The Seven Year Slip DEALS
Ashley Poston’s The Seven Year Slip is a contemporary romance novel with a dash of magical realism, first published on June 27, 2023, by Berkley/HQ.
Known as the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics, Poston’s latest blends contemporary time-slip romance with a light thread of magical realism, turning an ordinary Manhattan apartment into a portal across time. In The Seven Year Slip, the boundaries between past and present aren’t just blurred, they’re invitingly crossed, opening the door to a love story that defies the usual timelines.
With its mix of charm, bittersweet emotion, and a setting that hums with New York energy, this is a novel that asks one irresistible question: if the person you’re meant to meet is years apart from you, would you still take the leap?
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The Seven Year Slip Summary
Set in vibrant New York City, this novel introduces Clementine, a driven book publicist who’s intentionally kept her life neat and emotionally compartmentalized until she inherits her late aunt’s apartment.
One day, she walks in and meets Iwan, a kind-hearted man with a Southern drawl and a lemon pie obsession, but there’s a catch: he’s from seven years ago. The apartment reveals itself as a curious wrinkle in time, linking Clementine’s present to a version of the world seven years earlier.
Through this impossible connection, her carefully ordered life is disrupted, and Iwan becomes both a mirror and a catalyst, pushing her to let go of control and believe in the moments meant for her. Readers can expect a blend of time-slip romance, grief, personal growth, and a touch of fate, all woven into a warm, time-bending love story.
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One of the novel’s biggest strengths is its emotional depth: Poston writes grief with authenticity and care, and Clementine’s internal journey feels real. Poston treats the time-slip device with such gentle warmth and clarity that it amplifies the romantic core, rather than overshadowing it; as one reviewer put it on What Is Quinn Reading: “great book with characters totally worth tracking down across a magic, time-traveling apartment portal.”
The chemistry between Clementine and Iwan is also a standout, sweet, swoony, and immediately compelling; the two are made for each other. Add in Poston’s vivid NYC backdrop, food-focused touches, and a gentle, hopeful tone, and you’ve got a time-slip romance that’s simultaneously comforting and unforgettable.
For me, the pacing in the present-day sections felt a little quick; there wasn’t quite enough time with Iwan “in the now” to deepen their connection beyond the initial spark. The “installove” element, falling hard and fast, may also feel a bit unrealistic or abrupt to those craving slow-burn development. So if you prefer time-slip romance grounded in gradual emotional buildup, this might feel a little too whirlwind, but it’s all part of the story’s charm for many fans.
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Themes
At its core, the novel explores grief, healing, and the courage it takes to open your heart again, especially when love seems impossible.
The apartment becomes a metaphor for the ways our past and present collide, and how sometimes, the right person shows up at the wrong time, and that mismatch can actually be the most meaningful. It also speaks to how imposing structure and safety in life isn’t always protection; sometimes it’s how we heal.
Ultimately, it’s a love story, yes, but also an exploration of trust, timing, and rediscovering joy when you least expect it.
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Verdict
The Seven Year Slip is a whimsical, heartfelt read, perfect for those who love emotional time-slip romance with a twist of magic and a sprinkle of indie-bookshop charm.
While the romance leaps quickly, the emotional core and poignant handling of grief ground it in genuine feeling. Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife, magical realism, time-slip romance, or emotional journeys peppered with warmth and kitchen-table intimacy will find themselves completely enchanted. If you’re up for a love story that spans years, literally, it’s absolutely worth the slip.
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
The Review
The Seven Year Slip
The Seven Year Slip is a whimsical, heartfelt read, perfect for those who love emotional time-slip romance with a twist of magic and a sprinkle of indie-bookshop charm.
PROS
- Easy read
- Captivating
- unique meet-cute
CONS
- could use more depth
- pacing
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