Time Between Us (Stone) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
Anna started an ordinary day with her usual routine, running. She did not, however, usually see a hot guy on campus as she ran by, and she had never seen a guy who just...disappeared. But then he showed up later in the day at school—turned out Bennett was real, seemed nice, but maybe a little aloof. Anna falls for Bennett, who reveals his secret: he disappeared that morning because he is able to travel through time and space. At first, Anna delights in Bennett's ability. She wants to travel so badly, and he can take her to Italy on a moment's notice—and without any adults noticing they are missing. Their relationship gets complicated when Bennett reveals another secret: he is from the past and he is losing control over his unusual ability. Teen romance readers will enjoy this twist on a "bad boy" story—Bennett is actually a good guy, but his special power seriously complicates their relationship. First-time author Stone has had a successful career in public relations, but says that Anna's story came to her during a conversation with her husband. He asked her which superpower she would like to have. She replied that she would want time-traveling abilities—so that she could go back five minutes each time she stuck her foot in her mouth., and maybe to see Green Day play back in the '90s. Soon, Bennett was born; then Anna. Hyperion is betting on this to be a hit, releasing it in print, audio, and as an e-book simultaneously.
Anna Foote - VOYA


The cute new boy at school, Bennett Cooper, keeps disappearing on steadfast Anna Greene in this warm, time-bending romance, set in 1995. High school junior Anna feels stuck in Evanston, Ill., growing up in her father’s childhood home and dreaming of travel and adventure. Anna stays smitten with Bennett as he alternately flirts with her and pushes her away. Debut author Stone takes a while to let Anna discover that Bennett is a time traveler from the year 2012; they fall for each other knowing they might be pulled apart by Bennett’s inability to stay in 1995. Some readers may get slightly tripped up by the logistics of time travel—Bennett is simultaneously a baby and a 17-year-old in 1995 while looking for his sister who got stuck in 1994. But the chemistry between Bennett and Anna—and the fun and brave things they do together—will have readers rooting for the couple that keeps daring fate. The secret Bennett keeps from Anna unravels into a dreamy, twisty ending.
Publishers Weekly


The story will hold readers with its twists and turns, present and future; its love, sadness, and anger; and especially, its surprising secrets.
Booklist


A slow-moving time-travel romance emphasizes romance over everything else. When Anna sees a strange boy who smiles warmly at her when she's out for her morning jog, she's puzzled. Puzzlement turns to bewilderment when that boy—Bennett—shows up as a new student at her tony private high school and reacts violently to her name but seems not to recognize her at all. She has always wanted to see the world, but she's hardly ever left her hometown of Evanston, Ill.; she explores the travel section of her father's bookstore instead. One night, Bennett uses his amazing time-travel ability to save her from a robbery at the store; he explains that he comes from 2012 and is in Anna's time, 1995, to find the sister he lost at a Pearl Jam concert. Love ensues. Stone doesn't bother to give Bennett's unique talent any kind of coherent framework, instead using it to fuel fabulous trips to exotic places and to provide an excuse for hand-wringing about unrequitable love. Anna forces him to go against his preternaturally developed sense of chrono-ethics when her two best friends are in a terrible car accident, but even the consequences of that are only limply explored. The rushed ending exposes the lost sister for the MacGuffin she is and knocks the feet out from under the novel's only emotionally honest moment, Anna's decision to live for herself. Time travel can be fascinating, but here it is not.
Kirkus Reviews