Review: 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Publication Date: Sept 17th 2013
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 368

Source: Purchased

Rating:
 ★★★★½

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you.

3:59 was, excuse me but I think I need a moment to calm my rapid beating heart. I thought I was in for some pure horrors only but I didn't know my emotions got tangled up also (I guess it always is a good idea if there's a little romance involved). But that ending and no sequel, it broke my heart =( I know that the ending was reasonable, not everyone can get their happy ending. However I just wish things would end differently.

I'm a huge fan of parallel universe so as soon as I got this book, I jumped right in and couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. The physic concept of the multi-universe was clearly explained so it was pretty easy to understand. I felt smarter somehow after reading this book like I can now identify different kinds of forces, particles and universes. If the idea of parallel isn't intriguing enough then no worries there's a mystery there for you to solve. This book is full of action packed with its twists and turns. I couldn't guess the one person behind all of those terrible things was that person. I didn't expect that person at all. I liked the concept of this book and the story was yes engaging but the characters, let's just say that none of them left an impression on me. Maybe there's not enough time for character development since there's a lot going on but still it's really a bummer.

Overall, I enjoyed all the thrills, the constantly action packed and the excitement of not knowing what's going to happen next. I think I'll check out her other book (Ten) since I like the way Gretchen McNeil handles the mystery and how her book can keep you on the edge (I keep looking out at the window at night or behind my back, worrying that something may lurking out there).

PS: Look at the cover guys, so creepy yet I can't stop looking at it. It's just captivating, such an amazing cover. And the colors, it gave me the creeps.