Next Time
by Randy Brown
Genre: Science Fiction / Romance
ISBN: 9798350947069
Print Length: 332 pages
Reviewed by Kristine Eckart
A time-travel novel exceptionally worthy of a binge-read
Looking to get lost in a world where everything is possible? Get ready to jump through time with Next Time, the exciting, action-packed fifth book from Randy Brown.
When William extends a helping hand to Miriam, who seems to have appeared from nowhere, he gets more than he bargained for. But Miriam’s ignorance of the current date, modern culture, and her surroundings raise some red flags. That’s when she reveals her secret: she can travel through time. Working on his master’s degree in history, William is intrigued and offers to be a resource for the next time Miriam appears. But as William continues his life, studying and spending time with his girlfriend, he still can’t get Miriam out of his mind.
Miriam appears more in William’s life over the years, and their relationship turns from friendship to romance. They must navigate the complexities of dating while existing in different dimensions of time. However, as the police start to take a particular interest in tracking down and questioning Miriam and William’s struggles with Miriam’s absence, complications arise. They must figure out how to deal with the investigations and how far they’re willing to go to save their relationship.
Of the many time-travel novels I’ve read, this is undeniably among my favorites. The novel’s pacing is spot-on, never spending too much time in between Miriam’s appearances and always keeping the plot moving with action sequences of police interrogations and disagreements between family and friends. These scenes keep the reader invested, especially when one of the main characters is missing. Traversing through its spot-on pacing and the scenes that don’t miss, you too will be fervently flipping pages to find the answer of Miriam and William’s fate.
I also appreciated the balance of realism and escapism present throughout the novel. Time-travel books can often feel like they create a world that’s completely different from our own, which provides plenty of entertainment and an escape from the worries we face on a daily basis.
However, in Next Time, the reality checks of dealing with getting a master’s degree; coordinating the practicalities of time travel like food, money, and how to avoid detection; and the struggles of how romantic relationships can affect every aspect of life offers a deeply refreshing balance.
The reality provides a crucial elements to the surreal time-travel story and almost makes the impossible seem possible. If you love time-travel stories complete with action and romance, Next Time would be the best choice you’ve made in a while.
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