Time After Time is a sweet love story that stuck with me long after completing the book. I never realized a tale about a ghost could be so romantic. I’m a fan of historical fiction but have never read anything about the New York Grand Central Terminal station prior to this book. I found it to be so original and refreshing. After reading this, I had to look up all the ghost stories involving the train station and there are actually quite a bit! It was fascinating to read about. However, the story itself it not really about ghosts. It’s a love story through and through; one that transcends the rules of time. Breathtaking.

It's been a long time that I have felt so emotional after finishing a novel. Lisa Grunwald has created that kind of a book with Time After Time! I couldn't put it down and read it in only a matter of a couple of days. What I thought might be a silly story at first, had me completely spellbound. Oh, if these things could truly happen! After I finished the book, I could not explain the story to my husband without it getting caught in my throat and tearing up. I was riveted by this novel! And (no spoilers) it had the perfect ending, not to be told here. I'll be thinking of Joe and Nora every time I walk through Grand Central Staton for the rest of my life, wondering about all those nooks and crannies they lived their lives in. Where is the art studio? Does it exist? Thank you to first of all to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, for printing this amazing story. I do expect to see it on the New York Times Best Seller list once it's published, and secondly to NetGalley for the egalley of this book. It's one that I'm sure you'll have many requests to read. But all my thanks truly go to Lisa Grunwald for, as she says in her notes and acknowledgements, writing her story, and for writing it so succinctly and eloquently!

Oh, boy. This story broke my heart. What a beautiful and sweet love story. It tugs at the heartstrings, makes you cry from sadness, groan from frustration and in the end, you just sit there, temporarily incapable of thinking or speaking, taking in the wave of sadness and a surprising sense of completion.

The writing was absolutely perfect - I really felt like I was transported to the 1930-40s and was experiencing the Great Depression and WWII as our beloved characters were. The details and descriptions proved endless research into the time period and it is honestly much appreciated as a reader. This time-travel(ish) romance proved to be a most welcome history lesson, bringing to life people's struggles in two of the most grueling and dark decades of the 20th century. I also had no idea what Manhattanhenge was, but now I just want to take another trip to New York just to witness it for myself.

Joe and Nora. It is so rare for me to absolutely love two characters equally. Usually, I'll feel more of a pull towards one over another. But in the case of Joe and Nora, I just felt love. Pure love. It's hard to describe, but I really did fall in love with both of them and in love with their unique love story. I was rooting for them as soon as they first laid eyes on each other. I felt the pain and confusion Joe felt every time she would vanish. I relished in their happiness and joy upon being reunited and staying together. And I was in awe of their selflessness and sacrifice.

If you're looking for a beautiful love story that will effortlessly transport you to a different time and place, THIS is the book for you.

I must say there was some initial reluctance going into this book. It sorta kinda sounded like women’s fiction, a very specific type of lachrymose sweeping romance. And wouldn’t you know, in the end it actually was a potentially tear inducing grand (Grand Central based) epic love story, but it was so, so good, I didn’t care. In fact, this book drew me in from the first few pages in a way few books do and managed to sustain that level of emotional engagement throughout its not inconsiderable girth. The description features literary comparisons to famous works (as these descriptions are won’t to do) and here they are actually not undeserved, although for me it was also very reminiscent of the movie Age of Adaline, mentioned nowhere, but a comparison in my opinion well deserved. Both tales of timeless women stuck in temporary challenged love stories are very lovely, albeit in their own ways. The lady that isn’t in a blue dress on the cover is Nora Lansing, a 23 year old spirited young woman who, due to a tragic and miraculous set of circumstances, gets stuck in the Grand Central in New York, her presence inextricably connected to a solar spectacle known as Manhattanhenge. There she meets and falls in love with a leverman, a mad wild crazy passionate love affair circumscribed by the seemingly impossible geographical restrictions not to mention familial obligations and then a world war. I probably shouldn’t say much more here, the description says it all, in fact the description gives away too much as descriptions often tend to, I’m glad I didn’t read it prior to reading the book. I wanted to be surprised and I was, pleasantly surprised, delighted, charmed. Actually love, yeah, not too strong of a word, I loved this book, which made some of much frustrations with it all the more…well, frustrating. And please do not read the following if you haven’t read the book, it might give away too much. If you’ve read up to now, you already know I recommend you read this book, but now it’s time for me to vent out some thoughts, so here it goes…Yeah, not everyone gets to ride off into the sunset together, but that doesn’t mean we aalk off into the sun alone, does it? Seriously? Why? Whatever became of love conquers all? Omnia vincit amor my ass. For all its grand romance, this ended up very much being one of those loves that altered when it alteration found. I’m not sure why self sacrificial love is so de rigueur, but frankly it just didn’t seem necessary. Dramatic, yes. But not necessary. Surely there can be found a way for one person in a couple to travel solo and then return to their loved one. My fiancé has done it marvelously. To go through all that the main characters go through and then separate for what seemed like fairly trivial reasons…frustrating. Yes, she would have stayed young, but so what, she would have aged mentally. For a couple that starts off with a 10 year age difference to suddenly make a huge deal out of a 20 year age difference later on seems silly. Yes, that may have been before celebrities have made such thing ubiquitous, but even back in the day it wasn’t unheard of…Chaplin, anyone. Yes, they wouldn’t have had kids, but so what, there are plenty of childless happy couples out there. Plus if Nora was so concerned for her rapidly aging beloved…maybe he was aging out of kid having age anyway. For all the sweeping grand romance of it, for all the waiting and all the challenges and all that magic, for all of it to end over what it ended over seemed to have trivialized their love. In fact it just seemed like two people who have sorted out their priorities and decided to call it quits and for various reasons (mainly because it makes the best story) told themselves and each other it was for their partner’s own good. Which is fine, it’s realistic and there are plenty of stories like that, but this just didn’t seem like that kind of story. This seemed like it ought to rise above all the tedious triviality of life. I mean, it had magic, real freaking magic. So you would have expected more. Well, anyway I did. I expected more. I was so engaged with the characters and their story, I actually wished them a proper fairy tale ending or something like it. After all, Age of Adaline worked it out. Plus the author in her afterword said she based it on her own relationship, which despite its challenges did not in fact come undone, so it made it all the more unfair that it should work out that way for the couple in the book. I mean, what sort of a message is that? Vampire Bill had to die to free Sookie Stackhouse to love and breed in an ordinary way. Or, more recently and of a much higher quality of entertainment, Jackson Maine went and offed himself to give his wife a chance at musical success. All this self sacrificial (or as the case in book, faux self sacrificial) crap can be packaged and sold as romantic, sure. But for me personally it seems that the greater romance is one that conquers challenges and works despite them, not one where you can glamorously walk off into the sun. There is much to be said about the selfishness of selflessness, but then again this already might be my longest review ever, so I should probably wrap it up. If you read the entire thing…wow and thank you. May this rant have enlightened or at least entertained you. I did love this book, despite all this. Thanks Netgalley.

Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald. Random House, 2019.

In December 1925, twenty-three-year-old Nora and her friend Ollie are in a train crash at New York’s Grand Central Station where twenty-year-old Joe is part of the rescue team. Twelve years later they meet for the first time; their paths cross again in 1938. This wonderful story is about Joe and Nora and their developing romance in the self-contained and evolving world of Grand Central Station.

Although It is worth reading just for the rich, descriptive and historical details on the station, it is so much more. The culture of the period, Joe’s relationship with his brother and his family, Pearl Harbor, the early days of World War II are woven through Joe and Nora’s intriguing and story. I loved it!

It is difficult not to compare Time After Time to The Time Traveller’s Wife, another romance with a twist where time has an uncontrollable effect on a relationship.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Time After Time via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely and bittersweet story! This is indeed a magical tale where Nora and Joe find timeless love in one of New York City’s most magical places – Grand Central Terminal. Nora, a 23-year-old adventurous artist is caught between life and death after a tragic accident and Joe is a hard-working railroad employee from Queens who accepts the truth behind his new-found love. The story spans through WWII and the changes taking places throughout the world. The incredible Grand Central Terminal is essentially a character unto itself and we are invited into many of its famed and often hidden places such as the clandestine M42 basement, the art school and the Kissing Gallery. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this enjoyable book.

Mahattanhenge, a term popularized by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, is a phenomenon occurring around the time of the summer and winter solstices. The rising or setting sun creates an amazing burst of light framed by Manhattan skyscrapers as the sun rises above or dips below the horizon.

Weather permitting, the brilliant line of light entered the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal through three high arched windows yearly, on or about December 5. The terminal was crowded with onlookers and fellow travelers. Nora Lansing, twenty-three years old, looked overwhelmed and lost in Grand Central Station. No suitcase, no coat, wearing a smudged pale blue dress, she appeared waif-like. She carried French currency in her purse. A chance meeting occurred with Joe Reynolds, a thirty-two year old railroad employee. Joe thought she looked "vivid and exciting" and was thrilled to walk Nora home. Enroute, she disappeared. In 1938, one year later, they happened upon each other again in the terminal. Joe asked, "Don't you ever wear a coat? It was snowing today. And is that your only dress?" Nora said, "This is just my traveling dress. Where I'm traveling from is not important". Nora is a "woman of mystery". Joe is intrigued.

Joe Reynold's world is centered around Grand Central Station. He works as a leverman, pushing and pulling levers connected by underground cables to guide incoming trains into the terminal. Money is tight. Joe lives at the E. 47 St. YMCA. "Everyone I know grew up the day the stock market crashed". Joe however, was a dreamer. He would spin a globe and visualize a trip to wherever his finger landed. One thing was for certain, Joe was smitten. Wanting Nora was"...a constant dominating ache...could be soothed only by her actual touch." How was it possible that she disappeared again?

Joe was perplexed. He had met the love of his life yet he couldn't fathom her sudden appearances and disappearances. Was it possible that the day Joe thought of as the start of his real life was the day Nora's life ended? A visit to the New York Public Library revealed newspaper clippings of a subway accident on December 5, 1925. Eleanor Lansing had died, but had she? As Joe aged, Nora was unaffected by time. She was always twenty-three. Joe and Nora had an "infinite love in a finite space". If they truly loved each other, should they let each other go?

"Time After Time" by Lisa Grunwald was an awesome fairy tale-like love story. The love Nora and Joe shared transcended time, age and social class. I was totally invested in the lives of Nora and Joe. I slept less and read more! This was a very captivating literary novel of historical fiction I highly recommend.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Random House and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Time After Time".

A wonderful gorgeous novelist sweeps you away to Grand Central Station ,history romance two lovers you will not forget.Lisa Grunwald has written a timeless novel that you wish would never end, # netgalley #randomhousebooks,

I loved this novel with its very unusual and unique premise, in one of the most iconic historical building in the states set during the 20s- late 40s.
One Morning in 1925 there is a terrible train accident in Grand Central killing and wounding many ,including 23 year old Nora ,who dies from injuries under the rotunda on the main floor. On the morning of Manhattanhenge in 1937 Joe is crossing the main lobby when he spies a young girl getting up from the floor. Seeing if she is okay they are immediately taken with each other but they don’t run into each other until a year later on the exact day. Manhattanhenge is the day the earth aligns with the streets of Manhattan so the sun streams into the windows of the Grand Concourse, and on this day, Nora comes back to life. She and Joe fall in love even with the many restrictions that Nora must follow. A beautiful love story.
As I said I loved the book, but have a few issues and questions about the ending, and because of this can only give it 4 stars instead of 5. It was interesting to read an interview with the author at the end of the book, because I realized she is putting her limitations and situation with her husbands travel onto her characters. But I don’t understand why his travel and their love must be mutually exclusive in the book.

Time After Time is one of the most touching novels I've read in a long while. I loved the history of Grand Central and the story of these two lives- interesting lesson on how sometimes you can love someone more by letting go. Highly recommended!

Poignant ~ Enchanting ~ Sweet

tl;dr : Death doesn't stop love.

This is a non-traditional romance novel, if there is one. It is a really sweet tale about love during the Depression (and later) in New York City. The writing has a gentleness that is appealing. The well-crafted characters feel so real that their struggles pull at the reader's heart-strings. I don't want to share the secrets of the story, but I promise this isn't a scary book. It's just a sweet story of love and how "working out" can be subjective. This would be a great read for romance lovers and for historical romance lovers. Wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.



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Time After Time gets Five Stars.. I'd give it 10 if I could. Magical, lovely, and meticulously researched. Anyone fascinated by Grand Central and its rich history will fall head over heels in love with this book. Lisa Grunwald has done a masterful job weaving Joe and Nora's story with important historical markers along with Grand Central's history.