The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

1.5 Stars

ARC provided by NetGalley. Thank you, NetGalley!!!!

I never read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (because I’m not into self-harm HA!). Although The Here and Now is by the same author, I held out hope I would like it based on the following blurb:

“An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.”

Sadly, the following would have been a more realistic description:

“A super dullsville romp about a time traveler who not only hopes to save mankind, but also wants to lose her V-Card.”

I realize complaining about the “romance” will be considered unfair by many since the synopsis flat-out warns it will be there, but the synopsis also said it was about a time traveler (SQUEEEEE – A TIME TRAVELER!!!!)



and that it would be a real “thriller”. Uhhhhhhhh. Notsamuch. The potential was there – Prenna and Ethan are supposed to save the world and that should be exciting, but sadly the duo is no Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson. The who and the how and the where and the why of the breakdown of society as we know it are all pretty CRYSTAL FREAKING CLEAR, but somehow it takes Prenna and Ethan until they are smacked right in the face to piece the puzzle together.

Oh, and I’m not even going to bother spoiling this so just stop reading right now if you are the sort to get preachy in the commentary – the supposed big scary bad guy that gets the focus as being the cause of what is finally able to nearly wipe out civilization????



Yep. Farking mosquitos. You mean to tell me in a future plagued with global warming, pollution, an unpredictable climate and other whate-have-yous requiring the invention of time travel, no one could figure out a way to make a better citronella candle????? If nothing else, what better excuse to wear this little ensemble for the rest of eternity:



There just aren’t many (any???) positive things I can say about this one, but the final nail in the coffin for me? The damn open ending.



Even though it is not marked as such, it’s pretty clear Brashares could easily be talked into writing book #2 (or 3 or 4 and godjustmakeitstop!). After all, we have to know if Prenna and Ethan will “do it”, right????



Yeah, Prenna, so own it.