The Next Together by Lauren James

Pages: 356
Publish date: September 3rd 2015
Publisher: Walker
ISBN: 1406358053
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

The Next Together:

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started reading The Next Together by Lauren James. I had been hearing brilliant things about, and that cover is sensational. I read the synopsis and I knew that it wasn’t my typical read, but I ended up really enjoying it.

The Next Together follows protagonist Matthew and Katherine through their many lives. Yes, you did read wrong, I said many live. They are reincarnated in a way, brought together and then tragedy strikes.

The premise of The Next Together was totally intriguing. A couple being brought together again and again and then being torn apart. The Next Together has everything; history, science, romance and mystery – there is something for everyone.

The Next Together is predominately sent in 4 different times. There is some of their other lives brought up throughout the story. It was different for me, jumping through all these different times. These characters are essentially the same, but they live in different times so therefor have different characteristics and values.

However, after a while you get used to all the characters and their voices and it all fits.

Firstly, we have the main characters. They are set in the ‘now.’ Well, in 2039 their names are Kate and Matt and they both attended the University of Nottingham in England. They just meet when the novel starts and they lab partners.

Then we have 2019, Matthew and Katherine. These two were simply adorable. I don’t know what more I can say about them. Their story is told through notes, letters, emails etc that they have left for each other. The banter  between these two is off the scales and there is not dialogue.  We find out more about 2019, Matthew and Katherine through their 2039 versions.

1745, Carlisle, England. Katherine is from the upper class and has come to live with her aunt and uncle, Matthew is a coachman. There is quite a lot of teasing between these two. And as you can imagine heartbreaking. Katherine from a higher class and Matthew a Scottish man, in the lower class – oh and they are in the middle of an uprising.

Nevertheless, there is Katy and Matthew in 1854. These two travel the world and for half of it Katy is dressed as male and goes by Kit. This is the slow burning type of romance and oh did it break my heart.

I loved that The Next Together wasn’t just a novel, but included notes, newspaper articles, blog posts. It made it really interesting and gave the book this feel that worked well.

I was turning page after page, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next, how were things going to pan out.

I do wish there was a little more characterisations, especially in 2039’s Katherine and Matthew. I felt they needed more of a character arc.

The ending, let just say I have mixed feelings about the ending. At one point it was quite messing and it all quite fast, that I didn’t know what was going on. All their stories were ending and I felt that we didn’t resolve anything. But, then again, it somehow worked in a way, and it has been left open ended for more.

Overall, I enjoyed The Next Together. It was intriguing, and different. I loved the characters, but I do wish some did have more to them. Also the ending fell a little flat for me, but I can see how it works. However, The Next Together by Lauren James is a beautifully written time travel, historical fiction, contemporary novel that looks at how love can travel through centuries, be beautiful and amazing, but it can also be tragic.