This an enchanting love story between Henry & Clare. Their love story involves love, passion, heart break, patience, forgiveness & tragic losses. Henry has a genetic disorder that forces him to time travel. It is incredibly taxing on his body over time and it happens more often when he’s stressed. Clare meets Henry when she is 6, he meets her when he’s 28. He is drawn to places, times & people most significant in his life & often does not know what his future self has done while traveling to the past. He has seen his mother die numerous of times but can never change the past or the future. Their lives are already set & has already happened. It’s like a continuous loop. Time travel is such a fantastic concept & author Niffennegger does it well.

From beginning to end, I was completely immersed. The 1st time I felt gut wrenched was when his 28-year-old self was teaching his 9-year-old self on survival skills while time traveling. “Henry, I don’t like to time travel by myself. It’s better with you. Can’t you always come with me?” – 9-yo Henry to 28-yo Henry. Henry and little Henry look in the mirror and notice all their features & the scar he got from the tragic car accident when his mother died and little Henry realizes he’s really all alone.

Niffenegger was able to interlace significant joys & despairs in life but uses the concept time travel to allow the two main characters to especially focus on their present time. The ordinary things in life are treasured & savored because their lives are so uncertain.
“…right now we are here, and nothing can mar our perfection, or steal the joy of this perfect moment”.

This love story made me adore Henry & Clare, fall in love, broke my heart in so many ways & then wrecked me.