Split Second by Kasie West Series: Pivot Point #2
Also in this series: Pivot Point
Published by HarperTeen on 2/11/14
Genres: Love & Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Source: Library
My content rating: YA (Nothing more than kissing)
My rating:
Kasie West delivers nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding romance in the thrilling sequel to Pivot Point.
Addie has always been able to see the future when faced with a choice, but that doesn't make her present any easier. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. So when Addie's dad invites her to spend her winter break with him in the Norm world, she jumps at the chance. 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. She wants to change that.
Laila, her best friend, 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 this to 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.
I was surprised (and actually a little worried) when I read the back of this book (which wasn’t as detailed as the actual blurb) – it sounded like it would focus on Laila instead of on Addie. But my fears were unfounded. The book actually switched back and forth between Laila’s and Addie’s POVs, so we got to learn a lot more about Laila while, at the same time, her story was entwined with Addie’s. This turned out to be perfect!
What I LOVED:
- Laila and Connor. In this book we got to see a lot more about what makes Laila tick – why she holds herself aloof and uses boys to get what she wants without connecting with them. I thought that the relationship between Laila and Connor was well-developed. You could see a connection between them right away, even though they both shielded themselves with snarkiness and an air of indifference. I loved seeing that connection deepen into something more. Laila’s vulnerability started showing – something that she hated. And Connor was just the right mix of bad boy with a heart of gold (meaning, he had a bit of an edge, but he wasn’t a jerk!).
- The plot and pacing. I don’t want to say too much about the plot, because I don’t want to give anything away. But I will say that Addie starts discovering that her powers are transforming and that Laila wants her powers to transform. All the while, (as is said in the synopsis) there are powerful people who don’t want that to happen. Laila and Addie don’t know who to trust and they have to be careful. There was plenty of intrigue in this book and the pacing was spot-on. There was enough action to keep it interesting, while keeping the focus on character growth. I often found myself wondering what was going to happen next!
- The twist. There was a twist at the end of the book that I definitely didn’t see coming – at least not in the way that it happened. The twist was a game-changer, and made for a heart-racing finish to the book!
The negatives:
- Trevor and Addie. Because half the focus was on Laila in this book, I felt like things were resolved a little bit too quickly between Trevor and Addie. The romance between Trevor and Addie just wasn’t a huge part of the plot in this one. In some ways, this made sense because we already had so much focus on their relationship in the first book, but I just would have liked to see a little bit more of Trevor and Addie’s re-blossoming relationship.
If you haven’t read this series yet, and you’re a fan of YA paranormal, I’d definitely recommend it! Split Second was a fantastic finish to the story. If you were a fan of the first book in the series, I’m sure you’ll enjoy how West wraps things up in this one! I give it 4.5/5 stars.
About the Author
I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT, its sequel SPLIT SECOND (Feb 2014), and THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US (a contemporary novel). I also have two more contemporaries, ON THE FENCE coming out July 1, 2014, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND coming out the summer of 2015. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.
I loved this too! The second one was pretty good too. Great review!
Yes, both books in this series were really great!
I’ve never read the first book, but that’s great you were pleasantly surprised by the sequel.
Yes, I loved the first book, but for some reason I never got around to reading the sequel. It’s nice to read a duology every now and again (rather than a long series!).
I loved both Pivot Point books, but I really wish there was more! I felt like there was still some story left to explore.
In some ways, I thought it was nice to read a duology and not feel like I had to make a huge long investment in a series, but I agree that I certainly would have been up to reading more!!
Great review, Nicole! I loved this one too! I think Addie and Trevor’s story is cuter in Pivot Point, but overall I prefer Split Second. Two believable and swoony romances? Yes please. Kasie West is such a terrific writer – can’t wait for The Fill In Boyfriend. 🙂
I don’t know if I could pinpoint which book I liked better. I loved them both, but in different ways, I think. Uh oh – sounds like a love triangle!
Great Review :]
I loved this book, i was so happy to see Addie’s POV!
i agree that the Addie/Trevor issue was too easy, life is never that easy!
:]
Yeah, it all just got wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly and I would have liked to have seen more of that. Still loved the book though!
OMG right I adored Laila and Connor! I read this one ages back but I still remember every bit of it because it’s such a brilliant duology.
Fantastic review, Nicole <33
That’s when you know you really love a book! When you can think of it months later and still have this sense that it was a fantastic read (and, even better, remember details about it!).
GAH! Sounds absolutely perfect. SO GLAD you enjoyed it, 4.5 is a pretty high rating and I’m a sucker for good twists in a story.
Me too – a good twist that actually surprises me makes for a great book!
I loved Pivot Point a lot,but never got the chance to try out Split Second.Well,what can I say,I am horrible at continuing series:)
Laila and Connor sound interesting!After reading your review,I am tempted to go try out this book.
Obviously it took me a while to get to this one too. Sometimes I feel like a series failure! (Hey, I have to write a discussion post about that!)
Glad you enjoyed this sequel to the series! It is good to see you got more of Layla. Great review Nicole!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Yes, this was a great sequel!
Ah I a so glad you loved this one too! 🙂
Definitely!!
YAY! I loved Pivot Point…Great reivew!
I loved Pivot Point too!
I haven’t read Pivot Point yet, but it sounds like a book I should be picking up soon!
Yes! This is a great series!
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I LOVED pivot point and I have NO clue why I haven’t read split second yet. I own it, too! I guess I was a little nervous, given the ending of pivot point? But I love Kasie West! And I’m glad you really loved it! I’ll be getting to it soon!
I have books like this – it’s like your nervous to read it because you’re afraid it won’t live up to your expectations. I have a few books like this!!
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