Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Publication Date: January 29, 2012
Page Count: 272
Format: ebook
Published by: Harper Teen
Source: review copy provided by publisher

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

Nobody But Us is a heartbreaking and emotional story. I'm glad I had my tissues on stand-by, because I really needed them. I must admit that the cover is what first drew me to this book, but the synopsis solidified my interest. At first I wasn't sure about the Bonnie and Clyde comparison, but I think they lived up to their predecessors.

I really felt very sympathetic towards Zoe and Will. From the beginning, it was obvious that they both had very rough loves. Will's upbringing was truly terrible, and it was one of the worst childhoods I have ever read in YA. Zoe's life is made horrible by her abusive father. When Zoe meets Will, a whole new world of possibilities is opened up to them. Will wanted to protect Zoe from being hurt, and Zoe wanted someone to love her and make her feel safe. I was quite concerned for their safety and well-being when they decided to go on the run. They had an 'us against the world' attitude and it really worked against them in the long run.

Unfortunately, Will and Zoe were not able to handle the situations they found themselves in while on the run. Neither one possessed any coping skills or the ability to make good decisions. The choices they made along the way are what ultimately doomed them. They were both too naive and immature to try and take on any type of responsible behavior.

I really enjoy reading stories that are told in dual POVs. Nobody But Us alternated between Will and Zoe, and it was very easy to differentiate between the two. I learned that Will had a very big heart, and it was easy to see what drove him to want to be so many good things for Zoe. I also got to experience Zoe learning so much about herself and what she wants out of life. The writing was very realistic and I found myself really getting caught up in the storyline. I couldn't help but care about Will and Zoe and want better for them.

Will and Zoe were ultimately held accountable for their actions. I had hoped that both would have a well-deserved better life, and a future where they could fulfil their dreams. I am actually okay with the ending because it seemed realistic and it fit with the tone of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Nobody But Us. It's a fast paced contemporary that had me on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride, but I loved every second of it. I am looking forward to reading more books from Kristin Halbrook.

eARC provided by HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars


2013 YA Contemporary Challenge
2013 Debut Author Challenge
2013 Standalone Reading Challenge