesting and makes you consider time travel and the butterfly effect.

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A wonderful time slip novel about so many emotions - grief, love, loss and the mother daughter bond. A spellbinding book.

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Despite reading this over a sunny weekend in the garden, for me it wasn’t the ‘uplifting emotional story’ the blurb promised it would be. I loved the late 70s New York setting which I thought was well described and provided great atmosphere, but I had too many niggles with the time travelling storyline for

Following the death of their mother, Luna and her sister Pia have travelled from the UK to their mother’s home town, New York, to deal with the sale of a building she owned. Luna has recently broken up with her partner and has been feeling out of sorts, but she is unprepared for the strange auras and sensations which she experiences in New York, which culminate in her travelling back in time to her mother’s teenage years when Saturday Night Fever was being filmed in the neighbourhood.

I’ll admit I’m not a great reader of fantasy/sci fi novels, but I do like a bit of time travel (loved The Time Traveller’s Wife), however for me there were too many co-incidences and conveniences and Luna (a physicist) was far to accepting of what was happening to her. When she hatched a plan to help her mother which would have changed the course of history so drastically that she (Luna) would not have been born, I just didn’t buy it.

On the plus side it’s a sweet story, the characters (apart from Luna who I found irritating) are charming and a lot of people have obviously really enjoyed it. If you’re able to suspend your disbelief enough to enjoy the atmosphere and just go with it, then please give it a try.

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This is a very intriguing novel with mystery elements blended skilfully with the concept of time travel.
The science part (ie the time travel) is casually done - there's no hard scientic theory included - but that's not really important, as it's a plot device rather than a concept that needs fully explaining in terms of the narrative.
The era is beautifully created (New York City during the late 1970s) and I really liked the characters, some of whom are not exactly as they first appear.
It's quite a gentle read, and I mean that as a compliment. If you're looking for an intriguing page-turner for a beach holiday or a flight, this book is a decent read.

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My previous favourite book, The Time Travellers Wife, prepared me well for this entertaining and thought provoking novel from Rowan Coleman.
If you could travel back in time and meet your mother in her teenage years, would you change the way that you thought about her?
I couldn't put this book down- I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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What if we could go back in time and do things differently? Get ready to suspend your disbelief and dive into this gorgeous book from Rowan Coleman where Luna is able to do just that. Luna herself is a bold and believable protagonist – a physicist trying to come to terms with the suicide of her mother. When she and her sister Pia travel to New York to settle their mother’s affairs, they discover a terrible secret. In trying to investigate this, Luna discovers that she is able to go back in time and meets her mother as a teenager in 1970s New York. Another fabulous read from one of my favourite authors. Highly recommended.

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I tried to like this. But the happy, perfect ending just left me a little worse for wear. I don't think that's how the book should've ended, but I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles.

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If I am completely honest, I didn't finish this book. i've tried to read it on several occasions, but failed in every attempt. That doesn't mean it was a terrible novel - the storyline just wasn't very interesting to me. The writing was average, it was slow at times, but it just didn't intrigue me as much as I would like a mystery-esque novel to do so. I think perhaps in the future I might attempt to read this book again - maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for this genre? But I will try again or possibly read another of the author's books. Therefore, my 2 star rating is more to do with the lack of compatibility between me and this novel, rather than the novel itself.

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This is a gorgeous novel following a young woman, Luna, who discovers she can temporarily travel back in time. Her mother has recently committed suicide, haunted by a traumatic event that happened in 1977. Luna becomes determined to save her mother’s future, even if it comes at great cost to herself. It’s a crazy premise but it is a wonderful book. I loved the characters, the style and the love that ran through it. It’s a beautiful hug of a book that leaves you smiling a big goofy grin.

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I have loved the opportunity to spend time researching novels to re-stockl our senior bookshelves in the school library that plays a central role in the life of the school. When I first took over the library was filled with dusty tomes that were never borrowed and languished there totally unloved.
Books like this, play a central role in ensuring that the library is stocked with fresh relevant fiction that appeals to the readers. It has a strong voice and a compelling plot that ensures that you speed through its pages, enjoying both its characterisation and dialogue whilst wanting to find out how all of its strands will be resolved by the end.
I have no hesitation in adding this to the 'must buy' list so that the senior students and staff of the school can enjoy it as much as I did. This is a gripping read that will be sure to grip its readers whether they are fans of this genre or coming to it for the first time through our now-thriving school library recommendation system. Thanks so much for allowing me to review it!

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