This book was unlike anything l've ever read before in the best way possible. The concept of universes where time passes differently and certain places literally have more hours in the day is so fresh and interesting. The consequences and privileges that go along with having more or less time are so fascinating as well as the revolution that comes from restricting travel to longer day areas.
I mostly know the author from her superb podcast, Sentimental Garbage where she is a ray of witty sunshine, sometimes loud and with a big laugh. While this book had glimpses of her signature humor, it was pretty far from what I expected. This book was quiet.
Not to say there wasn't action and chaos at times, oh there was plenty of that, but the moments that stuck with me were the quiet ones. A character mulling over how long they'll be alive while alone in the bath, or another character noticing the effects of time on her body while looking at her reflection. These moments were simply stunning. The romance between Margo and Moon was slow and tender and vulnerable. I couldn't get enough.

I was unfamiliar with Caroline O'Donoghue's work as a YA author, having only read her adult fiction but I was so pleasantly surprised to find out that she is prolific as a writer for younger audiences but also massively talented.

Skipshock is a fast paced story about Margo, a teen who boards a train that, unbeknownst to her, will take her between worlds. Moon, will bring Margo into his world's revolution.

This was a truly original, fast-paced story and I could not put it down. Now I just have to figure out how to bide my time until the next installment comes out!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book*

"Skipshock" is a sci-fi/fantasy novel that managed to surprise and fascinate me, something that doesn't happen a lot. It's about places with different times and travellers between them. It is also a story about a girl falling from one reality into another as well as in love. While I did dislike the supposed age difference between the two 'lovers' (I'm just not a fan of age gaps or gaps in terms of maturity or life experience etc.), they were quite sweet together. I would love to read more stories set in this universe, it was really quite unique in terms of world building!

This is a really strange book but in a good way. I haven't read anything like it before.
Margo is taking the train to Dublin and she steps through into a different world.
She meets Moon in the carriage but there doesn't seem to be anyone else on the train.
You feel as if you are in the story with the characters. You get quite lost in the journey.
The relationship between the main characters is slow burn but nice.
The ending? - what can I say I need the next story.
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher.

3.5 stars, rounded up. There was a lot to like about this YA romantasy. O'Donoghue has built an interesting world where time is power and the hours in a day change based on your geography. It gets a little confusing at times, but the story follows an Irish teen, Margo, who falls into this other world of changing times. Margo meets traveling salesman Moon on a train, and he helps her, in turn pulling her into a brewing revolution. It's not exactly InstaLove, but it's not far off, either. I definitely could have used more relationship development to buy into their love story. My other quibble is this ends on a major cliffhanger - I guess this is a duology, but I wish I'd known that upfront. It will probably be, for me, at least 300 and maybe as much as 700 books until book 2 comes out. But I will still wait for it, and read it, hopefully finding a recap somewhere to remind me of key plot points in this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press | Walker Books US for a digital review copy.

This book was a true surprise.
You follow the story of Margo, who has lost her father and is going through a rough time. Her mother sends her to boarding school far away from home, hoping her daughter will find herself. Instead, she gets teleported to another world where she meets with Moon, a young man from another world. In his world, the days are very different from Earth and time is considered to be a luxurious value. Soon they realize their meeting will have a bigger impact they expected.

Skipshock is part of my top favorite read of 2025, I genuinely loved reading this book. The pages flew by and I could not put it down, to the point I found myself opening it EVERYWHERE!
Truth is Skipshock is very entertaining and fun, yet so profound. The entire idea of this book is nothing like anything I have read in the past and will transport you straight to different worlds, all very different from one another.

The plot, the worldbuilding, the characters, it all fit together in a very wonderful puzzle. Now all that is left to do is beg Caroline O'Donoghue for the second book.

Margo is 16 years old and has been struggling since her father was presumed to have died in a plane crash years ago. She has been struggling with depression and the only thing she has of her father is a silver watch he left her in his will. When she is travelling to her boarding school in Dublin she finds herself transported to a different world while riding the train. On the train she meets Moon, a travelling salesman, who reluctantly helps her. While Moon the salesman is not interested in getting wrapped up with what Margo's presence means, he finds himself at the center of a battle against those hunting her down.

I absolutely loved the concept of this book and the world building the author accomplished. I was fascinated from page one. The pacing for me was a struggle and the ending fell a little flat. I did not feel a romantic connection between the characters at all, it felt like out of left field when they got together. I know this is a first book in a duology, and I feel I did not enjoy the book enough to make me excited and anticipating the ending to this story. Chances are high I will not be picking up the next book in this series.

A wildly imaginative and heartfelt read. The world-building is fresh and immersive, with time as currency and layered political themes that added real depth. Margo and Moon were both compelling in their own ways, and I loved watching their relationship grow alongside the story. Full of surprises, emotion, and wonder. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!

This was transcendent, perfect, glorious!!! The synopsis never QUITE made sense to me, but once I was just a few pages into the book, I was on board and obsessed. Moon and Margo were incredible main characters to follow, especially Margo felt so real to me. I loved the scene where she realizes she's grown up.

The plot was riveting, the twists were gaspworthy, the stakes were high - this felt both shorter and longer than it actually is, in the BEST way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of Skipshock!

As a fan of O'Donoghue's previous YA trilogy, I was already anticipating reading Skipshock! Her dreamy, surreal worldbuilding explodes into a vibrant, magical world in Skipshock, taking us along for the ride Margo and Moon take. Speaking of Margo and Moon, I loved them, and the way their dynamic develops. I really fell in love with Moon, and found myself cheering for Margo and the decisions she makes along the way. She isn't afraid to do what needs to be done, though that doesn't mean she's fearless.

I will say the depiction of the Lunati is incredibly similar to and parallels real-life Romani and Jewish cultures. I am not a part of either of these cultures, and thus cannot say whether or not the Lunati in the book are good representation or if it's handled well. I would love to hear the thoughts of actual Romani and Jewish readers on the portrayal of the Lunati.

The twist at the end is so good- and the way it calls back to the beginning? Perfect. I also love Moon's confidence in Margo, all throughout the book. He doesn't hold her back, and he's always doing his best to support her with the things she decides to do. I was taking them in my mind and smashing them like dolls to kiss. So happy we got to see it (multiple times!) before the second book, as this is a duology!

I am so excited to read it and see where O'Donoghue takes Margo and Moon's stories!

I LOVED Skipshock. The story starts where main character Margo, who lives in Ireland in our real world, accidentally slips through the barriers between worlds into a new reality. The first person she encounters is Moon, a traveling salesman, who she teams up with to help her navigate her way home.

The setting itself is very unique, with multiple worlds layered on top of one another, and the idea of time is not fixed. The length of your world’s “day” dictates the power dynamics across these interconnected places, but travel is also heavily restricted and significantly limits people's access to move freely about the universe.

The cast of supporting characters were also really well done, where you really get a sense of each person’s individual experiences within a flawed and unequal system.

This was a very good start to a planned duology, and the ending really left me wanting to keep reading. I’ve also read some of O’Donoghue’s other work (namely, The Rachel Incident), and this is VERY different from her other work, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the author’s range and ability to step into other genres.

I will say, however, some of the romance was very YA, and at times, a bit awkward. Just in case that's not your cup of tea!

Thank you NetGalley and Candlewick Press | Walker Books US for an advance copy. It’s out now - opinions are my own!

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC! 4.5 ⭐️

This book was quite the treat! I really loved the world building, and I definitely want more of it. I am really hoping this turns into a series, but I am really unsure after the ending. The ending definitely left the impression that there is more to be had here, and I really need Margo and Moon to find each other again.

I almost wish this novel was not YA, and rather a larger adult novel. I do think this story could have benefited greatly by being a lot longer, but this is not to say I did not throughly enjoy it. There were times that I wished I had more insight on Margo's life before falling into New Davia and more about this revolution that is occurring. Really, I just want more.

I definitely recommend this read. I loved Moon and Mars, and I want more of this complicated and beautiful world that she has built. Also, read her other books! They are great!!!

This is such an imaginative world, and really not like anything I've read before. I fell in love with Moon and Margo and was rooting for them every step of the way. Even when I thought I knew what was coming next I was always surprised in the best ways! Can't wait for book 2!

While this story follows all the beats of a YA fantasy combined with wi-fi, a bit of mystery, and political intrigue, I had a lot of fun with it, and I think its intended audience will appreciate it a lot more than I did.

What I liked the most about this was the worldbuilding and the way fantasy was combined with sci-fi. It's a very interesting setting with travel between dimensions, where every world has a different daily cycle. So instead of 24 hours, some worlds have 12-hour, 6-hour, or even 2-hour days. That's such a cool idea and low-key terrifying because of the effects it has on the body and how it effectively shortens life spans.

The characters were okay, but their characterization lacked something. They felt surface-level, so they didn't jump off the page for me. Still, I liked them enough to care about the situations they were in and what they were getting themselves into. The romance, however, didn't work for me. I didn't even think it was cute for YA because these two have no chemistry, imo, but thankfully, the romance isn't the main focus.

The main focus is Margo, our FMC, her dad's watch that can break lines between worlds, and the brewing war these worlds find themselves in. This has a cliffhanger ending, which I'm not a fan of, but it does leave you wanting more because you don't get many answers.

That said, I don't think I'll be continuing on in the series because I'm kind of done with YA, so it's 100% a personal reason. While I have a lot of love for the genre, it's not something I want to continue focusing on unless I'm super gripped by a book or series. While this was fun, I'm okay with not knowing more, but I highly recommend it if you want a YA that follows a structure you already know but still delivers a story that feels unique.

3.5 stars.

Skipshock is an enchanting and whimsical tale of traveling between worlds where time is currency and power. Margo is an Irish teen traveling to her new boarding school in Dublin when she mysteriously falls through worlds. She meets Moon, a young traveling salesman who recognizes that she’s something special.

I really enjoyed this book a lot! The writing is easy to fall into and the cadence of the story is pretty fast paced and engaging. The world building is so unique - it took me maybe 25% of the story to really feel comfortable with the world, but the author brings us right in, like Margo, and we are experiencing it as she does. I enjoyed the dual POV with Margo and Moon, and it was great to see their relationship develop over the course of the book. Seeing them grow as individuals and together was heartfelt and beautifully done. But in addition to the whimsical elements, the book also highlights some really important political issues that feel especially relevant today such as oppression and racism, freedom and war. This book was such a surprising read - a real gem of a story. I’m absolutely looking forward to the next book in this duology!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Candlewick Press - Walker Books US for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤
𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐎'𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐠𝐡𝐮𝐞
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡

- - -
Read this book if you like:
□ world/time traveling
□ slow-burn romance
□ sci-fi
□ dual POV
□ war/politics

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

It's the first time I have read a book about world/time traveling. It was an original, great read filled with twists and turns. It's action-packed, suspenseful, and fast-paced. I honestly did not see that plot twist at the end of the book coming! The romance between the main characters, Margo and Moon, was adorable. Margo, a schoolgirl from the world that we know, and Moon, a salesman from an unknown world far away.

This book has a cliffhanger, which will make you want to throw the book across the room, but no worries, there will be a sequel!

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

3.75⭐
This book has an amazing premise, when i started reading it i couldn't stop thinking about it!
However at some point I felt like it dragged, I felt disconnected to the characters and the romance didn't pull me in as I expected :(
When I got further into the book I looked at the amount of pages left and thought "But how is the author gonna tie this all up?" Well she doesn't, because this isnt a standalone and I didn't know 💀 Btw that cliffhanger illegal

Overall I still enjoyed the book quite a bit and I'm curious about the sequel

Really enjoyed this!
This is the first of a duology, so you really get thrown into the story, and it takes off right away and doesn't slow down.
The worlds and setting are so unique and fascinating, as is all the travelling and characters we meet along the way.
I enjoyed both Margo and Moon, each dealing with their own issues in their own worlds. Their love story felt a touch rushed, but when time is such a finite, precious resource, that makes a sad sort of sense.
A couple of reveals were heartbreaking, a couple twists felt really satisfying.

I will say that this is dual pov, but the writing switches from 1st to 3rd person, and it was a touch jarring for me.
The pacing is also a little weird at times - it kind of skips around without really anchoring you in time or place (which, yes, sometimes of works for a book like this, but it also makes for a bit of a weird reading experience).

All in, a fun, upper YA aventure, I look forward to reading the next book to see how Moon and Margo's story ends!

“They had spent most of their lives lonely. Her in a cold house; him in a cold world. They were houseplants that people forgot to check on. And now they had each other.”

Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue
Release date:June 3rd
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:16+
Spice:they talk about things, and I’d consider it fade to black

Thank you Netgalley and Caroline O’Donoghue for this arc! I need book two in my hands now. Go add this to your tbr immediately. YALL. This was so good. I ate up every second of it. I couldn’t stop reading. The world/worlds is SO COOL. It felt so unique. And how everything works is just so fascinating. Truly such an interesting plot, loved it. The characters were amazing. I love Margo and Moon SO MUCH! The tension between the two of them was destroying me. Like ugh I just love them. They’re such interesting characters to read about and I am going to miss them so much. They’re my babies and deserve the world. The sub plot of romance had me losing my mind, like it was just perfect. Will definitely be picking up book two whenever it comes out because that ending was kind of mean. Everything I want to say will spoil it so I won’t say anything, but just go read this when comes out, please, I’ll need people to talk to about it.