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sleepygirlreads_'s review against another edition
3.0
I ship Chris and Caroline, I ship them so hard! But I'm not sure how I feel about the rest of the novel. Not what I was expecting, but not if it was a good surprise or not.
nagam's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it. Written flawlessly by Cat and Suzanne - I couldn't distinguish between their voices, which I loved. I love the concept of the story - one scenario and two different reactions and outcomes - and seeing how everything played out.
Full review on RATHER BE READING:
One reality: Caroline’s grandmother is dying. No one knows how much time she has left.
Two scenarios: Escape the sadness and family drama to go to a party with her BFF, Simone, or stay with her grandmother.
STAY vs. GO
Have you ever thought about a pivotal moment in your life and realized that if you had gone down another path, absolutely everything might have ended up differently? For me one of those big moments is if I had actually dated my long-term crush/best guy friend in high school. Or maybe the moment when I liked this other guy and he and his dad made a bet about how many phone numbers he could collect while we were at camp. (Let me add: it was church camp.) Thanks to social media, I have been able to keep up with where both of those guys have ended up throughout the years, and let me just say, I’m really glad things have worked out the way they are. (And yes, I do realize I sound stalker-ish.)
Just Like Fate is a beautiful exploration of how Caroline’s choices and decisions in the past have shaped how she moves forward. One particularly excellent portrayal is in regards to her family. Her parents are divorced, and both are remarried. Caroline barely speaks to her father, and her mother’s remarks always seem to be a little underhanded. She remained close with her brother, Teddy, but is somewhat estranged from her older sister, Natalie. Her youngest sister, Juju, is too young to grasp the majority of what’s going on. Natalie and Caroline have a ton of friction between them since Caroline decided to move in with her grandmother during the divorce because she couldn’t handle the change. Natalie feels like Caroline always runs away from problems and never sticks around to solve anything. Caroline sees Natalie as a goody-two-shoes who is judgmental and stuck-up. Teddy is the glue that tries to hold everything together, but as a college student he’s got his own life to live.
When the situation arises with her grandmother in the hospital, Caroline is once again faced with a tough decision. Does she do the hard thing and push through all the family drama to be by her grandmother’s side, or does she go to a party with her best friend, Simone, and forget about about her problems? Both scenarios and outcomes are laid out before the reader in alternating Stay and Go chapters. My reading time was a bit spotty when I first began Just Like Fate, not allowing me a good chunk of time to get into the flow of the story. Once I was finally able to push aside my responsibilities and focus, I felt like I could really connect with Caroline and the flow of the story.
With the two different scenarios comes different obstacles and characters. Joel is the boy that Caroline’s always wanted to date; she’s loved him from afar for quite a long while. Then there’s Chris, the college guy who is incredibly funny and sarcastic. Both seem appealing in their own ways until Caroline is confronted with having to make some decisions. (This seems to be a common theme, doesn’t it?) There are some pretty big ups and downs with Simone as well that felt very realistic; they have to figure their way out of some uncomfortable situations and Caroline has to learn how to talk through things instead of turning inward. While I definitely loved the guy aspect that strung my romantic side along, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the bigger questions: Was it possible for Caroline to mend the broken relationships with her father and sister? Could she become a stronger woman if she had to confront life instead of always fleeing? Despite how we react to a situation, do we arrive at different conclusions?
Just Like Fate was an engaging, fast-paced read. I’ve very much enjoyed Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young’s individual work in the past, but I certainly hope they’ll consider writing more together in the future. For now, you should definitely be pre-ordering this book so you can gobble it up as soon as possible.
Full review on RATHER BE READING:
One reality: Caroline’s grandmother is dying. No one knows how much time she has left.
Two scenarios: Escape the sadness and family drama to go to a party with her BFF, Simone, or stay with her grandmother.
STAY vs. GO
Have you ever thought about a pivotal moment in your life and realized that if you had gone down another path, absolutely everything might have ended up differently? For me one of those big moments is if I had actually dated my long-term crush/best guy friend in high school. Or maybe the moment when I liked this other guy and he and his dad made a bet about how many phone numbers he could collect while we were at camp. (Let me add: it was church camp.) Thanks to social media, I have been able to keep up with where both of those guys have ended up throughout the years, and let me just say, I’m really glad things have worked out the way they are. (And yes, I do realize I sound stalker-ish.)
Just Like Fate is a beautiful exploration of how Caroline’s choices and decisions in the past have shaped how she moves forward. One particularly excellent portrayal is in regards to her family. Her parents are divorced, and both are remarried. Caroline barely speaks to her father, and her mother’s remarks always seem to be a little underhanded. She remained close with her brother, Teddy, but is somewhat estranged from her older sister, Natalie. Her youngest sister, Juju, is too young to grasp the majority of what’s going on. Natalie and Caroline have a ton of friction between them since Caroline decided to move in with her grandmother during the divorce because she couldn’t handle the change. Natalie feels like Caroline always runs away from problems and never sticks around to solve anything. Caroline sees Natalie as a goody-two-shoes who is judgmental and stuck-up. Teddy is the glue that tries to hold everything together, but as a college student he’s got his own life to live.
When the situation arises with her grandmother in the hospital, Caroline is once again faced with a tough decision. Does she do the hard thing and push through all the family drama to be by her grandmother’s side, or does she go to a party with her best friend, Simone, and forget about about her problems? Both scenarios and outcomes are laid out before the reader in alternating Stay and Go chapters. My reading time was a bit spotty when I first began Just Like Fate, not allowing me a good chunk of time to get into the flow of the story. Once I was finally able to push aside my responsibilities and focus, I felt like I could really connect with Caroline and the flow of the story.
With the two different scenarios comes different obstacles and characters. Joel is the boy that Caroline’s always wanted to date; she’s loved him from afar for quite a long while. Then there’s Chris, the college guy who is incredibly funny and sarcastic. Both seem appealing in their own ways until Caroline is confronted with having to make some decisions. (This seems to be a common theme, doesn’t it?) There are some pretty big ups and downs with Simone as well that felt very realistic; they have to figure their way out of some uncomfortable situations and Caroline has to learn how to talk through things instead of turning inward. While I definitely loved the guy aspect that strung my romantic side along, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the bigger questions: Was it possible for Caroline to mend the broken relationships with her father and sister? Could she become a stronger woman if she had to confront life instead of always fleeing? Despite how we react to a situation, do we arrive at different conclusions?
Just Like Fate was an engaging, fast-paced read. I’ve very much enjoyed Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young’s individual work in the past, but I certainly hope they’ll consider writing more together in the future. For now, you should definitely be pre-ordering this book so you can gobble it up as soon as possible.
heyjudy's review against another edition
4.0
~3.5/5
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
(May contain spoilers.)
This book started out a little weak, in character and reaction and believable relationships. But it got better the more I read, I started liking the characters more. And the ending, while fitting, makes me a little angry.
Caroline’s grandmother, who she lives with, is dying and gets sent to the hospital. Her mother and sister and brother are there, most of which she doesn’t talk to anymore, ever since her parent’s divorce. And the night her grandmother goes to the hospital, her best friend asks if she wants to go to this party, to take her mind off it all, and she has to decide whether to STAY or GO.
If she goes, she meets this nice college boy, Chris, who’s kind of perfect for her, and she goes to live with her father, while running away from all of her problems, and goes to this new school where everyone hates her. If she stays, she makes up with her mother and sister and lives with them, stays with her best friend and school, and finally gets to go out with Joel, the boy she’s had a crush on for years.
From the beginning, it didn’t make much sense for her character to stay, even if it was the right thing to do. And I honestly think that her going made more sense, and worked better for her character, and that she finally learned not to run away, to be less selfish, to be a better person. I think that her going was better, and so I want to believe that that’s the choice she makes.
Because the ending doesn’t tell us! What is that crap? I started wondering, about 50 pages from the end, if both decisions were going to sync up and they were going to make some statement about both leading to the same place. And while I kind of believe that, sure, that doesn’t make me happy. Because the journey matters, and I need to know which journey she went on, goddamnit. I mean it fits and all that, but I just want to know.
Aside from that. The story started weak, I was starting to think I wasn’t going to like it, when things changed, and it got a lot better. I like how Caroline grew, where her relationship with everyone went and ended up. I knew from very early on that I wasn’t going to like Joel, because he was a jerk. I knew immediately that I was going to love Chris and that he fit perfectly with Caroline, and I was right. They’re perfect together, and I love them, and I love him. I love Chris, he’s awesome.
Caroline’s relationships with everyone aside from Joel and Chris, I think, should have gotten more attention. We got some stuff, and they did grow by the end, but the reader didn’t actually get to read a lot of that growth. I mean, I think it worked by the end of the book. But a high majority of this book is focused on the romance, which I don’t particularly mind because I love reading romance and would rather read that most of the time, but the other relationships needed more attention, too.
A big part of Carline's fighting with her family and friends only happened because none of the characters were being empathetic. This annoyed me so very much. Particularly her relationship with her sister, for example, who looks at Caroline as a spoiled, whiny brat, because she never tries to see why Caroline does what she does. Not for an instant does she try to think, from Caroline's point of view, why she wouldn't want to stay with her mother, or why she wouldn't want to be at the hospital. Caroline doesn't try to see from her sister's point of view, either. Until suddenly they make up, in like two pages, without any real development. The whole making up process seemed way too fast, not realistic at all.
Overall, I rather liked this book. I wasn’t sure at first, but it was good. I enjoyed it. I’ve read some of Young’s other books and plan to read more, and should be reading one of Patrick’s soon.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
(May contain spoilers.)
This book started out a little weak, in character and reaction and believable relationships. But it got better the more I read, I started liking the characters more. And the ending, while fitting, makes me a little angry.
Caroline’s grandmother, who she lives with, is dying and gets sent to the hospital. Her mother and sister and brother are there, most of which she doesn’t talk to anymore, ever since her parent’s divorce. And the night her grandmother goes to the hospital, her best friend asks if she wants to go to this party, to take her mind off it all, and she has to decide whether to STAY or GO.
If she goes, she meets this nice college boy, Chris, who’s kind of perfect for her, and she goes to live with her father, while running away from all of her problems, and goes to this new school where everyone hates her. If she stays, she makes up with her mother and sister and lives with them, stays with her best friend and school, and finally gets to go out with Joel, the boy she’s had a crush on for years.
From the beginning, it didn’t make much sense for her character to stay, even if it was the right thing to do. And I honestly think that her going made more sense, and worked better for her character, and that she finally learned not to run away, to be less selfish, to be a better person. I think that her going was better, and so I want to believe that that’s the choice she makes.
Because the ending doesn’t tell us! What is that crap? I started wondering, about 50 pages from the end, if both decisions were going to sync up and they were going to make some statement about both leading to the same place. And while I kind of believe that, sure, that doesn’t make me happy. Because the journey matters, and I need to know which journey she went on, goddamnit. I mean it fits and all that, but I just want to know.
Aside from that. The story started weak, I was starting to think I wasn’t going to like it, when things changed, and it got a lot better. I like how Caroline grew, where her relationship with everyone went and ended up. I knew from very early on that I wasn’t going to like Joel, because he was a jerk. I knew immediately that I was going to love Chris and that he fit perfectly with Caroline, and I was right. They’re perfect together, and I love them, and I love him. I love Chris, he’s awesome.
Caroline’s relationships with everyone aside from Joel and Chris, I think, should have gotten more attention. We got some stuff, and they did grow by the end, but the reader didn’t actually get to read a lot of that growth. I mean, I think it worked by the end of the book. But a high majority of this book is focused on the romance, which I don’t particularly mind because I love reading romance and would rather read that most of the time, but the other relationships needed more attention, too.
A big part of Carline's fighting with her family and friends only happened because none of the characters were being empathetic. This annoyed me so very much. Particularly her relationship with her sister, for example, who looks at Caroline as a spoiled, whiny brat, because she never tries to see why Caroline does what she does. Not for an instant does she try to think, from Caroline's point of view, why she wouldn't want to stay with her mother, or why she wouldn't want to be at the hospital. Caroline doesn't try to see from her sister's point of view, either. Until suddenly they make up, in like two pages, without any real development. The whole making up process seemed way too fast, not realistic at all.
Overall, I rather liked this book. I wasn’t sure at first, but it was good. I enjoyed it. I’ve read some of Young’s other books and plan to read more, and should be reading one of Patrick’s soon.
maggiespages's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book! Cat Patrick is one of my favorite authors and I've never read anything by Suzanne Young so I decided to read this when I found it in my Christmas stocking :) It took me a second to realize that the story was playing out in two different ways, and I was nervous I would get confused between the two, but this story is so well written that I didn't, and before I knew it, I was reading the epilogue! I thought the story ended wonderfully, it wrapped up all my questions except one, but now that I think about it, I love that (SPOILER!) we never get to read which path Caroline took, it makes the whole experience of reading this book so much better. Again, I loved it!
terrabme's review against another edition
4.0
Originally I wanted to read this book because I was obsessed with one of the authors, Suzane Young. But when I finally got around to reading it, I didn't have too high hopes, but it turned out to be pretty damn good.
The concept is that the mc makes two different choices and it follows how a single choice and fate can affect your life.
A very good, feel good book.
The concept is that the mc makes two different choices and it follows how a single choice and fate can affect your life.
Spoiler
I really like how this book ended. How each story line grew more and more similar until the epilogue where they merged into one. Like it was her fate to make up with her sister and end up with Christopher.A very good, feel good book.
_booksandbells's review against another edition
4.0
Just read this entire thing in one sitting because I had to know!
scythefranz's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Since I have read Pivot Point which is about parallel worlds and I really loved, I'm expecting a lot with Just Like Fate. Yet, it failed me. Maybe it's just really my expectations that there will be some paranormal events will occur in this book, thus led to my disappointments. I should have known from the start that it was really a contemporary one and no superpowers involved. (Perks of not reading the blurb?) Though, it was still a good read because it had tackled fate, destiny, choices and mistakes and I quite enjoyed the funny dialogues and the story itself.
Since I have read Pivot Point which is about parallel worlds and I really loved, I'm expecting a lot with Just Like Fate. Yet, it failed me. Maybe it's just really my expectations that there will be some paranormal events will occur in this book, thus led to my disappointments. I should have known from the start that it was really a contemporary one and no superpowers involved. (Perks of not reading the blurb?) Though, it was still a good read because it had tackled fate, destiny, choices and mistakes and I quite enjoyed the funny dialogues and the story itself.
joyousreads132's review against another edition
3.0
Oh how my life would be so much different if I were given a the chance to preview the end result of a decision I must make at a given time!
Just Like Fate is not so much a story about a girl who's been given the chance to re-do one night but more like readers are given two perspectives on how each of her choices turned out. We see where each roads will take her and what's waiting for her at the end of those roads.
It wasn't anything to do with some freak thing that happened a la Groundhog Day or anything. This is more like the authors telling Caroline's story in two tangents; sort of what would happen if she chose one path over the other. On a night when her grandmother was practically on her deathbed, she had to choose between staying beside her or to go to a party with her friends.
Now, I know what you're thinking. This should be a no-brainer. Unless Caroline is a selfish, spoiled girl who only cared about herself that she would choose to go to a party. Honestly, I'm thinking the same thing. I don't care how difficult life has been for you but if you claim to feel so much love for your grandma, you better damn well stay right beside her bed until she expels her last breath. But if there was only one choice then there wouldn't be a book.
So the authors created two stories of what if scenarios.
If she goes, she meets the most incredible guy in the entire universe.
If she stays she has the chance to say goodbye to her grandmother.
If she goes, she'll resent her best friend for coercing her to going.
If she stays, Joel, her long-time crush will finally pay her some attention.
If she goes, her grandmother will perish into the night without a word, goodbye - thus earning some underlying resentment from her family.
If she stays, she'll miss the chance to bridge a broken relationship between her and her estranged father.
What I like about this story was even though there were two paths, they ended up parallel to each other somehow. If Caroline got injured in one, she'll also suffer the same fate only in different circumstances. We're also given two different Carolines: the one that stayed was a little bit braver despite being completely devastated. The one who went somehow lost some of her courage, defeated by guilt. She gave up way too easily and had become easily fooled.
Over all, I do like the concept. Some readers will find a certain lack of cohesiveness to the story but you'd be missing the point if that's what you're worried about. You should just enjoy its simplicity.
Just Like Fate is not so much a story about a girl who's been given the chance to re-do one night but more like readers are given two perspectives on how each of her choices turned out. We see where each roads will take her and what's waiting for her at the end of those roads.
It wasn't anything to do with some freak thing that happened a la Groundhog Day or anything. This is more like the authors telling Caroline's story in two tangents; sort of what would happen if she chose one path over the other. On a night when her grandmother was practically on her deathbed, she had to choose between staying beside her or to go to a party with her friends.
Now, I know what you're thinking. This should be a no-brainer. Unless Caroline is a selfish, spoiled girl who only cared about herself that she would choose to go to a party. Honestly, I'm thinking the same thing. I don't care how difficult life has been for you but if you claim to feel so much love for your grandma, you better damn well stay right beside her bed until she expels her last breath. But if there was only one choice then there wouldn't be a book.
So the authors created two stories of what if scenarios.
If she goes, she meets the most incredible guy in the entire universe.
If she stays she has the chance to say goodbye to her grandmother.
If she goes, she'll resent her best friend for coercing her to going.
If she stays, Joel, her long-time crush will finally pay her some attention.
If she goes, her grandmother will perish into the night without a word, goodbye - thus earning some underlying resentment from her family.
If she stays, she'll miss the chance to bridge a broken relationship between her and her estranged father.
What I like about this story was even though there were two paths, they ended up parallel to each other somehow. If Caroline got injured in one, she'll also suffer the same fate only in different circumstances. We're also given two different Carolines: the one that stayed was a little bit braver despite being completely devastated. The one who went somehow lost some of her courage, defeated by guilt. She gave up way too easily and had become easily fooled.
Over all, I do like the concept. Some readers will find a certain lack of cohesiveness to the story but you'd be missing the point if that's what you're worried about. You should just enjoy its simplicity.
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
When I first heard about Just Like Fate, I was ecstatic. Two of my favorite authors writing a book together? That was all I needed to add this one to my TBR. When the rave reviews started pouring in, I was even more excited. I’m really happy to say that my excitement was totally for a good reason. Just Like Fate is a new favorite of mine, for sure.
Caroline is an easy girl to like. It wouldn’t seem like that at first but there was never any doubt in my mind that she was a great character. She is torn about attending a party to see the guy she likes or stay by her dying grandmother’s side. Seems petty, right? Not really. She’s a teenager and I found her dilemma to be realistic. She loves her grandmother but she is also just like any other teenage girl wanting to catch the eye of her crush. It might have seemed like an easy decision at first but things spiraled with that one decision and the story was addicting.
The story is told in alternating chapters, based on Caroline’s decision to stay with her grandmother or go to the party. It reminded me a lot of Pivot Point in how it was written. It was amazing to see how Caroline’s one decision changed every aspect of her life. Her relationships with her family, friends, and boys, as well as her own self-esteem and confidence were affected by her choice. It was also pretty amazing to see how things could work out no matter what choice she made. Just Like Fate is all about how you can’t change something if it’s truly meant to happen.
The romance, between Caroline and both boys, was great. Sure I was rooting for one of them way more than the other but Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young did a good job of making both boys attractive and understandable. They just did a better job with one than with the other. Christopher had my heart from the very first time I met him. He was so sweet and adorable and he will melt your heart, for sure!
Overall, Just Like Fate is a must read for fans of Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young. I can only hope they decide to write more together in the future because it was pure awesomeness!
Caroline is an easy girl to like. It wouldn’t seem like that at first but there was never any doubt in my mind that she was a great character. She is torn about attending a party to see the guy she likes or stay by her dying grandmother’s side. Seems petty, right? Not really. She’s a teenager and I found her dilemma to be realistic. She loves her grandmother but she is also just like any other teenage girl wanting to catch the eye of her crush. It might have seemed like an easy decision at first but things spiraled with that one decision and the story was addicting.
The story is told in alternating chapters, based on Caroline’s decision to stay with her grandmother or go to the party. It reminded me a lot of Pivot Point in how it was written. It was amazing to see how Caroline’s one decision changed every aspect of her life. Her relationships with her family, friends, and boys, as well as her own self-esteem and confidence were affected by her choice. It was also pretty amazing to see how things could work out no matter what choice she made. Just Like Fate is all about how you can’t change something if it’s truly meant to happen.
The romance, between Caroline and both boys, was great. Sure I was rooting for one of them way more than the other but Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young did a good job of making both boys attractive and understandable. They just did a better job with one than with the other. Christopher had my heart from the very first time I met him. He was so sweet and adorable and he will melt your heart, for sure!
Overall, Just Like Fate is a must read for fans of Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young. I can only hope they decide to write more together in the future because it was pure awesomeness!