I really enjoyed the first two thirds of this book and found it very intriguing. The plot was very intricate and the author must have worked very hard on it. The way the clues were revealed and their meanings was very impressive. I liked how the relationship between the two main characters developed and enjoyed Adam’s humour. I found it hard to put down at first but I found the last third of the book too far fetched which disappointed me. But that’s just my cynical opinion. If you like a mystery with some romance thrown in this book is ideal. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

A contemporary romance set in Cambridge with historical overtones. I enjoy Ali McNamara as an author and although this felt different to other books she’s written it was still wonderfully engaging.

I have read books by this author before and enjoyed them so was expecting good things from this. The first half of the book was enjoyable but when the twist was revealed the story went off in a direction I wasn’t expecting and I struggled! I found it hard to keep up with all the different background stories of characters and really had to concentrate to try to keep up. I really wanted to love this but sadly I just didn’t. It really wasn’t for me and I hate leaving a negative review but I’m all about honest feedback. I didn’t feel there was enough time spent on Adam and Eve and their connection so I found that even the romance aspect didn’t have the time it needed to blossom as the book was filled with so many other pieces of information so I didn’t feel they had that much chemistry really. I’m sure some people will adore this story but sadly it just wasn’t the book for me.

I really enjoyed this book. The cast of characters was great and the story was really intriguing. Highly recommended.

This is a nice read for those who are able to suspend the imagination and get onboard with a little magical realism. However, I didn't realise that's what I was getting. The cover and blurb don't really convey that's in store and I think that's a little misleading.

However, for the most part this was an easy and enjoyable read. Just be warned this isn't your average boy meets girl rom-com.

This I thought was a slightly different style of book from Ali McNamara but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
Set in beautiful Cambridge with 2 protagonists that provide the storyline. An easy read which kept me hooked from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Eve runs a small shop selling antiques, which she inherited from her grandmother. When she goes to a house to value a collection she meets Adam, and sparks start to fly. This is an intriguing, lighthearted romance involving this engaging couple.
The setting is historic Clockmakers Court in Cambridge, and the area described so beautifully that you feel you are there. The relationships and friendships within the community are supportive and eager to help each other. I enjoyed reading about the characters, with their welcoming, friendly approach.
The couple discover there are relations in their past who have known each other, and they set off on a complex mysterious journey into their past history. The setting goes back in time to the second world war, with the blitz and bombing of London.
This is a well planned articulated concept, but there were too many clues which needed to be solved in a series of complex puzzles to discover their connection. Which slowed the pace and took away from the romance.

Right Place, Right Time

A contemporary romance novel set in Cambridge that follows Eve, an antiques enthusiast who owns Rainy Day Antiques. When Adam arrives in town to settle his late grandfather’s affairs he is focused on the future and hopes to complete the house clearance quickly. However, he soon discovers that his grandfather specifically hired Eve for the task. As their paths intertwine, they begin to realize that their meeting was no coincidence—it was the right place and the right time for them to connect.

This was a feel good, romantic comedy with a mystery twist that is a perfect easy summer read.

This is not my normal genre of book but found it very readable if not a little car fetched. Adam and Eve come together after Adam has been recommended by his grandfather to use Eve for his house clearance when the time comes. The storyline soon shows us that this encounter has been meticulously planned for years and other people they know are included in the plan for Adam's and Eve's future. Without giving the plot away, Adam and Eve find the past is closer to them than they think and they have to work together to solve the mystery of how to assist in bringing the past, present and future in line. Well worth a read.

Eve runs an antique shop in a quirky square in Cambridge. She is asked to do a clearance on a house which Adam has just inherited.
However, it becomes apparent that although Adam and Eve hadn't met before their ancestors had and had decided that this would be the right time and right place. But how had they done that and who else knew ?
Very cleverly written book and really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy! I really enjoyed this. I hadn’t read into it so expected a straight up cute romance, the science fiction twist was unexpected, and - as long as I didn’t try too hard to make it make sense - I really enjoyed the plot. Strong character development, touching on more difficult topics including grief, survivors guilt, domestic abuse (not in detail), and disability. These subjects were handled sensitively and respectfully.

My first Ali McNamara book and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

The summary of the book, the title and the cover does not give away what this book is actually about. Which could be a good thing, but I went all in for a romance, and got disappointed as there's very little romance in it. The first 30% of the book is very repetitive. It felt I was reading about Adam's parents story in every chapter, and it was always the same story. After that, and once the main plot and topic of the book was revealed I was curious to know more. It's a cute read for those that like magic realism, but was a bit to childish for me.

I was enjoying this book up until about halfway through when the plot took quite a turn and became a type of book that just does not interest me. This is a personal preference on genre of book (I’m not saying what it is as I don’t want to give away the plot) and there are many people who will like this book but I massively lost interest as it just became too far fetched. This is a shame as I’ve really enjoyed other books by Ali McNamara but it won’t put me off trying more books by her in the future.

Suspend belief and enjoy. Antiques shop owner Eve and Adam meet while clearing his family home. The story’s mainly set in historic Clockmakers Court, Cambridge, where some of the shop-keepers share an unusual secret. Eve discovers that her great-grandmother Dottie did too. The characters are well-developed and the setting is lovely. An intriguing read, if a bit strange at times.

I did enjoy this story with its mix of romance and magic. Eve is going to do a house clearance job on April 29th, her birthday, as her antique shop didn't turn out quite as expected. She had a lot more in common with Adam than just their names and birthdays. As the plot slowly unravels, all sorts of unusual occurrences begin to unfold. Are they coincidental?

There are some excellent characters in this story and I did like learning their background stories as the book went on. I did like Adam and Eve; their characters were well developed, and I liked them, which is always a plus in any story.

Overall, it was a really good read. I did feel at times it was a bit long-winded with too much explanation, however, the plot is unusual and intriguing. It is definitely worth a read if you like a few twists and a bit of mystery in your romance books.

1.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of this book.

Unfortunately this one was not for me. The writing was clunky, the characters had no personalities and if I have to read “Clockmaker’s Court” used in a sentence one more time I might just go insane. With it being a mystery, the main characters did very little of actual mystery solving and were just given the answers by the supporting cast. Always presented in an unnecessarily long, exposition dump style, monologues.

ALSO there was a temporary suggestion that the main couple might be related??? Why would you put that in if you’re already developing the romance? WHY.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, cosy, time travel mystery romance!

This book pulled me out of a reading slump so for that I am eternally grateful to the author Ali McNamara for that! Thank you!

I loved the whole concept of this story. The set up with the house clearance, the meeting of the main characters, the mystical, magical elements were right up my street!

This book really kept me intrigued the whole way through and I really enjoyed following the little bread crumbs to see where they wold lead.

I loved all the characters stories. So many great characters in this, I warmed to them all which is rare! I also loved how everything was interwoven and how you gradually found out how everyone was connected.

I did find the way that time travel worked to be a little complicated and hard to get my head around. I can usually suspend disbelief and just go with a story like this, but I found myself wondering *why* time travel worked in this way (for example, why/how did sunlight open the portal?) and would have loved a bit more back story. I got that it was all supposed to be a big mystery, but I would have really liked a bit more information to just help me accept the process rather than finding myself questioning it. I also did feel that the constant references to Back to the Future kind of pulled me out of the world of this story.

The other important thing to mention is that I wouldn't really call this a "romance". The two main characters do find their way together, but it's almost like a sub plot, just something that casually kind of happens while the main time travel plot is at the forefront. There was a lot of love between the characters, but not much in the way of chemistry, tension, no kind of slow burn or anything, and all the romance is very sweet, totally closed door. I think we see them kiss at one point but that's it.

Really enjoyed it though! Would recommend if you enjoy cosy magical realism and time travel!

Right Place, Right Time is a charming and heartfelt story filled with warmth, nostalgia and a touch of fate. Ali McNamara has woven a gentle romance that celebrates the beauty of the past while offering hope for the future.

Eve is a delightful lead, with her deep love of antiques and her heartfelt dedication to preserving the stories behind each item she sells. Her little shop in Cambridge is a perfect setting, brimming with atmosphere and character. Adam, in contrast, is pragmatic and focused on moving on, which makes their initial friction all the more entertaining.

The relationship between Eve and Adam unfolds at a lovely pace, with just enough mystery and emotion to keep the pages turning. I particularly enjoyed the way the book blends the sentimental value of antiques with the unexpected connections between people. The idea that someone’s past choices can shape the future in quiet, meaningful ways adds a thoughtful layer to the story.

This is a book to curl up with, one that celebrates second chances, gentle romance and the magic of timing. If you enjoy uplifting reads with heart and a touch of serendipity, Right Place, Right Time will leave you smiling.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I was looking forward to this book, having enjoyed Ali's books in the past.

The story started off well, quickly drawing me in to Eve's world as she meets Adam for the first time and discovers they are both leap year babies, sharing 29th February as their birthday.

A few chapters in, as certain things were explained I suddenly felt the story had got a bit silly but I'm glad I persevered as it got better and I felt was very cleverly twisted and turned to tie up lots of loose ends.

I liked the characters and how things were explained.

Would recommend!

Who knew that a house clearance for Antique shop owner, Eve, would change her life forever - bringing romance, time travel, ,and learning about the secrets of her family and her fellow shopkeepers. ? Hard to put down with its unusual theme. A really enjoyable book.