3.5 ⭐️s rounded up to 4
Thank you so much to Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for review!

Time and Tide is a queer historical romance. Following Samantha, an “obnoxiously bi” 21st century progressive as she nearly dies in a plane crash, only to wake aboard a British naval vessel in the year 1806, it blends the historical drama of Outlander with delightfully uncouth and sarcastic narration any modern girl will surely find relatable. Fending off unwanted marriage proposals and other menaces of the historical patriarchy, Sam’s biggest torment and triumph is meeting the famed literary hero, Margaret Goodenough, known for penning the first lesbian kiss in history. But Sam knows Margaret’s bravery and literary prowess was born of her secret affair with a rich patron known only as “The Wealthy Widow”, so as Margaret starts to fall for her instead, Sam finds herself torn between the love she’s always wanted and the fear that, in claiming that love, she will change the course of queer history forever.

This book excels in two areas: the concept and the voice! Blatantly queer historical romance is something I am loving. Samantha’s narration is also a treat—it’s funny, digestible, and wonderfully sarcastic. The main reason this was not a 5-star read for me was the pacing. I felt the relationships that Sam develops were largely rushed and ended up coming across a tad shallow at times. However, this was not enough to undercut my enjoyment, and this book was overall a fun adventure of a time. Anyone looking to stan a bi queen should add this to their TBR!

Sam has just broken up with her girlfriend, and her parting gift was the famous Queer novel “The Welshman’s Daughters”. Sam knew it well, because her ex quoted it all the time, and she had watched many adoptions on TV of the story. But it was not her favorite,and she threw it in the trash of the plane ride that she had hoped would be a romantic trip for the two of them.


Then, the plane explodes, and Sam is thrown into the ocean off Gibraltar, but instead of 2024, it is 1805, and the Battle of Trafalgar has just taken place, and the Welshman’s Daughter would be published in 1807.


Like any good Victorian or Regency novel, there are a lot of coincidences that tie people together, but this is done without hitting us over the head. Each thing that happens is logical, and explained.


Good time travel stories have to have some logic to them. So, the story can be good, but if the ending doesn’t wrap things up, then it is all a cheat, and all the build up is for nothing. That isn’t what happens with this story, I am happy to say.


I love how Sam manages to make her way in the world, knowing enough that she as a woman can’t do anything without friends or family, or unfortunately, a man.


I also love how Sam tries, but doesn’t always succeed in trying to match the current language, and swears like a sailor. She also is very sexual, and we get descriptions of those sexual encounters. Be warned, the F word is used early and often.


So, amazing book. Really well done. I look forward to anything J. M. Frey writes next. In the meantime, pre-order this one, if you love sapphic regency time travel stories.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 12th of November 2024.