Standard rebels-against-impossible-odds plot with a mild twist.
This sequel to Dissonance (2014) continues Del’s adventures in a musical version of parallel universes.
Sixteen-year-old Del can, like her parents, Walk between worlds of the multiverse. She knows how to find the musical strings that bind the worlds together. However, the ruling Consort strengthens their own Key World by “cleaving,” or unraveling, other worlds. When Del learns that cleaving actually destroys billions of lives, she joins the rebel Free Walkers. She also learns that her sweetheart, Simon, has survived the cleaving of the world he was on and has become a major player in the fight against the Consort. Hiding on various different worlds, the rebels race against time to stop the Consort, which includes Del’s parents, from cleaving massive numbers of worlds. Opposing them is Lattimer, leader of the Consort and a run-of-the-mill megalomaniac-style villain. O’Rourke does her best to balance suspense and romance. Her multiverse premise is hardly original, but she freshens it a bit by tying it to music, plucking that string consistently. Both plot and worldbuilding are so complicated that it will be difficult for new readers to follow—newcomers need not apply. Two escape sequences are too easy for the supposedly impossible-to-escape setting, but they do supply action.
Standard rebels-against-impossible-odds plot with a mild twist. (Dystopian romance. 12-18)Pub Date: July 21, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6027-0
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2015
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice.
A fall romance with a New England backdrop.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only stunning thing to hit the town of Briar Glen—so has good-looking new boy Jack Harper, and Lucy Kane is enamored with both. Her new crush is the perfect thing to take her mind off the fact that Java Junction, part of a global chain, is opening across the street from Cup o’ Jo, Lucy’s mother’s coffee shop, where they take pride in baking everything from scratch and avoiding artificial ingredients. But there’s more than coincidence in the timing of the arrivals of both Jack and Java Junction: The Harper family moved to Briar Glen specifically to open this franchise location, which will bring competition that threatens Cup o’ Jo. This scenario has the makings of a perfect autumnal adversaries-to-lovers romance, but the writing lacks charm and chemistry. Jack seems to be completely enamored with Lucy, but her character isn’t sufficiently developed to warrant his attention. Lucy’s friends are continually supportive of her but have few distinguishing characteristics, and the story is weakened by confusing timelines and repetitive elements. The resolution relies upon successes that come too easily and do not feel earned. Major characters are cued white.
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice. (Romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781339030753
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization.
Ellis Mitchell has her whole life planned out.
Heading into senior year, Ellis plans to study hard and crush it at the journalism internship her media executive dad got her, paving the way for her acceptance to Columbia University. But then Ellis’ parents announce they’re separating—and that Ellis and her mom will be heading to Bramble Falls to stay with her aunt and cousin. Furious that her careful plans have been upended, Ellis struggles to settle into the small, charming Connecticut town even as everyone around her gears up for the annual Falling Leaves Festival. Ellis runs into Cooper Barnett—her long-ago summer friend from visits to Aunt Naomi and cousin Sloane—who’s grown up to be very handsome. But Cooper isn’t pleased to see Ellis; he’s cold and curt, and she has no idea why. Wilson’s YA debut is chock-full of charm. Readers will swoon at Cooper’s and Ellis’ developing feelings following their frosty reunion and sympathize with Ellis’ difficulties even as Bramble Falls grows on her. She must choose between small-town community ties and big-city ambitions—between what her dad wants for her and what she really wants. Ellis’ relationships with her mom, aunt, and cousin are lovely and aspirational. The depiction of Bramble Falls is evocative, and the book contains enough seasonal delights to satisfy even the most devoted pumpkin spice latte lover. Main characters are cued white.
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781665975209
Page Count: 352
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
