Pivot Point by Kasie WestSeries: Pivot Point #1
Published by: HarperTeen on February 12, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Time Travel
Pages: 320
Source: Edelweiss
Buy on Amazon • Book Details
Rating: ★★★★★
Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman's life is one big âWhat if?â As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the âNorms,â or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through . . . and who she can't live without.
If there is any book in the world that can give you a book orgasm, it’s this one.
Pivot Point is not just one of my favourite books. Screw favourite book of the month, or favourite book of the year. Screw favourite paranormal or favourite science fiction. This is at THE TOP. As in favourite book ever. As in the best book I have EVER read. Pivot Point was always really good, but when I got to the ending, my mind was completely blown, and this book soared to the top of my list. To see everything come together (Addie’s two paths) was just PHENOMENAL, flawless, and heartbreaking. And holy sweet Searching, I wanted to stomp and kick and rage when the book ended because I NEEDED more!!! I Twitter stalked harassed threatened messaged Kasie, demanding book two immediately.
Lately, all of my favourite books have been new adult contemporary romances with that bursting-at-the-seams emotional trauma. It’s almost like I can’t love a book unless it has that gut-wrenching shake-me-to-my-core feel to it. Pivot Point has a bit of that, but what makes it different (other than the paranormal twist) is that it’s brimming with originality and suspense, and it has a structure that can only be described as pure genius. This book is executed flawlessly and will keep you hooked, addicted, and all kinds of psyched out. It was almost like I didn’t even care about my life any more. I just sat down and read and read and read and read because it was SO FREAKING GOOD and I could not be parted with it. You would have had to pry the book from my cold, dead hands. You weren’t getting it away from me any other way.
Those other books I mentioned are good, but they’re just emotionally jerking. I love that, and it’s amazing, but Pivot Point made me see something more than that. This is an amazing example of a book that is so intricate, so complex, and yet delivered simply and flawlessly. It has “carefully crafted” written all over it.
Honestly, I was a little nervous of Pivot Point at first. I mean, two futures, two lives? That sounded really confusing! But somehow, Kasie West manages to pull it off with ZERO confusion! It was flawless. Just imagine: two paths—two different futures—both playing out simultaneously. They’re different, but there’s distinct overlap. You see how the futures have similar elements, and even a few similar events, but they are executed slightly differently. How the bloody hell do you pull that off? Ask Kasie West.
So in this book, we follow out these two paths in alternating chapters. The two paths lead to different love interests! BACK OFF OF TREVOR, HE’S MINE. *ahem* At first I was totally and completely torn between the two. They were different, but they were both pretty darn hot. But as the book progressed, I easily picked a side (oh Trevor, how I loveth thou!). Their relationship is really slow-building, tender, and sweet. And Trevor is the perfect book boyfriend. Honestly, my favourite part of the book was when Addie messed up and Trevor found out. In normal YA books, the love interest would have been pissed and raged out of there without an explanation. But Trevor was kind and patient. Sure, he was disappointed, but he allowed Addie to explain. Oh my god why don’t more YA boys do that???
The characters in this book are just all so likeable (or hate-able). The dialogue had me constantly giggling, laughing out loud, and squealing with delight! I kept texting my boyfriend incoherent things like, “OH MY GOD! THIS IS AMAZING! THIS IS AMAZING! MY BOOK IS SO GOOD!! HOLY SHDFOISD;MNA!”!i” Addie was hilarious, but without trying to be.
“I don’t care when people think I’m an antisocial, controlling bookworm because that’s what I am. It’s when they interpret me wrong that I have a problem.”
Addie, ARC of Pivot Point by Kasie West
“Thanks. And can we just get this out of the way? Your eyelashes make mine want to commit suicide from shame.”
Addie to Trevor, ARC of Pivot Point by Kasie West
I wanted to cry my eyes out when this book ended. Yes, it was sad, but mostly I wanted to cry because the pure, solid genius that is Pivot Point had ended. It took my brain a while to actually compute that. PIVOT POINT? ENDED?? WHAT?? ARE WE DIVIDING BY ZERO??? The way this book unravels is just so heart pounding; it left me awe-struck. Like.. I couldn’t move. My eyes were actually all wide like basketballs O_O And when I finally regained my composure, cue insane, mindless Tweeting, sobbing, crying, and bribing at Kasie West for book two.
The end of this book actually reminded me a bit of Heroes, which was a really cool surprise. I didn’t even think about that connection until the very end. I won’t tell you why, to avoid spoilers, but just know that it is FREAKING AWESOME. I wanted to cry because I didn’t have book two. I pity the book I will read next because it will not be this good. I’m going to curl up in a ball in a corner and rock back and forth like a crazy person until book two is released. When is that? February 2014. So I guess I’ll see you guys in one year, because I will be in no state to write reviews until then.
Kasie West single-handedly cures jet lag
Prior to reading this book, I was suffering from severe jet lag for an entire week. I was going to bed at like 6pm, waking up at 4am, taking a nap from 10am-12pm, and then starting all over again. It was absurd. But Kasie West is solely responsible for saving me from a life of being nocturnal. Normally I would have gotten tired at 6pm, or maybe 8/9pm if I was lucky. But, no. Because I was reading Pivot Point. I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. So instead of succumbing to exhaustion, I stayed up until 11:30pm. ELEVEN THIRTY. For a jet lagged person like myself, this was HUGE. And when I finally did go to bed, I lay there mumbling variations of “holy shit” and “wow”. I’m not even just saying that for the sake of this review, I actually did that.
Going to bed at 11:30pm allowed me to finally sleep through the night, waking up at a more reasonable 8:30am. THANK YOU KASIE WEST!! Thank you Pivot Point, thank you HarperTeen. You guys have banded together to cure an almost-nocturnal bookworm. My would-have-been-skipped-because-I-was-sleeping-during-the-day classes thank you as well.
The moral of the story is…
Go buy this book IMMEDIATELY!! Or else I will find you. And haunt you. And hurt you. And… *ahem*.
The Verdict
I wasn’t sure if I was going to read Pivot Point, but after seeing you rave about it I’m definitely going to give it a chance. From what you’ve written I’d be crazy not to give it a go.
You have to read it!! I promise, it’s EPIC! 😀
I’ve been hearing about Pivot Point from a lot of blogs and it sounds so good! The story sounds absolutely amazing, two potential lives, oh boy sounds so awesome! Definitely going to get it when it comes out, can’t wait! 😀 Great review!
You are going to LOVE it Charlotte!!! 😀
Whoa. What an extremely positive review. Actually, I think this may be the most positive review I’ve ever seen! And you’ve succeeded in moving this book up to the top of my wishlist! I’m really intrigued now!
I hope you like it as much as I did Taylor! 🙂
I adore your enthusiasm!!! YES this book was made of awesome and of wonderment! And the best? I didn’t expect to love this book so freaking much!
Just as you said Kasie West managed to create a tale with two future and no confusion AT ALL! It was perfect! simply perfect!
I was so excited when I heard that there is going to be a sequel!!! WOOT
OMG Danny!!! I’m so happy that you loved this book too!! It was so amazing and flawless! The ending was insane. I am DYING to read book 2! I can’t believe we actually have to wait for it! *grumbles*
OMG I cannot wait to read this one!!!! <3 So glad you loved it!
And also, LOVE the badges!!! How cute are those!
Thank you Brittany!! 😀
WOW! I already knew I really wanted to read this one, but now you’ve got me desperate to get it! I’ve actually got it open in my iBook store, sooooo… yeah I think I’m just gonna have to go ahead and grab this one right now! Such and awesome review!!! We’ve got pretty similar tastes in books (at least from reviews I’ve seen of yours), so I’m thinking if this book affected you this way, I’m hoping I’ll really like it too! 🙂
DEFINITELY read it, Helen!! You are going to love it! At least I hope you will!!
F*ck a Duck and a Blue Kangaroo. Why must you make books sound so amazing? I have this book to read but I wont be able to get to it until later this month. I way overdid my review obligations and now my schedule is packed for like three weeks straight. But now i wish I could read this sooner. I mean, J H Christ, I am freaking out. I had a feeling this book was going to be good too. Thanks so much for the awesome review. Though, I am scared about the sad ending.
LMAO!!! I totally laughed at your “F*ck a Duck and a Blue Kangaroo”. Where did that come from??? XD
I really hope you love this book, Jennifer! Even if you can’t read it for a while. But read it eventually or I will hunt you down.
It was a complete fluke. I was around my family and my Dad hurt himself so he said “Fuck” and my Mom said “a Duck” just to be funny and I wrapped it up with “and a Blue Kangaroo” And now we always say it. My family is weird. O_o
Can’t WAIT to read 😀 Omg this review made me laugh because of your fangirling. I WANT it 😀 haha amazing review.
I love this review! I have an ARC of Pivot Point and you are making me want to pull it out and devour it right now. Those quotes are hilarious! I’m flying out of the country in three weeks time, so maybe I should wait to read this until I get home, cause “Kasie West single-handedly cures jet lag” demands to be tested. 🙂
Hahaha yes!! Definitely see if Kasie West can cure your jet lag. 😉 I bet she can!
HOLY CRAP GIRL. YOU ARE MAKING ME SO EXCITED. And kinda cursing my YA ban! MEEP! But I pre-ordered it a few days ago so I’ll have a shiny copy to read! I’m soooo glad you loved it. I’m bound to love it then! Fabulous review and banner as ALWAYS Ashey!!! (yeah I left out the L. 😀 ) ANYWAY…*hugs*
XX, Inky
OH MY GOD!!! INKY MY DEAR!!! I cannot freaking wait for you to read this book!!! Seriously. You better love it or else! OR. ELSE.!! That is all. <3
OH I WILL. I don’t think I could face you if I didn’t…
I love how enthusiastic your review is, Ashley! Reading it made me smile. I have read pretty positive reviews about the book thus far, and it’s nice to know that you also agree. While I am not a fan of having to start yet another YA series, at least it seems as though the experience of reading this book will make it more than worth it! 🙂
It’s absolutely worth it!! 😀
Sounds like you really liked this one! Haha, It’s been on my TBR pile forever and i can’t wait to start it especially after your review! If your saying it’s pure genouis than it must be ! 🙂
I really want to read this, can’t wait for it to come out. I’m glad you liked it because some of the other reviews I’ve seen didn’t seem to care for it much, gives me hope.
Well, first off, I love how enthusiastic you are about this book. It’s really awesome when a book can create that kind of emotional response in its readers, and that’s definitely something I look for in my own all-time favorite novels. I’m also glad to hear that you didn’t Find the dual timeline to be confusing at all. None of the reviews I’ve read for this book have mentioned that West made things confusing, and I definitely think that’s important.
Truth: I keep meaning to get this because everyone is so excited about it, but I always forget. Yeesh, what is wrong with me?
Stop forgetting! Read it NOW!! LOL 😀 But yeah, I was thrilled that the concept was so clear and easy to understand! Kasie did a brilliant job with it.
I loved this one too, esp the romance.
Happy reading,
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
I only read the moral (don’t want to spoil myself the fun!), but that already made me laugh. ^^ I’m sooooo looking forward to reading this once it gets out!!
I hope you LOVE it!! 😀
Awesome review. I have this book and just need to read it. For some reason it keeps getting put on the backburner. I think i need to change that!
My favorite thing about this book was that she turned it into so much more than just two separate paths she could have taken (like the movie Sliding Doors). She added a twist ending and made it so tragic and awesome!!! I loved it as much as you did. I was a little depressed after I finished it that I couldn’t find anything that was just as good. She’s coming to Utah the day after I move and I hope so bad that I get to meet her. Loved your review!!
OMG I’m so jealous that you might get to meet her!!!! I wish I could too. And yes, the twist at the end was crazy and awesome, and my heart was pounding a million miles a minute!!
I just got this book in the mail! And The Distance Between Us too. =D
Could please please please recommend more awesome books like Pivot Point. I also liked Parallel a lot but not as much as Pivot Point. This book is something else, with the right amount of sci-fi, romance, suspense….just loved it. Please recommend someone similar!! :))