I didn't just like it. I loved it. Even the minute bits like a girl-scientist, a platonic hetero-friendship, a boy-artist, all the stuff that never seems to make its way into YA fiction felt very natural here. And yes, there was an unlikely romance that developed quickly, but it wasn't just gazing into each other's eyes and knowing instantly that they were soul mates; they actually had to get to know each other first. And the icing on the cake: no forced love triangle! In fact, no love triangle at all!
The mystery of what the heck happened to Danny weaves into Eevee's own personal renaissance to make a story that just has a life of its own. Real world obligations prevented me from reading it all in one sitting, but i totally could have. And when the sequel comes out, i'll call in sick if i have to.
Because if there's one thing wrong with this story, it's that the whole time i wished i was reading Part 2. Dystopia Danny coming to a reality that seems a lot like ours was riveting, but i'm twice as excited to read about Slacker Danny landing in dystopia.
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Now That You're Here (Duplexity Part 1)
Author: Amy Nichols
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (December 9, 2014)
Received free of charge from the Amazon Vine program
I really wish more YA books had relationships based on actually getting to know each other.
ReplyDeleteAlas, in this book at least, they were on a tight deadline. But yes, a more realistic love story would be delightful, though i'm not sure how much YA readers want realistic. Given that Default Romantic Plot involves a love-triangle between insta-love-with-baddie/unrequited-and-unexplained-love-from-goodie, one can only assume that's what sells.
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