I love the book. It has a little bit of a slow start but it gets more intense as the story progresses. I haven’t finished the book yet so I will add onto the review.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read this novel.

I immediately had to request this book when I saw a review on Instagram from Top Shelf Book Reviews. This book sounded like it would be right up my alley, especially since The Time Traveler's Wife and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are two of my very favorite stories ever. I can't even explain my excitement when I was accepted for this book - I immediately dropped everything and started reading. It featured everything I love, from a World War II time period to interesting historical facts and a unique love story. Unfortunately, at about 35% through this story, I had to take a break. I needed to catch up on ARCs that were publishing soon and this book was slow going for me. I would read for a bit and be intrigued and then the story would slowly lose my attention again thereafter. There was just something missing, not allowing the story to capture my full concentration.

Finally, as April was ending, I decided to pick this book back up and see if I could fall in love with this story. As much as hoped, there was still something missing from the reading experience for me. I liked the characters well enough, I thought the idea for the plot was interesting and was anxious to see what would happen. However, there were too many time jumps, too many insignificant secondary characters, and an overall disjointed feel that kept this book from being everything I needed it to be. I often find the books with the most unique plots are victims of poor execution. In this case, I didn't feel the sweeping romance I hoped I would be caught up in. This was supposed to be an epic love story, one that defies the laws of time and age. Yet I didn't feel that connection between the characters in the way that was needed, which left me feeling utterly disappointed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspect of this story and the chance to learn things about Grand Central Station I didn't know about prior to reading. I also loved the significance of Manhattanhenge, something else that has somehow escaped my knowledge all of these years as well. Overall, this story had some very interesting attributes but I was hoping for better.

It seems this book already has quite mixed reviews. I recommend giving it a try for yourself if it sounds like something you'd enjoy. Pick up your copy on June 11th.

I was hesitant to want to read a book about time travel because honestly sometimes I just get confused but I am so glad I did not let that stop me on this one. This was such a wonderful read and made me not only want to read more books by the this author but also made me want to visit Grand Central Station. I recommend this books 100%.

Thank you Net Galley for this copy of Time After Time, by Lisa Gunwald. What I enjoyed about this book were the tidbits, historical nuggets, and the insight into Grand Central Terminal workings. Now the book is not about GCT as it is a time travelers love story. But all the details of the building make me want to visit there and look at all the mentioned places. I especially will try to visit during the summer solstice and see Manhatthenhenge! The book's premise surrounds a train crash and two lovers meeting and re-meeting through time. I though Grunwald did a good job of catching the feeling of the 30s and 40s; a the depression era and WWII. I also enjoyed reading about a traditional Irish family living in Queens at the time and what that would have felt like - the family bonds. The characters in this book were well thought out and you enjoy meeting them. This bittersweet love story was well written and a goodread.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure if I would like a book about time travel since The Time Traveler's Wife was one of my least favorite books ever but on the suggestion of Anne Bogel I gave it a try. I am glad I trusted Anne because I thoroughly
enjoyed Time After Time. The book centers around two main characters, Nora and Joe, and their unlikely love story. Even though Joe & Nora are the two main characters my favorite character was a third, New York's Grand Central Station. Since the entire book takes place within the station it plays an important part in the book. I like the way the author wove the history of the station as well as architectural details into the story. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction and magical realism. This would make a good summer read as well.

This is a magical, beautifully written book that explores the intricacies of love and how it can flourish even within the most confining circumstances. We experience the joys and challenges of allowing a relationship to grow, and finding ways to deal with issues that seem insurmountable. We see that sometimes we need to let go in order to express our love the best. Perfect for fans of Amor Towles or The Time Traveler's Wife.

This story started off really strong. Joe spots Nora at Grand Central and it's love at first sight, but she keeps mysteriously disappearing. After Nora's secret is revealed, their love affair continues and you are constantly wondering what will happen next and if one of them will chose to leave. While the book was really well written and the story line was strong, I wasn't yearning for more after I finished the book, which would have made this a 5 star review.

A twist on the mystery woman romance, this woman shows up only once a year in the middle of Grand Central Terminal. But that's something Joe will have to live with because he has fallen in love with her almost instantly. Who is she? What is her story? Why only on Dec. 5th? So many questions he wants answered, though none of them really matter. No matter the circumstances, he wants to be with her. This book touches on faith, mysticism, and-of course-love.

As much as I liked the book — and overall I did — I found the author’s note at the end about her inspiration for the story captivating. Maybe that should have been in a prologue? The book is not great literature but it is a solidly engaging story. Although the love story is intended to be the book’s main focus, I found the descriptions of Grand Central Station in the 1940s absolutely astounding. I had no idea that it was a world unto itself. A book worth reading! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

A classically sweet tale of love under circumstances out of the ordinary, Time After Time creates a story both simple and anything but. A story that could’ve starred Judy Garland and Robert Taylor back in the glory days of cinema following WWII.

Grunwald has crafted two lead characters who have endearingly remarkable chemistry. From the first time Joe Reynolds and Nora Lansing meet up, you can’t help but cheer for them to get together.

The obstacle keeping them apart isn’t the typical one, and it isn’t even the larger issues happening around them—the Great Depression and World War II feature as backdrops to this heartwarming tale that stays, not only stateside, but grounded in New York’s famous Grand Central Terminal. The hurdle that Joe and Nora must overcome is the distance created between them by the same phenomenon that allows her to remain corporeal, despite her death years before their 1937 meeting.

Grunwald clearly did excellent research in order to create the atmosphere for the 1930’s and 1940’s Grand Central Terminal. In that way, this story overlaps nicely with what I imagined of GCT from reading The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis. Also included is a phenomenon called Manhattanhenge—a time when the setting or rising sun aligns perfectly with the grid pattern of streets and buildings in New York City for the summer and winter solstices, respectfully (similar in the way it does for Stonehenge, hence its name).

Which actually leads me to a bit of a beef I have with this book. A quick internet search for this term (doesn’t everyone look up interesting facts and tidbits when reading?) shows me that this is a term coined by astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Meaning this couldn’t logically have been used some 60-70 years beforehand. While I might allow a little leeway for the author, it’s really hard here because the naming of it and apparent popularity only seems to be after the turn of the most recent century. I’m not saying no one noticed this lovely sight before the year 2000, but I am saying that the casual way Joe Reynolds throws this term around really seems to be a leap here.

Despite that science snafu, Time After Time did bring a nice element of discovery and investigation as Joe and Nora work to understand what allows her to stay, what makes her suddenly disappear, and how she became trapped in the first place. With Joe pitting scientific applications against his religious background in order to explain the unexplained provided some of the deeper thoughts from this book. And once the pair of them established a working perimeter for Nora to stay bound within, the story itself became more grounded and steadied.

The book’s blurb totes this as being, “in the spirit of The Time Traveler’s Wife and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” I’m not sure I agree with that categorization. While both of those feature a character sort of out of their time, The Time Traveler’s Wife is literally about time travel, and Benjamin Button is about a man who ages backwards through his lifetime. Whereas Time After Time is quite simply a ghost story with a bit of the added element of Nora being out of her time.

What Time After Time could’ve used a bit more of was more in-depth characterizations. There were many instances when both Nora and Joe felt more fleshed out than others. For instance, Grunwald states in her Author’s Note that the times when she is housebound because of her multiple sclerosis, her home feels more like a safe zone rather than a cage. That moment felt fully translated for Nora and her situation, and helped really finished that element of her character. It felt true to life because it is and it was a moment for the book when Grunwald was showing more than telling. This was a problem (inconsistently so) over a good bit of the book. I also had a problem with many of her tertiary characters—particularly those who fill the pages from the Grand Central Terminal. Many of these characters, from the preacher to the café owner to the fortune teller, seemed to serve merely as bodies with which to interact during the many comings, goings, and doings of Joe and Nora.

Despite its flaws, Time After Time was a darling and charming story with an interesting premise and great atmosphere. A transportive and timeless ghost story, taking the reader back to the Grand Central Terminal of the 1930’s and 1940’s, along with a dash of 1920’s Paris to boot.

I was delightfully surprised by this novel. It’s not in my usual realm of interest but was well conceived and well executed. Joe spots Nora at Grand Central Station and is intrigued. He loses sight of her but he sees her again a year later. And again- always wearing the same clothes and looking slightly out of date. That’s because Nora is dead. Or is she? Thus begins a relationship that has everything working against it. Through World War II, Grand Central is at the heart of Joe’s and Nora’s lives. While one particular element of the story becomes a bit repetitive, it’s mostly strong with good characterization and a solid premise and explanation for what Nora is experiencing. Easy read and engaging.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free e-ARC.

I thank Netgalley and Random House for providing this ARC to me. In return, I give my honest review below.

In 1937, this mysterious girl turned up in New York Grand Central station, and mysteriously disappeared again suddenly. Nora is the name of the mysterious girl who Joe met. It was love at first sight. The first two chapters got me hooked. I always love a good historical romance with bits of paranormal twist. The twist is predictable though, as soon as Nora disappears in thin air, I knew she must have been a spirit that lingers in the station. I love the concept of trapped souls coming back to life and forming a relationships with the living. It shows how powerful destiny can be.

The concept is good. I also enjoyed the story overall about Joe and Nora, Joe’s family, and Nora’s background. That said, the last few chapters are slow. I’m not sure why, but the back and forth between Joe and Nora, their quarrels and their eventual separation, was a drag. It was difficult for me to pick the book back up. The ending was also predictable, however sad for Nora. Overall, it was interesting to read about the World Fair, and how WWII affected the families of the soldiers in the US and the unity of people at that time.

What a beautiful, brave and magical book. I am in awe of Lisa Gruenwald's ability to come up with such an original tale, to recreate the world of the 1930s and 1940s so perfectly, to create such memorable characters and and make every aspect of the fanatical. believable. Like the classic Portrait of Jenny and Somewhere in Time, Time after Time is sure to become a classic time travel novel, that will fill readers hearts and bring them to tears for years to come. Bravo!!!

Let me say that I love the cover art on this it absolutely grabbed me and made me want to read what it was about. Fantastic work. Next I loved this! Omg so sweet and had me laughing and crying out loud! This is gonna be a bestseller! It had romance and some history too I couldn’t get enough!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book. Loved the characters, loved the historical aspect of it and loved the love story. It's a story that will hook you from the first page and keep you reading until the end. Highly recommend.

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

I absolutely loved this book and give it 5 stars. Since reading it, I haven't been able to stop talking about it. Joe is a Lever Man (controls the train tracks) at Grand Central Terminal, and very early one morning he finds a beautiful young woman who has apparently fallen inside the Terminal. As he helps her to her feet, he notes she's dressed in an old fashioned way, and she only has French currency in her pocket. She inquires about a bank, and as he leads her outside the Terminal, she disappears. He can't get her out of his mind, and years later, she reappears in the same clothing and remembers him. Theirs is a mysterious romance, involving Manhattanhenge, (a real phenomenon), and they try to work out a way that Nora can remain with Joe, since she can never leave GCT. Intriguing, quick read, full of history, art, family ties, and lots of love. Highly recommended.

3.5 stars

For my money, there's nothing wrong with a story of star-crossed lovers, as long as those lovers are well developed, believable characters facing believable twists of fate. Where Time After Time first became challenging for me was when I realized that one of the lovers was dead. This was going to have to be believably explained...

The year is 1937. Joe is a leverman at Grand Central Terminal, a highly skilled employee responsible for controlling the movement of trains. He's a proud member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, a kind and dependable guy and all around good catch, 30ish and single when Nora walks into his life and turns his world upside down. Strikingly beautiful, talented and outgoing, she's alive in a way that brings him to life. The procession of Irish Catholic girls his brother's wife has been trying to fix him up with pale in comparison. He's a goner and he knows it from the moment they meet. And, as mentioned, there's an unusual issue complicating matters.

Nearly the entire story takes place in New York's architectural gem, Grand Central Station. The author weaves the building's early 20th century history into the story in well-researched detail, making for fun and interesting reading, particularly throughout the WWII sections.

Manhattanhenge, also known as the Manhattan Solstice, is the device that drives the plot forward.  It occurs when the rising or setting sun is aligned with the east–west streets of the Manhattan grid, creating a spectacular display of light that's a popular event celebrated by New Yorkers.

While I enjoyed the historical setting and details, and the romance as well, the fantasy element was a stretch for me. I'm capable of suspending disbelief and some of my favorite books have involved time travel, but I have trouble buying in unless all elements make perfect, if alternative, sense and I couldn't quite get past the holes in the story. How, I kept wondering, did no one besides Joe ever notice Nora's appearances and disappearances? And a major quibble: the term Manhattanhenge was apparently coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2001. When the story takes place, the event would have been referred to as the Manhattan Solstice - an anachronistic error throughout the book.

Intriguingly, the story is based on true events that provided Grunwald's inspiration. The story behind the story is fascinating, indeed.

I selected Time After Time based on the cover art, the plot description, and the intriguing historical setting, and, while not exactly my cup of tea, it did deliver in those regards.

What’s not to love about a fast-moving tale with romance, mystery, a disappearing girl, a stalwart leading man and a phenomenon called Manhattanhenge? Place this enticing mix in Grand Central Station amidst first the Great Depression and then WWII and it is nearly impossible to put this charmer down. I couldn’t and read it straight through in one sitting. There are bread crumbs all over my iPad. It was just that good. I kept wondering how author Lisa Grunwald could ever end this great story. She does it really well. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley and feel very lucky about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a Kindle ARC of Time After Time.

I really enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife so the premise of Time After Time intrigued me.

Nora Lansing is a young woman who meets a young leverman named Joe Reynolds at Grand Central after the Great Depression. The two have an instant connection but Joe will soon discover that Nora is no ordinary lady.

Their love will transcend time and boundaries but what do you do when love is not enough?

There were many things I liked about Time After Time, including:

1. The research that went into depicting Grand Central during the 1930s and how it grew into the central transportation hub it is now

2. As a native New Yorker, I loved the depiction of New York during the Great Depression, the difficult times, the laborers and struggling families, war times and how it brought the community and people together

3. I liked Nora and Joe, their chemistry and their unconventional love story. Who wants to be like everybody else?

4. I liked how the author used the science of Manhattanhenge and how it was the portal to Nora's existence

5. A not quite there ghost story written with heart and warmth that is very easy to suspend disbelief for

What I did not like:

The cliche almost romance that developed between Joe and Faye, his brother Finn's wife, when Finn goes off to war after Pearl Harbor is bombed.

Does every story that takes place around wartime have some kind of stereotypical romance with a sibling's spouse?

I found this trope disrespectful to Nora, especially if Joe is the kind of decent, level headed guy he is who loves and cares about Nora so much, why would he be swayed by Faye so easily?

Because she's alive and she's there? That's a poor excuse.

And when he realizes he and Faye are not suited to each other, he pines for Nora once again. What is he, 16?

I hated this part of the book and made me question Joe's integrity. He began as a mature, kind, responsible man but this act made him look like every other cliche dick I read about.

Second, there was a bit too much filler such as when Nora takes up painting. I understand its a part of her character development but there was just so much everyday routine that didn't sound monotonous.

This was to be expected because Joe and Nora's life is restricted to Grand Central and the Biltmore because she is tied to the station.

The book could use another edit to tighten the pacing. There were parts toward the end of the book that dragged the story down.

I enjoyed the parts when Joe and Nora went apartment hunting or figuring out how Manhattanhenge was the cause of Nora's reappearance. These routine couple activities were a reminder that their relationship was anything but ordinary.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, the setting of a post-Depression era New York City and Nora and Joe, likable, personable characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The cover and book description is what originally made me interested in this book. The storyline drew me in and kept me interested throughout the book. The love story between Joe and Nora is bittersweet, spanning over time. The ending was a disappointment to me, but I would still recommend this book.