Quick Synopsis

An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate… only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics

Publisher’s Synopsis

Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.

Book Review

The Seven Year Slip is a novel that I do not think I would have picked up if it had not been my book club’s February book. I considered skipping it, but I am quite glad I did not.

The Seven Year Slip is a romance novel with a side of magical realism. After losing her aunt, Clementine moves into the apartment she inherited and realizes that she is not alone. In fact, there is a man staying at the apartment for the summer as her aunt arranged… seven years ago. Clementine heard the stories about the magic apartment but dismissed them until she experienced it for herself. The problem is Clementine starts to fall for this man who also pops up in her life outside the apartment, 7 years later.

I was initially skeptical of a romance novel that incorporated magical elements. The 7 year gap sounded like a set up for a failed relationship and a lot of heart ache. However, Ashley Poston handled it in a manner that worked for me. Sure, there was still some moments of worry for Clementine & Iwan, but I was so happy to be rewarded with their happily ever after.

I would be remiss if I did not discuss the grief in this novel. Clementine, the female protagonist, recently lost her beloved aunt to suicide. These days, I am hesitant to read any books about grief. However, I was taken with how Poston writes about grief. She truly captured the day-to-day struggle and emotions, allowing them to transcend the page. Consequently, Clementine’s grief for her aunt and the piece of herself she lost along with her emotionally resonated with me. Similarly, the novel captures Clementine at a crossroads in her life, like the one I find myself currently faced with. While I do not think I will be falling for a man 7 years in the past any time soon, I thought her struggles were relatable and realistic.

Another aspect of The Seven Year Slip that won me over was the way Clementine and Iwan’s relationship and feelings develop. The nature in which they connect with each other felt very real and heartwarming. I am always a fan of romances that allow feelings to develop over time in a natural way, rather than instalove.

Did I mention that Iwan is a fantastic male protagonist that will become your newest book boyfriend? Iwan is a refreshing male love interest with a zest for life and a passion for cooking. After reading a recent book with a cruel MMC, Iwan was a breath of fresh air with his emotional maturity and respectfulness. His care and gentleness towards Clementine and his enthusiasm for food captured my heart.

I could not quite rate The Seven Year Slip five stars as there were a few loose ends. I thought there should be some closure around the aunt and her lover as well as who the next apartment’s tenant would be. Similarly, Poston left readers hanging with the last time jump. In addition, I think a few more scenes from the past/in the apartment would have further strengthened the novel. These few additions would have been the cherry on top of this delicious sundae of a novel.

Although the premise of this novel was outside my comfort zone and sounded like a recipe for heartbreak, Ashely Poston won me over. While I may have shed a few tears and had a few heart aches while reading, The Seven Year Slip was worth it. Overall, I loved this bittersweet novel and its message about ensuring that you are making life choices based up on what you want and need rather than others’ desires for you. I highly recommend this heartwarming story. I definitely see The Dead Romantics in my future.

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