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If You Live Like Me
A city girl's concept of ''home'' is turned upside down when her father's anthropology research relocates them to St. John's, Newfoundland. Before her plane even touches down in Newfoundland, Cheryl is already plotting her escape. She knows life on ''the rock'' will be no better than it was in the other places she's been forced to live ever since her parents launched their cross-Canada tour. The unwilling spectator of her father's morbid fascination with ''dying cultures,'' Cheryl has seen more than her fair share of towns so depressing they could haunt your dreams. His need to study the defunct fishing industry in St. John's is Cheryl's breaking point - this city girl is more determined than ever to get back to the concrete, the buzz, and the bright lights of Montreal.Will Cheryl's cold, goth exterior and her refusal to embrace a new life cut her off from those who love her? Lori Weber once again proves herself to be a masterful storyteller, this time challenging the idea of home, and what holds families and communities together. If You Live Like Me explores the bonds that form in strange and unexpected ways, and shows how letting go can lead to the strongest connections of all.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2009
102 people want to read
About the author
Lori Weber
16 books9 followersI was born and raised in Montreal, in a neighbourhood called Park
Extension. This was a great place for a writer to grow up because there
were lots of colourful characters around, lots of street life, and lots of
different ethnicities to be curious about. The predominant ethnic group at
the time (the 60s) was Greek. I grew up hearing as much Greek as
French and English, and I learned to love the food and customs of my
Greek friends. It was, however, early training in being more of an
observer than a participant. When I was 13 my parents bought a house in
Ville St-Laurent, a suburb of Montreal. Perhaps because of my Park Ex
days, I found myself hanging out mostly with a group of Armenian friends
the first few years. I was just comfortable being different– and having to
decode foreign languages. This gave me an interest in languages, so I
went on to learn German (my father’s heritage), as well as Spanish in
later life, which means I speak four languages, although none but English
well enough to write in.
At cegep (which exists only in Quebec and is a transitional stage of
higher education between high school and university), I started to write
stories in my Creative Writing classes. There, I met a teacher, Fran, who
became a mentor and really encouraged me to develop this passion.
That’s when I first started to feel that I could be a writer and actually
publish. I began going to readings and writing workshops whenever I
could, to immerse myself in writing culture.
I studied English literature at university, but part-time, because I worked
and supported myself from the age of 19 on. I lived in many different
parts of Montreal, including downtown, Verdun, the Plateau, and did
many different office jobs, such as documentation clerk in a shipping
company and assistant editor for a Public Relations newspaper at McGill.
Throughout all this time, I continued to write stories and had a few
published, along with some poems, in small press magazines.
At the age of 29, Bachelor’s Degree, in hand, I moved with my partner to
Nova Scotia and did a Master’s Degree in English. I got my MA and
became a Ma all within weeks of each other, which was a neat
experience.
The next move was across the water to Newfoundland, a place I had
never been to. The ferry crossing was wild, with ripping wind and high
waves which I feared would sweep my six-week old daughter overboard if
I went outside. We stayed in St. John’s for two fantastic years.
Newfoundland is everything and more than people say it is – charming,
special, wet, and wonderful.
We returned to Quebec and I pursued a degree in teaching English,
which led to my current job as an English teacher at John Abbott College
in Montreal, where I have been teaching for 11 years. Seven years in, I
decided that if I were ever going to get back to writing in a more serious
way, I had to lessen my teaching load, so I began teaching part-time and
writing more. This led to my first book, Klepto. I have continued to
combine teaching and writing ever since. Both are labour-intensive and
the two together equal more than one full-time job, but I’m so happy to be
able to earn a living and continue writing books.
Extension. This was a great place for a writer to grow up because there
were lots of colourful characters around, lots of street life, and lots of
different ethnicities to be curious about. The predominant ethnic group at
the time (the 60s) was Greek. I grew up hearing as much Greek as
French and English, and I learned to love the food and customs of my
Greek friends. It was, however, early training in being more of an
observer than a participant. When I was 13 my parents bought a house in
Ville St-Laurent, a suburb of Montreal. Perhaps because of my Park Ex
days, I found myself hanging out mostly with a group of Armenian friends
the first few years. I was just comfortable being different– and having to
decode foreign languages. This gave me an interest in languages, so I
went on to learn German (my father’s heritage), as well as Spanish in
later life, which means I speak four languages, although none but English
well enough to write in.
At cegep (which exists only in Quebec and is a transitional stage of
higher education between high school and university), I started to write
stories in my Creative Writing classes. There, I met a teacher, Fran, who
became a mentor and really encouraged me to develop this passion.
That’s when I first started to feel that I could be a writer and actually
publish. I began going to readings and writing workshops whenever I
could, to immerse myself in writing culture.
I studied English literature at university, but part-time, because I worked
and supported myself from the age of 19 on. I lived in many different
parts of Montreal, including downtown, Verdun, the Plateau, and did
many different office jobs, such as documentation clerk in a shipping
company and assistant editor for a Public Relations newspaper at McGill.
Throughout all this time, I continued to write stories and had a few
published, along with some poems, in small press magazines.
At the age of 29, Bachelor’s Degree, in hand, I moved with my partner to
Nova Scotia and did a Master’s Degree in English. I got my MA and
became a Ma all within weeks of each other, which was a neat
experience.
The next move was across the water to Newfoundland, a place I had
never been to. The ferry crossing was wild, with ripping wind and high
waves which I feared would sweep my six-week old daughter overboard if
I went outside. We stayed in St. John’s for two fantastic years.
Newfoundland is everything and more than people say it is – charming,
special, wet, and wonderful.
We returned to Quebec and I pursued a degree in teaching English,
which led to my current job as an English teacher at John Abbott College
in Montreal, where I have been teaching for 11 years. Seven years in, I
decided that if I were ever going to get back to writing in a more serious
way, I had to lessen my teaching load, so I began teaching part-time and
writing more. This led to my first book, Klepto. I have continued to
combine teaching and writing ever since. Both are labour-intensive and
the two together equal more than one full-time job, but I’m so happy to be
able to earn a living and continue writing books.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 2, 2009
Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com
Cheryl has moved a lot throughout her life. Due to her father's work on his anthropological book, Cheryl has had to travel with her parents all across Canada as he does research.
However, there is one aspect of life in St. John that Cheryl might find pleasing...and his name is Jim.
Jim is Cheryl's new next-door neighbor, and he is as fascinated with Cheryl as she is with him, much to her disdain. She would rather pack up everything and head back to the city, but as she gets to know Jim she starts finding herself becoming attached to this little fishing town and the people in it.
Lori Weber writes a touching coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who not only struggles to distinguish her home, but also to distinguish who she is. Any girl can relate to Cheryl, knowing the struggles and confusions of teenage life.
Through her talent to create a realistic narrator, Weber writes a fascinating book that even throws the reader with a few twists and turns.
Cheryl has moved a lot throughout her life. Due to her father's work on his anthropological book, Cheryl has had to travel with her parents all across Canada as he does research.
However, there is one aspect of life in St. John that Cheryl might find pleasing...and his name is Jim.
Jim is Cheryl's new next-door neighbor, and he is as fascinated with Cheryl as she is with him, much to her disdain. She would rather pack up everything and head back to the city, but as she gets to know Jim she starts finding herself becoming attached to this little fishing town and the people in it.
Lori Weber writes a touching coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who not only struggles to distinguish her home, but also to distinguish who she is. Any girl can relate to Cheryl, knowing the struggles and confusions of teenage life.
Through her talent to create a realistic narrator, Weber writes a fascinating book that even throws the reader with a few twists and turns.
June 27, 2011
Lori Weber’s If You Live Like Me is yet another book that’s been sitting on my bookshelf for way too long, even though I’ve heard some great things about it. Thankfully, I finally tried it last week, and I was surprised, perhaps even blown away a bit, as If You Live Like Me is an extraordinary contemporary about a girl living in Newfoundland.
If You Like Me begins just as Cheryl is arriving in Newfoundland, the place where she is to begin her fourth school in less than four years. To say Cheryl’s bitter about this would be a serious understatement. She’s furious, and all she wants to do is return back home to Montreal, the last place she truly felt at the home, the place where all her friends are. However, due to her father’s book on dying cultures, which never fails to wreck her chance at friendships, Cheryl is set to stay there for a whole year except if she finds a way to escape for the last time. However, what happens when she meets a boy who makes her whole world go around, who understands her, who sees the person she is underneath the sadness and the dark clothes? Will she find herself, or will she be left feeling more lost than ever? Only time and more pages can tell in this suspenseful novel perfect for reluctant readers.
One of those characters who are hard to like at first, Cheryl was someone it took a while to warm up to. She’s nasty towards her well-meaning parents and does not really try to be happy. Though, as more details are reveled about her past and her personality begins to show throughout the chapters, it is easy to see Cheryl is a girl lost, a girl who needs to find her way and forgive the past, which made her more relatable in the long run. However, the character that especially made her shine was Jim, a teen boy a year or two years older than her. Jim is a someone who hasn’t always had an easy life but it never gets him down, instead he always tries harder. He constantly brought much needed light to the novel, and truly made it one of a kind.
The plot in this one was also creative and well executed. The idea of a family moving from country to country to learn about dying cultures was fascinating so I especially enjoyed that subplot in the novel. Furthermore, Cheryl’s coming of age, the main focus of the book, was done realistically, and in a way that truly allows this novel to stand out among other coming-of-age tales.
This was my first experience with Lori Weber’s writing, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it and will surely be reading more of her books in the future. She truly did a great job of taking a mundane topic and presenting it in a seemingly new way.
Well-written and pitch perfect, Lori Weber’s If You Live Like Me is new favorite of mine, and I think if you give it a try you’ll enjoy it as well- especially if you love contemporary YA as much as I do.
Grade: A+
If You Like Me begins just as Cheryl is arriving in Newfoundland, the place where she is to begin her fourth school in less than four years. To say Cheryl’s bitter about this would be a serious understatement. She’s furious, and all she wants to do is return back home to Montreal, the last place she truly felt at the home, the place where all her friends are. However, due to her father’s book on dying cultures, which never fails to wreck her chance at friendships, Cheryl is set to stay there for a whole year except if she finds a way to escape for the last time. However, what happens when she meets a boy who makes her whole world go around, who understands her, who sees the person she is underneath the sadness and the dark clothes? Will she find herself, or will she be left feeling more lost than ever? Only time and more pages can tell in this suspenseful novel perfect for reluctant readers.
One of those characters who are hard to like at first, Cheryl was someone it took a while to warm up to. She’s nasty towards her well-meaning parents and does not really try to be happy. Though, as more details are reveled about her past and her personality begins to show throughout the chapters, it is easy to see Cheryl is a girl lost, a girl who needs to find her way and forgive the past, which made her more relatable in the long run. However, the character that especially made her shine was Jim, a teen boy a year or two years older than her. Jim is a someone who hasn’t always had an easy life but it never gets him down, instead he always tries harder. He constantly brought much needed light to the novel, and truly made it one of a kind.
The plot in this one was also creative and well executed. The idea of a family moving from country to country to learn about dying cultures was fascinating so I especially enjoyed that subplot in the novel. Furthermore, Cheryl’s coming of age, the main focus of the book, was done realistically, and in a way that truly allows this novel to stand out among other coming-of-age tales.
This was my first experience with Lori Weber’s writing, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it and will surely be reading more of her books in the future. She truly did a great job of taking a mundane topic and presenting it in a seemingly new way.
Well-written and pitch perfect, Lori Weber’s If You Live Like Me is new favorite of mine, and I think if you give it a try you’ll enjoy it as well- especially if you love contemporary YA as much as I do.
Grade: A+
April 25, 2014
I have to thank Ms. Weber for writing this amazing book. I could completely relate to the main character 16 year old Cher( Cherie). Cher and her family are from Montreal but her father Kevin is a anthropologist and it has them moving a lot. Cher has lived in the prairies of Saskatchewan. Being in grade ten and moving all over again Cher finds it hard to accept and keeps telling her parents she is going to find a way to move back home to Montreal where all of her friends are.
When arriving in Newfoundland, all Char can think about is how to get back to Montreal. Char is a goth type of person who likes Marilyn Manson and black clothes and she notices that she really sticks out in Newfoundland and it makes her uncomfortable. When she goes for a walk to explore her new surroundings Cher meets her neighbor Jim who is 18 years old. At first she blows him off because she has in her mind she isn't going to get close to anyone there because she was leaving as soon as she could find away, but there was just something about Jim Parsons. Jim was persistent about getting to know Cher, and guys were never like that back home. The more she fought it the more she was intrigued by Jim. It doesn't take long for Cher to let down her guard around him and lets him in. Jim starts to show Cher around Newfoundland and introduces her to his Gran who he lives with.
Before you know it Cher is spending everyday with Jim. Jim is a huge fan of rocks of all kinds, Cher doesn't understand why but she likes Jim so she just finds him all around interesting. Jim's parents and siblings live in Alberta and they are all wanting Jim to go back and live with them, but Jim wants to stay with his Gran, so Jim is sort of in the same boat but for different reasons.
When Jim and Cher go whale watching they notice a little girl standing too close to the cliffs edge. When all of a sudden they hear a scream and the little girl had fallen over. The girls father was in shock so Jim said he would go help her they needed to call an ambulance. Char is in shock to be seeing everything that is going on so she doesn't try to stop Jim. The girl had fallen into the water and the tide was going to push her into the rocks. When Jim gets down to her with the help of his dog Boss, he is able to get a rope around her, but just then a wave smacks both of them into a rock. For a moment Cher thought that they had been washed out, but when the water receded she saw them both laying on a rock, and they are both moving. They are able to send a rope down and Jim is able to hold on and the rangers who had just arrived pulled them up. Boss the dog is running around stressing out so Char takes Boss while the little girl and Jim are sent to the hospital.
The police come to take a report of what happened and then take Char home. Char then has to tell his Nan about Jim's accident and they head back to the hospital with Chars parents. Luckily Jim is relatively ok. He has some broken ribs and bruising but he would be released in a few days. Char says Nan can stay with them until he is able to go home.
Char's mother has rheumatoid arthritis really bad in her hands, and when Char woke up the following morning she found a note from her parents telling her she needed a shot so they went to the hospital not to worry.
Char then goes to check up on Nan but when she went to the house no one was there and this concerned her because Nan isn't well enough to go anywhere on her own. As she is coming back to call the hospital to see if she went there her parents arrive home and say they took her to see Jim seeings how they were going there for the shot any how.
Char's parents were really worried about Char, because they were never the hugging type of family, this surprised Char. Her mom only ever hugged her once before and that was when she found baby mice and her mother told her to put them outside. Two weeks later when she checked on them they were dead. ( she hugged her then and that was it)
When Char takes nan home she makes her some dinner and makes sure she is set for the night.
The next day when Char goes to visit Jim she finds that Jim's mom and brothers are in the room with him, so she decides to head home and not interupt them. Nan comes over to Char's for meals because no one is there with her and she tells everyone at dinner that Jims family is down to see him. Char didn't want to explain that she saw them in the hospital but didn't say hello so she just didn't say anything at all. They all wonder if Jims dad would come too but never asked out loud. Char is afraid that Jim's family wouldn't like her and want her to be around so she never went back to the hospital.
Her parents offer to take Char whale watching one day but Char declines because Jim was released from the hospital and she wants to see if she can go and see him seeings how he's home, but she doesn't want to do it while family is there, so she goes exploring her new town. Jim is in a band and so she went to see who was singing in town tonight.
When Cher is on her way home she notices Jim's sisters carrying groceries down the street. This is when she introduces herself to them and offers to help them. Joannie the youngest and Candy the oldest seem to be curious about their brothers girlfriend that he has been telling them about.
When Davy Jim's father shows up at Grans that night Gran would like Char to come meet the whole family. She feels like she is intruding but really is thankful to be able to meet his family. Davy really pushes on Jim to move back to Alberta and work with them and he could really make good money, but it isn't what Jim wants. This gets Char thinking about if she leaves and leaves her family behind for years what it would be like.
After dinner Candy, Davy, Joanna all decide to go for a walk and invite Cher but she declines because she has a feeling that they really don't want her there.
When Char returns home she finds her mom looking up fare prices for returning back to Montreal. Her moms arthritis is causing to much pain for her in all of the damp weather so she has to return home. Hearing this her mom assumes that because all Cher has said about going home she was going to go with her. Her father has to stay because he had a contract with work for the year. Now that Cher has gotten to know Jim she is surprised herself but she doesn't want to move back. Now she is really confused and doesn't know what to do.
When Char is able to talk to Jim again he starts talking about his dad and the real reason his father doesn't visit. It would be because he has a girlfriend that he'd rather spend his time with. With everything that was going on with Jim the conversation about his father really makes him mad and he mistakenly takes it out on char.Then she makes comments about his rock collection that is extremely important to Jim. Char is surprised by this fight that has gone on so she leaves. Char doesn't speak with Jim for a few days until she runs into Joanne and they go for a walk with Boss. Joanne tells Char that they are all leaving to go back home tomorrow, but Jim was staying back with Nan. The next day they head home and she tries to make up with Jim but he wasn't in the mood for forgiveness.
Cher knows how much he loves whale watching so she looks up to find where and when was the best time to catch them. The next day Cher just shows up at Jim's and tells him to get dressed that she was taking him some where. At first he protested against it but gave in a got dressed. When Jim sees where they are going he is totally in awe that char would do this for him. They actually get to view the whales.
The next day Jim's family is leaving and they give both Jim and Char a hug goodbye. They invited Char to visit them sometime.
When Char goes home her mom is already planning out when "they" are going to return to Montreal. The thing is, now that Char has met Jim she doesn't want to go. Her mom doesn't seem to understand.
Char now is worried about having to explain all of this to Jim, but Jim is really good about it and he says he'll visit. This makes Char feel better, but she knows she will really miss him. She was just starting to feeling comfortable there.
With a surprise ending Char and Jim and Chars parents head to the airport, but there has been a change Chars dad has to stay behind because of his work contract so Char is just going to help her mom set up in Montreal and then she is coming back to live with her dad.
I loved this book. It was an absolute page turner and I couldn't wait to find how it all ended.
Thanks again to Ms.Weber for such an amazing read!! It is one book that I won't forget for a very long time.
When arriving in Newfoundland, all Char can think about is how to get back to Montreal. Char is a goth type of person who likes Marilyn Manson and black clothes and she notices that she really sticks out in Newfoundland and it makes her uncomfortable. When she goes for a walk to explore her new surroundings Cher meets her neighbor Jim who is 18 years old. At first she blows him off because she has in her mind she isn't going to get close to anyone there because she was leaving as soon as she could find away, but there was just something about Jim Parsons. Jim was persistent about getting to know Cher, and guys were never like that back home. The more she fought it the more she was intrigued by Jim. It doesn't take long for Cher to let down her guard around him and lets him in. Jim starts to show Cher around Newfoundland and introduces her to his Gran who he lives with.
Before you know it Cher is spending everyday with Jim. Jim is a huge fan of rocks of all kinds, Cher doesn't understand why but she likes Jim so she just finds him all around interesting. Jim's parents and siblings live in Alberta and they are all wanting Jim to go back and live with them, but Jim wants to stay with his Gran, so Jim is sort of in the same boat but for different reasons.
When Jim and Cher go whale watching they notice a little girl standing too close to the cliffs edge. When all of a sudden they hear a scream and the little girl had fallen over. The girls father was in shock so Jim said he would go help her they needed to call an ambulance. Char is in shock to be seeing everything that is going on so she doesn't try to stop Jim. The girl had fallen into the water and the tide was going to push her into the rocks. When Jim gets down to her with the help of his dog Boss, he is able to get a rope around her, but just then a wave smacks both of them into a rock. For a moment Cher thought that they had been washed out, but when the water receded she saw them both laying on a rock, and they are both moving. They are able to send a rope down and Jim is able to hold on and the rangers who had just arrived pulled them up. Boss the dog is running around stressing out so Char takes Boss while the little girl and Jim are sent to the hospital.
The police come to take a report of what happened and then take Char home. Char then has to tell his Nan about Jim's accident and they head back to the hospital with Chars parents. Luckily Jim is relatively ok. He has some broken ribs and bruising but he would be released in a few days. Char says Nan can stay with them until he is able to go home.
Char's mother has rheumatoid arthritis really bad in her hands, and when Char woke up the following morning she found a note from her parents telling her she needed a shot so they went to the hospital not to worry.
Char then goes to check up on Nan but when she went to the house no one was there and this concerned her because Nan isn't well enough to go anywhere on her own. As she is coming back to call the hospital to see if she went there her parents arrive home and say they took her to see Jim seeings how they were going there for the shot any how.
Char's parents were really worried about Char, because they were never the hugging type of family, this surprised Char. Her mom only ever hugged her once before and that was when she found baby mice and her mother told her to put them outside. Two weeks later when she checked on them they were dead. ( she hugged her then and that was it)
When Char takes nan home she makes her some dinner and makes sure she is set for the night.
The next day when Char goes to visit Jim she finds that Jim's mom and brothers are in the room with him, so she decides to head home and not interupt them. Nan comes over to Char's for meals because no one is there with her and she tells everyone at dinner that Jims family is down to see him. Char didn't want to explain that she saw them in the hospital but didn't say hello so she just didn't say anything at all. They all wonder if Jims dad would come too but never asked out loud. Char is afraid that Jim's family wouldn't like her and want her to be around so she never went back to the hospital.
Her parents offer to take Char whale watching one day but Char declines because Jim was released from the hospital and she wants to see if she can go and see him seeings how he's home, but she doesn't want to do it while family is there, so she goes exploring her new town. Jim is in a band and so she went to see who was singing in town tonight.
When Cher is on her way home she notices Jim's sisters carrying groceries down the street. This is when she introduces herself to them and offers to help them. Joannie the youngest and Candy the oldest seem to be curious about their brothers girlfriend that he has been telling them about.
When Davy Jim's father shows up at Grans that night Gran would like Char to come meet the whole family. She feels like she is intruding but really is thankful to be able to meet his family. Davy really pushes on Jim to move back to Alberta and work with them and he could really make good money, but it isn't what Jim wants. This gets Char thinking about if she leaves and leaves her family behind for years what it would be like.
After dinner Candy, Davy, Joanna all decide to go for a walk and invite Cher but she declines because she has a feeling that they really don't want her there.
When Char returns home she finds her mom looking up fare prices for returning back to Montreal. Her moms arthritis is causing to much pain for her in all of the damp weather so she has to return home. Hearing this her mom assumes that because all Cher has said about going home she was going to go with her. Her father has to stay because he had a contract with work for the year. Now that Cher has gotten to know Jim she is surprised herself but she doesn't want to move back. Now she is really confused and doesn't know what to do.
When Char is able to talk to Jim again he starts talking about his dad and the real reason his father doesn't visit. It would be because he has a girlfriend that he'd rather spend his time with. With everything that was going on with Jim the conversation about his father really makes him mad and he mistakenly takes it out on char.Then she makes comments about his rock collection that is extremely important to Jim. Char is surprised by this fight that has gone on so she leaves. Char doesn't speak with Jim for a few days until she runs into Joanne and they go for a walk with Boss. Joanne tells Char that they are all leaving to go back home tomorrow, but Jim was staying back with Nan. The next day they head home and she tries to make up with Jim but he wasn't in the mood for forgiveness.
Cher knows how much he loves whale watching so she looks up to find where and when was the best time to catch them. The next day Cher just shows up at Jim's and tells him to get dressed that she was taking him some where. At first he protested against it but gave in a got dressed. When Jim sees where they are going he is totally in awe that char would do this for him. They actually get to view the whales.
The next day Jim's family is leaving and they give both Jim and Char a hug goodbye. They invited Char to visit them sometime.
When Char goes home her mom is already planning out when "they" are going to return to Montreal. The thing is, now that Char has met Jim she doesn't want to go. Her mom doesn't seem to understand.
Char now is worried about having to explain all of this to Jim, but Jim is really good about it and he says he'll visit. This makes Char feel better, but she knows she will really miss him. She was just starting to feeling comfortable there.
With a surprise ending Char and Jim and Chars parents head to the airport, but there has been a change Chars dad has to stay behind because of his work contract so Char is just going to help her mom set up in Montreal and then she is coming back to live with her dad.
I loved this book. It was an absolute page turner and I couldn't wait to find how it all ended.
Thanks again to Ms.Weber for such an amazing read!! It is one book that I won't forget for a very long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2018
This book was a little boring for me. There was nothing that kept me really wanting to read, so it took a while to get through. It's only been about a week since I finished it and I've already forgotten what a lot of it was about. However, as I read it, I kept thinking it would be a lot more enjoyable and I probably would have related better to it if I had read it while I was in my teens instead of as an adult.
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April 8, 2013Cheryl has one wish: to go home. Home, as far as she’s concerned, is Montreal – a real, bustling city where she fit in and had friends. Given her parents’ plans, Cheryl is sure she’ll never have friends again. Travelling around Canada with her anthropologist father and her cheerful mother is bad enough, but the worst part is the reason for all the moves. Cheryl’s father is writing a book about dying cultures, so the family has been living in different communities for the last three years – not great for the social life, especially when people figure out they’re being studied like an endangered species. The last move was to study the loss of farming traditions in Saskatchewan; now it’s the dwindling fishing industry in Newfoundland. Cheryl’s had enough, and is determined to find her way out of St. John’s and back to Montreal, the first chance she gets. It’s what she wants most in the world. Or so she thinks... When Cheryl meets Jim, life begins to change, slowly at first. She tries to resist the urge to get close to him and his family – to be drawn in to his passion for Newfoundland, its history, his dreams tied up with the province that is his home. Cheryl tries not to love how much he cares about her, how determined he is to get past the walls she puts up. He isn’t intimidated by her black clothes and touchy moods, and he hangs onto his goals even as Newfoundland’s changing times are changing his own beloved family. Cheryl is torn between her resentments and a real chance to start something new, between what she used to want and the new place and people she is beginning to love. Suddenly, the moment when everything could be taken away from Cheryl is also the moment when everything truly important becomes clear. If You Live Like Me is an absorbing book – full of teen angst, changing times, natural beauty, the heart of an exquisite province, family struggles and closeness, and the choices that lead to love. Lori Weber’s biggest accomplishments in this novel are the well-crafted characters and the superb sense of place on every page.
Reviewed by Christina Minaki in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2009 VOL.32 NO.2
Reviewed by Christina Minaki in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2009 VOL.32 NO.2
July 11, 2011
This is one of those plots that never dies, a teenager moved from town to town against their will by their parents. The teenager is resentful and sullen, but eventually falls in love with this, the latest place they are moved to. I think we've all read dozens of books with essentially that exact same plot. It's all in the execution that makes one of these books worth reading.
And the execution is spot on here. Sometimes, it can be hard to understand what makes this, the latest place so wonderful that they fall in love and change their mind. But not here. Maybe it's because this book is set in Newfoundland, a place I've been fascinated by and longing to go to for years. And it's obvious from the book that the author loved Newfoundland, too. I think you'd be hard pressed to read it and not end up loving Newfoundland like Cheryl does! Of course, there's a love interest. And he's completely, wonderfully, solidly real. I adored him right away.
There is more conflict than just whether or not Cheryl will fall in love with Newfoundland, but that all happens later in the book. The first half of the book is just introducing her to the beauty of the place, and that was my favorite part.
It can be hard to take a time-worn plot and make it stand out, but Weber certainly managed that for me.
And the execution is spot on here. Sometimes, it can be hard to understand what makes this, the latest place so wonderful that they fall in love and change their mind. But not here. Maybe it's because this book is set in Newfoundland, a place I've been fascinated by and longing to go to for years. And it's obvious from the book that the author loved Newfoundland, too. I think you'd be hard pressed to read it and not end up loving Newfoundland like Cheryl does! Of course, there's a love interest. And he's completely, wonderfully, solidly real. I adored him right away.
There is more conflict than just whether or not Cheryl will fall in love with Newfoundland, but that all happens later in the book. The first half of the book is just introducing her to the beauty of the place, and that was my favorite part.
It can be hard to take a time-worn plot and make it stand out, but Weber certainly managed that for me.
March 4, 2015
Cheryl is unhappy about yet another move with her parents, this time to St. John's, Newfoundland. Her anthropologist father is gathering research for his book about dying cultures, and Cheryl is tired of living in dying communities. She resents her parents' enthusiasm for each new place and refuses to be drawn in or attached to St. John's in any way. Then she meets the boy next door and his family, and through a series of incidents Cheryl learns to look beyond herself and appreciate the people and place around her.
St. John's and the Newfoundland area are vividly described and are in some ways the best part of the book for me. I found Cheryl difficult to like or sympathize with. She was selfish and whiny through most of the book. Her parents were incredibly patient, forgiving, and likable. Perhaps I have completely forgotten what it is like to be 16, and perhaps this story will connect powerfully with teen girls. It just didn't with me.
St. John's and the Newfoundland area are vividly described and are in some ways the best part of the book for me. I found Cheryl difficult to like or sympathize with. She was selfish and whiny through most of the book. Her parents were incredibly patient, forgiving, and likable. Perhaps I have completely forgotten what it is like to be 16, and perhaps this story will connect powerfully with teen girls. It just didn't with me.
June 16, 2013
At first I wasn't sure I would like this novel. The opening chapters read like a travelogue. But I soon realized that the setting was as much a character as any of the humans. The Newfoundland culture is fascinating, this does sound breathtaking, and the young man, Jim, is the perfect person to meet if you have lost your sense of joy. He has much to teach the protagonist, Cheryl, about courage, friendship, family, and compassion. A gentle story of a girl who has chosen a bitter outlook on life and feels alone in the world. She meets a young man who is far more reason to be bitter and cynical, but yet he lives with hope and brings happiness to everyone around.
This book reads like a sweet dream. However, I think they could have come up with a better title.
This book reads like a sweet dream. However, I think they could have come up with a better title.
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June 24, 2019This is a fascinating story. To read our full review, go to I've left a lot of details out of the summary because I don't want to spoil i. Everyone, not just teens who have moved a lot, can relate to Cheryl's feelings of ambivalence, frustration, isolation, and needing to belong.
The author has crafted a beautiful story and characters you think are perfect have flaws; and the "bad guys" aren't as flawed as you thought. The family dynamics for both families are well portrayed.
The author has crafted a beautiful story and characters you think are perfect have flaws; and the "bad guys" aren't as flawed as you thought. The family dynamics for both families are well portrayed.
October 6, 2012
Hate hate hate this book. I'm sorry. The writing was just so appalling.
Not to mention in the first chapter or two.... the guy says "I'll see you tomorrow maybe." The girl catalogues this as "OMG he just asked me out." The next day, the guy shows up and says to girl's parents: "Hi, I'm taking your daughter out."
I'm fairly certain that "I'll see you tomorrow maybe" ≠ "Hey, do you want to go out with me tomorrow?"
Certain readers may find it interesting.... but I am most definitely not one of them.
Not to mention in the first chapter or two.... the guy says "I'll see you tomorrow maybe." The girl catalogues this as "OMG he just asked me out." The next day, the guy shows up and says to girl's parents: "Hi, I'm taking your daughter out."
I'm fairly certain that "I'll see you tomorrow maybe" ≠ "Hey, do you want to go out with me tomorrow?"
Certain readers may find it interesting.... but I am most definitely not one of them.
March 9, 2010
Maybe it's just me, but througout the first couple pages I got extremely bored.
January 26, 2011
1/7/11
I am on page 102 of If You Live Like Me. I can really vizualize what the main character, Cheryl looks like. The author uses good detail to describe her clothes and face.
I am on page 102 of If You Live Like Me. I can really vizualize what the main character, Cheryl looks like. The author uses good detail to describe her clothes and face.
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August 9, 2016This book is so relatable, and I recommend it to everyone!
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