Flutter

Flutter is a YA romantic sci-fi novel by Gina Linko.

Since seventeen-year-old Emery Land can remember she’s been looping. That’s her word for when she has seizures and travels through wormholes in time. Essentially she’s time traveling. Even if it’s difficult for her father’s scientists and medical team to swallow.

But the loops are having a physical toll on her. With each one she returns from, her organs are aging. Instead of having a normal life hanging out with her best friend, going to school and looking at colleges, she is now living in the hospital being monitored constantly.

Deep down, Emery agrees that she doesn’t have much time left – the loops are killing her. But if her father’s team refuses to accept the truth about what happens when she has these seizures, how can they help her?

Using a clue from one of the loops, Emery escapes the hospital and travels to Esperanza, a small town. There she meets Ash – a young man who is enigmatically damaged and dedicated to performing some kind of penance.

Somehow Ash seems tied into Emery’s loops, and Emery wonders if unraveling the mystery might help her save her own life…

Flutter was certainly unique. One thing I’ll say is that I don’t love this cover. The lines across it (which you might not see in the picture) gave off this very futuristic, techie vibe to me – which Flutter is most certainly not.

Really, Flutter is a contemporary novel with a sci-fi twist when it comes to Emery’s loops. It reminded me of my favorite TV show Lost – Desmond Hume gets unstuck in time and randomly experiences past/future. It was also dangerous to his health. So, there was definitely a connection there.

For a while, I was a little disconnected. I got frustrated when I felt Emery was ignoring an obvious plot twist FOREVER – but I was wrong!!! Ha! It’s nice to give the bibliophile a kick in the pants every once in a while. That helped immensely; even if I was still a little exasperated Emery didn’t at least suspect what I was thinking sooner.

Emery and Ash, though, are two very, very likable characters. They aren’t mushy or unrealistic, they have issues, secrets, and their love story is very involving. They really saved the story for me in those less exciting moments.

Plus, Gina Linko did surprise me with the book’s later revelations. My predictions ended up being way off – which I like! Very cool.

If you’re in the mood for an introspective, contemporary, sensitive romance with a twist of sci-fi mystery, Flutter should be next on your reading list.