Opposite of Always is unique take on the medical drama. Jack meets Kate at a party and their chemistry is undeniable. There is only one problem, within six months of meeting Kate she is going to die. Jack gets stuck in a timeloop that restarts every time Kate dies, and he makes it his mission to find a way to save her. But Jack has to deal with more than Kate’s impending doom, he also has to find to support his two best friends who are going through family issues, and his parents, because there are so many ways to screw up a timeline.
The four important characters of the story, are Jack, Kate, and then Jack’s two best friends, Franny and Jillian. Jack is a bit of a nerd, but a sweet one who hasn’t realised what his strengths in life are. Franny is trying to reconnect with a distant father, Jillian is dealing with family issues and change, and Kate is trying to deal with sickle cell. The story is told from Jacks perspective as he tries to balance all their lives and save Kate’s. Jack has a fun voice: slightly self-deprecating and sometimes philosophical. Mostly, he is a normal guy whose gotten caught in a timeloop.
Each time the loop repeats, a few important events happen, but are different every time, with different ups and downs in between. In total. we see three loops. The first two loops feel very similar and there isn’t a lot of difference in the outcomes of the two. The third is the most unique, and also the saddest. I didn’t find myself bored when I was reading the book, but looking back I wish there was more a distinction between the loops, a feel or theme that really stood out and kept them separate in my mind. I would have also appreciated a few montages of his other failed timelines.
I loved that this book quietly features black characters. Yay!
My one problem with this book was the ending. Spoilers ahead.
| Spoiler Inside: My Thoughts on the Themes and Ending | Show |
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Despite my feelings about the ending, Opposite of Always is a cute read. Justin A. Reynolds is a master of writing adorable contemporary romance scenes, and this book is the perfect showcase for his abilities. One of the best parts of the story was watching Kate and Jack fall in love over and over again. They have some adorable moments and conversations that just make you happy. If you’re looking for a simple, feel-good novel, you’ll find it in Opposite of Always.
Kim
The ending confused me. Did Kate die?
Megan
No, if you look at the second to last chapter titled “Almost the End” Jack states, “So Now that you know Kate and Jack survive, I’ll be honest. These four replays weren’t the only ones. They’re more like a composite of a lot of other replays I lost count after three dozen“ (Reynolds 443). So after everything that had happened throughout the book, Jack gets his forever with Kate and isn’t stuck in the land of almost playing on a repeat.
hope
She did not die. She lives. But did you know how much time he spent trying to save her adds up to more than 8 years