Review: Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title: Time After Time

Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Series: Book Two in the Time Between Us Series
Published By: Disney-Hyperion (October 8, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Paranormal/Time Travel
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!!


Book Description:
Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds. 

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?


Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

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My Thoughts and Review:
I have to first start out by saying that the fact that this was told from Bennett's point of view seriously rocked. I have been dying to get inside that boys head from the start and the fact that Ms. Stone gave us that glimpse into his mind and heart, is just amazing and truly made this story that much better.

I fell in love with Anna and Bennett's story after reading The Time Between Us and I couldn't wait to delve right back into their story. I knew that things weren't going to be easy for them but, being the hopeless romantic that I am and having the faith that I do in Ms. Stone's story telling ability, I had the utmost faith that everything was going to some how work out for them both. That in their case, love really would conquer all. 

The struggles that Bennett has to deal with from having the abilities he does is not an easy one. The longing that he has for Anna when he is not with her and the lengths that he goes to to be a part of her life really were endearing and heartwarming. Even though their relationship has its ups and downs, one thing is always certain, the love that they both have for one another is true and real.

It is apparent that Bennett is struggling throughout the book about what is right, what is wrong and where he really should be versus where he wants to be. What is morally right and just how far he should take his abilities and just how far he should take his relationship with Anna. He wants what is best for both of them, even if that means saying goodbye.

I love that Brooke gets a voice in this and that we really get to see her come to life and be more than just a name from the first book. I love how close they are and how supportive there are for one another. I think their relationship added a whole new depth to the story that the first book didn't have. Plus we get to see Bennett's life in San Francisco, his parents, his friends and most importantly, we get to see his relationship with Maggie develop and I loved that! 

I had to think awhile on this review after finishing the book on whether or not I loved the ending. Was it exactly what I wanted and hoped it would be? Was I satisfied with it or did it leave me feeling empty and wanting more?

The answer to those questions really isn’t easy. I had a few moments there where my thoughts and feelings were conflicting. But after I sat down and really thought about it, this is what I came up with.

Could there have been more to the story? Maybe even a better ending? Absolutely. But would it have fit with the rest of the book? I don't think so.

In fact, I would go as far to say that the ending really was perfect for the book. It left it open to so many possibilities and all of them realistic. Anna and Bennett are young and they have their whole life ahead of them as well as the circumstances that their relationship cause. Would a neat little package of a happily ever after been appropriate or realist to the story? No. I don't think so. I think Ms. Stone ended it exactly right and I really am happy with it.

I have loved Bennett and Anna's story from the very beginning and I am so glad that Ms. Stone didn't take the easy way out with anything, the story line or the ending. The problems, situations and conflicts that living 17 years and thousands of miles apart afforded them didn't have an easy peesey answer and I am glad she stuck with it and didn't make it all sunshine and rainbows but still created a beautiful love story that could stand the test of time and distance and circumstances.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*