Swear on This Life: A Novel
"Raw, real, and gripping." —Colleen Hoover
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers, a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.
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?
*Booklist's Top 10 Women’s Fiction of the Year * Goodreads Best Romance of August * Redbook.com’s 20 Books by Women You Must Read This Fall * Popsugar’s 21 Fiction Reads to Add to Your Fall Reading List * Bustle’s 11 Romance Books Perfect for Summer Beach Reading *
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers, a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.
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?
*Booklist's Top 10 Women’s Fiction of the Year * Goodreads Best Romance of August * Redbook.com’s 20 Books by Women You Must Read This Fall * Popsugar’s 21 Fiction Reads to Add to Your Fall Reading List * Bustle’s 11 Romance Books Perfect for Summer Beach Reading *
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Community Reviews
I’m leaning more towards a 4.75. I’ve never rated a book with an ending of “.25” or a “.75”. I’m just genuinely torn. This book was painstakingly close to a perfect rating for me.
Keep in mind, I’m partial to this story because I relate to Emiline in many ways. Including some aspects of her home life, abandonment issues, and with being in a strong emotional relationship at a young age.
I have personally been with my husband since we were both fifteen. I don’t want to go into too much detail about my past, but I have had to deal with an abusive alcoholic step dad, sexual abuse, abandonment, and the death of my mother by her own hand... all by the young age of nineteen. I, as well as many other kids who have had rough upbringings, have had to grow up at a younger age, just like the main character in this story, Emi.
I felt this was a beautifully told story that accurately represents what it’s like to be in an intense loving relationship, but society belittling your love because of your age.
“People call teenage relationships puppy love, but what Jackson and I had was far beyond that. We had a lifetime of moments that were meaningful, spiritual, and transcendent. We refused to reduce our love to some flippant expression based on our age.”
This story dives into the emotions that comes along with losing that connection with your first love, who you’ve shared so much of your heart. Emi in current day, has tried to cope with not seeing Jase for twelve years, but she finds herself unable to avoid him, in a huge way.
The premise makes the reader wonder, what would you do if your first love published your personal hardships for the world to see and judge.
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SPOILERS Below:
My only downfall with this story was that I didn’t feel 100% satisfied with the ending. I feel the juxtaposition of her hard life vs a perfectly tied up ending, didn’t completely sit right with me. I’m not wanting Emi to go through more struggles, but I think it just threw me a little off balanced.
Keep in mind, I’m partial to this story because I relate to Emiline in many ways. Including some aspects of her home life, abandonment issues, and with being in a strong emotional relationship at a young age.
I have personally been with my husband since we were both fifteen. I don’t want to go into too much detail about my past, but I have had to deal with an abusive alcoholic step dad, sexual abuse, abandonment, and the death of my mother by her own hand... all by the young age of nineteen. I, as well as many other kids who have had rough upbringings, have had to grow up at a younger age, just like the main character in this story, Emi.
I felt this was a beautifully told story that accurately represents what it’s like to be in an intense loving relationship, but society belittling your love because of your age.
“People call teenage relationships puppy love, but what Jackson and I had was far beyond that. We had a lifetime of moments that were meaningful, spiritual, and transcendent. We refused to reduce our love to some flippant expression based on our age.”
This story dives into the emotions that comes along with losing that connection with your first love, who you’ve shared so much of your heart. Emi in current day, has tried to cope with not seeing Jase for twelve years, but she finds herself unable to avoid him, in a huge way.
The premise makes the reader wonder, what would you do if your first love published your personal hardships for the world to see and judge.
•••
SPOILERS Below:
My only downfall with this story was that I didn’t feel 100% satisfied with the ending. I feel the juxtaposition of her hard life vs a perfectly tied up ending, didn’t completely sit right with me. I’m not wanting Emi to go through more struggles, but I think it just threw me a little off balanced.
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