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judeinthestars's review against another edition
5.0
[Edit: October 23rd 2019
Living is one of my favorite books this year, probably in my Top 5. I wouldn’t have read it again so soon since I remembered a lot. Which, as you’ll know if you have read my reviews before, is rather telling and totally unusual. Yet when the audiobook came out, narrated by TJ Richards, I couldn’t wait.
I really like TJ Richards’ narration style, and she did a great job here, once more. I never had any doubt as to who was talking (which happens too often), she had very distinctive and fitting voices for all the characters, especially the main ones. And there are small things that make the narration stand out, the way the characters breathe, the hesitations in their voices at times, very subtle details that make it really excellent. It’s especially true for Ella, I think.
As to the story itself, I still love it as much, still stand by every word I wrote in the review I wrote last August. And I love that what stands out once again at the end of the book is that feeling of hope.]
Let’s face it: I’m strong but I break easily. Depression, loss and suicide are not easy topics to read about. But my faith in Lise Gold and her ability to tackle them tactfully allowed me to give this book a try.
Here’s the thing, though. While they’re the reason Ella and Cam meet, these themes are not the whole story. They are like some sort of undercurrent, always there but not always felt, sometimes close to the surface, sometimes far away, forgotten. Just like in real life.
There’s something about Lise Gold’s books, some sort of inherent hope that makes even the most seemingly desperate situations feel like they can be overcome. Ella lost her twin sister to an accident two years ago. Her life has felt meaningless and empty since, and she’s convinced she can’t pretend anymore. Cam rescues her right in time. Not only does she take care of her, she doesn’t care that she’s famous, which makes Ella feel even safer, and, later on, loved.
There are many layers to this novel. It’s a reflection on mental health and how important getting help and finding the right therapist is but it’s also a celebrity romance, with Ella being a famous Hollywood actress who has to deal with an almost complete lack of privacy. And she has to come out at some point (btw, I’d love to see a movie with all the actresses who have come out in lesfic these last few years!).
I love that Ella is totally socially awkward, never having lived a normal life — she’s been in show-business since she was a toddler—, and is as nervous at the idea of meeting Cam’s best friend as said best friend is at meeting her, for example. There are small instances of this awkwardness that make her character even more endearing.
There are two things I consistently love in every book by [a:Lise Gold|16556448|Lise Gold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539200069p2/16556448.jpg] I have read so far. The first one is the characters. They’re all very sweet and real, and I get invested in their well-being very quickly. It’s very simple, really: I want them to be happy. The second thing is the way you get to travel all over the world. The way she describes landscapes and colors and sounds. I didn’t feel it as strongly with this one in part because I’ve been to Los Angeles and it wasn’t as new and exciting to me as Norway or Thailand (I had the same feeling with [b:French Summer|40382603|French Summer|Lise Gold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528142320l/40382603._SY75_.jpg|62683395], obviously), but also, probably, because the characters’ journey is more on the inside, this time. They are not crossing an ocean or moving from one continent to another. Yet the changes are there all the same.
As well as dealing with sensitive themes, which could have made for a sad and difficult book but didn’t, and celebrity, this is, in the end, mostly a love story between two women who meet in extraordinary circumstances yet don’t allow these circumstances to dictate their relationship nor their lives. It’s about coming back to life and all that’s beautiful in the world. I don’t always understand the titles authors choose for their books but this one is exactly right.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Living is one of my favorite books this year, probably in my Top 5. I wouldn’t have read it again so soon since I remembered a lot. Which, as you’ll know if you have read my reviews before, is rather telling and totally unusual. Yet when the audiobook came out, narrated by TJ Richards, I couldn’t wait.
I really like TJ Richards’ narration style, and she did a great job here, once more. I never had any doubt as to who was talking (which happens too often), she had very distinctive and fitting voices for all the characters, especially the main ones. And there are small things that make the narration stand out, the way the characters breathe, the hesitations in their voices at times, very subtle details that make it really excellent. It’s especially true for Ella, I think.
As to the story itself, I still love it as much, still stand by every word I wrote in the review I wrote last August. And I love that what stands out once again at the end of the book is that feeling of hope.]
Let’s face it: I’m strong but I break easily. Depression, loss and suicide are not easy topics to read about. But my faith in Lise Gold and her ability to tackle them tactfully allowed me to give this book a try.
Here’s the thing, though. While they’re the reason Ella and Cam meet, these themes are not the whole story. They are like some sort of undercurrent, always there but not always felt, sometimes close to the surface, sometimes far away, forgotten. Just like in real life.
There’s something about Lise Gold’s books, some sort of inherent hope that makes even the most seemingly desperate situations feel like they can be overcome. Ella lost her twin sister to an accident two years ago. Her life has felt meaningless and empty since, and she’s convinced she can’t pretend anymore. Cam rescues her right in time. Not only does she take care of her, she doesn’t care that she’s famous, which makes Ella feel even safer, and, later on, loved.
There are many layers to this novel. It’s a reflection on mental health and how important getting help and finding the right therapist is but it’s also a celebrity romance, with Ella being a famous Hollywood actress who has to deal with an almost complete lack of privacy. And she has to come out at some point (btw, I’d love to see a movie with all the actresses who have come out in lesfic these last few years!).
I love that Ella is totally socially awkward, never having lived a normal life — she’s been in show-business since she was a toddler—, and is as nervous at the idea of meeting Cam’s best friend as said best friend is at meeting her, for example. There are small instances of this awkwardness that make her character even more endearing.
There are two things I consistently love in every book by [a:Lise Gold|16556448|Lise Gold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539200069p2/16556448.jpg] I have read so far. The first one is the characters. They’re all very sweet and real, and I get invested in their well-being very quickly. It’s very simple, really: I want them to be happy. The second thing is the way you get to travel all over the world. The way she describes landscapes and colors and sounds. I didn’t feel it as strongly with this one in part because I’ve been to Los Angeles and it wasn’t as new and exciting to me as Norway or Thailand (I had the same feeling with [b:French Summer|40382603|French Summer|Lise Gold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528142320l/40382603._SY75_.jpg|62683395], obviously), but also, probably, because the characters’ journey is more on the inside, this time. They are not crossing an ocean or moving from one continent to another. Yet the changes are there all the same.
As well as dealing with sensitive themes, which could have made for a sad and difficult book but didn’t, and celebrity, this is, in the end, mostly a love story between two women who meet in extraordinary circumstances yet don’t allow these circumstances to dictate their relationship nor their lives. It’s about coming back to life and all that’s beautiful in the world. I don’t always understand the titles authors choose for their books but this one is exactly right.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
tyrostone's review against another edition
2.0
This book is a transparent, a blunt instrument acting as a PSA for therapy and taking care of your mental health. As such, it has good messages around mental health (specifically depression), but they are delivered in a very "tell me" instead of "show me" manner. And that's all well and good, it's great and important, even! But it alone does not a good book make.
Overall the mental health issues are handled wonderfully throughout the novel and I like that the conflict of the book is not ever about the conflict between the two protagonists - it's great seeing a romance novel portray a relationship where both parts of the pairing are consistently super nice to and supportive of one another.
That said, there wasn't a ton of personality to the characters other that "super nice to and supportive of one another" (maybe also "chill"). So much of their dialogue is unrealistic, as is how people behave (which I guess is the plot?). I couldn't stand the constant descriptions of their bodies (a.k.a reminders that they find each other physically attractive) and the sexy romance portions of the book I found so completely cliche and unrealistic that I basically skipped or hate-read every sex scene. Except for the beginning, nothing is ever all that difficult, obstacles just are overcome again and again, which leaves little tension (and without tension, it's just kind of boring).
Another one for the "why do I read romance if I don't really like it as a genre?" books
2.5 stars
Overall the mental health issues are handled wonderfully throughout the novel and I like that the conflict of the book is not ever about the conflict between the two protagonists - it's great seeing a romance novel portray a relationship where both parts of the pairing are consistently super nice to and supportive of one another.
That said, there wasn't a ton of personality to the characters other that "super nice to and supportive of one another" (maybe also "chill"). So much of their dialogue is unrealistic, as is how people behave (which I guess is the plot?). I couldn't stand the constant descriptions of their bodies (a.k.a reminders that they find each other physically attractive) and the sexy romance portions of the book I found so completely cliche and unrealistic that I basically skipped or hate-read every sex scene. Except for the beginning, nothing is ever all that difficult, obstacles just are overcome again and again, which leaves little tension (and without tension, it's just kind of boring).
Another one for the "why do I read romance if I don't really like it as a genre?" books
2.5 stars
lezreviewbooks's review
5.0
Cam Saunders is a yoga instructor who saves a woman attempting to commit suicide by walking into the sea. The woman in question is famous actress Ella Temperley who is suffering from deep depression after the death of her twin sister. Six months later and after working hard to recover, Ella goes back to meet Cam. The women become closer but, what happens when their friendship eventually turns into attraction?
It’s funny how you can get the wrong idea about a book based on your own perceptions of the cover and blurb. Even though I heard great things about this novel, I refused to read/listen to it because when I saw the suicide attempt theme I thought it was going to be a drama. I have to thank my friend and reviewer Jude from Jude in the Stars blog, for recommending it and assuring me that the drama was limited to a couple of chapters. She is right, this story is more a celebration of life than a depressing take on human suffering. It’s about finding love and hope in the strangest places.
I had only previously listened to one novella by this author, ‘Northern lights’, which was short and Christmas themed. Ms. Gold is a really good writer, photographic in her descriptions, natural-sounding in her dialogues, with well-written characters, and sizzling chemistry. This novel is very emotional but not melodramatic which is something I always appreciate. It’s good to read her insights about bereavement, coming-out, love and life.
The audiobook version is narrated by TJ Richards who did a fantastic job. I’ve previously listened to her narration of Clare Lydon’s ‘Twice in a lifetime’ which I also loved. Her interpretation of the different voices, especially in the main characters, is spot on. Ms. Richards is equally good in the emotional parts of the story as in the lighter, humorous ones. Even though she has narrated quite a few lesbian audiobooks, I think this narrator is a dark horse for the genre and one normally overlooked.
Not available on Scribd or Audible Escape but at 10 hours 31 minutes length it’s good value for your money.
Overall, a very sweet lesbian romance audiobook celebrating life. 5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
It’s funny how you can get the wrong idea about a book based on your own perceptions of the cover and blurb. Even though I heard great things about this novel, I refused to read/listen to it because when I saw the suicide attempt theme I thought it was going to be a drama. I have to thank my friend and reviewer Jude from Jude in the Stars blog, for recommending it and assuring me that the drama was limited to a couple of chapters. She is right, this story is more a celebration of life than a depressing take on human suffering. It’s about finding love and hope in the strangest places.
I had only previously listened to one novella by this author, ‘Northern lights’, which was short and Christmas themed. Ms. Gold is a really good writer, photographic in her descriptions, natural-sounding in her dialogues, with well-written characters, and sizzling chemistry. This novel is very emotional but not melodramatic which is something I always appreciate. It’s good to read her insights about bereavement, coming-out, love and life.
The audiobook version is narrated by TJ Richards who did a fantastic job. I’ve previously listened to her narration of Clare Lydon’s ‘Twice in a lifetime’ which I also loved. Her interpretation of the different voices, especially in the main characters, is spot on. Ms. Richards is equally good in the emotional parts of the story as in the lighter, humorous ones. Even though she has narrated quite a few lesbian audiobooks, I think this narrator is a dark horse for the genre and one normally overlooked.
Not available on Scribd or Audible Escape but at 10 hours 31 minutes length it’s good value for your money.
Overall, a very sweet lesbian romance audiobook celebrating life. 5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
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