Book Review: So Close To You by Rachel Carter

Book Title/Author: So Close to You by Rachel Carter
Publisher/Year: HarperTeen – July 10, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Series: Yes, part of a series.
Other Books From Author: None as of now. It’s her debut novel!

Amazon| Goodreads | Rachel Carter’s website

Wow! I can honestly say this is one of the most unique books I’ve read in a while. I don’t read much science fiction but this one sounded SO intriguing that I had to give it a chance.  This book had it all — conspiracy theories, time travel, romance, history, great secondary characters! I wouldn’t say it was super fast paced at all but it kept me reading furiously. I read it in a day and just absolutely gasped at the ending because it satisfied me but also dropped me off a 10,000 foot cliff where I’ll be anxiously awaiting book 2. There was a lot of things that made it a page turner — the intrigue of the time travel, the mystery of what happened to Dean, the suspense of if/how/when she is going to get back t0 2012 — but there were things that made it slow down — exposition of some of the historical background of the Montauk Project, the time travel theories, setting up the time period of the 1944’s.  It personally didn’t bother me but for those looking for a high caliber, continuous fast paced read you might find those elements problematic.

I was so intrigued by the fact that this whole Montauk Project conspiracy actually exists. I started researching the crap out of it when I was reading this book to find out more about it. Rachel Carter sure did her research. It was interesting searching Camp Hero and seeing pictures of scenes I read about. I found it all just SO interesting and such a unique premise for a book! I enjoyed Lydia’s time in the 1944’s but that’s also probably because I love historical fiction!

As far as characters went — Lydia was just so-so to me.  I liked her I  guess but sometimes I just didn’t  understand how she  was so easily adaptable to the fact that she time traveled. If that were me, I’d have gone so nuts I would have probably been committed. She was all, “Oh hey. 1944? Ok,  I’ll roll  with this.” But I did enjoy that she was determined, albeit a little stubborn, to figure out this mystery for her grandfather. I LOVED Mary! Loved. She just was a great character and really came  alive!

In terms of romance-y things, because obviously I have to dish on those…Wes and Lydia, I did  NOT understand at all this instantaneous smitten-with-Wes thing she had going on…especially since, um, you just time traveled, you are trying to figure out a mystery and you aren’t planning on staying forever. The romance  was my least favorite  part at first but once I got about midway through and things started to be revealed..I sort of got it and decided I’d roll with it and see how it plays out later in book 2. I think that romantical storyline will be better in the second book for me personally.

  It was a perfect blend of suspense, time travel, romance and history for me! It wasn’t too science fiction-y which would be good for those who are unsure about the genre but readers of really heavy science fiction might find it to be lacking. I didn’t feel like I was getting too weighted down by scientific explanations but there was enough! The ending was satisfying enough to the storyline but leaves you DYING for the second book.  DYING. I cannot even tell you. While I thought the romance angle  left a bit to  be  desired, I found myself quite  enthralled with this book overall.

Hourglass by Myra McIntire, Tempest by Julie Cross

Check out my fun interview with Rachel Carter where she dishes about the coolest thing she learned about the Montauk Project, the theme song for So Close To You & more!