I REMEMBER YOU

This romance with a dash of time travel and a hint of war smacks of a Nicholas Sparks novel for teens.

The premise of Bell’s latest is initially promising. An adult Juliet tells readers at the outset of the novel that she is relating the story of falling in love for the first time, during her junior year of high school, in order to prove she still remembers the boy that stole her heart in 1994. It’s the tried and true tale of the straight-A student falling for the sensitive jock from the other side of town with the “ten-gigawatt smile.” She is on the fast track to college. He is counting the days until he can enlist in the Marines. A few intense gazes later, and Juliet and Lucas are an item. It’s a cliché with a twist, however, as Juliet discovers that Lucas can not only predict the future, he is convinced he has already lived it. Unfortunately, the explanation behind Lucas’ ability to reach back through space and time for Juliet is so convoluted and far-fetched it makes it impossible to suspend disbelief for the sake of story and just enjoy the ride. A supporting cast of underdeveloped characters and a lackluster second half further complicate matters.

Alas, unmemorable