Cristin Terrill

I’d like a time machine just so I can read this book all over again for the first time. My love for time travel is what drew me to this book, but my interest in the characters is what really held my attention.

First, I LOVE the way the way All Our Yesterdays uses time travel. I wrote a post about different timeline theories, and All Our Yesterdays uses the alternative time lines theory. The way Terrill plays with time and uses it to both create and explain paradoxes fascinated me. The time show more travel system in this book is intricate and it makes my head hurt a little when I try to think about it too much, but I’m in love all the same. The Em and Finn who are trying to prevent the invention of a time machine are like shadows in a different timeline of the original Marina and Finn. They’re the same, but yet not at the same time. Em is a bit tougher and harder than Marina–she’s had to be. Seeing the two sets of the same two characters took me a bit to get used to, but once I settled in I was along for the ride.

The rest of this review is published on Book. Blog. Bake. show less

Viki, short for Viktoria with a K, serves drinks in a dive bar in a mining town on a barely habitable moon. Her life of quiet desperation changes when she discovers she is an heir to a fortune on the halcyon planet below. She quickly adapts to a new lavish style of life, but there is the nagging problem that a killer is stalking everyone named in the will. Can she trust any of her new beaus? In The Stars Between Us, Cristen Terrill has written a Hallmark Channel romantic mystery in science show more fiction clothing. I, of course, would like it better if the sci-fi elements were more front and center. show less

This book f*cked me up in a way that I can’t even begin to describe. My heart broke constantly for both the real Daniel Tate and the narrator who’s name that will never be known. Every page was haunted by the mystery of what really happened to ten year old Daniel those six long years ago. This book shows just how far people will go for those they love and how far they will go to be loved. The ending just completely decimated me and left me stunned. I literally had to sit here for a good show more ten minutes to process what had happened. The entire book was gripping from start to finish and I was constantly second guessing myself, after all, how can you know what is true when even the narrator is a self proclaimed liar? show less

I am a sucker for time travel books, always have been, always will be. The fact that this particular time travel book is paired with a sort of sci/fi thriller element? Sold. This story has two timelines: the future timeline, which is about two young adults who are stuck in a time loop, desperately trying to make sure that time travel itself is never invented, because it led to a lot of killings, some wars, and turning the US into a police state; one man is responsible for that: the Doctor, show more who invented the machine that allows people to travel back in time. He is keeping these two prisoner for reasons that become clear later in the story, interrogating them and torturing them for information. The past timeline is about Marina and James, two neighbors who have been best friends since forever, who are faced with a tragedy once James’s brother is assassinated.

It’s so hard to talk about this without spoiling everything. I think the structure lends itself well to the story, and though I think some of the twists are predictable, it’s still a genuinely entertaining and exciting. Everything flowed together nicely, and because of that it was a quick read! I didn’t have to waste any time in trying to figure out what was happening or going on; it all just worked. Also, this is a GOOD time travel book in that the time travel itself isn’t explained in too much detail; some authors go to far in making it scientific or realistic, but this gives a simple explanation for paradoxes and moves on. Because it’s not too detailed, it doesn’t seem weird or too convenient.

I love that the romance aspects were done in moderation; there’s no making out or weird love scenes while the characters are in danger or need to escape. Mostly, it’s just two people supporting each other and being invested in the other’s well-being, and I am all for that. It’s nice to see a realistic portrayal of what a romance would actually look like in a high stress situation.

More than anything, though, the characters are absolutely wonderful. The premise of this novel is a look at what choices mean for each of our lives; how we are shaped by our environment and the people around us, and how even the smallest decision can change that environment, which in turn enacts upon and changes us. This is all reflected in the portrayal of the characters, and it’s done beautifully. I’m guessing this is going to be one of my favorite YA reads for this year (yes, it’s early, but it’s so good!), and if you haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet, I highly recommend you think about doing so.

Also posted on Purple People Readers. show less