3,5 *

This was a really enjoyable book and I’d definitely recommend it! This book follows Aimee, who has a condition that sometimes makes her travel to a past memory of hers for short periods of time. Her condition has been getting worse (she’s been jumping to the past more often and for longer periods) and she thinks it might be related to the fact that her mum abandoned her with no warning some years prior, so Aimee goes to Korea to try and find her to get closure.

My favourite thing about this book was definitely Aimee’s personal journey. Seeing her having to deal with her terrible situation (both because of her condition and because of her family) was really emotional, and I truly just wanted the best for her.

Aimee finding out her mum just didn’t want anything to do with her, and actually had a whole ass new family was BRUTAL!!! And I reeeeally enjoyed how the author developed the story after that: Aimee purposefully going back to a past memory to find that other time-traveler she’d seen because she thinks it’s her mum and she still needs closure. Aimee realizing that’s not her mum, but someone else, and then being absolutely heartbroken. Her not wanting to go back to the present, because in that specific memory her past self was still happy. And then, finally, Aimee coming to the realization that what memory-Aimee truly deserves is for present-day-Aimee to live her life to the fullest, and not let her mum’s decision ruin her future.

It was all soooooo well done! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 And I REALLY enjoyed that the author didn’t wrap everything in a pretty bow at the end; Aimee didn’t get everything she expected, but her journey realizing what she needs and deserves was just really nice, and I appreciate that the book acknowledges she will need a long time to process everything, but that doesn't mean she can’t find happiness in the meantime. I also really liked Aimee’s letter to the Hapjeong Station Ghost – it was a bit of an unsubtle way of summing up the message of the book, but it didn’t bother me at all! I actually REALLY loved it! Idk man, I had chills! 😳

Now regarding the side characters:

➤ I absolutely couldn’t stand her father. I know his actions are explained (more like *excused* 🙄) by his upbringing (aka him being korean and not really liking doctors lol), but I’m sorry: Aimee had been BEGGING her father for help for YEARS and he kept on neglecting her, so she had to deal with those horrible and disorienting situations for years and years. She tried talking to her father about soooo many things (regarding her condition, her family, etc.), and he ignored her, brushed all her concerns aside, and regularly lied to her. Aimee then had to go to the other side of the planet just to find her family, in hopes that finding closure would help her manage her time-traveling condition. And even after following her to Korea, her father only truly cared about Aimee when her aunt told him that he’d lose his daughter’s affection by treating her poorly. THAT’S when he’s suddenly worried 🙄🙄🙄. Listen: I understand he was in a bad situation, since he was abandoned by Aimee’s mum, too. But that (+ the fact that you don’t really trust doctors) isn’t an excuse to let your child suffer. God, the way this man treated his child was aggravating! I’m not forgiving enough to excuse neglectful parents lol. This man infuriated me. Byeeeee.

➤ Despite also being in a difficult situation, Aimee’s mum and grandparents were also very awful, but that was purposeful and realistic, and I actually really enjoyed the way the author wrapped that plotline up!

➤ The LI, Junho, was soooo sweet! He’s kind, caring, immediately acknowledges his wrongdoings and apologizes (even when he didn’t do anything too bad), he openly communicates…. He’s truly one of the best LIs out there!!!! The only problem is that………… the romance was barely developed, so I didn’t care about Junho at all, and I actually disliked most of his time on-page, since it was a constant reminder of the lowkey-insta-love 😭😭😭. Aimee had met him once in passing as a child, and had a little crush back then. Now they meet again, like a decade later, and after 1 conversation she’s already blushing and feeling butterflies….. Whyyyyyyyyyyyy 😭. God, I was soooo sad! This romance could’ve been so good (probably a new favourite, since the LI is so great!), but I just COULDN’T take it seriously, because they literally started liking each other after hanging out twice. 🫠 The romance was very underdeveloped, and I genuinely couldn’t tell you why they liked each other! I mean, sure, they’re both nice people, but why do *these 2 characters specifically* make sense together????? We don’t know, because it was insta-love (them having met once as children isn’t a good foundation for this romance, fyi; you can literally disregard that meeting lol). 🥲 Affff. What a waste of great potential.


Now for other aspects I enjoyed: I really liked the setting, and I think the author did a good job showing different parts of Korea in a way that made sense and made the story richer. I also appreciate that the non-english terms were put into context, so you don’t have to constantly google what they mean (a lot of books nowadays forget to do that lol). Overall, really enjoyable book!