Lovin' los libros

A book blog dedicated to young adult and new adult novels

ARC Review: Parallel by Lauren Miller

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Parallel
   by: Lauren Miller

Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 432 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.

With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.

As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.

                                            -goodreads.com description


Wow, this book!!!! I really needed a good read, especially after my last two flops. And I certainly got it here! I was drawn in immediately by Lauren's writing- I loved that she devoted time early on to introducing me to Abby. I felt like she gave me the characterization I needed to really understand her and I've read alot of books lately where I haven't gotten that. By doing this, I became invested in Abby very quickly and soon, I was flying through the pages because I had to know how everything played out!

The only thing that got to me was the switching back and forth between parallels. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on and just as I was getting wrapped up in one story we switched back to the other. Which, don't get me wrong, I liked- it just took some getting used to.

I liked Abby's character and as I said, I became really invested in her and her happiness. Like the above summary stated, Abby had a plan and then life got in the way. I felt bad for Abby and I especially related to her because I myself know what it's like to have a plan and envision your life one way and then it takes a completely different turn down a road you didn't plan on or want. However, I am going to take the ending as a hopeful one and believe that Miller did some foreshadowing. (Hey Lauren- I definitely need a sequel or a companion novella to this one. Pretty please?!)

And holy plot twist! There was a pretty good one that I did NOT see coming at all. In fact I freaked out thus resulting in a text to keep it down because people were sleeping. LOL. The plot twist broke my heart a little bit because I really liked both people it involved and didn't want to see anyone get hurt.

The secondary characters: Caitlin and Tyler (Abby's best friends), Josh (Abby's high school crush), and Michael (Abby's college boyfriend) all were great additions to the story and extremely critical to the plot. Caitlin was Abby's loyal best friend and confidante and is there to help keep Abby grounded especially when she thinks she is going crazy. Tyler is also Abby's loyal friend, but serves as comedic relief, which I really liked. Josh is the boy Abby meets in her astronomy class in high school and is 'adorkable'. For most of his scenes we see that Abby is starting to really like him, but has a hard time getting a reading on him and whether he likes her at all. I really liked Josh. (I can't say anymore than that.) Michael, finally, is the gorgeous guy she meets at school and while I didn't feel the same connection between them that I did between Abby and Josh, I did still like him as a character and they did have some sweet moments.

I really liked the idea of the whole soulmate idea in this book. I liked that soulmates could be between friends or people destined to be more for each other. This becomes a pretty big part in the plot development. I believe it was introduced for a reason and that is why I have hope for what is to come.

"You asked if you could miss your destiny," he says then, with a nod at the board. "Not if you find your soulmates first."
"Soulmates, plural?" I ask him. "How many does each person have?"
The old man smiles at his equation, as if the answer is right in front of us. "Exactly as many as she needs."

So just to forwarn you: the ending. OMG the ending. Don't worry no spoilers here but at midnight last night I definitely let out a cry. Of frustration, happiness, sadness? Guess you'll have to read it and find out.

This is a great YA book about parallel universes, falling in love, discovering your true self, and realizing what matters the most in life.  There's not much more I can say without spoiling, so I'll stop here- but trust me. You want this book.

"Your path will change. Your destiny doesn't. Suddenly, it all makes sense. The path doesn't dictate the destination. There are detours to destiny, and sometimes that detour is a shortcut."

*Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me this book in return for a fair and honest review.*

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9 comments

  1. Wow! That books sounds soo good(: Great review~

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    1. I LOVED this book. My heart was all over the place, but I really enjoyed it! Such a cool read!

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  2. Ahhh I want this now! Sounds so good! I wanna know about that ending, great review Jessica!

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    1. OMG Danielle- that ENDING! GAHHHHHHH! I want to sit down with Lauren and have a chat, because I just need more. But it was a really cool read.

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  3. Great review! I'm glad you liked this one. Can't wait to read it, but now I'm scared for the ending... :P

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    1. Hahah, don't be scared! It's definitely worth reading this one! SO GOOD!

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  4. Haha, it should make you nervous Aman! When you do get to read it, feel free to hit me up so we can talk about it!

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  5. Thanks for your comment on my review of Parallel - I just had to come and check out yours! It's funny because I totally agree with you on most everything you said. The only thing is that I don't see how a sequel could really work for this book. There's just not enough places to go with it besides the obvious (which I won't say because I don't want to spoil anything). I took the ending as an assumed "this is where the characters are heading" and it worked well enough for me - although I do agree that a novella would be nice - Miller could've given us an epilogue at least! Then again, maybe Miller has an awesome idea for a sequel in mind and it will blow me away. :-)

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    1. I think you're right. I don't know that there would be enough for a sequel. But, yes- an epilogue would have sufficed! Because it's kind of open-ended, I have decided to take it as a positive and that what is supposed to happen- will happen. Why all the talk of soulmates if it wasn't going to have a later impact? (Or at least that's what I was hoping!) :D Thanks for commenting Nicole!

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