Review: Parallel - Lauren Miller

Title: Parallel

Author: Lauren Miller

Release Date: May 14th, 2013

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Genres: Young Adult, Parallel Universes

Pages: 432

Source: For review (UK edition - Scholastic UK)

Abby Barnes had a plan. Get into a great college, major in journalism, and land her dream job at a major newspaper. But on the eve of her 18th birthday, she's stuck on a Hollywood movie set instead, wishing she could rewind her life. But the next morning, she’s in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. A collision of parallel worlds has left Abby living a new reality every time her younger parallel self makes a new decision. Forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go on her plans for the future 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 in reach.

 

 

When I got a review copy from the UK pub Scholastic (HarperTeen for US), I pretty much squealed and run around the house hugging it. I was SO excited to read this, it was one of my most anticipated 2013 releases but unforetunately, it wasn't as good as I had hoped and I didn't enjoyed it that much. Sad face.

 

The whole concept of the parallel universes had me glued on the page and really interested in it. I find the whole thing very different and I've never read a book centering around parallel universes before. But this THIS was just so confusing and I found myself really bored and ended up skimming the pages. I think the author should have explained it better or maybe I'm just that stupid. Ha. And I know I shouldn't be surprised but the whole science thing was just too much.

 

I really liked the characters at the start, Abby I thought would be a very likeable main character but she kinda lost my interest half way through. I would have preferred this if it was about her two best friends instead. Now, they rock. There's two love interests in this book, one from the 'real' universe, one from the parallel. Meh. They didn't really catch my attention nor did I fell in love with either of them.

 

The ending was, hmm, I don't really know what I feel about the ending. It was quite unpredictable, but I'm not sure if I'm satisfied with it.

 

I'm going to give this three goddess rating since it was quite enjoyable (the beginning) and I couldn't stop reading it from start to half-way. I think people who love a bit of science and all that would adore this book. But sorry to say, I'm not one of those people.