Author: Kristin Halbrook
Expected publication: January 29th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Categories: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
 

I received an eARC from HarperTeen via Edelweiss. Thank you.

I went and search for Bonnie and Clyde as this book’s characters are being compared to these people. According to my three seconds research, they are well-known outlaws who traveled around US in the 30’s. So I guess it got the ‘travelling’ part, right. But to compare it to If I Stay, one of my favorite contemporary books of all time is a disservice to Ms. Foreman’s novel. It is nowhere near that caliber. Yep, not even close.

I did not entirely enjoy this book. This is a shame since I was pretty excited to read it. I even remember featuring it on my WoW (Waiting on Wednesday) because it definitely piqued my interest. But I was completely disappointed that my expectations came crashing down. There so many things I find off with this book. The characters frustrate me endlessly. And that saying a lot since I have high tolerance with this kind of behavior. But what they’ve done is no excuse. Not even their age can justify what they’re doing. They’re reckless and irrational.

I find the story too illogical. I know this is fiction, but there’s got to be some realistic hint there. But these kids drive me insane. I have read books with the same issue, angsty teen novels that gripped me the core. A perfect example is the book it was originally compared it with—If I Stay. The emotional drive that book has hold readers to every page. On the contrary, this book has almost none of that. The whole time I was displeased and detached to every single aspect of this book. The story was too unrealistic for me to follow through. The characters are annoying and shallow that made it hard for me to connect with them. I need to understand where they coming from so I can enjoy it properly. I expected raw emotions because from the looks of it the author wanted to bring up some real life issues. I do get that part but the execution was unconvincing for me.

The romance is difficult for me to describe. At one point I liked how supportive Will was to Zoe. Thinking about her welfare first before himself. That was selfless of him. But other times, he was just this controlling boyfriend who easily got jealous on anyone who hovers around his girlfriend. He’s completely dominating her and she’s aware of it but she let him slipped off because she ‘loves’ him. At one point I liked how they embraced each other’s negative aspect because isn’t that part of package of being in love, accept your partner’s imperfections? But we need to know when is too much.

So despite my obvious annoyance with the book, I’m not saying it is horrible. There were good parts during their journey. That for a moment erased my growing frustration over them and what they’re doing.  But that’s just for a moment, it’s like pendulum, my reactions swings back and forth. From positive to negative. But in the end I still find both Zoe and Will unrelatable and the story/romance was way too much for me to digest. T.T