Try free for 30 days

A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook free.
1 credit/month after trial—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Time Traveler's Wife cover art

The Time Traveler's Wife

By: Audrey Niffenegger
Narrated by: Fred Berman, Phoebe Strole
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Clare and Henry have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was 36. They were married when Clare was 23 and Henry was 31. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

Clare and Henry's story unfolds from both points of view, depicting the effects of time travel on their marriage and their passionate love for each other. They attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals: steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

©2003 Audrey Niffenegger; 2005 HighBridge Company (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

Critic Reviews

  • Alex Award Winner, 2004

"Highly original first novel....Niffenegger has written a soaring love story illuminated by dozens of finely observed details and scenes....It is a fair tribute to her skill and sensibility to say that the book leaves a reader with the impression of life's riches and strangeness rather than of easy thrills." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Time Traveler's Wife

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    243
  • 4 Stars
    86
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    249
  • 4 Stars
    63
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    228
  • 4 Stars
    69
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Caz
  • 16-08-2019

An unexpected delight

I think I had half-watched this movie, and didn't rate it, so I downloaded the book with skepticism as it was a "daily deal", and I felt safe in the knowledge that if it was not to my taste, I could return it.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by this story. It's made me want to revisit the movie to see how it compares now I've completed the book.

The story of Henry and Claire's love is beautifully told and despite some potential creepy age differences due to the time travel, it remains a love of purity and depth. The tale of it traverses time and emphasises the inevitability of their true love and destiny. That said, it's not a sappy love story, there's despair and tragedy, but also lots of fun, love and laughter. It's a story with characters that will stay with me for a long time, I was sad to finish it.

Despite some overly descriptive scenes of Claire's arts and crafts and Henry's tastes in music, the book is well written and moves along at a good pace. Its a thoroughly enjoyable listen and definitely recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spectacular Love Story

Fantastic characters whose painfully brief love spans decades.
Detailed gen-x high upper middle class cultural placement, vivid descriptions of their surroundings and activities, with glorious food and sex throughout.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely love this book

Love the story and the performances are excellent .... very highly recommend this audio book A+++++

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it. nice change to what I normally read

loved it. will read again and again. really enjoying the characters the story line how weird and cool it would be to time travel or know someone who does travel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely book

Great to be able to read the extended version to the movie. I was surprised how closely the movie followed the book. I would normally read the book first and then be disappointed by the movie but this way around worked much better for me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read/listen

This book is written so thoughtfully and I've always thought it was an art peice itself.
I read the hard copy every other year and decided to get the audio version.
Their performance doesn't disappoint.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

One of my favourite books.
I loved the experience of enjoying it in audio format.
The narrators portrayed the characters beautifully.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Just OK

Started with promise but wasn't terribly well written and disappointed. Too much dropping of names and brands etc. Mills and Boon style at times. Superficial character development of Claire and Henry in real time. I got quite bored with the book especially the last 1/3.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story

Loved the story and the writing kept me wrapped in the characters" lives. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Haven’t seen the movie yet - loved the book

I’m an artist and listened to this over many painting sessions - it was a highlight!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.