Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

Book Description

Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn’t (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.

She’s just been dumped. She’s just been fired. Her local café has run out of banana muffins.

Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated, but soon she’ll discover she’s trying to fix all the wrong things.

Review

I dove into Cassandra in Reverse expecting a quirky time travel tale, but found myself immersed in a story of self-discovery, grief, and growth.

I didn’t expect this book to move me as deeply as it did.

On the surface, it’s a clever twist on the classic “what if” time travel premise. But underneath the speculative narrative is a profoundly empathetic story about a woman learning to live in a world that doesn’t always make space for difference.

Holly Smale writes Cassandra’s internal world with care, clarity, and warmth. What could have been a whimsical gimmick turns into a powerful metaphor: the messy, looping, imperfect path of healing.

Like Sylvia in The Librarian of Crooked Lane, Cassandra’s story unfolds as she probes the mystery of her identity. Both novels center women who, when finding themselves in worlds out of sync with reality, use their situations to uncover buried truths about themselves.

I listened to Cassandra in Reverse on audiobook and loved the experience. Kristin Atherton’s performance brought Cassandra’s voice to life in a way that made her wit, vulnerability, and emotional arc even more impactful. Several times, I lingered in my car a little too long just to hear a few more minutes.

If you enjoy introspective, character-driven fiction with a speculative edge, Cassandra in Reverse is a quiet, clever gem.

Have you ever wished for a do-over? What moment in your life would you change, and what might you find along the way?

Content Warning

Ableism, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Death of a Parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Neurodivergence, Panic Attacks

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Jon Tyson on Unsplash