Happy Friday!
Today for Freebie Friday I have two parallel universe books that I've just finished reading…
3:59 by Gretchen McNeil
To be published by Balzer + Bray on September 17, 2013
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?
Relativity by Cristin Bishara
Published by Bloomsbury on September 10, 2013
If Ruby Wright could have her way, her dad would never have met and married her stepmother Willow, her best friend George would be more than a friend, and her mom would still be alive. Ruby knows wishes can't come true; some things just can't be undone. Then she discovers a tree in the middle of an Ohio cornfield with a wormhole to nine alternative realities. Suddenly, Ruby can access completely different realities, each containing variations of her life—if things had gone differently at key moments. The windshield wiper missing her mother’s throat…her big brother surviving his ill-fated birth…her father never having met Willow. Her ideal world—one with everything and everyone she wants most—could be within reach. But is there such a thing as a perfect world? What is Ruby willing to give up to find out?
I enjoyed both of these -- I was hoping to get a joint review up today, but this week was a bit crazy -- I'll get those up next week. But if you enjoy parallel universe books, you'll definitely want to give both of these a try. 3:59 is more parallel universe action-adventure, while Relativity is more of a parallel universe contemporary. They both had a fair amount of science in them, which I liked, thought I can't vouch for the plausibility of any of it!
The details: if my winner is a US resident, they can have both books -- 3:59 is a finished hardcover, while Relativity is an ARC. If my winner is international, they'll have to choose one or the other, and I'll order it from The Book Depository.There is a free entry option, and if you want an extra entry, you can answer this question in comments: if you found a portal that let you explore parallel versions of your life, would you enter?
My answer: nuh-uh! That would completely freak me out. But I loved everyone's fanfic ideas last week, so I want to know what you think!
I would probably explore the version where I didn't go to university directly and instead traveled the world. I've always wondered what kind of adventured I would've had.
ReplyDeleteIf I could explore parallel versions of my life, I wouldn't do it. It's all fun and games to fantasize about meeting yourself with a different personality but I'd be totally freaked out if it happened in real life. Thanks for hosting the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not. I wouldn't want to find a better life being lived somewhere else and then having to leave it. I'd much rather stay with what I know and have no regrets. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOf course I would! I have always believed the life we live is the result of our choices so I think I would like to know what other results my choices would have had.
ReplyDeleteno, i wouldnt. but if the option is time-travelling to the moment i need to fix, i would probably take the chance :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like the option to watch without choosing/actually entering and acting? If that's possible? I'm just too curious not to peek. I don't really know where certain things would go differently though, and I don't believe that the grass is always greener on the other side.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win a copy of 3:59 anyway though ;)
I would definitely want to explore-not sure if I'd be brave enough to actually take the plunge!
ReplyDeleteI say no. I think I got a pretty amazing life in this reality and I always think that seeing something you wouldn't normally be able to see (same with seeing how you die) just messes up the life you ARE living.
ReplyDeleteUmm...not sure to be honest. On the one hand it would be cool to meet another version of yourself (a bit like meeting your twin). But on the other hand it would be freaking weird!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! And yes, if I had to see my life in a different parallel universe I would. I always wondered what if I decide to leave for college instead of staying home or what if I married the other guy and not my husband now. I always wondered what my life would look like if I made other choices and where the choices would have lead me.
ReplyDeleteI might! lol Depends if I would be able to leave it or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would. Part of me thinks I would just out of curiosity... but I think that'd do more harm than good. I don't like playing the "What If" game. I really love my life the way it is, and I wouldn't want something I see to mess with the way I'm living now. I mean, in a perfect world what I'd see wouldn't change anything... but I think it'd be really hard to not have that kind of experience affect you.
ReplyDeleteThe adventurous, book-lover part of me wants to say YES! I would explore! But a part of me thinks I would be too scared to do so, or be skeptical of it. I think it would be interesting to see as long as I had a completely trustworthy way of getting back. I actually like my life in this universe!
ReplyDeleteOh I definitely wouldn't want to explore parallel versions of myself. Nope. No way! I'd be too freaked out! Though a bit curious, of course. :)
ReplyDeleteProbably not, but only because I am pretty happy with my life as it is. It is far from perfect, but I'm content, and I honestly can't think of any moments where I wonder what would have happened if I had done something differently. I have the two most wonderful kids and the most supportive husband, and I think if I explored a parallel version of my life, and the three of them weren't in it, it would be really depressing. Of course, if the parallel version of my life was exactly the same, except that my 19 month old slept better, then I'd probably never want to leave! Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely curious so would have to say yes as long as I could still come back to the here and now! Great question! Thanks for this amazing giveaway - I would love to win these books!
ReplyDeleteYea, most definitely. I'd want to find out if I was living a better life in another universe. If so, I'd probably kidnap or kill the other version of myself and take their spot, lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway!
Part of me thinks it would be fun, especially on the whole what if I concept but I probably wouldn't. The things I've done, the things I've seen, the people I know are what shaped me into the person I am and I'm happy with that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Oh, yes I would love to see a parallel versions of myself in a different world! But I definitely wouldn't want to be trapped there like in 3:59! Awesome giveaway, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think I wouldn't want to mess with things like that. It's better to not know some things.
ReplyDeleteI would pop in on what it would of been like if my dad had never been laid off when I was 5 leading to years of moving every 6 months until I was 16. What I wouldn't have given to stay in one place.
ReplyDeleteI would pop in on what it would of been like if my dad had never been laid off when I was 5 leading to years of moving every 6 months until I was 16. What I wouldn't have given to stay in one place.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely like to see/explore different realities of my life but that's it, I wouldn't want to be stuck there or have my current life changed (for the worse.. or at all? Such a difficult question)
ReplyDeleteI would like to explore alternate realities of my own life. Of course it would be important to be able to get back to this one too. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI would say no! My life is pretty Amazing :) hehe! I truly love my life and wouldn't change one thing.. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely enter that portal. Cause I am wayyyy too curious to let that opportunity slip. I mean I would definitely like to find out the " what if's " of my life !!
ReplyDeleteRaffle name: Shivani
Yes, I think I would explore parallel versions of my life. While I love the life I have now, my curiosity would get the better of me. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway!!
It would be so exciting! Of course I would :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would want to explore a parallel universe of my life. Then I would just always wonder "what if" about everything and it would take the enjoyment out of the life I am living now. I wouldn't want to mess up what I have now. Even if it's not always fabulous, I still love my life the way it is.
ReplyDeleteIf I can see family and friends who pass at least one more time I would without a thought.
ReplyDeleteI think I would. I'm a ery curious person so I know that I wouldn't want to miss out on the opportunity to explore other versions of my life..
ReplyDelete:)
I'd be really curious but I think in the end I would opt not to. I think there are some things I'd rather not know, since I'm stuck living this life. Haha.
ReplyDeleteNo it would freak me out
ReplyDeleteIm not sure.. i would be too scared of if something went wrong and got stuck..
ReplyDeleteI will! But I will just observe. From a loooong distance. It must be scary if my alternate self would see me and it might do some damage too.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, to see if different decision would make me happier or not:)
ReplyDeleteThank you:)
I think it wuld be interesting So probably yes
ReplyDeleteYes without a doubt! I would try to be as unobtrusive as possible though so I wouldn't disturb anything but I would love to see what an alt me is doing with her life it would be fascinating!
ReplyDeleteI think I would as long as there was a way back to my original one
ReplyDeleteI'm not entering the giveaway, but I'll answer your question: Absolutely not! I like my life and yeah, some things would be nice to change, but then I wouldn't have learned what I did or be who I am. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother book to add to my tbr - 3:59. I haven't seen that one yet either.
(Did you notice I'm playing catch-up on your blog today? ;) It's been a busy week.)
Have a fabulous weekend!
I would definitely explore any and all parallel versions of my life. It would be so interesting to see me act or do things that I wouldn't of done in this life. It would be very interesting!!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely want to explore them!!
ReplyDeleteThat is seriously a hard choice, but I think that I would have to say no. For every good thing that I may see in that life, there may be things that hurt (like the loss of a loved one) and even I came back to this life, I would have to live with remembering those horrible things, as well as knowing that the good ones never actually happened. I would rather just be happy with the life that I have.
ReplyDeleteJennelle J
I wouldn't. I'd be interested, sure, but that's creepy! And who knows what I'd find?
ReplyDeleteI think it could be loads of fun. So YES!!!
ReplyDeleteOf course I would, that would be so exciting!
ReplyDeleteNo! Because then I'd always be thinking "what if" and I'd end up hoping for the impossible. I'd rather be happy RIGHT WHERE I AM.
ReplyDeleteI totally would!! It is exactly the adventure I couldn't pass up!
ReplyDeleteYes, I would be so curious about what was going on in them! I would love to see how alternate versions of myself turned out. Thanks for the giveaway, these seem like great books!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. Since I'm very happy in my parallel universe, maybe it would be fun and not leave all these regrets (because, isn't that the fear you'd have about going?). I would love to see all the possibilities and am curious about how different choices would change things. To be honest, if you find a portal between universes, it seems like the kind of thing you'd HAVE to try, right? lol.
ReplyDeleteYEah I would love to see alternate versions of my life.
ReplyDeleteI think I would. I'm always asking "what if" questions. ;)
ReplyDeleteI would want to, but at the same time I've already thought about what would've happened if I did something differently and I'm too scared to look back and see the difference.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see my parallel life - hopefully the rich and famous one.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I honestly think it would depend on what day you ask me. Today, I think I might go for it, but I don't think I would every day.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. I think I'd be scared to find out what I'm like in a parallel world.
ReplyDeleteAs tempting as it would be to step into an alternate reality I don't think I could do it-Too many 'what ifs' I guess!
ReplyDeleteYes, I would want to see if they are living better, the same or worse.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway.
No, I would be too afraid of who I could lose in this world. If were just me, yeah, but how would that affect my family and friends?
ReplyDelete100% yes. I have fantasies about this lol.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! It'd to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I sure wouldn't pass up :D
ReplyDeleteYes! Because I would like to see my life different, to see if I'm smarter or sillyer, taller or fatter, and if my life is better or worse :)
ReplyDeleteYup, I totally would, because I'm curious like that! Then it depends- if it's a better version of my life, then I'd stay, if not, then back to reality I go! ;) Thanks for the giveaway! Been dying for 3:59!
ReplyDeleteNo I would not because that would probably be a bad life decision. I don't think having the ability to 'play God' by throwing a riff in the universe (however theoretical) could still be a bad choice in the long run.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I think it would be fun!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would. I'd be too afraid to go messing around with something like that lol.
ReplyDeleteIm not sure.. I'd be curious sure, but I'm happy with what I have, and with stories like 3:59?? Haha, I guess I'll follow whatever my gut tells me when I do get the choice. Anyhoo, thanks for another great giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteMost certainly! It would be awesome to see diff parrell worlds and see how they differ and why
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a paralell universe. I am Mom to an autistic daughter so I would love to go to see if my daughter could talk to me in one.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I'd want to explore parallel version of my life. I'm pretty happy with the life I have now and don't know if it would be good to know the other options.
ReplyDeleteStephanie
steph 0828 at hotmail dot com
I'm not sure that I would want to see a parallel version of myself. It would be interesting to see but I'd be freaked out. Too many "what ifs" for me.
ReplyDeleteOh I would absolutely explore an alternate universe. My imagination goes wild with the possibilities. Thank you for this treat of a Freebie Friday :)
ReplyDelete3.59 sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know if I would want to explore an alternate universe. I love to read about those worlds though!
Andreea
No I wouldn't. I love my life so much as it is right now that I would feel any alternative could not be any better!
ReplyDeleteIf I could explore parallel versions of my life, would I?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would explore, so to say, but I would like to take a peek and see how my life could have turned out if things has been different. Like watching a TV show, about me, haha.
Chiara @ Books For A Delicate Eternity
I would for sure. I can't even begin to imagine the sights you could see! Amoung many other things.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely want to explore. It would be interesting to see all the differences/similarities.
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be an adventure to see what would or could have happened if I had gone left instead of right or had said yes instead of no.
ReplyDeleteYes! I think it would be really exciting to see what other choices I've made and what my "different" life!
ReplyDeleteI regularly wish I knew what would have happened had I done this thing differently or gone to the other school instead of the one I did attend. I absolutely would explore alternate versions of my life.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to say no, either I'd hate what I saw or want the life I saw instead.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd like to but I think I'd want to have my memory erased of it after because I'd rather not be pining for a different life if that one was better.
ReplyDeleteIt would probably be a very bad idea to check out alternate versions of my life, but I don't know if I'd be able to resist if I had the ability to do it!
ReplyDelete