Opposite of always by Justin A. Reynolds - Restarting February 3rd 2020

[✨ A ✨]

Jack Ellison King. King of Almost.

He almost made valedictorian.

He almost made varsity.

He almost got the girl . . .

When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack. Jack’s curse of almost is finally over.

But this love story is . . . complicated. It is an almost happily ever after. Because Kate dies. And their story should end there. Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Beautiful, radiant Kate. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind. Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do—and let go—to save the people he loves.

[Heather]

I’m going to start uploading comments today!

[Heather]

Part one up to page 154:
(view spoiler)[ I am absolutely loving this book so far. I have been in tears but laughing and smiling at the same time. The main characters are some of my favorites I’ve read this year and I can’t wait to see what exactly happens to them. I hate how Kate dies at the end of these pages. (hide spoiler)]

[Heather]

Part 2 up to page 279:
(view spoiler)[ oh my god!! I can’t handle this heartbreak of Kate continuously dying. I know it’s the premise of the book but I am shipping the main character and her. My heart keeps getting broken and put back together. I love how they call his best friends dad The Coupon because it could be symbolic to him continuously getting out of jail. (hide spoiler)]

[Heather]

Part 3 up to page 361:
(view spoiler)[ oh my god!! I can’t take Kate dying again, she’s definitely one of my favorite characters and with Jack getting in this car wreck on the way to her it has my anxiety way up!! I’m way too connected to these characters and I’m terrified of the ending. (hide spoiler)]

[Heather]

Finished:
(view spoiler)[ I am so glad that Kate and Jack ended up together! The more I’ve thought about it though the more I have a question about Jack. When he got in the car wreck I feel like when he collapsed on the sidewalk he died and got sent back in time with Kate. I’m not sure though it’s just a thought I had. Overall it was definitely my favorite book of the year! (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Part one, page 154: (view spoiler)[It took a little, but I'm starting to get into this book. Maybe it's just me, but I found some of the texts kinda awkwardly written? I wish we would have gotten a bit more time to see Kate and Jack bond before she died, but we'll probably get more as he goes back in time to see her again.

Also, ouch, he fell down the stairs! Is that what triggers his time traveling abilities? (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Initial Thoughts: (view spoiler)[Going into this pretty blind. Don't remember the blurb but after that intro I'm totally intrigued. Time travel you say? Not really a trope I go for but consider me intrigued. Is this like a teenage drama recreation of Groundhog Day lol? We shall see :) (hide spoiler)]

15%: (view spoiler)[So I'm still waiting for the crazy side of things to play out, AKA time travel. But boy do I remember the teenage angst. Crushing on your BFF secretly, then moving on only to find out they harbor feelings for you too. Basically high-school is an emotional train wreck waiting to happen. The same can be said for our hero Jack. Although I will admit it took almost no time for him to switch his affections lol (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Finished part two: (view spoiler)[I don't know, I really wish I could say I'm liking this, but I'm still eh on it? I feel like the book is trying a bit too hard to be cool and modern. Using text abbreviations in the writing itself, not the texts, is really weird to me. Like when it was written:

"FML.
I bust an illegal U."

I'm not feeling their relationship as much as I should, and I still think it's because I haven't actually seen as much bonding. I'm told he's in love, but I don't see enough of their interactions.

Because I haven't seen enough of them together, I'm finding Jack kinda entitled? I don't have enough sympathy for him. And I hate the idea that he would go after Kate because he thinks he deserves her. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Finished part three: (view spoiler)[I don't think I have much to say for this part, except that I'm still feeling more or less the same way as before. The relationship of Franny and The Coupon is confusing me, like I can't tell if The Coupon really cares for Franny or not? Or what exactly has gone on between them? But I suppose we shall learn more later. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Finished part four: (view spoiler)[Hng, so I was so, so, upset when Jack just went and kissed Jillian. Like to me, that's just wrong. And Jill just let him do it? Like why? If she didn't like Franny then she should have ended things before, but I did think they were having a pretty good relationship.

Instead of just going and kissing her, Jack could have, y'know, talked to her about his feelings instead. Just because he decided to let go of Kate doesn't mean he has to jump right into another romance.

And yes, I do think it isn't good for him to be with Jill and still have feelings for Kate at the same time. It just makes things worse and worse... I really didn't like this part.

Hopefully in the next section he will just decide to be with Kate, support her, be a bit of a better friend, and let Kate go at the end. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

30% (view spoiler)[ "So this seems to be a huge turning point in the story. I imagine this is when things really get going but I'm mostly just worried Jack is hurt. It's no nice he has such caring and maybe a lil obsessed parents. Sure he has to suffer only child syndrome but he doesn't seem to mind sharing them with his friends. OK here's to hoping Jack is OK after losing Kate. I'm bitter she ghosted him but I kinda get it smh" (hide spoiler)]

57% (view spoiler)[ "This is nothing like Groundhog Day. In fact Jack is sent back 4 months in time but damn does he become blindly focused on only Kate. I understand considering he knows she will die, but you're seventeen, how can you truly expect to fight that. Not to mention I'm a little disappointed in how he left his family and friends on the sideline. He's lucky they didn't give up on him. So far one chance, how many still to come?" (hide spoiler)]

70% (view spoiler)[ "Poor Jack is trying so hard to fix everyone and everything knowing every time it may be his last chance. I am glad he is not singly focused this time. For an 18 year old he is extremely intelligent and organized. I was getting a bit worried the first time around as he sort of forgot about his family and friends. Now I worry he's spreading himself too thin and expecting too much of himself." (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Finished reading! (view spoiler)[Okay, so unfortunately I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped to. I was still feeling a disconnect with Jack, and while I guess I do admire Jack's determination to save Kate, I... this makes me sound hard-hearted, but I think it would have been better for her to die? Because if she dies, then at least Jack learns something about letting go, enjoying what time you are given, that you can't change everything, etc.

In fact, I thought she was going to die all along, because of the synopsis. "he has to figure out what he’s willing to do—and let go—to save the people he loves" makes it sound like he needs to learn to let her go in order to not mess up the rest of his life. But instead, everything seemed to end pretty perfectly.

It also bothered me that there wasn't more attention put on how it was wrong for Jack to have tried to date Jill. I wanted him to realize that it was a big mistake, but I feel it was kinda glossed over?

I'm still not sure what I will rate this book. I feel like two stars is still a bit too harsh, so maybe three? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished
Review (view spoiler)[ So when I started this I wasn't sure what to expect. Jack is a decent guy for a teenager, he has an excellent relationship with his parents, who are both present and involved in his life. His parents have a excellent relationship and while Jack is their only child, I think he secretly loves their attention. I knew there would be some type of time travel, giving Jack the opportunity to fix mistakes and hopefully find his purpose. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of Groundhog Day and while the situation, (waking up and doing the day all over), in Jack's reality rather than a single day he has months to perfect something he really never finds out. Over and over Jack tries everything he can all to save Kate, and it all starts the night the two meet. Jack messes up more often than not and it's not until he just lets the chips fall as they may and is just himself for things to finally work out in the end. I mean sure the story line is pretty unbelievable, but you have to admit there are at least one moment in your life you can redo or change. Jack's journey I'm sure only shapes him into a better man later in his life and particularly as a boyfriend to Kate. Nothing like losing the love of your life to make you see the bigger picture. I truly enjoyed this story and it was unique with well adjusted/adaptive characters. I would recommend this for YA fans or even romance fans who want something new and different. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting May 27th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[Jill]

Started!

[Shar]

I've started too! I'm listening to the audiobook so I hope it's easy to follow :)

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[Interesting start to the book with time travel. I'm wondering how we get there..

Jack loves BFF Jillian who's in a relationship with his BFF Franny. A little tropey but I don't hate it yet. I'm wondering what the deal is with Kate. She seems wishy-washy, like she's into Jack, but then not really. I really want to know why she bailed on him on prom. Pretty crappy. (hide spoiler)]
24%

[Shar]

I'm using Scribd and it doesn't show the percent or what chapter I'm at so I'm going to have to assume percentage hahahah

[Shar]

24%: (view spoiler)[Awww poor Jack :( I hope Kate had a proper reason and not just ditching for some stupid reason. I'm not loving this book so far but I'm also not hating it. It is quite cliche' but I have hope for it! (hide spoiler)]

[Jill]

Shar wrote: "I'm using Scribd and it doesn't show the percent or what chapter I'm at so I'm going to have to assume percentage hahahah"

Yeah theres no chapters, but I think its split into parts. I hate it when audiobooks don't have chapters -_- luckily I'm on Libby and it gives percentage

[Shar]

Jill wrote: "Shar wrote: "I'm using Scribd and it doesn't show the percent or what chapter I'm at so I'm going to have to assume percentage hahahah"

Yeah theres no chapters, but I think its split into parts. I..."

It wasn't available for me in Libby :( but oh well, at least I have it available haha

[Shar]

approx. 50/60% (I would suggest reading the spoiler after 60% tho cause I really don't know haha): (view spoiler)[So Kate has Sickle cell, not what I was expecting, I was more so expecting cancer just because most of these kind of books end up to be about cancer. I was a little annoyed at Kate when she layed jack off even though Jack was completely willing to stand by her. I don't blame Jack for completely blowing his family off for Kate too when he knew she was going to die. (hide spoiler)]

[Shar]

approx. 80/90%: (view spoiler)[ummmm no. He just kissed his best friends girlfriend, that's not cool. He seems to have completely given up on Kate just because she's dying... (hide spoiler)]

[Shar]

My opinion changed very drastically after thought and the ending... Finished: see my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[We know Kate is sick with some kind of terminal illness. That's why she bailed at prom. She dies but somehow Jack travels back in time to the day we met and tries to save Kate. It hurts all of his other relationship. He actually gets Kate to prom, but something happens during. He is defeated in that he doesn't save Kate and she still doesn't disclose her illness (hide spoiler)]
52%

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[This part was really lame to me. I don't understand the significance of Franny's relationship with his father in this story. I don't see how it really fits or why it matters. I also think it's weird and corny that he's called The Coupon. What the heck?

I also think the audiobook is kind of killing the story.. (hide spoiler)]
End of Part 3 // 81%

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[This book kind of sucked for me. He tried over and over and finally gets it right to save her. And they end up together. I didn't get the drama with Franny and Franny's dad. What was the point of all that conflict? And why did Franny get shot? So bizarre.. (hide spoiler)]
End

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting July 13th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[El]

OK, I'm a little over 100 (view spoiler)[ So, there's not really much to say apart from this mysterious thing Kate's doing instead of going to prom? I don't know if it's to do with her *not really* ex or if it's something else? I just feel so bad for Jack! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

21% - (view spoiler)[I kinda love Jack and Kate. They're so cute. So far, the only mention of the time travel/alternate realities thing is in the 'prologue' section.But I'm loving the whole getting to know each other.

I'm kinda not liking Jillian. I'm getting vibes that she's been aware that Jack's been in love with her forever, and now that he's got his eye on someone else, she doesn't like it and she's jealous. She's gonna be a problem, I'm calling it now! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

59% - (view spoiler)[So Kate has died twice so far. And we know what's wrong with her. She has sickle cell. I'll be honest, I've heard of it but I had no idea what it was. It's crazy that such a high percentage of people afflicted are black. Another thing I didn't know.

I think Jack needs to spend a bit more time trying to help Franny. He's obviously self-destructing and struggling with the situation with his dad.

I wonder if Kate will actually survive this book, or if the 'resets' are so Jack can come to terms with her death...

(hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

90% - (view spoiler)[We can all agree that the worst timeline was when Jack ignored Kate and decided to make a move on Jillian. Dude, what was you thinking?!?!? Nothing but bad stuff happened and he totally ruined his friendship with Franny. No girl is worth the friendship they had and he almost died because of it. Urgh, idiot!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Finished - (view spoiler)[Yay, Kate survived!!! I'm so pleased Jack finally worked out how to make everything all right. I just love them. Loved this book! (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Ashleigh wrote: "21% - ."

(view spoiler)[ 100% this is how I felt about Jill! Like wouldn't give him the romantic time of day before and now she's jealous.... And Frannie just deserves better than that. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Ashleigh wrote: "59% ."

(view spoiler)[ I definitely feels like there's no way she survives the book and it's like a story about him learning to cope? I don't know, part of me doesn't want her to live because it seems like it cheapens the coming to terms with death at a young age idea. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Ashleigh wrote: "90%"

(view spoiler)[ This was 1000000% the WORST timeline and legitimately made me angry. Because clearly this was how I felt about Jillian from the beginning but wanted to give her a chance and yes actually she does suck, and 2) can we just stop MESSING WITH FRANNY! He didn't deserve this at all. Jack is so selfish. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Ashleigh wrote: "Finished - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ But like how?! They don't actually explain how he ended the loop and it was all kind of confusing. Did he just need to be laying with her or something? Kind of a cheap ending. (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

Lane wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "Finished - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"


Omg right? (view spoiler)[The book just ends and that's it? She's saved? What? I don't get it (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

Jack is (view spoiler)[such a teenage boy ugh, only cares about the cute girl and not everyone else he is screwing over. Like what was the one where he was with jillian for no reason? And then franny kept getting screwed over? Damn (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

I'm personally not a fan of time travel (view spoiler)[and I hate it when it isn't explained. I know groundhog day didn't explain it either but at least that had an ending that made sense and wasn't this ending that was all "lol he saved her the end" (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

Lane wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "59% ."

[spoilers removed]"


I would have liked that more personally, (view spoiler)[would have been sad but would be better than what we got (hide spoiler)]

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

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Date changed. Restarting February 3rd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[Cate]

Only got to start this today and then of course had no wifi to comment so I'm a good chunk in.

Up to part 2 lets call it. EDIT: okay I'm an idiot and forgot I could use page numbers, up to page 180. (view spoiler)[ Aw, I love Jack, he's so cute. Their relationship kind of went 0-100 real quick. And then she died??? I was literally busy working and was listening then all of a sudden her mom rings to say she's gone?? I don't know why I shocked me so much like it's in the blurb and kind of the whole premise but I just kind of forgot hahah. I'm really enjoying this so far though.
My only gripe is that the I can't really differentiate between people when the narrator is speaking! They all just blur into the same person. I own the physical book so probably going to continue for here on reading it physically. (hide spoiler)]

[Cate]

.