brooke (semi-hiatus)'s Reviews > The Seven Year Slip

➸ 4.25 stars

“i loved how a book, a story, a set of words in a sentence organized in the exact right order, made you miss places you’ve never visited, and people you’ve never met.”

— this story centers around clementine, an overworked book publicist who has hit a crossroads in her life. her life and career are perfectly planned out and she is now up for one of the biggest promotions of her life, but she is still reeling from the devastating and unexpected loss of her aunt, analea. she has recently moved into her aunt’s apartment and while her aunt has already told her about the magical apartment, which she doesn’t believe - so imagine clementine’s surprise when one day she finds a strange, but attractive man standing in her kitchen. here we meet iwan, a tattooed, inspiring chef with big dreams. he’s subletting the apartment from her aunt, but from seven years ago.

wow what a magical, beautifully written and heartwarming story!! this was that book that completely took me off guard. this is a book you easily fall in love with, it swept me off my feet and surprised me in the best possible way. some things were a little predictable, but i found i didn’t care. i loved the new york setting, it always just does it for me!! 😍

➷ this book is so much more than a romance. this story takes you on a journey of clementine’s self discovery, her friendships, mistakes, passions, her growth and how she navigates through life dealing with grief. i loved how this story represents grief because i felt like i was grieving the loss of her aunt too. clementine’s relationship with her aunt was a pivotal point of this story, i was instantly drawn to how strong and deep their relationship was. i loved that analea’s magical apartment keeps clementine connected to her in some way and that her wisdom still lives on with clementine.

— this book doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truths of grief, and through the characters’ experiences, readers are invited to reflect on the universal nature of loss and the resilience required to navigate the ever-shifting landscape of emotions. grief is not portrayed as a mere obstacle but as an integral part of the characters’ journeys. the author intricately weaves the threads of sorrow, allowing us to witness the characters’ raw and authentic responses to loss. the healing process also becomes an integral part of the story, adding depth and authenticity to the characters’ experiences.

“nothing lasts forever. not the good things, not the bad. so just find what makes you happy, and do it for as long as you can.”

➳ clementine west:
she’s not perfect. she’s got her own set of flaws and quirks, and that’s what makes her real. you’re not just cheering for her; you’re on this wild ride, feeling every high and low as she kicks ass and tries to make sense of the temporal mayhem. we see her struggle with grief and we see how she grapples with a sense of uncertainty and directionlessness in her life. she finds herself at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take or what her future holds. i really enjoyed seeing her development from being so closed-off and pursing the life she thought she had to live, to embracing that people change. it was beautiful to see her realise she can dictate how her life can be, and that your job doesn’t define who you are. we all feel lost sometimes and struggle to understand with what we should do with ourselves. but life is all about the struggles you go through and it’s okay to embrace it. everyone has their own path, challenges and lessons to learn. i love how she met iwan at the right time, he makes her rekindle the things she used to love in life and i think that was beautiful.

➳ james iwan ashton:
「 in a world of boys, he's a gentleman 」
there are so many dimensions to his character. he’s the kind of guy who makes you believe in love at first sight. whether he’s sweeping lemon off her feet with grand romantic gestures or sharing tender moments of vulnerability, he exudes an undeniable allure that leaves us swooning with every page turn. and oh how his charming charisma got me. he is patient, kind, wonderful, charming, cooks for her, calls her lemon, dances with her and just brings clementine out of her shell. his personality was so refreshing and i just adore how passionate he is about life. he is someone who observes and listens to everything clementine has to say, and no matter how long ago she told him something, he is the person that will always remember every one of their conversations. even though this story is written in clementine’s pov, i love that we still got to see how he is grown and followed his dreams in that 7 years.

꒰ clementine + iwan: ꒱
clementine finds herself seven years in the past, while iwan is seven years into the future. this temporal discrepancy sets the stage for their unconventional romance and adds layers of complexity to their relationship. but aaa they are the epitome of soft love - it is love that feels like a cozy blanket on a rainy winter day. they are nothing short of soul-mates, i was rooting for them throughout this story. the attraction was obvious and the chemistry was palpable but certain aspects seemed to happen too fast. the fmc would make remarks about “present iwan” being so much different from “past iwan” so i wish we had more time with them in the present to convince me they would work out. their love was very much insta-lovey and their connection was from the get-go. i say this a lot but i always expect build-up, i hate when characters just jump right into everything. how do you know if you’re in love after just spending one weekend together?? but amidst the instant connection, the romance is the beating heart of the narrative, reminding us that love isn’t always neat and orderly. it’s messy, intense, and, in this case, comes with a side of time-bending complications that keep you hooked from start to finish. but their love does feels authentic and their mutual support and encouragement allows them to grow individually.

“you only live once. and if you do
it right, once is all you need.”

reading this book felt like a warm hug on a crisp autumn night. a comforting embrace that lingers long after the final page is turned. it’s like laughter from the one person who holds your heart, a beautiful and melodic symphony that resonates within you. it’s dancing in the kitchen while cheap wine flows, eating frozen pizza that’s then followed by a blissful homemade dessert, it’s where bathtubs become art studios, painting on a gloomy nyc day, it’s chasing the moon and taking a bold leap into the realm of love. as this book states “a matter of timing” is important and i definitely feel like i read this book at the perfect time.

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ pre-review:

i’m in the mood for a cute lil rom-com and i’ve heard nothing but great things about this book so i’m excited for this one! ✨