Live it Out

by Jenn Alexander, Quinn Riley (Narrator)

Spencer Adams was never expected to be anything more than a high school dropout. She'd been a troubled teen, spending more time at the skate park than in school, at least until her music teacher introduced her to the guitar, and music class became her lifeline. Ten years later, she is the guitarist in a band that has become a breakout success, and she wants to use that success to help teens. She takes on a volunteer project with local youth as a way of honoring her past, not knowing that it will force her to revisit the one part of her past that she'd hoped to forget.

Faith Siebert has always had high expectations to live up to, and she has tried her best to fulfill those expectations, to be a good daughter, a good student, and a good friend. When she fell for Spencer in high school, she knew her family and friends would never approve. Scared of their reactions, Faith ended things with Spencer, following the path her parents wanted for her. It had only been a high school romance, destined for brevity. At least, that's what she told herself. But when Spencer shows up in her life once again, partnered with Faith on a youth music project, her world is rocked and she is forced to re-examine everything she knows about relationships and herself.

Live It Out is a second-chance romance about forgiveness and finding one's authentic self.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Audiobook, Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction

Audible Audio

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

Jenn Alexander was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. She graduated in 2017 with an M.S. in Counseling from the University of North Texas, and has since returned to Canada, where she is trying to reacclimatize to the frozen north.
Jenn is a 2018 graduate of the the Golden Crown Literary Society’s Writing Academy, for which she was the year’s recipient of the Sandra Moran Scholarship. She lives with her three daughters, two cats, and one rambunctious dog. When she’s not writing, Jenn spends her time playing the drums, skiing, or looking for adventure.
Her debut romance novel is The Song of the Sea.

Reviews

[Della B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every high school has that one student who is smart, responsible and basically good at everything. Faith Siebert is all this and more. On the other side of the coin is the student who is voted most likely to drop out. Spencer Adams spends most of her day slacking off at the skatepark. That is until she discovers music class and the guitar. Spencer’s love of music leads her to be in a successful punk band long after school ends.

Live it Out is a second chance romance built around the brief and secretive pairing of Faith and Spencer in high school. The peer pressure of being friends with the notoriously out lesbian Spencer pushes Faith to break her heart when she calls it quits. Ten years later their paths cross and tests the both of them. Spencer to possibly trust in Faith and Faith to be brave enough to live her true authentic life no matter the costs accrued.

Alexander brings a grittiness to this familiar storyline that completely changes the landscape. The raw emotion of the character’s back stories provides an unexpected gravitas to the novel. The writing does not hide the cruelty that exists but shines a spotlight upon it. Surviving our traumas is as much this story as the second chance at love is.

Live it Out has left a lasting impression on me as it will undoubtedly on you.

I received an advance review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really needed to cry when I read this book and it delivered. Sad tears, happy tears. All the feels. The Song of the Sea is one of my favourite books and I knew I could count on Jenn Alexander to write a story that would be both terribly human and hopeful.

Spencer Adams’ dream of becoming a punk rock star is now a reality. Her band Shattered Ceilings is working on their second album and it’s going great. Music saved her life when her mom and she were living in and out of the local shelter, and Spencer has offered to use her time between tours to give teenagers who are in the same situation a chance to learn the basics of playing the guitar. The social worker assigned to help her turns out to be none other than Faith Siebert, the woman who broke her heart ten years ago, in high school.

Jenn Alexander is another quietly brilliant writer, who understands the power of words. To be honest, this isn’t the most original story, yet the writing makes it stand out. The characters feel real, the emotions genuine, the missed opportunities, the weight of expectations, the powerlessness Faith felt and against which she didn’t know she could rebel. Spencer learned to be strong earlier on, or maybe she always was, and while she’s a wonderful person, as a character I found Faith more fascinating. Because she has work to do, habits to shatter, control to reclaim. And as much as I hope she would have eventually been able to do it even if Spencer hadn’t unexpectedly waltzed back into her life, I love that this is what gave her the impetus. Even if to be fair to her, she’d started already, by getting a divorce before the story begins.

There is something both powerful and romantic in finding out that even though, sure, you’re not totally useless on your own, the right person by your side gives you strength and clarity and courage. Possibilities. The ability to allow the best version of yourself to bloom. Not even necessarily by doing anything themselves, just by being there. If it sounds like I’m writing this from experience, it’s one hundred per cent accurate. And that may be why I found Faith so relatable, despite not having much in common with her.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars

[Amy Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. How pretty is the cover??

This was a short novel about second chance love. While there was nothing wrong with it, I just didn't connect with the characters. As such, the romance fell flat for me.

I did enjoy Spencer being a guitarist in a band (I need to read more musical books) and I liked Faith's coming out journey and finally shrugging off society's expectations. But I found the writing quite dry, and as mentioned above, didn't connect with the characters and story.

I hope others enjoy it more than I did!

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. I think I would of enjoyed this more if it was longer.

[Women Using Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by Jenn Alexander, and I have to say that I am just as captivated by her writing as I was when I read her debut The Song of the Sea. She has a style that lends itself to easy reading; the narrative rolls out smoothly and soundly. Furthermore, the storytelling is nuanced and layered. The subtle subtext seems to leave readers with something to think about after they’ve turned the last page.

Live It Out, Alexander’s newest release, is a character driven story full of growth and reflection. Spencer is a rebel rock star with a tough girl exterior. Faith is a “good girl” living in the shadows of others’ expectations. The two shared something special many years ago and when their paths cross again, there is no denying the connection and chemistry. Once the walls come down—and the romance heats up—these two prove they have what it takes to captivate readers’ attention and give them a romance full of appeal and personality.

Not only is this story well written, it’s threaded with gorgeous, heart-tugging themes. It is about two women trying to come to terms with their past while they attempt to build a future, one that’s shaped by truth and authenticity. Alexander exposes some raw and vulnerable emotions in the process, and she does it honestly and compassionately. The result is a gracious romance readers can’t help but find compelling.

Besides being a second-chance romance, Live It Out is a journey of the heart. Faith and Spencer are high school sweethearts pained by the memories of a love they were never able to share openly. Misunderstanding and fear cut their young romance short, but both women never forgot the connection they once shared. Soul searching and self-acceptance ultimately bring them back together, and Alexander gives it all the tender satisfaction it deserves. She uses themes of love and forgiveness to build a memorable conclusion and readers walk away with a contented sigh.

Final remarks…

Anyone who has ever loved with the fierceness of a young teenage heart will see the beauty in this touching romance. Alexander writes it with an emotional intelligence that feels balanced and compelling. Live it Out does not disappoint.

Strengths…

Well-written
Well-told
Likable, relatable characters
Engaging backstory
Entertaining romance

[ReadingwithCaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenn Alexander introduced this to me as her Skater Boi Book. I was immediately intrigued and I am happy to say it’s even better than the song!

Spencer has had a traumatizing youth with an abusive father. She spent her years in and out of shelters and wishing someone would choose her and make her feel like she was worth something. Her high school girlfriend Faith does exactly that. Until she breaks Spencers heart into a million pieces. The only thing left to deal with her life is her trusted guitar.

Ten years later. Spencer has become a rockstar and has her bands songs playing on the radio. She wants to give something back and starts volunteering at the shelter she and her mom once stayed in. What she didn’t expect is to have to work with this social worker: Faith.

Live It Out brings life to these characters with an abundance of depth. Their reasoning for past and present behavior will leave you feeling raw and emotional. Alexander doesn’t shy away from gut wrenching topics like abuse, alcoholism, insecurity and feelings of unworthiness. She does so with a stunning clarity and doesn’t shy away from horrific truths.

That being said, Live It Out is a story of hope, undying love and second chances. It is a testament to the ability of people to change but staying true to their character at the same time.

I suggest you blast Skater Boi on the stereo and then sink into this story. This song will never be the same and you won’t be sad about it, I promise!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The two books of Jenn Alexander's I'd read before reading Live It Out I liked quite a bit, so I was excited to get my hands on Live It Out, especially since this is a second-chance romance, and when it's done well, it's one of my favourite tropes. I didn't love Live It Out as much as I hoped I would. I thought the writing was a little--how do I put this--awkward/pedestrian? And that sounds bad, and maybe it is, but it wasn't that it was awful, it just felt a bit clunky. Basically the writing distracted me from the plot, and that's not a place I like to be when I'm reading.

Having said all that, I really enjoyed the novel. I liked the characters and the romance and when I put the book down I wanted to get back to reading it. I just wasn't blown away.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some things conceptually about this. I love some sapphic music romance and I appreciated the depths of exploring how old wounds and trauma impact our capacity for trust. I liked Spenser’s bandmates. I liked the focus on breaking out of others expectations and embracing yourself.

With that said, I don’t feel like much happened. The book felt really force fed and a bit sterile to me. I predicted all the things which is typical in this genre but it was even more than usual.

The author did a LOT of telling about how everyone felt and a lot of overly deep analysis along the way that could’ve remained subtext. Some of it was also repeating often as if we hadn’t just had that concept explained last chapter or even two paragraphs ago.

I also felt like the characters didn’t really have their own voices. If it weren’t for Quinn Riley’s amazing narration, I don’t really know what would’ve distinguished them. There was so much unrealistic communication, as well. It felt very over the top and out of character. In one moment someone is totally communication avoidant, another they have all the skills to fully articulate things in an almost academic manner. I just wanted more personality infused into the dialogue.

The journeys around trauma were what really stood out for me. I just wish there’d been less commentary and more experience.

I think maybe with some more seasoned writing this author could create something that hooks me more but as is i found this to be pretty lacking and surface.

Also piercings take longer to heal than that hah

Spice: very mild brief scenes. Explicit words used but then it’s fade to black.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Publisher Says: Spencer Adams was never expected to be anything more than a high school dropout. She’d been a troubled teen, spending more time at the skate park than in school, at least until her music teacher introduced her to the guitar and music class became her lifeline. Ten years later, she is the guitarist in a band that has become a breakout success, and she wants to use that success to help other teens who have had the same rough start as her. She takes on a volunteer project with local youth as a way of honoring her past, not knowing that it will force her to revisit the one part of her past that she’d hoped to forget.

Faith Siebert has always had high expectations to live up to, and she has tried her best to fulfill those expectations, to be a good daughter, a good student, and a good friend. When she fell for Spencer in high school, she knew her family and friends would never approve. Scared of their reactions, Faith ended things with Spencer, following the path her parents wanted for her, even at the immense personal cost. Of course, it had only been a high school romance, destined for brevity anyway. At least, that’s what she told herself. But when Spencer shows up in her life once again, partnered with Faith on a youth music project, her world is rocked and she is forced to re-examine everything she knows about relationships and herself.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Not much for rock-star romances, me, but I am a vulturous carrion-seeker for the corpses of heartbreaks past on second-chance narratives. Give me a high-school/college breakup undone decades later and I am on it like a Jane Austen bonnet. Add in the fact that the parties are a same-sex couple denied a natural ending by homophobia (internal or external, makes me no never-mind) and stand back while I run to get it. Didn't hurt your foot, did I?

I got what I was expecting in this read. I loved Spencer's complete willingness to use her skills to help kids in the same bad situation she came from to cope, on many levels, with their sense of powerlessness and absence of agency. True, they won't become rock stars but they will learn how to play a musical intrument...a thing that by itself increases one's satisfaction with one's life.

Faith, the One That Got Away for Spencer, believes it will and is surprised when it's Spencer who shows up to do the teaching. Her career as a social worker is so in-character for the girl she was all the way back in high school, it felt on the nose. I like social workers, and deeply admire their sense of purpose. I'm all in for a redemption arc here, as well, because Spencer's going back to her roots as a shelter-raised kid to extend her hand in helpful practicality.

Do I need to say that these women find their way into a relationship? It's a category romance. Of course they do.

In forming that long-delayed, much-desired romantic reconnection, each of them has to come to terms with her own part in their long estrangement, what it cost them both, and how best to use the rubble of the past to build a good solid foundation. Here is where I felt both the happiest, because the women are truly honest with themselves and each other; and here is also where I felt the length of the book worked against it the most clearly. There wasn't room to go into the families, or the people they were leaving behind. That was less of an issue, though, than the way the women were ready for that hard, hard, hard task of being vulnerable and honest within their strengthening bond. I can't say it's unlikely...the author's a therapist by trade, she knows better than I do...but I can say that even fifty more pages with some conversations outside their bond would've helped me invest in the resolution.

That said, I give the book as it is a recommendation, tinged with a litte note of caution for the ewww-ick homophobes because there is some steam in here. (I just turned the pages faster.) The story builds its couple's bond well, believably if very quickly, and tells hard emotional truths with honest, sensitive truthfulness.

I'm really glad that Jenn Alexander has more work for me to get acquainted with.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘This really is the dream’ - ‘The let’s live it out’ - A beautiful second chance novel

Canadian author Jenn Alexander earned her MS in Counseling from the University of North Texas. Her books to date - THE SONG OF THE SEA, HOME, and now LIVE IT OUT. She demonstrates a gift of eloquent prose that grants her subject matter the grace of a polished author, readily apparent as this new novel opens: ‘Spencer Adams furiously strummed the high E string on her guitar, her pulse accelerating as she slid her finger along the neck, pulling the note higher and higher. The tension of the song coiled tightly inside of her, and then with one exhale, she stepped on the effects pedal that melted the note down into electronic whirring, pulsing and filling the room…’

The storyline unfolds with ease, as Jenn’s distillation of the plot suggests: ‘Spencer Adams was never expected to be anything more than a high school dropout. She’d been a troubled teen, spending more time at the skate park than in school, at least until her music teacher introduced her to the guitar, and music class became her lifeline. Ten years later, she is the guitarist in a band that has become a breakout success, and she wants to use that success to help other teens who have had the same rough start as her. She takes on a volunteer project with local youth as a way of honoring her past, not knowing that it will force her to revisit the one part of her past that she’d hoped to forget. Faith Siebert has always had high expectations to live up to, and she has tried her best to fulfill those expectations, to be a good daughter, a good student, and a good friend. When she fell for Spencer in high school, she knew her family and friends would never approve. Scared of their reactions, Faith ended things with Spencer, following the path her parents wanted for her, even at the immense personal cost. Of course, it had only been a high school romance, destined for brevity anyway. At least, that’s what she told herself. But when Spencer shows up in her life once again, partnered with Faith on a youth music project, her world is rocked and she is forced to re-examine everything she knows about relationships and herself.’

In addition to the well-painted story, this novel brings into focus the challenges of second chance romances, bringing out the impact of family, qualities of sensitive self perception, forgiveness, healing and redemption. Having read all of her novels, Jenn Alexander continues to impress with each novel she pens. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

[James The Gullible · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith and Spencer were more than best friends in high school, but Faith cared more about what everyone else thought about her life than to find and create her own. Now, all grown up, Spencer returns home to teach music lessons at a local shelter. There, Spencer must work with Faith, the girl who broke her heart for an a$$hat from high school. She soon learned that she and Faith NOW have more in common. While Faith reveals more of herself to Spencer, she is inspired by Spencer to live her life more authentically. Spencer, in turn, learns how to navigate forgiveness and open her repaired, broken heart and how to love the ones who have previously hurt her the most.

First off, this book is severely under hyped. Jenn Alexander packed so much in here and handled it all with such care. She tore me apart and put me back together - exquisite pain. I LOVED this book.

Spoilers ahead:
Spencer has always known who she was, WHAT she was, and she made no apologies about it. Faith has parents to please. Faith has expectations to meet not only from her parents but also from her peers. Because of this, Faith broke Spencer’s heart in high school.

Within this story we have domestic violence both from an adult child’s perspective but also from a victim. This is handled very tenderly as it is the forefront of the story, beings that both women meet again at a shelter.

Quinn Riley again for the win. I could not push pause on this audiobook. I related SO HARD to many aspects of many of the characters at different times in my life and Quinn performing with that raw emotion that she does - ugh. Quinn will make you absolutely fall in love with Spencer and Faith and have you cheering them on to their HEA. She will also have you bawling when Faith finds her voice and uses it. She again had me bawling. She holds that tension and rawness in her voice for much of the story. She gets us excited for when Faith FINALLY starts using her voice. She has us angry when Faith’s parents belittle her. She has us a sobbing mess when Spencer FINALLY becomes vulnerable with the people around her.

Some of us were Faith. Some of us were Spencer. Some of us have experienced both scenarios.
Some of us have made excuses for an abuser. Some of us have seen the inside of a shelter. Some of us have had parents that rejected us. Some of us have had FRIENDS who want to keep us in the box they created for us.

This story speaks to ALL of that and heals the parts of you that you didn’t even know needed healing. I HIGHLY recommend this story, most especially as an audiobook

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that this is a pretty short book, it manages to set the tone and make you root for the MC's.

Spencer is a guitarist in a Punk band who are working on their second album. She decides to volunteer in a shelter she knows from her youth when she spend some time there with her mom. Turns out her first love works there. Despite the confusing situation as Faith broke her heart, she can't let the kids down so she continues her volunteer work. Honestyl this woman is amazing, ngl.

Faith is working as a social worker and runs into the one that got away at work. The sparks are still there but how can she prove she's a changed woman? Turns out it is pretty hard to be yourself if you haven't been living your true life for years.

I really enjoyed the journey these two went on, the growth they went through and honestly my only complaint might be that it was such a short story as I would have loved to spend more time with them.

Also, where is my one true love with a heart of gold and a guitar for a shield?

An ARC was provided to me via Edelweiss in return of an honest review.

[Jamie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of high school sweethearts that separated due to perceived family expectations and fear. Spencer and Faith come from two completely different family backgrounds, each with their own pain. After separating in high school, with Spencer’s heart broken by Faith, they run into each other 10 years later at a music group for kids. While they are both reminded of the past, their reconnection forces them to deal with old hurts and a still present connection to each other. Will they be able to heal the wounds of their past and find each other again?

I listened to the audiobook and Quinn Riley does a stellar job with the narration. She brings the characters to life and conveys the emotions each experience. This is a beautifully written story with characters that are easy to like.

I was given the audiobook by the author and leave my review voluntarily.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this lesfic second-chance romance entirely unoriginal and uninteresting. If you like sweet, low-angst romance then this one's for you.
Quinn Riley's narration of the audio version is warm and competent.

[SUTTON (Kade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was finished. So I liked it. The fact I am writing the review late and don’t remember it is a bad sign for me. It probably means it was enjoyable but not memorable. And that is okay. I wouldn’t detract anyone from reading it!

[BlackSandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. I very much enjoyed this book. Really emotional.

[Jens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anybody found the Easter egg connecting it to one of her earlier books? ;)

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars