A flirty wrong-number text sparks a romance between Tressa Fay, a hairstylist, and Meryl, an engineer—only for them to discover they’re living five months apart in parallel universes, with Meryl’s disappearance looming in Tressa Fay’s present. As their found family bands together to unravel the multiverse paradox, the story explores queer love, fate, and the ripple effects of choices across time and realities.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a contemporary world with a science fiction twist, this novel follows Tressa Fay Robeson, a hairstylist and social media influencer, whose life takes an unexpected turn after a misdirected text leads to a flirty exchange with Meryl, a woman who turns out to be missing in her own timeline. The two women discover they are communicating from parallel universes that are five months apart, and as Tressa Fay and her close-knit group of friends investigate, they become entangled in a temporal paradox. The narrative explores their attempts to prevent Meryl’s disappearance, delving into themes of fate, love across timelines, and the ripple effects of choices. The story is told through a mix of third-person narration, text messages, and multiple points of view, and features a diverse cast including queer, bisexual, nonbinary, and polyamorous characters, as well as a found family dynamic and a cat named Epinephrine.

Readers praised the book for its heartfelt and emotional romance between Tressa Fay and Meryl, highlighting their chemistry, banter, and the depiction of yearning and connection that transcends time and space. The found family aspect and supportive friend group were frequently mentioned as strengths, with several reviewers noting the joy, trust, and queer community represented throughout the story. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ representation, body diversity (such as Meryl being described as fat in a loving way), and various subplots involving side characters’ relationships were appreciated. Many readers also enjoyed the witty, snarky dialogue, the blend of romance and sci-fi elements, and the philosophical reflections on love, fate, and identity.

Criticisms centered on the execution of the time travel and multiverse mechanics, with several readers finding the explanations confusing, overly dense, or detracting from the main romance. The repeated use of character names, especially 'Tressa Fay,' was a common complaint, with some finding it distracting or stilted. Multiple reviewers felt that the side characters lacked distinct personalities and that their dialogue and mannerisms were too similar, making it difficult to differentiate them. Some also noted issues with pacing, narrative focus, and the book’s length, as well as a reliance on quirky or 'try-hard' elements such as character and pet names. A few readers struggled to connect emotionally due to these factors, and some found the plot resolution unsatisfying or unclear.

The book was published in June 2025 and received an average rating of 3.71 out of 5 from 361 ratings and 167 full reviews. It was frequently recommended as a Pride Month read and compared to works like 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue,' 'The Lake House,' and films such as 'Everything Everywhere All At Once.' The story incorporates multiple forms of representation, including lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, and polyamorous characters, as well as themes of found family, identity, and the impact of small choices across timelines. The narrative structure includes both traditional storytelling and text message exchanges, and the book’s cover and title were often cited as initial draws for readers.