Title: All Our Yesterdays
Publishing Info: September 3, 2013 by
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: January 26, 2014 What would you change?
Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.
Marina has loved her best friend, James, since they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it... at least, not as the girl she once was. Em and Marina are in a race against time that only one of them can win.
All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice
Right off the bat, I knew I was going to enjoy ALL OUR YESTERDAYS. It’s a book about time travel. So of course! The book started off exciting. I’ve been going through a rough patch lately where I’ve read a lot of books that started out just a bit slowly but ALL OUR YESTERDAYS definitely caught me from the beginning and it was just what I needed to kick off another batch of exciting reads!
One thing I really liked about ALL OUR YESTERDAYS was the really creative POV switch. Going into the book, I really knew nothing except that it was about time travel (I really like to go into books blind for the ultimate surprise effects!) so it was really interesting to see the timelines of Em and Marina and exactly how they were connected. I had my suspicions from the start how the stories of the two girls would merge together and I was completely satisfied when it was revealed to the readers!
Time travel can be tricky to incorporate into books sometimes and I’m not always convinced with the time travel explanations but Cristin Terrill did an amazing job making sure everything connected and things like paradoxes were explained. I totally geek out of time travel and the different methods it works as well as the explanations of how time lines diverge and converge so I was very please to see how well everything was handled!
I think the overall plot was pretty brilliant. The reason that these characters choose to time travel, the events that they’re trying to stop, and the fact that they’ve already had so many failed attempts was absolutely fascinating. There were a few situations that positively terrified me, mostly because I stopped to think, “This could really happen in our world… And wouldn’t I try to time travel if I thought I could prevent it, even if it meant giving up everything to do so?” But the best part about it all was honestly how the villain of the story, the doctor, was incorporated. The doctor is… complicated, to say the least, as is his relationship with Em and Finn. It’s incredible to see the slow reveal of his side of the story and how that all fits back into everything. Cristin Terrill just does a fantastic job of weaving everything back in together which is something that never ceases to amaze me when I read books with plot twists and reveals.
I also really enjoyed the romance between Em and Finn. Once again, Cristin Terrill introduces us to the timeline as it currently stands and then slowly fills in the missing pieces of everything that the characters have gone through to get there. The reveal of how Em and Finn ended up in their current situation and how their relationship formed was bittersweet. I loved seeing how much they relied on each other, trusted each other, and fell in love in despite their current situation (you know… trying to save the world). At the same time, it was so heart-breaking to see them constantly being put in jeopardy and they really only have each other throughout this crazy expedition to set the world right so when something goes wrong, it goes terribly wrong and my heart ached whenever something endangered either character or their relationship. I totally fell in love with the two of them!
The only tiny complaint I have was the way the ending was wrapped up… I almost feel embarrassed to admit but I was a bit confused at first. I understood what had happened but I was missing a tiny portion of the “how” according to the rules that had been set up throughout the novel. I thought over it and felt all right with it but at the same time, there’s still a piece of me that feels like it didn’t quite make sense. (So please feel free to talk some sense into me, those who have read it!) I appreciate knowing that apparently there will be a book two (which was something that upset some readers before me since it was originally planned to be a stand alone) so I’m very curious to see where the second book takes us because I’m not entirely sure what Cristin Terrill has up her sleeve!
Other than that, I really loved the book. There was just a little tiny “something” missing (I couldn’t really tell you what) that prevented me from fangirling and failing and rating it five stars, but I really, really enjoyed it and I always love a good time travel book!
Em // Character Obsessions: Time traveling, saving the world, stopping the doctor, Finn.
I really, REALLY liked Em. I loved her tough spirit, her determination to persevere and I respected how hardened she had become even though she had to make some seriously tough choices along the way. I really appreciated seeing how much she had changed from her past-self and she really turned out to be a better person even though she had to go through insane amounts of hardships to get there.
Finn // Character Obsessions: Protecting Em, chasing down the doctor, general Tom Foolery.
I loved Finn’s attitude. You know I love the joking, teasing sort of guy and I love seeing the funny guy fall in love. It’s just so touching to see that sort of exterior broken and seeing a softie underneath. I really grew to love his character and I loved seeing how different he had been in the past as well.
Kept Me Hooked On: Time Travel. Heckkkk yes. The time travel was done SO well in this book. I loved how it was established, I loved how it was explained, and I love how it drove the plot from beginning to end.
Left Me Wanting More: “Something”. This was another book that was just missing a tiny something and I really couldn’t tell you what it is. There was nothing “wrong” but it didn’t quite blow me away.
Addiction Rating
Read it!
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS was really great. If you’re a fan of time travel, sci-fi, exciting chases, narrow escapes, romance, kissing, evil villains… You’ll love it! (Come on, who DOESN’T like that?)
BOOKS LIKE ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
(Click the cover to see my review!)
21 thoughts on “All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays #1) – Cristin Terrill”
This book sound really good! I love time travel books!
I really like the concept of this book. I’m not a complete fan of Sci-Fi, as I’ve never really read any before. However, that won’t keep me from reading Sci-Fi. I’d really like to get my hands on this book, as it sounds really fascinating on the edge of your seat type of book. I would not mind reading this book.
1. This is my pick for the giveaway. 🙂
2. Excellent review, as always. You articulated wonderfully all the points that I loved about AOY. (Especially Em and Finn. *snuggles*)
Nice review. 🙂 Time travel stories have always attracted me (at times they can properly toy with my brain), and alternative POVs are good as well (provided they are decently done).
Time travel? Why have I not read this book yet?! Sounds like a pretty good one if you ask me. I’ll have to move this up on my TBR list – I know it’s somewhere on it 🙂 Great review!
I loved this one. I am so fascinated by time travel books, or at least those done well, like this one. I loved the past and present versions of Em and Finn and the doctor. I thought it was so well done how the stories weaved together. I’d have to refresh my memory on the ending before I offered up any sense. I don’t recall being confused or left with questions but honestly, the exact details aren’t that strong in my memory right now. So glad you liked this one!
I can’t wait to read it! Sounds right up my alley 🙂
I’m glad that has a time travel fan you enjoyed this, because I am not a time travel fan and I liked it a lot! I agree with you about the ending though, it’s been a while since I read it, but I remember thinking that some of the previously established rules might have been bent.
I need to reread this. It’s been so long that I couldn’t even decipher the ending if I tried. I know it was a little less flowy than I like my books to be and I did have to read and reread the end… it was so intense and so much info at once. I think I need a paperback of this one. 🙂
Can’t wait to see what this author does with book 2!
I seriously could not put down ALL OUR YESTERDAYS once I’d started it! There’s something about Em, Finn and the heroic act they are trying to commit that really just engaged me and refused to let go until I hit the ending. It’s such a complex, but easy to read book! Glad you enjoyed it as well.
I actually haven’t read many time travel books, but if more are like this one then it’s a subgenre I can see myself loving. I liked how there were some scientific aspects and explanations, but Terrill managed to keep it all relatable while not talking down to her readers.
I remember really loving the ending when I read it. It’s incredibly bittersweet, but it also felt so fitting. I’m one of those readers who was disappointed to hear of a sequel. I’m just not sure where the story can go from here, but I am willing to find out.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one so much! It definitely is a great time-travel book! 🙂
I love time travel books and I thought this one was just so well done. The characters, the plot, I just loved everything about it. I’m really curious about what she’s going to do in book 2 but I guess that’s the beauty of time travel, it’s never really over! Glad you enjoyed it.
I’ve put this one off until the sequel releases – I’m worried about a pesky love triangle popping up, and I heard that this would have worked much better as a stand alone.
Great review – it definitely makes me want to read it more!
Time travel mixed with dystopia mixed with sci fi? Count me totally in! Adding this to my TBR list!
And I totally get you on that time travel thing. I absolutely love it, but I need the author to do it just right.
This sounds like a great book. I love time travel too, and I love it when the authors give enough description so it makes sense. 🙂
Time travel books are my favourites! I absolutely love the whole time travel thing. I blame Doctor Who and my love for history. I’m so glad that you ended up loving this one, and I agree that it was captivating! I’m very excited for the sequel, but considering how this one ended, I’m not sure how it will work!
The time travel in this book!! If it’s possible to fall in love with a time travel system, I fell in love with this one. I think this is the first book where I felt I really *got* the time travel system and accepted it. As much as I love time travel books in general, the time travel in *this one* was outstanding.
You know, I feel like I understood the ending when I read it, but I don’t really remember much of it. I know the basics, but my mind is fuzzy on the details. I’d have to revisit it to see if I really understood it or not.
I loved Em & Finn so much. I hurt for everything they went through and I LOVED the way the dual timelines worked in this one. Not always a fan of that but in this time travel story, it just really worked. And the doctor was such a fascinating character!
So glad you enjoyed this! I was quite confused about the ending too but I’m confident that we’ll get a better explanation on the second book.
I can’t wait to finally get around to this one.
I felt the same about this book. I really really liked it, but I didn’t like freak out love it. I agree about the ending. It was a bit confusing and I had to hash it out with a friend and I *think* I understand now, but not entirely sure. Hopefully the second book clears things up for us although I felt like this could have been a standalone and I’m seriously wondering where Cristin Terrill is going to take the story because I felt like it was pretty wrapped up. But I definitely enjoyed this one and loved the time travel. It was so well explained and I loved that!
I’ve been wanting to read All Our Yesterdays for the time travel alone, because, you know it’s TIME TRAVEL 😀 That was all I needed to know to make me excited, although I have yet to read it. Since the time travel aspect is my main draw for All Our Yesterdays, I’m glad that you think it’s done really well. Also, I have that a lot where I feel ‘something’ is missing, but I can never pinpoint why or what.