YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn't happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other's anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There's no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It's from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that's about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill will be our 5th GBR for March 2021.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

Couldn't resist getting this once I'd read the synopsis...think this could be one that goes down well with some of my students.

Opening chapter relies on rather obvious hooks. (view spoiler)[ I obviously have lots of questions. Who are Em and Finn? Why are they imprisoned? How can she have written instructions and hidden them in the drain? (hide spoiler)]

Up to ch5. (view spoiler)[ Rather surprised we’ve not been given more background information. (hide spoiler)]

Up to ch12. Had spotted that link, though it’s not clear whether Marina puts some of this in place. Like the concept, though I feel a little background would help explain things.

Up to ch23. (view spoiler)[ I understand why it would be hard to go through with the plan, but they’ve had at least three opportunities and messed up every one. At what point are we meant to think they could have prevented this but chose not to? (hide spoiler)]

Finished. Review on home page. Interesting idea and I can see this going down well as a foray into sci-fi. (view spoiler)[ Not having quite the same passion for James that Em has, it meant I wasn’t too bothered what they did and just wished they’d have got on with it. (hide spoiler)]

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

I've actually never heard of this book before reading. I picked it up because it's the group BOTM but it sounded interesting so hopefully it's good!

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

I usually tend to read a lot of dystopian so I have read a few of those before but I don't think I've read a dystopian time travel so I'm excited for that aspect.

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

I haven't yet

Im on chapter 5 and Ive decided I dont really like Marina idk seems kinda bratty imo

Karen wrote: "Finished. Review on home page. Interesting idea and I can see this going down well as a foray into sci-fi. [spoilers removed]"

I just finished and I completely agree with your review! Some parts got kind of frustrating with Em since she kept hesitating and I feel like it made the plot drag a little.

...Had this on my TBR for years now, hoping it lives up to the wait!
25% (view spoiler)[Who is this Dr. and why is he torturing them like this? (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Opening chapter relies on rather obvious hooks. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah starts off with so many questions and so few answers. Reminded me of V for Vendetta if you've ever read or saw that. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[Oh man this is a bit confusing at times with the back and forth timelines and the occasional flashback. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Up to ch23. [spoilers removed]"

Hahahah (view spoiler)[So many times they messed up in their mission you're right. Yet they never seem to learn and it's sad after all he did to them and they knew they had no other option in saving the future yet they still didn't go through with it smh. Basically makes that earlier note to herself meaningless. (hide spoiler)]

Kody wrote: "Im on chapter 5 and Ive decided I dont really like Marina idk seems kinda bratty imo"

(view spoiler)[The past Marina definitely was a brat. I do like how she saw the error of her ways though. I think Finn had a lot to do with that and running for their lives of course (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[How trippy and messed up to have to kill your BFF all while trying not to run into your past self. Also how does Em know so much about this time travel and what not, like how to even use the machine? (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[I love and hate the ending. We're basically told so many timelines have happened etc so it makes me wonder why this particular timeline was the one used for the story. It's rather dark and depressing. So sad James had to die, I'm assuming they went back even earlier and let him know who'd he become maybe? Also her and Finn, the not knowing if they will get a HEA is heartbreaking. And finally I'm shocked so much that Noah was killed and it was all because of James anyways. I think that's what got to him the most :( Decent read, not the best but definitely kept me hooked until the end. (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

I definitely agree! There were a lot of twists and stuff and it wasn’t bad. Definitely sad in some parts too!!

Karen wrote: "Up to ch5. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree. I still kinda don’t get what’s happening. This world isn’t making much sense yet. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9
I feel like this would make a better movie than book. A lot of the scenes could look really cool.

Aaron wrote: "Chapter 9
I feel like this would make a better movie than book. A lot of the scenes could look really cool."

I agree since I kind of feel like there were some parts that were a little confusing

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Karen wrote: "Up to ch23. [spoilers removed]"

Hahahah [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ It is getting a bit annoying. Also, why do they have to kill him at this point in time. Surely it would be easier to go back further then they have plenty of time to kill him. They could just go to when he was a baby and get it over with really easily. And couldn’t they just kill the teacher James is working on this project for or get rid of the guy who killed Nate to stop James from going dark. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 34
(view spoiler)[ I don’t understand what they expect to gain from this meeting. They should just kill James and the be done with it. Future James would disappear as well and Marina and Finn would be safe. Surely this meeting can’t change the fact they have to kill James. None of this makes sense. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Finished. Review on home page. Interesting idea and I can see this going down well as a foray into sci-fi. [spoilers removed]"

Done
(view spoiler)[ The story should’ve ended way sooner with them just getting on with it. I think it would’ve been better if we saw a few attempts of them going back in time and trying different things instead to bulk out the story. (hide spoiler)]

Aaron wrote: "Karen wrote: "Finished. Review on home page. Interesting idea and I can see this going down well as a foray into sci-fi. [spoilers removed]"

Done
[spoilers removed]"

Exactly. (view spoiler)[It's like too many things were just added in for the sake of the book. When time travel is involved it always make you wonder why they don't just go back farther and make things simpler lol. Definitely something that would work better on film than in fiction. (hide spoiler)]