NO TIME LIKE NOW

A Burbank, California, boy goes on an incredible journey to find his will to live again after a tragic event.

A year after his father’s passing, 17-year-old brown-skinned Hazeem, who’s gay, remains deeply affected by the loss. His connection with his mother has deteriorated, and he stays home, uninterested in anything and distanced from his closest friends—Holly, Yamany, and Jack—who are like “three ghosts” to him. When Nana, Hazeem’s Muslim paternal grandmother and the one remaining person he feels understands him, suddenly dies, Hazeem utters words that would grant her extra life. This brings him face to face with Time—and the possible destruction of the world as he knows it. Hazeem must come to terms with loss, face those he loves, and make an emotionally wrenching choice. Can he find happiness amid heartbreak? The novel explores important themes of loss and the struggle for peace of mind, but the confusing narrative requires effort to untangle. The inconsistent characterization of Time along with their nebulous rules only adds to the complexity. Though his journey is marked by satisfying personal growth, readers will wish for more depth from Hazeem’s relationship with Time. Ultimately, the various storylines and themes in the book are ambitious but do not coalesce into a satisfying whole.

A lesson on death and attachment that’s based on an interesting premise but fails to find its footing.