Anytime I see a new book pop up with a time travel theme, I'm automatically excited to read it. I'm a bit obsessed with time travel, and frankly, there isn't enough out there to whet my voracious appetite for it. Let me start off by saying that Cassandra in Reverse started off with a bang.

Cassandra, the main character, has some great philosophical, original thoughts that effortlessly pulled me into the story. As she begins her narration, she even breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the reader. It was a really promising first impression, and even better, she only became more interesting the more I read. I could see how many people might be frustrated or annoyed with her horrible interactions with everyone around her. After all, she hasn't a clue how to engage in small talk or polite, casual conversation. She inevitably manages to offend or anger the person she is speaking to-completely unintentionally. Still, for me, her clumsiness at personal and professional relationships made me feel so sympathetic towards her struggles. The author spent a lot of time explaining Cassandra's differences, daily challenges, and feelings of despair that she couldn't stop pushing people away. Based on all of these things, it became crystal clear very early on that Cassandra is autistic, but was never diagnosed.

The book begins with her getting fired from her job, getting dumped by her boyfriend, and her living situation with her roommates is pretty well destroyed. So far, it was reminding me very strongly of Penny Reid's Neanderthal Seeks Human just without the huge dose of humor. (One of my top favorite books, btw) Cassandra doesn't care much for her PR job in the first place, considering she just isn't a people person. However, nobody wants to be fired and lose their financial stability, so she is naturally distraught. Even more upsetting is her unexpected break-up with her lovely boyfriend Will of four months. She truly cares for Will, and was completely blindsided by his sudden extraction from their relationship. Will seemed to genuinely admire Cassandra's intelligence and wasn't put off by her differences. What seemed to be a breaking point for him was her issue with opening up to him about her feelings and sharing herself with him. No matter how many times he asked her to share what she was thinking and feeling, she didn't know how to give that to him.

Somewhere after this disaster of a day when her life implodes, she discovers that she inexplicably went back and started repeating the day over again. She's stunned to discover that she has a strange ability to manipulate time, rewinding moments and re-doing them to fix what she feels like she broke. The catch is that she can only go back to the beginning of that one day and no further. This time travel aspect is left pretty vague and not at all fleshed out. The rules seem arbitrary and erratic, fluid even. But putting that aside, if you suspend disbelief and explore the yawning possibilities with her, there's still potential.

She struggles with questions of morality: should she even be re-doing so many failures with Will in order to prevent their break-up? If she keeps rewinding situations that end badly until Will is happy with her, isn't that a form of control and manipulation? Eventually, it doesn't sit well with her. She briefly thinks about doing illegal things just because she can and then erasing them, but she is an honest person at heart so she discards the possibility. In the end, what she cares most about is finding out where she went wrong with Will, preventing herself from getting fired, and preventing the day with her roommate Derek that ruins everything at home. So she begins an exhausting effort to reset everything. Along the way, she starts to learn things about herself as well as start to become more friendly with Salini and Sophie. Unfortunately, even with some successes, she keeps hitting walls when it comes to Will and the mystery woman named Diana that keeps popping up no matter what she changes. She starts to think that the harder she tries to put things back together again, perhaps she's just better off letting things fall where they may and accepting her life, flaws and all.

The mystery woman, Diana, set the story on a whole new course that I was not expecting. After Cassandra's reconciliation with her, the storyline with Will is completely altered. At first, I was extremely annoyed. After all, wasn't this book partially a romance? Now it wasn't feeling like one so much. Then the more I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that maybe there was a reason she and Will keep having issues in every alternate reality she creates. As sweet as he is, perhaps they really are too different, and she was wrong about fate. She can keep altering it, but in the end, things will eventually realign in the way they were meant to go. Different journey, same results. So I adjusted my thinking about her new projected ending. This is all about her deciding not to time travel anymore because she finally accepts herself for who she is, differences and all. Except...she starts making mistakes again with Diana, time traveling again to fix it (after declaring that she won't anymore), and then deciding to contradict everything she claimed to have learned and start COMPLETELY over again.

By the end, I was left floundering. I wondered what the lesson was. What was the message, the timeline of anything, the takeaway from everything I just read...? It's so unfortunate, but the promising beginning fizzled out to confusion in the final chapters. Everything I thought the book was about changed to something else, then left completely unresolved and undone. I decided on three stars, but this really was a tough one to rate. I enjoyed the author's writing style a lot, unfortunately the execution left something to be desired. Also, a minor complaint I have is the excessive references/comparisons to ancient Greek Gods. I understand that it was Cassandra's obsession, but there were so many insertions into the story that it became boring and I started skimming over them.

I wish I could have loved this one more, but I ended up having very mixed feelings. I will say that despite my issues, this was an original concept that held my interest pretty much the whole way through. I might be willing to give this author another try in the future if the right synopsis catches my eye again.

CASSANDRA IN REVERSE by Holly Smale is a rollicking, wild adventure through the eyes of Cassandra, a young woman cursed/blessed to repeat the last 4 months of her life until she changes her fate -- which she attempts with spirit, creativity, and remarkable resolve, addressing flatmate issues, work problems, and a romantic relationship gone wrong. While I did not have any connection with the whiny, brutally honest Cassandra at the start, revelations throughout changed my perspective on a woman changing the course of time and her reality through tremendous personal change and ingenuity. I received a copy of this book and these are my own, unbiased opinions.

“I do not set my life on fire and run away from somebody I hate. Where would be the logic in that? Hate is never what the matches are made of.”

If you had the power to change the past…would you?

Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn’t (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.

* She’s just been dumped.
* She’s just been fired.
* Her local café has run out of banana muffins.

Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. Now, Cassie should be able to find a way to fix the life she accidentally obliterated. And with time on her side, how hard can it be?

This was not my favorite time travel book. In fact, I’m not even sure that I fully understood the time travel aspect or how it added to the story. I did very much enjoy Cassandra’s character and how well her autistic tendencies were explained. But all of the Greek bits and the back and forth just kind of left my head spinning.

“Banana muffins are comforting. Banana muffins are reassuring and familiar. Banana muffins don’t wake up in the morning and tell you they care about you immensely but just don’t see a future with you anymore.”

Thank you to Netgalley, Mira Books, and the author for the eARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had very high hopes for this book because I loved Oona Out of Order, but it just fell a little short for me. I liked Cassandra a lot; I felt that she was so sweet and just wanted to fit in with those around her. The issue for me was that the story seemed very repetitive and seemed to drag on past a point where I found myself interested.

Told nonlinear by Cassandra Dankworth, she has suffered a few setbacks. Her boyfriend Will breaks up w/her, her boss fires her, and she still mourns her parents. Cassandra is eccentric, honest, and acts like Sheldon Cooper. I would definitely consider her on the autism spectrum. She loves vintage clothes- sees their colors and textures and compares her life to Greek mythology. She tries to use her newfound gift of time travel to rewrite history. Changing the past is always a bad idea, because it is unpredictable and makes things worse. There are things Cassie has to change-understand social cues better, make some friends, do what she enjoys. This is another great story of self-discovery with a neurodivergent heroine.


**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are mine alone.**

This book is entertaining and fun; a strong 4 stars! It centers around a lovable main character, Cassandra, who lacks conventional social understanding. Consequently, she unknowingly offends and/or annoys people and then is on the defensive after they react. Well, when she finds herself in a time loop, it gives her the opportunity to redo things. At first, I thought it was going to be similar to Groundhog Day, but it's not the same and definitely a new take on time travel (at least for me). The scenes are laugh-out-loud funny, awkward, cringeworthy, sad, happy, desperate, etc. as Cassandra navigates life. There are quite a few references to Greek mythology, but Smale does a good job of explaining the stories behind them. It's a quick, enjoyable, feel good read! Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the eARC.

Cute and fun but I think I would have enjoye it more if I knew more about the Greek gods! I think I missed out a bit. I was also bummed it wasn't a romance since so much time was spent on romance and trying to fix a relationship. I would recommend for Oona Out of Order fans.

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

I adored this book. After a completely awful day where she gets dumped and fired, Cassandra has some sort of panic attack that allows her to time travel. She starts to rewind time for every little awkward conversation, bad date, and uncomfortable situation. Cassandra is on the spectrum, and her perspective on life felt refreshing and authentic. I loved learning about how she sees the world and her coping mechanisms (besides the time travel!) that she uses to feel comfortable.

This book was just enchanting. I teared up a couple of times, the writing was so honest and sweet. It was also laugh out loud funny and entertaining. Although I would have tweaked a couple of tiny things, this is still an all time favourite. It was surprising and lovely and did not end up being the story I assumed it would be.

Can’t recommend this one enough! I chatted with @thebookybird throughout and I am so glad we both fell in love it!

Thanks to @_mira_books_ and @harlequinbooks for my advanced copy! I’m sure this will be one of the most popular books of the summer.

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What if you could time travel and alter the trajectory of your life…would you do it? Cassandra Penelope Dankworth discovers she can do just that and learns there’s good and bad to that power. With her career, love life, and living situation tanking as she tries to make it in London, everything feels hopeless until she discovers she can go back in time and change events. But by doing that, it can pull the threads of other things down the road and have other unintended consequences (seems author Holly Smale may be a Doctor Who fan).
This was a fun read with a quirky and neurodivergent MC, Greek mythology, humor, and more. Also refreshing to see a portrayal of someone who experiences synesthesia.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC! You can catch this one starting 6/6.

Gosh this one is tough to rate. 3.5 I think? I really enjoyed this book… it was so incredibly unexpected in a great way. I fell in love with Cassandra, our heroine who had a very specific and orderly way she lives her life. At the start of the book we learn she’s been fired, broken up with and asked to move out of her flat. Cassandra has a hard time relating to others so she’s partly perplexed and also wishes she could do something to fix it all somehow.

Luckily, she’s suddenly able to time travel so she CAN go back and fix it. Wait what? Yep we’ve got ourselves a time travel situation.

I liked the time travel elements because (without spoilers) she learns that you can’t necessarily change the end results but you can learn to be kinder to yourself and more okay with who you are if you can give yourself grace.

Overall I liked the writing but at times the way the time went back and forth was a smidge confusing. Especially because Cassandra herself got confused at times as to where she was and what happened when.

Overall I feel this book helped me understand more about neurodivergence and the experiences of other people and I’m so grateful for that!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

I only got about 30% through this story and had to stop. I couldn’t follow the story with all the run on sentences and jumping back and forth.

This story was so good. Though it did take a while to get used to Cassandra and how she deals with her new ability, the overall journey was worth it. This is a story about acceptance, both of oneself and of others. I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so fresh and funny.

I loved Cassandra what a neurodiverse dynamo, she had so much gumption and determination, she was unique and well developed with an incredible character arc.

Time travel in books can be quite silly or kitsch when not done correctly and Smale nailed it on the head, not only did it feel realistic it wasn’t over the top, think the movie About Time, it gave just the right amount of whimsy.

I laughed out loud many times, it was witty and deeply funny and honest and it made me appreciate how refreshing it can be to say what you mean.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital arc all opinions are my own.

this one is not for me. thought i would try a new to me UK author but between the writing style and trying to be invested in the story, i gave up 20% in. also had no interest in the greek mythology of it all either. the time travel was confusing, too.

If you had the power to travel back in time, would you? In this delightfully wonderful novel, Cassandra Penelope Dankworth unexpectedly discovers that she can go back in time and change the past. If you are a fan of "Oona Out of Order" or "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine," then you will love this book!

Cassandra is a creature of habit, and her life runs in a predictable order. She knows what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, Greek mythology) and what she doesn't like (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Then, on one no good, very bad day, Cassandra is dumped by her boyfriend, is fired from her PR job, and learns that the local café has run out of her favorite banana muffins. Overwhelmed and feeling that her life is ruined, Cassandra discovers that she can time travel. One small rewind at a time, Cassandra tries to change her past, but soon she realizes that she is trying to fix all the wrong things.

This was such a fun read! While this is a book about time travel, it is also a book about second chances, growth, and love. It was heartwarming, witty, and full of surprises. Cassandra is an unlikable character who you will find yourself rooting for and end up loving. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Push through when or if you get a little tired of Cassandra at about the 33 percent mark and you will be rewarded. Cassandra's life has imploded- she's been fired, she's been dumped, she's about to lose her apartment- when she has a panic attack on the street and finds she's in a Groundhog Day type situation. Most important to her at first, she can go back in time to the beginning of her relationship with Will but there's more. And there are the mysterious envelopes she refuses to open. Smale has inserted Greek mythology into the plot but don't be intimidated or worry if you aren't familiar with it because it will make sense. I liked that Cassandra is neurodivergent, that she sees colors coming from people, and that she grows during the course of her very strange journey. I'm one who almost DNF but I'm glad that I did. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A very good read.

Fabulous! Smale is a phenomenal writer and Cassandra in Reverse is a wonderful addition to her works. Cassandra is very clearly on the spectrum and struggles to make good connections with her peers and loved ones. There's an element of mystery throughout this novel, as we as readers learn Cassandra can time travel. Her time travel presents as more of a do-over than a jump through history, and she's given the opportunity to redo moments she struggled with. What transpires as this story unfolds, however, is the beautiful recognition that Cassandra is not weird or anything 'other', and we begin to see her leaning into the quirky, wonderful differences that make her formidable. I highly recommend this one!

Cassandra does not like surprises, but she is in for a big one: after being dumped, fired, and having her café run out of her favorite treat, she discovers that she can travel back in time. This could be interesting for someone who doesn’t get along well with others.

Cassandra has a unique opportunity to fix things in her own life and is going to give it a try. Doing this though, will change things in the lives of others. Could this cause her to have to make difficult choices?

This protagonist is well portrayed by the author. One gets a clear sense of how others view her as well as how she views herself. Cassandra will come to some realizations. She messes up a lot and resets time over and over until she’s at least partially satisfied with the results. However, some things don’t want to be changed. She’s a stubborn one though and wants to show time who’s boss.

Cassandra’s other relationships (besides that with her boyfriend) are a mess. Does she even care? As readers follow her on her adventure, it’s endearing to see the way Cassandra makes an effort and has some personal growth. There is a disclosure at the end of the story, which turns out to be educational and helpful in increasing one’s understanding of an important topic. The author did a good job in representing this.

There is a strong theme of Greek mythology. It is tightly woven throughout the story and is used to display how Cassandra thinks, finding itself often in these pages. It’s understandable, especially at the end, why it’s necessary to be so ubiquitous, but could the author maybe have used just a little less?

At any rate, the story plays on ideas done before but in an unusual and fresh way. It’s worth the read. I was given a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a time travel/time loop story, and this one was perfectly done, with the added bonus of a bunch of Greek mythology references and a (to me) very well-executed and relatable neurodivergent main character. This was funny and smart and sweet, and I loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I LOVE a good time travel book and this one did not disappoint!!!

Cassandra is having a horrible day. She has been dumped by her boyfriend and then fired from her job. Soon she discovers that she can go back in time. She decides to use this newfound power to change what went wrong. As Cassandra starts reliving her days over and over, she realizes what she has taken for granted in life. She learns more about herself and starts making changes.

This was such a well written, thoughtful, funny, and witty book! The characters are great and felt very relatable. I love that this book is about the second chances you can have in life and how to grow from the past.
I highly recommend adding this to your tbr list! I look forward to reading more from Holly Smale!



📘: Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
🗓️: June 6, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Smale, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.