Early Reader Review: The Other Side of Infinity by Joan Smith

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Other Side of Infinity by Joan Smith 

Publisher: Feiwel Friends
Publication Date:  April 25, 2023 

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

They Both Die at the End meets The Butterfly Effect in this YA novel by Joan F. Smith, where a teen uses her gift of foreknowledge to help a lifeguard save a drowning man—only to discover that her actions have suddenly put his life at risk.

It was supposed to be an ordinary day at the pool, but when lifeguard Nick hesitates during a save,

seventeen-year-old December uses her gift of foreknowledge to rescue the drowning man instead. The action comes at a cost. Not only will Nick and December fall in love, but also, she envisions that his own life is now at risk. The other problem? They’re basically strangers.

December embarks on a mission to save Nick’s life, and to experience what it feels like to fall in love—something she’d formerly known she’d never do. Nick, battling the shame of screwing up the rescue when he’s heralded as a community hero, resolves to make up for his inaction by doing December a major solid and searching for her mother, who went missing nine years ago.

As they grow closer, December’s gift starts playing tricks, and Nick’s family gets closer to an ugly truth about him. They both must learn what it really means to be a hero before time runs out.

Review: 

This book follows December a seventeen year old that can see the past present and future. Most of the time she hides her ability but one day while at the pool she jumps in to help save a man from drowning. Because she intervenes it changed some timelines and she finds herself falling in love with the lifeguard that she helped, a boy named Nick. 

This was a cute love story about December and Nick coming together but the overall story isn’t about the romance but the future of their togetherness, December sees death for Nick and she is wants to do everything she can to save him. 

The overall story was a very interesting concept. The author doesn’t attempt to explain how or why December has these abilities only that she has them and has always had them. Since the plot is really formed around this impending doom and death the pacing is a little odd. I found myself wanting more things to happen, more actions to be taken in both Nicks’s and December’s parts to prevent this future but that kind of fell flat. 

The book uses alternating POV to tell their story and while this works in a number of ways, like the reader understanding both motivations, it was a little confusing at times following whose perspective you were in, even with bold titles. I found myself struggling to alternate between them in my head smoothly which made for even more of a pace problem. Overall the plot was handled well between them. I was very surprised by the ending, I think I missed some key points somewhere, but I was not expecting the outcome and I wanted resolution elsewhere… I won’t go into detail though so as not to spoil it. 

I think overall this is a well written young adult contemporary book about love, loss, bravery, and guilt but that it tends to be on the slower side so it can be difficult to get through to the good parts. If you are looking for a love story, with an interesting premise, this one might be a good one for you to pick up. If you aren’t a fan of alternating POVs, you might want to steer clear.