If Only I Were a Full-Time Reading Machine
Sometimes I wish my full-time job was just sitting in a cozy chair, devouring books non-stop, and shouting my opinions to the world the exact second I slam the back cover shut. Unfortunately, reality gets in the way—and Life Out of Order definitely tested my stamina!
To put things into perspective: I flew through The Time Traveler’s Wife in four fast days. It’s one of those stories that just stays with you forever. But this 560-page sequel? It took me a whole month to conquer because I kept cheating on it with other books!
If you’re going into this expecting another swoony, heartbreak-heavy romance, prepare for a serious plot twist. Niffenegger basically traded the tissue boxes for dystopian dread. Alba is older now, and unlike her dad Henry, she actually has some control over her time-slips. Does she use them for cute date nights? Nope! She uses them to hang with anti-fascist activists, pass along future intel, and fight back against corporate corruption and authoritarian leaders in a world being wrecked by climate change.
The romance is still in the mix, but it’s definitely riding in the backseat. Alba finds herself caught between Zach (her steady anchor in the present) and Oliver (a fellow time-traveling musician from China). But because she’s constantly hopping through time, her love life feels like two parallel lives running at once, which can be a little bizarre to keep track of.
Honestly, it’s a dense, intimidating brick of a book, and I really wish Niffenegger had shaved it down to the 400-page mark. But even though it lacks that single-sitting momentum, it’s a super thought-provoking dive into activism, climate change, and where our world might be heading. (Plus, I’m genuinely curious if Hollywood will ever try to turn this heavy sci-fi pivot into a movie!).
I’ve already bought a copy as a Christmas gift for a friend… now I’m just praying she actually has the time to read it!
