Time After Time: A Novel
A magical love story, inspired by the legend of a woman who vanished from Grand Central Terminal, sweeps readers from the 1920s to World War II and beyond.
"Readers who enjoyed Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife will be enchanted."--Publishers Weekly "I utterly loved this clever, charming, hopeful tale of true love against all odds."--Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia On a clear December morning in 1937, at the famous gold clock in Grand Central Terminal, Joe Reynolds, a hardworking railroad man from Queens, meets a vibrant young woman who seems mysteriously out of place. Nora Lansing is a Manhattan socialite and an aspiring artist whose flapper clothing, pearl earrings, and talk of the Roaring Twenties don't seem to match the bleak mood of Depression-era New York. Captivated by Nora from her first electric touch, Joe despairs when he tries to walk her home and she disappears. Finding her again--and again--will become the focus of his love and his life. As thousands of visitors pass under the famous celestial blue ceiling each day, Joe and Nora create a life of infinite love in a finite space, taking full advantage of the "Terminal City" within a city. But when the construction of another landmark threatens their future, Nora and Joe are forced to test the limits of their freedom--and their love. Praise for Time After Time "I'll never again set foot in Grand Central Terminal without looking over my shoulder for Nora and Joe, or marveling at the station itself--a backdrop as intriguing as the love story that unfolds beneath its star-studded ceiling."--Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones "In lively prose set against the fascinating history of Grand Central . . . Grunwald asks a compelling question: How long would we stay in one place [for love]?"--Time "The spectacular Lisa Grunwald has written a classic story of fate, true love, art, and chance with truth and beauty. You will want to share it with every reader you know."--Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of Tony's Wife
"Readers who enjoyed Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife will be enchanted."--Publishers Weekly "I utterly loved this clever, charming, hopeful tale of true love against all odds."--Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia On a clear December morning in 1937, at the famous gold clock in Grand Central Terminal, Joe Reynolds, a hardworking railroad man from Queens, meets a vibrant young woman who seems mysteriously out of place. Nora Lansing is a Manhattan socialite and an aspiring artist whose flapper clothing, pearl earrings, and talk of the Roaring Twenties don't seem to match the bleak mood of Depression-era New York. Captivated by Nora from her first electric touch, Joe despairs when he tries to walk her home and she disappears. Finding her again--and again--will become the focus of his love and his life. As thousands of visitors pass under the famous celestial blue ceiling each day, Joe and Nora create a life of infinite love in a finite space, taking full advantage of the "Terminal City" within a city. But when the construction of another landmark threatens their future, Nora and Joe are forced to test the limits of their freedom--and their love. Praise for Time After Time "I'll never again set foot in Grand Central Terminal without looking over my shoulder for Nora and Joe, or marveling at the station itself--a backdrop as intriguing as the love story that unfolds beneath its star-studded ceiling."--Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones "In lively prose set against the fascinating history of Grand Central . . . Grunwald asks a compelling question: How long would we stay in one place [for love]?"--Time "The spectacular Lisa Grunwald has written a classic story of fate, true love, art, and chance with truth and beauty. You will want to share it with every reader you know."--Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of Tony's Wife
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Community Reviews
If you love stories that transport you to a historic time and place and envelope you in the setting, this might be just the book for you. Rich in history and atmosphere along with characters and a story I loved, this was the perfect escape for me during our COVID-19 stay-at-home period.
The majority of the story takes place inside Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal for several decades beginning in the late 1920’s. The mystery of Nora’s appearances and disappearances were fascinating and her relationship with Joe was evening more intriguing. Where did she go? How does she get here? Why does she disappear? How can they make this work? Their endearing relationship was so touching and their life experiences of love, loss, family traditions, sacrifice, and hope ultimately makes us question what freedom really means for each of us in order to truly live our lives.
I loved learning about Grand Central Terminal and it’s hidden treasures as well the iconic Oyster Bar, coffee & pastry shops, the Gold Clock, the GCT Theatre, the Biltmore Hotel, the GC School of Art, little known attic and basement rooms, and sunshine streaming through the cathedral windows at sunrise. I’d never heard of Manhattanhenge, but yes, it is a real thing, just ask Neil deGrasse Tyson!
Into this setting, the author skillfully molds an unbelievable situation into a believable story and we experience it as though we were right there. Always eager to come back to the story after I put it down, I found myself reluctant to finish the last several chapters: I simply wanted to hold on to Joe and Nora as long as I could. Fun fact: A few historic GCT figures make appearances, such as Ralston Young for one, that added even more depth to this solid yet enchanting story.
The majority of the story takes place inside Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal for several decades beginning in the late 1920’s. The mystery of Nora’s appearances and disappearances were fascinating and her relationship with Joe was evening more intriguing. Where did she go? How does she get here? Why does she disappear? How can they make this work? Their endearing relationship was so touching and their life experiences of love, loss, family traditions, sacrifice, and hope ultimately makes us question what freedom really means for each of us in order to truly live our lives.
I loved learning about Grand Central Terminal and it’s hidden treasures as well the iconic Oyster Bar, coffee & pastry shops, the Gold Clock, the GCT Theatre, the Biltmore Hotel, the GC School of Art, little known attic and basement rooms, and sunshine streaming through the cathedral windows at sunrise. I’d never heard of Manhattanhenge, but yes, it is a real thing, just ask Neil deGrasse Tyson!
Into this setting, the author skillfully molds an unbelievable situation into a believable story and we experience it as though we were right there. Always eager to come back to the story after I put it down, I found myself reluctant to finish the last several chapters: I simply wanted to hold on to Joe and Nora as long as I could. Fun fact: A few historic GCT figures make appearances, such as Ralston Young for one, that added even more depth to this solid yet enchanting story.
The premise behind Lisa Grunwald’s ‘Time After Time’ sounded fascinating, and I was immediately drawn to it. Plus, that cover! Wow!
The writing was beautifully done. The characters felt real and you wanted to cheer them on.
However, for me, the story was slow. I wanted more action...more drama. This felt more like watching everyday life pass by in front of me. I also wanted a bit more “ghost” in my story - maybe even some Magical Realism.
For me, it’s a 3.5 star read. For those who love a character-driven story mixed with well-researched historical fiction (set before, during, & after WWII), this book is for you.
The writing was beautifully done. The characters felt real and you wanted to cheer them on.
However, for me, the story was slow. I wanted more action...more drama. This felt more like watching everyday life pass by in front of me. I also wanted a bit more “ghost” in my story - maybe even some Magical Realism.
For me, it’s a 3.5 star read. For those who love a character-driven story mixed with well-researched historical fiction (set before, during, & after WWII), this book is for you.
Ok, I did not see that coming. Usually, when a character does something unexpected near the end of a book, it means that the author has written herself into a corner that she can't get out of without someone having an epiphany or just acting way out of character or something. But in this case, the behavior totally felt like something the character would do, even if I wasn't expecting it. I won't even tell you which character does the unexpected thing, so read the book to find out. It's worth it all the way through.
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