Opposite of Always

Jack and Kate live in different towns and are at different levels in their education and life experience. Considering these differences, discuss how the setting influences their relationship and the book’s messages about relationships. How do different settings—such as Kate’s dorm, the hospital, and Jack’s home—connect to the characters’ interactions and arcs?

The author never confirms the real reason time keeps resetting for Jack. Analyze what potential reasons the text suggests, using evidence to support these theories. How does the ultimate ambiguity influence the book’s themes, particularly Loving Someone with a Chronic Illness? What is the narrative effect of Justin A. Reynolds leaving this detail unresolved at the novel’s end?

What events in the narrative led Jack to change his future career plans as a writer, and why? How does this change contribute to the lessons Jack learns about time and love?