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The Loop
Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.
As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?
As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
April 3, 2018
Es un libro extraño.
Ben y Maggie están atrapados en un bucle de tiempo, un bucle que termina con la muerte de ambos. Una y otra vez, una historia trágica al estilo Romeo y Julieta como ella siempre hace alusión. Pero Ben descubre que si el poder de ella es recordar lo que ocurrió en bucles pasados el suyo será hacer pequeños cambios. Y descubren una solución para al fin salir de ese bucle infernal. Una llamada... lo cambia todo.
Es interesante pero a la vez aburrido. Porque mueren y mueren y te desesperas. Y no tiene mucho sentido, o sea, ¿de dónde salen los bucles? Sólo lo mencionan y ya. Algo así como Miss Peregrine xd
Ben y Maggie están atrapados en un bucle de tiempo, un bucle que termina con la muerte de ambos. Una y otra vez, una historia trágica al estilo Romeo y Julieta como ella siempre hace alusión. Pero Ben descubre que si el poder de ella es recordar lo que ocurrió en bucles pasados el suyo será hacer pequeños cambios. Y descubren una solución para al fin salir de ese bucle infernal. Una llamada... lo cambia todo.
Es interesante pero a la vez aburrido. Porque mueren y mueren y te desesperas. Y no tiene mucho sentido, o sea, ¿de dónde salen los bucles? Sólo lo mencionan y ya. Algo así como Miss Peregrine xd
April 27, 2013
I had problems with this book's premise right from the start. I tried to ignore them and just enjoy the ride, but it was hard – my brain kept interrupting with questions that the book never satisfactorily answered. For example, since Steve's loop lasts less than a month, what happens to him after that time is up? Does he die at the end of his loop, the way Maggie and Benjamin did? If not, then how could he continue to exist past the end of his loop? If he did die at the end of his loop, how could he ever manage to break it? Unless every single individual who has ever gotten stuck in a loop has created multiple parallel timelines or something? Just trying to figure out the logic of the loops makes my brain hurt.
There were other problems with the whole “loop” concept. Supposedly, Maggie had previously gone through four other loops. When she first brought it up, I assumed she meant that she had gone through her and Benjamin's loop four times, but her statement was later clarified to mean that she had actually gone through four other separate loops. Had I been Benjamin, my first question would have been “How did you get out of them?” but he never even tried asking that. Both he and Maggie just assumed that they'd break out of their loop if they managed not to be killed by Roy. I thought that was a pretty big assumption.
Most everything they knew about loops they learned from Steve. I couldn't fathom why they'd trust a thing he said about “bending Fate” and breaking out of their loop when he had never been able to break out of his own loop. That's like asking a guy who'd gotten into a bunch of accidents and earned lots of traffic tickets to teach you how to drive. Maggie should have been a better source of information, but, like I said, Benjamin never even bothered to ask her how she got out of her four other loops, and she never volunteered any information.
This was very much a plot-driven book. Readers were given bare-bones information about Benjamin and Maggie, and that was pretty much it - most of the book was about Maggie and Benjamin trying to keep away from Shreveport while "Fate" kept throwing a bunch of things in their way (every road away from Shreveport is blocked by accidents or knocked down trees! money for bus fare just happens to be right where they can find it!) to get them back on track for their fatal meeting with Roy. There was no explanation for Benjamin's love for Maggie, and her love for him, beyond “they knew each other really well after all those repetitions together.” Most of the book was written in the first person, from Benjamin's POV. In chapter 30, it switched to first person from Maggie's POV and, sadly, it was hard to tell the difference between her “voice” and Benjamin's.
All in all, The Loop's fairly fast pace and short length made it a quick read, but I was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. The characters weren't interesting enough to make up for the flaws in the premise and the story, and the ending seemed way too easy.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
There were other problems with the whole “loop” concept. Supposedly, Maggie had previously gone through four other loops. When she first brought it up, I assumed she meant that she had gone through her and Benjamin's loop four times, but her statement was later clarified to mean that she had actually gone through four other separate loops. Had I been Benjamin, my first question would have been “How did you get out of them?” but he never even tried asking that. Both he and Maggie just assumed that they'd break out of their loop if they managed not to be killed by Roy. I thought that was a pretty big assumption.
Most everything they knew about loops they learned from Steve. I couldn't fathom why they'd trust a thing he said about “bending Fate” and breaking out of their loop when he had never been able to break out of his own loop. That's like asking a guy who'd gotten into a bunch of accidents and earned lots of traffic tickets to teach you how to drive. Maggie should have been a better source of information, but, like I said, Benjamin never even bothered to ask her how she got out of her four other loops, and she never volunteered any information.
This was very much a plot-driven book. Readers were given bare-bones information about Benjamin and Maggie, and that was pretty much it - most of the book was about Maggie and Benjamin trying to keep away from Shreveport while "Fate" kept throwing a bunch of things in their way (every road away from Shreveport is blocked by accidents or knocked down trees! money for bus fare just happens to be right where they can find it!) to get them back on track for their fatal meeting with Roy. There was no explanation for Benjamin's love for Maggie, and her love for him, beyond “they knew each other really well after all those repetitions together.” Most of the book was written in the first person, from Benjamin's POV. In chapter 30, it switched to first person from Maggie's POV and, sadly, it was hard to tell the difference between her “voice” and Benjamin's.
All in all, The Loop's fairly fast pace and short length made it a quick read, but I was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. The characters weren't interesting enough to make up for the flaws in the premise and the story, and the ending seemed way too easy.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
September 18, 2017
I decided to read this book because it was recommended to me by Goodreads.
I enjoyed this book because there was MASSIVE twist at the end and the whole book made sense. I didn't like how the twist was just added on at the end and told from the other character's point of view. Something else I didn't like was that it was too short and the book seemed a bit rushed, the author could have drawn it out a bit.
Something new I learnt from this book was sometimes people do things even if they aren't right or very stupid.
A character I found interesting was the bad guy Roy, because he was trying to kill the two main characters. But I think there could have been other ways of getting out of the situation he was in that weren't killing the other characters. But he chose to kill them anyway.
I enjoyed this book because there was MASSIVE twist at the end and the whole book made sense. I didn't like how the twist was just added on at the end and told from the other character's point of view. Something else I didn't like was that it was too short and the book seemed a bit rushed, the author could have drawn it out a bit.
Something new I learnt from this book was sometimes people do things even if they aren't right or very stupid.
A character I found interesting was the bad guy Roy, because he was trying to kill the two main characters. But I think there could have been other ways of getting out of the situation he was in that weren't killing the other characters. But he chose to kill them anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 17, 2013So this starts with "Oh wow I have a lot of deja vus lately, let's go see this creepy old guy in that psychic's table in the middle of the street who's been grinning at me." The psychic creep tells him he's in a time loop where he relives things over and over.. and the MC's like "Huh, ok that explains it!". O_o
Yah... Not for me.
Yah... Not for me.
April 9, 2013
See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!
The Loop by Shandy Lawson has left me conflicted. On one hand, the story was inventive and had a very fast-paced plot. On the other hand, the execution was lacking and the characters were one-dimensional. I recommend this one to YA lovers but a bit hesitantly. It's not a "Wow!" book, but it makes a good read when you need something quick because of it's very short length.
Ben, our MC, wakes up one morning and goes about his business only to find himself trapped in a time loop. Basically this is like the movie "Groundhog's Day," with Ben repeating the same day's events over and over. The first weakness of The Loop is the lack of explanation about time loops and their causes and is why I consider this more of a thriller than a science fiction. The believable scientific background is just not there for me to justify this as a sci-fi. It works well as an against-the-clock thriller though.
Ben soon meets up with Maggie, our other MC and the girl stuck in the time loop with him. Maggie remembers more about their previous loops than Ben and she goes on to fill him in on what has happened to them previously. It seems that every time they reach the end of their loop, they are murdered. Ben and Maggie, determined this will be the time they live, begin making a series of small changes to try to bend fate. Can they change their destiny enough to turn it into something new?
I really enjoyed the plot of this novel and thought the idea of time loops was very interesting, but the actual explanation was inconsistent. One character says you can never get out of your time loop, while another mentions that this is her fourth or fifth different time loop. Watching Ben and Maggie try to save each other and fight against their instincts was exciting. It seemed like the pace never slowed down and Maggie and Ben were faced with obstacles at every turn. The ending was well-planned and wrapped the story up nicely.
Ben and Maggie have been meeting each other every day in their world, but the reader only sees one of the time loops. Unfortunately, I felt like Ben and Maggie's back stories weren't filled in very well and there seemed to be holes between the events in the loop and how Ben's day began. Since we enter the loop in progress, we don't see how the story first started or how Ben and Maggie originally came together. We learn a little about each of them, more so Maggie than Ben, but not enough for them to feel real. Instead, they come off a little bit like stereotypes: the good but aloof guy and the misunderstood yet sensitive girl. The other characters in the story are very minor and don't bear discussing except for Roy who is the man who kills Ben and Maggie each time through the loop. We don't learn anything about him really; he's just there to give our MCs someone to run from.
Overall, I ended up enjoying this book because it was a short read and the intensity was high throughout. It kept me entertained but I wish the story and characters had been fleshed out a bit more. Action-packed and exciting it is... but mind-blowing it isn't. If you approach the story as a quick thrill ride and try not to over think the explanations, I think you will find it enjoyable.
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an ARC copy of this book!
The Loop by Shandy Lawson has left me conflicted. On one hand, the story was inventive and had a very fast-paced plot. On the other hand, the execution was lacking and the characters were one-dimensional. I recommend this one to YA lovers but a bit hesitantly. It's not a "Wow!" book, but it makes a good read when you need something quick because of it's very short length.
Ben, our MC, wakes up one morning and goes about his business only to find himself trapped in a time loop. Basically this is like the movie "Groundhog's Day," with Ben repeating the same day's events over and over. The first weakness of The Loop is the lack of explanation about time loops and their causes and is why I consider this more of a thriller than a science fiction. The believable scientific background is just not there for me to justify this as a sci-fi. It works well as an against-the-clock thriller though.
Ben soon meets up with Maggie, our other MC and the girl stuck in the time loop with him. Maggie remembers more about their previous loops than Ben and she goes on to fill him in on what has happened to them previously. It seems that every time they reach the end of their loop, they are murdered. Ben and Maggie, determined this will be the time they live, begin making a series of small changes to try to bend fate. Can they change their destiny enough to turn it into something new?
I really enjoyed the plot of this novel and thought the idea of time loops was very interesting, but the actual explanation was inconsistent. One character says you can never get out of your time loop, while another mentions that this is her fourth or fifth different time loop. Watching Ben and Maggie try to save each other and fight against their instincts was exciting. It seemed like the pace never slowed down and Maggie and Ben were faced with obstacles at every turn. The ending was well-planned and wrapped the story up nicely.
Ben and Maggie have been meeting each other every day in their world, but the reader only sees one of the time loops. Unfortunately, I felt like Ben and Maggie's back stories weren't filled in very well and there seemed to be holes between the events in the loop and how Ben's day began. Since we enter the loop in progress, we don't see how the story first started or how Ben and Maggie originally came together. We learn a little about each of them, more so Maggie than Ben, but not enough for them to feel real. Instead, they come off a little bit like stereotypes: the good but aloof guy and the misunderstood yet sensitive girl. The other characters in the story are very minor and don't bear discussing except for Roy who is the man who kills Ben and Maggie each time through the loop. We don't learn anything about him really; he's just there to give our MCs someone to run from.
Overall, I ended up enjoying this book because it was a short read and the intensity was high throughout. It kept me entertained but I wish the story and characters had been fleshed out a bit more. Action-packed and exciting it is... but mind-blowing it isn't. If you approach the story as a quick thrill ride and try not to over think the explanations, I think you will find it enjoyable.
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an ARC copy of this book!
February 7, 2017
3.5 estrellas
Aunque el libro no ha estado mal, el final se me ha quedado corto. Un epílogo habría estado bien, me da la sensación de que la autora se guardó bajo la manga la posibilidad de hacer una segunda parte si obtenía un buen resultado con el libro. Craso error bajo mi punto de vista, porque me quedé con la sensación de que podía haber sacado mucho más jugo de esta original historia y de los personajes.
Aunque el libro no ha estado mal, el final se me ha quedado corto. Un epílogo habría estado bien, me da la sensación de que la autora se guardó bajo la manga la posibilidad de hacer una segunda parte si obtenía un buen resultado con el libro. Craso error bajo mi punto de vista, porque me quedé con la sensación de que podía haber sacado mucho más jugo de esta original historia y de los personajes.
July 24, 2024
I adore time loops and I love fighting fate so I was really excited for this!
It wasn’t bad don’t get me wrong. To me, the ending just didn’t feel as satisfying as the rest of it was action packed and the characters didn’t seem to find a clever solution that fit with the problem. It felt more like they tried until they succeeded which I love but that the success was just a lucky break idk. Maybe that’s just something that works for others or in books but didn’t really work for me.
Still a nice read!
It wasn’t bad don’t get me wrong. To me, the ending just didn’t feel as satisfying as the rest of it was action packed and the characters didn’t seem to find a clever solution that fit with the problem. It felt more like they tried until they succeeded which I love but that the success was just a lucky break idk. Maybe that’s just something that works for others or in books but didn’t really work for me.
Still a nice read!
April 25, 2013
Originally posted at Novel Idea Reviews
RATING: 4/5
I can never seem to resist anything that promises time travel. Throw in some star-crossed love and the prospect just gets better! Shandy Lawson’s The Loop brings both of these things and more. Ben and Maggie’s desperate fight to alter their fate is never without the lingering sense of danger waiting just around the corner. Likewise, there’s never a dull moment. The book could easily be envisioned as a film, in my opinion. I found myself intrigued by the concept of ‘loops’ in the flow of time and really became fond of the two protagonists during the time I spent with them. My only complaint here is that the book is so very short — just a little over 200 pages. Those two hundred or so pages are fueled by adrenaline, but expect to be left with some unanswered questions.
This is rare, but I liked both Ben and Maggie equally. Their personalities mesh very well. I usually develop a stronger attachment to one character in particular, and in situations like this where two are sharing the spotlight, it can be tough to balance one against another. I was really relieved to see that the entire book wasn’t going to be one lame lovestruck moment after another. That would’ve seriously detracted from the sense of impending doom that hovers over the story and made it less compelling. Fortunately, Ben and Maggie are repeatedly thrust into difficult situations — situations that test how resourceful they can be. They’re forced to face challenges together, but also individually. I liked being able to see how each one fared when striking out on their own. There are points throughout the story when this happens. In the beginning, Ben and Maggie try separating to see if that will do anything to break the loop. And then, the closer they come to that final day, they start to separate for a different reason: neither one wants to see the other die. And if remaining apart might minimize that risk, they’re willing to do it.
I argue that the relationship between Ben and Maggie isn’t anything like the Insta-Love Phenomenon that we’re so often subjected to in many YA books these days. Yes, there’s an instant attraction, but since we begin the book at the beginning of yet another loop in their timeline, it’s really impossible to tell how much of that attraction is really instantaneous. When Ben sees Maggie again, both for the first time and for the hundredth time, he’s drawn to her but doesn’t remember her from the last time they went through this scenario. They’re only able to retain bits and pieces of their repeated experiences, and Maggie is better at retention than Ben. I liked that he developed that affection with Maggie despite not remembering. To me, this meant there was something real between them, an unbroken connection.
It made sense to me that they would feel strongly about one another. Some may complain that they developed those feelings over the course of two days, but I’m pointing out to you that those two days have spooled back on themselves over and over again by the time the story begins for the reader. Just imagine NOT feeling anything — friendship or more — for someone you kept repeatedly getting stuck in a time loop with. Over and over again, Ben and Maggie meet on an escalator in the mall. Over and over again, they spend the next two days trying to escape their inevitable death. Over and over again, they watch each other get killed. There are some strong emotions bound up in something like that.
I thought the concept of being snagged in a time loop was very interesting. You really can’t help hoping that these two will figure out a way to break free of the destiny waiting for them. The problem is complex: they can’t remember everything they’ve tried before, and consequently can’t remember everything that’s resulted. Then there’s the fact that neither fate nor time has any desire to let Ben and Maggie alter their course. They find themselves battling an inexorable current, one that’s determined to push them in the direction they want to avoid. Overall, I thought the plot was well-paced; you can hear the clock ticking, you can feel that desperate rush of fear and determination that characterizes every decision made. I wasn’t confused, and I wasn’t ever bored. Even if the book wasn’t short, I think I would’ve finished it in one sitting. I wasn’t entirely happy with the resolution, though. I wanted something more. And in the end, I had several questions still left unresolved. For example, why was Maggie so prone to getting caught in loops? Was Ben drawn into the loop because of Maggie?
I’m rating this high because I enjoyed it. It was short, true. But since I think The Loop‘s brevity does add to its high octane pace, I’m not rating down for the length. While the science fiction aspect of time travel and loops is intriguing in its own right, I admire Ben and Maggie for putting heart into something that might otherwise have come across as cold and clinical. You know, and they know, that their chances of surviving and breaking the loop are terrifyingly small. They continue to fight, though, and you continue to hope that they’ll succeed, because they win you over. Pick this up if you want a short, suspenseful read with a science fiction twist.
Thank you so much to Disney Book Group and NetGalley for the ARC!
RATING: 4/5
I can never seem to resist anything that promises time travel. Throw in some star-crossed love and the prospect just gets better! Shandy Lawson’s The Loop brings both of these things and more. Ben and Maggie’s desperate fight to alter their fate is never without the lingering sense of danger waiting just around the corner. Likewise, there’s never a dull moment. The book could easily be envisioned as a film, in my opinion. I found myself intrigued by the concept of ‘loops’ in the flow of time and really became fond of the two protagonists during the time I spent with them. My only complaint here is that the book is so very short — just a little over 200 pages. Those two hundred or so pages are fueled by adrenaline, but expect to be left with some unanswered questions.
This is rare, but I liked both Ben and Maggie equally. Their personalities mesh very well. I usually develop a stronger attachment to one character in particular, and in situations like this where two are sharing the spotlight, it can be tough to balance one against another. I was really relieved to see that the entire book wasn’t going to be one lame lovestruck moment after another. That would’ve seriously detracted from the sense of impending doom that hovers over the story and made it less compelling. Fortunately, Ben and Maggie are repeatedly thrust into difficult situations — situations that test how resourceful they can be. They’re forced to face challenges together, but also individually. I liked being able to see how each one fared when striking out on their own. There are points throughout the story when this happens. In the beginning, Ben and Maggie try separating to see if that will do anything to break the loop. And then, the closer they come to that final day, they start to separate for a different reason: neither one wants to see the other die. And if remaining apart might minimize that risk, they’re willing to do it.
I argue that the relationship between Ben and Maggie isn’t anything like the Insta-Love Phenomenon that we’re so often subjected to in many YA books these days. Yes, there’s an instant attraction, but since we begin the book at the beginning of yet another loop in their timeline, it’s really impossible to tell how much of that attraction is really instantaneous. When Ben sees Maggie again, both for the first time and for the hundredth time, he’s drawn to her but doesn’t remember her from the last time they went through this scenario. They’re only able to retain bits and pieces of their repeated experiences, and Maggie is better at retention than Ben. I liked that he developed that affection with Maggie despite not remembering. To me, this meant there was something real between them, an unbroken connection.
It made sense to me that they would feel strongly about one another. Some may complain that they developed those feelings over the course of two days, but I’m pointing out to you that those two days have spooled back on themselves over and over again by the time the story begins for the reader. Just imagine NOT feeling anything — friendship or more — for someone you kept repeatedly getting stuck in a time loop with. Over and over again, Ben and Maggie meet on an escalator in the mall. Over and over again, they spend the next two days trying to escape their inevitable death. Over and over again, they watch each other get killed. There are some strong emotions bound up in something like that.
I thought the concept of being snagged in a time loop was very interesting. You really can’t help hoping that these two will figure out a way to break free of the destiny waiting for them. The problem is complex: they can’t remember everything they’ve tried before, and consequently can’t remember everything that’s resulted. Then there’s the fact that neither fate nor time has any desire to let Ben and Maggie alter their course. They find themselves battling an inexorable current, one that’s determined to push them in the direction they want to avoid. Overall, I thought the plot was well-paced; you can hear the clock ticking, you can feel that desperate rush of fear and determination that characterizes every decision made. I wasn’t confused, and I wasn’t ever bored. Even if the book wasn’t short, I think I would’ve finished it in one sitting. I wasn’t entirely happy with the resolution, though. I wanted something more. And in the end, I had several questions still left unresolved. For example, why was Maggie so prone to getting caught in loops? Was Ben drawn into the loop because of Maggie?
I’m rating this high because I enjoyed it. It was short, true. But since I think The Loop‘s brevity does add to its high octane pace, I’m not rating down for the length. While the science fiction aspect of time travel and loops is intriguing in its own right, I admire Ben and Maggie for putting heart into something that might otherwise have come across as cold and clinical. You know, and they know, that their chances of surviving and breaking the loop are terrifyingly small. They continue to fight, though, and you continue to hope that they’ll succeed, because they win you over. Pick this up if you want a short, suspenseful read with a science fiction twist.
Thank you so much to Disney Book Group and NetGalley for the ARC!
May 8, 2013
*Also posted in Oops! I Read A Book Again*
Thank you to Hyperion and NetGalley for the eARC! As usual, this in no way affected my views about the book. Only honest opinions here!
Admittedly, I'm a bad challenge host as The Loop is my first time travel book. Blame my last year in university, blame my thesis, my organizations and affiliations, blame myself. However, I am glad that The Loop was my first for the challenge as it has successfully kickstarted the time travel junkie in me and I am currently craving for more!
Honestly, I don't think The Loop is a time travel book as our protagonists, Ben and Maggie, do not travel through time. Instead, they experience something like deja vu over and over again. In my opinion, time travel is being transported into a different time or era, may it be the past or the future. In The Loop, Ben and Maggie relive the present over and over again, resulting to that sense of deja vu. But technicalities aside, I think The Loop was a quick yet suspenseful read, action-packed but not lacking in romance too. In fact, it was full of romance between our star-crossed lovers, Ben and Maggie.
The shortness of The Loop initially shocked me a bit because I didn't know it was so short. With this, Lawson did not waste any time as Ben and Maggie died first thing in the novel. Ben and Maggie are in a loop, wherein they relive a certain event in their lives countless times and in here, it is their imminent murder by Roy. As stated in the blurb, in these two pivotal days, they do their best to steer and bend Fate and ultimately, escape their deaths. The catch is that Fate seems hellbent on getting them killed, which means obstacles and accidents and mishaps come their way from all directions.
The novel is mostly told in Ben's perspective and guy's perspective for the win! I know there are tons of books out there written in a guy's perspective but every time I read one, I still feel like celebrating. I was honestly not too happy with the change in perspective at the end at first, but it worked out and actually gave more depth, character and backstory to Maggie. For me, the ending was wonderful and nicely wrapped up, although a bit rushed.
Since The Loop is mostly written on Ben's POV, we got to know him more and these two are such lovable and relatable characters. You just don't want them dead and you hate the loop and Fate for doing this to them. I mean, to relive dying and doing everything for naught? Must be hard. But these teens are brave and courageous ones. It is a bit insta-love though but I forgave that part because 1) the novel was short and 2) although Ben can't remember Maggie that much, he spent so much time with her that his heart knows her already. Shandy was able to make me feel that. That their love didn't come from nowhere but that it was always there.
All in all, The Loop was a fun and light yet suspenseful read! I recommend it to time travel junkies like me, sci-fi lovers and those into destiny and going against it. The Loop is such a quick read that you'll finish it immediately and come off it satisfied. Congratulations on your debut, Shandy!
Thank you to Hyperion and NetGalley for the eARC! As usual, this in no way affected my views about the book. Only honest opinions here!
Admittedly, I'm a bad challenge host as The Loop is my first time travel book. Blame my last year in university, blame my thesis, my organizations and affiliations, blame myself. However, I am glad that The Loop was my first for the challenge as it has successfully kickstarted the time travel junkie in me and I am currently craving for more!
Honestly, I don't think The Loop is a time travel book as our protagonists, Ben and Maggie, do not travel through time. Instead, they experience something like deja vu over and over again. In my opinion, time travel is being transported into a different time or era, may it be the past or the future. In The Loop, Ben and Maggie relive the present over and over again, resulting to that sense of deja vu. But technicalities aside, I think The Loop was a quick yet suspenseful read, action-packed but not lacking in romance too. In fact, it was full of romance between our star-crossed lovers, Ben and Maggie.
The shortness of The Loop initially shocked me a bit because I didn't know it was so short. With this, Lawson did not waste any time as Ben and Maggie died first thing in the novel. Ben and Maggie are in a loop, wherein they relive a certain event in their lives countless times and in here, it is their imminent murder by Roy. As stated in the blurb, in these two pivotal days, they do their best to steer and bend Fate and ultimately, escape their deaths. The catch is that Fate seems hellbent on getting them killed, which means obstacles and accidents and mishaps come their way from all directions.
The novel is mostly told in Ben's perspective and guy's perspective for the win! I know there are tons of books out there written in a guy's perspective but every time I read one, I still feel like celebrating. I was honestly not too happy with the change in perspective at the end at first, but it worked out and actually gave more depth, character and backstory to Maggie. For me, the ending was wonderful and nicely wrapped up, although a bit rushed.
Since The Loop is mostly written on Ben's POV, we got to know him more and these two are such lovable and relatable characters. You just don't want them dead and you hate the loop and Fate for doing this to them. I mean, to relive dying and doing everything for naught? Must be hard. But these teens are brave and courageous ones. It is a bit insta-love though but I forgave that part because 1) the novel was short and 2) although Ben can't remember Maggie that much, he spent so much time with her that his heart knows her already. Shandy was able to make me feel that. That their love didn't come from nowhere but that it was always there.
All in all, The Loop was a fun and light yet suspenseful read! I recommend it to time travel junkies like me, sci-fi lovers and those into destiny and going against it. The Loop is such a quick read that you'll finish it immediately and come off it satisfied. Congratulations on your debut, Shandy!
April 5, 2019
This is a quick read. The concept of time bending and time traveling has always always interested me, so I was destined to pick up The Loop. Glad I did! I kept turning the pages to see how the loop would end and enjoyed it. Maggie and Ben's story was told well.
May 9, 2019
My Goodreads review is about a book called The Loop by Shandy Landy. This book is about a boy named Ben and another girl named Maggie who find themselves on the verge of death many many times. The Loop first starts off with how Ben and Maggie meet, the book does a really good job at doing this by using a lot of adjectives. Ben and Maggie first meet at a carnival at which they both use this one carnival game and get sucked into basically another universe. The confusing part about the book is that they technically aren't in another universe. Basically “The Loop’’ is a big loop that happens over and over again, so this one bad guy is chasing them because they won this horse bet and won thousands of dollars, and the bad guy ends up killing them over and over again. When they get killed they wake up in the morning and redo the whole day again.
As they keep dying and keep going through the loop Ben and Maggie keep remembering what happens before they do it. So they decide to see what is happening to them, by trying to stay alive even longer to see what happens after they are originally supposed to die. Yes it is very very complicated, but i'm going to try to say it better. Everytime Ben and maggie die they keep trying to get farther beyond their deaths by doing different things. For example Ben and Maggie were trying not to get on a bus that goes to Shreveport like they normally do, but instead they take another bus thats north of there and every time they try to get away from there they still end up there because of ‘’The Loop’’.
Finally when Maggie and Ben started to get even more deeper into finding out a way to break “The Loop’’ they end up falling in love with each other and that messes up the loop because the loop was not intending that too happen. Finally at the end of the loop the love that Maggie and Ben created was way too much and they end up killing the killer who killed them over and over again. This book is a fiction book and it was really really good. I would recommend this book to any type of reader because it has a lot of different variations. My favorite quote in the book is “You're a good dancer," she says quietly.
"Because I haven't fallen down yet?"
"Because right now I don't want to be anywhere else.” And that goes to prove how Maggie and Ben love each other.
As they keep dying and keep going through the loop Ben and Maggie keep remembering what happens before they do it. So they decide to see what is happening to them, by trying to stay alive even longer to see what happens after they are originally supposed to die. Yes it is very very complicated, but i'm going to try to say it better. Everytime Ben and maggie die they keep trying to get farther beyond their deaths by doing different things. For example Ben and Maggie were trying not to get on a bus that goes to Shreveport like they normally do, but instead they take another bus thats north of there and every time they try to get away from there they still end up there because of ‘’The Loop’’.
Finally when Maggie and Ben started to get even more deeper into finding out a way to break “The Loop’’ they end up falling in love with each other and that messes up the loop because the loop was not intending that too happen. Finally at the end of the loop the love that Maggie and Ben created was way too much and they end up killing the killer who killed them over and over again. This book is a fiction book and it was really really good. I would recommend this book to any type of reader because it has a lot of different variations. My favorite quote in the book is “You're a good dancer," she says quietly.
"Because I haven't fallen down yet?"
"Because right now I don't want to be anywhere else.” And that goes to prove how Maggie and Ben love each other.
July 23, 2013
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.sg/20...
The Loop was fast-paced, quick and short read, but it was SO GOOD. Highly original and had me wondering how in heck they'd make it out in the end. It had me flipping pages from start to finish and I just couldn't get enough of it.
The concept for this book is so unique– I haven't read much of time travel within the YA world. The idea of these two teens falling in love and then killed... only to be stuck on repeat. Absolutely brilliant. I was surprised at how much could be packed into 200 pages. Lawson's writing is great and will bewitch you with this tale of love, fate, and their ultimate doom.
Because of this novel's fast pace, I thought that I didn't quite get a grasp on the characters. However, I thought that this wasn't a problem, because I liked that quickness to the story, I liked how rapidly it changed and how so much could be covered in so few pages. The sense of déjà vu, the atmosphere of a psychological thriller, the action: all will make your heart pound with each sudden plot twist.
❝"Maybe this is the one. Maybe we get it right this time around."
"Maybe." But I don't believe it.❞
–p. 2 (ARC* edition)
*text is subject to change in the final copy
Ben and Maggie were great characters. With a story like this, it's hard to get to know them well, but I found that I got pretty attached to them, and my heart would pang for them whenever something came up and obstructed them from changing their fate.
I thought the ending, and how the book is left the off, was a great Inception (movie) ending where it leaves it up to the reader's imagination and also produces a cliff-hangy feel to it.
Overall, I enjoyed The Loop immensely, as it was suspenseful, thrilling and action-packed. A fantastic debut by Shandy Lawson, an author who has proven to have great skill with words and I shall be looking forward to reading more from him in the future!
▪ Thank you so much to Shandy Lawson for sending a copy of The Loop for review and BTG2013! ▪
The Loop was fast-paced, quick and short read, but it was SO GOOD. Highly original and had me wondering how in heck they'd make it out in the end. It had me flipping pages from start to finish and I just couldn't get enough of it.
The concept for this book is so unique– I haven't read much of time travel within the YA world. The idea of these two teens falling in love and then killed... only to be stuck on repeat. Absolutely brilliant. I was surprised at how much could be packed into 200 pages. Lawson's writing is great and will bewitch you with this tale of love, fate, and their ultimate doom.
Because of this novel's fast pace, I thought that I didn't quite get a grasp on the characters. However, I thought that this wasn't a problem, because I liked that quickness to the story, I liked how rapidly it changed and how so much could be covered in so few pages. The sense of déjà vu, the atmosphere of a psychological thriller, the action: all will make your heart pound with each sudden plot twist.
❝"Maybe this is the one. Maybe we get it right this time around."
"Maybe." But I don't believe it.❞
–p. 2 (ARC* edition)
*text is subject to change in the final copy
Ben and Maggie were great characters. With a story like this, it's hard to get to know them well, but I found that I got pretty attached to them, and my heart would pang for them whenever something came up and obstructed them from changing their fate.
I thought the ending, and how the book is left the off, was a great Inception (movie) ending where it leaves it up to the reader's imagination and also produces a cliff-hangy feel to it.
Overall, I enjoyed The Loop immensely, as it was suspenseful, thrilling and action-packed. A fantastic debut by Shandy Lawson, an author who has proven to have great skill with words and I shall be looking forward to reading more from him in the future!
▪ Thank you so much to Shandy Lawson for sending a copy of The Loop for review and BTG2013! ▪
December 31, 2014
WOAH. That was quite the exciting reading experience! I flew through this in one sitting and it was AWESOME.
*****
The Loop is a fast and exciting book that I read in one sitting. The story moves quickly, without giving the characters any time to pause or rest, and because of the way the story is told, the reader doesn't get a break either. The action and adventure never slow down, which makes for an intense and exciting reading experience.
The loop the main characters are stuck in is both fascinating and frustrating. Maggie and Ben do everything they can think of to change their fate, but no matter what, their fate doesn't seem like it will ever change. The stakes are high as the two of them attempt to evade death, and my heart was racing just like theirs as I eagerly turned the pages.
The Loop is an epic, fast-paced, action-packed book full of danger and suspense. For such a short book (just barely 200 pages), a lot happens in The Loop. There are no dull moments or breaks in the action and intensity. I devoured this book, and I think other readers will have an extremely difficult time putting The Loop down once they start reading it. The story captured my attention on the first page and didn't let go until the last page.
If you're looking for something fun and fast, I think you should pick up a copy of The Loop. But be sure to carve out a few hours for reading it. Trust me, you're going to want to read it in one sitting!
You can find more of my rambling at readwriteramble.blogspot.com
*****
The Loop is a fast and exciting book that I read in one sitting. The story moves quickly, without giving the characters any time to pause or rest, and because of the way the story is told, the reader doesn't get a break either. The action and adventure never slow down, which makes for an intense and exciting reading experience.
The loop the main characters are stuck in is both fascinating and frustrating. Maggie and Ben do everything they can think of to change their fate, but no matter what, their fate doesn't seem like it will ever change. The stakes are high as the two of them attempt to evade death, and my heart was racing just like theirs as I eagerly turned the pages.
The Loop is an epic, fast-paced, action-packed book full of danger and suspense. For such a short book (just barely 200 pages), a lot happens in The Loop. There are no dull moments or breaks in the action and intensity. I devoured this book, and I think other readers will have an extremely difficult time putting The Loop down once they start reading it. The story captured my attention on the first page and didn't let go until the last page.
If you're looking for something fun and fast, I think you should pick up a copy of The Loop. But be sure to carve out a few hours for reading it. Trust me, you're going to want to read it in one sitting!
You can find more of my rambling at readwriteramble.blogspot.com
January 20, 2014
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.
While similar to Lisa McMann's Crash trilogy, the language is much tamer. Certainly seems poised for a sequel.
August 22, 2012
This wasn't too shabby at all. Torn between a 3.5/5 and a 4/5 for a rating, so going with 4 stars for now, may change upon further reflection. Review to come!
February 3, 2025
LOVED ITTT ATEEEEEE
February 2, 2024
The Loop earned its second star by creating a fast-paced writing style that's easy to follow and easy to read. Additionally, the author clearly had a working understanding of New Orleans and nearby cities, which made the landscape realistic.
Unfortunately, that's where the stars end. Not making sense at times and rampant with plot holes weren't even the worst of its problems. Worst was the utter lack of characterization. Not only did Maggie and Ben have a deficit of any sort of meaningful past - especially Ben who seemed to have fallen out of the void into this story - but pre-established family or friends was an afterthought - literally, Ben kept forgetting about his parents and Maggie never even THOUGHT about hers. These characters were wind-up toys, set on a path and let go.
What little we DID learn of their pasts didn't shape who they were today. For instance, you'd think Maggie's experiences with previous "loops" and being seen as some sort of witch or seer and reject would have left some scars and personality traits behind, especially since she's still amongst the peers who would whisper about her behind her back. However, even though, towards the end of the novel, she describes how she wished she could be the "invisible girl," her "personality" in this book was bold, brash, optomistic, and excitable. Not what I'd expect from a verbally bullied, rejected highschooler who wished she were "invisible.
To be frank, this is NOT the worst book I've read. While the plot was weak, there was something there that could have been good. Who doesn't love a Groundhog Day but with an added twist of Fate with a capital F attempting to force you into the path of your death every cycle? If all the plot holes were cleaned up, it might have even crawled its way to a 3-star, carboard characters and all.
Regardless, I'm glad I FINALLY just read this and got it off my TBR, where it's been sitting for years. Unfortunately, I'm now left with a book that's doomed for the trade-in bin, and an experience that wasn't too painful but also isn't something I'd ever recommend to someone else.
Unfortunately, that's where the stars end. Not making sense at times and rampant with plot holes weren't even the worst of its problems. Worst was the utter lack of characterization. Not only did Maggie and Ben have a deficit of any sort of meaningful past - especially Ben who seemed to have fallen out of the void into this story - but pre-established family or friends was an afterthought - literally, Ben kept forgetting about his parents and Maggie never even THOUGHT about hers. These characters were wind-up toys, set on a path and let go.
What little we DID learn of their pasts didn't shape who they were today. For instance, you'd think Maggie's experiences with previous "loops" and being seen as some sort of witch or seer and reject would have left some scars and personality traits behind, especially since she's still amongst the peers who would whisper about her behind her back. However, even though, towards the end of the novel, she describes how she wished she could be the "invisible girl," her "personality" in this book was bold, brash, optomistic, and excitable. Not what I'd expect from a verbally bullied, rejected highschooler who wished she were "invisible.
To be frank, this is NOT the worst book I've read. While the plot was weak, there was something there that could have been good. Who doesn't love a Groundhog Day but with an added twist of Fate with a capital F attempting to force you into the path of your death every cycle? If all the plot holes were cleaned up, it might have even crawled its way to a 3-star, carboard characters and all.
Regardless, I'm glad I FINALLY just read this and got it off my TBR, where it's been sitting for years. Unfortunately, I'm now left with a book that's doomed for the trade-in bin, and an experience that wasn't too painful but also isn't something I'd ever recommend to someone else.
January 10, 2018
La verdad es que no era nada a lo que yo esperaba, esperaba que fuera tedioso y raro en algunas partes y no fue así, cada minuto que pasas con esta lectura, estas de los nervios, ya que todo aquí es impredecible.
Me encantó, amé cada parte de el, ademas es una temática medio loca, que ellos vuelven a vivir el día una y otra vez.
No es tanto de amor, si no de sobrevivir y trabajar en equipo, algo que me gusto bastante, por que ya estaba un poco harta de siempre leer a la parejita melosa que salva el día, y si bien, aquí se enamoran, pero no hay tanto romance entre el desarrollo de la historia.
Me gusto el papel de Maggie ya que la presentan como una chica fuerte, pero combinada con Ben es algo increíble, ya que ambos se compensan y lo que no tiene uno, lo tiene el otro.
Ughhh la parte donde mueren... es lo mas crítico de la historia, ya que es cierto!!! No pueden cambiar los sucesos que pasan, es algo que te genera impotencia, por que repetirlo siempre!! Es una crueldad. Y su nueva táctica de separarse, puede que les funcione, pero puede que no.
Tantos pros y contras, tantas dudas, es realmente un dilema Wink
Y bueno, me encanto, con acción, estrés, risas y su toque de romance, para mi es un libro completo y bastante, entretenido :)
Me encantó, amé cada parte de el, ademas es una temática medio loca, que ellos vuelven a vivir el día una y otra vez.
No es tanto de amor, si no de sobrevivir y trabajar en equipo, algo que me gusto bastante, por que ya estaba un poco harta de siempre leer a la parejita melosa que salva el día, y si bien, aquí se enamoran, pero no hay tanto romance entre el desarrollo de la historia.
Me gusto el papel de Maggie ya que la presentan como una chica fuerte, pero combinada con Ben es algo increíble, ya que ambos se compensan y lo que no tiene uno, lo tiene el otro.
Ughhh la parte donde mueren... es lo mas crítico de la historia, ya que es cierto!!! No pueden cambiar los sucesos que pasan, es algo que te genera impotencia, por que repetirlo siempre!! Es una crueldad. Y su nueva táctica de separarse, puede que les funcione, pero puede que no.
Tantos pros y contras, tantas dudas, es realmente un dilema Wink
Y bueno, me encanto, con acción, estrés, risas y su toque de romance, para mi es un libro completo y bastante, entretenido :)
March 31, 2017
I loved it! Some reviews say how the characters were not developed enough, or how the book was rushed. I disagree, I liked the element that you didn't know a whole lot about the characters and it made me really see them in my own way. It also made the characters actions unpredictable, another element that i loved! All of the supporting characters really kept the book and story line moving! I loved how the ending was told from the other characters perspective and it wrapped things up really well! I loved how fast paced it was! And somehow the author still had time for a romance! Overall the book was brilliant! Had everything a book needs! Thanks Shandy Lawson!
December 10, 2017
ELECTIVE CATEGORY
Ben and Maggie are stuck in a time loop. Which would be great if they only had to fall in love, except that by the end they always end up getting murdered. As they figure out yet again what's going on and what they should do next, the two find that bending Fate is harder than they thought. It takes a great deal of willpower, and sometimes it just seems to make things worse. But perhaps enough little changes can lead to the clean break they need, allowing them to finally move on with their lives. This one was awesome! very well-paced, and I thought the ending(s) to be very intriguing.
Ben and Maggie are stuck in a time loop. Which would be great if they only had to fall in love, except that by the end they always end up getting murdered. As they figure out yet again what's going on and what they should do next, the two find that bending Fate is harder than they thought. It takes a great deal of willpower, and sometimes it just seems to make things worse. But perhaps enough little changes can lead to the clean break they need, allowing them to finally move on with their lives. This one was awesome! very well-paced, and I thought the ending(s) to be very intriguing.
Read
December 14, 2017This book is interesting, the genre of this book is qualified as horror fiction, first of all this book is not scary at all, the fiction part is right it have a lot of fiction in it. In my opinion i recommend this book to teenagers, this book is written by Shandy Lawson. The main characters of this book are benjamin: a very normal boy living in the city, but his special ability travel in a time loop, with other person, like maggie: she is a very adventurous girl and she is brave the characters that appear on the book are having a source of deja vu,and that deja vu is turning into a loop that may change their lives.
It started very interesting it catches you in the first 40 pages.There is somethings that doesn't make sense at all;
The book is kind of romantic, too, if you like that sort of thing. Honestly, the end of the book is sort of predictable,it doesn't have a good ending (in my opinion) but for some people maybe you’ll like it.If you really like romantic books, a little bit of adventure and fiction, this may be your book. The story have some funny things.
Overall,the story was kind of interesting, Imagine people almost traveling in a time machine; but in this case a loop, people living the same day forever, and that is what this book is about-how they broke the loop. Secondary characters are key to understand the story. They give a lot of clues to understanding the story,, especially the ending. This is good for a quick read and it is relatively short.
It started very interesting it catches you in the first 40 pages.There is somethings that doesn't make sense at all;
The book is kind of romantic, too, if you like that sort of thing. Honestly, the end of the book is sort of predictable,it doesn't have a good ending (in my opinion) but for some people maybe you’ll like it.If you really like romantic books, a little bit of adventure and fiction, this may be your book. The story have some funny things.
Overall,the story was kind of interesting, Imagine people almost traveling in a time machine; but in this case a loop, people living the same day forever, and that is what this book is about-how they broke the loop. Secondary characters are key to understand the story. They give a lot of clues to understanding the story,, especially the ending. This is good for a quick read and it is relatively short.
June 25, 2017
This was an interesting little book. It is meant for younger readers but I saw it in a LFL and thought I'd give it a read. I liked how during the first loop we read about is from Ben's perspective then the next is from Maggies. I also really enjoyed the outcome and how their problem was solved but the ending did have a sad part to it. I think this would be a really great book for younger readers to get them talking and thinking creatively/outside the box.
August 5, 2017
I liked the overall plot, the time loop idea was interesting, but I never really connected to Ben and Maggie. They were meeting over and over, but each loop was no more than a day or two, could they really have fallen in love? They did not remember every thing that happen in the previous loop and were running and hiding for most of the time.
December 8, 2018
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.
January 24, 2021
dnfed on page 66. those 66 pages were boring and painful to read
May 8, 2018
This book was a quick read. I enjoyed it quite a bit and was empathetic for the characters.
April 28, 2013
Originally posted at http://shelversanon.blogspot.com
I loved the concept of this story when I first stumbled across the synopsis. Two star-crossed lovers are stuck in a time loop that ends with them dying each time. It's like a teenage Groundhog Day meets, I don't know, a sanitized Bonnie and Clyde.
Sadly, I was not destined to love this book.
It wasn't a bad book. In fact, I could conceivably see people thoroughly enjoying this book. The premise is certainly an intriguing one. Ben and Maggie are stuck in a time loop, one that lasts only a couple days and sends them through those same two days again and again. It starts when they meet and ends when they die, shot down by a homicidal thief. The loop has to be explained to Ben every time it starts over, since he loses his memory every time the loop resets, leaving him only with a strong sense of deja vu. Maggie, on the other hand, can remember some of the details, though not all. This is her fourth loop.
My main problem was I couldn't make myself care. Seriously of the eight notes I made on this book, HALF of them were me repeating in some form how very little I cared:
I never felt close to either Ben or Maggie. For all Ben spoke of his connection to Maggie, she was nothing more than an untouchable reflection to me. Ben himself also felt flat. There was little depth to either of them, as their entire state of being was confined to the loop. I didn't care about Ben getting back to his life, because I didn't know his life. I had no feel for what he had lost, so what did I care if he got it back? Even their leap into insta-love failed to get a rise out of me, despite Ben's feeble insistence that it wasn't insta-love because he had known Maggie for a bajillion loops. (Phooey, I say, since he couldn't remember those loops.) Both characters felt like stick figures created to serve a plot that tickled the author's fancy. Billy Murray they ain't.
Part of the problem, I think, is how short the novel is. At 198 pages, it's wafer-thin, at least compared to what I normally read. Through the course of the novel, Ben and Maggie make it through their loop a grand total of two times. Two, apparently, is few enough times that I don't learn to care but enough times that I still feel bored. Not optimal, that.
I really have nothing else to say. The only other notes I have had to do with minor criticisms, such as Ben's propensity to use text lingo in an email and his commenting on the swoosh sound a sent email makes as if it's something new. Both incidents were unnecessary and annoying, but hardly a deal-breaker.
I'm hoping some of you will pick up the book in spite on my lackluster review and find elements that enchant and delight you. That's the marvel of reading. My favorite book can be another's least favorite and vice-versa. So check it out on your own and good luck. I, for one, will not be revisiting this particular loop in my life.
Points Added For: An interesting premise.
Points Subtracted For: Failing to make me care even slightly.
Good For Fans Of: Groundhog Day, short novels, star-crossed lovers.
Notes For Parents: Language, murder.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept of this story when I first stumbled across the synopsis. Two star-crossed lovers are stuck in a time loop that ends with them dying each time. It's like a teenage Groundhog Day meets, I don't know, a sanitized Bonnie and Clyde.
Sadly, I was not destined to love this book.
It wasn't a bad book. In fact, I could conceivably see people thoroughly enjoying this book. The premise is certainly an intriguing one. Ben and Maggie are stuck in a time loop, one that lasts only a couple days and sends them through those same two days again and again. It starts when they meet and ends when they die, shot down by a homicidal thief. The loop has to be explained to Ben every time it starts over, since he loses his memory every time the loop resets, leaving him only with a strong sense of deja vu. Maggie, on the other hand, can remember some of the details, though not all. This is her fourth loop.
My main problem was I couldn't make myself care. Seriously of the eight notes I made on this book, HALF of them were me repeating in some form how very little I cared:
No connection
Cool concept but just don't care
DO. NOT. CARE.
Very forgettable
I never felt close to either Ben or Maggie. For all Ben spoke of his connection to Maggie, she was nothing more than an untouchable reflection to me. Ben himself also felt flat. There was little depth to either of them, as their entire state of being was confined to the loop. I didn't care about Ben getting back to his life, because I didn't know his life. I had no feel for what he had lost, so what did I care if he got it back? Even their leap into insta-love failed to get a rise out of me, despite Ben's feeble insistence that it wasn't insta-love because he had known Maggie for a bajillion loops. (Phooey, I say, since he couldn't remember those loops.) Both characters felt like stick figures created to serve a plot that tickled the author's fancy. Billy Murray they ain't.
Part of the problem, I think, is how short the novel is. At 198 pages, it's wafer-thin, at least compared to what I normally read. Through the course of the novel, Ben and Maggie make it through their loop a grand total of two times. Two, apparently, is few enough times that I don't learn to care but enough times that I still feel bored. Not optimal, that.
I really have nothing else to say. The only other notes I have had to do with minor criticisms, such as Ben's propensity to use text lingo in an email and his commenting on the swoosh sound a sent email makes as if it's something new. Both incidents were unnecessary and annoying, but hardly a deal-breaker.
I'm hoping some of you will pick up the book in spite on my lackluster review and find elements that enchant and delight you. That's the marvel of reading. My favorite book can be another's least favorite and vice-versa. So check it out on your own and good luck. I, for one, will not be revisiting this particular loop in my life.
Points Added For: An interesting premise.
Points Subtracted For: Failing to make me care even slightly.
Good For Fans Of: Groundhog Day, short novels, star-crossed lovers.
Notes For Parents: Language, murder.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2021
The Loop by Shandy Lawson is a YA time travel/ time loop novel that sounded like it had potential. Now that I've read it though I'm honestly surprised that I sat there and read the whole thing. It was so irritating from the style, the voice, and the characters. The characters are incredibly flat and they don't sound believable at all. At least, I can say it was short.
April 13, 2013
I want to thank Disney Hyperion for supplying me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinion or review.
Blurb from Goodreads:
Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.
As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?
There's something about time travel books that just makes me happy. I just want to read them. I want to see the way the author bends time and gets the characters to jump through the loopholes that are inherent with this type of story. I have to say that Lawson did a really nice job with it.
Think Ground Hogs Day, when you read this story. The characters are caught in a continuous loop until the "problem" they are facing works out. Except this book did go around and around in circles. While the characters recognized they were in the loops, we really only see the story told in once, which was nice considering it could have gone on and on and on with now stop!
Ben is a nice character. I don't feel a total connection to him, and I really have no idea in my mind what he looks like. This was a disconcerting because I like to be able to picture the characters, it helps me think of them as more real. He does strike me as a typical teenage boy, tho, so that was a plus. Ben sees things as "deja vu" at first, not realizing it for what it is.
Maggie, our other main character, has been in the loop longer than Ben. Having had more experience in the loop, Maggie knows what is going to happen well before Ben. So, when they deviate from their charted course, things are a bit thrown off.
I would have liked more background about how the characters first met. It is explained a bit in the story, but it would have been nice to actually see it happen. I think this would have given more credibility to their relationship and why they felt so drawn to each other.
One of the inconsistencies in this story is the fact that Maggie has been in the loop for a longer time than Ben has. This right here made it hard for me to reconcile the loop. How could Maggie be looping but Ben not be doing it just as long as she had if their loop was always connected?
I like the concept that Lawson introduces, that fate will really try it's hardest to win out in the end. For no matter how Maggie and Ben try to alter their loop, they always end up back together and heading right back in the direction the loop has set for them. It makes for an interesting plot and really moves the story along. It also gives the story a bit of a suspenseful feeling since you are always wondering if the characters will succeed in breaking the cycle.
Overall I enjoyed this quick read, though I wasn't completely blown away with the concept or the storyline. I would have liked to see more things associated with the science fiction part of time travel in this book. I think it would have helped to make the book more cohesive. I recommend this book to fans of the Tempest series by Julie Cross.
3/5 stars.
Blurb from Goodreads:
Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.
As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?
There's something about time travel books that just makes me happy. I just want to read them. I want to see the way the author bends time and gets the characters to jump through the loopholes that are inherent with this type of story. I have to say that Lawson did a really nice job with it.
Think Ground Hogs Day, when you read this story. The characters are caught in a continuous loop until the "problem" they are facing works out. Except this book did go around and around in circles. While the characters recognized they were in the loops, we really only see the story told in once, which was nice considering it could have gone on and on and on with now stop!
Ben is a nice character. I don't feel a total connection to him, and I really have no idea in my mind what he looks like. This was a disconcerting because I like to be able to picture the characters, it helps me think of them as more real. He does strike me as a typical teenage boy, tho, so that was a plus. Ben sees things as "deja vu" at first, not realizing it for what it is.
Maggie, our other main character, has been in the loop longer than Ben. Having had more experience in the loop, Maggie knows what is going to happen well before Ben. So, when they deviate from their charted course, things are a bit thrown off.
I would have liked more background about how the characters first met. It is explained a bit in the story, but it would have been nice to actually see it happen. I think this would have given more credibility to their relationship and why they felt so drawn to each other.
One of the inconsistencies in this story is the fact that Maggie has been in the loop for a longer time than Ben has. This right here made it hard for me to reconcile the loop. How could Maggie be looping but Ben not be doing it just as long as she had if their loop was always connected?
I like the concept that Lawson introduces, that fate will really try it's hardest to win out in the end. For no matter how Maggie and Ben try to alter their loop, they always end up back together and heading right back in the direction the loop has set for them. It makes for an interesting plot and really moves the story along. It also gives the story a bit of a suspenseful feeling since you are always wondering if the characters will succeed in breaking the cycle.
Overall I enjoyed this quick read, though I wasn't completely blown away with the concept or the storyline. I would have liked to see more things associated with the science fiction part of time travel in this book. I think it would have helped to make the book more cohesive. I recommend this book to fans of the Tempest series by Julie Cross.
3/5 stars.
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