Allison: Through To You | Emily Hainsworth | Book Review

through to you teaser

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I first picked up Through to You by Emily Hainsworth. There was something about the premise that intrigued me (especially the part about the alternate universe) but I still wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into. This was a bit exciting but unfortunately for me; it did not live up to its potential. It was a solid read no doubt but sadly something still felt a bit lacking to me.

Through To You Emily Hainsworth Book Cover

Through to You follows a grieving young man named Camden Pike who recently lost his girlfriend Viv in a tragic car accident. After giving up basically his entire life (family, friends, football) due to a leg injury, all he had was his girlfriend, and when he unexpectedly lost her, he really didn’t feel like he had anything left. That is until he meets Nina. He discovers with her that there might be a place for second chances; a place for him to get everything that he so desperately wants but not everything is the same, especially the people.

Cam is an absolute mess the majority of the book. Not only is he dealing with the loss of his girlfriend but his home life is far from ideal. His mother is never home, and his father basically abandoned them. Also, he was terribly injured a while back, before the accident, and gave up trying to complete the recovery process so that he could play football again. So, when he gets the opportunity to have everything he’s lost back again, he grabs onto it and holds tight. He really does lose sight of reality for a while but, through the author’s writing you can to some extent understand the depth of his desperation.

One of the ways that Cam loses himself and his concept of reality is through his interactions with Viv. The Viv in the alternate universe is not the same Viv that Cam is used to. In fact, in many ways, she is entirely different. Yet he is so desperate to hold onto her now that he has “found her again” that he ignores the things that are right in front of him. I however could not do the same. Alternate universe Viv drove me nuts honestly. I just didn’t feel the same sense of desperation from her regarding Cam as I did from Cam regarding her, and at times it was a bit hard for me to stomach her fake-ness.

I think one of the reasons I didn’t like alternate universe Viv very much is because I liked Nina so much. Nina really is the voice of reason through this entire story. She knows that Cam should not be in this alternate reality, and that it is dangerous not only for him but also for Viv, and for herself as well. One slight move could completely alter their paths forever. Also, Nina just felt more real to me then alternate reality Viv. She was never trying to put on a show for someone; she was just trying to be who she really was.

I did enjoy the concept for the two worlds in Through To You, and I liked how they seemed to parallel to each other in a more contemporary setting. It was interesting to read about what Cam’s life might have been like if he had been able to overcome his football injury. It would have been completely different! Unfortunately there were times when I felt that the story was dragging a little bit. There were plenty of highs and lows yet sometimes I still felt like we were at a stand still unsure of where to go next. The ending was relatively strong though, and it held a great conclusion regarding the idea of being thankful that someone was brought into your life even if it was only for a short period of time. I did like the way that the story dealt with issues of grief and teenage love but, I guess I just felt like it could have been stronger.

Disclosure: Received ARC from April

Other reviews of Through To You by Emily Hainsworth:

Chick Loves Lit: “THROUGH TO YOU has put Emily Hainsworth on my radar!

Katie’s Book Blog: “I think the best part of Through To You though is the perfect blending of paranormal and contemporary.

365 Days of Reading: “Through to You is, perhaps, a little too predictable.

 

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Allison is 27 years old. She is always looking for new books, good music, quality/epic adventures, and a normal sleep schedule. She currently works with the elderly.

Comments

  1. Ya know, even though you weren’t in love or anything, I still think Through To You sounds like something I will enjoy. Especially with Nina, the voice of reason. I like reading about characters who are different from me!

  2. That’s too bad this one didn’t totally work for you. I really enjoyed it, even if it wasn’t a favourite. And that cover! I think that’s what pulled me in … and the whole alternate world part. I thought that was pretty neat.

    Great review!

  3. I have this on my Nook and started to read it once, but didn’t finish it. The premise of a parallel world is really interesting — and this one clearly came before all the alt reality books that are coming out in YA now — but I guess other books caught my attention. Thank you for this review! It reminds me that I need to go finish reading it 🙂

  4. Awww, sorry you felt like something was missing from this one. I’m glad you enjoyed it still, but that’s always sad. It was ALMOST spectacular but some niggling element just wasn’t there and that can make all the difference.

    I thought she did a great job with Cam’s male POV. Also, I don’t think you’re supposed to like alternate universe Viv. It’s totally a “be careful what you wish for” thing. And illustrative of how small changes can really change the way a personality evolves. Also, they’re probably not meant to be together if in both universes one of the died. lol.