Review: Through to You

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

Release: October 2, 2012

Source: e-ARC from publisher (via edelweiss) 

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Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all

Through to You seemed like it would be a powerful and thought-provoking book and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Now, Through to You wasn't terrible, but it lacked something that I can't quite put my finger on. It wasn't powerful and it didn't "wow" me. In hindsight, I think I expected too much and that set me up for a somewhat disappointing read. 

In this book, Hainsworth writes about a young boy named Cam. He's recently lost his girlfriend in an accident and well...he's grieving. In a series of events, Cam manages to find a portal into an alternate universe where his girlfriend, Viv, is very much alive. But things are different and not what they seem to be. As Cam discovers this, he has to make a choice: what reality does he want? 

My biggest gripe with this book is Cam. He's very "angst-y". I know, it's difficult loosing someone you love, but MAN UP. I think his grief might have been more tangible if I knew what things were like before Viv died. But Hainsworth only gives brief glimpses that weren't enough to allow me to connect to Cam on a deeper level. 

I also really hated the twist in the book. It was predictable and a convenient set-up for the end of the book. Now, don't get me wrong: I LIKED how the book ended. It was sweet and left a few things to the imagination. I just didn't like the process it took to get to the end. 

Despite the angsty main character and the predictable plot,  though, this book was very readable. The writing really flowed and I think there are people out there who will absolutely love this book. It just wasn't for me.

RATING: 2.5 SLICES