Publishers Weekly, October 2014, starred review:
"Riveting.... Nichols infuses the story with a smattering of science fiction and science fact, while making a welcome departure from the stereotype of the book-smart outcast trying to fit in."
Kirkus review, October 2014:
"While the world-jumping is fantastical, the personalities and characters (fully individual, without reaching trying-too-hard levels of quirkiness) ring true.... A debut with great characters and huge nerd appeal."
Booklist review, October 2014:
"A mysterious, sometimes tense, yet sweet story about young love and science gone awry."
VOYA review, December 2014:
"Debut novelist Nichols has such an engaging writing style that readers will have little problem accepting the premise of parallel worlds....Think of the intrigue in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, softened by the romance of a Sarah Dessen novel."
School Library Journal review, November 2014
"A mystery set against a sweet romance that will envelop teens. String theory enthusiasts, as well as fans of the television series Fringe or Ann Brashares’s The Here and Now will particularly enjoy this."
"With the flips between universes, this book will keep you on your toes the whole way through." —Bustle.com
"The perfect blend of sci-fi and swoons, Now That You're Here is like no other book I've read. Riveting, romantic and utterly original, it kept me up late!" —Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of These Broken Stars
"Dynamic, dizzying, and downright daring, Now That You're Here kept me guessing until the end, and ready for the next." —Shannon Messenger, author of Let the Sky Fall
2014-10-01
A science-minded girl falls for a graffiti artist—the catch, though, is that he's from a parallel universe. When a bomb goes off in Danny's dystopian-flavored universe, he's somehow blasted into Eevee's reality, which resembles readers'. Danny latches onto Eevee as a familiar face, even though he only met her counterpart in his world briefly—and her personality there is different. This Eevee's a nerd rather than artist (though the text mathematically demonstrates how close science and art really are). While Danny's still making sense of what has happened to him, Eevee realizes that he's in a tough situation and helps him. The two of them work out the universe swap and with help from Eevee's best friend and partner in science, Warren, try to puzzle out its mechanics. The chapters alternate between Eevee's and Danny's viewpoints. The organic sweetness of their relationship is tempered by the enthusiastic geekery of the nonromantic storylines. Real mathematical and scientific theories appear, and Eevee and Warren live and breathe cherished icons of nerd culture. While the world-jumping is fantastical, the personalities and characters (fully individual, without reaching trying-too-hard levels of quirkiness) ring true. The ending—an escalation into frantically paced scientific theorizing followed by an abrupt conclusion—is a bit of a letdown, but it leaves room for a sequel. A debut with great characters and huge nerd appeal. (Science fiction. 12 & up)
11/01/2014
Gr 7 Up—Danny Ogden was trying to blend in with the crowd before he was jolted from his universe to that of Eevee Solomon's. Lucky for Danny, Eevee is intrigued by this sudden change in demeanor and personality from the Danny she knew. She enlists the help of her best friend Warren and together—with the help of their physics teacher —the three explore the scientific explanations for Danny's universe jumping. Danny and Eevee develop feelings for each other and when they arrive at a possible answer, they have to come to terms with what might happen if Danny stays or goes. This science-fiction tale takes place almost entirely in present day. Its short chapters in alternating voices lends it a quick pace. Eevee is a strong lead—smart, grounded despite her parent's divorce, and secure with her strongest friendship (which happens to be with a boy who is known as a super geek). As a sidekick, Warren is a strong character who deals with his past (bullying) and focuses on his future (attending MIT). Although we never get to know the Danny originally in Eevee's universe, the parallel Danny is empathetic, thoughtful, and very trusting considering what had just happened to him. Nichols adeptly simplifies the complex concepts of string theory and parallel universes without condescending to readers. The short chapters develop into a mystery set against a sweet romance that will envelop teens. String theory enthusiasts, as well as fans of the television series Fringe or Ann Brashares's The Here and Now (Delacorte, 2014) will particularly enjoy this novel.—Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL
