About the Book:

Title: One Way or Another

Author: Kara McDowell

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Pages: 336

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Romance

Synopsis:

The average person makes 35,000 decisions every single day. That’s about 34,999 too many for Paige Collins, who lives in debilitating fear of making the wrong choice. The simple act of picking an art elective is enough to send her into a spiral of what-ifs. What if she’s destined to be a famous ceramicist but wastes her talent in drama club? What if there’s a carbon monoxide leak in the ceramics studio and everyone drops dead? (Grim, but possible!)

That’s why when Paige is presented with two last-minute options for Christmas vacation, she’s paralyzed by indecision. Should she go with her best friend (and longtime crush) Fitz to his family’s romantic mountain cabin? Or should she accompany her mom to New York, a city Paige has spent her whole life dreaming about?

Just when it seems like Paige will crack from the pressure of choosing, fate steps

in — in the form of a slippery grocery store floor — and Paige’s life splits into two very different parallel paths. One path leads to New York where Paige falls for the city . . . and the charms of her unexpected tour guide. The other leads to the mountains where Paige might finally get her chance with Fitz . . . until her anxiety threatens to ruin everything.

However, before Paige gets her happy ending in either destiny, she’ll have to face the truth about her struggle with anxiety — and learn that you don’t have to be “perfect” to deserve true love.

 

 

 

Review:

* I was given an arc by the author and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

The holiday romcom you’ve been waiting for! This was my first book by Kara, and it did not disappoint. It’s a slow burn romance with lots of flirting, kissing, and swoon worthy boys!

I absolutely love the main character, Paige. She’s completely relatable as a small town girl that has lots of trouble making decisions, and is terrified that she’ll make the wrong ones. She’s always thinking about the what-ifs. When she is presented with two different options for Christmas vacation, she finds herself completely paralyzed and unable to make a choice.  Should she go with her best friend and long-time crush to his family’s mountain cabin? Or should she go with her mom to NYC, a place she’s always dreamed of going? A slip on a grocery store floor leads her down two different timelines. The first timeline takes her to NYC, where she falls for its charms and unexpectedly, for a boy she hasn’t seen in many years, and who becomes her tour guide. The second timeline takes her to the cozy mountain cabin, where she may finally have a chance with Fitz, her BFF. Her anxiety seems to be getting in the way of her plans, however. I enjoyed watching Paige’s journey through this story of self discovery. She needs to face her struggles with anxiety and learn that you don’t have to be “perfect” to find happiness. Definitely a character that I cheered for along the way. It’s interesting to see where her decisions lead her, and it’s a story brimming with hope and empowerment.

Hope you add this adorable book to your TBR! It will definitely bring some holiday cheer.

About the Author:

Born in the mountains and raised in the desert, Kara McDowell spent her childhood swimming, boating, and making up stories in her head. As the middle of five children, Kara entertained her family on long road trips by reading short mystery stories out loud and forcing everyone to guess the conclusion. After graduating from Arizona State University with a BA in English Literature, Kara worked as a freelance writer. Now she writes young adult novels from her home in Arizona, where she lives with her husband and three young sons.