Oh do I have a lovely book for you today! I honestly adored everything about this beautiful book. If you haven’t read this one yet, you are in for such a treat!
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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?
My Thoughts:
(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)
5 Stars
This is one absolutely beautiful book. I loved everything about it from the first to the last page.
The characters, the settings, the plot, all of it…just beautiful. So well written, so well developed. Both stories told in this book (present and past) were equally interesting and captivating. Usually I prefer one story to the other but not in this case…they both held my attention and kept me interested the entire time.
I couldn’t imagine how Carlino would be able to tie all of the complicated aspects of these 2 stories up in the end and she did it perfectly! I loved the ending….and the middle….and the beginning.
I highly, highly recommend this book. You will love it and and won’t be able to stop thinking about it long after you finish reading.
Bottom Line:
Beautiful. In every way.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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Book Coffee Happy 
Love your blog. Thanks for the recommendations. I made a New Years resolution a few years ago to stop buying books, but to use the library instead. Have loved libraries since I was a kid, a long time ago. This is the only resolution I have ever kept. Was just able to get this book on Overdrive from Northbrook library. Next up to read. Thanks again.
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Love this comment! Thank you so much! Libraries are so amazing, aren’t they? I would love to hear your thoughts on this book 🙂 Hope you are loving it!
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Thanks for the recommendation!
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Have you not read this? Oh you MUST!
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Thanks Jenny. I’ll check it out. I wasn’t familiar with this author but, thanks to you, I may have found something I can read and then gift to my wife.
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🙂
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