Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This is an usual time travel story as an old mobile phone allows conversations with people in the past, rather than whole body travel. Bob is given the opportunity for improvement through the knowledge he gains and actions he can take.
There were things about this book I didn't like: the unlikeable characters (Bob is truly awful), the use of bad language, the horrible specifics of the fight scene and the never-ending American spellings, even using 'faucet' instead of 'tap' although the book is set in London. There was even mention of the Millennium Wheel which has been called the London Eye for many years. The story twists are clever and well thought-out, so I've given an average rating but I didn't really enjoy it and wouldn't read anything else by this author.

It was a little bit of a struggle to get through to begin with but the second half of the book was much better than the beginning.

Struggled to get into it at first but improved as the book went on .

Thanks for the opportunity to review .

I found this slightly underwhelming if I'm honest. I really like Steve Jones and was hopeful about this, but it didn't blow me away. I finished it and there were moments that I enjoyed, but not the best book ever.

Steve Jones is an absolute dreamboat AND an incredibly talented writer to boot! I absolutely adored this book and definitely look forward to reading more by him. The writing is smart, witty and keenly observed. Highly recommend.

"Call Time" by Steve Jones offers a candid and insightful look into the world of filmmaking through the eyes of seasoned professionals. Jones, drawing from his extensive experience as a film director, provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the challenges, triumphs, and dynamics that shape the industry.

The book is a treasure trove of anecdotes and practical advice, covering everything from casting decisions to on-set mishaps with wit and wisdom. Jones' narrative is engaging and informative, making it a valuable resource for aspiring filmmakers and enthusiasts alike.

Overall, "Call Time" is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the magic of cinema, offering a blend of personal stories and industry insights that entertain and educate in equal measure.

I just could not get into this book no matter how much I tried.

Thank you netgalley for giving me opportunity to read

Loved this read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Took me a while to get into, but way better after the phone call is made.
Slightly alternative, if not a bit weird, but worth a read!

I really enjoyed this book. At first it was hard to see where the storyline was progressing to, and even towards the end you wondered where it would be going. Moral dilemmas, characters to love and those to hate (and then love) this book has everything and was engrossing.

Although I’m usually a bit averse to books that have a ‘magical’ element to them, despite being set in the everyday, that wasn’t the case here. I really enjoyed this one - particularly the ending.

This was a solid story with good writing. I don't think I have ever read a book quiet like this before. There is some touching scenes in this book. Pick this up if looking for a nice easy read.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book or even if Steve Jones is a good writer, I can confirm, dear reader, that he is!

This is a time bending story, with a sliding doors moment, that if you could change one thing, everything in your future would be better and different.

Bob is one of those high powered men that thinks he is gods gift, we’ve all met a Bob, they are generally d*?£s. I didn’t much like him and wasn’t especially rooting for him, until he finds the phone and calls back in time to 1986 to speak to his young self. He discovers through that call that he can change his future and if he can do that, he can bring back his brother Tom who died in an accident for which he blames himself.
This phone call sets in motion a rollercoaster of events that really got me into the book and I simply raced through the story. There are ups and downs, fear, love and redemption and it’s just a banging good story really!

A surprising, fun and entertaining read!

I really enjoyed this book. Imagine a life devoid of attachements, and with one phone call everything changes. A journey of discovery, what is important with a brilliant twist at the end. Would really recommend this a good summer read.

An interesting read but I really struggled to get into the story line. For some reason it just did not click for me which was a real disappointment, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

If you could make a phone call to someone, anyone in your past to make things turn out differently, do you think you would - and do you think it would make the difference that you think it will?
Perhaps, no matter what we do to change things - destiny will always persevere.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It was another book that took a while to get into and I kept putting it down but I picked it up again this afternoon and flew through it.

No spoilers here and I won't be repeating the blurb but I would very much recommend this.

This was a pleasant read, nothing exciting but I loved the idea of it more than I did reading it, if that makes sense? I will be reading future books of his as I think he will develop as a writer as he progresses.

Steve Jones presents an assured debut as a writer in Call Time. The protagonist Bob is introduced as a ruthless businessman who avoids emotional attachment. We learn the reason behind this tough exterior, as Bob has the chance to change the course of events from his childhood using a time travelling mobile phone. Time travel can be a tricky device for characters to ask ‘what if’ but Steve handles it well, and this is an enjoyable read.

Call Time was marketed as High Fidelity meets Sliding Doors, which I guess is fairly accurate. Bob is haunted by an event from his past and when a random phone connects him to the past he wonders if he can change the past.

While I think it was well written, the first third of the book dragged as it set the scene, and I struggled to connect with the story. Once I got past that point, I found it enjoyable and did not want to put it down. I'm not sure that the story is quite as 'Nick Hornby' as the author would have liked, but it was entertaining, with some funny moments and some seriously cringeworthy moments too.

As with most stories that change the past, it brought with it some dark moments in the present day and towards the end of the book the tension really built to a crescendo of darkness.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph Books for the proof of the book, for which I gave my honest review

Call Time is Steve Jones' debut novel, and I really hope it isn't a one off. What a clever, funny book this is!
Bob Bloomfield is a high flying exec, extremely successful at what he does, having largely closed himself off to the outside world and concentrated on work.

For the most part is extremely unlikeable. His character and barriers built on the trauma of losing his Brother at a young age.

He is, as his best friend's wife once described him, "a selfish, arrogant a**ehole".

But deep down, if he really took the time to examine his life, Bob is lonely. He has never really gotten over his Brother's death and the guilt and responsibility he feels for that day still remain.

When he agrees to go to fancy dress party with his best friend Scotty, he does so reluctantly and only on the agreement that they will get so drunk that they won't remember a thing the following day.

Bob's fancy dress costume isn't exactly his first choice, but it was late when they got to the shop, and it comes complete with the ultimate accessory - a brick of a 1980s mobile phone.

Later in the evening he realises it is a working device. For a laugh he dials his old home telephone number, not expecting anyone to answer. Particularly not the person that does.

By the time Bob realises he can use the device to call the past, he is so drunk (and high) that he thinks he's hallucinating.

But the following day when nothing is what it seems, he begins to wonder. If he can contact people in the past, maybe he can stop certain events happening?

What follows are a series of events, where we really see Bob develop as a character and become a lot more likeable as he begins to understand himself as others see him.

I can't say too much more as I don't want to give anything away. But I really loved this book, and I can't wait to read more from Mr. Jones.