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When your average, 16-year old loser, Scott Tyler, meets the beautiful and mysterious Aubrey Jones, he learns he's not so average after all. He's a 'Shifter'. And that means he has the power to undo any decision he's ever made.

At first, he thinks the power to shift is pretty cool. But as his world starts to unravel around him he realises that each time he uses his power, it has consequences; terrible unforeseen consequences. Shifting is going to get him killed. In a world where everything can change with a thought, Scott has to decide where he stands.

Review:

At first it seems Scott is an average sixteen year old. He has mediocre grades in schools, he plays a lot of video games, has one best friend and whenever a girl approaches he turns into an mumbling fool. Until one night he accidentally shifts, drawing the attention of the beautiful Aubrey. She knows what is going on, Scott has absolutely no idea.

Aubrey explains about Shifters, people who can change their choices from the past and it that way altering their current reality. For example; if Scott would not pick up that penny he would bump into someone, spilling coffee all over himself. The other possibility is picking up that penny and not getting coffee spilled all over him. Being a Shifter he can choose. Now this is an easy example, most decisions have bigger consequences as he soon discovers.

Scott is granted the opportunity to step away from is ordinary life and join ARES, a government organisation for people like him. To be clear, there is only one special power, not multiple talents and when two Shifters fight it's the one with the strongest will who wins.

So Scott is so glad to participate in this opportunity, even if it means training with a bunch of eleven year olds. Soon though he figures out not all is as great as it seems. Children are going missing and it seems someone very powerful is shifting reality around them.

Shift is a very fun and thrilling story. It is absolutely not realistic, but to me that's part of what makes it so great. Scott is just clueless about most things, but in this adorable geeky way. He's very enthusiastic, but when the threat is real he is not afraid to admit being scared, which he then tries to cover up with humour. I really liked reading it and young adults will love it. Some of the characters have a bit of a caricatural vibe going on though. All in all it was fun and weird, mostly weird and a nice change of read.

If I was fifteen or sixteen I would have given it 4 stars, because for that age category this is the kind of book that will make teenagers love reading!

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Total Book Geek

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Author: Jennifer E. Smith

Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Description: Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Review: First of all, this book reads so smoothly. It's a bit over 200 pages, but I finished it in no time. The story takes place in a span of 24 hours, but you get the feeling it's longer, 'cause so much is happening. It all starts when Hadley misses her plane to London to go to a wedding she doesn't really want to attend. Waiting for the next flight she meets Oliver and luck will have it, he's sitting next to her on the plane. Being that Hadley is claustrophobic she can use his distractions and Oliver is glad he can help her. After a 7 hour plane ride and sharing many stories and secrets, it's time for them to say goodbye to each other. Rushing to get to the wedding in time, they part without exchanging contact details. Now Hadley has to attend the wedding, where she pretty much knows no one, except her dad. She feels disconnected from everything and her thoughts keep wondering of to Oliver. Will they meet again?

Some people believe in love at first sight, others don't, but in the end we all want to fall in love no matter how. Definitely a fun story to read and the main characters are so likable. You can easily relate to Hadley, who has to travel across an ocean to see her Dad marry the woman he left his family for. The anger and confusion that comes with that situation is so common these day, that everyone can easily put themselves in her place. At first Oliver seems this nice and quite adorably funny guy, but as the story progresses you get to know him better and learn to understand why he does or say certain things. In the end it's all just about how much you want to believe in love at first sight!