Series: After Eden, Book One
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: Paperback
Published: 7th November 2013
Number of Pages: 288
Book: For Review*
Genre: Science-Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Action-Adventure,
YA
Recommended
Age: 12+
Contains: Swearing, Alcohol References
No Drug References
Author's Site: Helen Douglas
Author's Twitter: @helenmdouglas
Blurb from Goodreads:
Eden Anfield loves puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her.
As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.
Review:
“Although
it seemed impossible, the evidence was staring me in the face…
Ryan
Westland was from the future.”
Ryan Westland shows up at Eden Anfeild's
school. He's gorgeous and American, but seems like a normal teenage boy.
So why doesn't he know things everyone
knows? He doesn't recognise pizza or burgers – he’s never even heard of
Hitler. And, even though all the girls are hanging onto his every word,
the only one he seems to pay any real attention to is Eden.
As a puzzle-lover, Eden is determined to
crack all of Ryan's secrets.
She starts to fall for him instead.
Until she finds a book in his home – a book
that was written decades after her time. A book that is a biography about
her best friend. A book that is impossible.
As the pieces fall into place, Eden is
forced to confront Ryan. The truth... it's life-changing. Maybe...
maybe even world-changing...
After
Eden landed on my doorstep in the
morning, I began to read (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun). I finished
it in one sitting – in a matter of hours. It was seriously freaking
addictive. It was also really not what I was expecting! It was
sweet and exciting and so easy to read. Younger teens will just love it and gobble it up!
Heck, even older ones will, given the speed I zoomed through it! It
may not have been stunningly unique, but it was good fun.
Ok, Eden... She was seriously naive. A bit like Clary
- I mean, hello! Could it be any more obvious that your best mate
is into you? And yet she didn't see it – even after Ryan pointed it out!
Le sigh. But, other than
that, I liked her. She was sweet and clever and funny and took the news
really well. I liked her sense of humour and her strength.
I really liked Ryan – he was funny and
mysterious and sweet. But his mission dedication was a bit weird.
Yes, I'm here to save everything, but hey! Cute girl. Forget
the world – let's get my flirt on! And yet even as I say this... He
was really sweet and I really did like him. What can I say – apparently,
I like time travellers!
The romance in this was really sweet and
quite subtle. It wasn't The Main Thing, if you know what I mean.
Despite Ryan's tenuous mission dedication, the main point of the book was
World Saving. And I liked that. I also really liked Ryan and Eden's
relationship – it was really sweet and kind of innocent. It was just
really cute!
I loved a whole bunch of the other
characters in the book, even if they weren't in it all that much. Especially
Connor – I think I have a thing for surfers.
I liked Eden's voice – it was really quite
simple and easy to read. But the dialogue at times... I've gotta
say, sometimes it felt a bit... forced. I don't know why... But
other than that I loved Eden's voice – she felt like a real teenager and, being
the same age, I could relate to her. But younger people will relate to
her, too, because I've gotta say, I'm not quite as... naive as her, to put it nicely... Which doesn't make any
sense, but still. Relatable and easy-to-read writing. Win-win!
Moving on... To the plot, which was pretty
much always awesome. I did see a few of the twists coming but I was
hooked nonetheless. It was so fun and exciting and really quite
fast-paced!
And I loved
that After Eden was set in England at
the beach. So few books I read are British – especially
sci-fi/time-travel books like this! I literally did a happy dance when I
saw the setting! But on the topic of time-travel, the book really did
make all the sci-fi things seem real. I like that. Stupidly
farfetched sci-fi books get on my nerves.
All in all, After Eden was a brilliant little book that I loved. It was
sweet and fun and a brilliant escape. It also didn't end on a horrible
cliff-hanger – yes, the ending was a little bit... conveniently predictable, but it was cute and I liked it, so there. I'm excited for Chasing
Stars – I'll be looking forward to my fun beach-y British book next summer!
And for those of you who want a cute, fun, Doctor-Who-ish, addictive,
read-in-one-sitting book, you've gotta pick up After Eden. You won't regret it!
Star Rating:
3¾ Out of 5
3¾ Out of 5
Read this
book if you liked:
Timedance Series by Susan
Waggoner
Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris
Repossession by Sam
Hawksmoor
Challenges
It's Taking Part In:
Happy Reading
Megan
* This
book was received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review