OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS By Justin A. Reynolds

Dani Young 

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS By Justin A. ReynoldsOpposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on 3/5/19
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 451
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

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.

But then 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. 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 to save the people he loves.

Short and Sweet

Jack meets Kate at a party and they spend all night talking and learning that they have a lot in common like their love for cereal and their favorite movies. Soon Kate is meeting Jack’s friends and is winning them over. But then Kate dies, and it may seem like that would be the end of their story but it’s not. Jack travels back in time and suddenly he’s meeting Kate again and this time he knows that he has to save her. But while time travel seems great Jack learns that each change he makes may come with a consequence.

Characters

Jack: I Love Jack King! I need to find a Jack King! Jack is so amazing, he’s caring, lovable, funny, compassionate, he’s the best! Honestly he’ll do anything for those closest to him. At first he spends a lot of time focusing on Kate and then he realizes that he also needs to focus on those closest to him.

Kate: I love Kate maybe a little less than I love Jack but only a smidge less, because I mean who can top Jack? Kate is awesome in her own right she’s smart, and she cares about people and doesn’t want them t get hurt. Kate also has sickle cell which complicates things because she doesn’t want to get close to Jack only for something to happen to her and leave him behind.

Jill: Jill is one of Jack’s best friends and is also supportive of him. I feel like she’s move of the peace maker of the group. Jill is also dealing with things in her family life such as her father leaving.

Franny: Franny and Jack have been friends since they were kids, so there’s a lot of history there. I liked Franny’s character he may be a big guy but he has a big heart. Franny has to deal with his dad being released from jail and trying to deal with the emotions surrounding that. Franny is a good friend to Jack and vice versa.

Romance

Jack and Kate: Ahh, where do I even start? We see this couple try their hand at things 4 times and each time is a little different then the last. They still have chemistry, they still have that I feel like I’ve met you before feeling, and they still make sense together. Honestly I don’t want to use the word perfect but they’re perfect for each other.

Franny and Jill: Franny and Jill have been dating for a while and these two they work together, they fit. They’re supportive of each other and I like how they let Jack third wheel with them.

Jack and Jill: Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water. Just kidding! Anyway these two met during their freshman year of high school and their best friends but Jack has always had a crush on Jill but its a little awkward because Jill is dating their best friend Franny! So when these two got together during one of Jacks times in the past I wasn’t into it, these two just weren’t right together and were better off as friends.

My Thoughts

~ Jack and Kate meet at a college party and they hit things off real quick. They spend the whole night talking and getting to know each other and getting cereal.

~ So I keep saying time travel but its more like Jack goes through everything the first time he meets Kate and then she dies and he does go back to when they first met and if things don’t go right he relives the night they met. So maybe more like a Groundhog Day kind of premise.

~ In the book we see Jack get to try things over five times because you know maybe the third times not the charm.

~ I loved seeing how Jack changed things each time and how these changes affected everything else during that time. I liked seeing him realize what he should do to make things work and what things wouldn’t work.

~ Jack has a great support system around him, his parents and Franny and Jill. They all try to help him and support him with everything.

~ Each character is so well written that they’re relatable and you feel for them and the things they’re going through the highs and the lows.

Overall

This book is heartfelt and funny and it amazing! I’m so happy I picked up this book, it is now one of my favorites. I feel like the characters are so relatable and the plot was well thought out and the book was written amazingly It makes you feel for each character. The time travel aspect makes you wonder “what if?” What if I had the chance to go back? What would I change? It’s just so good and I think everyone should go get a copy now!!!

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