Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino on August 9, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
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From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée 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?
“It could be the best thing for us, after it stops being the worst.”
What would you do if you could write the story of your life? I don’t even know what to say about this book. This is a story within a story. This second chance romance will not be one that you are easily able to forget. This is one of those reads that will stay with you well after you finish the last chapter. I loved this book and everything about it. It has effortlessly made its way to one of my top reads.
Swear on this Life is a heartbreakingly beautiful narrative with realistically endearing characters. Jase and Emiline. Emerson and Jackson. It’s about the beauty of simplicity. It’s about pure love, a love that makes you hope. It’s an intense story about childhood friends who grow apart. It’s about the past and about the present. Ms. Carlino has done a remarkable job of telling a unique story in an unparalleled manner. It was heart wrenching and uplifting all at the same time. This is a must read for anyone who loves a well thought out plot and beautifully crafted words.
“Isn’t it weird that we had nothing at the time… but somehow it felt like we had everything?”
This story was everything.
About Renee Carlino
Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women’s novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.
