Traveling Through Pages

Published: February 6, 2015 by Empire Books

Goodreads Summary:

"You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that stays with you, then tears you apart slowly at first, and all at once shreds every fiber of your being? 

It’s because you’re contradicting the universe. 

Everything lines up so perfectly that you couldn’t have imagined it to work out better, but then you have to go and do everything humanly possible to ruin it because you can’t stand to have it go right? 

That’s what I did. 

I did it because there’s a darkness that surrounds me, and I think I want it there. 

My name is Tate McKenna, and my soul is blacker than my heart."

Goodreads Page

*I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and publisher in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

 This is one of those books where not knowing much about it before reading is probably the best way to go into it. One of the beauties of this story is watching it unfold before your eyes.

The book switches between past and present timelines, which I enjoyed. It kept me on my toes and kept me guessing. It is also the perfect way to tell the story of Tate McKenna's life, depicting the way her past affects her present and future.

Tate is not your normal main character. She has a darkness that will never leave her. She is haunted by her past and has experienced terrible things. In attempt to put her old life behind her, she jumps on a plane to New York City. She meets a handsome man on the plane, Hayden. Tate definitely does not need a new man in her life, but she is drawn to something in him.

Tate intrigued me and I loved reading her story. She is very unique and I've never read about a character like her. I truly grew to care for her. Tate is constantly struggling to let go of some of her darkness, but she also does not want to lose herself in the process. This made for a thought-provoking and engrossing read. Her struggle felt real and raw, and even though she is not always the nicest person, I was rooting for her. I wanted the best for her.

Hayden surprised me, and the connection between him and Tate pulled at my heartstrings. I love how dynamic their relationship is. I don't want to get too into it, but I really appreciated his character and the complex bond between him and Tate.

All of the side characters are very interesting as well and I am glad they are included in the story, especially Catherine, Tate's best friend. I even wish we saw more of her.

The plot isn't heart-pounding and it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, but it kept me reading. There are not a ton of crazy twists or anything, but there are some surprising developments with the plot and characters. I think the writing style and the switching of timelines really help move the plot along. 

I couldn't give the book 5 stars because I didn't feel completely connected to it. I have never experienced anything that Tate is going through and there are some things that didn't really click with me. Obviously, that's a personal thing, and not the fault of the writer. I think if you can identify with Tate or you have experienced similar things, you will form a strong bond with this story. That just was not the case for me. Although I appreciate Tate's character and her journey, I felt removed from it in a way. 

This is a dark story and I love that aspect of it. I love that the author was not afraid to go into those dark parts of Tate's mind and soul. With that said, I also love that this is a story of Tate learning to let go, and learning to accept positivity and happiness without losing who she is. This along with the twisting of the past, present, and future made for a very unique and moving read.