I hate giving negative reviews, but I couldn't even finish this book. It was hard for me to get into it and then it was impossible for me to finish it. I was drawn to the book because of the cute cover and the interesting description. But the writing style was kind of different and I liked it at the beginning but it became off-putting. I also didn't like Daisy's personality. I REALLY don't like being this harsh. I think the book could be great, but I feel like it needs a lot of editing.

Really 1.5. This book was very dark for a romance. The characters were also all one-dimensional and unlikeable. The best part about it was the cover design.

Daisy and Nate are guards at a social history museum, on opposite shifts. Someone jokes that is would make more sense for Daisy to be on days and Nate on nights, but that’s not how it worked out and it’s for the best: Nate is a warm people person and Daisy is well, a bit curmudgeonly, as she follows an exact protocol each shift. Her reports end up in the circular file and the handoff efforts are met with gentle teasing.

Thanks to her observance, though, it’s Daisy who notices objects are disappearing--and returning!--from their displays and wants to not only document it, but solve the mystery. Nate gamely joins forces. In the meantime, their supervisor is much more concerned with a campaign to increase the museum's visibility and bring in new revenue, while a coworker seems to be setting her cap for Nate just as Daisy's interest is getting piqued.

Alternating chapters reveal character slowly. Daisy has a past trauma that is just alluded to, while Nate is more open about his abusive childhood: getting beaten up by his boxer father who didn’t seem to understand where the line between in the ring and at home was. It's clear (to me!) as time passes that in addition to being traumatize, Daisy is on the spectrum. At home, she and her sister are caretakers for their mother, dying of cancer; Nate is caretaker to Ben, his 10-year-old son who is coping with his parent's divorce and mother's new boyfriend by hanging on a the street corner with a not-very-nice gang of older boys.

Same Time, Same Place looks at a glance like a romance or mystery novel; it contains elements of both, but ultimately is a more psychological and inspiration tale about flipping the narrative. Both characters suffer from the effect of events in their past that form their identity. Nate comments that "History is just the stories we tell ourselves about what happened to make us what we are. Sometimes the stories are true, sometimes they're not." The true denouement is not the museum's solvency, the artifacts disappearance resolved, or even their attraction, but Daisy coming to the same realization that we don't have to be our past, which ultimately is what allows their relationship to move forward.

Along the way, Barnett addresses family dynamics, racism (subtly) and modern life in Manchester (UK). Superbly written, he masters the voice of both genders. The clever cover design, a diagonal split of deep blue and sunny yellow, represent the many dualities of the novel: Nate and Daisy's stories, work shifts, custodial responsibilities, traumatic backgrounds, and tandem voices.

I received an advance reader's review copy of #SameTimeSamePlace from #NetGalley

Nope. 10% into this and it was so slow I think I fell asleep. I had to keep rereading lines so much, it just isn’t worth it.
DNF

Sweet, easy to read, meet cute- feelgood romance with a little foreseeable mystery blended in mental illness issues.

Two museum security guards whose paths only cross when they change the shifts team up to solve mystery behind missing and reappearing museum objects and they slowly bond a special relationship as they realize even though they seem like polar opposites ( Nick was social, friendly, talking with the people like a tour guide, welcoming them to museum with open arms and Daisy: tight lipped, suffering from depression and dealing with her mother’s alcoholism, is reserved) they have more common things to share!
3.5 stars to round up 4 likable characters and realistic approach to the mental illness stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This book started out kind of slow, but I liked the characters, so I kept reading. It did pick up and I ended up really liking it and was glad I finished it. If you like your books more character driven, then I would recommend this.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Same Time, Same Place

David Barnett

Publication: June 7, 2022

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. Two museum security guards (Daisy and Nate) paths cross each day at the changing of their shifts. While this book had some cute, fluffy moments, there was also a mixture of some darker, more emotional issues throughout. Add a mystery to solve and a sweet romance between the two main characters and I was really glad I found this book. There was a lot of different character dynamics going on in the book between family and coworkers and some really dysfunctional undercurrents in some of the relationships. I admit I saw some of the twists in the book early on, but I enjoyed the full discovery. If you are looking for something that has more going on than a standard meet-cute, this is one to pick up!
3.5 Stars

DNF at 7%.
I like to give books a fair shot, but I can't be bothered with this one. I was originally attracted to Same Time, Same Place because of the cover, which is lovely, and the premise, which reminded me of Night In The Museum, but the writing style completely threw me off, to the point I can't even stand to read it anymore. It's weirdly mechanical, with the narrator, Daisy, repeating sentences and words to herself constantly. The humour, which fumbles over itself horrendously, is as dry as stale bread and brings a sour taste to my mouth, all attempts at joking resumed to Daisy trying to convince herself she's funny. And the way she kept refering to her mom as "Mother", as if she's a Victorian orphan, is weird to me. Maybe there is something that justifies this, but I don't care enough to find out.

This is a nice charming story, with well developed and believable characters. A change of pace for me, but a much needed feel good book.

Same Time Same Place is a charming love story. Daisy is the night security guard at the Manchester Museum of Social History. She takes her job very seriously. Nate works as the daytime security guard however he would be suited a museum guide as he chats with all of the visitors. Their shifts only overlap at the handover. When mysterious items began to disappear, no one seems to care but Daisy and Nate. They pair up to investigate. They soon find out that they have a lot in common and the relationship develops. This is a good book that I recommend.

Interesting setting, believable and likeable characters. A sweet love story. I enjoyed it and appreciate the opportunity to read it and discover a new author.

There are new lists of mental health issues in Romance and this title would be perfect. Daisy struggles with untreated depression, her mother with alcoholism and her love interest with his abusive childhood. While the underlying issues are serious, the romance itself is sweet and believable and I enjoyed this quirky story set in Manchester.