Review: The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

ebook, 288 pages

Expected publication: April 8th 2014 by Delacorte Press 

Genre: Young Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

* I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

This book is a young adult book that is definitely meant for the younger audience. Although it had some cute moments and a story that the younger of this genre would enjoy there were too many gaps and holes for someone of my age to overlook or not notice.

It started out quite promising with Ethan at the river and his first interaction with Prenna. My initial thought was that I was in for a really beautiful love story. Yes, the love story was there, but it was extremely rushed and I found it hard to fully believe. There just wasn't enough development between the two for me to get behind them. Also the whole time travel, disease, fork story was all over the map and there were some questions left unanswered. Perhaps a sequel is in the works and it was intentional or at least I hope it was. Still, I found myself shaking my head a few times. If there is a sequel I will read it because I think that (by the way it ended) there is potential for the deeper emotions that I craved so much in this one.

In short it is an easy read with a somewhat cute story that you can finish in no time. I think the youngest of the young adult genre will really like it but not necessarily the older readers that enjoy YA. I am basing my rating with the younger audience in mind.

About the Author

 Ann Brashares grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with three brothers and attended a Quaker school in the D.C. area called Sidwell Friends. She studied Philosophy at Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York City. Expecting to continue studying philosophy in graduate school, Ann took a year off after college to work as an editor, hoping to save money for school. Loving her job, she never went to graduate school, and instead, remained in New York City and worked as an editor for many years. Ann made the transition from editor to full-time writer with her first novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Ann and her husband live with their three children in New York.

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