Goodreads summary:
"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.
Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.
All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.
My review:
The summary is absolutely right when it says that this book is brilliantly plotted. This book is so full of action and twists. I loved it. I can't remember the last time I read a book that was so fast-paced and addicting. THIS is how you write time travel. Oh, and the Shakespeare reference in the title is just plain awesome.
The characters. Oh my word, they were so great and well-developed. Em is a girl who will stop at nothing to fix the past, and I was rooting for her the whole time. It's hard to say a lot about her without spoiling the story, but I love how she's both tough and vulnerable. As for Marina (the younger version of Em), she could be quite annoying at times, but the author clearly wrote her character that way on purpose - it's necessary to the story for Marina to be a little spoiled and irritating. Once I realized this, I began to enjoy her character's role more.
And Finn! I totally fell in love with him. He's seriously such a great guy and it just breaks your heart that Marina/Em takes so long to notice it. I love how he's so sweet and supportive, and his ironic sense of humor had me smiling nonstop. And James - whoa. Again, I can't say much because that would mean some major spoilers, but he is such a fascinating character. You are a bit curious about him at first, then you end up simultaneously pitying and hating him. Loved his character arc.
The plot...wow...it truly is brilliant. I added this book to my "mindblowing" shelf on Goodreads, and it definitely deserves it. So many time travel stories have a weak storyline and lots of plot holes, but All Our Yesterdays has a strong, well-thought-out plot that is executed perfectly. It plays out just like an action movie, (except with way more character development than we usually get in action movies, haha), and I was blown away by the surprising twists. I was literally clutching my Kindle to my face during the last quarter of the book - that's how anxious I was to know what happened. I probably looked something like this:
Would I recommend All Our Yesterdays? Absolutely, and especially for fans of action movies. This time travel book sticks out with its addicting plot and fantastic characterization. I adored this and will definitely be reading more of Terrill's future work. This debut is one you do not want to miss!
*Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
~ The Bookworm
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