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argentw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
relaxing
sad
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
leahegood's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Summary
Jack King has a major crush on his best friend. That's a problem because she's dating his other best friend and they're both great people who are great together. But then Jack meets Kate, and his life changes ... changes more than he initially realizes. Kate might just be the love of his life, but meeting her throws him into an inexplicable time loop that shows him how the decisions he makes might just be the difference between life and death.
My Thoughts
I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. It has a lot of good ingredients, most especially one of the most engaging and endearing character/narrator voices I've read in a while. The way Jack expressed himself (aka, the author's writing style for his character) was great, and Jack himself was refreshingly nerdy and comfortable in his own skin. However, I just couldn't get myself engaged with the story.
I went in hoping this would bear similarities to In 27 Days, but the only real similarity is the broad story concept of going back in time to try to prevent a death. That was the first strike against it for me, through no fault of its own. However, I also found a common complaint about time loop stories to be true. The time loop factor made most of the loops feel irrelevant. The stakes are high, sure. But there's enough story left that you know it's going to loop again. I did enjoy the final two loops, but that was after struggling through most of the book, seriously considering DNFing along the way.
Finally, I wish there had been less swearing. I know high schoolers swear, and I get that there's an argument to be made for realism. But..meh.
I'm sure this book resonates with many readers. It just didn't click for me.
Content
As mentioned, there was a lot of swearing in this story.
Romantic content was primarily undescribed kissing, occasionally escalating to making out. Characters routine joke and tease about going all the way (usually through various euphemisms). In a few scenes, characters cuddle laying on a couch or bed.
Injuries and medical content are non-graphic and minimally described. There is underage drinking and even potential implication of underage alcoholism.
Jack King has a major crush on his best friend. That's a problem because she's dating his other best friend and they're both great people who are great together. But then Jack meets Kate, and his life changes ... changes more than he initially realizes. Kate might just be the love of his life, but meeting her throws him into an inexplicable time loop that shows him how the decisions he makes might just be the difference between life and death.
My Thoughts
I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. It has a lot of good ingredients, most especially one of the most engaging and endearing character/narrator voices I've read in a while. The way Jack expressed himself (aka, the author's writing style for his character) was great, and Jack himself was refreshingly nerdy and comfortable in his own skin. However, I just couldn't get myself engaged with the story.
I went in hoping this would bear similarities to In 27 Days, but the only real similarity is the broad story concept of going back in time to try to prevent a death. That was the first strike against it for me, through no fault of its own. However, I also found a common complaint about time loop stories to be true. The time loop factor made most of the loops feel irrelevant. The stakes are high, sure. But there's enough story left that you know it's going to loop again. I did enjoy the final two loops, but that was after struggling through most of the book, seriously considering DNFing along the way.
Finally, I wish there had been less swearing. I know high schoolers swear, and I get that there's an argument to be made for realism. But..meh.
I'm sure this book resonates with many readers. It just didn't click for me.
Content
As mentioned, there was a lot of swearing in this story.
Romantic content was primarily undescribed kissing, occasionally escalating to making out. Characters routine joke and tease about going all the way (usually through various euphemisms). In a few scenes, characters cuddle laying on a couch or bed.
Injuries and medical content are non-graphic and minimally described. There is underage drinking and even potential implication of underage alcoholism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Grief
ib3readin's review against another edition
3.0
Think Groundhog Day in the 21st century, except with high schoolers. Cute. Intentionally corny and cliché, but completely unapologetic.
jayra's review against another edition
3.0
"What's scary is that you can drift and not realize it."
I love the premise, the plot, the setting for this book but it was until 5th loop? I want it to be over already. It feels traumatized to see people you love dies in front of you and I don't think I want to be able to see it again. Overall, I love the friendship between Franny, Jillian and Jack. It was an easy read.
I love the premise, the plot, the setting for this book but it was until 5th loop? I want it to be over already. It feels traumatized to see people you love dies in front of you and I don't think I want to be able to see it again. Overall, I love the friendship between Franny, Jillian and Jack. It was an easy read.
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
4.0
Wow…this was so good?! I’ve been on a fantasy kick recently and was really beginning to feel like I wasn’t enjoying books as much as I would normally. This book was a welcome relief from high fantasy overload. Whilst there is a tiny portion of magic related to time travel, the story is a contemporary romance and that is very much the plot focus.
Opposite of Always follows Jack King, a boy who always comes second. Second to his best friend (Franny) who got with his other best friend (Jillian) after Jack was too scared to ask her out; second to almost getting on the varsity team whilst his best friend did), second, second, second. At a party when Jack contemplates giving in and kissing Jillian, he meets Kate and is immediately blown away by her. What follows is months of falling in love and hopes of a happy ever after for everyone. But then Kate dies. Suddenly, Jack is stuck in a time loop, forced to re-live the same four months over and over, as he attempts to save Kate’s life. But as he tries, his other relationships begin to fall apart and Jack has to contemplate that maybe it’s not possible to save everyone he loves.
This was such a fun romance. I adored Jack and Kate together. There was so much banter, so many laugh out loud moments that made me snort with laughter. I did find the speed with which Jack seemed to forget his past feelings for Jillian a little unbelievable. Or, perhaps believable, but insincere. It marred the start of his relationship with Kate as I couldn’t really believe he was so suddenly in love with someone else. However, as we got to see them together across so many different timelines, it really helped the believability of their love, especially as Jack ended up living months and months of time together with Kate.
I loved the time loop element. Yes it is SUCH a trope. But I am a sucker for a good trope. It was so interesting to see Jack try so many different ways to get his happy ending. At first, he is so sure in what would make him happy. But as the different loops play out, we see the impact of Jack’s actions on those around him, and what makes Jack happy, can at times destroy others. And suddenly, what Jack thought would make him happiest is no longer true.
I really enjoyed that even though this book felt very uplifting and happy and I felt so joyful whenever I read it, it didn’t shy away from confrontational topics. From Franny’s non-existent dad who is newly released from jail, his re-arrest after a shop owner took offence to a black man in his shop, to the shootings of innocent black men, this book doesn’t shy away from contemporary world problems and it really shows the normalcy of these actions for so many people, which I think make it incredibly impactful.
Linking to my issues with Jack’s feelings are my issues with Jillain. I won’t give anything away, but suffice to say, there are reasons which make her seem like a very insincere character and I really wasn’t convinced of her relationship with Franny.
But despite the few small flaws, I really adored reading this. It was EXACTLY the break I needed in my reading, and it was so much fun. I felt so happy reading it, so many moments made me laugh, it’s a fantastic, trope filled, summery read!
Opposite of Always follows Jack King, a boy who always comes second. Second to his best friend (Franny) who got with his other best friend (Jillian) after Jack was too scared to ask her out; second to almost getting on the varsity team whilst his best friend did), second, second, second. At a party when Jack contemplates giving in and kissing Jillian, he meets Kate and is immediately blown away by her. What follows is months of falling in love and hopes of a happy ever after for everyone. But then Kate dies. Suddenly, Jack is stuck in a time loop, forced to re-live the same four months over and over, as he attempts to save Kate’s life. But as he tries, his other relationships begin to fall apart and Jack has to contemplate that maybe it’s not possible to save everyone he loves.
This was such a fun romance. I adored Jack and Kate together. There was so much banter, so many laugh out loud moments that made me snort with laughter. I did find the speed with which Jack seemed to forget his past feelings for Jillian a little unbelievable. Or, perhaps believable, but insincere. It marred the start of his relationship with Kate as I couldn’t really believe he was so suddenly in love with someone else. However, as we got to see them together across so many different timelines, it really helped the believability of their love, especially as Jack ended up living months and months of time together with Kate.
I loved the time loop element. Yes it is SUCH a trope. But I am a sucker for a good trope. It was so interesting to see Jack try so many different ways to get his happy ending. At first, he is so sure in what would make him happy. But as the different loops play out, we see the impact of Jack’s actions on those around him, and what makes Jack happy, can at times destroy others. And suddenly, what Jack thought would make him happiest is no longer true.
I really enjoyed that even though this book felt very uplifting and happy and I felt so joyful whenever I read it, it didn’t shy away from confrontational topics. From Franny’s non-existent dad who is newly released from jail, his re-arrest after a shop owner took offence to a black man in his shop, to the shootings of innocent black men, this book doesn’t shy away from contemporary world problems and it really shows the normalcy of these actions for so many people, which I think make it incredibly impactful.
Linking to my issues with Jack’s feelings are my issues with Jillain. I won’t give anything away, but suffice to say, there are reasons which make her seem like a very insincere character and I really wasn’t convinced of her relationship with Franny.
But despite the few small flaws, I really adored reading this. It was EXACTLY the break I needed in my reading, and it was so much fun. I felt so happy reading it, so many moments made me laugh, it’s a fantastic, trope filled, summery read!
isabelbrieler's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book but there were a couple things that just didn’t work for me. Main characters Jack and Kate never really pulled me in and even at points irritated me to the point of not doing any reading for days, but Jack’s friends Jillian and Franny kept me going. There were a bunch of really good scenes, but there was also a lot of nothing that didn’t really interest me too much. It was also extremely self-aware, too much so in my opinion. I think it’s a sign that it took me almost a month to finally finish this book — Opposite of Always just wasn’t for me.
fablereads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
laurenbookishtwins's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.
This was an enjoyable and unique reading experience. Whilst it focuses a lot on the romance between Jack and Kate (which is great, by the way -- they have GREAT chemistry), it also focuses on his friends and family and the ramifications his actions have on those around him. I thought to have Jack keep going back in time would be repetitive, but it wasn't -- there was a different narrative, choices, and repercussions that it was like a new story every time. All in all, this was a lovely book exploring choices, the future, importance of family and friends, loss, and falling in love. And that cover is gorgeous Full review to come.
This was an enjoyable and unique reading experience. Whilst it focuses a lot on the romance between Jack and Kate (which is great, by the way -- they have GREAT chemistry), it also focuses on his friends and family and the ramifications his actions have on those around him. I thought to have Jack keep going back in time would be repetitive, but it wasn't -- there was a different narrative, choices, and repercussions that it was like a new story every time. All in all, this was a lovely book exploring choices, the future, importance of family and friends, loss, and falling in love. And that cover is gorgeous Full review to come.
diaryofabookahloic's review against another edition
3.0
fun listen but was easy for me personally to put down
martinlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Such a sweet read. The languange just flowed, and the characters are just wow!