Clementine outwardly appears to have it all: a publishing career on an upward trajectory, an NYC apartment in a building with a doorman. Yet, her love life is a mess; she doesn’t enjoy her job, and her apartment is an inheritance she never wanted. Her confidant, her aunt, passed away suddenly, leaving her heartbroken. In addition her aunt left her with two words of wisdom: the apartment is magical and she should never fall in love in it. Then she finds Iwan, a decidedly attractive aspiring chef, in her apartment and finds it difficult to follow the second rule. That is not her only problem; the Iwan she wants is seven years in the past.
It is tricky to compare this to anything but Poston’s other novels; the blending of magical realism with real-life events was seamless, and I found myself rooting for Clementine and Iwan. The dialogue was well-developed, and for the most part, I bought the attraction. There was an element that felt “insta-love” to me but by the end that felt remedied. Poston gives her central characters depth and character shortcomings that help power the narrative. My main complaint was that the ending felt rushed. I wanted more time with Clementine and Iwan to experience more of them together.
It is noticeable that Poston has been profoundly affected by grief. If you read my review of Dead Romantics, you know I didn’t believe the FMC was grieving. It was clearly portrayed here with Clementine still reeling from her loss. In a previous interview, Poston mentioned she was dealing with grief when writing Dead Romantics, and you certainly felt that pain in Seven Year Slip. Despite the focus on loss, her writing still feels light and is easy to inhale.
I sat on this review for over a week, but the more I thought about it, the more I enjoyed this book. She sets herself apart with this second chance with a twist of romance. Her next novel is in June, and I am excited to experience her writing again!
