Early Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West
Pivot Point by Kasie West
Pivot Point #1
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.
Just because Addie can see the outcome of any choice she makes before she actually makes it, doesn't make those decisions any easier, especially when she holds the memories from both paths. So, she's never looked more than a few days into the future. At least that was until her parents announce that they are getting a divorce and that she must decide who she wants to live with. She looks an unprecedented six weeks into the future. Each life leads a very different path, but sometimes there is no right choice as both roads can lead to love and pain. So all that's left to choose is the path she can live with. Even if it means giving up the one thing she's always wanted.
PIVOT POINT is told in a rotating chapter sequence that does take a little bit to get used to, but I think it is that rotating that really makes the book. As Addie searched her decision, we got to see those two opposing choices played out in alternation. I just really enjoyed how the two different paths intersected several times throughout PIVOT POINT. In fact, they both told the same overall story, just took two very different directions to reach the end. Each choice came with horrible consequences as this story really showed that knowing the future isn't a blessing but a curse. Getting even further into the curse aspect of Addie's ability, each time she looks into the future about opposing choices, she actually lives each choice, and then keeps those paths as memories, even the one she doesn't choose. Imagine knowing something horrible that could have been, but will never actually happen, and having to live with that "false" memory. Every choice we make can lead to very different outcomes, and all those many different lives add up over time. I can't blame Addie for limiting her searches to short amounts of time to help reduce the "clutter" in her head. Even though this side effect was terrible for Addie, it only ramped up my enjoyment of PIVOT POINT. I vastly prefer books where powers come with downsides as I just have a hard time really getting into stories where things come way to easy for the protagonist, so I'm glad that wasn't the case in this book.
I absolutely adore Addie. She's just so level headed and responsible in a society that has a serious superiority complex. While the rest of her community sees normal people as inferior, Addie just sees them as well normal. She doesn't flaunt her abilities and has a general respect for living life. She doesn't use her advanced mental abilities for everything, and while some would say she's a naturalist for this, I don't agree. She still believes that advancing her mental abilities is important, she just doesn't let her entire life become consumed by that need. I think this is why I felt the path that led into the "normal" world also held the perfect match for her. Trevor just seemed a whole lot more grounded than the alternative. Definitely swoon worthy!
I have to admit, that this book really caught me off guard. Sure, I found the blurb to be interesting, but I wasn't expecting to be quite so amazing. I have to admit that Paranormal YAs have started to blend together a bit for me lately, so it is taking a bit more to impress me. PIVOT POINT not only impressed me, but in all honesty stood a step above the rest. To make a truly astounding book, you have to have three important things, a great premise, a good execution, and a great cast of characters. As far as PIVOT POINT goes, well, it hit that trifecta and earns a resounding recommendation from me. PIVOT POINT is an incredibly impressive read that is not to be missed. An absolute must buy!
(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)
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