When the Day Comes - Gabrielle Meyer - ★★★★.½

Author: Gabrielle Meyer

Series: Timeless, #1

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction.

Rating: 4.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: This is like reading two historical stories in one. I have never seen such a unique approach to a dual timeline novel. I was sure this would get a minimum of 4.25 stars. The ending made me jump up a notch.

Story: I'm trying very hard not to reveal too much here!

Nineteen year old Libby lives two lives simultaneously – one in 1774 and the other in 1914. (Yup, you read that right.) When she goes to sleep at night in one life, she wakes up in the other, and vice versa.

In 1774, she is the impoverished girl who is struggling to run her late father’s printing press amid mounting debts, a male-dominated society, and the impending political conflict (which we know today as the American Revolutionary War.)

In 1914, she is the daughter of a wealthy American businessman whose wife is determined to get Libby married to a member of the British aristocracy in order to jump up the echelons of NY society.

Libby knows that she will be compelled to choose one timeline on the eve of her 21st birthday. Which timeline would it be? Would her decision come with any costs attached?

The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Libby.

Where the book worked for me:

😍 This is such a creative storyline! I have never seen any historical novel approach a dual timeline story with such effectiveness. The timeslip idea is used by the author as a wonderful writing device to bring us the alternate timelines without making them seem forced. You do need to focus and remember what’s happening in Libby’s distinct lives but the writing makes the job quite easy for you.

😍 The story is a strange mix of historical fiction and fantasy and timeslip, but historical fiction clearly rules over a major chunk of the plot. To boot, it is also Christian fiction and it does justice to this genre as well.

😍 If you know me even a little, you know that I'm an overthinker even while reading. I need a plot to be very logical. SFF books get some flexibility from me as it is a highly imaginative genre, but if something has glaring plot holes, the left side of my brain begins cribbing. To my surprise, whenever I had some logical query related to Libby's dual existence, the author sorted it out. I ended up with not a single doubt or query, even with such an ambitious, almost outlandish plotline. That deserves kudos!

😍 The plotting is crystal clear. Every single track, whether major or minor, is taken care of and has a role to play in the overall story development. The author reveals in her note that she knew the entire plot before she started writing the book. Well, it shows!

😍 Libby is a strong lead character and carries the book wonderfully on her shoulders. Despite the inadequacies of her era (both the eras!), she comes off as strong, intelligent, and resourceful, making her a fabulous historical heroine. Some of the secondary characters too are well-sketched, but this is Libby’s story all the way.

😍 The years that the author chose for Libby’s two lives are quite significant. Libby’s society is on the cusp of a war in both timelines and yet the circumstances are so different. Though Libby is an American in both her lives, the author skilfully weaves in England in the 1914 timeline, thereby adding a third historical angle to the already strong historical plot. Thus we get a glimpse of 1774 Virginia, 1914 New York, and 1914 England.

😍 There is an element of romance but while it is the central driving force behind the story, it never overpowers the narrative.

😍 Both the timelines lend themselves wonderfully to a lot of feminist themes and debates - women's rights, suffrage, marital pressure, and so on.

😍 The author seems to have done her research excellently. Historical facts are woven into the fictional narrative, lending them an added touch of authenticity. Her note at the end details which part is true and where she has taken creative license.

😍 The ending is just perfect for this book and gives a nice clue about the next book in this series, which I will eagerly wait to get my hands on. There’s no cliffhanger or open ending. This is how books in a series should end – completing the story within them and yet letting us know where the book might go next.

Where the book could have worked better for me:

😕 Some part of the 1774 history went over my head. I know a little about American history from what I have read in books such as 'Gone with the Wind' but this story takes an angle I have never read about. This is my shortcoming, not the book’s. It would be better if you are somewhat familiar with American history, though it is not a must, if you want to understand the conflict in this timeline better.

😕 As is common in many first person narrations, there is some amount of internal rambling. This, at times, interferes with the pacing of the story.

All in all, my satisfaction level with this story is extremely high. I love historical fiction, and to get two such compelling and well-researched historical narratives within a single book was a great experience. Heartily recommended to lovers of historical fiction who want to try something quite unlike what they usually read. It is hist-fic with a time-travel twist!

My thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the DRC of “When the Day Comes”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Reviews of the subsequent books in this series: 

Book Two - 'In This Moment': Click HERE.

Book Three - For a Lifetime': Click HERE.