Intriguing premise with beautiful prose and a confusing ending
The only way to describe this book is dream-like. The prose is evocative of that perfect summer’s day on the beach, where everything is so real and so surreal at the same time. It is easy to get swept away in this story, though the feeling doesn’t last past the end of the book.
The premise is interesting: at the end of the world, Earthlings are leaving in hope of finding a new planet but some choose to go back in time, not physically but mentally. Zat chooses to inhabit Babe’s dreams and they fall in love.
The characters were interesting and varied, especially the supporting cast. I really liked LeGrand and Alonso and felt they both deserved a little more page time – I want to know if this summer changed their lives or if it was an idyllic blip they would both leave behind.
For me, the main romantic plot was a bit of a letdown as it started with insta-love and ended in – well, I don’t really get how it ended. Dreams are confusing and by the end, I wasn’t exactly sure what was real and what wasn’t. I was left vaguely unsatisfied and still can’t work out why. I much preferred the subplot of Babe making friends at the Country Club.
The other issue I had with this book (and it’s a minor one but bear with me) is Babe's attitude to the rich kids, especially Mattie Lynn. She assumes they’re all spoiled and shallow, and though LeGrand dispels those stereotypes for himself, Mattie Lynn doesn’t get enough time on the page to do the same. I think we are supposed to infer there is more to her than meets the eye, but Babe’s disparaging point of view does not help matters at all. It comes off very ‘pretty + rich = mean’ which is a tired old path by now.
I wanted to love this book, but I only loved the writing, not the whole.
The only way to describe this book is dream-like. The prose is evocative of that perfect summer’s day on the beach, where everything is so real and so surreal at the same time. It is easy to get swept away in this story, though the feeling doesn’t last past the end of the book.
The premise is interesting: at the end of the world, Earthlings are leaving in hope of finding a new planet but some choose to go back in time, not physically but mentally. Zat chooses to inhabit Babe’s dreams and they fall in love.
The characters were interesting and varied, especially the supporting cast. I really liked LeGrand and Alonso and felt they both deserved a little more page time – I want to know if this summer changed their lives or if it was an idyllic blip they would both leave behind.
For me, the main romantic plot was a bit of a letdown as it started with insta-love and ended in – well, I don’t really get how it ended. Dreams are confusing and by the end, I wasn’t exactly sure what was real and what wasn’t. I was left vaguely unsatisfied and still can’t work out why. I much preferred the subplot of Babe making friends at the Country Club.
The other issue I had with this book (and it’s a minor one but bear with me) is Babe's attitude to the rich kids, especially Mattie Lynn. She assumes they’re all spoiled and shallow, and though LeGrand dispels those stereotypes for himself, Mattie Lynn doesn’t get enough time on the page to do the same. I think we are supposed to infer there is more to her than meets the eye, but Babe’s disparaging point of view does not help matters at all. It comes off very ‘pretty + rich = mean’ which is a tired old path by now.
I wanted to love this book, but I only loved the writing, not the whole.
Three surreal stars
I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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