Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Day Tripper.

Time travel themed novels are tricky; the narrative can get confusing and strange, and let's not forget the strangeness of everything and how it all depends on the reader's ability to suspend disbelief.

My biggest issue(s) include how:

1. The narrative dragged, especially with the time tripping. I understand in these types of novels, the main character needs to figure out what is happening and why and the only info provided is each reiteration of themselves in different timelines but it got boring fast

2. I didn't care about Alex and Holly's love story, so his desire to find out what happens to her and where she is in each timeline wasn't important to me. I was more curious as to why he was experiencing these time slips.

The author placed too much work and effort on establishing Alex and Holly's relationship in the beginning and from those descriptions I knew the narrative was going to be slow.

3. I'm not exactly sure how the ending is the way it is, or why it 'worked out'

The writing is fine, and the premise had great potential but Alex isn't a compelling or interesting character and the narrative felt redundant and repetitive very quickly.

This is a complicated book about time travel and the possibility of being able - in moving back and forth in his life - for Alex to change the outcomes - in some cases.
Alex Dean seems to have a promising life ahead of him - he is headed to Cambridge and is in love with a beautiful medical student who loves him !! So how does he turn out to be an alcoholic ? one step away from homelessness. if he can stop making really bad decisions - is there a possibility that his life might move in a different direction. Enjoyed this story but found it a bit difficult to get into. Think it might appeal to people who liked The Midnight Library which i still have yet to read !!!

This is a book about how to live your life, or how not to screw up your life, told from the perspective of a man who has a bizarre and confusing (to him) chance to right past wrongs. The story is captivating, unpredictable, and a page-turner. As the story is told, and the main character's life lived, out-of-sync with time, it becomes a bit of a mystery, a question-and-discovery read. It's captivating the whole way through, and leaves the reader feeling happy to be alive and a bit more enlightened than before.

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read.


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

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and the author for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the time travel trope, and this one was done in a different way that made it it's own unique story. It seemed important that there was no "fix" to some of the problems the main character was facing.
The main character, Alex, took me a while to warm up to, but it seems to me that the author did this on purpose. We the reader become more invested and interested in the changes he is making to his life as he does. The side characters were great. I especially loved the Doctor and the character Jazz. They added to Alex's character development.
I connected to the idea that the "easy" way is the ways that are engrained in us, how we have to fight against what our instincts are telling us if want real change to occur in our lives, and how we have a hard time not becoming the people that other people think we are.

Overall, I would recommend this book! Please see my upcoming review for it on my book instagram - @bookish_starry_skies

"The Day Tripper" by James Goodhand is a captivating novel that navigates the intricacies of time travel and the profound impact of seemingly small actions on one's life. Set in 1995, the story follows Alex Dean, a young man with a promising future—Cambridge University, a loving relationship with Holly, and time on his side. However, a chance encounter with a former childhood bully alters the course of his life drastically.

After the encounter, Alex wakes up in a dilapidated room, disoriented and wearing unfamiliar clothes. To his shock, he discovers that it's now 2010, fifteen years after the incident by the river. The twist in the tale is that Alex continues to experience unpredictable time shifts. One day he's in 2010, the next in 1999, and the day after in 2019. This unpredictable time travel becomes the central mystery, and Alex must piece together the events that unfold in his life during these temporal leaps.

As he grapples with the consequences of his actions, Alex tries to understand the forces at play. The novel delves into the impact of seemingly inconsequential decisions, showcasing how small choices can lead to significant shifts in one's life trajectory. The narrative skillfully weaves together elements of science fiction and explores the complexities of fate and free will.

The temporal unpredictability adds an element of suspense and urgency to the story, keeping readers engaged as they follow Alex's journey through time. The exploration of love, loss, and the consequences of choices gives depth to the narrative, making it not just a time-travel tale but also a reflection on the human experience.

In "The Day Tripper," James Goodhand offers a unique take on time travel, blending elements of science fiction with a poignant exploration of life's uncertainties. Alex's quest to save those he loves and understand the enigma of his temporal displacement makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read. The novel promises readers an engaging and immersive experience as they navigate the twists and turns of Alex's unpredictable journey through time.

Love the cover and title of this book. I didn't love the story. I did find it to be creative though and was happy to get a glimpse of a new-to-me author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

To be fair, I didn't finish reading this. It seemed really interesting, there was just content in there that I wasn't comfortable with so I ended up taking my leave pretty early.
The prologue was super good, hooked me right into it. The 'adult' content just wasn't for me.

This was a very interesting read! I feel like it had a bit of a slow start, but once the main story really kicked in, I was hooked. Alex Dean is involved in a fight in his 20's and wakes up many years later. He keeps spending a few days in different years of his life, and then wakes up in another year.

I liked seeing how he grew and seemed to change his life. I kind of wish there was more, but I definitely looked forward to picking up the book and diving in again. You know I liked it, because I finished it in about 3 days. being an American, it was fun and interesting to read all the British slang and way of talking. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!