Thursday, July 17, 2014

Review: One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington

Title: One Past Midnight
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Bloomsbury Children's (July 22, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 4 Stars!

Book Description:
Name of overseas edition of Between The Lives. 
Above all else, though I try not to think about it, I know which life I prefer. And every night when I Cinderella myself from one life to the next a very small, but definite, piece of me dies. The hardest part is that nothing about my situation has ever changed. There is no loophole.

Until now, that is... 

For as long as she can remember, Sabine has lived two lives. Every 24 hours she Shifts to her ′other′ life - a life where she is exactly the same, but absolutely everything else is different: different family, different friends, different social expectations. In one life she has a sister, in the other she does not. In one life she′s a straight-A student with the perfect boyfriend, in the other she′s considered a reckless delinquent. Nothing about her situation has ever changed, until the day when she discovers a glitch: the arm she breaks in one life is perfectly fine in the other.

With this new knowledge, Sabine begins a series of increasingly risky experiments which bring her dangerously close to the life she′s always wanted... But just what - and who - is she really risking?










Every once in a while we will read a story that should bother us with its unanswered questions or lack of explanations, but they don't because instead we are left reeling with the profound messages and emotions it taught us and brought out in us. 

The little nuisances that should matter don't because the beautiful story, what you do know and understand, is too darn important, too wonderful to make anything else matter.

This was one of those stories for me. One that took me by surprise. One that made me smile and cry and really just feel.  One that I am a better person for having read. 

It wasn't perfect and even messy at times but the messages and story more than made up for it. They made it all beautiful and I wasn't left wanting. I didn't need all the explanations that we are use to getting or all the answers to questions that should have mattered. Instead, I closed this one completely satisfied and happy. My heart warmed with everything I had experienced while reading it. 

I'm not even sure if the author intended for her readers to feel that way, to really feel the massages not just read them. To feel so connected to the story and what was happening that it felt real, but either way, yes or no, I did and it was heartfelt and I loved it, I loved the story and the characters and all it represented.

This was my first book by this author and it most certainly won't be my last, in fact I plan on looking up her other books and making sure I own them. 




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

48 comments:

  1. wow it sounds really intense it's impressive. I didn't know this one but it's really intriguing. Thank you so much for the discovery!

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  2. Wow. Brilliant review. I have an ARC of this myself, but I've been keeping it at a distance because? I don't know. And another Australian book that doesn't disappoint. Hells yeah!

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  3. That's a gorgeous cover! Definitely checking this one out :)

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  4. " Every once in a while we will read a story that should bother us with its unanswered questions or lack or explanations, but they don't because in stead we are left reeling with the profound messages and emotions it taught us and brought out in us."

    YES! I couldn't agree more Ali! Normally I'm a girl who needs answers, I don't like to be left guessing, but I didn't care at all with this one. I just wanted more of Sabine and Ethan together. MORE! So glad you enjoyed your first Jessica Shirvington novel, I love her books:)

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    1. Gah the typos in that sentence was painful. I need to proof read better I think. ;)

      Thanks Jenny!

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  5. Ahh! Gorgeous review! Everyone has been raving about how good this book is and I'm so excited to buy myself a copy when it releases next week. I tend to avoid parallel universe books, but this one is hard to ignore with all the praise it has been receiving lately.
    It's so great that the book made you FEEL so much! I love it when a book manages to do that to me despite the fact that there are some flaws to the book.

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    1. I really do too and I am so glad you will be picking it up soon Nick, I hope you love it too!

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  6. Kindlemom, I LOVE your review comments so insightful. This one is going on my pile :)

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  7. I haven't read this one but it sounds so good. I love those kind of reads that really make you think. This sounds like one of them. Great review :)

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  8. Sounds like a beautiful, thought-provoking read! those can be great even if not all the questions are answered.

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  9. I've been hearing really good things about this one! I might have to consider giving this one a read, it sounds excellent!

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    1. I hope you do and that you like it as much as I did Candace.

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  10. I think I am going to have to give this one a go, I have been wanting to try this author anyway and I am most curious now. Lovely review, Ali.

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  11. Awww, this sounds like it made an awesome impact on you, my dear! I'm happy to see that :) Aimee reviewed this one recently too and i think she echoes some of your points here. Beautiful review :D

    Faye at The Social Potato

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  12. I have a soft spot for Sliding Door-type of stories so I love the premise of this book. I'm glad it has a great impact on you because that means it's not the sort of book you'll forget even long after you put it down. Great review!

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    1. I really do too and I think because you do, you will like this one. ;)

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  13. I love this cover! Sounds like a great one to add to my TBR list! Thanks for the review!

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  14. Ohhh I think I need to read this!! I love stories like that.

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  15. Wonderful review, Ali! "This was one of those stories for me. One that took me by surprise. One that made me smile and cry and really just feel. One that I am a better person for having read." Those really are some of the best reads-so glad you ebjoyed this one. I need to pick up one of Jessica Shirvington's books myself :)

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  16. Sometimes imperfect books can really entangle themselves with the reader. I think I need to read this one Ali!

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    1. You are so right Kim! I hope you do give this one a try and end up really liking it too.

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  17. I have to read this book! NOW! I knew when I saw the title I would probably enjoy it, read the summary a little more convinced, after your review I knew it was meant to be. It sounds like a book I'd LOOOOVE. Only a few days until its release too..

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  18. Ooh yay! I'm even more excited to read this now (and I was already pretty jazzed). I'm so happy to hear you had such a strong connection to the story and the characters. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy next week! Fantastic review :-)

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  19. I have not heard of this one. This is such a great cover :) Thanks for bringing it to my attention :)

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    1. You would like this one Becca, it is a very good (and clean!) read.

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  20. I'm starting to feel bad, b/c I've had to say this several times recently, but once again, I'm going to have to come back and read your review after I've finished this book myself. I am looking forward to it though. I've heard wonderful things about Shivington. Glad you liked it!

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  21. You sold me with this paragraph "This was one of those stories for me. One that took me by surprise. One that made me smile and cry and really just feel. One that I am a better person for having read." Beautifully written.

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  22. I'm glad you liked this one so much. I really like the cover. I passed on requesting this one because I didn't love her other series - well, at least the first book - but I know that other bloggers really loved it, so you may too. :)

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  23. Holy cover! That is so pretty! And a book that makes you feel like a better person for having read it. This is a book that I can't miss out on. You completely sold me.

    Great review!

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  24. I really like the cover for this one! I haven't read any books by the author but your review has definitely tempted me to try this one. Thanks for the honest review :)

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