Nobody But Us
Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.
They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.
Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger….
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.
Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love…and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.
“Beautiful, heartbreaking and exhilarating” – that’s what I expected from this story and I went in with really high hopes..
Two Broken Kids Running Away
Actually, I loved the idea. Zoe comes from a broken family where she’s constantly beaten by her dad. To save her, foster kid Will who is a few years older “saves her by running away with her.. Zoe really needed someone who takes care of her, but instead of this being a grown-up someone who can actually help her. She chooses Will to be her savior.
Will also had not an easy life and got into trouble constantly. But when he meets Zoe she becomes the center of his universe and he wants to do everything to save her and get her a life she deserves!
The should be good for each other… just… they are not!
Initially, I was rooting and cheering all for Zoe and Will. But, the longer they are on the run the more we learn about Will and we realize he’s not what it seems. He has a good heart, truly deep inside he has a good heart but he never learned how to deal with problems other than using his fists. I was part repulsed by him and part of me wanted to hug him and show him the right way to deal with things.
Those two kids together was just poison. Instead of them rescuing each other, they just get into deeper problems and they soon reach a point with no turning back. The more I read, the more confused I got by the direction this story headed.
I hoped for a beautiful story full of hope and redemption and about two kids who in the end save each other and find a new way of living.
There is a lot of sadness…
…in this story. And I think this was my major concern.. Also, I was really disturbed by their choices. I know they are kids and are supposed to make mistakes but sometimes I was thinking they were lacking any common sense. The more the story progressed the more shocked I became….
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line
Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook could have been a really great story about two sad broken kids who save each other. But, it was quite the opposite. It was a story about kids making bad choices, lack common sense and in the end do not save each other but make everything just … worse. I’m sure, readers who can enjoy bittersweet ending might find this book appealing. Sadly, It wasn’t a book for me..
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Something about this one said, don’t read it. I just knew things weren’t going to go well for those two. I’m glad I didn’t get it. I was worried someone would be killed or they’d rob someone. It just felt a bit off to me. Thanks for letting me know. If Danny doesn’t like a love story, well…..
Heather
hrose2931 recently posted..The Archived by Victoria Schwab A Review
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Great review Danny! It’s pretty sad how much these two just dug themselves deeper and deeper. I wish that Zoe at least walked away at the end having learned something, but I don’t even feel like that happened. Given her somewhat disastrous relationship with Will, there was a lot of opportunity for growth and realization at the end, but it never quite happened!
Ashley recently posted..Pivot Point by Kasie West
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While I totally expect teens to make some poor choices, they can’t be stupid about it. They have to stop and think at some point and do what’s smart and safe. While I, too, like the premise, I think this story’s characters would frustrate me too much.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Speed date with Maggie: ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway
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I’m not entirely sure if this is something I would enjoy either. Most of my friends have rated it similarly, so probably not. It’s a shame it didn’t quite live up to your expectations, Danny, but great review!
Sam @ Realm of Fiction recently posted..Review: The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd
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Terrific review. Yeah, I’m all for some issues in my books, be they YA or adult, but there comes a time when you have to say, screw suspension of disbelief, nobody would be this stupid and if they are, maybe they deserve what they get. While I don’t mind angst in my books, I’m definitely becoming more of a HEA person, even if everything isn’t perfect, I don’t want to be depressed after I read something (unless it’s non-fiction, sometimes there’s no getting around that one). Books are an escape, I’ll turn on the news or fruitlessly look for a new job if I want to be depressed!
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Uh oh Danny. I’m all for broken and damaged characters, in fact, I ADORE them, BUT there has to be hope for them in the end. I can’t deal with broken when it only proceeds to shatter and never has some of the rough edges smoothed. I don’t think this is the book for me!
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I TOTALLY agree with you. That’s almost exactly how I felt. I wanted to like the story and it was a great idea, but the whole thing was sad and it just got worse. I felt like there should have been this great love connection between them, but they were just two young, naive kids trying to find love where they didn’t get it at home and latched onto each other. I really tried to like the book, but I found both MCs frustrating.
Great review! Very well said.
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted..Dance of Shadows (Dance of Shadows #1) – Yelena Black
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I thought this sounded like a really good premise for a book and I’m sad that it didn’t live up to your expectations. Our taste is very much alike so I would probably be disappointed as well.
Lori L. Clark recently posted..Book Review: Up to Me
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Danny, I agree with so much of what you’ve said here. Nobody But Us had so much potential: the idea of two broken teenagers mending each other’s hearts was perfect but I hate Will and Zoe as a pairing. They didn’t use their common sense at all and their relationship was really unhealthy!
Fabulous review!
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I haven’t been hearing very positive things about this book so I think I’ll skip it. The characters sound like they will absolutely FRUSTRATE me, gah.
elena recently posted..(secret spaces) review: mr. penumbra’s 24-hour bookstore by robin sloan
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This is one that i really hoped was good, the premise made it sounds like it was going to be. With all the mixed reviews on it, I think I will just have to wait and see if my library carries it. Thanks for an honest review.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
Jenea @ Books Live Forever recently posted..Early Review for Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison
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This book is hit or miss with readers. I have a feeling my thoughts would be in line with yours. I don’t really enjoy books that have a lot of sadness without a HEA… I know real life is cruel and we don’t alway get the HEA but I read to escape, not wallow in misery!
Heidi recently posted..Fire and Ice Day Four: Scarlet(Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
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Aw, sorry you didn’t like this one more, Danny. I’m still really curious about it. I think I’ll have to pick it up soon.
Lori recently posted..Salvation by Anne Osterlund–Excerpt & Giveaway
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It seems like there are two opinions about this book. “OMG best thing I’ve read ever!” or “OMG why are the characters so dumb!” From my friends, I’ve see more of the second opinion. I’m guessing, probably, that the Bonnie & Clyde comparison was a little much for this book. Like you said, this sounds like it’s going to be a story about hope and redemption, but in the end that’s not what it is.
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts recently posted..Respiring Thoughts Re-launch! (plus giveaway)
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I really felt the same way about this book. I didn’t feel like there was any growing, or any saving.
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