Everyone We've Been by Sarah Everett

Everyone We've Been by Sarah Everett

Release Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Addison Sullivan has been in an accident. In its aftermath, she has memory lapses and starts talking to a boy that no one else can see. It gets so bad that she’s worried she’s going crazy. 

Addie takes drastic measures to fill in the blanks and visits a shadowy medical facility that promises to “help with your memory.” But at the clinic, Addie unwittingly discovers it is not her first visit. And when she presses, she finds out that she had certain memories erased. She had a boy erased.

But why? Who was that boy, and what happened that was too devastating to live with? And even if she gets the answers she’s looking for, will she ever be able to feel like a whole person again?

Right from the get-go I knew this book would have a similar vibe to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Even though I watched the film ages go, I still remember the basic plot, and upon reading the synopsis I was curious as to how the book would execute some of the similar aspects. I was drawn into this one, the story unfolding between alternating chapters of 'Before' and 'After,' that had me hooked from start to finish.

I really enjoyed the protagonist Addie. I thought she was a sweet character, and besides the reasoning behind it all–which I'll get to in a moment–she was pretty solid. I also lovveeed Zach. The romance here was adorable, you guys! And his younger brother is absolutely hilarious. There were a lot of light-hearted moments from the 'Before' chapters that I liked, and it was all because of the characters' relationships. I hated Addie's best friend though. Ugh, Katy. She reminded me too much of the people that I know who just love to create drama for the sake of it. Other than her though, the characters were fantastic and made reading the changes between 'Before' and 'After' much more interesting.

The book was sad, but as I mentioned previously, I don't really get the reasoning behind the BIG THING that happened. I mean, even the main character looks back on it and doesn't think too much of the events that transpired–not to the point where it pushes her to do what she did. There was definitely a slight overreaction here. But eh, oh well. It made the story more mysterious and enthralling for sure.

 Readers who love their contemporary novels with a dash of science-fiction: you need to pick this one up. A heartbreaking narrative sprinkled with wonderful and touching moments that made me smile (topped off with a gorgeous cover!), I found myself absolutely taken with Everyone We've Been. Gorgeous prose, a suspenseful romance, secrets...what's not to like?

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Julia at Penguin Random House for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart ● Goodreads
• Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver ● Goodreads