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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Review: 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

3:59
3:59 by Gretchen McNeil
Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.
Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.
Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.
Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.
But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.
By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?
From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you.

”add

Publishes in US: September 17th 2013 by Balzer & Bray
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Harper Teen, Harper Collins

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Book Depository

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    This idea of parallel universes, traveling in time and such have always fascinated me. Because what if I had made a different decision, what if I had more money, what if, what if, what if. And this explores that, Josie jumps at the chance to live a different version of herself. 
    There is a lot of suspense in this one, with attacks and action right away. 
    I connected with and felt for Josie. Her parents were going through a tough seperation and it can't be understated how hard that is. Especially since they both put her in the middle and to top it all off, her mom has been working non-stop and she just feels so isolated and alone. 
    The science in this one really went over my head, but it seems well researched and thought out and though of course stretches the realm of possibility it is grounded in solid ideas. 
     There is a whole other spin on this alternate universe that Josie decides to jump into and try the life of Jo. This world has monsters and they will claw and eat you if you are in the dark. But of course Jo didn't tell Josie that, and she also hid other details from her so that she is surprised while living Jo's life. 
    The romance is interesting, and I liked seeing how nature and nurture made the parallel characters both alike and very different at the same time. I do see a difference between the two Nicks, but I still wish that I would have seen some growth with Josie that she wouldn't have based everything on a boy. I mean, I understand the hormones and attraction, but still. 
    It was unreal how it all worked together and how it was all linked together. The worlds, the characters, the incidents that set it into motion was all crafted well. I also liked how the ending was, I was left with this sense of hope and closure. 

Bottom Line: Loved the premise and the characters were pretty well written.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
 Would you trade for a day with an alternate you in a parallel universe?
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24 comments:

  1. I love the idea of time-travel and parallel universes too! It's so intriguing and there's always so many different versions/laws within the universe created!

    I'd definitely trade places with alternate me! It'd be so cool to see how my life would've panned out if I made just a few different decisions.

    Great review :)

    - Allie @ Little Birdie Books

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  2. I've had my eye on this one for a while. Sounds very different. Glad you enjoyed!

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  3. I'm loving parallel universe and time travel books right now, so I definitely want to read this one. Awesome review!

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  4. Only if I know about the universe before hand. I don't like surprises. I'm a wimp. This book sounds interesting. Enjoyed your review!

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  5. I'll have to check this out because I am really loving the parallel universe trend I am seeing.

    Kate @ Ex Libris

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  6. I love a great parallel or alternate reality story. This one seems really well done.
    Great review, Brandi!

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  7. Ooh nice review!! Getting curious about this one due to all the buzz I heard regarding it.

    Hmm...I honestly don't know if I would choose to spend a day in a parallel universe. I think I would want to know all the rules, details and ramifications of my choice. But I think--because I read so much!--that I know that every choice comes with a price and likely a price that I may not be willing to pay. So I think I would just endure my own life rather than living in someone else's no matter how perfect it may seem!

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  8. I love the premise of this story. Doppelgängers and alternate realities! Josie sounds like a great character and the suspense fascinating! Adding to Goodreads-love your review and thanks for sharing Brandi!

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  9. you're right parrallel universes are realy intriguing and it's interesting to see how the author manages to do that.

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  10. Great review sweetie :) Glad you enjoyed it. <3 I cannot wait to read it :)

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  11. I am excited to read this and so excited you enjoyed it!

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  12. Happy to see your review up! I was wondering what you would think of it. It's on my TBR list. Hate to see that the science behind it was over your head. With novels like this, it's sort of crucial that you can understand how the parallel universe thing works. I'd probably have a hard time understanding. Oh and I strongly dislike when the girl relies on a boy to dictate her life. So frustrating! I'll just get this from the library.

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  13. I'm pretty curious about this one. The premise sounds really intriguing to me!

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  14. Time travel and parallel universes are are something I am up for. Great review.

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  15. This sounds freakingly amazing - I now wonder how the story would end :)

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  16. I have always been fascinated by books like this and the idea of a parallel universe or other dimensions. This book sounds really good and I definitely want to read it. I can't wait to check it out. I would be curious about my parallel universe life- but I think most days I would be too scared (notice I said most and not all). :)
    ~Jess

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  17. I've been hearing similar things about this one. It sounds relatively interesting!

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  18. Great review. I've read a lot of good things about this book. I quite enjoy books that travel in time, so I would probably like this one.
    I probably would trade a day to be in an alternate universe, I'm too curious not to!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  19. I really like the alternate universe theory, too. This book sounds really interesting. Yeah, I might trade...for a day. ;)

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  20. I haven't read many books with alternate universe idea but this one sounds great. And the characters sound awesome. Great review Brandi :)

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  22. Science fiction doesn't really appeal to me because like you said, it's usually over my head. Still you managed to focus on the story, if it were me I would've given up. I love the cover though.

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  23. This book sounds extremely interesting! I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to try out a parallel universe! Great Review!

    Katy @ a blighted one

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  24. I have a lot of curiosity so I would definitely want to trade places for a day-the trick is to make sure that I'd be able to return because I'm pretty sure I'd want to return to just being me.

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