What happens when you're pulled into an alternate version of your life?
Cassidy Marchand is abandoned, on the run, and out of money. She’s just gotten arrested for stealing, but that’s the least of her worries. When she wakes up, everything seems normal—at first. She soon discovers she has entered an alternate reality where she encounters devoted and loyal friends she’s never met, meets the golden-boy doctor she’s engaged to, and finds out the father who deserted her in her own world actually stuck around to raise her alternate self. The biggest hitch? Alternate-reality Cassidy is not only dead, she's been murdered.
Dealing with the complicated mess of her own emotions and the grief of those around her is nightmarish enough, but there’s still a killer on the loose. Will Cassidy become a victim for a second time? When someone else gets taken by the killer, Cassidy can’t justify her desire to run away from the heartache and the danger, and finds herself running headlong into an alternate end she hadn’t bargained for.
Tracey Barski lives in Tennessee with her husband and their two children. When she’s not writing or homeschooling her tiny humans, she works as a proofreader and cover designer in an attempt to subsidize costs for fellow indie authors. Find her on Instagram and Facebook, as well as her website, to find out about her upcoming books!
I picked up this book from seeing it advertised on instagram and wanted to give a new and upcoming author a chance. I was not disappointed. This story absolutely sucked me in. I couldn't put it down. The story was written se eloquently that I felt completely immersed in each scene. The characters were very well thought out and written and I fell in love with each of them in their own ways (well for the most part ;) The twist that came at the end was unexpected but completely worked and it was like an ah ha moment! I will most definitely be grabbing the sequel and anything else Tracy writes! Congrats on an amazing debut!
If you like alternate realities, relatable and imperfect female leads, exploration of trauma and grief, this book is for you.
If you are looking for a book you can read super quickly (I would have read it in a day if it wasn't for... life lol) check out the Alternate End of Cassidy Marchand!! It's one of my favorite books of the year! 🙌
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Tracey is quite possibly the most slept on author I’ve ever come across. Why is this book not a National best seller?! It’s so f-ing good. It’s more than good, it’s phenomenal! This is outside my normal genre of books and I was still so taken by this story. Does Netflix know about this book? Because it absolutely needs to be adapted to a movie or a limited series! I wouldn’t classify it as a cliffhanger, because the main murder of it all is solved in the end but it does end leaving you thinking what in the “fresh hell” is happening?! I cannot wait to get book number 2 and continue the journey of these characters. I haven’t even read book two and I already hope there is a 3. Keep them coming! PS little tip- order both books at once. you will want to immediately pick up the second one when you finish the first!
I don’t normally read scary books with ‘murdery’ people on the loose (I’m far to chicken for that) but this novel had all the good things— engrossing characters that actually develop, suspense with action though not so gruesome I can’t sleep, a building romance without raunch, and an alternate timeline that intrigues and leaves me questioning where the series will go. Normally an author is either good at characters or world building but this book does both well. I finished it in two days and that was while parenting toddlers. Definitely will be picking up the next in the series!!!
I'm a geek obsessed with string theory, and I love a good slow burn romance, so this was right up my alley. I've never read a story like this before, and it will stick with me for a long time. I can't wait for book 2!
Oh, man, what a great read. I'm still over here with my jaw dropped, eyes lit up with the "YESS!! FINALLY. THIS kind of series!" energy I've been missing so much. I am so satisfied with this book AND eagerly awaiting Tracey Barski's subsequent novels. Barski's exploration of parallel universes and how much one's charater is based on inherent characteristics or one's environment was already captivating enough - but that she placed it all within the confines of a murder mystery makes it a RIDE.
tldr: I've been wanting to get sucked into an entirely different world for a while now, and Tracey Barski's debut delivered.
The story picks up right away: Cassidy spots a target in a cafe and pick-pockets him moments later. Unfortunately, she's caught by Detective Drew Seward - and their dynamic is the weave that have kept my heart strings tied up in this story.
Cassidy Marchand is probably THE most hot-headed and obstinate character I've ever read - and for good reason. In "her" world, her father abandoned her when she was eight years old, right after her mother died from cancer. Like - dropped her off at school and never picked her up - abandoned. Totally understandable AND YET infuriating.
Barski's flair for beautiful prose, engaging dialogue and just-one-more-page pacing makes this novel an easy contender as a future screenplay. I'd so love to see these characters playing out in the small town Cassidy was only originally passing through.
Cassidy's story shows so beautifully how not dealing with your trauma can really mess with your joy, so whether you're a reader looking for emotional oomf or curious about how Barski explores parallel universes, this book deserves to have a place on your (real or Kindle) shelf.
"Bitterness is a slow poison, Cassidy. It won't kill you, but it will suck you dry until you're toxic and hollow. And that's worse than death."
Thank you so much for writing this book, Tracey. I am so glad it exists. This is one that'll stick with me and is deserving of every one of those five stars. Well done. I can't wait to read the second - and third!
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to wake up in an alternate universe of your life? Seeing the possibilities that could’ve been? Oh, and the catch? Your alternate self was murdered. This book was such a psychological mind-bender. I felt just as confused as our main girl Cassidy, as she fumbles her way through this alternate timeline, desperate for answers. I laughed, I gasped, and I yelled. This book has messed with my head, and I was left with more questions than answers. I will be jumping into book two immediately!
This book was amazing and I highly recommend it. It was fast paced and suspenseful, but also full of real emotion and compelling relationships between the characters. I couldn't put it down and read it in just a few days. Its ending is simultaneously satisfying and leaves you wanting more.
I devoured this book. Suspense, parallel dimensions, murder plot, romance, intrigue - this book had it all. The concept really made me think of what would happen in an alternate life. The narrative is layered and well developed. The characters are intriguing, realistic and cope with their (multiple) challenges the best way they know how. The end packs tons of surprises which will not leave you disappointed. Great book!
I thoroughly loved the concept of this book; very clever/unique idea! The characters are real, engaging…you can relate to their struggles and goals..the author takes you along for a believable otherworldly ride.
I’m looking forward to more adventures with Cassidy and her family of friends across the universes.
This was one of those "I can't stop reading because I have to know what happens but I also don't want it to end" type books! Dragged my emotions all over the map, pulled me in deep and now I need more!
After being arrested for shoplifting by a charming detective, Cassidy Marchand falls asleep in a holding cell and wakes up in a world that looks the same but isn’t quite right. Before long she realizes she’s in an alternate universe, and this universe’s Cassidy was murdered. Cassidy teams up with the charming detective, who in this universe had been a close friend of other Cassidy’s, to solve her murder and try and get back home. It was only the beginning, because this was the first in a 3 book series about Cassidy’s universe hopping adventures.
This debut novel was so spectacularly well written and edited. It’s like a cozy sweater for your brain, or falling backward into a mattress that hugs you and let’s you read all damn day. And I did. I read 90% of this book on a lazy Saturday.
In the realm of shows like Veronica Mars and Jessica Jones, Cassidy is a strong, sarcastic FMC with a leather jacket and a sharp wit. You are never bored and there are no wasted pages - a testament to Tracy’s writing style and strong skill as an editor. A strong cast of side characters supports Cassidy’s journey but doesn’t outshine her, as they help her discover more a out herself and come to terms with the shitty cards life dealt her in her own universe.
The MMC and love interest is grumpy, over protective, and swoony as all hell. Like Four in the divergent series, or Branch in the movie Trolls, he balances Cassidy out with a steadfast and protective presence reserved just for her. He’s easy to fall in love with from the first mention.
This was a quick, engaging, and fun read. There’s just enough romance to break up the suspense, but make no mistake, this one is a mystery and procedural genre with a sprinkle of sci fi. The ending cliff hanger will have you immediately wondering “WTF” and running to buy book 2.
Holy moly what a ride! My first suspense book and I loved it!
The Alternate End of Cassidy Marchand follows the story of Cassidy (obviously 😂). She's led a hard life and finds herself in a local jail for petty theft. As she sits in her cell, something strange begins to happen and when she wakes up she's in a parallel universe–a parallel universe that she was recently murdered in. Now, not only is she stuck in a world she doesn't quite fit into, her murderer is after her again. Things only get more complicated when feeling begin to emerge between her and the detective working the case, all while she's trying to figure out how to get back to her world. Oh, and stop a serial killer
This book hooked me quick! The pacing was good–i never felt any lulls and I HAD to keep reading to know what happened next! Cassidy's struggle to reconcile her own life while getting a glimpse of a life she wished she could have had was hard and relatable. I didn't feel any of her inner monologue seemed unrealistic or unreasonable. Watching her work through her demons, try to fit into a different world, fall for someone she shouldn't fall for all while trying to avoid a murderer is enough to exhaust anyone! Tracey did a great job of balancing the character arcs, the mystery/suspense and the romance. There's no spice, but within the timeline of the book, spice would not have fit. There are some steamy kisses though 😘 Then that ending!!! Loved every page, def. recommend. You can find it and book 2 on KU!
Things I loved: 🔪 Smart mouthed FMC 🔪 Alternate universe 🔪 Great romantic tension 🔪 Relatable struggles 🔪 Murder mystery
When I say this book occupied my time, I want you to fully understand what I mean. (No spoilers). I was obsessed. In the car, at the gym, while trying to fold laundry… I needed to read. Needed to follow the wonderful words Tracey Barski put on that page that fully suck you in and consume you.
The Cassidy character is the perfect combination of likeable, loveable, and slapping your forehead because she didn’t do the thing (or did do the thing). I love her. I love her so much I’m biting my nails waiting for time to read the second book.
I loved it. I’m so excited to read the next in the series, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the third. Oh! And, again without spoilers, you’re going to curse when you read the last page. You just are. If you don’t curse, you’ll say something like “Oh beans!” or whatever you non-cursing people say. Then you’ll be on Amazon two seconds later putting that fast shipping to good use.
I rate books on a four-part scale. Writing, Character Development, Plot, and Page-turney-ess. My review for this book is as follows.
Writing: 5 stars – professional level writing/editing
Character Development: 4.5 stars – loved it, can’t wait to see where Cassidy goes next
Plot: 5 stars – beautifully complex without being confusing at all
Page-turney-ness: 5 stars – I’d have finished it in a day if I didn’t have life responsibilities
Right from the outset of this novel, we’re pulled into the troubled life of Cassidy Marchand. It’s rare to find a compelling thief, but when every bit of Cassidy’s unfortunate past catches up to her in one poor decision, I was rooting for her. In The Alternate End of Cassidy Marchand, the compelling heroine has been abandoned, hurt, and wronged by everyone she’s ever trusted. If anyone ever needed to test out an alternate reality, it’s our girl here. So when she wakes up in another timeline, where her life is full of friends, loving family, career success, and stability, everything seems pretty rosy for a minute.
Then it gets even weirder… because Cassidy from this alternate reality has been murdered by a serial killer with a penchant for redheads. Between the emotional turmoil of seeing the life she could’ve had, and now hiding from her murderer, Cassidy’s in a bind. She knows she can’t stay in another Cassidy’s life, but she doesn’t exactly know how to get back to her own. Overall, the author balances the internal and external struggles well, giving us a first-person narration of her character’s inner struggle.
Author Tracey Barski has created strong, complex characters with palpable emotions and tossed them into a bizarre set of circumstances. Unlike some sci-fi authors who ask you to suspend belief and not ask questions, Barski attempts to tackle the unknown here. Shifting realities isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence, right?
I don’t want to spoil the ending by accident, so I’ll just say this: It’s a brilliant setup for Barski’s The Alternate Chronicles series with a twisty turn I didn’t expect. I’m ready for book 2 to drop, Tracey!
I recently discovered @authortraceybarski and this amazing debut novel of hers. And let me just say, it is truly a mind bend! The whole plot feels so fresh and original to me, it wasn’t hard to get invested.
Cassidy Marchand gets picked up by a cop after she was caught stealing and spends the night in the slammer. Except, she somehow enters a new reality—same faces, same her, different life. The Cassidy of this new reality was brutally murdered so when she drops into this storyline, her presence is shocking, and so very confusing.
Not only is she grappling with the backstory of a woman who she shared her name and looks with, Cassidy is trying to catch the killer who murdered her and who just might do it again. She has Drew’s help, the handsome cop that put her in jail in the last reality, and took her out in the new one.
I had one person pegged for almost the entirety of the book, but it wasn’t them!! This book was a mind game twist for sure, and I loved every minute of it.
Phenomenal job with this one @authortraceybarski! I am already itching to dive into the second one after this ending!
What an incredibly unique concept— it falls into both the sci-fi and thriller categories.
This book is based on string theory - which is basically that we are simultaneously living multiple lives in parallel universes, each one of them different based on decision we and the people around us have made.
So what happens when Cassidy Marchand jumps into a parallel life? One where her father didn’t leave her to the foster system, where she has a stable home life, a good job, good friends— and she’s recently been murdered?
The author did such a great job of writing a great mystery but also mixing in bigger themes about how our decisions impact others, how we control our reactions to others’ decisions, and the importance of family, friends and a support system. I especially loved that there are twists and turns beyond just the ‘whodunnit.’
Read this if you love… - a twisty thriller - sci-fi - stories with complicated family dynamics
Also y’all, this is available on Kindle Unlimited so I know it’s super easy to grab for a lot of you! Or you can order a paperback on Amazon and #supportindieauthors.
I’m still thinking about this book! I keep wanting to bug the author and have her spill all her secrets but I guess I can wait until the next book comes out. Not only did this book end on a cliffhanger, but I know there’s more to the timeline jumping theory that needs to be fleshed out. I need to know why!!!
Things I liked: 1. I loved the MC, flaws and all. She’s sassy and stubborn and makes mistakes like a real human. 2. The romance is clean and sweet and you just need that some times! You get to see the emotional connection. 3. Good murder mystery to keep things intense!
Things I didn’t like, and all of these are me being super picky cause it was hard to find things: 1. Eating was used a lot to end scenes (minor) 2. I wanted more explanation on why she ended up in the alternate universe. I know this is coming.
Overall, I’d definitely read again just to find the things I missed the first time and get ready for the second book!
What a fun ride of speculative fiction! From alternate universes and romance to serial killers on the loose, this book kept me on my toes. I love how well it explores different sides of the same person, asking the question: What if circumstances had been different in life? How different would a person be? All while having Cassidy race against time to solve the mystery of her own murder so that history doesn't repeat itself!
The slow-burn romance just barely gets its feet wet in this first book, which is perfect, and I can't wait to read on to see how that develops, along with Cassidy herself!
I devoured this book! The concept is spot on, the character development is phenomenal, and the storytelling is chefs' kiss! The pacing was perfect. When I neared the end, I thought everything was happening too perfectly and got discouraged, wondering how this series could continue - the last chapter is not what I expected at all. Needless to say, books 2 and 3 are on the way 😉 This book has it all: adventure, grief, romance, friendships, family trauma, killers on the loose, internal battles, and, of course, how an alternate reality can change the course of everything. Everyone needs to read this book! Bravo, Tracey!
what would you do if you woke up in an alternate universe? Cassidy gets arrested for stealing, and has the experience of a lifetime waking up in her alternate universe.. except alternate-universe Cassidy is already dead. now she is on the hunt to stay alive and catch her killer. this book was so unique. so unlike anything i’ve ever read, the writing was compelling and strong, the story was engaging and emotionally driven, and there is a hot af cop in both universes trying to save Cass. book 2 is out for this one now and I can’t wait to continue reading this series.
I brought this book along for an eleven hour flight and I am so glad I had those solid hours to do nothing but turn pages in this book! The plot is full of suspense and the character arcs are believable and relatable, and the type of beautiful, down-on-their luck souls who you just can't help but root for. This is a fantastic series debut and I cannot wait until we can continue Cassidy's story!!!
Although the initial concept of parallel universes is not unique, it’s popular for a reason, and I love the unique story that was built on top of the concept.
The writing is easy to read and beautiful. The characters were believable and relatable. The pacing was overall really great.
The ending was my favourite part, that last page. Definitely eager to read book 2!
This isn’t a genre I read a lot of, however I really enjoyed this book! The characters were well written and I loved seeing their progression throughout the story. I was enthralled by this story from start to finish, with the action, mystery and anticipation. Definitely a great read and can’t wait for the next one!
This book blew me away. Barski's writing is beautiful. The characters and world building is perfection. I was hooked from the beginning. What a ride! Alternate reality, characters that are real and relatable and a what the heck is going on here mystery.
This is a book that, if you have not read yet, should be on your TBR list!
This book might just be one of the best books I’ve read in a long long time. It was so beautifully written. It made me cry. Apparently, I love books that make me cry. 😂
Hooked me right from the start. Love Cassidy. Love Officer Seward. Love love love the parallel universe elements of this story. Now it has me questioning my own existence, almost afraid that I'll be thrown into a world where the ones I love most are different versions of themselves and I'm a different version of me.
The themes of bitterness and regret were so well illustrated. There was a road to forgiveness for family abandonment and trust issues. I loved all of Cassidy's internal reflections about the decisions of others vs her own choices and the many paths her life could have taken. You can't help but love her and root for her.
Her friends were great. The grief was illustrated wonderfully.
I had my suspicions about who the murderer was, and felt sure by the end of the third quarter. The ending had me shaking and anxious. All along the serial killer's stalking of her kept the tension up.
The angst was just.... cherry on top.
Mr. Drew! Oh my goodness... his protective and sympathetic nature was *chef's kiss* Why can't real life have more men that are all of these things wrapped up into one?
I'm diving into the sequel RIGHT NOW to get more of Cassidy and this man, and I'm sure I'll be gobbling up anything else Tracey throws down.
Content: Contained a few light swears (d*mn, hell, and 2 uses of frigging.) Sexual content: some kissing and thoughts of taking it to bed.