Landline

In Rainbow Rowell's "Landline," 37-year-old TV writer Georgie McCool faces a marital crisis when her husband, Neal, takes their daughters to his mother's for Christmas after a fight. Alone, Georgie discovers her old landline can call Neal's 22-year-old self in 1998. This unique premise allows Georgie to reflect on their relationship's origins, past mistakes, and the choices that led them to their current struggles. The book explores themes of communication, career versus family, and the enduring nature of love, all wrapped in Rowell's characteristic witty and poignant style. While featuring a fantastical element, it's a deeply realistic portrayal of adult relationships.

As far as time machines go, a magic telephone is pretty useless. TV writer Georgie McCool can't actually visit the past; all she can do is call it, and hope it picks up. Is she going crazy or is this a chance to make things right with her husband, Neal? Maybe she can fix the things in their past that seem unfixable in the present. Maybe this stupid phone is giving her a chance to start over . . . if that's what she wants . . . Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That its been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply but that almost seems besides the point now. Maybe that was always besides the point.