Similar to Poston’s last novel, The Dead Romantics, The Seven Year Slip explores friendships, love, loss, and grief while setting at least part of the novel in the publishing world. And also similar, Poston plays with magical realism. Here, the apartment which Clementine inherits from her aunt time travels seven years. I know there’s a lot of love for her previous novel, but dare I say, I love this one more?

Here’s why:
✨The subtle humor: Multiple times, I chuckled or said out loud, “Very clever, Ms. Poston.” Here are a couple of examples: the pigeons outside Clementine’s apartment are named “Mother” and “F*cker” 😂 and, by the way, her apartment number: B4 - very clever for a time travel book!
✨Clementine’s journey of self-discovery: this element almost feels like a subtle nod to women’s fiction woven into a romance novel. Clementines leans into her female friendships and the memories of her Aunt and their many travels as she discovers who she is and what she wants.
✨Wrong Time/Second-Chance romance: this romance feels mature instead of sappy or cheesy. I found myself giddy with anticipation for Iwan and Clementine to be within the walls of B4 or anxiously hoping for a chance encounter outside the apartment. I rarely swoon (remember, I have a cold heart), but I found myself all warm and fuzzy with this romance.

Needless to say, I freaking love this book. It would be very remiss of me not to add that Brittany Pressley narrates this novel brilliantly. Her tone, inflection, and subtle character voice accents sweep you into a magical world. Highly recommend this format!

This unbelievably romantic book captured my heart and has become one of my top reads this year. It's hard to choose favorites, but this would definitely be at the top of my list if I had to. I've always been drawn to books that have a touch of magic, and this one was simply perfect. It's a truly beautiful, heartwarming tale about love, loss, and self-discovery. The time travel aspect added an intriguing layer to the romance, and I was completely engrossed from start to finish. The emotions conveyed in the book felt authentic and intense. I found myself falling in love with Clementine and Iwan, rooting for them throughout their journey. The romance in this story is so fresh and pure. It is absolute magic. It had my heart singing. The fact that there is a bookish aspect and its foody too only added to its perfection. This one has all the elements I crave in a romance novel! I urge all my romance-loving friends to pick this one up; it is a must-read this summer!! ⁠
⁠
Thank you, @netgalley, @berkleypub, and @heyashposton, for the chance to read an ARC of this phenomenal book!

Thank you @BerkleyRomance for the #gifted eARC of THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP!

THE DEAD ROMANTICS was one of my favorite romances in 2022 so I absolutely squealed with delight when I received an eARC of her newest book! Once again, Ashley Poston has set her book in the world of publishing and like many of my fellow readers, I love books about books! And a certain MMC from her previous book makes a few little cameos that I adored.

Clementine is grieving her beloved Aunt and is feeling lost both personally and professionally. She’s inherited her aunt’s apartment which her aunt always claimed to have a bit of magic. Imagine her surprise when one day she comes into the apartment to discover things are not the way she left them, but instead seem to have reset back to the way it was seven years ago… including a very handsome young chef who is subletting her aunt’s apartment for the summer. The apartment/universe keeps throwing Clementine and Iwan together and she finds herself falling in love with a man living seven years in her past….

I was a little bit skeptical about how the whole seven years in the past thing would work out but I think it was really well done. It makes so much more sense when you’re reading it. I loved how the apartment just seemed to know when Clementine needed to see Past-Iwan to know what she needed to do her current time.

And while this book is a romance, Ashley Poston did a beautiful job of writing how messy and chaotic grief can be. My heart ached for Clementine as she grappled with this devastating loss while also trying to figure out what exactly she wanted from her life.

I loved this one and definitely recommend adding it to your TBR. I think Ashley Poston has now made it onto my autobuy author list.

THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP came out 6/27/23!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5514774208
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuCiNSSRbcd/

I am in awe of this book! I loved every second!! This book is going to stay with me for a while. Clementine and Iwan's love is so deep and full; you can feel it while reading every page. There is grief and finding oneself that every reader can relate to. A wonderful book that everyone should read!!

*Thank you @berkleypub @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the egalley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

The Seven Year Slip is a magical book about timing, grief and taking risks in love and life.

I’m in love with The Seven Year Slip. This magical book found me right when I needed it. This is a time-traveling romance that deals with love and that whole idea about meeting the right person for you at the wrong time. Clementine inherits her aunt’s apartment after her death. Still reeling from her favourite person’s death, Clementine struggles to live in the place that once meant so much to her and is filled with so many memories, but never again her aunt.

Her aunt told her that the apartment was magic, so imagine her surprise when one day she finds someone else in her house. Clementine realizes that time does travel in the apartment, and this man actually stayed in her aunt’s place seven years ago while her aunt traveled with Clementine. So Clementine didn’t meet him then, but now she’s meeting him. Iwan is a delightful man who had just moved to New York and was establishing himself as a cook. He has a lot of dreams and ideas and woos Clementine with delicious food.

The only problem – Clementine remeets Iwan in her own time, and he’s not the same. Can they be together? Does Clementine even like who he is now? Is it the right time? Reader – you will fall in love with Clementine and Iwan. They are funny and smart and ambitious and modern and you will be rooting for them from the first time they cross paths in the past. They have a swoony and gorgeous love. Tucked in the privacy of the magic apartment they are incredible together. Warning – there is a lot of food descriptions in this book because Iwan is a chef.

I really loved this book. It is funny and charming and magical. It’s also serious and has some substance to it – it deals with suicide and death and the people left behind. Ashley tackles grief realistically and somehow also makes a magic, time-traveling apartment feel as if it makes sense. The magical element is a unique part of the story, but doesn’t overshadow the rest of the plot.

The Seven Year Slip needs to be on your to be read list this summer, best read with some lemon pie.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Posten is a lovely time travel romance that’s also about processing grief and figuring out what you really want out of life. I’m so grateful to @berkleypub for an e-copy and @prhaudio for a free audiobook. This one is out today and if you loved last year’s Dead Romantics, you’re going to want to grab this one.

Clementine is an overworked book publicist living in the New York apartment she inherited from her favorite aunt. She tries to keep the deep, unbearable grief she’s feeling about her aunt’s death from her friends and family. Still, she’s at a bit of a crossroads when she finds a handsome stranger with kind eyes and a dream to open a restaurant in New York standing in her kitchen. His name is Iwan and he claims her aunt said he could stay there over the summer while he gets settled, and Clementine realizes her aunt’s tales of living in a time traveling apartment might be true.

This was a really beautiful book in so many ways. I loved the relationship between Clementine and Iwan, and I loved Clementine’s journey as she tried to figure out who she wanted to be. Her relationship with her friends was also so lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed this story even though a lot of elements didn’t feel completely tied up to me. But maybe that’s the point a little bit? Maybe we don’t ever understand completely why people do things or how we ended up where we are, and we need to find a way to be okay with that.

There is one trigger warning that’s also a bit of a spoiler so if you’re a sensitive reader, you might want to know going in (feel free to DM me). It’s handled with great respect and care. I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end of the book because it gives the story a lot of perspective.

Brittany Pressley does a beautiful job narrating and I think audiobook listeners will love this format.
I’d definitely recommend this one to romance readers. There’s a lot to swoon about and I was definitely rooting for both characters throughout the whole book.

Clementine, after experiencing the worst day of her life, devises a plan to protect her heart: work hard, find a worthy love interest, and hold onto her dream of chasing the moon. Despite some challenges, this plan has been successful until she encounters a peculiar man in her late aunt's kitchen. He possesses gentle eyes, a Southern accent, and a fondness for lemon pies—the type of man she would have fallen for previously. However, there's a catch: he belongs to the past, precisely seven years ago, while she resides seven years ahead. Trapped in a timeless apartment, Clementine fears the consequences of allowing her heart to be ensnared once again, realizing that love transcends time, but its timing is crucial.

After reading and loving Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics last year, I couldn’t wait to read The Seven Year Slip, and it did not disappoint! It features Poston’s signature warmth that radiates off the page. She delicately balances joy and sorrow. I laughed and cried while reading this, but I couldn’t for a minute put it down.

Like The Dead Romantics, grief is a major theme. Clementine is struggling between mourning her late aunt and balancing the demands of her current job. At twenty-nine she feels stuck in her life. Her aunt was a force of nature who introduced Clementine to travel as a child and was a fixture in her life. Without her, Clementine feels adrift.

The magical portion of the story lies within the apartment Clementine inherits. It transports her, seemingly randomly to seven years in the past when she meets aspiring chef, Iwan. Past Iwan is an absolute delight. He has such a zest for life and joy in him that is completely contagious. But in the present, Clementine has never met Iwan and when she does, she struggles to rationalize the person that he was seven years ago with the person he is now.

Told entirely in the first-person from Clementine’s perspective, The Seven Year Slip is a cozy, heartwarming story. If you’re looking for a thoughtful and emotional romance to spend an afternoon engrossed in, this one is for you!

Thank you to Berkley Romance, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own!

Ashley Poston hit it out of the park AGAIN! Her stories are unique and grab hold of you like a big hug. I LOVED this book so much.

Upon her death, Clementine’s aunt bequeath’s her apartment B4. Now, this is no ordinary apartment. The apartment travels back in time, seven years to be precise. Aunt Vera instructs Clementine to always adhere to two rules - always take your shoes off at the door and never fall in love with anyone you meet in the apartment.

Clementine meets Iwan in the apartment and they have an intense connection and chemistry. But Iwan doesn’t know that the Clementine he is with is from seven years in the future. Can they find a way to make things work? Will they find a way to meet in the present?

I was rooting so hard for Iwan and Clementine. It was wonderful to get to see them in both the past and present slips of time. I fell in love with this story and these characters. The time slips were well done and really added to the overall tension and chemistry between Iwan and Clementine in the present. Ashley does romance infused with magical realism so well!

I really love how Ashley touched on grief in this book, with so much heart. Be sure to read the author’s note. She shares how personal writing the book was for her during a time of loss and grief. I can not wait to read whatever Ashley shares with us next.

Having recently read Ashley Poston's The Dead Romantics for a Book Group, and loving it, I was excited to check out The Seven Year Slip. And, it did not in any way disappoint! I loved the characters, the setting, the unexpected message about change. I loved the realistic depiction of grief - sometimes, it really does just knock you off your foundation enough to want to change your life. And the idea of an apartment that sometimes transports you seven years into the past was just fanciful enough to make it fun. I really appreciated that going into the past didn't radically change anything, or make someone a different person - it really did just help the characters find a way to meet up in the right time. And the characters! Loved Clementine and Iwan. Loved her friends in the publishing world. Loved Vera and the Aunt. Loved it all! Will unabashedly be recommending this one all summer long.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Wow. 💛🌻

Where do I even begin to describe my love for this romance? This book fooled me-- I remember reading the first few chapters and scoffing, "Ugh, how predictable!' to basically being enraptured by the end with tears pooling in my eyes.

Also this is such a good reminder to keep reading and giving authors second and third and nth chances. Wasn't the biggest fan of The Dead Romantics (it was okay but I didn't love it) but this one!!! And to think I almost skipped it, if it weren't for me being a Berkley Romance partner.
.
This book combined magical realism and the time loop element in such a good way, and took what would've been a predictable storyline into something deeper, tender, and BEAUTIFUL. You can tell when a book has HEART, and this one had it in abundance. It reminds me so much of Dear Emmie Blue and Beach Read (two of my all time faves!), not in plot, but in how they make the reader feel. I'm not the best in describing books, but trust me when I say, just READ IT, okay? You can thank me later, with a slice of lemon pie. 😉

Thank you to Berkley Romance for giving me a free copy of this book, this is one of my top faves of the year. 💛

5⭐️

“This story is about the past needing the present. And the present needing the past”

This book was complete and utter perfection!!!

I loved the storyline and the mystery of the apartment. The back and forth in the story of Clementine was so damn cozy and comforting and it felt like I was in it, like I was living it alongside her. The story was so cohesive and when you get to go back in time it felt like a cold treat in a hot summer day.

The characters had such chemistry from the very first moment they meet and there is simply something so enthralling in seeing them fall in love between the present and the past that just takes my breathe away. The twists at the end of him knowing things were soooooo good!!!!

I was captured from page one and I did the book in a day which speaks volumes given how slow I’ve been reading lately. Ashley Poston has such a good poetic writing when it comes to dealing with grief and loss.

Cannot wait to see what she does next because I am sure it will be one of my favs 🥹

This is a fantastic book, by the same author of one of my favorite books last year, The Dead Romantics. This book made me smile, laugh, and cry. It’s beautifully written and I was sorry it had to end.

Clementine (Lemon) is still grieving the death of her beloved aunt Analea, with whom she travelled and lived with in a beautiful apartment that belongs to her now. Her aunt always hinted that there was something different about the place, but Clementine never believed her until one night she came home to find a young, good-looking guy named Iwan making dinner in the kitchen.

He said he was a chef and that his mother was friends with Analea. He’d be subletting the place over the summer, looking for a job in a restaurant, and he called her Lemon. Their chemistry was instant and very strong, and their relationship goes on from there.

The book brings up all kinds of existential questions. If this is the past, where is Iwan now? Her aunt is still alive in this timeline, is it possible for Lemon to see her?

I can’t say enough about the quality of this book, you have to read it. 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

3.5 Stars

‘When did you get this?’

He looked down at the tattoo, and then sheepishly back to me. ‘About seven years ago. It’s a bit faded now—’

‘It’s a lemon flower.’

‘Yes,’ he replied, looking up into my eyes, searching them. He’d gotten a lemon flower tattoo over his heart.

‘What do you tell people, when they ask about it?’

His shyness melted into a smile, warm and gooey like chocolate. ‘I tell them about a girl I fell in love with at the right place, but the wrong time.’

A knot lodged in my throat. ‘And what are you going to tell them now?’

‘That we finally got the timing right.’
Clementine West is grief-stricken after her aunt passes away and moves into her magical apartment that can transport the tenant back into the past seven years. The apartment transports her to seven years in the past, where she meets aspiring chef Iwan, and they begin a friendship that turns to love. Her aunt always warned her there are two rules to the apartment, and the biggest one is to never fall in love because no one stays the same. When a serendipitous chance meeting in her time pushes these two back together again, sparks fly.

This book is hard for me to rate because while it is extremely well written, it deals with some very heavy topics like grief and suicide. I wasn’t expecting that. I did find that Clementine’s friends provided some much-needed comedic relief. I just wish there had been more of it to balance out that darkness that we see in Clementine.

Her aunt always said that the apartment would take you back to when you were at a crossroads, and I believe that Clementine absolutely needed that version of Iwan. He was kind and funny and brought her back to life a little bit. Ashley Poston didn’t shy away from discussing hard topics, and for that, I commend her. Be prepared that this is not a light and fluffy read, and you will want to make sure that you’re in the right head space when you do.

If you’re a fan of Libby Hubscher and Chloe Liese, then you will probably enjoy this one!

~ Michelle

The Seven Year Slip by @heyashposton is a truly magical romance that I devoured in one sitting.

When we meet Clementine, she is grieving the loss of her beloved aunt and has been keeping herself busy through her work as a book publicist. She is also moving into an apartment she inherited from her aunt. When Clementine was a child, her aunt told her a secret about the apartment but she had yet to experience it for herself until the day she finds a handsome stranger named Iwan in her kitchen. He says he's subletting the apartment while her aunt is traveling, which is obviously not possible. Or is it?

As Clementine realizes, Iwan's present is actually seven years in Clementine's past. The apartment apparently does this at will & this time slip only takes place within its walls. Outside, time is as it should be.

In spite of being out of sync with one another time wise, Iwan and Clementine grow close and really start to care about one another. Clementine never knows from one day to the next if she'll walk into her apartment and find Iwan there or if she'll walk into any empty apartment in the present. She finds herself getting upset every time she returns and he isn't there, and I was equally upset because I was so invested in their budding romance.

I flew through the pages because I just had to know if there was any way they could find their way to one another in present day and if so, would the connection between them still be there?

I really loved how layered this story is. The themes of grief & loss had me grabbing for tissues, while the slow-burn, swoony romance had me grinning from ear to ear. Iwan and Clementine are both fantastic characters, and the secondary characters are a lot of fun & add so much to the story.

I don't want to say anything else for fear of spoilers, but I truly adored The Seven Year Slip & want to recommend it to everyone!

I loved it! So magical, whimsical, and romantic. I literally read this and played it out like a movie in my head. Such a “not a right time, right moment” story that surrounded around an apartment full of magic. Of course, I loved everything this was about New York City! This needs to be a movie. Where can I advocate for this???

I love Ashley Poston’s writing, she’s so talented. Will continue to read anything she writes because she writes with so much heart and gorgeous storytelling. This book really can get you in the feels too.

Check your triggers for this one, especially for grief!*

Clementine West has always loved and admired her larger-than-life Aunt Analea. They travel and go on big adventures together. Analea has also told Clementine that her century-old apartment is magical. When her aunt passes, and Clementine is bequeathed her apartment, she wakes up one day to find a strange man has moved in temporarily. She soon comes to realize that the fabric of time ripples behind the door of B4 in time spans of seven years. The man's name is Iwan, and he has big dreams, too. But his dreams have already happened seven years in the future. And hers are unfolding seven years later than his.

In the spirit of The Dead Romantics, Ashley Poston has done it again, weaving fantastical elements throughout this sweet, heartfelt, melancholic, romantic novel. It's a great story about grief, dreams and growing up, beautifully told. It's a love letter to every adult who made you feel special, loved, seen and heard. It's a reminder to hold your loved ones close, and to appreciate every moment. It's a reminder to live while you can.

Make sure you read the acknowledgements, it will make the book even more meaningful.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
After reading and enjoying The Dead Romantics last year, I had to see what the author wrote next. I actually went into this one blind and was pleasantly surprised by the story. I love getting blindsided by a really fun and unique story! And I must say, I enjoyed this one more than The Dead Romantics!

Thank you so much Berkley Romance for my copy

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝: (Skip, if you wanna go in blind like i did😉)
When Clementine’s aunt passes away, she inherits a magical apartment that displaces you in time. As she moves in, she meets a strange man. A man so attractive, but apparently is from the past. She just so happens to be 7 years into the future.

“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I was so drawn to this story specially since i went in blind. I had to get answers ASAP and the first chapters made me wanna keep reading as it unfurled. The short chapters made it even more of a page turner which i loved. And what a truly magical ride! I really enjoyed every moment. Every mini twist that came along as the chapters ended, the nicknames, the food, the family dynamics. I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a unique love story with a touch of magic. You will surely love these characters that were so adorably created by the author.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘕𝘠𝘊, 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Let's Talk Books for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

The Seven Year Slip is a time slip romance set in a magical apartment. In that space, Clementine goes back seven years and meets Iwan. But she knows that her aunt always warned her never to fall in love in the apartment.

I loved both Clementine and Iwan. Clementine is in publishing, so I loved that element of the book world being included. Iwan is a chef, and the descriptions of food throughout were phenomenal. This is one of those books that made me hungry. And the way the time slip seems to work is by bringing people together when at a crossroads in their lives. I really enjoyed that aspect of timing.

I find Ashley Poston to be such a special and unique author. In many ways, this book had a similar feeling to The Dead Romantics. However, it was a unique story with entirely new characters, plot devices, and themes. I didn't find it at all repetitive. Indeed, I found it deeply moving with incredible magical realism. The book made me cry and think and want to believe.

The audiobook was absolutely fabulous, especially since it was narrated by one of my all time favorites, Brittany Pressley. And I loved the amazing author's note

CW: grief, DM for more

4.5 stars rounded up

Ｈａｐｐｙ Ｐｕｂｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎ Ｄａｙ!

I absolutely loved this book! Ashley Poston is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine! The Dead Romantics was a favorite of 2022 for me and I loved this one even more! Definitely a favorite for 2023!

This book was definitely an emotional roller coaster. The sadness with the loss of Clementine's aunt (plus reading the author's note at the end). The romance ups & downs. The love/hate relationship I have with this apartment!

The relationships in this book are just wonderful. The bond between Clementine and her Aunt was very relatable to me (I have that one special Aunt too). Clementine and Iwan's relationship was so very sweet. I loved their besties too! They were so much fun!

Everything about this book was amazing! There were definite Lake House vibes to it (which I also loved)! Ashley has such a way with words. While I did find myself connecting the dots, the twists & turns kept me flipping the pages. I read this book in a day - I couldn’t put it down! I rarely re-read books but I would 100% read this one again!

The ending may have been a touch rushed but I still loved it nonetheless! Definitely a must read!!!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬
Dual Timeline
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
Time Travel / Magical Realism
Books About Books (Publishing)

CW: Depression, Mention of Suicide, Grief/Death of a Family Member

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley & Ashley Poston for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!