Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point
by Kasie West
Series: Pivot Point #1
Published: 12 February 2013
HarperTeen, Hardcover, 343 pages
Source: Library

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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.

Rating: ★★★★

Ever since reading the synopsis of Pivot Point, I just knew I would probably end up loving it. The plot was completely original and it seemed like quite a cute & fun read, something I really needed after reading a ton of intense books that threw me into a reading slump.

The first thing that captured me in Pivot Point was (no surprise here) Addie’s gift to explore two futures when faced with a choice. That would be a lovely gift! was what I thought at first because who wouldn’t like to know the best of choices all the time? Well, color me wrong. During a Search, Addie basically lives out both possible futures & it would both feel completely real to her. So imagine experiencing the nastier choice and having to remember it too, pretty unpleasant, I would say.

Although Addie was a decent protagonist, she felt a little flat. The other characters were all so vibrant that Addie sort of blended into the background a little. However, I did love seeing both the similarities and differences between the Addie who stayed in the Compound and the Addie who left. Kasie West did a spectacular job at showing how the events surrounding the protagonist in each future would change her yet staying true to her character.

As for the romance, it sure does sound a lot like a love triangle but how could it be when technically, Addie only has a relationship with one guy in each future? Moreover, she did make a clear choice in the end between the guys. I was rooting for Trevor all the way, if any of you wanted to know. I felt exactly the way Addie did about Duke whenever she was upset with him. Duke wasn’t necessarily awful but guess I’m simply not a fan of cocky & popular quarterbacks.

Anyway, My favorite aspect of Pivot Point would be how both prospects were told side by side. It’s fascinating, how some events were meant to happen in both futures and how nicely the mystery was pieced together in both paths, converging neatly. Having said that, the mystery, despite being structured, was slightly anti-climatic. It might’ve been better if the villain was somehow more evil with a better motive.

All in all, Pivot Point was quite an astounding read with a few minor missteps. The ending was pretty crippling, emotionally. If I had been in Addie’s place, I think I would’ve bawled my eyes out for a whole day before making the decision she made. I would recommend Pivot Point to anyone who loves humor, time travel and endings that gets your heart all twisty.