Synopsis:
A BRAND NEW uplifting book club love story, perfect for fans of Kate Storey, Sally Page and Cecilia Ahern.
Sometimes the universe gives you exactly what you need… over and over again.
Robyn is heartbroken when her beloved mum dies unexpectedly and would give anything to turn back time. Then, on New Year’s Eve, a clock gifted to her by her best friend Aida, smashes to the floor. This was no ordinary clock; this one contained a curse and a blessing, released as it broke.
Granted her impossible wish, Robyn wakes up the next morning to find it is January 1st again. She has been given the ultimate gift – a whole year to live over and a chance to stop her mother’s passing before it happens.
But trying to cheat destiny comes with unexpected consequences. Soon, Robyn finds herself living the same year over again until she can figure out how to change her fate. And when the universe throws her a wonderful curveball, her life is turned upside down in the best way possible.
With the clock ticking towards another New Year’s Eve, Robyn has a choice to make – say a final goodbye or embrace a whole new future.
A heart-warming, uplifting tale of fate, friendship and forever love in this cleverly-told novel perfect for fans of Kate Storey, Sally Page and Cecilia Ahern.
Readers love Clare Swatman:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This will be – without question – one of my books of the year. I read it at a feverish pace, desperately wanting to find out what happened but afraid to turn the next page in case everything fell apart. It’s an all-consuming love story unlike any other I’ve ever read – and I adored every single moment. Totally unforgettable, and so very special – do add it to your reading list!’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This was one of those rare books that completely drew me in — the kind you can’t put down. I found myself sneaking away in the afternoon just to finish it. Clare Swatman has crafted a heartfelt, clever timeslip story that blends grief, love, and hope in a way that feels both poignant and uplifting. It’s a captivating read, and I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Engaging, entertaining and emotional so that it’s one of those narratives that swirls in the reader’s mind long after the final page is turned. I really recommend it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh gosh this was fabulous. Best book I’ve read in ages. A unique story, so well written. Completely Spellbinding. I loved it!!’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a magical story! I was hooked from the start and in fact recommend this book to friends and my daughters before I had even finished it.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book, a fantastically written absolute page turner that I couldn’t put down. I was gripped and needed to know what happened next. Would highly recommend.’
Praise for Clare Swatman:
‘Irresistible… A delightfully bittersweet story that will appeal to fans of One Day‘ Sunday Mirror
‘Utterly believable, charming and immersive, full of acute emotional insights and truths, this is a novel every women will identify with. Highly recommended.’ F.L. Everett
‘An absolutely gorgeous festive read which will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I related to Bea from the very first page of this beautifully written story.’ Freya Kennedy
‘It was so easy to get absorbed into the world Clare Swatman has created for Beth. I felt her losses and disappointments acutely, which only made the ending more satisfying. It really kept me guessing, too.’ Laura Pearson
Shop The Book: Time After Time
Shop The Author: Clare Swatman
Shop My Stack: 2026 Books Read
Time After Time has a Groundhog Day premise. After a magical clock curses Robyn, she has to relive the same year over and over until she figures out the lesson she’s meant to learn, breaks the curse, and finally moves forward in time. I love this idea, and I’ve only ever seen it in movies, never read it in a book, so it was such an interesting timeline to follow.
If you could relive one year of your life over and over, would you take the chance to change things, or let it stay the way it happened?
The Story
Robyn is heartbroken when her beloved mum dies unexpectedly, and she would give anything to turn back time. Then, on New Year’s Eve, a clock her best friend Aida gave her smashes to the floor, releasing both a curse and a blessing. Robyn wakes up to find it’s January 1st again, with a whole year to relive and a chance to stop her mother’s death before it happens. But trying to cheat destiny comes with consequences, and Robyn finds herself living the same year over and over until she can figure out how to change her fate.
Reading Experience
What made this book extra special for me is that the year Robyn relives isn’t just any year. It’s a deeply painful one, and each time she repeats it, she sinks a little deeper into that pain. As a reader, it was heartbreaking to watch her go through it the first time, knowing she’d have to do it all over again because the lesson hadn’t been learned yet. It’s a hold-your-breath, hope-for-the-best, watch-it-all-crash-down-again kind of story.
Characters
My girl Robyn. I loved her most of the time, but she is not the brightest tool in the shed. It took her forever to figure out what she was meant to learn. I’m talking years! There were times when the people around her were figuring it out and she just wasn’t listening, and I was yelling at the pages in my head: “Girl, it’s right in front of you. Stop getting in your own way!” Because we could see where things needed to go before Robyn could, I got even more emotionally invested in her journey, willing her to open up and finally get it.
The side characters are amazing. Robyn’s family has such a beloved, close-knit charm, the kind of togetherness you’d want in your own family. Her best friends are funny and quirky, understanding but also bold and blunt. They love and support her, but they aren’t afraid to tell her how it is, even if it risks offending her. It’s really great character writing.
Final Thoughts
Without giving anything away, what needed to happen to break the curse was a little predictable, but the way it unfolded still had some unexpected elements. I was holding my breath, hoping it would work and that she’d finally break the loop and get to live her life. For me, the ending was five-plus stars, and I definitely shed a tear.
ARC provided via Boldwood Books and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Clare Swatman is the author of 11 women’s fiction novels. Her latest, THE GARDEN OF SHARED STORIES, is a time travel love story about fate and overcoming the impossible. It was published worldwide on 3 December 2025. Her next book, TIME AFTER TIME, will be released on 27 October 2026.
She also writes psychological thrillers under the name CL Swatman. ONE OF THEM IS LYING, was published on 10th May this year. She is also the author of NO SON OF MINE and AFTER THE PARTY.
Clare lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and two boys. Even the cat is male, which means she’s destined to be outnumbered forever.
You can find out more about her books at www. clareswatmanauthor. com, follow her on Facebook at Clare Swatman Author, or Insta and Bluesky, where she’s @clareswatmanauthor
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