A book about time travel, forbidden romance with a dab of dystopian society weaved into the plot The Here and Now is certainly a different kind of read. Prenna comes from a futuristic world, a place fraught with blood plauges and ill effects from global warming. She's traveled back through time to the past to escape the devastation of her world. Prenna did not come alone, she came along with a large group of time travelers. They've established their own community with their own special rules. The rules are extremely strict and put into place for the protection of the natives and the time travelers both. One of the major rules is even though the time travelers are allowed, even encourage to blend in an socialize with the natives, they are forbidden to get too close. Also those in the community are expected to wear protective lens because of their sensitive eyes and they have to take daily pills to protect them from diseases or illness. Prenna is a good girl. She's been a rule follower and hasn't caused any problems. She wears her glasses takes her pills and does what she is asked. Well, that is until a homeless man raises suspicions about her community and current beliefs. He also claims someone is going to be murdered and she is the only one who can stop this. If the murder takes place it will change the future, so it must be stopped. Prenna has always pretty much stuck to the rules. Her closest friend Katherine, another time traveller, is the only one she feels comfortable to confide in. However, when Katherine gets shipped off to a "comfortable boarding school" Prenna quickly realizes the graveness of her situation. Her only other confidant is a long time friend, a boy named Ethan, a native. Ethan has always been kind to Prenna. He's patient and never really pushes her to reveal more about her life than she is comfortable with. However, when the homeless man ends up brutally murdered, desperate times call for desperate measures. Prenna decides to reveal her secrets to Ethan and shockingly he already knows a lot more than she imagined. Now the two of them team up to stop the murder that could potentially change the course of the future. The biggest problem is the community is very suspicious and they only have two short days to sort everything out! 
 The Here and Now is a very quick fast paced read. Its told in a first person narrative in the voice of our young time traveller Prenna. Occasionally it changes up to letter format, where Prenna is writing to her younger brother Julius. In these informative passages we find out a little more of the backstory. Writing in this story was peculiar. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Mainly it seems slightly robotic or even bland. I'm not saying I didn't like it. I felt like it just took some time to get used to before I really fall into it. Prenna, the main character has been through so much, she's suffered huge loses in her life: the death of two younger brothers and the strange disappearance of her father. She's definitely scarred and very guarded about her feelings, many of which have been suppressed. 
 Ethan is an intelligent caring guy. I like how extremely patient he was with Prenna. His listening ear helped Prenna reveal all the monstrosities of her past. So much bad happened in her life before. He was a good friend before he became a lover, they really did share so much before hand. I admired his mind, his compassion for others and especially his desire to make the world a better place. I can certainly see why Prenna couldn't help but to fall in love with the guy. He really didn't have any faults which I could see. 
 I like how this book didn't just focus on Ethan and Prenna's budding romance. It had to have more substance than that otherwise I'd not be nearly as interested. I liked the mystery and suspense parts of the book. It had its share of twists and turns, which were for the most part unpredictable. The main ideas of the story were about wanting something you can never have and doing what's best for the greater good of the people - not just for yourself - making sacrifices. The ending definitely wasn't all warm and fuzzy or ridiculously sad it. I thought it fit perfectly because it felt real.