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On the Island #1
On the Island
When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.
T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family—and a stack of overdue assignments—instead of his friends.
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.
Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.
T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family—and a stack of overdue assignments—instead of his friends.
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.
Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.
328 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2011
About the author
Tracey Garvis Graves
10 books6,693 followersTracey Garvis Graves is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into thirty-six languages, and is in development for a feature film. She is also the author of Uncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, Cherish, Heart-Shaped Hack, White-Hot Hack, The Girl He Used to Know, Heard It in a Love Song, and The Trail of Lost Hearts. She is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,960 reviews
December 26, 2012
Wow. 5.5 stars!! (New review - edited after re-read)
LOVE LOVE LOVED this absolutely beautiful , unique and unforgettable story about survival and love.
Its well-written, riveting and heartfelt. The HEA ending is just perfect with an epilogue that brought the happiest tears to my eyes. I honestly don’t have one single complaint to make about the this book.
One of my top favorite reads ever!
I just finished reading it for the second time. I read it once a year ago and absolutely adored it but it was in my pre-review writing days and so, now that I’ve re-read it, I just wanted to tell you all how much I absolutely adored this story.
Its one of those stories that reminds you that true love can be found in the least likely of places and that, no matter what other people think, you should always follow your heart.
When an unfortunate plane crash strands them together on a small uninhabited island in the Maldives, 16-year-old TJ, a high school student in remission from cancer, and his 30-year-old summer tutor Anna are forced to depend on each other for survival as they wait to be rescued.
And wait.
And wait and wait and wait.
Weeks turn to months and eventually to years with no sign of rescue on the horizon.
But as their time on the island passes, Anna is faced with the reality that the boy she came to the island with is now becoming a man.
First of all you need to know that TJ isn’t like most other teens. He feels about twice as old as he is. Seriously, when you ‘meet’ him, you’ll understand. The events of his life have matured him far beyond his years and he so incredibly sure of his feelings that it is guaranteed to melt your heart.
For those of you who are wondering if the age difference makes their relationship feel at all weird, I promise, it absolutely does not . Cross my heart. They don’t get physically involved until he is almost 19-years-old so there is never an ‘underage’ issue. Watching them slowly fall for each other as he got much older was beautifully written, plausibly paced and never rushed. And if you read the book, you’ll see without question that they really, truly belong together.
“I love you, Anna.”
The surprised look on her face told me she hadn’t seen that coming.
“You weren’t supposed to fall in love,” she whispered.
“Well, I did,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I’ve been in love with you for months. I’m telling you now because I think you love me too, Anna. You just don’t think you’re supposed to. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I can wait.”
The author is a brilliantly gifted story-teller who perfectly captures and portrays intensity of the situation that Anna and TJ went though – depending on each other, supporting each other, saving each other.
The book is told in alternating chapter POV’s between Anna and TJ. It is done very seamlessly allowing the reader a chance to really get into the minds of both the main character – something vital given the nature of the storyline.
Its one of those incredibly written books that you never want to put down – where you are immersed in the story and connected to the characters right from the beginning.
Another thing that you should know is that TJ’s cancer does not come back. This not a story about that. I’ve heard some people say that that held them back from wanting to read this book so I’d like to dispel that worry here. This is a beautiful love story with a very happy ending!!
"I kissed her as soon as we were inside her apartment, and I wasn’t gentle about it, holding her face firmly in my hands and pressing my lips hard against hers. She wasn’t anyone’s to own – I knew that – but right then she was mine.”
If you haven’t yet read it, trust me, its worth bumping to the very top of your lists!!
I know I’ll be rereading it many times for years to come <3
CASTING:
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
And come join the Aestas Book Blog Facebook Page
LOVE LOVE LOVED this absolutely beautiful , unique and unforgettable story about survival and love.
Its well-written, riveting and heartfelt. The HEA ending is just perfect with an epilogue that brought the happiest tears to my eyes. I honestly don’t have one single complaint to make about the this book.
One of my top favorite reads ever!
I just finished reading it for the second time. I read it once a year ago and absolutely adored it but it was in my pre-review writing days and so, now that I’ve re-read it, I just wanted to tell you all how much I absolutely adored this story.
Its one of those stories that reminds you that true love can be found in the least likely of places and that, no matter what other people think, you should always follow your heart.
When an unfortunate plane crash strands them together on a small uninhabited island in the Maldives, 16-year-old TJ, a high school student in remission from cancer, and his 30-year-old summer tutor Anna are forced to depend on each other for survival as they wait to be rescued.
And wait.
And wait and wait and wait.
Weeks turn to months and eventually to years with no sign of rescue on the horizon.
But as their time on the island passes, Anna is faced with the reality that the boy she came to the island with is now becoming a man.
First of all you need to know that TJ isn’t like most other teens. He feels about twice as old as he is. Seriously, when you ‘meet’ him, you’ll understand. The events of his life have matured him far beyond his years and he so incredibly sure of his feelings that it is guaranteed to melt your heart.
For those of you who are wondering if the age difference makes their relationship feel at all weird, I promise, it absolutely does not . Cross my heart. They don’t get physically involved until he is almost 19-years-old so there is never an ‘underage’ issue. Watching them slowly fall for each other as he got much older was beautifully written, plausibly paced and never rushed. And if you read the book, you’ll see without question that they really, truly belong together.
“I love you, Anna.”
The surprised look on her face told me she hadn’t seen that coming.
“You weren’t supposed to fall in love,” she whispered.
“Well, I did,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I’ve been in love with you for months. I’m telling you now because I think you love me too, Anna. You just don’t think you’re supposed to. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I can wait.”
The author is a brilliantly gifted story-teller who perfectly captures and portrays intensity of the situation that Anna and TJ went though – depending on each other, supporting each other, saving each other.
The book is told in alternating chapter POV’s between Anna and TJ. It is done very seamlessly allowing the reader a chance to really get into the minds of both the main character – something vital given the nature of the storyline.
Its one of those incredibly written books that you never want to put down – where you are immersed in the story and connected to the characters right from the beginning.
Another thing that you should know is that TJ’s cancer does not come back. This not a story about that. I’ve heard some people say that that held them back from wanting to read this book so I’d like to dispel that worry here. This is a beautiful love story with a very happy ending!!
"I kissed her as soon as we were inside her apartment, and I wasn’t gentle about it, holding her face firmly in my hands and pressing my lips hard against hers. She wasn’t anyone’s to own – I knew that – but right then she was mine.”
If you haven’t yet read it, trust me, its worth bumping to the very top of your lists!!
I know I’ll be rereading it many times for years to come <3
CASTING:
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
And come join the Aestas Book Blog Facebook Page
September 7, 2018
“It would always be summer on the island.”
This was such a warm book hug *heart eyes*
_____________
The Plot
I'm late to the love for this book.
On The Island has been on my tbr for the longest of time for one thing and one thing only; the premise. The story that Graves writes is so one-of-a-kind and unique (which is pretty hard to find in the Romance genre) that it begs it's readers to give it a go.
Anna Emerson is a thirty year old teacher that flies to the Maldives with her summer tutor student - seventeen year old T.J Callahan. Packing her bags and leaving behind her boyfriend, John she hopes on a plane with her whole summer planned.
When they find out they have to take a sea plane into the island, their plans get changed. Then when the pilot suffers from cardiac arrest, both T.J and Anna realize that they're about to crash land in the middle of the ocean. (Re-writing the plot for this, makes me want to dive right back into it... pun intended)
Anna and T.J survive the crash but have to learn to survive in isolation on an island. All they have are the clothes on their backs and each other. The story follows their fight for survival, it is a coming of age in the sense both characters develop in different manners. Stuck on an island, learning how to find food, water and shelter is hard enough... and as nobody seems to be coming and saving them - they build a trust too.
Little Gems
There was so much packed into this book.
Humor, love, survival, grief, growing up... It was such a wonderful treat to sit down with some chocolates and just escape. Although, the writing was mediocre - the author really does a good job with imagery and you end up being on the island with Anna and T.J.
I read this in one sitting and it was like having a hot chocolate on a cold wintry night. This review seriously is filled with so many chocolate references... I guess, that should really just prove how I enjoyed it!
One thing I enjoyed was the humor through the tragic. T.J is a cancer patient and their situation is so fragile. The pacing and the timing for when their bond started to form into friendship and later more, was so perfectly planned. It didn't feel too fast or too slow. I was skeptical about how the writer would pull of the age gap (also cheers for showing that women can be older too!) but it was done so meticulously!
I wish I read this sooner and during the time my GR friends did. I would have loved to seen the hype for this grow and see more and more people fall in love on the island <3
This was such a warm book hug *heart eyes*
_____________
The Plot
I'm late to the love for this book.
On The Island has been on my tbr for the longest of time for one thing and one thing only; the premise. The story that Graves writes is so one-of-a-kind and unique (which is pretty hard to find in the Romance genre) that it begs it's readers to give it a go.
“I don't fit in your world."
"Neither do I," he said, his expression tender yet resolute. "So let's make our own. We've done it before.”
Anna Emerson is a thirty year old teacher that flies to the Maldives with her summer tutor student - seventeen year old T.J Callahan. Packing her bags and leaving behind her boyfriend, John she hopes on a plane with her whole summer planned.
When they find out they have to take a sea plane into the island, their plans get changed. Then when the pilot suffers from cardiac arrest, both T.J and Anna realize that they're about to crash land in the middle of the ocean. (Re-writing the plot for this, makes me want to dive right back into it... pun intended)
Anna and T.J survive the crash but have to learn to survive in isolation on an island. All they have are the clothes on their backs and each other. The story follows their fight for survival, it is a coming of age in the sense both characters develop in different manners. Stuck on an island, learning how to find food, water and shelter is hard enough... and as nobody seems to be coming and saving them - they build a trust too.
“Don’t let go,” I whispered.
“I wasn’t going to.”
Little Gems
There was so much packed into this book.
Humor, love, survival, grief, growing up... It was such a wonderful treat to sit down with some chocolates and just escape. Although, the writing was mediocre - the author really does a good job with imagery and you end up being on the island with Anna and T.J.
I read this in one sitting and it was like having a hot chocolate on a cold wintry night. This review seriously is filled with so many chocolate references... I guess, that should really just prove how I enjoyed it!
“I woke up with a hard-on.
I usually did, and it wasn’t like I had any control over it. Now that we weren’t almost dead, my body must have decided all systems were a go. ”
One thing I enjoyed was the humor through the tragic. T.J is a cancer patient and their situation is so fragile. The pacing and the timing for when their bond started to form into friendship and later more, was so perfectly planned. It didn't feel too fast or too slow. I was skeptical about how the writer would pull of the age gap (also cheers for showing that women can be older too!) but it was done so meticulously!
I wish I read this sooner and during the time my GR friends did. I would have loved to seen the hype for this grow and see more and more people fall in love on the island <3
“You named the chicken, Chicken?"
She looked embarrassed. "When we decided not to kill it, I got attached.”
November 13, 2015
Yes! This book is getting all the stars!
Anna is a thirty year old teacher who has agreed to tutor a 17 year old that has recently gone into remission from cancer. The treatments caused him to get behind at school so his family decides to spend the summer with a tutor to catch him up. This family has some cash though so they are headed to their summer rental in the Maldives.
The family has already left leaving Anna and her student TJ to join them. The small plane that is taking them to join the family though has some problems and the pilot ends up having an heart attack during the trip. Their plane crashes.
Anna and TJ end up shipwrecked together, hoping that a rescue plane is on the way.
I LOVE THESE KINDS OF STORIES!! WOOT!
There are so many islands in this chain of islands though that no one lives on and they end up on one of them. They must find some way to survive on the island, no water, no food.
Just each other.
TJ and Anna have to battle not only the weather, sharks and so many other natural problems. They also have always in the backs of their minds that his cancer could come back.
Now I'm sure you are going to read some reviews that say that this book wasn't the best written piece of literature, but so what? I LOVED it. Sometimes you just want someone to tell you a story, and this author does it well. There is no insta-love. These two built a history together slowly. Anna is torn about the way she begins to feel about TJ because of his age. (Don't say anything here, because I'm older than my husband and went through some of the same misgivings that Anna did). Their story builds like it should, and it's damn fabulous.
AND:
The book earned one whole star for mentioning the bestest movie ever!
Now I'm going to go and smooch my younger husband and enjoy ever second of it. Because us older women have some swag too.
I'm featuring my friend TL/Terri's review on this amazing little book. I'm trying to not be ate up with the jealousy monster because she got a signed copy of this book. I'm kidding! I still luvs her.
Anna is a thirty year old teacher who has agreed to tutor a 17 year old that has recently gone into remission from cancer. The treatments caused him to get behind at school so his family decides to spend the summer with a tutor to catch him up. This family has some cash though so they are headed to their summer rental in the Maldives.
The family has already left leaving Anna and her student TJ to join them. The small plane that is taking them to join the family though has some problems and the pilot ends up having an heart attack during the trip. Their plane crashes.
Anna and TJ end up shipwrecked together, hoping that a rescue plane is on the way.
I LOVE THESE KINDS OF STORIES!! WOOT!
There are so many islands in this chain of islands though that no one lives on and they end up on one of them. They must find some way to survive on the island, no water, no food.
Just each other.
TJ and Anna have to battle not only the weather, sharks and so many other natural problems. They also have always in the backs of their minds that his cancer could come back.
Now I'm sure you are going to read some reviews that say that this book wasn't the best written piece of literature, but so what? I LOVED it. Sometimes you just want someone to tell you a story, and this author does it well. There is no insta-love. These two built a history together slowly. Anna is torn about the way she begins to feel about TJ because of his age. (Don't say anything here, because I'm older than my husband and went through some of the same misgivings that Anna did). Their story builds like it should, and it's damn fabulous.
AND:
The book earned one whole star for mentioning the bestest movie ever!
Now I'm going to go and smooch my younger husband and enjoy ever second of it. Because us older women have some swag too.
I'm featuring my friend TL/Terri's review on this amazing little book. I'm trying to not be ate up with the jealousy monster because she got a signed copy of this book. I'm kidding! I still luvs her.
June 3, 2017
ANOTHER UPDATE: $1.99 kindle special today: VERY FUN SUMMER READ!!!!
Update... OMG... I saw a friend reading this just seconds ago -- and after so much craziness around here in the last 17 hours ....
Oh, I'm in the mood for a fun escape get-a-way book like this ....
it's was pure female fun escape fantasy enjoyment... who knows another book LIKE THIS?? A page turner fun thrill ride -'similar' to this?? Got ideas??? Listening!!!
UPDATE: (in Honor of Monkey-Girl)...
I'm not sure why I gave this 3 stars -back when I read it. I must have been embarrassed by how much I enjoyed this 'chick' book --which was great fantasy --filled with 'steam'. Some of these beach books would make me gag...
This one...got me hot and bothered! :)
Pure enjoyment Fantasy!!
This is what I said in my first review:
"A story of survival ---love, sex, innocence, discovery, consequences, choices"!
***** That sentence is correct --but very boring. The book is anything but boring! so.....5 stars it is!
Summertime heartwarming story......to ENJOY in ANY season!
Update... OMG... I saw a friend reading this just seconds ago -- and after so much craziness around here in the last 17 hours ....
Oh, I'm in the mood for a fun escape get-a-way book like this ....
it's was pure female fun escape fantasy enjoyment... who knows another book LIKE THIS?? A page turner fun thrill ride -'similar' to this?? Got ideas??? Listening!!!
UPDATE: (in Honor of Monkey-Girl)...
I'm not sure why I gave this 3 stars -back when I read it. I must have been embarrassed by how much I enjoyed this 'chick' book --which was great fantasy --filled with 'steam'. Some of these beach books would make me gag...
This one...got me hot and bothered! :)
Pure enjoyment Fantasy!!
This is what I said in my first review:
"A story of survival ---love, sex, innocence, discovery, consequences, choices"!
***** That sentence is correct --but very boring. The book is anything but boring! so.....5 stars it is!
Summertime heartwarming story......to ENJOY in ANY season!
June 5, 2017
5 Unique, Unforgettable & Unputdownable!! Stars!!!
I went in totally blind, and so thrilled I did. I had no preconceived notions about what I was going to read except that a really great Goodreads friend, Robin, gave it five stars months ago, and I immediately added it to my tbr. I honestly forgot about it until this same great friend gifted this book to me a couple of days ago. I thought, "Yeah, I am definitely in the mood for an island getaway, which I am sure involves romance." I am so glad I didn't read the blurb or re-read my friend's review. I was absolutely blown away! And I think you will be too.
Here is the slightest of teases, again hoping you will mainly go in blind and be mesmerized by this story and it's characters .....
On board a seaplane hopping from one island of The Maldives to their destination island two hours away, it crashes into the Indian Ocean, due to the pilot dying before the plane ever hits the water. Luckily before the heart attack claimed the pilot's life, he instructed his two passengers to put on their life jackets and buckle up.
Minutes before boarding a plane with a sixteen year old boy she would be tutoring for the summer, named T.J., who was also in remission from Hodgin's lymphoma, Anna says her goodbye to her boyfriend of eight years. John tells her he loves her and not to make any final decisions until she gets back. Anna is a sophomore English teacher and is spending the next couple of months with T.J. and his parents, on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. His parents already arrived to their destination spot a few days prior. Anna, thirty years old, has a big decision to make. Will she continue to stay with John when she arrives back in the states, or would her life be better without him in it?
Okay ...... that is all the background info you get out of this gal. Hopefully it is a good enough tease, because I sincerely encourage you all to read this one. I literally could not put it down once I started. It was riveting and one I will never forget. The storyline is so fascinating, unique and extremely well written.
"Is your life better with him, Anna, or without him?"
◦
July 13, 2016
Awesome, awesome, awesome!
wow, what a great book this turned out to be! It's one of the few 'hyped' books I've read lately that really live up to the hype.
At first I really wasn't sure about it. The book description didn't sound like my cuppa, and in a way it wasn't, but the author really made this one work and made me a believer.
Seriously, don't shy away from this one! Yes, there is a whopping age difference between the H/h, with the heroine being the older of the two. 13 1/2 years actually, but by the time the romance happens they were both equal in all ways important: two fully grown adults living alone with the barest resources for their creature comfort and survival, and no longer believing in ever joining the real world again. Under those circumstances, the romance really worked.
The author never cheapens the romance either, it is of the heart and not meant to just titillate the reader. Nothing smutty or milf'y about it. Just an odd but beautiful love.
This story is a self published indie book, so yes it has some rough spots. But the author will quickly suck you into the story with her writing. This entire story is told from both the hero and heroine's POV. It switches off from her first-person accounts, to his first-person accounts, and back and forth. LOVED IT!!
There was so much to enjoy in this book. Great chemistry and characters, loved the survival aspect, and no sugar coating their dire situation. It made an emotional and gripping read. Oh boy did I cry in a few places too!
Thanks everyone who recommended it!!
March 26, 2012
Before I even start my review I need to ask the most important question.....
How is this Tracey’s first book? I’m skeptical, I don’t believe it.
She writes so flawlessly.
The story was amazing!
I mean, she wrote about two people living on a island, how entertaining could that possibly be?
Turns out more than I knew.. I truly could not stop reading this book.
I read this during a nasty cold. Now thats dedication people!
T.J. is a sixteen year old, that is in remission from cancer. Anna is a 30 year old teacher that is hired by his parents to tutor him over the summer. The family is vacationing in the Maldives. But when T.J and Anna fly overseas, on the last end of their trip, their pilot suffers a heartattack, and the plane goes down.
Neither are prepared (but who really would be?) for the challenges that are ahead of them.
This is where I became hooked to this book!
Every action, discovery, triumph, and loss T.J and Anna went through on the island had me captivated.
When I read the book, I felt like a lard ass.
I’m lounging around the house drinking water. I probably made a sandwich. Meanwhile, they’d cut off a limb for a simple glass of water, and a freakin' taco!
It makes you grateful for everything around you, and shows you just how much resolve and determination we all have (but don’t know) when it comes to survival.
It’s hard for me to even believe that I would get THIS into On the Island. As a kid, my parents made me watch Castaway and I almost lost the will to live. To this day I still cringe over that damn ball, Wilson.
But when Anna found the chicken and named him Chicken, and made the animal her "pet", I could understand it...
To the romance.
You’re skeptical.
Heck, I was. I mean the age difference is vast. So you think it would be odd, maybe even awkward.
Their situation brought them together and created a bond that no one else could understand. The romance to this story was inevitable. I need to stress, its not awkward. Not.At. All.
I mean, can we blame Anna?
As T.J. grows up into a man, I have to say I wouldn’t have been apposed to him either. In fact I was a little jealous she was stranded with him.
But I liked that Anna was conscious of the age difference. She tried to fight her feelings, and it gave the book a realistic vibe.
Yet, when Anna gives in to her feelings. If I knew how to fist pump, I think I would have at that moment....
The irony is not lost on me that this would be a book I would pick if I truly WAS stranded on an island.
1.For enjoyment purposes.
2.For tips on survival. Because who actually KNOWS how to make a fire? Me neither....
3.To hope and pray, that a doppelgänger of T.J. was living on the island with me....
Enjoy that vision for a little while.....
How is this Tracey’s first book? I’m skeptical, I don’t believe it.
She writes so flawlessly.
The story was amazing!
I mean, she wrote about two people living on a island, how entertaining could that possibly be?
Turns out more than I knew.. I truly could not stop reading this book.
I read this during a nasty cold. Now thats dedication people!
T.J. is a sixteen year old, that is in remission from cancer. Anna is a 30 year old teacher that is hired by his parents to tutor him over the summer. The family is vacationing in the Maldives. But when T.J and Anna fly overseas, on the last end of their trip, their pilot suffers a heartattack, and the plane goes down.
Neither are prepared (but who really would be?) for the challenges that are ahead of them.
This is where I became hooked to this book!
Every action, discovery, triumph, and loss T.J and Anna went through on the island had me captivated.
When I read the book, I felt like a lard ass.
I’m lounging around the house drinking water. I probably made a sandwich. Meanwhile, they’d cut off a limb for a simple glass of water, and a freakin' taco!
It makes you grateful for everything around you, and shows you just how much resolve and determination we all have (but don’t know) when it comes to survival.
It’s hard for me to even believe that I would get THIS into On the Island. As a kid, my parents made me watch Castaway and I almost lost the will to live. To this day I still cringe over that damn ball, Wilson.
But when Anna found the chicken and named him Chicken, and made the animal her "pet", I could understand it...
To the romance.
You’re skeptical.
Heck, I was. I mean the age difference is vast. So you think it would be odd, maybe even awkward.
Their situation brought them together and created a bond that no one else could understand. The romance to this story was inevitable. I need to stress, its not awkward. Not.At. All.
I mean, can we blame Anna?
As T.J. grows up into a man, I have to say I wouldn’t have been apposed to him either. In fact I was a little jealous she was stranded with him.
But I liked that Anna was conscious of the age difference. She tried to fight her feelings, and it gave the book a realistic vibe.
Yet, when Anna gives in to her feelings. If I knew how to fist pump, I think I would have at that moment....
The irony is not lost on me that this would be a book I would pick if I truly WAS stranded on an island.
1.For enjoyment purposes.
2.For tips on survival. Because who actually KNOWS how to make a fire? Me neither....
3.To hope and pray, that a doppelgänger of T.J. was living on the island with me....
Enjoy that vision for a little while.....
August 29, 2019
It's not easy for me to give this 1* only and I've thought about this long and hard. Normally I would have either not rated this at all, or given it a 2* and shrugged. However, I am a bit too angry about the way this was written for comfort and a shrug. So allow me to explain...
(there may be spoilers)
I was prepared to like this and--quite unlike American readers--I live in a country where 16 is the age of consent, even for relationships between much older adults and youths, and Anne's alleged post as a teacher in my opinion never truly floated. They crashed before she took up teaching him and there was no activity as a teacher either on the island. I didn't mind the age aspect at all, in fact I read the book for it, because I wanted to read a well-written book about just such an age-gap.
I'm not going into the numerous problems I had with basic writing skills I expect from a book, such as are relative to grammar, punctuation and style. Or that I'd expect the stream of consciousness from two people that apart in gender, experience and age to be at least somewhat different and not uniformly juvenile. I do have much more problems with the story however.
Let me state it clearly: any female shaving her legs, underarms and pits, hung up to the point of ridiculousness about natural body odours and wildly applying hair conditioner as well as being crazy about recovering a suitcase filled with beauty items while stranded on a tropical island has to have her head examined. From that moment onwards I lost every shred of respect for this female character.
Just as it rather soon started to grate on me that neither Anne, nor TJ ever had any even halfway deep conversation or addressed any of the obvious problems bound to arise between them. I had trouble believing in the aliveness and reality of both of them. TJ was too good to be true, and stayed that way, and Anne came over as shallow and immature despite all her protestations to the contrary.
The romance felt contrived, there was no build-up, Anne being too prude to even contemplate the topic realistically until the last moment and TJ is suddenly the big seducer and superb lover quite out of the blue. Anyone who had hoped for even a tiny bit of sensuality or on-screen sex will be disappointed by the way. This book is practically sex-free, even though going by the blurb you're led to believe it's one of the main topics.
What truly enervated me though was the moralising. You might expect some openmindedness from a book about a reversed May-December couple, but what liberal view at this topic there was, was mere window-dressing. It felt as forced as the turn of the heroine towards dogoodieness, while the real message below the alleged liberalism was 1) women have to have (lots) of babies, and 2) people just have to marry, then whatever they do is acceptable. Yes. That.
Nowhere were the real issues of an age-gap relationship truly taken up, even the people who were critical still behaved with a restraint I found entirely unbelievable and things proceeded too smoothly just about in every respect. After the candyfloss HEA with a marriage, multiple babies (of course the 15 y/o TJ had his semen frozen) and everybody's problem nicely solved and tucked safely into a cozy bed, I was left gnashing my teeth.
This story idea had a lot going for it, but it sure has been turned into one of the soppiest and most sugar-coated romances I read, ever. The 1* is exclusively for the excellent idea and the one or two times I laughed out loud over some particularly funny faux pas.
I can't recommend this. Especially not if someone looks for a well-written story about an age-gap couple!
(there may be spoilers)
I was prepared to like this and--quite unlike American readers--I live in a country where 16 is the age of consent, even for relationships between much older adults and youths, and Anne's alleged post as a teacher in my opinion never truly floated. They crashed before she took up teaching him and there was no activity as a teacher either on the island. I didn't mind the age aspect at all, in fact I read the book for it, because I wanted to read a well-written book about just such an age-gap.
I'm not going into the numerous problems I had with basic writing skills I expect from a book, such as are relative to grammar, punctuation and style. Or that I'd expect the stream of consciousness from two people that apart in gender, experience and age to be at least somewhat different and not uniformly juvenile. I do have much more problems with the story however.
Let me state it clearly: any female shaving her legs, underarms and pits, hung up to the point of ridiculousness about natural body odours and wildly applying hair conditioner as well as being crazy about recovering a suitcase filled with beauty items while stranded on a tropical island has to have her head examined. From that moment onwards I lost every shred of respect for this female character.
Just as it rather soon started to grate on me that neither Anne, nor TJ ever had any even halfway deep conversation or addressed any of the obvious problems bound to arise between them. I had trouble believing in the aliveness and reality of both of them. TJ was too good to be true, and stayed that way, and Anne came over as shallow and immature despite all her protestations to the contrary.
The romance felt contrived, there was no build-up, Anne being too prude to even contemplate the topic realistically until the last moment and TJ is suddenly the big seducer and superb lover quite out of the blue. Anyone who had hoped for even a tiny bit of sensuality or on-screen sex will be disappointed by the way. This book is practically sex-free, even though going by the blurb you're led to believe it's one of the main topics.
What truly enervated me though was the moralising. You might expect some openmindedness from a book about a reversed May-December couple, but what liberal view at this topic there was, was mere window-dressing. It felt as forced as the turn of the heroine towards dogoodieness, while the real message below the alleged liberalism was 1) women have to have (lots) of babies, and 2) people just have to marry, then whatever they do is acceptable. Yes. That.
Nowhere were the real issues of an age-gap relationship truly taken up, even the people who were critical still behaved with a restraint I found entirely unbelievable and things proceeded too smoothly just about in every respect. After the candyfloss HEA with a marriage, multiple babies (of course the 15 y/o TJ had his semen frozen) and everybody's problem nicely solved and tucked safely into a cozy bed, I was left gnashing my teeth.
This story idea had a lot going for it, but it sure has been turned into one of the soppiest and most sugar-coated romances I read, ever. The 1* is exclusively for the excellent idea and the one or two times I laughed out loud over some particularly funny faux pas.
I can't recommend this. Especially not if someone looks for a well-written story about an age-gap couple!
April 15, 2018
A lovely romance, an incredibly unique premise, but for me, parts of this fell flat.
It mostly comes down to what I expect from first person perspective. I expect emotion. I expect insight. Not only do I expect to read about a sequence of events, but I also expect to know what a character thinks and feels about those events as they unfold.
I didn't during most of this.
Imagine that you're stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific, when suddenly your only companion and the person you happen to love becomes violently ill out of nowhere:
"I found the first aid kit and shook two Tylenol into the palm of my hand. I helped him swallow the Tylenol with water, but he threw up all over himself a few minutes later.
I cleaned him up with a t-shirt and tried to shift him over a little, to a drier part of the blanket. He cried out when I touched him."
That passage is one of many that left me wondering a lot of things. Is she freaking out because he's sick and all she has to treat him with is Tylenol? Did him puking turn her stomach? Isn't she terrified that the man she loves might die and there's nothing she can do to save him?
TELL ME, DAMN IT!
Okay, aside from my annoyance at the detached storytelling, there were other things missing from this. Things that won't bother most people, but things that nevertheless bothered the hell out of me. Because I used to live on a 8 x 5 mile tropical island.
A huge part of what was lacking from this was the complete and overwhelming culture shock of returning to the mainland. How walking into a Walmart feels like tripping balls because the largest building you've seen in years was a mere fraction of its size. How being a passenger in a car going over 50 mph makes you have a panic attack because SLOW DOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING KILL US. NO, I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, HUMANS WERE NOT MEANT TO TRAVEL FASTER THAN A FART FLIES.
So yeah, there's that.
Honestly, I still think there's a lot of good in here. And I urge anyone looking for a unique love story to give this a try.
Just don't read it on a plane. Because *shudder*
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It mostly comes down to what I expect from first person perspective. I expect emotion. I expect insight. Not only do I expect to read about a sequence of events, but I also expect to know what a character thinks and feels about those events as they unfold.
I didn't during most of this.
Imagine that you're stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific, when suddenly your only companion and the person you happen to love becomes violently ill out of nowhere:
"I found the first aid kit and shook two Tylenol into the palm of my hand. I helped him swallow the Tylenol with water, but he threw up all over himself a few minutes later.
I cleaned him up with a t-shirt and tried to shift him over a little, to a drier part of the blanket. He cried out when I touched him."
That passage is one of many that left me wondering a lot of things. Is she freaking out because he's sick and all she has to treat him with is Tylenol? Did him puking turn her stomach? Isn't she terrified that the man she loves might die and there's nothing she can do to save him?
TELL ME, DAMN IT!
Okay, aside from my annoyance at the detached storytelling, there were other things missing from this. Things that won't bother most people, but things that nevertheless bothered the hell out of me. Because I used to live on a 8 x 5 mile tropical island.
A huge part of what was lacking from this was the complete and overwhelming culture shock of returning to the mainland. How walking into a Walmart feels like tripping balls because the largest building you've seen in years was a mere fraction of its size. How being a passenger in a car going over 50 mph makes you have a panic attack because SLOW DOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING KILL US. NO, I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, HUMANS WERE NOT MEANT TO TRAVEL FASTER THAN A FART FLIES.
So yeah, there's that.
Honestly, I still think there's a lot of good in here. And I urge anyone looking for a unique love story to give this a try.
Just don't read it on a plane. Because *shudder*
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October 11, 2014
Utterly breathtaking!
A friend of mine (Amy aka, Foxy) persuaded me to read this book and helped me through it since I was initially concerned about the subject matter. I couldn't be happier that she finally convinced me! If you are someone who, like me, tends to shy away from books involving sickness and/or tragedy, don't cross this one off your list; its focus lies on a very positive outcome and is substantially more encouraging than it is tragic.
Anna is T.J.'s tutor and agrees to attend a vacation with T.J. and his family in order to catch him up on school work during his summer break. When their plane goes down en route, Anna and T.J. become stranded on a desolate island with limited resources for survival. Together they face hardships, fatigue, sickness, and despair...as their hope for being rescued dwindles with time. But they also experience many triumphs, large and small—and those are what powerfully remain with me.
The extent of what these characters endured was as intense as it was encouraging. My heart broke at times, rejoiced during others, and never lost hope for the fate of T.J. and Anna. I'll admit to being slightly deterred by the considerable age difference; Anna being 30 and T.J., 16 when they first meet...but do not fret! Time passes, people mature, and I can assure you that all encounters are tasteful and very much 'legal'. The ultimate bond formed through despair was solid and heartwarming.
The pacing of this story is quick and flows gracefully. The monotony of being trapped on a deserted island could tend to make a story feel like its dragging— but this author tackles this feat flawlessly. I never once became bored; in fact, I found this to be a real page turner and extremely un-put-down-able!
It's amazing how one's view of life transforms when 'surviving' becomes the sole priority. It is then that you'll find all the unnecessary worries and petty desires stripped away, leaving behind only what truly matters in life...And I loved being able to witness this extraordinary and inspiring journey of survival.
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Contemporary Romance
▪ Steam Caliber: Moderate steam
▪ Romance: Beautiful, touching, slow-building connection.
▪ Characters: Lovable and three-dementional.
▪ Plot: Centered on survival, and love conquering all hardship.
▪ Writing: Accomplished, alluring, and knowledgable.
▪ POV: First person: Alternating dual perspectives.
▪ Cliffhanger: None
▪ Next Installment: Novella: A story intertwining with this one.
▪ HEA?
A friend of mine (Amy aka, Foxy) persuaded me to read this book and helped me through it since I was initially concerned about the subject matter. I couldn't be happier that she finally convinced me! If you are someone who, like me, tends to shy away from books involving sickness and/or tragedy, don't cross this one off your list; its focus lies on a very positive outcome and is substantially more encouraging than it is tragic.
Anna is T.J.'s tutor and agrees to attend a vacation with T.J. and his family in order to catch him up on school work during his summer break. When their plane goes down en route, Anna and T.J. become stranded on a desolate island with limited resources for survival. Together they face hardships, fatigue, sickness, and despair...as their hope for being rescued dwindles with time. But they also experience many triumphs, large and small—and those are what powerfully remain with me.
The extent of what these characters endured was as intense as it was encouraging. My heart broke at times, rejoiced during others, and never lost hope for the fate of T.J. and Anna. I'll admit to being slightly deterred by the considerable age difference; Anna being 30 and T.J., 16 when they first meet...but do not fret! Time passes, people mature, and I can assure you that all encounters are tasteful and very much 'legal'. The ultimate bond formed through despair was solid and heartwarming.
The pacing of this story is quick and flows gracefully. The monotony of being trapped on a deserted island could tend to make a story feel like its dragging— but this author tackles this feat flawlessly. I never once became bored; in fact, I found this to be a real page turner and extremely un-put-down-able!
It's amazing how one's view of life transforms when 'surviving' becomes the sole priority. It is then that you'll find all the unnecessary worries and petty desires stripped away, leaving behind only what truly matters in life...And I loved being able to witness this extraordinary and inspiring journey of survival.
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Contemporary Romance
▪ Steam Caliber: Moderate steam
▪ Romance: Beautiful, touching, slow-building connection.
▪ Characters: Lovable and three-dementional.
▪ Plot: Centered on survival, and love conquering all hardship.
▪ Writing: Accomplished, alluring, and knowledgable.
▪ POV: First person: Alternating dual perspectives.
▪ Cliffhanger: None
▪ Next Installment: Novella: A story intertwining with this one.
▪ HEA?
March 1, 2017
I LOVED IT!!!!
There have been so many amazing reviews written and by now everyone is familiar with the story-line and the characters. I could go on and on about this great love story but it would take pages and pages so I am just going to give a short version of my thoughts and feelings.
From the first paragraph -
"I was thirty years old when the seaplane T.J. Callahan and I were traveling on crash-landed in the Indian Ocean. T.J. was sixteen, and three months into remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma. The pilot's name was Mick, but he died before we hit the water."
-I was captivated and found it impossible to stop until I reached the last page.
The relationship build-up between Anna and TJ is just incredible and their interaction had me crying and then laughing……….
“[T.J.] I pulled my arms out from underneath her body and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I love you, Anna.”
The surprised look on her face told me she hadn't seen that coming.
“You weren't supposed to fall in love,” she whispered.
“Well, I did,” I said, looking into her eyes. “ I've been in love with you for months. I’m telling you now because I think you love me too, Anna. You just don’t think you’re supposed to. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I can wait.” I pulled her mouth down to mine and kissed her and when it ended, I smiled and said, “Happy birthday.”
“You named the chicken, Chicken?"
She looked embarrassed. "When we decided not to kill it, I got attached.”
“[Anna] In February, I woke up from a nap. A bouquet of flowers gathered from the various bushes and shrubs scattered around the island lay on the blanket beside me, a small length of rope wound around their stems.
I found T.J. down at the shore. “Someone’s been checking the calendar.”
He grinned. “I didn't want to miss Valentine’s Day.”
I kissed him. “You’re sweet to me.”
Pulling me closer, he said, “It’s not hard, Anna.”
I stared into T.J.’s eyes, and he started to sway. My arms went around his neck and we danced, moving in a circle, the sand soft and warm under our feet.
“You don’t need music, do you?”
“No,” T.J. said. “But I do need you.
The plot, the endearing and unforgettable characters, the build-up is really awesome….so real and so believable. I loved that the story is told in Anna & TJ’s POV.
“I never wanted anyone else, T.J. I just wanted what was best for you."
"You are what's best for me," he said, cradling my head in his arms, his legs intertwined with mine. "I'm not going anywhere, Anna. This is right where I want to be.”
And I liked the fact that their story happens over a long period of time, giving us a real in-depth look into what they feel – the fear, the hope of survival, love and the struggles they endure both on the island and when they return home. I felt those feelings with them and at times I felt so happy and others so dam sad. I wanted them to succeed, to be together, and to find happiness.
I learnt so much from this story – that anything is possible if you just open up and let it in.
My favorite quote in this book says it so well – all the possibilities in life!!!!
“I don’t fit in your world.”
“Neither do I,” he said, his expression tender yet resolute. “So let’s make our own. We've done it before.”
A truly remarkable debut novel and wow….can‘t wait for the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!
This has become one of my favorite books of all time – I am so glad I discovered this author and this book!!!!
There have been so many amazing reviews written and by now everyone is familiar with the story-line and the characters. I could go on and on about this great love story but it would take pages and pages so I am just going to give a short version of my thoughts and feelings.
From the first paragraph -
"I was thirty years old when the seaplane T.J. Callahan and I were traveling on crash-landed in the Indian Ocean. T.J. was sixteen, and three months into remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma. The pilot's name was Mick, but he died before we hit the water."
-I was captivated and found it impossible to stop until I reached the last page.
The relationship build-up between Anna and TJ is just incredible and their interaction had me crying and then laughing……….
“[T.J.] I pulled my arms out from underneath her body and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I love you, Anna.”
The surprised look on her face told me she hadn't seen that coming.
“You weren't supposed to fall in love,” she whispered.
“Well, I did,” I said, looking into her eyes. “ I've been in love with you for months. I’m telling you now because I think you love me too, Anna. You just don’t think you’re supposed to. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I can wait.” I pulled her mouth down to mine and kissed her and when it ended, I smiled and said, “Happy birthday.”
“You named the chicken, Chicken?"
She looked embarrassed. "When we decided not to kill it, I got attached.”
“[Anna] In February, I woke up from a nap. A bouquet of flowers gathered from the various bushes and shrubs scattered around the island lay on the blanket beside me, a small length of rope wound around their stems.
I found T.J. down at the shore. “Someone’s been checking the calendar.”
He grinned. “I didn't want to miss Valentine’s Day.”
I kissed him. “You’re sweet to me.”
Pulling me closer, he said, “It’s not hard, Anna.”
I stared into T.J.’s eyes, and he started to sway. My arms went around his neck and we danced, moving in a circle, the sand soft and warm under our feet.
“You don’t need music, do you?”
“No,” T.J. said. “But I do need you.
The plot, the endearing and unforgettable characters, the build-up is really awesome….so real and so believable. I loved that the story is told in Anna & TJ’s POV.
“I never wanted anyone else, T.J. I just wanted what was best for you."
"You are what's best for me," he said, cradling my head in his arms, his legs intertwined with mine. "I'm not going anywhere, Anna. This is right where I want to be.”
And I liked the fact that their story happens over a long period of time, giving us a real in-depth look into what they feel – the fear, the hope of survival, love and the struggles they endure both on the island and when they return home. I felt those feelings with them and at times I felt so happy and others so dam sad. I wanted them to succeed, to be together, and to find happiness.
I learnt so much from this story – that anything is possible if you just open up and let it in.
My favorite quote in this book says it so well – all the possibilities in life!!!!
“I don’t fit in your world.”
“Neither do I,” he said, his expression tender yet resolute. “So let’s make our own. We've done it before.”
A truly remarkable debut novel and wow….can‘t wait for the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!
This has become one of my favorite books of all time – I am so glad I discovered this author and this book!!!!
July 26, 2020
I am stunned at all the 5-star ratings of this book on goodreads! There are some very good 1-star reviews you could dig up here, but also at another very popular retail site... If you are even a somewhat serious reader, please refer to the 1-star reviews about this book first - it will save you time!!! Here is what I wrote there (and I don't even claim to be a serious reader - I thoroughly enjoy "light fiction" most of the time... But it has to be at least slightly "above 5th grade" light fiction!!! Puh-lease!)
So....
Honestly, I am embarrassed to admit that I've read this nonsense! The only consolation I have is the fact that I had purchased the book from a small local book store - i.e. "supported a local business" :-) and that I can now warn others not to waste their time. This book was a time-consuming cheap joke!!! I finished reading it only for the sake of finding out just how much more ridiculous it could get!!! And it got as crazy-ridiculous as possible - I couldn't imagine anything worse (except maybe a space ship coming to rescue the "survivors" :-))) I was going to itemize all the astonishing nonsense in this book that made me laugh out loud, but I see that many wise reviewers have done so already. Please read the 1-star reviews and DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME on this book! I picked it up because somehow at one glance it sounded like a "story of survival"... Not even close! It's a cheap sexual fantasy - a sorry excuse for a 30+something-year-old woman to fantasize in choppy ridiculous details about guilt-free sex and "relationship" with a teenager... ugh...
And, actually.... um.... just to relive some of my favorite “LOL moments”... Here goes:
*******************************************************
(a "spoiler" alert?! if it's even possible to "spoil" this nonsense any further...)
*******************************************************
Here are some of the craziest fantasies from the book:
- The suitcase that washed up on the shore of an island after 2 WEEKS in the sea… but all of the heroine’s tampons (not to mention a bunch of other quite useful-convenient items) were well in-tact… REALLY?!?!
- The author so obviously had trouble fantasizing about the “wild natural” kind of living – she graciously gave her characters a good supply of body wash, shampoo AND shaving cream, which lasted… and lasted… and lasted… for almost 3 years! REALLY?!?!?
- Of course, she got to have her pink thong and a pretty blue dress too…
- But, wait, they also built and re-built a simple house, digging up a foundation for it with a HAMMER (?!?!?!?) and bare hands!!! REALLY?!?!
- What else?..... oh, the chicken that came out of nowhere…. Then another one… and another one… The last one even produced eggs… :-)) I can’t even comment…
- The scary ailments, all cured by Tylenol
- The friendship with the dolphins and fighting with the shark..
- The surviving of not just the plane crash, the shark, the broken bones, the mysterious illnesses, but also surviving Tsunami, which incidentally made it all the way from Indonesia to Maldives... and the rescuers who never came even close to the island for 3 years suddenly were looking for people in exactly that area to rescue our sexed-out heroes…
The list can go on and on... If I had the book in front of me and wanted to spend more time on itemizing the hilarious nonsense, there would be no end to it...
Bottom line: the book is outrageously absurd and poorly written! Do not waste your time on it! (unless, of course, you enjoy this type of fantasy :-))
p.s. and did I mention that after the characters got rescued, the writing got even worse? the author rushed (like there was nothing to life) to the part where the characters end up marrying AND having twins (via AI from TJ's sperm, which he had so conveniently preserved prior to his cancer treatments and the fateful trip), with a third child on the way for a grand finale?!?!?! I swear, the only thing missing in this book was the space ship!!! :-))))))))))))))))))
So....
Honestly, I am embarrassed to admit that I've read this nonsense! The only consolation I have is the fact that I had purchased the book from a small local book store - i.e. "supported a local business" :-) and that I can now warn others not to waste their time. This book was a time-consuming cheap joke!!! I finished reading it only for the sake of finding out just how much more ridiculous it could get!!! And it got as crazy-ridiculous as possible - I couldn't imagine anything worse (except maybe a space ship coming to rescue the "survivors" :-))) I was going to itemize all the astonishing nonsense in this book that made me laugh out loud, but I see that many wise reviewers have done so already. Please read the 1-star reviews and DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME on this book! I picked it up because somehow at one glance it sounded like a "story of survival"... Not even close! It's a cheap sexual fantasy - a sorry excuse for a 30+something-year-old woman to fantasize in choppy ridiculous details about guilt-free sex and "relationship" with a teenager... ugh...
And, actually.... um.... just to relive some of my favorite “LOL moments”... Here goes:
*******************************************************
(a "spoiler" alert?! if it's even possible to "spoil" this nonsense any further...)
*******************************************************
Here are some of the craziest fantasies from the book:
- The suitcase that washed up on the shore of an island after 2 WEEKS in the sea… but all of the heroine’s tampons (not to mention a bunch of other quite useful-convenient items) were well in-tact… REALLY?!?!
- The author so obviously had trouble fantasizing about the “wild natural” kind of living – she graciously gave her characters a good supply of body wash, shampoo AND shaving cream, which lasted… and lasted… and lasted… for almost 3 years! REALLY?!?!?
- Of course, she got to have her pink thong and a pretty blue dress too…
- But, wait, they also built and re-built a simple house, digging up a foundation for it with a HAMMER (?!?!?!?) and bare hands!!! REALLY?!?!
- What else?..... oh, the chicken that came out of nowhere…. Then another one… and another one… The last one even produced eggs… :-)) I can’t even comment…
- The scary ailments, all cured by Tylenol
- The friendship with the dolphins and fighting with the shark..
- The surviving of not just the plane crash, the shark, the broken bones, the mysterious illnesses, but also surviving Tsunami, which incidentally made it all the way from Indonesia to Maldives... and the rescuers who never came even close to the island for 3 years suddenly were looking for people in exactly that area to rescue our sexed-out heroes…
The list can go on and on... If I had the book in front of me and wanted to spend more time on itemizing the hilarious nonsense, there would be no end to it...
Bottom line: the book is outrageously absurd and poorly written! Do not waste your time on it! (unless, of course, you enjoy this type of fantasy :-))
p.s. and did I mention that after the characters got rescued, the writing got even worse? the author rushed (like there was nothing to life) to the part where the characters end up marrying AND having twins (via AI from TJ's sperm, which he had so conveniently preserved prior to his cancer treatments and the fateful trip), with a third child on the way for a grand finale?!?!?! I swear, the only thing missing in this book was the space ship!!! :-))))))))))))))))))
February 5, 2016
Story Rating ~ 5 HUGE STARS!
Hero Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Heroine Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Romance Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Heat Level ~ 3 Stars
Ending ~ 5 STARS!
Overall Rating ~ 5 NOW THAT WAS AN AMAZING READ STARS!
This is one of those books, you know the one that has been sitting on your ereader, the one you were planning to read but just never got around to it. After reading Auntee’s review for the second time around, I finally decided that it’s time I get down to it and I gave this book a go, I’m SO glad I finally did.
This was an AMAZING read about an older woman and a teenage boy getting stranded on an Island together. I was hooked in big time reading about how they lived day to day, how they managed finding food and water plus making fire and building shelter. These two made a perfect team, they needed each other in order to survive. They took care of each other when illnesses set in, each knowing that if one of them died the other one eventually would too.
As years passed on the Island, our hero T.J. went from being a teenager to becoming a man and along with that, Anna and T.J.’s feelings for each other grew deeper. The love they shared for each other was so very lovely, nothing felt out of place for me even though he was 14 years younger than her. The love scenes were beautifully written with such passion and class and did not take place until T.J. was almost 19.
Just when they were about ready to give up hope of ever being found, a bad storm rolled in almost taking the lives of T.J. and Anna. This is when they finally get rescued.
Once T.J and Anna are back home, they have to deal with their age difference. They both had insecurities to work out and this took a bit of time but through it all, their love for each other was always there.
I do not recommend books too often, but this is one of those books that if you are interested in reading, DON’T WAIT! Make it your next read and enjoy this wonderful adventure.
Hero Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Heroine Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Romance Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Heat Level ~ 3 Stars
Ending ~ 5 STARS!
Overall Rating ~ 5 NOW THAT WAS AN AMAZING READ STARS!
This is one of those books, you know the one that has been sitting on your ereader, the one you were planning to read but just never got around to it. After reading Auntee’s review for the second time around, I finally decided that it’s time I get down to it and I gave this book a go, I’m SO glad I finally did.
This was an AMAZING read about an older woman and a teenage boy getting stranded on an Island together. I was hooked in big time reading about how they lived day to day, how they managed finding food and water plus making fire and building shelter. These two made a perfect team, they needed each other in order to survive. They took care of each other when illnesses set in, each knowing that if one of them died the other one eventually would too.
As years passed on the Island, our hero T.J. went from being a teenager to becoming a man and along with that, Anna and T.J.’s feelings for each other grew deeper. The love they shared for each other was so very lovely, nothing felt out of place for me even though he was 14 years younger than her. The love scenes were beautifully written with such passion and class and did not take place until T.J. was almost 19.
Just when they were about ready to give up hope of ever being found, a bad storm rolled in almost taking the lives of T.J. and Anna. This is when they finally get rescued.
Once T.J and Anna are back home, they have to deal with their age difference. They both had insecurities to work out and this took a bit of time but through it all, their love for each other was always there.
I do not recommend books too often, but this is one of those books that if you are interested in reading, DON’T WAIT! Make it your next read and enjoy this wonderful adventure.
April 16, 2012
Loved this.
November 21, 2021
Me ha encantado esta novela, por su temática tan diferente a lo habitual y por cómo se desarrolla la historia de amor entre Anna y TJ, cuyas vicisitudes en la isla me han tenido a veces con el corazón en un puño. La diferencia de edad entre ellos es el otro gran protagonista de esta historia, que sería totalmente distinta con los papeles invertidos. El único pero que le pongo es que la forma de escribir de la autora es un poco fría y despegada, con lo que a veces costaba entrar en la cabeza y el corazón de los protagonistas.
Me declaro fan de este chico, los gestos y detalles que tiene para con ella a lo largo de todo el libro son maravillosos sin ser cursis.
Han pasado casi 4 meses desde que leí este libro y de vez en cuando vuelve a mi memoria, reflejo del impacto que me causó su lectura, por lo que he decidido cambiar mi puntuación, subirle media estrella y ponerle 5 (270617)
Relectura: del 15 al16 de noviembre de 2021
Me declaro fan de este chico, los gestos y detalles que tiene para con ella a lo largo de todo el libro son maravillosos sin ser cursis.
Han pasado casi 4 meses desde que leí este libro y de vez en cuando vuelve a mi memoria, reflejo del impacto que me causó su lectura, por lo que he decidido cambiar mi puntuación, subirle media estrella y ponerle 5 (270617)
Relectura: del 15 al16 de noviembre de 2021
September 5, 2015
I started this book thinking
'Ah, seems like a weird book with a huge age gap beween the main leads and the story seems like its going to be dragged'
Holy hell, how wrong was I.
God fucking knows why I haven't read this book when I've had it since like Aug '12!! I feel like kicking myself, HARD!!
Author, I love you and I've got only one thing to say to you
^ ^ ^ I was like this after finishing the book. ^ ^ ^
I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK
Totally touch me to the core
My eyes should really stop leaking now, but I'm just tooooo moved by this incredible book
When I reached 58% of the book, I yelped, jumped around like a mad child and ran into my hall where my mother was sitting and screamed "FOUND THEM" and she thought I was absolutely nuts, but she knew what I was talking about because as I was reading this book, I keep telling her about it and gushing about the absolutely amazing story I'm reading. I was crying happy tears
At the end of the book, I was totally
What an AMAZING book, Its like a totally must read.
The way the author has written this book, its capturing. I didn't put it down for a minute. Both the main characters were like the best and totally priceless! I loved/adored them! Seriously, I'm smittened to the core by this book. T.J and Anna were PREFECT! Their love so pure, the 13/14year age gap was barely noticed. Their whole journey, their experience was so capturing I was in awe of the book.
Each scene was so capturing and it portrayed so many emotions, each twist and turn left me totally stunned and the only though processing in my brain was WOW!! THIS BOOK IS SOMETHING ELSE IN THIS OWN LEAGUE!!
Each twist they over came, I felt a rush of emotions, I felt fear for them, love for them, I felt proud of them for surviving and I felt honor for them, I am like a mixture of toooo many emotions! I am so overwhelmed!
After some of the most intese scenes, the author would lighten the mood by a good line or an excellent scene
Dinner was always special when you killed it, instead of the other way around.
“What’s it like being with her? Is it true what they say about older chicks?”
“She’s not that much older.”
“Uh, okay. So anyway, how is it?”
“It’s incredible.”
“What’s she do?”
“She does everything, Ben.”
~
Please, Read this book if you haven't! It is sooo worth it!
'Ah, seems like a weird book with a huge age gap beween the main leads and the story seems like its going to be dragged'
Holy hell, how wrong was I.
God fucking knows why I haven't read this book when I've had it since like Aug '12!! I feel like kicking myself, HARD!!
Author, I love you and I've got only one thing to say to you
^ ^ ^ I was like this after finishing the book. ^ ^ ^
I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK
Totally touch me to the core
My eyes should really stop leaking now, but I'm just tooooo moved by this incredible book
When I reached 58% of the book, I yelped, jumped around like a mad child and ran into my hall where my mother was sitting and screamed "FOUND THEM" and she thought I was absolutely nuts, but she knew what I was talking about because as I was reading this book, I keep telling her about it and gushing about the absolutely amazing story I'm reading. I was crying happy tears
At the end of the book, I was totally
What an AMAZING book, Its like a totally must read.
The way the author has written this book, its capturing. I didn't put it down for a minute. Both the main characters were like the best and totally priceless! I loved/adored them! Seriously, I'm smittened to the core by this book. T.J and Anna were PREFECT! Their love so pure, the 13/14year age gap was barely noticed. Their whole journey, their experience was so capturing I was in awe of the book.
Each scene was so capturing and it portrayed so many emotions, each twist and turn left me totally stunned and the only though processing in my brain was WOW!! THIS BOOK IS SOMETHING ELSE IN THIS OWN LEAGUE!!
Each twist they over came, I felt a rush of emotions, I felt fear for them, love for them, I felt proud of them for surviving and I felt honor for them, I am like a mixture of toooo many emotions! I am so overwhelmed!
After some of the most intese scenes, the author would lighten the mood by a good line or an excellent scene
Dinner was always special when you killed it, instead of the other way around.
“What’s it like being with her? Is it true what they say about older chicks?”
“She’s not that much older.”
“Uh, okay. So anyway, how is it?”
“It’s incredible.”
“What’s she do?”
“She does everything, Ben.”
~
Please, Read this book if you haven't! It is sooo worth it!
July 18, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I read this book in 2013 and constantly think of it whenever someone asks for a romance recommendation. However, my own rating sat at 3.5 Stars all these years so I decided to give it a re-do in order to find out WTF was going on. Turns out I either suffered a concussion or wasn’t prepared to embrace my inner whore back in the day because I. MOTHEREFFING. LOVE. THIS. STORY. The synopsis and all that mumbo jumbo are contained in my original review below so I’m not going to bother rehashing the plot. All I will say is that I GOTTA POCKET GOTTA POCKET FULL OF SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And even though the smexy times were extremely tame when compared to stuff I’ve read since I started letting my freak flag fly, once T.J. and Anna finally got down to bidness I was like sploooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh . . . .
Recommended to EVERYONE. If you end up not liking it, well then . . .
RE-READ JULY 2016
Re-read because 3.5 Stars. WTF was I thinking?!?!?!?! Even the thought of this book still makes me . . . .
I hope I haven't been lying to myself : (
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
17-year old T.J. is in remission after battling cancer. His mother has decided to celebrate by having the entire family spend the summer in the Maldives and has headed there early with the rest of the family. T.J. does not share his mother’s excitement (especially after learning 30-year old teacher Anna will be tagging along as a tutor to get him up to speed with his schoolwork) and sought a few day reprieve from the vacation by staying in Chicago. He and Anna are en route to the vacation home when the pilot of the seaplane they are on suffers a fatal heart attack and crash lands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. They make it to one of hundreds in a string of inhabited islands, but how will two city dwellers ever survive living on a deserted island?
I will gladly admit one of my earliest guilty pleasures was “The Blue Lagoon”. It was so awful and campy, but I just looooooved it so when this popped up on the radar in the middle of July, I was all in. This book brought back all of those old feelings and was the perfect summer read. I was prepared for it to be all porn-y and get squicked out by the age difference of T.J. and Anna, but it wasn’t like that at all (a pleasant surprise). Recommended to anyone who wants to read a better-than-average romance novel and escape for a day or so.
I read this book in 2013 and constantly think of it whenever someone asks for a romance recommendation. However, my own rating sat at 3.5 Stars all these years so I decided to give it a re-do in order to find out WTF was going on. Turns out I either suffered a concussion or wasn’t prepared to embrace my inner whore back in the day because I. MOTHEREFFING. LOVE. THIS. STORY. The synopsis and all that mumbo jumbo are contained in my original review below so I’m not going to bother rehashing the plot. All I will say is that I GOTTA POCKET GOTTA POCKET FULL OF SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And even though the smexy times were extremely tame when compared to stuff I’ve read since I started letting my freak flag fly, once T.J. and Anna finally got down to bidness I was like sploooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh . . . .
Recommended to EVERYONE. If you end up not liking it, well then . . .
RE-READ JULY 2016
Re-read because 3.5 Stars. WTF was I thinking?!?!?!?! Even the thought of this book still makes me . . . .
I hope I haven't been lying to myself : (
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
17-year old T.J. is in remission after battling cancer. His mother has decided to celebrate by having the entire family spend the summer in the Maldives and has headed there early with the rest of the family. T.J. does not share his mother’s excitement (especially after learning 30-year old teacher Anna will be tagging along as a tutor to get him up to speed with his schoolwork) and sought a few day reprieve from the vacation by staying in Chicago. He and Anna are en route to the vacation home when the pilot of the seaplane they are on suffers a fatal heart attack and crash lands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. They make it to one of hundreds in a string of inhabited islands, but how will two city dwellers ever survive living on a deserted island?
I will gladly admit one of my earliest guilty pleasures was “The Blue Lagoon”. It was so awful and campy, but I just looooooved it so when this popped up on the radar in the middle of July, I was all in. This book brought back all of those old feelings and was the perfect summer read. I was prepared for it to be all porn-y and get squicked out by the age difference of T.J. and Anna, but it wasn’t like that at all (a pleasant surprise). Recommended to anyone who wants to read a better-than-average romance novel and escape for a day or so.
April 11, 2012
With every page, I kept asking myself, why did this author self publish? Who was the fool that turned her down? Her writing is extremly polished, her character's are deeply likeable. I could not put it down! The only part I found unbelievable were in fact, the dolphins :)
I am an immediate and lifelong fan of this author.
I am an immediate and lifelong fan of this author.
April 15, 2014
5 STARS!!!
This is my second time reading it and loved it even more than the first time around! Wow, just simply amazeballs!
This is a book where the blurb jumped out to me. A much older female tutor and an in-remission teenager crash in the ocean and end up on a deserted island? Well sign me up! A very realistic, heartwarming, and thought-provoking read, On the Island will always remain a top favorite on my shelf!
The story is told from dual POVs. Enter Anna, a 30 year old English teacher who is hired to tutor T.J. all summer in the Maldives. Anna is such a well-rounded character: she’s gorgeous, sophisticated, and knows what she wants in life. However, she isn’t too satisfied in her current relationship with her longtime boyfriend John, another minor reason to accept the summer tutoring job to get away, relax, and process. As level-headed and calm as she is, Anna couldn’t have known that in just hours, she and T.J. would land head-first in the Indian Ocean after their charter plan crashes.
Simply put, T.J. is an amazing character! At the beginning of the story, he’s an almost seventeen year old dreading the idea of spending the summer with his family and studying when all he wants to do is hang out with friends. What really made him stand out is that despite his young age, he’s such a mature guy. His battle with cancer really put his life into perspective: while others his age are out partying and getting laid, he goes through treatments, banks his sperm, and goes through a significant amount of chemo. Usually I shy away from books that bring in the cancer aspect since I think it’s an overused trope in stories, but this author realistically and expertly weaves this element into the book.
The part that really spoke out to me, however, was the nature of T.J. and Anna’s relationship and how it smoothly progressed from acquaintances to lovers. I totally dig anything taboo and forbidden and at first glance, that’s exactly what T.J. and Anna’s relationship is viewed as – she’s 30 and he’s 16. However, when they finally are together as a couple, everything is very much legal and with the amount of time that passes while they’re on the island, both characters mature in age and mind so their encounters were very believable and expected. I have no doubt in my mind that if T.J. and Anna didn’t land up on their island, they probably wouldn’t have ended up pursing a relationship together; however, some things in life happen unexpectedly and it’s unfortunate they got dished this plate. It’s amazing that when survival is at the forefront of your mind, meaningless worries are stripped away and what’s left behind is what and who really matters. Age ceases to be an issue.
Overall, a beautifully-written, inspirational, and unconventional tale of love, life, and survival that I’d recommend everyone to read! Don’t let the taboo and subject matter deter you from picking up this unique story; it’s definitely worth the read (and re-read).
This is my second time reading it and loved it even more than the first time around! Wow, just simply amazeballs!
This is a book where the blurb jumped out to me. A much older female tutor and an in-remission teenager crash in the ocean and end up on a deserted island? Well sign me up! A very realistic, heartwarming, and thought-provoking read, On the Island will always remain a top favorite on my shelf!
The story is told from dual POVs. Enter Anna, a 30 year old English teacher who is hired to tutor T.J. all summer in the Maldives. Anna is such a well-rounded character: she’s gorgeous, sophisticated, and knows what she wants in life. However, she isn’t too satisfied in her current relationship with her longtime boyfriend John, another minor reason to accept the summer tutoring job to get away, relax, and process. As level-headed and calm as she is, Anna couldn’t have known that in just hours, she and T.J. would land head-first in the Indian Ocean after their charter plan crashes.
Simply put, T.J. is an amazing character! At the beginning of the story, he’s an almost seventeen year old dreading the idea of spending the summer with his family and studying when all he wants to do is hang out with friends. What really made him stand out is that despite his young age, he’s such a mature guy. His battle with cancer really put his life into perspective: while others his age are out partying and getting laid, he goes through treatments, banks his sperm, and goes through a significant amount of chemo. Usually I shy away from books that bring in the cancer aspect since I think it’s an overused trope in stories, but this author realistically and expertly weaves this element into the book.
The part that really spoke out to me, however, was the nature of T.J. and Anna’s relationship and how it smoothly progressed from acquaintances to lovers. I totally dig anything taboo and forbidden and at first glance, that’s exactly what T.J. and Anna’s relationship is viewed as – she’s 30 and he’s 16. However, when they finally are together as a couple, everything is very much legal and with the amount of time that passes while they’re on the island, both characters mature in age and mind so their encounters were very believable and expected. I have no doubt in my mind that if T.J. and Anna didn’t land up on their island, they probably wouldn’t have ended up pursing a relationship together; however, some things in life happen unexpectedly and it’s unfortunate they got dished this plate. It’s amazing that when survival is at the forefront of your mind, meaningless worries are stripped away and what’s left behind is what and who really matters. Age ceases to be an issue.
Overall, a beautifully-written, inspirational, and unconventional tale of love, life, and survival that I’d recommend everyone to read! Don’t let the taboo and subject matter deter you from picking up this unique story; it’s definitely worth the read (and re-read).
January 7, 2012
I started this books thinking I'd just read a few chapters but then couldn't put it down until I finished. Wow!
Anna is a thirty-year old teacher who has accepted a tutoring job on a Maldives island over the summer. Anna is to tutor to sixteen year-old T.J., while he and his family vacation in this island paradise. Anna is more than happy to do this, she needs to get away to make a major decision in her life. Should she stay with the man who she's lived with, John, for the last seven years, or should she make a clean break? Anna is ready to get married and have children. John is not.
T.J. is almost seventeen, and three months into remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma. He's missed a lot of school because of his illness and needs to catch up over the summer. T.J. would've rather stayed at home with his friends than be on an island alone with his tutor and family for the entire summer.
Anna and T.J. are flying in together meeting the rest of the family who are already there. While en route, the pilot suffers a heart-attack and the plane goes down in the ocean stranding Anna and T.J. on a deserted island. After days and then weeks go by without any rescue, Anna and T.J. realize that they have to figure out how to survive on their own, and accept that they may never be rescued. I was totally hooked frantically turning the pages to see what happened next, thinking about what I would do in their situation, and all the things they had to do just to stay alive.
At first when I read the blurb on this book, I was a little nervous about the age difference between these characters when it seemed like there would be a romance. Then when I began reading this didn't bother me at all, partly because their relationship didn't start right away. Also, due to what T.J. had already been through in his life, he seemed mature beyond his years. Their relationship felt real, and being in this situation it would be hard not to form such a connection and bond. They relied on each other so much, for basic necessities and emotional needs too. This story was so touching. I'm a sucker for romance, as any of my friends will tell you and this one is sooo sweet!
This is a definite recommend!
Anna is a thirty-year old teacher who has accepted a tutoring job on a Maldives island over the summer. Anna is to tutor to sixteen year-old T.J., while he and his family vacation in this island paradise. Anna is more than happy to do this, she needs to get away to make a major decision in her life. Should she stay with the man who she's lived with, John, for the last seven years, or should she make a clean break? Anna is ready to get married and have children. John is not.
T.J. is almost seventeen, and three months into remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma. He's missed a lot of school because of his illness and needs to catch up over the summer. T.J. would've rather stayed at home with his friends than be on an island alone with his tutor and family for the entire summer.
Anna and T.J. are flying in together meeting the rest of the family who are already there. While en route, the pilot suffers a heart-attack and the plane goes down in the ocean stranding Anna and T.J. on a deserted island. After days and then weeks go by without any rescue, Anna and T.J. realize that they have to figure out how to survive on their own, and accept that they may never be rescued. I was totally hooked frantically turning the pages to see what happened next, thinking about what I would do in their situation, and all the things they had to do just to stay alive.
At first when I read the blurb on this book, I was a little nervous about the age difference between these characters when it seemed like there would be a romance. Then when I began reading this didn't bother me at all, partly because their relationship didn't start right away. Also, due to what T.J. had already been through in his life, he seemed mature beyond his years. Their relationship felt real, and being in this situation it would be hard not to form such a connection and bond. They relied on each other so much, for basic necessities and emotional needs too. This story was so touching. I'm a sucker for romance, as any of my friends will tell you and this one is sooo sweet!
This is a definite recommend!
January 17, 2022
🌬
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙."
"𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙄," 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚. "𝙎𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙒𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚"
an entertaining read this one. the characters/writing style was whatever but- they killed a shark together y’all. and they survived many else together (not wow-worthy if being compared w/ what happen on fictions. but in real life, i couldn’t imagine what i’d’ve done in their position. just lay there on the sand throwing a pity party, waiting for rescue to come and shrieking every 2 minutes most likely). so, i dunno bout u but that’s enough reason for me to enjoy their story
first 60% : 3 1/2 (gonna pretend it ended here)
last 40% : dunno i skimmed em
random : so when TJ and Anna were stranded on the island, TJ (16 going on 17) was still wearing his braces, until one day when he was 18 there’s this one scene where he was prying his braces off w/ his knife… and yea that’s all, there’s no more to the story. i just thought it was funny, plus it’s the most memorable thing from this book. (and probably that scene where TJ got busted sniffing her underwear too. the 2nd hand emb..)
’I didn’t know if could make it without her. The sound of her voice, her smile, her– those were the things that made living on the island bearable’
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙."
"𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙄," 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚. "𝙎𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙒𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚"
an entertaining read this one. the characters/writing style was whatever but- they killed a shark together y’all. and they survived many else together (not wow-worthy if being compared w/ what happen on fictions. but in real life, i couldn’t imagine what i’d’ve done in their position. just lay there on the sand throwing a pity party, waiting for rescue to come and shrieking every 2 minutes most likely). so, i dunno bout u but that’s enough reason for me to enjoy their story
first 60% : 3 1/2 (gonna pretend it ended here)
last 40% : dunno i skimmed em
random : so when TJ and Anna were stranded on the island, TJ (16 going on 17) was still wearing his braces, until one day when he was 18 there’s this one scene where he was prying his braces off w/ his knife… and yea that’s all, there’s no more to the story. i just thought it was funny, plus it’s the most memorable thing from this book. (and probably that scene where TJ got busted sniffing her underwear too. the 2nd hand emb..)
March 30, 2019
it was cute and lovely and had lots "awwww..." moments. A perfect read for when you are in mood for a light story.
March 16, 2016
Final rating: 5/5 stars
Buddy read with my darlings Nab & Basuhi & Pavlina, Jerry aka 9 3/4 and Monisha (click on names to see their reviews)
This was interesting and nice book, with a different setting from usual and refreshing love story. I liked it and enjoyed it and i am glad that i have read it!
This is a story of two people, Anna and T.J. who are trapped on the lone island when their plane crashed. Their families believe they are dead, but they never stopped hoping that eventually they would be found.
It was slow, but it was also a slow building romance, which was realistic. The only thing that was really different was the age difference between the characters (between 13 and 14 years), but i didn't mind it. Love comes in all forms, in all ages . My grandparents had a big age difference between them, and i never minded it. Because they truly loved each other.
This book is told from both Anna's and T.J.'s perspective, and i loved reading about them both. i liked being in their heads,and in the end, i just liked them. Anna and T.J. belonged to two different worlds, two different lives. But now, they have only one - together on one tiny, god forsaken island, which soon becomes their new home. They only have each other now, and they start a long term friendship which later grows into love . Anna was nice, reasonable woman, she did everything she could; while T.J. is a student who just won against cancer and tries to return to his normal life. I was thankful that he wasn't a "bad boy" type since i was growing tired of those in literature, but sweet and interesting hero. Despite their age difference, i supported them, because you can't chose who you love - and they had only each other. It was inevitable that they will fall in love.
The author did a great job on making their lives as much as miserable she could. She just threw everything she could have on them (almost everything). And yet, there were no sings of wild animals on the island (except in the ocean, of course). And i also had problem to believe that they had enough supplies for all that time they spent on the island. It was just to lucky for them... And I honestly wish this was longer: this book was too short for the time span between the beginning and the end of the book - i wish it was longer.
But anyway, i enjoyed it, and for a debut novel, this book was quite good. Not spectacular, fabulous or masterpiece, but quite well done romance. Different, not usual, but slow and romantic story of two people who made a tiny world of their own.
◉ On the Island (On the Island #1)
◉ Uncharted (On the Island #1.5)
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
Buddy read with my darlings Nab & Basuhi & Pavlina, Jerry aka 9 3/4 and Monisha (click on names to see their reviews)
"I don't fit in your world."
"Neither do I," he said, his expression tender yet resolute. "So let's make our own. We've done it before.”
This was interesting and nice book, with a different setting from usual and refreshing love story. I liked it and enjoyed it and i am glad that i have read it!
This is a story of two people, Anna and T.J. who are trapped on the lone island when their plane crashed. Their families believe they are dead, but they never stopped hoping that eventually they would be found.
It was slow, but it was also a slow building romance, which was realistic. The only thing that was really different was the age difference between the characters (between 13 and 14 years), but i didn't mind it. Love comes in all forms, in all ages . My grandparents had a big age difference between them, and i never minded it. Because they truly loved each other.
"I'm thankful we have each other T.J."
"So am I.
This book is told from both Anna's and T.J.'s perspective, and i loved reading about them both. i liked being in their heads,and in the end, i just liked them. Anna and T.J. belonged to two different worlds, two different lives. But now, they have only one - together on one tiny, god forsaken island, which soon becomes their new home. They only have each other now, and they start a long term friendship which later grows into love . Anna was nice, reasonable woman, she did everything she could; while T.J. is a student who just won against cancer and tries to return to his normal life. I was thankful that he wasn't a "bad boy" type since i was growing tired of those in literature, but sweet and interesting hero. Despite their age difference, i supported them, because you can't chose who you love - and they had only each other. It was inevitable that they will fall in love.
“I never wanted anyone else, T.J. I just wanted what was best for you."
"You are what's best for me," he said, cradling my head in his arms, his legs intertwined with mine. "I'm not going anywhere, Anna. This is right where I want to be.”
The author did a great job on making their lives as much as miserable she could. She just threw everything she could have on them (almost everything). And yet, there were no sings of wild animals on the island (except in the ocean, of course). And i also had problem to believe that they had enough supplies for all that time they spent on the island. It was just to lucky for them... And I honestly wish this was longer: this book was too short for the time span between the beginning and the end of the book - i wish it was longer.
► OVERALL:
But anyway, i enjoyed it, and for a debut novel, this book was quite good. Not spectacular, fabulous or masterpiece, but quite well done romance. Different, not usual, but slow and romantic story of two people who made a tiny world of their own.
► REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:
◉ On the Island (On the Island #1)
◉ Uncharted (On the Island #1.5)
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
June 6, 2012
My goodness...what a WONDERFUL book!!
Anna Emerson is a 30 year old English teacher who is offered a job tutoring 16 year old, T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives. Almost seventeen, T.J. is in remission from cancer and now he's on his way to spend his first summer, free from radiation and chemo, with his family; along with a stack over overdue assignments. Understandably, he is not looking forward to his summer. However, Anna jumps at the chance to spend the entire summer in a perpetual vacation atmosphere and she'll also have tme to think about her 8 year relationship with a man who cannot commit to marriage or a family.
While en route to Maldives, Anna and T.J. begin to realize the pilot of their seaplane is suffering a heart attack, which ultimately takes the his life, but not before crash landing in the Indian Ocean. Nearly losing their lives in the crash, Anna and T.J. just want to stay alive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. As the days turn to weeks, and then months, Anna is faced with the biggest challenge of all; living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.
I am forever searching for books with a unique premise and "On The Island" definitely is one of those books! Garvis-Graves delivers a story with early tragedy, then settles the reader in for a fascinating, gentle and eventual love story. I adore the fact that this author took a chance to make this story less "convenient" with a hero and heroine who had a 13 year age difference. Life is messy, and had the writer made them more age appropriate, the story would have lacked the depth it surely possessed. Because Anna was older, she had the wisdom and life experience to think things through, especially when it came to illnesses. T.J.'s younger age, helped Anna stay hopeful and keep her own youthful, fun-loving side. I sincerely loved this book and it ranks right up there with several of my favorites! It was breathtaking...
Anna Emerson is a 30 year old English teacher who is offered a job tutoring 16 year old, T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives. Almost seventeen, T.J. is in remission from cancer and now he's on his way to spend his first summer, free from radiation and chemo, with his family; along with a stack over overdue assignments. Understandably, he is not looking forward to his summer. However, Anna jumps at the chance to spend the entire summer in a perpetual vacation atmosphere and she'll also have tme to think about her 8 year relationship with a man who cannot commit to marriage or a family.
While en route to Maldives, Anna and T.J. begin to realize the pilot of their seaplane is suffering a heart attack, which ultimately takes the his life, but not before crash landing in the Indian Ocean. Nearly losing their lives in the crash, Anna and T.J. just want to stay alive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. As the days turn to weeks, and then months, Anna is faced with the biggest challenge of all; living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.
I am forever searching for books with a unique premise and "On The Island" definitely is one of those books! Garvis-Graves delivers a story with early tragedy, then settles the reader in for a fascinating, gentle and eventual love story. I adore the fact that this author took a chance to make this story less "convenient" with a hero and heroine who had a 13 year age difference. Life is messy, and had the writer made them more age appropriate, the story would have lacked the depth it surely possessed. Because Anna was older, she had the wisdom and life experience to think things through, especially when it came to illnesses. T.J.'s younger age, helped Anna stay hopeful and keep her own youthful, fun-loving side. I sincerely loved this book and it ranks right up there with several of my favorites! It was breathtaking...
October 1, 2013
Wow.....what a great book! I had such a hard time putting it down.
I have to admit that I was a little disturbed by the age difference between Anna and T.J. in the beginning, but as the story unfolded I got over it. It was such an unexpected and refreshing love story. The alternating POV's was great and I enjoyed that we were given more than just a glimpse of their life after being rescued.
I have to admit that I was a little disturbed by the age difference between Anna and T.J. in the beginning, but as the story unfolded I got over it. It was such an unexpected and refreshing love story. The alternating POV's was great and I enjoyed that we were given more than just a glimpse of their life after being rescued.
Read
January 24, 2013Fantastic book. One of my favorite romance reads… of the year. Can I say that? I mean I started reading it in 2011 and finished in 2012… so um….
Anyway it is awesome.
Anyway it is awesome.
March 18, 2012
What a beautiful story this was.
First, off, I would like to thank my friends who have taken the time to read books like these and recommend them to me. At first glance, I had sort of bypassed the book, not thinking much of it.
After seeing that On the Island was gaining buzz on GR for being a sleeper book, I gave it a second look. The cover? Basic; nothing too impressive. The summary? It peaked my interest a little. I had a guilty fascination with movies like The Blue Lagoon and Return to the Blue Lagoon back in the 80's. The idea of being stranded with a hot guy (okay...so the guy in BL was NOT hot, but we're fantasizing here...) on an island, where you get to have him all to yourself - it makes for a good story.
I even went so far as to try a couple of books out with this theme, the most recent being Nerd in Shining Armor. To say I was underwhelmed would be kind. I knew that I wanted to read about both the good and the bad that came along with being shipwrecked, planewrecked, etc. This means people are going to get sick and injured. Hygiene would not be the greatest. Pina Coladas were not going to drop from the sky. Life is probably going to suck more than anything.
Ms. Garvis-Graves did an excellent job of showing how tough life would be when thrown to the elements. I felt like I was right there on the island with Anna and T.J., experiencing the trials alongside them. The author also captivated me with her portrayal of a slow-building relationship, one that came together through mutual respect and understanding. There was nothing to feel squeamish about. After a while, you didn't even notice the almost 14 year age difference between teacher and student. This could possibly come from the slow-build, but I'd more likely accredit the fact to real-life hardships being pushed to the forefront. Survival came first. Then friendship. Then eventually more...way down the road.
By the time our pair made it off the island, the only normalcy they knew was the truth in what they were together. It was heartbreaking at times to watch this couple come to terms with their world having changed and moved on, while they stood still in another place and time.
I felt like every step of this book was written carefully and sensitively, in such a way that anyone would be able to relate in one form or another. Even if you're not particularly into May/December romances, you might be able to find something real in this particular relationship. Simply put, there is beauty to be found in most everything, if only you would take the time to look for it.
This just made me smile :
"What's it like being with her? Is it true what they say about older chicks?"
"She's not that much older."
"Uh, okay. So anyway, how is it?"
"It's incredible."
"What's she do?"
"She does everything, Ben."
First, off, I would like to thank my friends who have taken the time to read books like these and recommend them to me. At first glance, I had sort of bypassed the book, not thinking much of it.
After seeing that On the Island was gaining buzz on GR for being a sleeper book, I gave it a second look. The cover? Basic; nothing too impressive. The summary? It peaked my interest a little. I had a guilty fascination with movies like The Blue Lagoon and Return to the Blue Lagoon back in the 80's. The idea of being stranded with a hot guy (okay...so the guy in BL was NOT hot, but we're fantasizing here...) on an island, where you get to have him all to yourself - it makes for a good story.
I even went so far as to try a couple of books out with this theme, the most recent being Nerd in Shining Armor. To say I was underwhelmed would be kind. I knew that I wanted to read about both the good and the bad that came along with being shipwrecked, planewrecked, etc. This means people are going to get sick and injured. Hygiene would not be the greatest. Pina Coladas were not going to drop from the sky. Life is probably going to suck more than anything.
Ms. Garvis-Graves did an excellent job of showing how tough life would be when thrown to the elements. I felt like I was right there on the island with Anna and T.J., experiencing the trials alongside them. The author also captivated me with her portrayal of a slow-building relationship, one that came together through mutual respect and understanding. There was nothing to feel squeamish about. After a while, you didn't even notice the almost 14 year age difference between teacher and student. This could possibly come from the slow-build, but I'd more likely accredit the fact to real-life hardships being pushed to the forefront. Survival came first. Then friendship. Then eventually more...way down the road.
By the time our pair made it off the island, the only normalcy they knew was the truth in what they were together. It was heartbreaking at times to watch this couple come to terms with their world having changed and moved on, while they stood still in another place and time.
I felt like every step of this book was written carefully and sensitively, in such a way that anyone would be able to relate in one form or another. Even if you're not particularly into May/December romances, you might be able to find something real in this particular relationship. Simply put, there is beauty to be found in most everything, if only you would take the time to look for it.
This just made me smile :
"What's it like being with her? Is it true what they say about older chicks?"
"She's not that much older."
"Uh, okay. So anyway, how is it?"
"It's incredible."
"What's she do?"
"She does everything, Ben."
March 25, 2012
5 Stars!!Absolutely loved it!! Wow...the writing style, the characters, the storyline, the romance...everything. Once I started I could not stop. TJ was awesome and so was Anna. My goodness, how they survived and the love that developed between them, was a bond that would prove to stand the test of time. Anna was so strong and composed, and TJ, forced to become a man at young age, handled his circumstances better than most mature men could. He faced death twice by the age of 16 and I think that perspective made him realize how precious life is, and he knew what he wanted and who he wanted share his with.
Maturity is not determined by an age, but the way you handle yourself when life throws you a curve, how you treat others and what you do to improve life for yourself and those you love! When you love someone enough and they love you, if you let them go, even if it’s just to explore other possibilities, if they love you enough, they will find their way back to you. That’s how I would describe TJ and Anna, theirs is a beautiful love story and the epilogue will bring you to tears.
Maturity is not determined by an age, but the way you handle yourself when life throws you a curve, how you treat others and what you do to improve life for yourself and those you love! When you love someone enough and they love you, if you let them go, even if it’s just to explore other possibilities, if they love you enough, they will find their way back to you. That’s how I would describe TJ and Anna, theirs is a beautiful love story and the epilogue will bring you to tears.
July 11, 2013
Revie to come soon :))
Buddy read with Kristalia,Nab,Basuhi,9 3/4 (Jerry :)) )Monisha
on 9th July :))
Buddy read with Kristalia,Nab,Basuhi,9 3/4 (Jerry :)) )Monisha
on 9th July :))
January 25, 2013
5 Stars!!! - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den
WOW. SO DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED! Beautiful, real and moving.
It’s been a long while since I finished a book the same day I started it, but I did with this. I couldn’t put On the Island down! Even though I was meant to be doing work at home this past weekend. I was THAT hooked!!!
Sometime last year, I saw many 5-Star reviews for this book, and I added it, just waiting for the right time for when I was in the mood for a Blue Lagoon type of story.
I must admit, though, that I felt a little bit concerned about how I would feel about the huge age difference between the characters, which caused me quite a bit of discomfort, before I started, as I try my best not to discriminate. I shouldn’t have worried, though - or doubted my Goodreads friends who loved this - as author Tracey Garvis-Graves does an excellent job of building and unfolding this touchingly beautiful story of 30-year old teacher and summer tutor, Anna Emerson, and 16-year old cancer survivor, T.J. Callahan, who become stranded on a deserted, uninhabited Maldivian island when their seaplane crashes.
Anna and T.J. are stuck on the island for quite a few years and they go through many harrowing hardships, together, and quite a few seriously life-threatening ones. As they both fight for survival, battling hunger, thirst, the elements, boredom, missing their families, predators and disease, they form an understandably close bond.
As T.J. turns from boy to man, through trusting each other with their lives, hopes and dreams, relying on each other, mutual respect and affection, and feeling as if they would spend the rest of their lives alone on that island, their relationship eventually develops to another level. They realise how they wouldn’t have survived if not for having the other and how happy they make each other.
A debut novel? No way! This was WONDERFUL! Ms Garvis-Graves draws the reader in and doesn’t let go. The alternating first person point-of-views gives the reader valuable insights into, and a strong sense of connection to, both characters as one is transported onto the island with them. The incorporation of certain global events also made the story feel more grounded in reality and my heart broke again recalling that particular moment in time.
On the Island began as a self-published ebook and Ms Garvis-Graves has now sold the foreign rights to it to more than 20 countries. I understand the movie rights to it have also been sold. Very excited for the movie and I hope the makers do it justice!
I loved both Anna and T.J. Both of them, for their tenacity and determination. Anna, for her understanding and care for T.J.; how she treated him as an equal and not a child. T.J. for his maturity, strength, pragmatism, honesty and just his utter sweetness. Having battled death a number of times, T.J. knew what he wanted, and he wanted Anna. What starts as a boy’s crush and friendship turns into so much more, over the years, and while Anna battles to do right by T.J., she is surprised by how this young man makes her feel valued, wanted and respected as a woman as she never has before.
On the Island is such a beautiful love story, which would never have developed under different circumstances. But how would the real world treat their love and how would it survive off the island?
Okay, there were a few things that seemed just TOO convenient, like Anna’s suitcase, with quite a bit of soap and shampoo supplies, a first aid kit, etc. washing up on shore from the plane wreckage. Of course, it could also be realistic, depending on the current patterns around that island. Considering how much of the things from the plane wreck did wash back up on the island, I’ll go with that scientific explanation! Yes, I’m showing my geekiness and also my willingness to suspend disbelief. LOL In light of all the traumatic events that Anna and T.J. go through, I was very happy for all the things that washed up to make the primitive life on the island just that little bit easier for them and assisted in their survival. :-)
I learnt what an "atoll" is - a coral island (or islands) that encircles a lagoon partially or completely - and how the Maldives has many of these.
Malhosmadulhu Atoll seen from space.
"Fasdutere" and Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
can be seen in this picture.
So beautiful!
The epilogue brought tears to my eyes, and I had a big grin on my face, in the end. This is definitely a keeper.
I LOVED IT!
I happened to hear this song the very next day after reading this, entitled Moments, written by the very talented Ed Sheeran, and sung by One Direction. It’s become T.J.’s song to Anna, for me. :-)
Moments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1fn6l...
One of my favourite quotes:
‘Anna:
In February, I woke up from a nap. A bouquet of flowers gathered from the various bushes and shrubs scattered around the island lay on the blanket beside me, a small length of rope wound around their stems.
I found T.J. down at the shore. “Someone’s been checking the calendar.”
He grinned. “I didn’t want to miss Valentine’s Day.”
I kissed him. “You’re sweet to me.”
Pulling me closer, he said, “It’s not hard, Anna.”
I stared into T.J.’s eyes, and he started to sway. My arms went around his neck and we danced, moving in a circle, the sand soft and warm under our feet.
“You don’t need music, do you?”
“No,” T.J. said. “But I do need you.”’
DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.
WOW. SO DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED! Beautiful, real and moving.
It’s been a long while since I finished a book the same day I started it, but I did with this. I couldn’t put On the Island down! Even though I was meant to be doing work at home this past weekend. I was THAT hooked!!!
Sometime last year, I saw many 5-Star reviews for this book, and I added it, just waiting for the right time for when I was in the mood for a Blue Lagoon type of story.
I must admit, though, that I felt a little bit concerned about how I would feel about the huge age difference between the characters, which caused me quite a bit of discomfort, before I started, as I try my best not to discriminate. I shouldn’t have worried, though - or doubted my Goodreads friends who loved this - as author Tracey Garvis-Graves does an excellent job of building and unfolding this touchingly beautiful story of 30-year old teacher and summer tutor, Anna Emerson, and 16-year old cancer survivor, T.J. Callahan, who become stranded on a deserted, uninhabited Maldivian island when their seaplane crashes.
Anna and T.J. are stuck on the island for quite a few years and they go through many harrowing hardships, together, and quite a few seriously life-threatening ones. As they both fight for survival, battling hunger, thirst, the elements, boredom, missing their families, predators and disease, they form an understandably close bond.
As T.J. turns from boy to man, through trusting each other with their lives, hopes and dreams, relying on each other, mutual respect and affection, and feeling as if they would spend the rest of their lives alone on that island, their relationship eventually develops to another level. They realise how they wouldn’t have survived if not for having the other and how happy they make each other.
A debut novel? No way! This was WONDERFUL! Ms Garvis-Graves draws the reader in and doesn’t let go. The alternating first person point-of-views gives the reader valuable insights into, and a strong sense of connection to, both characters as one is transported onto the island with them. The incorporation of certain global events also made the story feel more grounded in reality and my heart broke again recalling that particular moment in time.
On the Island began as a self-published ebook and Ms Garvis-Graves has now sold the foreign rights to it to more than 20 countries. I understand the movie rights to it have also been sold. Very excited for the movie and I hope the makers do it justice!
I loved both Anna and T.J. Both of them, for their tenacity and determination. Anna, for her understanding and care for T.J.; how she treated him as an equal and not a child. T.J. for his maturity, strength, pragmatism, honesty and just his utter sweetness. Having battled death a number of times, T.J. knew what he wanted, and he wanted Anna. What starts as a boy’s crush and friendship turns into so much more, over the years, and while Anna battles to do right by T.J., she is surprised by how this young man makes her feel valued, wanted and respected as a woman as she never has before.
On the Island is such a beautiful love story, which would never have developed under different circumstances. But how would the real world treat their love and how would it survive off the island?
Okay, there were a few things that seemed just TOO convenient, like Anna’s suitcase, with quite a bit of soap and shampoo supplies, a first aid kit, etc. washing up on shore from the plane wreckage. Of course, it could also be realistic, depending on the current patterns around that island. Considering how much of the things from the plane wreck did wash back up on the island, I’ll go with that scientific explanation! Yes, I’m showing my geekiness and also my willingness to suspend disbelief. LOL In light of all the traumatic events that Anna and T.J. go through, I was very happy for all the things that washed up to make the primitive life on the island just that little bit easier for them and assisted in their survival. :-)
I learnt what an "atoll" is - a coral island (or islands) that encircles a lagoon partially or completely - and how the Maldives has many of these.
Malhosmadulhu Atoll seen from space.
"Fasdutere" and Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
can be seen in this picture.
So beautiful!
The epilogue brought tears to my eyes, and I had a big grin on my face, in the end. This is definitely a keeper.
I LOVED IT!
I happened to hear this song the very next day after reading this, entitled Moments, written by the very talented Ed Sheeran, and sung by One Direction. It’s become T.J.’s song to Anna, for me. :-)
Moments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1fn6l...
One of my favourite quotes:
‘Anna:
In February, I woke up from a nap. A bouquet of flowers gathered from the various bushes and shrubs scattered around the island lay on the blanket beside me, a small length of rope wound around their stems.
I found T.J. down at the shore. “Someone’s been checking the calendar.”
He grinned. “I didn’t want to miss Valentine’s Day.”
I kissed him. “You’re sweet to me.”
Pulling me closer, he said, “It’s not hard, Anna.”
I stared into T.J.’s eyes, and he started to sway. My arms went around his neck and we danced, moving in a circle, the sand soft and warm under our feet.
“You don’t need music, do you?”
“No,” T.J. said. “But I do need you.”’
DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.
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