Book Review: The Locket

The Locket
Stacey Jay
Paperback, 288 pages
Published January 22nd 2011 by Razorbill
Source: Borrowed

Summary:

On her seventeenth birthday, Katie discovers a locket and decides to wear it for good luck. But when her boyfriend Isaac finds out she cheated on him— with their mutual best friend Mitch, no less—he dumps her, leaving her devastated.

And then a miracle happens. The locket burns on Katie's chest and she feels herself going back two weeks in time, to the night she cheated with Mitch. At first, Kate is delighted to be a better girlfriend to Isaac this time around. But as other aspects of her life become inexplicably altered, she realizes that changing the past may have had a dangerous effect on her present.

Can she make things right before the locket destroys everything—and everyone—she loves?

Review:

This has got to be one of my favorite reads of 2011. Frankly, I think the plot is a little clichéd, but I so love how the story was executed. The summary provides the readers the idea on how the story is going to play out. The Locket begins on Katie’s birthday, October 10. Exactly two weeks after she cheated on Isaac. Katie still feels guilty about it, but she just tells herself to forget about it because it was a mistake and it will never happen again. While she is preparing herself for her date with Isaac, she finds a locket on her grandmother’s vanity. She decides to wear it just as Isaac arrives on her doorstep.

The first time I got to meet Isaac, I couldn’t help but wonder how Katie could have possibly cheated on him. They’ve been together for three years. Isaac seems like a really nice guy and takes good care of Katie. They are both in love with each other too. However, when Isaac finds out about what Katie did with Mitch and dumped her (almost literally), I knew right then that Isaac doesn’t deserve her.

The locket then starts getting really hot and in the blink of an eye, Katie finds herself transported back to the party two weeks ago where it all began. Katie, knowing how the scenes are going to play out, successfully avoids cheating with Mitch. So the next day, she is guilt-free and still has both her best friend and boyfriend on her side.

During the days before October 10, we get to learn more about Mitch, Isaac and as well as the other characters. Mitch is exactly the type of guy you would love to be your bf-bf (bestfriend-boyfriend). He’s sweet, funny and thoughtful. He’s always there when Katie needs him unlike Isaac who values basketball more than anything. And most of all, he knows what Katie needs. Mitch has had a crush on Katie since they were younger. When his two bestfriends got together, he continued to be the third party, waiting by the sidelines until Katie notices him and realize that Isaac doesn’t deserve her. (Aw!)

The Locket is actually a lot darker and twisted than I originally thought. But regardless, I was easily captivated with the plot. There are times when I really, really want to shake Katie so hard for foolishly trying to save her relationship with Isaac. Though, given the time that they have been together, I think this kind of stupidity is almost acceptable. There was also a time that I cried so hard I thought my heart was going to break. I only wish that Jay provided a back story for the origin of the locket so the readers get an idea where it came from and how it could possibly do what it does.

Overall, The Locket by Stacey Jay is a gripping novel that intertwines romance, friendship, self-growth and acceptance of life and facing its struggles as they are. I absolutely recommended this to all readers out there!

Rating: 5/5 stars! - This book is an awesome incarnate!