The Do Over | By Lynn Painter

My thoughts

I approached this book with no expectations. I felt like I was heading into a reading slump and have always been a sucker for time-loop stories. That’s all I knew about this one. It had also been a while since I read a YA romance. Long story short, The Do-Over was meant to give my system a jump start, and it absolutely did.

Narrative and Plot

The story is told from Emilie Hornby’s perspective while she is stuck in a never-ending Valentine’s Day loop. All she wants is to have a perfect Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend, but she keeps running into Nick Starc, and her days go all wrong from there. Anything more could be a spoiler, but all I can say is that this is a poignant read. 

The story is engaging and keeps you hooked. Em embarks on an adventure after being thrust into a bizarre situation. While on the surface, this might seem like a fluffy romance, there are moments with depth that feel bittersweet.

Characters and Conflicts

Emilie is the type of protagonist who often gets things wrong and approaches situations in a flawed way. Even so, you want to root for her with each loop as she stumbles, learns, and grows. Her chemistry with Nick feels organic, and as the story develops, their relationship makes sense in a heartwarming way.

The final conflict could have used more elaboration. Everything happens in the background, and since this is a single POV story, we do not get to see Nick’s thoughts or actions. There is a lot to unpack in the second half, and it is a coming-of-age story about two people dealing with different kinds of loneliness in their own ways.

Conclusion

Overall, The Do-Over is a fun read if you enjoy time-loop settings. While the story maintains some clichés associated with this theme, it has a heart that makes you overlook the minor flaws.

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