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Nobody But Us
by
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.
Will
Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.
Zoe
Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned. May ...more
Will
Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.
Zoe
Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned. May ...more
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Paperback, 272 pages
Published
January 29th 2013
by HarperTeen
(first published January 1st 2013)
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Emilia
January 29th 2013
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Nobody But Us

To be entirely fair, I was not sure if this book would be my thing. The teens on the run aspect didn't really appeal to me, but Nobody But Us was blurbed by two of my favorite authors (Courtney Summers and Kody Keplinger), as well as being compared to If I Stay by Gayle Forman, which I loved. I thought perhaps instead of being melodramatic, Nobody But Us might have the contemplative, deep, emotionally fraught style of If I Stay. Well, I've been wrong before. I really need to stop buying into thi
...more

The only book to ever make me cry! AND THAT'S A GOOD THING!!! You guys, this book is amazing. I hope you all read and love it when it comes out!
...more

Jul 28, 2011
Kaitlin Ward
added it
Gorgeous, amazing, heartwrenching in the best way.

Do two broken people make a whole?
Like two shattered pieces of one ceramic bowl?
Two hearts that beat out of fear
running faster, in sync - their paths unclear.
Young love so fierce that it seemed timeless
from the beginning, so wrong - regardless.
One was running from perpetual purple
the other was running like a crazed criminal.
Bruises that showed from inside and out
cuts so deep, they bleed like a spout.
Together they want to save what's left of the other
before light disappears and day changes colour ...more
Like two shattered pieces of one ceramic bowl?
Two hearts that beat out of fear
running faster, in sync - their paths unclear.
Young love so fierce that it seemed timeless
from the beginning, so wrong - regardless.
One was running from perpetual purple
the other was running like a crazed criminal.
Bruises that showed from inside and out
cuts so deep, they bleed like a spout.
Together they want to save what's left of the other
before light disappears and day changes colour ...more

a road story, a love story, a beautiful heartbreaker of a book. don't miss this one.
...more

Before I even start, let me get something out of the way - a mix between If I Stay meets Bonnie and Clyde this book is
NOT
. That was grossly misleading in my opinion. As a matter of fact, that blurb was one of the main reasons I was really excited to get my hands on Nobody But Us. After finishing this story, I honestly feel that was highly misrepresentative seeing as I’m a fan of both references. I could not find one element in this story that paralleled If I Stay in the slightest, and compa
...more

Nobody But us led me to believe it had everything I love about a contemporary romance book; two teens in love knowing they’re meant to be together. Despite all the hurdles thrown at them, show they’re stronger and over the course of time, their love for each other really comes through their relationship. What can I say I’m a sucker for a sweet romance, but unfortunately despite starting off great, the story kind of just went downhill.
Zoe finally found her perfect partner in Will, her life had be ...more
Zoe finally found her perfect partner in Will, her life had be ...more

This book yanked me out of my reading funk in a major way. I loved it SO MUCH. I smiled, I swooned, I cringed, I *almost* cried. I just wanted to hug Zoe and Will so much, and the final pages... CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THEM. This debut is heart-wrenching in the very best way. Highly recommend!
Edited to add a more comprehensive review:
If any book deserves early buzz, it’s this one. Kristin Halbrook’s beautiful, heartbreaking, fearless tale of two damaged teens on the run is the best contempora ...more
Edited to add a more comprehensive review:
If any book deserves early buzz, it’s this one. Kristin Halbrook’s beautiful, heartbreaking, fearless tale of two damaged teens on the run is the best contempora ...more

Nobody But Us, from start to finish, was unfortunately a huge disappointment. Based on the blurbs and praises, I expected a debut that could rival the brilliance of Gayle Forman’s ‘If I Stay’, but what I received was possibly one of the most disappointing and tedious YA contemporaries I’ve had the misfortune to read.
The characters, while each possessing their own backstory and inner sufferings still lacked depth for me to relate to or admire. Zoe, a 15 year old who is constantly physically abuse ...more
The characters, while each possessing their own backstory and inner sufferings still lacked depth for me to relate to or admire. Zoe, a 15 year old who is constantly physically abuse ...more

It has been months since I read a book that moved me like Nobody But Us. It was just amazingly, brilliantly, beautifully, breathtakingly well-written. I fell so deeply and desperately in love with both Zoe and Will. For a fifteen-year-old girl, Zoe was so strong and mature. As for Will, even at times he was a hotheaded teenager who loved to solve every problem with his fists, was one of the sweetest fictional guys ever. I felt how seriously in love they both were and understood their decisions.
...more

“He wanted to keep things in, and all I wanted to do was get out.” - ZoeWhat happens when someone can't overcome being abused as a child? What happens when a person doesn't learn how to control their emotions? Growing up with hate and anger, fear and resentment for themselves.
That's what Zoe and Will had to put up with growing up. A rough childhood where no one showed them love or taught them how to deal with their feelings. No one taught them the right way to deal with anything!
They had t ...more

This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.
I rarely reflect on authorial intent when reading. I figure, once a book's in the wild, it's meaning is up to each reader's interpretation.
However, Kristin Halbrook's debut is one of those rare books in which I actively sought out information about the author's vision for her book. Is Nobody But Us a cautionary tale? A star- ...more
We gotta be hidden here in this new world we made. Just silence keeping all the shit of the real world away.
I rarely reflect on authorial intent when reading. I figure, once a book's in the wild, it's meaning is up to each reader's interpretation.
However, Kristin Halbrook's debut is one of those rare books in which I actively sought out information about the author's vision for her book. Is Nobody But Us a cautionary tale? A star- ...more

It’s always hard starting a book that you know will smash your heart, and that’s exactly what happened when I started reading Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook. It’s one of those books that you just know can’t end well, but it’s written in such a clear, poetic way, that you can’t stop reading for anything.
Will and Zoe are broken people. There’s just no other word for it. Will has been failed by nearly every adult in his life. He’s been bounced from home to home, a product of just how all-too-fre ...more
Will and Zoe are broken people. There’s just no other word for it. Will has been failed by nearly every adult in his life. He’s been bounced from home to home, a product of just how all-too-fre ...more

Sep 12, 2012
I Eat Words
added it
You know how sometimes you see a news story that has to do with teenagers committing crimes and society has taught us to label them and their actions as "messed up"? I felt like this was a look into their side of things, that all kids don't come from the best homes and that sometimes it leads people to not think through their actions. I was rooting for these two the entire time. This was a beautifully written, heart-wrenching story. I fell in love with both of these broken yet wonderful characte
...more

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: A heartbreaking story about a couple who find love despite their broken pasts.
Opening Sentence: He comes down the road in his Camaro sliding left to right on the freshly oiled gravel and skidding to a stop in front of my house.
The Review:
Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook stands out from a lot of contemporary fiction for young adults. Sometimes a book will talk about a realistic scenario and I wouldn’t be able to connect to it. Or that the main ...more
Quick & Dirty: A heartbreaking story about a couple who find love despite their broken pasts.
Opening Sentence: He comes down the road in his Camaro sliding left to right on the freshly oiled gravel and skidding to a stop in front of my house.
The Review:
Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook stands out from a lot of contemporary fiction for young adults. Sometimes a book will talk about a realistic scenario and I wouldn’t be able to connect to it. Or that the main ...more

The first half of this book was hard to get through, but the second half found its stride and improved considerably--hence the 3 stars overall. Beware: ahead there be spoilers.
If ever there were a book that demonstrates how the part of the teenage brain that oversees risk tasking and evaluating consequences isn't fully developed until the mid-twenties, this is it. We all know that teenagers do stupid things. We know this by observation, and we know this because we all did stupid things as teens ...more
If ever there were a book that demonstrates how the part of the teenage brain that oversees risk tasking and evaluating consequences isn't fully developed until the mid-twenties, this is it. We all know that teenagers do stupid things. We know this by observation, and we know this because we all did stupid things as teens ...more

Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed @ Enticed by Books
THAT ending! GOD! SO. NOT. EXPECTED.
You know those TV shows nowadays where the people do stupid stuff, and you still watch it knowing that there is no lesson at the end of it, like Silent Library or Worlds Dumbest. They are pure entertainment, and no matter how dumb they are, you still enjoy them. That is exactly what this book feels to me. From the beginning, I knew what the characters were doing was wrong & illegal and it was never going to end well, ...more
Reviewed @ Enticed by Books
THAT ending! GOD! SO. NOT. EXPECTED.
You know those TV shows nowadays where the people do stupid stuff, and you still watch it knowing that there is no lesson at the end of it, like Silent Library or Worlds Dumbest. They are pure entertainment, and no matter how dumb they are, you still enjoy them. That is exactly what this book feels to me. From the beginning, I knew what the characters were doing was wrong & illegal and it was never going to end well, ...more

For this review and more visit my blog
I hate posting reviews like this. I hate it because I am scared I will offend someone, I hate it because sometimes I feel they make me look uptight and over sensitive and I hate it because they always seem to be about books that everybody else seems to love, and make no mistake people will love Nobody But Us, but I had some serious issues with it.
Firstly I would like to say that this has nothing to do with Halbrook’s writing which I found to be rich and en ...more
I hate posting reviews like this. I hate it because I am scared I will offend someone, I hate it because sometimes I feel they make me look uptight and over sensitive and I hate it because they always seem to be about books that everybody else seems to love, and make no mistake people will love Nobody But Us, but I had some serious issues with it.
Firstly I would like to say that this has nothing to do with Halbrook’s writing which I found to be rich and en ...more

Will and Zoe are two very messed-up kids, each with their own baggage and tragic story. To escape her abusive father, they run away, but things quickly get out of hand. It was interesting to read the way that the tables slowly turn as the story progresses. Will is determined to take care of Zoe and shield her from all reality, but that never works and soon Zoe starts to gain some insight and becomes more of a voice of reason. In between these turning points, however, is some monumentally poor de
...more

This is the first time I'm writing a book review here in Goodreads and it's because this book was so frustrating I just had to write about it.
The book started out pretty well, Kristin Halbrook really pulled off the dual narratives. I liked the tragic backstories of both characters. I admired that they had the guts to finally take their future in their own hands. I didn't find them cowardly for running away. To me, it was a very brave thing to do-- taking a step into the unknown future in store f ...more
The book started out pretty well, Kristin Halbrook really pulled off the dual narratives. I liked the tragic backstories of both characters. I admired that they had the guts to finally take their future in their own hands. I didn't find them cowardly for running away. To me, it was a very brave thing to do-- taking a step into the unknown future in store f ...more

Jan 09, 2013
Adam Silvera
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
luckily-read-in-2013,
shelf-awareness-reviews
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SHELF AWARENESS
In this emotional debut novel, a young couple hits the road in order to put their pasts in the rearview mirror.
Eighteen-year-old Will rescues his 15-year-old girlfriend, Zoe, in his Camaro from her often-drunk and abusive father. Will has to fight off her intoxicated father before they can flee North Dakota for Las Vegas. The kidnapping and assault charges are the first of many they face, which cast an unwanted spotlight on the couple while they're on the ...more
In this emotional debut novel, a young couple hits the road in order to put their pasts in the rearview mirror.
Eighteen-year-old Will rescues his 15-year-old girlfriend, Zoe, in his Camaro from her often-drunk and abusive father. Will has to fight off her intoxicated father before they can flee North Dakota for Las Vegas. The kidnapping and assault charges are the first of many they face, which cast an unwanted spotlight on the couple while they're on the ...more

Originally posted to The Society's Bookshelf
Heart wrenching indeed. Not the ending I expected, but an ending I love. This story is sure to stick with me.
Nobody But Us is the first contemporary book I've read that I've hands down, quite simply, fallen in love with. Will and Zoe are such complex, carefully crafted characters that can't help but be fallen in love with. This is a tragic story. Both characters have their own crappy mess to deal with in their home situations, leading them to flee awa ...more
Heart wrenching indeed. Not the ending I expected, but an ending I love. This story is sure to stick with me.
Nobody But Us is the first contemporary book I've read that I've hands down, quite simply, fallen in love with. Will and Zoe are such complex, carefully crafted characters that can't help but be fallen in love with. This is a tragic story. Both characters have their own crappy mess to deal with in their home situations, leading them to flee awa ...more

Beautiful, real, raw, edgy, and just that little of fantasy, of epic intense love with all the weight of real-world problems. Loved the voice, the style, the story under the surface and the excitement/tension of the plot. To write two characters both with deep-rooted good in them and skillfully disguised pure hearts, but go about each one in completely different ways is brilliant writing and characterization, imo.
More like this please.
More like this please.

5+ - Stay with me for ever! - STARS!
They're young.
They're in love.
They're on the run.
Like Kody Kiplinger said, "Beautiful, Heartbreaking, and exhilarating- NOBODY BUT US will have you holding your breath until the very last page."
I cried, laughed, screamed, smiled, and sobbed. This book was one of the best books I've read all 2016.
Thank you Kristin Halbrook! ...more
They're young.
They're in love.
They're on the run.
Like Kody Kiplinger said, "Beautiful, Heartbreaking, and exhilarating- NOBODY BUT US will have you holding your breath until the very last page."
I cried, laughed, screamed, smiled, and sobbed. This book was one of the best books I've read all 2016.
Thank you Kristin Halbrook! ...more

I think the premise of this has been done a lot before and I’m having a small issue with the age difference at the same time, I don’t know how I feel. I think the end was unnecessary and felt rushed. All that being said, this author is an amazing writer, she’s so good with her words and articulates really well. I recommend this book if you want to cry a bit and for a quick read, some entertainment. Don’t expect too much out of it.

OH MY GOD. I hate this book. I love this book. Five screaming stars. Thank you to the author for having the courage to do that. Poignant, explosive, so brutally romantic.

So, last year I discovered that I liked contemporary YA novels. This year, I decided to see if I like grittier contemporary novels. If this book is any indication, the answer to that question is a resounding no. But I'm not going to give up on them. I did like Send Me a Sign last year, and it was full of the sads. So maybe it was just this book and I that didn't mesh well, not just the fact that it was dark.
The fact is, these two kids have had really effed up, crazy lives, and them taking o ...more
The fact is, these two kids have had really effed up, crazy lives, and them taking o ...more

For this review and more, visit Diary of a Wimpy Teen Girl
This book was absolutely amazing. When I first picked it up, I wasn't expecting such a heart-breaking, emotional and beautifully told story.
Zoe and Will are both broken teens. Their lives weren't easy. Since Will's mother has abandoned him when he was a baby, he's been moving from one foster-home to another, never finding his place. He never felt loved or cared for. All he wanted to do when he turned 18 was to run far, find himself a bett ...more
This book was absolutely amazing. When I first picked it up, I wasn't expecting such a heart-breaking, emotional and beautifully told story.
Zoe and Will are both broken teens. Their lives weren't easy. Since Will's mother has abandoned him when he was a baby, he's been moving from one foster-home to another, never finding his place. He never felt loved or cared for. All he wanted to do when he turned 18 was to run far, find himself a bett ...more

This review is also on Living for the Books
When I saw this book being compared to If I Stay I thought I would really like it since I loved If I Stay. This book was nothing like If I Stay. I'm not sure why it's being compared to it. I guess it's kind of like Bonnie and Clyde but a more toned down version.
I was very close to giving this book one star and I think two stars is a little generous but I think that the writing deserves some points. Alternating point of views are sometimes really confusi ...more
When I saw this book being compared to If I Stay I thought I would really like it since I loved If I Stay. This book was nothing like If I Stay. I'm not sure why it's being compared to it. I guess it's kind of like Bonnie and Clyde but a more toned down version.
I was very close to giving this book one star and I think two stars is a little generous but I think that the writing deserves some points. Alternating point of views are sometimes really confusi ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Book Review #2 Nobody but us | 1 | 1 | Jan 14, 2020 09:53AM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Young adult. A couple (guy just became an adult, girl is underage) is running away from their families and home town in his car, he's stolen money from them without telling her. She tries to steal tampons from a gas station. Spoiler ahead. [s] | 6 | 73 | Feb 04, 2018 01:55AM | |
Crazy for Young A...: Nobody but Us by Kristin Halbrook → Start Date: April 5, 2014 | 107 | 62 | Apr 22, 2014 10:54AM | |
Books, Blogs, Aut...: [Ends Oct 4th] Win the first ever annotated (and signed) copy of Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook! (US) | 1 | 3 | Sep 23, 2013 04:35PM | |
Free Book Giveaway: NOBODY BUT US Swag Pack (US and CANADA only) | 1 | 9 | Jan 27, 2013 09:08PM |
When Kristin was little, she wanted to be a writer, the President of the USA or the first female NFL quarterback. Despite being able to throw a wicked spiral, she didn't really grow to the size needed for the NFL. Then, as Kristin got older and studied more, she came to realize there were better ways to effect positive change than becoming president. The first one, however, stuck, and now she's a
...more
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