When the Day Comes

Book Review

When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she’s the same person at her core in both times, she’s leading two vastly different lives. (From the publisher)

Reader’s Thoughts:

Love historical fiction but want a creative twist? I am so excited to share with you this delightful new book from Gabrielle Meyer, When the Day Comes.

It was the cover of this novel that grabbed my attention first, but when I read the blurb on the back, the book skyrocketed to the top of my TBR pile. Historical fiction is my absolute favorite genre. But throw in time-travel and give me two historical timelines? That’s double the history. And I couldn’t be happier.

This plot felt wonderfully unique and intricately woven together. Even though Libby is living two separate lives, the times that she’s living felt very intentional. In both eras, her world is on the cusp of war. She also has to navigate her 1774 fight for American independence and blend that passion with her 1914 life, where she is living in London. These historical layers were fascinating.

I also found the time-travel element to be very well done. In books like these, I don’t mind stretching believability. However, different time travel rules and theories can lead to holes in the story — and those can be difficult to overlook. But the author did a great job of addressing any questions I had. The premise was so creative, and I didn’t have any trouble jumping back and forth between the two timelines.

When the Day Comes was one of those books where I enjoyed the first half, but when I got to the second half I absolutely could not put it down! Forget chores and bedtime. I needed to know what happens next! And the ending of this novel was everything I was looking for. Meyer clearly knew where this story was going, right from the start, and that was evident. Loose ends were wrapped up perfectly and there were two twists that I did not at all see coming.

It’s rare for me to avidly follow along with a series, but I am already eagerly anticipating book 2!

**Trigger warning: Rape (These scenes weren’t graphic but they were present. I don’t often mention trigger warnings in my reviews, but I do think this is an important one to note.)

Recommended for:

Readers who enjoy historical fiction, time-travel, and Christian-faith themes.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. All opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

About the book:

(From the publisher) Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she’s the same person at her core in both times, she’s leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives–and any hope of love–are put in jeopardy.

Libby’s life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about–women’s suffrage–is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she’s not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?