The Oppisite Of Always by Justin a. Reynolds (book chat)

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Dear Reader,
First, a little notice, I am writing the wayward son review- it's long but I promise it's on its way. I'm like 2/3 quarters of the way through. I'm quite excited about it actually, it's definitely on its way. Also- happy advent everybody :) Today it's the 7th so we're a week in and I'm definitely not in the spirit yet, I think it's just because I've been having end of term tests all week and I'm absolutely shattered. I've actually made myself ill because I've been staying up till stupid hours tryna revise. Ah well TGIS.

My tune of this week was definitely Saturday by Sam Fender like on repeat whilst doing revision for like 4 hours straight.

Anyway, I'll start now- sorry.

Synopsis:

Jack Ellison King. King of Almost.
He almost made valedictorian.
He almost made varsity.
He almost got the girl . . . 
When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack. Jack’s curse of almost is finally over.
But this love story is . . . complicated. It is almost happily ever after. Because Kate dies. And their story should end there. Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Beautiful, radiant Kate. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind. Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do—and let go—to save the people he loves.

Okay so, I loved Jack. I thought he was a very realistic character. He gave up at one point and I kind of respect him for that. It was really raw and real.

To be honest, the first 1/2 of this book was very different from the 2/2. It felt like I was reading 2 different books. But that just could be because it took me so long to get through- it's exam season okay? 😄

I really liked it, it was a really really good read. It felt like for the first time in ages I read a book that I couldn't predict.

I loved Kate. I thought she was great but then I also think she and Jacks mum where 2 characters that weren't that developed. I mean we had her ex-boyfriend, but he just felt like an obstacle in the main plot, which isn't a bad thing but like he wasn't in it that much. So he felt a little bit pointless to me.

That's probably the one thing  I would say about this book, I would make Kate as developed as Franny and Jillian.

Yay, I can talk about them now.
I loved Fran and Jill, they were beautifully developed and they felt really real cause they had stuff going on as well as Jack. Overall I think their character side plots wove wonderfully with the rest of the book.

I didn't annotate this book and I'm kind of pissed at myself for not, I because there where so many little bits that I loved that I would have liked to mention in this but I can't remember- however, I remember a few bits.

The bit I remember that I could not stop laughing at. Was when Kate and Jack were at the prom when they where dancing and they were naming the dance moves. I was in a library lesson at the time and I could not stop laughing, I was literally crying. I can't remember the names but they were absolutely hilarious. Another little bit I laughed at was right at the end when Jack was karate-chopping the hospital guards. That was so jokes.

Some sad bits now,
The saddest bit was also right at the end when we found out that Jack had done this re-wind like 80 times. I almost cried, he's so sweet and persistent and I JUST LOVE HIM😂. Just imagine how hard it would be to be so in love with someone who doesn't recognise you. Heartbreaking, honestly.

Also, the speech the coupon made when Francisco got shot. The tears. And the slightly happier one Jacks dad made when they were in the grocery store about always choosing his mum.

I'm not gonna lie- I loved that plot twist of Jack and Jill. Well, I did until it all went to shit. #

Such a great book, honestly I loved it.
4.5/5

Love Issy x

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