3:59 Review

Title:3:59
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Release Date: September 17th 2013
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Source:ARC for Review
Rating: 4/5

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.

Review:

 

Being a previous fan of Gretchen McNeil's work and the horror/suspense genre I had high hopes when starting 3:59 and let me tell you I was not at all disappointed. I wouldn't classify 3:59 in the horror genre, it's more of a suspenseful sci-fi novel. It does feel horrific at times for completely different reason which I will touch upon in a bit.

 

I absolutely loved the concept of 3:59; an alternate universe that appears to be an exact replica of the one Josie is living in that she can see for 60 seconds every 12 hours makes for a great plot and a unique story. I have to say my favourite aspect is the fact that 3:59 is a very scientific book, I personally love science I find it fascinating and one its used in a book to explain/prove what it happening makes the events seem all the more real, even though in the world we live in it couldn't possible happen. It makes me almost believe is could though!

 

The reason the book is a bit creepy it because of it being a scientific driven plot giving it the aspect of realism. The realism also enables you to put yourself in Josie`s shoes also adding the creep factor. For those not desensitised by creepy things may not want to read this after dark.

When you actually read 3:59 you will see that the actual plot of the book is not even mentioned in the synopsis, which I think is a great thing because I was surprised in a good way. I should also say that the synopsis does not to the book justice.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of 3:59, it`s more of a plot driven story than a character one that is packed full of suspense, action, and romance. I definitely suggest this book to anyone and everyone, once you start you wont want to stop until you`re done and it will keep you thinking about it days after you have finished reading.