What do you think?
Rate this book
Borderline: Sidetracked Part 2
Borderline is a direct continuation of Sidetracked.
As such, this description includes major spoilers for the first book in the series. Sidetracked is a four-part series about dark secrets, difficult decisions, strange dreams, a secret government program, mental illness, cats, and a bit of magic. Please, please check out Sidetracked first before reading Borderline! --- Jayde Palmer's summer is not going the way she hoped.
One month ago, Jayde's "casual summer relationship" with Ice Monroe took a strange turn when he introduced her to the world of immortals, a group of magical feline shapeshifters typically kept secret from humans. Things only went downhill from there as Jayde noticed more and more cracks in Ice's persona and later met James Reid, a young man with which Ice has some kind of history no one wants to discuss.
Long story Ice is not the kindhearted person Jayde believed him to be when they first met. She trusted him even after his actions unsettled her, but he turned on her in the worst way, hurting her and using his legal status as her immortal sponsor against her.
Now, the man Ice hates most is the only one who can help her.
But, as it turns out, James might need her help more than she needs his. --- new adult, contemporary fantasy, psychological drama with slice of life, romance, and thriller elements
approx. 138,000 words Content As a series, Sidetracked explores various sensitive topics and themes—including references to suicide, toxic relationships, abusive behaviors, emotional/physical trauma, physical violence and injury, and hospitalization. (Sidetracked contains NO sexual violence.)
As such, this description includes major spoilers for the first book in the series. Sidetracked is a four-part series about dark secrets, difficult decisions, strange dreams, a secret government program, mental illness, cats, and a bit of magic. Please, please check out Sidetracked first before reading Borderline! --- Jayde Palmer's summer is not going the way she hoped.
One month ago, Jayde's "casual summer relationship" with Ice Monroe took a strange turn when he introduced her to the world of immortals, a group of magical feline shapeshifters typically kept secret from humans. Things only went downhill from there as Jayde noticed more and more cracks in Ice's persona and later met James Reid, a young man with which Ice has some kind of history no one wants to discuss.
Long story Ice is not the kindhearted person Jayde believed him to be when they first met. She trusted him even after his actions unsettled her, but he turned on her in the worst way, hurting her and using his legal status as her immortal sponsor against her.
Now, the man Ice hates most is the only one who can help her.
But, as it turns out, James might need her help more than she needs his. --- new adult, contemporary fantasy, psychological drama with slice of life, romance, and thriller elements
approx. 138,000 words Content As a series, Sidetracked explores various sensitive topics and themes—including references to suicide, toxic relationships, abusive behaviors, emotional/physical trauma, physical violence and injury, and hospitalization. (Sidetracked contains NO sexual violence.)
487 pages, Hardcover
Published April 12, 2022
2 people want to read
About the author
S.K. Kelley
4 books5 followersS.K. Kelley is an author from the Pacific Northwest who has enjoyed creative writing since childhood. When not writing, she might be found drawing her characters, hiking in the mountains, or spending time with her family. Her debut novel, Sidetracked, is the first in a series that has been in development since 2008 and explores themes of mental illness and trauma.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2022
There was too much “and they sat around and licked their wounds.” “And they sat around and waited, praying a bad thing wouldn't happen.” “And they sat around and did nothing.” Extremely repetitive and really messed with the pacing.
But in between these boring, obnoxious moments, when the action was moving or the characters were interacting, it was extremely good. Jayde still wins the stupidest girl in the world reward but somehow she managed to pull off being real enough that I could sympathize with her.
I wish James had been fleshed out a little bit more, but considering he was such a repressed character I’m letting it slide, and there was character growth throughout the story as he came out of his shell.
The situations were intense and close to the end it became so anxiety ridden that I actually had to put the book down because it was starting to get to me (which is seriously just bonus points).
Overall, not perfect, but still a very fun and enjoyable ride and I’m looking forward to the third book.
But in between these boring, obnoxious moments, when the action was moving or the characters were interacting, it was extremely good. Jayde still wins the stupidest girl in the world reward but somehow she managed to pull off being real enough that I could sympathize with her.
I wish James had been fleshed out a little bit more, but considering he was such a repressed character I’m letting it slide, and there was character growth throughout the story as he came out of his shell.
The situations were intense and close to the end it became so anxiety ridden that I actually had to put the book down because it was starting to get to me (which is seriously just bonus points).
Overall, not perfect, but still a very fun and enjoyable ride and I’m looking forward to the third book.
September 24, 2025
What I Did Like:
+The recovery was realistic. Jayde has been through a lot and the book takes its time languishing in the necessary recovery. This is a positive simply because so many books put characters through hell just to snap their fingers and bring them back “normal”.
+The ending is great. In fact, the whole back end of the book is exactly what you’ve waited two books for. It’s dangerous, intriguing, and perfectly suited to keep you wanting the next book.
+There’s a lot of groundwork done now between books 1 and 2 to really let the series sing in future books. The worldbuilding has been sort of slow, because Jayde was learning and it was integrating with our world, but we feel ready to dive deeper into things now in future books.
Who Should Read This One:
-Paranormal fans who like angst, mild danger, and some humanity inside your paranormal stories.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/09/...
+The recovery was realistic. Jayde has been through a lot and the book takes its time languishing in the necessary recovery. This is a positive simply because so many books put characters through hell just to snap their fingers and bring them back “normal”.
+The ending is great. In fact, the whole back end of the book is exactly what you’ve waited two books for. It’s dangerous, intriguing, and perfectly suited to keep you wanting the next book.
+There’s a lot of groundwork done now between books 1 and 2 to really let the series sing in future books. The worldbuilding has been sort of slow, because Jayde was learning and it was integrating with our world, but we feel ready to dive deeper into things now in future books.
Who Should Read This One:
-Paranormal fans who like angst, mild danger, and some humanity inside your paranormal stories.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/09/...
May 14, 2022
Borderline is where the *real* story of Sidetracked begins--"real story", meaning the story I was trying to write as a cringe teenager.
Only a few scenes from Sidetracked Part 1 existed in the first draft I wrote in 2008/2009, but many key scenes from Borderline did. Obviously, a lot has changed in 13 years. The main characters are 4-5 years older than their original counterparts, their personalities are almost unrecognizable, and there's no insta-love (thank god), but the angsty core of the story lives on in the final version.
Borderline is dramatic. It's frustrating. And, of course, contains blood and tears.
Also it looks great on my bookshelf. I can't wait to...finish writing the others...so all four can look great on my shelf together. 5/5 stars
Only a few scenes from Sidetracked Part 1 existed in the first draft I wrote in 2008/2009, but many key scenes from Borderline did. Obviously, a lot has changed in 13 years. The main characters are 4-5 years older than their original counterparts, their personalities are almost unrecognizable, and there's no insta-love (thank god), but the angsty core of the story lives on in the final version.
Borderline is dramatic. It's frustrating. And, of course, contains blood and tears.
Also it looks great on my bookshelf. I can't wait to...finish writing the others...so all four can look great on my shelf together. 5/5 stars
February 8, 2023
At the end of Sidetracked, I was losing my mind. I needed to know what happened next as soon as possible. Borderline was everything I hoped and wanted it to be. And I am losing my mind all over again needing to know what happens in the next book.
The characters are so well written and relatable. There's suspense, anticipation, action, thrills. All the nail biting goodness that keeps you reading from the first page all the way to the last. Everything you could want, Borderline has it.
I can't wait to find out what happens next.
The characters are so well written and relatable. There's suspense, anticipation, action, thrills. All the nail biting goodness that keeps you reading from the first page all the way to the last. Everything you could want, Borderline has it.
I can't wait to find out what happens next.
June 23, 2023
I need the third book to come out, immediately. What's gonna happen when Jayde meets up with James again? How tf is Taylor gonna factor into this now? Ice??? Help
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews