Many thanks go to NetGalley, Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

*Note: The advanced copy I received is an uncorrected proof. Therefore, my review reflects only the unfinished version of a work that has the potential to change in any, some, or no capacity.*

So, this is a story about the multiverse and parallel timelines, but more specifically: that of 18-year-old Chris Schweitzer. In one universe, Chris goes off to live with his father for the Summer before college, and in the other, he stays with his mother and friends, and both after an unfortunate incident involving “whippets”. The chapters alternate for each timeline, obviously, but it took me a second to understand that I was reading a different perspective when it happened, because one timeline is headed as “Chapter 1”, and the other is “Chapter One”. Kinda clever, but also too much work for my brain at 2AM. And it goes on like that for the remainder of the novel. To distinguish the separate accounts further, the fonts for each are different, as well as sized... at least for my e-copy, anyways. These slight distinctions between Chris 1 and Chris One really helped (and, yes, I will be referring to them as Chris 1 and Chris One for the remainder of this review).

I’m absolutely fascinated by the concept of parallel universes branching off from each other endlessly based on the decisions we make. In this book, for instance, a single lie creates a world of different outcomes. Chris 1’s experiences divulge in totally different ways than Chris One’s, and the separate storylines excited me.

I was a little disappointed with the characterization, though. 1/4th of the way into the book, and I had no idea what any of the main character’s physical features were. I like to visualize in my head what’s happening on the page, and I had nothing to go by in terms of details— Chris could’ve been 5’1, blonde and blue-eyed, Wexler could’ve been dark skinned, 5’10 and had a pot belly, Anna could’ve been a stick-thin 6’3 and multi-racial...— I need to know what they look like in some capacity, so I can play it out in my head. Oddly enough, many of the minor characters are described in the most detail. I wanted a bit more depth, is all.

In any case, I was wholly invested in the story! I was pleasantly surprised, because I’ve been in a very cynical mood with the literature I’ve read as of late. The plot progression was just right, the characters talked like normal people their age, and the discussions on science, religion, friendship, family, the what-if’s and what-could-have-been’s... it all worked so well. I guess my only other complaint would be that I wish there was more resolution to the end. Both timelines wrapped up their main subplots, and the eventual outcome was still the same, but again... I craved a more comprehensive ending— I hate feeling like I missed out on something, so a less rushed conclusion to Chris 1 and Chris One’s stories (before the Epilogue) would’ve made a world of difference to me.

tl;dr - Wonderful and thoroughly surprising story involving parallel timelines, that I wish focused a bit more on characterization and the conclusion.