Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point by Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication date: February 12th 2013
Source: Edelweiss
My rating:  4 stars

 

 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.

Pivot Point was a wonderfully fast paced, and exciting read.  I was mesmerized from the first page. While it didn’t leave off on a cliffhanger, it’s going to be torture waiting for the next installment!

Addison is a girl with special powers living in a city held secret from the outside world; a city where other “paranormals” live and perfect their abilities.  Addison has the ability to search her future and see the outcome of a path she takes.  She doesn’t use her ability all the time, so when her parents announce they’re getting a divorce, she has quite a shock.  Addie is now faced with two choices: stay with her mom inside the Compound or go live with her dad in the outside with the “Norms.”  Being this is such a huge decision, she performs a search to see what decision to make.  Laid out before her are two very different possible futures.  If she stays with her mother, she stays with what she knows and has the opportunity to expand and perfect her powers.  Addie also sees the star quarterback of her school, Duke, in that future.  If Addie goes with her father, she gets to experience life on the outside, without all the facades and illusions, but life in the real.  This is a future where she meets, and becomes close to Trevor, the introspective and sweet “Norm” boy.  Both were potentially swoon worthy romances!  Here’s a tempting sample (I’ll keep it anonymous):

His lips tickle my neck as they move along it.  Is he trying to drive me crazy?.....His lips come to rest against the soft spot below my ear.  I can no longer think straight.  It’s then I realize I have a fistful of the back of his shirt. I clutch it tighter. He must consider this encouragement because he takes my face in his hands and presses his lips to mine.*

*sigh*

I find time travel or time altering themes are often difficult to follow and wrap your brain around.  Kasie West did an excellent job keeping it simple and refrained from bogging down the plot with unnecessary details.  Yet, I think she gave me enough to make the story interesting and hold my attention. 

Each reality is played out in alternating chapters, and I soon found a reality and romance I was partial to.  No, I’m not going to tell you which. ;)  I found myself becoming impatient for the reality I was rooting for when the story would switch to the other reality.  Although, those chapters do shed light on the story and gave information I wouldn’t have had otherwise, so they were interesting, too.  I must add that there’s some danger and mystery that add to the overall thrill in Pivot Point, and I thought it rounded things out nicely.   

This was an impressive debut from Kasie West, and now I can’t wait to get me hands on the next one!  It better turn out the way I want it!!

*Quote is taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in the final copy.