📖 Overview
Kasie West's Split Second follows seventeen-year-old Addie Coleman, who possesses the ability to see two possible futures when faced with a choice. While living with her scientist father in a secret compound, she must make a decision that will alter her life's trajectory.
The story centers on Addie's navigation between two distinct paths as she experiences parallel timelines. In one reality, she stays within the compound's security, while in the other, she ventures into the outside world where she encounters new relationships and challenges.
Trust, control, and the weight of choice emerge as central elements in this young adult science fiction novel. The exploration of causality and consequence raises questions about free will versus destiny, and how small decisions can create rippling effects through time.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise the unique premise and fast-paced plot development, calling it an engaging blend of sci-fi and romance. Many note the chemistry between protagonists Addie and Trevor, with their witty dialogue receiving particular mention in reviews.
Common criticisms include confusion about the time-travel mechanics, underdeveloped secondary characters, and a perceived rush to resolve plot threads in the final chapters. Some readers found the romance overshadowed the sci-fi elements.
Specific reader comments:
"The time-splitting concept needed more explanation" - Goodreads reviewer
"Addie and Trevor's banter carries the story" - Amazon review
"Too many loose ends by the conclusion" - BookBub user
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (24,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (400+ ratings)
BookBub: 4.1/5 (1,000+ ratings)
The book draws frequent comparisons to Parallel by Lauren Miller and Pivot Point by the same author.
📚 Similar books
Time Between Us by Anna Bandino
A teenage girl in 1995 encounters a time-traveling boy from 2012, leading to a romance that defies the barriers of time and space.
Pivot Point by Kasie West A girl with the ability to see alternate timelines must choose between two futures when her parents divorce, revealing consequences that affect life and death.
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill Two versions of the same girl from different timelines work to prevent a time machine's creation and stop a deadly future from unfolding.
The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry A girl experiences time shifts and encounters a mysterious boy who exists in an alternate version of her town while racing to prevent an impending tragedy.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead A sixth-grade girl receives mysterious notes that predict the future and connect to her friend's plan to travel through time.
Pivot Point by Kasie West A girl with the ability to see alternate timelines must choose between two futures when her parents divorce, revealing consequences that affect life and death.
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill Two versions of the same girl from different timelines work to prevent a time machine's creation and stop a deadly future from unfolding.
The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry A girl experiences time shifts and encounters a mysterious boy who exists in an alternate version of her town while racing to prevent an impending tragedy.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead A sixth-grade girl receives mysterious notes that predict the future and connect to her friend's plan to travel through time.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Author Kasie West wrote Split Second as a follow-up to Pivot Point, creating a duology that explores parallel timelines and psychic abilities.
⚡ The book's main character, Laila, has the power of memory manipulation, while her best friend Addie can see alternate futures when faced with choices.
🎯 Unlike many YA novels with paranormal elements, Split Second is set in a contemporary world where people with supernatural abilities live in a compound hidden from regular society.
📚 The novel alternates between two perspectives - Laila's and Addie's - giving readers insight into both characters' unique challenges and romantic storylines.
🔮 The book explores ethical questions about the responsibility of having supernatural powers, particularly the moral implications of altering someone's memories.