All Our Yesterdays - Cristin Terrill

Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.
Marina has loved her best friend, James, since they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it... at least, not as the girl she once was. Em and Marina are in a race against time that only one of them can win.
All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

 

This book was intense! I feel like I just disembarked from a roller coaster as I've been holding my breath for so long. Intense on the emotions, intense on the action, and even at points intense on the thoughts it provoked...this was a good one.

 

This book is written with alternating chapters from Em's perspective and from Marina's perspective. It took a couple of chapters to figure out who Em was. I initially found myself enjoying Marina's chapters more just because I understood what was going on completely while I felt lost in Em's chapters for a while.

 

One of the most intriguing points was seeing how Em saw the past, specifically her past self. At the same time, the reasoning behind her cynicism was really sad.

 

James--oh my goodness James. What a well crafted character. I am impressed. It took me a while to realise I was impressed, but looking back at his backstory and his emotions--well, he's a lot more believable than I thought he was going to be.

 

And Finn was my favourite character. Finn is perfect. Hearing about his postcards was heartbreaking but just made me love him more.

 

I honestly didn't really care much for Em or for Marina, the former being too cynical and the latter too naive and obsessive, but I'll survive. Marina's relationship with Sophie and Tamsin was cool to read about.

 

I have one qualm with the ending that didn't make sense, but I'll suspend my disbelief.

I'm very glad there's supposedly no sequel. A sequel would ruin how pure and fantastic this book is. Though I'll totally read another book by Terrill.

 

Though I haven't enjoyed action-packed books like this in a while, this is a really stellar read and I wish I'd read it when I was younger.