Best Time Travel Novels
How much do I love talking about the best time travel novels? Let me count the ways! I can confidently say that there is no literary genre that I love more than time travel. Specifically time travel that is also heavy on the romance. There is just something so entertaining about the high stakes that time travel brings to a story. Is it fun to read a book about two people who fall in love? Of course. Is it even better to read a book about two people who fall in love and overcome the challenges brought on by traveling through time? Absolutely.
I could endlessly talk about the best time travel novels. However, for the sake of time, I have carefully curated a short list of my top recommendations. I hope you love them as much as I do!
Here are the best time travel novels!
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
Anne Gallagher, mourning the loss of the grandfather who raised her, travels to his native Ireland to spread his ashes. When she arrives, she finds herself transported to 1921, to a restless Ireland desperate for independence. Anne must decide to return to the twenty-first century, or to remain and carve out a new life for herself, full of uncertainty, adventure, and love.
I loved loved loved this book, and I consider it to be one of the best time travel novels of all time. It actually took me a little bit longer to read because I wanted to savor it. This is a beautifully written novel about family, grief, and a love that spans across time. If you only read one on this list, this is it!
The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz
In The Night Mark, Faye Barlowe follows her photography career to the coast of South Carolina. Struggling with the overwhelming grief of losing her husband, she finds solace in the mystery of the Bride Island lighthouse. When a visit to the lighthouse magically lands her in 1921, Faye is confronted with the possibility of a life and a love she thought long lost.
If you loved What the Wind Knows, you’ll also enjoy The Night Mark. This novel explores similar themes of grief and love that stretches across time. I think I read this book in a day. It had me hooked from the first chapter, and I had to know what Faye was going to choose. A love in the past or or a life in the present?
Readers should note this one is Rated R.
The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
Mourning the loss of her sister Katrina, Eva travels to England to the house where they shared fond childhood memories. When she arrives, she discovers that she can travel to the eighteenth century on the property of her Cornwall home. It’s here where she is able to rediscover herself amidst her grief, and where she is able to find true love.
Unlike the other novels on this list, the timeline in this one was pretty evenly split between past and present. This emphasized the gravity of the decision time travel characters have to make. Either choosing to stay in the present, or to begin a new life in the past.
The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway
Lord Nicholas Falcott was ready to die on the battlefield in 1815. When he wakes up, it isn’t heaven, but modern day London where he encounters an exclusive group of time travelers. The rules of the Guild are simple: blend in with modern society and never return to your original time. Although Nick has built a luxurious life for himself in 21st century Vermont, he can’t stop thinking about the love he left behind.
The River of No Return explores time travel from the perspective of one trapped in the present rather than the other way around. I loved the secret society aspect of this novel, and how each of the characters are collected from different eras. This novel has all of the usual elements, romance, danger, and the desire to get home, but also introduces the complications surrounding monitored time travel.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
It wouldn’t be a list of the best time travel novels without this classic. The novel follows Claire Randall as she’s transported from her home in 1945 to 1743 Scotland. Here she encounters a brutal Scotland in the midst of war, and where she is forced to adapt to survive. When Claire meets Jamie Fraser, what begins as a marriage of convenience soon has her questioning if she wants to return to her time or remain and build a life in the past.
It took me years into my love of time travel to even glance at this book. The Stars show had just come out, and it felt over hyped. Once I did read it, I tore through all 800 pages. It’s popular for a reason, and it faithfully follows all of the classic time travel romance tropes.
Readers should note this one is Rated R.
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
This is the second book in Deborah Harkness’ All Souls series, and follows Matthew and Diana into Elizabethan England. In this new time, they encounter supernatural and political threats while continuing their search for the elusive Ashmole 782.
This is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. It has vampires, witches, mystery and romance, and book two even has time travel. The first book, A Discovery of Witches, is my favorite of the series and is a must read before you start Shadow of Night. This series is a romantasy with brooding vampires, intelligent witches, and a lush dark academia setting.
Readers should note this one is Rated R.
YA Favorites
Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
Hope Walton discovers that her lost mother is not only alive, but a member of a secret group of time travelers trapped in the twelfth century. With only three days to save her mother, Hope dives headfirst into time travel where she discovers love, adventure, and belief in herself.
I loved this idea of an order of time travelers. It was such an interesting take on the time travel theme. In most of the time travel books I’ve read, it has been individual time travelers embarking on journeys to the past. This novel’s creative imagining of a society of time travelers was so much fun!
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
Teenagers Gabi and Lia Betarrini are spending the summer following their archeologist mom across Italy, when Gabi accidentally ends up stuck in the fourteenth century. When she’s rescued by Sir Marcello Forelli, Gabi must blend in with her surroundings, fight to get back to her own time, and absolutely avoid falling in love. The twenty-first century is where she belongs, no matter how handsome and intriguing her knight in shining armor appears to be.
This is the first in a delightful YA series that features epic adventure, action, and of course, romance! It’s also one of my absolute favorite series of all time.
The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum
Abby Edmunds has her life carefully mapped out. Finish high school, attend the local college, and marry the big-hearted boy next door. Despite everything perfectly going to plan, Abby can’t help questioning if this is the life she really wants. When mysterious and dreamy Dante Alexander shows up as the new foreign exchange student at school, Abby is pulled into a world of mystery, time travel, and true love.
This is another thrilling YA trip through time that will have you swooning and dreaming of medieval Italy. If you love the River of Time series, you’ll also love The Hourglass Door.
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents have developed devices that facilitate inter-dimensional travel. When Marguerite’s father is murdered and the likely suspect is his research assistant, Marguerite has no choice but to follow him through the dimensions in pursuit of revenge. As she travels through the different versions of herself, she comes to realize that there may be more to the story of her father’s murder.
This is a series full of action, mystery and romance. If you love the idea of the multiverse, you will love dipping into each universe that Claudia Gray has created.
The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
In this YA novel, magic is a real and dying art. Pushed towards extinction and trapped behind an anti-magic wall called the Brink, Esta travels back in time to 1902 as the only hope of giving her fellow magus a brighter future. In the past she encounters a dark and hostile New York. Here, everything is questionable, from her mission to her heart.
I love books about turn of the century New York. I love reading about the city in this time period, how the streets were laid out, what was different, what is the same. This book was such a fun trip to 1902 NYC, with a few mentions of key historical figures and places that brought the novel to life.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
High school queen bee Samantha Kingston has everything she ever wanted. Popularity, a hot boyfriend, and a close knit group of friends. Everything in her life is going according to plan, until she dies in an accident when leaving a party. The next morning Sam wakes up to find out she has the chance to live the day over again. As she goes through the cycle of living the same day and dying the same way, she must figure out what needs to change to save herself and stop the loop.
This book gave sixteen year old me a book hangover. I remember finishing the last chapter and just sitting there, letting the ending sink in. Oliver covers a range of topics from grief, to friendship, to first love with a sensitivity that will have you falling in love with Sam as her character grows and changes throughout the time loop.
Readers should note that this novel contains discussions of mental health, bullying, and car accidents.
That wraps up my list of the best time travel novels. If any of the best time travel novels you’ve read aren’t listed here, please feel free to drop the title in the comments! I’m always looking for new recommendations!
Looking for more to read? Check out the Best Books for Summer Reading.
Xx, M
