Book Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Hourglass
Hourglass by Myra McEntire is hefty, not gonna lie, you could smack someone with it and do some serious damage, however, it is totally engaging! You see, main lady Emerson Cole sees iterations of people from the past. This is a problem for Emerson, as no else can see these people, so she’s not sure if they are real or not. (Also upon reading those last three words, did you automatically think Mockingjay?!) Her brother/guardian Thomas hires a lot of loonies to try and help Em, but none of them seem to work. Eventually Thomas comes across Hourglass institute and hires young Micheal, who is actually kinda sorta hot according to Em. Micheal is not a quack at all and obviously gets it. He legit helps her. Toss in the awesome Lily, Em’s best friend who does not get enough face time but is confident, sarcastic, and loyal and we have a champion book. Hourglass is a truly winsome debut.
If I don’t think about it, my automatic response to time travel is ‘do not like’, but then I think deeper and realize I’ve enjoyed the vast majority of time travel books I have read. Do you do this too? Feel automatically turned off by a phrase, but then think harder and realize you actually like things associated with that phrase?
I just had to put that out there. For a time travel book, Myra McEntire never gets too science-y. I was never confused by what was going on. I never felt like I needed a special physics class just to ‘get it’. So those who are put off by things that seem science-y, don’t be.
One thing I really enjoyed about Hourglass was the romance. I really am a romantic at heart. While Emerson was attracted to Micheal at first, it’s not like they have an insta-love. Instead, their relationship develops in a usual progression. Also, Micheal is not a raging asshole, as is wont with many leading men. Oh no, he actually listens to what she has to say, and by this I mean truly listen, not wait for what he can say next. I really like that whole nice guy quality, and hope this is a harbinger of the rise of the nice guys in YA, because assholes cloaked as bad boys totally need to go.
If you are in the mood for a fantastic read about time and travel and love and connections and self-deprecation, definitely read Hourglass. It is truly one of the more fabulous debuts I have read so far this year.
Disclosure: Received for review.
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April (Books&Wine) – who has written 1074 posts on Good Books And Good Wine.
April is 24 years old. She is an educator. In her free time she can be found reading, working out, or eating junk food. She often wears her sunglasses at night.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Want this book so bad. Your review was awesome. Also, I do need a book with which to smack people, so if this has your seal of approval… I’m in.
Seriously though, you just amplified my desire for this book times 56.
You make this book sound amazing. Will definitely be giving it a little bump up in my TBR pile. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! I have read a lot of mixed reviews, although none said the book was “bad”, a few didn’t absolutely love it. I love your review on it as well. I completely agree with you about Michael. I was afraid she may end up with someone else…but Michael really is a good guy.