Again Again

Adelaide Buchwald is a student going through her summer vacation as a dog walker and finding her place in the world. She has an interesting backstory that affects her outlook on life and love. Adelaide's family backstory is a loaded one, which most likely has contributed to how and why her character is what she is, aside from coming into an "impressionable age." I would like first to mention: this book got me confused and overthinking, given the many alternatives and "repeated scenes." I understand that the author might want to do something "new" to storytelling, but the book can get a bit confusing as one follows a scenario then is brought back into the scene with another thing happening. I appreciate the possible innovation from the author. Yes, it is a very new take to the genre. The book reminds me of the movie Groundhog's Day or the 80s/90s book series, Choose Your Own Adventure, with them having different choices to a scene. It is good to note that this technique might work in the movies. It is another for a book. For one, the book scenes when a "repeat" is not delineated or given a "heads-up" that comes from another end. So readers, like myself, who might already be invested in the scene and commit to the story, may get lost with having it repeat again with alternative scenarios to the story. Sticking true to the theme of the young adult genre and navigating through a tenuous stage in life - college, peer pressure, friendships, addiction, and love, the author shows readers things are not simple. There are too many variables for anyone to state that Adelaide should have done it one way or another. The other characters interacting with her are very inconsistent. There are many times that I cursed out in frustration, not because of Adelaide but because of the people (her love interest) who make her feel invalid at times. If her love life is crumbling, her family life does get better with help from others, so that's a good upside in the end. The author's introduction later on to alternative universes and outcomes is refreshing. Repetitive and tedious at times, but it resets the scenes' tone. I liked how many other "paths" Adelaide could have taken (more than two in the book) that would have made an enormous difference in her growth and maturity in handling life and love. There were many angst and gut-wrenching moments that kept "rewinding," even with different alternatives. It was consuming my whole outlook at times. In summary, Again Again is a book about growing up, facing hard choices, and finding oneself without others how to live. I love the many options/opportunities presented to readers. It gives us hope that in some alternative universe, our choice would have been made by Adelaide. There will be many outcomes, but Adelaide had to run through the possible "bad mistakes" to learn and grow. The ending made me feel that there are still many things that need to happen - like the ending is only the start of something bigger and better for Adelaide and the people. This book was not for me, but I am sure other readers would enjoy this type of storytelling. Many confusing things were going in, and even after midway through, I still had to "push" myself, which is why it was a mildly frustrating and long read. Although the book is not something I expected, I finished it and understood Adelaide and the author's points.