First time reading this author, loved this book from the start, however part way through the storyline takes a twist, and at first I wasn't sure about the way the storyline had changed however as I'd enjoyed the book so far I kept on reading and was pleasantly surprised that I was as gripped as before, not wanting to put it down.
The story is based on Eve initially who runs an antique shop in the lovely Clockmakers Court. EVE is puzzled when a huge house clearance opportunity comes her way, by special request in the previous owners. Will. Eve discover secrets about her own family and the good friends around her?

An enjoyable read but not what I expected - I expected a standard romcom but found myself reading a time travel mystery with romantic elements.

A meeting between Eve and Adam is orchestrated fried beyond the grave by Adam’s grandfather who left his house to be cleared by Eve. A friendship develops and Adam finds himself buying the bookshop next to Eve’s antique shop in Clockmaker’s Court. As they get to know each other they find out their families are related and that there are secrets within their two shops.

Their explorations lead to the discovery of a portal and their new role - to be guardians of it.

A delightful mix of genres which held my interest.

One to be recommended.

I loved this book. The main characters Adam and Eve were wonderful as were the supporting characters of Clockmaker Court. I wasn’t sure where this was heading to start with but as always it was beautifully written and I couldn’t put it down

What starts out as an ordinary story takes a turn into the fantasy/sci-fi world where not everything is as you think and unbelievable things are possible.

A good read but had to suspend my beliefs a little!

This is a fantastic read, full of mystery, magic and romance. It was definitely quirky and enjoyable, with lots of twists and turns which I did not predict.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This was a gorgeous story with a hint of magic.

Eve, an antiques dealer is asked to help Adam with a house clearance following the death of his relative. Their meeting unleashes a chain of events which change their worlds.

Lovely little rom com with a little extra, I love Ali McNamara's books and this one was no exception.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly, although I recognise this well written story, I just dont care for anything verging on the fantasy/paranormal. It's a busy book with a lot to take in. I wish I could have enjoyed it, as I do like Ali's writing. Thank you for the opportunity to read the book.

Eve is intrigued to be asked to clear a house of antiques, it's a much larger job than she usually accepts as her Antique shop is quite small. The customer's grandfather specifically asked for her to do the job. When she arrives at the house, she is drawn to the contents and to Adam, so takes the job. As time progresses they both realise there is more to his grandfathers request than first imagined which turns into a hunt for clues to what happened in the past. Enjoyable story which isn't quite the simple rom com I expected.

This novel is charming, quirky, and full of heart, with antiques, secrets, and a dash of fate—like a romcom with a time-travel twist and a cup of tea.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this book.
Set in Cambridge at Clockmakers court . Adam and Eves story with a magical cast of supporting characters.
The initial story evolves into something completely different. A time travelling fantasy book !
Many plot twists, beautifully crafted, completely quirky but I loved it and would highly recommend
Thank you to Netgalley, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC and Ali McNamara for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Really good book which I will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book

Eve runs an antique shop in Cambridge. She loves to share stories behind every item with their new owners. Adam is in town to sort out his grandfathers affairs and has chosen Eve to manage his house clearance. Why did his grandfather want Eve to manage his house clearance, was there an ulterior motif?

Great read.

I Love Ali McNamara books so had high hopes for this one.
This time we were transported to a wonderful corner of Cambridge were community, friendship and family ties shone through. The characters were are all instantly lovable and relatable and each had sensitive subjects that seemed to bring them together. These topics were touched on in a very sensitive manor and included grief, survivors’ guilt, and disability.

This book was wonderfully written and about half way through, when I had no idea where it was heading, a surprising twist was thrown in and kept me wanting to read more. Although it was very enjoyable and I struggled to put it down, towards the final few chapters I did feel like it felt the story was running out of steam and I was a little disappointed with how it ended. I won’t go into detail as I do try not to give spoilers and ruin it for anyone else.
Would I still recommend this book - yes definitely, its a wonderful heart-warming book

Thank you for allowing me to read and review.

Having read all of Ali McNamara, I have been looking forward to another of her books and this story didn't disappoint.

Who knew a simply house clearance could bring some many different adventures.

This book was a beautiful written book combining the so many emotions along the way.

Thank you again for allowing me to read

This was a fabulous book. I loved the story. The characters all likeable and well rounded. A great atmosphere throughout with a quaint setting. I loved the way it unfolded and was not what I was expecting at all. Looking forward to reading more by Ali McNamara.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this story, it was not the usual romcom that I was expecting. Lots of twist and turns meant I just couldn’t put it down, it was a definite page turner for me. No spoilers here, grab yourself a comfy seat and enjoy!

Let me start by saying I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet, funny, witty, magical, mysterious and clever. The characters were all lovely and I was intrigued by the premise.

However… I feel like there were two or three stories that could have been explored here. The first part of the book, where antique shop owner Eve goes to a house clearance at Past Times House, and meets Adam, who inherited the house from his grandfather, felt like it was going to be the main story - indeed Past Times House sounds amazing - but once Eve’s helped Adam clear the house and put everything she’s to sell in storage or on display in her shop, it’s quickly sold and rarely mentioned again.

The next part of the story is the curious case of the discovered photographs, the missing great-grandmother and the fact that Adam and Eve’s relatives knew each other and the Clockmaker’s Court shops (and shopkeepers). There are some cute little puzzles here, a clock without workings, a strange painting filled with symbolism and a series of clues found in books with the numbers 1-12 in the titles…

And then the Ali McNamara magic, *spoilers*



A story of time travelling family and friends.

The problem I had with this book, was that it was either too short or had too many great ideas for one book.

It felt like there were too many elements where the surface was barely scratched. Too much was left unexplained - or explained with only the lightest of touches. Ideas not fully explored. And for a book about time travel, we travel in time ourselves at the end, feeling a little like Ali ran out of steam in explaining where the story might have been in the 20 years or so that had passed.

It is an enjoyable tale and it’s full of charming characters but I wanted so much more story than there actually was.

This was a charming and whimsical read, set in the most delightful little corner of Cambridge. I really liked the premise: an antiques lover and a city guy thrown together by a mysterious inheritance - and I enjoyed the heartwarming sense of community that formed around the main characters. There’s definitely a lovely message here about fate, timing, and how the past and present can unexpectedly intertwine.

That said, the paranormal twist just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I went into this expecting a more straightforward romance, and while the magical elements were original and well done, they didn’t fully land for me. I also found the writing style a bit on the heavier side, very descriptive and sometimes more verbose than I personally prefer, but I know this will be a huge plus for other readers who love rich, detailed storytelling.

All in all, a sweet and imaginative story with a big heart, perfect for readers who enjoy a touch of the mystical in their fiction.

the story of Adam and Eve, who meet on 29th February one year, and start to uncover mysteries that involve them both. A fun read.

Really enjoyed this book. Full of romance with a twist. Defiantly worth a read. Highly recommend as it was a good time