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Parallel
by
Your plan changes. Your destiny doesn't.
Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles ...more
Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles ...more
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Hardcover, 423 pages
Published
May 14th 2013
by HarperTeen
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Mahima Goyal
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1 1/2 stars
Parallel is a great example of how to take a fascinating subject and completely massacre it with slut-shaming and petty mean girl feuds.
Personally, I love fringe science (and the TV show, for that matter). It's that strange area that sits somewhere between fantasy and science, fiction and reality... an area with increasingly blurry lines the more you investigate it. It's also kind of hard to define and encompasses the study of many concepts that sit just outside of mainstream sci ...more


BookNook — Young Adult book reviews
Let me paint a picture for you. You're crying yourself to sleep at night because you just finished reading Pivot Point and you're afraid that nothing will ever live up to the awesomeness that is that book. Well, allow me to introduce PARALLEL! This book is the perfect follow-up to Pivot Point; they're very similar in nature, but also vastly different. And I promise you that Parallel will rock your universe (the parallel ones too!).
Parallel is so muc ...more

Check out my interview with Lauren Miller over at The Social Potato! Get a chance to WIN a FINISHED COPY of PARALLEL, too! Open INTERNATIONALLY!
An ARC was provided in exchange for a review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.
When I read the synopsis the second time after requesting the galley, I thought to myself that it sounded really similar to Pivot Point's premise, a YA book about parallel realities but that which I couldn't bring myself to appreciate. I was dismayed, of cours ...more
An ARC was provided in exchange for a review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.
When I read the synopsis the second time after requesting the galley, I thought to myself that it sounded really similar to Pivot Point's premise, a YA book about parallel realities but that which I couldn't bring myself to appreciate. I was dismayed, of cours ...more

Parallel blew my mind.
I went into this book thinking it would be young adult science fiction, which is a genre I love. It was. But it was also a romance novel that was both heart-breaking and heart-mending. I stayed up all night to finish this book because I had to know that Abby would find her soulmate in the end.
The primary complication to Abby's love life is the fact that her world collided with a parallel one a year ago. As a result, her present state is determined by choices her parallel se ...more
I went into this book thinking it would be young adult science fiction, which is a genre I love. It was. But it was also a romance novel that was both heart-breaking and heart-mending. I stayed up all night to finish this book because I had to know that Abby would find her soulmate in the end.
The primary complication to Abby's love life is the fact that her world collided with a parallel one a year ago. As a result, her present state is determined by choices her parallel se ...more

“That's the funny thing about life. We're rarely aware of the bullets we dodge. The just-misses. The almost-never-happeneds. We spend so much time worrying about how the future is going to play out and not nearly enough time admiring the precious perfection of the present.”
Parallel was a twisted life story of Abby, the main character. Abby was really confused of what is happening to the world, to her life. The good news was she has an idea at least, because she almost took-up Astronomy and ...more

This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
I kept hearing how amazing this book was so when a friend got an advanced copy and sent it to me I was siked! Jumping in I didn't really know what to expect. Was it paranormal? Was it a contemporary? Would it be too much science and universe talk? The more I read the more I realized that it didn't matter what category it fell into. It didn't matter if there was science talk and if the concept seemed out there on the surface. All that mattered was h ...more
I kept hearing how amazing this book was so when a friend got an advanced copy and sent it to me I was siked! Jumping in I didn't really know what to expect. Was it paranormal? Was it a contemporary? Would it be too much science and universe talk? The more I read the more I realized that it didn't matter what category it fell into. It didn't matter if there was science talk and if the concept seemed out there on the surface. All that mattered was h ...more

"Do you believe in soulmates?"
"Ask me tomorrow," he says.
This book was so, so perfect. I loved absolutely every minute of it, and have no hesitation whatsoever in adding it to my favourites shelf. It had a good mixture of romance, drama, science, friendship, destiny - the works. I knew that I was hooked from the very first chapter, when I found myself just sitting there smiling at the pajama top/boots fiasco.
Because that's what this book was like for me. I got attached very, very quickly, and fo ...more
"Ask me tomorrow," he says.
This book was so, so perfect. I loved absolutely every minute of it, and have no hesitation whatsoever in adding it to my favourites shelf. It had a good mixture of romance, drama, science, friendship, destiny - the works. I knew that I was hooked from the very first chapter, when I found myself just sitting there smiling at the pajama top/boots fiasco.
Because that's what this book was like for me. I got attached very, very quickly, and fo ...more

4.5
It’s no secret that time travel is my favorite thing to read about, but I would include parallel universes as a subcategory to that. So of course I was pretty excited to get Parallel, but wasn’t going to go into it with too high expectations. Oh boy, even if I had gone it with high expectations, they would have been met. I loved Parallel!
Abby is in Hollywood making a movie, but that’s not where she is supposed to be. At least not in her eyes. She had her life planned out, all the way down to ...more
It’s no secret that time travel is my favorite thing to read about, but I would include parallel universes as a subcategory to that. So of course I was pretty excited to get Parallel, but wasn’t going to go into it with too high expectations. Oh boy, even if I had gone it with high expectations, they would have been met. I loved Parallel!
Abby is in Hollywood making a movie, but that’s not where she is supposed to be. At least not in her eyes. She had her life planned out, all the way down to ...more

4.75 Stars
You will notice that I took .25 stars from 5 stars. That's for my own inability to completely conceptualize string theory, space time continuum, and anything having to do with the brilliance of Albert Einstein. That's right. My pride.
This is a similar concept as a book I recently read called Pivot Point. Also, a movie I saw from the Sundance Film Festival called Sliding Doors. Essentially, one decision or event alters the trajectory of a life. This would be an easy enough concept to wr ...more
You will notice that I took .25 stars from 5 stars. That's for my own inability to completely conceptualize string theory, space time continuum, and anything having to do with the brilliance of Albert Einstein. That's right. My pride.
This is a similar concept as a book I recently read called Pivot Point. Also, a movie I saw from the Sundance Film Festival called Sliding Doors. Essentially, one decision or event alters the trajectory of a life. This would be an easy enough concept to wr ...more

Well, I refuse to call this book anything less than amazing. At the same time it's so convoluted, Lauren Miller must have had a room full of charts on the walls so she won't get confused. I certainly felt like I needed charts.
Abby's life as we know it is split on her 18th birthday. One night she goes to sleep with her head full of her fellow actor and her movie lines in L.A., the next thing she knows she wakes up in a dorm room in Yale with no recollection of the last year's version of her frie ...more
Abby's life as we know it is split on her 18th birthday. One night she goes to sleep with her head full of her fellow actor and her movie lines in L.A., the next thing she knows she wakes up in a dorm room in Yale with no recollection of the last year's version of her frie ...more

A story that explores free will and destiny, Parallel offers interesting insight to the meaning of “staying present”. I like that even when the story has to give us some explanation on the cosmic collision of parallel universes, the plot is not dense. With the spotlight focusing on the life of Abby and her relationship with those who are close and dear to her, I enjoy reading about the subtle changes that are going on in Abby’s as well as her parallel self’s lives and how these changes affect he
...more

4.5 stars
“Your path will change. Your destiny doesn’t”
Parallel is a book which has been receiving the most conflicting reviews from my friends, with a few not finishing it, some two star ratings and a few four star ratings. Books with mixed rating are ones which often intrigue me the most. I also tend to have a weird track record with these books, with my last couple of one’s ending up as memorable reads. Also I’ve noticed that parallel worlds seems to be the new trend in YA, this is another con ...more
“Your path will change. Your destiny doesn’t”
Parallel is a book which has been receiving the most conflicting reviews from my friends, with a few not finishing it, some two star ratings and a few four star ratings. Books with mixed rating are ones which often intrigue me the most. I also tend to have a weird track record with these books, with my last couple of one’s ending up as memorable reads. Also I’ve noticed that parallel worlds seems to be the new trend in YA, this is another con ...more

Parallel is one of the years best young adult science fiction reads, without a doubt! You will definitely not want to miss out on the awesomeness of this book. Amazingly compelling, the story Lauren Miller pens is extraordinary in so many wibbley-wobbley-timey-whimey ways. It is intensely rich with atmospheric chemistry and bursting to life with incredible amounts of excitement. Such a brilliant saucy little read, I was entranced from the beginning.
The characters are truly engaging and wonderful ...more
The characters are truly engaging and wonderful ...more

I am a fan of YA novels, so it wasn't difficult for me to enjoy this sophisticated teenage love triangle. Miller presents a sci-fi-esque reality of changing timelines within the life of the protagonist, Abby Barnes. The concept of the parallel reality was simple enough that it didn't muddle the plot yet complex enough to create intrigue. Some of the twists were predictable, but that didn't stop me from anticipating how the details would unfold, and for the most part, I was greatly surprised by t
...more

Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Parallel by Lauren Miller is a young adult sci-fi debut that explores the “what-if” theme. It is a very unassuming novel that begins like many other young adult novels with fluffy story lines. But when we get accustomed to Miller’s fictional world and begin to guess at what will happen next, we are literally lifted from one place to another, which is quite mind-bending—and oh, so, s ...more
I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Parallel by Lauren Miller is a young adult sci-fi debut that explores the “what-if” theme. It is a very unassuming novel that begins like many other young adult novels with fluffy story lines. But when we get accustomed to Miller’s fictional world and begin to guess at what will happen next, we are literally lifted from one place to another, which is quite mind-bending—and oh, so, s ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Feb 27, 2013
Jen
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of chick-lit who want to try sci-fi
Parallel by Lauren Miller comes out on May 14, but a friend with impeccable taste lent me her advance reading copy to review. This is my first advance review, and I'm pretty darn chuffed about it! I hate to say this, but Parallel didn't make a good first impression on me. The first thirty or so pages seemed like insipid chick-lit. The main characters are effortlessly, superlatively perfect, and I kind of hated them all for it. Especially when they made fun of a girl who has to work out to stay s
...more

I cannot remember when I last read a novel. It is not that I am NOT READING. I tend to read biography, histories, "religious" books. I don't read contemporary novels because I really REALLY don't like coming upon graphic sex or profanity in the middle of a good story. Often novels that do not include the above are not very engaging.
My daughter recommended this book as said, "You can handle this, Mom, it's teen fiction."
She was right. Not only could I handle it, I loved it. Granted, I love scien ...more
My daughter recommended this book as said, "You can handle this, Mom, it's teen fiction."
She was right. Not only could I handle it, I loved it. Granted, I love scien ...more

May 13, 2013
Willa David
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
best-books-of-2013
My friend who's a book blogger got an ARC of this and let me read it. OMG. This book is amazing. I usually read non-fiction with some YA thrown in, but nothing I've read recently even comes close to the awesomeness of this book. Abby Barnes is basically me -- a girl who likes to plan, who likes to be in control of everything. When her parallel self starts re-writing her past, Abby's plans for the future go out the window, forcing Abby to learn to live in the present. It's so cool to see how litt
...more

This review was originally posted at Tea, Daydreams & Fairytales on 11th May 2013.
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Parallel lives/universes seem to be an “it” thing in 2013 with at least 3 YA releases coming to mind and I for one am not the least bit disappointed because I LOVE the concept of alternative realities and fringe sciences.
Parallel definitely didn’t disappoint either I absolutely loved it and read it over a weekend, it was a really enjoyable book. Just imagine how confused and freaked out yo ...more
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Parallel lives/universes seem to be an “it” thing in 2013 with at least 3 YA releases coming to mind and I for one am not the least bit disappointed because I LOVE the concept of alternative realities and fringe sciences.
Parallel definitely didn’t disappoint either I absolutely loved it and read it over a weekend, it was a really enjoyable book. Just imagine how confused and freaked out yo ...more

Feb 22, 2017
Grace {Rebel Mommy Book Blog}
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-physical-copy
Review
This book just cemented that I have a thing for parallel universe books. I so love this little subgenre that I must find them and read them all!!
Abby Barnes knows her plan. She will graduate high school, go to Northwestern and then be a journalist. One tiny decision the first day of senior year kind of derailed that plan as she ended up on a Hollywood movie set on nearing her 18th birthday. Then on her birthday she wakes up at Yale with what seems a totally different life. In what seems ...more
This book just cemented that I have a thing for parallel universe books. I so love this little subgenre that I must find them and read them all!!
Abby Barnes knows her plan. She will graduate high school, go to Northwestern and then be a journalist. One tiny decision the first day of senior year kind of derailed that plan as she ended up on a Hollywood movie set on nearing her 18th birthday. Then on her birthday she wakes up at Yale with what seems a totally different life. In what seems ...more

This book was AMAZING. It just had this quality to it, a quality I found it impossible to turn away from. Putting this book down was painful! And when it ended? I was SAD! Hahaha. I wasn't ready for the story to end! I really wanted to keep going on Abby's journey with her, the story was that engaging and real. I can't overstate my enthusiasm for this book.
Parallel introduces us to Abby, a girl who wakes up in a life she can't remember. She's transported from LA to a dorm room in Yale, with no r ...more
Parallel introduces us to Abby, a girl who wakes up in a life she can't remember. She's transported from LA to a dorm room in Yale, with no r ...more

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads
Thank you HarperTeen for the review copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
'A decision that appears 'life-altering' might ultimately not be. Often it is the choices that seem inconsequential that uproot us.'
Debuting in 2013, Lauren Miller, among many other authors, whisk readers into a journey of parallel universes. To be honest, I'm getting sick of them- I can count at least seven that have been/are being published this year- the maj ...more
Thank you HarperTeen for the review copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
'A decision that appears 'life-altering' might ultimately not be. Often it is the choices that seem inconsequential that uproot us.'
Debuting in 2013, Lauren Miller, among many other authors, whisk readers into a journey of parallel universes. To be honest, I'm getting sick of them- I can count at least seven that have been/are being published this year- the maj ...more

I just love concepts like these. The idea of parallel lives and how each little decision can effect so much is something that I have though about so much, and in Parallel I get to go through this with Abby. It was executed really well. She would wake up and rely on her friend Caitlyn to fill her in, and it was frustrating for her to have the gaps. She still remembered what she'd learned and the memories come back, but if it was changed by her parallel life then it felt more distant.
I was torn ...more
I was torn ...more

Parallel is a compelling story that questions the impact of everyday choices and will surely resonate with anyone facing a big decision -- where to go college, what career to pursue, who to marry, where to live. Abby is a loveable, smart narrator who weaves together complex ideas about science, religion, and fate with the day-to-day musings of a college freshman. It brought me right back to the happy yet anxiety-ridden days of my last few months of high school and my first few years of college a
...more

This book confused me, the main character's choices and attitude bothered me at times... but then the book made me stay up way too late, gave weird and wonderful dreams, and the ending made me smile. loved it!
...more

First book that at the end leaves me all 
We’ve all wonder what “would have been” “what could have happened” but that doesn’t mean we always want to know what “could have been”.
It is try I was unhappy with my life, my life’s long plan was between my reach but one small deviation and getting closer to my dream of being a journalist I end up shooting a movie in Hollywood and on my way to stardom.
Then… the earthquake comes, and changes everything. I am no longer Abby Barnes an up and rising movie st ...more

We’ve all wonder what “would have been” “what could have happened” but that doesn’t mean we always want to know what “could have been”.
It is try I was unhappy with my life, my life’s long plan was between my reach but one small deviation and getting closer to my dream of being a journalist I end up shooting a movie in Hollywood and on my way to stardom.
Then… the earthquake comes, and changes everything. I am no longer Abby Barnes an up and rising movie st ...more

Nov 08, 2012
Marissa (Rae Gun Ramblings)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
review-wish-list
It is like this book was written just for me. Almost all the things I love thrown into one book. I like to describe it as Groundhogs day but in reverse. Every day she wakes up but her YESTERDAY has changed so she has to figure out where she is, who her friends are, what's she's supposed to do in the day it's really awesome because time still continues but with this weird flow. As a person with a few philosophy degrees and a love for ya literature this was right up my alley. It has the feel of a
...more

First off, I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to HarperCollins. Where to begin.. this book was crazy good right up to the end. I might have had some brain confusion concerning the scientific background on parallel universes but the relationships in this are endearing and you are cheering for Abby (the book is from her POV) to be OK w/ friends, boyfriends, and parents. I gave this book 5 stars because I loved and would read it again. This is a must read if you liked Before I Fall b
...more

It was about halfway through Parallel that I realized that I was reading not just a page-turning, suspenseful story of a girl searching for the truth about her rapidly changing reality but, more importantly, an incisive, thoughtful commentary on how each of us identifies and defines herself. I was totally sucked into the lives of the characters (especially Abby!!). The goosebump-inducing ending was the icing on the cake. So good!!!
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Crazy for Young A...: Parallel by Lauren Miller → Start Date: January 23rd, 2014 | 13 | 31 | Feb 05, 2014 03:03PM |
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