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272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2015
“Some were safe. Some would live. Others would not.”I had only read one other “asteroid is heading towards earth” book before All We Have Is Now. I didn’t really enjoy it because the characters were predictable and the ending wasn't what I was looking for. This book basically gave me the same exact feeling as the previous book. I feel like most of the characters were like: “An asteroid is heading towards Earth, big whoop.” And I personally cannot deal with characters that offhand important issues and make irrelevant situations, like relationships, into a big deal. Maybe this book is just proof that asteroid collision/end of the world aren’t for me.
“Let us live so we can love.”The beginning of the book was definitely the highlight. We are introduced to our main characters, two homeless kids that ran away from home and have lives with each other for so long they are practically family. Their dynamic was well written and gave me the feeling that they found safety and security with each other. This helped with the rest of the book because certain heavy scenes have context and meaning. I enjoyed their “siblings/best friend” dynamic in the beginning of the book, but once we hit about half way their relationship started to shift. It changed from being natural and flowing easily to stiff and really awkward with all of the misplaced sexual tension. The relationship problems in this book took away from the imminent death in about 48 hours plot line.
“No,” she says. “If you haven't noticed by now, there’s nothing here for me.” She pauses. “Except you, of course.”I have to admit I didn’t really love Lisa Schroeder’s writing style. It was really simple with a lot of dialogue and little to no detail. It was like reading about a black and white world. There were too many conveniently placed scenes and characters throughout the book. Whenever a problem arose the next chapter would hold the answer. This led to a lot of small and irrelevant problems that took away from the main problem...imminent death by asteroid.
“Nothing makes much sense, does it?” she asks. “I mean, really, what do we know for sure except that right now, in this moment, we’re standing here, breathing? The rest, who knows? Let’s stop asking questions. Let’s just stop trying to figure out everything and simply be happy we’re here. What do you say?”My favorite aspect of this book was the “apocalypse make a wish foundation” they began. A kind man on the street gave them a wallet full of cash and told them to have the best last days they could, and all he asked for in return was for them to pay it forward. At first they were a little apprehensive about the “paying it forward part”. But, once they got the hang of it, they were helping people left and right. They brought joy to those that couldn’t take their minds off of death and an escape from reality even if it was only for a couple of hours.
“The past is the past. It's gone, you know? It doesn't matter anymore. All we have is now. Right now.”All in all the characters were a little “cookie cutter problem teenagers”, the plot wasn’t well paced or flushed out, and the ending had me tearing out my hair. This would have been a pretty solid book if it hadn’t been for the ending. I don't know about you but if I am investing my time into reading a book I don’t really care for endings that feel like a copout. The problem was to easily resolved and the explanation had me scoffing. If you enjoy end of the world books you might enjoy All We Have Is Now. But personally, I can’t see myself picking up anymore books with the premise of an asteroid heading towards Earth.
This song is actually mentioned in the book, and it's pretty obvious why with the lyrics:
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while