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A review by libralita
In Some Other Life by Jessica Brody
5.0
What’s this? I actually like a YA Contemporary book? This hasn’t happened in a very long time. This book was excellent with an interesting premise, a wonderful message about regret and even pretty good anti-establishment message that didn’t come off too preachy. At time it was incredibly predictable and the main character wasn’t the smartest in the world but there are some great twists and Brody wrote some excellent characters. I look forward to reading more books by Brody.
~Spoilers~
“May I suggest that you refrain from Googling ‘possible catastrophes at print shops’ from now on”—Page 1
Ha!
There’s always either a teacher or friend who knows something about parallel universes in these types of stories. I should be glad, since if you don’t have those characters then you get something like the Future of Us.
I really like Frankie, he’s well written smart character. He clearly knows a lot about science and is interested in the stuff but he doesn’t get everything completely right. Kennedy can still stump and they tease each other. He’s still a kid where there’s a parallel universe with no showers.
“Because we’re totally, absolutely, one-hundred-percent in tune with each other.”—Page 25
Your boyfriend likes coffee and you don’t. He has mannerism that you don’t like. And likes a comedy show that you don’t. Opposite attracted but you don’t see to have much in common.
“And she loves saying balls.”—Page 30
I like her.
“She stops typing as an unreadable expression blankets her face. ‘That’s weird,’ she says flatly.”—Page 31
You’re fucking her boyfriend, aren’t you Laney?
“You have to go over to Austin’s and watch it with him!”—Page 37
Okay, Kennedy is kind of stupid.
“Because they’re too busy kissing.”—Page 48
What a shock.
“Dad nods pensively. ‘Okay then, break a pen! Bust a laptop! Burn a book!’”—Page 63
Her dad is great.
Well, that interview didn’t go well.
If I were Kennedy in this situation, I probably would ask a lot less questions and just go with the flow. Then I would start freaking about what homework I would have to do and where my classes are.
“We’ve been in how many of the same classes—not to mention the other things we’ve done together—”—Page 163
A fling?
Y’know getting into a good college is important but high school is where you should have fun. Not stress out. You should definitely work hard, be ambitious and strive for excellence but these kids are nuts.
Okay, so I thought Kennedy was having a headache because something with the switching to a different universe thing but apparently it’s just caffeine withdrawal.
I also thought that Lucinda had killed herself due to the stress but apparently she just cheated.
“…but I never would have imagined anyone would resort to cheating.”—Page 197
People cheat in average classes all the time.
“The time we misspelled a word in our front-page story about teen literacy.”—Page 251
That’s hilarious. Kennedy how could you not realize that without you all the stuff you did at your other high school wouldn’t have happened?
“That shouldn’t be allowed to be a club. Who approved this? Who thought this was a good idea? Those are the best computers in the school! They shouldn’t be used for something so pointless, not to mention…violent.”—Page 256
Oh, give me a break.
I’m glad that Brody made Laney and Kennedy both in the wrong. Kennedy was taking her friendship with Laney for granted and Laney was cheating with Kennedy’s boyfriend.
“Starting next week, we will begin docking one percentage point a week from every student grade until the person responsible decides to make the right choice.”—Page 268
In what universe would this happen? I’m pretty sure the parents of every student would have something to say about this. I can’t imagine this is legal.
“No. I won’t let you start a newspaper because you’re too hard on yourself. You’re already stretched far too thin and I’m worried about you.”—Page 276
Well, that is a good reason but there’s also the fact that you’re basically turning this into a witch-hunt. Kennedy, already thinks that Dylan did this just because she doesn’t like him.
“It actually seems pretty biased. And a bit lazy.”—Page 281
This. I really like this. Brody has a character with flaws, Kennedy clearly doesn’t like Dylan and that’s leading her to be biased and make bad choices. It comes off as annoying but then Brody has another character immediately call her out. I’ve been seeing this so rarely in other YA contemporary books. Characters should have flaws that lead them to make bad decisions but that doesn’t mean that the character either shouldn’t be called out for it or realize their flaws themselves.
“I know it was you. And I’m going to get to the bottom of it. With or without your help.”—Page 282
“I’m going to prove you’re guilty with or without your help.” That sounds kind of stupid.
Dylan ranking people’s mental breakdowns is kind of awful.
“He smiles a handsomely devilish smile. ‘That I’ve achieve enlightenment!’”—Page 294
I really like this kid.
“She’ll have to attend community college.”—Page 296
Hey! Also, y’know that kids in public school get into good schools all the time and that Ivy League schools aren’t the only option.
It’s totally Windsor-Kennedy who’s selling these tests.
“It takes him a while to reply. But when he does, he say, ‘Yes. And admittedly a little turned on.’”—Page 336
Haha, Dylan is becoming one of my favorite characters.
“Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV” “TSM4” that’s a really great twist.
The essay was heartbreaking.
“When I woke up this morning, I called a cab to the airport, I bought a plane ticket, and I left.”—Page 380
Well, that was unexpected.
“‘I don’t regret anything,’ Dad whispers into my ear. ‘I promise.’”—Page 394
I love her dad so much.
“It’s fear. Fear of not living up to your potential. Fear of failure.
And, in that moment, I realize something for the very first time.
The students aren’t the only ones who are pressured to succeed in this place. The students aren’t the only ones pushed to exhaustion to fulfill an Ivy League quota. The teacher feel the exact same thing. They suffer the exact same debilitating stress. Fitz probably gets even less sleep than I do.”—Page 409
Favorite quote.
Damn, Sequoia turned Kennedy and Dylan in.
Well, Kennedy’s back in her old life. Does that mean that Windsor-Kennedy was living our Kennedy’s life? I kind of want to read that story.
Yay! This universe’s Dylan is now going to the same school! They’re really cute together.
~Spoilers~
“May I suggest that you refrain from Googling ‘possible catastrophes at print shops’ from now on”—Page 1
Ha!
There’s always either a teacher or friend who knows something about parallel universes in these types of stories. I should be glad, since if you don’t have those characters then you get something like the Future of Us.
I really like Frankie, he’s well written smart character. He clearly knows a lot about science and is interested in the stuff but he doesn’t get everything completely right. Kennedy can still stump and they tease each other. He’s still a kid where there’s a parallel universe with no showers.
“Because we’re totally, absolutely, one-hundred-percent in tune with each other.”—Page 25
Your boyfriend likes coffee and you don’t. He has mannerism that you don’t like. And likes a comedy show that you don’t. Opposite attracted but you don’t see to have much in common.
“And she loves saying balls.”—Page 30
I like her.
“She stops typing as an unreadable expression blankets her face. ‘That’s weird,’ she says flatly.”—Page 31
You’re fucking her boyfriend, aren’t you Laney?
“You have to go over to Austin’s and watch it with him!”—Page 37
Okay, Kennedy is kind of stupid.
“Because they’re too busy kissing.”—Page 48
What a shock.
“Dad nods pensively. ‘Okay then, break a pen! Bust a laptop! Burn a book!’”—Page 63
Her dad is great.
Well, that interview didn’t go well.
If I were Kennedy in this situation, I probably would ask a lot less questions and just go with the flow. Then I would start freaking about what homework I would have to do and where my classes are.
“We’ve been in how many of the same classes—not to mention the other things we’ve done together—”—Page 163
A fling?
Y’know getting into a good college is important but high school is where you should have fun. Not stress out. You should definitely work hard, be ambitious and strive for excellence but these kids are nuts.
Okay, so I thought Kennedy was having a headache because something with the switching to a different universe thing but apparently it’s just caffeine withdrawal.
I also thought that Lucinda had killed herself due to the stress but apparently she just cheated.
“…but I never would have imagined anyone would resort to cheating.”—Page 197
People cheat in average classes all the time.
“The time we misspelled a word in our front-page story about teen literacy.”—Page 251
That’s hilarious. Kennedy how could you not realize that without you all the stuff you did at your other high school wouldn’t have happened?
“That shouldn’t be allowed to be a club. Who approved this? Who thought this was a good idea? Those are the best computers in the school! They shouldn’t be used for something so pointless, not to mention…violent.”—Page 256
Oh, give me a break.
I’m glad that Brody made Laney and Kennedy both in the wrong. Kennedy was taking her friendship with Laney for granted and Laney was cheating with Kennedy’s boyfriend.
“Starting next week, we will begin docking one percentage point a week from every student grade until the person responsible decides to make the right choice.”—Page 268
In what universe would this happen? I’m pretty sure the parents of every student would have something to say about this. I can’t imagine this is legal.
“No. I won’t let you start a newspaper because you’re too hard on yourself. You’re already stretched far too thin and I’m worried about you.”—Page 276
Well, that is a good reason but there’s also the fact that you’re basically turning this into a witch-hunt. Kennedy, already thinks that Dylan did this just because she doesn’t like him.
“It actually seems pretty biased. And a bit lazy.”—Page 281
This. I really like this. Brody has a character with flaws, Kennedy clearly doesn’t like Dylan and that’s leading her to be biased and make bad choices. It comes off as annoying but then Brody has another character immediately call her out. I’ve been seeing this so rarely in other YA contemporary books. Characters should have flaws that lead them to make bad decisions but that doesn’t mean that the character either shouldn’t be called out for it or realize their flaws themselves.
“I know it was you. And I’m going to get to the bottom of it. With or without your help.”—Page 282
“I’m going to prove you’re guilty with or without your help.” That sounds kind of stupid.
Dylan ranking people’s mental breakdowns is kind of awful.
“He smiles a handsomely devilish smile. ‘That I’ve achieve enlightenment!’”—Page 294
I really like this kid.
“She’ll have to attend community college.”—Page 296
Hey! Also, y’know that kids in public school get into good schools all the time and that Ivy League schools aren’t the only option.
It’s totally Windsor-Kennedy who’s selling these tests.
“It takes him a while to reply. But when he does, he say, ‘Yes. And admittedly a little turned on.’”—Page 336
Haha, Dylan is becoming one of my favorite characters.
“Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV” “TSM4” that’s a really great twist.
The essay was heartbreaking.
“When I woke up this morning, I called a cab to the airport, I bought a plane ticket, and I left.”—Page 380
Well, that was unexpected.
“‘I don’t regret anything,’ Dad whispers into my ear. ‘I promise.’”—Page 394
I love her dad so much.
“It’s fear. Fear of not living up to your potential. Fear of failure.
And, in that moment, I realize something for the very first time.
The students aren’t the only ones who are pressured to succeed in this place. The students aren’t the only ones pushed to exhaustion to fulfill an Ivy League quota. The teacher feel the exact same thing. They suffer the exact same debilitating stress. Fitz probably gets even less sleep than I do.”—Page 409
Favorite quote.
Damn, Sequoia turned Kennedy and Dylan in.
Well, Kennedy’s back in her old life. Does that mean that Windsor-Kennedy was living our Kennedy’s life? I kind of want to read that story.
Yay! This universe’s Dylan is now going to the same school! They’re really cute together.