Review by thegleegeneration -- Yesterday by Samyann
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- Latest Review: "Yesterday" by Samyann
Review by thegleegeneration -- Yesterday by Samyann
[Following is a volunteer review of "Yesterday" by Samyann.]
2 out of 4 stars
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Yesterday by Samyann is a romantic historical fiction that follows Amanda and Mark as they try to understand the intense magnetism they felt the first time they saw each other. Through the help of Amanda’s godmother and an antique clock that would toll a familiar bell at the hour, Amanda and Mark realize just how much they mean to each other—and not just in this lifetime.
The story starts out very cryptic, and in the next instance the reader is propelled into a very adrenaline-packed scene, with Amanda finally meeting Mark and the other way around. The quick change of pace mimics some of the later scenes in the story, when Amanda and Mark begin their investigation on that intense attraction and familiarity between them. I really can’t say much about the book without spoiling everyone, but I’ll share what I liked and what I didn’t like about it.
Samyann knows how to write action scenes. This is very apparent in the opening chapter, as well as in the brief scuffle between two minor characters a much later. The author knows how to write anxiety- and adrenaline-ridden scenes; the construction of the scene itself allows the reader to paint a vivid picture in their mind. As I was reading one particular chapter, I could almost feel the heat and smell the smoke and ash in the air, feel the ground beneath me lurching even though I was safe and sound inside my house. The fear, dread, and anxiety were written beautifully.
However, some scenes with Amanda and Mark that require a good grasp of the delicate emotions they are feeling seem like there were written passively. Their emotions switch at a breakneck speed that would more often than not leave me disoriented. I wish I could say that I could feel the emotion through the dialogue, but even some inappropriate word usage cut me off from the suspension of disbelief.
I could say though, that the author took great care to get the details right for all the chapters that delve into the past. I could just see the scenery even without looking up any pictures in the Internet. A peek into the life of a little girl living in the Confederate side of the country was also something refreshing to read, her life riddled with tragedy as it was.
Amanda is a great character. I could say that she showed development by the end of the story. I can’t say the same for Mark, though. Right off the bat, he seemed too… perfect. The author laid out all his traits at the beginning and near middle of the story, but nothing, in the long run, had improved or become worse—except maybe him relenting to Amanda’s request near the end and understanding why she was doing it. But he’s still as stubborn as he was in the beginning.
Aside from that, and a few capitalization errors, I really enjoyed reading the book. It really made me sympathize for Amanda and admire her for all that she’d gone through in her life. So for this reason, and the ones above, I give this book 2 out of 4 stars.
******
Yesterday
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2 out of 4 stars
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Yesterday by Samyann is a romantic historical fiction that follows Amanda and Mark as they try to understand the intense magnetism they felt the first time they saw each other. Through the help of Amanda’s godmother and an antique clock that would toll a familiar bell at the hour, Amanda and Mark realize just how much they mean to each other—and not just in this lifetime.
The story starts out very cryptic, and in the next instance the reader is propelled into a very adrenaline-packed scene, with Amanda finally meeting Mark and the other way around. The quick change of pace mimics some of the later scenes in the story, when Amanda and Mark begin their investigation on that intense attraction and familiarity between them. I really can’t say much about the book without spoiling everyone, but I’ll share what I liked and what I didn’t like about it.
Samyann knows how to write action scenes. This is very apparent in the opening chapter, as well as in the brief scuffle between two minor characters a much later. The author knows how to write anxiety- and adrenaline-ridden scenes; the construction of the scene itself allows the reader to paint a vivid picture in their mind. As I was reading one particular chapter, I could almost feel the heat and smell the smoke and ash in the air, feel the ground beneath me lurching even though I was safe and sound inside my house. The fear, dread, and anxiety were written beautifully.
However, some scenes with Amanda and Mark that require a good grasp of the delicate emotions they are feeling seem like there were written passively. Their emotions switch at a breakneck speed that would more often than not leave me disoriented. I wish I could say that I could feel the emotion through the dialogue, but even some inappropriate word usage cut me off from the suspension of disbelief.
I could say though, that the author took great care to get the details right for all the chapters that delve into the past. I could just see the scenery even without looking up any pictures in the Internet. A peek into the life of a little girl living in the Confederate side of the country was also something refreshing to read, her life riddled with tragedy as it was.
Amanda is a great character. I could say that she showed development by the end of the story. I can’t say the same for Mark, though. Right off the bat, he seemed too… perfect. The author laid out all his traits at the beginning and near middle of the story, but nothing, in the long run, had improved or become worse—except maybe him relenting to Amanda’s request near the end and understanding why she was doing it. But he’s still as stubborn as he was in the beginning.
Aside from that, and a few capitalization errors, I really enjoyed reading the book. It really made me sympathize for Amanda and admire her for all that she’d gone through in her life. So for this reason, and the ones above, I give this book 2 out of 4 stars.
******
Yesterday
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: "Yesterday" by Samyann
