No Time Like Now

by Naz Kutub

Overview

A teen finds himself in a race against time when he learns he's given away more years than he has left to live in this thought-provoking speculative romp.

It's been one year since Hazeem's father passed away unexpectedly, and one year since Hazeem got his special ability: He can grant any living thing extra time. Since then, he's been randomly granting people more years to live: his old friend Holly, his study buddy Yamany, his crush Jack. . . . The only problem is, none of them wanted to spend any of that time with Hazeem.

Now, Hazeem spends most of his days with his grandmother. When she experiences a heart attack, Hazeem is quick to use his power to save her—until Time themself appears and tells Hazeem he has accrued a time debt, having given away more life than he has left to live and putting the entire timeline in serious danger of collapse. In order to save the timeline and himself, Hazeem must take back some of the life he has granted other people. Suddenly, Hazeem is on a journey through and against time, but as he confronts the events of the past, he must confront the mistakes he made along the way. Hazeem will come to realize that when it comes to time, quality is more important to quantity—but is it too late to reclaim the life he's given away so he can really start living?

No Time Like Now is timely twist on A Christmas Carol that takes readers on a thought-provoking adventure, asking what matters most in life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547609284
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	02/06/2024
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	434,846
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.55(h) x 1.05(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Naz Kutub is a half-Indian, half-Malay immigrant from Singapore. His novels are inspired by his personal experiences growing up as a queer Muslim, and as someone raised on a calorie-dense diet of Eastern lore.

nazkutub.com
@nazkutub

Editorial Reviews

11/13/2023

Kutub (The Loophole) explores themes of grief and love in this emotionally charged speculative novel. After Muslim 17-year-old Hazeem’s father abruptly died a year ago, Hazeem has become estranged from his neurosurgeon mother and his three former best friends, including his Yemeni American crush, Jack. Hazeem’s only companions are his paternal grandmother and his hamster, Mary Shelley. But when Nana dies, Hazeem taps into his innate magical ability, the very thing that also deteriorated his friendships: he trades some of his own lifespan to extend Nana’s. The world freezes as Time themself arrives, announcing that Hazeem has created a lifespan deficit that has broken the multiverse. To fix it, Hazeem must reclaim the years that he had given to a loved one, which would lead to their death. Time then takes Hazeem on a revelatory journey reminiscent of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, during which he learns more about his friends, his late father, and himself. While Time’s ethereal characterization often feels inconsistent, Kutub’s depiction of Hazeem’s earnest relationships build to a tender climax that is both heartrending and uplifting. Most characters are described as having brown skin. Ages 13–up. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

No Time Like Now is a wild ride where choices shape destinies and perceptions are challenged. This book will give you a newfound appreciation for the present moment and those you love most in the world!” —BookToker Kevin T. Norman @kevintnorman

“You know a book is incredible when you've cried all the tears while reading it—happy tears, sad tears, laugh-out-loud tears, and please-don't-let-it-end tears. A time-twisting tale of family, friendship and living every moment to its absolute fullest, No Time Like Now is one for the ages.” —BookToker Jaysen Headley @Ezeekat

“Raw, vulnerable, and wildly open-hearted . . . readers will be reminded that even the most heartbreaking moments can be intentionally treasured, no matter how they hurt.” —BCCB, starred review

“Kutub's depiction of Hazeem's earnest relationships build to a tender climax that is both heartrending and uplifting.” —Publishers Weekly

“The Loophole took me on a magical journey that I didn't want to end. A perfect balance of heart and hilarity. Naz Kutub's debut had me rooting for Sy by the end of page of one. What an absolute delight of a book.” —Robbie Couch, author of THE SKY BLUES and BLAINE FOR THE WIN, on THE LOOPHOLE

“Every once in a while you come upon a book filled with so much voice it has its own pulse. The Loophole is not only laughing-until-I-cry hilarious, but full of heart. A brave debut that is sure to grant all of your bookish wishes.” —Dante Medema, author of THE TRUTH PROJECT, on THE LOOPHOLE

“The Loophole is a celebration of queer Muslim identity, and a one-of-a-kind story about finding love, family, and—most importantly—yourself.” —Adiba Jaigirdar, author of THE HENNA WARS and HANI AND ISHU'S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING, on THE LOOPHOLE

“The Loophole is a globetrotting, madcap adventure, filled with magic and plenty of heart. I laughed, I cried, and I had my heart broken, only for Naz Kutub to lovingly mend it back together with a queer story of acceptance and self-discovery.” —Erik J. Brown, author of ALL THAT'S LEFT IN THE WORLD, on THE LOOPHOLE

From the Publisher

2023-11-04
A Burbank, California, boy goes on an incredible journey to find his will to live again after a tragic event.

A year after his father’s passing, 17-year-old brown-skinned Hazeem, who’s gay, remains deeply affected by the loss. His connection with his mother has deteriorated, and he stays home, uninterested in anything and distanced from his closest friends—Holly, Yamany, and Jack—who are like “three ghosts” to him. When Nana, Hazeem’s Muslim paternal grandmother and the one remaining person he feels understands him, suddenly dies, Hazeem utters words that would grant her extra life. This brings him face to face with Time—and the possible destruction of the world as he knows it. Hazeem must come to terms with loss, face those he loves, and make an emotionally wrenching choice. Can he find happiness amid heartbreak? The novel explores important themes of loss and the struggle for peace of mind, but the confusing narrative requires effort to untangle. The inconsistent characterization of Time along with their nebulous rules only adds to the complexity. Though his journey is marked by satisfying personal growth, readers will wish for more depth from Hazeem’s relationship with Time. Ultimately, the various storylines and themes in the book are ambitious but do not coalesce into a satisfying whole.

A lesson on death and attachment that’s based on an interesting premise but fails to find its footing. (Speculative fiction. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews