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?
Blurb taken from Goodreads.
✼
I'd had Swear On This Life, as well as another of Carlino's novels, on my bookshelf for almost two years. They sounded like exactly the kind of books that I would love; sweet, gentle, and focused on romance. Just the kind of story that would be perfect to read in the summer sun. I decided to take Swear On This Life on holiday with me.
As soon as I started reading, I couldn't put it down, and I finished the whole story in one sitting. It had an interesting structure, cutting back and forth between the novel that the mysterious J. Colby had written, and Emiline's own life as she reacts to reading it. It took me a little while to get into switching back and forth, especially because the story I was most intrigued by - Emiline's story within the present - had to take a back seat while the novel set the scene. But it didn't take me long to be completely absorbed by the story, and the connection between these characters. This is a story of a really special love between two people, and it warmed my heart to read it.
I couldn't give it anything other than five stars.
As soon as I started reading, I couldn't put it down, and I finished the whole story in one sitting. It had an interesting structure, cutting back and forth between the novel that the mysterious J. Colby had written, and Emiline's own life as she reacts to reading it. It took me a little while to get into switching back and forth, especially because the story I was most intrigued by - Emiline's story within the present - had to take a back seat while the novel set the scene. But it didn't take me long to be completely absorbed by the story, and the connection between these characters. This is a story of a really special love between two people, and it warmed my heart to read it.
I couldn't give it anything other than five stars.
Rating: ✫✫✫✫✫
SPOILER ALERT
The Structure
It's not uncommon for me to hate books like this, with a dual story running through it. You end up enjoying one half of the story more than the other, and then you can't help but feel, even if the other half was perfectly enjoyable, that there is a 'bad' half; a half that lets the other side down. A half that you tolerate a little bit to get to the bits you love more. It's totally psychological, but it's also inevitable.
I did initially feel a little like that with this book as well. I wanted to read about the real life 'Em' rather than the fictional one. It took me a little while to see why the book needed to take precedence in the early stages of Carlino's novel, but the further I delved into the story, the more I understood why this was necessary. The reader needs to have a substantial understanding of the relationship between Emiline and Jase if they are to appreciate the events that followed for them. Only after this is established can the real life Em explore her own story and the aftermath of the book release.
The fictional book did take up a substantial amount of the story, and I really wish there had been more scenes about her life in the present, and interactions with the people who have had an impact on her. But this comes not from a place of criticism, and more from the feeling of being so invested in her story that I was desperate for more! In reality, I think it was balanced really well.
The Story
Well. This story was the cutest. I love books that revolve around a love story, and everything about this story was adorable. The love between Em and Jase is powerful, and it's clear to see that throughout the novel. Reading the book that Jase wrote about their childhood together served very well its purpose of making me root for the couple, and this was enhanced beautifully by the parts that featured the 'real-life' pair.
I actually enjoyed the 'novel' part of the story when I got into it; far more than I thought I would. The further you get into their complicated history, the more you can't help but appreciate how necessary it was to hear about it before really reading about the couple in their adulthood. I also felt that it was great in setting up Em's healing in the latter stages of the book. It was brutal to read some of Jase's novel, and the hardships they'd experienced together, but it allowed for so much depth in the story. Seeing the fictional characters Jase wrote about put into context in reality was really interesting, as you could see the way their real personalities had been exaggerated in his world. The most important example, of course, was Emiline's meeting with her father. This was a form of closure that she evidently needed, and he was clearly a very different man to who he had been; the man that Jase had painted. I thought the interaction between them was sweet, and it was actually one of the highlights of the book for me. The way he wanted to thank Jase was also sweet. The fictional book really set these later parts of the story well, ensuring they would be impactful as the emotional and heart-wrenching scenes they are.
But really, it's all about Emiline and Jase, isn't it? How she was still with Trevor baffled me to begin with, let alone when Jase came back onto the scene! Every scene between the two of them lit up the page, and I was desperate to read more about them. I think, given the amount of attention given to the book Jase has written, it would have been worth having more scenes in their adult lives, to elaborate on the way they reconnected. Their relationship runs deep, and so much more could have been made of exploring it. Nonetheless, I do also appreciate that part of the beauty of this book does lie in its simplicity. It's the little moments between them that set the book alight, and to overdo this would be dangerous. As much as I would have loved a more fleshed out story of how they found their way back together, Carlino actually got the balance of the plot pretty perfect. Every moment was beautiful.
And, of course, let's just take a second to appreciate the perfect fictional character that is Jase. He wrote an entire book just to win back the girl he was in love with, and waited for her to find it, read it, and find him. Not to mention the little note at the end of the book that essentially tells Emiline that he's been waiting for her his whole life. A true romantic, and I loved that he had faith in the fact that she was his true love. He played the long game, allowing her to take the time she needed, and then he won.
I'll definitely be reading more by Renĕe Carlino in the future.
I actually enjoyed the 'novel' part of the story when I got into it; far more than I thought I would. The further you get into their complicated history, the more you can't help but appreciate how necessary it was to hear about it before really reading about the couple in their adulthood. I also felt that it was great in setting up Em's healing in the latter stages of the book. It was brutal to read some of Jase's novel, and the hardships they'd experienced together, but it allowed for so much depth in the story. Seeing the fictional characters Jase wrote about put into context in reality was really interesting, as you could see the way their real personalities had been exaggerated in his world. The most important example, of course, was Emiline's meeting with her father. This was a form of closure that she evidently needed, and he was clearly a very different man to who he had been; the man that Jase had painted. I thought the interaction between them was sweet, and it was actually one of the highlights of the book for me. The way he wanted to thank Jase was also sweet. The fictional book really set these later parts of the story well, ensuring they would be impactful as the emotional and heart-wrenching scenes they are.
But really, it's all about Emiline and Jase, isn't it? How she was still with Trevor baffled me to begin with, let alone when Jase came back onto the scene! Every scene between the two of them lit up the page, and I was desperate to read more about them. I think, given the amount of attention given to the book Jase has written, it would have been worth having more scenes in their adult lives, to elaborate on the way they reconnected. Their relationship runs deep, and so much more could have been made of exploring it. Nonetheless, I do also appreciate that part of the beauty of this book does lie in its simplicity. It's the little moments between them that set the book alight, and to overdo this would be dangerous. As much as I would have loved a more fleshed out story of how they found their way back together, Carlino actually got the balance of the plot pretty perfect. Every moment was beautiful.
And, of course, let's just take a second to appreciate the perfect fictional character that is Jase. He wrote an entire book just to win back the girl he was in love with, and waited for her to find it, read it, and find him. Not to mention the little note at the end of the book that essentially tells Emiline that he's been waiting for her his whole life. A true romantic, and I loved that he had faith in the fact that she was his true love. He played the long game, allowing her to take the time she needed, and then he won.
The Verdict
This book is beautiful. And okay, anybody who reads my reviews knows that I am a sucker for a story about love. But this took it to the next level. Because although it was crazy, magical, fictional love, isn't that something we all want? We all want somebody to love us that much. We all want the magical story, and a partner who will do anything for us. We all want someone who makes an effort with their gestures, and who warms our heart.
I used to believe that that was all fiction, and that love like that didn't exist in real life. Now, I think it does. We just have to find it. Emiline and Jase teach us that you can have everything you want; it just might take some time. And that's okay - it's worth it.
I'll definitely be reading more by Renĕe Carlino in the future.
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