The Seven Year Slip

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Clementine’s world is shaken after the loss of her beloved aunt, leaving her with a broken heart and a carefully constructed plan: work hard, keep safe, and don’t let love in too deeply. But everything changes when she discovers her late aunt’s apartment has a secret—it slips through time. One evening, Clementine walks in to find Iwan, a charming man with a Southern drawl and a love for lemon pies, standing in her kitchen. The only problem? He’s living seven years in the past. As Clementine and Iwan’s timelines blur together in the magical apartment, she’s forced to confront her grief, her dreams, and the possibility that love isn’t about perfect timing—it’s about finding the courage to embrace it, no matter when it comes.

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Clementine, a book publisher still reeling from the loss of her beloved aunt, moves into her aunt’s old apartment—only to discover the magic her aunt once spoke of is real. The apartment has a peculiar quirk: it can slip seven years into the past. One evening, Clementine meets Iwan, a charming young man with dreams of becoming a chef and opening his own restaurant. What follows is a tender and time-bending love story that begins in the past and slowly weaves its way into the present.

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What I loved most about this novel was the timeless love story—not only between Clementine and Iwan, but also between Clementine and her aunt, Analea. Their bond extended beyond aunt and niece and into a true friendship, one that felt both grounding and magical. Through Clementine’s memories and the apartment’s slips in time, we get glimpses of their deep connection. I found myself eagerly waiting for the moment when Clementine might see her aunt again through the apartment’s magic.

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It was equally touching to watch Clementine and Iwan’s relationship unfold across two timelines. Despite the seven-year gap, Iwan’s love for her never wavered. I especially appreciated the moment when Clementine admitted she wouldn’t have been ready for Iwan seven years earlier—a beautiful nod to the idea of the “right person, wrong time.” The relationships at the heart of this story—romantic, familial, and personal—were what made it so special. By the time I turned the last page, I was in tears, moved by the way love, in all its forms, endured through time.

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Ashley Poston’s writing style is so unique, and I loved how she brought not only the characters to life but also the setting itself. The magical apartment building felt so vivid and enchanting that I found myself wishing I could live there, even just for a little while. It reminded me of the Arconia from Only Murders in the Building—a place full of mystery, charm, and secrets—except with an added layer of magic woven into its walls. I completely fell in love with this setting and would give anything to spend just one night in that apartment.

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The perfect food pairing for this novel is key lime pie shooters. One food that really stood out to me was the lemon pie Iwan makes for Clementine during their very first night together. This dessert isn’t just a sweet moment in the story—it becomes a thread woven throughout the entire novel. Described as a deconstructed key lime pie, it was so vivid and mouthwatering that I felt like I could actually taste it while reading. The tangy citrus, the creamy filling, the crumbly crust—it’s the kind of dessert that lingers, both on the page and in your imagination. As I read, I kept picturing it as a “key lime pie in a cup”—light, refreshing, and layered with flavor. To bring this bookish bite to life, I found the perfect recipe from Cook Craft Love. It captures all the flavors of a traditional key lime pie but with the fun twist of being served in a glass, just like the dreamy, deconstructed version in the story.

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