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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Actual Star Rating: 4.0
Likes: Characterization. Pacing. I liked that you managed to get a full, well rounded story through the two worlds despite the fact that living in either world would have only provided a glimpse into the different nuances of the overall arc. Also, the most moving part of the story for me came in realizing Addie would have to make such a difficult decision and knowing that there was only one real choice she could make.
Dislikes: Transitions between chapters was difficult for me at the beginning. I had to remember who did what in which world between each transition. Like a mini "last time on Para" or "last time on Norm." That was really the only major flaw for me.
I think part of the reason I rate this one so high is that I didn't come into it with high expectations. I had read a few reviews and assumed that the people who rated it high were fangirling over boys and, as a writer (for fun), I have to say I'm glad I was wrong and I'm glad it was written well.
Likes: Characterization. Pacing. I liked that you managed to get a full, well rounded story through the two worlds despite the fact that living in either world would have only provided a glimpse into the different nuances of the overall arc. Also, the most moving part of the story for me came in realizing Addie would have to make such a difficult decision and knowing that there was only one real choice she could make.
Dislikes: Transitions between chapters was difficult for me at the beginning. I had to remember who did what in which world between each transition. Like a mini "last time on Para" or "last time on Norm." That was really the only major flaw for me.
I think part of the reason I rate this one so high is that I didn't come into it with high expectations. I had read a few reviews and assumed that the people who rated it high were fangirling over boys and, as a writer (for fun), I have to say I'm glad I was wrong and I'm glad it was written well.
I had heard so many good things about this book from so many friends, but I wasn't sure if I'd like it. So I put off reading it. Why did I do that? Honestly this book is right up my ally, especially since I've been on somewhat of a sci-fi type kick lately. Any book that uses Xmen type characters is tops for me. So I'm glad I jumped into this one!
Blurb From Goodreads:
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.
If you could see your future depending on your choice would you watch it? And in the end, how hard would it be for you to choose? For Addison (Addie), this is a common occurrence. She has the ability to see how her choice will shape her future. But that doesn't always help her choose. Just because you know doesn't make it any easier! I don't know if I'd want to know, or have the choice. On the one hand, things might be revealed that would cause you harm, or perhaps cause others harm, and that would be hard to watch. Certainly I wouldn't want this to happen. on the other hand, the outcome might not be great for either choice, then what would I do?
I really like the cover of this book. It's simple and straight forward. Not much to it, really. So I can't really say much about it.
Addie was a nice character but she wasn't really anything different or fantastic. She's strong, but I think her para abilities help with that. However, when she's faced with a choice, she flounders a bit (who wouldn't, really) and this made her a bit wishy washy for me. She does want to do the right thing, which is admirable. I liked seeing her inner thoughts, how her mind worked to try and bring the best outcome. She's definitely a bit of a bleeding heart, not wanting to hurt people no matter what. One thing I'll say about her, she is loyal and that goes a long way in making her likable for me. She was definitely relatable and I think she had some really great growth during the book.
Duke, hated him. I just didn't like him from the start. He gave me the creeps, and rightly so! How does he all of a sudden take an interest in a girl he's never really talked to before? It just struck me wrong from the start. He was too quick to want the romance and I knew he had another agenda and I didn't like it one bit! He can be good looking and cocky all he wants, but he still rubbed me the wrong way! Despite his swoon worthiness and charm, I never felt the pull towards him.
Trevor, on the other hand, was so great. I loved his nerdy quality the most. And he wasn't afraid to lay things out in front of Addie. He smart and funny. Definitely a bit secretive. He has a terrific heart. And he wants to get to know the real Addie, with no false pretenses. And his relationship ship with Addie was slower to move than that with Duke. I liked the build that West inserted into her story. I suppose that was kind of the point, though, to pair Addie with these two guys who are so totally different but still each have their attractions for her.
Laila was a great best friend. She's a bit rough around the edges, but you could tell she cared deeply for Addie. And her life was rough, but Addie stood by her side no matter what. They were great together. Loyal and full of heart as a pair of best friends should be. Laila had a tendency to jump into things more quickly than she fought about them, and Addie was kind of her anchor with that.
When I was first reading the book, I didn't realize that West was using alternating chapters to show Addie's visions of her choices. I was a bit lost, but then I picked up on it. Once I got into it, I liked the alternating POV. And it wasn't hard to keep them separate at all, which I thought would happen once I figured it all out. It was a great way to write the story. West was able to keep it fast paced and filled with action, suspense, romance and hard ships. She had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Try as I might, I had no idea what Addie would choose and that kept pushing me through the book!
The writing was fun and flowed well. It's unique and fun. And West provides a unique story than I've read before, a nice change from the typical paranormal/sci-fi books I've read. West builds her world well. I didn't feel there were any info dumps or breaches that I could focus on. And West does a great job with her character growth and development. She really shows us each of their abilities and how they can be used.
I can say the ending had my heart in my throat. I didn't see things coming the way they did (although I had some trust issues with a particular secondary character, so I wasn't surprised at his role in things). And I really thought it would go a different way, but it didn't. I can definitely tell you that I'm not sure I would want Addie's power. I think it would kill me to know the outcome of things and be forced to make a choice! And now I need the second book (which I have but haven't been able to get to!).
Blurb From Goodreads:
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.
If you could see your future depending on your choice would you watch it? And in the end, how hard would it be for you to choose? For Addison (Addie), this is a common occurrence. She has the ability to see how her choice will shape her future. But that doesn't always help her choose. Just because you know doesn't make it any easier! I don't know if I'd want to know, or have the choice. On the one hand, things might be revealed that would cause you harm, or perhaps cause others harm, and that would be hard to watch. Certainly I wouldn't want this to happen. on the other hand, the outcome might not be great for either choice, then what would I do?
I really like the cover of this book. It's simple and straight forward. Not much to it, really. So I can't really say much about it.
Addie was a nice character but she wasn't really anything different or fantastic. She's strong, but I think her para abilities help with that. However, when she's faced with a choice, she flounders a bit (who wouldn't, really) and this made her a bit wishy washy for me. She does want to do the right thing, which is admirable. I liked seeing her inner thoughts, how her mind worked to try and bring the best outcome. She's definitely a bit of a bleeding heart, not wanting to hurt people no matter what. One thing I'll say about her, she is loyal and that goes a long way in making her likable for me. She was definitely relatable and I think she had some really great growth during the book.
Duke, hated him. I just didn't like him from the start. He gave me the creeps, and rightly so! How does he all of a sudden take an interest in a girl he's never really talked to before? It just struck me wrong from the start. He was too quick to want the romance and I knew he had another agenda and I didn't like it one bit! He can be good looking and cocky all he wants, but he still rubbed me the wrong way! Despite his swoon worthiness and charm, I never felt the pull towards him.
Trevor, on the other hand, was so great. I loved his nerdy quality the most. And he wasn't afraid to lay things out in front of Addie. He smart and funny. Definitely a bit secretive. He has a terrific heart. And he wants to get to know the real Addie, with no false pretenses. And his relationship ship with Addie was slower to move than that with Duke. I liked the build that West inserted into her story. I suppose that was kind of the point, though, to pair Addie with these two guys who are so totally different but still each have their attractions for her.
Laila was a great best friend. She's a bit rough around the edges, but you could tell she cared deeply for Addie. And her life was rough, but Addie stood by her side no matter what. They were great together. Loyal and full of heart as a pair of best friends should be. Laila had a tendency to jump into things more quickly than she fought about them, and Addie was kind of her anchor with that.
When I was first reading the book, I didn't realize that West was using alternating chapters to show Addie's visions of her choices. I was a bit lost, but then I picked up on it. Once I got into it, I liked the alternating POV. And it wasn't hard to keep them separate at all, which I thought would happen once I figured it all out. It was a great way to write the story. West was able to keep it fast paced and filled with action, suspense, romance and hard ships. She had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Try as I might, I had no idea what Addie would choose and that kept pushing me through the book!
The writing was fun and flowed well. It's unique and fun. And West provides a unique story than I've read before, a nice change from the typical paranormal/sci-fi books I've read. West builds her world well. I didn't feel there were any info dumps or breaches that I could focus on. And West does a great job with her character growth and development. She really shows us each of their abilities and how they can be used.
I can say the ending had my heart in my throat. I didn't see things coming the way they did (although I had some trust issues with a particular secondary character, so I wasn't surprised at his role in things). And I really thought it would go a different way, but it didn't. I can definitely tell you that I'm not sure I would want Addie's power. I think it would kill me to know the outcome of things and be forced to make a choice! And now I need the second book (which I have but haven't been able to get to!).
Really well done! A very different book for Kasie West, but still excellent (as all of her books are).
Addie has an ability that allows her to see two outcomes of every situation. When her parents split up, she has to choose whether to live with her mother (remain in the world she has grown up with, filled with other kids with abilities) or go live with her father (who is moving out of the encampment of special people to live among "normal" people).
Most of the book is about her living out these two choices in alternating chapters.
This book has it all - there was mystery, action, suspense, romance. It was really well done. I also liked that there was humor in it - I feel like fantasy/sci-fi books are way too serious, and this was a welcome breath of fresh air.
Addie has an ability that allows her to see two outcomes of every situation. When her parents split up, she has to choose whether to live with her mother (remain in the world she has grown up with, filled with other kids with abilities) or go live with her father (who is moving out of the encampment of special people to live among "normal" people).
Most of the book is about her living out these two choices in alternating chapters.
This book has it all - there was mystery, action, suspense, romance. It was really well done. I also liked that there was humor in it - I feel like fantasy/sci-fi books are way too serious, and this was a welcome breath of fresh air.
This was so good!! So fast-paced and the dual storylines were awesome. One of the best books I've read in a long time.
The plot of this sounded amazing! Addie lives on the Compound, a place where people have superhero like powers, and she can see the future. Suddenly she must pick between staying where she is, or going to live in the “normal” world. The whole book is took in a dual perspective of what her life would be in each place.
This fell flat for me on many levels. For one, Addie herself is so juvenile and makes so many dumb decisions. I wanted to shake her for half the book. Secondly, I felt nothing for either love interest. They both were cardboard to me. And I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that Kasie West’s writing in this was just ..... bad. Which is disappointing! Because I’ve read other books by her before and they were leagues ahead of this one.
This fell flat for me on many levels. For one, Addie herself is so juvenile and makes so many dumb decisions. I wanted to shake her for half the book. Secondly, I felt nothing for either love interest. They both were cardboard to me. And I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that Kasie West’s writing in this was just ..... bad. Which is disappointing! Because I’ve read other books by her before and they were leagues ahead of this one.
Review originally found on The Life & Times Book Blog
I have to admit that I have never really been one for stories with alternate realities or time traveling of any sort. That is until I read Pivot Point. The cover made me take a look, the synopsis piqued my interest, but the actual story…made me fall in love.
Addison Coleman is not a typical teenager. Being a Searcher, has the ability to look into the future and see what will happen. Most people wonder what their lives would be like if they chose a different path, but Addison gets to see both outcomes. How awesome would it be to have that ability? Living in a compound facility surrounded by people with special abilities, like her mom who is Persuasive and her dad is a Discerner (can tell if someone is lying), life is kept interesting.
As she tries to figure out if she should stay with her mom or dad of the divorce, she decides to do a Search. Both futures alternate back and forth (each with a different love interest) between chapters which I thought would be confusing, but I found it easy to follow along. There is no clear cut answer for her as both results have positives and negatives.
I was not expecting to like Pivot Point as much as I did. It is a nicely paced story filled with a combination of romance, paranormal elements, and mystery. All of which kept me thoroughly entertained.
So glad there will be a sequel since I need to know what happens next with Addie!
** I received this book from HarperCollins Publishing / HarperTeen in exchange for nothing, but my honest review. Thank you!**
I have to admit that I have never really been one for stories with alternate realities or time traveling of any sort. That is until I read Pivot Point. The cover made me take a look, the synopsis piqued my interest, but the actual story…made me fall in love.
Addison Coleman is not a typical teenager. Being a Searcher, has the ability to look into the future and see what will happen. Most people wonder what their lives would be like if they chose a different path, but Addison gets to see both outcomes. How awesome would it be to have that ability? Living in a compound facility surrounded by people with special abilities, like her mom who is Persuasive and her dad is a Discerner (can tell if someone is lying), life is kept interesting.
As she tries to figure out if she should stay with her mom or dad of the divorce, she decides to do a Search. Both futures alternate back and forth (each with a different love interest) between chapters which I thought would be confusing, but I found it easy to follow along. There is no clear cut answer for her as both results have positives and negatives.
I was not expecting to like Pivot Point as much as I did. It is a nicely paced story filled with a combination of romance, paranormal elements, and mystery. All of which kept me thoroughly entertained.
So glad there will be a sequel since I need to know what happens next with Addie!
** I received this book from HarperCollins Publishing / HarperTeen in exchange for nothing, but my honest review. Thank you!**
Really great book, really enjoyed it, and I can't wait for the sequel!!!
I loved this so much! What a cool concept!
I love that this let the author write two different love stories, each with their own compelling storyline.
I NEED to read the sequel NOW.
I love that this let the author write two different love stories, each with their own compelling storyline.
I NEED to read the sequel NOW.
This book had me hooked from the beginning and it was the ideal book to push me into reading more. Pivot Point was a light and easy book to read compared to many other paranormal/sci-fi books. It didn’t require a lot of thought and it was easy to get lost in the story. I didn’t exactly know what to expect because I’ve read all of Kasie West’s other books which were all contemporaries. I wouldn’t say this book is a big difference, it's similar to her other novels but with a twist. It was very difficult to stop reading and I definitely will be picking the second book straight after this review is written.
Pivot Point follows Addison who lives in a place known as the Compound which is exterior to the ‘normal’ world. Inside the Compound the people each have various abilities which allow them to control specific things. Addie is a Searcher so when faced with a choice she is able to look in the future to see the alternate outcomes which are supposed to help her determine what to choose. Addie is confronted with the choice of which parent to live with after her parents announce they are having a divorce. She is to either live with her mother in the Compound or leave with her father to live with the Norms. Despite being able to see both paths Addie realises the decision will not be as easy as she thought.
Kasie West has yet again managed to write an amazing novel that could not be put down. I loved getting to see the story progress through two different ways (That’s not the right way to put it but I don’t know how else to word it). Getting to see two alternative ways a person’s life could play out is something I have never read or watched before so it was something very different. I enjoyed the concept and it wasn’t annoying like I initially thought it would be. Surprisingly, there was no confusion between the two paths but that would probably be because it was easy to tell them apart. I also enjoyed seeing Addie’s experience through the two potential futures. The last hundred pages of this book did take a quite unexpected turn and it made this book so much better.
The entire idea of the world Addie lived in was very interesting. I wouldn’t say unique but it was refreshing in a way. I loved the concept but I think it just needed to be executed in a better way. There need to be more world-building and a better explanation for why things were the way they were. There were a lot of plot holes in the book. I don’t know if this considered as a spoiler but I’m marking as one anyway. These plot holes listed in the spoiler (there are probably more) just caused the book to lack something. They might be explained in the sequel but I doubt it.
Addie was probably the best protagonist I’ve read about but that might be more because of personal reasons. I could relate to her soo much! First of all her love for books and words, in general, is something I’m sure most readers can relate to but it wasn’t just that. Addie is an anti-social person which is totally me but she also had this thing with silence when talking to someone. She doesn’t like it because it's awkward and she kind of starts panicking in a way and thinking (which is quoted from the book) “oh-crap-why-can’t-I-think-of-anything-to-say” which is exactly like me. It was also just her personality in general which I could relate to. Other than I found her so relatable she was still a character that was really likeable and I didn’t have any problems with her.
Choosing between Duke and Trevor would be the easiest thing ever because I would definitely pick Trevor. Duke wasn’t a bad character at the beginning but when I met Trevor I started to like him more and then I didn’t care about Duke. I completely loved Duke at the beginning but then I didn’t. As the story progressed it was difficult to even like Duke and this whole popular jock guy thing just didn’t make it easier. Besides, Trevor was much better because he was just so perfect. I loved him so much more and I liked her life with him more.
There were several unexpected things that occur towards the end.
The book ended sort of on a cliff-hanger and it felt kind of unfinished so I will definitely read the sequel as soon as possible. I’ve heard it picks off right where this one ends but I’m wondering right now, is it necessary? Maybe if this book was longer it could have been wrapped up? I’m not sure yet because I have yet to pick up the sequel so I’ll see after I read it. The only thing I’m not looking forward to is that I think it has Laila’s POV. I didn’t hate her but she just isn’t the character that I would to follow and see her perspective. She did do a lot of irritating things in this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I flew through it just like I always do with Kasie West’s books. Split Second is the last book I haven’t read by Kasie West and it is kind of sad because I love her books so much. She just manages to draw the reader right from the beginning and there’s no long intro to the story (although maybe this book needed one considering the total lack of world-building). Despite this novel having paranormal/sci-fi elements, there are a lot of contemporary aspects and a little bit of mystery in the mix so I would recommend this to a lot of people because it has something for everyone!
Pivot Point follows Addison who lives in a place known as the Compound which is exterior to the ‘normal’ world. Inside the Compound the people each have various abilities which allow them to control specific things. Addie is a Searcher so when faced with a choice she is able to look in the future to see the alternate outcomes which are supposed to help her determine what to choose. Addie is confronted with the choice of which parent to live with after her parents announce they are having a divorce. She is to either live with her mother in the Compound or leave with her father to live with the Norms. Despite being able to see both paths Addie realises the decision will not be as easy as she thought.
Kasie West has yet again managed to write an amazing novel that could not be put down. I loved getting to see the story progress through two different ways (That’s not the right way to put it but I don’t know how else to word it). Getting to see two alternative ways a person’s life could play out is something I have never read or watched before so it was something very different. I enjoyed the concept and it wasn’t annoying like I initially thought it would be. Surprisingly, there was no confusion between the two paths but that would probably be because it was easy to tell them apart. I also enjoyed seeing Addie’s experience through the two potential futures. The last hundred pages of this book did take a quite unexpected turn and it made this book so much better.
The entire idea of the world Addie lived in was very interesting. I wouldn’t say unique but it was refreshing in a way. I loved the concept but I think it just needed to be executed in a better way. There need to be more world-building and a better explanation for why things were the way they were. There were a lot of plot holes in the book. I don’t know if this considered as a spoiler but I’m marking as one anyway.
Spoiler
I want to know how these people managed to unlock that part of their brain or be able to get such abilities. I also wanted to know how the compound was kept hidden. Was the government on it too because people have IDs in the normal world and the government knows everything. If this place was so top secret, why were they allowed to go into the normal world? The normal people even knew about their schools, I mean is that even a good idea. I think this might have been explained and I probably looked over it but how did the Compound football team play against other Norm teams. Would they stop playing the version where the ball flies and play it normally?Addie was probably the best protagonist I’ve read about but that might be more because of personal reasons. I could relate to her soo much! First of all her love for books and words, in general, is something I’m sure most readers can relate to but it wasn’t just that. Addie is an anti-social person which is totally me but she also had this thing with silence when talking to someone. She doesn’t like it because it's awkward and she kind of starts panicking in a way and thinking (which is quoted from the book) “oh-crap-why-can’t-I-think-of-anything-to-say” which is exactly like me. It was also just her personality in general which I could relate to. Other than I found her so relatable she was still a character that was really likeable and I didn’t have any problems with her.
Choosing between Duke and Trevor would be the easiest thing ever because I would definitely pick Trevor. Duke wasn’t a bad character at the beginning but when I met Trevor I started to like him more and then I didn’t care about Duke. I completely loved Duke at the beginning but then I didn’t. As the story progressed it was difficult to even like Duke and this whole popular jock guy thing just didn’t make it easier. Besides, Trevor was much better because he was just so perfect. I loved him so much more and I liked her life with him more.
There were several unexpected things that occur towards the end.
Spoiler
I really didn’t expect Laila to die in one path or that Bobby was actually bad. I mean he did look shifty but still, it wasn’t until Addie went into his house where I started to piece some things together. I also didn’t expect that telekinesis wasn’t Duke’s ability and that he was a mood controller (crap I forgot the actual name). Although it does make sense when you look back at it. Addie always questioned her relationship with him when he wasn’t there but when he was it was like she was under spell (well she was in a way). Her choosing to stay was also something I didn’t expect. After Laila’s death in one path I really had no idea what she would do but before that, I thought she would have gone with her dad. Also, she erased Trevor after he asked her not to, how sad! I loved him so much and I didn’t want her to leave let alone forget about him.The book ended sort of on a cliff-hanger and it felt kind of unfinished so I will definitely read the sequel as soon as possible. I’ve heard it picks off right where this one ends but I’m wondering right now, is it necessary? Maybe if this book was longer it could have been wrapped up? I’m not sure yet because I have yet to pick up the sequel so I’ll see after I read it. The only thing I’m not looking forward to is that I think it has Laila’s POV. I didn’t hate her but she just isn’t the character that I would to follow and see her perspective. She did do a lot of irritating things in this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I flew through it just like I always do with Kasie West’s books. Split Second is the last book I haven’t read by Kasie West and it is kind of sad because I love her books so much. She just manages to draw the reader right from the beginning and there’s no long intro to the story (although maybe this book needed one considering the total lack of world-building). Despite this novel having paranormal/sci-fi elements, there are a lot of contemporary aspects and a little bit of mystery in the mix so I would recommend this to a lot of people because it has something for everyone!