My Life as Noah

by Victoria Anders

Drink me, the platinum liquid calls.

And I give in.
Repeatedly.
Time and time again.

To forget about her.
The golden-haired goddess
who has overtaken every bit of my being.
She invades every ounce of my soul.

It's more than just a little crush.
Fate binds me to her in an unbreakable curse.

As I meander through the eleventh grade,
she's there at every turn.
I just want to forget her.
But I can't.
No one seems to be able to take her off my mind.

Will I ever have the courage to talk to her,
or will I hide behind the alcohol
and follow in the footsteps of my mother?

If I do ever find myself in front of her,
ready to begin this fateful journey,
will I even by worthy?

My name is Noah,
and this is my life.

Genres: Young Adult, Ebooks

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Energy Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noah Wester is head over heels in love. The only problem? He doesn't even know "mystery girl's" name. Consumed by thoughts of her, he hasn't worked up the nerve to talk to her and get to know her name. We follow Noah as he traverses life at school with his best friends Connor and Stella, and even gives dating a shot in an attempt to get over his crush.

There are some great characters in My Life as Noah. His best friend Connor is a bit of a jerk, he's honest about not wanting commitment, and he's a bit of a ladies man. Stella is a free spirit, she's funny and supportive of Noah's crush. Sierra shares his love of music and they mesh well, but she's not mystery girl.

I read Victoria's first book, My Life as Kelsey, and needed more. Her books are very well-written and hard to put down. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get the full story with this, but it looks like there is only a short wait until the next book. The "My Life As" series has excellent characters with a fun storyline. Noah's internal dialog with his grandfather had me laughing. Very well done!

[C. McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wealthy, "privileged" kid named Noah has two things on his young mind, a mysterious, but enchanting blonde and alcohol. While he wanders through the story, we meet his friends, Connor and Stella, and watch him experiment with degrees of "friendship" which include crossing the line into semi-lust on occasion.

The writer is skilled. Her prose is fresh and sharp, and she manages dialog beautifully. In spite of that I couldn't find an emotional connection with her young characters or with her older ones. I kept wanting a bit more depth in Connor than to be told he didn't want to be like his mother, and when Mom was present I felt there were possibilities to reveal another layer of their relationship that wasn't taken advantage of.

As a parent, I'd suggest this book for someone 17 and older.

[Nikki Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of Noah navigating high school and his crush on Marlee Morgan, a girl he has seen but has not spoken to.

Building up his confidence to chat to her, getting her attention, plus dealing with parents who are not around, spring break and other girls who will come into his life.

Looking forward to continue this series.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I really liked this book. The characters weren't two-dimensional like I thought in the beginning. It was a quick, fun read. I liked knowing the inner thoughts and feelings of the main character, Noah. He was more complex than I originally thought, and the way he percieved the world around him is all too familiar to me. He was a witty, relatable character I loved following. While I do think that the infatuation with Mystery Girl was a bit overdone and cliché, it was also sort of charming in a way. All in all, it was a fun book to pass the time with.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest, completely voluntary review.

[J.R. Schuyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of romance-oriented stories in general, but this book was recommended to me, and there’s a lot to like about it. The author did an outstanding job of creating a distinctive character voice and developing Noah as a real person who isn’t perfect and has to grow and learn over time. The writing style and pacing were great too. The only thing stopping me from giving it a five-star rating is that the ending isn't fully resolved (though the author explains that the story will continue in the next book).

[emma ☆°｡⋆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book came across as shallow and confusing. i couldn’t tell if end game was noah-stella, noah-sierra, noah-margot, or noah-marlee.

it overall just felt like the shallow thoughts of a disgustingly rich alcoholic teenager who recklessly kisses people.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome back to high school where teenage angst is on the rise . Meet Noah and his friends , they all seem to be well to do and have a good life . Until the day Marlee walks into the picture a girl in the line up who captivates the heart of Noah but he doesn't do anything about it and drowns his worries in alcohol . As the school year progresses we see them love , loose and try to be happy .

The characters in this novella are well written . Noah is the main character and he really comes off as a brooding musician who really doesnt have a mission in life . You see him really dive into the depths of alcohol to get through the day . There are a few moments in the book you just want to shake him and tell him to grow up and quit drinking . He does do a turn about towards the end of the book which you will cheer for and be happy about. His best friend Connor is a bit of a cad and a ladies man . He so doesn't want a relationship but wants to have fun . Stella is his best friend and confidante who loves the same things that Noah liks , music and song writing . Together they go through the ups and downs of high school.

This is an interesting book to read , it is a short novella that connects all the characters from the first book . The author takes us on a snarky roller coaster ride of emotions . There are some serious undertones , alcoholism is one of the taboo subjects that the author tackles with some humor and some tears . The story is tight and the characters are well written. There is all the teen age angst from their first crushes to hard hitting issues . Which the author writes with such a fondness . The only thing that stopped me from giving it a five star was the fact that the cliff hanger just stopped mid sentence and you are left wondering . Over all i did enjoy the story and the characters . It really reminded me of high school in some ways . I would let my teen ager read this book and talk about . So if you want a good book for your teen for this winter check it out

[Madeleine Holly-Rosing · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in a three book series, we follow the lives of three teenagers who attend the same school. Each book has a different main character and viewpoint of the same time period. My Life as Noah follows the title character as he navigates a serious crush on a girl he's seen, but never talked to, while dealing with the specter of alcoholism.

Though the undertones of the book are serious, the overall book is pretty hysterical as we listen to the first person narrative of Noah, a sixteen year old guy, whose immature obsession with a classmate takes over his life. The author nails the thoughts and feelings of teenagers on emotional overload. Though Noah lives a very privileged life, he recognizes it and tries to give back to those in need. He also has a strong moral compass in a grandfather who had passed away.

Well-written and very tight, the only reason I gave it a 4 star instead of a 5 is that the ending practically drops off mid-sentence. I think there could have been at least some semblance of a complete story. However, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the last one in the series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life as a teenager is hard enough, but add in that your family is wealthy, your almost a loner (thank goodness for childhood friends) , a heavy drinker , and your parents are never around unless they want something. Thank goodness for a grandfather that had given him things to remember during his life. Welcome to Noah's life, but he's changing just because of a chance meeting with Mystery Girl. Victoria Anders gives us a view of a teenager's life, through all the pain, anger, frustration,dreams, desperation, love and also happiness. As teenager's some of us have gone through some of these things and some remember them and how we got through them. I wish the book was a little bit longer, just to learn more about him.

[Genni Piatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading My Life as Noah. Noah is sort of an enigma until the end. Over the course of the school year, Noah is forced to do some self-reflection and figure out who he is and who he wants to be. He spends a lot of time obsessing over a girl and drinking. Neither of these things make him feel whole inside. Instead, learning how to make meaningful connections and finding a purpose in his life end up helping him. I can't wait for My Life as Marlee so I can find out how this cliffhanger ends!

[Leeann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and easy read about Noah, a boy who develops a crush on a girl he sees in the school cafeteria. She consumes his thoughts, but he does nothing to find out more about her. I liked Noah's voice, his parents were extremely wealthy, but he was left to his own devices most of the time. Prone to drinking, especially when left on his own, it was good to know he had strong values, instilled in him by his grandfather. Am curious as to know what happens next!

[Virginia Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live like a teenage boy

This book is an enjoyable immersion in Noah’s life. You really experience Noah’s angst and heartache. I appreciated knowing his thoughts and how he processed the events in his life. It was nice to see him mature over the course of the book. Excellent addition to the author’s My Life series. Note: I read Marlee’s story first and liked how Noah’s story makes aspects of their combined story more believable.

[Vickie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Life As Noah, is an amusing yet serious look at the life of Noah. His obsession with Marlee, and his dance with alcohol makes this book interesting to read. I gave it 4* because of the abrupt ending. The whole book was aiming for this scene and---- I realize the 3rd book in the series is about Marlee, but the ending was too jarring.

[Amanda Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first story by this author and I really enjoyed it. I don't normally grab YA but I wanted to try something different. And I'm glad that I did. It was great. I loved that the whole story was from Noah's POV. And you got to meet a bunch of characters. This story does end in cliffhanger but it makes you excited to pick up number 3.

I will also be back tracking and reading number 1.

[Emilie Hrabak · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh I love all of these characters! The writing is very fresh and fun and I was left wanting so much more of Noah’s story. The cliffhanger got me! I can’t wait to read Marlee. 💓

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Life as Noah

I really enjoyed reading the real life struggles the main character went through on his journey. It was full of great little lessons and themes throughout. I was a little upset about the cliff hanger but look forward to reading what happens next.

[Mona williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really great book! didnt care for how he ended so soon. he had a major crush on a girl. instead of talking to her . he went to drinking to hide his problems. you have to read to find out what happens.

[Staci Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has insecurities. Despite surface appearances and sometimes obvious advantage. We each face finding our own place in this world. As individuals these limitations must be grown past in their own time. Seeing the goal in plan sight isn't necessarily the end of our journey.

[Samantha Lundergn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a trip down memory lane with the teen angst and problems brought on by youth! I found this book to be very well written and even humorous at some points. Overall, I enjoyed the read.

[Zellian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noah Webster accidentally bumps hands with Mystery Girl while grabbing a chocolate milk at the cafeteria, sparks fly at the small touch and suddenly Noah who couldn't have cared whether there was a girl next to him is suddenly infatuated with this blonde goddess who's name he doesn't even know. Whenever he thinks he's got the confidence to speak to her, another guy is already there in the spot that should be his. For now Noah must live in his fantasy world with this girl, at least until the timing is right.

This is your usual young adult, romance vibes kind of book. There's a couple of cringe worthy parts and feelings of "I'm not like the rest" from the characters, at times it does leave a bit of a "Meh" kind of feeling as well.
If you're looking for a quick read it's actually not too bad. There is underage drinking and mentions of sexual activities, if you're not too keen on those perhaps give this one a pass.

[Ebony Gough · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very good. I absolutely loved the first 45%ish. The plotline was cute and the writing was pretty good. But closer to the end it started to feel very rushed and choppy, like every chapter was weeks in the future, so we didnt get much details about the things that were going on. Also i wasn't going to continue this series, but the ending was not satisfying so i feel like i need to continue. It ended right as it got to a spot i thought i'd enjoy.

[Sheradon · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

It was okay, I didn’t hate it but I feel like it got to the creepy stalker point when he has her as his back ground before they even had a conversation

[Lucy Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic teen romance. Didn’t really like it right now but think I would have when I was 13

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Burner

The book was a slow burner at first, but I ended up getting hooked! I read the entire book in one sitting!

[Jenni Bearden · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was boring, annoying, and poorly written. The author also lacks basic math skills. If a character is 16, and then something happens two years later, and then a bit of time goes by and something else happens, and then they have a 17th birthday, that’s a problem. Aside from that, it was just a very boring monotonous story that was irritating. I finished it because it was short and fulfilled a couple of challenge prompts. One star.

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first foray into Victoria Anders books.
From what I'm to understand My Life as Noah is the second book in her My Life Series. But this one can be read as a standalone. However, this does end on a cliffhanger an picks up in the third book in this series with My Life as Marlee.

In this book we are introduced to junior Noah Wester who interests are mainly school and his guitar. He hasn't shown much interest in girls, until he spots a mystery girl by the milk bin, and now he's madly in love. The only problem? He doesn't know her name and each time he starts to get the courage up to talk to her other people interfere. So for now Noah will live with his fantasies of mystery girl.

I was a bit put off by the amount of alcohol drinking going on in this, especially since they're all teenagers. To make things worse there were adults that were even allowing this behavior, but didn't do anything because "money speaks".
I'm going to have to read Marlee's book because I feel like I need closure on the progression of this relationship. Especially since Marlee's best friend is no longer there, and Noah made it a resolution to talk and ask out Marlee no matter what.