West has a brilliant imagination and she’s jammed packed it into this book like it’s got an expiry date and needs to be used up. What she’s done here is weave a lovely narrative of two different realities into one coherent story and I think she’s done that very well. Let’s face it. It’s not easy to mix two completely different but chronologically equal events into one cohesive product. I have to admit to wondering, before I picked it up, if West had bitten off more than she could chew. And to be honest, if a lesser author had taken it on, it’s very likely their head would have exploded. In fact, sometimes I’d be like, “Dude! She just intergrated that plotline from the other story and we’re seeing phases of it here! Awesome!”
Addie was a fantastic character – full of personality, charm and wit. She almost completely won me over and I think her struggles and achievements in this book were well telegraphed. Because she felt so deeply, it helped connect to the story and give it a great emotional investment.
Feelcopter – it’s coming for you.
The book explorers to alternate lives for Addie and she has to decide which of two realities she has to chose to go through with. It’s actually really great to watch how she grows in each life – because she grows in two different ways and becomes two kind of different people who just happen to look alike. Mixed in with this coming of age story is a mystery and the overall plot which kind of rocks.
Both alternate realities have different boys in them: Trevor and Shitforbrains. Her relationship with Trevor is insanely sweet and refreshingly lovely. They have a complex and understandable friendship and chemistry. As for Shitforbrains, well, the best thing I can say about him is:
All up this is a very proficient book by an insanely lovely author, which you’d know if you saw our interview with her. This was a pretty high concept novel which meant that West didn’t really get the opportunity to fully embrace and lovemonkeyschnuggle with it all as much as it’s obvious she wanted to. What I generally found with West’s writing was that it was a very pragmatic, spartan kind of writing. Almost the opposite to Spooner’s writing in Skylark. There wasn’t anything wrong with West’s writing, but I didn’t necessarily feel inspired by it or in awe of it either. For some people, that’s going to be something they need to consider – for others it’s a freakin’ relief.
In the end, if you want to sit down and look into two alternate futures – one where you read this book and one where you don’t, you’re probably going to be favourable to the one where you do. It’s a refreshing, enjoyable change of pace to the usual suspects of Paranormal romances and dystopian Sci-fi.
*An ARC of this book was provided to me by the author. No goods or services were exchanged for this review. Not that I didn’t want them too. I have the biggest girl crush on Kasie West. But, you know, she’s married and I’m married and we could never find the right time or place to meet up…
Kate C.
The premise kind of reminds me of Sliding Doors (Which I love, even though Gwyneth Paltrow is trying to be English). Although she doesn’t get to choose her outcome in the end. It’s such an interesting question, “What could I do if I could choose my own path in life and see the outcome?” I’m glad someone wrote a book about it.
AsherKnight
Hmm… sci-fi-y. I like it. And I like the interesting two realities bit. I don’t read enough of those.
The Reading Geek
Great review! I’m even more excited about this book now than before! It sounds so interesting, especially the alternate realities. I can’t wait to read it!
cynicalsapphire
Hmmm, I was hoping for higher, but I can live with 3.5. Sweet. Bahaha, I love the way you ended the review.
Jenni Alluring Reads
I am really excited about this one, but I will admit that is all cover lust and I had zero idea what the eff it was about. I like the idea of her growing into two different people in the two different tales, I think I could really like this beyond the pretty cover! I also can’t wait to meet Shitforbrains! Great review, Kat.
Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog
Gah! I have been in love with this cover and synopsis for a little bit now and I want to read it!
Mikhaeyla Kopievsky
Interesting review – From the first couple of paragraphs I thought you were going to rate it more highly. Was it the author voice that didn’t connect (hence the ‘above average’ but ‘not really loving it’ 3.5 stars) or something else with the plot/characters?