So Close to You by Rachel Carter Review

Title: So Close to You
Author: Rachel Carter
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: July 10, 2012
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 313
Source: Publisher

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who've disappeared over the years. Stories about people like her own great-grandfather.

When Lydia stumbles into a portal that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, she discovers that all the stories she's ever heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she's in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the Project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices--and if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them . . . and herself.

Lydia grew up hearing the stories. However, they were always just that...stories, until one day the stories became a reality. When Lydia accidentally finds her way into a portal that transports her to a place and time where she learns the Montauk Project was actually true, her reality is turned upside down. But there's more to the Montauk Project than she could have ever imagined. Danger lurks in every corner Lydia turns, and she must be willing to risk it all to save her family - at all costs.

There's something so very different about So Close to You that sparked my interest in the story right from the start. Frankly, I think that the YA sci-fi genre is sadly lacking, though the stories that do fit the bill quite often far exceed my expectations. Rachel Carter took a decidedly brazen approach to the genre with a twisting and time-traveling storyline that is every bit the adventure as it is a mystery. With secrets lurking everywhere, darkness tinging every inch of the storyline and a mesmerizing journey for not one, but two characters, So Close to You is both action and adventure, as well as heartwarming.

Ok, reality time. Guys, I didn't know what the Montauk Project was before I Googled it upon reading the synopsis way back when. If you're like me, then you're a wee bit in the dark. So, allow me to elaborate. Apparently, it was a series of alleged government experiments in which scientists explored psychological warfare and research capabilities like time travel. Hence, the time-traveling phenomenon in So Close to You. Lydia is a fantastic character. She was a skeptic, but watching everything she'd heard of throughout her life come true in front of her really transformed her entire persona, which in turn transformed her character arc. Adding Wes, the potential love interest allowed us to see a beautiful, tender side to Lydia, as well, giving us greater insight into her character. With touches of romance that slowly bleeds into the story and merges their characters into a powerful and soaring storyline, we get to see the two explore a time that would otherwise be totally foreign to us. Yet, in the pages of So Close to You, the world comes alive and invites us into a twisting, churning and tumultuous journey. My only problem is petty, and some people will love it; I'm just not a fan of cliffhangers.

I'm all for a good science fiction book, and So Close to You certainly didn't disappoint me in the slightest. I give it a very strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy romance and science-fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.