I loved this book. I grew up in the 1980s and the author has caught the vibe of the era really well. It’s an intriguing premise and the author is smart enough not to delve too deeply into the how and why of the time travel which occurs. Instead, they take the reader on a fascinating journey of reflection and self affirmation.

Found out about this through my email and the author I have read one other book previously by her. The premise sounded interesting and I love being able to read any book by an Australian author and one set in Sydney. Was pretty chuffed to have been accepted for an arc review. Love the comparisons between 1985 and 2025.

This is such a great read! It's rare I find a book that is so easy to devour, and I finished far sooner than I expected to.

How to Survive 1985 is a sequel to her first book, Royals, but you truly don't need to have read it to catch up as there's a great recap done by the main character to loop the reader back in.

The main character, Shannon, goes back in time and has the opportunity to meet her mother as a teen. I appreciated the thought that went into how the characters dealt with losing technology and not having the amenities we're so used to in 2025.

Shannon makes a few crucial decisions about whether to change the past or not, and I feel it's wrapped up very well. I could really see a trend for how the plot leads the reader to consider their own impact on the world and the future. This was a really beautiful take on how time might change for the better if we just put more thought into our choices.

I definitely will look into more books by this author, and thank you to the publisher for this opportunity!