Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Nobody But Us

Author: Kristin Halbrook

Genre: YA contemporary romance, road trip

Format read: Kindle version

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Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

 When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn't always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

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 both have hard lives. 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 better future and never come back.
15-year-old Zoe has always lived in fear because she could never know what will irritate her abusive father and cause him to hit her. She always walked around with bruises on her face and just tried to ignore them and continue her life.

Will and Zoe decide to leave their state - North Dakota, and make all the long way to Vegas to start a new life together there. This book describes their trip, a trip that will change everything. Can they run away from their pasts?

The relationship between Will and Zoe was very unusual - it was like nothing I've ever seen before in a YA book. The two of them were very different from each other and it looked like they can't make a good match. Despite that, they became a very strong couple, and I think it was because each one has managed to fill the needs of the other.

Zoe was sensitive and couldn't stand up for herself. All she needed was someone to love her and to protect her like the father she never had. I could see how Will became like a father to a her - he did anything a could to keep her safe and always thought about her first.

Will, from the other side, needed someone to keep him steady. He had a tendency to outburst and to go into violent fights without thinking. Zoe, who was more careful, balanced him.

Overall, their relationship was very sweet and positive. But there were some times when I felt like something is off about the way they treat each other, and especially Will. He was a little possessive and over-protective, and sometimes his influence on Zoe wasn't good. [SPOILER: That is why I agreed with the decision she made at the end]

I loved reading about their complicated relationship and it was my favorite part of the book.

This book was very well written - it was fluent and easy-to-read. The story was told from two POVs - Zoe's and Will's. The switch between the two POVs was done very well, and it made me like the book even more. It was very interesting to read how both the main characters felt and how they reacted differently to situations.

When the book started, I had no idea in which direction the plot would go. There were many problems mixed together, and I thought that the author is going to choose one of them to focus on. But somehow, the author took the story to somewhere else entirely and made the plot very creative and original.

The end was stunning! It broke my heart!! I really can't believe the author could think of such an ending to this book. I can't say much because I don't want to spoil the book for you, but be sure it turned this book into an absolute tearjerker.

This book was excellent and I highly recommend it to people who are looking for a deep, emotional read.

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