Book Review: The Time Traveler's Boyfriend by Annabelle Costa

The Time Traveler's Boyfriend by Annabelle Costa

Completed: April 14, 2014
Length: 183 Pages

Claudia’s geeky boyfriend Adam has just invented a time machine.

No, really—he has. She doesn't believe it either until Adam provides her with definitive proof that he does, in fact, have a functioning time travel device sitting in the living room of his Manhattan brownstone.

But instead of getting ready to accept the Nobel Prize, Adam has very different plans for his groundbreaking invention. He wants Claudia to use the machine to travel back in time and stop the accident that landed him in a wheelchair over a decade ago, and prevent the trajectory of events that he believes ruined his life.

When Claudia reluctantly agrees to become the first human time traveler, she knows she’s making a big gamble. If she succeeds, she could have the happy ending with commitment-phobic Adam that she’s always dreamed of. But if she fails, it could mean the end of the universe as she knows it.

Fiction or Non-Fiction? Genre?: I guess this is almost science-fiction... And romance... Definitely fiction.

What Lead You to Pick Up This Book?: I read it as part of a TLC Book Tour.

Summarize the Plot: Well, there is a girl and a guy. Claudia is a school teacher and Adam is a computer programmer and inventor. He is in a wheelchair because of an accident that leaves him paralysed from the waist down. They are in their 30's and Claudia is feeling her time slipping away. She is ready to settle down and have a baby. Adam keeps putting on the brakes and blaming it on a relationship from his past. Then, Adam invents a time machine and asks Claudia to go back in time to try and stop the cab that hit him from succeeding. That's when Claudia takes the risk of being the first time traveler. You will have to read the book to see what happens!

What Did You Like Most About This Book?: First of all... I was worried I wouldn't like it at all. It is just another book in my attempt to branch out with my reading. And, you know what, while I wouldn't call it my favourite read of the year, I did find it a fun read. I liked Claudia most of the time. I thought the time-travelling angle was different. I liked that I didn't find myself groaning at the silliness. And, it was a book with real people. Claudia was just an average person and Adam was average other than being in a wheelchair... And inventing a time machine... I mentioned the other day that I get tired of everything being so perfect...

What Did You Like The Least?: Let's see... I sometimes didn't like the dialogue. It didn't flow or something. It was just in the beginning of the book, so I must have got used to it as I read it. I also found things were unnecessarily repeated over and over again. I wish those moments were used to add more to the story than to reiterate something we know all ready. I am sure if I didn't go into this book expecting a fun read, I would dislike a lot more.

What Did You Think of the Writing Style?: Not perfect, but not terrible either. It is just something that will get better with practice. I finished the book, so it couldn't have bothered me that much.

What Did You Think of the Main Character?: I mentioned above that I mostly liked Claudia, but there were times where I didn't. I think the only reason I reached the end of the book and liked her is because she goes back in time and encounters her younger self. Her younger self is much, much worse. I think a lot of it was that all Claudia seemed to be thinking about is her size, getting married, and having kids. It's really what the whole book is focused around. I couldn't help wishing she had some deeper thoughts.

What Did You Think of the Ending?: A bit predictable, but satisfactory. I don't think I would have liked it if the book ended any other way. I wouldn't expect the book to end any other way.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a cutesy, science-fiction-like, romance story... Give this a try! It won't knock your socks off, but you will have fun reading it!