I could not put this one down. You may think that having a time period switch every chapter is jarring, but the author pulled it off well. I was very invested in the characters' lives and can't wait for the next book of the series.

4 Stars

Content Warning: 2 instances of r*pe ( )

Libby was born with a sunburst birthmark on her chest, but it isn't any ordinary birthmark. She has been "marked" and given the gift of living two lives - one in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 New York and England. She lives each day twice, once in one time period, and then, after falling asleep and once midnight has passed, she wakes on the same day in the other time period - so she doesn't miss a day in either. There is one catch with this gift: on her 21st birthday, she has to choose the time period in which she will remain. In the timeline she forfeits, Libby will die. This is a hereditary gift. One of her mothers is also "marked" and helps guide her through dealing with her two lives. She has two very different families, two sets of friends, and two different impending wars on her horizons. In 1774, Libby and her mother run a printing press and support the Patriot cause. Libby's heart belongs to Henry Montgomery, but for reasons - some secret and some, Libby fears, having to do with her social standing (or lack thereof) - they cannot be together. Henry is tight-lipped on the matter. In 1914, Libby's very wealthy, social-climbing mother insists on marrying Libby to a member of the English nobility. In this time period, Libby is more interested in the women's suffrage movement than in societal rank - and the Great War is imminent. Libby knows that she should trust God within each timeline, but with her 21st birthday about a year away, how will Libby choose which life to pursue and which life to lose, along with all the people and causes in it? While I found the novel a little predictable, I still enjoyed the ride and I will be reading the sequel! ( )

First sentence: For as long as I could remember, my mama had told me that my life was a gift. But at the age of nineteen, I had yet to see how this life I was living--or rather the lives I was living--could be anything other than a burden.

Premise/plot: When the Day Comes is a "timeslip" novel I believe. The premise is that there are a select number of human beings gifted/blessed by God with an unusual ability. They live two lives. When they fall asleep in one life, they wake up in the other. That's the keeping it simple summary. On her twenty-first birthday, the individual--in this case, Libby--must choose between her two lives and commit to living in one time period. Libby lives in Colonial Williamsburg in 1774--so essentially the country is on the verge of the war--and New York in 1914--again, Libby is living on the verge of war, though she probably doesn't know that bit. Her mother is also a "time traveler" (her lives were Colonial America and the 1990s).

Libby is 100000000% certain that she knows her choice already. She is going to stay with her widowed mother and siblings in Colonial America, and, above all she is going to stay with her much beloved sweetheart, Henry. She hates almost every moment of her "modern" life in 1914. She doesn't hate her father, she might miss him a little bit. But she has no bond or connection with anyone else. Everything is a drudge.

But God may have different plans for her life. Will He work all things out for good?

My thoughts: I don't hate the premise. I don't. I actually think it has a LOT of potential. I do. I think it could be done really well. There could be great characterization, immersion into different time periods, and genuine tension and conflict. Like what if she *equally* enjoyed/loved both lives. What if she actually cared about both families. What if she actually lived life to the fullest in both lives. What if she authentically belonged to both timelines. But as it is, the characterization just isn't there. The characters lack fleshing out. The relationships feel flat, for the most part. The book does not read historical for either time period because the main character doesn't really 'belong' anywhere. She knows too much about Colonial America [and American history up through 1914 at least]. And through conversations with her mother, she has hints of even more. At one point her mother gives her a brief overview of the twentieth century.

I think the biggest problem for me was the NON love triangle. We have one of the weakest love triangles ever. Which is fine, completely fine. Many people hate love triangles. But when you've got the main character in relationships in both timelines, but she loves one madly and despises the other...then it is just wearisome. The modern timeline depicts S.A.

I take back what I said about the biggest problem. The solution tie-a-bow-on-it-ending was 1000000% convenient and felt cheater-pants. ( )

Historical fiction with a time travel twist! I enjoyed reading this book! It certainly kept me on my toes- mentally! Libby is a fantastic character and the ending was a surprise! ( )

Christian books are my favorite. I gave this novel five stars because of the inspiration and hope offered throughout. Whenever anyone leans into God and trusts in Him for their future, I devour their words and their insight. This is my first book by Gabrielle Meyer but her next one is already on my TBR list. The historical references are accurate and interesting. The thought of people living on the same day in two different historical periods at the same time was intriguing. At first, I was a little wary of the concept but Gabrielle made it work. I enjoyed it and recommend it to all. ( )