Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All Our Yesterdays by Crisitn Terrill

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

"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. 

What I Liked:

WOW! What a book! I can't believe I waited two months to read this one. I got it in May, and decided that September was far away, and that I didn't need to worry about September releases yet. Of course, mid-July, I realized that I had more September releases than I had review spots in September, so I took this one with me on a day job, and read for about two hours.

Let me tell you, this book just flies by! I found myself deeply engrossed, and I read this book in on sitting. It's filled with action, high-speed car chases (sort of), MURDER (imagine Stewie saying that, in that episode when he read The Da Vinci Code), and a sweet romance that you know right from the beginning.

Em and Finn need to go back in the past - their past - and stop James. Currently, they're in a prison. Em has failed thirteen times (it might have been fourteen), and has ended up in this prison all of those times. Every time she fails, she leaves instructions for herself in her cell, in a drain grate. This time, when she finds the instructions, she is convinced that she and Finn will succeed. In this present time (which is technically the future), Finn and Em are totally in love.

So, with the help of a guard they found in the past, Finn and Em go back in time. Finn and James and Marina are best friends in the past. Marina is in love with James. Marina hates Finn, because he's annoying and rubs her the wrong way. James's brother is a congressman. In this present time, Em and Finn have to find a way to kill James. Because James did something awful, and whatever it is (you'll find out), they need to stop it. Or they'll end up in the prison. Again.

I love love LOVE the plot of this book! Between Marina/James/Finn, and their blissful ignorance, and Em/Finn, and their quest to stop James... everything is so insane! If you pick up that one little thing, like I did, JUST by reading the synopsis... then your life (a.k.a reading this book) will be a lot easier. If you don't, then you'll just be surprised at some point. But it's really obvious. Look closely at the synopsis and what it says. And the two different stories/times. And the names.

The romance in this book is so sweet. I love watching Marina do the awkward dance around James. She's so in love with him, but he doesn't see it until he needs her comfort, and she's there. I love Em and Finn even more, because they're so genuine, and a beautiful couple. All the times of traveling back in time... and they keep falling in love with each other. Love it!

Terrill's writing style is AMAZING. It totally contributes to the brilliance that it time travel and the time and space continuum. I usually hate time travel books. But this book seems extremely plausible, because it's very scientific. You all know me and my math/science brain. Terrill really did her research, and her writing is gorgeous.

Read this one ASAP! If the cover didn't convince you, I hope this review does!

What I Did Not Like:

I kind of wish there was a bit more about the ending. It's sort of open-ended, which is okay, with series, but not with standalones. Is this a standalone? I've seen no indication otherwise. I hope there would be an epilogue, or something more, but I suppose not. Is it so bad that I want MORE? :)

Would I Recommend It:

Totally! Even if science fiction is not your thing, I think any reader would enjoy this book. I personally dislike most time-travel books (except the Ruby Red trilogy!), but I loved this book.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars, because I wanted more from the ending. BUT, it's a fitting, good ending, that wraps up everything. I just want more.

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