Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler by Amelia Tait

The start of a brilliantly funny accidental time-travel diary series for tweens. It’s Back to the Future meets Judy Blume, with a 13-year-old girl who tackles timeslip mishaps, laugh-out-loud embarrassing moments, and one unpredictable adventure after another.

Hi! I’m Lily. My birthday is in two weeks and I have a big secret: Every New Year's when the clock strikes midnight, I time travel to a new century. Mind-blowing, right!?

Thank goodness my cat, best friend, and school crush always turn up, too. But I still have a ton of problems… like why is my arch-nemesis, Georgia, so good at ye olde insults? How does anyone survive in Ancient Rome without chicken nuggets? Why are my brother’s clothes so ridiculous in every century? And why on earth can’t I stay in one era!?

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Pre-Reading Thoughts

A diary-style MG time-travel story? Yes, please. I’m expecting laugh-out-loud mishaps, historical fun facts woven in without feeling like a lesson, and a protagonist who’s clever, resourceful, and utterly relatable. I’m ready for centuries of trouble with a dash of New Year’s Eve magic.

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Post-Reading

As I thought…
Lily is a brilliant hero - clever, funny, and determined. I loved the sneaky history nuggets that make every era feel lived-in, and the diary format keeps the pacing tight and energetic. The humour hits in all the right spots, and the adventures are unpredictable without being chaotic.

It surprised me by…
…making time travel feel both serious and grounded. While I was frustrated by the inconsistent New Year’s Eve rule (hello, January travel!), the story still conveys Lily’s problem-solving, bravery, and relatable frustrations. The tension with her arch-nemesis Georgia adds extra bite, and I’m very intrigued to see how the series resolves these timeline quirks.

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Music Pairing

🎵 Featured Song: “Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
🎶 Vibe Album: Judy Blume: Tween Mischief & Mayhem (perfectly imagined!)
🎧 Artist Recommendation: They Might Be Giants (for whimsical, clever storytelling energy)

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Vibe Check

Colour Palette: Soft pastels with pops of gold (time magic sparkle!)
Soundtrack: Energetic, quirky, with a hint of mischief
Season: Winter (New Year’s Eve energy, snow, and clocks ticking)
Mood: Humorous, curious, slightly exasperated
Scent: Old paper and winter pine

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Tarot Pull

Page of Wands – The Page of Wands is full of curiosity, excitement, and eagerness to explore unknown worlds - perfect for Lily, leaping into centuries with wide-eyed enthusiasm, a dash of anxiety, and the courage to solve whatever comes next.

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For Fans Of

• Book: The Accidental Diary of a Time Traveler by C. J. Sage
• TV/Film: Back to the Future meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid (historical edition!)

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Lily Trip: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler publishes on the 7th of May, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.