When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.
Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.
MY THOUGHTS
I am inbetween about my feelings on this book. On one hand, I am very disappointed. On the other, I actually sort of liked this book.
Starting this book, I was worried. This book immediately starting following what I can YA Book Syndrome. Two side effects of YA Book Syndrome is that our main character (usually a girl) faces a tragedy and/or moves to a new school (usually a private or boarding school). This book follows both of these "side effects" and it made me worry that this book was going to be just like every other YA book.
I honestly didn't have to worry about this. Sure, this book isn't completely original, but none of this is what disappointed me.
I could not stand the romance.
I was actually fine with everything else, but whenever the romance took center stage, my opinion on the book went down. This book featured my least favorite type of romance: insta-love. Michele and Philip have an immediate attraction towards each other. It was cheesy and unbelievable. Maybe I could understand Michele, since she's had dreams about Philip her whole life, but Philip? I honestly couldn't believe it. This guy has never talked to her before (he did see her for a very brief moment), he's even engaged to someone, but he's willing to be with this girl for his life. I just honestly couldn't understand this instant attraction to one another.
Whenever the romance was in the book, which was maybe the middle portion of the book, I was very annoyed at the book, but the romance wasn't always the focus of the book. Obviously, there is time travel and time travel happens to be one of my favorite things that I can find in books. There are times when Michele goes back in time without going to see Philip and I loved those moments! I loved seeing the lives of the past! That's one of the reasons that I love time travel so much! And while I don't quite understand how it works, I do like the concept in the book.
IN CONCLUSION
The romance was annoying and cliche, but the time travel was amazing!
If it wasn't for the romance, this book would have such a higher rating, but I just can't ignore the stupid romance.
As far as reading the sequel, I'm not sure. I am interested in continuing, as I want some more answers.<highlight to view spoiler> Why can Philip see her? What do her dreams mean? And what about her father?<end of spoiler> And this book ends in a bit of a cliffhanger (Although, I don't care because it's a cliffhanger used way too often and it also involves Philip). But the next book isn't at my library and I don't really feel inclined to buy it. I'll guess I'll have to see.
I hereby give this book
2.5 Wheels
Meaning: It was okay, but I was this close to liking it.
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