mrs_mander_reads
Written on Jul 26, 2020
What do you do when you’ve fallen for your best friend? Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.
Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.
Which is where the list comes in.
Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.
But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems . . . and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.
- ISBN10 006267577X
- ISBN13 9780062675774
- Publish Date 26 December 2017
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Collins
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 384
- Language English
Reviews
Kat @ Novels & Waffles
Written on May 5, 2019
Things I Liked:
✑ It's easy to get into → it doesn't make you think too much. (It's the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump.)
✑ Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy...this book could cosplay as a puppy or a cloud for all the fluffiness that was included in it
✑ Friends-to-Lovers trope = 💛💛💛
✑ Agoraphobia Representation
✑ I could really relate to Abby's crushing self doubt
✑ The audiobook reader did a great job at capturing the voice of Abby and creating a mood that fit the writing style of the book
Things I Liked... Less:
✑ Pretty predictable, no real plot twists
✑ A bit cringey at times
✑ The last scene of the book was unnecessary and anticlimactic
✑ It was just...meh. Nothing too special, but nothing too horrible
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kymmiejournals
Written on May 29, 2018
I've never experienced falling in love with a guy best friend ('cause I don't have one and I know it's 3/10 statistics that a boy and a girl can only be bff and no emotions or whatsoever) , so I wouldn't understand Cooper's feelings... Yes, Cooper! Abby is like every other girls, admit feelings - gets rejected - got hurt - moved on - try again and it's normal. But for Cooper, I don't know why he had to be a coward and keeps pushing Abby away. The story is plain, talks about a lot of art, paintings, museum, gallery which Abby loves and is determined to get her masterpiece presented in the museum she's working at. Abby's personality is strong and knows what she wants. I like the idea behind of what they came up with about "witnessing life to come" and they went to see a sunrise. The author's description of waiting for the sun to come up is beautiful and you can imagine that you're also witnessing a sunrise.
ladygrey
Written on Feb 10, 2018
Joséphine
Written on Jan 28, 2018
Initial thoughts: Kasie West books tend to be rather formulaic YA contemporary romance novels. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as she writes them well and you know what you're in for. They're books to turn to for comforting, feel-good stories. Love, Life, and the List lived up to those expectations, even if it wasn't the most original one. What I liked, though, was that in her latest novel, the relationships were a little messier than in previous ones. There still was that happily ever after but it was tougher for the MC to get there.
liz089
Written on Jan 5, 2018
In the end things finally came together and it was all happy and fluffy... But it is not one I had a lot of feelings with...
3 stars
Sam@WLABB
Written on Dec 3, 2017
This is the Kasie West I love!!! I loved Abby and all her sarcastic wit, and loved seeing her change and grow via "the list". Right now, I am just going to bask in all the happy feelings I am feeling.
Love, Life, and the List, was one of my Can't-Wait Wednesday picks back in October, and I am happy to report, that this book delivered beyond my expectations. Here is my "Heart List" sharing all the reasons why I loved this book so much:
•Abby was my kind of girl, as she was fluent in my mother tongue, sarcasm. There were so many fabulous verbal exchanges in this book, and I found myself constantly laughing. I also admired Abby's drive and ambition. She wanted something, she set a goal, and she took steps to make it happen. These steps forced her outside of her comfort zone, but she knew she had to push herself if she really wanted to achieve her artistic dreams.
•When they said the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, they definitely had Abby's grandfather in mind. I could absolutely tell where Abby learned the fine art of sarcasm from after reading the exchanges between her and her grandfather. They were adorable. I have a special soft spot for grandparents and really adored the relationship Abby had with her grandpa.
•Grandpa wasn't the only fabulous family member in this book, mom and dad were pretty great too. Abby's dad was in the Army, so most of her communication with her dad was via email or Skype. Their exchanges were very fun and sweet. I won't lie, her parents made a few mistakes in this book, but the one thing I did not doubt, was how much they loved her.
•The friendship between Cooper and Abby was very genuine. They went way back and were very comfortable with each other, and I really enjoyed being around the two of them.
•I really enjoyed all the sites West took me to. I was especially fond of the Underground Gardens and hope to actually see them some day.
•THE LIST! The whole way the list was constructed was very endearing. Abby picked a trait that she admired about each person in her inner circle, and she developed a challenge to demonstrate that trait. So sweet, right? I also liked the results of the list. Abby was trying new things, spreading her wings, making new friends. It made me happy to see her broaden her horizons.
•Endings count for a lot with me, and you can call me a sap, but I got all squishy from the ending of this book.
Overall: This was a book that lived up to the hype in my head. It made me smile, swoon, and laugh, but most of all, it made me happy.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
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Rowena
Written on Dec 2, 2017
Abby Turner is going to be a senior in high school but it’s summertime and she has plans to try to get into an art show that is put on by the local museum, that she just so happens to work at. She’s got a lot going on but more than anything, she wants a shot at showcasing her art and she’ll do whatever she has to, to get a shot at her dreams. Her home life isn’t the most ideal with a father in the military and overseas, a mother who has anxiety about everything under the sun but at least she’s got her Grandfather. A grandfather who loves and supports her through everything.
On top of everything that she’s got going on, Abby is also dealing with unrequited love. She has been in love with her best friend, Cooper for a while now and is still feeling the rejection he threw her way when she confessed her feelings for him. Not wanting to lose him, Abby played it off and has been stuck in the friend zone ever since. She’s trying to put herself firmly in the friend zone but her heart wants her best friend and being around Cooper isn’t getting any easier.
When Abby gets some bad news about her art and her chances of getting into the art show she was gunning for, a list is born. A list of experiences she feels she needs to have to give her art the heart that her boss is looking for. Since it’s just her and Cooper for the summer, Cooper is roped into helping Abby with the list and the adventure begins!
This was a quick read but Kasie West packs a punch, and it was a punch that I delighted in. I enjoyed Abby’s character a lot more than I’ve enjoyed the last few West protagonists and I was happy about that. Abby was young but she was smart and she was strong and I loved the hell out of her. It was nice to see a young character who was mature for her age but still acted her age if that makes any sense. I was cheering Abby on from the jump and seeing her go through the list and accomplish all of her small goals and then seeing her experience heartache with a boy that just would not leave her heart made for an emotional read. My heart hurt for her and I got a little teary-eyed when she realizes that something has to change or she’ll never be completely happy and gah, it was just a great coming of age story that I connected with on almost every level.
You know, a lot of the early reviews talk smack about the love interest in this book. The reviews that I read weren’t fans of him and that was not me at all. I adored him. Throughout the entire book, you can see that he loves Abby, his actions spoke louder than him not saying anything to Abby and that had a lot to do with why it was hard for Abby to move on. So I liked seeing them fumble around until they finally got it right.
Overall, this book was a good one. I adored pretty much everything about it though there were things here and there that I could have done without. Kasie West continues to shine in my eyes and as always, I’m looking forward to more from her. I definitely recommend this book to those in search of a sweet, contemporary YA romance with heart. This fits the bill, for sure.
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
Ashley
Written on Sep 16, 2017
Amber
Written on Jul 9, 2017
I was actually pleasantly surprised by this one! It wasn’t up to her previous standards. I think her earlier contemporary books are her strongest. But I did enjoy Love, Life, and the List for the most part. It was cute.
I really liked the ship, right up until the end. The best friends to bf/gf thing was really sweet, and seeing the main character realise her feelings was kind of adorable. That said, I wish West had left the romance how it was about two thirds of the way through. She switched things up and backtracked and I was a bit disappointed because I thought this book was going to have a unique ending. Oh well.
I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a fast contemporary read. It’s probably good for the summer.