Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

Synopsis (via Goodreads): 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.

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I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I really liked the beginning of Opposite of Always, but it got progressively worse as the story went on. Jack went from being an adorable teenager in love, to someone obsessed with a girl he barely knew. Jack's first life -- how everything originally unfolded -- was my favorite. It happened authentically, and he wasn't a terrible friend/son/boyfriend. As his life resets, he becomes more and more unlikable. His sole focus is Kate, and he ignores the people that have been in his life for years.

I'm also not sure how I feel about the "time travel" aspect and how realistic it was. Does Jack hit his head and replay these moments over and over again without truly impacting the present? Is he really going back in time? If he is, why? What caused this crack in the universe? It's never really explained, and you're left with whatever your imagination can come up with. Initially, I thought he sustained a brain injury, but that doesn't explain the ending. You'll definitely have to suspend your disbelief for this one.

My biggest issue was Jack himself. He barely knows Kate. Yes, he got to know her again and again when his life would reset, but she was always meeting him for the first time. Their relationship could only go so far, because she was only willing to share pieces of herself once she was comfortable with him. By the time that happened, time would reset, and Jack would have to start all over again. I just didn't understand why he was so obsessed with a person he barely knew. Love at first sight? He was willing to sacrifice all of his other relationships for more time with her, and risk his life for a chance to save hers. I couldn't get on board with his actions, because I didn't understand them.

You'd think Jack would make better choices once time reset itself, but he seemed to make increasingly bad decisions that negatively impacted everyone except Kate. Even when he's trying to "do the right thing," it's at the expense of someone else. He was just so... unlikable. I need a character I can root for, and Jack wasn't it.

Franny was an amazing secondary character, and Jack's parents were hilarious. Franny has been by Jack's side since childhood, and I hated how easily Jack through away their friendship. Jack's parents are still very much in love, and they aren't afraid to show their affection for one another. They also really care about their son and his friends. Basically, I liked everyone except for the main character. Even Kate was interesting, although she made equally questionable decisions. She kept secrets from Jack (even though he already knew what they were, so it was rather pointless), she went back to her old boyfriend once, and seemed very fickle when it came to her emotions and how she felt about Jack in general. Sometimes she was all about Jack, and other times she kept him at a distance.

It was interesting to see how Jack's actions altered the lives of everyone else, and we see how one person's choices matter more than we think they do. The narrator was energetic and conveyed a teenager's personality, but it wasn't enough to make me like Jack or understand his obsession.

Opposite of Always had an interesting concept, but it's really hard for me to enjoy a book when I dislike the main character. If Jack had been more likable, or even tried to care about someone other than himself (and Kate occasionally), I might have enjoyed this one more. Yes, he eventually realizes how his behavior has impacted his friends and family, but he doesn't make too many adjustments.