whisperingchapters
Written on Jul 27, 2016
Some of us will look back on our lives and recall events that were a bit too perfect, but until you know the whole story, it’s impossible to see the universe at work, or even admit that there is something bigger than us, making sure everything that should happen does happen.
Emiline has been wanting to publish a book for a while, but every story she's written doesn't get positive feedback. Her roommate, mentor, and boyfriend advice to write something from the heart, to write about her life, but Em doesn't want to. One day, her roommate Cara gives Em a book that she just needs to read! As Emi reads, she realizes that she's reading about her past and she's the main character. Aside from her, there's only one other person who knows her well enough to write a story in her perspective, and that's someone she hasn't talked to in years.
If you couldn't tell by my rating, I'll let you know now: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I read 85% of this book in ONE sitting! I only put it down because it was very late and I needed to sleep. But as soon as I woke up, I picked it up and kept reading until I finished it. It was hard to put down when the story begged to be read.
"Our story is great. Maybe not all the other shit, but the story of us is perfect, Em."
I had read the synopsis back when I requested the book, but when I started reading it, I had forgotten all what it was about. It's safe to say I went in blind and I'm so happy I did! The first half of the first chapter was a tad off-putting. The other half had me full on submerged in the story and the rest is history.
Renée did a fantastic job in giving alternating past and present. She intertwined them so beautifully that it felt like they were one (that's a major compliment). The present story-line is told from Em's perspective, and the past story-line is told through Em's perspective but from J. Colby, the author of the book about Em's life. Yes, you read that right. You'll be reading a book about a book, and let me tell you, it's the best thing ever!
He was going to drag me all the way through my painful past, steal my story, and not even dedicate the damn book to me.
Em's and Jase's pasts were tragically beautiful. They found solace in each other—a safe haven—at a very young age, when they didn't have anyone else. They became the best of friends until their friendship evolved into so much more. In their world, they were the only ones that existed and they made sure to show love, care and kindness to one another.
We didn’t know it at the time, but we were lovesick. Our innocence was beautiful, impossible to capture again, impossible to re-create.
Jase was so patient waiting for Em to read their story in the book. Em was so mad when he changed the ending, but both Jase and Cara kept telling her to reach the ending. Em took her sweet time doing that, but Jase persisted because his love for her never ceased. He was waiting for his first love to return to him.
"Just being near you is enough for me for now."
Overall, Swear on this Life is an engrossing, heartfelt, and unique second-chance love story that's so beautifully written.
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This 4.5 latte's review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.