Time Between Us (review)
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When time-traveler Bennett appears in sixteen-year-old Anna Greene's high school in 1995, she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the mysterious new student. What she doesn't know is that Bennett has traveled back from 2012 on a personal mission that leaves no time for making friends. Living by a strict rule about noninterference that prevents involvement with Anna, Bennett actively avoids her until a dramatic moment of violence forces him to use his gifts to protect her. Afterwards, the bond between them grows quickly as he whisks her away to exotic locations and gradually shares his secret gifts and hidden reasons for enrolling in her school. When a different kind of tragedy strikes, Anna pressures Bennett to use his gifts to change the past in violation of his rules, and the implications of his actions threaten to tear them apart forever. This intense but ultimately gratifying romance offers a compelling story of love, fate, and consequences that extends itself beyond a simple relationship narrative. The measured, piecemeal revelation of Bennett's many secrets effectively unfolds the layers of mystery. At the same time, the teens' struggle to decide how, when, and why to use Bennett's gifts lend the story a more serious tone and raises intriguing questions about the ethics of making choices that affect other people's lives. As a romantic pair, Anna and Bennett are convincing and likable; initially drawn to each other's unique gifts, they learn to appreciate even the most normal [End Page 172] things about each other. A smart, thoughtful story with plenty of sigh-worthy moments, this novel is the perfect choice for readers who want a romance that leaves them with something to think about when it's over.
