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Book Review: Pivot Point – Kasie West

Pivot Point
Author: Kasie West
Series: Pivot Point #1
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
My Rating:

Summary:

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier…
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” 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 “Norms,” 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.

 
First Sentence: “Heads up,” a loud voice called from my right.

My Review:

I’ve heard nothing but good things about Pivot Point – how it was an excellent debut, how engaging it is, and how it is the best book ever. Sadly, I didn’t feel the same way about Pivot Point. For me, Pivot Point was just an okay read. In fact, if it wasn’t for the last half of the book, Pivot Point would have obtained 3 stars from me instead of 3.5 stars.

Simply put, the beginning half of Pivot Point didn’t catch my attention. In fact, it bored me to death. Maybe it’s because I just read Scarlet, which was soo good and nothing could match up to that (except Anna and the French Kiss of course). Maybe it’s because I had some very high expectations of Pivot Point because everyone I knew was praising it so highly. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t enjoy the beginning.

The last half of Pivot Point was what saved Pivot Point. It was a little more engaging and threw so many plot twists at me that I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen next. And what did happen just shocked me to my core – I knew Addie had no choice, but still. The end left me looking forward to reading the next book just to see what would happen next.

One major problem for me while I was reading Pivot Point was the fact that I was not into reading the potential future where Addie stays with her mom, but only the potential future where she stays with her dad. The reason why I was looking forward to reading one potential future, but not the other, is because of a guy named Trevor – I’ve read so many reviews praising him and his awesomeness so much that I knew who would ultimately win out for Addie’s affections in the end, so why bother reading about the other guy competing for Addie when I can read about a truly awesome guy? In case you didn’t know, Pivot Point is told from two different alternative futures: one chapter would be focused on Addie staying with her mom, the next would be focused on her stay with her dad, then repeat. So basically, once I finished reading a Trevor chapter, I would rush through the next chapter, not really being engaged with it, until I reached a Trevor chapter once again.

Addie was also a little bit too weird for me. She meets this new guy, writes a weird note and leaves it on his desk, and starts stalking him (and eavesdrop on an important conversation he was engaging in) because she wanted him to be her new best friend. If he knew what she was doing, he’ll probably run far, far away. I’ll probably run far, far away from Addie when I found out what she was doing.

I wonder what’s going to happen in the sequel to Pivot Point, specifically how Kasie West is going to write it. Would it be about two potential futures Addie could choose or would it be read like a regular novel? I’ll probably read the sequel to Pivot Point just to answer that question and find out what Kasie West has next on her sleeve. Hopefully I would like the sequel a lot better than I liked Pivot Point.

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 2-25-13 · 36 Comments
Categories: 2013 book, book review Tagged: 3.5 star

« Book Review: Scarlet – Marissa Meyer
Top Ten Authors That I’d Put On My Auto-Buy List »

Speak Your Mind

  1. FourDivergent says

    2-25-13 at 6:06 AM

    I agree that so many people have been singing this books praises. I almost bought it on a trip to Barnes and Noble but decided against it at the last second. I’m going to see if it’s in our library system. I don’t know how I feel about each chapter being from an alternate possible future.
    http://theparanormaladdictionbookblog.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:10 PM

      Yeah, I’ll definitely recommend you borrow the book first instead of buying it straight away. That way, if you just thought it was okay like me, you won’t feel like you could have bought a better book.
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Ella says

    2-25-13 at 8:42 AM

    I have read quite a few reviews of this book, and while most of them said the book was really good, I wasn’t quite drawn to Pivot Point.. Just like you said, it sounds okay, but that’s about it.

    Ella
    Read Into Hiding

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:12 PM

      I’m quite glad I’m not the black sheep in this.
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Kimberly Vincent says

    2-25-13 at 10:03 AM

    I don’t think I am ever going to read this one, mainly because I stay away form time travel books. I can’t stand time travel in any shape or form and the summary makes it seem like time travel.
    The main character stalked him??? I have never read a book were the MC does that, I don’t think I ever want to.
    Great review :).

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:15 PM

      Pivot Point is not really a time travel book. It’s a book that explores two different choices/situations.
      LOL, in Ink by Amanda Sun, the main character also stalked the love interest. :P
      Thank you! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Leah @ The Pretty Good Gatsby says

    2-26-13 at 10:14 AM

    While Pivot Point will NEVER be considered a favorite of mine – or anything close to a favorite – I have to admit I was pretty surprised. I went into the book with pretty low expectations and assumed it’d be a typical paranormal YA where a Plain Jane falls for a few Hot Mysterious Boys. Imagine my surprise when I started to enjoy the book!

    I definitely enjoyed her time with her dad way more; to be honest, I didn’t exactly care much about Trevor, but his was the Happy Scenario, whereas Duke treated Addie horribly. Perhaps that’s why so many people are loving Trevor?

    & no love triangle = an automatic win in my book. :)

    Lovely new layout, btw!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 12:20 PM

      Yeah, I agree, I was fairly surprised with Pivot Point, but only with the end. The beginning was similar to other young adult books I’ve read, but the end set it far apart from them.
      And yeah, Pivot Point had no love triangle, even though it should be a love triangle LOL.
      And thank you! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  5. Judith (Paper Riot) says

    2-28-13 at 4:09 PM

    I’m actually glad that I read this book before most people, because I don’t know if I would have liked it otherwise. I might have been more disappointed because of high expectations etc. Because to be honest, though I enjoyed it from the start, I thought the first 2/3 part was just okay. It was definitely the ending that made me love it, because there were so many surprising plot twists and things that gave me goosebumps (not the romance, though). I was VERY happy with the sort of cliffhanger ending, because I wasn’t expecting it. Oh well, I really enjoyed it. I’m curious what’s going to happen in the sequel, and I also hope you like that one better! :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:02 PM

      That’s the thing – if the beginning half is boring for me, I just force myself to finish the rest of the book and not really get INTO it, even if it’s good because the beginning tired me out so much. Pivot Point was like that, but the last few chapters managed to surprise me because like you said, I wasn’t expecting it.
      And hopefully I’ll like the next one better too! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  6. Ashley Rogers says

    3-02-13 at 9:33 AM

    I am so sad to hear that this wasn’t as good of a book as everyone thought it would be. I was really looking forward to reading this book. I love the cover! I will probably just wait and borrow it from someone down the road. Thanks for sharing your review!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:06 PM

      No problem!
      And nah Ashley, it just looks like I’m in the minority here. Other people LOVED Pivot Point.
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Eleanor says

    3-05-13 at 11:53 AM

    I actually loved this book. I think the concept is fascinating and the execution is beautiful. I’m really looking forward to the 2nd book.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:07 PM

      Yeah, the concept is so unique. I’m quite curious to see what will happen in the 2nd book, especially with that HUGE cliffhanger.
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  8. blackcapfanatic says

    3-06-13 at 2:32 AM

    I love the concept of this book!! Dying to read it.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:16 PM

      I hope you’ll enjoy it more than I did! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Chyna says

    7-29-13 at 8:13 AM

    I’m also quite curious :)) Great review

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-29-13 at 1:17 PM

      LOL, I think you’ll enjoy this one Chyna! ;D
      Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth NorrisMy Profile

      Reply
  10. Brianna says

    8-04-13 at 2:45 PM

    I want to read this book soo badly! It sounds really interesting and alot of people have been raving about it! :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-04-13 at 2:47 PM

      I bet you’ll love Pivot Point Brianna! ;D
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: A Tale of Two Centuries – Rachel HarrisMy Profile

      Reply
  11. Jaime Lester says

    8-27-13 at 11:01 PM

    Aww! I am so sorry! I have been looking forward to this one for a long time. It is scary thinking it may not be as fabulous as I hope….. :(

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-28-13 at 1:19 PM

      Most people LOVED Pivot Point. Maybe you’ll be in that category Jaime. o:
      Kelly recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday [34]My Profile

      Reply
  12. Michelle @ Unraveling Books says

    10-03-13 at 12:47 PM

    This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! I actually cried while reading it because the ending made me so sad! It was so heartbreaking! I’m actually kind of bummed that there’s going to be a sequel but I still can’t wait to read it!
    Michelle @ Unraveling Books recently posted…The Road to You – Book Blitz!My Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-05-13 at 7:24 PM

      With that ending, I don’t know why you’re bummed that there’s a sequel. I was DYING for a sequel because Pivot Point CAN NOT end like that. It CAN’T. (Denial at its finest.)
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [52]My Profile

      Reply
  13. Frannie Panglossa says

    10-15-13 at 4:43 PM

    I’m so curious about reading this book! I really like the plot and I’m only waiting for the paperback copy to be available to finally buy it! =D

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-19-13 at 9:55 PM

      I hope you’ll love this one when you get your hands on it Frannie! :D
      Meanwhile, there is always the library. ;D
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [54]My Profile

      Reply
  14. Ellen Le says

    10-17-13 at 4:16 PM

    Hmm I have no idea if I want to pick up Pivot Point now. I saw a Booktuber’s review on it (katytastic), and she did have her issues with it but she did enjoy it too. That’s when I decided to put Pivot Point on my TBR list. However, I did see Pivot Point at Barnes and Noble several times, but I didn’t pick it up for some reason. Maybe I’ll borrow it…..Thanks for the review!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-20-13 at 6:44 PM

      If you’re undecided about this one, I recommend you borrow Pivot Point from the library first, read it, then decide whether or not you still want to buy it. o:
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer – Katie AlenderMy Profile

      Reply
  15. Susan T. says

    10-17-13 at 8:13 PM

    I wish I could see the future results of the choices I make! I’m going to pick up this book to see how it works out for her.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-20-13 at 6:46 PM

      Me too! Then I’ll know whether or not to take that class or not. :P
      I hope you’ll enjoy this one Susan! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer – Katie AlenderMy Profile

      Reply
  16. HIllary R. says

    10-23-13 at 5:30 PM

    I’ve always thought Pivot Point had a pretty cover. And it’s not a book I could easily forget, but I haven’t come close at all to reading this series. And yes! I know the sequel’s out! :) I need to get to this book asap. Not only from all the great reviews I’ve read about it, but because the story itself sounds so interesting and I like that the concept is about what you would do if you could see the future. This is a definite read for me! :D

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      11-09-13 at 8:22 PM

      Pivot Point’s sequel is not out until February 2014, isn’t it? o:
      And the cover is indeed pretty!
      Glad to hear you’ll be reading this one sometime in the future; I hope you’ll enjoy it! ;D
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [57]My Profile

      Reply
  17. Joanna V says

    12-25-13 at 4:54 PM

    I know people are really looking forward to the sequel, but this is the only review I’ve read for Pivot Point. The fact that it’s told in possible futures is intriguing enough for me. I’ll pretend I didn’t read what you said about the guys. Maybe then I’ll be more interested aha. Sorry the beginning was so boring. I do hate when that happens. You can never quite forget about the awful beginning. My primary example is The Host. It’s 600 pages long and the first half of the book dragged on and on…
    This book isn’t 600 pages long right? Aha
    Thanks for the review though. I think I’ll be reading it, but I’ll keep my expectations low.
    Joanna V recently posted…A Christmas PostMy Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Monthly Wrap Up: February 2013 says:
    4-10-13 at 5:26 PM

    […] Daughter by Megan Shepherd (Rating: 3.0/5.0) 12. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Rating: 5.0/5.0) 13. Pivot Point by Kasie West (Rating: 3.5/5.0) 14. Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (Rating: 3.5/5.0) 15. Last Kiss […]

    Reply
  2. Another Look: Pivot Point – Kasie West says:
    2-14-14 at 9:11 AM

    […] the first time I read Pivot Point, I wasn’t all that impressed with it as you can see from my first review of Pivot Point. I was bored halfway through the book and it was honestly a struggle for me to read through the […]

    Reply
  3. Taylor Swift + Books = PURE HAPPINESS says:
    2-26-15 at 9:12 AM

    […] and on forever is definitely the Pivot Point duology by Kasie West. I wasn’t quite a fan of Pivot Point, but oh my goodness, Split Second pulled out all the feels. I just NEED more Trevor and Connor. […]

    Reply

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