What do you think?
My Little Island Life
Kleio thought living in paradise would be a dream, but she quickly realizes it's nothing more than a living nightmare.
Whisked away to the island of Oahu by her new Navy sailor husband, twenty year old Kleio realizes she hardly knows the man she married. Looking for an escape from the vicious cycle of abusive boyfriends, Kleio soon finds out that Danny is just another part of that cycle. When she receives a disturbing email from his ex explaining that he had been asking both of them to marry him at the same time, Kleio's world spirals out of control. The only reason she's married to Danny is because another girl had said no. Feeling trapped on the tiny island, Kleio does whatever she can to find an escape from her marriage, and to figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Can she ever find happiness, or will she be crushed by the darkness of her depression forever?
"It’s a story that can happen to anyone. How it’s told is relatable with great characters with satisfying arcs. The pacing is perfect and it never seemed like a chore to read and with a book like this and this long that seems to be the case more often than not. This is a testament to the talent on display here. Please do yourself a favor and read this little gem and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did." 4.5/5 Stars on Goodreads by nvsblmnstr
"Such a refreshing read!" 5/5 Stars on Goodreads by Evgeniia
Whisked away to the island of Oahu by her new Navy sailor husband, twenty year old Kleio realizes she hardly knows the man she married. Looking for an escape from the vicious cycle of abusive boyfriends, Kleio soon finds out that Danny is just another part of that cycle. When she receives a disturbing email from his ex explaining that he had been asking both of them to marry him at the same time, Kleio's world spirals out of control. The only reason she's married to Danny is because another girl had said no. Feeling trapped on the tiny island, Kleio does whatever she can to find an escape from her marriage, and to figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Can she ever find happiness, or will she be crushed by the darkness of her depression forever?
"It’s a story that can happen to anyone. How it’s told is relatable with great characters with satisfying arcs. The pacing is perfect and it never seemed like a chore to read and with a book like this and this long that seems to be the case more often than not. This is a testament to the talent on display here. Please do yourself a favor and read this little gem and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did." 4.5/5 Stars on Goodreads by nvsblmnstr
"Such a refreshing read!" 5/5 Stars on Goodreads by Evgeniia
440 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2023
About the author
Alex Apostol
42 books181 followersI have been writing as long as I can remember. I always knew I wanted to write books that someday many people could enjoy. I have a BA in English, a Masters in Business Administration and Marketing, and a Master's in Education.
I enjoy reading as much as I do writing and learned a lot while I was in school about the different forms of literature and the different genres all throughout the world. I only hope that people enjoy my books as much as I've enjoyed reading theirs.
When I'm not reading or writing I enjoy spending time with my family, going for walks or hiking, being outdoors, horseback riding, and watching movies.
I enjoy reading as much as I do writing and learned a lot while I was in school about the different forms of literature and the different genres all throughout the world. I only hope that people enjoy my books as much as I've enjoyed reading theirs.
When I'm not reading or writing I enjoy spending time with my family, going for walks or hiking, being outdoors, horseback riding, and watching movies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This little book was so great!! I would’ve probably never even heard of this book to read it, but the author contacted me and asked if I’d read and review this book for her. Well, I am so glad I did. It was great!
This book is about a young girl named Kleio. She is in her mid 30s, looking back on her life in retrospect from a particular time in her early 20s, where she was not happy with her life and where it was taking her. Then she meets a young man named Danny, who is a new navy sailor and will be living in Hawaii. He asks Kleio to marry him and move to Hawaii with him. She accepts his proposal and decides to leave everything behind and move to Hawaii with him, where they will live on a navy base with other military families. Soon, Kleio realizes what she thought was going to be paradise, is anything but that. Nothing is as it seems. Her marriage turns out to be a disaster. Her husband is anything but loving. He hardly pays any attention to her. She feels isolated and lonely and wants desperately to find friendship and feel loved and needed. She homesick and misses everything about her old life.
Kleio is a character who is so real and relatable. I think that’s a reason why I liked this book so much. I connected with Kleio on so many different levels. (I think many of you would) I saw so many parts of myself in her, including her inner struggles with confidence and depression and her relationship with her mother. I think many people will find a part of themselves somewhere in Kleio. Kleio lets us know that even when we’re struggling, never give up hope and keep believing in yourself.
Again, I really loved this book and I feel like Kleio will stick with me forever. 🥰 I would recommend this book for anyone. I feel like so many people will find it relatable. Treat yourself to this great little story. There’s a reason why it’s a 4.27 rating on Goodreads. It’s a perfect summer read with its setting in beautiful Hawaii.
This was a relatable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me!! You should add this to your tbr right now.
What was the last book you read where you related so much to the main character?
This book is about a young girl named Kleio. She is in her mid 30s, looking back on her life in retrospect from a particular time in her early 20s, where she was not happy with her life and where it was taking her. Then she meets a young man named Danny, who is a new navy sailor and will be living in Hawaii. He asks Kleio to marry him and move to Hawaii with him. She accepts his proposal and decides to leave everything behind and move to Hawaii with him, where they will live on a navy base with other military families. Soon, Kleio realizes what she thought was going to be paradise, is anything but that. Nothing is as it seems. Her marriage turns out to be a disaster. Her husband is anything but loving. He hardly pays any attention to her. She feels isolated and lonely and wants desperately to find friendship and feel loved and needed. She homesick and misses everything about her old life.
Kleio is a character who is so real and relatable. I think that’s a reason why I liked this book so much. I connected with Kleio on so many different levels. (I think many of you would) I saw so many parts of myself in her, including her inner struggles with confidence and depression and her relationship with her mother. I think many people will find a part of themselves somewhere in Kleio. Kleio lets us know that even when we’re struggling, never give up hope and keep believing in yourself.
Again, I really loved this book and I feel like Kleio will stick with me forever. 🥰 I would recommend this book for anyone. I feel like so many people will find it relatable. Treat yourself to this great little story. There’s a reason why it’s a 4.27 rating on Goodreads. It’s a perfect summer read with its setting in beautiful Hawaii.
This was a relatable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me!! You should add this to your tbr right now.
What was the last book you read where you related so much to the main character?
June 29, 2023
" If it takes me a lifetime to get it.."
It is very important that a woman who has been through depression, has experienced a manipulative relationship to find the strength to write how she got out of that darkness, how she found hope and managed to build her life. It is very important because it gives hope and strength to other women and young girls to try to get out of the dead end they think they have reached, from the darkness they have sunk into.
This is the story of Kleio, a 20-year-old girl who gave up everything, married a manipulative man, not because she truly loved him but because she wanted to feel loved and followed him to Hawaii hoping that her life would be beautiful. But unfortunately, things didn't turn out the way she wanted. However, she managed to find the strength and leave this ugly relationship.
This story, although it shows the difficulties in Kleio's life, is quite easy and quick to read and gives many messages and, above all, hope.
It is very important that a woman who has been through depression, has experienced a manipulative relationship to find the strength to write how she got out of that darkness, how she found hope and managed to build her life. It is very important because it gives hope and strength to other women and young girls to try to get out of the dead end they think they have reached, from the darkness they have sunk into.
This is the story of Kleio, a 20-year-old girl who gave up everything, married a manipulative man, not because she truly loved him but because she wanted to feel loved and followed him to Hawaii hoping that her life would be beautiful. But unfortunately, things didn't turn out the way she wanted. However, she managed to find the strength and leave this ugly relationship.
This story, although it shows the difficulties in Kleio's life, is quite easy and quick to read and gives many messages and, above all, hope.
July 13, 2023
Kleio is a girl looking for love and affection. After a couple of run-down relationships, a sailor crosses her path and wants to jump into a marriage with her. His work requires them to move to Hawaii, so Kleio wants to take the opportunity to give her life a second chance.
Unfortunately for her, her sailor isn't very caring, nor ready for a relationship, and this gets her bored out and isolated from other people. She doesn't even get the chance to do what she really wants on the island.
I'll start by saying this book simply wasn't meant to be read by me. I was personally constantly triggered by the entire character builds of the main characters, hence this extensive review, because my mind just could not stand still. During this read I filled 3 A5 sides in my notebook with my frustrations, this rarely happens. I definitely wanted to DNF this, but in order to write this review, I pushed through.
*A copy of the ebook has been provided by the author for me to review*
Unfortunately, the epub document I received was filled with type-size differences. Pieces of the text throughout were in a smaller text size than others. Not very comfortable to read, but might as well be an error with transferring the document into an epub.
There were also some spelling mistakes. English is not my first language, but I could have filtered the most obvious ones out in a single active review session.
Kleio is the utmost gullible, easily run down, flattest character I've ever read about. She doesn't stand up for herself, doesn't speak her mind, never says no, expects the best of everyone, and is silenced by everyone around her. Her sailor dream boy is aggressive and doesn't comprehend the pillars of a relationship, so they are out of the door in a couple of pages. His behavior is an absolute abomination, the way he treats Kleio is just out of this world in a negative way. Never communicating even the slightest plans, never taking Kleio into account... Obviously just married her to get the benefits involved. This was clear to me in the very beginning already that this is no worthy relationship at all.
Bad relationships are obviously a theme in Kleio's life. Her mother is smothering, never grateful towards Kleio, and always put her in embarrassing situations throughout her life. Her previous intimate relationships were often with aggressive partners. And now she ends up with a controlling, closed-off husband who never pays attention to her.
The first note on the time frame of the story is only mentioned on page 83, I had my doubts in the beginning since there were mentions of phone use, but then it's only before the use of Facebook and Instagram, so I had to correct my views there.
Certain descriptions are also repeated throughout the book. Looking back, I think it's mostly on other characters, explaining what they do and who they are married to, but that was always clear to me on the first run, no need to repeat that information. Could have saved some pages I think.
Also, the expression 'face split in two' makes me think of a horror scene rather than someone smiling, sorry, and it was repeated multiple times, maybe synonyms were scarce.
I think somewhere past halfway, a tsunami was expected on the island, but it never arrived.
This is, in general, the best self-fulfilling prophecy about this book, because that's what this is.
There was some kind of build-up, but it never filled my expectations, as is the relationship between Kleio and her sailor. There were a lot of promises, but they were never kept.
I could keep on going giving my opinion on the stance of women in relationships, and I could even give my thoughts on the acknowledgments, but I'll leave it with the above. I wanted to underline the fact that this book is generally well-written, I could picture every scene and all information very clearly, which is very important to me because I rely very much on my imaginative abilities while reading.
I conclude that this work just isn't for me. I've been trying to get my head around the fact why this book triggers me so and got my head this much on edge with frustration, but I'm not there yet.
Unfortunately for her, her sailor isn't very caring, nor ready for a relationship, and this gets her bored out and isolated from other people. She doesn't even get the chance to do what she really wants on the island.
I'll start by saying this book simply wasn't meant to be read by me. I was personally constantly triggered by the entire character builds of the main characters, hence this extensive review, because my mind just could not stand still. During this read I filled 3 A5 sides in my notebook with my frustrations, this rarely happens. I definitely wanted to DNF this, but in order to write this review, I pushed through.
*A copy of the ebook has been provided by the author for me to review*
Unfortunately, the epub document I received was filled with type-size differences. Pieces of the text throughout were in a smaller text size than others. Not very comfortable to read, but might as well be an error with transferring the document into an epub.
There were also some spelling mistakes. English is not my first language, but I could have filtered the most obvious ones out in a single active review session.
Kleio is the utmost gullible, easily run down, flattest character I've ever read about. She doesn't stand up for herself, doesn't speak her mind, never says no, expects the best of everyone, and is silenced by everyone around her. Her sailor dream boy is aggressive and doesn't comprehend the pillars of a relationship, so they are out of the door in a couple of pages. His behavior is an absolute abomination, the way he treats Kleio is just out of this world in a negative way. Never communicating even the slightest plans, never taking Kleio into account... Obviously just married her to get the benefits involved. This was clear to me in the very beginning already that this is no worthy relationship at all.
Bad relationships are obviously a theme in Kleio's life. Her mother is smothering, never grateful towards Kleio, and always put her in embarrassing situations throughout her life. Her previous intimate relationships were often with aggressive partners. And now she ends up with a controlling, closed-off husband who never pays attention to her.
The first note on the time frame of the story is only mentioned on page 83, I had my doubts in the beginning since there were mentions of phone use, but then it's only before the use of Facebook and Instagram, so I had to correct my views there.
Certain descriptions are also repeated throughout the book. Looking back, I think it's mostly on other characters, explaining what they do and who they are married to, but that was always clear to me on the first run, no need to repeat that information. Could have saved some pages I think.
Also, the expression 'face split in two' makes me think of a horror scene rather than someone smiling, sorry, and it was repeated multiple times, maybe synonyms were scarce.
I think somewhere past halfway, a tsunami was expected on the island, but it never arrived.
This is, in general, the best self-fulfilling prophecy about this book, because that's what this is.
There was some kind of build-up, but it never filled my expectations, as is the relationship between Kleio and her sailor. There were a lot of promises, but they were never kept.
I could keep on going giving my opinion on the stance of women in relationships, and I could even give my thoughts on the acknowledgments, but I'll leave it with the above. I wanted to underline the fact that this book is generally well-written, I could picture every scene and all information very clearly, which is very important to me because I rely very much on my imaginative abilities while reading.
I conclude that this work just isn't for me. I've been trying to get my head around the fact why this book triggers me so and got my head this much on edge with frustration, but I'm not there yet.
June 20, 2023
4.25
I really enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure where it was going at first but the story quickly had me hooked. I loved reading Kleio’s story and how her character developed through the hardships she faced. This was a really touching story with a beautiful message. The ending was just perfect. I definitely recommend reading this!
I really enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure where it was going at first but the story quickly had me hooked. I loved reading Kleio’s story and how her character developed through the hardships she faced. This was a really touching story with a beautiful message. The ending was just perfect. I definitely recommend reading this!
June 26, 2023
"𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚?"
🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂💭
This is not a genre I am used to reading, but I was intrigued by the storyline and it kept me wanting to read more after each chapter. A story that is easy to read but still manages to keep you on your toes. It is a very well written story. I love how the author uses details to paint a picture in your mind of exactly what happened. I literally felt like I was there while reading it and was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thing to happen. This is the purr-fect kind of book I'd love to read on lazy rainy days while curled up on a couch with my cats and a fireplace blazing.😊
It's a story about believing in yourself, about choosing to be the person that matters most and overcoming what keeps us from doing so.
One of the most important lessons I've learned from this book is that we need to stop depending on other people's approval or validation to feel good about ourselves. We can't be so dependent on others that we let their opinions shape us as a person, because we become our own worst critic and start focusing on what they think instead of what we think.
I think we've all been there. You're so caught up in trying to keep others happy that you lose sight of what makes you happy. Keep doing what makes you feel good, and be open to new experiences.
🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂💭
This is not a genre I am used to reading, but I was intrigued by the storyline and it kept me wanting to read more after each chapter. A story that is easy to read but still manages to keep you on your toes. It is a very well written story. I love how the author uses details to paint a picture in your mind of exactly what happened. I literally felt like I was there while reading it and was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thing to happen. This is the purr-fect kind of book I'd love to read on lazy rainy days while curled up on a couch with my cats and a fireplace blazing.😊
It's a story about believing in yourself, about choosing to be the person that matters most and overcoming what keeps us from doing so.
One of the most important lessons I've learned from this book is that we need to stop depending on other people's approval or validation to feel good about ourselves. We can't be so dependent on others that we let their opinions shape us as a person, because we become our own worst critic and start focusing on what they think instead of what we think.
I think we've all been there. You're so caught up in trying to keep others happy that you lose sight of what makes you happy. Keep doing what makes you feel good, and be open to new experiences.
June 24, 2023
My Little Island Life by Alex Apostol.
🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸
This book was sent to me in exchange for my honest review.
Kleio has plunged in to marriage and a new life with her Navy husband on the island of Oahu. Leaving behind her family, friends, education and life she pins all her happiness in to a dream of living the perfect life in the sun.
But at twenty years of age and marrying a man she hardly knows her dream life slowly becomes lonely and the sun, sea and sand aren't providng everything she hoped for.
I was hooked from the start. What an intriguing premise, I really wanted Kleio to be happy. Character led stories have been pretty hit and miss for me in the past but I couldn't put this down. The development (albeit slowly) this character goes through had me rooting for her every point. I don't mean the pacing was slow by this either, I mean sometimes I just wanted to give Kleio a good shake and say come on, you know what you need to do!!!
Kleio I'm sure, many young women will find relatable. Who hasn't sat there and thought about the messages and teachings they would give to their younger selves.
The afterword was interesting and put a whole different spin on how I will look back on the story. Even though I'm not a religious person in anyway shape or form I'm glad the author found her strength and support somewhere and it has led to bigger and better things.
🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸
This book was sent to me in exchange for my honest review.
Kleio has plunged in to marriage and a new life with her Navy husband on the island of Oahu. Leaving behind her family, friends, education and life she pins all her happiness in to a dream of living the perfect life in the sun.
But at twenty years of age and marrying a man she hardly knows her dream life slowly becomes lonely and the sun, sea and sand aren't providng everything she hoped for.
I was hooked from the start. What an intriguing premise, I really wanted Kleio to be happy. Character led stories have been pretty hit and miss for me in the past but I couldn't put this down. The development (albeit slowly) this character goes through had me rooting for her every point. I don't mean the pacing was slow by this either, I mean sometimes I just wanted to give Kleio a good shake and say come on, you know what you need to do!!!
Kleio I'm sure, many young women will find relatable. Who hasn't sat there and thought about the messages and teachings they would give to their younger selves.
The afterword was interesting and put a whole different spin on how I will look back on the story. Even though I'm not a religious person in anyway shape or form I'm glad the author found her strength and support somewhere and it has led to bigger and better things.
December 22, 2023
Was given a ebook copy in exchange for a review, and I apologize for taken so long to finish. I do really like this book! I kept thinking the whole time, how does this woman know my life! There are so many parallels from my life and the author/protagonists life. It really hit home and got hard to read sometimes, which is honestly why it took me so long to read it, I had to take some breaks. The only that I didn’t care for was probably the length, I think it dragged on in some parts and I thought some could be cut down a little bit as I was wondering towards the end when it would be over. I still really enjoyed this book and I think you will too!
July 17, 2023
My Little Island Life has me torn. It started out really well and I was quickly drawn into Kleio's world. I loved the writing and descriptions, however, it was a struggle throughout this one for me where Kleio is concerned.
I wholeheartedly understand that sometimes we make mistakes given the situations surrounding us, where age also plays a factor. Maybe it was the way Kleio came across, or maybe it was the lack of true insight into her and Danny's marriage, but I couldn't relate to her, or feel any sympathy for her, or her situation.
Her repeated "mistakes" and selfish attitude really irked and annoyed me. I kept trying to put myself in Kleio's shoes, but I couldn't. I know what an unhappy and toxic marriage is, as I was in one and was very young as well, but this didn't come off that way for me.
We know little to nothing about Danny, and his treatment of Kleio, other than vague references and mentions of his ignoring her and making belittling comments. His controlling nature comes across well, but that also had me torn. Betrayal is never easy to get over and staying together when love isn't there just feeds the monster, so some of his moments I sympathized with and could understand BUT didn't agree with.
Overall, I felt like the story lacked as we only saw snippets of Danny's behavior while getting a front row seat to Kleio's. I would have loved to get more about them as a couple and their situation as a whole and from both sides.
I understand where the author was trying to go with this one and after reading the Afterword realize how personal this is as well. I appreciate how hard it must have been to write this, and do not in any way discount her personal experiences, but maybe my headspace wasn't the right one for this story due to my own personal experiences.
I sincerely appreciate the author for trusting me with her story. While this may not have been a complete love for me, I definitely think there will be a lot who can relate to this and will love it.
I wholeheartedly understand that sometimes we make mistakes given the situations surrounding us, where age also plays a factor. Maybe it was the way Kleio came across, or maybe it was the lack of true insight into her and Danny's marriage, but I couldn't relate to her, or feel any sympathy for her, or her situation.
Her repeated "mistakes" and selfish attitude really irked and annoyed me. I kept trying to put myself in Kleio's shoes, but I couldn't. I know what an unhappy and toxic marriage is, as I was in one and was very young as well, but this didn't come off that way for me.
We know little to nothing about Danny, and his treatment of Kleio, other than vague references and mentions of his ignoring her and making belittling comments. His controlling nature comes across well, but that also had me torn. Betrayal is never easy to get over and staying together when love isn't there just feeds the monster, so some of his moments I sympathized with and could understand BUT didn't agree with.
Overall, I felt like the story lacked as we only saw snippets of Danny's behavior while getting a front row seat to Kleio's. I would have loved to get more about them as a couple and their situation as a whole and from both sides.
I understand where the author was trying to go with this one and after reading the Afterword realize how personal this is as well. I appreciate how hard it must have been to write this, and do not in any way discount her personal experiences, but maybe my headspace wasn't the right one for this story due to my own personal experiences.
I sincerely appreciate the author for trusting me with her story. While this may not have been a complete love for me, I definitely think there will be a lot who can relate to this and will love it.
August 27, 2023
Set against the beautiful tropical backdrop of Hawaii, this gentle story is about living life, making mistakes, and learning from it all. It's about realizing there is always hope, and that there is always room to grow and change.
June 18, 2023
4.5/5
It’s a story that can happen to anyone. How it’s told is relatable with great characters with satisfying arcs. The pacing is perfect and it never seemed like a chore to read and with a book like this and this long that seems to be the case more often than not. This is a testament to the talent on display here. Please do yourself a favor and read this little gem and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
It’s a story that can happen to anyone. How it’s told is relatable with great characters with satisfying arcs. The pacing is perfect and it never seemed like a chore to read and with a book like this and this long that seems to be the case more often than not. This is a testament to the talent on display here. Please do yourself a favor and read this little gem and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
June 17, 2023
A well-written book that balances being an enjoyable and easy read whilst dealing with more serious topics and acknowledging the weight of struggles as a woman in their early twenties.
July 13, 2023
This book was not something I probably would have picked up on my own, so thank you to the author for reaching out and providing me with a digital copy to read and review! Although outside of my preferred genres, this book did have a lot to offer.
Following Kleio moving to Hawaii with her new husband, it follows her struggles with feelings of loneliness and isolation, tensions in her marriage, and depression. You can tell the author used personal experience as everything feels very realistic. There were parts of this book that I struggled with, particularly the main character’s sometimes exoticized descriptions of the native Hawaiians.
I do think the overall themes of this book are extremely relatable for anyone that has suffered periods of depression or struggles in a relationship. This is a very grounded tale, and I appreciated the vulnerability involved in putting something like this down. The story is an important one to tell, and I applaud the author for using such raw parts of her own life to create this story.
Overall, I think this is a very powerful and important story. And although it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I would recommend it to readers looking for something a little deeper.
Following Kleio moving to Hawaii with her new husband, it follows her struggles with feelings of loneliness and isolation, tensions in her marriage, and depression. You can tell the author used personal experience as everything feels very realistic. There were parts of this book that I struggled with, particularly the main character’s sometimes exoticized descriptions of the native Hawaiians.
I do think the overall themes of this book are extremely relatable for anyone that has suffered periods of depression or struggles in a relationship. This is a very grounded tale, and I appreciated the vulnerability involved in putting something like this down. The story is an important one to tell, and I applaud the author for using such raw parts of her own life to create this story.
Overall, I think this is a very powerful and important story. And although it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I would recommend it to readers looking for something a little deeper.
July 5, 2023
This story was so smooth to read and very relatable. I truly recommend this book to anyone! All the characters were so well written and very creative. This story could happen to anyone, and it's just so amazing to be able to read it and see it created in such an authentic way.
July 31, 2023
Actual rating: 2.5
I would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC, in exchange is my honest review/thoughts.. so here it is..
This description: Kleio thought living in paradise would be a dream, but she quickly realizes it's nothing more than a living nightmare.
Whisked away to the island of Oahu by her new Navy sailor husband, twenty year old Kleio realizes she hardly knows the man she married. Looking for an escape from the vicious cycle of abusive boyfriends, Kleio soon finds out that Danny is just another part of that cycle. When she receives a disturbing email from his ex explaining that he had been asking both of them to marry him at the same time, Kleio's world spirals out of control. The only reason she's married to Danny is because another girl had said no. Feeling trapped on the tiny island, Kleio does whatever she can to find an escape from her marriage, and to figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Can she ever find happiness, or will she be crushed by the darkness of her depression forever?
Left me expecting so much but sadly did not really deliver. I know why this story would resonate to a number of women especially if you are someone who is struggling of finding yourself and trying to find or fill that hollowness within you from another person. Which is tackled actually in the book... that, that. is. not. the. case. However, I am not the target audience. I am that kind of friend the Kleio needed - the one that will tell her the truth even if it isn't the things she wants to hear. Yeah sorry, I won't baby and empower the things that you are doing wrong.. But, I know for the majority of the book I am not the friend she will listen to.. really listen to. And I guess that's why I am frustrated for the most part and become bored in some of the scenes.
It is a coming of age story, but the premise, the description... ugh.. I felt it lacked something. I wished something would happen in the second half of the book. I know self discovery and healing takes time, but it would've been nice if that part was... given to us because after reaching the half-way mark and all that build up came to nothing, like the tsunami that was described here that they prepared for (it did not come, that's good but not for the book)
for me, it became dragging. I just wondered how this was going to end.
This was the slowest burn for a coming of age contemporary book that I read.
Again, if you want to read something about making mistakes, doubting yourself or probably wondering if you are in any form of abusive relationship... you should pick this up. It might help you. It is relatable but it... can be mundane and dragging.
*This is the first book from the author that I've read.
*If she has any books from other genres like fantasy, less laidback slice-of-life I'll give those a go also. The writing is good after all. Maybe I'd like it in other forms
I would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC, in exchange is my honest review/thoughts.. so here it is..
This description: Kleio thought living in paradise would be a dream, but she quickly realizes it's nothing more than a living nightmare.
Whisked away to the island of Oahu by her new Navy sailor husband, twenty year old Kleio realizes she hardly knows the man she married. Looking for an escape from the vicious cycle of abusive boyfriends, Kleio soon finds out that Danny is just another part of that cycle. When she receives a disturbing email from his ex explaining that he had been asking both of them to marry him at the same time, Kleio's world spirals out of control. The only reason she's married to Danny is because another girl had said no. Feeling trapped on the tiny island, Kleio does whatever she can to find an escape from her marriage, and to figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Can she ever find happiness, or will she be crushed by the darkness of her depression forever?
Left me expecting so much but sadly did not really deliver. I know why this story would resonate to a number of women especially if you are someone who is struggling of finding yourself and trying to find or fill that hollowness within you from another person. Which is tackled actually in the book... that, that. is. not. the. case. However, I am not the target audience. I am that kind of friend the Kleio needed - the one that will tell her the truth even if it isn't the things she wants to hear. Yeah sorry, I won't baby and empower the things that you are doing wrong.. But, I know for the majority of the book I am not the friend she will listen to.. really listen to. And I guess that's why I am frustrated for the most part and become bored in some of the scenes.
It is a coming of age story, but the premise, the description... ugh.. I felt it lacked something. I wished something would happen in the second half of the book. I know self discovery and healing takes time, but it would've been nice if that part was... given to us because after reaching the half-way mark and all that build up came to nothing, like the tsunami that was described here that they prepared for (it did not come, that's good but not for the book)
for me, it became dragging. I just wondered how this was going to end.
This was the slowest burn for a coming of age contemporary book that I read.
Again, if you want to read something about making mistakes, doubting yourself or probably wondering if you are in any form of abusive relationship... you should pick this up. It might help you. It is relatable but it... can be mundane and dragging.
*This is the first book from the author that I've read.
*If she has any books from other genres like fantasy, less laidback slice-of-life I'll give those a go also. The writing is good after all. Maybe I'd like it in other forms
June 29, 2023
This follows Kleio who is leaving college in Chicago after an ex reached out to her. They got married and she’s moving with him to live with him in Hawaii. And this is about her life there.
This was a bit of a hard book to read for me. Definitely way outside my comfort zone. I do not normally read books like this. This book deals with a lot of deep stuff, such as depression, over-drinking, suicidal thoughts, cheating and emotional abuse. Those are just a few things that are covered in this book. I think why I had a hard time was because it’s a long book and it’s just constant through the whole book the depression and the self-destructiveness that the main character goes through.
What Kleio goes through is rough. The emotional abuse that she goes through with her husband really made me cringe and made me mad. I just wanted to shake her and tell her just go and stand up for yourself! And I know when it comes to depression it’s really hard to control how you’re feeling, or how you’re acting, it just is(I have family who have depression), and then when you’re dealt with so much emotional abuse or manipulative people, you begin to just believe what they say and it’s hard to be your own person when you’re just trying to please everyone else. And that’s what she does, she just pleases everyone else, she’s just truly not happy through this entire book and it’s really hard to read. Your heart goes out to her and you just want to help which no one seems to want to do that, even her own mother.
I will say that, although the ending is good, I think it was very abrupt and fast. There was no build up to her happy ending, it just happens. Which is great for her, but also kind of made the ending of the book very abrupt for me. This is more of 3.5 stars for me, it’s just not really the kind of book I read, it’s just not for me, but it’s well written! And makes a lot of sense when you read the author’s Afterword at the end. I know many would love this book, and I recommend it. I received a free digital copy to read(thank you to the author!). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a bit of a hard book to read for me. Definitely way outside my comfort zone. I do not normally read books like this. This book deals with a lot of deep stuff, such as depression, over-drinking, suicidal thoughts, cheating and emotional abuse. Those are just a few things that are covered in this book. I think why I had a hard time was because it’s a long book and it’s just constant through the whole book the depression and the self-destructiveness that the main character goes through.
What Kleio goes through is rough. The emotional abuse that she goes through with her husband really made me cringe and made me mad. I just wanted to shake her and tell her just go and stand up for yourself! And I know when it comes to depression it’s really hard to control how you’re feeling, or how you’re acting, it just is(I have family who have depression), and then when you’re dealt with so much emotional abuse or manipulative people, you begin to just believe what they say and it’s hard to be your own person when you’re just trying to please everyone else. And that’s what she does, she just pleases everyone else, she’s just truly not happy through this entire book and it’s really hard to read. Your heart goes out to her and you just want to help which no one seems to want to do that, even her own mother.
I will say that, although the ending is good, I think it was very abrupt and fast. There was no build up to her happy ending, it just happens. Which is great for her, but also kind of made the ending of the book very abrupt for me. This is more of 3.5 stars for me, it’s just not really the kind of book I read, it’s just not for me, but it’s well written! And makes a lot of sense when you read the author’s Afterword at the end. I know many would love this book, and I recommend it. I received a free digital copy to read(thank you to the author!). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 16, 2023
Title: My Little Island Life
Author: Alex Apostol
Synopsis: Kleio thought living in paradise would be a dream, but she quickly realizes it's nothing more than a living nightmare.
Whisked away to the island of Oahu by her new Navy sailor husband, twenty year old Kleio realizes she hardly knows the man she married. Looking for an escape from the vicious cycle of abusive boyfriends, Kleio soon finds out that Danny is just another part of that cycle. When she receives a disturbing email from his ex explaining that he had been asking both of them to marry him at the same time, Kleio's world spirals out of control. The only reason she's married to Danny is because another girl had said no. Feeling trapped on the tiny island, Kleio does whatever she can to find an escape from her marriage, and to figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Can she ever find happiness, or will she be crushed by the darkness of her depression forever?
Review: I was so intrigued by the synopsis of the book! This book was such a rollercoaster and Kleio goes through so much! At times it was hard to read as I watched her make many mistakes! But it was what she needed to learn and to grow! If I had to make a complaint I wish there was an epilogue or a sequel in which we as the reader see what Kleio is doing a few years later, where is she at in life? Or perhaps in the sequel watching her progress and truly making something out of her life and experiences! There were parts to Kleio that I very much resonated with. I understood her loneliness and wanting to be loved and making friends! Let’s be honest making friends is hard and no matter how hard we try we can’t force people to see our worth or to care. I absolutely despised her husband! He was awful and he did not care about Kleio, he did not put any effort into the marriage! He was such a sleeve ball! I think he’s was one of the worst husbands that I’ve read about in a book! Which is saying a lot about Alex Apostol as a writer if she can make me feel strongly about a character as I am reading it! She is doing a great job! The descriptions of Hawaii were very detailed and this is coming from someone who has never visited Hawaii and it made me wish I could visit for a vacation! If your looking for a contemporary book that takes place on Hawaii then this book is perfect for you!
Author: Alex Apostol
Synopsis: Kleio thought living in paradise would be a dream, but she quickly realizes it's nothing more than a living nightmare.
Whisked away to the island of Oahu by her new Navy sailor husband, twenty year old Kleio realizes she hardly knows the man she married. Looking for an escape from the vicious cycle of abusive boyfriends, Kleio soon finds out that Danny is just another part of that cycle. When she receives a disturbing email from his ex explaining that he had been asking both of them to marry him at the same time, Kleio's world spirals out of control. The only reason she's married to Danny is because another girl had said no. Feeling trapped on the tiny island, Kleio does whatever she can to find an escape from her marriage, and to figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Can she ever find happiness, or will she be crushed by the darkness of her depression forever?
Review: I was so intrigued by the synopsis of the book! This book was such a rollercoaster and Kleio goes through so much! At times it was hard to read as I watched her make many mistakes! But it was what she needed to learn and to grow! If I had to make a complaint I wish there was an epilogue or a sequel in which we as the reader see what Kleio is doing a few years later, where is she at in life? Or perhaps in the sequel watching her progress and truly making something out of her life and experiences! There were parts to Kleio that I very much resonated with. I understood her loneliness and wanting to be loved and making friends! Let’s be honest making friends is hard and no matter how hard we try we can’t force people to see our worth or to care. I absolutely despised her husband! He was awful and he did not care about Kleio, he did not put any effort into the marriage! He was such a sleeve ball! I think he’s was one of the worst husbands that I’ve read about in a book! Which is saying a lot about Alex Apostol as a writer if she can make me feel strongly about a character as I am reading it! She is doing a great job! The descriptions of Hawaii were very detailed and this is coming from someone who has never visited Hawaii and it made me wish I could visit for a vacation! If your looking for a contemporary book that takes place on Hawaii then this book is perfect for you!
August 31, 2023
Kleio, a woman in her twenties, reunites with Danny, a navy sailor stationed in Hawaii. Danny proposes to Kleio shortly after their reunion, urging her to join him on the island. Kleio's expectations get crushed when they arrive at a military base. She's unhappy with Danny's partying and neglect, feeling isolated and yearning for love and companionship. Sho goes down a dark path with heavy drinking and looking for love and desire in other men. In the end, she finds support and makes the decision to leave her husband and go back home to restart her life.
Kleio's choices felt distant and puzzling. Yet, as the story progressed, my perspective shifted. It revealed a story of silent trauma and emotional turmoil beyond its apparent simplicity. Her naivety was obvious, but I couldn't understand why she chose to ignore her instincts and the advice of her friends. It was as if a part of her saw her error, but the allure of change overpowered her better judgment. To be honest, I found the story a little unbelievable. It was difficult to believe that a 20-year-old, even with limited relationship experience, couldn't see the marriage's impending disaster.
During her marriage she did not seek help from anyone for a long time, hoping to find a way to get along with Danny, even though she knew she was not well. It puzzles me that people around her did not see that she was unwell, including the physiatrist from the base.
It is a story about trauma, interactions from our childhood influence our present, Kleio just wanted to leave her hometown and find someone to love her, and that’s why she made all the wrong decisions. But it is also a story about hope and strength. It depicts really well the emotional rollercoaster a young woman has about her relationship and her life. I think it will be a nice lesson for other young women who are very eager to start their married life, to take their time and be sure of their choice. And if they made a mistake, they can always start over.
Kleio's choices felt distant and puzzling. Yet, as the story progressed, my perspective shifted. It revealed a story of silent trauma and emotional turmoil beyond its apparent simplicity. Her naivety was obvious, but I couldn't understand why she chose to ignore her instincts and the advice of her friends. It was as if a part of her saw her error, but the allure of change overpowered her better judgment. To be honest, I found the story a little unbelievable. It was difficult to believe that a 20-year-old, even with limited relationship experience, couldn't see the marriage's impending disaster.
During her marriage she did not seek help from anyone for a long time, hoping to find a way to get along with Danny, even though she knew she was not well. It puzzles me that people around her did not see that she was unwell, including the physiatrist from the base.
It is a story about trauma, interactions from our childhood influence our present, Kleio just wanted to leave her hometown and find someone to love her, and that’s why she made all the wrong decisions. But it is also a story about hope and strength. It depicts really well the emotional rollercoaster a young woman has about her relationship and her life. I think it will be a nice lesson for other young women who are very eager to start their married life, to take their time and be sure of their choice. And if they made a mistake, they can always start over.
July 21, 2023
“Home is not a place, not the place you grew up in nor the new place you settle in adulthood, but a feeling you get from being at peace with who you are.”
🏖️
Firstly I would thank the author for sending the review copy in exchange for honest reviews & I must say, it takes courage to write your own story—accepting your fallacies & overcoming your fears & hardships, and I commend the author for sharing her story with us.
In "My Little Island Life" by Alex Apostol, we meet our 20 yo Kleio who gives up her college degree & life in Indiana, to marry Danny, a Navy Sailor & relocates to Hawaii for new beginnings.
But her paradise turns into a prison when she realises that Danny is not the person she thought he was. He is manipulative, misogynistic & married Kleio because another girl said no to him, and marriage for him is a means to receive the benefits guaranteed to married navy personnel.
Feeling trapped in a cycle of abusive relationships (past & present), Kleio tries to find her individual self & break free.
It's a coming of age story & the first few chapters had me at its grip but over the time the storytelling failed to work it's magic.
The story kept going round the circles leaving me frustrated. The lack of character & plot development but overt descriptions of surroundings didn't sit well with me either.
Though it was difficult to see Kleio suffer with no support system around her, either in form of friends or family, yet, at times I felt hard to sympathise with her.
I wish it was a few pages short, fleshed out characters (both good & bad), better editing & the emotions explored further, rather than wrapping everything up in a jiffy.
I do understand a lot of young girls & women go through the situation Kleio did & it's not easy to get out of toxic relationships, and I do empathise with the themes dealt in the book—toxic partners, parents, messiness of the healing process & need for a support system—but I felt a lacuna in the way it has been conveyed.
Nonetheless, if you want to give this a go you can, especially to understand how the red flags even when blatantly visible, are sometimes pushed aside when this certain belief that a girl can 'fix' a guy for the better is perpetrated & it's high time we teach our girls their self worth over anything.
🏖️
Firstly I would thank the author for sending the review copy in exchange for honest reviews & I must say, it takes courage to write your own story—accepting your fallacies & overcoming your fears & hardships, and I commend the author for sharing her story with us.
In "My Little Island Life" by Alex Apostol, we meet our 20 yo Kleio who gives up her college degree & life in Indiana, to marry Danny, a Navy Sailor & relocates to Hawaii for new beginnings.
But her paradise turns into a prison when she realises that Danny is not the person she thought he was. He is manipulative, misogynistic & married Kleio because another girl said no to him, and marriage for him is a means to receive the benefits guaranteed to married navy personnel.
Feeling trapped in a cycle of abusive relationships (past & present), Kleio tries to find her individual self & break free.
It's a coming of age story & the first few chapters had me at its grip but over the time the storytelling failed to work it's magic.
The story kept going round the circles leaving me frustrated. The lack of character & plot development but overt descriptions of surroundings didn't sit well with me either.
Though it was difficult to see Kleio suffer with no support system around her, either in form of friends or family, yet, at times I felt hard to sympathise with her.
I wish it was a few pages short, fleshed out characters (both good & bad), better editing & the emotions explored further, rather than wrapping everything up in a jiffy.
I do understand a lot of young girls & women go through the situation Kleio did & it's not easy to get out of toxic relationships, and I do empathise with the themes dealt in the book—toxic partners, parents, messiness of the healing process & need for a support system—but I felt a lacuna in the way it has been conveyed.
Nonetheless, if you want to give this a go you can, especially to understand how the red flags even when blatantly visible, are sometimes pushed aside when this certain belief that a girl can 'fix' a guy for the better is perpetrated & it's high time we teach our girls their self worth over anything.
June 20, 2023
Rating: 5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
This book touched my heart and hit a little too close to home. I know in my teen years and into my early twenties that I struggled with my mental abusive relationships and not really knowing what I wanted. Even though this book was close to home for me, I really enjoyed it and I hope that other women who might be struggling with depression or other issues will see the bright light at the end of the tunnel with this book. This book might be a trigger for some people who are currently dealing with them or have dealt with them and are still trying to process. However, if you feel as if you’re in the right space to read this book just know you’re not alone and many women/even men have dealt with this.
I loved that in this book the author did not shy away from the hard topics at all; mental abuse, depression, cheating and more. The way the author handled the topics was well done; I could see the underlying issues but there was still a plot to see Kleio’s story. I want to say more but I don’t want to spoil the book, so please pick it up and read it. I do want to say, it is not easy to figure out who you’re when you feel stuck in situations, but never give up on it, and to beat your own drum.
I want to thank the author for the author’s note at the end of the story and sharing with us the struggles and challenges that she had to overcome and all the lessons that it taught her. I loved this book, and I loved your words spoken to us readers.
I want to thank Alex Apostol for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
This book touched my heart and hit a little too close to home. I know in my teen years and into my early twenties that I struggled with my mental abusive relationships and not really knowing what I wanted. Even though this book was close to home for me, I really enjoyed it and I hope that other women who might be struggling with depression or other issues will see the bright light at the end of the tunnel with this book. This book might be a trigger for some people who are currently dealing with them or have dealt with them and are still trying to process. However, if you feel as if you’re in the right space to read this book just know you’re not alone and many women/even men have dealt with this.
I loved that in this book the author did not shy away from the hard topics at all; mental abuse, depression, cheating and more. The way the author handled the topics was well done; I could see the underlying issues but there was still a plot to see Kleio’s story. I want to say more but I don’t want to spoil the book, so please pick it up and read it. I do want to say, it is not easy to figure out who you’re when you feel stuck in situations, but never give up on it, and to beat your own drum.
I want to thank the author for the author’s note at the end of the story and sharing with us the struggles and challenges that she had to overcome and all the lessons that it taught her. I loved this book, and I loved your words spoken to us readers.
I want to thank Alex Apostol for the opportunity to review this book.
June 26, 2023
This is a standalone book by Alex Apostle. It is also a book I normally do not read. The content is serious but also something we can all relate too on different levels. I loved the message inside the story and it is definitely something I recommend if you are going through a hard time. Please read the authors content warnings and she explains that this is a personal story to her and it deals with depression and all of the emotions that go along with that.
This story follow Kleio whois a young woman who meets and marries a man who is in the Navy. She moves to Hawaii and believes that her whole life will be full of love, island life and beautiful sunshine mornings. What she gets is something that is completely different and unexpected and that is what the book is about. The outcome just might not be what she needs or thinks could happen.......but when you have friends and people who will help you out when needed, things will be ok.
I don't want to give too much away but this is a very emotional story. Not your typical summer, fun love story but one that has a emotional touch and very real and relatable issues. The story really brought out feelings and thoughts while reading and its sentiments will hit home for a lot of people. I recommend this story to anyone who feels that they are alone in dealing with some of the points brought up in this story. Know that you are not alone and this book really brings that passion home. The afterword in this book was an emotional one and I loved that aspect within this book. The author put her all into this one so give it a go. It is worth the tears.
This story follow Kleio whois a young woman who meets and marries a man who is in the Navy. She moves to Hawaii and believes that her whole life will be full of love, island life and beautiful sunshine mornings. What she gets is something that is completely different and unexpected and that is what the book is about. The outcome just might not be what she needs or thinks could happen.......but when you have friends and people who will help you out when needed, things will be ok.
I don't want to give too much away but this is a very emotional story. Not your typical summer, fun love story but one that has a emotional touch and very real and relatable issues. The story really brought out feelings and thoughts while reading and its sentiments will hit home for a lot of people. I recommend this story to anyone who feels that they are alone in dealing with some of the points brought up in this story. Know that you are not alone and this book really brings that passion home. The afterword in this book was an emotional one and I loved that aspect within this book. The author put her all into this one so give it a go. It is worth the tears.
July 14, 2023
People around me have said to me that it is unfair to say that someone can't be loved if they don't love themselves, that we all deserve to be loved. And it is true. BUT... if you don't love yourself, then you don't really know how to put boundaries, what love feels to you, how you need to be treated by other people so that it goes with who you are. It unfortunately makes you grateful for the very low energy some people give you and very skeptic about the people that actually try to show you that they like you for who you are.
Kleio was very thirsty for love. It was the only thing she wanted from life. To be loved, and she would do anything in her power for it to happen.
She met Danny and in no time they were engaged and married. At 22 years old, she had everything she ever dreamed of. She was a wife, she was going to have her own house, her own family and she was going to have it in Hawaii.
It came to her as a shock when she realized that having a husband didn't necessarily mean she had a partner.
Having people in her home all the time, didn't necessarily mean having friends.
Then, what is it that she had to do in order to have what she wants? Is she worth being loved?
Kleio's story in her early twenties is not a happy story, but it is a story of growth and self love that a lot of people go through. Some people unfortunately don't start to love themselves until they hit rock bottom, until there is no other choice. We all have our paths, and all paths are equally important, equally deserving to be respected. Kleio's story is a brave one.
Kleio was very thirsty for love. It was the only thing she wanted from life. To be loved, and she would do anything in her power for it to happen.
She met Danny and in no time they were engaged and married. At 22 years old, she had everything she ever dreamed of. She was a wife, she was going to have her own house, her own family and she was going to have it in Hawaii.
It came to her as a shock when she realized that having a husband didn't necessarily mean she had a partner.
Having people in her home all the time, didn't necessarily mean having friends.
Then, what is it that she had to do in order to have what she wants? Is she worth being loved?
Kleio's story in her early twenties is not a happy story, but it is a story of growth and self love that a lot of people go through. Some people unfortunately don't start to love themselves until they hit rock bottom, until there is no other choice. We all have our paths, and all paths are equally important, equally deserving to be respected. Kleio's story is a brave one.
September 22, 2023
I was sent this as an ARC.
This book really resonated with me. I've never read a book like this yet.
I was in a bad relationship when I was younger, and this really spoke to that. A lot of what Kleio felt, I could relate to. There are so many things I wish I could tell my younger self.
At times, Kleio made me so frustrated, and,looking back, that's probably how people on the outside, looking in, thought about me.
I really liked the message of the book. Only you can change your circumstances, you need to love yourself before someone else can love you, you deserve love and respect, communication is key, and the importance of family, were key elements of this book and they all spoke to me.
I hope young women who are going through something similar read this book, and it can help them!I was sent this as an ARC.
This book really resonated with me. I've never read a book like this yet.
I was in a bad relationship when I was younger, and this really spoke to that. A lot of what Kleio felt, I could relate to. There are so many things I wish I could tell my younger self.
At times, Kleio made me so frustrated, and,looking back, that's probably how people on the outside, looking in, thought about me.
I really liked the message of the book. Only you can change your circumstances, you need to love yourself before someone else can love you, you deserve love and respect, communication is key, and the importance of family, were key elements of this book and they all spoke to me.
I hope young women who are going through something similar read this book, and it can help them!
This book really resonated with me. I've never read a book like this yet.
I was in a bad relationship when I was younger, and this really spoke to that. A lot of what Kleio felt, I could relate to. There are so many things I wish I could tell my younger self.
At times, Kleio made me so frustrated, and,looking back, that's probably how people on the outside, looking in, thought about me.
I really liked the message of the book. Only you can change your circumstances, you need to love yourself before someone else can love you, you deserve love and respect, communication is key, and the importance of family, were key elements of this book and they all spoke to me.
I hope young women who are going through something similar read this book, and it can help them!I was sent this as an ARC.
This book really resonated with me. I've never read a book like this yet.
I was in a bad relationship when I was younger, and this really spoke to that. A lot of what Kleio felt, I could relate to. There are so many things I wish I could tell my younger self.
At times, Kleio made me so frustrated, and,looking back, that's probably how people on the outside, looking in, thought about me.
I really liked the message of the book. Only you can change your circumstances, you need to love yourself before someone else can love you, you deserve love and respect, communication is key, and the importance of family, were key elements of this book and they all spoke to me.
I hope young women who are going through something similar read this book, and it can help them!
June 24, 2023
Apostol’s work begins with a somber warning, one which so many women who have experienced betrayal or abusive relationships can relate to – “If I could sit down and speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have the strength to hold on because the darkness that throws shadows across her will pass.”
Hooked on the premise of how the inability to listen to one’s intuition can lead to continuous patterns of poor choices and disastrous consequences, this story takes readers through a litany or red flags, misgivings and misjudgments made by the the protagonist. Any young woman reading this will grasp the resonance of being taught it was more important to be ‘nice’ than to trust your instincts. The author’s voice comes through in the continued self doubt expressed by the character. “To this day I still tend to believe the best in people, never wanting to believe they would stoop so low as to trick, manipulate, and lie to me. It’s just in my nature, I guess. I’m told it’s a good way to be, that we should believe the best in people and give second chances when they’ve made mistakes. After all, hadn’t I made my fair share of mistakes, too?”
In reviewing the afterward, one realizes that the work is based on some of the author's experiences, and is meant to be a warning for young women everywhere to listen to their inner voice, and forgive themselves for their mistakes. Though I wasn't always sure where the plot was heading, I appreciated the uplifting ending.
Hooked on the premise of how the inability to listen to one’s intuition can lead to continuous patterns of poor choices and disastrous consequences, this story takes readers through a litany or red flags, misgivings and misjudgments made by the the protagonist. Any young woman reading this will grasp the resonance of being taught it was more important to be ‘nice’ than to trust your instincts. The author’s voice comes through in the continued self doubt expressed by the character. “To this day I still tend to believe the best in people, never wanting to believe they would stoop so low as to trick, manipulate, and lie to me. It’s just in my nature, I guess. I’m told it’s a good way to be, that we should believe the best in people and give second chances when they’ve made mistakes. After all, hadn’t I made my fair share of mistakes, too?”
In reviewing the afterward, one realizes that the work is based on some of the author's experiences, and is meant to be a warning for young women everywhere to listen to their inner voice, and forgive themselves for their mistakes. Though I wasn't always sure where the plot was heading, I appreciated the uplifting ending.
June 27, 2023
Thank you, Alex, for sending me this ARC!
This book is hard for me to rate.
As a fellow military spouse, i enjoyed the beginning of her learning her new life, I pretty quickly just wanted to hug her, but also shake her and tell her to open her eyes and get out of there. To focus on making herself happy. At the start of the book, it was so nice to see Kleio be strong and stay true to herself when it came to her boyfriend, I was definitely sad when I realized she wouldn't have that same outlook when it came to her new husband.
The things that didn't work for me:
I already have an issue with cheating tropes in books. I normally would DNF a story that dabbles with cheating. More than anything, I wanted Kleio to be brutally honest with herself and Danny and just get out of there. I'm sad for the suffering and loneliness she had to endure. I know this story is based on the author's real life events, so I am happy Alex (and Kleio) found happiness! The cheating definitely put a sour taste in my mouth. Even though Danny was not the greatest, I couldn't help but wonder how far communication could get her. Granted, he did not seem open to listening to anything Kleio had to say, so there is no real judgment from me there! All in all, this story kept me intrigued until the very end. I love a well written, character driven book!
I think the topics and themes covered in My Little Island Life will be relatable to many!
This book is hard for me to rate.
As a fellow military spouse, i enjoyed the beginning of her learning her new life, I pretty quickly just wanted to hug her, but also shake her and tell her to open her eyes and get out of there. To focus on making herself happy. At the start of the book, it was so nice to see Kleio be strong and stay true to herself when it came to her boyfriend, I was definitely sad when I realized she wouldn't have that same outlook when it came to her new husband.
The things that didn't work for me:
I already have an issue with cheating tropes in books. I normally would DNF a story that dabbles with cheating. More than anything, I wanted Kleio to be brutally honest with herself and Danny and just get out of there. I'm sad for the suffering and loneliness she had to endure. I know this story is based on the author's real life events, so I am happy Alex (and Kleio) found happiness! The cheating definitely put a sour taste in my mouth. Even though Danny was not the greatest, I couldn't help but wonder how far communication could get her. Granted, he did not seem open to listening to anything Kleio had to say, so there is no real judgment from me there! All in all, this story kept me intrigued until the very end. I love a well written, character driven book!
I think the topics and themes covered in My Little Island Life will be relatable to many!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2023
This story follows Kleio, a girl in her early twenties, who marries a Navy sailor in hopes of a life better than the one she had been living, with bad relationship after bad relationship. She’s whisked away to live with her new husband on an island in Hawaii, which sounds like a dream. Kleio soon realizes it’s anything but what she’d wanted. Yearning for love and purpose, she tries to navigate life as feeling like she is nothing more than “Danny’s wife.”
The author touches on several hard topics, including mental abuse and depression.
This was actually a tough read for me, because I felt like the author was writing an altered version of my younger self. Kleio’s experiences and mine were different, but the emotions and certain aspects were still there, which is one thing I really appreciated—the inner thoughts and feelings. She captured it perfectly. I not only related to Kleio and rooted for her, I took a step back to look at and appreciate the life I have now.
This story shows you the bad, but it also shows you you can overcome it.
“If I could sit down and speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have the strength to hold on because the darkness that throws shadows across her will pass, and one day a warm light will fill her entire being…
… I would tell her that the good days are not behind her but ahead, and abundantly so.”
The author touches on several hard topics, including mental abuse and depression.
This was actually a tough read for me, because I felt like the author was writing an altered version of my younger self. Kleio’s experiences and mine were different, but the emotions and certain aspects were still there, which is one thing I really appreciated—the inner thoughts and feelings. She captured it perfectly. I not only related to Kleio and rooted for her, I took a step back to look at and appreciate the life I have now.
This story shows you the bad, but it also shows you you can overcome it.
“If I could sit down and speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have the strength to hold on because the darkness that throws shadows across her will pass, and one day a warm light will fill her entire being…
… I would tell her that the good days are not behind her but ahead, and abundantly so.”
July 11, 2023
My little Island Life
By @writer_alex_apostol
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This is for all girls out there getting it wrong. Don’t give up.”
Blurb✨
This is the story of Kleio, a 20-year-old girl who has been in a string of terrible relationships, felt misunderstood and unloved by her parents, who then sought an escape and tried finding love all over the wrong places.
My thoughts✨
I could cry an ocean reading this book if I let myself. There’s just so many pent up emotion in me that I never so much as whisper even when I’m alone. So many regrets and mistakes that I would never want to recount until I die. So many fear - of judgement, of rejection and of betrayal that never found a safe space and is just locked up deep in my heart that so much of the things Kleio went through almost felt tangible and I feared I was looking myself in the mirror reading this book. I feared that prospect because I hated Kleio. I hated her for being the awkward me. The stupid me. The unwanted, the ugly, the unloved, the rebellious and people pleaser unhappy me. But I loved how she rose up from all those things. How she embraced, learned and moved on to be a better person. Even how she found God. I am learning and moving on everyday. Her story is one to keep you moving forward even when you’re doing it all wrong. Don’t give up! 💪💃
By @writer_alex_apostol
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This is for all girls out there getting it wrong. Don’t give up.”
Blurb✨
This is the story of Kleio, a 20-year-old girl who has been in a string of terrible relationships, felt misunderstood and unloved by her parents, who then sought an escape and tried finding love all over the wrong places.
My thoughts✨
I could cry an ocean reading this book if I let myself. There’s just so many pent up emotion in me that I never so much as whisper even when I’m alone. So many regrets and mistakes that I would never want to recount until I die. So many fear - of judgement, of rejection and of betrayal that never found a safe space and is just locked up deep in my heart that so much of the things Kleio went through almost felt tangible and I feared I was looking myself in the mirror reading this book. I feared that prospect because I hated Kleio. I hated her for being the awkward me. The stupid me. The unwanted, the ugly, the unloved, the rebellious and people pleaser unhappy me. But I loved how she rose up from all those things. How she embraced, learned and moved on to be a better person. Even how she found God. I am learning and moving on everyday. Her story is one to keep you moving forward even when you’re doing it all wrong. Don’t give up! 💪💃
June 19, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My Little Island Life by Alex Apostol is a book that will touch many hearts.
The story is about a young girl that decides to get married without thinking too much so she could have a better life. Unfortunately for her things don't go her way and she learns many lessons about life the hard way. In the end with determination and the help of a couple of friends, she finds the right path that brings her happiness.
This book hit too close to home. As a person who struggled for years with depression and low self-esteem, I felt what the character went through. My story isn't like Kleio's but the feelings are definitely similar. The lesson this story taught me was that every hardship makes you a stronger person. If you change the way you see life and keep trying your best then you'll have the happy life you want. No matter what people say, if you want something you can get it. You just need to
find the right way that works for you.
If you want to try something different then give this book a try. I will rate it with 4,5 stars.
My Little Island Life by Alex Apostol is a book that will touch many hearts.
The story is about a young girl that decides to get married without thinking too much so she could have a better life. Unfortunately for her things don't go her way and she learns many lessons about life the hard way. In the end with determination and the help of a couple of friends, she finds the right path that brings her happiness.
This book hit too close to home. As a person who struggled for years with depression and low self-esteem, I felt what the character went through. My story isn't like Kleio's but the feelings are definitely similar. The lesson this story taught me was that every hardship makes you a stronger person. If you change the way you see life and keep trying your best then you'll have the happy life you want. No matter what people say, if you want something you can get it. You just need to
find the right way that works for you.
If you want to try something different then give this book a try. I will rate it with 4,5 stars.
June 24, 2023
Kleio is a beautiful character that’s gone through so much in her lifetime.
My Little Island Life was hard for me to read at times due to the experiences I’ve gone through in life. However, I am so thankful that Alex wrote this in a way that kept it real & true to what happens. There’s so many people who can relate to Kleio’s story, unfortunately.
I loved the Miranda Lambert Easter eggs in this story, too.
When I first opened this book and started reading chapter one I immediately knew this would be a character I could connect with. Could relate to. That whole first chapter is something everyone needs to read.
“If I could sit down and speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have the strength to hold on because the darkness that throws shadows across her will pass, and one day a warm light will fill her entire being.”
Thank you Alex for allowing me to read an early copy of this. Even though it was hard at times I am so glad I had the opportunity to read Kleio’s story. Your note at the end of this book really just added a whole other layer to this story.
My Little Island Life was hard for me to read at times due to the experiences I’ve gone through in life. However, I am so thankful that Alex wrote this in a way that kept it real & true to what happens. There’s so many people who can relate to Kleio’s story, unfortunately.
I loved the Miranda Lambert Easter eggs in this story, too.
When I first opened this book and started reading chapter one I immediately knew this would be a character I could connect with. Could relate to. That whole first chapter is something everyone needs to read.
“If I could sit down and speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have the strength to hold on because the darkness that throws shadows across her will pass, and one day a warm light will fill her entire being.”
Thank you Alex for allowing me to read an early copy of this. Even though it was hard at times I am so glad I had the opportunity to read Kleio’s story. Your note at the end of this book really just added a whole other layer to this story.
July 3, 2023
'If I could sit down and speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have the strength to hold on because the darkness that throws shadows across her will pass, and one day a warm light will fill her entire being."
Kleio finds herself alone on an island, married to a sailor she barely knew. She left her family, friends, her whole life back in Indiana and settled in Hawaii with him.
She made mistakes, of course. She kept making more mistakes. I do not blame her. She was so young after all. And most of it was justified too.
It started out a little interesting, making me wonder what new was about to happen. It didn't. The chapters also seemed very long. I was disappointed with the monotonous flow of the story at first. But that is until I finished the first half. Later, it got interesting as much as I'd expected it to be and I appreciated myself for not giving up before. I loved a few characters and hated almost everyone.
I was happy at the end for all of it. For Kleio. I hope her story inspires women who are in the same state as her
Kleio finds herself alone on an island, married to a sailor she barely knew. She left her family, friends, her whole life back in Indiana and settled in Hawaii with him.
She made mistakes, of course. She kept making more mistakes. I do not blame her. She was so young after all. And most of it was justified too.
It started out a little interesting, making me wonder what new was about to happen. It didn't. The chapters also seemed very long. I was disappointed with the monotonous flow of the story at first. But that is until I finished the first half. Later, it got interesting as much as I'd expected it to be and I appreciated myself for not giving up before. I loved a few characters and hated almost everyone.
I was happy at the end for all of it. For Kleio. I hope her story inspires women who are in the same state as her
August 19, 2023
The synopsis drew me in at first, but once I started reading I could not get into this book. It was a very slow read for me which is why I took so long to read it. There were quite a few pages in this book that I feel were added for “fluff” and didn’t actually do anything for the plot. I found a lot of things that did not make sense to me either like why it took so long for Kleio to be able to get Danny’s car. If it was sitting at the docks why didn’t Laura take her there to pick it up before Kleio’s mom came to visit and why did she have to wait a few weeks? I did not see any mention of it being shipped to Hawaii. Why did Kleio take so long to divorce Danny, but could go off and cheat on him with no issue? I also find it super strange that she married a man who obviously doesn’t seem to genuinely care about her, but I assume that comes from her wanting to feel loved by anyone she could get to love her.
This book was given to me by the author as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was given to me by the author as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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