When

My Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book. The premise was amazing. I loved that Maddie could read the dates of people's deaths which she didn't even realize until her father passed away. We are taken on her journey of her father's death and the meaning of those numbers. She is someone you will root for from the first page. This author gives us a wonderfully written tale of Maddie and everything she feels and you feel it with her. You feel bad for her, glad, sad, angry and everything else. I cannot even imagine living with a gift/curse like this. Maddie tries to save people with their dates but is unable to and we are taken on a beautifully written story of her trying to do that. I found myself not wanting to put this book down and for good reason - I had to know! I could not stand her mother and liked that this book wasn't a romance book. There was a little bit of it, but the book centered on the numbers and for good reason.

You get pulled into this storyline and don't want it to end. It was beautifully written and the author is descriptive. You feel all the emotions that Maddie feels and all the characters have a life of their own. I would recommend this book. It's a great read and wish there was more to this book i.e. a series of them!

I give this book 4.5 of 5 stars!

When was overall okay, but it’s not a book I would recommend to anyone.

Maddie is a sixteen year old girl who can see the day that everyone is going to die as a black number floating above their forehead. Her alcoholic mother makes a bit of money on the side by having Maddie give “readings” for people and telling them when their relatives will pass away. When Maddie predicts the death of a young boy who turns up murdered, she becomes the central suspect in a police investigation.

On the plus side, this book was very low on romance! While it does contain the mandatory hot guy, he has hardly any presence in the book. This is a breath of fresh air for the YA genre!

Somewhat relatedly, it was nice that Maddie had a male best friend and that the book never went into the “of course there’s romantic tension, men and women can never be just friends!” territory. Normally “male best friend” is code for “love interest in waiting,” but When thankfully decided to focus on the friendship.

Maddie was a very typical sixteen year old girl – meaning she didn’t actually do much. She deals with the stress of being under a police investigation and her mother’s alcoholism, but she doesn’t play much of a role in the investigation of who actually killed the boy. In short, she’s no Nancy Drew. This is realistic but not very interesting.

I also had reasons to question her decisions, which often involved holding back information from her attorney uncle or the authorities. A lot of the time Maddie didn’t seem to have a good reason for it, and this felt like the plot required her to be stupid.

The writing style is simple and direct. It isn’t beautiful, but it’s functional. I have no qualms in that area.

When‘s biggest flaw is that it’s forgettable. There’s nothing about this book that will stick in my memory, besides perhaps the initial idea of knowing the day people die. In a month’s time, I will likely be unable to recall I read it.

I don’t feel this book is worth recommending.

I received an ARC for review.

If you think this is your usual paranormal book where a girl finds herself capable of doing some pretty cool stuff and doesn’t know how to use it and consequently gets frustrated until she finds the Love Interest/s who help/s her channel her powers for good before they run off to the sunset to their happily ever after, STOP RIGHT THERE! I kid you not, When by Victoria Laurie is anything but… that. It gets rid of the overused PR formula and breathes into it new life. I’m telling you right now that this book will surprise you in the sickest way possible (and I mean that very positively).

Being able to know when someone will die is definitely not an easy burden. If I had this curse put upon me, I don’t think I would be able to accept it easily and would probably lock myself in my cabinet so I won’t see another person again. I was rather nervous to see how the book would portray Maddie’s overall reaction and perspective about it, but I thought the book handled it beautifully and realistically. You can tell that Maddie’s not totally happy about it as she oftentimes have difficulty coping with it, but she does take advantage of her “gift” especially since her father died and she and her mom needed money to get by. You can absolutely feel the anger and frustration brewing inside her at the fact she can’t save anyone from their impending deaths. She hates that she could only warn them, and hates that some of them don’t take her seriously until death is staring at them at pointblank range.

And man, the way Maddie tells them, we can really feel the pain in her words. It’s amazing how such a PR book feel so personal. I mean, seriously, EVEN I WAS SO AFFECTED I FELT LIKE CRYING IN FRUSTRATION! Add to that the suspense of the plot. Man, oh, man, the way the story unfolds here with the murders and everything really makes you want to scream and check the last page just so you can be reassured everything will be fine in the end. It was absolutely nerve-wracking to see our heroine continuously doubted and seen as a serial killer. If you combine the thrill each page gives you and the very intimate and realistic voice of Maddie, it would make a 100% amazing reading experience, which this book was in a nutshell.

If there was one thing I didn’t really like about this, it was the fact that the heroine kept refraining from telling her lawyer and the authorities about important information using the lamest reasons as possible. “Oh gee weez, I keep seeing that dark truck following me everywhere! I should tell my uncle but he and I had just a fight so I don’t feel like saying it now.” or “Well, that guy leered at me and looked at me like he was going to kill me, but I don’t think I should tell that to the FBI because it was probably a coincidence.” or “I think I’m being stalked, but I conveniently forget UNTIL the very end. WHOOPSIE!”

And I’m like SCREW YOOOOOOUUUUU.

That bit seriously pissed me off, especially since it was such a recurring incidence. I mean, girl, there is a serial killer on the loose and you don’t bother telling that ONE IMPORTANT SINISTER GUY because he’s probably harmless in the end and his looking at you that way was just a coincidence?! What kind of illogical bloody sorcery is this crap?! It was seriously so irritating.

Other than that, this was a great book. READ IT.

Victoria Laurie writes a fascinating Young Adult mystery about Maddie Fynn. A girl who has been able to see the death dates of everyone around her since she was a child. Haunted by the fact that she knew the date of her own father’s death, yet wasn’t able to keep him from being killed, she lives a haunted life. A loner, but for her best friend, she goes through high school life being an outcaste. Her mother, an alcoholic, who can’t keep a job, takes advantage of Maddie’s gift by selling her talents to people who want to hear their own death date. Usually, she does not get involved, but one day during a reading, see’s the death date of one of her children, and tries to tell her about it. This is when this novel kicks into gear, and Maddie’s life spins out of her control.

There were many things I loved about this book. I loved how the author put everyone’s death date next to their name when they were introduced into the storyline. I loved her best friend Stubby (although hated his nickname), and his eternal optimism, even through some pretty horrible circumstances. I loved that Maddie, even against all odds-bullied, picked on and beat up, NEVER stopped going to school. I loved that the people who didn’t believe in her ended up caring for her, and yes I loved that she found a father figure in the detective who investigated her for murder. Most of all I loved that even though circumstances treated Maddie horribly, her life became better because of them.

Ok, plot. I mentioned a little bit above, but let me expand just a little bit, without spoiling the storyline. Maddie see’s the death date of a woman’s son, who is perfectly healthy. He does in fact die, kidnapped, tortured and murdered. This does not give away the plot, this is where her life unravels and the story really begins. Maddie and Stubby, try to get this woman to take them seriously, but she doesn’t listen. When her son dies, she points the police in Maddie’s direction, and they start investigating her for being involved in his murder. Her anxiety, Stubby’s optimism, her foul treatment by the police and her own peers, all of this amps up the tension to such a levelthat if the plot hadn’t burst open, I would have. It was fabulous.

The mystery was great, the characters well developed, and there were twists and turns that surprised me. Total enjoyment. ❤❤❤❤❤

Maddie Flynn looks at human faces and sees a date hovering above their forehead-- their death date. She's managed to eke out a living telling people their death date to keep Child Protective Services away from her alcoholic mom and their messy home, but one day when she gives the bad news to a rich socialite that her son's death date is that week, the FBI suddenly are investigating her for murder.

The weird thing for me about his book is that even while i enjoyed seeing Maddie get herself out of a really unhealthy situation with her mom and her deathdate power, eat really delicious sounding potpies baked by a kindly neighbor lady, and felt righteous anger at the school's lack of reaction to bullying--I had to work hard at suspending my disbelief.

It was hard to believe the FBI would spend that much time on teenagers as serial murder suspects. Or that the school principal would really turn a blind eye to battery, or in the end, Maddie's best friend would go from bitterness to just fine without any emotional journey that we saw.

Maybe because the heart of the story is not so much about the crime (although yeah, didn't see the murderer coming actually) or a YA love story (there's a bit of a crush and then another surprisingly nice resolution at the end) but more about Maddie starting to make better choices. Maddie learning to trust her absentee uncle. Maddie learning to accept potpies. Maddie learning to stop using her gift to hide the shameful neglect of her mother. So it's a coming of age story about a girl the world has every reason to write off but somehow pulls through anyway.

So I really liked it. Perfectly acceptable for almost all YA ages, I think. No kissing, and while there are murders only one is described in a bit of detail. The rest is ye olde high school bullying and alcoholic mother.

A very good friend recommended I read <a href=https://www.the store.com/When-Victoria-Laurie-ebook/dp/B00OJZYI2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492729682&sr=8-1&keywords=when+victoria+laurie>When by Victoria Laurie when she had to read it for work. Kate works for Scholastic and she had to read it for a book talk she did. Most of the books she reads for work, I’m like, nope too young for me, but something about this book drew me in.

Maddie Flynn has a unique ability, she sees things. (And now my brain is going “She sees dead people”.) She sees numbers on the foreheads of everyone she meets (and even on their pictures.) These numbers are their death date. The book follows Maddie as she deals with a mystery (disappearing children) and suspicion that falls on her and her best friend “Stubby”.

Victoria Laurie weaves a believable world that is inhabited mostly by teenagers. Maddie is a wonderful storyteller who shows the reader the way through her life. She seems a reliable narrator, although you are stymied by the fact that you don’t know any more than she does.

This is not a happy story, as evidenced by Maddie’s ability, and the mystery. Most of the truly awful parts of the mystery are shown only through Maddie’s eyes, but you also see the effects of her mother’s drinking though Maddie’s eyes and how teenagers react to bullying and even how teachers react to a student who is <i>very</i> different. I found this difficult to read as a teacher myself.

Overall, despite the ending bringing me to tears, I really enjoyed this book. And I highly recommend it!

Let me start off by saying that I brought this book with me to get work done on my car, I have never been so upset when they told me my car was done because I was just in the middle of the “falling action” of the book.
This book is about a girl named Maddie who has a gift/curse of seeing everyone’s death date. Her father’s death was the first time she realized what all these numbers she was seeing meant. After his death, her mother fell into a deep depression and started drinking heavily and stopped working. They got some money from her father’s passing but her mom used Maddie’s “gift” to earn extra money by giving readings. Throughout the book you learn more about the struggle that her gift has given her, along with her family and her best friend, Stubby.
There is a very distinct point in the book that you realize what direction the book is heading and a million questions start going through your head. It may take until the last few pages to get the final answer. I was so emotionally attached to Maddie by the end that I’d love to know how the rest of Maddie’s life turned out, but I am very happy to say that every question I had was answered and in just the perfect way. This is definitely one of the “book hangover” types of books.

A cornucopia of delicious writing elements leaving me completely full but craving more! I DEVOURED this book. I need more. Seriously.

Probably one of THE most original concepts out there. The idea that a character walks around seeing the death dates above everybody's heads? LOOOOOVVVE IT.

The writing was smooth, rich and organic. The tension was high and increased throughout the book. Victoria was able to engage the reader and emerse them in this concept that is difficult to accept.

You have to feel bad for Maddie. How much pressure and stress that would cause. Then add in the philosphical... does she do anything to change the dates? Can she even do that? Should she? I'd have a splitting headache running in circles in my head if I were her. That's a huge bulk to carry on such young shoulders. Literally life and death of others. No pressure or anything.

Then let's add in looking suspicious. Victoria managed to weave all these elements together to create a beautiful pattern and not a hot, tangled mess. You don't know what the pattern looks like until the end when she "flips the fabric" over. Until then, you're checking all the strings. For a mystery, you can't ask for better writing!

An excellent read! A truly superb YA novel with a heroine you can stand up and cheer for, absolutely believe, and want to just take her home for cocoa and cookies cause she's just had about the worst day. A touch of supernatural (she sees the day someone is going to die on their forehead) lends an air of mystery to familiar and relevant tropes (bullying, fish out of water, child coping with alcoholic parent) while never giving everything away. All the usual characters are there. Best friend. Hard nosed detective. Kindly next door widow. Cute guy she is crushing on. All blended with a mysterious murder, and then another. Expertly written, I finally got to the last three chapters and just put the rest of the world on hold. It had to be finished. Well done!

**Book provided by the author for an honest review**
Maddie is a teenage girl who only wants one thing, to have a normal life. Unfortunately, the universe has other plans for her. As far back as Maddie could remember, she has always been able to see everyone's death date. No one knew how important this gift would be until the day her father died. Overtaken by grief and guilt of her husband's death, Cheryl turned to booze to ease her pain while, in the process, neglecting the one and only person left in this world who loved her unconditionally, Maddie. Ever since Maddie was a budding tween, her mother has pimped her out to charge people for their death date's in order to finance her alcohol addiction, turning Maddie from child to caregiver for a useless shell of a woman she called "Ma." The only person Maddie had to turn to was her best friend, Arnold Schroder aka Stubby. Stubby was a compassionate young man for his age, and his family adored her.

One day while providing a reading for a woman named Patrica Tibbolt, instead of giving her one reading on the woman's youngest child with Leukemia, she provides the date for her son, Tevon, because Tevon's date is next week! But after telling Mrs. Tibbolt, instead of being oh I don't know, grateful maybe, the witch gets pissed off and accuses Maddie of being a fraud and storms out! When Maddie tells Stubby what happened, he convinces her to try and talk to Mrs. Tibbolt one more time, thinking maybe they could save him, but that turned out to be a big mistake in more ways than one. The following week when Tevon goes missing, the FBI show up at Maddie's High School to question her about his disappearance. That's when the rumors start a flying, and soon Maddie finds herself being judged guilty of something she didn't do by her peers and teachers! This part of the story morphs into such a huge mess, way beyond what I ever imagined! I was so empathetic towards Maddie that I was binge eating potato chips like you would not believe!! Thanks Victoria!

Once we are introduced to the FBI, Uncle Donny comes into play. Donny is Maddie's father's younger brother. He is a big deal lawyer- single, no kids and an absolute sweetheart when it comes to Maddie. Donny is now forced to represent Maddie because the FBI douches, Agent's Faraday and Wallace, have honed in on making Maddie's life miserable. Those two knuckleheads were like dogs with a new bone, and they were not letting Maddie go! Now that the story is in full swing, as the investigation continues, life only gets worse for Maddie and Stubby. Like Maddie's life didn't already suck, right?! Because Cheryl was using Maddie to make money, everyone in town knew about the freak show and her alcoholic mother! Maddie was picked on and made fun of by everyone at school. She had the biggest crush on a boy, named Aiden, but she never dared talk to him, or gasp go out with him in fear that he would turn on her like the others once he found out about her ability. The only reason poor Maddie never called anyone for help when she found her mother face down and passed out was because she feared that CPS would place her in a foster home. I could greatly appreciate the inner strength this young girl had with how she kept her head above water and never gave up.

The story grabbed my by the heart strings and kept me fixed to the pages when Uncle Donny met with the superintendent and advocated on Maddie's behalf for all the injustice that had befallen her. I was so happy to see this third party come in and listen to Maddie's story. That's as far as I will take that statement. I also would like to add that the ending is pretty spectacular! I was totally thinking one thing, and the opposite happened, lol... I have yet to figure out "whodunit" before, so I shouldn't be surprised, but I was pretty damn surprised!! I totally loved the uniqueness of Maddie's ability, and I can honestly say that I don't have a movie reference for this one........shocker! Well done Victoria! Well done :)

Maddie has a had a traumatic life. Seeing the death dates of every person she meets, or on any close-up picture she sees, is personally horrifying, but she's also forced to rely on this macabre talent in order to support herself and her alcoholic mother. She's only 16 and didn't realize the significance of those funny numbers on people's foreheads until her father's number was up. That was ten years ago and she and her mother are now limping along in a bedroom community about 90 minutes from Manhattan.

When she informs a client that her son will die in the coming week, the client freaks out. Maddie attempts to call a second time, urged by her best friend "Stubby" Shroeder, to impress the seriousness of the situation--and is rebuffed, with hostility. That is, until the young boy goes missing. Only, Maddie knows he's not just missing--he's dead. The Feds are in on the case, and Maddie finds herself at the center of their investigation. Her Uncle Donny, a slick lawyer, does his best to cast suspicion away, cautioning Maddie against doing any further readings--but she inadvertently sees a local girl with a looming death date--and Stubby insists they try to help.

Their interference only lands both of them in huge trouble, and the Feds are mounting a case file that could put both Maddie and Stubby in jail for a good long time. Meanwhile, Maddie fights the system, trying to prove that her "gift" is what gives her insight, as small as it is. She's got the added trouble of bullying at school, and her mother going on increasingly more dangerous benders. I honestly got chills reading about Maddie peeling her mom off one floor, or another, and putting her back to bed safely--when her mom managed to make it home.

Maddie's world has become an even more frightening place as strange trucks chase her down dark streets and yet another child is kidnapped. The FBI is, at first, hostile, but Maddie fights to win their support against Uncle Donny's wishes--he's sure they're going to set her up. Proving her gift is legit is nearly as hard as proving the Tooth Fairy exists, however.

Still, Maddie never gives up trying to demonstrate her (and Stubby's) innocence. Not when her mom takes a turn for the worst. Not when Stubby's the lead suspect. And not when it seems the FBI wants to name her as an accomplice to a serial murderer. It's a taut, emotional drama that moves with grace. Several suspects exist, all of whom are equally likely, keeping the reader guessing until the closing scenes.

The adults are very real people, not simple characterizations. Maddie's mom is pathetic and sympathetic. Uncle Donny is a champ, and keeps the Feds from steamrolling two awesome kids. Stubby is the kind of best friend I would dream my kids find--selfless, kind and cheerful to a fault. Even the FBI agents who threaten Maddie at every turn aren't as ruthless as they first seem. I expected the ending, but that's like chocolate sprinkles on the thriller sundae. When, not if, WHEN is turned into a movie, I'm gonna get an extra large popcorn and enjoy it again. I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.

The premise of When was fantastic! Maddie is a 16yo girl, gifted/cursed with a unique psychic ability. She has the ability to see the death dates of people, both when she sees them and in photographs. The dates appear as small numbers floating near the forehead. Her gift/curse doesn't allow her to see the where's and how's of it, nor does it allow her to change anything for those people. She sees just the date. And she is never wrong.

The mere idea of such an ability is chilling to me. To be so incredibly immersed in death all of the time. To be judged and ridiculed. On one hand, the ability could bring comfort to those afraid death is near when they find out it isn't. On the other hand, the ability can be painful, knowing that someone has only a short time left. I can't imagine the pain of having to tell someone that they or someone they love is going to die imminently, much less having to do it over and over again.

Needless to say, this has been both a gift and curse for Maddie. She is a highly intelligent girl, but this ability has made her a bit of a social pariah. After losing her father in a shootout, her mother turned to alcohol, leaving Maddie to care for them both from a young age. The drinking got to such a point that Maddie was forced to provide readings for money to survive. The idea that a mother would be so selfish as to force her daughter to do something so painful so often, simply so that she (the mother) could indulge in her booze habit was reprehensible to me. As much as I loved Maddie, her mother drove me insane.

While I loved the premise of the book and I loved Maddie, I had some issues with the realism, or lack of it, in places. I think that is a direct result of being a lawyer's daughter and watching too many cop shows! Less than 24 hours after her son goes missing, a mother reports him missing and suddenly the FBI is involved. After that, things went from 0 to 60 very quickly and in ways that didn't seem realistic to me. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will leave it at that!

My Recommendation: Despite my issues, I enjoyed this book. The concept is so unique and it is one that really makes you think. What would you do if you had the same ability? Would you tell people and risk social isolation, or would you hide it? Can you imagine what life would be like to be so surrounded by the concept of death all the time? How would you handle it?

Maddie Fynn is your average teenager with a special gift. She can see numbers associated with each and every person. It was her father’s death that alerted her of the fact that the numbers that she sees are the death dates of that individual. Following her father’s death, her mother goes on a downward spiral and becomes an alcoholic. She uses Maddie’s gift to have sessions with people and warn them off for some extra cash. However, Maddie only knows the dates and not the how and why of it… So when a recent client goes missing on the predicted date, Maddie becomes a suspect in the case. How will she clear her name and will she be able to find out what really happened?

It was easy to like Maddie as the shy teenager from a broken home. I liked her and her best friend Stubby quite a bit in the beginning. Their interactions are always interesting. However as the novel progressed, I was a bit irritated by their stupidity over and over again. I mean, I do expect teenagers to make mistakes, but not like they do. It is like they never really learn. Then there are the law enforcement officials who are just so informal and hilarious that it was difficult to take them seriously. Law enforcement officers should be figures that one can respect and look up to… while these people were certainly likeable, they didn’t inspire much trust in me that they would be able to solve the case. Maddie was surely a better bet. The certain depth that the characters of a mystery novel should posses was clearly missing and it took away some of the good feeling about the book.

The plot is something new for me. I do not know if there are similar books out there or not, but I actually loved the plot. The concept that Maddie can see the date of the death of a person, but not how is very interesting. Plus there is enough action and drama to keep a reader glued to the pages. Also, the author has narrated Maddie’s story in simple language with a smooth flow. The narrative style is easy going and as such it is easy to get into this book.

New to me author!

This is my first time reading Victoria Laurie. It will NOT be my last. Her writing is amazing and by the end of this book she was able to bring around plot lines that I had completely forgotten about. She tidied up everything so well that I had tears at the end!

The story

This starts, moves, changes, and ends all so wonderfully! It is currently 2:30 AM and my normal bedtime is 10 pm. That has to tell you something right there. I knew from page one that I would not be able to put this one down. There is just something about Victoria Laurie’s writing and the why she folds the mystery and drama that just make you want to keep turning those pages! Not only did I want to keep turning I wanted to learn speed reading so I could find out what in the world was going on!

The characters

I loved the main characters. Some characters I even hated but the main character Maddie is fabulous. Having the ability to see the deathdates of everyone she meets has made her life a living hell! Literally. She has to go through so much in this and to be honest I wanted to be up a few characters. There are those, like Maddie, that I just absolutely wound up loving! Mac and Stubbs of course were my favorites. Mac really threw me for a loop though and caught me off guard. I did not like his attitude AT ALL at first but he wound up worming his way into my heart.

I cannot name names because it will be a spoiler, but there are a few characters that I just did NOT trust in this. Sadly, I did not even come close to pegging the real killer! Not even freaking close!

The drama

There is a lot of drama in this that maybe seems a bit far fetched. It all starts when a woman tells Maddie that she is a fraud when Maddie tries to tell the woman that her son is going to die in a WEEK. What mother wouldn’t do absolutely everything necessary to ensure that her son would be safe? This mother not only does NOT trust Maddie but becomes the major source of drama in this. And the cops surrounding the investigation just drove me insane. I wanted to smack them right upside their heads.

To make matters worse, Maddie and Stubbs also get bullied in school. But not only by their peers, by their teachers! This was a lot of drama but it winds up coming around and as I said above in the end the drama all gets explained.

The end

I was just about crying from 80% on. At the end there were some serious tears wanting to be shed! I loved the way this ended!

In short: A little paranormal but not too out there. Definitely a mystery but even for a non-mystery fan like myself it can be enjoyed! Ya at its best!

Received by publisher for an honest review.
4.8/5

Note: I received a free eARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not paid to write this.

When by Victoria Laurie was extremely intriguing! Maddie has always been able to see the death dates of people. However, until her father’s death, she never knew what the numbers meant. The guilt drives Maddie’s mother into alcohol and nicotine addiction, which results in her losing her job. Maddie is then forced to read people’s death dates for money and ends up as the key suspect in the death of a teenager.

Maddie was the center of the story and the driving force in my interest. The story featured a great friendship, and Maddie also had the support of her attorney uncle and elderly neighbor. Surprisingly, there wasn’t much of a romance, which is generally one of the key aspects I need in a story, and it didn’t bother me at all. I loved how strong Maddie was as a character. As much as I argued some of her actions were not the right actions for her to take, I enjoyed watching her try to fight to prove her innocence and her friend’s as well. I loved her!

The law enforcement frustrated me a lot though. It was probably because of my career choice, but I seriously hated how Maddie was such a huge target in the case. She was wrongly accused for goodness sakes! As much as Agent Faraday frustrated me, I loved the character he turned out to be in the end. I think, as much as Maddie grew herself in the story, she also significantly influenced the ones around her as well.

All-in-all, When by Victoria Laurie was a page turner! I loved Maddie’s story and read it during the first few hours of my plane ride home. It really was a quick read. If you’re looking for a YA mystery with a strong female character that features a strong friendship, I highly suggest reading When. It may be just me, but I could totally read more about Maddie. When was definitely a complete story with no loose ends. I do believe there’s room for more about Maddie though. ;)

Now I ask, would you want to know your death date if you could?

I've been sitting here thinking, my mind playing over the narrative, my hands having nothing to do since closing the book When by Victoria Laurie nearly an hour ago, trying to figure out what I want to say about the story. Let me reassure you I won't be posting any of the dreaded *spoilers* because I prefer to dive into a book as blindly as possible and find the most delight when I have no idea where that story intends to lead me and therefore I attempt to allow you the same courtesy. For this reason of surprise and absolute blindness to the direction of the story I loved this novel. It's easy to see why Warner Brothers optioned the TV rights to this story. It's utterly compelling and a fascinating idea to explore.

I have been a fan of Victoria Laurie for many years now, ever since I first picked up Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye while working at Borders. In her tales I have always found incredibly vivid characters, so fully developed and so... human for lack of a better word, that they quickly become treasured friends. Laurie has led me through Hell and back as her characters endure trial after trial and are dragged through the ringer and back again and I wonder how they are going to get out of trouble this time! In When, lead character Maddie certainly has the deck stacked against her. As everything goes wrong and bad things happen at every turn, I found myself wondering if Maddie or anyone could survive in the face of such seemingly insurmountable odds. Laurie leads her through it though with grace, charm, and just a little bit of fiery determination. I see the growth and change in Maddie, and I love her for it.

The characters are what truly drive this story. The insecurities, the secrets, the friendships and passions. They aren't perfect, some are incredibly flawed, but that's why they resonated so much with me. They were people I knew. They were coworkers, friends, even strangers I pass on the street. They are so utterly human. For that reason I found myself needing to keep tissues handy as they grew beyond themselves and had moments of selflessness and clarity that changed them and gave them such a fragile humanity.

Anyone who reads the back of the book knows that Maddie sees the "deathdate" of anyone she sees. She can't ignore the numbers or escape them and that premise, I admit, drew me in. But this book is, like Maddie herself, so much more than her unique "gift". This book is about the challenges of high school, the struggle to fit in when you were born to stand out, the fragile friendships we share, and the friendships that run so deep that not even fate can break it. I pondered as I read if I would ask Maddie to share my "deathdate" with me, if I would want to have that knowledge. No. I don't think I could handle it. I prefer to spend each day living life to the fullest, hugging my loved ones close and being the absolute best me I can be. But how about you? Would you want to know your "deathdate"?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Maddie can see death dates and uses her ability to make enough money to support her alcoholic mother and herself. When one of Maddie's predictions places her in the lineup as a suspect, and another has a connection to her as well, Maddie has to convince the authorities that her only crime is being different before another person has to die.
The first half of this book was slow going for me. It was just full of despair, and I felt real fear for Maddie. It wasn't until the second half that I began to really enjoy the book because there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the main characters. I had no idea who the killer was until Maddie did, yet it was a believable twist, and I was impressed because I usually figure it out quickly, especially in YA suspense. The death dates were a concept I had never encountered before, and, though I usually like to understand why someone has a special ability, I was glad the author didn't come up with an explanation and just played it off as a wonder of the universe. There were interesting themes in this book that I think a YA crowd will respond to -- having to be the parent when your own parent falls short is a more common problem than most people probably realize. I thought the depiction of bullying was spot on. As much as I was frustrated by Maddie's lack of response, it was true to her character and to many victims of bullying. I liked the way the author chose to end the book, and I wasn't prepared for the final bit of serendipity, but I was pretty pleased when I turned the last page. I think my students will enjoy the book, and I am adding it to my classroom library wish list. The language and situations are appropriate for high school readers, and I plan to recommend it to students who enjoy Lisa McMann's Wake and Crash books as well as those who enjoy suspense with a little supernatural touch.

"If you could learn the date of your death, would you want to know?"

That is the premise of the YA novel, When, by Victoria Laurie. I was given an ARC by the author, and upon reading it, was not surprised to hear that this novel is being optioned for a tv show. Maddie is a young girl who has lived a rough life based on a "gift" she has had since she was little. She is able to see a person's date of death across their forehead. This has led to all sorts of challenges as she has felt helpless and guilty for the deaths of people she meets. However, her life takes a twisted turn when other teens and kids that she knows start to disappear and are later found murdered. Maddie becomes a prime suspect, along with her best friend Stubby, due to the fact that she attempted to warn these victims of their death dates.
The character of Maddie is one in which the reader can feel great empathy for. How many times has one tried to do the right thing, only to have it backfire on them? However, this does not stop Maddie from doing her best to help others with her gift, even if it means taking on the burden of guilt. Throughout the novel, Maddie is not believed, assaulted, and even accused of being a murderer. She watches her mother descend into alcoholism and her best friend locked up in jail. This does not stop Maddie from doing what she can to help catch a killer who seems to be obsessed with her. This character shows great strength in what she is forced to deal with in her young life.
I highly recommend this novel and enjoyed the twists and turns that Ms Laurie developed in the storyline. I have read other books by this author and am a fan. This novel is different from the other series written by Ms Laurie, but I also enjoyed it very much! There was great character development and an entertaining storyline.

Maddie can see dates. When she looks at people she sees a date imprinted on their forehead. Their death date. It wasn't until the death of her father that Maddie understood what the dates meant and now she carries the guilt of not understanding sooner. Reading people's dates is a job Maddie would rather not have, but her mother is happy for a bit of extra income. When Maddie reads for her next client, she predicts the quickly-approaching date of one of lady's children, and then becomes involved in a murder investigation when the boy disappears. The only problem is that she doesn't get to be some cool kid helping the police with her skills, but is the main suspect.

Overall, I enjoyed When, more so the last half and particularly the characters of Mrs Matsuda and one of the agents. The book is sweet, although that hardly seems the right word due to how many people are murdered or tortured, but it really was sweet. However, at first I struggled with the concept, a slightly different take on an idea that has been covered before, and in most cases very well done. I also found the writing style hard to connect with. When is written in a very juvenile tone and yet it is clearly a young adult novel. I also found Maddie and Stubs, her best friend, to be annoyingly stupid at times. However, about halfway through the book really picks up the pace and Maddie becomes more actively involved in trying to solve who the real killer is. I thought I had the real killer pegged early on, but was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Maddie looks at people she sees the date of their death on their forehead; if she’s more than a few feet away, it’s a blurry and not legible, but it’s always there. She can see it in pictures, too and of those who are alive and those who have already died. Her mother has been a drunk who can’t hold down a job since Maddie’s dad, a cop with the NYPD, was killed in the line of duty years ago. To make money, she makes Maddie do death date reading for people, kind of like those fortune telling psychics, except that Maddie’s the real deal.

When a client’s son, who Maddie sees in a picture and who is not the reason for the customer’s visit, has a death date of the following week, Maddie later tries to warn his mother, who threatens to call the police if she calls her again. When he goes missing, Maddie becomes the subject of an investigation by a couple of FBI agents. From there, as the old adage goes, anything that can go wrong for Maddie and her only real friend Stubs, does.

A couple of things I had a big problem with revolved around Maddie’s dad and his job, which resulted in the situation Maddie and her mom were in. First, Laurie kept referring to the Brooklyn PD; there is no Brooklyn PD, it’s all the NYPD. There are different units and divisions, but it’s never called the Brooklyn PD. Second, her family would’ve been receiving her dad’s pension, which likely would’ve been boosted because he probably would’ve been posthumously promoted to detective. There are also at least several organizations that may have helped them out financially. I understand that authors take liberties when writing a book, but these are all things that could’ve been found out quite easily, and it just seems that zero research went into that part of the story, and she could’ve found another way to have Maddie and her mom be in a financial bind.

If you’ve read any less than favorable reviews, other people thought some of the other things that happened were too far-fetched to be believed and you may be wondering why I didn’t have problems with that. Were the actions of the FBI agents and the principal a bit too over the top, at times? Kind of. Did what happen to Stubs go a little too far? Maybe. But for some reason, the way Laurie wrote it, it didn’t bother me. It seemed that just when I thought a character might go too far and get too cartoony, Laurie pulled them back, or made them get called out and punished for their actions.

I’ve read the author’s adult books and have liked them, but I think When is my favorite. The romance, of which there really wasn’t any, was more of a potential for romance that was brought up in very real and natural ways a couple of times in the book. It made me want to see more of the potential love interest and of Maddie and him together, but it would’ve seem forced and making me want more was perfect.

There were a few characters who I really did not like; Maddie’s mom needed a good crack upside the head. However, Laurie did something with a couple of characters that I absolutely love when an author pulls it off: she made me go from hating a couple of the characters to loving them. Two characters who were great right out of the gate were Maddie’s uncle and her elderly neighbor. It was so nice to see adults in a YA book who were nice, caring and actually involved; something that’s seriously lacking in a lot of YA books, to their detriment. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Grade: B+
This ARC was provided by Read Between the Lynes in exchange for an honest review.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Early into reading this book, I began making comparisons to The Naturals, which wasn't a bad thing. Obviously, nothing can quite live up to The Naturals in my opinion, but When attempted and succeeded. However, this book had one noticeable gap - a lack of female characters. The only ones that we see for more than one scene are Maddie (obviously), her mother, the grandmotherly neighbor Mrs. Duncan, and Stubs's mother. It may also bother some people that the science of Maddie's ability is never explained. However, that wasn't the focus. Maddie was quickly entangled in a string of murders and that's when I started making comparisons to The Naturals. The feds gets involved, obviously, and the killer has a creepy obsession with our protagonist. I'm not entirely sure if all the crime investigation stuff was accurate, but since I don't know better, I'll take it at face value. After all, this is fiction we're talking about.
I enjoyed the twists and trying to guess who the killer was. I had a pretty good idea at several points, but they turned out to just be red herrings. Also, Victoria Laurie made good use of artistic unity (a fancy term I learned in Intro to Lit last fall). I'm not sure how I felt about the ending of the book, but it wasn't bad.
Character-wise, I felt like Maddie's mother was a bit stereotypical (I've seen too many alcoholic single parents in YA lately). Having a father figure like Donny was great. We needed to see more of Aiden, though. He felt a bit shoehorned in at times. Both the main agents were given unexpected depth that I appreciated since they came off as cliches at the beginning.
Also, hey there's minimal romance, which was a breath of fresh air.
When was a violent book at times (although nowhere near as bad as The Naturals) and there were a few instances of foul language, including the s-word.

The Verdict: Definitely a fun, cool read. I love the idea of knowing death dates. It's an idea that I know was tossed around during a couple RBWL sessions and on Tumblr, and it's exciting to see books starting to use those ideas. If you enjoyed The Naturals and Prep School Confidential, I think you would probably like When.

Maddie grew up different than normal people. She grew up seeing a set of number above someone’s head. These numbers are apparently their death date. Only no one figured this out until her daddy passed away. This leads to her momma drinking too much and Maddie having to provide for the family. Maddie does this by reading the numbers for people. When she tells a socialite that her cancer ridden daughter will survive, the woman is internally grateful- that is until Maddie tells her that her healthy son will soon die. This eventually makes her the prime suspect in his murder investigation.

Maddie is surprisingly well-adjusted for someone who sees death dates. She is determined not to let her gift swallow her up whole like it did her momma. She keeps a journal of clients and dates that she sees to help ground her and relies heavily on her uncle and best friend.

Speaking of things getting tough oh boy do they ever as bodies begin to add up they are corresponding with dates in the journal. This leads to the FBI thinking that Maddie and her bestie have their own nefarious objectives. If only they could believe her. Can they work together to capture the serial killer or will the FBI try to pen the deaths on Maddie?

When is a suspenseful psycho thriller that has the reader guessing who done it until the very end. What is the serial killers end game? What motivates them? And for the love of all that is holy- why is all the evidence pointing to Maddie?

Overall, if you are looking for a book with a who done it kinda feel this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book with a who done it kinda feel and romance this is not the one for you. There is no romance in this one, there is a few references to a crush but that is about it. If you are looking for a book written in reality again this is not the one for you. Case in point- most states have an anti-bullying law on the books for schools to follow. Maddie is getting visibly bullied in front of her teachers and none of them do anything. This is against the law and the teachers would lose their certificate if this were to happen where I am.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “In this country you’re innocent until proven guilty.”

Other People
Uncle Donny- Daddy’s brother, also a lawyer
Stubs- male bestie, with a kind heart
Mrs. Duncan- nice neighbor lady, almost grandmotherly
Agent Faraday- FBI kinda a jerk

<a href="http://readingcave.blogspot.com/2015/03/review-when.html"> My Review</a>

I received When by Victoria Laurie from the publisher and this is my honest review.

By the time this book was downloaded to my kindle app I had completely forgotten what the concept of the story was. So, after reading the first chapter or two I was pleasantly surprised.
In the beginning we meet the main character Maddie who has a very special ability, and that is she can see a persons death date by simply looking at their forehead. The concept of this novel, is so refreshing compared to all the other overused YA subjects like vampires, werewolves, etc. A young teenager being able to read anyone and everyones death date is an interesting concept, and could make for a very well written story which Laurie has proved.

Maddie has had this ability ever since she could remember, and has used it to help people since the death of her father when she was younger. She felt that if she had warned her father of his date he would still be alive and well today. In the book, Maddie is living alone with her alcoholic mother doing anything she can to bring in money. For example she started a small business to read individuals death dates for them. But when one client comes in, everything goes very wrong.

I found myself not being able to stop reading this book from the minute I started it until the very last page. There were so many lovable thing incorporated into the book. For instance, Stubby had to be by far my favorite character. He was such an innocent kid, that every time something bad happened it upset me greatly. I felt for both Maddie and Stubby and was rooting for everything to end in their favor.

Another really lovable character by far was Mrs. Duncan, from the very beginning of the story all the way until the end she made sure that especially Maddie, her mother, and sometimes uncle Donny were well taken care of. Everything this sweet old lady did was amazing and I loved every time she had a part in the story.

Laurie did an amazing job ending the book. I was so into figuring out who was committing all the murders throughout the whole book. But let me just say I had no clue who it possibly could have been. I had a few hunches but I never suspected the person that it ended up being, when Maddie walked into her house and was attacked I almost yelled PLOT TWIST! I was so surprised.

In the end I am very glad I had the opportunity to read this book, I loved all the characters they all had huge parts and made the story interesting and fun to read. Maddie was a young but very strong girl dealing with a lot and I was rooting for her and her family to pull through the whole time. I am very satisfied with the ending.

So, we all have those moments of “what if I could ____” and Victoria Laurie takes it one step further by bringing us Maddie: a girl who CAN see things, more specifically the date that everyone she encounters will die. A little creepy, with plenty of fuel for thought this story is unique as a stand-alone, and from the perspective of a 15 year old girl.

Maddie is struggling with life as it presents to her: her father died when she was young, and her mother is embroiled in her own battles with alcoholism. The mother-daughter relationship was tackled head on, with a clear depiction of what Maddie deals with at home. Her best friend Stubby is supportive and a small break from the everyday hassles that seem to keep Maddie on the edge. But, her ‘gift’ is only a series of dates: she never knows the how. So when a disappearance happens, precisely on a day Maddie knew, there is a law enforcement scramble to get Maddie’s insight.

Slowly but surely Laurie increases the tension and plot of the story as it winds on. Maddie is longing to be wrong, to have made a mistake, but it appears that will be one wish that goes unfulfilled. Unusually for many teen reads, there is a romance that is briefly touched upon, but soon forgotten in the midst of other more pressing concerns.

Not a teen romance, this story is far deeper and more thought-provoking, with standout characters who are simply trying to be ‘normal’ in the face of impossible odds. While there are a few moments of ‘not quite right’ procedure with law enforcement, and a romance that was so briefly mentioned it could have been removed with no damage to the plot, this story was engaging and intriguing and sure to please readers from 12 – 17 without fail.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Maddie has a unique ability she can look at anyone in person or from a picture and see the day they will die in the form of a number on their forehead. As a child no one knew what the numbers meant but after her father’s death matched the numbers everyone knew she could see people’s deathdate. Her mother took the loss of her husband hard falling into alcohol so the only way Maddie could pay the bills was seeing clients and revealing to them the day they would die. When Mrs. Tibbolt show’s up for a consultation she’s asking about her daughter who has leukemia everything changes because it’s not the daughter but her son who has the deathdate just next week.

Trying to help the only way she knew how Maggie tells Mrs. Tibbolt the truth who doesn’t accept the truth and when Maggie calls to try and talk some sense into her Mrs. Tribbolt threatens the cops. It’s only after Mrs. Tibbolts son is found murdered that the cops start looking at Maddie as the possible murder and when they try to help a cheerleader who also ends up dead soon she and her best friend Stubs look just like the killers. Will Maddie be able to prove they are innocent or will they both end up in prison for murder’s they didn’t commit? Who is the real killer and how does he know Maddie?

I liked Maddie she’s an alright character I just didn’t connect with her she’s your shy quiet smart girl next door type who keeps to herself. Both her and her best friend are good kids with good hearts even putting themselves in the line of fire to save two people they didn’t know. We also have a good deal of seeing the FBI agents who work the case, Maddie’s uncle and mom and even a boy she has a crush on but none of them are important character to the story. The main focus is Maddie and she had so much potential as a character she just didn’t live up to it.

I’ve had this one on my TBR for a while after all I love the publisher so I knew it would be a good one. My book club group actually picked this one for our February read so a bunch of us had the chance to read it. I think the author had a great concept but I felt that the story was just weak, and maybe that’s because I just expected too much. I wanted more mystery and romance I think the little hinting of romance throughout the story wasn’t bad but I wanted to see Maddie get the guy. I also never saw it coming who the killer was we have several potential and I was shocked when I read who it was. Overall I liked When it’s an interesting idea I just didn’t love the way it played out. I actually finished When the day of book club. The author’s writing style was enjoyable the story just flowed along from page to page. This is my first book by the author but I’m curious to check out her other series. Would I read it again? No but I would recommend it to others because I think the concept was great just not my kind of book.

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting a whole lot when I started this book. I thought it sounded like an interesting story idea, but I wasn't sure how it would all come together. .. it came together very well! I was pleasantly surprised by the story and characters and once I started, I could not stop reading!

When centres around Maddie, a young girl with the ability to see people's 'death dates'; the day they are going to die. This leads to all sorts of trouble when a boy whose death date she predicted turns up murdered and Maddie becomes the lead suspect in his murder investigation.

The mystery and characters in When are just fantastic! Everyone has their own depth and story and each character has their own voice. And there were so many different connections and cross-overs between events and characters which made the story all the more enjoyable. Now, as for the mystery.. that was just really clever. I thought I had everything figured out then another piece of evidence would turn up, or something else would be uncovered and I would change my mind, still completely sure I had it right. I didn't. This story led me on a merry chase and I loved that things were never as straight forward as they seemed. I love a book that throws surprises my way and always keeps me guessing, and When definitely delivered on that front!

When is a really compelling read. Victoria Laurie did a fantastic job of crafting an emotional, page-turning read, with a thrilling mystery plot that always kept me guessing. This is a great read for mystery lovers, and for anyone who enjoys compelling YA stories!

*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review*

I choose this book to read because I love mysteries and this was a fun one to read. I didn't see the ending coming, which is always excellent when an author can do that to me. I loved the premise of seeing death dates and enjoyed reading how Maddie dealt with this gift/burden.

What I didn't enjoy so much was how long it took Maddie to prove her ability to the authorities. But this didn't stop me from enjoying the book overall. The very end of the book wrapped up the loose ends and left me feeling hopeful, which after the darkness of the mystery was more than satisfactory.

When is the new novel from author Victoria Laurie. If you’re looking for a new young adult novel that’s heavy on the mystery, then I would highly recommend picking this one up!

Maddie Flynn has not had an easy life. Born with a strange ability to see the date that everyone is going to die, she has an incredible burden placed upon her. Does she tell people, does she not tell people? With an alcoholic for a mother and a father who died when she was young, Maddie starts reading people’s death dates for a little extra cash to get by. But when the son of one of her clients gets murdered, Maddie suddenly finds herself the main suspect in an FBI investigation.

I really enjoyed this book, and a lot of it has to do with Maddie. She has so much going on in her life, and I just feel so bad for her. She blames herself for her father’s death, for not figuring out what the numbers meant before it was too late, she has a mother who can’t seem to let go of the vodka bottle, and now she’s being blamed for a string of murders when all she wants to do is help people. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how terrible it would be to know when everyone you meet is going to die. It could really help some people, and it definitely does, but there are others who don’t want to know and then you have this knowledge just bottled up inside of you all the time.

The side characters were all great as well. Stubby, Maddie’s best friend, is a pretty lovable goofball, and a complete sweetheart. And possible one of my favorite things about his and Maddie’s friendship is that it was just that: a friendship. I love seeing really strong friendships, especially between men and women, because I don’t think we have enough of that in novels. But Maddie and Stubby are best friends, with no romantic feelings coming from either end. Maddie’s uncle was another character I really enjoyed. He was 100% looking out for Maddie and had her best interests at heart the whole time, which she really needed, since she wasn’t getting much support from her mother.

I really liked the premise of this book; it was something that I don’t think I’ve seen before. It was well written, and I was constantly trying to figure out who the real killer was, and I still didn’t get it right in the end. The only real complaint that I have is that there were a few jumps in time that I would have liked to have actually written out. There are also some weird character development type things that happen later in the novel that don’t really sit right with me.

All of that being said, I’m giving When 4 out of 5 controllers. It’s a fresh, new idea with a lovable main character. The writing is well done; it’s a great story that keeps you guessing throughout the whole thing, just a really well done book that I enjoyed quite a lot.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Reviewer: Ariel

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
I have to say this is one of the best books for me as far as being a YA. It was way different than I have read before. You have a young girl named Maddie who since she was born saw numbers above people's head but never knew what they meant until later on. That is when learns they are death dates. Which I have to say is pretty cool. I think it would be neat to know when other's would be passing on or when I would be.
But anyway on to the rest of the review.
Maddie is a character that is very likable and you can feel the guilt she has when her father died even though it was not her fault. She also seems very grown up being as she has to go to school and try to take care of her mother who has turned into an alcoholic. Kind of sad I know. Not only that because of what she can see people at school bully her and I am glad that it was finally resolved but it was tough reading about Maddie being treated differently.

When Maddie gives a reading to a mother and then lets her know that something bad would be happening to her son, that is when the real trouble starts for Maddie. She is on a suspects list along with her best friend Stubby. Now Maddie has to prove with the help from her uncle who is a lawyer that she and Stubby are innocent, but will it be enough before more kids are in danger? Or will Maddie and Stubby be the ones who are convicted?
Now I would say there is romance but it is more along the lines of a big crush for Maddie but it doesn't take away from the story.

I can honestly say when I found out the who dun it part I was very very surprised because I totally didn't even see it coming and that is what I enjoyed. I like to be kept guessing until the very very end and this book did it for me.

I plan on keeping my eye on this author I like her writing style and the way she can keep you wanting to read more.

Could you imagine if every time you looked at someone you could see the date they will die!! Well that's what Maddie sees. Every time she looks at someone she sees their death date and it never changes. She can even see the dates on a picture. When her father passes, her mother starts drinking and its up to Maddie to look after her. Her mother gets her to "read" for people and tell them their dates if they ask. One day at a normal reading a mother ask Maddie to read for her sick daughter. Maddie does but as the mother is putting away the picture Maddie catches a glance of the womans' son. She grabs the picture and cant help but tell the mother that the little boys date is next week. The woman gets angry and calls her a fraud. Maddie tells her best friend Stubby about the reading and they try once more to tell the woman that her son is in danger. The woman takes it as a treat and threatens to call the police.

The next week Maddie sees on the news that the little boy is dead and feels terrible sadness. She goes to school only to be called to the principles office soon after. She arrives and is introduced to 2 FBI agents. From that moment on Maddie and Stubbys life is thrown into turmoil. Both of them are the main suspect in the killings and Maddie knows she needs to tell them of her gift, but will this just make it worse??

I absolutely loved this book! When I first read the synopsis I was sufficiently intrigued enough to add it to my list and I was so happy when I got an advanced copy to review. Well I flew through When and devoured it.

I loved Maddie. Her story broke my heart. Her dad is dead and her mother an alcoholic and she is left to be the adult. Its hard enough to deal with knowing when everyone is going to die, but to do it for money is so hard for her. She feels overwhelmed and upset so much that her only release is to write the death dates down in her diary. Every single person in her school thinks she is a freak except for her friend Stubby. He is her rock through everything. Maddie is a quiet, kind and nice girl. She is sensible, determined and loyal and I loved her character.

I loved the idea of When as well. The idea of seeing everyones death date is frightening but intriguing also. I don't know if I'd want to know when mine would be but in a way I'd also like to know so that I was prepared. Poor Maddie has a hard thing to live with and I don't envy her because she is bullied because of it, both from kids and adults.

Overall When was a suspenseful and intriguing read. It hooked me from the start and I flew through the pages eager to see what happened next. I think at one stage or another I suspected every character, including the FBI! I loved the little twist at the end and didn't see it coming. From the well written characters to the tense plot When is a must read and one that I've no problem recommending to everyone.

When was so freaking good! Maddie can see deathdates. When she was little, she didn’t know what it was. She just saw numbers floating around people’s heads. It isn’t until her father dies that she and her mother realize what she can do. Now, Maddie is sixteen and taking care of her alcoholic mother, while working as a “psychic.” At least until one woman gets extremely upset with Maddie’s prediction about her son, and then points the cops in her direction when his body turns up a week later.

I could not put When down! The mystery is 100% engaging and addicting. The action picks up right away as Maddie and her best friend, Stubby, are accused of killing that boy, and then another girl whom Stubby has a crush on turns up dead on her birthday. The evidence was really damning against them. Maddie can’t exactly explain how she knows what she knows, and it’s hard to prove, especially when someone is so sure she’s a cold-blooded killer rather than a girl with a special ability. Things just keep getting worse and worse for her, and yet, she’s still trying to help those whose dates are close. She’s convinced they can be changed if she warns them in time.

I never figured out who the real murderer was in When. There are plenty of suspicious characters around, but I never guessed them. When it all came out, I was like WTF?! People can be sooo sick and disturbed. That final confrontation was intense, because seriously, they are messed up in the head. But my favorite part was all of the little details that seemed unimportant and then all of a sudden BOOM! Awesome. And that epilogue and final page were so cute! It gave me all kinds of tingly feelings!

When is great. That’s all there is to it. Maddie was an amazing protagonist. She’s honest, sweet, and caring, but can also get feisty when she needs to. The mystery was dark and awesome. The conclusion was eerie and awesome. The non-romance was supremely adorable! Just read it!

*Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for review. No compensation was offered or accepted.

Suspenseful, dark and intriguing. When has the right elixir for a twisted thriller with a supernatural spark, and I like what Ms. Laurie cooked up for her readers.

I read the synopsis after finishing the story, and even though Maddie faces a lot of problems due to her ability, I disagree with it being called a curse. If any thing, it's a gift to provide people with more time, whether they want to make amends or plan ahead. Maddie's ability had me thinking a lot too. Like, if I'd want to know and what I would do if I should find out. It was an interesting concept that I hadn't read before--or maybe I don't remember--and I was curious from start as to how the story would unravel, as well as how Maddie would develop by the end.

The writing is good; very fast-paced and engaging. I wasn't bored at all. But I must say that there were times I was frustrated with Maddie. However, living with her mother's disease and reading how badly losing her dad had affected them, I could understand her feelings more.

Donny was great. He was the most involved uncle I'd ever read in a book. I liked how much he believed in his niece and how he fought for her. No matter if she would explode on him or if Maddie's mom got under his skin with her problems, Donny never turned his back on them. Aside from him, Maddie and her mom, I really liked Mrs. Duncan. Like Donny, she was so caring and thoughtful of Maddie's well being. I loved her character and truly felt it when her date approached.

Those were the main characters that grabbed me. As for Stubby (don't like the name too much), honestly, I couldn't connect with him. He seemed so rash and impulsive, but yeah, he still brought the humor to the story. There just wasn't enough about his character to pull me in, and I wasn't moved enough to sympathize with him during those hard times.

Overall, When is an interesting story, and I'm sure the addition of that supernatural aspect along with the mystery was a great idea. It definitely held my attention, so if you're a fan of such a combination you'll like this one.

3.5
I wanted to read When because the concept of Maddie seeing the death dates really intrigued me. I am not always all over the murder mystery types but with that extra element it did grab my attention.

Maddie is a character easy to sympathize with. She sees death every time she looks at people, even a picture. From a young child she saw these numbers, and realized what it meant when her dad passed on the number, date, she'd always seen attached to him. With this, Maddie has a dilema if she should tell people about their death dates, but her mom has nudged her into it because while they have checks coming in from a wrongful death suit, her mom drinks, a lot, and that money comes from Maddie's clients as they call them, who pay for Maddie to tell them their dates.

When she tries to warn the family of a death date and that person ends up dead, she is all of the sudden in the spotlight of the FBI who looks into the disappearance and then the murder and torture of the one she tried to warn. With all eyes on her, suspicious that she did it, or had involvement in the death, her lawyer uncle tells her not to tell any more death dates. Which is understandable. But of course, another new number comes around, and she waivers on if she should warn them. She is already being questioned, she's had several bad experiences with people not believing her, and she feels guilt over her dad, and the dead teen, and she doesn't want to add to that.

I like the friendship that was spotlighted. She's been friends with the awkward but totally golden hearted Stubby (oh how I loathed that nickname-- but we can't have it all).

It was wrapped up well and my questions were answered. I would read another Laurie book again.

Bottom Line: Solid mystery, and liked the main character.

Could you imagine reading someone's death date? Can you imagine knowing when someone is going to die? Those are 2 questions that probably never pop up into a person's head. This story revolves around 1 girl named Maddie Fynn she is a high schooler and she sees the death dates on everybody's foreheads. She doesn't know how they will die. Just knows the dates. I believe that is kinda spooky. She has always been able to see the dates on their heads. But never seen a date where a person is going to die really soon. Then when the first person is murdered, she freaks out. The Feds start suspecting her and her bff of being the murderer. She goes through alot in this story not only in the investigation but also at home.

I just couldn't imagine what someone would go through like that. Maddie's story broke my heart. She is such a strong person.
The mystery and the suspense to this story, was just overwhelming and amazing. This story is so fast-paced, so incredible. It opens your eyes to different aspects that could happen in someone's life if someone could actually see something like this. I love how this author came up with a story like this. It is so original, no other author I have read has came up with a story-line like this.
I gave it 4.5 stars because I didn't get into like other 5 star books. I enjoyed immensely but there are other stories I enjoyed so much more.
But YES you should definately read this story. Its a MUST READ, FAST-PACED, MYSTERY, YA. LOVED IT.

Imagine if you spent your whole life knowing the death date of every single person you encounter. What would you do?

In WHEN, Maddie Flynn is a bright high school student who is in that position and isn’t quite sure what to do with her talent. Only her mother, her uncle and her best friend believe that Maddie knows when people will pass on, which allows her to live in a relatively normal fashion. She goes to school, hangs out with her best friend, Stubby, and takes care of her alcoholic mother. Occasionally, she tells the future to a few paying clients.

One day, the son of one of Maddie's clients is murdered and Maddie is blamed. The police think that because she knew the date of the boy's eminent death, she must be the murderer. Suddenly Maddie and Stubby are thrown into the spotlight and struggle to maintain their innocence.

Victoria Laurie did a wonderful job creating an intriguing and unusual story. After finishing WHEN, I considered what I would do if I was in Maddie's position. I had no idea what was coming each time I turned the page; Laurie kept me on my toes until the end.

Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes quite violent. Although most of the book was appropriate for most teenagers, the conclusion of the story is really shocking. I wouldn't suggest this book to anyone under the age of 16 or to anyone who is sensitive to violence.

Reviewed by Aliza M.

I would categorize When as a Paranormal Young Adult novel. The paranormal aspect being that the protagonist, Maddie, sees death dates written in number form across a person's forehead. I was intrigued by that premise and curious how the story would take shape. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. I found When to be a fully engrossing, interesting and entertaining novel.

Maddie Flynn is a great protagonist. She's a sixteen year old girl, one who is kindhearted, smart and a loyal friend. She lives alone with her alcoholic Mom. A Mom, who makes money by using her daughter's ability to read death dates. Maddie copes with a less than ideal home life. She keeps to herself, with the exception of her best friend Stubby, and gets good grades in school.

Rumors have surrounded Maddie since she was a young girl. She is often ridiculed by her peers, but it gets worse when the FBI question Maddie in relation to a Murder. The victim being a boy who's death date she had predicted. Thus begins the story...

I really liked When. It is an evenly paced story that caught and held my attention from the very first page. It is written with depth and emotion. At the heart of it all is Maddie and those she interacts with. The characters are realistic and the story fascinating. The mystery keeps you guessing and the characters have you hoping for a happy ending. I won't tell you what happens, but I will say that the story left me with a smile on my face.

I would recommend When to fans of Young Adult novels with a paranormal twist.

*ARC (Advanced Review Copy) received from the publisher, Disney Book Group-Hyperion, via NetGalley.

I realize the target audience is the 7th through 12th grade, but as an adult, I enjoyed this read. I was not so sure at the beginning but just a few pages in, I was unable to put the book down. Put everything on hold and just read the entire book cover to cover. Knowledge is a tremendous responsibility and how to apply that information can draw negative attention for a teenager. As with another reviewer, I agree at one section regarding proof to Law Enforcement, when I was thinking, just stand up and do this (which the character did later in the book anyway). Or question why the character, at a diffucult portion of the book, when odds are stacked against her, didn't just yell with frustration at her mom that she needed her to be a mom and help her through this situation. Obviously, I need to learn patience with story-telling.
Emphasis on being an outsider / awkward / young teen with only one truly great friend. Some bullying aspects that kids in schools all over face every day even without a "gift". Touches upon how the school system too often, turns a blind eye and does nothing.
Victoria Laurie is a brilliant and creative writer and I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed the pace, the writing style, the story line. Original and excellent. Will look for more titles by this author.
My review is based on an "uncorrected Advance Proof", original title "Death Date (her days are numbered)", same cover photo, at my library (available to staff/volunteers, but not the general public). I will have to wait for the "When" issue to see what changes were made to the story line.

Here's the crazy thing about this book: the description, although solid, doesn't do it justice. It's even better than it sounds. It's full of heart and pathos while still managing to incorporate some action and romance; there's something for everyone. My heart broke for Maddie as she struggled to come to terms with her mom's alcoholism; it raced as she strove to help the FBI find the murderer in time; and it soared in the final scene as she finally revealed her own deathdate and its significance.

I flew through this book. I couldn't believe that I hadn't read it sooner, especially since I've loved every title by Hyperion that I've picked up. I never thought I'd have a favorite publisher, but I think I've found mine! I guess I should have known. I mean, I love Disney, right? So why wouldn't I love stuff put out there by Disney Books Group?

The only criticism I can find for this book (other than that the main character calls her mother "Ma," which always makes me think of Danny Castellano) is that it might be a little too happily-ever-after for some readers. I didn't mind it, though; in fact, I think the book ended in such a sweet, satisfying way that for once a happy ending didn't feel contrived.

All in all: Innovative and engaging. As far as this book is concerned, my only regret is that I didn't pick it up sooner.

Note: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

I really liked the idea of this book, about a main character that has a really creepy paranormal gift...I'm in!.

Maddie is a young girl and all her life she had been able to see the date on which a person is going to die, so that's why her mother has recently decided to profit from her "gift" and charge for telling their death date to clients. And everything is going well until she tells a client the date of death of her son, which is within a week, so the client gets upset and she has an argument with Maddie because she's trying to convince her that what she's saying is the truth .. .that her son will die soon; so when a week later her son disappears, Maddie becomes the prime suspect.

There are a couple of pretty irksome FBI agents, they're almost certain that Maddie is responsible for the boy's death and are constantly harassing her. So when someone else dies in a similar way to the boy and said victim is someone Maddie knows, she's in a bigger problem.

Maddie is a good character and I really I liked her best friend Stubby, because he believes in her gift, is a really good friend and wholeheartedly supports her. But for those that like romance in the books, there wasn’t any romance in it.

Overall, When is a good thriller where you're never sure, who is the killer, because at some point of the story I had my doubts of several characters and it also has some interesting plot twists. It has a good ending with the loose ends all tied up. I really enjoyed it!

Maddie has seen death dates on people's foreheads for as long as she can remember. It's an odd talent, but I'm not sure if that would be more of a blessing or a curse. Since Maddie doesn't know how the person will die, just the date, I got the impression that Maddie views it as more of a curse.

When the son of a client disappears on his death date, the FBI gets involved. Suspicious of Maddie's so-called ability, she is viewed as a suspect when more teens start to disappear. Torn between her uncle's request to stop telling people their dates and her mother's need for the cash, Maddie just wants the murders to stop.

Things go from bad to worse when they try to warn her BFF's new crush of her rapidly approaching death date. Unsure if a person's death date can actually change, Maddie and Stubby can't simply sit by and do nothing. When the girl disappears, Maddie and BFF Stubby find themselves accused.

Really enjoyed this story, and loved Maddie! She's in a tough spot, but does her best with what she has. I was more than a little annoyed at her mother for using Maddie's talent in a somewhat cheesy way, but more so for basically giving up when her husband died. No child should be forced to take care of their parent. especially when the parent becomes an alcoholic.

The ending of this one took me a little by surprise, as I didn't see it coming. Was satisfied with how things played out, and enjoyed the nice little twist at the end. Well worth reading!

I struggled with rating this one. On one hand, I couldn't put this book down. I love getting lost in a great mystery and this one had me guessing whodunit all the way through. It's a stand-alone, too! That's great for a brain like mine because now I don't have to remember who did what, when. I got closure on the story and was left wanting more. There's great potential to continue Maddie's story with different storylines. I'd read more for sure! Quick read that had me enthralled an entire afternoon.

On the other hand, the pacing was slow for my taste. I feel like there were complete scenes that could have and should have been cut. Predictable subplot lines, inconsistent characters and in the case of Maddie's mom, characters that just seemed pointless, rubbed me the wrong way Better editing was needed all over, really. Keep in mind that I read an ARC so maybe things improve in the final print, but the inconsistencies in this version had an overall negative impact on my reading experience. I seriously considered DNF-ing this at about 35% in. But I'm glad I didn't. It was the perfect follow up to a very serious book that I had completed right before it.

In the end, the thrill of the story won out over the items that irritated me making this a recommended read. The action packed climax and the fact that I was left guessing about the killer made this a win for me. Perfect read for fans of paranormal thrillers in a contemporary setting.

What can I say about this awesome book by one of my fav authors, Victoria Laurie? A lot, actually!!! She is an author that I go out of my way to know about new releases & add to my calendar to pick them up on the day they’re released. Luckily, this book was provided as an ARC by the author herself so I didn’t have to go to extreme measures to stake out my local Barnes & Noble Bookstore!

I love her other two series & the Paranormal genre is right up my alley! “When” is a definite page-turner! I should have timed myself, but I’m pretty sure I finished it within 2 days. I love books that grab me like that & “When” definitely did! I loved the premise of the book & had never seen anything exactly like it before so it was very exciting to learn more about another side of someone’s unique psychic abilities.

The character of Maddie was well developed, relatable & I liked her a lot. The storyline was gripping & I was not expecting her to be pulled into a more serious FBI investigation but I loved it!

I really hope that Victoria Laurie has plans for future books & makes this a series because I will definitely be one of the first in line to grab it off the shelves!

I was provided an ARC for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect from "When" by Victoria Laurie. I never heard of the author till this point. Although this is my first book from Laurie, it will not be my last.

Normally I am not a fan of mystery novels. Somebody dies and then the rest of the book is figuring out who did it. I have to say that I might want to check out mystery novels after reading "When" by Victoria Laurie. Okay so the premise of this book is a girl, Maddie, who can read your deathdate (the day that you will die) on your forehead. Considered strange and an outcast at school Maddie has just one friend, Stubby. Everything seems to be going okay in Maddie's life, as okay as it can be reading deathdates and having an alcoholic mother, until young people start showing up murdered. Filled with twists and turns, murder, mystery, and of course some romance. I loved every minute of this book!

Some of my favorite quotes:
-How come I can see the exact date that someone will die, but nothing else about the how, where, or even why?

-There was a secret I'd kept to myself about Aiden's deathdate and why it'd felt like magic when I first seen the beautiful boy with 7-6-2084 on his forehead...It's the day after mine.

My Thoughts: When I read this novel, it was titled Death Date. I’m not sure if it went through a title change or not! I think it might go through a cover change too (I'm reviewing it early).

I really liked this one! I loved Maddie Fynn. She was such a remarkable and caring girl! And very unique!

Maddie can see people’s death dates. They hover around their heads. She can see them in person and in photos! Pretty awesome, right? Maddie lives with her mother and she does this little stunt as a side job to earn extra cash!

Maddie also has a best friend named Stubby. Stubby was a neat character. I liked him. There was also a boy named Aiden who Maddie had her eye on.

When Maddie learns of a client’s kid dying, things go haywire and the client somewhat blames her. This puts the FBI on her trail and they look to her and Stubby for the crime. Things are too linked to them for her to have nothing to do with it! And then more kids start dying and things go nuts!

Overall: I really enjoyed this one! I thought the story flowed nicely. The characters were intriguing and the plot was interesting! And I really enjoyed the last few pages!

Cover: Like it! I’d probably pick it up in the bookstore to see what its about.

What I’d Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
___________
Taken From Princess Bookie

When I first got this book, I did not know what to expect, but having read it, I enjoyed it and it was a good story. I have not come across a story with this plot yet and it was very interesting to read. This book is about Maddie, she can see the date that you are going to die. She has seen the death date on people ever since she was little. Maddie lives in New York with her mother who has an alcohol problem. Her father was killed when she was young, so they are low on money. To make money Maddie’s mom makes her do readings, she will tell the client when they or a loved one is going to die. When someone turns up dead the next week Maddie is accused of killing them. Throughout the book Maddie has to prove herself and her best friend innocent while trying to not be killed by the real killer. I found this book to be a good, easy, and fast read. I would recommend this book to you if you like Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez or Clarity by Kim Harrington.

I loved this book! I'm not a fast reader as I usually have so many other distractions to get in my way but I had a hard time putting this teen thriller down. Maddie is a very likable protagonist. Life isn't all that easier for her, though. She has a dead father, an alcoholic mother, and the unnatural ability to see when a person will die.

While we never quite get an explanation for why she has this ability, other than "she was born with it", the story is so well written (as a middle grade/YA novel) that you are able to accept the idea that Maddie has this ability and may be the only person in the world with it.

I haven't read very many YA thrillers, let alone thrillers with a paranormal twist, but I loved this one. The story pulled me along as each victim was discovered and as Maddie faced some very difficult choices in her own life.

I highly recommend, When, for adults and children (12 and up). And while the storyline may not be right for more sensitive tweens/teens, the lack (wonderfully so) of any sexual situations make it a great choice for even the youngest tween.

*I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (And I'm glad I did because otherwise I might not have picked this book up and I loved it.)

A mix between Death Note's Shinigami Eyes and Nancy Drew, and you have When.
It was fast-paced, not too violent or gritty, and had very nice prose. I enjoyed it and like not having to think much. I was surprised at the end.
However, characters in mystery novels are always the clueless, can't-think-outside-the-box type, so they don't solve the mystery in the first chapter. Maddie is very fearfully shy and dense. Like any typical YA mystery protagonist. Some times her cluelessness is downright painful. However, she was sweet and honest. Honesty in a YA novel is refreshing. She wasn't trying to hide everything from the adults in her life, and I loved the relationship between her uncle and herself.
The effect of her being able to see dates changes at one point, and breaks all its own rules. That irritated me. I also wished the murderer had been a different person, as I felt like a darker twist would've been interesting. Would've loved more time spent on the murderer's motivations.
However, besides that, I greatly enjoyed it and am happy to have the book on my bookshelf.

Why you should read it: I'm fascinated with the idea behind When … I mean, would it be better or worse to know when you're going to die? Not just the exact year, but the exact date? Maddie is a very realistic and relatable heroine. I felt for her, for her home life, her social life and especially when she's one of the lead suspects in a homicide of the boy she told a death date to. There's so much backstory that she feels complete, and I was right beside her as she fought the injustice of having the finger pointed at her and the struggles of just being innocent. The mystery/thriller aspect of the story is superb as well. I was just so sure the murderer was one of three people, and I was wrong on all accounts. The murderer is believable, though, and while I won't spoil it, it does raise questions about ethics that just blew me away. The romance is very much on the backburner and is just hinted at. The sweetest thing by far, though, was reading the dedication and then the last page. It melted my heart. If you're looking for a really fast-paced thriller with a hint of sweetness and a perfect heroine, I'd pick up When.

To see what Victoria has to say about death dates head over to the HEA blog!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC(advanced reading copy) of this novel a few weeks ago from Ms Laurie and right off the bat I'm going to tell you that I felt it was the best book Victoria Laurie has ever written. I am a devout fan of the PSYCHIC EYE series and of the GHOST HUNTER series, but WHEN really takes the cake.

It starts out introducing Maddie as a little girl. Maddie can see everyone's death date, and as you can imagine, it's terribly hard on her because she doesn't think she can change anyone's date. Early on in the book, we find out that her father dies, her mom becomes an alcoholic, and Maddie starts eking out a living by telling people their dates(a la psychics) to pay the bills. Eventually, being able to see people's dates catches up to her and she and her friend become main suspects in two murders. I won't tell anymore... only that you should read it for yourself!!

WHEN is fast paced, slick, and entertaining. I couldn't put my copy down and read it all in one sitting. I hope Victoria Laurie will write more YA novels!! I will be the first one in line to buy any future books!

I'm pretty impressed with this book as a whole. Maddie is a girl with an ability to see death dates, but the paranormal aspect of the book ends there. Victoria Laurie made the perfect recipe with this book. She used a pinch of supernatural ability, threw it into a realistic world and then stirred in a mystery. Her book came out as a captivating page turner with an unexpected ending.

Let me talk about that for a second. I read in a couple reviews that the ending wasn't expected. So I spent the entire book trying to guess the murderer. I accused everyone in my head! But I humbly say that I could not solve the mystery until maybe 10 pages before it was revealed. I'm pretty disappointed in my skills as a super-sleuth, but very impressed with Victoria Laurie.

The only reason that this is getting four stars instead of five is because there were a few points in the story where it lagged a little. For most of the story I didn't want to put the book down, but there were times where I wanted it to move a little faster.

When I was about halfway through this book, I likened it to an episode of CSI. I now must upgrade my analogy to say that it was more like an episode of Bones - not nearly as cheesy, but still a feel-good (as much as you can be with a murder mystery), heart pounding sort of thing. There were some parts that I had to raise an eyebrow at, but ultimately I truly enjoyed When and I could not put it down at all! I even turned off Orphan Black so I could race through that last 30% - and that's saying something.

When had a lot less paranormal to it than I was expecting; besides the "I can see when you'll die" thing, it read like a contemporary book all the way. And in contemporary books, I really look for the characters and how they're developed, which is where my primary issue is rooted. I felt like, while they all had great foundations, most of the characters could have been a bit more complex. A good portion of them fell into very familiar archetypes - which wasn't awful, since I liked most of them. But Stubby, Maddie's best friend, did not impress me. I'm pretty sure if he wasn't there it'd have been 4.5 stars for me. BUT! I ignored him, and just focused on the plot.

AND THAT PLOT. I didn't know it was going to be such a whodunnit sort of thing, but I was really surprised to find that I enjoyed it. And by enjoyed it I mean I was totally invested and Veronica had to yell at me because I was ignoring my phone. I had my theories, but as usual I was totally off on the real culprit. I did not see that one coming, to be honest. The killer had a little monologue scene that I thought was a bit unnecessary, but it did help fill in all the "why"s and details that couldn't have been included any other way.

But I really loved that ending, to be honest. It earned another star from me, just because it was so engrossing. If I were being critical, I'd give it three for the bits that bothered me, but as we all know I'm pretty forgiving most of the time. So as long as I'm entertained, it's a good book in my opinion, and When fell right in that category!

Okay but the last scene? Had me squeeing so hard. I ship it like nobody's business. (Not saying names - it's a spoiler!) But I loved that peoples' death dates could change. I'm a firm believer in the fact that our choices determine our futures, and if you're on one path, a single moment could set you onto another. I've got to give kudos to Laurie for that!

So while When wasn't perfect, it's still awesome, and perfect if you're looking for a murder mystery with a wee bit of romance, and a girl with an incredible/difficult gift.

*I received a free ARC for an honest review*
Original, calculating and captivating...'When' is a literary cornucopia of friendship, bullying, mystery, suspense and the trials of being uniquely' gifted. As told through Maddie Fynn, who can see the death dates of everyone she comes into contact with, this richly woven story takes you through her awkward teenage life, and tests the lengths she'll go for both friendship and responsibility. As her 'sight' leads Maddie and her best friend into the middle of a murder investigation, everyone becomes suspect. The twists and turns Victoria Laurie takes you on throughout Maddie's story are purposeful, intelligent and touching. With an eventual closure that is both rational and electrifying, Laurie brings the events full circle and leaves you feeling satisfied and hopeful, and wishing for more! I could not put this riveting book down. If there is only one book you're to read this year, the date is January 13, 2015, and 'When' has to be it!

Victoria Laurie spins a wonderful tale of teen angst. Her protagonist, Maddie Fynn, represents a strong female character with a special gift, much like her other protagonists Abby Cooper from her Psychic Eye mysteries and MJ Holliday in the Ghost Hunter series. Though written for the YA audience, Maddie’s strength and courage rings true for those of us well past our YA years.

Born with the ability to see numbers on the foreheads of everyone she meets, Maddie knows when a person is going to die simply by looking at them. No matter what she tries, Maddie cannot seem to influence the dates.

Maddie Fynn is a sixteen-year-old girl who’s mother is an alcoholic who depends on Maddie to use her “gift” to supplement the family’s income. Maddie’s clients come to her to find out their death date or the death dates of their loved ones. Maddie has predicted a boy would die, and he goes missing, and she is later accused of the crime when other teens also go missing, too.

An outsider because of what she can do, she is now considered an outcast at her school and the recipient of bullying. Two FBI agents are convinced she is guilty and work hard to prove it. As she struggles to prove both her and her best friend’s innocence, as well as take care of her alcoholic mother, she wonders if she will be able to save the lives of those around her, as well as herself? Will her ability truly become a gift?

Maddie has the ability to see death dates floating above people’s heads. When she notices a couple of kids with death dates coming very soon, she and her friend Stubbs attempt to intervene and somehow change events. Unfortunately, they fail and the kids soon become murder victims. Maddie and Stubbs are quickly singled out as suspects, and Maddie has to solve the mystery while enduring a hellish personal life.

The paranormal element of being able to see death dates is creative and novel, but this story is mostly a whodunit murder mystery. It’s not bad. The story is well plotted and moves along a brisk pace—no boring slow spots. Like most murder mysteries, the author introduces a number of potential suspects along the way to keep us guessing who the bad guy is. When the big reveal comes at the end, it is a surprise. There is a very slight romantic element to the story, but not much. A little more might have made this a stronger read.

Can you imagine knowing the exact day your loved ones will die years before it happens? With one look you could see the date and yet have no idea of the how or why. What a burden! How eery!

When is a credible story. Truly. Victoria Laurie has written a tale in which I could easily suspend my disbelief and become engrossed in its unfolding. The plot consistently pitted red herrings against the culprit leaving doubt and certainty to dance around the perimeter of the story.

The characters are well-developed and easy to identify with, even Maddie who possesses this strange ability. They are everyday people experiencing extraordinary events, sometimes reacting badly and other times being their regular old nasty selves. I became emotionally invested in the main characters with ease, however no one gained my full trust until the climax.

When is a great young adult novel and a superb thriller. I highly recommend it.

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Disney Book Group and NetGalley.)

This was an interesting story about a girl with a paranormal skill.

Maddie was a sweet girl and I felt really sorry for her when she was accused of being involved in a child’s murder. She really didn’t deserve the treatment that she received from both the FBI and her classmates, and it really wasn’t fair on her.

The storyline in this was pretty good, although I did find it a little predictable in places. The pace was a little slow for me because I wanted to know what would happen, but overall the story was good.
There wasn’t really any romance in this one, but the story didn’t suffer because of it.

The ending was pretty good, and I liked the way that things worked out. I was glad that Maddie got a happy ending.
Overall; good paranormal YA,
7 out of 10.

wish for more stars as that is how much I enjoyed this book. I have been so off reading with the same dread formula boy meets girl,angst then either another comes into play and she must choose,well you get it.Formulas are for people with less imagination that Victoria Laurie and she has done it again with When. Lots of character development teenage bullying from both students and teachers.Maddie and Stubbs are just sweet and caring teens and Maddie has a slight issue. She sees deadates on everyone she meets.I really want an uncle as wonderful as Donny and it helps that he is a lawyer. The adult figures in this book both familial and even police(FBI)teachers don't come off too good here,in fact,in some instances they are heinous but Maddie and Stubbs do persevere,barely,and their shine prevails. Light romance in the periphery but very integral to the story. What a winner this was,thx

I read this intense YA paranormal psychological thriller/murder mystery novel today. It was a quick read with plot twists that kept me guessing who the murderer was. Sixteen year old Maddie has always seen the numbers on people's foreheads, which, after her father died, they realized were death dates. Only knowing when someone will die, but not how or why makes Maddie believe there is nothing she can do to change anyone's death date. Her mother, who became an alcoholic after her father died, has made Maddie go into business as a sort of psychic reader telling people their death dates for money to support her mom's alcohol habbit. The story is dark and chilling and I think that YA readers will enjoy it. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

Loved this book. First off, let me say I usually read 1-2 books a week- reading each night until I am sleepy. Well, I had a day off of work and decided to start reading early in the morning. Then I read ALL DAY. I simply could not put this book down. I haven't spent an entire day reading in years. So glad I didn't start reading this one evening when I had to go to work the next day- I may not have survived! The twists and turns of the plot kept me hooked! The characters are well developed and the writing style is pretty good. Loved Maddie's "gift." Very unique idea! As with any good book, I had no idea who the "bad guy" was and every time I had a theory, I would read on and start doubting it.....needless to say I never suspected what was to come! Highly recommended with a warning: you may not able to stop reading until the end!

This book was fantastic. I am already a huge Victoria Laurie fan but this one really shows off her awesome writing. The plot was fantastic, the premise was cool and I am usually someone who can suss out the "who did it" pretty quickly in a whodunnit and she kept me doubting and guessing just like her characters.
This book shows a softer side of Ms. Laurie than her funny, snarky, and spooky Ghost hunter series and Psyhic eye series. While both of those are winners as well; this one covered many serious issues throughout the storyline... she dealt with the issues so compassionately and empathetically that I would swear she has been through each one herself. Her characters in this book did not suffer the often young adult problem of being one dimensional. I was so drawn in my the honesty of each of the characters that I was extremely invested in the outcome of the story.

I have loved her books for a long time but ironically even though this is a young adult novel... I feel like it is a perfect venue to show the maturity and strength of her writing.

Well done Veronica! and seriously if you love a good story with an original premise and actual fleshed out characters then look no further!

Maddie has the unique ability to see everyone's date of death, even from photographs. When Maddie and her best friend are targeted as possible murder suspects, her life spins out of control. Several clues do seem to point to her friend, who is then arrested. Her alcoholic mother is more of a dependent than a mother. And the whole school turns on Maddie, assuming she's guilty, and taking bullying to a whole new level. The drama is heart-wrenching and riveting.

When (previously entitled Death Date) is a thrilling, standalone mystery. Full of suspense, intrigue, and drama - this novel was extremely hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating tale. I highly recommend it to mystery fans from teens to adults.

*Review previously posted at SciFiChick.com

Great story. It had me thinking if I could know when I was going to die would I want to? I don't know if it would be a gift or a curse to have the ability to see everyone's deathdate. This is the reality that Maggie has to deal with. When her ability gets her in the crosshairs of the FBI things get really bad. She is blessed with some really great people in her life like her Uncle Donny and her elderly neighbor next door that help her through some really dark times. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out if the FBI could solve the case and if Maggie and her best friend Stubby could go back to a regular life.

This is a YA title but would recommend it to anybody who enjoys a really good story.

Loved, loved, loved this book! It made me laugh and cry and kept me guessing until the end. Maddie is so resilient. Stubby is just awesome. I'm a long time fan of Victoria Laurie but honestly wasn't sure about reading a Y.A. book by her. She blew my expectations out of the water. I've already told my husband he must read it soon so I have someone to discuss it with. I have to resist giving him spoilers because it's just that great. I actually cried a few times and the books that elicit that reaction from me are few and far between. All in all it's a well done book with an original story, one that kept me engrossed and thoroughly entertained. Another book hit out of the park by Victoria Laurie.

When I told a friend that the next book up was When by Victoria Laurie she asked for a short synopsis, when I explained the premise she stated that is sounds like the video of Savin’ Me by Nickelback. So of course I had to head off and check that out.

Granted, this could have been a starting point for Ms. Laurie, but that is where the similarities end.

From a young age, Maddie Fynn was able to see a series of numbers above the forehead of each person that she is either four feet from or a photograph taken at close range. Not knowing what these numbers meant she presented a drawing to her parents that they had puzzled over. Come to find out, these digits represent the person’s death date.

Both Maddie and her alcoholic mother are living with the regret of not knowing their meaning since Maddie’s father was killed in the line of duty on the same day as the digits floating above his head stated.

Money is thin in their household and Maddie is forced by her mother to earn a little extra cash by doing readings for strangers. Of course this is the turning point in the story when two young people go missing and are found dead. Both of whom have ties to Maddie’s abilities.

Investigators Faraday and Wallace cannot decide if Maddie and her best friend Stubby are responsible or just mere pawns in a tangled web. As the last pages unwind, the reader is mesmerized by the twist that this story takes.

I had originally picked up the book to read a couple of pages and save it for later only to discover that I did not want to put it down. It captivated me from the beginning and though I am a reader of Ms. Laurie’s two other series, this book had a completely different feel. There wasn’t all the sophomoric humor and drama that is prevalent in her other books and I was sure that since this is a Young Adult book, that this is where I would be finding more.

What I did find was a well plotted steady book that kept me engaged from beginning to end. This is definitely a genre that Ms. Laurie should continue with.

Imagine if, in real life, someone had the ability to look at any person (or even a photograph of that person) and instantly know the precise date when that person will die. If that person’s amazing ability was made public, I imagine she would be snatched up by the CIA or NSA and forced to assist in all sorts of covert missions. Now, THAT is a story I’d want to read. Sadly, When was not that story. It was actually a mess, and full of implausibilities, inconsistencies, and inexplicable behavior on the part of nearly every character.

Let’s start with the basics. Maddie is the “death-predictor” in this story. You’d think that she would want to keep her ability a secret in order to protect herself, but you would be wrong. She pretty much hangs a shingle outside her house that reads. “Come in and pay me, and I will tell you when you will die.” She hires out her services in order to help her mother pay the bills, and even when Maddie’s predictions are continually proven right, she somehow never comes to the attention of the media or the authorities. Look at all of the “psychic” scam artists that are famous in the U.S., and imagine if these people were actually genuine. It would be earth-shattering. But Maddie flies under the radar until a distraught mother with a cancer-stricken daughter comes to Maddie to learn when that child will die. Maddie views a photograph of the girl and her siblings, and she informs the mother that the daughter will live a long life. Mom is overjoyed, but wait a minute! Maddie looks at the woman’s other children in the photograph, and she tells the mother that her son will be dead in a few days. Happy mom is suddenly not so happy anymore. In fact, she is furious at Maddie. Sure enough, the son is murdered, and the mother accuses Maddie of killing him. I was lost here. The mother went to Maddie because she knew Maddie had a proven ability. She was ready to believe anything that Maddie told her about her daughter, but for some reason, the same information about her son was not to be trusted.

Two vicious FBI agents immediately descend upon Maddie, calling her a murderer and threatening to lock her up. The fact that they have not a shred of evidence of how this shy, unassuming teenage girl became a cold-blooded murderer is irrelevant. By the way, I continually questioned why FBI agents were involved, rather than the local police who were completely absent from the story. This is never explained, and I can only think that the FBI agents are supposed to be scarier than cops. But these FBI agents weren’t just scary. They were disgusting. They terrorize Maddie for no reason. At one point, Maddie visits her hospitalized mother, and one of the FBI agents prowling around the hospital says to Maddie, “Guess you won’t be using her as a character witness, huh?” Seriously???

It’s not just the FBI agents behaving like ogres. Maddie’s principal, her classmates, and nearly all of her teachers bully and taunt her over the accusations. Keep in mind that the reason for this behavior is that these people believe Maddie brutally murdered a child. Don’t you think they’d be scared of her?

I might have had some sympathy for Maddie, but she does nothing to help her case, especially when additional children are murdered, and the FBI agents believe she killed all of them. The moment that she was accused of the first murder early in the story, I knew there was an easy solution. All she has to do is prove to the FBI agents that she is not a fraud. They believe that she is falsely predicting deaths and then murdering those people in order to make the predictions come true. (Despite the fact that many people in the town could have come forward and told the agents that she had correctly predicted the deaths of their loved ones.) She could have asked the agents to show her obituary photos of people all over the world, and reel off all their death dates. (Did I mention that Maddie can not only predict the deaths of living people, but she can also see the dates of death of people who are already dead?) Halfway through the book, she finally, FINALLY makes that suggestion to her uncle/lawyer, but he shoots the idea down with no explanation. WHY??? The entire basis for the FBI’s case is that Maddie is a fraud. Prove to them that you’re not, and they can turn their attentions elsewhere!

I cannot end here without mentioning a couple of other implausibilities. Maddie’s mother is completely unconcerned when her only child is accused of being a serial killer. Maddie is continually dragged into the FBI offices for interrogation, and her mother is nowhere to be found. Maddie does a bit of her own investigating with her one loyal friend, and it’s laughable how unaware these teenagers are of even the most basic technology. For instance, they want to get in touch with a teenager at a neighboring school, and they are completely befuddled on how to do it. They know the girl’s name, but it never occurs to them to look her up on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, or whatever kids use these days.

Will it ever end? Yes, it will. (And so will I, don’t worry.) Of course, the killer is finally revealed, but not before the FBI agents engage in some more unbelievably unprofessional and dangerous behavior. There is a final “twist” that is so bad and so eye-rolling, and it had me laughing for all the wrong reasons. So…I guess this ended on a high note?

I like this author. This book is aimed at a juvenile audience - as an adult reader, I thought it might be too graphic for younger adolescents. However, for older teens, there were some good messages mixed in with the reality of dealing with adults. I read this because the author's writing appeals to me. I probably won't read further in this series if there are more releases, it was a complete story to me. I have read every one of Victoria Laurie's books to date, appreciate her outlook and humor - a different genre which I find appealing.

Another incredible novel by Victoria Laurie. Her first YA Novel is sure to be a hit. Ms. Laurie hits a home run with this novel that centers on Maddie who has a "gift" (or is it a "curse") where she can see each person's date of death on their forehead. This leads Maddie into a world of mystery and murder. WHEN has been optioned by Warner Brothers for a television series. After reading this "edge of your seat" murder mystery, I hope that this book is turned into a series. A great read for everyone!!

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick and Dirty: An intriguing enough premise, though I wish the novel had delivered more in the mystery aspect and in explaining Maddie’s strange power.

Opening Sentence: I don’t remember when I first started seeing the numbers.

The Review:

Maddie has a gift — though, it’s more a curse, being able to see the day everyone will die. As far as Maddie knows, deathdates can’t be changed, and she learned with her father’s death just how accurate they could be. Her mother is a raging alcoholic, and most income comes from her readings; often, her telling people their deathdates makes her enemies. Then, the unthinkable happens, and one that Maddie predicted the death of is discovered brutally murdered. Who is the prime suspect? Maddie. She’ll have to survive in a place where no one believes her, deceit follows her every move, and her only friend is serving jail time because of what she predicated. Can she find the real murderer and clear her name?

I saw quite a few bad reviews of When on Goodreads, which made me hesitant to dive in. All the same, the synopsis intrigued me, and I decided to give it a try. Though I do have a few complaints, I’m happy I did. I enjoyed it and it was an easy book for me to get into, with Maddie’s simple, relatable voice. One thing I wish that the book had was an explanation about her ability. It never explains it, or gives a clue to how it developed. In the end, she even develops new abilities, but it’s never explained what the trigger is or the reason for when her powers change. This somewhat lessened my enjoyment because I had been looking forward to discovering the reason for her seeing deathdates.

Aiden was Maddie’s love interest, but their romance wasn’t a huge focus in the plotline. I was extremely annoyed with it, to tell you the truth. Her relationship was like love at first sight and insta-love rolled into one: every reviewer’s worst nightmare. She’s been crushing on him for years without talking to him once. That’s borderline creepy, more of an obsession or an infatuation. The first time they talk, immediate interest is shown. Like, the first time he looks at her, he smiles. Also, I didn’t like the way that Maddie interacted with him at times, getting all tongue tied. Sure, she’s aloud to be nervous, but I felt the chemistry was somewhat dampened by her stammers and awkward answers. In a relationship, there should be a degree of comfort when two people are together; it should feel natural.

There was a mystery aspect to the story. Who has been actually killing the kids? Maddie’s the FBI’s prime suspect, but since it’s from her point of view and she’s a reliable narrator, we know that it wasn’t her. Who does that leave? Quite a few main characters are explored, but the person who it actually was ended up not being one of those. We only got an info-dump (not a huge one, but a dump all the same) about his motivations. I wish that there had been more of a focus on finding the actual killer, rather than Maddie trying to clear her name and working up the courage to talk to Aiden. There is also a huge spotlight on how deathdates cannot change, until the action happens and suddenly they’re pretty flexible.

Altogether, I found When to be an enjoyable read that exceeded previous expectations. There were definitely areas in which it fell short — the romance, the mystery aspect, but there were also things I enjoyed. Some of the plot was pretty clever, and there was some action. It invoked some vivid feelings and I connected to the main character. Going back to problems I had with the book, it ended on a note that wrapped the story up, so it’s a standalone. But I feel like a sequel would help to explain that many questions I have. Why does Maddie have this power? How does she? How does it work? Can she do more? Anyway, that isn’t likely to happen, but it would be nice. I think that people who aren’t good at detecting plot holes will likely enjoy this. It’s a nice entry book for readers just entering the world of young adult.

Notable Scene:

“You gonna say hi to Aiden this year?” he asked me slyly. “Or are you gonna sit there and pretend you’re not seriously crushing on him?”

I pushed him on the shoulder. “Don’t push me. I’m working up to it.”

FTC Advisory: Disney Hyperion provided me with a copy of When. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Maddie was born with a supernatural power, she can see the death date of any individual written across their forehead. When she tries to warn a lady that her son is about to pass away, she finds herself entangled in an FBI investigation. Once word gets out, she is ostracized and bullied at school. Her best and only friend is arrested for the murder, and she is determined to prove his innocence.

This was a well written and engaging book. It was really fascinating, I had a hard time putting it down. I believe teenagers, both male and female, will be intrigued by the story. Overall, highly recommended.

Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I. LOVED. This. Book!!! Couldn't put it down. I actually read it in a single sitting.

WHEN is like a YA version of The Frighteners without all the camp. I can't think of a single thing I disliked about it. The story and characters were well fleshed out, nothing felt contrived, the pacing was perfect, and there were endless twists and turns. Victoria Laurie knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats! Lots of feels. Crying, laughing, and all.

WHEN is MUST READ! 5 well deserved stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the arc of When by Victoria Laurie. This supernatural mystery is suspenseful and intense throughout the entire book! I loved it! The protagonist sees everyone's death dates when she looks at them in person or in a photo. This seems hard to deal with on its own, but Maddie's life becomes entangled in a murder investigation that makes her life a complete rollercoaster! Maddie is also trying to protect her best friend, help her alcoholic mother and keep her head up high in a bully ridden school. I enjoyed the ending and have to say it could not have been better!

REVIEWED BY SUNNY (originally posted on Kindles & Wine Book Blog)

So let me just get this out of the way: this book was A-MAZ-ING! I wanted to tell Kindle Gal that I planned to write my review as:

Go buy this book.

It is awesome.

The end.

She probably would have frowned on that, though, so I decided I had better tell you why I loved it. But therein lies the problem. I was so engrossed in the story, I didn't document the normal details I typically do when reading a book I plan to review. I have pretty much nothing written on my paper, which is SO UNLIKE ME! But never fear, even though I didn't write notes, there were so many things that were so well done with this book, I know I can come up with many reasons why you MUST BUY THIS BOOK TODAY, because it is available IMMEDIATELY. Okay, I promise to stop using all caps, starting NOW. (I mean now.)

I was very intrigued by the official summary of WHEN. I love reading about individuals with paranormal abilities, which I consider Maddie Fynn to have, so when I saw that she could read everyone's death date on their foreheads, I was giddy to learn more about her paranormal gift. Then it mentioned a murder or two, and because I love a good suspense read, I was nearly hyperventilating with excitement. Yep, this was a no-brainer choice for me and it didn't disappoint!

I hadn't read Victoria Laurie before, but I definitely won't hesitate to read another book of hers in the future. Laurie's writing style was very easy for me to read. The flow was great and her attention to detail was impeccable. It was fun to see the murder case unfold and more and more things fall into place to prove and disprove whodunit. She sprinkled in details that amazed me, right up to the very end. Any questions that formed in my mind while reading were answered, one even on the last page!

Laurie created an emotional character in Maddie Fynn. Her ability to see death dates is a gift she wished she didn't have. It has provided her with far more pain than pleasure, but she finds ways to cope throughout WHEN. Maddie has not been dealt an easy hand in life. Her father died at an early age, which caused her mother to make poor choices to deal with her pain. To make matters worse, at age sixteen, Maddie reveals someone's death date and becomes a suspect in a murder case because of it. This is where the story really took off for me. I loved each detail of the case, including all of the possible scenarios for who could have been involved, or who could be the next victim. It was very well written. Through it all, Maddie's emotions were all over the place and I found her character to be very real and easy to connect to. You could feel her anger, her sadness, her concern for herself and all those around her. These were many of the reasons why I loved Maddie's character.

Maddie was also surrounded by many interesting people. Her mother, her uncle, her best friend, and her neighbor were all key to Maddie's emotional stability. Some unintentionally ripped it apart, and some had to work hard to build it back up. I also enjoyed what the FBI agents brought to the story as they worked the case. Finally, I was impressed with the impact the adults and fellow students at Maddie's school and in the periphery of her life had on the story. I found Laurie to be masterful at character development, which led to great twists and turns throughout as well as great pacing that easily kept me engrossed in the entire story.

BOTTOM LINE
If you like mystery with a bit of paranormal, if you like a fast-paced story with an incredibly well-developed protagonist, and if you like attention to detail, this book will not disappoint! WHEN is an incredible story that I found hard to put down. Since today is its release day, you should go out right now and buy it. The End.

RATING: A

Note: I received a review copy of this title courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

A teen's unique ability makes her stand out in her New Jersey town: she can see the dates of people's deaths. After her father's death, her mother turns to alcohol and the girl must use her talent to earn money to support her family. When she shares the death date information with a client and the client's son goes missing, the police come to the teen for information

Maddie Fynn doesn't have many friends; in fact she has only one. Everyone else in her school thinks she's a weirdo. That's because Maddie looks at people's foreheads and sees the date they will die. She's never been wrong, and this fact has dug deep into her heart ever since her policeman father died in a shootout with drug dealers.

When she was young she'd drawn a picture of her family with their dates above their heads. After her father's death, Maddie feels tortured by the possibility that she could have done something to prevent it. Her mother goes into full-blown denial about the whole topic, finding solace at the bottom of vodka bottles.

In order to pay the bills, Maddie accepts payment from people who come to her asking about their deaths. Maddie can't tell them how it'll happen or even what time of day they'll die. She just knows the date.

A client comes to Maddie to ask about her daughter. Maddie adds the death date of the woman's son, and he goes missing a week later on the date Maddie quoted. The woman gets suspicious and shares her misgivings about Maddie with the police. When Maddie reads the death date of a cheerleader and she tries to warn the girl, things don't go exactly as planned.

The police become more convinced that Maddie and her best friend, Stubby, know more than they're sharing. Despite her fear at dealing with the cops and the increased ostracization she experiences at school because of her talent and the police involvement, Maddie is determined to prove her innocence and help the missing girl at the same time. She's just afraid it might be too late.

Author Victoria Laurie's book will keep readers enthralled from start to finish. Laurie doesn't give her protagonist any room to breathe. Just when the situation gets bad for Maddie, Laurie makes it even worse. The result is a book where the tension remains taut and readers won't want to blink.

At times Maddie sounds a little younger than her age, but Laurie doesn't let the narration dally too long. Maddie's dealings with her peers sound realistic and may make some readers reconsider how they treat people not on the popular list. Laurie scores on this point as well as all others; her twist ending adds the perfect touch to the story.

I strongly recommend When to all readers.

This book is FANTASTIC. I literally could not put it down. I started reading it this morning with my morning coffee, intending to read just a chapter or two, but could not put it down until I finished the book...it was that good.

I don't normally read YA books, but agreed to read this one before I even knew the premise. I've long been a fan of the author's adult books and wasn't sure what to expect from the beginning of a YA series. The author's talent and creativity come together in When to create a work that is compelling and original. She has crafted a story that is designed for the YA market, but that any age would enjoy. It involves a teen, Maddie, with the dubious gift of being able to see the death date of people. Her sharing these dates lands her in the middle of a complex murder investigation. Throughout it all, with challenges even beyond being thought capable of murder, Maddie finds an inner strength and the ability to get out of bed each morning and face the day. She does this despite knowing that the world will somehow find a way to kick her in the back.

As I'm sure most of us remember, high school is not always the friendliest of places. Standing out or being different can make even showing up for class very difficult. Maddie shows us that it is possible to get through this, even when it feels like the universe is conspiring against us.

I fully recommend this book for it's intended YA audience, but also for any adult interested in a compelling read. This one is a must read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a complementary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG!! I had heard of Victoria Laurie and was familiar with her work, but had never really gotten around to reading any of them. Today I found out just what exactly I had been missing!

I had heard about this book and requested it on Net Galley only to be turned down by the publisher. Ugh, it happens. The same day I received a confirmation from the author that she was putting me on her "street team". Yay!!

I received the book today in the mail on my way to dinner and could not wait to start it. I was not disappointed!! This book was so good, I just could not put it down. I really felt for Maddie and even found myself welling up several times at the end up while sitting in the bar area at Chili's, just a little embarrassing. Ha!! She really had a rough time throughout most of the book. But I felt for the character. She wasn't one of those whiney ass teenagers that tend to get on your nerves. She was human and normal, well almost.

But it was seriously THAT GOOD! Anytime I get that emotional during a book, I know it has really touched me and it will be one that I will not forget. The storyline, while out there, was believable to me during the whole book and I just found myself mesmerized to the point I could not put it down. I read it in one sitting and thankfully I had started it way before the restaurant closed because I wasn't going to stop until I was done. I couldn't. I had to know.

Great writing, great story, great characters and one hell of a ride!! Thank you Victoria for the chance to read this.

This book starts off being very dark with an overall bland feel to it and then it concludes with every single thing wrapped up with a nice neat bow. I know this is for ages 12-18 but keep in mind this age range reads for school everything from Romeo and Juliet (tragedy) to Beowulf (violent) to The Scarlet Letter (heavy themes such as legalism, guilt, sin). I feel this is more for 10-14 year olds and Laurie's other series would be good for 12-18 since they are very simple but a touch more viable in terms of plot arcs.

The magnificent Victoria Laurie has done it again. I couldn't put it down once I opened the cover. It was 10pm when I started and it was 2am when I looked up at the clock. By then I figured there was nothing left to do but finish it since I only had about sixty pages left to read.

I've been highly anticipating this novel since I heard about the premise 6 months ago. Maddie Fynn can see the date you are going to die. She's had a hard life since her father died when she just six years old, and her mother has never recovered from that loss. So, Maddie does a few readings for people to help cover the bills. But when a wealthy woman comes seeking the date of her leukemia-stricken daughter, Maddie gives more information than the woman wishes to hear, and a week later Maddie and her best friend, Stubby, are thrown headlong into a serial murder investigation where FBI Agent Mack Faraday wants to see both of them do hard time. Now they have solve this case before they both wind up in jail, or worse, dead.

This book was a non-stop thrill ride, and every lead twists and turns until the heart-pumping climax. I suggest you have plenty of time to read when you pick this book up, because you won't be able to put it down.

Great book. A lot of turns and twist. Continuous action throughout the whole book. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out another clue comes up sending you in the opposite direction. Going to look for Sequel.

Not your typical YA, and this is a good thing! I usually don't read this kind of novels, all though I'm not sure why as I seem to enjoy them.

Maddie can see people's death dates (when they'll die) and this leads her into big trouble. Loved that I couldn't figure out who the bad guy was until the very end!

I really can't say much else without giving it away, if you like strong heroines and a little bit of mystery then you'll enjoy this book!

I bought this book from the book fair at my grandson's school on the recommendation of the librarian. Wow! What an awesome book! Even my husband read and enjoyed it...in fact, he couldn't put it down! It is full of suspense, action and sleuthing. I highly recommend this book!

As an adult reader who enjoys Victoria lauries phychic books, (not the ghoul ones, those gave me nightmares) I decided to try this one and boy was I glad I did. I was riveted from the beginning, could not put it down. Definitely an unusual and interesting concept, written very well. Enjoyed this book immensely!!

Bought the book for my 12 year old daughter and she had loved it. So I decided to read it myself, I am 43 years old. This book is do well written I can honestly say it's a must read. I read it in two days.

Amazing book!! Don't let the YA category stop you from reading this intriguing book!! I read it over several hours after receiving it today!! So many plot twists and turns you can't put this book down!! Such incredible, interesting, fully realized characters and exceptional writing. This is suspense/thriller with a bit of paranormal thrown in!

I thoroughly enjoyed When. Hard to put down, enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a cumulative ending to satisfy the arm chair sleuth who has a warm heart. Rather than repeat this story of a girl who can read death dates on people's foreheads., I will just tell you that the style of writing is excellent and the story stays alive right up to the last page!

An alluring murder mystery with an amazing paranormal twist that will have you guessing at every turn. Madelyn Fynn is cursed with the ability to see everyones death dates on their foreheads. She gets thrown into the life of Lawyers and Investigations When she is they accuse her killing of the missing teens. This book will have you enthralled throughout the entire thing. Wondering who the murder is and if they will find him will be on your mind until you find out for yourself. I loved this book so much and could NOT put it down. It was amazing throughout the entire thing, not just bits and pieces. It brought me out of my reading slump within a few pages.

Victoria has another hit on her hands!

Her debut YA novel about a young girl named Maddie, who can see the exact date that someone will die had me reading the entire book in one day. I am a fan of Victoria Laurie's adult novels so I already knew that I enjoyed her style of writing ... So the fact I couldn't put it down didn't surprise me at all.

Overall this book is a fantastic stand alone book that I would love to see developed into a series!

I read a lot of mysteries and love when there are twists that are conceivable. 'When' keeps you guessing from beginning to end. You cheer for, get angry for, and feel for Maddie. I love a book that can actually stir your emotions and this one does! It isn't perfect, but it is very enjoyable.

As a new author, I find Mrs. Victoria Laurie's book "When" to be deeply engaging and brilliantly written. I look forward in reading more of her interesting books.

Anthony D. Woods
c/o Velvet Tears: Breaking the Silence

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of the "When" Street time, which allowed me to read the book before the 1/15 release date. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I had the opportunity!

I was already a Victoria Laurie fan, having read both her "Abby Cooper" and "Ghosthunter" series, so I was anxious to give her first Young Adult book a read. I plowed through the entire book in one sitting...

The book started off very quickly.. the premise identified Maddie's gift and how that has affected her life in the prologue. That allowed the story to jump start immediately in the first chapter. No slow build up here!

The characters are extremely relateable. Maddie is obviously gifted, smart and genuine. The author does an admirable job of creating a complex and realistic TEENAGER, which is no small feat. The dynamics between Maddie and her mother and Maddie and Stubs give the story enormous heart. Then, the murder mystery kicks in and it becomes a genuine thriller.

If you have never read a Victoria Laurie book, this is a great place to start. Of course, once you do, you will likely run to the nearest bookstore (or the store) to download one of her other series.

And't don't let the "Young Adult" category throw you... as with JK Rowling or Rick Riordan or multiple other authors who cross age-boundaries, you don't feel like you are reading a book intended for a different audience. You just feel the engagement and excitement of reading a really good book.

A great YA novel! Once I started this mystery/thriller, I couldn't put it done. The writing flows incredibly well, the characters are interesting and dynamic, and the plot never slows down. Bullying and perception are subplots throughout the book. There are twists and surprises and the story ended nicely. This is a stand-alone novel, which is great. With all of the series and trilogies in this market, it's refreshing to finish a book and be done. Highly recommended.

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This was an intriguing concept. The storyline had me until the end when it just Petered out. The final solution, and I mean the end of the last chapter, just fizzled and became trite. Till then an enjoyable read.

This was a very good read. The story caught my interest right away and I kept reading and never lost the anticipation. I've read and enjoyed this author's other series as well. A very successful foray into the YA market.

When did exactly what it needed to do; it kept me wanting more. This book was exciting and emotional and written beautifully. Victoria Laurie really paints a picture for you which is personally my favorite kind of writing. It is also a very easy read and relatable. I highly reccommend When no matter what genre you like.

I bought this book because I thought it was a cool concept, and the more I read it the more in to it I got! It is amazing! Victoria Laurie is magnificent at delivering a good book! I recommend this book to everyone who loves mystery thrillers about every day teenage life.