Review: When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach

Looking back, I wonder if I had an inkling that my life was about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. When sixteen-year-old Lillie Hart meets the gorgeous and mysterious Tom Windsor-Smith for the first time, it’s like fireworks — for her, anyway. Tom looks as if he would be more interested in watching paint dry; as if he is bored by her and by her small Nebraskan town in general.

But as Lillie begins to break down the walls of his seemingly impenetrable exterior, she starts to suspect that he holds the answers to her reoccurring nightmares and to the impossible memories which keep bubbling to the surface of her mind — memories of the two of them, together and in love.

When she at last learns the truth about their connection, Lillie discovers that Tom has been hiding an earth-shattering secret; a secret that is bigger — and much more terrifying and beautiful — than the both of them. She also discovers that once you finally understand that the world is round, there is no way to make it flat again. An epic and deeply original sci-fi romance, taking inspiration from Albert Einstein’s theories and the world-bending wonder of true love itself (GoodReads).

When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach is came out Sept. 3rd! I WoW-ed this book and then I got an ARC. I must have some good book Karma. I inhaled this short book and liked it pretty well, although I had my usual "I am confused by dimensions/time travel" feelings.

Originality: 8. Einstein theories, space-time continuum craziness, and murders make for one unique read. 
Absurdity: 5. Like all books about time/space travel, I roll my eyes at all theory exposition. I mean, I never really get it, but I have a baseline assumption that all alternative world stuff is ridiculous. This makes me a bad Star Trek watcher. I roll my eyes. A lot.
Level of Paranormal Romance: 10. HIGH, HIGH, HIGH. Without spoilers, this has soul-mate love across time and space going on. Which reminds me a bit of movie The Fountain, which I have not even seen, but looked super trippy.
Level of Harry Potterness: 2. OUCH. Sometimes this writing made me cringe, particularly because Lillie and her friends are kinda nasty to each other. Can we learn a lesson from Harry and love the people who matter to us? This writing does not stand out otherwise to me.

PS- Snaps for a cool title!
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a review copy from Angry Robot. Happy reading followed. (We do not accept or receive compensation for reviews at YAF and WS.)