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At Seventeen
Madison Lansford and Shannon Fletcher met when they were ten years old. Madison—daughter of wealthy parents and Shannon, daughter of their live-in maid and cook—became fast friends, yet both knew their place in life. There was never a doubt that they would become lovers . . . there was also never a doubt that Madison would marry and maintain her social standing in the community. Little by little, they grew apart, their love affair ending with Madison’s marriage and pregnancy. Now, years later, Shannon returns to her old hometown to care for her ailing mother. Can they rebuild their friendship? Or will their new-found closeness bring back memories of their long-lost love? Travel through the years with Shannon and Madison and watch their love unfold as they move from teens to young women and into adulthood.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2013
26 people are currently reading
1203 people want to read
About the author
Gerri Hill
56 books1,539 followersGerri began writing lesbian romance as a way to amuse herself while snowed in one winter in the mountains of Colorado, and hasn’t looked back. Her first published work came in 2000 with One Summer Night. Many more romances have followed, with the occasional murder mystery in the mix.
Gerri’s love of nature and of being outdoors usually makes its way into her stories as her characters often find themselves in beautiful natural settings. When she isn’t writing, Gerri and her longtime partner, Diane, can be found at their home in East Texas, where their vegetable garden, orchard, and five acres of woods keep them busy. They share their lives with an ever-changing cast of furry friends.
Her favorite pastimes include camping, hiking, birdwatching (though she insists she doesn’t wear funny hats yet!), photography, and cooking. She collects things nature offers, like an unusual pinecone, colorful rocks, or an abandoned bird feather. Dawn is her favorite time of day, the moment right before sunrise...
"I love the morning... the beginning of a brand new day. Because even things that we know are unattainable flutter within our grasp. In the early morning—at that cusp of a new day—everything is possible."
Gerri’s love of nature and of being outdoors usually makes its way into her stories as her characters often find themselves in beautiful natural settings. When she isn’t writing, Gerri and her longtime partner, Diane, can be found at their home in East Texas, where their vegetable garden, orchard, and five acres of woods keep them busy. They share their lives with an ever-changing cast of furry friends.
Her favorite pastimes include camping, hiking, birdwatching (though she insists she doesn’t wear funny hats yet!), photography, and cooking. She collects things nature offers, like an unusual pinecone, colorful rocks, or an abandoned bird feather. Dawn is her favorite time of day, the moment right before sunrise...
"I love the morning... the beginning of a brand new day. Because even things that we know are unattainable flutter within our grasp. In the early morning—at that cusp of a new day—everything is possible."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 3, 2017
There are three distinct parts to this book. In part one, we learn of rich-girl Madison and poor-girl Shannon meeting at age 10, and how their forbidden friendship developed into forbidden love over the course of seven or eight years. This period in their lives is told by Shannon to two of her friends of six years during a dinner. I very much liked this part of the book…it was very sweet.
I’ll get to the second part in a moment….the third part is predictable so I’ll get comments out of the way first. At ages 38, both women reconnect, acknowledge they’re still in love with each other, and begin the rest of their lives together….true love having finally won. Tah dah! Check off the HEA.
Ahh…but the second part of the book….not my favorite. Between ages 18 and 38, our MCs lead very separate lives. Rich girl refused to run off with poor girl,, and instead married a man she did not love, and had a child. Poor girl pined so much for her true love rich girl that she never had another fulfilling relationship, and even avoided going home to visit her mother just in case she might run into her true love in the small town. Rich girl you, see, was so into being controlled by her mother that she felt she couldn’t make any choices at all…not which sport to play, not which friends to have, not which college to attend, and not whom to marry. Poor girl was just so darned perfect that she had no love life at all until rich girl grew up and decided she could make choices after all.
Yeah, as you might have guessed, I did not much like part two. Rich girl was just too willing to ruin her own life by not living her own life. Poor girl was just too willing to allow her own life to be loveless because there is, of course, only one single person on the entire planet that she could possible love, and so she gave that person control over her lovelife for 20 years, and would, presumably, have died lonely except for her 20 cats if rich girl hadn’t (in part three) come to her senses and decided to accept a life together.
Arrgh. I do believe in love, and I enjoy stories in which two people seem destined for each other and end up together in a HEA ending. But I do not like stories, in fiction or real life, in which an otherwise terrific person just can’t or won’t move on from a rejection by “the love that could have been”. How many friends do we have that are emotionally distraught for years by thoughts of “what if?”? Twenty years, Shannon? Seriously? Very few people spend their lives with their first love. Losing a first love is heartbreaking….but I believe there really is another person to love out there in the world. Spending life loveless after a first love makes a bad choice is just sad. In the case of this book, getting together at the end is a happy ending, but twenty years of unhappiness permeates this part of the book.
So overall, then, I didn’t respect Madison much for her failure to stand up for herself until age 38. As much as I liked Shannon, I didn’t have much sympathy for her for spending 20 years allowing Madison’s choice to prevent Shannon herself from finding happiness. The story itself was well-written, as all of Gerri Hill’s books are, and Carly Robins did an excellent job with the narration, but this book is only a 3* for me.
I’ll get to the second part in a moment….the third part is predictable so I’ll get comments out of the way first. At ages 38, both women reconnect, acknowledge they’re still in love with each other, and begin the rest of their lives together….true love having finally won. Tah dah! Check off the HEA.
Ahh…but the second part of the book….not my favorite. Between ages 18 and 38, our MCs lead very separate lives. Rich girl refused to run off with poor girl,, and instead married a man she did not love, and had a child. Poor girl pined so much for her true love rich girl that she never had another fulfilling relationship, and even avoided going home to visit her mother just in case she might run into her true love in the small town. Rich girl you, see, was so into being controlled by her mother that she felt she couldn’t make any choices at all…not which sport to play, not which friends to have, not which college to attend, and not whom to marry. Poor girl was just so darned perfect that she had no love life at all until rich girl grew up and decided she could make choices after all.
Yeah, as you might have guessed, I did not much like part two. Rich girl was just too willing to ruin her own life by not living her own life. Poor girl was just too willing to allow her own life to be loveless because there is, of course, only one single person on the entire planet that she could possible love, and so she gave that person control over her lovelife for 20 years, and would, presumably, have died lonely except for her 20 cats if rich girl hadn’t (in part three) come to her senses and decided to accept a life together.
Arrgh. I do believe in love, and I enjoy stories in which two people seem destined for each other and end up together in a HEA ending. But I do not like stories, in fiction or real life, in which an otherwise terrific person just can’t or won’t move on from a rejection by “the love that could have been”. How many friends do we have that are emotionally distraught for years by thoughts of “what if?”? Twenty years, Shannon? Seriously? Very few people spend their lives with their first love. Losing a first love is heartbreaking….but I believe there really is another person to love out there in the world. Spending life loveless after a first love makes a bad choice is just sad. In the case of this book, getting together at the end is a happy ending, but twenty years of unhappiness permeates this part of the book.
So overall, then, I didn’t respect Madison much for her failure to stand up for herself until age 38. As much as I liked Shannon, I didn’t have much sympathy for her for spending 20 years allowing Madison’s choice to prevent Shannon herself from finding happiness. The story itself was well-written, as all of Gerri Hill’s books are, and Carly Robins did an excellent job with the narration, but this book is only a 3* for me.
September 6, 2016
Edit:
I just finished relistening the audiobook. Somehow I got compelled to.
And this time I loved it.
What I wrote below it's still true. But I've sort of given the characters a second chance and they have become very dear to me.
Yes, they have to struggle and to grow. But they have the most important things and they keep them constant throughout their story: loyalty, sincerity and true mutual affection.
---------------------------------------------
This book certainly has issues. But it also has highlights.
It can be very frustrating. And it has beautiful, lyrical moments.
It is a book of contrasts.
For one thing, it is oversexual. The first part especially is nothing but sexual exploration between the two protagonists. Then yes, sex is good. But every interaction, since they were fourteen on, is sexually driven. Even in the second part, where the story really takes off and aims to its conclusion, sex urge between the leads is constantly brought up, even in moments when they really should think about much more.
Then there is the worst issue of all. The main characters are weak, weak, weak.
That even explains all the sex. They never confront reality. No rebellion, no will power, no talking or communication. No analyzing the situation to try to work something out, just dully suffering circumstances. Sex becomes then a refuge where to hide from the misery of their lives. It is very sad.
The sympathizing reader feels all the unease and angst and is a helpless witness of two nice girls letting their lives fall and ruin without doing a single thing to stop it.
And it’s very frustrating. Nobody really likes weak characters, isn’t it true? Even if we can try to understand Madison, as she has been psychologically abused by her mother since she was a child, yet why she never even tried to say one “no”? And what justification has Shannon not to fight for who she loves? For the life she wants?
Next point.
Let’s take it from an entirely different angle.
The truth is I really felt for them. Because if we just look at feelings this is certainly a five stars, amazing tale.
Between Madison and Shannon there is such a connection, such a commitment… it’s really sweet, touching.
Their mutual feelings are both powerful and delicate. Even poetic.
Only, this relationship is never explained, it was never actively built by them. It’s just innate, instinctive. But it is beautiful just the same.
This book made me make some serious thinking about love.
Love is not only feelings. Feelings are a very important aspect of love. But there is another: action. True love always translates in actions. It motivates actions.
So this is where this story falls short. It lacks of balance. Feelings are wonderful, but love actions are lacking.
I enjoyed the reading. Gerri Hill made me feel for her characters. She even made me mad at them sometimes.
I just finished relistening the audiobook. Somehow I got compelled to.
And this time I loved it.
What I wrote below it's still true. But I've sort of given the characters a second chance and they have become very dear to me.
Yes, they have to struggle and to grow. But they have the most important things and they keep them constant throughout their story: loyalty, sincerity and true mutual affection.
---------------------------------------------
This book certainly has issues. But it also has highlights.
It can be very frustrating. And it has beautiful, lyrical moments.
It is a book of contrasts.
For one thing, it is oversexual. The first part especially is nothing but sexual exploration between the two protagonists. Then yes, sex is good. But every interaction, since they were fourteen on, is sexually driven. Even in the second part, where the story really takes off and aims to its conclusion, sex urge between the leads is constantly brought up, even in moments when they really should think about much more.
Then there is the worst issue of all. The main characters are weak, weak, weak.
That even explains all the sex. They never confront reality. No rebellion, no will power, no talking or communication. No analyzing the situation to try to work something out, just dully suffering circumstances. Sex becomes then a refuge where to hide from the misery of their lives. It is very sad.
The sympathizing reader feels all the unease and angst and is a helpless witness of two nice girls letting their lives fall and ruin without doing a single thing to stop it.
And it’s very frustrating. Nobody really likes weak characters, isn’t it true? Even if we can try to understand Madison, as she has been psychologically abused by her mother since she was a child, yet why she never even tried to say one “no”? And what justification has Shannon not to fight for who she loves? For the life she wants?
Next point.
Let’s take it from an entirely different angle.
The truth is I really felt for them. Because if we just look at feelings this is certainly a five stars, amazing tale.
Between Madison and Shannon there is such a connection, such a commitment… it’s really sweet, touching.
Their mutual feelings are both powerful and delicate. Even poetic.
Only, this relationship is never explained, it was never actively built by them. It’s just innate, instinctive. But it is beautiful just the same.
This book made me make some serious thinking about love.
Love is not only feelings. Feelings are a very important aspect of love. But there is another: action. True love always translates in actions. It motivates actions.
So this is where this story falls short. It lacks of balance. Feelings are wonderful, but love actions are lacking.
I enjoyed the reading. Gerri Hill made me feel for her characters. She even made me mad at them sometimes.
August 20, 2014
This book got a couple of strongly-worded negative reviews, about it having a rehashed plot, etc. But this is my first Gerri Hill romance so that's not a problem for me. I'm glad I took a chance on it cause it rocks!
What attracted my attention was the rich girl/poor girl premise of the book. I love these impossible pairings. I know the premise is as old as time but the author was able to hash out a very entertaining, angsty and sexy tale out of it.
The two main characters are bff/soulmates as kids and teens. But only when they're alone. The rest of the time, because of their too-diverse social standing, they live in their own respective social worlds and pretend the other one doesn't exist. Things heat up when the adolescent hormones kick in and they step up to become lovers. But our poor little rich girl has her entire life path set out for her by the stereotypically over-the-top meddling mom, which of course, doesn't include the poor girl. Poor girl Shannon can't stand that Madison won't stand up for them and moves away. But even years later, on every occasion the two ladies interact as adults, there's still a lot of sizzling sexual tension.
I love the characters and how they grow as the plot progresses. Not always for the better at first as they live their separate lives in misery for one and apathy for the other. There's lots of angst before they find their way back to each other again. The plot may be trite (but isn't all of romantic fiction?) but the author's skill and versatility (amazing that she's got 20+ books) makes it most enjoyable.
What attracted my attention was the rich girl/poor girl premise of the book. I love these impossible pairings. I know the premise is as old as time but the author was able to hash out a very entertaining, angsty and sexy tale out of it.
The two main characters are bff/soulmates as kids and teens. But only when they're alone. The rest of the time, because of their too-diverse social standing, they live in their own respective social worlds and pretend the other one doesn't exist. Things heat up when the adolescent hormones kick in and they step up to become lovers. But our poor little rich girl has her entire life path set out for her by the stereotypically over-the-top meddling mom, which of course, doesn't include the poor girl. Poor girl Shannon can't stand that Madison won't stand up for them and moves away. But even years later, on every occasion the two ladies interact as adults, there's still a lot of sizzling sexual tension.
I love the characters and how they grow as the plot progresses. Not always for the better at first as they live their separate lives in misery for one and apathy for the other. There's lots of angst before they find their way back to each other again. The plot may be trite (but isn't all of romantic fiction?) but the author's skill and versatility (amazing that she's got 20+ books) makes it most enjoyable.
November 19, 2020
This had an epic feel since it spans a relationship between two women from childhood to adulthood. I liked the back and forth between present and past to reveal what happened between them. However, I am I the only one who was really uncomfortable with the intimate scenes when they were teenage girls? I get that people are sexually active and have those feelings before they are 18... but it feels wrong to read it? Anyway, I did like the love story and grand feel of it.
January 26, 2025
I really love this book! When I read stories about how people find their soulmates as children, I wonder what that must be like. Does it really happen, or is it the stuff of fantasies?
This is one of those, but because the characters are from different social classes, the upper class mother does everything she can to keep them apart. And she succeeds - for entirely too long. Their childhood through high school years are told through flashbacks and it's a beautiful, yet painful story. A good number of years pass before they can find a chance at happiness.
This is another original idea from Gerri and I appreciated that. She writes so beautifully and captures well the angst of star-crossed lovers. I'd read the paperback in the past and decided to listen to the audiobook this time. Sadly, this was one that Abby Craden didn't narrate and I missed her every single moment. Narrator Carly Robbins didn't have the differentiation of voices or put the feeling into it to capture the true emotion of the story. She wasn't terrible, she just didn't add anything to it.
I highly recommend this slow burn friends to lovers book but suggest you read, rather than listen. It's a gem. 5 stars for the story, 4 stars for the audiobook due to the narration alone.
This is one of those, but because the characters are from different social classes, the upper class mother does everything she can to keep them apart. And she succeeds - for entirely too long. Their childhood through high school years are told through flashbacks and it's a beautiful, yet painful story. A good number of years pass before they can find a chance at happiness.
This is another original idea from Gerri and I appreciated that. She writes so beautifully and captures well the angst of star-crossed lovers. I'd read the paperback in the past and decided to listen to the audiobook this time. Sadly, this was one that Abby Craden didn't narrate and I missed her every single moment. Narrator Carly Robbins didn't have the differentiation of voices or put the feeling into it to capture the true emotion of the story. She wasn't terrible, she just didn't add anything to it.
I highly recommend this slow burn friends to lovers book but suggest you read, rather than listen. It's a gem. 5 stars for the story, 4 stars for the audiobook due to the narration alone.
December 7, 2017
3.25 Stars.
Gerri Hill is not one of my go to authors. I don't dislike her and I've read some of her early books and more recent here and there (most before GR). But some just don't appeal to me for various reasons. I decided to give her another try, as a few of my GR Friends really liked this one. I wasn't interested previously as I don't normally care for YA or romances with YA characters.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Carly Robins. She was a very good (4 Star) narrator. Considering she has narrated over 265 books, she better be!
I'm so conflicted on how I feel about this book. I wanted to like it more than I did. I will say, it kept me entertained. I've found for audiobooks, if I get bored and I drop an audiobook quicker than if I was reading it. Hmmm. Maybe because it's easier skip & skim pages if I'm reading it myself?
The first part is their early years 10yrs to early 20s. It covers their friendship as young girls and as it slowly develops to be more than friends emotionally and physically in love. Though they never discuss it. (Note: I was not comfortable reading/listening teen sex scenes which is why YA romance isn't for me). They are separated by their stations in life - Madison (the upstairs) daughter of very rich parents and a mother that is ultra-status conscious and there is Shannon (the downstairs) daughter of the live-in cook. Madison, is very much controlled by her mother such that she is incapable of making any of her own choices. Shannon knows her "place" and doesn't force the issue. Madison reluctantly ends up marrying the boy that her mother chose when she was still a young girl! A weakness? Perhaps. More like abusive dominance by her mother and a clueless father.
From the wedding until they are in their late 30s, they rarely see each other. Which I feel sadder for Shannon's mother as Shannon doesn't visit her often to avoid running into Madison. I think I enjoyed the last part of the book the best. Shannon returns after she and her brother decide to build a branch of their small "Whole Foods" type markets in their hometown. In part to be nearer to their mother, Alice who has been in poor health. Of course Shannon runs into Madison, because Alice has become like a mother to her and grandmother to her genius son, Ashton. (I loved Alice too!). They find that their love hasn't diminished, but can Madison make the necessary changes in her life? I'm sure you can guess.
Gerri Hill is not one of my go to authors. I don't dislike her and I've read some of her early books and more recent here and there (most before GR). But some just don't appeal to me for various reasons. I decided to give her another try, as a few of my GR Friends really liked this one. I wasn't interested previously as I don't normally care for YA or romances with YA characters.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Carly Robins. She was a very good (4 Star) narrator. Considering she has narrated over 265 books, she better be!
I'm so conflicted on how I feel about this book. I wanted to like it more than I did. I will say, it kept me entertained. I've found for audiobooks, if I get bored and I drop an audiobook quicker than if I was reading it. Hmmm. Maybe because it's easier skip & skim pages if I'm reading it myself?
The first part is their early years 10yrs to early 20s. It covers their friendship as young girls and as it slowly develops to be more than friends emotionally and physically in love. Though they never discuss it. (Note: I was not comfortable reading/listening teen sex scenes which is why YA romance isn't for me). They are separated by their stations in life - Madison (the upstairs) daughter of very rich parents and a mother that is ultra-status conscious and there is Shannon (the downstairs) daughter of the live-in cook. Madison, is very much controlled by her mother such that she is incapable of making any of her own choices. Shannon knows her "place" and doesn't force the issue. Madison reluctantly ends up marrying the boy that her mother chose when she was still a young girl! A weakness? Perhaps. More like abusive dominance by her mother and a clueless father.
From the wedding until they are in their late 30s, they rarely see each other. Which I feel sadder for Shannon's mother as Shannon doesn't visit her often to avoid running into Madison. I think I enjoyed the last part of the book the best. Shannon returns after she and her brother decide to build a branch of their small "Whole Foods" type markets in their hometown. In part to be nearer to their mother, Alice who has been in poor health. Of course Shannon runs into Madison, because Alice has become like a mother to her and grandmother to her genius son, Ashton. (I loved Alice too!). They find that their love hasn't diminished, but can Madison make the necessary changes in her life? I'm sure you can guess.
January 5, 2017
Gerri Hill has written a beautiful story that demonstrates what all good Lesbian Romance Novels should portray… true love lasts forever.
To the outsider, Madison lives a very privileged life with maids, cooks and lives on her family’s large estate. Her life has been planned down to the company she will keep, the life she will lead and even the man she will marry. That is until the maid and her daughter move in and Madison’s finds something she wants that is not in her life plan, the maid’s daughter Shannon.
Shannon and Madison fall in love at very young age but Madison cannot waver from her family’s aspirations for her, so Shannon watches from the sidelines and takes any hidden moment she can get until they day she can’t take anymore and she leaves. Years later with an ailing mother and a new business afoot, she returns to her home town to find out that true love never really disappears…
Wow, these women were madly in love, the chemistry of these two characters just emanated off the page, to the point I actually thought at one point that Gerri Hill had to know these characters in real life. There were moments I actually got quite upset reading the sections from the past because I could see how tortured both their souls were and I just wanted for them to forget the world and run away together.
At the start I felt so much respect and genuine affection for Shannon for loving Madison the way she did. She never asked for too much and never forced Madison to choose between her and her family, she just accepted it for Madison! I’m not sure how Shannon didn’t let the jealousy consume her; she was so strong at such a young age. The sex scenes were off the chart, they were extremely sexy but also gave sensual and loving undertones that just radiated adoration.
The secondary characters were all written extremely well and gave pathways to getting to know the main protagonists better. I have to say though, I wasn’t a fan of Shannon’s friends Charlotte and Tracy. I just had a weird feeling about them from the beginning in the way they questioned Shannon and about her relationship with Madison.
I was genuinely sad when this novel ended and I was left wanting to start all over again just to relive the moments.
5 stars
https://lesreveur.com/2017/01/05/at-s...
To the outsider, Madison lives a very privileged life with maids, cooks and lives on her family’s large estate. Her life has been planned down to the company she will keep, the life she will lead and even the man she will marry. That is until the maid and her daughter move in and Madison’s finds something she wants that is not in her life plan, the maid’s daughter Shannon.
Shannon and Madison fall in love at very young age but Madison cannot waver from her family’s aspirations for her, so Shannon watches from the sidelines and takes any hidden moment she can get until they day she can’t take anymore and she leaves. Years later with an ailing mother and a new business afoot, she returns to her home town to find out that true love never really disappears…
Wow, these women were madly in love, the chemistry of these two characters just emanated off the page, to the point I actually thought at one point that Gerri Hill had to know these characters in real life. There were moments I actually got quite upset reading the sections from the past because I could see how tortured both their souls were and I just wanted for them to forget the world and run away together.
At the start I felt so much respect and genuine affection for Shannon for loving Madison the way she did. She never asked for too much and never forced Madison to choose between her and her family, she just accepted it for Madison! I’m not sure how Shannon didn’t let the jealousy consume her; she was so strong at such a young age. The sex scenes were off the chart, they were extremely sexy but also gave sensual and loving undertones that just radiated adoration.
The secondary characters were all written extremely well and gave pathways to getting to know the main protagonists better. I have to say though, I wasn’t a fan of Shannon’s friends Charlotte and Tracy. I just had a weird feeling about them from the beginning in the way they questioned Shannon and about her relationship with Madison.
I was genuinely sad when this novel ended and I was left wanting to start all over again just to relive the moments.
5 stars
https://lesreveur.com/2017/01/05/at-s...
November 4, 2017
Oh gosh, I forgot that I read this book before. Simple, absorbing and touching story which I completed in a day.
December 16, 2025
Light, romantic and fluffy read, which hit the "feel good" spot I needed. A bit formulaic, but still very pleasant. Recommend it for those who love FF contemporary romance with a very touching coming out story.
March 23, 2019
As with most of Gerri Hill's romance novels, I found that I absolutely enjoyed reading and exploring the story in "At Seventeen!" Ultimately a MUST-READ, imo! But I must say, though, I had held off from reading this for a long while now because of its subject matter - gay girl getting married even though she didn't want to because she was in love with her female best mate but denied she was gay and obviously because of that wretched fear she had of her own mum, fear of rejection, then had a kid and all that "hetero" stuff that I didn't want to read in lesbian fiction. Something which I didn't have the patience to delve into because I knew I'd be annoyed. So even though Hill's one of my all-time favourite lesfic authors, I decided not to read this particular book (and the few romance she wrote that had the same "hetero lifestyle including marriage and kids" subject matter) then. But reading it now, at this point in time, I found my perspective about the whole "doing the hetero thing" shifted and expanded, not quite so rigid any longer. Funny how the passage of time changes/shifts our mindset, psyche, POV about certain issues, eh?
Shannon and Madison met when they were 10 years' old. Madison, the rich kid, and Shannon, the maid's kid, who moved into the servant’s quarters in Madison’s huge family home. Since then, both girls quickly became best mates, to the dismay of Madison’s class-obsessed, prejudiced, bigoted mum who controlled every facet of Madison’s life. But no matter what lengths her mum went through to separate these two, they always seemed to find a way to spend as much time as they could with each other in private.
I particularly loved how Hill structured the storytelling. The first part of the book, appropriately entitled, “Love is Ageless,” was a trip down memory lane, from Shannon's POV. She told the story about her and Madison starting from the beginning when they were 10, to her mates who were a couple, in a series of flashbacks, with intervals back to the present time. Hill's writing craft made me feel like I was in the room with Shannon's mates, listening intently to Shannon's version of her story which became more and more intriguing and compelling, as she methodically revealed the progress of her relationship with Madison at different stages of their lives by age. All those stolen moments they both shared...
...Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
Shannon and Madison met when they were 10 years' old. Madison, the rich kid, and Shannon, the maid's kid, who moved into the servant’s quarters in Madison’s huge family home. Since then, both girls quickly became best mates, to the dismay of Madison’s class-obsessed, prejudiced, bigoted mum who controlled every facet of Madison’s life. But no matter what lengths her mum went through to separate these two, they always seemed to find a way to spend as much time as they could with each other in private.
I particularly loved how Hill structured the storytelling. The first part of the book, appropriately entitled, “Love is Ageless,” was a trip down memory lane, from Shannon's POV. She told the story about her and Madison starting from the beginning when they were 10, to her mates who were a couple, in a series of flashbacks, with intervals back to the present time. Hill's writing craft made me feel like I was in the room with Shannon's mates, listening intently to Shannon's version of her story which became more and more intriguing and compelling, as she methodically revealed the progress of her relationship with Madison at different stages of their lives by age. All those stolen moments they both shared...
...Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
September 5, 2016
I wanted to love this book. I was positive going into it that I was going to give this five stars and then I listened to it and I just... can't.
I liked the friends to lovers aspect where Shannon and Madison were drawn together, but the blurb pretty much says it all in that they had to split up because of expectations around Madison and her social class. It's possible that I just shouldn't read second chance stories because I don't like reading about the major heartbreak (and that's the rub with second chance stories, because we often don't see that aspect and I never know if it will be there).
In the end, I'm glad I listened to it, but I don't think I'll come back to this one again. If you want a Gerri Hill audio book, I much preferred Snow Falls.
I liked the friends to lovers aspect where Shannon and Madison were drawn together, but the blurb pretty much says it all in that they had to split up because of expectations around Madison and her social class. It's possible that I just shouldn't read second chance stories because I don't like reading about the major heartbreak (and that's the rub with second chance stories, because we often don't see that aspect and I never know if it will be there).
In the end, I'm glad I listened to it, but I don't think I'll come back to this one again. If you want a Gerri Hill audio book, I much preferred Snow Falls.
January 10, 2021
3.5 ish. I didn’t really like the first part of this. I felt there was two much sex and not enough connection, and I thought this part didn’t need to be told strictly from Shannon’s POV while relaying the info to her friends over dinner. BUT once we got caught up to the present day and Madison’s perspective was introduced, I enjoyed this a lot more. I cheered for Madison’s taking control of her life and standing up to those who brought her down. The family aspect also warmed me from head to toe.
March 11, 2017
Still one of my favourites by Gerri Hill
October 23, 2020
4.5 stars
There is a softness i have for rekindling old love...it makes my believe on imperishable love truly believable (even if it's in the lives of fictional characters mostly😀)
The author painted this love well despite any reader's thoughts on the weakness of one character in particular but in a way for those who believe in fate....I'd say this was a fated love.
There is a softness i have for rekindling old love...it makes my believe on imperishable love truly believable (even if it's in the lives of fictional characters mostly😀)
The author painted this love well despite any reader's thoughts on the weakness of one character in particular but in a way for those who believe in fate....I'd say this was a fated love.
March 23, 2022
3 stars
I'll probably revisit this book when I'll have an additional decade under my belt. I'm afraid part of the charm of this story escaped me simply because I'm in a very different place than both MCs. But it was an reasonably enjoyable read nonetheless.
But I believe Gerri Hill has written significantly better books. So three stars it is
I'll probably revisit this book when I'll have an additional decade under my belt. I'm afraid part of the charm of this story escaped me simply because I'm in a very different place than both MCs. But it was an reasonably enjoyable read nonetheless.
But I believe Gerri Hill has written significantly better books. So three stars it is
Read
February 26, 2022There's something about Gerri Hill novels that I find incredibly relaxing and this book was no exception. I loved this novel. It's such a sweet story of two women getting a second chance at love on their own terms.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the narrator. There were a lot of breathless speaking and at times I couldn't tell who was speaking as it felt as though the voice shifted characters.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the narrator. There were a lot of breathless speaking and at times I couldn't tell who was speaking as it felt as though the voice shifted characters.
April 18, 2021
Reread this novel nth times 😊 i will always be a fan of gerri hill’s novels..
January 21, 2023
**update 2023 - I've re-read this, 8 years later, with new eyes, new baggage, and I guess a bit more skepticism, and I've had to remove a star. It was a lovely story, but quite repetitive. Though I guess what bothers me the most is how little we know about the characters. Apart from their love story, Gerri Hill gives nothing about who they actually are. Scenes are not very descriptive, they're mostly dialogues, all geared towards the love story. So somehow when I read this again, I just couldn't quite feel it - because I just couldn't fall in love with the characters. All things considered, both characters are really quite bland, and not very attractive**
One of the rare Gerri Hill's novels which don't include broody detectives! How refreshing! I loved it. I love the idea that true love exists and survives time and distance. At Seventeen is a very touching and painful story about two friends who grew up together and who have always loved each other. But that love is impossible: Madison is trapped in the world of wealth and expected to live the life her family sets for her. Obviously, that doesn't include being a lesbian.
When both girls meet again, years in the future, the sparks still fly. Shannon is so endearing, and so incredibly brave. Madison is sometimes very frustrating and annoying (how can she deny herself the happiness of being with the love of her life? How can she blindly follow her mother's orders and live a life she never wanted?), but Gerri Hill manages to depict her struggle really well, too. In the end, I loved both characters. Their story is beautiful, and it's all about breaking free from what people expect from you, and letting yourself be happy.
I'll read it again.
One of the rare Gerri Hill's novels which don't include broody detectives! How refreshing! I loved it. I love the idea that true love exists and survives time and distance. At Seventeen is a very touching and painful story about two friends who grew up together and who have always loved each other. But that love is impossible: Madison is trapped in the world of wealth and expected to live the life her family sets for her. Obviously, that doesn't include being a lesbian.
When both girls meet again, years in the future, the sparks still fly. Shannon is so endearing, and so incredibly brave. Madison is sometimes very frustrating and annoying (how can she deny herself the happiness of being with the love of her life? How can she blindly follow her mother's orders and live a life she never wanted?), but Gerri Hill manages to depict her struggle really well, too. In the end, I loved both characters. Their story is beautiful, and it's all about breaking free from what people expect from you, and letting yourself be happy.
I'll read it again.
July 15, 2020
I understand why many people mention this as one of their favorite Gerri Hill novels. I liked it a lot, and it was a wonderful escape. However, The Secret Pond is still my favorite Hill Novel. (I feel a reread coming on.)
September 18, 2024
All tell!!
August 26, 2016
I listened to the audiobook version of the story. I was reluctant to listen to this story, because I knew going into the book that Shannon and Madison had a relationship that ended, and now they're encountering each other again after many years apart. I don't usually enjoy stories like this. The whole first part of the book is Shannon relating the story of her first love to her best friends before she moves back to her home town. This may have been one of the sweetest stories about first love that I've ever read. And it was torture, because we knew it would end, and how could it end well? I kept hoping I'd get to that point soon, because the sooner we knew their pain, the sooner they could meet again. I wanted to rip the band-aid off and get to the good stuff already.
I didn't have much sympathy for Madison. We're talking about someone who's almost forty years old who is still allowing decisions that she doesn't like to be made for her. Grow a pair! And part of me thinks Shannon was a doormat for just taking it. But beneath the cynic within me beats the heart of a romantic, so I loved when Madison finally woke up and took a good look around.
One final thing that I didn't like was the fact that Shannon let her friendship with Charlotte and Tracy go so easily. If you were good enough friends to tell them things you've never told another living soul, I wouldn't expect you to just tank the relationship like it didn't matter in the first place.
At the end of the book, I found that I enjoyed it, and that's a tribute to Hill's skill at telling a tale, because I didn't expect to like it much at all.
I didn't have much sympathy for Madison. We're talking about someone who's almost forty years old who is still allowing decisions that she doesn't like to be made for her. Grow a pair! And part of me thinks Shannon was a doormat for just taking it. But beneath the cynic within me beats the heart of a romantic, so I loved when Madison finally woke up and took a good look around.
One final thing that I didn't like was the fact that Shannon let her friendship with Charlotte and Tracy go so easily. If you were good enough friends to tell them things you've never told another living soul, I wouldn't expect you to just tank the relationship like it didn't matter in the first place.
At the end of the book, I found that I enjoyed it, and that's a tribute to Hill's skill at telling a tale, because I didn't expect to like it much at all.
October 2, 2016
This was sweet and simple. Kind of like ripples on a pond caused by a gentle breeze. They won't leave a lasting impact, but they're nice to look at for awhile.
One of the characters in this book celebrated her 38th birthday during the story which was weird for me to read today because it's my 38th birthday. It made me think, though, that the only place I've ever encountered developed female characters over the age of 35 is from female writers, especially in this genre. Gerri Hill, Robin Alexander, and Georgia Beers all come to mind as writers who regularly use characters in their late 30s, early 40s, and older. It's nice to read about characters that age falling in love. It's nice to remember that there's no age limit on falling in love. So thanks to those authors.
One of the characters in this book celebrated her 38th birthday during the story which was weird for me to read today because it's my 38th birthday. It made me think, though, that the only place I've ever encountered developed female characters over the age of 35 is from female writers, especially in this genre. Gerri Hill, Robin Alexander, and Georgia Beers all come to mind as writers who regularly use characters in their late 30s, early 40s, and older. It's nice to read about characters that age falling in love. It's nice to remember that there's no age limit on falling in love. So thanks to those authors.
April 5, 2016
Classic Ms Hill, well written and with a HEA.
Sit back and enjoy!
Sit back and enjoy!
June 11, 2023
4.5 out 5 stars – This book has quickly secured a place among my favorite works by Gerri Hill!
"At Seventeen" is an engrossing story that follows the lives of Shannon and Madison, two women getting a second chance to take control of their own love story—leading to personal growth and acceptance of who they truly are. Despite having read 33 other books by Gerri Hill and knowing her exceptional storytelling abilities, I am still amazed by the quality of her stories. This book is no exception. The story in this book beautifully captures the nuances of young love, self-acceptance, and the power of embracing one's true desires.
What makes this book compelling is the depth and authenticity of its characters. Shannon and Madison’s chemistry is palpable, and the development of their relationship is both tender and passionate. The supporting cast, including family and “friends,” also adds layers of depth and provides additional emotional resonance.
While the plot of this book follows a somewhat predictable trajectory for a second-chance romance, Hill compensates for this with her rich character development and the exploration of the characters' internal struggles—making the story captivating and even thought-provoking.
In short, "At Seventeen" is a delightful and heartfelt romance story. I think Hill's masterful storytelling and compelling characters will make this a worthwhile read for anyone seeking an emotionally resonant journey of love and personal growth.
"At Seventeen" is an engrossing story that follows the lives of Shannon and Madison, two women getting a second chance to take control of their own love story—leading to personal growth and acceptance of who they truly are. Despite having read 33 other books by Gerri Hill and knowing her exceptional storytelling abilities, I am still amazed by the quality of her stories. This book is no exception. The story in this book beautifully captures the nuances of young love, self-acceptance, and the power of embracing one's true desires.
What makes this book compelling is the depth and authenticity of its characters. Shannon and Madison’s chemistry is palpable, and the development of their relationship is both tender and passionate. The supporting cast, including family and “friends,” also adds layers of depth and provides additional emotional resonance.
While the plot of this book follows a somewhat predictable trajectory for a second-chance romance, Hill compensates for this with her rich character development and the exploration of the characters' internal struggles—making the story captivating and even thought-provoking.
In short, "At Seventeen" is a delightful and heartfelt romance story. I think Hill's masterful storytelling and compelling characters will make this a worthwhile read for anyone seeking an emotionally resonant journey of love and personal growth.
October 21, 2024
Stunningly disappointing: just didn’t work for me. Up with Radclyffe and Jae, Gerri Hall is one of my go to authors. Bah!
July 31, 2021
5/10
My least favourite one by Hill but still an okay love story.
Firstly, I'm not a fan of retrospective writing. I guess I wasn't expecting HIMYM style of retelling of what happened to teenage girls' relationship and their sex life. I thought that was my least favourite part of the book until the second part started. Now, I'm thinking I'd've liked more to be in the moment with those two teenagers and see them work everything out back then than be exposed to this type of unneeded angst and, honestly, in my opinion, too fast relationship.
My least favourite one by Hill but still an okay love story.
Firstly, I'm not a fan of retrospective writing. I guess I wasn't expecting HIMYM style of retelling of what happened to teenage girls' relationship and their sex life. I thought that was my least favourite part of the book until the second part started. Now, I'm thinking I'd've liked more to be in the moment with those two teenagers and see them work everything out back then than be exposed to this type of unneeded angst and, honestly, in my opinion, too fast relationship.
July 31, 2019
At Seventeen is my first Gerri Hill book and I listened to the audiobook version. There are few narrators that can hold my attention (I have the attention span of a gnat) or sync with the voices in my head, so I'm always happy to find a narrator/recording that I like. I'm pleased to say I really enjoyed listening to this one!
At Seventeen is a slow burn, first/young love, coming out, second chance, rich/poor girl romance. I am a huge fan of slow burns, first love, AND second chance romance and this one hit all the sweet spots for me. I read a few reviews and several people commented on being uncomfortable reading about teenagers having sex. As a mother of two daughters, I would hate to imagine my own doing what Madison and Shannon were doing from 13-18 but I confess I kind of shoved the maternal part of my brain in the closet when I was listening to this one (I probably shouldn't mention I was listening to the audiobook while my daughters were sitting in the back of the car, ha ha.).
I followed along the story feeling and imagining the beautiful love that blossomed between two girls that grew up in the same house. It is rare to witness a friendship such as Madison and Shannon's so the sexy parts that escalated over the span of several years didn't bother me at all. What bothers me more are insta-love and one night stand stories. Anyway, Madison and Shannon's friendship and love for each other was actually really sweet and enchanting until the heartbreak happened because Madison had to marry to fulfill her family's expectations. I found myself feeling the pain, the angst, and the struggle of the two MCs longing for one another, trying to shove those memories away, wanting to be together yet resisting the temptation to give in to lust until the divorce was finalized. Thank goodness for that. I was rooting for them all the way.
I almost gave this one a 5 star but took one star off because there were some parts that were a bit repetitive. Both kept talking about how strong their love/attraction for one another was, how miserable Madison was, how they were each other's first love, how they never talked about it, blah blah blah. I couldn't figure out exactly what they meant when they kept saying they "never talked about it" when in fact, they did keep talking about how they were each other's first love and that one was openly gay and one was afraid to admit to being gay and was stuck in a loveless marriage. And that just went on for 16 years, repeating the same things to one another and to others. They just kept saying they never talked about it but kept saying the same things over and over again. Like I am now. Hmm... a chunk of that could have been trimmed.
Also, I felt Madison's mother felt a bit flat/2D. She was portrayed as a stoic, heartless, controlling, unfeeling, self serving bitch who cared nothing about Madison. When characters like her are portrayed as the ultimate evil one, we're only getting one side of the story and it didn't feel realistic enough, only a contrived hatred toward the the character. I'm sure she's a product of her own upbringing, background, and history. That said, I still enjoyed the story of Madison and Shannon and their sweet reunion very much. I'll be reading/listening to more Gerri Hill books in the future.
At Seventeen is a slow burn, first/young love, coming out, second chance, rich/poor girl romance. I am a huge fan of slow burns, first love, AND second chance romance and this one hit all the sweet spots for me. I read a few reviews and several people commented on being uncomfortable reading about teenagers having sex. As a mother of two daughters, I would hate to imagine my own doing what Madison and Shannon were doing from 13-18 but I confess I kind of shoved the maternal part of my brain in the closet when I was listening to this one (I probably shouldn't mention I was listening to the audiobook while my daughters were sitting in the back of the car, ha ha.).
I followed along the story feeling and imagining the beautiful love that blossomed between two girls that grew up in the same house. It is rare to witness a friendship such as Madison and Shannon's so the sexy parts that escalated over the span of several years didn't bother me at all. What bothers me more are insta-love and one night stand stories. Anyway, Madison and Shannon's friendship and love for each other was actually really sweet and enchanting until the heartbreak happened because Madison had to marry to fulfill her family's expectations. I found myself feeling the pain, the angst, and the struggle of the two MCs longing for one another, trying to shove those memories away, wanting to be together yet resisting the temptation to give in to lust until the divorce was finalized. Thank goodness for that. I was rooting for them all the way.
I almost gave this one a 5 star but took one star off because there were some parts that were a bit repetitive. Both kept talking about how strong their love/attraction for one another was, how miserable Madison was, how they were each other's first love, how they never talked about it, blah blah blah. I couldn't figure out exactly what they meant when they kept saying they "never talked about it" when in fact, they did keep talking about how they were each other's first love and that one was openly gay and one was afraid to admit to being gay and was stuck in a loveless marriage. And that just went on for 16 years, repeating the same things to one another and to others. They just kept saying they never talked about it but kept saying the same things over and over again. Like I am now. Hmm... a chunk of that could have been trimmed.
Also, I felt Madison's mother felt a bit flat/2D. She was portrayed as a stoic, heartless, controlling, unfeeling, self serving bitch who cared nothing about Madison. When characters like her are portrayed as the ultimate evil one, we're only getting one side of the story and it didn't feel realistic enough, only a contrived hatred toward the the character. I'm sure she's a product of her own upbringing, background, and history. That said, I still enjoyed the story of Madison and Shannon and their sweet reunion very much. I'll be reading/listening to more Gerri Hill books in the future.
December 8, 2015
This is the third book I’ve read that’s written by the infamous Gerri Hill, and she certainly doesn’t disappoint. She has the lesbian romance-writing formula down, so I know that I’m always guaranteed a good time. (Snicker) At Seventeen is no exception to that formula. Her novels are pretty quick reads, and perfect if you’re sitting at an airport and need to kill some time before a flight. There aren’t a lot of surprises in the novel, and there’s a comfort in it’s predictability. You know what to expect with Gerri Hill, which is really part of the point in picking up her books. At least, it is for me.
Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly with this novel:
The Good – This is almost like the lesbian version of Nicholas Spark’s The Notebook, but the story starts in childhood, ends in (early-ish) adulthood, and no one dies together while holding hands. There’s a clear distinction between what happens in the past and what happens in the present, so there’s no confusion for its readers. It skips back and forth until about a third into the book, then it continues on in the present. The storyline of At Seventeen is really its strong point, and the buildup of the romance between Madison and Shannon is very nicely done.
The Bad – The characters were a bit one-dimensional. Characterizations bring a depth to the story and because of it’s absence in At Seventeen, it left me wanting just a little more. Some of the characters’ actions, especially Shannon’s friends, were confusing. Even when there was some clarification in the end, it wasn’t very satisfying.
The Ugly – There’s a kid in the story. I have no gripes about a kid being in any story, but his presence doesn’t add very much to it. And I get it, you could justify that his existence helps reinforce the message that things happen for a reason, but I felt like he was moved around like a Monopoly piece. It was almost too easy to roll the dice and move him down the board when they needed him to disappear.
It wasn’t my favorite from Gerri Hill, but I enjoyed the novel and it provided a nice little escape for a few hours.
http://lesreadoutloud.com/2015/11/30/...
Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly with this novel:
The Good – This is almost like the lesbian version of Nicholas Spark’s The Notebook, but the story starts in childhood, ends in (early-ish) adulthood, and no one dies together while holding hands. There’s a clear distinction between what happens in the past and what happens in the present, so there’s no confusion for its readers. It skips back and forth until about a third into the book, then it continues on in the present. The storyline of At Seventeen is really its strong point, and the buildup of the romance between Madison and Shannon is very nicely done.
The Bad – The characters were a bit one-dimensional. Characterizations bring a depth to the story and because of it’s absence in At Seventeen, it left me wanting just a little more. Some of the characters’ actions, especially Shannon’s friends, were confusing. Even when there was some clarification in the end, it wasn’t very satisfying.
The Ugly – There’s a kid in the story. I have no gripes about a kid being in any story, but his presence doesn’t add very much to it. And I get it, you could justify that his existence helps reinforce the message that things happen for a reason, but I felt like he was moved around like a Monopoly piece. It was almost too easy to roll the dice and move him down the board when they needed him to disappear.
It wasn’t my favorite from Gerri Hill, but I enjoyed the novel and it provided a nice little escape for a few hours.
http://lesreadoutloud.com/2015/11/30/...
July 16, 2013
Another fantastic read from Gerri Hill. Loved this book so much I read it in 2 day. Can't wait for her next book already!
July 19, 2018
5-
EXCELLENT!
EXCELLENT!Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews