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This Side of Tomorrow
Life isn’t fair…and neither is death.
When seventeen-year-old Nebraskan, Rachel Sutton moves into her new home in Maine, she quickly discovers it is the former residence of Noah and Ethan Thompson, teenage brothers recently killed in car crash. Brothers who have yet to move on.
Ethan, spiteful and jealous, is obsessed with Rachel, and Noah, guilt-ridden and gorgeous, is trying to save his brother’s soul. As Rachel spends countless hours with Noah, and dates Parker Redding, a popular football player, she finds herself torn between her feelings for the living and the dead.
One fateful night, Rachel must choose. Will she embrace her life on earth with those who love her? Or find out what’s on the other side?
When seventeen-year-old Nebraskan, Rachel Sutton moves into her new home in Maine, she quickly discovers it is the former residence of Noah and Ethan Thompson, teenage brothers recently killed in car crash. Brothers who have yet to move on.
Ethan, spiteful and jealous, is obsessed with Rachel, and Noah, guilt-ridden and gorgeous, is trying to save his brother’s soul. As Rachel spends countless hours with Noah, and dates Parker Redding, a popular football player, she finds herself torn between her feelings for the living and the dead.
One fateful night, Rachel must choose. Will she embrace her life on earth with those who love her? Or find out what’s on the other side?
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 15, 2020
Two Ghosts and a Girl!
I enjoyed this book, it has a good story and a good message though some bad things happen. It seems to me in the beginning that the writing was a bit stilted, kind of like someone reading lines that were written for them instead of speaking naturally, but it could just be me and the fact that I took a while to really get in to the story.
Though once the protagonist, Rachel starts to suspect ghosts are in her new house and then finds out two brothers died not long ago. I started to get immersed in the story. Rachel finds out that the brothers, Noah and Ethan lived in the house before her and attended the same school as her and it isn’t long before she meets them both.
I was a bit frustrated because I don’t completely understand how the ghost thing works. Spirits can stay earthbound instead of crossing over if they have something they need or want to do, like looking after children if they don’t trust their spouse, or staying around until their loved one passes away so they can cross over together.
Ethan and Noah can talk to Rachel, can be invisible and they can project, and when they project, they are solid enough to touch her or hold her. Though some of the things that happened left me wondering wtf. For example when Rachel asks Noah why their parents moved, since she is now living in their old house.
Rachel’s next question is whether he visits his parents in their new condo across town. My question would be “Why didn’t you talk to your Mom or project yourselves to her.” I mean she was trying to talk to them. If it was me and I died young in a sudden manner, I would talk to my Mom to say goodbye. I would let her know that I would cross over soon to a better place. Then she could get some closure without expecting me to stay with her forever. But Rachel never asks the question.
Rachel is dating Noah’s friend Parker and Noah is watching over her, so he goes where she goes. One night Parker has a pool party with a bunch of friends who used to be Noah’s friends and Rachel feels bad that Noah is waiting outside while she is having fun. I don’t understand why Noah wouldn’t just show himself and have fun with them as long as he is there for a while.
Noah could set their expectations so they don’t grieve again when he goes but they can enjoy having him around for a little longer. So are there rules about not showing themselves to living people? Or does Rachel have the sixth sense an only she can see them? I kept wondering these things as I read.
Another thing really started to bother me, it was how Rachel was having feelings for Noah and Parker. Every time she was with Parker, she would start thinking about Noah, then start to feel guilty about it since Parker was alive and her boyfriend. I understand how someone in her situation would feel that way, I just got sick of reading about her feeling guilty over and over. Also when Rachel was with Parker, the phrase “she inhaled his crisp, clean scent” was repeated three or four times.
The premise for the story was great and I liked the way it flowed. Rachel was a likable heroine aside from the guilt and reusing the same phrases. She was strong and happy and a dancer. She made friends right away and wasn’t too freaked out by the supernatural events. The issues between the brothers were a good story and how they each treated and interacted with Rachel was interesting and kept my attention.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I enjoyed this book, it has a good story and a good message though some bad things happen. It seems to me in the beginning that the writing was a bit stilted, kind of like someone reading lines that were written for them instead of speaking naturally, but it could just be me and the fact that I took a while to really get in to the story.
Though once the protagonist, Rachel starts to suspect ghosts are in her new house and then finds out two brothers died not long ago. I started to get immersed in the story. Rachel finds out that the brothers, Noah and Ethan lived in the house before her and attended the same school as her and it isn’t long before she meets them both.
I was a bit frustrated because I don’t completely understand how the ghost thing works. Spirits can stay earthbound instead of crossing over if they have something they need or want to do, like looking after children if they don’t trust their spouse, or staying around until their loved one passes away so they can cross over together.
Ethan and Noah can talk to Rachel, can be invisible and they can project, and when they project, they are solid enough to touch her or hold her. Though some of the things that happened left me wondering wtf. For example when Rachel asks Noah why their parents moved, since she is now living in their old house.
“Mom could sense Ethan and me in the house and she kept trying to talk to us. We didn’t project ourselves or speak to her, but she knew we were around. Dad worried she was losing it and thought moving to a new house might help. We stayed here since it’s the only home we’ve ever known, and the place was empty until your family moved in.”
Rachel’s next question is whether he visits his parents in their new condo across town. My question would be “Why didn’t you talk to your Mom or project yourselves to her.” I mean she was trying to talk to them. If it was me and I died young in a sudden manner, I would talk to my Mom to say goodbye. I would let her know that I would cross over soon to a better place. Then she could get some closure without expecting me to stay with her forever. But Rachel never asks the question.
Rachel is dating Noah’s friend Parker and Noah is watching over her, so he goes where she goes. One night Parker has a pool party with a bunch of friends who used to be Noah’s friends and Rachel feels bad that Noah is waiting outside while she is having fun. I don’t understand why Noah wouldn’t just show himself and have fun with them as long as he is there for a while.
Noah could set their expectations so they don’t grieve again when he goes but they can enjoy having him around for a little longer. So are there rules about not showing themselves to living people? Or does Rachel have the sixth sense an only she can see them? I kept wondering these things as I read.
Another thing really started to bother me, it was how Rachel was having feelings for Noah and Parker. Every time she was with Parker, she would start thinking about Noah, then start to feel guilty about it since Parker was alive and her boyfriend. I understand how someone in her situation would feel that way, I just got sick of reading about her feeling guilty over and over. Also when Rachel was with Parker, the phrase “she inhaled his crisp, clean scent” was repeated three or four times.
The premise for the story was great and I liked the way it flowed. Rachel was a likable heroine aside from the guilt and reusing the same phrases. She was strong and happy and a dancer. She made friends right away and wasn’t too freaked out by the supernatural events. The issues between the brothers were a good story and how they each treated and interacted with Rachel was interesting and kept my attention.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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May 3, 2020
The plot was really interesting. It was an easy read and I enjoyed it. Btw I can't imagine myself talking to a ghost or even see one. My siblings saw a few ghost and that scared me af eventho I didn't see it myself! I mean wth? I'm not brave enough hahaha It's weird you know when the ghost are able to touch, read and change clothes lol
Buttttt yeah Noah character make me want him as a boyfriend too asdfghjkl
Rachel kinda selfish duh I mean she got a hot and good boyfriend but she fall in love with a ghost hahhaa and she don't want Noah to leave her goshhh they can't date or anything then why she wanted him to suffer? Selfish!
Thank you Booksirens for This Side of Tomorrow ARC!
🌟🌟🌟.5
Buttttt yeah Noah character make me want him as a boyfriend too asdfghjkl
Rachel kinda selfish duh I mean she got a hot and good boyfriend but she fall in love with a ghost hahhaa and she don't want Noah to leave her goshhh they can't date or anything then why she wanted him to suffer? Selfish!
Thank you Booksirens for This Side of Tomorrow ARC!
🌟🌟🌟.5
October 6, 2019
I’ve got this ARC from BookSirens, but this will not change my view on the book.
This one was awful. For me it will be the worst book I read this year. If I didn’t have to write a review I would have dnf’ed it.
Main character was selfish, attention seeking lady, with no personality, her relationship with both alive and dead guys were unbelievably cringe worthy. I rolled my eyes so many times, I’m surprised they didn’t rolled out of my scull.
The writing style was also not the best, felt like it was written by a teenage girl.
Do not recommend.
This one was awful. For me it will be the worst book I read this year. If I didn’t have to write a review I would have dnf’ed it.
Main character was selfish, attention seeking lady, with no personality, her relationship with both alive and dead guys were unbelievably cringe worthy. I rolled my eyes so many times, I’m surprised they didn’t rolled out of my scull.
The writing style was also not the best, felt like it was written by a teenage girl.
Do not recommend.
December 24, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free by Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book starts with Rachel moving into a new town and to a new house. She’s been through a lot, and is scared that she won’t fit in. But luckily the first day she made a group of friends.
The problem starts when she feels something inside his room…
She is not alone. The ghost of the two young brothers, Ethan and Noah, who used to live there are near her. One is trying to hurt her, and the other compromise to take care of her.
This is how this story starts, Rachel is in danger and Noah is protecting her with help of other spirits.
In parallel, Rachel starts to date one of his new friends from school, Parker, who is a sweetheart. I really like him.
Rachel is put in danger by Ethan a lot, which makes Noah so much closer. And that's actually when the second big problem starts, she kinda likes Noah and Parker.
I really like the plot of this story, the fact that this girl is haunted by these boys really got me intrigued. And the kind of love triangle, actually was ok, i like it.
BUT my principal problem with the story is that it is really circular. First she is in trouble, Noah saves her, she goes out with Parker, really likes him but feels so guilty for thinking about Noah, she came back to talk to Noah, Noah saves her,she goes out with Parker, really likes him but feels so guilty for thinking about Noah, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Like this, is all the book.
That doesn’t mean that I don't like it, but there were a lot of repetitive sequences.
Also, Rachel is kind of selfish. She doesn’t want to lose any of them, and puts Noah in really difficult situations.
But besides all this negative stuff, i really like how both of the relationships develop, the two boys where super nice, and i really like that, because, wasn’t like the easy way, when one of the boys suck, and the other is super sweet, and it is an obvious choice, no, this was really hard.
Besides all of that we have the dilemma that follows Noah all the book between protecting Rachel, and trying to make his brother good, so he can cross to the other side and not turn evil.
I really like the friend of Rachel, Sarah, and I hoped she shows up more in the book. Like the other people in his group friend.
I love his parents, and the relationship between them. And I really love the other spirits, especially Jane.
By the end of the book I was very anxious to know what was going to happen, what Ethan would do, and how Rachel would decide between the two boys, even when one of them was dead, the author made it really hard to see with which of them she would stay. And that was great.
I really liked the ending, it feels right to me.
This book starts with Rachel moving into a new town and to a new house. She’s been through a lot, and is scared that she won’t fit in. But luckily the first day she made a group of friends.
The problem starts when she feels something inside his room…
She is not alone. The ghost of the two young brothers, Ethan and Noah, who used to live there are near her. One is trying to hurt her, and the other compromise to take care of her.
This is how this story starts, Rachel is in danger and Noah is protecting her with help of other spirits.
In parallel, Rachel starts to date one of his new friends from school, Parker, who is a sweetheart. I really like him.
Rachel is put in danger by Ethan a lot, which makes Noah so much closer. And that's actually when the second big problem starts, she kinda likes Noah and Parker.
I really like the plot of this story, the fact that this girl is haunted by these boys really got me intrigued. And the kind of love triangle, actually was ok, i like it.
BUT my principal problem with the story is that it is really circular. First she is in trouble, Noah saves her, she goes out with Parker, really likes him but feels so guilty for thinking about Noah, she came back to talk to Noah, Noah saves her,she goes out with Parker, really likes him but feels so guilty for thinking about Noah, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Like this, is all the book.
That doesn’t mean that I don't like it, but there were a lot of repetitive sequences.
Also, Rachel is kind of selfish. She doesn’t want to lose any of them, and puts Noah in really difficult situations.
But besides all this negative stuff, i really like how both of the relationships develop, the two boys where super nice, and i really like that, because, wasn’t like the easy way, when one of the boys suck, and the other is super sweet, and it is an obvious choice, no, this was really hard.
Besides all of that we have the dilemma that follows Noah all the book between protecting Rachel, and trying to make his brother good, so he can cross to the other side and not turn evil.
I really like the friend of Rachel, Sarah, and I hoped she shows up more in the book. Like the other people in his group friend.
I love his parents, and the relationship between them. And I really love the other spirits, especially Jane.
By the end of the book I was very anxious to know what was going to happen, what Ethan would do, and how Rachel would decide between the two boys, even when one of them was dead, the author made it really hard to see with which of them she would stay. And that was great.
I really liked the ending, it feels right to me.
February 18, 2021
This book had an interesting story line. I don't read alot of paranormal so I decided to give it a try.
Rachel moved to a new house and discovered that it was haunted by two brothers. She started to have strange encounters with them.
Hmmm... So far so good. But the story didn't have enough atmosphere. The author should have done a better job at developing the story. She could have given abit more excitement, suspense and emotions.
It was an easy read, any YA readers could give it a shot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rachel moved to a new house and discovered that it was haunted by two brothers. She started to have strange encounters with them.
Hmmm... So far so good. But the story didn't have enough atmosphere. The author should have done a better job at developing the story. She could have given abit more excitement, suspense and emotions.
It was an easy read, any YA readers could give it a shot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2019
This review and more can be found at:
Reading Under the Covers
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m not going to lie I didn’t like this book. When I read the review I was intrigued to read it. The blurb really drew me in but when I read the book I was disappointed.
I didn’t like the writing of this book, it made it feel like it was written by a child meaning that the actual story which had the potential to be really good just failed miserably.
This book had a plot that could have been so good if it was written better. Teenage brothers who haven’t moved on, one who’s jealous about the relationship developing between his brother and the girl who has moved into their old home. Anyone would read it but it just doesn’t live up to expectations.
Lets talk about character development or well not. There is none. Zilch. Which makes this book even more disappointing. They just lack everything. All the dialogue between the character’s in this book feels totally forced. The relationships that develop into what is supposed to be a “love triangle” is forced. It just makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable reading about it all. The relationship that develops between Rachel and Parker just makes me cringe. All the dialogue leading up to it is just so awful.
I may have read this book in a day but that has nothing to do with it being good, because it just wasn’t I was just so bored that I just wanted it out of the way.
I’m sorry but this book just wasn’t my taste.
Reading Under the Covers
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m not going to lie I didn’t like this book. When I read the review I was intrigued to read it. The blurb really drew me in but when I read the book I was disappointed.
I didn’t like the writing of this book, it made it feel like it was written by a child meaning that the actual story which had the potential to be really good just failed miserably.
This book had a plot that could have been so good if it was written better. Teenage brothers who haven’t moved on, one who’s jealous about the relationship developing between his brother and the girl who has moved into their old home. Anyone would read it but it just doesn’t live up to expectations.
Lets talk about character development or well not. There is none. Zilch. Which makes this book even more disappointing. They just lack everything. All the dialogue between the character’s in this book feels totally forced. The relationships that develop into what is supposed to be a “love triangle” is forced. It just makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable reading about it all. The relationship that develops between Rachel and Parker just makes me cringe. All the dialogue leading up to it is just so awful.
I may have read this book in a day but that has nothing to do with it being good, because it just wasn’t I was just so bored that I just wanted it out of the way.
I’m sorry but this book just wasn’t my taste.
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December 3, 2021
Rachel Sutton feels that something is off right away in her new house. She soon finds out that its previous inhabitants were two brothers, Noah and Ethan, who died in a car accident the year before. One a high school football hero, the other angry and jealous, and both still in the house.
While trying to lead a normal life as the new kid in school, making friends and having her first boyfriend, Rachel is also dealing with the violent obsession the younger brother has with her. In order to protect her, Noah, the older brother spends every moment he can watching over her. This causes emotional conflict for both him and for Rachel, however, because her new group of friends was Noah's, and her boyfriend, Parker, was his best friend.
During their time together, we see Rachel and Noah's relationship develop from friends to more. In some ways, they have a deeper connection than she does with Parker. They have time to talk more meaningfully, and they share the secret of his and his brother's existence. Their relationship, no matter how much the reader wishes it, can't last, can it?
Then there's Parker, sweet and romantic and dependable, how can you not want to see him win Rachel's love? It's a hard choice for both the reader and for Rachel.
This Side of Tomorrow takes me back to the sweetest, most compelling ghost stories that always seem to be set in the 1950s. The songs Last Kiss and Teen Angel could be prologues to those stories. It's like author Sally White channeled all of that and brought it to the present day.
With regards to both plotline and writing style, it wasn't always smooth and sweet. Several times, it felt like there wasn't much of anything going on besides the day-to-day of a teen's life, and one has to wonder if the author knew where she was heading but not quite how to get there so just filled the space. Of course, there were the moments of violence and real danger when Ethan showed up, and all those tender and emotional moments with Noah and Parker which made it all feel worth it in the end.
I received an ARC of this book and have left this review objectively and voluntarily.
While trying to lead a normal life as the new kid in school, making friends and having her first boyfriend, Rachel is also dealing with the violent obsession the younger brother has with her. In order to protect her, Noah, the older brother spends every moment he can watching over her. This causes emotional conflict for both him and for Rachel, however, because her new group of friends was Noah's, and her boyfriend, Parker, was his best friend.
During their time together, we see Rachel and Noah's relationship develop from friends to more. In some ways, they have a deeper connection than she does with Parker. They have time to talk more meaningfully, and they share the secret of his and his brother's existence. Their relationship, no matter how much the reader wishes it, can't last, can it?
Then there's Parker, sweet and romantic and dependable, how can you not want to see him win Rachel's love? It's a hard choice for both the reader and for Rachel.
This Side of Tomorrow takes me back to the sweetest, most compelling ghost stories that always seem to be set in the 1950s. The songs Last Kiss and Teen Angel could be prologues to those stories. It's like author Sally White channeled all of that and brought it to the present day.
With regards to both plotline and writing style, it wasn't always smooth and sweet. Several times, it felt like there wasn't much of anything going on besides the day-to-day of a teen's life, and one has to wonder if the author knew where she was heading but not quite how to get there so just filled the space. Of course, there were the moments of violence and real danger when Ethan showed up, and all those tender and emotional moments with Noah and Parker which made it all feel worth it in the end.
I received an ARC of this book and have left this review objectively and voluntarily.
November 20, 2019
When Rachel's family moves into a new house complete with the ghosts of two brothers who had died the previous year she finds out they went to her new high school and were jocks and she ends up dating one of their friends Parker. One of the ghost brothers, Ethan forms an infatuation of Rachel and ends up attacking her while his brother who is trying to convince him to cross over with him has to protect her from him thus they end up spending lots of time together and she develops feelings for him that are as strong if not stronger than the ones she has for Parker.
I Loved it! The whole love triangle especially when one love is a ghost really worked for me. I was totally anxious to see how it all played out. I found myself having no problems empathizing with all of the characters even the mean Ethan once things began unfolding. There near the end I was on the edge not knowing which way Rachel would go.
*I was given a free copy for an honest review
I Loved it! The whole love triangle especially when one love is a ghost really worked for me. I was totally anxious to see how it all played out. I found myself having no problems empathizing with all of the characters even the mean Ethan once things began unfolding. There near the end I was on the edge not knowing which way Rachel would go.
*I was given a free copy for an honest review
October 2, 2019
I received this advanced readers copy from BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
The Other Side of Tomorrow has tons of potential. I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the book, it made it a good YA read for my October list. The emotions run high throughout, and the characters made me feel. Buuut, in some ways the story just fell flat.. I picked it up and struggled getting into it a few times because of one thing: the 'new girl at school' trope. It's overused and killed my interest right at the beginning of the book, but I'm really glad I stuck it out. I guess I read too much YA, or at 23 I'm getting too old, or perhaps we need a better way to have the trope be not so obvious and in your face. Well, whatever. It was a decent read in the end!
3.5 stars to the author!
The Other Side of Tomorrow has tons of potential. I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the book, it made it a good YA read for my October list. The emotions run high throughout, and the characters made me feel. Buuut, in some ways the story just fell flat.. I picked it up and struggled getting into it a few times because of one thing: the 'new girl at school' trope. It's overused and killed my interest right at the beginning of the book, but I'm really glad I stuck it out. I guess I read too much YA, or at 23 I'm getting too old, or perhaps we need a better way to have the trope be not so obvious and in your face. Well, whatever. It was a decent read in the end!
3.5 stars to the author!
October 23, 2019
The premise was somewhat intriguing but as I read deeper into the story, it became more unbelievable. Rachel was very conceited and self centered. Why would you not want someone who has passed on to go into the light or move on from this life into the next? After what Ethan started turning into, why would you beg the other brother to stay knowing he could suffer a similar fate? I didn't care for the immaturity of Rachel. And how on earth is she able to touch these ghosts yet no one else can? Noah can hold the cat making it look as if the cat is levitating? Nah. I gave this 2 stars because the plot sounded intriguing enough, the execution though, not so much.
November 3, 2019
A fairly well-written book. There were some flaws in the book. Rachel jumped on the idea of ghosts haunting her house much too easily and quickly. Parker and Ethan were too perfect and most of the other characters were thinly drawn with more telling than showing. Kayla, Mack, and Sarah never seemed real. Ethan's change of heart was a little too quick. The plot and setting were compelling and I couldn't stop reading. Better character development would have made this book a winner.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 15, 2019
The Other Side of Tomorrow is a sweet love story, nestled in a creepy tale. It’s well-written and a quick, fun read. At times I found myself thinking I knew what was going to happen, but ultimately found out I didn’t have it as figured out as I thought I did, which was a pleasant discovery. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a well-written YA book with some truly chilling elements thrown in.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 27, 2019
I found this novel to be unbelievable, and was not able to keep hold of my attention and I only finished it because I don't like leaving things unfinished.I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
November 1, 2021
This was a really cute YA paranormal romance. It had sweet, lovable characters and a good storyline. It's a quick read and I didn't want to put it down.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2019
I'd give it a 3.5 and it's rounded up to a 4 because I like it enough to round up. :)
I got this copy from BookSirens so that's cool because I've been *reviewing books for 4-5 years now and I didn't realise that there's a place you can do it for real.
*I say "review" like I know what I'm doing but it's basically just me going through my notes*
Initial thoughts before we run through my spoiler notes!
I like it for the YA-ness that it is. It was a pretty light read (even though I know it took me 2 weeks BUT I'M BUSY SO GET OFF MY BACK MUM). If I were a teenager, I would eat this up and probably say that it's my favourite book ever because knowing me, love triangles were my thing because it was unholy and scandalous.
I enjoyed how I didn't really figure out were it was going. Once we get to my notes, you'll see moments where I theorised something and it's not really what ends up happening. So I guess I love that aspect of the book where I questioned myself the whole time. It was quite entertaining.
I think Rachel is a well-written character. You can empathise with her and I can feel that she's a nice person but she's also flawed which is nice to see because many times with other main characters, they only have flaws because the author didn't really want to make their character too perfect so they'll sprinkle in minor imperfections but you can tell that it's not genuine. With Rachel and the conflict that she goes through, it feels like it's on purpose and it happens organically. It's annoying but it feels real.
But everyone else in this book feels one-dimensional. I know that supporting characters are meant to be that way because they're not the main focus of the book so maybe this isn't too much of an issue.
I think that the main thing that this book suffers from is redundancy. A lot of the plot points were repetitive and I found myself rolling my eyes when the cycle would replay. I think I touch on it on my notes so I'll get to that later but personally, that's the main downfall of it.
The story. I thought the concept was good. I thought it would go into the horror genre for a while because the first chapter and the introduction felt ominous to me but it completely went into a different direction so that was a surprise. I thought it would be like Poltergeist but it became Casper and the Friendly Ghost real quick. Because it's YA, I can forgive how cheesy the story is with all the lovey-dovey scenes but I'm also mad because the book could've been cut down because of how repetitive some of the scenes were.
Shall we go to the notes? we shall? these are literally just my notes page on my kindle so it's very scattered and nonsensical. The italicised portions below are from the book (i thought i'd reference it here)
~SPOILERS FROM HERE UNTIL MY FINAL THOUGHTS~
Coolbeans. Final thoughts. I enjoyed the book for what it was and I think its suits the demographic that it's for. I think they'd be able to overlook the minor problems I had with it and just be immersed in the story. Tbh I like the concept and I don't know what I'm looking for to elevate my liking of it but I just wish it were better. idk what i'm saying.
THANKS TO BOOKSIRENS :)
disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
imma go read gone girl now kbye
I got this copy from BookSirens so that's cool because I've been *reviewing books for 4-5 years now and I didn't realise that there's a place you can do it for real.
*I say "review" like I know what I'm doing but it's basically just me going through my notes*
Initial thoughts before we run through my spoiler notes!
I like it for the YA-ness that it is. It was a pretty light read (even though I know it took me 2 weeks BUT I'M BUSY SO GET OFF MY BACK MUM). If I were a teenager, I would eat this up and probably say that it's my favourite book ever because knowing me, love triangles were my thing because it was unholy and scandalous.
I enjoyed how I didn't really figure out were it was going. Once we get to my notes, you'll see moments where I theorised something and it's not really what ends up happening. So I guess I love that aspect of the book where I questioned myself the whole time. It was quite entertaining.
I think Rachel is a well-written character. You can empathise with her and I can feel that she's a nice person but she's also flawed which is nice to see because many times with other main characters, they only have flaws because the author didn't really want to make their character too perfect so they'll sprinkle in minor imperfections but you can tell that it's not genuine. With Rachel and the conflict that she goes through, it feels like it's on purpose and it happens organically. It's annoying but it feels real.
But everyone else in this book feels one-dimensional. I know that supporting characters are meant to be that way because they're not the main focus of the book so maybe this isn't too much of an issue.
I think that the main thing that this book suffers from is redundancy. A lot of the plot points were repetitive and I found myself rolling my eyes when the cycle would replay. I think I touch on it on my notes so I'll get to that later but personally, that's the main downfall of it.
The story. I thought the concept was good. I thought it would go into the horror genre for a while because the first chapter and the introduction felt ominous to me but it completely went into a different direction so that was a surprise. I thought it would be like Poltergeist but it became Casper and the Friendly Ghost real quick. Because it's YA, I can forgive how cheesy the story is with all the lovey-dovey scenes but I'm also mad because the book could've been cut down because of how repetitive some of the scenes were.
Shall we go to the notes? we shall? these are literally just my notes page on my kindle so it's very scattered and nonsensical. The italicised portions below are from the book (i thought i'd reference it here)
~SPOILERS FROM HERE UNTIL MY FINAL THOUGHTS~
Coolbeans. Final thoughts. I enjoyed the book for what it was and I think its suits the demographic that it's for. I think they'd be able to overlook the minor problems I had with it and just be immersed in the story. Tbh I like the concept and I don't know what I'm looking for to elevate my liking of it but I just wish it were better. idk what i'm saying.
THANKS TO BOOKSIRENS :)
disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
imma go read gone girl now kbye
May 9, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a quick, emotionally gripping read with plenty of action and romance, but it could use some work.
The beginning, and often other parts throughout the book, felt rushed. Some events are just summarized for the sake of getting the story going, which is fine, but sometimes playing out the scene is better.
The story itself is such a captivating idea. It plays on themes of loss, first love, safety (physical and emotional), and difficult choices. The scenes of danger and of romance are equally enthralling. They give you that teenage girl squeally feeling where you can't wait to see what happens next.
The character of Rachel, the protagonist, is believable and relatable. She messes up, has erratic emotions, and makes terrible decisions just like a real teenage girl, but ultimately she has a big heart and cares for the people around her. Parker and Noah are equally adorable, and while on the surface they seem perfect, they both at times act like the stupid teenage boys they are. The love triangle here is a bit different and more complicated than some I've read, so it plays on your emotions in the best way.
I had some problems with the antagonist, Ethan. He comes on way too strong in the beginning, and there seems to be little to no reasoning behind his actions. You'd think he'd play nice at first and progressively get more twisted. But he doesn't, so it feels a bit ingenuine, like the only reason he's doing what he's doing is so that the story has a villain. A good villain has redeeming qualities or takes us by surprise. Since the entire story is from Rachel's POV, we don't get to see much interaction between Noah and Ethan, so it's hard to get a concrete idea of how or even why Noah would want to save Ethan when, from the perspective we see, it seems entirely hopeless and pointless.
On that note, the rules about good/evil and Heaven/Hell seem a bit too black and white in this book. The choice between the two seems too clear and also too drastic. I'm not Catholic, so I don't know a whole lot about their beliefs on the subject, but I get the sense that the author is Catholic and writing from that perspective. I could be wrong. Maybe she just made up her own system for this story, which is fine, but I felt like it needed to be more complex to be completely believable.
The rules about the ghosts/spirits are also kind of fuzzy. (And believe me, in a story like this, there have to be rules. That's what makes us believe it.) Can the spirits fly? Can they teleport? Can only special people like Rachel see them when they project themselves, or can everyone? Are they solid when they're invisible, or can people walk through them? It seems unclear because we get conflicting information in different scenes. There have to be rules that apply the same way every time. And there doesn't really seem to be a downside to them being dead. They still breath, they can touch and move things, and they can even turn invisible! I don't see a problem here. And that, in itself, is a problem.
It's awesome that Rachel's friends and parents actually notice when something is wrong and ask her about it. Too often in stories like this, and in real life, the people closest to the person going through a trauma (especially a victim of rape/violence) either don't notice the changes or don't talk to the person about it. So that was nice.
The climax of the story was terribly unbelievable. I can't really say why without giving spoilers, but I'll just say that there's no catalyst for what happens, and it's completely cheesy. There has to be more of a gradual transformation or a more believable reason for a rapid one. But the actual ending itself was really sweet.
Overall, this is a thrilling story with some really strong concepts and themes, but it needs just a bit of work to make those concepts more believable.
Again, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a quick, emotionally gripping read with plenty of action and romance, but it could use some work.
The beginning, and often other parts throughout the book, felt rushed. Some events are just summarized for the sake of getting the story going, which is fine, but sometimes playing out the scene is better.
The story itself is such a captivating idea. It plays on themes of loss, first love, safety (physical and emotional), and difficult choices. The scenes of danger and of romance are equally enthralling. They give you that teenage girl squeally feeling where you can't wait to see what happens next.
The character of Rachel, the protagonist, is believable and relatable. She messes up, has erratic emotions, and makes terrible decisions just like a real teenage girl, but ultimately she has a big heart and cares for the people around her. Parker and Noah are equally adorable, and while on the surface they seem perfect, they both at times act like the stupid teenage boys they are. The love triangle here is a bit different and more complicated than some I've read, so it plays on your emotions in the best way.
I had some problems with the antagonist, Ethan. He comes on way too strong in the beginning, and there seems to be little to no reasoning behind his actions. You'd think he'd play nice at first and progressively get more twisted. But he doesn't, so it feels a bit ingenuine, like the only reason he's doing what he's doing is so that the story has a villain. A good villain has redeeming qualities or takes us by surprise. Since the entire story is from Rachel's POV, we don't get to see much interaction between Noah and Ethan, so it's hard to get a concrete idea of how or even why Noah would want to save Ethan when, from the perspective we see, it seems entirely hopeless and pointless.
On that note, the rules about good/evil and Heaven/Hell seem a bit too black and white in this book. The choice between the two seems too clear and also too drastic. I'm not Catholic, so I don't know a whole lot about their beliefs on the subject, but I get the sense that the author is Catholic and writing from that perspective. I could be wrong. Maybe she just made up her own system for this story, which is fine, but I felt like it needed to be more complex to be completely believable.
The rules about the ghosts/spirits are also kind of fuzzy. (And believe me, in a story like this, there have to be rules. That's what makes us believe it.) Can the spirits fly? Can they teleport? Can only special people like Rachel see them when they project themselves, or can everyone? Are they solid when they're invisible, or can people walk through them? It seems unclear because we get conflicting information in different scenes. There have to be rules that apply the same way every time. And there doesn't really seem to be a downside to them being dead. They still breath, they can touch and move things, and they can even turn invisible! I don't see a problem here. And that, in itself, is a problem.
It's awesome that Rachel's friends and parents actually notice when something is wrong and ask her about it. Too often in stories like this, and in real life, the people closest to the person going through a trauma (especially a victim of rape/violence) either don't notice the changes or don't talk to the person about it. So that was nice.
The climax of the story was terribly unbelievable. I can't really say why without giving spoilers, but I'll just say that there's no catalyst for what happens, and it's completely cheesy. There has to be more of a gradual transformation or a more believable reason for a rapid one. But the actual ending itself was really sweet.
Overall, this is a thrilling story with some really strong concepts and themes, but it needs just a bit of work to make those concepts more believable.
Again, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 17, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in July 2019.
"This Side of Tomorrow" by Sally White is a YA paranormal novel that starts off as a perfectly chilling revisitation of the trope of the haunted house... and then ends up losing its momentum long before the story is actually finished.
In the end, it becomes just another stereotypical paranormal romance focusing on a love triangle that doesn't make much sense.
At the beginning of the book, I was delighted by the protagonist's characterization, the originality of the premise, the freshness of the writing style... I thought I had stumbled on the debut novel of my next favourite author.
I particularly liked how the story didn't waste any time beating around the bush: the main plotline starts almost immediately, with Ethan in his invisible form assaulting Rachel in her own bedroom on her very first night in her new house. What could be more terrifying than that?
Anyway, not much else happens in the whole book, and - although Ethan's menace never diminishes - the story couldn't keep me entertained in the end.
Basically, the mean dead brother stalks the protagonist, while the nice dead brother and a few spirit friends of his try and save Rachel by... talking to Ethan and convincing him to become good? How lame is that? Their strategy for keeping Rachel safe from her dead wannabe rapist who can literally walk through walls is... talking to him??? You can imagine how effective that's going to be.
Rachel herself is remarkably passive throughout the whole story, incapable of defending herself and apparently not much bothered by that: she seems perfectly content to delegate her own safety - and that of her loved ones - to a bunch of ghosts she barely knows, who have proven themselves ineffective time and time again and who never come up with a better strategy than the one they've been unsuccessfully using all along.
I was also a bit annoyed that the issue of ghost corporeity is never properly addressed in the novel: Noah and Ethan can make themselves invisible or project an image of their choice, they can be seen by Rachel but not by anyone else, they can walk through walls and closed doors, but they can also move objects, pet cats, touch living people... I know this is a paranormal novel and I'm ready to accept that different rules apply than in real life, but there has to be some consistency in the story. Reading this I just felt that the rules kept changing - or were never clear enough in the first place, allowing for a ridiculous amount of leeway - according to whatever the narration required in every given chapter. For instance, if ghosts can make themselves incorporeal at will, how can Noah drag Ethan off of Rachel or hold him while she gets away? How can Noah and Ethan beat each other up? Shouldn't Ethan be able to slip out of Noah's grasp just by making himself temporarily incorporeal? Shouldn't they both be able to dodge punches the same way?
I'm not even going to comment on the ending, because it's so silly.
Overall, I think this story had potential but didn't deliver half as much as the first few chapters promised.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"This Side of Tomorrow" by Sally White is a YA paranormal novel that starts off as a perfectly chilling revisitation of the trope of the haunted house... and then ends up losing its momentum long before the story is actually finished.
In the end, it becomes just another stereotypical paranormal romance focusing on a love triangle that doesn't make much sense.
At the beginning of the book, I was delighted by the protagonist's characterization, the originality of the premise, the freshness of the writing style... I thought I had stumbled on the debut novel of my next favourite author.
I particularly liked how the story didn't waste any time beating around the bush: the main plotline starts almost immediately, with Ethan in his invisible form assaulting Rachel in her own bedroom on her very first night in her new house. What could be more terrifying than that?
Anyway, not much else happens in the whole book, and - although Ethan's menace never diminishes - the story couldn't keep me entertained in the end.
Basically, the mean dead brother stalks the protagonist, while the nice dead brother and a few spirit friends of his try and save Rachel by... talking to Ethan and convincing him to become good? How lame is that? Their strategy for keeping Rachel safe from her dead wannabe rapist who can literally walk through walls is... talking to him??? You can imagine how effective that's going to be.
Rachel herself is remarkably passive throughout the whole story, incapable of defending herself and apparently not much bothered by that: she seems perfectly content to delegate her own safety - and that of her loved ones - to a bunch of ghosts she barely knows, who have proven themselves ineffective time and time again and who never come up with a better strategy than the one they've been unsuccessfully using all along.
I was also a bit annoyed that the issue of ghost corporeity is never properly addressed in the novel: Noah and Ethan can make themselves invisible or project an image of their choice, they can be seen by Rachel but not by anyone else, they can walk through walls and closed doors, but they can also move objects, pet cats, touch living people... I know this is a paranormal novel and I'm ready to accept that different rules apply than in real life, but there has to be some consistency in the story. Reading this I just felt that the rules kept changing - or were never clear enough in the first place, allowing for a ridiculous amount of leeway - according to whatever the narration required in every given chapter. For instance, if ghosts can make themselves incorporeal at will, how can Noah drag Ethan off of Rachel or hold him while she gets away? How can Noah and Ethan beat each other up? Shouldn't Ethan be able to slip out of Noah's grasp just by making himself temporarily incorporeal? Shouldn't they both be able to dodge punches the same way?
I'm not even going to comment on the ending, because it's so silly.
Overall, I think this story had potential but didn't deliver half as much as the first few chapters promised.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 1, 2020
I had a hard time getting into this book, mostly because I didn’t really like Rachel, the main character. I didn’t understand how all the characters could love her. The rest of the characters were really great, and I did find all of them very consistent, which I like. I liked that Rachel, Parker and Noah all had pretty good and realistic development. I thought Ethan was the only character who was a little bit random, but then again, he was going crazy.
The ending was really good. I liked that there was a lesson after all of that. I did think that she maybe should have told Parker a little bit more of what was going on with Ethan, especially because the whole medium scene seemed a little bit redundant. For some reason I thought he was a ghost too!
Once I got into the book, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! It was well written, even though I don’t usually like first person (and it was in past tense as well, which I like, but it’s kind of unusual for the first person) I think time passed in a really good and normal way, and relationships changed well. I think some of the event were glazed over a little too easily, but it didn’t bother me too much. One example was the mom’s studio. It felt like such an important part of the story, but I don’t think it was emphasized quite enough.
My last thought is a bit of a spoiler.
I think she should have had a better goodbye with Noah and especially Ethan. I think what he did to her was pretty traumatic, and she couldn’t even really tell anyone, but she dismissed it so easily. I think it should have been a longer moment. And of course Noah. I needed to hear one of them at least say “goodbye,” make it true. I feel like we’re kind of left with an assumption, rather than a true ending. But I am really glad that Jane stuck around to see her go to prom. That was really good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The ending was really good. I liked that there was a lesson after all of that. I did think that she maybe should have told Parker a little bit more of what was going on with Ethan, especially because the whole medium scene seemed a little bit redundant. For some reason I thought he was a ghost too!
Once I got into the book, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! It was well written, even though I don’t usually like first person (and it was in past tense as well, which I like, but it’s kind of unusual for the first person) I think time passed in a really good and normal way, and relationships changed well. I think some of the event were glazed over a little too easily, but it didn’t bother me too much. One example was the mom’s studio. It felt like such an important part of the story, but I don’t think it was emphasized quite enough.
My last thought is a bit of a spoiler.
I think she should have had a better goodbye with Noah and especially Ethan. I think what he did to her was pretty traumatic, and she couldn’t even really tell anyone, but she dismissed it so easily. I think it should have been a longer moment. And of course Noah. I needed to hear one of them at least say “goodbye,” make it true. I feel like we’re kind of left with an assumption, rather than a true ending. But I am really glad that Jane stuck around to see her go to prom. That was really good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2020
I liked the story - it was an easy read. At times, I didn't want to put it down because I was anxious to see what would happen next. It took me awhile to get to this point though. In the beginning, I had a hard time getting past the predictable, juvenile writing style. I felt like I was reading a story a child or a teenager had written. I had to keep reminding myself that it was written with a much younger reader in mind. With that being said - even young readers want deeper stories and characters than what this book provides.
The blurb is what drew me in because I thought there would be more of a mystery or thriller aspect to the story. It was definitely a YA romance, so don't expect much more than that. Sadly, I never really connected with any of the characters. I kept waiting for greater character development, but it just
didn't happen. It could've been because the characters were all so cliché. The ghost characters were oddly executed with the ghosts having the ability to show up in different clothes, hold books/objects, and fade in and out at will. I think because the ghosts were not presented in a mysterious way or a humorous way, all I could think of was how unrealistic it all was.
The chapters are extremely short - again, a bit disappointing. Just when I thought things were getting interesting, the chapter would end and the author would move on to a new setting or situation. If you want to read a romantic story about a teenage girl who moves to a new place, is torn between the love of a ghost and the love of her high school boyfriend, then this might be the story for you. Overall, it is enjoyable to read, but it definitely leaves you wishing for more.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The blurb is what drew me in because I thought there would be more of a mystery or thriller aspect to the story. It was definitely a YA romance, so don't expect much more than that. Sadly, I never really connected with any of the characters. I kept waiting for greater character development, but it just
didn't happen. It could've been because the characters were all so cliché. The ghost characters were oddly executed with the ghosts having the ability to show up in different clothes, hold books/objects, and fade in and out at will. I think because the ghosts were not presented in a mysterious way or a humorous way, all I could think of was how unrealistic it all was.
The chapters are extremely short - again, a bit disappointing. Just when I thought things were getting interesting, the chapter would end and the author would move on to a new setting or situation. If you want to read a romantic story about a teenage girl who moves to a new place, is torn between the love of a ghost and the love of her high school boyfriend, then this might be the story for you. Overall, it is enjoyable to read, but it definitely leaves you wishing for more.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 23, 2020
see more of my reviews at www.graywolf0517.wixsite.com/bookishb...
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Heyo! Okay this book was amazing. Completely and utterly. I'm speechless. This has got to be one of the best ARCs I have ever read and that is saying something. I don't know if this author has written other books or if this was her first, but it was brilliant. I could probably rant about this book for days. I am completely obsessed.
Rachel moves to a new state with her mom and stepdad hoping to start a dance studio. The only thing she is worried about is her mom not getting sick. Then, she meets Ethan, and more importantly Noah. Now she has to fear for her and every one around hers life while also falling in love with boys, one of which she could never have on this side of tomorrow.
Character Development: 5 stars
Story Line: 4.5 stars.
Readability: 5 stars.
Writing style: 4.5 stars.
My enjoyment: 5 stars.
Average Star Score: 4.8 stars.
Things I Liked
- Rach was so freaking sweet and rarely was selfish
-Parker was my dream boy.
- If given the choice to date either Parker or Noah, I would pick Noah, everytime.
- The story line was so smooth
-I love the action within the romance
- The book felt like one that I would have bought at a store from a big name author.
Things I Did Not Like
- I have one complaint, Parker seemed a little too willing to believe. other than that PERFECTION.
I am in love with this book. I am usually not the biggest fan of ghosts and stuff like that, but this was literally amazing. Thank You BookSirens for recommending this book to me and to Sally White for posting this book and giving me the opportunity to read and enjoy it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Heyo! Okay this book was amazing. Completely and utterly. I'm speechless. This has got to be one of the best ARCs I have ever read and that is saying something. I don't know if this author has written other books or if this was her first, but it was brilliant. I could probably rant about this book for days. I am completely obsessed.
Rachel moves to a new state with her mom and stepdad hoping to start a dance studio. The only thing she is worried about is her mom not getting sick. Then, she meets Ethan, and more importantly Noah. Now she has to fear for her and every one around hers life while also falling in love with boys, one of which she could never have on this side of tomorrow.
Character Development: 5 stars
Story Line: 4.5 stars.
Readability: 5 stars.
Writing style: 4.5 stars.
My enjoyment: 5 stars.
Average Star Score: 4.8 stars.
Things I Liked
- Rach was so freaking sweet and rarely was selfish
-Parker was my dream boy.
- If given the choice to date either Parker or Noah, I would pick Noah, everytime.
- The story line was so smooth
-I love the action within the romance
- The book felt like one that I would have bought at a store from a big name author.
Things I Did Not Like
- I have one complaint, Parker seemed a little too willing to believe. other than that PERFECTION.
I am in love with this book. I am usually not the biggest fan of ghosts and stuff like that, but this was literally amazing. Thank You BookSirens for recommending this book to me and to Sally White for posting this book and giving me the opportunity to read and enjoy it.
January 14, 2021
°。°。°。Summary°。°。°。
Rachel is forced to choose between two boys in her life that she loves. One alive, and one, a haunting ghost that lives in her new house. Rachel is torn between these two boys and we follow her as she tries to understand what, or who, she really loves.
°。°。°。Characters°。°。°。
Rachel is very self centered and her priorities seem a little mixed up. I don't feel sorrow for Rachel though I should. I think that the drama that is created between Rachel, Nick and Parker was the most interesting part of the story but I still wasn't convinced on what I should feel. Rachel's emotions seemed far away from the audience.
°。°。°。Plot°。°。°。
Though the idea of the plot was interesting, I think that the presentation left a lot to be desired. Rachel spent a lot of time questioning her emotions and never making a solid choice in my opinion. I think that this story is want for development. There were also moments where the dialog did not feel great to me. It sounded forced and not in a way that high schoolers would speak to each other. The plot has so much potential and I want to love it but I'm not 100% sold on it.
°。°。°。Overall°。°。°。
I think that this book is an interesting YA read. Not something that I would give a second read, but if the plot interests you enough, definitely give it a try!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you Sally White and booksirens for giving me this opportunity.
Rachel is forced to choose between two boys in her life that she loves. One alive, and one, a haunting ghost that lives in her new house. Rachel is torn between these two boys and we follow her as she tries to understand what, or who, she really loves.
°。°。°。Characters°。°。°。
Rachel is very self centered and her priorities seem a little mixed up. I don't feel sorrow for Rachel though I should. I think that the drama that is created between Rachel, Nick and Parker was the most interesting part of the story but I still wasn't convinced on what I should feel. Rachel's emotions seemed far away from the audience.
°。°。°。Plot°。°。°。
Though the idea of the plot was interesting, I think that the presentation left a lot to be desired. Rachel spent a lot of time questioning her emotions and never making a solid choice in my opinion. I think that this story is want for development. There were also moments where the dialog did not feel great to me. It sounded forced and not in a way that high schoolers would speak to each other. The plot has so much potential and I want to love it but I'm not 100% sold on it.
°。°。°。Overall°。°。°。
I think that this book is an interesting YA read. Not something that I would give a second read, but if the plot interests you enough, definitely give it a try!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you Sally White and booksirens for giving me this opportunity.
February 22, 2021
First I would like to thank BookSirens.com for having a free reading site so we can discover new Authors like Sally White. I would also like to thank Sally for allowing me to read your book and enjoy it... First I will say it is a slow pace book or at least I felt it was, there is also harsh scenes in this book that might not be for everyone. The Human and Ghost plot of this book I really liked. Noah and Ethan being ghost and Rachel & Parker being human. Ethan was on a path of destruction trying to do anything to get Rachel to love him, while his brother Noah was protecting her from Ethan they formed a best friend, love relationship I so ship, like I want a Noah a ghost friend that goes everywhere and appears on a dime and just talks to you when ever. Rachel was having problems with Ethan and her boyfriend Parker was there to help as well, I really did not like that it was instant love with Parker.. including when her Mom recovering from a illness all throughout the book it was what if mom gets sick again, every little thing they did Rachel worried her mom would get sick again. Now I know that those feelings are real on a lot people and I understand that I'm not dismissing how she feels it was said to much in this book. Over all the plot was good and I loved the ending it wrapped up like it should. Read and enjoy then see if your team Noah or Parker. Loved the characters of friendship in this book as well. It will make you cry, laugh and love all throughout. Recommend for 17 up.. Enjoyed Gina Clabo (This was a free book I read)..
July 6, 2020
A sweet YA novel with a ghostly twist
Synopsis
Rachel moves across the country to a new house. The house happens to be house of the Thompsons, the brothers who died the past summer.
One of the brothers is obsessed with Rachel, and the other tries to protect her. Add in a living boyfriend and you’re all set.
Things I liked
The plot of the story is great. It’s easy to follow and it grasps and holds your attention until the very end. The relationships Rachel has seem to be easy and there’s not too much drama, except the ghost who tries to harm her. Basically, it turns into a love triangle but the other boy just happens to be a ghost (I guess that’s drama enough).
The characters are all very mature. Rachel and Parker and Noah all act like prober adults although they are only 17 or 18. In a way, this makes the book good as well. Of course, there are the normal problems they have (does he want to have sex, what if I don’t want to etc), but all those problems are handled very maturely and that, in my opinion, makes the book so good.
All in all, this is a great book and one of the best YA novels I’ve ever read. It made me feel all kinds of feelings and I just really wish that. Noah was alive.
* free copy of this book received through BookSirens
Synopsis
Rachel moves across the country to a new house. The house happens to be house of the Thompsons, the brothers who died the past summer.
One of the brothers is obsessed with Rachel, and the other tries to protect her. Add in a living boyfriend and you’re all set.
Things I liked
The plot of the story is great. It’s easy to follow and it grasps and holds your attention until the very end. The relationships Rachel has seem to be easy and there’s not too much drama, except the ghost who tries to harm her. Basically, it turns into a love triangle but the other boy just happens to be a ghost (I guess that’s drama enough).
The characters are all very mature. Rachel and Parker and Noah all act like prober adults although they are only 17 or 18. In a way, this makes the book good as well. Of course, there are the normal problems they have (does he want to have sex, what if I don’t want to etc), but all those problems are handled very maturely and that, in my opinion, makes the book so good.
All in all, this is a great book and one of the best YA novels I’ve ever read. It made me feel all kinds of feelings and I just really wish that. Noah was alive.
* free copy of this book received through BookSirens
January 27, 2021
This story was more of a romance than a ghost-haunting. Sometimes the storyline with Ethan felt like it was missing something and things happened too quickly. But looking at it more as a story of a girl being torn between loving a ghost and a living man, it was a good book.
Rachel moves to a new town and not only finds out that ghosts exist but that there's an out of control ghost obsessed with her and his super gorgeous brother ends up watching her 24/7 to protect her. Her troubles of finding friends disappear when she meets Sarah, and she is on her first date by the end of her first week at school with a guy who's a gentleman (and a bit too good to be true, but this is a romance). But she soon finds herself torn between her ghost guardian and her perfect boyfriend, the spirit world and the living.
It was a nice story filled with great characters. It wasn't entirely what I expected, but was still enjoyable, and brought up interesting themes and questions about ghosts, life and loss. It may have been a tad cliche in the romance novel department at times, but it was still a cute story that touched into some deeper themes. And I loved the message it gave at the end!
I received a free review copy of this book through BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rachel moves to a new town and not only finds out that ghosts exist but that there's an out of control ghost obsessed with her and his super gorgeous brother ends up watching her 24/7 to protect her. Her troubles of finding friends disappear when she meets Sarah, and she is on her first date by the end of her first week at school with a guy who's a gentleman (and a bit too good to be true, but this is a romance). But she soon finds herself torn between her ghost guardian and her perfect boyfriend, the spirit world and the living.
It was a nice story filled with great characters. It wasn't entirely what I expected, but was still enjoyable, and brought up interesting themes and questions about ghosts, life and loss. It may have been a tad cliche in the romance novel department at times, but it was still a cute story that touched into some deeper themes. And I loved the message it gave at the end!
I received a free review copy of this book through BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2020
*Thank you to Book Sirens for this copy*
I gravitated towards this book because the cover but also because the synopsis sounded interesting. Rachel has just moved to a small town in Maine with her mom and Stepdad from Nebraska. Starting a new school a couple months in can be awkward, but finds friends fast.. and even a crush. Parker is a popular football player who has the reputation for being a player but Rachel is the first girl he feels strong about. As Rachel falls for Parker she also falls for Noah, the ghost who lived in the house before her. He’s been sticking around trying to make sure his bother gets into heaven.
The story concept was really interesting and the whole new take on a ya contemporary. It’s poses the thought of what happens when we die unexpectedly and have to live every day watching the ones around us change. It was a bit awkward at times and also sweet. Ones first love and it’s tough because it involves a spirit. I really liked the writing and that the whole book wasn’t long but easy to read. It did feel a bit rushed at times, especially towards then end, but I liked the books whole concept.
I gravitated towards this book because the cover but also because the synopsis sounded interesting. Rachel has just moved to a small town in Maine with her mom and Stepdad from Nebraska. Starting a new school a couple months in can be awkward, but finds friends fast.. and even a crush. Parker is a popular football player who has the reputation for being a player but Rachel is the first girl he feels strong about. As Rachel falls for Parker she also falls for Noah, the ghost who lived in the house before her. He’s been sticking around trying to make sure his bother gets into heaven.
The story concept was really interesting and the whole new take on a ya contemporary. It’s poses the thought of what happens when we die unexpectedly and have to live every day watching the ones around us change. It was a bit awkward at times and also sweet. Ones first love and it’s tough because it involves a spirit. I really liked the writing and that the whole book wasn’t long but easy to read. It did feel a bit rushed at times, especially towards then end, but I liked the books whole concept.
October 31, 2020
Sally White's This Side of Tomorrow is the Paranormal Romance that I wish I'd been able to read when I was 13/14 Yeas old.
The story follows Rachel Sutton, a 17-year-old girl who moves to Maine when her stepdad gets a new job and has to adjust to her new life but quickly discovers the story of Ethan and Noah Thompson, brothers who resided in her house before her and their tragic deaths. Ethan is jealous and obsessed with Rachel and determined for revenge, whereas Noah, who feels guilty for his death is determined to save Rachel from Ethan. As Rachel tries to navigate her new life, she finds herself torn between her love interests; one who is living and one who is dead. Eventually, Rachel must decide; should she continue to live for love, or cross over to the other side to be loved by one eternally?
This Side of Tomorrow is filled with so many wonderful characters and wonderful relationships and it left me on the edge of my seat throughout. I wish that I had had this book when I was younger and found Paranormal Romance to be beautiful! The only reason that this hasn't reached 5 stars is that I would have loved some of the chapters to have been a bit longer but otherwise, I absolutely adored this book and read it in one sitting. I would recommend this and read it again.
March 12, 2021
I had so much fun reading this book! First up, you should know that I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
It is such a beautiful book. I got exited right from the beging, before I even started reading, because the ghost element is something I love in stories. And we have a whole party of them!
Okay, so the story itself is not original, I'm pretty sure I've heard a simillar story somewhere, but the auhtor managed to make it stand out. I found the character dynamics to be really strong and I could picture them all in my mind. I am a sucker for love triangles and this one didn't let me down. Rachel's cat gave the story a unique element; I loved her so much that I want to read a chapter or two following her point of view.
There is one thing I woud have liked to see more in the book, conversations with Rachel's old friends. One doesn't just turn the page and start completely new, your old life blends with your new one. And maybe a bit more of her family.
Final thoughts. It is a lovely story, packed with lots of feeling. It will make you laugh, smile and cry. It earned its spot on my favourite books.
It is such a beautiful book. I got exited right from the beging, before I even started reading, because the ghost element is something I love in stories. And we have a whole party of them!
Okay, so the story itself is not original, I'm pretty sure I've heard a simillar story somewhere, but the auhtor managed to make it stand out. I found the character dynamics to be really strong and I could picture them all in my mind. I am a sucker for love triangles and this one didn't let me down. Rachel's cat gave the story a unique element; I loved her so much that I want to read a chapter or two following her point of view.
There is one thing I woud have liked to see more in the book, conversations with Rachel's old friends. One doesn't just turn the page and start completely new, your old life blends with your new one. And maybe a bit more of her family.
Final thoughts. It is a lovely story, packed with lots of feeling. It will make you laugh, smile and cry. It earned its spot on my favourite books.
June 12, 2020
Originally published on nightingfae's blog
3.5 stars.
My question is: who would fall in love with a ghost? Because I know I wouldn’t, I’d be so freaking scared that I’d run away from them since minute one. But it’s okay, I can accept it, because without this premise this book wouldn’t exist.
Apart from this small and insignificant issue, the story is well developed for being a young-adult book. Though it has a lot of clichés, for example when the main character, Rachel, describes his boyfriend as “the hottest guy I’d ever had a date with”, and also repeats some things too many times, like when talking about her mother, Rachel says “especially since we didn’t know how many (mother-daughter moments) we might have” because her mother has cancer, she repeats this sort of thing at least 10 times throughout the story, and being it a more-or-less-250-pages book, it becomes a bit tiring sometimes.
Let’s talk about the characters now. They’re not really developed, but standing up for Sally White, they don’t have much time to evolve actually, since the story happens in a short period of time–nine months more or less–. It has to be said that what usually happens with a debut novel, especially if it’s a standalone, is that the author puts a lot of themselves in the main character, which I really like and enjoy. You’re able to know about what they like, what they carve for, a piece of what they’ve been through or about their environment. And in This Side of Tomorrow you can see that Sally White might love her mother a lot, that she may really like dancing and that she may have enjoyed her high school life, since all the characters are popular, hot and cool with everyone.
What I liked least about the characters was that they’re divided between good and bad, there’s no middle point, making it a bit difficult to believe their behaviours. For example, Parker and Noah are 18-years-old gentlemen, being kind and boyfriend goals. While Ethan is a 16-year-old evil ghost, obsessed with girls and especially Rachel, and (spoiler alert)
What I didn’t like either was the fact that Ethan was suffering bullying in school, maybe a mild one, but he was, and nobody helped nor understood him. And after his death, his brother Noah tries to help him just because he feels guilty for his death and to be able to go to heaven–which is selfish as heck and for that same reason he should go to hell. What I’m trying to say is that Sally White should have developed this part of the story a bit more, making Rachel understand a bit Ethan’s behaviour and help him to be good, instead of refusing to talk to him, which makes him be even meaner to her.
But even all these things I still wanted to finish it, that thing caught me. And it might be because it’s a light and fast read, pretty well written and a bit original, since I haven’t read nor heard about a book with a love triangle conformed by two mortals and a ghost. It sounds interesting, doesn’t it? So if you’re into love triangles, paranormal romance and YA romance, you should give it a try because you might love it.
Thanks BookSirens for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
3.5 stars.
My question is: who would fall in love with a ghost? Because I know I wouldn’t, I’d be so freaking scared that I’d run away from them since minute one. But it’s okay, I can accept it, because without this premise this book wouldn’t exist.
Apart from this small and insignificant issue, the story is well developed for being a young-adult book. Though it has a lot of clichés, for example when the main character, Rachel, describes his boyfriend as “the hottest guy I’d ever had a date with”, and also repeats some things too many times, like when talking about her mother, Rachel says “especially since we didn’t know how many (mother-daughter moments) we might have” because her mother has cancer, she repeats this sort of thing at least 10 times throughout the story, and being it a more-or-less-250-pages book, it becomes a bit tiring sometimes.
Let’s talk about the characters now. They’re not really developed, but standing up for Sally White, they don’t have much time to evolve actually, since the story happens in a short period of time–nine months more or less–. It has to be said that what usually happens with a debut novel, especially if it’s a standalone, is that the author puts a lot of themselves in the main character, which I really like and enjoy. You’re able to know about what they like, what they carve for, a piece of what they’ve been through or about their environment. And in This Side of Tomorrow you can see that Sally White might love her mother a lot, that she may really like dancing and that she may have enjoyed her high school life, since all the characters are popular, hot and cool with everyone.
What I liked least about the characters was that they’re divided between good and bad, there’s no middle point, making it a bit difficult to believe their behaviours. For example, Parker and Noah are 18-years-old gentlemen, being kind and boyfriend goals. While Ethan is a 16-year-old evil ghost, obsessed with girls and especially Rachel, and (spoiler alert)
What I didn’t like either was the fact that Ethan was suffering bullying in school, maybe a mild one, but he was, and nobody helped nor understood him. And after his death, his brother Noah tries to help him just because he feels guilty for his death and to be able to go to heaven–which is selfish as heck and for that same reason he should go to hell. What I’m trying to say is that Sally White should have developed this part of the story a bit more, making Rachel understand a bit Ethan’s behaviour and help him to be good, instead of refusing to talk to him, which makes him be even meaner to her.
But even all these things I still wanted to finish it, that thing caught me. And it might be because it’s a light and fast read, pretty well written and a bit original, since I haven’t read nor heard about a book with a love triangle conformed by two mortals and a ghost. It sounds interesting, doesn’t it? So if you’re into love triangles, paranormal romance and YA romance, you should give it a try because you might love it.
Thanks BookSirens for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 19, 2021
Thank you, BookSirens and the author, for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a little bit different than what I used to read. The writing style felt like I was reading a blog, not a book. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, on the contrary, it was kind of fun to read, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
The one thing that felt odd to me was that Rachel was okay with the idea of having ghosts in her house. Like she didn't waste time by thinking, “there is no way the house is hosting ghosts,” as if it was totally okay and normal. That felt odd as it didn't feel real. Man, if I found out ghosts were hanging around the house, I might lose my mind!
These ghosts, too, are different from the ghosts we used to know: they have a mass, and they can actually hurt you and leave a bruise. One of them, Noah, actually knocked on the door before entering the room! So polite ghost, and I loved him for that! Sometimes, I couldn't understand his brother completely, but I could relate to all the other characters.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and it was so fun to read. I recommend it to everyone who likes paranormal “fantasy in the real-world” story.
This book was a little bit different than what I used to read. The writing style felt like I was reading a blog, not a book. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, on the contrary, it was kind of fun to read, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
The one thing that felt odd to me was that Rachel was okay with the idea of having ghosts in her house. Like she didn't waste time by thinking, “there is no way the house is hosting ghosts,” as if it was totally okay and normal. That felt odd as it didn't feel real. Man, if I found out ghosts were hanging around the house, I might lose my mind!
These ghosts, too, are different from the ghosts we used to know: they have a mass, and they can actually hurt you and leave a bruise. One of them, Noah, actually knocked on the door before entering the room! So polite ghost, and I loved him for that! Sometimes, I couldn't understand his brother completely, but I could relate to all the other characters.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and it was so fun to read. I recommend it to everyone who likes paranormal “fantasy in the real-world” story.
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