Title: But Then I Came Back
Author: Estelle Laure
Publication: April 4, 2017
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: Teen, YA Fiction
Pages: 320
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Gayle Forman meets Francesca Lia Block in this dazzling story about two coma girls and the boy who connects their lives. From the author of This Raging Light, a debut that New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson calls “remarkable.”
“Something does exist. I saw. It’s a place. Like this but different.”
“Okay, so let’s say we do reach her, that something like that is even possible. Then what?”
“Then we ask her to come back.”
Eden: As far as coma patients go, Eden’s lucky. She woke up. But still, she can’t shake the feeling that she might have dragged something back from the near-afterlife.
Joe: Joe visits the hospital every day, hoping that Jaz, his lifelong friend, will wake up. More than anything, he wants to hear her voice again. But he’s not sure anyone can reach her.
Eden & Joe: Even though she knows it sounds crazy, Eden tells Joe that they might be able to talk to Jaz. Opening themselves up to the great unknown—and each other—Eden and Joe experience life: mysterious and scary, beautiful and bright.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I had high hopes for But Then I Came Back. It sounded like something completely different than I had read in a long time. A story that mixed love, personal struggle, tragedy, and mysteries of the beyond sounded like such a great read.
The story mainly followed Eden as she awakens from a coma, unable to talk, with a LOT going on inside her head. While the plot sounded really good, the delivery on it was not what I was hoping for. I struggled with a lot of confusion in the first half of the book. I had a basic understanding of what was going on, but it all came in a very choppy format and just general confusion from a readers stand point. Part of me believes this was author Estelle Laure’s goal to make the customer feel how Eden was feeling. However, as a reader I do not like to be confused by the content. Suspense is good. Piecing together the puzzle is good. But confusion on what is going on make a book far less enjoyable. Unfortunately due to this I was, for the first time in 2017, unable to even finish the book.
I’m sure I would like other work by Laure and I do think the concept behind But Then I Came Back was a brilliant one, I just did not like the execution. I would still encourage others to try it as everyone has different taste. This one just wasn’t for me.
STAR RATING: 2/5
You can get your copy of But Then I Came Back by Estelle Laure on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads. Leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can find more on author Estelle Laure on her website HERE.
