The Time Between

The Time Between follows Eleanor Murray, who carries guilt over a childhood accident that left her sister wheelchair-bound. She splits her time between caring for her sister and working as an assistant to a demanding Charleston real estate mogul. Eleanor's boss assigns her to help look after Helena Szarka, an elderly woman with ties to a mysterious past in pre-WWII Hungary. As Eleanor spends time with Helena, she becomes drawn into the story of two sisters who survived tragedy during the war. The novel moves between present-day South Carolina and 1940s Hungary, connecting two pairs of sisters across time and exploring their parallel experiences. Family secrets emerge as Eleanor works to understand both Helena's history and her own complicated relationship with her sister. Through themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, and redemption, The Time Between examines how past choices continue to shape present relationships and how understanding another's journey can help heal personal wounds.

Readers describe The Time Between as an emotional family drama with dual timelines that explores sisterhood, secrets, and redemption. Readers appreciated: - Rich descriptions of South Carolina Lowcountry setting - Complex relationships between sisters - Historical elements about WWII Hungary - Musical references and imagery - Smooth transitions between past and present narratives Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Too many coincidences in plot - Some found the romance subplot unnecessary - Repetitive internal monologues Review Stats: Goodreads: 4.1/5 from 15,900 ratings Amazon: 4.5/5 from 1,284 ratings Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 from 229 ratings Sample reader comments: "The atmosphere and setting felt like additional characters" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes too long to get to the meat of the story" - Amazon reviewer "Beautiful portrayal of sisterly bonds but could have been shorter" - BookBrowse reviewer

The Memory of Water by Emilie Richards Two sisters confront their past and repair their relationship while restoring their grandmother's house on the South Carolina coast.

The Lost Hours by Karen White A woman uncovers family secrets in Savannah through her grandmother's hidden letters and quilts.

The Sound of Glass by Karen White A widow moves into her late husband's ancestral home in South Carolina and unravels three generations of family mysteries.

The Beach Trees by Karen White A woman inherits a home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and searches for answers about her sister's death while uncovering local family histories.

The House on Tradd Street by Karen White A Charleston real estate agent inherits a historic mansion and works with a local writer to solve mysteries connected to the home's past residents.

📚 Karen White wrote much of The Time Between based on real historical events surrounding Nazi occupation of the Hungarian Gold Train during WWII 🎹 The musical elements in the novel are drawn from White's own background as a trained pianist 🏝️ The book's setting of Edisto Island, South Carolina, is a real barrier island with a rich history of Gullah culture and antebellum plantations 👯‍♀️ The parallel stories of two sets of sisters—Eleanor and Eve, and Helena and Bernadett—explore themes of guilt, forgiveness, and family secrets across generations 🏰 The Hungarian castle featured in the novel's flashbacks was inspired by actual Hungarian estates that were seized during the Nazi occupation, many of which contained priceless artworks and family treasures