Landline: A Novel

#1 New York Times bestselling author! A New York Times Best Seller! Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Fiction of 2014! An Indie Next Pick!

IF YOU GOT A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE,
WOULD YOU MAKE THE SAME CALL?

As far as time machines go, a magic telephone is pretty useless.

TV writer Georgie McCool can't actually visit the past -- all she can do is call it, and hope it picks up.

And hope he picks up.

Because once Georgie realizes she has a magic phone that calls into the past, all she wants to do is make things right with her husband, Neal.

Maybe she can fix the things in their past that seem unfixable in the present. Maybe this stupid phone is giving her a chance to start over ...

Does Georgie want to start over?

From Rainbow Rowell, the New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, comes this heart-wrenching - and hilarious - take on fate, time, television and true love.

Landline asks if two people are ever truly on the same path, or whether love just means finding someone who will keep meeting you halfway, no matter where you end up.

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Published Jul 7, 2015

322 pages

Average rating: 6.88

52 RATINGS

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KelSpinski

Jan 09, 2026

6/10 stars

Interesting story line. Similar to time travel without going back in time. Georgie is able to use an old land line to talk to her husband back in time when he was her boyfriend. And falls in love all over again.
I normally don't care for time travel books, but this was pretty good.

Margie Pettersen

Oct 27, 2025

2/10 stars

Georgie finds a way to connect to her husband, Neal, and try to save her marriage. It was a little too weird for me.

raeallic

Oct 09, 2025

10/10 stars

Better than anything I could ask for. More of THIS, please.

abookwanderer

Oct 09, 2025

10/10 stars

I actually just read this book in one sitting. (Okay. Maybe I stopped to eat and go to the bathroom.) That's how much I loved it. I was skeptical when I started after reading all the mixed reviews. Now, I just think anyone who gave it less than four stars must not have a heart. I'm kidding. (Maybe.) I should have never lost faith in Rainbow Rowell. I have loved everything I've ever read from her. This was one of those books that made me stop and think, "I wish I would have thought of this." Maybe it was all the things that hit so close to home. I graduated in 1993, so all the past references were comfortable and familiar. I, too, once fell for a boy who had a girlfriend--whom he broke up with for me. And then we got married. And had two little girls. So, Georgie and Neal were comfortable and familiar. Read it. If you have a heart and still believe in a little magic.

JaneRose0514

May 02, 2025

4/10 stars

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

I like the characters and the writing but over time I read it. I realized I couldn't finish this one. I guess, this book is just not for me or not my type but I could find a better book. I might not finish reading this one but at least I try to read this one and read if it's okay for me to read. But anyway, even though I wouldn't say I liked it, some people might find this one attractive or great and this book will fit them.