Review: A very solid new adult novel!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 7, 2013
New adult books have felt a little hit or miss for me. I've had both good and bad experiences with them thus far, and nothing has quite proven the viability of the genre to me... BUT Everything Between Us might make me reconsider that decision. I signed up for the blog tour because I like the way it sounded and I loved the cover (and I still LOVE the cover, especially after reading the book! I just love when a cover really, really fits--and this one definitely does), and I figured it'd be a nice, semi-light read. Hahahahahaha. Funny. Yes, Everything Between Us has a lovely and very satisfying romance, but the romance is really tangential to (and a catalyst for) a story that embraces the power of making your life what you want it to be, of facing your fears no matter how largely they loom.I see so much potential in the idea behind new adult that I want it to work so badly. I so want to read about college-age protagonists who deal with real things. A person's reaction to events in their life can change drastically from high school to college and from college to adulthood, so seeing that stage of life is interesting--especially as I'm living it. My frustration with new adult comes when the books fail to deliver any kind of situation aside from romance. Here, both Stella and Daniel are dealing with some of the hardest moments in a person's life. Both are crippled by insecurities and by their fears, but it's not just their love interest that propels them out of this. Sure it spurs them on, but it's their strength of will, their desire to live full lives, that make it happen--regardless of that other person. No one can make those changes for you, and it's a hard road, but with the help of the other, they make it happen--though even that doesn't promise perfection. It's a great progression to see play out, and really worth the read just for that. :) Like I said, this is a book that makes me believe in new adult.I know sometimes that dual narrators turn me off. Do they do that to y'all? It's just one of those things that gets to me if you can tell an author doesn't have a real reason for giving us the POVs, but they thought it sounded like a good idea. Not the case here. While the story would have been put across just fine without both Daniel and Stella narrating, it would have lacked quite a lot of dimension. We are able to experience Stella's panic, knowing just how she feels as her body wheels out of her control. We hear Daniel's thoughts as to why and how he shuts down his emotions, just so he can't be hurt. We see both of their frustration with the situation they're in, even as we hope that it'll get better.Normally I end reviews a little more formally (with something like, "Everything Between Us is a heartfelt, emotional, and well-written novel that has made me believe in new adult again, and hopefully it'll do the same for you"), but I'd just like to leave you with this, because I like it and it is, honestly, more eloquent that I could possibly be. :)"How am I supposed to know when I've found the right woman?"..."She'll be able to see right through you, Daniel Alexander Van Vliet."..."Why would I ever want that?" I tease."Because she'll like what she sees."I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.