Prenna James isn't the biggest supporter of the rules her
community drills into their heads to follow. They are
supposedly necessary since her and her community are
escapees from a future filled with plagues and illness. When
her classmate, normal, non-futuristic Ethan, gets closer to
her and shows her kindness, she becomes in danger of
breaking one of the biggest rules: don't fall in love with
outsiders. Prenna will have to learn how to fight for love
if she really wants it and what the consequences are when
you break the rules.
THE HERE AND NOW by Ann Brashares is a refreshing blend of
action, romance, and science fiction. As a big fan of
Brashares's THE SISTERHOOD OF TRAVELING PANTS series, I
couldn't wait to see what her newest book, so far from that
series in terms of genre, was like. After reading it, it is
such a joy to see an author that can use their talents in so
many different areas of stories and still craft something
amazing.
What I enjoy most about THE HERE AND NOW is the romance
between Prenna and Ethan. Ethan is heartbreakingly sweet,
and I love the dynamic of them as a potential couple. They
both have excellent backgrounds and depth to their
characters that make them so nice and enjoyable to read
about. Unfortunately (for me, because I love them), they do
show signs of being star-crossed, so I can only hope for
more of them in a sequel.
While I do really, really, really like THE HERE AND NOW, the
pacing gets a little off at times, and there isn't anything
especially unpredictable that happens in the story, so I
can't say that I quite love it. It is very much worth the
read though, and it is great for anyone that is a fan of
hers or anyone that enjoys romance and science fiction. I
think it would be a particularly good read for people who
are big fans of contemporary romance that want to explore
more science fiction/action books, because THE HERE AND NOW
has a good blend of all of them.
An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from
the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she
lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.
Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in
love.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who
immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna
didn’t come from a different country. She came from a
different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has
mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the
world in ruins.
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must
follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re
from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be
intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as
she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that
will one day ravage the earth.
But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.