Review: So Close to You

So Close to You (So Close to You #1) by Rachel Carter
Release Date ~ July 10, 2012
HarperTeen ~ HarperCollins
ISBN13: 9780062081056
ARC won from Epic Reads

Goodreads Synopsis:

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who've disappeared over the years. Stories about people like her own great-grandfather.

When Lydia stumbles into a portal that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, she discovers that all the stories she's ever heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she's in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the Project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices--and if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them . . . and herself.


So Close to You is one of those book I didn't have any expectations about, because the description painted such a vague and mysterious description of the story. That didn't deter me at all though, and actually made me more curious to find out what the book was about by reading it because I was just so intrigued.

Unfortunately I don't think that worked as well as it could have, because the story ended up underwhelming me from a creative standpoint, although it still managed to be an entertaining read that has a more fascinating plot than other similar books to it have had.

1. A fun, VINTAGE setting:
   
   I love that such a unique setting was included in the story, as it related to Lydia's ancestors and Rachel included so many little details that I felt helped to set the atmosphere for the era. It's a lot of fun without actually being a historical fiction read, and I think this makes it really stand out from other YA books. It's definitely something I'd love to see more of in the future from upcoming releases!
   
2. Strong familial relationships:
   
   I really liked that a lot of emphasis was put on Lydia's relationships with various members of her family, especially her parents and grandfather. But it becomes increasingly apparent how close-knit this family is when other members make their appearance and you see them interact with one another. This is an absolute breath of fresh air and for me, it made Lydia and her family instantly likable characters and something I could really relate to. And I appreciate that it provides a lot of motivation for the choices she makes during this first book.

But I suppose I was just a tad too disappointed with some of the big reveals in the book, and I'm not very keen on the direction it seems to be heading in. It seems like there are a lot of questions regarding the background of the world and Lydia's situation, and too many ideas felt like they were thrown together somewhat haphazardly to really mesh well. And I'm really not sold on the romantic aspect either, which just feels too forced for my liking.

It's still a very quick read that presents a number of interesting ideas and has some very strong non-romantic relationships. And I think it is creative from one perspective, just not in the way I had hoped it would be. So the problem here may have been my expectations (as few as they may have been) rather than the story itself.