Collide

by Michelle Madow

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4.5★ Audiobook⎮ I started Collide late last night and spent all of today listening to it. I was surprised at how easy it was to follow the story, especially considering the plot revolves around alternate universe (AU) theory. This wasn't my first AU story, but it was definitely the simplest to grasp. Collide blurs genre lines, blending science fiction with murder mystery and romance.

Despite the plot hinging on an AU theme, the mystery and romance elements shined through the strongest. Collide's mystery plot impressed me the most. Despite practically being pulled from a real life news story, the resolution still shocked me. Just before the culminating point, I could've sworn my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Madow built enough suspense to execute that scene perfectly, without dragging it out too long.

I think Collide would be a great starting point for those interested in AU theory. It explains how alternate realities can be spun around a small decision (i.e. a coin toss), but have massive collateral effects. Madow presented this on a minor scale and in a simplistic manner which the reader is likely to understand. This isn't a hard-core science fiction novel, after all. But there's enough scifi present to whet your appetite before moving on to more complex works.

In true YA fashion, Collide boasts a love triangle. But hold on, before you write it off, I should say that Collide's overall storyline benefited from the triangle. If ever a story necessitated (or justified) having a love triangle, it's one with split realities. In Collide, the triangle just worked, you know? It had a very Gone with the Wind feel to it, in that it served the overall plot. Although, admittedly, I was rooting for the other guy to be chosen. But such is my luck...

I definitely recommend Collide to YA fans looking for a romantic thriller with science fiction-y underpinnings. At around 7.5 hours, it's a quick, fun, and easy listen. Not to mention thought-provoking. It's fast-paced, but easy-to-follow. The ending provides a rush of adrenaline comparable to a soap opera 'whodunit'!

Narration review: This was my second audiobook narrated by Caitlin Kelly. Kelly is becoming my go-to YA narrator. She has the ability to voice young characters without coming across as annoying. Her stellar characterizations skills made listening to this audiobook a seamless and breezy experience. I have no doubt that Kelly's narration aided my inability to stop listening to Collide. Caitlin Kelly has a number of YA titles under her belt and several of them have just been promoted to hire standing on my TBR list. ♣︎

➜ This audiobook was graciously gifted to me by its narrator, Caitlin Kelly, in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks, Caitlin!