What a lovely, cosy book. This story was so warm and comforting with plenty of twists along the way. I’ve been a fan of Louise Pentland since her early YouTube days and it was so nice to see the little Easter eggs throughout the book (nods to Darcy, Pearl, Liam and Wilde Like Me). The story was lovely and emotional, the relationship between Tabitha and her mother was very special and heart warming. Some parts of the story were predictable in a relaxing way and this book is definitely one you can sink into. I enjoyed the references and juxtaposition of 2022 and 1989, a very interesting concept and the time travel element was well written. I particularly liked how the epilogue brought the story full circle. Overall, a very enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this. Tabby’s story was very well written and the author covered a lot of topics very well. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.

I have read a lot of Louise Pentland's books, and I really enjoyed her Wilde series.

However, I really didn't like this book at all. I found the pacing to be very slow, and it just didn't feel as cosy as her previous books. The central character wasn't loveable, I just thought she was a bit thick. It took her so long to realise anything, and this added the pages and slowed the plot down. This book could easily be 100 pages shorter!

I also didn't like some of the flippant comments surrounding Tabitha's father and his new relationship (that's all I want to say as I don't want to spoil anything) I found some of the language around this to be derogatory and I struggled with it at times.

Too slow, unlikeable characters, and just a boring plot. Not for me.

Time After Time is a cross between Back to the Future, Thirteen Going on Thirty and About Time. The magical ring being able to control time gave me The Queen's Nose vibes (anyone else remember that classic from 90s after school TV?!) and was a fun twist to the usual format of a cosy women's fiction novel.

I guessed Tabitha's connection to the past and Bea quite quickly and it was a little frustrating that she didn't join the dots sooner herself. Maybe sticking with the "small girl comfort zone" of the character, but it would have been fun to read about Tabitha going further afield in 1989 than the bakery and wine bar. This left things feeling a bit flat and a wasted opportunity.

To be picky, if the writer has to use "ha ha" to indicate that something their character said is funny/not intended to be serious then it probably isn't. I found that happened quite often through the book. It might be because the author has a background in blogging where that kind of informality might work better but it just felt clumsy in a novel.

However, there is a charm about Tabitha and I quickly warmed to her character. Her love of all things vintage was really cute and I love that the @tabbyrosetreasure Instagram account is real so we can see Tabitha at work in the shop or doing some upcycling!

The plot is somewhat predictable but if you need a book to lose yourself in for a couple of hours when you're on a sun lounger this summer it will do the job!

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

Ooh I loved this one! Such a fun storyline, and then add on some amazing characters, a little bit of time travel and you’ve got this amazing book!

Tabitha lives in a small town with her long term partner David, and she sees her parents for their usual Sunday dinners, she’s well and truly in her comfort zone. Well, until one Sunday and her dad makes a huge shocking announcement, and from that day on, things start to change. Things like how she’s met this wonderful new friend Bea, who happens to live in the 80’s…

I loved so much about this one! For someone who wasn’t born till the 90’s I still loved the whole 80’s side of it! Tabby was such a brilliant main character but I also loved the side characters too! Vivi and Bea were lush, as were Tabby’s parents!

Plus, we just a general fan of Louise (not even going to deny it), I loved the little hints and nods to her family, I mean the name of the shop (which being vintage themed was already a nod to her own life) was just the perfect name in honour of her daughters, and of course, Liam had a little sneaky mention too, love it! I like to think if I ever get around to writing a book I’d do that too!

This one has time travel, amazing family dynamics, it’s a heartwarming, feel good read that I didn’t want to put down. Basically, this book was brilliant, so much so that even though I was lucky enough to be gifted an eARC from NetGalley I’m off out today to celebrate Louise’s publication day by going to buy the hardback because it needs to be on my shelves too, not just on kindle 💕

@currentlyreading__
Book 51 of 2022

Thanks go to @NetGalley, @bonnierbooks_uk and the author @louisepentland for the e-copy of 'Time After Time' in exchange for my honest opinion.

Having never read any other books by Louise, I went into this book only having read the synopsis and feeling it would be a perfect summer holiday read. The writing was light and it certainly was an easy-read. It definitely had a quirky plot featuring time-travel which some would find far-fetched but I think it added to just how charming this book is. Suspension of disbelief is crucial when reading, and immersing yourself in other worlds is certainly what we read for in my opinion so I liked that element even though it isn't my usual style.

Our main character is Tabby. She is lost and drifting through life with an unpleasant partner, a job where she doesn't really have autonomy and her father has just dropped a bombshell on the family during their weekly Sunday lunch. When a mystery donor drops off some items for Tabby's shop, a ring glistens and certainly catches Tabby's attention. Not able to stop herself, Tabby places the ring on her finger and all manner of strange things happen, from losing service on her phone, seeing people dressed in 'vintage' (1980s!) clothing etc... The use of the exclamative is obviously ironic to anyone who has lived through the 80s as I have!

There are some lovely parts to this book, the relationship between Tabby and the people she meets on her travels and certainly the epilogue was beautifully written. It is a perfect beach-read, light magic-realism to leave a smile on your face.


#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #instareads #currentlyreading #bookchat #bookish #books #louisepentland #timeaftertime

Louise pentland does it again with another gorgeously feel good, utterly uplifting, laugh out loud romance, and I'm here for all of it. It has amazing characters, a wonderful feel good storyline and completely and magically whisks you away to another time and place. Loved it.

cw: homophobia, coercive behaviour, gaslighting

When Tabby tries on a ring in the vintage shop where she works, it transports her to another time.

I was immediately drawn to this title on NetGalley. I loved the premise, and, being a child in the 80s, was looking forward to lots of nostalgia. When the time travel nostalgia comes, it's fun. But if you're expecting anything approaching the level of detail and experiences of a single episode of things like 'Lost in Austen' or 'Life On Mars', you'll be disappointed. What we actually get is pretty one-dimensional. I guessed the connection to the past immediately, and then spent the rest of the book waiting for Tabby to catch up, while confused why, given so much opportunity for adventure, she doesn't really stray much past the high street. There's also a big continuity error involving the shop which I hope has been addressed in the final edition.*

I'm not much of a fan of 'chatty' characters, and Tabby is definitely Chatty with a capital C. There's an awful lot of internal dialogue about each outfit she wears, her upcycling, and her Instagram account, none of which ever moves the plot on. I found myself skim reading a lot because of this and the excessive exclamation marks and parentheses. I would have preferred more time instead to be focused on the time travelling, or the subplots. That said, the IG account is real, so check that out for some immersive fun.

The subplot with her parents was probably the best part of the story for me. It was particularly moving and was handled sensitively. I found a lot of the other supporting characters very one-dimensional, in particular the boyfriend. I did appreciate Tabby finally breaking free from her 'safe' life, and the ending was satisfying. Overall, it was an okay read, with some sweet moments but left me wishing for so much more.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating:
Emotional Rating: 🤔😢🥰😬😊

* At the start of the book (c.1.) Tabby tells us the shop was a grocery shop before opening as Pearls and Doodles WHEN SHE WAS A TEENAGER. Yet when she arranges for Bea to visit the shop in 1989, before they go to the winebar, Bea doesn't say anything about it being a grocery shop, despite Tabby talking about the shop.

Tabitha works in a vintage shop and one day some stock comes in that changes her world, quite literally.


The characters are likeable and real. Tabitha is easy to relate to, her family/relationship issues are not far fetched and are very well written.

If you like Louise Pentland on socials, you'll enjoy this book; it's written in her style - detailed but easy to read and humourous. It's comfortably predictable with some great twists- and the far fetched story line seems somehow not, which is testament to the writing!

Quirky, sweet story of love, family and a little bit of timey-wimey magic.

Tabby lives a quiet life, sunday lunch at her parents house, a little job in a vintage shop and a comfortable relationship with boyfriend David, who would probably like a baby at some point soon…

When her dad drops a bombshell during one of their Sunday lunches, things all tip a little off kilter for Tabby.

One day some new old stock arrives from a mystery vendor and when Tabby tries on a pretty ring that seems to be sparkling just for her, she notices something very odd…

This story is full of lovely characters, well written and rounded as well as funny and interesting.

No spoilers but there are some parts where I wish the author had explored the idea of time-travel a bit more. What would have happened if Tabby had taken the ring off in the travel agents? Where would she have ended up? There were a few really lovely bits that made me wish there had been more of them - like meeting a particular character in a wine bar to Amethyst looking for a vintage bag…

What I couldn’t work out is whether the reader was supposed to understand exactly the part that Tabby’s time travel was playing - spotting who certain people were and what secrets some characters held.

It did frustrate me a bit that Tabby wasn’t more curious and made connections sooner but that’s only because there was so much potential to introduce more little quirky nods to the time travel element.

On the whole though, these are very minor complaints - this is a very enjoyable, light-hearted book that deals with some big issues with a light touch.

I thoroughly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley for a preview copy.

Time After Time by Louise Pentland

This is the first book I have read by Louise Pentland and it definitely won't be my last! I absolutely loved this book. Tabitha is content with her life in her small town that she has never left until she discovers a ring at the store Pearls and Doodles where she works which transports her back to 1989 .
A wonderful sweet heart warming book that's perfect for a summer read, will leave you feeling very nostalgic.
Thank you to the publishers Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Tabitha is perfectly happy with her life in the small town she grew up in. She has her dream job running a vintage shop, parents who adore her and a boyfriend she’s sure she’ll marry someday; that is until her Dad drops a bombshell that kickstarts a series of events that will change Tabitha’s life forever.

This was such a cute book, I loved it! It was your usual feel good book but with the added time travel twist. I loved the nostalgic 80’s vibes and the vintage shop setting. I really recommend this one if you’re looking for a light hearted read that’ll make you laugh out loud and shed a few tears too.

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to this whimsical 80’s romp!

I’ve been a fan of this author’s online content for over a decade, so I couldn’t resist giving her books a try when she dipped her toe into fiction writing with the Wilde series a few years back & now with this quirkier, confident standalone.

The writing style is much lighter & fluffier than I would usually go for & it definitely treads the line between fun & cheesy, but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud & you can really see the growth & development in Louise as an author. I was getting major Sophie Kinsella vibes in places, which always tickles my pickle.

The protagonist feels quite young, more teenage than 20’s, which took me out of the story at times, but I still found myself rooting for her & I really enjoyed the themes incorporated - in particular, sexuality/coming out, toxic relationships & familial bonds.

I think if you’re looking for a gentle, summery read with a wry, British voice & a sprinkle (see what I did there?) of magical realism - this could be your bag!

Tabby is stuck in a rut and when her dad drops a bombshell it is a wake up call. Wishing she could go back and start again she somehow manages to travel back in time. I loved the characters, the humour and Louise's personal spin on things. Predictable but so enjoyable.

Time After Time is a very light-hearted, easy summer read.

Unfortunately, for me it took a long time to get going and didn't live up to the blurb. There is very little actual exploration of 1989, or character development through the time travel element. The whole notion of time travel is not well done, and that was the part that made me pick up the book. I also found it hard to warm to any of the characters. The main character, Tabitha, I think is meant to be the relatable, slightly ditsy, modern woman, but her internal monologue is often frustrating and she's so slow to pick up on things that the reveals of the book end up being really drawn out.

This book was not for me. I don't recommend it for anyone looking for actual fantasy/sci-fi elements, or historical fiction elements. I do, however, recommend it for fans of easy reading, light contemporary fiction. There are plenty of positive reviews from readers who did find things to love in this story, so I think fans of the author's previous books will enjoy it.

I have followed Louise Pentland on social media for years and I have never actually read any of her novels until now. Time after time is such a special and unique read. This book explores break ups, sexuality and a tiny bit of time travel thrown in.

It was magical watching Tabby and her mum grow as people. They have both been thrown in horrible situations and they have got through it stronger and also happier. It made my heart so full reading the epilogue and seeing how Tabby is so happy. The literal last page though took my breath away when it suddenly hit me who this girl was ! The book title also was so clever, a hint of the decade which Tabby visited !

I really enjoyed this and I thought the family issues were really well written. A lovely book that I would recommend.

After reading this book u will be ready to rule the world. Fun times, reminiscing of times had before.

🌟🌟🌟.5

”You can have the best boyfriend, the most amazing friends and all the material possessions in the world, but sometimes all you need is your mum.”

Honestly, I thought when the blurb said that Tabby is transported back to the 1980s, I really thought it meant it spirit and not in actuality. 😂 So it was a bit of a surprise when things took a magical twist. Thankfully, I am the exact kind of reader who loves a magical twist so I was happily swept away to a more nostalgic time.

I also thought that this book would hold more romance. But, it is still a love story of sorts, just between a mum and a daughter who share a bond so heartwarming that it bought sentimental tears to my cynical eyes.

Basically, whatever preconceived notions you have of this story, scribble them out, scrap the page, and dive into the book headfirst. This is a lovely, fluffy piece full of pretty descriptions of clothes, a main character who’s career is a vintage lovers dream, and a whole lotta character development.

TW: homophobia, emotional domestic abuse

🧚🏻‍♀️

If you enjoyed Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella, you’ll love this book. Tabitha is happy with her life, with her best friend from school bossing her around, her boyfriend who doesn’t pull his weight in their relationship and her seemingly happy parents. Until her dad drops a bombshell and she discovers a ring in the shop she manages, that takes her back in time whenever she tries it on. Through living a bit of life in the late 80s and becoming good friends with Bea from that era, Tabitha comes to face up to what is going on in her own life and starts to take control.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a great holiday read and made me smile, as well as realise how far we have come from the 80s, where we accepted sexism as a given. Highly recommended.