Amazon.com: What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
Oh boy, this book, this was a tough one to figure out for me. I started reading, liked the style but was a bit concerned that the same day repeating 7 times might get a little old, I had heard it didn't, but sadly the first 3 days turned out to be very similar in my mind. I gave the book a break for a few weeks and picked it back up. Luckily the days started to become more different, Sam began to speak her mind and shake things up and I was a bit more hooked. More characters were explored, Sam started to grow up and speak her mind. But the end was not good for me. I won't say much about it here so as not to spoil, but some people like these types of endings and sometimes I do as well. But it was written in such a way that I didn't get any sort of resolution or validation and I was left with frustration.
Sam is an interesting character, she was at her best when she was spending time with her little sister. Her friends are the mean popular girls that I never really was able to warm up to. It was kind of upsetting that Sam was like, well, that's just the way they are and I love them anyways. Her friend Lindsay especially got on my nerves, she was not a good person. In the end I did like that the 7 days explored the everyday things that could change in Sam's life, who she had lunch with, what she did after school, the more minor things. Things she took the time to do one day or the people she got to know another.
I most enjoyed the middle of the book when Sam gets to know her old friend Kent and hangs out with people other than her 3 good friends. Overall this book was frustrating to me, don't get me wrong there was something here it just didn't fit together perfectly for me.
Genre: Young Adult
2.5/5 Stars
ARC provided by the publisher
It makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one fawning over this book. It was OKAY, and I pretty much agree with your review.
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten a chance to read this one yet, but I am looking forward to it, despite the mixed reviews. Thanks for being honest!
ReplyDeleteI was beginning to think I was the only one who didn't adore this book. I enjoyed reading it, but it was mostly okay for me. I'm glad I'm not alone!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one and I think I won't be able to ,until it appears in the bookstores here but I have seen just praises for this one for a while until yesterday when I saw the first slightly neg review and today you brought out points that didn't gel with u.
ReplyDeleteNow I know how high or not so high ,to set my expectations :)
Love your honest review. I'm really curious about this book though, so will pick it up.
ReplyDeleteWow, I think this is the first non-glowing review I've read. If it frustrated you, though, it will probably drive me crazy!
ReplyDeleteI almost bought this book this weekend. Glad I chose something else. I may try it sometime but I'll be getting it from the library!
ReplyDeleteGreat honest review! I really enjoyed this one but it wasn't the "5 stars" read I thought it would be. My favorite moments were with her little sister, too.
ReplyDeleteI almost picked this book up over the weekend. I'm kind of glad that I did since I couldn't remember what people were saying about this but I'm on the fence about how I'd take to reading about the same day from 7 different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteGood review though, thanks for the heads up. =)
Well, I always like honest reviews, but I think I'll try it if I have the chance, anyway. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice honest review, but I really liked this book. However, I can see why it was frustrating at times.
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed this book, so I was surprised you didn't! Thanks for being honest though.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this one didn't work for you. You make a good point about how the retelling of the same day over and over again was a risk and I agree that the first couple of retellings were so similar it was worrisome. But when the big changes started to happen it made that all fall into the back of my mind. In the end I think those later chapters made the whole thing worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you followed this one up with a book you really enjoyed :)
So glad to see someone else wasn't a fan of this book either!!
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