Scan barcode
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Second (and third) chance to get love right... Groundhog Day rehash of a teenager's first love.
"All the time travel in the world can't save the people you love." Jack is in love with his best friend Jillian (who is happily dating their mutual friend Franny) when he meets college girl Kate, who instantly gets under his skin and connects with the senior.
Getting to know each other, he realises this may be love. But then Kate dies (this is NOT a spoiler, by the way)... and Jack then finds himself meeting her all over again at the same party and reliving their months together all over again... It's not madness, it's not a dream. So why is Jack reliving the relationship - is there something he should be doing?
A twist on the Groundhog Day repeating-time theme (see recently released Pretty in Punxatawney), Jack's issues with his feelings for best friends, Franny's convict father, Jack's perfect parents (not at all annoying, actually, great role models), all balance alongside his relationship with the lovely Kate. It could get annoying, his constant falling in love with her, reliving the same events, but we see different moments and discussions.
I did wonder how the repetitive angle of this idea would work for Jack - he surely must be attending the same classes multiple times, completing the same homeworks again and again, having the same dinner-time conversations with his parents, but this never gets mentioned. A shame, I thought.
I liked seeing Jack experiment with other realities and fulfilling his fantasies, even though he didn't seem to learn from mistakes and remains a pretty poor friend for many of his attempts. The author manages to keep what could be an incredibly saccharine sugar-sweet love story from becoming overly so, with Jack and Kate remaining likeable and their feelings for each other more sweet than sickly.
Fresh look at the genre and idea, worthy YA read that could make a great film/series.
For ages 13 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
"All the time travel in the world can't save the people you love." Jack is in love with his best friend Jillian (who is happily dating their mutual friend Franny) when he meets college girl Kate, who instantly gets under his skin and connects with the senior.
Getting to know each other, he realises this may be love. But then Kate dies (this is NOT a spoiler, by the way)... and Jack then finds himself meeting her all over again at the same party and reliving their months together all over again... It's not madness, it's not a dream. So why is Jack reliving the relationship - is there something he should be doing?
A twist on the Groundhog Day repeating-time theme (see recently released Pretty in Punxatawney), Jack's issues with his feelings for best friends, Franny's convict father, Jack's perfect parents (not at all annoying, actually, great role models), all balance alongside his relationship with the lovely Kate. It could get annoying, his constant falling in love with her, reliving the same events, but we see different moments and discussions.
I did wonder how the repetitive angle of this idea would work for Jack - he surely must be attending the same classes multiple times, completing the same homeworks again and again, having the same dinner-time conversations with his parents, but this never gets mentioned. A shame, I thought.
I liked seeing Jack experiment with other realities and fulfilling his fantasies, even though he didn't seem to learn from mistakes and remains a pretty poor friend for many of his attempts. The author manages to keep what could be an incredibly saccharine sugar-sweet love story from becoming overly so, with Jack and Kate remaining likeable and their feelings for each other more sweet than sickly.
Fresh look at the genre and idea, worthy YA read that could make a great film/series.
For ages 13 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
ciarafarris's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 because I really liked it but I took like a month off while reading it and the ending was not as satisfying as I was expecting.
rn_dre's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I have really mixed feelings about this book. It was an easy read, and I never felt bored. The time travel loop did get a little bit old at the end, though. I think there were some good things about this book, but I kind of wish it would have ended differently.
ellymc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
allygatr's review against another edition
2.0
although it did not feel repetitive, it was slow. also, it seemed like he got off the hook easily-like the punishments were unrealistic
joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
3.0
I really like time travel storylines and whilst I knew this wasn't exactly that (it is more of a groundhog day -ish situation), I knew I had to pick it up.
What is it about?
We follow Jack, your average teenage boy who has almost always had it all in live. Even though I don't think this is a super important point to the story line. Jack has two best friends, Francisco and Gillian whom are romantically involved. When Jack first met Gillian he fell in love with her but didn't do anything about it and didn't tell anyone about it. So, Franny started dating her instead.
One evening, Gillian and Jack attend a party that is a cataclysm in Jack's life. At the party, Jack meets Kate and starts a relationship with her. As their relationship develops, Jack finds out that Kate has a rare disease and she dies. This is the beginning of the loop. Jack is sent back to his first meeting with Kate at the party and experiences it all over and over and over again. All in the hopes to find the solution to help Kate in time. He is, of course, the only one who remembers any of the events of the previous loops.
Each time Jack is sent back, he tries different approaches and sees the consequences that his actions have on his family and his closest friends. It is up to him to make sure to help Kate and to also not destroy anything else around him...
What I thought?
I liked the concept of this book. I loved the diversity (Jack and Kate are black, Franny is latinx and I don't Gillian's ethnicity) and the writing in the novel. It was pretty simple writing and it also addressed the reader a few times, and it really worked for this story. It especially worked for the audiobook narration. If you're going to pick this up, I would recommend the audiobook format. The narrator did a wonderful job with the voice-acting.
The book sparks a few questions about "what would you do differently if given the opportunity" and it was all in all a good story. I enjoyed my time with it and recommend it if you're looking for something cute, fun and quick to read.
What is it about?
We follow Jack, your average teenage boy who has almost always had it all in live. Even though I don't think this is a super important point to the story line. Jack has two best friends, Francisco and Gillian whom are romantically involved. When Jack first met Gillian he fell in love with her but didn't do anything about it and didn't tell anyone about it. So, Franny started dating her instead.
One evening, Gillian and Jack attend a party that is a cataclysm in Jack's life. At the party, Jack meets Kate and starts a relationship with her. As their relationship develops, Jack finds out that Kate has a rare disease and she dies. This is the beginning of the loop. Jack is sent back to his first meeting with Kate at the party and experiences it all over and over and over again. All in the hopes to find the solution to help Kate in time. He is, of course, the only one who remembers any of the events of the previous loops.
Each time Jack is sent back, he tries different approaches and sees the consequences that his actions have on his family and his closest friends. It is up to him to make sure to help Kate and to also not destroy anything else around him...
What I thought?
I liked the concept of this book. I loved the diversity (Jack and Kate are black, Franny is latinx and I don't Gillian's ethnicity) and the writing in the novel. It was pretty simple writing and it also addressed the reader a few times, and it really worked for this story. It especially worked for the audiobook narration. If you're going to pick this up, I would recommend the audiobook format. The narrator did a wonderful job with the voice-acting.
The book sparks a few questions about "what would you do differently if given the opportunity" and it was all in all a good story. I enjoyed my time with it and recommend it if you're looking for something cute, fun and quick to read.
mopmop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sammma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dezzyj's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars.
I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook. I liked Jack! He was so lovable. Corny but lovable. This is probably the only book I’ve read that is from the perspective of a teenage black boy from the suburbs and I enjoyed it so much.
I will say, Jack has “a man written by a woman” energy. But was written by a man. So I will continue to keep my standards high.
I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook. I liked Jack! He was so lovable. Corny but lovable. This is probably the only book I’ve read that is from the perspective of a teenage black boy from the suburbs and I enjoyed it so much.
I will say, Jack has “a man written by a woman” energy. But was written by a man. So I will continue to keep my standards high.