THE SAME BACKWARD AS FORWARD (Prequel to The Inheritance Games Series)

THE SAME BACKWARD AS FORWARD by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

YELLOW LIGHT WITH HEAVY CAUTION

The Same Backward as Forward is a prequel to the popular Inheritance Games Series. There is a bit of cleverness to this book, there is a bit of "been there, seen that" to the book with regards to the series, and there is content to be aware of.

Let's start with the cleverness.

This book is two stories in one. Actually, it's the same story told from two different perspectives. It's the story of Toby Hawthorne and Hannah Rooney (better known as Sarah Grambs, mother to Avery Kylie Grambs). So what's clever about that? You start by reading Hannah Rooney's story which takes up half the book. Then, you flip the book over and read Toby's story. The story is the same backward as forward. Clever.

So what's the "been there, done that" part? This series is starting to feel like it's set on repeat. Dysfunctional family overload, kids try to figure things out, and intense puzzles to solve..

Toby has arrived in Rockaway Watch with his two, rich friends. Running away from his billionaire parents is about as impossible as it gets, but he's here to do just that and maybe some damage in the meantime. In a chance encounter, he meets Hannah Rooney and her sister, Kaylie. Hannah, a nursing student, is the stoic one of the two while everything Kaylie touches is pure light. That night a terrible accident occurs because of Toby that takes Kaylie's life and the lives of his friends. Toby, badly burned and unable to remember who he is, is put into hiding due to the fact that Hannah and Kaylie's mom controls the town with her illegal drug activities and will kill him if she finds him. He needs immediate care, and there's no one to do it and keep him secret except Hannah. To say she hates him for taking the life of her sister would be an understatement, but her nursing training forces her to focus on saving the life of her patient. Up against a clock to get him recovered enough to get out of town before anyone realizes he didn't die in the accident is a monumental task. Forced to help each other overcome intense hardship, hatred starts to give way to love.

HEADS UP - There are some things to be aware of.

-There is a fair amount of language. Pretty much on par with the rest of The Inheritance Games series. No f-bombs

-Sex - This book definitely has the most sex in it so far. Toby and Hannah have sex 3 times. Since the story is told twice, readers experience it a total of 6 times. Everything is closed door, but there is a lot of emotion/passion buildup to the acts.

-Sex - there is one line that tells you that Hannah had sex with another man.

Reading this, you may ask why I don't red light this book. I am definitely wavering that direction, but there is a level past where this one goes.