A self-absorbed, risk-averse teen with a secret crush finds herself reliving the last day of a class trip to Paris.Atop the Eiffel Tower, Eve, 14, summons the nerve to tell Jace she likes him only to discover him kissing her best friend, Reggie. Eve witnesses pretty, popular Reggie buy a love lock to seal her romance with Jace from a mysterious palm reader, who gives Eve a key and cryptic advice. Later, Eve uses her key to open the lock and hurls it in the Seine. Next morning, she awakens to relive the awful day, the first of many repeats that lead her to focus on what she has power to change, including her reaction to her parents' imminent divorce. As each iteration brings new developments and oracular pronouncements from the palm reader, Eve discovers she's not the only one reliving that day. Borrowing a popular plot device familiar from the film Groundhog Day (1993) and studded with Parisian tourist-attraction references, the novel fails to persuade. Eve and the challenges she must overcome-parental divorce, unfamiliar foods, jealousy, and lack of empathy-are real but universal, too commonplace to merit occult intervention, the stakes too low to justify the effort. Repetition reinforces both the book's structural weaknesses and Eve's character flaws. Eve appears white; while a few names and references to skin color and/or hairstyle imply diversity, characters are largely interchangeable. A concluding paragraph hints at a sequel set in Rome.An overworn concept ineptly executed. (author's note) (Fantasy. 11-14)

Gr 5 Up-A humorous and heartwarming story of a teen navigating the challenges of her parents' divorce and being part of a military family. Eve is on the final day of a school trip to Europe with fellow students from her mother's military base in Germany. Her plan? To profess her love to her crush on the top of the Eiffel Tower. When things don't go according to plan, Eve's big day becomes more awkward than she could ever imagine. However, after a strange encounter with a fortune teller, Eve embarks on a Groundhog Day style journey towards building her confidence and discovering the power of friendship in times of struggle. Overall, this story encourages young readers to put friendship first, find support when things get tough, and embrace new experiences. The book is well organized, with each chapter featuring a repeat of the same catastrophic day through Eve's eyes. Building a support system is gently emphasized over pursuing a one-sided romantic relationship, as is the notion that trying new experiences can lead to deeper friendships and discovering new passions. VERDICT A great read for military children, kids of divorce, or any middle grade reader who needs encouragement and a reminder that they are capable of more than they realize. Julia McKenna, Jacksonville Univ., FL