Two lovers are tested in this dramatic romance spanning time and continents.
When a college student, Nick, decides to take part in an archaeological dig in Israel, he has no idea it will change the trajectory of his life. Once there, he meets a fellow student, Hannah, and together, they experience a brutal attack on the streets of Tel Aviv. From that day forth, their lives are forever entwined.
They fall in love quickly and intensely, and it’s clear to them that they are meant to be together. What the kindhearted Nick does not count on is the secret Hannah has been keeping about her father. A horrible antisemite, he has been abusing her for years. He exerts control over everything she does, which only intensifies when she receives surprising news that forces her to part from Nick. After she flees, Nick’s heartbreak is palpable. He begins to spiral.
Longing to heal, Nick sets off to explore the world, and the reader is then privy to two stories as their paths diverge. Nick’s journey is fascinating as he becomes part of the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa in the 1980s. The historical component of this section is thorough, and the detail provided sets the stage nicely. Over time, Nick creates a new life for himself, and he brings the reader along on the journey.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, Hannah’s story continues to unfold. Having had her life upended, she is forced to slowly rebuild. It’s so easy to root for her and hope for her emancipation from her father. This part of the book has a different feel from Nick’s side, which helps to emphasize how separate their experiences truly are. This also serves to keep the reader guessing how their worlds will end up merging or whether they will coincide at all.
One area where the book falls a bit flat is in the dialogue. The characters are quite verbose and, while intelligently written, the conversations are overly descriptive to the point of feeling stilted. This is particularly true when Hannah details her abuse to others; it feels devoid of emotion, but Hannah is a passionate character, and her often robotic explanations clash with her persona. Where the illustrative text is a positive for describing the settings and experiences, it proves too much for the interactions between characters.
Nonetheless, this is a lovely story with a unique perspective. Nick’s journeys makes the read enjoyable, and Hannah’s is deeply emotional. The overall message is optimistic, emphasizing hope and tenacity throughout.
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