Out of This World

by Jill Shalvis

Three weeks ago Rachel Wood inherited a bed-and-breakfast. Too bad that it's in a remote part of Alaska, staffed by a house chef who can't cook and a guide who can't read a map. There's something distinctly strange going on...and that's not counting the fact that Rachel just got hit by lightning, and her good friend Kellan is suddenly possessed with animalistic sexiness she's never seen before. Turns out, Rachel's inheritance is not your regular bed-and-breakfast - it's the portal to an alternative universe where the people possess unique powers that they can transfer to humans. And things are only starting to get weired...

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary, Paranormal Romance, Chick Lit

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jill Shalvis is a NYT, USA Today, and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of small-town romance and romcoms, known for big feels, found family, and plenty of shenanigans.

If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.

She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.

You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea where this book was supposed to go but it was... bad. Really bad. If I hadn't been reading Shalvis' Wilder books at the same time as this, I probably would never have picked up another one of her books.

Basically the story left some loose ends dangling, it barely made sense and the main characters were not in any way charming or likable. It's a shame because overall I really like Shalvis' writing. She's usually funny and can keep a tight plot line. If this was my first intro to her, I'd never go beyond one book.

Also? Can someone explain to me why two supposedly intelligent adults would chose to have sex in an attic of a house while they are supposed to be hiding from the dimension-traveling pirates (OH yes! There are sci-fi pirates!) looking for them? Gah.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I heart Jill Shalvis but this book was crazypants.

[Gwen (The Gwendolyn Reading Method) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiiiinda strange but taken in the context of Jill Shalvis' early works, not a bad effort on her part!

[Caffenero · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a first time for everything, also a two star for a JJ book :-/ I really couldn't get into this girls-scout-mint-chocolate-cookies induced bad dream :-S

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

It starts out great. The author has a wonderful way of expressing details, creating vivid, verbal pictures, really tight, good writing. After the first two pages, I was hooked.
Then it went all weird. Suddenly, in what began as an adventure featuring a young, urban artist on her first trip to the backwoods of Alaska to view the B&B she'd just inherited, there were aliens and superpowers and pirates. And pages and pages of torrid sex scenes. And pages and pages about cookies, hungering for the cookies, stealing into the night to snitch the cookies, thinking about the cookies. While reading it, I ate my body weight in cookies, she writes that good. Do not read this book if you actually have cookies in your house, because by the end of the book you will have eaten them all.
I kept reading, hoping it would all make sense, but it never did. I still don't understand about the pirates.

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an odd book. It starts as a contemporary romance with a very unlikable heroine. Then things get a bit weird with super powers and alternate realities. Far from my favorite Jill Shalvis. Low three high two stars and that's it.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review haiku:

Very strange story
Not what I expect from Jill
Others might love it

[Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not care for this. Too many tropes poorly used, especially the ''keep the principal players in the dark'. Add to that bs science-mysticism, magical realism, boring friends-to-HAE ... NFM. Too much pretending to be credible and obviously not fitting. Including strategically timed lightning hits. Or inheriting a property in the modern age, arranging complex transportation to reach it, but not even researching the area online? Not even asking the attorney if there's ... a letter, or anything to explain what and why? (One does not HAVE to 'accept' a bequest, btw. Just decline to sign the paperwork.)

[Rachel Check · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually agree with the review on the cover of this book. Jill Shalvis is totally original. The ability swapping world she created is a fascinating one. I wish we had known a bit more about it, as it might have made for a less rushed climax, but all in all, this was a super fun read.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Didn't like the characters. Considering how much of a city girl the main character is, going to Alaska seems unlikely, especially since the Aunt that bequeathed the inn to her she hardly knew. And things go downhill once she gets struck by lightning. What little sense she has seems to go out the window as she realizes how attractive her male friend, Kellan, is.

I read some of the reviews and it seems to go downhill even more the further you read, going into a far out sci fi direction. I think I stopped just in time.

From what I've read this is not a typical Shalvis novel so I would not recommend this for Shalvis first timers. If you're a fan, then maybe you won't mind this. If you want something really different in a romance/comedy then this might be the book for you.

Love the cover though, it's what sold me.

3/9/22
I've giving the book a second chance. Still find the idea of a city girl going to Alaska too far fetched and the whole getting struck by lightning think and being able to see through things... I was able to tolerate that a little more than her suddenly being attracted to her friend, Kellan.

Got to page 232 and gave up. It has become almost fantasy rather than romance but this doesn't work. I'm tired of more mystery I just want to know what's going on. Face it, if you read romance you have give a little up to accept the premise and what is said and done. This stretches that too far. I just wanted the book to be over and once I realized that, considering I have a stack of books to get to, I decided to give up the book. You might love it and get a kick out of it but, read a bit and then if it still doesn't keep your attention don't feel guilty, just give it up.

[Bethany Bliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked it up thinking it was contemporary but wound up being paranormal until the last few chapters which then it randomly turned to “space pirate sci-fi....”
Many unanswered questions: What were Axel and Marilee’s abilities before they swapped? Why couldn’t anyone tell Rach and Kel what was happening to them? Why did they want Rach’s stay at “hell’s hotel” to be such a bust if they didn’t want her to sell the place?
I didn’t like how this book progressed. I didn’t enjoy the banter, didn’t see much of a plot to be found past ‘they become stranded in Alaska and weird things start happening.’ Things they aren’t allowed to ask questions about? I wanted to smack every character in this book, and for some that desire didn’t go away even after She did finally disclose what was going on in the last HUNDRED pages in the 350 page book, but I have to admit there were times I really liked Kellen and Rachel. I liked that they had a history. I liked the one sided love of Kellen for years that Rachel realized she shared after she gained her ability. Not the most memorable characters and certainly not the most stable plot, but all in all I could finish it and still say I liked it.

[Bet Lantaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was a really good book for a story that I couldn't figure out. Every time I thought I knew the next turn, I didn't. And then the pirates showed up, which really threw me for a loop. But it all worked out in the end and a pretty good story came out of it. The pros of the book were the comedic scenes, the fleshed out secondary characters and the chemistry between Rachel and Kellan. The cons: the way the story jumped from Rachel's POV to Kellan's POV. I can't say exactly what it was about it that I didn't care for, but I didn't care for it. Oh, the book was good. But that particular jump could have been handled better. It was almost like this was one of Shalvis' first books and she was still learning how to write. I'm glad to say that this book was written 6 years ago and Ms Shalvis has figured out how to do that jump with great results.

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prelim Review: This was okay. I didn't enjoy it as much as Get a Clue or Shalvis' Lucky Harbor books, but this was decent. I suppose like Kellan I had trouble thinking that Rachel would have become lovesick over him if not for the special abilities they both receive. Other than a bit of minor moments beforehand she didn't seem all that concerned with the idea.

Full review to be posted at Poisoned Rationality

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, very funny, nerdy hero who's been in love with the heroine for years.. All of a sudden, add in psychic abilities that allow her to see through his clothes (I wouldn't mind that ability, lol!) and a mystery surrounding her Alaskan B&B, and voilà!, you have a very sweet and funny romance:-)

[Danielle Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is actually quite terrible. There were many times when I was reading this and was like "when the hell did this happen?!" That being said, I like the story (what I could get from it) and I enjoyed it once I got used to the weird writing.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of this World is sort of a friends to lovers meets the Twilight Zone story. To drive home that comparison the main characters Rachel and Kellen often say they feel like they’re in the Twilight Zone. I’ve only read one other Jill Shalvis book but after perusing her catalogue of books on her website I get the impression that perhaps she was bored with writing the typical modern romance story and wrote this one just to do something a little different. It worked for me as a romance but as a sci-fi adventure story not so much. But then I’m not a huge science fiction fan so that could very well have something to do with it.
Rachel a twenty-something L.A. based mural artist inherits a remote lodge in Alaska from her Great Aunt Gertrude whom she barely knew. Her life-long BFFs are Dot and her older brother Kellen. Rachel decides to take a weekend trip to Alaska to investigate her new lodge and see what’s what. Since Dot can’t get away from work she invites Kellen to accompany her. Because Kellen has been secretly (he thinks) in love with Rachel since grade school he agrees to go on this weekend adventure with her. Rachel knows Kellen has always had what she thinks is a little crush on her but she has always thought he wasn’t her type. Kellen who works with the dolphins at Sea World is the steady, easy going, slightly geeky type and Rachel has always had a thing for the bad boys with bad attitudes. That said as she’s spent her time bouncing from one meaningless relationship to the next with these so called bad boys she’s always appreciated that she’s had the steady, easy going Kellen to lean on. Kellen is well aware of Rachel’s fondness for his polar opposites so he has never pushed Rachel to get out of the friend zone she’s had him in forever. As with all friends to lovers stories he’d rather remain her friend than risk taking their relationship to the next level and if it doesn’t work out, end up not being her friend or her lover. And Rachel as it turns out fears putting her heart on the line and risk getting it crushed which may be why she goes from one relationship to the next that has no chance of becoming something long term. Ironically due to some Twilight Zone like happenings she suddenly finds herself uncontrollably attracted to Kellen and when she realizes its more than physical she must convince Kellen that her newly found feelings for him are real and not just the result of the circumstances and events they've recently experienced.
Well strange things happen out there in the wilds of Alaska and Rachel learns that you can’t always tell a book by it’s cover and sometimes what you’re looking for has been right in front of you all the time. I’ve read more than a few negative reviews of this book so it may not be for even devoted Shalvis readers. While I didn’t love it, I certainly don’t regret having read it.

[Jennifer Brown-Flavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start off by saying that if you are familiar with Jill Shalvis’ novels that this book is very different than her other work. While it has the hot romance and bits of comedy that she is known for, this read takes the readers on a Sci-Fi/Fantasy adventure as well. I did not read the reviews or the synopsis for this book going in so I was really surprised with the direction the plot went. It wasn’t necessarily a bad surprise as I do read books with ghosts and fantasy feels on occasion but it was a surprise nonetheless for me coming from this author. That said, I did overall enjoy the book (though I prefer her other books more).

Readers that prefer books that are more realistic will not enjoy this book with superhuman powers along with other surprises that come up towards the end of the book outside of reality. (I will phrase it like that to avoid spoilers). If you are a reader that doesn’t mind a little extra adventure that isn’t part of the every day norm, this is a fun read.

This book is a friends to lovers troupe with open door spiced romance.

The book synopsis is taken from Amazon:

I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN BED

Three weeks ago I, Rachel Bond, inherited a bed-and-breakfast. In Alaska. Just this morning I was in my warm bed in LA but now here I am, up north—and this is, like, nosebleed north—sorting it all out. So:

PROS:

1. Bears and wolves and moose can’t be any worse than LA guys.
2. You’ve heard of “starving artists?” I‘m about to faint. So it’s probably time for a change.
3. My good friend Kellan—you’ll like him, unlike me, he’s cool under pressure—suddenly has this animal sexiness I’ve never even seen before.

CONS:

1. ALASKA.
2. The house chef can’t cook, and the guide can’t read a map.
3. Kellan’s sudden hotness is getting very hard to ignore.
4. I just got hit by lightning.

And I’m not sure if this is a pro or a con just yet, but since that lightning bolt, I can see through everything. As in completely transparent. That was before things started to get really weird . . .

[Nae · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

Tropes: Country Inn, Forced Proximity, Friends to Lovers

Genres, settings, categories, themes: contemporary romance (M/F), fantasy, paranormal, remote Alaska

POV: 1st person, mostly from h's perspective with some from the H's

Series/Sequencing Style: standalone

Overall ratings
Heat level: sweet-sensual (from Susanna Carr's categorizations – wholesome/clean, sweet, sensual, sexy, erotic)
Characters 1-2/5 but they're all over the place
Pacing 1/5
Plot 2/5 had more potential than delivered for sure
Romantic connection 2/5 only because he's kinda sweet
Comedy 1/5 is this supposed to be funny? unclear
Mystery/suspense/action 1.5/5
Writing 3/5

Review/Notes
I wanted to like this, but I have to be honest, it was kind of a mess. The pacing is really off – everything drags in the beginning, with hints of some big mystery and no action, and then everything happens so quickly that none of it is clear or makes much sense. We never really fully get answers and are left with plot holes and questions. As for the romantic connection, the h only likes him when he becomes this strong badass and then denies it when he points that out, but she’s just unlikable and it’s hard to see why he’s so crazy about her. I’m not entirely sure what all this book was trying to be, but it fell short on all counts.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's 3 things that convinced me to buy this book even before I finished reading the backcover.

-Jill Shalvis
-Alaska
-Bears and wolves and moose

And since I didn't read the summary till the end and stopped before the last paragraph, it was a surprise to realize there's paranormal elements to the story. A good surprise it was for me, especially since after almost fifty books I read from this author, it was, I think, the first time she went down this route. Which also made this one more absurd and less serious than what she usually write. There's still a love story, but romance and characters development-wise, it's pretty light and not as good as her usual work, but still, it was fun. An other surprise was the fact it's written in the first person (remember I read the backcover really quick ;p) and we have a few chapters in the hero's point of view.

I liked that Kellan's is a dolphin's trainer at Sea World. Too bad the opportunity didn't arise in the story to see him at work though. I was disappointed to not see animals, except for a squirrel who throw pinecones.

I must point that if this book was not your cup of tea and your first Jill Shalvis's, don't judge her talent on this one because it's not her usual genre and it's not representative of what she can do.

[Molly Froerer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a really interesting premise. Unfortunately, we didn't find out what that premise was until near the end of the book.

The book starts with a very unlikable, spoiled woman (who is obsessed with cookies, boring) who inherits a B&B in the middle of nowheresville, Alaska. She goes with her best friend's brother (warning! Romantic interest ahead!). When they get to the hotel, SOMETHING IS WEIRD. Then blah blah blah, Rachel gets struck by lightening and suddenly can see through things, and Romantic Interest Kel gets superstrength. Then there are about 12980759803 sex scenes because of the Sexual Healing of the forest, or something.

Kel and Rachel try to figure out what's going on, but the two workers keep being oh-so-mysterious and won't tell them anything. Kel agonizes that Rachel only loves him for his superstrength. Then the bad guys show up and are dealt with in about 2 chapters.

Overall, the pacing is bad and the characters are unlikable. It's too bad, because the world Shalvis creates is really interesting and has a lot of potential.

[Fedora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars

Out of this World by Jill Shalvis is a light-hearted friends-to-lovers PNR, told in alternating first person perspective.

Rachel Wood (oddly the back-cover blurb says "Rachel Bond") inherits a bed-and-breakfast from her great-great-aunt Gertrude, and decides to make the trip to check it out. Thankfully her great friend Kellan McInty, brother of her other great friend Dot, agrees to accompany her to remotest Alaska. Though they manage to survive the trip there, the strange welcome by the inn's staff, AND an out-of-the-blue lightning strike, it's clear something odd is afoot at the inn...

Rach and Kel have their hands full trying to get to the bottom of the mystery AND try to keep their hands off each other in this zany romp. The supporting characters provide some charming foils for these two friends trying to unearth the truth about how one weekend changes pretty much everything for them both.

Honestly this reads nothing like anything else I've read by Jill Shalvis, but is an entertaining read all the same.

[Jess]

DNF I love fantasy/ sci fi/ romance so in theory this should have been something I’d be into. The plot was just going to be a stretch and the FMC was just terrible. The romance was a cliche that you saw in the first few pages. And then just the weirdness with the b&b and the characters there.

I made it through her incompetence at carrying the food - dumping it all over the ground because a 1/4 mile walk was too far?? - her weird obsessing with cookies and then inhaling someone else’s that she finds - that’s not cut it is a toddler with no impulse control - and then her going out into to woods for some reason when she was told to stay close but when it starts raining she won’t do anything about it because her mom told her not to run in the rain but something strange happens to her and she gets xray vision.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Jill Shalvis books and was excited to get caught up on one of her earlier titles, I'm just not sure if this was the book for me in the end. Rachel inherited a bed and breakfast in Alaska and decides that she need to check it out, bringing along her best friend's brother, Kellan, for a little help and maybe guidance. She knew this trip would be a little unexpected but when Rachel starts to look at Kellan in a new light, the odd guests are no longer her biggest concern. With a little humor and a lot of fun Ms. Shalvis tackled a light hearted romance with a touch of the paranormal. I enjoy her contemporaries more but glad I gave it a try.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the writing was good, some parts were a bit weird. I liked the banter and the magical realism didn't bother me, but when their lives was in peril, they were arguing about their feelings. REALLY!! I also didn't like it much that they were unsuspecting of what was going on, and the people who knew, wouldn't tell them, even though Rachel was the new owner and had every right to know. It just didn't sit well with me. I did however, want more of the backstory of other characters and what brought them to the B&B. Once you read it, you will understand.

[Penny Sannes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one book of Jill’s I missed reading years ago so had to see what it was about before reading the reviews. So glad I didn’t read the reviews first as it all was a complete surprise! There was a little of everything in it. The teasing friendship that was a bit edgy, then romance, mystery and humor and more. I couldn’t guess what could be next or the ending and that was just exciting and fun.

[Lauren Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly bizarre. The main character kept saying they were in the “Twilight Zone” and as the reader I felt the same way. Could this really be a Jill Shalvis book? It’s just so wired that I had to double-check the cover several times. As a fan of Jill Shalvis I ended up finishing it and towards the end it got even weirder. All I can say is I’m glad she doesn’t write like this any more.

[Glenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an absolute hot mess of confusion! Weird storyline with not fully explained characters or plot, very selfish MC that forces intimatacy or genuine heartfelt discussion at the most inappropriate times without opening up herself, and very bad plot pacing since majority of the story unfolds in the final couple chapters. Surprised it was even published but must have been solely because of her other works. Very strange read.

[Wendi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having just found a Jill Shalvis book I had not read before - I just grabbed and bought it:
Jill. I love your work! Every story!
this one.. "Abilities" .. too far fetched for me.

It took me forever to get into it. Normally, im a 1-2 day max on your books.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bizarre book. I really liked Or plan and Rachel. I just wish they would have been in a normal setting. Just a little too out there premise. I still love Jill Shalvis and will continue reading all her current works. And will be more selective of older works.

[Cathy Egan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far fetched

I had a hard time with this book. I love Jill Shalvis and her writing style. I liked the characters, but the storyline was pretty "out there". Not too sure how I feel about this one...