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Duplexity #2
While You Were Gone
An artist without a cause meets a rebel without a clue.
Eevee is a promising young artist and the governor’s daughter in a city where censorship is everywhere and security is everything. When a fire devastates her exhibition—years in the making—her dreams of attending an elite art institute are dashed. She’s struggling to find inspiration when she meets Danny, a boy from a different world. Literally.
Raised in a foster home, Danny has led a life full of hurt and hardship until a glitch in the universe changes everything. Suddenly Danny is living in a home he’s never seen, with parents who miraculously survived the car crash that should have killed them. It’s like he’s a new Danny. But this alternate self has secrets—ties to an underground anarchist group that have already landed him in hot water. When he starts to develop feelings for Eevee, he’s even more disturbed to learn that he might have started the fire that ruined her work.
As Danny sifts through clues from his past and Eevee attempts to piece together her future, they uncover a secret that’s bigger than both of them. . . . And together, they must correct the breach between the worlds before it’s too late.
Eevee is a promising young artist and the governor’s daughter in a city where censorship is everywhere and security is everything. When a fire devastates her exhibition—years in the making—her dreams of attending an elite art institute are dashed. She’s struggling to find inspiration when she meets Danny, a boy from a different world. Literally.
Raised in a foster home, Danny has led a life full of hurt and hardship until a glitch in the universe changes everything. Suddenly Danny is living in a home he’s never seen, with parents who miraculously survived the car crash that should have killed them. It’s like he’s a new Danny. But this alternate self has secrets—ties to an underground anarchist group that have already landed him in hot water. When he starts to develop feelings for Eevee, he’s even more disturbed to learn that he might have started the fire that ruined her work.
As Danny sifts through clues from his past and Eevee attempts to piece together her future, they uncover a secret that’s bigger than both of them. . . . And together, they must correct the breach between the worlds before it’s too late.
304 pages, Library Binding
First published August 4, 2015
11 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Amy K. Nichols
2 books138 followersAmy K. Nichols has been crafting stories for as long as she can remember. She is the author of YA science fiction novel Now That You’re Here, to be published by Knopf December 9, 2014. The follow-up, While You Were Gone, will be published in 2015. She is mentored by award-winning crime novelist James Sallis and lives on the edge of the Sonoran desert with her husband and children. Amy is a member of SCBWI and SFWA, as well as the Class of 2K14 debut authors. Visit her online at http://www.amyknichols.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 30, 2015
After reading book 1 in this series and being completely blown away, I opened this book with high expectations and Amy K. Nichols doesn’t disappoint in the second half of her Duplexity series.
Book one told one story… and book two – tells the second part of that story… only from a different perspective. Sort of. All this is very hard to explain.
This is a book of parallel worlds if that gives you any clue as to what I mean above. In book one we meet Danny and Evee, and in book two, we meet Danny and Evee. Don’t worry, I’ll try to explain.
In While You Were Gone, Danny is brought from his world to a parallel universe where it’s practically unrecognizable. He grew up in a foster home where trying to make it day to day was his struggle. In this new life, his parents are alive and he’s struggling to make sense of it all. At the same time the government is trying to control everything… where you go, what you do, you name it.
Danny is instantly drawn to Evee. She’s a budding artist, but she’s also the Governor’s daughter and Danny’s ties to and underground group bent on anarchy could get them both in trouble.
I have to say that while I enjoyed this one, I wasn’t as invested in this version of Danny and Evee. I felt like the romance wasn’t quite up to what we got in the first one. That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy what we got, I just would have liked them together a bit more to see their relationship develop.
The story itself was really well done and a perfect complement to that of book one. I found myself eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen and I was really happy with the outcome.
I do love that these characters are so different from one another. It’s easy to see the differences in what each offer and why they connect so well in the worlds they are in.
I will say that you could possibly read one of these books without the other, but seriously why would you. Book one sets the stage and explains more of the science of the why’s and hows and book two focuses more on the story at hand.
If you’re looking on an interesting take on a parallel universe you definitely need to check out Amy K. Nichols. I know I’m eagerly waiting to see what she creates next!
Thank you to Knopf books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Book one told one story… and book two – tells the second part of that story… only from a different perspective. Sort of. All this is very hard to explain.
This is a book of parallel worlds if that gives you any clue as to what I mean above. In book one we meet Danny and Evee, and in book two, we meet Danny and Evee. Don’t worry, I’ll try to explain.
In While You Were Gone, Danny is brought from his world to a parallel universe where it’s practically unrecognizable. He grew up in a foster home where trying to make it day to day was his struggle. In this new life, his parents are alive and he’s struggling to make sense of it all. At the same time the government is trying to control everything… where you go, what you do, you name it.
Danny is instantly drawn to Evee. She’s a budding artist, but she’s also the Governor’s daughter and Danny’s ties to and underground group bent on anarchy could get them both in trouble.
I have to say that while I enjoyed this one, I wasn’t as invested in this version of Danny and Evee. I felt like the romance wasn’t quite up to what we got in the first one. That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy what we got, I just would have liked them together a bit more to see their relationship develop.
The story itself was really well done and a perfect complement to that of book one. I found myself eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen and I was really happy with the outcome.
I do love that these characters are so different from one another. It’s easy to see the differences in what each offer and why they connect so well in the worlds they are in.
I will say that you could possibly read one of these books without the other, but seriously why would you. Book one sets the stage and explains more of the science of the why’s and hows and book two focuses more on the story at hand.
If you’re looking on an interesting take on a parallel universe you definitely need to check out Amy K. Nichols. I know I’m eagerly waiting to see what she creates next!
Thank you to Knopf books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
November 5, 2015
I want to thank Knopf books for young readers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I have a thing for well planned out time travel books. This one did it right. So of course I was happy to be able to read the second book in this series to see what was happening on the other side while the first book was in progress.
This book is basically the parallel world of the first book. While it probably could be read on it's own, it was nice to have the background from the first book to see what was going along with it. I love that we get the other side of the perspective.
I liked watching this version of Evee and Danny. Their different personalities, and lifestyles. I liked watching Danny figure out exactly how he needed to act and be in order to fit in and not get "caught" being in the wrong world. The romance was there in this book, but I wasn't drawn to it as I was in the first book. I felt much more of a connection with the characters' romance in book #1.
I really like that this kind of took on a dystopian feel, while still being a time travel type of book. The world is totally different from book one. The government is very restrictive in this book and controls just about everything. It's the flip side of everything we saw after Danny was thrown from this world in the first book.
Nicholas does a nice job presenting the parallel universe and showing us what happened after the blast. She delves in the rebels and how they intend to put a stop to the restrictive government. I like that the romance was not a huge part of this book. Sure, it's there, but it's really just scratching the surface of what we saw between the parallel characters in book one.
Fans of Kasie West's Pivot Point series will fall right into Nichol's world.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I have a thing for well planned out time travel books. This one did it right. So of course I was happy to be able to read the second book in this series to see what was happening on the other side while the first book was in progress.
This book is basically the parallel world of the first book. While it probably could be read on it's own, it was nice to have the background from the first book to see what was going along with it. I love that we get the other side of the perspective.
I liked watching this version of Evee and Danny. Their different personalities, and lifestyles. I liked watching Danny figure out exactly how he needed to act and be in order to fit in and not get "caught" being in the wrong world. The romance was there in this book, but I wasn't drawn to it as I was in the first book. I felt much more of a connection with the characters' romance in book #1.
I really like that this kind of took on a dystopian feel, while still being a time travel type of book. The world is totally different from book one. The government is very restrictive in this book and controls just about everything. It's the flip side of everything we saw after Danny was thrown from this world in the first book.
Nicholas does a nice job presenting the parallel universe and showing us what happened after the blast. She delves in the rebels and how they intend to put a stop to the restrictive government. I like that the romance was not a huge part of this book. Sure, it's there, but it's really just scratching the surface of what we saw between the parallel characters in book one.
Fans of Kasie West's Pivot Point series will fall right into Nichol's world.
not-interested
September 15, 2017What?
So it's not exactly a sequel. Nooooo.
So it's not exactly a sequel. Nooooo.
January 11, 2017
Although this sequel had more action and less science, I didn't like it as much as the previous book in the series, Now That You're Here. The world building was good, although I had to suspend my disbelief when it came to these kids getting away with everything they did. It seems like with all that security, it would have been much more difficult not to get noticed.
Something I loved was the way Danny's parents were portrayed. I'm always glad to see adults being written as caring people who want the best for their children, especially in a YA novel.
So overall this was an average read for me. It's a great YA take on alternate worlds, although this second book could use a little more science and a lot less sneaking around.
Something I loved was the way Danny's parents were portrayed. I'm always glad to see adults being written as caring people who want the best for their children, especially in a YA novel.
So overall this was an average read for me. It's a great YA take on alternate worlds, although this second book could use a little more science and a lot less sneaking around.
April 27, 2018
I loved this book, the Duplexity series is overall one of my favorite series' I have ever read. I do still enjoy reading this book and the other in the series because of how science-y and nerdy it all is. This makes a science fiction book into a romance that is really captivating. You see the world from both sides of the universe.
April 26, 2017
The first half of this book was sooooo slow, it was interesting and had ideas that hooked you, but it lagged. The last 5 chapters though, were the best ones from the whole book.
August 16, 2015
Why you should read it: I love the idea behind parallel worlds, and Amy Nichols gives readers something even more interesting … we get to see the couples from both parallel worlds! While You Were Gone is the sequel to Now That You're Here, and in this installment we get to see the other Danny and Eevee. The author did a fantastic job in differentiating between the two Dannys and the two Eevees. I recommend this for any fan of parallel-universe stories and YA.
INTERVIEW WITH AMY NICHOLS
How was writing this version of Danny and Eevee?
Amy: Writing this Danny and Eevee was both challenging and rewarding. The first book gave me hints at who these parallel characters were, but I didn't really come to know them until working on the second or so draft of While You Were Gone. Eevee was more difficult to get a lock on than Danny. Once I understood her relationship with art, though, her part of the story came together. Danny I understood from the start, but I didn't anticipate how his story would affect me emotionally. He really broke my heart. At one point while writing I had to walk away from the computer and go have a good cry.
What would the other "you" be like?
Amy: I recently returned from The Schrodinger Sessions, a workshop in quantum physics for science-fiction writers put on by the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland, so right now I'm totally geeked out on science. I just know one of my parallel selves didn't get bored with science in high school, but rather pursued a career in it and is actively exploring all the weird and unexplained things about her universe.
Head over to the HEA blog to see the rest of the interview with Amy!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
INTERVIEW WITH AMY NICHOLS
How was writing this version of Danny and Eevee?
Amy: Writing this Danny and Eevee was both challenging and rewarding. The first book gave me hints at who these parallel characters were, but I didn't really come to know them until working on the second or so draft of While You Were Gone. Eevee was more difficult to get a lock on than Danny. Once I understood her relationship with art, though, her part of the story came together. Danny I understood from the start, but I didn't anticipate how his story would affect me emotionally. He really broke my heart. At one point while writing I had to walk away from the computer and go have a good cry.
What would the other "you" be like?
Amy: I recently returned from The Schrodinger Sessions, a workshop in quantum physics for science-fiction writers put on by the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland, so right now I'm totally geeked out on science. I just know one of my parallel selves didn't get bored with science in high school, but rather pursued a career in it and is actively exploring all the weird and unexplained things about her universe.
Head over to the HEA blog to see the rest of the interview with Amy!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
July 27, 2015
I'm not sure what I wanted from book two but I know this is not it. I wanted answers that book one left me with but instead I get the story of what happened to Danny when he went to the other parallel world. I think I would have rather had it start off with the real Danny coming back to artist Eevee's world then what was happening at the same time book one was taking place. I did not feel I connected with this Eevee as much as in the first story, everything seemed to be toned down which made no sense with these characters living in a stricter regime. I felt more danger in the first book.
November 20, 2016
Extremely satisfying and thrilling second book, one that wrapped things up in a way that leads you to imagine a very interesting future for Danny and Eevee on both worlds.
May 28, 2018
The first book in this duology, Now That You’re Here, was actually quite surprising to me. It wasn’t the best written, most unique story I’d ever read, but my expectations were very low considering it’s ratings on GR.
Going into the second book I was actually excited. I thought it was clever to tell the story of the other Danny and Eevee. I wanted to see Danny’s redemption arc, since we know that one of the Dannys did some really mean, jerky things. I wanted to get to know the other Eevee. I wanted to learn about this dystopian society where people’s EMF signals are tracked in the name of public safety. I was really intrigued.
Unfortunately, this book was just plain bad. It was poorly-written, boring, and shallow.
Just an FYI. I will be making a lot of comparisons between the first and second book. They take place concurrently, and follow different versions of the same character, so I feel like the comparison is justified.
What I didn’t like:
1. Insta-love. The romance in the first book happens quickly. The characters know each other for only two weeks and are in love. However, the Danny and Eevee in this book make the other pair look like a slow-burn romance. It’s ridiculous. There is no real foundation for their relationship.
2. I never felt bad for this Danny. It doesn’t make much sense when you think about it. This Danny is the one who lost his parents. He’s the one in the abusive foster home. But while I felt empathy for the Danny in the first book, I didn’t here. I think my biggest problem is that we are told in the first book that the two Dannys are so different. One of them is a total creep who bullies people and gets high all day. But aside from a couple off-handed comments about not remembering why he shoved Warren in a locker and how he wished he had a cigarette, there wasn’t really much difference between them, at least in the second book. He had none of the edge I was expecting. He basically saw Eevee and became a lovesick fool.
3. Serious lack of world building. In the first book, Danny explains that the society is the way it is because of the Cold War. Ehhh, I just didn’t buy that. I accepted the explanation in book one, expecting it to be expounded upon in this book, but it really wasn’t. The government in this book was the epitome of moustache-twirly and one-dimensional. I didn’t understand how the society actually functioned. In the first book there was talk about curfews and people of different classes not allowed in certain areas, but the characters in this book seemed to have no such restrictions.
4. The ending.
It was so abrupt and anti-climactic. There was no closure for the Eevee and Danny from the first book, and not much for the pair from this book either. The society is pretty much still corrupt and the characters are still in danger. And what happened to the Mac from Book one?! It just felt like there were a lot of loose threads left hanging. Not to mention the fact that the Danny from Book one was cool with never seeing his parents again because ‘twu wuv’ and I’m like...YOU’RE 15!!!
I was not expecting to rate this a one star after enjoying the first book like I did. Unfortunately, while it was a very quick read, I felt like it wasn’t worth it.
Going into the second book I was actually excited. I thought it was clever to tell the story of the other Danny and Eevee. I wanted to see Danny’s redemption arc, since we know that one of the Dannys did some really mean, jerky things. I wanted to get to know the other Eevee. I wanted to learn about this dystopian society where people’s EMF signals are tracked in the name of public safety. I was really intrigued.
Unfortunately, this book was just plain bad. It was poorly-written, boring, and shallow.
Just an FYI. I will be making a lot of comparisons between the first and second book. They take place concurrently, and follow different versions of the same character, so I feel like the comparison is justified.
What I didn’t like:
1. Insta-love. The romance in the first book happens quickly. The characters know each other for only two weeks and are in love. However, the Danny and Eevee in this book make the other pair look like a slow-burn romance. It’s ridiculous. There is no real foundation for their relationship.
2. I never felt bad for this Danny. It doesn’t make much sense when you think about it. This Danny is the one who lost his parents. He’s the one in the abusive foster home. But while I felt empathy for the Danny in the first book, I didn’t here. I think my biggest problem is that we are told in the first book that the two Dannys are so different. One of them is a total creep who bullies people and gets high all day. But aside from a couple off-handed comments about not remembering why he shoved Warren in a locker and how he wished he had a cigarette, there wasn’t really much difference between them, at least in the second book. He had none of the edge I was expecting. He basically saw Eevee and became a lovesick fool.
3. Serious lack of world building. In the first book, Danny explains that the society is the way it is because of the Cold War. Ehhh, I just didn’t buy that. I accepted the explanation in book one, expecting it to be expounded upon in this book, but it really wasn’t. The government in this book was the epitome of moustache-twirly and one-dimensional. I didn’t understand how the society actually functioned. In the first book there was talk about curfews and people of different classes not allowed in certain areas, but the characters in this book seemed to have no such restrictions.
4. The ending.
It was so abrupt and anti-climactic. There was no closure for the Eevee and Danny from the first book, and not much for the pair from this book either. The society is pretty much still corrupt and the characters are still in danger. And what happened to the Mac from Book one?! It just felt like there were a lot of loose threads left hanging. Not to mention the fact that the Danny from Book one was cool with never seeing his parents again because ‘twu wuv’ and I’m like...YOU’RE 15!!!
I was not expecting to rate this a one star after enjoying the first book like I did. Unfortunately, while it was a very quick read, I felt like it wasn’t worth it.
March 20, 2018
This science fiction novel with a pinch of romance is the sequel to the first book in its series, "Now That You're Here." In this book, Danny is brought from his original world to a practically unrecognizable alternate universe, where his parents are alive again. Meanwhile, the government is trying to control almost everything you do. When Danny first spots Eevee, budding artist and the governor's daughter, he's instantly drawn to her. But he soon finds out that he's part of the underground organization Red December that could cause trouble for the both of them. Since it's been so long since I've read the first book, it was slightly difficult picking up where it left off because the first b0ok's plotline was blurry, but I still happened to enjoy this book very much! But the ending of the book made me a little bit frustrated, since it wasn't so clear about what happened to Danny and Eevee. All in all, I really recommend reading this book AND "Now That You're Here" if you really like science fiction, romance, or both!
October 13, 2019
This one is both better and worse than the first. I still really enjoyed it, but there were awesome possibilities that just weren't realized. The conspiracy theory stuff of the other-Phoenix made for a more gripping plot, but I liked the other characters--the other Evee and Danny--better. I was glad that the end was something they did, and I thought it was cool, but it could've been so much cooler with a couple more scenes...but perhaps that's my love for the first-Danny coming through? I really wanted a conversation between him and his dad. So much. But since he wasn't the pov character for this book, we'd have had to have Evee overhear it, I guess. Anyway, I enjoyed it. I'm filled with ideas that could've made it better, but it was good on its own. I don't think I'll reread these, but I'd for sure read some shorts of alternate povs. I'll have to check if she's posted any...
May 20, 2022
As much as I loved the first book in this series, I had a hard time getting through this one. The concepts were difficult to grasp. Maybe the author figured we’d had enough background to this parallel universe from the first book? I’m not sure. If that’s the case, we certainly didn’t. I’m still confused, and I’m done with the book. It didn’t make any sense how the Danny in this book assimilated so well. The first book describes him as an antisocial addict who doesn’t care about anything. Now he can automatically pick up the role of a bold, rebel artist? It just doesn’t seem plausible in comparison to how the other Danny reacted to his parallel life. The romance between Danny and Eevee felt more forced and rushed and I really wasn’t as invested in it. I certainly didn’t hate this book. But it definitely didn’t live up to the first book.
June 19, 2020
Not as good as the first, and honestly, not as fun. I’m not sure how or why the book set in the dystopian totalitarian empire was the more boring one in this Duology but here we are. Three stars were for Warren (love this kid!!), the political ending, and the romantic ending (I’m SO GLAD we got to see that happen but I do feel cheated on behalf of the standard multiverse). That being said...Bosca was a lame artists like, what kind of true artist would stand back and let himself get censored, and apply those censored values to his students? A lame one. Danny and Eevee were similarly boring. Overall a good series with a strong start but a hit or miss finish.
June 17, 2018
I really like the parallel universe this duology had going for it. It's really rare to see a duology these days, but this series really pulls it off well.
It's just the strangest feeling when you've got two different characters that are similar yet different from the ones established in the previous book. And honestly, the romance was probably just as good in this book if not better. Both of the books in this series are about equally as good, just parallel. Well, I guess that's what the author was probably going for, so kudos.
It's just the strangest feeling when you've got two different characters that are similar yet different from the ones established in the previous book. And honestly, the romance was probably just as good in this book if not better. Both of the books in this series are about equally as good, just parallel. Well, I guess that's what the author was probably going for, so kudos.
September 25, 2017
I started this book with low expectations. The main characters in the book were made out to be unlike able characters in the last book. I didn't think I'd want to read a whole book from the perspective of 2 unlikable characters. But it turned out to be a good story, and answered some unanswered questions in the last book.
February 10, 2018
Fast moving
A Phoenix with an ocean— now that’s the universe I’d pick. Enjoyable to map out the other Phoenix as. The reader follows Danny and Evee through artistic endeavors and government conspiracies.
A Phoenix with an ocean— now that’s the universe I’d pick. Enjoyable to map out the other Phoenix as. The reader follows Danny and Evee through artistic endeavors and government conspiracies.
August 3, 2015
4.5 Stars
'While You Were Gone' is the second book in a young adult science fiction duology that centers around the concepts of parallel universes and multiverse theory. The main characters from the first book are back - kind of. Because one of the biggest aspects of the story is the existence of parallel universes, we get Eevee and Danny - only they're the Eevee and Danny from completely different worlds than the first book. I hope that made sense. In essence, they're the same characters - the ones in this book just happen to be from another universe than in the first book. I have to admit that I find parallel universes and multiverse theory to be hugely fascinating, so I obviously had to read this duology. There have been quite a few other books lately that have also been focusing on the parallel universe or time travel concepts. I love to read each one because although the focus is the same - no two books are done in the same way. They each have their own explanations and sciences behind the concepts - and I adore learning as much as I can about these aspects in each book I read. This novel was no different. I absolutely loved the science behind the parallel universes and I wanted to know as much about it as I could. Lucky for most of us readers, the author wrote the scientific parts in layman's terms so we could actually understand it. That was a big deal for me, since some books in this category explain the science poorly and leave me completely confused and unable to get into the story itself. I think the author did a fantastic job of explaining all of the scientific stuff along with the parallel universes in an easy to understand way, so that the reader could actually get what was going on in the main story line - but it also allows us to easily slip inside that world without all the confusion. It takes serious talent to be able to accomplish a task like this, so I knew right away that the author is a truly talented writer.
The characters in the book were fascinating to me. They were the same two people as the first book - but, then again, they weren't. It's a bit confusing and hard to explain without going into detail about the whole multiverse theory. Anyway, I really loved getting to know the Eevee and Danny from these worlds. They both kept a lot of the same essential traits and qualities - determination, intelligence, capacity to love. Just like the first book, I adored watching Eevee and Danny meet and seeing their relationship grow and change. It was just as sweet and heartwarming as the first book. The plot was intricate due to several factors, like the dystopian world Eevee is from where the government is gaining absolute control over everything, Danny experiencing a terrible life growing up in foster care in one world and then suddenly being thrown into a different life where his parents never died and he's had a happy life. Danny's involvement with a secret anarchist group against the government adds yet another level to the story - especially when we find out that he might have been responsible for burning down Eevee's art exhibition. All of the different worlds and lives that the characters experience made the book utterly compelling and I found myself eagerly reading as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next.
Another really big aspect of the book that made me absolutely love it was the point of view it's told from. I talk about the importance of point of view in just about every review I write, because I honestly think it can make or break a story. This book is written in a unique way - it's first person point of view, but the narrator isn't just one character. Eevee and Danny each have their own chapters in the book where they are the narrator. I loved this writing style so much! We got to know not just one main character - but two - on a deeply personal level. We learn their hopes, fears, inner thoughts, emotions, memories, and perspective on what's happening throughout the book. I loved having them both telling the story because we get to see what each character thinks and feels about what's going on, along with their thoughts about the other character. I think this writing style was genius and an absolutely perfect fit for the story! Any other way wouldn't have left such an impact on the reader and we wouldn't have identified with the characters so deeply. Speaking of the writing - it was solid and very well done. It highlights the author's talent along with the wide spectrum of ability that she possesses. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it to fans of YA fiction - especially those who enjoy science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure, and romance. It's an incredible blend of several genres that readers of all types of fiction will enjoy. The only negative thing I can say is how sad and disappointed I am that this was just a duology and not a full series. I want more of these characters and more of the science and parallel universes! I'm definitely keeping my eye on this author and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'While You Were Gone' is the second book in a young adult science fiction duology that centers around the concepts of parallel universes and multiverse theory. The main characters from the first book are back - kind of. Because one of the biggest aspects of the story is the existence of parallel universes, we get Eevee and Danny - only they're the Eevee and Danny from completely different worlds than the first book. I hope that made sense. In essence, they're the same characters - the ones in this book just happen to be from another universe than in the first book. I have to admit that I find parallel universes and multiverse theory to be hugely fascinating, so I obviously had to read this duology. There have been quite a few other books lately that have also been focusing on the parallel universe or time travel concepts. I love to read each one because although the focus is the same - no two books are done in the same way. They each have their own explanations and sciences behind the concepts - and I adore learning as much as I can about these aspects in each book I read. This novel was no different. I absolutely loved the science behind the parallel universes and I wanted to know as much about it as I could. Lucky for most of us readers, the author wrote the scientific parts in layman's terms so we could actually understand it. That was a big deal for me, since some books in this category explain the science poorly and leave me completely confused and unable to get into the story itself. I think the author did a fantastic job of explaining all of the scientific stuff along with the parallel universes in an easy to understand way, so that the reader could actually get what was going on in the main story line - but it also allows us to easily slip inside that world without all the confusion. It takes serious talent to be able to accomplish a task like this, so I knew right away that the author is a truly talented writer.
The characters in the book were fascinating to me. They were the same two people as the first book - but, then again, they weren't. It's a bit confusing and hard to explain without going into detail about the whole multiverse theory. Anyway, I really loved getting to know the Eevee and Danny from these worlds. They both kept a lot of the same essential traits and qualities - determination, intelligence, capacity to love. Just like the first book, I adored watching Eevee and Danny meet and seeing their relationship grow and change. It was just as sweet and heartwarming as the first book. The plot was intricate due to several factors, like the dystopian world Eevee is from where the government is gaining absolute control over everything, Danny experiencing a terrible life growing up in foster care in one world and then suddenly being thrown into a different life where his parents never died and he's had a happy life. Danny's involvement with a secret anarchist group against the government adds yet another level to the story - especially when we find out that he might have been responsible for burning down Eevee's art exhibition. All of the different worlds and lives that the characters experience made the book utterly compelling and I found myself eagerly reading as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next.
Another really big aspect of the book that made me absolutely love it was the point of view it's told from. I talk about the importance of point of view in just about every review I write, because I honestly think it can make or break a story. This book is written in a unique way - it's first person point of view, but the narrator isn't just one character. Eevee and Danny each have their own chapters in the book where they are the narrator. I loved this writing style so much! We got to know not just one main character - but two - on a deeply personal level. We learn their hopes, fears, inner thoughts, emotions, memories, and perspective on what's happening throughout the book. I loved having them both telling the story because we get to see what each character thinks and feels about what's going on, along with their thoughts about the other character. I think this writing style was genius and an absolutely perfect fit for the story! Any other way wouldn't have left such an impact on the reader and we wouldn't have identified with the characters so deeply. Speaking of the writing - it was solid and very well done. It highlights the author's talent along with the wide spectrum of ability that she possesses. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it to fans of YA fiction - especially those who enjoy science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure, and romance. It's an incredible blend of several genres that readers of all types of fiction will enjoy. The only negative thing I can say is how sad and disappointed I am that this was just a duology and not a full series. I want more of these characters and more of the science and parallel universes! I'm definitely keeping my eye on this author and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2018
Not happy about the ending at all. It left me with questions and it seemed to wrap up too quickly.
February 15, 2019
Great ending to this fun romantic sci-fi. Very quick read and satisfying adventure. Fun rainy weekend duology.
February 23, 2019
3 stars because it wasn’t as smoothly written as the first. And also it ended kinda abruptly. Still a good quick read.
October 23, 2023
Absolutely amazing. I will read this book over and over again!
April 24, 2024
wait shut up omg this is abt the other danny and eevee? omg istg I wanna read this so bad-
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FIVE GLOWING STARS BJDJWJEBHDHB I LOVE THIS SERIES IT'S SO UNDERRATED OMG
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FIVE GLOWING STARS BJDJWJEBHDHB I LOVE THIS SERIES IT'S SO UNDERRATED OMG
November 11, 2015
This is the sequel to Now That You're Here, in which a boy named Danny gets thrown into a parallel universe, with the Danny in the regular world (whose life isn't the greatest) now in an alternate version of Phoenix under military law, whereas the Danny from the alternate Phoenix (whose home life is otherwise great) falls into the regular Phoenix. The first book was the story of Danny falling in love with Eevee in the regular world while also trying to get home and figure out what happened; this book is the story of the regular Danny in the alternate Phoenix, where he's struggling to comprehend the martial law, the changes to the Phoenix he knew, and his attraction to the Eevee in this world. He's also trying to figure out how involved "he" was with an anti-government group that might be responsible for a bombing that left Danny injured and Eevee's paintings destroyed.
Sounds like a complicated premise, but it was actually quite easy to understand and follow. I don't vividly remember the first book, but this was simple to follow along on its own; I think this book is more of a companion novel than an actual sequel, since you could probably read either one first and still get the full story, as they're set in completely separate worlds with only mild overlap.
The author did a great job of creating an interesting alternate world - in this Phoenix, there's an ocean, grass grows, government cameras are watching everywhere, and schools are even completely different, captivating students by focusing on a trade or talent. I definitely sympathized with Danny as he tried to make sense of the world around him. It was fun to see him learning about the world at the same time as the reader. I do wish the world building had been a little more explained, however, since there were so many interesting details to this parallel universe but no explanation for how it'd gotten this way or where the major changes had started that split it from the regular world we know.
The narration bounced between Danny and Eevee, and while they were both decent narrators, I definitely preferred Danny's voice. His story was more complex and interesting, since he was trying to figure things out and meeting with new people and supposedly old friends. Eevee's story, not he other hand, focused a lot on her artwork that never really captured my imagination. The rivalry between Eevee and another artist, for example, was a main theme of her narration, but it didn't seem to have much weight to it so it wasn't nearly as interesting as Danny's perspective. I didn't dislike it by any means - it made for a decent enough subplot - but it just wasn't as enthralling. Also, there were some brief mentions of how famous paintings had been banned (Van Gogh's, for example) but no backstory about why. I wanted to know more about the world whenever something odd yet interesting like this popped up - it wasn't enough to just know this was the way things were!
The plot in here was fairly thin. Danny is trying to figure out the world and go home, Eevee is trying to win an art exhibit, they fall in love almost immediately after meeting, Danny works with his friends to produce anti-government art while Eevee wonders if her governor father is actually doing the right thing by adding more surveillance to the already-police state. The romance in here wasn't developed enough to feel very believable, but that's okay. Curiosity about who was behind the anti-government organization and what would happen with the new surveillance programs kept me reading. The ending was okay and made an effort to tie up both this story and the one in the first book, but I didn't think it was concrete or big enough to make a huge impact.
It was definitely fun to read this and see what happened in the "other" world, where the "other" Danny was living after the two parallel Dannys switched places in the first book, but this didn't seem to have the same energy that the first book did. Still, if you read the first book, this is worth reading, if only to see how the other half of the story plays out.
Sounds like a complicated premise, but it was actually quite easy to understand and follow. I don't vividly remember the first book, but this was simple to follow along on its own; I think this book is more of a companion novel than an actual sequel, since you could probably read either one first and still get the full story, as they're set in completely separate worlds with only mild overlap.
The author did a great job of creating an interesting alternate world - in this Phoenix, there's an ocean, grass grows, government cameras are watching everywhere, and schools are even completely different, captivating students by focusing on a trade or talent. I definitely sympathized with Danny as he tried to make sense of the world around him. It was fun to see him learning about the world at the same time as the reader. I do wish the world building had been a little more explained, however, since there were so many interesting details to this parallel universe but no explanation for how it'd gotten this way or where the major changes had started that split it from the regular world we know.
The narration bounced between Danny and Eevee, and while they were both decent narrators, I definitely preferred Danny's voice. His story was more complex and interesting, since he was trying to figure things out and meeting with new people and supposedly old friends. Eevee's story, not he other hand, focused a lot on her artwork that never really captured my imagination. The rivalry between Eevee and another artist, for example, was a main theme of her narration, but it didn't seem to have much weight to it so it wasn't nearly as interesting as Danny's perspective. I didn't dislike it by any means - it made for a decent enough subplot - but it just wasn't as enthralling. Also, there were some brief mentions of how famous paintings had been banned (Van Gogh's, for example) but no backstory about why. I wanted to know more about the world whenever something odd yet interesting like this popped up - it wasn't enough to just know this was the way things were!
The plot in here was fairly thin. Danny is trying to figure out the world and go home, Eevee is trying to win an art exhibit, they fall in love almost immediately after meeting, Danny works with his friends to produce anti-government art while Eevee wonders if her governor father is actually doing the right thing by adding more surveillance to the already-police state. The romance in here wasn't developed enough to feel very believable, but that's okay. Curiosity about who was behind the anti-government organization and what would happen with the new surveillance programs kept me reading. The ending was okay and made an effort to tie up both this story and the one in the first book, but I didn't think it was concrete or big enough to make a huge impact.
It was definitely fun to read this and see what happened in the "other" world, where the "other" Danny was living after the two parallel Dannys switched places in the first book, but this didn't seem to have the same energy that the first book did. Still, if you read the first book, this is worth reading, if only to see how the other half of the story plays out.
August 4, 2015
See this review and more on my blog, Lilybloombooks
4.5 stars
After reading the first book, Now That Your Here, I was excited to dive into While You Were Gone and see the somewhat continuation of Danny and Eevee's story. See, but it's not really a continuation. It's an additional story; one that ties into the events of the first book but yet, stands alone in its greatness.
In the first book, Danny "jumps" into Eevee's world from his own parallel universe. In this book, we get the story of the Danny FROM Eevee's world after he "jumps" into the OTHER Danny's world. Essentially, we get Danny and Eevee again, but they are not the same Danny and Eevee, and not in the same world. Complicated, I know.
This Danny, is not at all the Danny I thought he was the first book. He doesn't have an easy life, living in an abusive foster home without any real friends and only has to worry about himself. I guess you can say I made assumptions about his character without knowing him and i enjoyed getting to really know him. But imagine jumping into another universe/world where your parents are alive. You have friends and even though the world is one you don't recognize and it's rather scary, it's one you want.
Eevee too, is somewhat the same yet different. I had to remind myself that this isn't Eevee, but another Eevee. This doesn't have anything to do with the execution of the story (she did an amazing job with it) it's just how much I adored the first Eevee. This Eevee is an artist, and a great one at that. She is the Governor's daughter but like with the first Eevee, feels the pressure from her parents to be a certain way. When she get's involved with a cell to bring down new means to control the citizens of Phoenix, the truth about her family, Danny and herself all come to light.
While You Were Gone is a lot more plot driven over the romance. It's still slow developing romance, but I felt like the plot was more intense, action packed and flat-out amazing. What I love most about this series is how much it makes my mind whirl. Did the events from this world affect the events in the world from the first book? Or was it the events that played out in the first book affect what happened here? Really, it's the same story being played out in two different worlds, so it's hard to say. Ya know?
Again, even though While You Were Gone felt more plot driven, I adored the romance. I honestly think I will fall in love with Danny and Eevee in any world. It also makes me think if Danny and Eevee find each other not once, but twice, will they find each other in other worlds? Surely if you have one parallel universe, there are others out there.
I don't often add quotes, but I loved these and feel the need to share,
And this one,
Overall - I loved While You Were Gone. It's a fantastic YA full of action, friendship and a love that spans across the universe. Highly recommend.
4.5 stars
After reading the first book, Now That Your Here, I was excited to dive into While You Were Gone and see the somewhat continuation of Danny and Eevee's story. See, but it's not really a continuation. It's an additional story; one that ties into the events of the first book but yet, stands alone in its greatness.
In the first book, Danny "jumps" into Eevee's world from his own parallel universe. In this book, we get the story of the Danny FROM Eevee's world after he "jumps" into the OTHER Danny's world. Essentially, we get Danny and Eevee again, but they are not the same Danny and Eevee, and not in the same world. Complicated, I know.
This Danny, is not at all the Danny I thought he was the first book. He doesn't have an easy life, living in an abusive foster home without any real friends and only has to worry about himself. I guess you can say I made assumptions about his character without knowing him and i enjoyed getting to really know him. But imagine jumping into another universe/world where your parents are alive. You have friends and even though the world is one you don't recognize and it's rather scary, it's one you want.
Eevee too, is somewhat the same yet different. I had to remind myself that this isn't Eevee, but another Eevee. This doesn't have anything to do with the execution of the story (she did an amazing job with it) it's just how much I adored the first Eevee. This Eevee is an artist, and a great one at that. She is the Governor's daughter but like with the first Eevee, feels the pressure from her parents to be a certain way. When she get's involved with a cell to bring down new means to control the citizens of Phoenix, the truth about her family, Danny and herself all come to light.
While You Were Gone is a lot more plot driven over the romance. It's still slow developing romance, but I felt like the plot was more intense, action packed and flat-out amazing. What I love most about this series is how much it makes my mind whirl. Did the events from this world affect the events in the world from the first book? Or was it the events that played out in the first book affect what happened here? Really, it's the same story being played out in two different worlds, so it's hard to say. Ya know?
Again, even though While You Were Gone felt more plot driven, I adored the romance. I honestly think I will fall in love with Danny and Eevee in any world. It also makes me think if Danny and Eevee find each other not once, but twice, will they find each other in other worlds? Surely if you have one parallel universe, there are others out there.
I don't often add quotes, but I loved these and feel the need to share,
"These are just words, though. And all the words in the universe couldn't contain who she is or how I feel." -- eARC 96%
And this one,
"I'm not alone in this world.
And neither is he."
Overall - I loved While You Were Gone. It's a fantastic YA full of action, friendship and a love that spans across the universe. Highly recommend.
August 11, 2015
I don't know what to think in this book. I mean the first book was amazing and mind-blowing, and when I got the news that this series was getting a sequel, I was so excited!!! And then Netgalley had it, so I had to request it, then I was approved, and read it in a couple of hours because I needed to know what happened after that horrible ending in the orecious book.
One word: disappointment.
I mean, I like the fact that this tells what happens after the events of the first book, but told differently. We have different versions of Eevee and Danny, different from the previous book. Danny still has his jumping-to-different-dimension- powers, but he is a whole different character with a whole different personality, so is Eevee. It's all very complicated... Just read the book if you want to understand, but it was a very -eye-rolling-boring- type book, I liked it but I didn't like the way it was written, it was so confusing.
And now I'm not making any sense. -sigh-
Summary:
An artist without a cause meets a rebel without a clue.
Eevee is a promising young artist and the governor’s daughter in a city where censorship is everywhere and security is everything. When a fire devastates her exhibition—years in the making—her dreams of attending an elite art institute are dashed. She’s struggling to find inspiration when she meets Danny, a boy from a different world. Literally.
Raised in a foster home, Danny has led a life full of hurt and hardship until a glitch in the universe changes everything. Suddenly Danny is living in a home he’s never seen, with parents who miraculously survived the car crash that should have killed them. It’s like he’s a new Danny. But this alternate self has secrets—ties to an underground anarchist group that have already landed him in hot water. When he starts to develop feelings for Eevee, he’s even more disturbed to learn that he might have started the fire that ruined her work.
As Danny sifts through clues from his past and Eevee attempts to piece together her future, they uncover a secret that’s bigger than both of them. . . . And together, they must correct the breach between the worlds before it’s too late.
I hope I get a clarification with this series beause I am so confused, if you can't already tell from this repetitive review.
So yup, basically it's insta love for our protagonists again, dual POV, events take place after previous book, the main characters suffer from a case of -changing-personality-disorder- because they acted waaaaay differently, and I was just disappointed with the results.
One word: disappointment.
I mean, I like the fact that this tells what happens after the events of the first book, but told differently. We have different versions of Eevee and Danny, different from the previous book. Danny still has his jumping-to-different-dimension- powers, but he is a whole different character with a whole different personality, so is Eevee. It's all very complicated... Just read the book if you want to understand, but it was a very -eye-rolling-boring- type book, I liked it but I didn't like the way it was written, it was so confusing.
And now I'm not making any sense. -sigh-
Summary:
An artist without a cause meets a rebel without a clue.
Eevee is a promising young artist and the governor’s daughter in a city where censorship is everywhere and security is everything. When a fire devastates her exhibition—years in the making—her dreams of attending an elite art institute are dashed. She’s struggling to find inspiration when she meets Danny, a boy from a different world. Literally.
Raised in a foster home, Danny has led a life full of hurt and hardship until a glitch in the universe changes everything. Suddenly Danny is living in a home he’s never seen, with parents who miraculously survived the car crash that should have killed them. It’s like he’s a new Danny. But this alternate self has secrets—ties to an underground anarchist group that have already landed him in hot water. When he starts to develop feelings for Eevee, he’s even more disturbed to learn that he might have started the fire that ruined her work.
As Danny sifts through clues from his past and Eevee attempts to piece together her future, they uncover a secret that’s bigger than both of them. . . . And together, they must correct the breach between the worlds before it’s too late.
I hope I get a clarification with this series beause I am so confused, if you can't already tell from this repetitive review.
So yup, basically it's insta love for our protagonists again, dual POV, events take place after previous book, the main characters suffer from a case of -changing-personality-disorder- because they acted waaaaay differently, and I was just disappointed with the results.
August 11, 2015
An exciting, fast-paced and gripping read, WHILE YOU WERE GONE is the much anticipated follow-up in Amy K. Nichols’ Duplexity series that tells the story of the “other” Eevee and Danny. From their alternating points of view, a world is revealed that is quite different from the one we know and distinctive characters, who have only the vaguest of similarities to the ones we’ve previously met, are introduced. It is fascinating and suspenseful and an absolute must-read sequel.
Set in a parallel universe where Phoenix is a coastal city, where the government is excessively restrictive, and where cameras monitor one’s every move, readers will learn just what happened after the blast to the Danny who was transported to a world where his parents are still alive, where the dark-haired girl he barely knew from school is someone who seems to know him, and where his counterpart is involved in anti-government activities that could land him in jail or worse.
The story takes place along the same timeline as the first book, elaborating on what was only shown in the briefest of glimpses. It allows readers to get to know an Eevee who is privileged and artistic and who wants her freedom and a Danny who was a loner and who now has the chance to know what his life would have been like with family who loves him. It explores this radically different world and uncovers its dangers and its secrets. And it answers many, if not all, of those lingering questions.
Author Amy Nichols delivers a flip side story that is every bit as captivating as the first and promises to be even more action-filled, thrilling, nerve-wracking, with its dystopian setting, two protagonists who aren’t scientifically inclined, and greater threats to Danny’s safety. And with an outcome that is already somewhat known, this sequel is guaranteed to have readers racing through its pages.
As with Duplexity Part I, WHILE YOU WERE GONE focuses on story over love story. While there is a touch of romance, it is not its focal point. It’s not what makes this story the enthralling, riveting, page-turner it is. It’s the underground group threatening to subvert the government, the government’s plan to track every one of Phoenix’s residents, the fear that Danny’s lack of knowledge of this world will get him caught, the idea that Danny could get transported back to his Phoenix at any time, that makes this sequel so awesome.
Set in a parallel universe where Phoenix is a coastal city, where the government is excessively restrictive, and where cameras monitor one’s every move, readers will learn just what happened after the blast to the Danny who was transported to a world where his parents are still alive, where the dark-haired girl he barely knew from school is someone who seems to know him, and where his counterpart is involved in anti-government activities that could land him in jail or worse.
The story takes place along the same timeline as the first book, elaborating on what was only shown in the briefest of glimpses. It allows readers to get to know an Eevee who is privileged and artistic and who wants her freedom and a Danny who was a loner and who now has the chance to know what his life would have been like with family who loves him. It explores this radically different world and uncovers its dangers and its secrets. And it answers many, if not all, of those lingering questions.
Author Amy Nichols delivers a flip side story that is every bit as captivating as the first and promises to be even more action-filled, thrilling, nerve-wracking, with its dystopian setting, two protagonists who aren’t scientifically inclined, and greater threats to Danny’s safety. And with an outcome that is already somewhat known, this sequel is guaranteed to have readers racing through its pages.
As with Duplexity Part I, WHILE YOU WERE GONE focuses on story over love story. While there is a touch of romance, it is not its focal point. It’s not what makes this story the enthralling, riveting, page-turner it is. It’s the underground group threatening to subvert the government, the government’s plan to track every one of Phoenix’s residents, the fear that Danny’s lack of knowledge of this world will get him caught, the idea that Danny could get transported back to his Phoenix at any time, that makes this sequel so awesome.
October 12, 2015
This is the companion book to Now That You’re Here. That first book introduced us to Danny and Eevee and the concept of a parallel universe. Little bit of dystopia, little bit of romance, little bit nerdy, lot of fun. Two Dannys move to the other’s universer, exchanging bodies and lives.
In the first book, we meet the Danny from a Phoenix Arizona that is nothing like our Phoenix – it’s comes up to the Pacific Ocean, so that means California and Nevada must be gone. That world is a dystopia, and that world’s Danny is pretty confused in our world. He meets Eevee, who has a counterpart in his original world. But this Eevee is different in personality. So dystopian world Danny has to figure a lot of stuff out. Eevee is the girl he falls in love with, but she has a counterpart in his world - same name but way different personality. He's got to choose whether to go back or not. And we don’t know why this switch is happening.
So now in While You Were Gone, we see the Danny in the world WE know struggling with the dystopia he has landed in, struggling with the fact that in this new world his parent are still alive and not dead from a wreck. We follow him as he figures out why the switch occurs. And he falls in love with the Eevee of this new world, and must decided whether to return to our world. Tough tough choices, because they involve freedom vs family.
In Book 1, we were left with the question: will Eevee rebel against her father's prescription for her life, now that she has met THIS Danny?
So now in the companion book - we are in the dystopian world where Eevee’s father is governor and there are restrictions about a lot of life. Danny from the our world can’t understand what exactly is going on. Many of the same people populate both worlds, but with different personalities, as you would expect the environment to shape some of you.
It’s a little mind blowing but it all works. The chapters in both books alternate between Danny and Eevee. I liked the fact that both Dannys are faced with the big decision of whether to go back to their original worlds. I felt the characters were well drawn and real teens, despite their natural nerdiness.
You have to read both books to understand what is going on, and how the story turns out.
NOTE: This review will appear on my library's social media book review channel.
In the first book, we meet the Danny from a Phoenix Arizona that is nothing like our Phoenix – it’s comes up to the Pacific Ocean, so that means California and Nevada must be gone. That world is a dystopia, and that world’s Danny is pretty confused in our world. He meets Eevee, who has a counterpart in his original world. But this Eevee is different in personality. So dystopian world Danny has to figure a lot of stuff out. Eevee is the girl he falls in love with, but she has a counterpart in his world - same name but way different personality. He's got to choose whether to go back or not. And we don’t know why this switch is happening.
So now in While You Were Gone, we see the Danny in the world WE know struggling with the dystopia he has landed in, struggling with the fact that in this new world his parent are still alive and not dead from a wreck. We follow him as he figures out why the switch occurs. And he falls in love with the Eevee of this new world, and must decided whether to return to our world. Tough tough choices, because they involve freedom vs family.
In Book 1, we were left with the question: will Eevee rebel against her father's prescription for her life, now that she has met THIS Danny?
So now in the companion book - we are in the dystopian world where Eevee’s father is governor and there are restrictions about a lot of life. Danny from the our world can’t understand what exactly is going on. Many of the same people populate both worlds, but with different personalities, as you would expect the environment to shape some of you.
It’s a little mind blowing but it all works. The chapters in both books alternate between Danny and Eevee. I liked the fact that both Dannys are faced with the big decision of whether to go back to their original worlds. I felt the characters were well drawn and real teens, despite their natural nerdiness.
You have to read both books to understand what is going on, and how the story turns out.
NOTE: This review will appear on my library's social media book review channel.
August 25, 2015
Originally posted here
While You Were Gone, the second in the Duplexity duology threw me for a loop. I, thankfully, was able to read it right after the first book in the series, which I found helpful because I was still in that world. That Phoenix. The problem of course is that the Phoenix in While You Were Gone is so completely different from the first Phoenix. Even the Eevee and Danny I fell in love with are completely different. What I did enjoy was the fact that parts that didn’t make sense in the first book now make sense. Nichols was able to weave together small moments and have them make a lot more sense in While You Were Gone.
That being said, I did struggle a little more with this book than the first one in the series. This one is very much 1984 Phoenix, with Eevee’s father being governor and Danny constantly being tracked. It also reaffirmed that this Danny, much like the original Danny actually like the world that the jumped to better than the one they were living in. A world they knew nothing about they felt more comfortable in, they finally felt like they belonged which I always enjoy reading about.
While the first book felt romance driven, While You Were Gone was far more plot driven and that’s not a bad thing. I believe it highlights that Nichols can shine with romance and plot. I would love to read a book where she weaves together both and I believe that book will be a knock out.
While You Were Gone, the second in the Duplexity duology threw me for a loop. I, thankfully, was able to read it right after the first book in the series, which I found helpful because I was still in that world. That Phoenix. The problem of course is that the Phoenix in While You Were Gone is so completely different from the first Phoenix. Even the Eevee and Danny I fell in love with are completely different. What I did enjoy was the fact that parts that didn’t make sense in the first book now make sense. Nichols was able to weave together small moments and have them make a lot more sense in While You Were Gone.
That being said, I did struggle a little more with this book than the first one in the series. This one is very much 1984 Phoenix, with Eevee’s father being governor and Danny constantly being tracked. It also reaffirmed that this Danny, much like the original Danny actually like the world that the jumped to better than the one they were living in. A world they knew nothing about they felt more comfortable in, they finally felt like they belonged which I always enjoy reading about.
While the first book felt romance driven, While You Were Gone was far more plot driven and that’s not a bad thing. I believe it highlights that Nichols can shine with romance and plot. I would love to read a book where she weaves together both and I believe that book will be a knock out.
May 6, 2016
The story: Here's the flip side of the story started in "Now That You're Here", with Our World's Danny finding himself in an ocean-front Phoenix and slightly dystopian US, bumping into Eevee, the governor's artistic daughter. As in the other story, it's pretty much love at first sight; here, stoner Danny learns that his parents (dead in a car accident in his world) are still alive; that he has a normal life and a best friend, Germ; and that the two boys occasionally carry out spray-painted acts of vandalism protesting the government's agenda. Of course, it wouldn't seem that he's a match for top-drawer Eevee, but that's what makes a page-turning romance.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; VIolence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult (sci-fi doubling for magic) PG-13; GLBT content G; Adult themes (parental neglect and abuse) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Nichols does a great job of showing us the alternative 'verse world with high-class Eevee meeting (and ultimately changing) stoner Danny. The boy, realizing how much better a world this is than the one he left, has no desire to go back to it, even though Eevee initially doesn't believe his story until other events combine to prove its truthfulness. I thought this was a great series--girls looking for a smart romance will eat it up (and even geeky guys who are willing to turn a blind eye to the kissy parts will enjoy it).
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; VIolence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult (sci-fi doubling for magic) PG-13; GLBT content G; Adult themes (parental neglect and abuse) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Nichols does a great job of showing us the alternative 'verse world with high-class Eevee meeting (and ultimately changing) stoner Danny. The boy, realizing how much better a world this is than the one he left, has no desire to go back to it, even though Eevee initially doesn't believe his story until other events combine to prove its truthfulness. I thought this was a great series--girls looking for a smart romance will eat it up (and even geeky guys who are willing to turn a blind eye to the kissy parts will enjoy it).
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