4☆

Skipshock is unlike anything I’ve ever read before — and that’s truly refreshing. I loved the concepts of the trains, different worlds with different hours in a day, and the repercussions people experience because of that. It was unique, and totally intriguing.

The characters! I feel for Margo, because she’s a runaway at the start of the book, grieving the life she wanted, and suddenly she’s thrust into this unique universe, where she’s gone from 24-hour days to 6-hour days, and she’s aging and her body is developing too quickly for her to comprehend. She feels as though she has lost out on some of her teenage years and just time in general. I loved how she was adamant in helping PACT and sticking by Moon.

Moon is wonderful too. He is stuck in this life of being a salesmen, and he is constantly facing discrimination for being Lunati (as he is one of the last few of his kind, and all the worlds seem to hate the Lunati for what they can do). He struggles with Skipshock (the sickness from travelling between worlds too much) and is trying to earn money to buy his way out of the Salesman life. Until he meets Margo; and everything in his world starts to crumble — literally (the trains). He and Margo strike up a partnership, then friendship, and then progressing to romance.

I do think their romance was sweet, but it would’ve been nice to have a few more deeper conversations for them to connect more on that emotional level. Although they don’t say it to each other, they are in love with each other, which I thought was quite fast. But then, the world’s have different concepts of time and duration of days, so I guess it works!

The side characters were wonderful too, and I felt bad for a few of them, especially with the way they go out. Saffy has got to be my favourite side character, and if you read this book, you’ll understand why.

I did find it hard to get into the book at the start, possibly because I was in a reading slump, but also because it didn’t intrigue me at first, but after the initial 30% I was flying through! It got so interesting and I was fully into the storyline. The writing was also very well done

I’m almost mad I got this so early… because what do you mean not only do I have to wait 4 months for the official release, but EVEN LONGER for book two???

All this to say, I’m excited for book two, whenever it is due to release. I am intrigued and I have questions I need answers to!

Also, just LOOK at that cover art. It’s so cool.

My most recent read from NetGalley!
🌙
Skipshock is a novel that truly is bringing something new to the fantasy world. I’ve never read a plot quite like it. There is twists and turns, romance, time travel in a new way, and an ending that keeps you guessing. I rate this book 4 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for something original in the world of sci fi!
⭐️
#skipshock

I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this.

I was among the fans of Caroline's tarot/witch trilogy. It was good. Unique.

This was too. Until I was 50% into the book... and noticed that by this time I was supposed to be on board with the male and female in a relationship. I didn't feel it, and their interactions weren't much of anything to go by. She was mostly just reacting to things he was telling her and their heart-to-heart moments (her discussing her father''s watch, her anxiety) were few and far between.

I liked the idea of different areas being different time zones, and I was totally on board with that. Yet, I felt the villain wasn't really established and there was too much 'keeping a reader' in the dark going on for me to slog through the other half of the book.

I feel bad since I loved the author's other fantasy trilogy, but this one I don't think I'll continue the train ride on.

This had a very confusing start and I almost dnfed. I'm glad I continued it was a fun adventure. I didn't like it as much as the author's last series but it has potential and I'm interested in book two and the mystery

This was an outstanding novel - full of adventure, well thought out worlds and magic systems, with an exciting will-they-or-won’t-they romance to tie it all together. Ended with an excellent cliffhanger that’s left me desperate to know what happens next! Perfect for teens and adults.

I enjoy Caroline O’Donoghue’s writing style and the plot flowed nicely along with the dual POV which I thought worked well. I liked the characters and thought the world was pretty cool. This book is more YA which is not a problem but I just think my preferred reading now is not ya and i just found myself not fully loving it but that is down to me choosing a book out of my preferred genre. I will probably still read the second book as I am invested now. I do recommend this book is you like ya and fantasy!

I managed two chapters. But the copy has many, many typos; many times already, half of a word is missing and I have to guess at what it is. This is mostly easy but makes for a tedious, excruciating reading experience, and for 400 pages... I can't. I refuse.

Based on what I was able to get through, though, I will be more than happy to read a finished copy.

I loved this so much! Having read Caroline O’Donoghue’s witchy YA fantasy (swoon) and her literary fiction (just more swoon), I was starting from a biased point of view that I would most likely like this. And reader, I did. This is a meticulous story. What an intriguing world! The world building was seamless from the first few chapters and the plot and romance flowed so well. I somehow managed to miss the copy saying this was a part of a duology going in, so now I get too look forward to that! Wow, I genuinely can’t wait to read the physical book once it comes out, and finally see the map properly!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. Unfortunately I had to DNF this book part way through, I really really tried to push through and finish as I really like the characters and I loved the premise, the world building was good, but at times it felt rushed to build the world, and that left things feeling half explained and it was difficult to engage with the book due to this, what was also difficult was the fact that I had words missing, and I would repeatedly have to go back over what I’d just read to figure out what the half words were, and I just really struggled to invest myself in the story because of this. I definitely felt like the story was moving along at a fast pace, possibly too fast as well and overall it just didn’t lead to me enjoying this and trying to force myself to read on.

<b>3 stars</b>

that <i>ending</i> killed me... wow. o'donoghue always delivers.

<b>spoilers may follow, so be careful</b>

i REALLY liked the world building aspect of this. getting to see all the different universes, their cultures, the description of the people. the plot was also fast-paced and intriguing, and the romance? slow-burn chef's kiss. mwah.

moon and margo were adorable and i was rooting for them from page 1. but that ending? you're joking. (it's painful)

as a whole, i definitely would recommend this book. it takes place across different worlds, against the background of a growing revolution, and has a love story that feels like electricity through your veins 💗

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance digital copy of this book in exchange of a honest review.
4.75 ⭐️
I was fascinated by the worldbuilding when I started reading this, knowing absolutely nothing about this book except that it involved time travel and some romance between some people, and obviously in love with the stunning art on the cover by Jamie Hammond.
Yet here I am, seconds after having finished it, feeling eager to praise the book itself, with its parade of memorable characters, the intertwined worlds and cultures that enrich it, and the writer, who so carefully detailed its stable and reliable pace, who so masterfully crafted suspence when and where it needed to be, and who gave a breath of very much needed fresh air to the romantasy genre with a couple that I found myself rooting for even though I’m a kinda cynical adult who cringes most times when feelings are mentioned.
This book is not out yet and I’m alreadycraving for the sequel, especially after that cliffhanger at the end.
P.s. Lev, I love you

DNF @ 50%
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Now, this is one of those books that the saying “it’s not you, it’s me” rings true. There really wasn’t anything wrong with this book. The plot was unique and made me feel as if I was going through a fever dream at times (truly, kudos to the author because this book was one of those books that had you raising your brows in confusion, but in a good way). The characters were sympathetic (though I would’ve liked to know more about all of them). The writing was simple, but well structured according to the author’s style. In the end, I just didn’t connect with this book, which in turn made the reading experience feel like a drag.
I think one of my main snags is that the characters are teenagers and I just don’t like reading about teenagers much anymore and their lack of background, which made them feel a little hollow at times. Perhaps one day I’ll come back and finish this book when it is released to give it another chance.
Though, just because I didn’t fully love it, doesn’t mean that you won’t. Give it a read and judge for yourself. Once again, thank you NetGalley for this ARC!!!

Wow! What a wild ride we go on through multiple worlds. I really enjoyed the relationship between Margo and Moon. As she moves between worlds, her attachment to Moon intensifies! This is a beautifully written story! One I will never forget about.

Thank you NetGalley, Caroline and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink for the E-ARC!


Publication Date: June 3rd 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

#NetGalley #shipshock

Skipshock was an original and entertaining fantasy tale focused mostly on action and adventure but with some romance along the way. I loved the premise of the book, with the train lines connecting worlds, but only verified salesmen being allowed to ride them. Both Moon and Margo were interesting characters who developed and grew as the story progressed. Their relationship was believable throughout, and I liked that the romance elements were not rushed into. The plot offered twists and turns along the way that kept things interesting, and while the calculations of age and the passage of time got a bit complex as the characters moved between the different worlds, the world building was mostly nicely handled. This first volume left me keen to read on to see how things will conclude in book two, so I am giving this one 4.5 stars. Recommended for fantasy fans looking for a fresh premise who don't mind a fantasy-sci-fi blend.

Margo is on the train to boarding school in Dublin, until suddenly she isn’t. And so begins the time bending adventure that has captured my heart and mind over the last few days.

Written in alternating points of view between Margo (third person perspective) and the mysterious Moon (first person perspective), the world building is lush and expansive as the reality of existence as Margo knows it is slowly shattered and a new way of life is illuminated.

Travel, romance, mystery and war this ambitious novel had me hooked from the prologue! Part one of a planned duology, I eagerly await part two!

With thanks to Walker Books for an early ARC, be sure to mark your calendar for June, I cannot wait to get my hands on a print copy of this one!

Thank you to NetGallery and the publishers for allowing me to read the eARC of Skipshock.

I regret to inform that this was a DNF for me. I DNFed at 55% or a little over 200 pages. I don’t see myself finishing this book at this time due to a few life factors and I don’t believe reading the rest of this book will change my opinion from this point forward. I had a fairy difficult time getting into the book and then sticking with it until deciding to officially put it down. First to state that I actually loved the premise and the fantasy sci fi type of theme to it. It was catching and that part kept me hanging on. My biggest problem was that I did not connect with the characters in the story. I did not feel like I had enough information to care about them and the math involved for trying to figure out the actual age of Moon in comparison to Margo was a lot for my little brain. I do associate the ages compared to my own as being 21 is very different from a 16 year old. And not to mention the confusion on the age gap between Margo and Moon and even with them maybe being the same age mathematically, that age difference with life experience wasn’t working for me. Flat out if she’s 16 and he’s 19 that’s not legal in the real world and I couldn’t get past it unfortunately. I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between them either and it might have just been me being me and getting in my head. But I do enjoy the writing of this author and I hope others enjoy the book even if I didn’t. Thank you again NetGallery and the publishers!

Thank you to Caroline O’Donoghue, Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink | Walker Books US, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! The world-building and magic system was so immersive and inventive. The characterisation also worked very well and all the characters seemed believable but also identifiable and unique. i saw quite a few of the plot twists coming but they were still enjoyable and made sense for the plot. The dual POV between first person and third person annoyed me a little but flowed well overall.

really enjoyed this! immediately brilliant central concept where a girl, margo, falls out of our world and into a web of others - poorer, northern worlds with less hours in a day, and richer southern worlds with more. she travels through them with a salesman, moon, and very quickly gets embroiled in world-saving schemes

it's so much fun to read something with a hooky and interesting world and far-reaching internal logic that impacts story and character far beyond an initial 'imagine if...'. a thriller, romance and a fantasy with good twists and turns and kinda mission impossible style action setpieces. cool!

*netgalley arc received for review, out in june 25!*

OMFG!!!
This is an absolute masterpiece! From the very start I was completely engrossed in this imaginative, deeply compelling world. The level of detail and originality in this story is unmatched—it’s terrifying yet mesmerizing, filled with elements that feel fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. The trains, the traveling between worlds, the boardinghouses, the markets... every little aspect of this world (these worlds...) adds to the tension and intrigue, making it impossible to put down. It's also thought provoking in a way that makes you reflect on time and what little -or a lot- we have of it.

The character development is also amazing. These characters... they feel so real, so vivid, that you can’t help but grow attached to them. Their emotions, flaws, and personal journeys are written with such depth that it feels like you’re right there with them, living through every moment. I became so invested that they started to feel like my own friends.

And then there’s the romance… slow-burning, tender, and so beautifully done. The relationship between the main characters developed at the perfect pace, making it all the more satisfying. I loved watching them grow as individuals while also finding their way to each other. It was sweet, heartfelt, and incredibly rewarding.

And that ending. That. Ending!! I both loved and hated it, and I honestly don’t know how I’ll survive the wait for the sequel. I NEED it immediately!!

If you’re looking for a book that’s fresh, thrilling, so freaking unique, and brilliantly written, Skipshock is an absolute must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!

“And there we are. A salesman, a smuggler, and a schoolgirl, standing at the edge of history, our backs to the sea.”

I devoured this YA fantasy book in a couple of days! I’m already a big fan of the fantasy genre especially more science fiction leaning fantasy but this was something unique. A story of inter-dimensional salesmen, time slipping trains, 6 hour days, moving cities, and skipshock!

Every character, even the side characters, are so distinct, but even when you know their motivations it’s hard to predict exactly what they’ll do which makes them feel human despite the fact that this is a fantasy world. Moon and Margo’s story (because this is a romance) is a beautiful slow burn as they learn more about each other’s pasts.

Mark your calendars for June! Read this as soon as you can! It’s the first in a planned duology that I’m sure will become one of my favorites.