Book Review: 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publish Date: September 17, 2013
Hardcover, 368 pages
ISBN: 9780062118813



My Review:

First off I would like to thank Krys at Bibliopunk who I won this wonderful arc from! When I entered to win I was really excited about the book and really excited to win it and then it sat on my shelf for awhile. I think I was scared to read it. But I shouldn't have been, it was an easy read and a fascinating one. I mention easy because the parallel universe part scared me. How scientific would it be, would it just go over my head and confuse me. But there is none of that. The story flows smoothly and the explanations work well and I never felt bogged down by the whats and whys.

So let me move on. I loved this book. I could not put it down. It was an absolutely fascinating premise that was well executed and has Gretchen McNeil on my must-read list from now on! First there are the characters, Josie is one of those girls you can't help but like. But her life is falling apart. Her parents are divorcing, her Mom is acting strange and so is her boyfriend. Then the mother of all betrayals happens. Wow, Ms. McNeil set this one up well for when Josie finally sees Jo and understands the parallel world thing they have going on. Because Josie's life is in the toilet and Jo's life looks wonderful. But then all hell breaks loose. Because the grass is not always greener . . .

So then let's talk about the story. Amazing. Did I already say that? I can't help it. I read and read and read and when it was over I didn't want it to be. I was in love with Josie, rooting for her and those who were close to her. I hated the bad guys. I couldn't wait to turn the page and see what surprises were next. And then it was over. And I sighed, and thought about the book and weeks later I can still think about the book. Simply amazing and thought-provoking.

Okay I realize this is an extremely gushy review, but this book was so great. I love thrillers and this being a YA thriller just made it so much better. Ms. McNeil knows how to write a tight story with great characters that you can root for. She weaves the suspense and the everyday in a way that makes you want to be part of the story. It is a can't-put-down thriller that I cannot recommend enough. Simply put: read 3:59, you won't regret it!

My rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:
Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you.

***I won this book from Krys at Bibliopunk. ***