Happy Friday! Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, and featuring one of my favorite books so far this year!

Williamsburg, Virginia
May 5, 1774

“For as long as I could remember, my mama had told me that my life was a gift. But at the age of nineteen, I had yet to see how this life I was living – or rather, the lives I was living – could be anything other than a burden.”

When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

The Basics

Title: When the Day Comes

Author: Gabrielle Meyer

Series: Timeless (Book 1)

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: Historical/Time Travel

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she’s the same person at her core in both times, she’s leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives–and any hope of love–are put in jeopardy.

Libby’s life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about–women’s suffrage–is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she’s not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

My Review

When the Day Comes is an absolutely captivating story by Gabrielle Meyer! It is a unique twist on the dual timeline & historical genres, with the heroine, Libby, living in both 1774 and 1914. As she approaches her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path to live for the rest of her life. This fascinating premise is handled brilliantly, with rich historical detail and engaging characters.

Libby is such a relatable heroine, and I found myself rooting for her from the first page. She is faced with tragedy and difficult decisions in both timelines, and Ms. Meyer did a wonderful job of weaving powerful spiritual themes throughout. I enjoyed seeing history come to life through Libby’s eyes, as she lived through the beginnings of both the American Revolution and World War I. The twists and turns kept coming, leaving me holding my breath and wondering how Libby could possibly have a happy ending. I was surprised and delighted by the satisfying conclusion, and I am very much looking forward to the next book!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.