Best Time Travel Books

I am captivated by time travel. Though I know it’s impossible now, the fact that it could one day exist is a frightening yet titillating thought. What if you could go back in time? What could be changed? Why would you change it?

When I think about traveling through time from a personal standpoint, I wouldn’t change anything in my life. I firmly believe we are on paths and that our decisions bring us to the people and places we need. But curiosity is natural, and sometimes I can’t help but wonder, what if I could go back and see historical events happening? I think these types of thoughts are what keeps bringing me back to time travel books and shows. If you havent watch Dark on Netflix, you should! Dark is my favorite time travel show ever! That show is based on the series of novels by H.G. Tannhaus.

History of time travel:

The notion of time travel was popularized in 1895, by H.G. Wells. In his novel, The Time Machine, he introduced the concept of traveling through time, in either direction. But people have been fascinated by time travel well before H.G. Wells’ novel was published. It’s thought that Sophocles’ play, Oedipus, is the earliest written story of time travel. Other cultures have also mentioned traveling through time or waking in the future.

Science of Time

Time was not always thought of as it is now, for many years it was thought that time was only linear, and that a second lasted the same amount of time no matter where you were in the universe. Now, we understand that time is linear and dimensional, and Einstein’s theory of space and time, perpetuates that understanding. Time, as Einstein explains it, is the fourth dimension of the universe. This means that space and time are connected. His theory was later proven correct by NASA!

This is how authors have used the connection of time and space to make time travel seem plausible, but the idea of being able to travel through time physically remains just that, an idea. Perhaps that’s what makes it so alluring to us readers though, our imaginations run wild with the idea that time travel could be real and we are drawn to stories that tell these tales. Now, there are so many genres with time travel included in them, it is not just science fiction anymore.

Consider the timeless work of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, as an illustration. At its core, this story centers around a man’s evolution from a selfish and inhumane individual to one who is selfless and empathetic. Through a journey of time-travel, guided by the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future, Scrooge is compelled to confront his own flawed character. It is only through these supernatural encounters that he realizes the depths of his depravity and the perilous course his life was set on.

Time travel stories have been around for generations, but these days, more and more are being written. As a fan of time travel concepts, I decided to compile a list of the best time travel books. I searched through reviews to find the most highly rated and beloved time travel books and narrowed it down to the top 12. All of these books have a rating of at least 4 stars on Goodreads. Furthermore, they span across various genres, such as romance, young adult, and science fiction. I’m confident that if you’re a fan of time travel books, you’ll find a book on this list that you’ll enjoy!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links by which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you. Read my Disclaimer to learn more.

Best Time Travel Books

Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut Jr

An all-time American classic, Slaughterhouse-Five is a unique book about a man named Billy Pilgrim who witnesses the destruction of Dresden as a POW during World War Two. At its core, this is an antiwar book, but Vonnegut works many genres through his story and uses wit and edginess to prove his points. Many famous authors have applauded Vonnegut for his incredible writing.

11/22/63– Stephen King

11/22/63 is the story of how a small-town man named Jake, time travels in an attempt to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Recursion – Blake Crouch

A strange phenomenon begins affecting people, giving them memories of a life they’ve never lived. A NYC cop named Barry Sutton tries to learn the truth about whats happening, he comes up against another force which is altering time as we know it. Along with a neuroscientist named Helena Smith, Barry and Helena must stop the force or be stuck in an endless loop of chaos.

Timeline– Michael Crichton

A thriller about a group of scientists who are transported back in time, to the Middle Ages and into the middle of the Hundred Years’ War. The scientists soon find themselves fighting for survival six hundred years in the past.

The Midnight Library– Matt Haig

At the edge of life and death, lies a library that goes on forever. Within that library are the stories of lives you didn’t live, but what if you could go back and live one of those lives? This book explores the choices and decisions that go into a life well lived.

*Goodreads winner for best fiction in 2020!

A Wrinkle in Time– Madeleine L’Engle

One of the most beloved and bestselling time travel books of all time, A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, her little brother Charles Wallace, and Calvin O’Keefe, the most popular boy in high school. After they meet a stranger who informs them that there is a tesseract or a wrinkle in time, they go on an adventure through space and time for Meg’s father, who disappeared working on a top-secret project for the government. Winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, this book is considered a children’s or young adult book, but anyone can gain enjoyment from reading this all-time classic.

The Time Machine– H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine must be included in this list, simply because this is the novel that put time travel into people’s minds. Imaginative and thrilling, there is always room on our reading lists for the classics! The Time Machine will give you a sense of adventure, and it’s a must-read for anyone who loves time travel.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August – Claire North

Every time Harry August dies, he wakes up again, as a child with all the knowledge of his past lives. Nothing has changed, until now. A little girl appears at his deathbed, just as Harry is about to die for the eleventh time, and tells him she needs to give him a message. What Harry does next is what this story tells. This is a very original take on time travel.

Outlander (Series)– Diana Gabaldon

You’ve probably heard of Outlander, a majorly successful book series, and hugely popular television show on Starz. Outlander is a series of books and is the story of Claire, a former British combat nurse, who has just been reunited with her husband at the end of WW2. While visiting an ancient circle of stones on the British Isles, she is suddenly transported back to 1743, a tumultuous time in Scotland, where war ravages the land. During her time as a captive and interloper in a time she doesn’t understand, Claire finds herself drawn to Jamie Fraser, a young warrior whom she develops feelings for. But Claire hasn’t forgotten her own time or her husband who frantically searches for her. This is a very genre melding series, that includes romance, time travel, adventure and more.

To Say Nothing of the Dog– Connie Willis

This book is very unlike the others on the list. Though it is a time travel story, it is also considered a satirical look at England in the Victorian era. This book is largely influenced by the same book that inspired the title, Three Men in a Boat. This book is funny, witty, romantic, and has just enough science fiction to make it to the list!

Kindred– Octavia Butler

A Black woman named Dana is pulled back through time on her 26th birthday. She lands in antebellum Maryland where slavery, racism, and sexism are rampant. She must rescue an heir to the plantation on which she is currently residing, or else her existence will never be. Dana must endure the brutality of slavery, while also trying to accept the reality of her situation in present day. This novel has been adapted into a series on Hulu.

The Time Traveler’s Wife– Audrey Niffenegger

Easily one of the most popular time travel books, it has been made into a movie and a show. Henry is afflicted with an ability to time travel that happens at random, Claire is a woman whose life moves in a normal way. They first meet when Claire is just a girl, but they meet many times throughout their lives as Henry finds himself at the mercy of his abilities. This is absolutely first and foremost a love story, which contains a lot of time travel, and that’s what makes this story so ingenious.

Let me know in the comments below which books you’ve read from this list or any you’d like to add to your TBR list! Personally, I’m adding Kindred and The Midnight Library to the top of mine!

Happy reading!