Too many plot holes. The 2 main characters made unrealistic decisions with cheesy, inconsistent dialogue and the 2 important side characters weren't embedded into the story well at all.

2.5 stars, rounded up, mostly because it was so short.

This book has a ton of plot holes and times when you have to suspend disbelief... but it is fast-paced and short, so that's a plus.

Ben experiences deja vu and talks with Steve, the psychic. Steve explains that he is stuck in a loop and explains in like water current in a river. If there is a big rock in the way, the current swirls around that rock and needs to continue. However, when you get stuck in a loop, you just keep circling around that rock. That's what they are doing.

Ben and Maggie are somehow stuck in a loop and they are being hunted by Roy. Roy seems to think the only thing he can do is kill the pair. It's not even really clear why he wants them dead, but Ben and Maggie seem to think the only way out of the loop (assuming that's possible) is to kill Roy. The book goes through their adventure and ways they are trying to trick Fate into a different outcome. It's mildly entertaining but not something that will stick with me.

This was a really intense short read about two people stuck in a time loop. It always ends with them getting killed, and each time they try to change things to avoid their fate. I read it in an evening, it's a pretty fast read but I enjoyed it quite a lot. :)

dnfed on page 66. those 66 pages were boring and painful to read

Well, shit!

------------------------------------------

A bit Groundhog Day, a bit Shakespearean tragedy… The Loop by Shandy Lawson was one of those rare books I picked up with almost no knowledge about it and ended up liking very much. My sister-in-law had mentioned seeing it at the library, so when I saw it on the shelf I just grabbed it. My thought pattern was “Well… she reads the synopsis before picking up books, so if she checked it out it must not be bad!” Honestly, guys. That’s how it was.

If I’m being honest with you: it took me, like, two months to actually pick the book up. I guess I wasn’t being drawn to it. But I could have sent it back and I didn’t, so that says something. I’m here to tell you, though, that I’m very glad I didn’t take The Loop back to the library without reading it. There were two main reasons I finally did read the book:

• It’s quite short and quick. It’s not fluffy. It’s just only 198 pages, give or take, and that takes no time to read.


• That is one intriguing concept.

“Lisa, it’s intriguing? You just compared it to Groundhog Day, so surely it’s been done before.” Um… no. The Loop is actually a really depressing story. These two kids are running around desperately trying to find ways to not die at the end of the day… like they always do. Can you imagine that? And I’m not talking peacefully falling asleep and not waking up or anything… I mean bad deaths.

And the time loop had a mind of its own, which I thought was super cool. It’s almost like the time loop was a person, bending people to its will and helping them to make decisions. (READ: Telling them what to do.) It was crafty and smart and so well done. The characters actually started calling the loop “she” because it seemed so… human. LOVED IT.

The characters were, while not extremely significant in any special way, likable. Brave is one word that is screaming out at me as I’m trying think of how to describe the main characters. While Ben has trouble remembering the past cycles of the time loop, Maggie remembers quite a lot… especially the fact that they die. They’re well aware of that fact and instead of giving up and just saying “Screw it!” they keep trying to find ways to stop it or break out of the loop. Their bravery and persistence is what kept me reading until the end. Everything was being shoved back in their faces and I couldn’t wait to read how they were going to get past it.

The Loop was honestly a very happy surprise. Aside from a few small things (that aren’t even worth mentioning) I enjoyed every bit of this book. The end was “OMG!” for me and I thought it was sort of perfect. I just want to say so much about this book but can’t because it would ruin the review. I definitely recommend this to basically anyone (especially so we can talk about it!).

Totally fun time-bending story. Lots of action, some violence and a bit of a sweet romance...appropriate for grade 7 or 8 and up.

While similar to Lisa McMann's Crash trilogy, the language is much tamer. Certainly seems poised for a sequel.

Good quick read. Groundhog's Day on Crack.

So many unanswered questions...

This was an enjoyable, fast paced, little book. At just under 200 pages, it was easy to read in one sitting, and it was fast paced enough to want to keep going. I enjoyed the romance of it, because while it happened early enough to feel a little like insta-love, they’d spent enough time in the Loop, that it wasn’t from their perspective.