Kutub has written a book about time that makes time travel make sense. This book harnesses the way grief can change a person's perception of time, and how truly isolating it can be to live with a loss. Hazeem first loses his dad in a terrible twist of fate, then slowly loses everyone else--not to death but to the erosion of a relationship that happens when people disagree and don't resolve it. To make matters more complicated, Hazeem notices that he has a special power after his dad's death. He can give people more time for their own lives, but in doing so he has created a very big problem in Space/Time.

Time is a whole character in this book, and I can't say much without spoiling it, but Time is awesome! Hazeem is given a chance to face his mistakes and put a lot right that had gone wrong. There are very tender moments about the love a parent feels for a child, and the love that blossoms between friends. There are some funny moments, and one of the coolest hamsters around.

It's a sweet book. and a good choice for a reluctant reader who enjoys light sci-fi, and some mild romantic talk.

No Time Like Now has a cool, starting premise. The publisher’s note bills it as a twist on A Christmas Carol and while it does have some of that structure in the first part of the story, the middle part meanders a bit aimlessly, then there is a flip to Groundhog Day, and then quite a lengthy wrap-up. There is a lot of time spent in the main character’s head and in his emotional stew. This eventually felt a bit repetitive and really slowed the pacing of the book.

Readers interested in diverse characters will likely enjoy this book and the characters’ journeys. Since the characters are seventeen, it will especially appeal to high schoolers. It is a little difficult to categorize the genre for this book, but it is a coming-of-age journey with a science fiction (or fantasy?) twist.

Thank you Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the eARC, these opinions are my own. What a fun and thrilling adventure! Hazeem lost his father a year ago. Since then life has seemed meaningless. It doesn’t help that he also lost his friends one by one at the same time. Or that is mother barely interacts with him and won’t look at him. As he takes his Nana to his fathers grave, he realizes that somethings amiss. When he tries to save a life, Time, the entity, appears and tells him not to do it but he does it anyway. Afterwards the world is frozen. Not understanding what’s going on Time explains that Hazeem has a time span deficit. He’s given away more of his years that he actually had. Right before each of his friends left him they almost died and Hazeem saved the all along with his pet Mary Shelley. Time tells him that he has to take away the years from someone in order to correct it or everything will stop existing. Who should he choose, his emotional support, the rock in his life, the boy he loves, the friend who understands him, or the friend next door? To help him figure it out Time takes him on a journey into the past to recall his experiences with each. Is it possible he might also mend his heart? I adored this story. I liked the there was the edge of mystery as to why Hazeem’s friends had stopped interacting with him! Time was completely hilarious and their understanding of humans and the world brings a lot of laughs! The story’s also heartbreaking and had me in tears as well! A wonderful story of learning to live with grief, heartbreak, and finding joy and laughter again! If you enjoy stories with a little time travel, similarities to A Christmas Carol, a touch a romance, heartbreak, sweetness, and a whole lot of charm I recommend checking this book out!

I overall enjoyed this book I think it could have been a little clearer on the magic elements, but a fun read read.