A wonderful feel good story that leaves you thinking about what you would do if you could turn back time and talk to those you've lost.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC without obligation.

A streak of magical realism runs through this novel. This was chosen by the Book Club and received a fair 3.5 / 5 rating. The ending was intriguing but not necessarily as successful as it could have been.

I’m afraid I had to suspend belief way too much for this book - it was not for me! No reviews left on any platform - I don’t think I’m the reader for this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read though.

Something really different for me. To grieve a mum once is hard enough but then to get to meet her through time travel.

Beautifully written with a lot of thought going into the book. Being given a second chance to get to know your mum as an adult when she died when you were a child.

Really enjoyable thought provoking read

I loved this book but I was disappointed with the ending.
The writing of this book is fantastic. It made me feel all the emotions.

Space Hopper was a bit of a slow burner for me, as it took me a while to get into the story. But once it caught me, I was totally invested in it. I enjoyed exploring Faye's life, both in the present and in the past, especially how certain events in the past had shaped her life so immensely.

I found the whole concept a very original one, with a very clever ending too. Definitely a very interesting read for people who enjoy family stories with a bit of time travel and magical realism.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, it was not a good fit for me. I read the first 20% but found that I was unable to engage at all with the characters or the story and so for me this is a DNF. I am sure there are others for who this is a better fit.

A great read. A fabulous page turner. Uplifting. A must for any book lover. Thank you to both the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me this book

Space Hopper, by Helen Fisher, is an absolute delight. From its vivid 1970s backdrop to its imaginative time travel adventure, it takes readers on an unexpected and exciting journey.

Faye is a beloved character with an incredible heart, a vibrant determination and a vulnerability that we can all relate to. Fisher’s talent for story-telling will capture your attention from page one.

The emotional exploration of life, loss and relationships that this book presents is heartfelt and unique. Space Hopper will make you laugh, cry and leave you pondering what would have been if time travel was possible. This is an absolute must read for anyone who has ever felt the need to revisit their past. Highly recommended debut.

Space Hopper was an interesting read. Faye is a 30-something mum, who lost her own mother young. Struck by nostalgia and deeply buried and unresolved grief on afternoon, she accidentally travels back in time. Fisher explores an accessible approach to time-travel theory with a deep and reflective narrative. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys stories with a deep reflection and wants a taste of science fiction, not necessarily for sci-fi fans.

I struggled with the concept of this one, and that’s on me more than the writing or story itself.
Wanting to know more about her mother and childhood, the discovery of a time portal to the 70s gives Faye the chance to do this.
A interesting look at how mothers, and families provide nuture and guidance, where faith is shaped by the way we are raised.
Took me a while to get through but I’m glad I persevered and finished.

I loved it! So full of nostalgia for those that grew up in the 70s. It was an interesting read, I loved following Faye’s journey to uncover the what ifs. It’s all about appreciating what you’ve got because you never know when it will be gone.

A brilliant debut novel that I was keen to read as I'd heard good things about it. Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time and definitely one I'll be recommending to friends and family. A surreal story that will stay with me for a long time. Looking forward to reading more by the author.

Our loved ones never leave us? Is that true?
The whole book is not what I expected but in an intriguing way! Faye lost her mum when she was a child but was taken in by a lovely couple. She now has her own family but in a twist of events she is transported back to her childhood in the 1970s. Faced with her mother and a chance to find out answers, how much harm could the truth cause?
The writing is heartfelt and captivating. A poignant story that was quite emotional at times.
But, too much suspension of belief meant I couldn’t just go with it. I felt letdown by the ending as I had so many different scenarios in my head. I can see why the book has been rated so highly.

I read this a long time ago and forgot to send my review, so here it is.

Time travel is what drew me in, and it was magical. I loved it, it's an excellent read.

When she is just eight years old, Faye loses her mother. Taken in by kind neighbours, she forges a happy life, albeit one that has a sadness at its heart.

She has a good job, a lovely, supportive husband, two daughters, lots of friends, but nothing quite fills that hole.

When she finds an old space hopper box in the loft, it paves the way for her to return to her past, and to be with her mum, but as is usually the case with time travel, interfering with the past isn’t always a wise thing to do, and the consequences can be much more far reaching than you expect.

I did enjoy this. For a debut novel it’s very well-written, confident, well-paced, and absorbing in places, and the details of Faye’s past were so well done, really authentic.

That said, there were a few places where things dragged a little, and some of the time travel aspects didn’t really work for me. And I’m not sure I completely believed in the ending.

But certainly a good read, and I’d definitely read more by this author.

This was a really unique and magical story, that had me fully invested from start to finish. Time travel can be a hard premise to conquer and Helen Fisher did a fantastic job at it.

REVIEWED BY LINDA HILL

Space Hopper was absolutely not what I was expecting. I had anticipated a light rom-com style read, but instead found an intriguing and surprisingly contemplative and philosophical narrative that made me think even as it entertained me.

It’s tricky to categorise Space Hopper as it has elements of fantasy and the magical, as well as time travel and the psychological so that it appeals to a wide range of readers. There’s a surreal quality to the plot and certainly the reader has to suspend disbelief for it to work – but work it does. What Helen Fisher manages so well is to examine the “what ifs” of life, causing the reader to reflect on elements of their own past that they wish they could go back and alter or relive. Space Hopper is one of those books that has impact long after you’ve finished reading it.

Emotional and compelling
Although there are some intricate twists and turns, the plot is not particularly fast paced, but that it the whole point of Space Hopper. Through Faye’s storytelling it’s a poignant look at the day to day existence of us all, of our loves and our losses and how we weave our memories into the fabric of who we become. I found it both emotional and convincing. That said, there are some very dramatic aspects too!

The immediacy of Faye’s first person voice captivates the reader and draws them into the story from the very first page. The direct appeals and comments Faye makes to the reader makes them feel as if they are equally as much part of the story as Faye and the other characters. I confess I didn’t much like Faye, but my goodness she held me captivated. She is so brilliantly named, with Faye having echoes of faith and deriving from the fairy or faie world, that I found her totally fascinating and cared about her. Her reflections on faith, belief, family connection, fate, belonging, trust and betrayal make her three dimensional and compelling. Indeed, the intimate portrait of the relationship between Faye and her mother or, perhaps, Faye’s perception of her mother, causes the reader to reflect on their own parental relationships with real impact. Similarly, there’s a moving portrait of a marriage as Faye and Eddie’s lives are revealed.

Space Hopper is certainly entertaining, but more, it’s intriguing, unusual and mystical, contemplating who we really are. I keep thinking about it.

This book started off a bit slow for me, but once I got into it, became really invested in it.

I enjoyed the fact that the story is told from the first person perspective… it really made me feel like part of the story.

I loved how the colours and sights and smells of the seventies were described. The relationships that were formed seemed pure and real and it was endearing.

This was an enjoyable read with a lovely ending.