180 Seconds

I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer screen for a while now trying to put together this review. It’s been hard because I don’t think I can adequately write about how 180 Seconds made me feel. Just thinking about this book makes me so emotional. Jessica Park has been one of my auto-buy authors since I stumbled upon her novel Left Drowning. I’ve read every one of her books because they always manage to touch me in ways I’m not expecting. She has me wanting to know her characters and everything about them from the first sentence, chapter and page. I’m always surprised by what I find, but never by how much I enjoy the journey. And I loved the journey I took in 180 Seconds. There was so much raw emotion in it. I couldn’t help being swallowed up by all of the feelings. So many things touched me deeply. I tried to hold back tears so many times unsuccessfully. 180 Seconds made me feel more than a book has made me feel in a long time. Allison was such a vulnerable character. Everything about her life had been and was hard. She wasn’t your typical college student. She craved privacy and anonymity. Allison was afraid to let people in. That made being pulled into a social experiment with the famous Ebsen Baylor all the more nerve-wracking. Spending 180 seconds with him did something to her, something big. It was exciting and stressful to be in her mind. Ebsen’s point of view wasn’t included in this book, but I didn’t need it. His character was so open that his thoughts and feelings came across well. I loved his part in Allison’s awakening. Their connection was so raw. I could feel it. He was an exceptionally amazing guy, and learning what experiences made him who he was made me believe Ebsen could actually be as amazing as he was. All of the secondary characters in this book were incredibly important to the story. I adored them all, and I would love to read future books about their stories. I do have to rave about one particular character, though: Steffi. Steffi was Allison’s best friend. She was a tough cookie and the only person Allison could rely on for a long time. I loved how they got each other as only best friends can. The way Steffi pushed Allison out of her comfort zone was very special. Their friendship was truly touching. One of my favorite things about 180 Seconds was how it portrayed social media. It showed the good and bad of being so connected in this day and age. It also showed how easy it is to be happy about the positive recognition received and how hard it is to deal with the negative. This is where I’m going to stop my review. I know I haven’t told you much about the story itself, but I don’t want to give anything away. 180 Seconds was such a beautifully written journey. It’s one that should be experienced for yourself. What I will say is that I absolutely adored this book. I didn’t put it down once I started it. I couldn’t. It was just too special to take a break from. 180 Seconds is going on the list of books I recommend to friends, and will be one I give often as a gift.

I anxiously await every new release Jessica Park puts out. After she wrote one of my all-time favorite reads, Left Drowning, she has become an auto-read author for me. When I read the blurb for 180 Seconds and saw the gorgeous cover, I knew I had to have it. I preordered that paperback the very second I saw it live on Amazon. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that I was hyped up for this release and had very high expectations. I was expecting a book that made me FEEL, one that made me FALL IN LOVE. I am happy to say I got both of those things from this book. Allison Dennis spent most of her life in the foster care system. She is starting her third year of college and is one of those people who keeps to herself. The only two people she has in her life is the man who adopted her at 16, Simon, and her best friend, Steffie. Steffie and Allison have a beautiful friendship. They are each others person and more like family than anything. Steffie is the only family Allison has ever known and the only person she’s ever truly let in. Things start to change one day when Allison is minding her own business and gets pulled into a social experiment of sorts. It’s here she meets Esben. Esben and Allison sit across from each other for 180 seconds. Those seconds, those moments, they are so powerful. Honestly, reading that was so moving. I thought it was such a brilliant way to introduce the main characters. You felt their spark, the strong connection they shared. You felt everything. When Allison gets to know Esben and slowly lets him in, she starts to change. Watching the change in her was such a beautiful thing. Allison was a real and flawed character. I felt for her. I loved how raw and real she was. Esben was pretty perfect. Almost too good to be true. As was Simon. I just adored him. I loved a lot of the characters in this one. I loved the romance between Esben and Allison, but I loved even more that it wasn’t the entire focus of the book. This story is so much more that a romance. It’s an epic journey for Allison. It’s her finding who she is and embracing it. It's her learning to let people in. 180 Seconds has all the things I love in a book. A broken character, emotion, heartbreak, and heartwarming moments. It was’t a sad book per se, but boy did it bring out the tears for me. But there weren't only tears, there was also a lot of laughter and love. Park’s writing is fantastic and her stories are always unique and beautifully written. Allison’s story was genuine and from the heart. I recommend for anyone looking for an emotional NA read.

Jessica Park has weaved magic with one hundred and eighty seconds. All it took was that much time for Allison and Esben and all those who love them and whom they love for their lives to make a complete one eighty. This book is for young adults and everyone above, who have experienced highs and lows, in love, friendship, family and self. And who has not had ups and downs? But this isn't just a love story that has a HEA. It is a journey about really finding yourself and owning up to the good, bad and ugly side of everything that comes your way, even yourself. My favourite. And I know it will now be included in the best books I've had the opportunity to read.

What an emotional read. I was not expecting that. I got this book after a number of recommendations but I honestly forgot what people raved about. Now I can tell you- they felt soo much emotion and heartbreak with this book and I’m glad I went in cold because I might not have read it for a while longer if I knew this. The book starts out almost emotionless and detached and I nearly gave up, but then I realised that this was Allison. She spent 16.5 yrs in and out of foster homes before being adopted. She’d learnt how to close herself off in the hopes of not being hurt. This year, though, she makes herself a promise to try to attempt life and make friends. Her guide through all this is her best friend Steffi. Allison talks to her regularly and she helps push her through her comfort zones, until all her comfort is smashed to pieces when she is dragged into a social experiment- to look someone in the eyes for 180 seconds. In those mere seconds she finds someone who wants to help her, who can get past her walls and someone who she feels an instant connection with. Esben slowly helps gain her trust, the friendship, then a relationship, while helping her open up to the world. It’s his love for her that she needs to get her through the hardest thing she has ever had to deal with. If you’ve read Bright Side by Kim Holden this book is on par with that. If you haven’t read that one yet either, then I highly recommend both of these books.

This was an amazing read! I fell in love with all the characters. I laughed, I cried, I transported back in time. I don’t think it’s possible to not connect with this book somewhere along the way. It made me wish for someone with the patience of Simon, the dedication of Esben and lastly it snagged onto my dark and twisty soul with Steffi. Give yourself 180 seconds to start this book. You won’t be able to put it down until your face is salty and your smile is true. Xx

This book is so full of positivity and hope that reach straight to my heart! Read it, you'll fall in love with Esben instantaneously!!

this story carries you along with it, and makes you feel better. Everyone is kind and has good motivations, even bullies can't keep up their behaviour once you get to know them. Removes all your realistic cynicism for the space of time when you are reading it. One tragedy takes place, but you sort of see that coming, and apart from that, everyone more or less lives happily ever after. A nice break after reading novels about serial killers and kidnappers!