Review: Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West

January 27, 2014 Book Review, Young Adult 29 ★★★★★

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

Split SecondSplit Second by Kasie West
Series: Pivot Point #2
Published by HarperTeen on February 11th 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: ARC
Source: From Publisher
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Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

Okay guys, I’m seriously convinced Kasie West can do no wrong with her writing. I’m going to try really hard to put into words exactly how much I loved this book but I apologize if my thoughts are all over the place.

Last year I fell in love with the concept of alternate worlds or realities. Pivot Point (my review) fit that bill tremendously, easily becoming one of my favorite reads of the entire year. In the first book the main character, Addie, had the ability to search different paths of the future and had to make a difficult decision as to which to follow. When it became obvious the path she had to take, it broke her heart to give up everything she longed for in the other, and a huge part of that was the boy she fell for.

Split Second continues the story, allowing Addie perhaps a second chance for a path she no longer remembers since it never truly happened. And there is no one better to help her than her best friend, and the one who erased those memories in the first place, Laila. I wasn’t 100 % sure how this new point of view addition would work. Sometimes when there is that change in a series it can fall flat or not work adequately. Sometimes you can’t tell them apart or sometimes it’s just too hard to focus on someone else when you just want the main character you grew to love in the previous book(s). Oh my god though, it worked beautifully here! Laila fits right into the story. She cracked me up with her sass and love for using her feminine wiles to get her away. Or well, her attempt at that. lol There is one boy in particular who resists her and doesn’t put up with her crap and that is Connor. A complex boy of mystery, he was such a puzzle, especially for Laila. The way they’d challenge each other, pushing buttons, was adorable and hilarious. The journey they take to finally open up to each other was a perfect addition to the story.

Of course Laila, with the help of Connor and a few others, is working to help Addie restore her memories and put everything back to how it should be. We get to see a friendship blossom between Addie and Trevor once again and I was ecstatic to see these two sharing the pages together. Trevor could not be anymore amazing. Like seriously, I couldn’t get enough of them!

Without giving anything away, Kasie West managed to keep the story interesting and exciting, easily floating from one point of view to the next. With Pivot Point I remember reading a chapter from one path and dying to get back to it as I’d move onto the next path’s chapter and it kept going and going back and forth, making it hard to put the book down. The same can be said for Split Second with the Addie and Laila chapters. There were a few surprises thrown in, things I didn’t see coming, that made my jaw drop. And one thing at the end that pretty much just made my heart grow 3 sizes, I swear. You know when you read something and it makes you audibly gasp with surprise and giddy happiness? That was there for me. I can’t even deal with how perfect and beautiful it was. This was one of the most satisfying ends to a series I have read (I’m assuming it was just a duology?). Fans of the first book will not be disappointed in the least. And if any of you reading this have not yet started the series, please do so ASAP! This is one you simply cannot miss!

I would recommend those who have gone a long time in between reading these books to at least give the last few chapters of Pivot Point a glance or perhaps even rereading before starting Split Second. There is a bit of recap but I found skimming a few chapters really helpful with a lot of details, especially since you are dealing with a character who has forgotten these memories herself.

     “I want to know you,” he said, finishing the sentence that got interrupted in the box. “I need to.”

5_stars

About Kasie West

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, and BY YOUR SIDE. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

Sara @ Forever 17 Books

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29 Responses to “Review: Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West”

  1. Pam@YAEscapefromReality

    Ok, I was excited to read the book anyway but now that I’ve read your review, I cannot wait! Something happened in the end that made you gasp with surprise and giddy happiness? I have to read it now!!! So glad the different POVs worked and that Trevor and Addie share pages together. And thanks for the tip for rereading, I may have to at least skim it (although there are so many books coming out in the next two weeks that are part of series that I’m having to reread a ton of books!) Great review!
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  4. Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed

    Ah, that moment! It was perfect! I already liked Addie and Trevor and this book made me love Laila and Connor too. Kasie said on her website that there are only two books for this series. Although I loved the way this ended, I would love more. It doesn’t even have to be about Addie although I would love that too. I would love to read more about Laila and Connor and call me crazy but I think Duke would have a good story to tell too…
    So excited for On the Fence! Happy I could fangirl with you about this, finally!
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  10. Montana @ The Book Belles

    I agree with you about not thinking that Kasie West could possibly go wrong with her writing. Every book I’ve read by her has been an instant favorite. I loved Split Second so much, especially Trevor 😉 Amazing review, Sara!
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  12. Lauren

    I’m so happy to hear this is a win for you, but I’m honestly not surprised that you think Kasie West can do no wrong in her writing, because I’m also convinced this is true. 🙂 I really need to re-read at least the last few chapters like you say because I’m having a hard time remembering this and I want to be totally back in this world before starting Split Second. Wonderful review!
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  13. ShootingStarsMag

    Well, this certainly has me intrigued! I like that it’s only two books. I’m so bad with reading series because I can’t keep up, but I think I could read two back-to-back. That wouldn’t be so difficult. haha Sounds like a wonderful reading experience!
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  16. Lily

    I loved Pivot Point last year so hearing everyone say really good things about Split Second has me calmed down. I wasn’t so sure about the idea of there being another book in the series because even though i wanted to know more about what happened in the aftermath of Pivot Point i was also at a loss of where Kasie West could take the story but im pretty amped up now. Thank god the additional POV is fun enjoyable and actually works with the story. You’re right that when something new like this is added it can either work or fall majorly flat.
    Great review Sara 🙂
    Lily @ Lilysbookblog
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  18. Lisa (Lost in Literature)

    I honestly only skimmed your review because I hope to read this very soon, but I’m so happy (and not surprised) that you loved it so much!!! I adored Pivot Point, one of my favorite books, and the wait for Split Second is killing me!! And I think you made a great point… I will be sure to read the last few chapters of Pivot Point again before starting Split Second. Is it February 11th yet?! Ugh!! LOL 😀
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  19. Summer/Sunny

    I feel like we should all bow down to Kasie West! I CANNOT wait for this book! I was hooked on the first one and I’m thrilled that she continues with the excitement and awesomeness throughout. You just made the impossible happen: I’m now even more excited!

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  22. Alise

    Yay, such a relief the sequel is just as good as the first book was. The thing I was worried about was trying to remember the first book but it’s good there is a little recap. I’ll still probably take your advice and skim over the first book, though!
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