Lily Trapp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler by Amelia Tait

What worked:

Time travel is always an intriguing topic, and the author adds a creative twist. Every New Year’s Eve, Lily is transported back in time, along with everyone she knows. However, Lily is the only character aware that it’s happening. These characters maintain their personalities and relationships with Lily, which provides readers with some consistency as the settings change. Lily has a crush on Ollie, but she’s a servant in 1621 and can’t show it. They still share a love for reading and find ways to interact when opportunities arise. Georgia bullies Lily during each time period, but it’s difficult for her to obey Georgia’s orders in 1621.

A main aspect of the story is Lily’s personal growth, as she tries to understand her connections to other characters. Georgia subtly insults Lily in 2025, but Lily doesn’t understand why it happens. She reaches a breaking point in each time period and retaliates against her tormentor. However, her actions have unexpected consequences, forcing her to evaluate her own behavior. Poppy is Lily’s best friend, and Lily admires Poppy’s willingness to be different. Poppy always supports Lily, but their friendship is tested as the plot progresses. Lily is unsure how she feels about Joe. He seems to be a neutral character, although he shares suggestions about how to get revenge against Georgia. Lily eventually must reconsider his influence on her life.

Visits to different time periods provide opportunities for readers to learn about England’s history. People in 1621 were strictly religious, and being accused of witchcraft could be a death sentence. Lily draws suspicion when she refuses to let doctors drain blood from her sick mother and instead makes chicken soup and a concoction of ingredients for congestion. Lily is baffled at the lack of women’s rights in 1621, and she’s angry that there hasn’t been much improvement in 1972. She faces culture shock in 1972 when she doesn’t know about popular music and pop stars. She doesn’t understand why she’s considered different for not wearing a regular bra in 2025, but Georgia insults her for wearing one and not supporting women’s liberation in 1972.

What didn’t work as well:

The jumps to different years in history are creative, but the first half of the plot feels choppy. There’s no explanation for how or why the jumps occur, so readers are left to wonder.

The final verdict:

The time jumps make it more challenging to understand the overall plot, but Lily’s self-actualization is the real story. She encounters the same characters in different time periods and must learn to understand her place among them. I recommend you try this book for yourself.