3 out of 4 stars
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Right from the gripping first chapter, Yesterday is the engaging story of a woman held back by grief and a man whose attraction and unrealized connection to her offers her a renewed chance at love and life. With rich detail, and dialogue that rings true, a beautiful relationship unfolds between the two main characters, who are delightfully unaware of the deep connection they share. The added element of reincarnation brings with it a depth to their relationship that is beautifully celebrated in the book.
In a unique twist, the heroine, Amanda Parker first comes to the rescue of the hero, Officer Mark Callahan at the start of the story, but it is Mark who soon takes the lead in rescuing Amanda from her sorrow and resignation from life. Through a series of unexpected events and a connection they cannot ignore, Amanda and Mark are continually brought together by circumstances that draw them into a relationship too important for either of them to ignore.
Fans of historical reads will enjoy the sequences that delve into the Civil War, and even the Great Chicago Fire. However, the author’s choices in writing different dialects felt a little too heavy handed at times. A similarly high level of authenticity could easily have been achieved in the dialogue through minimal use of dropped letters or reliance on slang terms. A little goes a long way when it comes to conveying a speaking style through dialogue.
Time travel and supernatural plots require a skilled hand, and the author masterfully navigates the transition throughout. The plot stays faithfully on track, with enough twists and turns to keep it moving, although some may find a few too many topics covered (i.e. past lives, Civil War, Chicago Fire, etc.). The writing is strong enough that the author did not need to rely on the wide breadth of time, distance, and occurrences to carry the novel. A narrower focus will serve the author well in future books by letting the writing shine.
Overall, the novel is well written with a solid amount of research, and the extensive breadth of the book is forgiven by the strong story and writing. I rate the novel a very solid three out of four stars. A narrower focus or more moderation in the use of different plot elements would have allowed me to enjoy the story and relationship more thoroughly. That being said, the true test of any work is how much it draws you in and compels you to turn the pages, and on that count Yesterday delivers beautifully and is definitely worth a read.
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Yesterday
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