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A review by katykelly
The Next Together by Lauren James
5.0
A teenage romance with a difference - historical, timeslip, futuristic - all in one!
Very clever as well, and easy enough to follow despite different settings and characters. I really enjoyed this.
It starts in the future as two students meet and connect - Katherine and Matthew discover they have a connection in their families as well. And then we start to see a connection in the past - versions of the two of them meeting at historically significant times - in the Crimea, the siege of Carlisle.
And then of course, we also see the typed notes on their activities - someone is watching them through history, rarely intervening, but watching them fall in love and die then meet again.
Just what is going on?
Fascinating idea, and the back and forth between times draws you in. I found I liked all the periods, and all the different Katherines and Matthews, as well as the period detail. Great descriptions of time and place. and I love the futuristic sections as well.
By the end you do feel that most of the questions you have are answered, and there's room for more potentially.
I loved James' idea, and the connections made between times, characters and lives. Would love to see this on the screen with the right people in the roles, especially Katherine - she's the stronger of the two and I'm half in love with some versions of her myself. They are a great couple in teen fiction and the story is completely unique.
I'll be recommending this in my school library, one for age 12-16 (especially those who like historical fiction, fantasy and plots that need a little concentration).
Very clever as well, and easy enough to follow despite different settings and characters. I really enjoyed this.
It starts in the future as two students meet and connect - Katherine and Matthew discover they have a connection in their families as well. And then we start to see a connection in the past - versions of the two of them meeting at historically significant times - in the Crimea, the siege of Carlisle.
And then of course, we also see the typed notes on their activities - someone is watching them through history, rarely intervening, but watching them fall in love and die then meet again.
Just what is going on?
Fascinating idea, and the back and forth between times draws you in. I found I liked all the periods, and all the different Katherines and Matthews, as well as the period detail. Great descriptions of time and place. and I love the futuristic sections as well.
By the end you do feel that most of the questions you have are answered, and there's room for more potentially.
I loved James' idea, and the connections made between times, characters and lives. Would love to see this on the screen with the right people in the roles, especially Katherine - she's the stronger of the two and I'm half in love with some versions of her myself. They are a great couple in teen fiction and the story is completely unique.
I'll be recommending this in my school library, one for age 12-16 (especially those who like historical fiction, fantasy and plots that need a little concentration).