Reviews

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

angelsrock's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

_thatbooklife's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

meigothic's review against another edition

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3.0

On the Island has been on my radar for a LONG while as many have recommended it for reverse age gap. I have to say, while I did expect a slow burn with how young TJ is at first (16)
Spoilerand nothing intimate happens until he is 18/19 though
, I didn't expect anywhere near as much about the survival part.

spclteach's review against another edition

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4.0

Amazing

If you like romance, this is the book for you. I didn't put it down. Great story and characters. Keep reading.

mnwakeford's review against another edition

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5.0

Ok, so first of all, the plot was wildly unrealistic. Doesn't matter, because this book does exactly what it says on the tin. It's a page turner. It's the ideal summer beach read. Our two main characters are stranded on a deserted island Robinson Crusoe style and have to fight the odds to survive. She's 30 and he's 16, so naturally, the romance isn't going to happen straight away, which is fine. They spend three years on the island and stuff happens eventually...
As I said, not a particularly realistic plot, but the romance was moving and sweet, and I binged it in a day. Though if you're looking for spice, then this is probably not the book for you.

tadams_sg's review against another edition

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5.0

This book exceeded my expectations. I was so enthralled by the story that I finished this book in 2 days. It was a fast, easy, and super entertaining read. I loved it!

alicebme's review against another edition

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2.0

Dinner Book Club book recommended by K. If you've ever wondered, "What if Brian from Hatchet was a smidge older and crashed with a foxy older woman? this is the book for you.
It's a great example of a book that gives the characters everything they need, and I bet some readers really love that. It was word candy. I ate it up, but it wasn't satisfying or anything. Meh.

bitchie's review against another edition

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5.0

Ok. First things first.I used to be Smut Bitch, now I'm just Bitchie. So if this review looks familiar, that's why. I also posted this review on Amazon under diremommy.

Now, on to the review:

I know it's early yet, but a book is going to be hard pressed to knock this out of the "Year's Best" slot for me. It had a slow build up (but by no means SLOW, if that makes sense) at times heart wrenching, sweet, even inspiring.

T.J has spent the last year and a half battling cancer. He missed school, he missed his friends, and all he wants to do this summer is just hang out, and be a kid. His parents, however, have other ideas. They want to spend this summer as a family, and they want T.J. to get caught up on his school work, so he doesn't have to repeat a grade. They hire high school teacher Anna to tutor him, and she agrees to go with them on vacation to somewhere tropical that I'm sorry to say, I can't spell.

T.J and Anna are just starting to get acquainted when the unthinkable happens. After hours spent between plane rides and in airports, mechanical difficulties and most, the two are finally almost there. Just two hours away, and they end up the only passengers on a small seaplane. The pilot has a heart attack during the flight, and the plane goes down over the ocean. Anna is completely out of it, but T.J. manages to get them to shore, and takes care of Anna until she is feeling better.

Together, they go through several stages- horror, grief, loneliness, and finally acceptance that this is their reality now. As the years go by, T.J. grows into a remarkable man, and the age difference starts to seem unimportant to Anna, who fights her feelings for T.J. for a long time. When they finally do get together, it doesn't feel rushed or inappropriate at all, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

These two go through so much together On The Island. They learn to adapt, and as things from their crashed plane begin to wash up on shore, they build a life together, only to suffer loss more than once. Finally, after several years, a tragedy leads to rescue, and then Anna and T.J. have to see if what they had on the island can last in the real world.

This is one of the best books I have read in ages. I picked it up, intending to read a few chapters, but found myself unable to put it down, and read the whole thing through in just one sitting. It is probably a book I will re-read often. If I hadn't looked after finishing it, I never would have guessed that this book was self pubbed OR the author's first book, it is just that good. Even the editing, spelling and grammar that so often plagues indie books was flawless in this one, or so much so that I didn't notice anything.

suzyq436's review against another edition

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5.0

This is as good as everyone says it is! It deserves all the hype!