In "I'll Stop the World," Justin Warren finds himself trapped in a dead-end town haunted by the unsolved murders of his grandparents, a crime that occurred long before his birth but continues to cast a shadow over his life. Despite feeling destined for a bleak future, Justin never anticipated that his journey would lead him backward in time.

In a twist of fate, Justin's path intersects with that of Rose Yin, an optimistic young woman living in 1985, decades before Justin's own existence. Though they inhabit the same town and attend the same school, their paths have never crossed until now. With the clock ticking, Justin and Rose must navigate a complex web of events spanning multiple lifetimes, all while racing to prevent a murder that has yet to occur.

As Justin and Rose grapple with the mysteries of fate and friendship, they must unravel the threads of the past to secure their futures. With only a week to alter the course of history, they embark on a thrilling journey that will test the limits of their resolve and the power of their bond.

"I'll Stop the World " is a heart-pounding coming-of-age mystery that explores the interconnectedness of time, friendship, and second chances. As Justin and Rose confront the unknown, they discover that the end and the beginning are not as separate as they seem, and that the key to unlocking their destinies lies in the choices they make in the present.

This was a fun, twisty YA time travel murder mystery that is definitely not my usual preferred genre but I really enjoyed it! I love how the two main characters worked together, and I adored the ending, The 80s setting was perfect, too.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A very clever thriller - one of the better YA books I have read lately!

I thought the idea of this book was great, but it was long and slow moving. I thought it was going to be more exciting and engaging than it was. It might be someone else's cup of tea, but it wasn't mine.

I'll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman is a slow-paced, YA, time-travel novel with lots of fun pop references and a little touch of mystery. It also handles a variety of teen challenges in a well-written way. Each chapter is told from a different characters POV, making it a little tricky to keep up with who's who. And with so many characters and such a slow moving plot, it took me far too long to get to the good stuff. I know there were lots of great reviews, so if you like teen dynamics with a time-travel plot and a little mystery, you'll like this one. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This read like a YA book and I loved every second of it! A slow burn but the ending was great! I loved this one.

If you’re seeking a time-travel tale involving teenagers, life in a relatively small town, and something of a mystery, then this very well may be a novel for you.

I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately I it did not engage me. I wasn't invested at all and it didn't hold my attention.

Lauren Thoman's "I'll Stop the World" is a captivating exploration of time, fate, and the intricate threads that connect lives across decades. Trapped in a dead-end town defined by a decades-old unsolved crime, Justin Warren's life takes an unexpected turn when he collides with the determined optimist Rose Yin, who lives in 1985. Thoman masterfully weaves a tale that poses the intriguing question: Is it the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the right time?

The novel immediately draws readers into the enigmatic world of Justin, whose life is overshadowed by the suspicious deaths of his grandparents. Thoman skillfully builds an atmospheric narrative, where the ripple effects of the unsolved crime continue to shape Justin's destiny, leading him to a cosmic twist of fate. The concept of characters from different timelines coming together creates a sense of wonder and anticipation.

Justin and Rose, despite living in the same town and attending the same school, have never met due to the temporal gap between them. Thoman explores their connection in a way that is both poignant and thought-provoking. The characters are well-developed, each with their own struggles, aspirations, and unique perspectives on life. The cosmic elements and the intricacies of time travel add layers of complexity to the narrative.

The central mystery—a murder that hasn't happened yet—drives the narrative forward, creating a sense of urgency that propels Justin and Rose through a series of events that reverberate across multiple lifetimes. The novel skillfully balances suspense, drama, and a touch of romance, making it a compelling read for fans of time-travel fiction.

The pacing of the story is well-maintained, keeping the reader engaged with a blend of mystery-solving and character development. Thoman's writing style is evocative, capturing the nuances of each era and immersing the reader in the emotional journey of the characters.

While the novel's premise is unique and intriguing, some readers may find certain aspects of time travel and the resolution of the mystery to be complex and open to interpretation.

In conclusion, "I'll Stop the World" is a riveting journey through time and fate. Lauren Thoman delivers a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant story that explores the interconnectedness of lives, the impact of choices, and the possibility of altering one's destiny. If you enjoy novels that blend mystery, romance, and time travel, this book offers a compelling and imaginative experience that will leave you contemplating the intricacies of time and the choices that define our lives.

Scrolling through the Kindle, I clicked on I'll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman. I didn't know what it would be like, but once I started reading it - I was captivated and it reminded me of that new movie named Totally Killer where the girl goes back in time to stop a serial killer from killing off her mum's friends. In I'll Stop the World, Justin has lived with no motivation and is an angry kid. The school is also named after his grandparents who died in a fire back in 1985. The town expects great things from him, but he isn't showing any promise. That is until he finds himself going back in time to 1985 - the week leading up to the accident that killed his grandparents and left his mother an orphan. Stuck in 1985, a world Justin doesn't know - can he maneuver around in it and save his grandparents from death? Will he be able to get back to the present time or will he be stuck in 1985 forever and grow old? I did love the connections in this book at the end between Justin and his Uncle Stan and then Justin and Rose in the future.
If you love Back to the Future and the new movie Totally Killer you will love I'll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman.

YA, teenage drama, endearing love story, redemption and sacrifice. An intricate story with an excellent ending. The book touches on relevant topics such as racism and sexual identity.

I remember reading I'll Stop the World and just gasping aloud. This is the perfect blend of time wimey travel meets historical fiction and family history. It's a story I fell into and could not stop reading. With a cast of multiple characters at the beginning it was a bit hard to get into, but once I did I was obsessed. Blending mystery, I'll Stop the World is a fantastic story about unraveling our past and finding out what we can do with the now, the present, and our voice.

While it takes a bit of time to get into the story and the back half is paced quite a bit faster, this was a really exciting and intriguing story. It's more YA than expected based on the marketing, but I think it will hold appeal for adult and teen readers alike.

My inner 80s child was lured by the title which is the same as one of my fave teenage anthems. This is a YA time-travel novel with a murder twist and some real heft. Justin soon finds himself in the same town, same school, but the year is 1985 and he bonds with a fellow student Rose, who helps him find himself and stop the murder of his grandparents before it even happens! Important themes are handled delicately, and it is a great read for teens!

Absolutely wonderful! This book had me engaged the entire time and the ending was completely unexpected. Its been a long time since I've read a book and had nothing that I would change. Great Book! Thank you so much for an advanced copy.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I think had I known it was young adult I would have had different expectations. I didn't realize it was young adult until after I read it and the writing seemed so basic. And really, I am not sure I have actually seen that it is officially young adult. I enjoy reading YA but when I am expecting it. Great story and premise but felt like the characters could have been a bit more developed.

I loved this book. I'll just leave it at that. Lauren Thomas does SUCH a good job weaving characters, making them feel believable. We see Justin, the main character, on a collision course with disaster when suddenly, he's transported back to 1985. I adored seeing time travel in a contemporary novel. Justin's life is woven with many other characters for the chance to change history. I can't wait for Thoman's next!

I love time travel and sci-fi woven into a mystery or thriller. This one is more YA than I expected, but I liked how it hit on real teenage life and the issues and pressures they face. It made the characters feel real which enhanced the plotting for me with the murder mystery.

This book so painfully slow. I have read YA thrillers but this book didn't hit the spot for mr unfortunately. This book had so much potential. I loved the idea of time travel but it wasn't executed well in my opinion.

I stopped reading after a few chapters and at least four points of view. It was too much to keep track of and I had no sense of what the story was after four or five chapters.
As well, it reinforced that I"m just not into young adult books.