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A review by arockinsamsara
A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen
4.0
This is a heartfelt, engaging story, the wonderful amalgamation of whimsy and creativity, with just that tinge of melancholy, that Mike Chen does so well. Considering the structure and plotting of this story, the heft of the novel has to be carried by the characters, and our two primary leads are more than up for it. They are both interesting, quirky, and feel genuine. Plus, we get to see them grow and evolve in believable ways, and I really enjoyed spending time with both of them.
The story was very readable, I didn’t want to put it down and it read very quickly. But, that said, there is something to be said about whether we really need another time-loop story. There are various deviations of that plot device which have been explored over and again, and while this one did it expertly I am not sure how much it moved the needle, in any way. Two-thirds into the story Chen smartly takes some surprising swerves that keeps the story interesting, and I had fun the whole time. I actually wish I could have spent more time with the characters, and fallen deeper into their relationship. For plot reasons we only got to see little glimpses of their relationship as it grew and developed, and I do wish there could have been a little more, there, that’s where I felt coziest. And this story is definitely a cozy love story at heart, disguised as a near-future sci-fi romp. Not everything needs to shape the cultural zeitgeist, I suppose. The characters and story are fun, the homage to the many time-loop and time-travel stories of the past very firmly in place, and while it wasn’t very surprising I also never felt like it was derivative or repetitive. It was uplifting, entertaining, and I’m glad I had the chance to read it.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story was very readable, I didn’t want to put it down and it read very quickly. But, that said, there is something to be said about whether we really need another time-loop story. There are various deviations of that plot device which have been explored over and again, and while this one did it expertly I am not sure how much it moved the needle, in any way. Two-thirds into the story Chen smartly takes some surprising swerves that keeps the story interesting, and I had fun the whole time. I actually wish I could have spent more time with the characters, and fallen deeper into their relationship. For plot reasons we only got to see little glimpses of their relationship as it grew and developed, and I do wish there could have been a little more, there, that’s where I felt coziest. And this story is definitely a cozy love story at heart, disguised as a near-future sci-fi romp. Not everything needs to shape the cultural zeitgeist, I suppose. The characters and story are fun, the homage to the many time-loop and time-travel stories of the past very firmly in place, and while it wasn’t very surprising I also never felt like it was derivative or repetitive. It was uplifting, entertaining, and I’m glad I had the chance to read it.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.