Monday 4 March 2013

Book Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West.


Product details:
Publisher: HarperTeen.
Hardcover, 352 pages.
Release date: February 12th 2013.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Ages: 13+
Source: Received for review via Edelweiss.

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.


If books were relationships, and I was breaking up with Pivot Point by Kasie West, my parting words to it would be it’s not you, it’s me.  But we all know that line is never really true. The truth is that it takes two. And the truth is that there were things about Pivot Point that just didn’t work for me.  Still, I seem to be in the minority with my views on this one, and I can see why. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this book.  Pivot Point is well-written, well plotted, and Kasie West has some inventive and inspired ideas. For me though, there was something missing.

When Addie Coleman’s parents announce that they are divorcing, she doesn’t break down and cry. Instead she decides to conduct a search into her two possible futures.  Addie is a clairvoyant, raised in a secret community where everyone has paranormal abilities.  The rest of the book alternates between Addie’s life if she stays on the compound with her mom and her life out in the normal ‘Norm’ world if she decides to go live with her dad.  Sounds pretty cool, right?  I should have liked this book, but I don’t know…  I guess I like books that delve deep into their characters, and this one didn’t.  I also feel that for a book where nothing much really happened for quite a while, this one could have dedicated a little more time to world building. That didn’t happen and it’s a pity, because I’m pretty sure that Addie’s world has some pretty cool stories to tell. Instead, I got to read a heck of a lot about football.
                                                                                                                      
What Pivot Point has in abundance, though, is boys.  Both of Addie’s potential futures are big on boy time, which would usually be just fine by me, but here I didn’t fall for either boy. Not Duke - a telekinetic hottie or Trevor, a former footballer and sensitive type who Addie makes a beeline for because his eyelashes make hers ‘want to commit suicide’ or some such thing. Yeah. Addie actually says stuff like that. All the time.

Pivot Point does pick up as a murder mystery enters the fray and the stakes in both of Addie’s futures are raised.  The last couple chapters are fast paced and exciting, but I was never really in doubt over which future Addie would choose, and for her part, she didn’t’ really seem all that torn over her choice. I think that’s what Pivot Point was missing for me, really – emotion. Addie really lacked a strong emotional response in situations where it was really required.

 Pivot Point is the first book in a proposed series, but for me, this one worked pretty well as a standalone and so I’ll say goodbye and wish Addie well in all of her future(s) endeavors!

21 comments :

  1. I just purchased Pivot Point; hopefully I like it more than you, but thanks for your honest thoughts. Not every one can be a winner, sadly. I hope you enjoy the next book you read a lot more. :)

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  2. Yeah. I've definitely seen more positive reviews than negative reviews. The love triangle-y thing and the guys and the main character's words on the guys sounds barf-worthy, actually. Which, for some reason, makes me want to try this one even more. Thanks for being honest!

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  3. Oh Leanna - I'm so sorry you didn't love it more! For some reasons, this book totally worked for me and it took me by surprise by how much I ended up loving it. But .. not every book is for everyone:) 

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  4. daisychainbooks4 March 2013 at 07:59

     Thanks, Becca. I hope you enjoy Pivot Point! :)

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  5. daisychainbooks4 March 2013 at 08:00

     I know! This one has nearly five stars across the board from my Goodreads friends. I found quite a lot of the dialogue cheesy and unrealistic, but hey, it looks like I'm really in the minority here!

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  6. daisychainbooks4 March 2013 at 08:01

     I'm so disappointed that I didn't love it. Don't get me wrong, there were elements that I did like and I liked West's writing style, but overall it was just an OK read for me.

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  7. Precious Banaag4 March 2013 at 11:41

    Hi Leanna! Great honest review!  I'm hoping to love this one. It's one of my most anticipated reads ever. :)

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  8. That's a shame! I'm still excited for this book, because I love the concept, but it's always good to hear the other side of the story. The other reviews are so raving, I'm scared that my expectations are too high.. So, thanks for the honesty :)




    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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  9. Awww sorry this one didn't quite work for you Leanna! There are definitely boys in abundance and this worked for me because I adored Trevor. If neither boy really works for you though, the double romance would likely grate at times. Hopefully whatever you pick up next blows you away!!!

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  10. I haven't picked up a copy of this book yet and will probably wait based on your review since we like the same books. I think the lack of emotions would be a deal breaker for me too.  Thanks for the honest review, Leanna!

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  11. Ah.. I know how this feels.. You want to love a book especially when you read so many reviews telling you how awesome it tis.. Maybe you read the book at the wrong time.. But basically... sometimes the book is just not for you :)) Maybe the next one can woe you over :) 

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  12. I hadn't heard of this one before reading this review - the description makes it sound like a pretty fascinating story.  It's a shame it didn't quite live up to your expectations though!

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  13. Oh it's a shame when you find yourself in the minority with a book. This book does seem to have a lot of potential, so it's a shame it didn't work out for you Leanna :(

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  14. I know exactly what you mean. I hate books that don't work for me when I can tell that they're not actually bad, but that it's me who doesn't relate to them well. It does sound frustrating that the plot languishes for so long.

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  15. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 11:57

    Hope you love it, Precious! :)

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  16. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 11:58

     I'll be interested to see what you think, Mel.  I agree - it's a very cool concept!

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  17. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 11:59

     Usually the boys would have worked for me too, but I dunno, I felt like West just scratched the surface of the characters at times. I wasn't emotionally invested in them at all. That said, I agree that Trevor was a nice guy, and his little brother was adorable. :)

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  18. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 12:00

    I'd love to see what you think if you do pick it up. Most people I know loved this one. I really seem to be in the minority here. The same thing happened me with Through to You by Emily Hainsworth. Maybe  I raise my expectations too  high...

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  19. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 12:01

     The concept is really cool, but all the cool stuff was kind of underused in my opinion - I guess that often happens when the book is the first in a series. For this reason, I'm in favour of more standalones. :)

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  20. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 12:01

     I know. So disappointing! :(

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  21. daisychainbooks6 March 2013 at 12:02

     Yeah, I just felt like a lot of cool stuff could have been happening, when it wasn't...I didn't relate to the MC either, which never helps.

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