Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
What: All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays #1) by Cristin Terrill
Who: Bloomsbury Childrens
When: August 1st 2013
How: A copy of this novel was provided for review by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) via Net Galley.
A brilliantly brain-warping thriller and a love story that leaps back and forth in time – All Our Yesterdays is an amazing first novel, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games.
Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn’t happened yet.
Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture – being kept apart, overhearing each other’s anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There’s no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It’s from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that’s about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.
Em is in a cell. The only people she ever sees are those who hand her food, or those who come to torture her for information about the time travelling device currently ruining the world. When she manages to find a note written to her from previous versions of herself, Em realises that it is time to take back the past, and change the future forever.
So I wanted to read All Our Yesterdays the moment I saw the cover. Coincidentally, the version of the book that I read didn’t even have the cover which drew me in, but oh well. I thought the story sounded unique, but also within one of my most favourite genres – dystopian. I don’t care if people think there are too many dystopian novels. Every author’s dystopia is different, and I have yet to tire of these stories.
I must say that I guessed a lot of the twists that were in this novel, but they were still interesting to read about, and Terrilll did an amazing job of revealing them. I suppose being a good guesser comes with its downsides.
There were two main characters in All Our Yesterdays; Em, and Marina. I loved Em. I loved how broken she was, and how resilient, and how protective she was of those she cared about. She is one of those female protagonists that you cannot help but love. But she’s still human. She hesitates when it comes to making life changing decisions, and I do not judge her for that. It makes her much more real.
I didn’t like Marina in the beginning of the book, as she only came across as a selfish teenage girl who was in love with the wrong boy. But as the story progressed, she matured, and grew on me. And I wasn’t even aware of how much she changed, or how much I grew to like her until right now, writing this review. I think it’s amazing that Terrill weaved her character development so tightly into the story that I didn’t even notice. I think that is supreme artistry on her behalf.
I am in love with Finn, and I love that Terrill mentioned that he was sort of based of Logan from Veronica Mars, because I love that show, and I love Logan. Now that I know she based Finn off Logan, I like Finn even more, and I can definitely see where the inspiration has come through in his character.
I feel so much pain for James. I don’t want to go into it, because this is the kind of book that could easily be ruined, even by vague spoilers, so I’ll just say that he is just one of those passionate and misguided human beings that needs some real taking care of (and I mean TLC, not murder. Your mind didn’t immediately jump to murder? Just me then).
I thought the time travel aspect of the novel was explained pretty well, but some explanations left me with a: huh? reaction. I hope it’s explained further in the next novel/s, and if not, I understand it enough not to be too confused.
This book was written fantastically, and I am surprised that it is Terrill’s debut novel, because she could be a best-selling author with numerous novels, and I wouldn’t question it for a second. The character voices of Em and Marina were distinct and clear (even if some of the subheadings in my copy were incorrect), and the prose was beautiful.
I am ridiculously excited about the fact that this is going to be a series (even if it means there is yet another amazing series that I have to keep tabs on – this is kind of getting out of hand), even if I think it could have been a standalone. I am not complaining though, and I am excited to see where the story is headed into the future. Or is it the past? The present? Where the story is headed in time, then.
Overall, this was a VERY GOOD book, and I would recommend it to any YA reader who enjoys love, dystopia, time travel, and epic-ness.
© 2013, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
looks like a really good book. will have to try it sometime.
It is a really good book :D
I really like the sound of this one!
I think you might like it :D If you like time travel, YA, or dystopian, chances are you’ll like it, haha.
Hooray, I’m so glad you liked this one too! I agree, I adored Em and Finn and am so excited for the next book! :) Great review!
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
I am, too! I was a bit wary because it has been so hyped up, but I think it lived up to its good name pretty well :D
My heart was literally broken when Finn, you know. </3
I am super excited to see what Terrill does with the story!
Thank you, Alice ^.^
I know! That part really shocked me and made me sad. :( But I heard he’s going to be in the second book, so I’m excited to see more of him & where the story goes! :)
I was just sitting there with my mouth hanging open. SO out of the blue D:
Really! That makes me even more eager to read it :D
i’ll have to check this out!
It’s a good read, that’s for sure!
I’ve wanted to read this one for a while now – now I really need to make sure I order a copy on my next Amazon shipment!
Definitely do! I shall be keeping an eye out for a review from you, then :D
I couldn’t get past the first few chapters. But I’ll definitely have to pick it up again after your glowing review :D
Aw, no! Why not?
I was a big fun, I must say!
*fan. I was a fan, not a fun, haha.
Everyone has been reading this lately…I feel left out. Sounds great!
Haha, I know how you feel. Sometimes it’s months before I read a hyped up book, so don’t worry about it. :P
It is great :D
I’ve been curious about this book for awhile, definitely want to read it now!
I hope you like it, if you do get around to reading it! :)
I absolutely loved this book. Em was such a great, strong character, and Finn…gotta love Finn. When you find out what their conversation was before everything gets started…sigh. And it works so well as a stand-alone (although I agree with you about some of the time travel stuff getting confusing but that whole time-space continuum type stuff usually makes my brain hurt) that I was surprised when I saw it was a planned duology, but I guess with time travel books, there’s never a true ending! Great review!
Ohmygosh, yes. My heart pretty much broke when I read that part.
It does work well as a stand alone, but I am really interested in seeing how she furthers the story!
Yeah, the paradox shadow thing didn’t really click with me, haha. :P
Thanks so much, Pam :D
The same thing happened to me as well – even though I’m excited there are going to be sequels, I think the book could’ve worked as a stand alone. I feel like there’s so few stand alones in the YA genre, and I wish there were more of them.
I was definitely happy with the ending, even if it was heartbreaking. I agree with you. There are very few stand-alones in the YA genre, and it is kind of exhausting to keep reading all these series. But I am still looking forward to reading it :)
Time Travelling isn’t my cup of team BUT I’ve been reading a lot of mad gushing about this book. I don’t think I’ll be picking it up soon however I think my son will like this very much. I think I just found his Fall reading assignment…
I am always a sucker for a time travel book, haha. I love them :D
Hopefully you, or your son (or both) will read this book, and enjoy it!
Is he allowed to choose any book to read for his assignment?
Finn’s character is based on THE Logan Echolls? Figures why I loved him so much, then.
I’m not sure if I’m happy with the fact that it’s going to be series. I mean, yes – more Finn, more Em, more goodies! On the other hand, the book ended perfectly. But since I liked All Our Yesterdays so much, I’m definitely giving the sequel a try!
YES! I knew why I liked him so much when I read that, haha.
I definitely agree with you there. Although I want to read more because I like the story, and the writing style, and the characters, I think it could have been left as a standalone. But hey, I’m not complaining too much, because I want Finn and Em to get together!