Very interesting storyline. Not what I expected going in and a bit predictable at times, but still worth a read I'd recommend if only for the neat concept.

<i>Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for providing me with a digital Arc in exchange for an honest Review! All quotes featured are from the Arc and therefore subject to changes.</i>

<b>“That’s one of the things I really like about you. Everything through your eyes is magical.”</b>

<b>When it comes to my enjoyment The Time Traveler’s Guide definitely delivered! ⌛</b> I had a lot of fun reading about Elias’ adventures in the modern time with Tyler and felt like this was such a fluffy, romantic book that really lifted my spirits! This book is perfect for when you need a quick, nice comfort read to wind down and just smile to yourself for a little while. The book <b>certainly delivered when it came to emotions and its two main characters</b>. I immediately felt for both Elias and Tyler, but especially the former. The time travel element was also really great, I love this theme in general!

<b>Elias grew up in London in the 1860s as an unloved son who felt like he was never good enough</b> and didn’t have any special talent. Him feeling like he was unwanted and expendable really tugged at my heart-strings and the wonder he reserves for the new modern world he encountered was amazing. I loved watching him explore our timeline and see how he reacted to all the new technology and rules that he had no clue about. It certainly made for a great comedic value, as we saw Elias not always conform to the social rules of society as he needed time to adjust to the completely new world he was thrown in. I often found myself smiling the most at the scenes in which Elias was so amazed by the modern time! <b>I also liked that he went on a lot of ‘adventures’ with Tyler, who is a young filmmaker</b>. I really understood his wish to stand out and break into the tough industry, especially when he was practically send away bis his step-mom and oftentimes isolates himself because of that. I liked seeing their connection and understanding that developed and how Tyler took in this strange boy, until it also blossomed into love. I really liked that we saw a m/m couple and also got to hear about Tyler’s experience of being out as bisexual and Elias’ figuring out he was gay, but only now being able to act on it.

However, <b>the book also had a lot of weak points that made me unable to give it a higher rating.</b> Mainly this is due to the deficits in writing style, plot and development of the secondary characters plus a few other points ⌛

<b>As much as I liked Tyler and Elias, I felt like their relationship was way too rushed</b> and reminded me a lot of insta-love. This is sad as I liked seeing them interact, but felt like we needed more time for them to develop a stronger bond. Their connection rang a bit hollow at times, because they had just gotten to know each other.

<b>The writing style sadly felt a bit clunky and didn’t flow as well at times.</b> Especially the beginning made it hard to get into. My main problem here was that a lot of overused phrases were employed in the writing style, which made it read a bit awkward and strange at times. I also felt like a few actions in scenes and a bit of the dialogue suffered from these cliché phrases, so it sometimes felt unnatural how the characters were speaking and acting.

<b>Sadly, the plot itself was lacking for stakes and suspense.</b> There was always a bit of a risk with Elias having to return to his time to face the consequences for what he did, but that was about it. The plot was mainly about the romance, but didn’t really have more than that, which is something that I found lacking. The plot felt a bit weak without that certain spark to pick up the pacing and introduce some higher stakes.

<b>The world building in general was not very well fleshed out!</b> I don’t know everything about Victorian era Britain, but I feel like Elias adapted way too quickly to the modern times, considering that his mindset seemed a bit too modern at times. I find it a bit unrealistic that he had no problem encountering such a different world and often I found that he didn’t seem that much different from Tyler. Also: no one ever explains why the watch can time travel. I always have an issue when the explanation is “no one knows why this thing works, but it somehow does” like Elias’ grandfather said. Furthermore, later in the plot a thing happens and we still have no idea who did it or why a random person would do that. This felt a bit like a plothole.

<b>As much as I liked Zoe and Oscar, they weren’t well-developed just like the other secondary characters!</b> I feel like they disappeared at times when it was all about Elias and Tyler, so we didn’t see as much of them as I wanted. I also felt like they didn’t have as much depth as they could have had. Oscar is also one of the only black people on campus, yet his experience with that and racism he might encounter were skipped over. The other characters like Vanessa and Charlie or the f/f couple were nothing more than tropes that served to show Tyler’s daily life but didn’t have much agency of their own.

<b>IN CONCLUSION:</b> I would recommend <i>The Time Traveler’s Guide to Modern Romance<7/i> to everyone who is in the mood for a <b>cute, fluffy m/m romance and likes a dash of time travel and historical fiction</b>. The book was a great comfort read and really entertained me, but it also could have been stronger in writing style, plot and secondary characters.

I really wish I would have enjoyed this book more. The cover is beautiful and the title drew me in from the beginning. I am super bummed I wasn't more drawn into this story. I just felt this could have been done a little differently and there were holes in the plot line that I felt should have been fixed.

This was such a cute story. It's a romance that spands over time itself. Eli doesn't belong in his time and when offered a pocket watch from his grandfather that lets him travel time and space, Eli is transported to modern day where he meets Tyler. I loved their chemistry and it was funny watching Eli learn about cars and other modern day technology.

“‘I am not from here and, try as I might, I am afraid I will always just be a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit. I am an oddity…a secret to be kept. No one can actually live like that for long.’”

I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Entangled Publishing, LLC.

Elias Caldwell has never felt accepted in nineteenth-century England. The more pressure his parents put on him, the more he acts out, until they threaten to send him away. When his grandfather offers him a pocket watch that can transport him through space and time, Elias thinks it must be a fairytale– until he finds himself on the campus of a prep school in twenty-first century America. As the only out bisexual boy at his school, Tyler has always felt like something of an outsider. He dreams of making a name for himself as a documentary filmmaker, and when a time traveler appears in front of his camera, he thinks he might be onto the story of a century. But helping Elias navigate present-day America–and falling for him–turns out to be better than any film school. When they learn the consequences of Elias’s escape from the past, they’re forced to make a choice about where they both truly belong.

This is a sweet, fluffy romance, and it’s exactly what I needed after some of the more demanding books I’ve read lately. I had reservations about Reynolds’s Illusions, but The Time Traveler’s Guide resolves almost every problem I had with it. It’s a straightforward narrative rather than an epistolary novel, and it’s a lot more effective. The writing isn’t remarkable, but it’s engaging, and the chapters alternating between Eli and Tyler kept me guessing. There’s also much less angst and societal pressure, given that it’s set in a contemporary American school. I liked both characters, and the development is mostly about each choosing the best path for themselves.

The plot is mainly focused on Eli acclimating to a new century with some funny mishaps and his budding romance with Tyler. There’s almost no conflict, and even the ones that eventually come from time travel are relatively minor. The science fiction is light and easily accessible to any reader, though it may bother readers who prefer more in-depth magic or science worlds. The pocket watch is given almost no explanation; it’s merely a plot device, and the dire consequences of time travel that we’ve seen play out in other stories are glossed over. It’s much more a romance than it is anything else, for those who like their romance with a little magic and a lot of fluff. Very enjoyable.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

The book started slow for me and eventually picked up later. I really liked this story and can’t wait to see more from this author

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Modern Romance was written by Madeline J. Reynolds. I’ve been reading a lot of YA lately, so I was excited about the opportunity to read this book.

Elias Caldwell is a young man in the Victorian era who simply doesn’t fit in. He sees no escape from the future his parents have laid out for him, but then his grandfather presents him with an opportunity: a pocket watch that allows him to time travel.

Elias ends up at an American boarding school, where he meets Tyler Forrester. Ty, an aspiring filmmaker, manages to catch Elias appearing out of thin air. The story is too fantastic to be believed, but Ty suspends his disbelief and agrees to help Elias acclimate to the 21st century.

It’s certainly a culture shock, but Elias quickly sees the benefits of modern life. He doesn’t feel as stifled as he did in his own era, and he is pleased to discover that it’s okay to be gay. Even better, he finds friendship and more with Ty.

Ty knows that sharing Elias’ story would almost definitely lead to his big breakthrough in the film world. But what about the ramifications of time travel being real? And what would happen to Elias if everybody knew that he was from over 100 years in the past?

This was a fun story. It unfolds from both Elias and Tyler’s points of view. The plot moves along at a fairly brisk pace, and sometimes it would have been beneficial to slow down for full effect. This is especially noticeable when examining the “relationship” that develops between Elias and Tyler. It’s almost instantaneous, and I would have loved to see the tension drawn out a little more.

I would recommend The Time Traveler’s Guide to Modern Romance. This will definitely appeal to the target demographic. Readers should know explanations behind the “science” of time travel are fairly light, but there’s a nice balance between the other elements of the plot. Overall, this is a fairly light book and a quick read. I’m looking forward to reading more from Reynolds in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

3.5 stars

I've had this book on my radar ever since I finished reading Madeline's debut novel, Illusions. Illusions actually made it to my Top 18 in 2018 bookish list, so I had very high hopes for this one. I was expecting a lot of Sci-Fi and Time Travel themes to be integrated throughout the story, but it ended up making only about 30% of the story. Most of which happened towards the end of the second half of the book.

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the characters and the historical fiction elements of the storylines. If this was promoted as historical fiction, time travel novel, I would have totally devoured that and effortlessly given it 4.5 stars. But because it was branded as a Sci-Fi, time travel book, and with illusions being more action-packed, I was expecting to get that.

I am surprised Madeline isn't yet renowned for her beautiful, queer and magical stories. I totally see myself picking up any book she releases next because of her gorgeous voice and highly engaging storylines. I highly recommend this funny and cute read.

Till next time,

Ayah

Time travel adventure!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review The Time Traveler’s Guide to Modern Romance by Madeline J. Reynolds!
Elias lives with his family in London during the 1800’s and he feels like a constant disappointment to his family. His grandfather shares a secret with Elias because he sees how unhappy he is. The secret is a pocket watch that lets the holder travel through time. Elias accidentally ends up in America in the present time, surprising Tyler while he’s in the school library. Tyler accidentally films everything, as he’s aspiring to become a famous filmmaker. He captures the arrival of Elias, including the small earthquakes that occurred in the library, startling Tyler. The boys become fast friends and Tyler guides Elias around the school and New York City, teaching him current slang and explaining the different inventions Elias has never seen before. The culture and technology differences are entertaining and the story is interesting but light at the same time. 4 stars for a fun, cute read!

This book is a fun, sweet romance between two vastly different boys. Since it does involve time travel, we get that quirky collaboration between a 19th century Londoner and a 21st century American.

I would call this a more lighthearted story full of innocence complete with a more happier ending. So if you are looking for an easier read blending SciFi elements and romance, this book is for you.

I gave this 3 out of 5 stars. Overall, I thought it was a little predictable, especially the ending which I wasn’t a huge fan of. I did read it mostly in one sitting as the story does draw you in pretty well, but there are moments that seem to drag, just a little. The characters are pretty diverse and flow well together and overall create a unique plot line.

This was quite a short read but so full of emotions! Elias and Tyler were adorable with each other, they could understand each other when others couldn't, and they had a great connection. The story was more romance than time travel I'd say, but it was still there with Elias' amazement at everything from the twenty-first century (my favorite part of the book, along with Tyler's amusement, which is also ours). I didn't know how it would end (happy or bad ending, something in between, bittersweet) so I was really into their story till the end. I would have maybe like more aspects from the nineteenth century or other dates instead of the story being mostly in the modern days.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Title: The Time Traveler's Guide to Modern Romance
Author: Madeline J. Reynolds
Genre: YA, Sci-fi romance 
My Rating: 4 stars
Representation in this book: bi and gay main characters, black side character, two lesbian side characters (minor)


This was such a fun, lighthearted read. The type of book that you can immerse yourself in, a book filled with romance, magic and adventure. 

Told through the dual perspective of our two main characters, Eli and Tyler. We follow Elias, who is originally from the 19th century. After seeing how sad his grandson has become, Eli's grandfather gifts him a pocket watch which has the ability to time travel. After witnessing Eli appear out of thin air in his boarding school library, Tyler decides to take Eli under his wing. 

The plot was so gripping and entertaining, I read this book in one sitting! The romance was super cute and amazing. 

I found Eli's character so intriguing. I thought the author did a brilliant job expressing the child-like wonderment of a 19th century time traveller experiencing the 21st century for the first time. Eli was adorable and filled with curiosity, he embraced everything with caution, but also excitement. Landing in the 21st century, Eli is free to explore who he really is, especially in regards to his sexuality.  


While I did really enjoy this book, I had a couple of minor issues (minor being the operative word). One being, lack of character appearances. I think our main character, Tyler, was described around the 25% mark and by that time I had already formed an image in my head. Also, personally speaking, in recent years the mainstream definition of bisexuality has changed. In the novel, our main character describes it as: "Bisexual. It's when someone likes both men and women in that way." Nowadays it's most commonly described as "attracted to two or more genders" (again, I am nitpicking)

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves time travel, romance and a diverse set of characters! 

A review will be posted on my blog closer to the release date.
Quote taken from the ARC, this is subject to change.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I was intrigued by the cover on this book and thought it would be an interesting one to read, though I'm not sure that was the best idea since I'm not usually the biggest fan of time travel novels. I tend to find them a little too out there for me, I tend to be more of a literal person so books that delve into science fiction I can't always get into. Plus I've been finding it harder and harder to connect with characters in romance young adult books. That phase is so far in the past for me that I have trouble remembering what it feels like to be young and full of angst. So suffice it to say, this book wasn't what I'd call my cup of tea. That being said, it was an interesting book and if you like (a) time travel / science fiction (b) young adult romance or (c) preferably both, then this would be a good book to check out. The story line was interesting and was a fairly quick read but still had character and plot development. I found the plot to be a tad scattered but again that could be the result of my ambivalence to the plot for person opinion reasons.

The Time Traveler's Guide to Modern Romance proves to be an extremely entertaining, light read that tells the struggles of two boys: Elias, a time-travelling misfit from the 19th century, and Tyler, a contemporary bisexual high school student dealing with a troubled family.

I went in expecting fantasy with a side of romance, but it turned out to be more of a romance with a side of fantasy - which is fine by me, but it did leave the time-travelling aspect a little bit underdeveloped. The writing was fine, but the voices of the two protagonists were a little too similar when there should've been more of a distinction, especially with both of them being from different times.

In my opinion, the high-light of the book is Elias' reaction to everything about our time: his shenanigans as he adapts to the new technology and culture are hilariously entertaining, and Tyler's fondly exasperated reactions to them made them all the more lovely.

All in all, this is a great novel to pass the time, a funny page-turner. The stakes of the book should've been higher and the writing a little bit better for the novel to be a 5-star read, but I think that, with time, Madeline J. Reynolds could give us some great memorable stories, and I look forward to reading them.

2.5 stars. I really, really wish I would have liked this book more. It had such potential. A gay time-traveling love story. What's not to like? Unfortunately this book just fell flat in just about everything.

Elias and Tyler were just not fleshed out. I didn't care about either of them. I didn't care if they got together. There was not emotional attachment to either of them. They were supposedly in love with each other, but outside of the author saying they were in love I couldn't really tell. There was no build up, no pining, no tension. I just didn't feel their love for each other. I didn't feel any emotion from any of them. When they were angry it was eh. When they were happy it was eh. Everything was just eh.

The actual plot was decent. It wasn't the best, but it had potential. Every time I think about this book to talk to someone about it I feel like I just keep repeating "it had such potential".

The writing was okay. It felt more like I was just being told what happened instead of experiencing the story, which is also part of why I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Some parts seemed really drawn out while others were rushed. There was an area where Elias was trying to master time travel that was just kind of brushed over and could have been expanded upon. There was the potential (see, my favorite phrase for this book) to dig deeper into Eli's emotions and feelings while trying to get back to the boy he desperately loved. Instead we get a sentence or two here or there.

I was just very underwhelmed by this book and I am very disappointed. I was so looking forward to this book. Again, it had such potential and it just wasn't reached.

It was a short and easy read though. It wasn't the worst book I've read by any means. It just could have been so much more.

I thought this was a very endearing story of two different time periods colliding. Elias Caldwell comes from the 19th century where everyone views him as a disappointment. Tyler is from the 21st century and his stepmother is wicked. Elias finds out after a dreadfully embarrassing incident, his grandfather time traveled and now is bequeathing the time travel watch to Elias so he can find his own adventure. I thought this was absolutely adorable. I think Elias may be my favorite character in this story. His personality and curiosity were endearing to read. Traveling from the 19th century where it was frowned upon to be yourself to modern day where it’s basically accepted can be jarring. It was nice to have Tyler there to help Elias adjust. I loved the dual point of views, but I thought the romance aspect was a little lacking. I think it would have been better for Elias and Tyler to be companions. I wouldn’t say the romance felt forced, I could see a relationship developing with a little more time. This was my first story by Madeline J. Reynolds and I’ll be adding her to my list of authors to look for in the future!

I have to start off by saying that I love this cover! Purple is my favorite, so it definitely caught my eye, but I love the two characters in the pocket watch. If I saw this cover in the bookstore I would definitely pick it up to see what it was about!

The Time Traveler's Guide to Modern Romance is a cute story and I read it in one day! The author's writing is really smooth and I flew right through it. I loved that this book was told through two POVs, Elias and Tyler! As I've said in other reviews, I love it when I can read both sides of the stories.

Elias isn't happy in the time he's in. In many ways he's way ahead of his time. He doesn't really feel like he belongs and his family only seems to care about their reputation. Elias isn't happy at all and his grandfather gives him a chance to find happiness. A pocket watch that can solve all of the problems, because with it Elias can travel to a different time. Maybe even find happiness somewhere else?

Tyler is also trying to find his own way. All he really wants besides his movies, is to fall in love. He loves both guys and girls and while he's comfortable in his own skin, his school isn't very diverse. Tyler has two great friends, but he's looking for more.

I thought this book was very creative in how Elias appeared in the future. It was hilarious to see him discover so many new modern things and words he'd never heard of. Many situations had me laughing out loud. I really loved that as time went on Elias started to feel understood and maybe even loved.

I was quite surprised Tyler was so easygoing. I mean, someone appears in front of you all of a sudden and he just kind of went with it. I don't know if I would've been that trusting. Tyler surprised me though, because instead of using Elias for a documentary he saw him as a human being who was trying to find his way.

While I really did enjoy reading this book, there were a few things that bugged me. While I love romance, the relationship between Tyler and Elias was too much insta-love for my liking. Of course, I get that they bond over something this big and the many things they have in common, but it was too much too fast in my opinion. That being said, because there was so much focus on their relationship, I felt the book lacked the whole time travel concept. I would've liked to have seen more of that.

The Time Traveler's Guide to Modern Romance all goes really fast. I think things went a bit too fast. Everything went so quick and was solved without much effort. I would've even have loved to have seen more of Tyler's film making or Eli finding his way in this new world while Tyler was at at school.

Even though there are some things I would've liked to have seen different, this is a fast and fun read. If you're looking for some excitement with time travel and a cute love story, this is definitely the book for you!

Nineteen century meets the modern world.

Elias Caldwell doesn’t fit into his nineteen-century life. He wants things he shouldn’t and he feels something is missing. He watches the people around him find their place but his talent is hidden. After an argument with his parents, Elias discovers his grandfathers old pocket watch gives him the escape he desires. He is transported from England to America. The century is now the twenty-first. The world is so different and with it comes a whole new set of problems.

Elias meets Tyler, his twenty-first-century guide. The pair learn what can happen when time travel is possible. The past influences the future and the future can make a happier past.

This is an interesting concept. Elias discovers the modern world we all take for granted while finding a new love. This book sets up a chance for a second instalment.

3.5 stars out of 5.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

when elias caldwell appears out of thin air at tyler forrester's prep school library, the explanation for how he got there is completely unbelievable. but tyler saw it happen. and elias is clearly a guy from another time period.

and i think that's what makes this so fun. elias and tyler connect as tyler shows elias how things are in the twenty-first century. it's like splash but with cute boys and videos and a pocket watch that lets you time travel instead of mermaids.

i loved splash so i'm serious when i'm saying i loved the time traveler's guide to modern romance. elias and tyler are two great characters and one of the best things about their relationship is how knowing each other and learning about one another makes each of them realize things about themselves. and they grow and become better humans.

and i love how the story solves for the different time-period paradox. it's a solution that just works beautifully for a problem that at first seems very complex.

**the time traveler's guide to modern romance will publish on march 4, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

Good read, I enjoyed this book. But it took me a bit to finish, I couldn't get into it like I normally do with a book! It is about Elias who doesn't fit in, in 19th century England. His grandpa gives him a pocketwatch that he claims can be used to time travel anywhere and any time. Elias winds up transported to the 21st century right in front of Tyler. Tyler shows him all the different things that exist in this time period. They kinda have an inst-love. Elias needs to decide to stay with Tyler or go back to where he is from. Read to find out where he ends up!