A Modern Lady Lost in Time

Barnes’ narration is the standout here. Her Isabella is neither a caricature nor a whiny damsel; she’s a woman grappling with change, and Barnes sells every twinge of confusion and burgeoning curiosity. The first act drags slightly—Isabella’s backstory in the Victorian era feels more dutiful than dynamic—but once she lands in the future, the story hits its stride. Daye’s worldbuilding shines in the details: Isabella’s horror at seeing a stranger’s underwear on a clothesline, her grudging admiration for women wearing pants. The romance is sweet but not saccharine, and the villain (a smug tech billionaire with a grudge against time itself) is deliciously over-the-top. My only critique? The time-travel mechanics are handwaved more than explored, leaving a few dangling threads. And while Barnes’ performance is stellar, her male leads occasionally veer into brooding caricature. That said, the audiobook’s energy never flags, and Isabella’s journey—from defiance to self-discovery—stays compelling throughout. If you love historical heroines in modern settings with a dash of sci-fi whimsy, this is a treat.