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.

US Release Date: 06.03.2025
Genre: YA Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance
Format Read: E-Book / E-ARC
Tropes:
❥ Duel-POV
❥ Time Travel
❥ Slow Burn

My Synopsis:
In this duology opener we follow Margo, a young student traveling by train to a boarding school in Dublin. During her journey, she is unexpectedly transported into a completely different train car, on a mysterious train that travels between worlds. It is here that she meets Moon, a traveling salesman suffering from “skipshock”: the deadly toll that frequent traveling between worlds can have on the body. As Margo and Moon grow closer, so does the looming rebellion in this world, and before she can get home, Margo and Moon must team up to take down a tyrannical government.

My review:
Skipshock is an entirely unique YA fantasy novel. We get a wholly original concept, with rich world building throughout and a fascinating magic system. Time travel can be a difficult concept to write about, and wrap your head around while reading. There is a lot to unpack here regarding the mechanics of time, but I think that the author did a fantastic job in making these concepts palatable and intelligible.

The pacing in this book is medium, with an adventurous tone. We are thrown right into the action, which unfortunately I think impacted my ability to feel a deep connection with the characters. I found that with all the world building, some character development was lost, which seems common in YA fantasy. I’m hoping that since the stage has been set in this book, we will get more of this in the follow up. The plot was also predictable, which wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but I wouldn’t go into this expecting a whole lot of mystery.

The romance was a little too close to instant-love for me to find it believable. However, I did think that Margo and Moon’s interactions were sweet, and we did get some tension between them in spite of their relationship being quick to develop. Romance is a sub-plot here, and it was very light. As a side-note, it was also hard for me to determine the age of Moon due to the way time works in this story, which was a little off putting since Margo is only 16? I don’t think anything inappropriate is going on, it just could have used a more concrete explanation.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy more adventurous reads, appreciate unique and well thought out magic systems, and if the concept intrigues you! Also, that cover is STUNNING.

Thank you to @netgalley, Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink for access to this advanced copy!

Margo has waited for days to turn into years so that she could be old enough to run away from the ghost of her dead father and the suffocating nature of her widowed mother. She didn't expect her train ride to Dublin to collapse into a new place where the hours in the day are as precious as currency. And she certainly didn't expect Moon, a mysterious salesman with a crescent moon scar on his face, who fills her in on the rules of this new place: Travel to the far South, and the days are longer and luxurious, with time slowed enough to prolong aging. Travel to the far North, and days pass in a matter of hours; people rush around desperately to make their short lives to the fullest.

In between, haunting the select few salesmen who are allowed to travel between worlds, is the Skipshock. The body's shutting down as it struggles to process the time differences. And as Margo and Moon become inextricably linked, tied into a scheme to save the fate of the North from power-hungry Southern Guard, she feels the days she used to take for granted slipping between her fingers faster than she can grasp.

What a brilliant concept and whimsical plot! As Margo grapples with the privilege she didn't know she had, I also confronted the reality that twenty-four hours in a day is a precious thing. She and Moon are brilliantly crafted characters that grow not only literally as a result of the increased aging, but also through masterful character arcs and development. Their romance is tender and a perfect slow-burn.

I feel like just as I was getting used to all the oddities of this world and noticing little clues and hints, the book ended. Skipshock is a novel of building, which was not frustrating but a good mirror of the themes of rebellion and otherness in the novel. I am desperate for book two, but this being a duology feels important; a standalone would pass by too breathlessly, but a trilogy would drag on too long. Look: I'm still measuring time preciously after reading this book! I can't wait for the conclusion.

A unique blend of quantum mechanics in the form of time travel and fantasy, I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The worldbuilding in this book is its biggest seller. The amount of detail that was put into this world and the mechanics of time is insane. Imagine pancakes stacked on top of each other, where the farther up the stack you go, the smaller the pancake is... Now instead of pancakes imagine each is a representation of the amount of hours in a day. The "poorer" worlds are those with less hours in a day, such as 4 hours per day, meaning that over the course of 24 hours you have gone through 6 days. Someone who looks only 16 could by time measure actually be 45. This is a buckwild concept and I love it.

HOWEVER, the characters as a whole just fell flat for me and I didn't really connect with any of them. I did start to really appreciate Moon and his history by the end of the book, especially once you realize just how much he has been affected by the realm jumping he does, but Margo is literally a child in the story, both literally as she is under 18 but she ends up spending a lot of the story feeling a bit whiny and "woe is me."

I will be curious to see where this story goes, and really want to delve more into Moon's backstory and the history of his people.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

Caroline O'Donoghue has been one of my favorite authors since I read her "Gifts" trilogy, so of course I absolutely lost my mind when I was approved to read this book. And let me tell you, she does NOT disappoint! I love the concept of this novel, the characters, the imagery, even the freaking cover. Everything draws you in and won't let you go, even after you finish the book! I'm so glad this will be part of a duology so we will get to experience more of Moon and Margo. I absolutely cannot wait for this to be published and watch everyone else enjoy this as much as I did!

First off, that ending? I’m still reeling! I need the next book immediately!!!
Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Rating: 3.75⭐️/5⭐️

Read if you like:
• Two worlds colliding
• Time travel with high stakes
• YA romantasy

Skipshock felt like such a refreshing take on romantasy. The concept of time travel combined with magical elements really pulled me in. It was unlike anything I’ve read before, and I loved how unpredictable and adventurous it felt. The worldbuilding was vivid and creative. It made me feel like I was exploring a dreamscape full of hidden layers and strange beauty!

Margo and Moon were both incredibly well-written. Their dual POVs worked so well to show their emotional journeys, and I felt every bit of their confusion, fear, wonder, and hope. Even the side characters like Vesna and Taiyo felt important and complex, adding richness to the story without feeling like background filler.

One of my favorite aspects was the setting. The way the time travel element let me explore different eras and locations within the same world made everything feel expansive and exciting. It felt like I was on a magical road trip through time!

If I had one issue, it was the pacing. The first three-quarters moved slowly. It reminded me a bit of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in that way. But once it picked up, it really picked up. The slow start was worth pushing through, and the final chapters completely delivered!⭐️

Overall, Skipshock was an emotional, imaginative ride. The world is rich, the characters layered, and the ending left me desperate for more. If you’re into romantasy with a twist, this one is worth checking out!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a slow grower on me. I was intrigued by the world, and Moon was instantly a character I knew I would love, but it took me a while to feel fully engrossed in the story. It took its time letting Margo settle in to these mysterious worlds, took its time slowly unravelling Moon’s character but when it got to the end of the spool, damn it was good.

About halfway through the book I was hooked. The characters were just so likeable, even Margo who I found a tiny bit frustrating at the start grew on me, I thought she was a fabulous main character and her growing relationships with all of the extended cast only made me like her more. Moon was just easy to adore, he was the grumpy guy who didn’t want to let anyone get close because of his tortured past. And now he has let someone close, well, I’ll say I can’t wait to see what boundaries he will break to be close to them again.

Any Taiyo??? No I’m too hurt to comment on Taiyo right now. He deserved better!!!

But the world was just so luscious and rich and such a fascinating concept. The mystery that kept unfolding only added layers of intrigue to the world and the story. And that ending!!!

This was an excellent piece of work by Caroline O’Donoghue and I’d recommend it to anyone who was a fantasy book that is completely different to anything they’ve read before!!
4.5/5 🌟

The unique story and the world building really sucked me in on this one and kept me turning pages to get to the end. This was a fun (and different!) YA read.

Thanks for Netgalley and Walker Books for the eARC of Shipshock!

It was bound to happen eventually - after loving Caroline O'Donoghue's previous YA and adult offerings, I finally found one that just didn't click for me. "Skipshock" has excellent worldbuilding and a truly unique concept, but is bogged down by forced romance and flat characters. The protagonist, Margo, is dull as rocks: typically O'Donoghue's heroines are so interesting and active, but Margo is a passenger to the interesting, layered science fiction tale unfurling here. Moon fares marginally better, but his air of maturity contrasts sharply with the hapless, helpless Margo, making rooting for their romance difficult.