Pivot Point by Kasie West
Reminiscent of the movie Sliding Doors, Pivot Point is about a girl who has the power to Search alternate futures. When faced with a life changing decision, she lives out six weeks of two different lives (in alternating chapters), both holding the potential for love and loss, and must ultimately choose which path she is willing to live through.
Publishes in US: Feb 13th 2013
Source: author/publisher for honest review and giveaway
1st in series, 2nd is slated to release in 2014
In a few words: Amazing plot, beautiful writing, and great main character.
At first I didn't think I would like the way that the chapters alternated between futures, but Kasie West pulls it off beautifully. It was seamless and I gained so much insight into Addie (the main character) because of the different choices and outcomes she is faced with.
The paranormalcy set up in this book is really neat. I like how they all have different abilities and we get to see how it works on their compound. I also really love the idea of how one choice can make such ripples and the idea of time travel and exploring alternate realities, and Ms. West did not disappoint.
To me, Addie was so easy to relate to, because she is so much like me. The book loving, not want to make waves, want to have a plan and know my choices and what will happen. I really bonded with her, I like how she is slightly on the outside, but she connects deeply with a few people. She's not fake, and she wants to feel things that are real. I loved it when she was talking about books and saying that it is the only time she knew she wasn't being influenced on how to feel. I don't know what it is like to have my emotions supernaturally altered obviously, but I do connect on a deep level about books making me feel things. I read to escape, I read to connect, and I read to feel emotions.
I loved the contrast of her and Laila's personality and watching their friendship. It is such a theme and I enjoy reading about well developed friendship. It adds such depth and layers to the story.
Speaking of layers, I was constantly amazed at how she connected things like Poison or the football issues to both storylines. It was a work of pure genius. The symmetrical themes showed some amazing talent, and it made me do lots of thinking.
Trevor is exactly the kind of guy that I love to read about. He is sweet and kind, he is an artist. It was fun watching him and Addie interact, both their budding friendship and the flirting as well. I appreciate how they took things slowly and I feel so bad about some of the choices that Addie had to make, but it ultimately showed so much about the depth of her character.
An aside, I completely adored the chapter heading. At first I think that I mostly ignored them, but once I noticed how witty they were, and how it connected to the story, they were a great touch. It was words, some real, some changed a bit, using Para and Norm to let you know which perspective you were reading.
It was like I blinked and the story was over, and I was left satisfied and amazed at the characters, and how one decision can have such affects on your life. It was heartbreaking and fulfilling at the same time her choices and how the book wrapped up. I really appreciated though that in that sadness and conclusion there is so much hope and possibilities to explore and hope for in the next book.
Speaking of which, I can't believe that I have to wait until 2014 to get more into Addie's mind and to read more about Trevor our resident sexy cowboy.
Would you want to be able to see different futures based on your choices?
