Ratings11
Average rating3.6
"From USA TODAY bestselling author Renee Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she's the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel. When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn't thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer. Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio. That's because the novel is patterned on Emiline's own dark and desperate childhood, which means that "J. Colby" must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn't seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending. The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront "J. Colby," but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?"--
"When a young graduate student discovers she is the romantic inspiration behind a pseudonymously published literary sensation, she embarks on a search for the elusive writer in USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino's (Before We Were Strangers) modern love story that fans of Emily Giffin and Taylor Jenkins Reid will adore"--
Reviews with the most likes.
Points for getting me out of a reading funk and having some spark that made me want to continue reading it. The writing felt stilted and clich??d with occasional phrases that would take me out of the reading experience with their glibness. The characters lacked any real depth, for me, and the book scene flashbacks lost their novelty after a few chapters.
I honestly don't think I would have finished this book if it hadn't been for book club. The premise was interesting at first – a 20-something woman picks up a hit novel, only to discover it's about her and her life, written by her childhood friend and first love. It was interesting, until it turned into a totally cliche romance. The “chance” meetings were much too perfect, the dialogue was cheesy, and the characters were annoying. My favorite characters were actually the lesbian aunt and her partner, and they had a regrettably small part in the book! I'm giving this on 2 stars. It would be one if it wasn't for the interesting premise.
Find my full review at http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2017/04/mini-reviews/
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2,708 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...