Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara

Published by Sphere, November 2013

In 2013, JoJo runs an accountancy firm. She’s a workaholic who is pretty much letting life pass her by. However, when a car hits her, she finds herself transported back to 1963. She has travelled through time and she has to figure out why before she can get home again. From the 60’s she travels to the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

The concept of this book intrigued me before I even started reading it. I am fascinated by time travel (and yes, I have watched Back To The Future and Quantum Leap a few times.)

I loved this book. I liked how elements of JoJo’s 2013 were ever-present when she travelled but were in different guises and I liked how each time zone found her in a slightly different circumstance.

The references to the years which she travelled to, are one of the things I liked the most. I loved the 60’s era – that’s the era I would go to if I could travel and I adored all the Beatles references. It was also a nice trip down my memory lane with all the Take That references in the 1990’s.

Ali captures the era’s well and I felt a different atmosphere to JoJo’s surroundings every time she moved through the different decades. The plot is well thought out and elements of all the different time zones tie together which is something I always love in a story.

JoJo is developed well as a character. Harry is a great hero and Ellie and George are great supporting characters too. I wanted to know what happened to them all at the end. There was a nice if somewhat bittersweet ending to this book. There were surprises, which were great for me, especially when I thought I had the ending figured out.

I couldn’t put this book down. This book, a comfy chair and a nice cup of tea are a lovely antidote to the cold, horrible weather. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.