Time Change

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about *Time Change* at first. Time-travel romances often lean too hard on either the gimmick or the sap, but this one surprised me by committing to its weirdness. The 1948 sections, told through the eyes of a fading film star, drips with the kind of melancholy you’d expect from a Raymond Chandler outtake—all cigarette smoke and unspoken regrets. Meanwhile, the 2019 writer’s chapters crackle with the kind of jaded humor that feels painfully real (his internal rants about the publishing industry had me laughing out loud). The real magic? How Douglas makes their eventual meeting feel *earned*, not contrived. Pirhalla’s narration is a masterclass in tonal balance. He gives the 1948 heroine a voice that’s husky and world-weary, but never cartoonish, while the modern protagonist’s sarcasm lands without feeling forced. My only critique? The pacing drags slightly in the middle—there’s a stretch where the mystery of the photos feels repetitive, and I found myself wishing for more interaction between the timelines sooner. That said, the payoff is worth it, especially in the final act, where the audiobook’s production shines: a single, perfectly placed sound effect (a door creaking open) sent chills down my spine. It’s not a flawless listen, but it’s a *memorable* one—ideal for fans of *The Time Traveler’s Wife* who wish it had more bite, or anyone who’s ever wondered what would happen if Humphrey Bogart and a modern-day cynic shared a cocktail (and a secret).