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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Three years ago Kennedy Rhodes made a choice. She turned down admission to elite Windsor Academy to stay in public school near her crush.
Three years later it seems like Kennedy made the right choice. She and Austin are still dating, she has good grades, and she has completely revamped the school newspaper making it an award winning student paper (and chasing a record breaking fourth year win). Windsor Academy students have a much higher probability of getting into Columbia, but Kennedy knows that the student paper will set her over the top. It has to.
When she finds out that her boyfriend has been seeing her best friend in secret, Kennedy wishes she made a different choice. And, thanks to a knock on the head, Kennedy wakes up in that other life where she chose to attend Windsor Academy after all. But as Kennedy explores her shiny new life she starts to realize there might not be one right choice, especially when nothing is quite what she expects, in In Some Other Life (2017) by Jessica Brody.
Brody's latest standalone novel offers a fun blend of contemporary and light fantasy as Kennedy tries to answer that ineffable question: "What if?"
Structured like an if/then equation (half of the books chapters are titled with "if" scenarios, the other half with "then" outcomes) this story explores both paths Kennedy could have taken complete with her delightfully precocious younger brother explaining the ins and outs of the parallel universe theory.
Kennedy's first person narration can be grating thanks to the obvious chip on her shoulder thanks to her singular focus on all of her disadvantages and obstacles on the path to Columbia instead of her assets and successes. In Some Other Life uses an innovative structure to good effect and offers a well-rounded story that proves the tried and true adage about grass being greener. Recommended for readers who enjoy plot driven stories as well as alternate history or parallel universe tales in general.
Possible Pairings: In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks, The Infinity of You & Me by J. Q. Coyle, Two Summers by Aimee Friedman, Parallel by Lauren Miller, Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young, The Square Root of Summer by Harrier Reuter Hapgood, Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols, Pivot Point by Kasie West
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Three years later it seems like Kennedy made the right choice. She and Austin are still dating, she has good grades, and she has completely revamped the school newspaper making it an award winning student paper (and chasing a record breaking fourth year win). Windsor Academy students have a much higher probability of getting into Columbia, but Kennedy knows that the student paper will set her over the top. It has to.
When she finds out that her boyfriend has been seeing her best friend in secret, Kennedy wishes she made a different choice. And, thanks to a knock on the head, Kennedy wakes up in that other life where she chose to attend Windsor Academy after all. But as Kennedy explores her shiny new life she starts to realize there might not be one right choice, especially when nothing is quite what she expects, in In Some Other Life (2017) by Jessica Brody.
Brody's latest standalone novel offers a fun blend of contemporary and light fantasy as Kennedy tries to answer that ineffable question: "What if?"
Structured like an if/then equation (half of the books chapters are titled with "if" scenarios, the other half with "then" outcomes) this story explores both paths Kennedy could have taken complete with her delightfully precocious younger brother explaining the ins and outs of the parallel universe theory.
Kennedy's first person narration can be grating thanks to the obvious chip on her shoulder thanks to her singular focus on all of her disadvantages and obstacles on the path to Columbia instead of her assets and successes. In Some Other Life uses an innovative structure to good effect and offers a well-rounded story that proves the tried and true adage about grass being greener. Recommended for readers who enjoy plot driven stories as well as alternate history or parallel universe tales in general.
Possible Pairings: In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks, The Infinity of You & Me by J. Q. Coyle, Two Summers by Aimee Friedman, Parallel by Lauren Miller, Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young, The Square Root of Summer by Harrier Reuter Hapgood, Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols, Pivot Point by Kasie West
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
I’ve been searching for some “what if/wish fulfilment” books for the longest time, ever since I saw Family for Christmas starring Lacey Chabert.
This was such a great book. I kind of predicted the “perp” but that took nothing away from how fantastic this is.
Kennedy seemingly has it all, in both realities. But, as with life, things are far from.
Watching her try and figure out her new reality was fun.
Frankie is awesome. And I wish this was a movie so I could see his board game. Not that I’d have any idea how to play.
I just wish we had seen Kennedy Crusher’s side of things too. What was it like for her to wake up in a different reality?
Dylan was the quintessential private school bad boy. The one every straight girl who’s ever seen an episode of a private school teenage drama, crushes on.
This was such a great book. I kind of predicted the “perp” but that took nothing away from how fantastic this is.
Kennedy seemingly has it all, in both realities. But, as with life, things are far from.
Watching her try and figure out her new reality was fun.
Frankie is awesome. And I wish this was a movie so I could see his board game. Not that I’d have any idea how to play.
I just wish we had seen Kennedy Crusher’s side of things too. What was it like for her to wake up in a different reality?
Dylan was the quintessential private school bad boy. The one every straight girl who’s ever seen an episode of a private school teenage drama, crushes on.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Predictable, easy read, which is what I need right now.
Ever since I saw this adorable cover, I'd been pining for this book. Plus, I love parallel universe stories, because who doesn't daydream about where our choices would've led us if we chose differently??
Kennedy is one of those uptight, Type A characters that I usually don't love. I just don't relate to the "Miss Perfect" types. And it's definitely not that I related to Kennedy, but I did like reading her story. That's how I know the book is well-written-- when I can be totally turned off by the main character and STILL really want to read on.
I thought this book was adorably cute and fun to read. It wasn't like I haven't ever read a story like this before, or that I didn't know where it was going-- but I totally have and did-- but that's okay. Not every book has to SHOCK me to entertain me. I valued this book for it's entertainment. It's nice to do some lighter reading every now and again and just not THINK so hard.
There are a few romantic storylines in this book, but they DO NOT take over the book's focus. I'm not the biggest romance fan, and I found nothing annoying about what was involved here. That's usually not the case with most light-hearted YA Contemporary, so big thumbs up to Jessica Brody!!
My fave part: I loved the sciencey geek younger brother, who was the same in both dimensions. Without Frankie, I'm not sure Kennedy would have figured anything out. I know she was going through a confusing experience, but she wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer when it came to putting things together.
Takeaways: This book focused on the pressures that young people can have on them before they're even out of high school (or even younger than that in some cases). Kennedy came to a point where she really had to question if being #1 in her class and having everything be perfect, was worth the toll it was taking on her mental state and all the people in her life.
I also thought it was interesting that in going to Windsor, Kennedy ended up losing the main passion in her life and she had to figure out if it was worth giving that up. Lots of choices in this book, and that's what made it fun to read!
OVERALL: Super cute, fun, light YA Contemporary. If you like movies like The Family Man or other parallel universe stories, you'll like this. Everyone wonders what-if at some point in their life, and this answers that question for Kennedy. This was definitely one of my fave books that came out this summer!!
My Blog:
Kennedy is one of those uptight, Type A characters that I usually don't love. I just don't relate to the "Miss Perfect" types. And it's definitely not that I related to Kennedy, but I did like reading her story. That's how I know the book is well-written-- when I can be totally turned off by the main character and STILL really want to read on.
I thought this book was adorably cute and fun to read. It wasn't like I haven't ever read a story like this before, or that I didn't know where it was going-- but I totally have and did-- but that's okay. Not every book has to SHOCK me to entertain me. I valued this book for it's entertainment. It's nice to do some lighter reading every now and again and just not THINK so hard.
There are a few romantic storylines in this book, but they DO NOT take over the book's focus. I'm not the biggest romance fan, and I found nothing annoying about what was involved here. That's usually not the case with most light-hearted YA Contemporary, so big thumbs up to Jessica Brody!!
My fave part: I loved the sciencey geek younger brother, who was the same in both dimensions. Without Frankie, I'm not sure Kennedy would have figured anything out. I know she was going through a confusing experience, but she wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer when it came to putting things together.
I also thought it was interesting that in going to Windsor, Kennedy ended up losing the main passion in her life and she had to figure out if it was worth giving that up. Lots of choices in this book, and that's what made it fun to read!
OVERALL: Super cute, fun, light YA Contemporary. If you like movies like The Family Man or other parallel universe stories, you'll like this. Everyone wonders what-if at some point in their life, and this answers that question for Kennedy. This was definitely one of my fave books that came out this summer!!
My Blog:
This book is so on-brand for Jessica Brody--which is to say it's addictive, fun, and thoughtful. I couldn't stop reading because I was desperate to watch Kennedy unravel all the mysteries of her new life. And as someone who's CONSTANTLY wondering whether I made the right choices (I think many people can relate), I enjoyed the exploration of questioning/regretting/celebrating your decisions and the complicated emotions that come with each.
Also, props to this book for getting high school journalism right.
All in all a light, quick summer read with a bit of substance!
Also, props to this book for getting high school journalism right.
All in all a light, quick summer read with a bit of substance!
It was an interesting idea but I think it was missing something for me.
At first I couldn’t get into this book, then about halfway through I really connected with Kennedy, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, we all make mistakes and our choices do define us, overall 3.5 stars the story was good and I enjoyed the book.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes