This type of sci-fi feels believable, adventurous, and heartening.
The story is written from a teenager's perspective but covers many serious topics, and the character development is amazing.

The sci-fi concepts were well-researched, and a little fiction was thrown in, making this a majorly enjoyable read. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for a copy of this book. It is out on October 15th!

A time-travel romance in which a young couple will go to extreme lengths to save the life of a little girl who will have a huge impact on the world if she is given the chance to live in it.

Nell and Cole have a love that can never be broken, despite their youth. That is, until a mysterious girl by the name of Charlotte appears and draws Cole's attention away from Nell. With Cole distracted, Nell turns to her best friend Stevie B to try to discover the many secrets that Nell is hiding. After some investigating, the pair learn that Charlotte is from the future and she has convinced Cole to accompany her back to her timeline in order to steal a cure that might just save Cole's terminally ill younger sister. With someone they love life on the line, Nell is forced to accept that the universe is bigger than she ever thought possible and that love might be the strongest force contained within it.

I went into this one thinking that it was about two people from different time periods who fall in love with each other. Boy was I wrong. In actuality, it is a story about how even the smallest choices can have the biggest impact, the bonds that we have for our friends and family defy all limits, and the risks we are willing to take in order to help those we love. I was quite touched by all the messages in this one, despite the often slower pace of the story line.

I think my favorite type of sci-fi has to be stories with time travel and multiverses. These stories tend to really hit on how chance encounters and small acts of kindness can truly change the world for the better. Much of the science elements flew right over my head in this one, but I felt the reason that Cole and Nell took the risk of traveling through time was way less selfless than the usual reasons that people leave their time period. The way that they had to travel through time was also very unique. I had my doubts about it upon its first mention, but I came to find it really interesting as the story progressed.

Another thing I found fascinating about how time travel is approached in this one is that Nell, the narrator wasn't the one to initially travel in time. Much of the book is spent with Nell and Stevie B trying to come to terms with Cole's risky decision and hope that he makes it back alive. I just thought that this was a neat perspective to explore and sets it apart from the usual time travel experience. In the end, we do get some action with Nell getting to jump herself, which gave this book the dosage of high intensity action that it needed.

I found Cole and Nell's relationship to be really complicated, but super sweet. Nell often babysits Cole's little sister and Cole's mother practically treats Nell as her own daughter. Cole and Nell have been dating for awhile, even though they are still in high school. This is one of those couples you can't help but hope works out forever, and this feeling only intensifies as the story progresses. The banter that these two have and their little inside jokes were quite fun to follow along with, and my heart goes out to Nell with for all the anxiety she felt on Cole's part. I didn't love the fact that Nell was also attracted to Stevie B throughout the course of this story, but I can understand how this would come to be when your longtime boyfriend jumps through time and may never return. It would be hard not to have your doubts about his homecoming and turn to your best friend for support in this time of strife.

The fact that Cole's sister has a chronic lung condition and Nell's mother is a severe drug addict really adds to the intensity of this story. The stakes are high with both of these issues, which sets a sort of deadline that keeps the intensity level raised throughout the majority of the book. Towards the end, I'm not sure I could have drawn myself away from it, due to how worried I was that everything was going to turn out okay in the end.

I just wanted to shout out some of the repeating motifs in this book. I love the importance of the sixteen minutes, both in time traveling and for the urgency factor at the end of the book. The segment "Feet first. Heart bursting. Head, a distant third," was one of my favorite in the entire story. I love its double meaning with its physical connotations as well as its emotional ones. The sweet little phrases that Nell and Cole share with each other such as their forever bit which evolves into "beyond forever" really melted my heart, as did their "normal pretend stuff" game. These two seriously had some of the sweetest conversations.

Overall, I am quite pleased to report that "Sixteen Minutes" is a speculative fiction book that really hit for me. I connected to the characters, enjoyed the urgency of the plot, and adored the romantic elements. I'm glad that I was given the chance to read this one before its publication date. It is truly a sweet read that is also quite intense. It delivers some great themes and leaves the reader with the reminder that everyone is important, even when one doesn't feel that they are.

This was an interesting book. It starts out with high school characters that you think are going to end up in a love triangle. However, that's not what this is about. What ends up happening involves time travel, and the lengths they would go to for the people they care about and love. It was nice that this did not follow that love triangle trope, and instead went a different direction entirely, as that was what I found interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley, PRH Audio and Penguin Young Readers Group
for providing me with an advanced copy of this book and audiobook for free in exchange for my review! @prhaudio #PRHAudio #PRHAudioInfluencer
All opinions are my own.

I thought this was a very fantastical book. I am a little older than the target audience for this book, but I was drawn in by the time travel and the romance elements. I enjoyed the main characters, Nell, Cole, Stevie B and Charlotte. I thought they were a dynamic group of friends and really interesting protagonists. I also enjoyed that this book had short chapters, and at the end I was left satisfied, yet wanting more at the same time.

On the audiobook end, I don't believe I had listened to Phoebe Strole narrate anything before, but she was a fantastic narrator and I plan to definitely look for more audiobooks narrated by her in the future. I thought she did a fantastic job giving each character a unique voice.

Don't miss out on this book if you enjoy YA Romance, with a dash of sci-fi and fantasy!


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********

Charlotte is from a small town in NY. A town where no one ever really leaves. Charlotte knows she will never leave and neither will her boyfriend, Cole, or her best friend, Stevie B. But things go into a spiral when a new girl shows up at their school. Charlotte becomes jealous seeing her boyfriend having secret meet ups and conversations with the new girl.now, she is finding out the new girl is from the future and has a wild story for them all. Will they be able to save the future?

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this read. But I enjoyed this story so much! I thought the concept was unique and interesting. I found myself at the end wishing for more of the story. The world building was also interesting and the characters were likeable. I was entranced by the mystery of what was happening. I was even holding my own breath during a few scenes. This was a really fantastic book and great for any YA fiction fan. 4 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What an adventure!! I absolutely loved getting to know the characters of Sixteen Minutes and following their adventure into the future to save Finn while also tying it back to a previous time traveling adventure. I do feel like the ending was a little bit rushed, I wish that it had been more spread out, and the writing style just did not vibe with me but I also understand that I am older than the target age range so that portion of my review is understandable.

**Initial Reaction**: 9
**Characters:** 9
**Setting:** 8
**Plot:** 8
**Pace:** 9
**Style:** 6
**Ending:** 10
**Enjoyment:** 9
68 / 16 = 4.25

Publication: October 15th, 2024

rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seventeen-year-old Nell is certain of two things: she will never escape her rural, dead-end hometown of Clawson, NY, and her best friend Stevie B and longtime boyfriend Cole will always be by her side. However, the arrival of Charlotte, a new student, disrupts their unbalanced friend triangle. Nell and Stevie B suspect Charlotte is not who she claims to be, while she utterly enchants Cole. Secret calls and meetings ensue, and Nell senses Cole is hiding something significant from her, leading her to fear losing him for the first time.

The confrontation between Nell, Stevie B, Cole, and Charlotte reveals the unbelievable: Charlotte hails from the future, and, for reasons beyond their wildest imaginations, she needs Cole to accompany her back, leaving Nell in the past. Despite the risks and recklessness, Charlotte persuades them that it's their only option. With the revelation of time travel, the trio faces a future once thought predetermined. Now, with a multitude of possible lives ahead, they must decide who will take the leap into the unknown and who will remain.

this is still a really good book, and I enjoy it for what it is, I enjoy all the friendships throughout the book.

Thank You Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Ok....., I am going to take a deep breath because this book took me on a thrilling ride 😁. As usual, I didn't read the blurb before going in, but after reading the prologue, I had to go back to actually read the blurb, and I will be honest, the blurb of this book did no justice to the information contained in this book 🤯🤯.

This book is actually tempting me to do a deep dive on all things multiverses, luminal spaces, time travel, and parallel universes because what is all this madness 🤯. It is really amazing what the author did with this book, like this is a YA novel that focuses on these themes, and there are also some heavy ones like death and drug abuse, and the author still manages to find a way to introduce a love interest 😍

Honestly, I am just going to say, yes, you are going to find the book hard to get into at first, but it gets better. This story is going to stick with me for a long time because I'm still thinking about the feelings and chills that this book gave me. Stevie B, you deserve your own love story😍.

I found this YA book a quick and enjoyable story. I do feel like the characters seemed a little younger than their stated age of 17 and that my middle school students would really like this book with a few tweaks. (swearing and drug use that wasn’t super relevant to the story) I could definitely see a second book or series come from this story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.

The hunt for a cozy clean YA magical realism science fiction with a sprinkle of romance ends here! Everybody say THANKYOU K.J. REILLY <3

Thankyou netgalley and penguin group readers for the arc. All opinions are my own!

#SixteenMinutes #Netgalley

I really loved this book! It was fast-paced and full of twists I didn’t expect, especially when the time travel element kicked in. e story follows Nell, Cole, and Stevie B, whose close-knit trio is shaken when Charlotte, a mysterious new girl, arrives in their small town. The way she turns their world upside down—revealing she’s from the future—hooked me immediately.

Nell’s fear of losing Cole felt so real. I could really relate to her emotions, especially as she starts to question everything she thought was secure. The friendship between her, Cole, and Stevie B was written so well, and I loved how they had to navigate these new, life-altering choices together. I was rooting for all of them in different ways.

Charlotte was such an interesting character. I loved the mystery surrounding her and how she introduces the idea of the multiverse. The concept that one choice can create completely different outcomes in alternate realities really made me think about life and all the "what ifs." It added depth to the story, which I wasn’t expecting from a YA novel.

The time travel and multiverse aspects were explained in a way that made sense without getting too technical. It had just the right mix of science and magic, keeping me immersed without pulling me out of the emotional journey.

This book was such an engaging read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves YA with a time travel twist. It’s full of heart and adventure!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sixteen Minutes is a great book. It's a safe read for high school students. No profanity or sex.
The story of great. It is part romance, part science fiction, a dash of the future, some relativity, and life lessons. This book begins with the end as a tease, and that kept me on tenterhooks throughout.

I recommend this book for your own reading and for your class.

Thanks to Netgalley.com for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up 4 stars.

The first bit of the book didn't really resonate with me very well. Nell, the main character, seemed to be too focused on everything that had gone wrong in her life instead of anything good at all, and I honestly was sitting thinking, "I thought this was going to have something to do with time travel. Where the heck is that part of the story going to come in?" However, once it did, and Nell became more proactive in her life instead of stagnant, I feel like the book hit its stronger part.

Honestly, the best part for me was the research that went into the time travel aspect. Was some of it a little stretched or a little far-fetched? Yes, but I would argue it was within the bounds of the theories and science that Reilly explored in order to develop the story. I definitely raced through the last hundred or so pages more than the first almost 150 pages because of the attention to those details.

Be forewarned: the characters do have quite the colorful language throughout the book. Definitely not a huge fan of the swearing myself, but after my many interactions with teens, I also know that a lot of them tend to talk that way any more.

Book:
SIXTEEN MINUTES by K J. Reilly
Thank you Netgalley and PenguinTeen for the EARC (Oct 15)

Review:
5⭐
The cover and title of SIXTEEN MINUTES is what drew me in. Going into this book, I didn't actually know what to expect, but what was delivered was better than I could have imagined.
SIXTEEN MINUTES follows Nell, Cole, and Stevie B. When a new girl shows up claiming she's a time traveller, Cole is ready to jump and time travel. Nell and Stevie B. are unsure, claiming it's too dangerous. Can they do it, will they save the day?
From page one, this book gripped me, and I easily devoured it in just a few days. I really enjoyed this book---the trio and how each of them were important to each other i their own way, the time travel, the author's writing, and the bigger picture of saving the day. This book was magical in the time travelling way. Though it is a work of fiction, I loves the author's reiteration through the characters about multiple universes and how one choice can change something in one universe and be entirely different in the other.
SIXTEEN MINUTES. That number was really important throughout this book, and I appreciated how the author tied the title in with other things in this. I would highly recommend this. 10/10 would read again.

Title: Sixteen Minutes
Author: J.K. Reilly
Genre: Teen/YA, Time Travel Mystery
Publisher: Penguin Group Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Book
Pub Date: October 15, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded up
Pages: 352

Charlotte, is a mysterious new girl at school, who might she be from the future.
She soon changes the lives of friends- Nell, Stevie and Cole.

~Nell is seventeen and sure she will never leave (or get out of) Clawson, NY. Her dad is dead and her mom works at the penitentiary.
~ Cole is her boyfriend; his little sister has asthma and has had dangerous breathing episodes.
~ Stevie B is an artist and now sees that his drawings are happening!

This is a delightful story.

I know am not the target audience for this but as a High School Guidance Counselor I love to read YA stories. It pleases me when I can recommend a book as well just talk about books and encouraging reading for fun other than text books. Additionally I love stories about time travel and this did not disappoint.

In the ‘Author’s Notes’ J.K. Reilly tells us this story is a work of fiction and was written to entertain and inspire and took some liberties. However there is science regarding the possibility of time travel, the potential existence of parallel universes, as well as the concept of the multiverse- based on respected work from highly reputable theoretical physicists and mathematicians.
Einstein’s theories of special relativity and general relativity to Hermann Minkowski’s work on geometry of space-time and its relationship to speed.

Additionally she lists several nonfiction books that cover more on the theoretical science of time travel and the possible of parallel universes and the multiverse.

If you are like me you just might be ready to read more.

Want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 15, 2024.

*Sixteen Minutes* is a beautifully crafted blend of coming-of-age drama and speculative fiction that will deeply resonate with readers. The story, set in the small town of Clawson, follows seventeen-year-old Nell, who feels confined by her surroundings and finds solace in her relationship with her boyfriend, Cole. Their close-knit group, including Cole’s sister Finn—who suffers from a debilitating disease—and their loyal friend Stevie B, faces a profound challenge when a mysterious girl named Charlotte arrives, bringing a twist of time travel into their lives.

The novel shines in its raw and relatable depiction of human emotions and relationships. Nell’s journey, marked by her dreams of a life beyond her small town and the poignant symbolism of her expired passports, adds a deeply personal touch. The intricate dynamics between Nell, Cole, and Stevie B, coupled with Charlotte’s enigmatic influence, create a gripping narrative filled with suspense and heartfelt moments.

The author skillfully blends the emotional depth of a coming-of-age story with the thrill of speculative fiction, offering a thought-provoking exploration of love, friendship, and the allure of the unknown. The time travel element introduces compelling questions about choosing between a familiar, comforting life and an uncertain, potentially better future.

Though the novel is intensely emotional and beautifully written, with a classic love triangle that adds tension and complexity, some readers may find themselves yearning for more answers to the mysteries presented. Nonetheless, the heartfelt portrayal of the characters' struggles and the impactful themes make *Sixteen Minutes* a memorable and engaging read that lingers long after the final page.

Great young adult novel to read. The theme of this novel was very unique. I haven’t read anything like it! This is my first time reading a novel from this author but I would like to read more!

5 stars! ✨

A magical, shockingly beautiful tale about love, friendship, and who we consider our home.

“I only want one. One universe. One life. One you. One me.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In “Sixteen Minutes” we follow the pov of Nell. She is a seventeen-year-old who has never known a life outside of her small town in Clawson - and tends to feel trapped in this space she grew up in. The brightest light in her life is her boyfriend, Cole. Boyfriend feels like a light term because to Nell, Cole is everything. They have known each other since they were children and understand one another better than they understand themselves. Finn - Cole’s younger sister suffers from a disease with no current cure that affects her breathing and more often than not lands her in the hospital. When she was born Nell and Cole always wanted to give her “one lung from you, and one lung from me.” They spend their days with their close friend Stevie B. swimming the quarry, going to school, and looking forward to the future (in hopes for a better one) until one day a mysterious girl Charlotte arrives and changes the trajectories of their lives as we know it. Our trio must trust the universe, and accomplish the impossible to save the person closest to their hearts.

The way the author describes human emotions and relationships is so raw and relatable. I truly connected with Nell as I too have lost my father at a young age, and felt trapped in my “seventeen year old” teen years. For a sci- fi YA novel I was not expecting this to be as emotional or in depth as it was. These characters are so special to me.

“If you’re too scared to jump, I will hold you and keep you safe forever.”

Nell is such a unique individual. Collecting expired passports to imagine all of the places she wants to go broke my heart. She is so young and has her whole life ahead of her, and she doesn’t even realize this yet.

The way Nell and Cole care for one another and have found their safety nets and home in each other’s souls makes me so incredibly happy - after all the trauma they have endured they deserve to find peace. In whatever that may be.

Stevie B - the most loyal, loving, and hilarious friend. I hope he finds the love he deserves. 🥹

Such a heartfelt tale. This is going to stay with me for quite some time.

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! These thoughts are my own.**

I did not have time to read this book, and to be honest, the parts I did read didn't particularly make me want to continue. As a Christian reader, the relatively frequent curse words were annoying, and I just couldn't get behind the writing style. The main character girl's POV (which I'm pretty sure is the only one) really grated on my nerves. She annoyed me so much that I just couldn't continue.

It's very possible this book gets better as it goes on and I just didn't have the time to reach that part, but I just couldn't do it.

Sixteen Minutes by K.J. Reilly offers a well-structured narrative with a blend of suspense and drama. While the story presents an interesting premise and engaging moments, its overall impact may vary depending on individual preferences for character depth and pacing. The novel provides a solid reading experience but may not stand out significantly in the genre.