Published January 26th 2016
Format: Novel
Genre & Theme: Romance / Contemporary / Time Travel
Length: 400 pages, ebook
Publisher: Razorbill
Ebook ASIN: B015NTIXS8
Characters: Natalie Cleary, Beau Wilkes, Matthew Kincaid
First, can we all take a minute to admire that uber-gorgeous cover? I mean if I haven’t read the blurb and someone asked me to read this based on the cover, I’ll definitely give it a chance just for that.
As for the story – it’s basically a time travel-themed love story. Natalie Cleary is spending her last summer before heading to college in her small Kentucky hometown. Things have been the usual for her until things around town magically disappear and reappears, changing in appearances and just all sort of things that her mind couldn’t seem to put logic to.
And then her “friend” she used to call “Grandmother” who appeared to her when she was a young girl suddenly reappeared warning her that “she only have three months to save him.” Only, she’s clueless on who to save. Then she meets Beau Wilkes who may or may not have the answer to all of her questions.
I’ve to tell you this bluntly, this is one hell of a confusing story but it’s worth analyzing because it was such an enjoyable read! There are ‘First Nations’ stories here that were heavily featured and are in congruent to the fate of our main character Natalie. I thought that was genius! I loved how the author was able to use these stories to flesh out a unique interconnecting plot points that made the whole thing super exciting!
There’s also a bit of a guessing game I created in my mind while reading this. Who’s Grandmother? I’ve two guesses and halfway through it, I’ve already figured her identity but I was still a bit shaken when I guessed it right. I’m like, dang! I knew it! I knew it! The anticipation on what’s about to happen to Natalie is almost palpable in each succeeding page.
The only reason I’m giving this one star short of a perfect is the too abrupt ending which I didn’t expect at all. It kind of raises several questions about the fate of not only Natalie and Beau but most of the characters. I wanted to know what happen to Megan, Rachel, to Matt, to Natalie’s siblings etc… It’s a minor thing though, or I’m just being too anal about it.
Overall, it was truly an impressive debut from Emily Henry! I’ll be looking forward to more books from her!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
About The Author
Emily Henry is full-time writer, proofreader, and donut connoisseur. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. She tweets @EmilyHenryWrite.
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