On a regular summer day, Nick hesitates when jumping into the pool to save a swimmer. So December, who has a gift to see the future, jumps in to help. However, when doing so, December gets a new vision. Her and Nick are going to fall in love. But now, his own life is at risk.

Though they were strangers on that summer day, Nick and December start to get to know each other when the school year starts. December is desperate to figure out how to save his life, but also kind of wants to know what it’s like to fall in love. As they get closer, the truth about other things starts to come to light. Will December be able to intervene enough to change the future?

Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Other Side of Infinity by Joan F. Smith to review! Pitched as They Both Die at the End meets The Butterfly Effect, I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this book. It does get emotional at the end, so be warned!

The idea of getting visions of the future is so interesting to me, but I don’t think I could handle it, honestly. The way Smith spells it out in this book was interesting, and December has had to move around a lot because of her gift. Because she accidentally let things slip. The way her and Nick’s relationship evolves throughout the book is well developed, spelling out a love story even when one person already knows it is going to happen. Their chemistry was well done, and their relationship felt believable.

Nick has dyslexia, and there’s a lot of great conversations around that throughout the book, especially with him and his parents. While Nick’s dark secret isn’t quite as dark as I was expecting, it works in the context of the overall story.

If you read a lot, you might see the main plot twist coming, but that doesn’t necessarily take away from its effectiveness. No matter what, you’ll still end up on an extremely emotional note at the end of the book.

All in all, if you’re looking for a book packed with emotion, this is definitely the book for you!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I have SO many feelings, but I am not sure how to express them without giving too much away. Just know that this book was heartwarming, heartbreaking, and thought provoking. The blend of family, friendship, romance, and mystery had me turning the pages, but my heart was really captured by December.

Her precognition had presented her with many challenges, and I wonder what sort of decisions I would make if I had the ability to see parts of the future. Would I be able to resist trying to change things? That was a question December had to ask herself every day. In the case of what happened with Nick, she was faced with trying to save his life.

That’s a lot of weight to carry around, and it was something that kept her from experience those parts of life we take for granted. Though she broke her own rules, December finally got to experience friendship and first love, and that was something that filled me with happiness. I will admit that the story went in a direction I was not expecting, but I appreciated the journey and all the emotions it delivered.

i think this book has such an interesting premise and when i first read the description i was so intrigued by it. after reading it i still think this book was really good! i liked the characters and the romance and the plot a lot as well as the language used in the writing.

my main issue with the book is there are random parts (maybe 4-5) that don’t feel like the rest. the majority of the book has a more flowery metaphor filled language to it but there were points where phrases like “guilty af” and “i’ve done this more often than a new celebrity gets canceled” which isn’t a dealbreaker, but just feels out of place.

also it felt a bit slow at times and the end was a complete 180. a very interesting twist but very fast paced and doesn’t feel completely resolved.

i did really enjoy this book despite that so i’d say it’s a 3.5/5 stars!

When I was a kid, I was OBSESSED with the movie The Butterfly Effect, so I was super excited when I got this ARC.


What I liked about the book:

1. I loved the concept of this and when December’s unique ability really shone. I don’t want to give away too much, but it was fun seeing how she thought things out and how much she went down the rabbit hole with the butterfly effect of actions. I especially loved when she brought up her “hypothetical” situation to her friend group and there was an actual cerebral conversation about the topic.

2. I liked Nick’s friend Maverick and Nick’s sister Sophie the most.

Maverick was a wicked smart high schooler taking college classes and setting himself up to be one of the brightest doctors/scientists of his generation, but he also was trying to kick a nicotine habit. I appreciated the depth this small detail brought to his overall character and found him intriguing because of it.

Sophie was a fun and spirited 10-year-old. She had opinions, which were often humorous, and she really strove to accomplish her goals. We got to see her succeed in running and not succeed as well in dancing, which brought depth to her character.

I’ve definitely been reading too many brother’s-best-friend romances because I would totally read a spinoff focused on Mav and Sophie ten years in the future. However, I would not read any other spinoffs from this series.


What could have been better:

1. I didn’t really like any of the characters. I didn’t really hate them either, they were all just a bit boring. Let’s put it this way, none of the characters compelled me to care about them or their lives.
I also felt the circle of friends that December developed was really surface level for how much the author tried to play up her feeling included in their group. The trio of girls were mentioned first by Nick seeing them at the pool, and then they just suddenly became friends with December. I liked how this subverted expectations because they were the popular girls and December was “odd”, but otherwise, there was nothing super intriguing or deeply developed about them or the group dynamic.

2. The pacing of this was too slow for my taste. I felt like Nick not acting on his lifeguard duty and his feelings about that took up too much of the word count. These feelings also led to him wanting to make it up to December and find her mom, which was not really something I was interested in; if December herself didn’t care, why should I?

I also felt like Nick had this secret through the whole book that we weren’t supposed to find out and it got annoying. For how vanilla this guy was, it didn’t seem juicy enough to keep me hooked, but it kept getting brought up over and over again.

3. The romance was a miss for me. I loved December’s descriptions of the butterflies and just letting herself fully fall into her emotions. THAT was brilliant! Otherwise, even with the foresight that they would get together, the start of their romance seemed to come out of nowhere; no real build up, no real flutters from Nick’s point of view, and then suddenly the boy couldn’t get enough of her. Is that really how high school boys think? Perhaps I’m wrong and giving too much credit to the younger opposite sex, but somehow, I don’t think so.

4. There were things drilled into (like December’s mom) that were wrapped up either unsatisfactorily or not at all. If I have to read about it, at least give it an ending!

5. I 100% did not like the ending. Because I didn’t feel a connection to the characters, the ending was more random than emotional for me. It could have been a real heavy hitter if some of the points I highlighted above were executed a bit more well.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, the idea was good and the writing was technically well done, I just felt the execution was lacking in some of the major areas I look at. Not for me.

Final Rating: 2 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Joan F. Smith for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

This novel started out slow for me. The main characters are interesting and relatable. I think the science fiction aspects are fleshed out well. It is full of teen troupes, though. It was unsurprising. The two characters meet, fall for each other, are forced apart, and ultimately end up together. It's expected. It is an easy read, and my students will love it.

This is going to be an automatic buy for my high school library-it was absolutely fantastic and I loved the "butterfly effect" theme.

What a beautiful, magical book about the future and our free will and the choices we make. I was hooked from the first sentence and couldn't put it down until the last. I loved December and Nick's relationship and how it was slow going but laced with chemistry. The ending broke me and I didn't see it coming and that's all I can say without giving anything away.

The Other Side of Infinity is the most unique YA novel I’ve ever read. December is an omnipotent, anxious teenage girl who lives alone with her uncle. The “gumball” concept surrounding December’s foreknowledge had every opportunity to be confusing, or even off-putting, but it's not. It makes perfect sense from the very beginning. Nick is a teenage lifeguard with a big secret of his own. Nick and December’s paths converge, and the world is forever changed (literally). The setting of this book was wonderful. I read this in late December and every time I opened this book, I felt like I was in the thick of a sticky, small town summer. The romance between Nick and December is one of the best I’ve read in a YA book in a while. It’s intimate and realistic without ever being explicit. For teens who aren’t comfortable with more outright sexual material yet, this would be a great fit. I loved them apart and together as a unit. The descriptions of Nick’s experiences with dyslexia are so important and perfectly done. I have read many middle grade novels that address similar issues and how that can affect a character’s school experience, but it was nice to see it depicted in the life of an older teenager. All the characters in this novel had amazing depth. All so likable but flawed. Special shout out for Nick’s little sister (whose name alludes me at this moment). She was such a dynamic firecracker of a preteen girl. She served as a comic relief at times and an important mirror of self-reflection at others. This was an amazingly written book. Joan Smith paints such beautiful pictures with her words. I could see every minute detail of every scene play out in my mind. This book made me laugh, smile, reflect and cry. But mostly cry.

So I did not enjoy this book due to the writing and I was confused about halfway that nothing really stuck out to me. I did however, have high hopes and was expecting great things. The plot was there it was just a bit difficult to get into it. I may give it a second chance at a different time.

Thank you for the arc in an exchange for my honest review.

This read was so emotional. The ending especially is intense but at the same time I didn't really love the ending. The book really makes you question if we are all better off not knowing exactly what the future holds. I liked the alternating POVs and how the story unfolded.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Good book!
The cover is gorgeous and drew me in instantly. The plot was good as well, and I enjoyed reading the characters mature as the book went on.

I loved the premise of this one, but realized very quickly it wasn't my thing as I had hoped. I think teens will enjoy this one, and I - the old lady librarian - am just an outlier.

Honestly, not for me. I am sure other people will enjoy this book. Please read other reviews by other reviewers as I did not have strong opinions about this one.

What if you had the ability to see the future? Would you consider it a gift or a curse? Would you attempt to alter what is coming, or allow events to unfold on their own?

"The Other Side of Infinity " is a very unique story that delves into just that. With themes of family, friendship, and first love, a strong female protagonist, and an engaging plot, slightly reminiscent of "The Butterfly Effect", this book had me guessing until its unpredictable ending.

A huge thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this superb book before its April 25, 2023 release.

I loved the concept of this book. It made me wonder if maybe we are all better off not knowing everything that has and will happen even if we often wish we had special insight. December and Nick were such nuanced characters and I loved the high stakes in this book. It was such a great read and I encourage you all to read it April 25th.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I read this book. The cover spoke to me more than anything. However, I really enjoyed this book. I really connected with the characters and felt so many feelings at the end. The only issue I had with it was that it was REALLY slow at times...like to the point that I almost stopped reading it. However, I did enjoy it in the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing and Feiwel and Friends for allowing me to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Other Side of Infinity is an okay read. I liked the dual POV of December and Nick. I enjoyed the magical realism from December's view. She can see many and all different futures for everybody around her. At a young age her mom left and years later she lives with her Uncle as they settle down for the fifteenth time. December helps save a popular teacher from dying when Nick, a lifeguard, hesitates. Nick is given all the credit when he feels like fraud and wants to give credit to December. When she declines he offers to help find her mom and they begin to work together and possibly fall for each other.

The beginning chapters were a little difficult to wrap my mind around. I think part of it is December's ability and the way her chapters are written because of it. After I passed the beginning I liked her POV more. I did also enjoy Nick's POV. He came across as realistic and relatable.

I did have slight trouble connecting but ultimately The Other Side of Infinity is a decent story and I liked the ending.

I'm on the fence with my star rating.

3.5 or 4 stars

Joan is a masterful writer. She plots meticulously yet her stories seem effortless. The opening chapter - where Nick hesitates feels real, as does the connection between him and the teacher he fails to save. December's stress and connection with Nick is realistic and riveting. I will definitely recommend this book the librarian at the middle school where I teach.

Thanks for the advanced copy of this book..

I will definitely be buying this for our library. What a super cool concept for a book. I kept asking myself the whole way through if I would like the power of knowing what the future holds. It's a great book to spark conversations.

The ending of this book was gut wrenching to me so reader beware.

This was a great read. I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and I’m glad I was cause this was a wonderful story! I highly recommend this book!