Review: Through to You - Emily Hainsworth

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth, published by Simon and Schuster on 3rd January 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

Review:
'Through to You' is the debut novel of author Emily Hainsworth.  The idea for the book is utterly brilliant and incredibly clever.  It deals with a boy whose girlfriend has died in a car accident.  Cam is devastated at the loss and is struggling to go on with his life without her when he discovers that there is a parallel world where she still exists.

I absolutely loved the concept for 'Through to You'.  I was fascinated by the thought that there could be other realities out there.  I mean who wouldn't want to know what their alternative life could be like.  This discovery provides a lifeline for Cam who finds out that in this other reality, his girlfriend Viv is still alive and well and he can see her, talk to her and touch her.  Things however, don't all seem to be as he is expecting and soon secrets are unravelled and revelations revealed which change everything. 

The story started quite slowly with the first part focusing on Cam's grief and the downward spiral he is on since losing Viv, who was like his other half.  The pace picked up quite a bit in the middle and there was a mind-blowing twist at the end which I loved.  If you do struggle at the start with how slow and somewhat confusing the book initially is, then I would advise you to persevere because otherwise you will miss what turns out to be a brilliant read.     

I enjoyed the fact that the book had a male narrator and Cam's voice came across clearly and distinctly, making him an appealing figure.  He shows real growth throughout as he tries to rebuild his life and makes some tough decisions about his future.  Quite often, I don't get on well with books which provide a male point of view, but this was an exception because Cam is such a great character.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot or the characters because this is definitely the type of book that you want to read without having been spoiled in advance.  There are twists and turns and moments of complete surprise which combine to make this a fabulous story and a top read!