When a mysterious time capsule leads a Toronto teacher to England, she discovers some loves are worth crossing oceans—and decades—to find, from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Bonam-Young.

When a history teacher receives a letter from her deceased grandmother revealing a secret love affair in the 1950s, it leads her to a time capsule hidden decades ago. But it’s the charming grandson of her grandmother’s lost love who changes everything, proving that sometimes the heart knows exactly where—and when—it belongs.

Stopped after the first chapter.
1 star based on the portion that I read.

Very early on, it’s revealed that the main character’s late grandmother had been in a long-term relationship with a woman before marrying her husband, and that she continued to harbor feelings for her former partner throughout her 60-year marriage. The storyline leans into what felt, to me, like an emotional affair, and that direction immediately put me off, as well as the cursing and vulgar language.

I understand that many readers may appreciate this kind of backstory, but it did not align with my personal beliefs or the kind of content I enjoy in my fiction. Instead of feeling immersed in the story, I felt uncomfortable and turned off. The tone also came across as preachy to me, as though there was a larger political agenda or message being emphasized in a way that pulled me out of the narrative.

Because of that, I chose to stop reading. This author’s style and themes are simply not a good fit for me, and I will not be picking up her other books in the future.

If you enjoy stories that explore complex relationship histories and themes like this, you may have a very different experience. It just was not for me, and I cannot recommend it based on my own reading experience.