Years of Separation

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
384 Pages (Hardcover)
Hyperion
October 9, 2012
Source: Teen Author Carnival
Format: ARC

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.

    I don't even know how to begin to gather my thoughts about this book; it blew me away. After a day of contemplation, I can definitely say that Time Between Us is my favorite book of the year.

    Time travel has always been one of those subjects that never quite work for me. Often times the science and rules behind the travel either don't make sense or were way too confusing to even begin to comprehend. The rules in Time Between Us are simple. Bennett cannot travel past his lifetime (Before March 1995 or after 2012), he can take a person with him if they are physically touching, and if he stays in a place too long, time rights itself and knocks him back to his current timezone. Those are the physical rules guiding Bennett's travel, but he also has one personal rule that this novel challenges - he will not alter the path of time and stop big events from happening.

    I can honestly say that I love every aspect of this novel. I love how Bennett isn't perfect and doesn't try to be. I love how Anna doesn't loose her self importance and worth once Bennett comes and goes. I love the little nuances here and there that if you read too quickly you'll miss. I love how every aspect that is not considered ideal is necessary to the story. Not once did I think, "Really? There's more?!", but rather I saw how those unfortunate things, including fights, had to happen. I could go on forever with "I love"'s, and be content to repeat them all again to the next person I talk to, but I am going to stop myself here.

    This is not a quick read - at least it shouldn't be. I had to constantly put it down for a minute or two and think about what was going on. That has never happened to me, but reading this novel that way was so much richer of an experience than consuming a story in one sitting. Do not tear through this book, you will miss something, I guarantee it.

    If I had to choose a novel to re-read over and over again, it would be this one. I feel bad for the next book I read, and the one after that, because following such an amazing book, my view is bound to be skewed. This book releases today, and I strongly suggest you all go out and buy it. If you are like me and were lucky enough to receive an advanced copy, go and buy a finished one. And then buy another copy and gift it to your best friend. This will be the book I reread year after year, and I can only hope that you will feel the same way.