After the best day with Holly ending in a terrible fight, Alex Dean has started living his life out of order. He wakes up in his thirties and his life seems to be worse, and the following day he wakes up in his forties, again things are worse off. Gone is the future at Cambridge and Holly and suddenly Alex is living his days out of order.

I wasn't initially sure as this book can get quite heavy, but ultimately this was an enjoyable read. Borrowing from works like The Timetraveller's Wife and other elements unique to the novel, The Day Tripper takes you on a ride, lingering on the questions of cause and effect.

CW: mentions of suicidal ideation, addiction, and sexual assault

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC on NetGalley.

4.5 stars. I started crying at about 40% and didn't stop for the rest of the book.

What I liked:
- The ending was not what I expected and I really enjoyed it.
- The descriptions of Alex's body at different times would not leave my brain.
- The central message of the book is very present, but not hitting you over the head too much. It feels like Alex is going on an authentic journey.

What I didn't like:
- It took me a while to get into the story. All of the buildup before the time hopping starts is pretty boring and I almost gave up there.
- For most of the book, Alex is extremely unlikeable, and since the story is focused on him and his journey, it's hard to sympathize with him.

CWs: sexual abuse, cancer, car accidents, homophobia, prison, implied domestic violence, major injury, drug addiction, alcoholism.

The plot is not new but it was different. A lot of potential triggers for readers but they really do bring the story full circle. This book won't be for everyone, but it will have its readers.

gorgeous time travel story about the things you regret and want to change. thanks for the arc. it was so cool and so fun to read!

This was a hard story to follow, with so many changing timelines. I appreciated that the chapters were noted with what years it was, but it still felt disjointed and I really had to slog through this one. Not a good book for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine waking up each day at a different spot on your life’s timeline. For Alex Dean that becomes his reality after a bully knocks him out and sends his life spiraling out of control in more ways than one. Alex soon realizes that the life he left which was full of promise and expectation has gone horribly wrong.

This is one of those books that drops you into the story and you must figure out what is going on just as the main character does. If you stick with it you will be rewarded by an immersive story that will have you turning the pages to find answers to the many questions the book raises. If you enjoy reading books that explore life choices and their impacts like Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid, you will love this book.

The premise of this book was interesting, but much too drawn out and detailed. It was difficult to invest in the main character and his trials because of the minutiae of each segment. Ultimately, I was glad to see the result of his labors, and how his life ended up.

This is one of my favorite books in a while. I love how the main character gets to live his life “out of order”, in a different type of time travel reading experience. It’s hard to say much without spoiling anything, but non linear books and time travel novels are among my favorite genres, so a book that somehow manages to combine both is just perfect.

I enjoyed this story but I felt like it was not as easily accessible as I would've liked. I believe my biggest issue was that I didn't enjoy the characters.

A time travel-y book done quite well!! I really enjoyed Alex's story--waking up every day at a different point in his life, trying desperately to alter his disastrous life to be. Such a unique story that I think many will enjoy. My only complaint was that while the story was immensely enthralling, I didn't care so much for the main character which created some disconnect from the story as a whole. Still, that didn't prevent me from devouring every page.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of The Day Tripper in exchange for my review.

The Day Tripper starts with a perfect afternoon between Alex Dean and Holly Chan, but takes a turn when Alex runs into his childhood nemesis and ends up in a fight that nearly kills him. From that point on, the story takes a turn and I was glad to be along for the ride.

Every life has good choices and bad choices. Sometimes it takes everything you’ve got to make the right decision that helps you move toward your goals. Sometimes you make the wrong choice and find yourself living a life you don’t recognize. Every day offers the opportunity to get it right. This story follows Alex as he tries to change course and get back to the perfection of that first afternoon.

I recommend this book. It took a bit to get into, but it paid off.

In my opinion, I felt that the description of the book would fit the story, but it really didn't. At times it was hard to follow.

An emotional, character-driven time travel story, this book captures your heart.

Alex Dean isn't living his life in order. After a fateful injury, he begins randomly experiencing days from his life. One moment, he's in love and about to go off to Cambridge, the next moment he's years in the future, living in a dump and getting visits from his parole officer. Alex's desperate search to find out what went wrong and why he lost Holly will give him the chance to save his life.

I fell in love with Alex and Holly, despite Alex's terrible, but understandable, choices. The moments with he and Holly in the beginning were so sweet, which made it so bitter once the reader - and Alex himself - realized that he lost it all. As he started to put the pieces together, I was rooting for him so hard to find a way to change the course of his life.

Part love story, part reflection on the impact of our decisions, this book kept me hooked from the moment Alex woke up in his dreary future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book.

Trigger warnings: alcoholism, sexual abuse

The story goes back and forth in time - intriguing idea but not always easy to follow. Interesting that this is the second book I've read with that underlying plot twist. The new thing? I found the character not lovable and the story line hard to follow. But maybe it was me.

The Day Tripper is a quick, interesting, and thought provoking story. A man who is living his life out of order. This felt somewhere between Oona Out of Order and Wrong Place, Wrong Time. It had heart and some mystery. I found the story very compelling, but sometimes got mixed up in the timey wimey details. Readers should know there are couple of sensitive topics in it that may be upsetting. Overall, I would recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look.

"The Day Tripper" by James Goodhand is a captivating novel about time travel and its impact on a young man named Alex Dean. After a chance encounter with a former bully in 1995, Alex wakes up in 2010, fifteen years later, facing unpredictable time shifts between 2010, 1999, and 2019. The story explores the mystery of these shifts, emphasizing the consequences of decisions on one's life.

The novel skillfully combines science fiction with a reflection on life's uncertainties, delving into themes of fate, free will, love, loss, and the ripple effects of choices. The unpredictable time shifts add suspense to Alex's journey, creating a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. Overall, "The Day Tripper" promises readers an immersive and unique experience as they follow Alex's unpredictable journey through time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!!!
This is a different kind of book. I found myself not liking the main character much until the very end. Bitter, sweet. and a little bit chaotic is the format with a touch of family drama and inferiority complex. The way this book is set up is to make you experience what the protag is going through and ways he tries to make his way through life all in the wrong order. I really enjoyed this title and the unique experience it provided.

[Blurb goes here]

Is the year 1995. The protagonist, Alex Dean, seemingly has a promising future laid out before him. A spot at Cambridge, a beautiful girlfriend named Holly, and the prospect of building a better life. However, a chance encounter with his childhood tormentor during a date with Holly takes a drastic turn, leading to a violent confrontation and, ultimately, a mysterious blow to the head that renders him unconscious.

Alex wakes up in the year 2010 with no recollection of the past fifteen years, save for the bar fight that altered the course of his life. Alex tries to piece together the fragments of his lost years, only to discover that he has become an ex-convict. The mystery deepens when, the morning after, he finds himself in the year 2019. Alex is gaining glimpses into the moments that led to the deterioration of his once-promising life.

As the protagonist embarks on a tumultuous journey through time, encountering diverse realities, he stumbles upon another individual grappling with the same temporal affliction. The brilliance of the author lies in his ability to weave a thought-provoking narrative that delves into the intricacies of cause and effect, showing how seemingly inconsequential actions can snowball into life-altering consequences for Alex.

The author masterfully puts Alex through a grueling ordeal, presenting readers with a riveting redemption story. The meticulous exploration of the protagonist's struggles and determination to rectify his past mistakes adds depth to the narrative, creating a relatable character.

"The Day Tripper" is a rollercoaster ride through time, skillfully crafted to keep readers on edge. The unpredictability of the time jumps ensures that the reader is kept in suspense, mirroring Alex's own uncertainty about what lies ahead. The author's narrative shines through as he seamlessly intertwines the elements of fiction and human drama, making for an immersive reading experience.

This novel offers readers a tantalizing glimpse into a world where time is both a friend and a foe. The author's ability to unravel a complex and emotionally charged storyline makes this a must-read for those who enjoy a blend of fiction, drama, and a compelling exploration of the human condition.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Living your days out of sequence is jarring at best which is what happens to Alex after a traumatic fight with his elementary school
nemesis. I found the beginning of the book to be difficult to stay interested in as the story line was so slow in getting anywhere. Fortunately, I kept on reading and found the storyline to keep my interest. Waking up a different age can make you manic and Alex had some really bad patches in his life but rebounded in different ages with the bad patches erased, Being a day tripper for Alex also changed his and other characters’’ outcomes. I found the ending to be interesting and something to ponder.

I really liked the premise of the story and thought the time travel was done well. I wish the character development was better. I wanted to know more about the main character and other characters and their stories. I think the story was too short and am craving more!