TOUCHED

Every thought, every action has a consequence, and one unscripted moment can change everything.

For a record three months, 17-year-old Nick Cross has carefully listened to the unrelenting voices in his head as they lead him toward a future he desperately wants. But when Nick ultimately chooses to ignore the “You Wills” that tell him to save the life of a beautiful stranger, the result is devastating. Nick’s ability to see the future is “a living nightmare,” and Balog brings his torment to life for readers by allowing the voices in Nick’s head to constantly interrupt his narration with flashes from the future. Unfortunately, this clever technique largely falls by the wayside in the second half of the novel, and what is left is disappointingly ordinary. In addition, while the action is high in the beginning and readers will likely find Nick and his struggles compelling, the latter part of the story packs less of a punch. Perhaps most importantly, the romance between Nick and Taryn, a girl with more than a few of her own secrets, never quite seems to ignite, making what could have been a riveting race to change the future considerably less compelling.

In the end, it is a frustratingly ho-hum read that could have been much, much more.