unfortunately this book fell flat. I LOVED the dead romantics so i was super excited to read another romance with a supernatural twist by Poston. however I did not vibe with the romance. I just didn't even see the romance. I expect those kicking my feet and giggling feels but none came.
it also felt very predictable. none of the 'twists' shocked me.
also, having an argument with present day man and then going back in time to have sex with that same man was a CHOICE.
if this book was about Analea and Vera I would have ATE IT UPPPP.

All I can say is that I am obsessed with Ashley’s books! After loving The Dead Romantics, I was very optimistic that this was also going to be an amazing read. It is full of love, loss, magic and heart warming moments and can we just talk about Iwan for a second?! I will read anything and everything Ashley writes!!

Wow this was the most interesting and odd sci-fi time travel romance. I don't know how a contemporary fiction managed to do this. This author is a genius. 4/5 stars.

After loving Among the Beasts & Briars, I was very excited to be approved for an ARC of The Seven Year Slip. Even with a wildly different genre and theme, I had complete confidence in Poston's writing and was not disappointed.

Clementine is such a relatable character that it was very easy to fall into her life, and Poston writes this time travelling apartment so matter of factly that it is not difficult to believe it could actually happen. As much as I would've enjoyed Iwan's perspective, seeing everything from Clementine's point of view kept the time travel confusion to a minimum.
"The apartment was magical. You couldn't convince me otherwise. I just thought it was my aunt who made it magical - the way she lived, wide and wild, that infected everything she touched."
My favourite parts of The Seven Year Slip were when we got to focus on Clementine. Her struggle to deal with the grief of losing her favourite aunt while trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She has always seen herself in her aunt and finds it difficult to come to terms with what this means for her future. The romance parts were good, but I wish more time had been devoted to this aspect of the narrative because I found it very compelling.

With travel, good food, lots of books, and a little time travel, there's a lot to love about The Seven Year Slip.

Clementine West, who, after experiencing the worst day of her life, has been living a safe and regimented existence, avoiding risks and emotional entanglements. However, her carefully constructed world is disrupted when she discovers a charming man in her kitchen. Despite his many qualities, he lives seven years in the past. The novel explores the complexities of love and second chances.

This is the story of Clementine who inherited her late Aunt's apartment. On returning to her apartment one day their is a strange man in her kitchen and she finds out the story her Aunt told her is true and she has travelled to 7 years in the past.
This begins a magical journey for Clementine across the past and present.
This is a really beautiful romance that was a little slow to get going but I powered through the second half in one go. I loved the theme of this book and the decisions Clementine made as she grew through the book after losing her much loved Aunt, 6 months ago.

I’ve enjoyed this book! Though I wish it didn’t feel so drawn out. It takes a bit of time to get going. Still an enjoyable concept though and I enjoyed the time skipping.

The Seven Year Slip

Thank you @harlequinaus and @netgalley for the ARC of this book!

The Seven Year slip is a romance of different kind. It took me about 100 pages to get my teeth into the story but i was soon sucked in. My kindle download was full of markings that made it physically hard to get through the text - sentences missing, words stamped over etc

However, i was obsessed with this story once i was hooked! I found it comparable with the movie the Lakehouse (hello Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves). I loved the idea of the apartment and the growth of our protagonist!

Its cute, theres sexual tension and a reminder to live life to the fullest 🙌

I definitely want to read more from @heyashposton 🫶

Its out now!!

Thanks to Harlequin Australia, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review volunatrily.

This book was such fun to read. It's the first that I have read by this author but I want to go read The Dead Romantics.

Firstly, the premise is original even if it sounds like it's been done before in the synopsis. We meet Clementine when she has lost her Aunt who she was very close to. She's in a pretty unhappy place and , although she has moved into her Aunt's apartment, she still doesn't think of it as her own. Her Aunt used to say the apartment was magical and it turns out she was right because one night Clementine meets Iwan and all sorts of magical things ensue from there.

I absolutely loved the evolution of both Iwan and Clementine, although it looks like Clementine evolves in a much shorter amount of time. I love how meeting each other helps them learn more about themselves and who they are at their core.

Loved the nickname, loved the other characters, especially Clementine's friends Drew and Fiona and I loved how there was no one evil or contrived obstacles. It was just people working things out for themselves, which is the biggest challenge in my opinion.

There really wasn't anything I didn't like about this book. 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I’m so annoyed that it took me some time to get through this book, because when I got onto a roll I was in love with it. My kindle download was full of markings that made it physically hard to get through the text - sentences missing, words stamped over etc.

Anyway - format issues aside, this book was another delightful, magical romance from AP. I am loving AP’s work in the adult contemporary space. I like AP’s YA too, but the voice and vibe in adult is wonderful!

This book features two people falling in love, but in different times and waves - it was glorious torment!

Things I liked:
- Sitting in the feeling of frustration between the leads as they worked out what was happening to them - I felt so pained and charmed at the same time!
- The lyrical style of the prose, and all the food metaphors/similes. I was hungry reading this!
- The way grief was addressed
- The reflections of what it means to be “perfect” and “happy”

Things I didn’t like:
- How messed up my kindle copy was and the damage it did to my reading flow! I’m going to have to get the audiobook and do this properly
- I got a little confused with one aspect of the timeline - this may be remedied with a published edition
- I think the lead’s final life decision took me a little by surprise, but it had a good message behind it

In short: it takes a lot to make me love a romance with a magical/whimsical element (suspending reality is hard!), but this book did it. I was charmed. Let this romance whisk you away (see what I did there?) and charm you too.

This is certainly an interesting take on a romance novel. A bit of a time lapse type story that brings two people together but in different times. Most certainly quirky romance but it was an enjoyable read.

This is a book that is not too long and very charming, it is a bit of fun but has a dilemma to it. It is magical, it is romantic and it is entertaining. And not being a huge fan of romance I th ought this was the type of book that could sway me to read more of this genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I don’t really think of myself as a romance reader, but sometimes a novel so delightful comes along that I’m tempted to redefine myself. “The Seven Year Slip” is one of those novels.

Clementine is sad and lonely. It’s not because she’s single (although she is). It’s because she’s living in her beloved Aunt’s apartment. Analea brought joy and excitement and adventure to Clementine’s life, and when she died she left her a magical apartment. But Analea’s death was unexpected, and Clementine is bereft.

Clementine believes her Aunt’s story of the apartment’s magic, although she’s never seen it in action: until the day she finds a strange man living in her apartment. The problem is, he’s quite entitled to be there – because he’s living there seven years earlier, and Clementine is living there in the present.

As Clementine and her unexpected flatmate grow closer, she begins to wonder if there’s any way they could have a real relationship, separated as they are by seven years. And as her emotional life is upended, the upheaval spreads to other areas of her life: notably the job she has always loved.

I found myself really taken by Clementine’s story, far beyond the romance. She has a believable, complicated struggle to come to terms with her grief and the constant reminders of her Aunt. It’s also realistic that she’s reached a point where her job is starting to look less satisfying than before: maybe she doesn’t want it to be the main focus of her life after all.

Her friends are, as required by the romance rules, sassy and supportive. However, they too are drawn with a depth that makes them really appealing and more rounded than many supporting characters.

Time travel stories sometimes gloss over difficulties, or rely on a certain amount of goodwill from readers in order to make sense. Poston has worked her story and timelines out very carefully, and I was impressed by how well they dovetailed, particularly towards the end. This is one of the best uses of time travel I’ve seen, and I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy.

There’s a charm to this story that made it just irresistible, paired with a depth that means this doesn’t feel like “just” a romance. It should appeal to a wide audience, including many who wouldn’t normally consider a romance.

Clementine has reluctantly moved into her deceased aunt’s apartment in the upper east side NYC. What she didn’t realise is she would be sharing the place with a handsome guy who is frustratingly charming, oh and he’s from seven years in the past.

What follows is Clementine trying to navigate her life in the present outside of the apartment while trying to follow her aunts rules of living in this magical apartment, 1. Take your shoes off at the door. 2. Don’t fall in love.

I was really excited for this book as I adored the authors previous novel however this one just fell short for me.
The themes around death and grieving were extremely reminiscent of her other novel (Dead Romantics) which made this book feel less original.
Additionally the little twists and what were meant to be “ah ha” moments were just way to predictable.

There was also cameo from characters from the first book that felt so forced and really wasn’t necessary.

I did love the relationship between Iwen and Clementine and the concept of the apartment was really enjoyable. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I hadn’t read her first novel, which is a strange thing to say I know.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

4.5/5 ⭐️
Ashley Poston does it again! A new Favourite author of mine! I loved The dead romantics with its paranormal elements and the magical whimsy of the Seven Year Slip was just as good.
I loved how magic was woven into the story and that it makes you wish there really is a magical place where you can go and accidently meet people in the past when your at a crossroads in your life. The story was more than just about romance! Grief was written so well, up could feel the love Clementine had for her late aunt through the pages. I also loved Clementine’s character growth, it takes strength to step away from a role that might have been everything you wanted even though it would have also been the end of growth for you. Clementine and Iwan are the definition of star crossed lovers and their relationship from past to present was the i primate chefs kiss! I would highly recommend the seven year slip and will be reading all of Ashley Postons books in the future.

A sort of complex second chance romance with some time disturbance thrown in. This book wasn’t what I expected and but I loved the way the story deals with grief and loss.
Clementine falls for her roommate who lives seven years in the past as she moves forward into the future they meet again. How does seven years change a person?

I found this book tricky to get into at first and I found the Insta love was almost too quick. I liked the interactions between the two main characters in the future and the way Clementine slowly grows as a person. I enjoyed the side characters as well.
I highly recommend this read for anyone after something predictable but a little different in execution.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Clementine was lost. Adrift after her aunt died, she wonders her aunt's apartment that was left to her aimlessly. Feeling empty and left wondering how to fill this gigantic hole her aunt left behind she throws herself into work. When a massive opportunity comes her way, she knows that it is now or never to climb the corporate ladder. But her apartment challenges Clementine when she is transported back 7 years to a summer when her aunt had let the apartment to her friend's son. So starts a relationship that bring Clementine back to the present.

Iwan is a busy chef. Busy achieving everything he has ever dreamt of. When Clementine walks into his life, he remembers the summer seven years ago where he fell in love with her, his Lemon. However, like Clementine, he has lost a little of himself in the last seven years.

How will Clementine tell Iwan about time travel and her crazy apartment? Will she tell him? Where did it all go wrong for Iwan? And what will Clementine do when she receives a letter for her aunt?

Truthfully I feel like the story was a little predictable. However, the way the story was written makes it a delight to read. Somehow, you are still surprised and satisfied at the end. I love both Lemon and Iwan. They are beautiful people who are just a little off-course. I love that they need each other, both now and 7 years ago (for Iwan), to rediscover themselves. Just a beautiful read

"You kiss like you dance."
"Terribly?"
"Like someone waiting to be asked. You can just dance, Lemon. You can take the lead."
"And you'll follow?"
"To the moon and back." 🥺

- Magical realism
- NYC setting
- Book publicist x chef
- Second chance with a time travel twist!
- Grief journey
- Single POV

The Seven Year Slip definitely had similar vibes to The Dead Romantics, which I adored last year. There was that magic element combined with magical writing and the protagonist’s grief journey. Poston writes about grief so gracefully.

In this instance, Clementine is a book publicist who magically meets a stranger in the apartment she inherited from her aunt. They instantly connect and she soon comes face-to-face with him in the present, when she realises he's a chef her company is pursuing. But does he remember her?

This book was as much about the love story between Clementine and Iwan as it was about Clementine's personal journey. I particularly loved the travel talk and seeing Clementine pursue a different path. Iwan was the magical missing piece, as he gave her the push she needed to, as he said, "colour outside the lines."

Poston's writing truly captures the magic of New York City, the power of grief, how it feels to fall in love and she even breathes life into an old Upper East Side apartment. Add in some great side characters and you have yourself a winning book. I already can't wait to do a re-read via audio.

"So just find what makes you happy and do it for as long as you can."

Thank you to Harlequin Australia for the early copy!

‘Love is never a matter of time but of timing,’ and ‘Always Chase the Moon’.

I absolutely adored The Seven Year Slip! It is a delightful, witty, wise, heart-snatching gem filled with pristine literary references. I can’t remember when I had so much fun reading a contemporary romance novel. I started it one evening before bed and then woke early next morning to finish it. It is so good I just did not want to put it down! The style of writing, creative time slip plot, appealing characters, revealing dialogue and excellent narrative flow, kept me glued to the pages. Ms Poston captured my attention from the first line. She is quite the skilled modern storyteller. Although the concept of time travel is fantasy, the author constructed the story in such a way, you could easily believe it is possible in Clementine’s fictional world. For anything is possible in the realm of the imagination!

So, who is Clementine West? She is an overly devoted publicist who works for a publisher of travel planning books. She is diligent at her job and hopes to get a promotion. But she is equally dedicated in protecting her heart from romance and fickle men. She is a woman who likes plans. What is coming and when it is coming. So the surreal events in this novel really set her off balance and challenge her predictable core.

Grief has saturated Clementine’s heart. Her special aunt passed on six months earlier in a most heartbreaking way. Clem is still wearing that grief. But when she enters the apartment her aunt left to her in her will, she experiences its magical ability to send one back in time—in this case to seven years earlier when her aunt was still alive. And it happens more than once, without warning. It is as though the apartment has a mind of its own! On her first adventure, she discovers another person is inhabiting the apartment. Someone her aunt has offered accommodation to for a brief stay. The appearance of this man in her kitchen is quite startling and she attempts to chase him away. But something about Iwan changes her mind while she is dealing with other weirdness on the premises; such as the calendar date and other bits of pieces from the past. She can hardly believe what is happening.

This whole unusual occurrence takes a bit of adjusting, first to the timeline and having the handsome Iwan from the past. But his kind face and winsome ways eventually charm her. As she learns more about who he is and that he can cook, the fortress of self-protection around her heart begins to fall! He talks about food in a most divine way, its connection to happiness and friendship and love. It is no surprise he has been to culinary school when he exercises his talent for Clementine. And she is sure he has a bright future on the horizon. He tells her about the dish washer job at a famous top notch restaurant he is pursuing and she is taken back as to why he would want such an entry level position. He explains it is to get his foot in the door, but has hopes of moving up to chef position eventually. She is mesmerised by his sincerity, charisma and talent. And begins to fall unreservedly into his world. Sadly, it is the past where she cannot stay. She wonders if she leaves the apartment, will she meet him again in the future? It is a fun journey through this maze of time and personal growth, along with the backwards and forwards, the paradoxes and dilemmas.

There are some amazing twists and delicious surprises that keep this story constantly fresh and vigorously moving. So many nuggets of wisdom are tucked in the dialogue and descriptions. The message that we might meet the right person at the wrong time is clearly the backbone of this story but it does not end there for it takes us a step further (into the present) and offers hope for the two lovers. When their worlds align, good things begin to happen. But how much will Iwan have changed in the future? For nothing or nobody every stays the same. It is amazing to imagine how one person moving through time has the advantage and disadvantage of knowing too much and how it may affect their decisions.

It is an organised and delightful complicated plot that unveils smoothly and soundly through every step. I highly recommend this novel that will have your spirit cheering, your heart racing and your mind bending. A story about relationships, second chances and impossible dreams that become reality. It has madness, mystery, and mesmerising magic. Perfection on a literary plate. Hold your breath, close your eyes and wait to be whisked away! 5 Triumphant Stars

Many thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my review copy.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first adult book I had read by Ashley Poston, and I really liked it. Very sweet magical realism love story. After inheriting her Aunts apartment, Clementine finds that it takes her back 7 years in the past where she starts to fall in love with the man she meets there. Clem and Iwan both feel like fully fleshed out characters and their love story is delightful.

How much can life change in seven years?

You’re living alone in your Aunts strange apartment in NYC. She passed away a few months ago and left it to you. Two pigeons are always perched on the AC named Mother and Fucker. You wake up to a southern gentleman with a big dream to facilitate perfect moments for people through food. He’s subletting for the summer. Or, at least he was… seven years ago.
Ooops. You fall slowly, and all at once, with a man from the past.
But when you leave the apartment, it sends you back to present day. So, the love and that man only exists in that tiny apartment filled with memories of your Aunt who is no longer home.

Once again, Ashley nails the tiny, intricate, seemingly insignificant details of life, and allows you the space to realize how marvelous and precious those details are.

This was a book of self discovery, exploring the way in which our dreams and our lives change, but in ways, stay the same. Of how our love stays through distance and time. It’s the past and the future falling for each other. It is the strange coincidences of life that feel like magic, that maybe the stars have us hanging by a thread.

Iwan and Clementine will now, and forever, reside in my blood. Find me with a tattoo of a lemon in the future.

There is a significant conversation around suicide. It is not on page but it is deeply impactful. I saw myself in that character and it was stunningly painful.

Cry count: 12
Spice: 🌶️.5

I am desolate and whole all at once.