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Only You #2
One Life
In the latest from the author of One Night, tragedy causes a young woman to struggle to keep her head above water, and the only one who can help her is the guy who's been in the friend zone for the past year . . .
Every time life throws Zoe Adler a curve ball, she changes her appearance. Freshmen year—after almost following in her mother's alcoholic footsteps—she said good-bye to her blonde, girl-next-door image and opted for jet black hair and piercings galore. After her brother Wyatt's death, she escapes to the city to intern at an independent graphic novel publishing firm. Her black hair goes blue, and she finds solace in the arms of a longtime friend, in his heart, and in his bed—but her guilt makes her unable to accept the love he wants to give.
Spock might be the guy to save Zoe. But when she learns the truth about his past, the edge she's teetered on since losing Wyatt drops out from under her. The girl who kept it...
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2015
3 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Pine
29 books881 followersA teen librarian by day and a romance writer by night, A.J. Pine can’t seem to escape the world of fiction, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s the author of the If Only series (Entangled Embrace), the Only You series (Berkley/Intermix), the Kingston Ale House series (Entangled Select), and the Crossroads Ranch series (Forever Romance). When she finds that 25th hour in the day, she might indulge in a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires, superheroes, and a certain high-functioning sociopath detective. She hails from the far off galaxy of the Chicago suburbs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 17, 2015
4.5
This was such an emotional story! Zoe is lost. Her younger brother, Wyatt, died and she's having a hard time dealing with his death. It's more like she's not dealing with his death and is masking her pain. When her friend Zach (Spock) shows up at Wyatt's funeral, he is the only person that can help her through her grief.
I really enjoyed this book. There were a few tears, a few laughs, a good amount of steam, a little angst and a lot of friendship. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Zoe but as the book went on, I really felt she was a brilliant character. Everything from the issues she was dealing with, her guilt over her brothers death and the way she was hiding herself made her a really complex character. I felt like she was a really strong heroine, even if it didn't seem like it at times. Zach was amazing and he was the perfect match for Zoe. Maybe it's just my own personal preference but I really appreciated that the way this author handled the separation between these characters . Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I hope maybe this series will continue - I'd love to read Delores's story!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
This was such an emotional story! Zoe is lost. Her younger brother, Wyatt, died and she's having a hard time dealing with his death. It's more like she's not dealing with his death and is masking her pain. When her friend Zach (Spock) shows up at Wyatt's funeral, he is the only person that can help her through her grief.
I really enjoyed this book. There were a few tears, a few laughs, a good amount of steam, a little angst and a lot of friendship. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Zoe but as the book went on, I really felt she was a brilliant character. Everything from the issues she was dealing with, her guilt over her brothers death and the way she was hiding herself made her a really complex character. I felt like she was a really strong heroine, even if it didn't seem like it at times. Zach was amazing and he was the perfect match for Zoe. Maybe it's just my own personal preference but I really appreciated that the way this author handled the separation between these characters . Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I hope maybe this series will continue - I'd love to read Delores's story!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
November 26, 2015
“I’m still here because you were there when I never expected it, when I didn’t realize I needed you. I’m still here because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Then I say one word against his lips. “Yours.”
This book….I have so many emotions running through me right now. In fact, I am an emotional mess right now, but a mess in the best way possible. One Life takes you not only on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, but it also takes you on one incredible journey. The subject matter is tough and heartbreaking. You can literally feel the emotions pouring off the pages. The words, the story-line so deep, that it feels as though it’s a part of you. You have to see it through. You have to find out how things turn out…
We got a little taste of Zoe from One Night and I have to say, I was excited to hear that she was getting her own story. From the moment I started reading her tale, she owned me. She captivated me and made me want to know more about her and her life. She was devastated by the loss of her little brother; his death having a larger effect on her than anyone ever realized. Enter Spock or Zach and I was just a goner. Spock was someone that Zoe met at a Con a few months back and the two of them hit it off instantly. But, it never went further than friendship. However, this time, they can’t ignore what’s been building between the two of them. What they feel, the connection they share, It’s real and it’s intense. Zoe and Spock fell in love quickly and it scared me because both of them were hiding things. However, no matter how right their love was, the timing just wasn’t right. The two of them go through so much, experience so much, just to get to that realization. My heart ached for the two of them, for how much they both lost, and how much would have to change to find happiness.
One Life is beautifully written and captivating. I know I fell in love with Zoe and Spock instantly. The two of them just made me smile and gave me such hope. Spock was completely and utterly swoon-worthy. There were so many times where I caught myself thinking, “Gosh is he just makes me swoon!” With lines like this: “I’m gonna fall for you, Supergirl. I hope you’ll catch me.” or “Each time his lips touch mine, something broken inside me mends. Slowly, one tiny fracture at a time, he puts me back together.”, It was honestly hard to not fall for both of them!
One Life is one of those books that just gives you all the feels. It’s isn’t just a love story, it is so, so much more. It’s a story about loosing your self, grief, hope, admitting that you need help and having the strength to find yourself again. This story will become a part of you. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will give you hope. It will make you swoon and fill your heart. You will fall in love, just like I did.
AJ Pine really knocked it out of the park with this book. She gave me everything that I needed and everything I didn’t even know I needed from this book. I can not wait to see what journey she will take me on next!
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
My review can also be seen at: www.onceuponabookblog.com
This book….I have so many emotions running through me right now. In fact, I am an emotional mess right now, but a mess in the best way possible. One Life takes you not only on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, but it also takes you on one incredible journey. The subject matter is tough and heartbreaking. You can literally feel the emotions pouring off the pages. The words, the story-line so deep, that it feels as though it’s a part of you. You have to see it through. You have to find out how things turn out…
We got a little taste of Zoe from One Night and I have to say, I was excited to hear that she was getting her own story. From the moment I started reading her tale, she owned me. She captivated me and made me want to know more about her and her life. She was devastated by the loss of her little brother; his death having a larger effect on her than anyone ever realized. Enter Spock or Zach and I was just a goner. Spock was someone that Zoe met at a Con a few months back and the two of them hit it off instantly. But, it never went further than friendship. However, this time, they can’t ignore what’s been building between the two of them. What they feel, the connection they share, It’s real and it’s intense. Zoe and Spock fell in love quickly and it scared me because both of them were hiding things. However, no matter how right their love was, the timing just wasn’t right. The two of them go through so much, experience so much, just to get to that realization. My heart ached for the two of them, for how much they both lost, and how much would have to change to find happiness.
One Life is beautifully written and captivating. I know I fell in love with Zoe and Spock instantly. The two of them just made me smile and gave me such hope. Spock was completely and utterly swoon-worthy. There were so many times where I caught myself thinking, “Gosh is he just makes me swoon!” With lines like this: “I’m gonna fall for you, Supergirl. I hope you’ll catch me.” or “Each time his lips touch mine, something broken inside me mends. Slowly, one tiny fracture at a time, he puts me back together.”, It was honestly hard to not fall for both of them!
One Life is one of those books that just gives you all the feels. It’s isn’t just a love story, it is so, so much more. It’s a story about loosing your self, grief, hope, admitting that you need help and having the strength to find yourself again. This story will become a part of you. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will give you hope. It will make you swoon and fill your heart. You will fall in love, just like I did.
AJ Pine really knocked it out of the park with this book. She gave me everything that I needed and everything I didn’t even know I needed from this book. I can not wait to see what journey she will take me on next!
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
My review can also be seen at: www.onceuponabookblog.com
April 2, 2016
A lot has happened for Zoe recently, and not all of it has been good. Most importantly, she lost her brother Wyatt to an adrenaline fueled stunt gone wrong, one she was aware he had planned and never talked him out of performing. As a result, she carries an overwhelming sense of guilt for his death. Her friend Spock, has been on tour with his band, but at the news of her brother's death left the tour to come and be with her as she copes with her new reality. She's moved in with a new roommate, a tattoo artist who is happy to take Zoe in hand and not averse to giving her some ink to help her remember her brother. She's also got a new job, as an artist for a children's program, a position she's taken in hopes that it will give her back her artistic mojo that has been missing since her brother died. Spock's presence in Zoe's life is a steadying one, as she deals with death and grief in ways that start to border on unhealthy. And as they start to connect on a more intimate level, revelations about Spock's past and Zoe's own issues threaten to derail their relationship. It will be up to Zoe to take action to make it possible to have a happy future with Spock.
This was a really emotional new adult story, told from Zoe's viewpoint as she nagivates this new stage of her life - losing her brother, losing her roommate Jess (to a relationship and not death, but still a loss), guilt, and the reality of living with a family that has addiction problems. Both her parents have struggled with addiction, and Zoe herself had a bad bout with alcohol before cutting herself off cold turkey, to prevent what could be a future of alcoholism. Every time she has a major life change she also tends to change something about herself - her hair or her body or her persona to some degree, as a coping mechanism. I really liked Zoe's character, conflicted as she is, and her willingness to continue to put one foot forward after the other. Her inability to see her own problems starts to blind her though, and it is her friends Jess and Adam, her new roommate, and especially Spock who gently make her aware that she's not going to be able to fix everything on her own. Spock is a wonderful boyfriend for Zoe, a kind, decent, and caring man. It's obvious that he wants more than just friendship from Zoe and is unable to resist taking their relationship to the next level. They share some steamy scenes together as they become more emotionally involved with each other. It was sometimes hard to see Zoe as she started to break down, but I really liked how the story came together, the healing that had to happen giving way to a happy ending for both Zoe and Spock. 4 .5 stars for this sometimes heartwrenching but satisfying story.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
This review appears as a blog post at http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
This was a really emotional new adult story, told from Zoe's viewpoint as she nagivates this new stage of her life - losing her brother, losing her roommate Jess (to a relationship and not death, but still a loss), guilt, and the reality of living with a family that has addiction problems. Both her parents have struggled with addiction, and Zoe herself had a bad bout with alcohol before cutting herself off cold turkey, to prevent what could be a future of alcoholism. Every time she has a major life change she also tends to change something about herself - her hair or her body or her persona to some degree, as a coping mechanism. I really liked Zoe's character, conflicted as she is, and her willingness to continue to put one foot forward after the other. Her inability to see her own problems starts to blind her though, and it is her friends Jess and Adam, her new roommate, and especially Spock who gently make her aware that she's not going to be able to fix everything on her own. Spock is a wonderful boyfriend for Zoe, a kind, decent, and caring man. It's obvious that he wants more than just friendship from Zoe and is unable to resist taking their relationship to the next level. They share some steamy scenes together as they become more emotionally involved with each other. It was sometimes hard to see Zoe as she started to break down, but I really liked how the story came together, the healing that had to happen giving way to a happy ending for both Zoe and Spock. 4 .5 stars for this sometimes heartwrenching but satisfying story.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
This review appears as a blog post at http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
October 17, 2015
Zoe and Spock 4EVA.
I loved loved loved this story. AJ Pine is a fantastic storyteller and the way she weaves Zoe's grief and how she deals with that grief in this romantic storyline is fabulous. Spock is an amazing love interest. I loved getting a New Adult title that dealt with a strong heroine who yet was still really vulnerable. Zoe has a lot of layers and it's really a treat to peel them all back.
A gorgeous read that will really touch your heart. Highly recommend!
I loved loved loved this story. AJ Pine is a fantastic storyteller and the way she weaves Zoe's grief and how she deals with that grief in this romantic storyline is fabulous. Spock is an amazing love interest. I loved getting a New Adult title that dealt with a strong heroine who yet was still really vulnerable. Zoe has a lot of layers and it's really a treat to peel them all back.
A gorgeous read that will really touch your heart. Highly recommend!
October 1, 2015
5 emotional stars!
And A.J. does it again. Holy smokes people, this book blew me away! I was around 72% this morning when the tears started flowing. And at one point I couldn't see for the tears. So I took a breather...and went back in.
Let me just say, A.J. Pine is a writer that knows how to bring out the feels. I know what to expect when I start her books, and she never disappoints me. Zoe (a.k.a. Blue) is a girl going through so much after losing her younger brother Wyatt. She is standing tall because she knows she has to for her family. Enter in Zach (aka-Spock) and he's exactly what she needs to let loose some of that grief.
Zach is a mystery through most of the book. Even Zoe doesn't know what he's hiding, but she's hiding herself so she doesn't push for him to open up. They had this chemistry that just worked and they found solace in each other.
A.J. Pine is an auto 1-click author for me. Her writing blows me away each and every time. But I think she blew me away with One Life even more. I openly sobbed toward the end. I can't wait for everyone to meet Zoe and Zach. I have a feeling everyone will fall in love with their story.
And A.J. does it again. Holy smokes people, this book blew me away! I was around 72% this morning when the tears started flowing. And at one point I couldn't see for the tears. So I took a breather...and went back in.
Let me just say, A.J. Pine is a writer that knows how to bring out the feels. I know what to expect when I start her books, and she never disappoints me. Zoe (a.k.a. Blue) is a girl going through so much after losing her younger brother Wyatt. She is standing tall because she knows she has to for her family. Enter in Zach (aka-Spock) and he's exactly what she needs to let loose some of that grief.
Zach is a mystery through most of the book. Even Zoe doesn't know what he's hiding, but she's hiding herself so she doesn't push for him to open up. They had this chemistry that just worked and they found solace in each other.
A.J. Pine is an auto 1-click author for me. Her writing blows me away each and every time. But I think she blew me away with One Life even more. I openly sobbed toward the end. I can't wait for everyone to meet Zoe and Zach. I have a feeling everyone will fall in love with their story.
Read
October 4, 2015Here we go--Zoe and Spock's story! This was a tough one to write because Zoe had such a tough journey to make. But she (and I) found our way to the other side. If you haven't read book #1 in the Only You series, One Night, no worries. They both read as a stand alone. But of course I'd love you to see what Zoe was like before tragedy struck, when she was a friend to Jess when no one else could reach her, so for a limited time ONE NIGHT is on sale for only 99 pennies at all e-retailers!
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If you want to join my newsletter for upcoming book details you can do that HERE.
October 6, 2015
Finally Zoe and Spock's story!! I've been waiting - rather impatiently - since I read the last page of One Night. I definitely was NOT disappointed. Their story is emotional, fun, sad, and perfect.
After the death of her brother Wyatt, Zoe's life seems to be spiraling out of control. When Spock shows up at the funeral, it seems he might be the one person who can help her get life back to normal.
With secrets between them, will their newly confessed love be able to survive?? Believe me when I say you want to read this one and find out. I highly recommend it.
After the death of her brother Wyatt, Zoe's life seems to be spiraling out of control. When Spock shows up at the funeral, it seems he might be the one person who can help her get life back to normal.
With secrets between them, will their newly confessed love be able to survive?? Believe me when I say you want to read this one and find out. I highly recommend it.
September 22, 2015
My favorite AJ Pine book to date. Oh my feelings. Review to come.
October 11, 2015
Zoe Adler is still reeling from the sudden, tragic death of her little brother when Spock shows back up in her life. She met Spock at a ‘con’ months ago and while she can’t deny there’s an attraction there, they’ve only ever been just friends.
Spock has been on tour with his band for the last six months, and neither one of them wanted the messy entanglements of a long distance relationship—and yet, there he is at her door when she needs him the very most. Their reunion is bittersweet and emotional, and it doesn't take long before they admit that their feelings run so much deeper than friendship.
Things come together fast and furious for Zoe and Spock; one minute they’re just friends, the next they’re all in, head first, both feet. Their relationship is intense and breathtaking and freaking adorable, but also something of a ticking time-bomb. Zoe is broken in ways she doesn't even understand, and Spock is keeping some secrets that may change the entire game. Their love is fierce and…stunning. But sometimes love isn't enough—and sometimes love means letting go.
Zoe and Spock are adorable, sexy, hilarious, quirky, fun, breathtaking and heartbreaking. They’re everything. They are perfect for each other—but the timing is off, and life doesn't always make love easy. This book was a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but worth every second of achy feels.
Good grief, I can't even begin to get my arms around how big this story is. It’s bigger than a love story between a boy and a girl. It's a love story between a girl and her friends; a girl and her family; and a girl and herself. Then it circles your bruised and weepy heart back around to a love story about a girl and a boy again and…GUH, it’s so lovely and swoony and beautifully written. My bruised and weepy heart was left happy and full (if a little tender from the ride). So good. ~ Shelly, 5 stars
Spock has been on tour with his band for the last six months, and neither one of them wanted the messy entanglements of a long distance relationship—and yet, there he is at her door when she needs him the very most. Their reunion is bittersweet and emotional, and it doesn't take long before they admit that their feelings run so much deeper than friendship.
Things come together fast and furious for Zoe and Spock; one minute they’re just friends, the next they’re all in, head first, both feet. Their relationship is intense and breathtaking and freaking adorable, but also something of a ticking time-bomb. Zoe is broken in ways she doesn't even understand, and Spock is keeping some secrets that may change the entire game. Their love is fierce and…stunning. But sometimes love isn't enough—and sometimes love means letting go.
Zoe and Spock are adorable, sexy, hilarious, quirky, fun, breathtaking and heartbreaking. They’re everything. They are perfect for each other—but the timing is off, and life doesn't always make love easy. This book was a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but worth every second of achy feels.
Good grief, I can't even begin to get my arms around how big this story is. It’s bigger than a love story between a boy and a girl. It's a love story between a girl and her friends; a girl and her family; and a girl and herself. Then it circles your bruised and weepy heart back around to a love story about a girl and a boy again and…GUH, it’s so lovely and swoony and beautifully written. My bruised and weepy heart was left happy and full (if a little tender from the ride). So good. ~ Shelly, 5 stars
November 26, 2016
4-1/2 stars.
You already know how much I loved One Night, where we were first introduced to Zoe. I didn't know there would be more books in this series, but damn am I glad A.J. Pine wrote more!
Zoe has been going though lots of changes, not the least of which was losing her brother, Wyatt. It's after his funeral that Zoe reconnects with her friend, Zach aka Spock. Their friendship slips into something more, no matter how much Zoe thinks she can't love or be loved. Will it be enough?
Once again, I find myself blown away by A.J. Pine. She's definitely one of the most under-appreciated authors in my opinion. This story had perfect pacing and tons of swoon and romance and butterflies and sweetness. It's emotional and authentic. Zoe was real, maybe one of the most real characters I've ever read. I love the way their relationship progressed, and I loved that we got to see Jess and Adam here. *swoony sigh*
I highly recommend this series to every reader who loves swoony romance and characters who will give you all the feels.
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For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
You already know how much I loved One Night, where we were first introduced to Zoe. I didn't know there would be more books in this series, but damn am I glad A.J. Pine wrote more!
Zoe has been going though lots of changes, not the least of which was losing her brother, Wyatt. It's after his funeral that Zoe reconnects with her friend, Zach aka Spock. Their friendship slips into something more, no matter how much Zoe thinks she can't love or be loved. Will it be enough?
Once again, I find myself blown away by A.J. Pine. She's definitely one of the most under-appreciated authors in my opinion. This story had perfect pacing and tons of swoon and romance and butterflies and sweetness. It's emotional and authentic. Zoe was real, maybe one of the most real characters I've ever read. I love the way their relationship progressed, and I loved that we got to see Jess and Adam here. *swoony sigh*
I highly recommend this series to every reader who loves swoony romance and characters who will give you all the feels.
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For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
October 22, 2015
**4.5 stars** Oh the feels! A.J. Pine warned us it was going to be that kind of read and boy did she deliver! I was so looking forward to Zoe & Spock's story and it was an emotional, heartfelt, read just as I hoped it would be. What a journey they go through together and on their own...
I love her writing and A.J. is an auto-buy author for me.
I love her writing and A.J. is an auto-buy author for me.
October 26, 2015
ONE LIFE stunned me. I don’t think I was prepared for this book. I already had an expectation of who Zoe was from meeting her in ONE NIGHT, the first in this series, and her carefree personality was endearing and fun. When I finished this book, I had a deeper sense of who she was and this story was certainly declared my absolute favorite of all AJ Pine has written. It is packed with emotion, pain, love, and healing. There is so much happening that when you take it all in, you cannot help but grieve and hope with the characters in this book.
To say I was unprepared for this story is a mild understatement. I had a whole scenario made up in my head from the months of waiting impatiently to read Zoe’s book. When I finally started, everything went a completely different way than I anticipated. I absolutely LOVED seeing Zoe in a new way. She was so flawed and so broken, yet so beautiful and bright. There is something about seeing a broken character struggle that connects with me when I am reading. Zoe is a young woman who has been falling apart a little bit at a time for years and when her brother dies, she begins to crack in a Grand Canyon type of way. She can no longer hold it all together and being the “stronger one” for her family and friends begins to destroy who she is. This book is about Zoe. Sure, there is a beautiful romance and a heartfelt story, but above all, it is about a woman who learns to find herself again. She hits rock bottom. Her story is unique in light of other heroines in the genre. I appreciated the AJ takes what happens in this story and gives everything a different view and outlet. Zoe expresses her pain in a way that I had never thought of before and you feel the pain of what she is doing to herself and internalizing on an authentic level.
ONE LIFE takes the reader into the after math of tragedy but also has lots of laughs. This story has many of the characters I loved from the first book and adds a few new faces into the tale. If you have read ONE NIGHT, Jess and Adam have a strong presence in the story. We also meet Dee, Zoe’s new roommate, a fun character who adds a lot to the story. I loved meeting the people Zoe worked with and those she came into contact with. Everyone enhances what is happening and help Zoe to understand who she is and what she needs.
Spock. That boy is beyond wonderful and the perfect companion to Zoe. He understands her in ways she would never have imagined. He wants her and is willing to fight for her, but he is also willing to walk away if that is what is best for her. He is selfless in his love. These two together click perfectly. I was always so excited to see something come to fruition from their relationship after watching them toe the line in the previous book. The connection between these two is sweet and passionate. They find solace and hope in each other, living in the moment, ignoring the future wrought with uncertainty. It was a beautiful thread to read in this book!
ONE LIFE is outstanding, a book about a harsh reality and the lies we tell ourselves. It is about hope and healing, life and death. It is about learning when to hold on and when to let go. This tale shows the journey of one young woman who hits rock bottom and learns to find her identity again. Do not miss this book. I loved every single word written!
To say I was unprepared for this story is a mild understatement. I had a whole scenario made up in my head from the months of waiting impatiently to read Zoe’s book. When I finally started, everything went a completely different way than I anticipated. I absolutely LOVED seeing Zoe in a new way. She was so flawed and so broken, yet so beautiful and bright. There is something about seeing a broken character struggle that connects with me when I am reading. Zoe is a young woman who has been falling apart a little bit at a time for years and when her brother dies, she begins to crack in a Grand Canyon type of way. She can no longer hold it all together and being the “stronger one” for her family and friends begins to destroy who she is. This book is about Zoe. Sure, there is a beautiful romance and a heartfelt story, but above all, it is about a woman who learns to find herself again. She hits rock bottom. Her story is unique in light of other heroines in the genre. I appreciated the AJ takes what happens in this story and gives everything a different view and outlet. Zoe expresses her pain in a way that I had never thought of before and you feel the pain of what she is doing to herself and internalizing on an authentic level.
ONE LIFE takes the reader into the after math of tragedy but also has lots of laughs. This story has many of the characters I loved from the first book and adds a few new faces into the tale. If you have read ONE NIGHT, Jess and Adam have a strong presence in the story. We also meet Dee, Zoe’s new roommate, a fun character who adds a lot to the story. I loved meeting the people Zoe worked with and those she came into contact with. Everyone enhances what is happening and help Zoe to understand who she is and what she needs.
Spock. That boy is beyond wonderful and the perfect companion to Zoe. He understands her in ways she would never have imagined. He wants her and is willing to fight for her, but he is also willing to walk away if that is what is best for her. He is selfless in his love. These two together click perfectly. I was always so excited to see something come to fruition from their relationship after watching them toe the line in the previous book. The connection between these two is sweet and passionate. They find solace and hope in each other, living in the moment, ignoring the future wrought with uncertainty. It was a beautiful thread to read in this book!
ONE LIFE is outstanding, a book about a harsh reality and the lies we tell ourselves. It is about hope and healing, life and death. It is about learning when to hold on and when to let go. This tale shows the journey of one young woman who hits rock bottom and learns to find her identity again. Do not miss this book. I loved every single word written!
October 22, 2015
We were introduced to Zoe and Spock in book one, One Night, and I don't know about everyone else, but Zoe won me over in about 3.5 seconds with her sassy, snarky, feisty self. Spock was also easy to like in most ways. So I was super excited to finally get to read THEIR story, and what a story it is.
AJ Pine has delivered another endearing tale of Life and love and all that entails. One Life starts off somber, as Zoe and her family/friends are dealing with a tragedy, but like usual Zoe is trying to trudge along and bolster everyone around her, especially her family. Unexpectedly she opens her door to find, Spock, and finally she's able to let herself break a little bit.
A Lot of this book focuses on not only Zoe's grief, but also her guilty conscience and trying to find a way to deal with these things while outwardly holding it together. Some moments I just wanted to snap Zoe up and give her a crushing hug and whisper words of comfort to her, because the emotions that bleed thorugh the writing of this book are so strong, the grief so deep, I couldn't help but be affected.
Spock knows he made a mistake when he pushed Zoe away in the past, but he's come back into her life and he's ready to make his moves and willing to do whatever it takes to work it out and win over Zoe. It's not always an easy task, as she seems to be different from the girl she was before, and he knows instinctually its not only her grief that's caused the changes.
We are also introduced to Zoe's new roommate Dee in this book, and she's a riot. A tattoo artist who is full of spunk and will make you laugh often, but also you can tell she's got heart. She's got a story, I'm sure and I already feel like she could be my new best friend. I loved how she quickly accepted Zoe and Spock and sort of grew into the mix as a part of the circle.
One Life is beautifully heartwarming, while also tragic and painful in places. The characters are stuck with feelings that both have nothing to do with their relationship and also do very much affect things. I love that even when they fight or argue, they are quick to apologize, they want to do better, be better for the other, but sometimes in life, its difficult to keep up your facade and who better to be unmasked to than the other part of you. Zoe's struggles through the story really hit the heart of her, she's also been sort of cautious and afraid because of events of her past, but taking on the blame, even if only unto herself, really weighs down on her and makes her consider her true character.
All in all, One Life was about more than a love story, it was about more than Zoe's grief and ultimately, AJ Pine delivered another powerful knockout story that readers will fall in love with.
* I was provided a copy of this book *
AJ Pine has delivered another endearing tale of Life and love and all that entails. One Life starts off somber, as Zoe and her family/friends are dealing with a tragedy, but like usual Zoe is trying to trudge along and bolster everyone around her, especially her family. Unexpectedly she opens her door to find, Spock, and finally she's able to let herself break a little bit.
A Lot of this book focuses on not only Zoe's grief, but also her guilty conscience and trying to find a way to deal with these things while outwardly holding it together. Some moments I just wanted to snap Zoe up and give her a crushing hug and whisper words of comfort to her, because the emotions that bleed thorugh the writing of this book are so strong, the grief so deep, I couldn't help but be affected.
Spock knows he made a mistake when he pushed Zoe away in the past, but he's come back into her life and he's ready to make his moves and willing to do whatever it takes to work it out and win over Zoe. It's not always an easy task, as she seems to be different from the girl she was before, and he knows instinctually its not only her grief that's caused the changes.
We are also introduced to Zoe's new roommate Dee in this book, and she's a riot. A tattoo artist who is full of spunk and will make you laugh often, but also you can tell she's got heart. She's got a story, I'm sure and I already feel like she could be my new best friend. I loved how she quickly accepted Zoe and Spock and sort of grew into the mix as a part of the circle.
One Life is beautifully heartwarming, while also tragic and painful in places. The characters are stuck with feelings that both have nothing to do with their relationship and also do very much affect things. I love that even when they fight or argue, they are quick to apologize, they want to do better, be better for the other, but sometimes in life, its difficult to keep up your facade and who better to be unmasked to than the other part of you. Zoe's struggles through the story really hit the heart of her, she's also been sort of cautious and afraid because of events of her past, but taking on the blame, even if only unto herself, really weighs down on her and makes her consider her true character.
All in all, One Life was about more than a love story, it was about more than Zoe's grief and ultimately, AJ Pine delivered another powerful knockout story that readers will fall in love with.
* I was provided a copy of this book *
October 20, 2015
Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.
Note: This ARC was provided by InterMix in exchange for an honest review.
One Life is the second novel in author A.J. Pine's new adult (NA) romance series entitled Only You and is about an artist named Zoe who is burdened with emotions she's chosen to keep hidden from those around her and a musician named Zach who is at a crossroads of his own and is keeping his own share of secrets. Zoe and Zach's first meeting occurs in the first novel in the series, One Night, and they keep things between them very much in the friend zone. When they part ways, it's another six months before they see each other again and it's due to the untimely passing of Zoe's younger brother. It's this second meeting that sets both of them on very different paths--Zach to finding direction in his life and Zoe to losing parts of herself until she no longer becomes recognizable since this is how she deals with her loss and tragedies.
There's a lot of pretending that goes on in Zoe's life and it all stems from her not dealing with the hurdles life throws her way. There are deeper reasons to her dyeing the color of her hair than the usual aesthetics. She avoids confronting what's going on within her family after Wyatt's death. Even her decision to call Zach "Spock" no longer becomes a simple matter of not addressing him by the same name as her twin brother. It's like the nicknames that people give her--each one is a role that she gets to play because then she doesn't have to face the real Zoe, the one still in pain and faking it so that she can get through each day without having to feel or think. After all, that's how she avoids confronting her issues and she would rather be "Supergirl," "Blue," or "Smurfette" than just be Zoe, the girl who may be too damaged for Zach to love.
Angst-ridden would probably be an apt description of Zoe, but hers is the kind of angst that isn't brought on by the usual things that young women her age need to get a handle on. There's nothing shallow about what she's going through, and as you read her story, you find yourself wishing she would share her burdens with someone. But then, that's not how Zoe operates, too used to the role of fixer and listener, allowing everyone else to unburden while she chooses to take their troubles on. This wasn't an overly long read, but it also wasn't a light one. Zoe's story of learning to allow others--her family, closest friends, and Zach--to see that she, too, has struggles but that she's trying to get through them in a healthy manner is inspiring. The Only You series has yet to disappoint and the five-starred One Life is one worthwhile read. ♥
Note: This ARC was provided by InterMix in exchange for an honest review.
One Life is the second novel in author A.J. Pine's new adult (NA) romance series entitled Only You and is about an artist named Zoe who is burdened with emotions she's chosen to keep hidden from those around her and a musician named Zach who is at a crossroads of his own and is keeping his own share of secrets. Zoe and Zach's first meeting occurs in the first novel in the series, One Night, and they keep things between them very much in the friend zone. When they part ways, it's another six months before they see each other again and it's due to the untimely passing of Zoe's younger brother. It's this second meeting that sets both of them on very different paths--Zach to finding direction in his life and Zoe to losing parts of herself until she no longer becomes recognizable since this is how she deals with her loss and tragedies.
There's a lot of pretending that goes on in Zoe's life and it all stems from her not dealing with the hurdles life throws her way. There are deeper reasons to her dyeing the color of her hair than the usual aesthetics. She avoids confronting what's going on within her family after Wyatt's death. Even her decision to call Zach "Spock" no longer becomes a simple matter of not addressing him by the same name as her twin brother. It's like the nicknames that people give her--each one is a role that she gets to play because then she doesn't have to face the real Zoe, the one still in pain and faking it so that she can get through each day without having to feel or think. After all, that's how she avoids confronting her issues and she would rather be "Supergirl," "Blue," or "Smurfette" than just be Zoe, the girl who may be too damaged for Zach to love.
Angst-ridden would probably be an apt description of Zoe, but hers is the kind of angst that isn't brought on by the usual things that young women her age need to get a handle on. There's nothing shallow about what she's going through, and as you read her story, you find yourself wishing she would share her burdens with someone. But then, that's not how Zoe operates, too used to the role of fixer and listener, allowing everyone else to unburden while she chooses to take their troubles on. This wasn't an overly long read, but it also wasn't a light one. Zoe's story of learning to allow others--her family, closest friends, and Zach--to see that she, too, has struggles but that she's trying to get through them in a healthy manner is inspiring. The Only You series has yet to disappoint and the five-starred One Life is one worthwhile read. ♥
October 29, 2015
**ARC provided by Netgalley, in return for an honest review.**
☆☆☆☆ 4.5 Stars ☆☆☆☆
One Life was sweet, but full of heartbreak. It’s is my first A.J. Pine book and I loved it. She had me fall in love, then broke my heart and loved again. Zoe and Spock’s story is full of tragedy, but has a light in the end of the tunnel. It made me feel so much for the two broken people that just wanted to be loved. Zoe and Spock are cute and sweet, but had so much of themselves hidden from the world, that only they can help each other. They are each others light, even if they took a while to figure it out. Spock is a beautiful guy who loved with all his heart and Zoe was his Supergirl, that he loved so much. They are comic geeks who are full of talents and seeing them on fire for their art is beautiful. I loved this story and the light it brought out.
:::REVIEW IS ALSO ON FOUR CHICKS FLIPPING PAGES:::
http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...
☆☆☆☆ 4.5 Stars ☆☆☆☆
One Life was sweet, but full of heartbreak. It’s is my first A.J. Pine book and I loved it. She had me fall in love, then broke my heart and loved again. Zoe and Spock’s story is full of tragedy, but has a light in the end of the tunnel. It made me feel so much for the two broken people that just wanted to be loved. Zoe and Spock are cute and sweet, but had so much of themselves hidden from the world, that only they can help each other. They are each others light, even if they took a while to figure it out. Spock is a beautiful guy who loved with all his heart and Zoe was his Supergirl, that he loved so much. They are comic geeks who are full of talents and seeing them on fire for their art is beautiful. I loved this story and the light it brought out.
:::REVIEW IS ALSO ON FOUR CHICKS FLIPPING PAGES:::
http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...
November 16, 2015
Zoe was one of my favorite characters (OK, small/not so small girl crush) in ONE NIGHT because she was so strong and real. And different. But in ONE LIFE, her story is so much deeper and just makes her that much more powerful as a person. She's not perfect and she's not broken: she's that crazy mix in between that makes her feel like the friend you'd never let go of because you love her like a sister. No matter how self destructive she can get, she's worth it.
And Spock. Zach. Whatever you want to call him. A perfect hero for her, a perfect complement. I love his gentleness. I love his strength. And I love that he doesn't take her shit.
I won't lie, this story is not all flower petals and dancing unicorns. But it's a book you won't want to put down, one that will stay with you for a long, long time. Luckily, you can reread it. And buy it for friends.
And Spock. Zach. Whatever you want to call him. A perfect hero for her, a perfect complement. I love his gentleness. I love his strength. And I love that he doesn't take her shit.
I won't lie, this story is not all flower petals and dancing unicorns. But it's a book you won't want to put down, one that will stay with you for a long, long time. Luckily, you can reread it. And buy it for friends.
October 20, 2015
Let me start by saying I fell in love with Zoe in One Night. She was one of my favorite characters in that book. Now in One Life, my heart breaks for her as she goes through such a tragic loss to trying to cope. I LOVE that Spock is back! Zach is just who Zoe needs to compliment her! I love their banter and how spicy their chemistry is! These two together made me laugh, cry and scream at points. Both these two are such enigmas that they mesh so well together.
Overall this book flowed really well. I really enjoy the writing style of AJ Pine. She brings out some raw emotions and weaves such a tale that leaves you begging for more or devouring the book in one sitting. If you haven't had a chance to read this series, I highly recommend snagging it. They are both so unique and tug on the heartstrings!
October 16, 2015
Once again, I read this (just like ONE NIGHT) in one sitting-- I even snuck in chapters at work. This is one hell of an emotional and, at times, dark story, but one I so desperately needed. I LOVED this book. Zoe and Spock's story is a rough one, but so, so worth it. Their love for each other, their need to help each other through hell and high water is amazing. And Zoe and Jess's friendship is one to be rivaled. I cried, I laughed, I swooned, and I loved this story. ALL the stars to ONE LIFE.
September 17, 2015
Sometimes Zoe's man needs a good bossing around, “less explaining,” I say. “And more condom fetching.” Then I kiss him again for good measure. His hand leaves me to find his shorts and pull his wallet from the pocket." I enjoyed this book Spock was patient, Zoe was feisty they made a perfect pair.
November 30, 2015
3 Same Same but Different stars!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Intermix | Penguin Group
I absolutely adored Zoe in One Night, so I couldn't wait to get her story. In One Night, Zoe was the rock that helped Jess through her tough time, but we always knew she had more lingering under the surface. We met Spock aka Zach Nolan, in the first book, even though they were just friends we wanted more from these two. They just fit together but the timing wasn't right, leading to a friends only relationship, but that doesn't mean that there weren't feelings that got developed.
"It freaks me out because I wanted to say yes. It freaks me out because
after not seeing you for over six months, the thought of seeing you
every day? It's kind of the best thing I can imagine right now."
In One Life, this book starts after a shocking trauma which brings Spock back into Zoe's life. If I hadn't already read One Night first then I would have liked this book so much more. In the first book Jess has a past that she doesn't want to burden anyone with, so she takes it all on and pushes everyone away. In this book, Zoe has some issues and lo and behold she doesn't want to burden anyone, so she takes it all on herself. Even though their issues were different, the theme felt the same, which ended up affecting the reading experience in a more negative manner for me.
Argh! The shouldering alone. Didn't she learn from Jess doing the same thing at all?
Jess doesn't need that burden. No one does.
"This is why I don't let people past the pretty packaging. "
Never mind that I do love him. It's why I keep him safe from the parts of me that aren't worthy of his love.
I feel like the tables have turned. Jess has her shit together. Jess has her life on track. And I sit here, wondering when all the pieces of mine will click back into place.
Young love. Some times it can be great and hopeful and sometimes the lack of maturity can be trying. For these two, they kept so much in, and didn't communicate which made it so much worse for these two. However, even though Spock/Zach kept some things in, he was adorably sweet.
"I'm gonna fall for you, Supergirl. I hope you'll catch me."
Poor Zoe, she was like a Jenga puzzle with her baggage and it didn't take too much to send her falling apart. For Zoe, she didn't know how to deal with things happening in her life, so she filled voids instead of dealing with things. She went from one thing to the next in a need to make her be different, instead of just being herself and dealing with stuff head on.
"Damn, Blue. You got some baggage. But shit, we all do."
The more Zoe struggles the more she doesn't see clearly.
"What he's doing out there is blood, sweat, and work. Nothing is easy when it comes to art, honey. It's best you figure that out sooner rather than later."
However, sometimes even though the delivery may be off the intent of most is good. Zoe, had to reach her bottom before she could deal with her demons, but with the support of friends and family anything is possible.
Did I like this book? Yes, but would have liked it more if I didn't read the first book first. Did I like the struggles they had to deal with? Yes, as I think it's important for youth today to be aware of many of their issues within this book. Did I like how Zoe handled things? No, but I did get it, and it eventually led her to where she needed to be. If there is more from this series, will I continue to read it? Yes, if only the next book is not the same theme with the heroine not wanting to burden anyone else and taking it all on herself. If it's different then I will jump on the chance to read it, as I absolutely adored the first book when I read it.
November 4, 2015
Ugh, I think I should start with a confession. I'm starting to go off NA. Silly I know, I've just finished reading One Life, a New Adult book that I actually really came to enjoy, but generally, I fear the NA vibe is just not for me. Sure, there was a lot about One Life that I quite liked, but there are some traits, some NA cliches that I'm starting to dislike seeing, and if I'm honest, it's affecting how much I enjoy them. Alas, Pine does something to me that, after a point, makes me forget about the issues I have with NA and fall in love with her characters and their stories completely. Bah, 'breaks people's hearts' you do indeed do Pine, you do indeed.
Let's get straight to it. Here's what irked me about One Life to start with:
I couldn't click or connect to Zoe like I had in One Night. With most books, I have to connect to the main charcater, and in contemporary, even more so, but for some reason, I felt extremely disconnected to Zoe through 60% of One Life. I could relate to her issues on opening up to people, feeling vulnerable and as though you won't be accepted being yourself, but I definitely felt as though her development took too long to get started, and that her growth hinged a lot on Zach 'mending her broken pieces.' Bah, you gotta put your jigsaw back together yourself girl, and sure thing, she did eventually, but it took a little too long for my liking.
I felt as though I never really got to know Spock. I admit, I seriously loved the addition of his perspective right near the end - my heart peoples, it broke, but besides that, I don't feel as though we got to explore his personal demons and how they affected him, his relationships with his family and people he surrounded himself with. Yes, this story was more about Zoe, but I really wouldn't have minded getting to know Spock a little more.
A lot of One Life felt like filler content.. Bah, do you know how much it pains me to say this? Pine is one of my super awesome favourite authors, but I'm not quite sure what the point of the story was, besides taking a look at addictions and learning to grieve. There was a party or two, and some actual day-job activities, but besides that, there was just a lot of - sex.
How did Jess not see something was up with Zoe? As somebody who's suffered from depression myself and keep on top of controlling it, I definitely feel as though I can spot when something is a little more than 'wrong' with someone. For someone who went through so much, who suffered a lot of pain and knew how unhealthy is was to let things get so bad there's no choice but to confront the problem, I would have thought that Jess might have stepped in sooner. Maybe that's just a me issue, but that troubled me pretty much throughout.
Ow, but now I've made it sound like I really didn't like One Life, and that's simply not true. I actually found myself extremely invested in the characters as time went on, and I really appreciated the depths to with Pine went when exploring addiction and depression, and sometimes one can influence another. I appreciated how Pine delved into numerous different addictions, breaking stereotypes that addiction isn't just about drinking, smoking or drugs, but so many other elements. How she delicately highlighted the connection between depression and addiction was definitely the best I've read, and that's something I can only compliment her on prefrustly.
I also have to give a round to applause to Pine for being as daring as she was to explore sex as much as she did. I admit, sometimes there was a little too much sex (I know, too much sex, how could one say such a thing?!) but I appreciated how she didn't shy away from details other authors wouldn't dared to have included. It was nice to once again have some teasing and foreplay involved, to highlight how natural other sexual pleasures are and why they're important to feature in fiction, no matter the age range. Pine always ticks the box on sex in her books, and One Life was no different in that respect.
Sure, the romance between Zoe and Spock felt like it'd already been set in stone in One Night, and I definitely felt as though there was a large chunk of One Life that could have given the chop merely because it didn't interest me as much as other areas, and while it's my least favourite of her novels, I still very much enjoyed reading it, and rate her highly as one of my favourite authors of all time. If I never read another New Adult author in my life, I will always be drawn to Pine's work through her characters, through their romances that seem always to squeeze tears out of me, and her never wavering passion to explore tough subjects and take sex education in literature a route it should go down. Just because we don't love something, doesn't mean we can't appreciate it, and appreciate One Life I did.
Let's get straight to it. Here's what irked me about One Life to start with:
I couldn't click or connect to Zoe like I had in One Night. With most books, I have to connect to the main charcater, and in contemporary, even more so, but for some reason, I felt extremely disconnected to Zoe through 60% of One Life. I could relate to her issues on opening up to people, feeling vulnerable and as though you won't be accepted being yourself, but I definitely felt as though her development took too long to get started, and that her growth hinged a lot on Zach 'mending her broken pieces.' Bah, you gotta put your jigsaw back together yourself girl, and sure thing, she did eventually, but it took a little too long for my liking.
I felt as though I never really got to know Spock. I admit, I seriously loved the addition of his perspective right near the end - my heart peoples, it broke, but besides that, I don't feel as though we got to explore his personal demons and how they affected him, his relationships with his family and people he surrounded himself with. Yes, this story was more about Zoe, but I really wouldn't have minded getting to know Spock a little more.
A lot of One Life felt like filler content.. Bah, do you know how much it pains me to say this? Pine is one of my super awesome favourite authors, but I'm not quite sure what the point of the story was, besides taking a look at addictions and learning to grieve. There was a party or two, and some actual day-job activities, but besides that, there was just a lot of - sex.
How did Jess not see something was up with Zoe? As somebody who's suffered from depression myself and keep on top of controlling it, I definitely feel as though I can spot when something is a little more than 'wrong' with someone. For someone who went through so much, who suffered a lot of pain and knew how unhealthy is was to let things get so bad there's no choice but to confront the problem, I would have thought that Jess might have stepped in sooner. Maybe that's just a me issue, but that troubled me pretty much throughout.
Ow, but now I've made it sound like I really didn't like One Life, and that's simply not true. I actually found myself extremely invested in the characters as time went on, and I really appreciated the depths to with Pine went when exploring addiction and depression, and sometimes one can influence another. I appreciated how Pine delved into numerous different addictions, breaking stereotypes that addiction isn't just about drinking, smoking or drugs, but so many other elements. How she delicately highlighted the connection between depression and addiction was definitely the best I've read, and that's something I can only compliment her on prefrustly.
I also have to give a round to applause to Pine for being as daring as she was to explore sex as much as she did. I admit, sometimes there was a little too much sex (I know, too much sex, how could one say such a thing?!) but I appreciated how she didn't shy away from details other authors wouldn't dared to have included. It was nice to once again have some teasing and foreplay involved, to highlight how natural other sexual pleasures are and why they're important to feature in fiction, no matter the age range. Pine always ticks the box on sex in her books, and One Life was no different in that respect.
Sure, the romance between Zoe and Spock felt like it'd already been set in stone in One Night, and I definitely felt as though there was a large chunk of One Life that could have given the chop merely because it didn't interest me as much as other areas, and while it's my least favourite of her novels, I still very much enjoyed reading it, and rate her highly as one of my favourite authors of all time. If I never read another New Adult author in my life, I will always be drawn to Pine's work through her characters, through their romances that seem always to squeeze tears out of me, and her never wavering passion to explore tough subjects and take sex education in literature a route it should go down. Just because we don't love something, doesn't mean we can't appreciate it, and appreciate One Life I did.
May 2, 2016
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
One Life is the second book in A.J. Pine's New Adult series, Only You. It can easily be read as a standalone, though the characters of the series are interconnected. Don't worry about being lost if you start here though as it isn't necessary to read the previous book to understand this story.
Zoe Adler has been forced to deal with a lot more than most people ever have to. Every time that something happens, she finds herself changing her appearance in order to try and cope. Hair color changes as well as piercings and tattoos are the way she chooses to try and move forward and leave the pain behind. But when she loses her younger brother, her friend Spock (real name Zack) returns home to be by her side. Though Zoe liked him before he left with his band on tour, nothing ever happened beyond friendship. But now that he is back, she knows that she still wants him as much as ever. Zack knows that Zoe needs help even if she isn't willing to ask for it, and having been in need of help himself he tries his hardest to help her. But is she willing to accept what is really going on and get the help she needs before she loses Zack for good?
I had a hard time connecting with Zack and Zoe here. Not that they weren't likable, I just found them hard to relate to. I felt like we really didn't get to know them that well here, and it seemed to be more about what was currently going on in their lives rather than about who each of them were as individuals and as the couple that they were trying to become. These two clearly had a friendship and knew one another from before Zack had gone on tour, but they didn't talk much while he was gone and spent huge chunks of time apart. They didn't really know one another, and there was a lot to each of them that they didn't share with one another. I felt like these two had some really huge problems and communication was definitely one of them. Beyond that though, I never really saw a relationship develop here beyond a physical one. With the time they spent apart and their relationship turning physical so fast, it really felt as though they had skipped a bunch of really important steps.
While I wanted to believe in these two, I just wasn't ever able to fully get behind their relationship. I didn't see the connection that supposedly changed from friendship to love beyond them becoming lovers, and I really wish that we had seen more depth there. I wanted to see them falling in love, not just see them having sex and saying they were falling in love. I just didn't believe it and felt like it never really happened. The other thing that bothered me here was that it seemed like almost every single person in this story was broken in some way, and it got to be a huge downer! There were addicts of all sorts all over the place here, and there was a lot of depression and not dealing with feelings. I was glad to see them all recovering or accepting their problems and showing growth and healing here, but I just felt like it was a bit too much with the amount of characters having similar issues in this book. By the time I got done reading this book I was so emotionally drained and felt like I had been through a long and depressing battle that I didn't really feel like had much of a point. Though the ending was good on some levels, it also was a bit unsatisfying because I still didn't 100% believe that these two really knew each other well enough to have the connection that they said they did. I wanted more show rather than just tell, and I just didn't see it.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
One Life is the second book in A.J. Pine's New Adult series, Only You. It can easily be read as a standalone, though the characters of the series are interconnected. Don't worry about being lost if you start here though as it isn't necessary to read the previous book to understand this story.
Zoe Adler has been forced to deal with a lot more than most people ever have to. Every time that something happens, she finds herself changing her appearance in order to try and cope. Hair color changes as well as piercings and tattoos are the way she chooses to try and move forward and leave the pain behind. But when she loses her younger brother, her friend Spock (real name Zack) returns home to be by her side. Though Zoe liked him before he left with his band on tour, nothing ever happened beyond friendship. But now that he is back, she knows that she still wants him as much as ever. Zack knows that Zoe needs help even if she isn't willing to ask for it, and having been in need of help himself he tries his hardest to help her. But is she willing to accept what is really going on and get the help she needs before she loses Zack for good?
I had a hard time connecting with Zack and Zoe here. Not that they weren't likable, I just found them hard to relate to. I felt like we really didn't get to know them that well here, and it seemed to be more about what was currently going on in their lives rather than about who each of them were as individuals and as the couple that they were trying to become. These two clearly had a friendship and knew one another from before Zack had gone on tour, but they didn't talk much while he was gone and spent huge chunks of time apart. They didn't really know one another, and there was a lot to each of them that they didn't share with one another. I felt like these two had some really huge problems and communication was definitely one of them. Beyond that though, I never really saw a relationship develop here beyond a physical one. With the time they spent apart and their relationship turning physical so fast, it really felt as though they had skipped a bunch of really important steps.
While I wanted to believe in these two, I just wasn't ever able to fully get behind their relationship. I didn't see the connection that supposedly changed from friendship to love beyond them becoming lovers, and I really wish that we had seen more depth there. I wanted to see them falling in love, not just see them having sex and saying they were falling in love. I just didn't believe it and felt like it never really happened. The other thing that bothered me here was that it seemed like almost every single person in this story was broken in some way, and it got to be a huge downer! There were addicts of all sorts all over the place here, and there was a lot of depression and not dealing with feelings. I was glad to see them all recovering or accepting their problems and showing growth and healing here, but I just felt like it was a bit too much with the amount of characters having similar issues in this book. By the time I got done reading this book I was so emotionally drained and felt like I had been through a long and depressing battle that I didn't really feel like had much of a point. Though the ending was good on some levels, it also was a bit unsatisfying because I still didn't 100% believe that these two really knew each other well enough to have the connection that they said they did. I wanted more show rather than just tell, and I just didn't see it.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
October 29, 2015
One Life is the story of Zoe and Spock (his real name is Zach), who are both present in One Night, the first book in this series. While this book is technically the second in this series, it could certainly be read as a standalone or out of order because I do not feel like anything is really spoiled for the first book at all.
So: Zoe's younger brother Wyatt has died and Zoe is having a super-difficult time dealing with her grief. As in, she's not dealing with it. At least, not in any real healthy way. Spock (she calls him Spock because he has the same name as her surviving brother and that's just too weird for her) is there to help her cope in the best ways possible at the time, but Zoe ends up sliding further and further into herself as the story progresses. Spock can see this happening and desperately wants to help her, but also recognizes that he is less and less equipped to deal with her issues because 1) of his own distant past and 2) her problem is way bigger than she is willing to admit.
Just like with the previous book in this series, I think Author A.J. Pine does a great job writing not only the "broken" character, but one that is able to disconnect herself really well from the people that love her. I did not find myself as frustrated with Zoe as I did with Jess in the previous story, but it was so hard to watch Zoe spiral downward and not be able to reach through this book and help her myself (not that I could have done anything for her, but y'all know what I mean). I love feeling emotional connections like this when I'm reading a story that has issues in it.
As far as Spock goes-I liked him so much, and again, this mirrored the way I felt about the previous book and the love interest there as well. I think Author A.J. Pine knows how to write an understanding, gentlemanly guy - Spock did his best to provide his very best support to his grieving girlfriend, but he also knew when he had to step back and let other people take the lead in helping her. I think that is hard sometimes, in romantic relationships-especially when we are young and in love. I think we want to be the saving-graces for the people that we love. But Spock knew when to back off, and this made me happy.
The romance is great in this book, partly because it started in the previous book as something very slow. I loved that it was an undefined, sort of awkward thing between the two of them, their romance.
I also love that Jess and Adam from the previous book show up and are doing so well! LOVE that. They were like a bonus for me.
So, yes to the Only You Series . I love contemporary romances with issues that are done well and after reading two from this author, I'm sold on her approach to writing them. I'm happy to recommend One Life to readers that enjoy issues contemporaries, books with a broken character, books dealing with grief/addiction, and books with art/music in the story.
So: Zoe's younger brother Wyatt has died and Zoe is having a super-difficult time dealing with her grief. As in, she's not dealing with it. At least, not in any real healthy way. Spock (she calls him Spock because he has the same name as her surviving brother and that's just too weird for her) is there to help her cope in the best ways possible at the time, but Zoe ends up sliding further and further into herself as the story progresses. Spock can see this happening and desperately wants to help her, but also recognizes that he is less and less equipped to deal with her issues because 1) of his own distant past and 2) her problem is way bigger than she is willing to admit.
Just like with the previous book in this series, I think Author A.J. Pine does a great job writing not only the "broken" character, but one that is able to disconnect herself really well from the people that love her. I did not find myself as frustrated with Zoe as I did with Jess in the previous story, but it was so hard to watch Zoe spiral downward and not be able to reach through this book and help her myself (not that I could have done anything for her, but y'all know what I mean). I love feeling emotional connections like this when I'm reading a story that has issues in it.
As far as Spock goes-I liked him so much, and again, this mirrored the way I felt about the previous book and the love interest there as well. I think Author A.J. Pine knows how to write an understanding, gentlemanly guy - Spock did his best to provide his very best support to his grieving girlfriend, but he also knew when he had to step back and let other people take the lead in helping her. I think that is hard sometimes, in romantic relationships-especially when we are young and in love. I think we want to be the saving-graces for the people that we love. But Spock knew when to back off, and this made me happy.
The romance is great in this book, partly because it started in the previous book as something very slow. I loved that it was an undefined, sort of awkward thing between the two of them, their romance.
I also love that Jess and Adam from the previous book show up and are doing so well! LOVE that. They were like a bonus for me.
So, yes to the Only You Series . I love contemporary romances with issues that are done well and after reading two from this author, I'm sold on her approach to writing them. I'm happy to recommend One Life to readers that enjoy issues contemporaries, books with a broken character, books dealing with grief/addiction, and books with art/music in the story.
November 2, 2015
there hasn’t been a book of AJ PIne’s I haven’t loved. This one is no exception. The story is sweet, beautiful sad and powerful. The characters are real. And we see Jess and Adam again. Here we have Zoe and Zach and their story.
I felt for Zoe throughout the story. Her struggle to handle things and how she coped was so sad. I was angry at first with her because it felt like she was using Zach to push past and forget the pain of losing her brother Wyatt. But as we went along you got to see her feelings slowly emerge. It was sad to see such a vibrant woman hiding so much. She hid behind her hair color, her drawing and her tattoos she was no using to mask one pain for another. She lashed out at Zach because he cared and was there but she felt insecure there as well. As if Zach would leave if he knew the real her. the woman he wanted to know behind the mask. I also felt that she got a wee bit hypocritical near the end. She wasn’t being real and honest with Zach or herself but she jumped on him for that when for a couple weeks he tried to tell her something and she kept cutting him off. She called him out when he show concern and shut down as well. In the end though he again was there at her darkest moment and had the strength to know what she needed even if it hurt him. He did the ultimate in love sacrifice so she could become whole again.
Zach is my favorite character. He was sweet, kind, loving, caring, understanding and even if Zoe didn’t think so honest. He approached her a few times warily about her tattooing and she got defensive so her getting ticked is frustrating. He also tried many times to talk to her about himself and his past and she stopped him. This is a perfect guy. He has made mistakes and has paid for them. When he knew he was in a toxic situation that could harm him he walked away even if it affected his future. He was there for Zoe no matter what even when she thought he wasn’t. He loved her unconditionally and new she was hiding. His song to her so beautiful. Zach had me swooning and crying over that song and how much he loved her and sacrificed for her to find herself and be well again.
A powerfully emotional and beautiful tale of a lost girl who masks pain by changing herself on the outside and hiding who she is. She meets the boy and falls in love while she uses him as her safety blanket and way to take away her loss and pain. She also pushes him away and loses her sense of identity. In doing this she loses a part of herself. The boy loves her with everything in him and wants to help her but she only wants to forget and hide. When she is confronted with reality she pushes and runs. The boy is there to help her when she hits the bottom and draws on the power of love to give her what she needs to heal and find out who she is. Poor Zach at this point he is all in and now on the precipice of losing it all. A emotionally charged story that will have you spent and smiling at the end as love and understanding overcomes all and a couple meant to be comes together once the girl sees who she is.
I felt for Zoe throughout the story. Her struggle to handle things and how she coped was so sad. I was angry at first with her because it felt like she was using Zach to push past and forget the pain of losing her brother Wyatt. But as we went along you got to see her feelings slowly emerge. It was sad to see such a vibrant woman hiding so much. She hid behind her hair color, her drawing and her tattoos she was no using to mask one pain for another. She lashed out at Zach because he cared and was there but she felt insecure there as well. As if Zach would leave if he knew the real her. the woman he wanted to know behind the mask. I also felt that she got a wee bit hypocritical near the end. She wasn’t being real and honest with Zach or herself but she jumped on him for that when for a couple weeks he tried to tell her something and she kept cutting him off. She called him out when he show concern and shut down as well. In the end though he again was there at her darkest moment and had the strength to know what she needed even if it hurt him. He did the ultimate in love sacrifice so she could become whole again.
Zach is my favorite character. He was sweet, kind, loving, caring, understanding and even if Zoe didn’t think so honest. He approached her a few times warily about her tattooing and she got defensive so her getting ticked is frustrating. He also tried many times to talk to her about himself and his past and she stopped him. This is a perfect guy. He has made mistakes and has paid for them. When he knew he was in a toxic situation that could harm him he walked away even if it affected his future. He was there for Zoe no matter what even when she thought he wasn’t. He loved her unconditionally and new she was hiding. His song to her so beautiful. Zach had me swooning and crying over that song and how much he loved her and sacrificed for her to find herself and be well again.
A powerfully emotional and beautiful tale of a lost girl who masks pain by changing herself on the outside and hiding who she is. She meets the boy and falls in love while she uses him as her safety blanket and way to take away her loss and pain. She also pushes him away and loses her sense of identity. In doing this she loses a part of herself. The boy loves her with everything in him and wants to help her but she only wants to forget and hide. When she is confronted with reality she pushes and runs. The boy is there to help her when she hits the bottom and draws on the power of love to give her what she needs to heal and find out who she is. Poor Zach at this point he is all in and now on the precipice of losing it all. A emotionally charged story that will have you spent and smiling at the end as love and understanding overcomes all and a couple meant to be comes together once the girl sees who she is.
October 30, 2015
We all have one life to live and everyone lives it in a different way. Sometimes people are taken from us to early, and that’s what happened to Zoe. Her brother passed away, way too young and Zoe is a mess. The one thing that seems to be keeping her together is her best friend Spock (Zack).
It took me a little while to write this review, since it is kind of hard to relay my thoughts on it. There was so much to this book and I experienced so many emotions while reading it. There were a couple of difficult topics within this book and I think Ms. Pine did a great job writing about them.
I did like how One Life approached addiction. It shows that there are all kinds of addictions, not only drugs and alcohol, but people can be addicted to adrenalin, to dying their hair, and to getting tattoos.
I also loved Zoe and Zach together. They were adorable and I was truly hoping their attraction was real and not one sided. In a way, I wish this book were written in duel POV. For a while I wanted to know what was going through Zack’s mind, but it didn’t make me like the book any less. I did adore him, he was such a sweet hero!
One Life is the second book in the Only You Series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I unfortunately did not read, One Night, but I was able to keep up since, One Life, is about two different characters.
It took me a little while to write this review, since it is kind of hard to relay my thoughts on it. There was so much to this book and I experienced so many emotions while reading it. There were a couple of difficult topics within this book and I think Ms. Pine did a great job writing about them.
I did like how One Life approached addiction. It shows that there are all kinds of addictions, not only drugs and alcohol, but people can be addicted to adrenalin, to dying their hair, and to getting tattoos.
I also loved Zoe and Zach together. They were adorable and I was truly hoping their attraction was real and not one sided. In a way, I wish this book were written in duel POV. For a while I wanted to know what was going through Zack’s mind, but it didn’t make me like the book any less. I did adore him, he was such a sweet hero!
One Life is the second book in the Only You Series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I unfortunately did not read, One Night, but I was able to keep up since, One Life, is about two different characters.
December 1, 2015
One Life is the second installment in the Only You series by A. J. Pine. I will start with it reads well on it's own but I felt as if I was missing an attachment to the main characters in the start of the book.
Zoe is full of hidden emotions and tradegy. She hides in herself and doesn't know how to deal with all the emotions and hurdles that have been thrown at her. Why does she change her hair color so often? How much of herself can she lose before she isn't recognizable even to herself? I found myself sobbing for her hopelessness several times.
Zack is a friend of Zoe's deceased brother who is at a crossroads in his life as well. Zack is a musician but is looking for something. When he and Zoe meet again after Wyatt dies. Can Zack get under Zoe's skin and help her deal with life instead of taking on everyone's problems but never dealing with her own?
Although, the book is a relatively short it is an emotional ride and I had to put it down several times. A. J. deals with the deep feelings of anxiety and loss beautifully and keeps the story moving forward. If you are looking for a well written character driven - New Adult Romance then this is more then worth it.
Zoe is full of hidden emotions and tradegy. She hides in herself and doesn't know how to deal with all the emotions and hurdles that have been thrown at her. Why does she change her hair color so often? How much of herself can she lose before she isn't recognizable even to herself? I found myself sobbing for her hopelessness several times.
Zack is a friend of Zoe's deceased brother who is at a crossroads in his life as well. Zack is a musician but is looking for something. When he and Zoe meet again after Wyatt dies. Can Zack get under Zoe's skin and help her deal with life instead of taking on everyone's problems but never dealing with her own?
Although, the book is a relatively short it is an emotional ride and I had to put it down several times. A. J. deals with the deep feelings of anxiety and loss beautifully and keeps the story moving forward. If you are looking for a well written character driven - New Adult Romance then this is more then worth it.
October 10, 2015
One Life is a powerful, emotional New Adult book that depicts a beautiful story of love, talent, and grief, and the effect they each have on one another. It was a quick read, not because of the length, but because of the powerful, moving content that kept me turning pages all night. Moments of guilt and grief are juxtaposed with touching romance and breathtaking passion, leaving the reader to try to figure Zoe and Spock's mental states along with them. Personal Demons are explored, along with themes of acceptance, friendship, and independence. It's been a long time since I've read a book as intriguing and moving as this. Definitely a must-read for 2015. I personally didn't read the first book in this series, but this book can be read as a standalone, as I did. The other book apparently goes more into Jess's story, the girl we meet in this book as Zoe's former roommate. :)
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review*
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review*
December 10, 2015
When I first met Zoe and Spock in A.J. Pine's first book in the Only You series, I fell in absolute love with them. I was hoping against all hope that they would get their very own story, and to my excitement, they did! This book can be read as a standalone, but I HIGHLY recommend reading One Night, as it is as equally amazing as this story. This is a very emotional story, with lots of difficult issues to address. Both Zoe and Spock are both broken in their own ways, and learn to lean on each other to work through those difficulties. You feel ALL the feels. Make sure you have the tissues handy...A.J. Pine will break your heart into pieces before she puts them back together again. Make sure you pick this up...you won't be disappointed.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2015
A beautiful story of rebuilding one self despite grief.
Characters:
Zoe: When her brother Wyatt dies, she changes her appearance. From black hair to blue. From blue to red. She's staying strong for the rest of her family. But soon she starts to become callous and not feeling at all and getting to the point she has to rebuild herself. Spock (Zach) his the guy she hasn't seen in six months and now he's back and with her all the time. But will she allow herself to let Spock see the 'real' her?
Final Thoughts: The struggle and aftermath of grief and the way to rebuild oneself, but in a positive way.
Characters:
Zoe: When her brother Wyatt dies, she changes her appearance. From black hair to blue. From blue to red. She's staying strong for the rest of her family. But soon she starts to become callous and not feeling at all and getting to the point she has to rebuild herself. Spock (Zach) his the guy she hasn't seen in six months and now he's back and with her all the time. But will she allow herself to let Spock see the 'real' her?
Final Thoughts: The struggle and aftermath of grief and the way to rebuild oneself, but in a positive way.
October 10, 2015
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Full review to follow as part of the blog tour
Full review to follow as part of the blog tour
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