REVIEW: Pivot Point by Kasie West

October 8, 2013

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . . 

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

 In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

I won Pivot Point in a giveaway where I could choose from a bunch of really cool YA books and I did a massive happy dance when it arrived. Thank you Nina! IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I’VE READ FOR A WHILE, SO FREAKING GOOD! I had high hopes for it because the plot line sounded amazing, I had heard so much praise and I loved Kasie West’s other book, The Distance Between Us. Saying that, I was not disappointed, it met and exceeded my expectations. It was a amazing debut!

Pivot Point can’t really be fit into a specific genre as it really has a bit of everything. Our main character Addie lives in a hidden compound where beings with mind control powers live and learn to develop and control their powers. Addie is a searcher, divergent (yeah it was a bit weird whenever her power was referred to as Divergence cos I kept picturing Tris), clairvoyant.. whatever you want to call it and essentially that means she has the power to see the result of a choice and whether or not she should take it. So when Addie’s parents divorce and her mother decides to stay in the compound and her father leaves for the ‘norm’ world, Addie is forced to decide which parent she is to live with and so she begins a 6 week search living out two different versions of what could happen.

In each alternating chapter, a different life is lived. In one she stays home at the compound with her mother and best friend Laila and in the other she lives in the ‘norm’ world with her father as a completely normal student. The way the two searches were told wasn’t at all confusing and it was done really well because it could have easily gotten complicated. Both alternating versions somehow kind of revolved around each other whilst still being completely different. Both lifes have different pro’s and con’s and two different romances. Can I just begin saying that I LOVED the romance aspect of this book. Both interest’s were likable for different reasons and until a certain incident happened that made me sure of who I liked the most - I found likable qualities in both interests. 

In her life at the compound Addie finds herself falling for arrogant and charming Duke, a football player with Telekinesis who she never thought she’d fall for. In the other she falls for normal guy Trevor whose creative and never makes Addie feel uncomfortable. There were nice subplots fitted into the story as well which presented as great underlayer and made Addie choice and story not solely based on the romance aspect of the novel. 

I really liked Addie as a narrator to the story. Addie was a really likeable character and one I found some similarities to. She was sarcastic, smart and really loyal to the ones she loved and she loved reading books. I liked that she never let anyone else control her and she always stayed true to herself. She never let the romance sway her and never did anything she didn’t want to do. Saying this, I’ve come to the conclusion that Kasie West writes the best female leads as I also loved Caymen from The Distance Between Us.


“I don't care when people think I'm an antisocial, controlling bookworm because that's what I am. It's when they interpret me wrong that I have a problem.” 


Pivot Point was a book that from the beginning I couldn't put down and found to be quite fast paced. I LOVE when I get so immersed in a book that I’m willing to temporarily blind myself, shining my Iphone light on my book in the dark just to read a little more {though I don’t love the after feeling so much *rubs eyes*}. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want to, I never experienced a dull or boring moment. Then all of a sudden all of these plot twists happened that made Addie’s choice depend on so many things. I didn’t know what to expect, all these mind changing things were happening and I was truly clueless as to what choice would be made. Addie’s choice was selfless and probably not something I would have been smart enough to choose myself cos I never would have thought of it. But I think in her situation it was the best choice possible and I’m glad chose it. 

The ending of Pivot Point was a OMG one but like I mentioned, I was pleased with it. Whilst I was happy with the ending, I will admit that I am not happy it ended. I willed Kasie to write more so I didn’t have to wait until February for Split Second, because I was so engaged with the story. I totally understand why people loved this book because just like her other book The Distance Between Us, I LOVED THIS. It really is one I will be praising and recommending because it was just amazingly good. 




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6 comments

  1. Just that quote convinced me that the MC is one I would love. And sarcasm?! Wow, she seems like a badass. Now I really want to start this! (I regretfully admit that I have this book waiting for me on my bookshelf, but I haven't felt an urge to start it. UNTIL NOW. ;) great review Sunny!

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  2. I like books that are a mixture of themes/genres and I keen to read this, especially as your found it a quick read!

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  3. This sounds a bit too romance-based for my liking, but the idea of the MC being able to see the outcomes of her choices is really cool. Lovely review!

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  4. YES this sounds amazing, I have wanted to read this ever since I heard about it! I'm glad both of the love interests are decent, unlike Just Like Fate. Great review Sunny!

    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

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  5. I loved this book and The Distance Between Us too so Kasie West is one of my new favorite authors. I agree with you, she writes incredible MCs. Great review! ~Pam

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  6. This sounds like an awesome book! I'm so jealous that you won that giveaway. I probably would have made the same choice as well. Great review, the concept sounds really cool. Now I'm not so sure whether being able to see the future is so great.

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