Scattered Paperback – August 25, 2023

Oh, this book was so much fun to read! It was one of those stories that kept my Kindle reader in one hand as I fetched a coffee with the other, then hoped I didn’t run into a wall on my way back to the couch because I couldn’t stop reading!I’ll admit, my knowledge of time travel before this book was restricted to the films Back to the Future (One and Two especially), movies I love and have seen several times. However, science fiction isn’t my go-to genre for books or film. I met Benfante on Twitter X, learned that she is a former mechanical engineer and race car driver, read the premise of her debut book - which incorporates historical fiction into romantic sci-fi (such an original mix of genres!) - and that settled it. I was going to read this one and what an engrossing ride it has been.The story opens in 1906 with Elie, a clever and independent daughter of a physics professor, who is dreading the fact everyone wants her to marry her father’s friend, a man she doesn’t love. That had me feeling engaged and sympathetic from the start. When she accidentally time travels 100 years forward to 2006, the story really gets rolling.We see our modern era through Elie’s eyes, which is very interesting to me. It is unfathomable to her that men and women can sit side by side in classes, even go to the same classes. She is shocked to discover women are easily allowed to study physics and the like. Imagine, a woman being encouraged to chase the same dreams as men! (And thank GOD I was born when I was! I’ve never been more grateful for women’s rights activists or electricity.)And yet, Elie is homeless in 2006, stuck with one outfit that clearly belongs in 1906, without food, money or a social insurance number (the equivalent of a social security number in the US) – she basically has no identity nor a means to resolve this quagmire. It is intriguing to see her fight for the basic needs we all take for granted and it really was a unique challenge for a character to try to overcome. I mean, what would happen if any of us suddenly found ourselves 100 years head, in the year 2123? Imagine how crazy that would be!Benfante flips narration between Elie and Will, a grad student of physics in 2006, who is brilliant, adorable and relatable. The camaraderie he has with his fellow students is especially enjoyable to read. The attraction between Will and Elie is there from the start and yet, Elie, with her 1906 fashions and antiquated nature and expressions, is somewhat odd. However, their stories collide in a seamless and believable way, which is no easy feat considering this book is about time travel, a rather elusive and apparently unbelievable, undiscovered concept as of today (though one really can’t help but wonder…).I shouldn’t go into the story more, lest I spoil even more of it, but the romance part of the novel is steeped in independence rather than co-dependence you frequently see. On top of that, the eventual thrust of the novel posits a unique problem: how do you undo the things and feelings you experience in the future – such as equality of sexes and a plethora of career choices - when your home – which means your beloved parents and what you truly know - is in the past? Can you even? It’s quite the conflicting problem for a twenty-year-old woman.All of this thought-provoking prose is further bolstered by Benfante’s skill in both writing a fully realized novel and one absolutely frothing with original and charming lines and descriptions about people and her backdrop of Montréal. The best part for me was her easy-to-read but pleasurable pacing. She clips right along with a graceful elegance like the former race car driver she is.This book, despite being rooted in a subject I can’t say I love – anything science-y – is never boring. I think it could have benefited from a subplot or two, however that didn’t take away from its merits as a terrific book in entirety to me. I found it a warm, sweet, riveting and informative read. (Elie Rutherford really existed as did her father, the eminent physicist Ernest Rutherford and yes, being an ignoramus about psychics, I had to look that up half-way through, but the book inspired me to do it! But what a clever idea, honestly, to turn historical facts into time travel. And at the end of the book she explains that bit, which also includes photos.)Benfante is truly an author to watch. This book beats out many a bestseller I’ve read in the past few years, in my opinion. I truly hope the world will take notice of Scattered this year and not just 100 years from now, otherwise someone might be forced to time travel back to our current era to spread the word. Complete five stars from me!

I very much enjoy time travel books that realistically put the reader in the “shoes” of the traveler to experience the breadth of emotions that anyone would experience. I also enjoy sci-fi books that incorporate detailed, realistic science into the plot (e.g. Carl Sagan’s Contact, Andy Weir’s Martian come to mind). This book managed to accomplish both adroitly, with characters that you want to know and root for. It’s a slow burn story that is to be savored, with a touch of romance also handled just right. Playing off a famous physicist (Rutherford) and minor historical figure (daughter Eileen) was a clever and effective way of incorporating time travel, establishing a good plot (a young woman that wants more than her 1906 time period can offer), real science as part of the plot elements, and relevant historical information to support the story. The book is well written, well edited, fun, and well paced. Highly recommended!!

If your on the fence about this book, take the leap and buy it! The author, Katherine, has a way of pulling you right into the story. It's a perfect blend of science, character development, varying point of view and eras! I've been recommending this book to my friends who enjoy clean romance novels. Bravo, Katherine! An excellent novel!!

3.5 stars rounded up! I’m a sucker for a time traveling romance, and the pages turned quickly in this one as I wanted to find out how it would all work out! I also love historical fiction and I appreciated how this book was inspired by real people, even if the story itself was made up.It feel it leans more sci-fi than romance, and I usually struggle to get through science fiction. I found myself skimming through a lot of the science jargon and conversations. I heard someone say that it is like Dr. Who meets Hallmark, and even though I’ve never watched Dr. Who, that sounds about right! If that’s your jam, I bet you’d love this.

Beautiful story that was hard to put down! Loved the history pieces and the love story too. Couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next!

This book caught my interest to continue reading in the first few pages. It was a great travel adventure in time relevancy for understanding the social changes within the century. It was also real from the standpoint of science and that which might just be imagination versus reality of a scientist making it possible. I expected the romantic ending to be positive but loved the surprise twist for both characters told in letters. I encourage the author to continue the characters in a sequel showing their adaptation to both their futures and maybe even bring those left enduring the past to come forth to the future. After all it’s science fiction and who’s to say time travel like space travel won’t be real someday. Kudos to a great read!

Ms. Benfante wrote an interesting story worth reading. I believe this page-turner would appeal to a diverse readership group. Her unique spin on time travel successfully sprinkles in equal parts technical scientific knowledge, love, social issues from multiple eras, and fun. I was impressed to read this was her debut novel.

I really liked this book. I loved Elie’s common sense way of dealing with a new time and life. I also loved the friendship and of course, William. What a terrific guy. Highly recommended.

Good believable characters, good flowing plotline, good science. Not hard science fiction as such, as apart from the time travel all the science is real.

This fantastic debut novel from Katherine Benfante was a page-turner! I couldn't put it down once I got started. What impressed me the most was the level of detail that Benfante went through in her descriptions of the different scientific processes and experiments, as well as about Rutherford's life. It's clear that the author did an immense amount of research and planning before writing this and that made the novel all that more enticing to read.The story itself is intriguing; it is a bit of a love story, while also being a really empowering, uplifting story about the resilience and strength of a young woman who finds her footing, embraces change, and stands up for what she wants. The internal struggles that Elie has about what she 'should' do with her life, her love for and duty to her parents, and her personal interests and desires, is something that all of us can relate to, and Benfante manages to show us the sliver linings of situations that seem fairly bleak at face value in a way that is optimistic but not saccharine.Benfante's descriptions of undergraduate student life were comforting for those of us who look back on those years with nostalgia, but I would imagine it would also be encouraging for a younger reader who is Elie's age, or younger, and looking ahead to their university career. The descriptions of Elie's friendships and experiences in navigating life in a completely new place made me feel like anything is possible if you put your mind to it!The time travel element to the novel was really fun and well researched, and the descriptions of Montreal, then and now, were evocative and beautiful. The author's love for the city, and McGill, were palpable throughout the novel as was her love for physics and science. Benfante provides just the right level of detail and explanation for the science in this book to make it understandable, and exciting, without being too complex.Having read short stories and flash fiction by this author, I knew that I would be treated to lots of details in this novel that would transport me directly into the characters' lives. As I write this, I am still fondly remembering the rooms, the cups of tea, the lawns, and the streets that Benfante created for us in this wonderful story. While I am now missing Elie, William, and Jeanne, I am really looking forward to the next novel from this talented writer. She is definitely one to watch.