Review: Through to You

Title: Through to You
Author: Emily Hainsworth
Publisher: Balzar & Bray
Release Date: October 02, 2012
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC from ALA

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn't Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn't the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

My Thoughts:

The concept of the parallel universe has really hit big in the media and pop culture lately. Fringe is a really popular TV show and even though I have somewhat fallen away from, it’s a really great show! The idea that there are parallel universes out there with ourselves living different lives is a very interesting concept and I too wonder how my life would have changed had I made different choices.

Through to You starts off sad when we learn that Cam’s girlfriend Viv has died in a car accident. His whole life is turned upside down and he doesn't seem to know what to do to feel better. I have an easy time relating to characters that have lost someone very important in their lives and I immediately felt attached to him. Every time someone would try to get him to snap out of it, I would get a little upset because I know that everyone grieves differently. I was just so sad for him.

The Viv from Cam’s memories seemed like a really nice person and I could see why he really liked her. They got along well, they had common interests and when Cam because unpopular because he had to quit the football team, Viv supported him and quit cheer leading  They seemed like a really great couple. But when he starts hanging out with the other Viv in the other universe, I could see almost immediately how the two Vivs were different. Cam doesn't quit football in the other universe and it makes all of Viv’s unattractive qualities come out. She selfish, self-centered and jealous of all Cam’s other commitments. She was also very reckless.

The choices and the circumstances surrounding the choices that these characters made turned them into very different people. I’m really glad that Hainsworth was able to make that distinction. And sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side. I give Through to You 3 hearts because Hainsworth did a great job of combining science fiction and contemporary and turning it into a very enjoyable story.