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63rd out of 193 books
—
202 voters
My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life
by
Julie Wright (Goodreads Author)
Looking away, I asked as nonchalantly as my rapidly beating heart would allow, "So you're the kind of guy that believes in fairy-tales."
"I am. And you're the kind of girl that believes in the reality of here and now."
"When you're pregnant and living with your brother and his wife, reality seems like a safer place to stay."
Suzanne Quincy was raised by an abusive mother and...more
"I am. And you're the kind of girl that believes in the reality of here and now."
"When you're pregnant and living with your brother and his wife, reality seems like a safer place to stay."
Suzanne Quincy was raised by an abusive mother and...more
Paperback, 296 pages
Published
October 1st 2005
by Shadow Mountain
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Right off the bat I should probably mention that although I really liked this book, it isn't for everyone. The author is Mormon, so she obviously incorporates that into the book. I'm not a fanatically religious person (although I am religious), so I think that others who aren't really religious can read this too. Hopefully it doesn't bother most people because this really is a very good book. Still though, it's best for poeple who are somewhat religious or who are Mormon (also if your intereste...more
Apr 17, 2009
Cara
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
LDS members or people interested in religion
Recommended to Cara by:
Ash
Shelves:
realistic-fiction
This will be the hardest review I've done so far. I know I won't find the exact words to express what this book is all about.
First off I should mention that this book will probably be more appreciated by someone, like me, who practices the Mormon faith, but don't by pass up the book because of that. I genuinely believe anyone can enjoy this story.
Suzanna (who prefers to go by Cue) is...well, for lack of a better word, broken. Life has thrown her some heavy things to deal with, like an abusive...more
First off I should mention that this book will probably be more appreciated by someone, like me, who practices the Mormon faith, but don't by pass up the book because of that. I genuinely believe anyone can enjoy this story.
Suzanna (who prefers to go by Cue) is...well, for lack of a better word, broken. Life has thrown her some heavy things to deal with, like an abusive...more
Wow! This is one of my very favorite books. I picked this book up off the bargain shelves at Deseret Book, and hesitated when I read the description on the back cover, but decided to buy it. Boy, am I glad I did! It deals with a very sensitive, but very timely subject--unwed pregnancy, and the decisions that accompany that choice.
Suzanna Quincy, raised by an abusive mother and an apathetic father, has chosen a life-style of drugs and alcohol and ends up pregnant. Suzi has to decide if she's goi...more
Suzanna Quincy, raised by an abusive mother and an apathetic father, has chosen a life-style of drugs and alcohol and ends up pregnant. Suzi has to decide if she's goi...more
Oh wow! I had bought this for my daughter a couple years ago but never got around to reading it myself. I have been missing out!
This is a must-read for any teenager (especially LDS ones) who feels like they don't fit in or who find themselves feeling alone and in a dark place. It is equally important of a read for the parents of said youth.
It has been awhile since a book has affected me this much. And it has more to do with things I needed to hear for me than with "understanding" a teenager.
Sett...more
This is a must-read for any teenager (especially LDS ones) who feels like they don't fit in or who find themselves feeling alone and in a dark place. It is equally important of a read for the parents of said youth.
It has been awhile since a book has affected me this much. And it has more to do with things I needed to hear for me than with "understanding" a teenager.
Sett...more
Apr 18, 2010
Alexes
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
YES!!!!
Recommended to Alexes by:
Me, i bought this book.
I just finished this book by Julie Wright. I could not put the book down to be honest. Wow. Julie is incredible at dialogue! I love the banter back and forth between Rion and Suzie. The teasing back and forth was perfect flirting and foreshadowing to what might become of their relationship later. :)
This book starts off tugging at the heart strings. Little kids are beated because of a Ovaltine spill in the kitchen. Suzannah the main character DID NOT have an ideal mother. She turned to drugs and...more
This book starts off tugging at the heart strings. Little kids are beated because of a Ovaltine spill in the kitchen. Suzannah the main character DID NOT have an ideal mother. She turned to drugs and...more
this was an odd book for me. but you may enjoy.
the story is about a young woman whom just wants to not get past what her brothers choices are and what her mother has done.
the story is about a young woman whom just wants to not get past what her brothers choices are and what her mother has done.
I know, I'm in shock, too. Five stars for an LDS novel :o! I promised the author I would read this last February and it finally "called" to me from my pile. This is a must-read for every young person facing an unwanted pregnancy, and all those who care about them. I was very touched by this story!
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You'd think that this book is an old song. Girl is raised in a broken home, girl gets pregnant, she is on her own or at least she thinks she is until she discovers that she has so many people rutting for her. But the truth in this story is unmistakable. Suzanna grows so much during the course of the book. At first I couldn't get her but as she becomes more of who she wants to be I see why she was so critical of everyone in the beggining.
The people around her don't seem to be just secondary chara...more
The people around her don't seem to be just secondary chara...more
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I bought this book at the LDStorymakers conference this past weekend. I began reading it about 2 hours into my 4 hour flight home, luckily (well, reading wise) we were delayed for 4 hours, at another airport, and I was able to finish this wonderful book.
The journey Cue finds herself taking is written very realistically done and is so emotional I found myself tearing up while on the plane. Each character seems to jump off the pages and the abuse that Cue endures as a child, even though it's only...more
The journey Cue finds herself taking is written very realistically done and is so emotional I found myself tearing up while on the plane. Each character seems to jump off the pages and the abuse that Cue endures as a child, even though it's only...more
For an LDS novel, I thought this book was pretty well done. This is the story of Suzanna (nickname Cue), a victim of her mother's child abuse and father's neglect (though he does love her). Cue's brother Sam is a convert to the LDS church, and lives in Utah with his new wife. When Cue discovers she is pregnant, she rejects an abortion, is kicked out of her parents' home, and loses her job. She runs away to Utah and eventually turns her life around, with great help from her brother Sam, the gospe...more
This book was terribly distracting. I couldn't seem to do homework, want to go to class, or do much of anything while I was reading it, simply because the characters pulled me so much into the book.
If you aren't a Mormon, you probably wouldn't enjoy this book as much, simply because it's targeted to a Mormon audience. But, who knows? I could be wrong.
I don't read much of Mormon fiction, because it tends to be badly written "Charly" wannabes where everything gets solved with one prayer. This boo...more
If you aren't a Mormon, you probably wouldn't enjoy this book as much, simply because it's targeted to a Mormon audience. But, who knows? I could be wrong.
I don't read much of Mormon fiction, because it tends to be badly written "Charly" wannabes where everything gets solved with one prayer. This boo...more
(Genre:LDS Young Adult Fiction) I liked this book much more than I thought that I would. It is the story of a 22 year old woman, Suzanna, who has grown up in an abusive home and who turned to drugs and partying to deal with her life. It appears that her life will continue to be a downward spiral, until she experiences an unplanned pregnancy and begins to re-evaluate her life and the choices that have led her to her current predicament. Suzanna is an abrasive character, but the author does a grea...more
I love that I was given the chance to edit this a little and FINALLY spell Jane Austen's name correctly in it (not my fault that it was ever wrong, somewhere in typesetting, it was altered).
1 like · like · see review
I was surprised by how much this book drew me in and I could hardly put it down. I was fascinated by Suzanna who is rough around the edges and so different from me, yet still very likable. I was particularly interested in how members of the LDS church treated Suzanna when they met her, and her reaction to them. It made me contemplate how I look at others who are different and reminded me that anyone can turn their life around and be touched by the gospel, no matter what their background is or wh...more
REALLY REALLY GOOD BOOK!!
I wasn't sure how to rate this at first, but then I decided if a book can make me ignore my housework and make me cry (which is not something that happens often when I read), then it probably deserves 5 stars. This is an LDS fiction story about a young woman who has had a hard home life and made some wrong choices. It is a story about adoption and forgiveness and love. I didn't like Suzanna at the beginning of the story, although I could see why she reacted the way she did to people and situatio...more
Oct 07, 2011
Asia Snow
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Asia by:
BookMobile
Finally a book that has brought the love of reading back into my life! Despite the juvenile sounding title, this book is well written. The plot moves along incredibly well, keeping the reader involved and interested from start to finish. The characters are so moving, you know them and their situation clearly. The issue topics are vast and well-researched. Way thumbs up! I couldn't put it down and I couldn't wait to pick it up again. Reading this was truly relaxing and interesting. I will be look...more
I am only giving this a 2.5 because while I by no means disliked the story, nor did I feel any strong liking for it either.
The characters were authentic, but at times some of the dialogue seemed forced and several sections were very preachy. That said, it did a wonderful job of presenting Susannah's struggle to come to terms with her unexpected pregnancy and the choices that she makes in order to save her daughter's life, leading to her choosing to give her daughter up for adoption, her conversi...more
The characters were authentic, but at times some of the dialogue seemed forced and several sections were very preachy. That said, it did a wonderful job of presenting Susannah's struggle to come to terms with her unexpected pregnancy and the choices that she makes in order to save her daughter's life, leading to her choosing to give her daughter up for adoption, her conversi...more
I don't even know how to review this book. The story seemed so rushed. In the first 80 pages the main character went from being a party girl, to getting pregnant and scheduling an abortion, to cancelling the abortion and getting kicked out of her house, to deciding to take a bus cross-country to go stay with her brother and sister-in-law (members of the Morman church living in Utah). The characters themselves seemed shallow and undeveloped. The dialogue was sappy and it was very corny.
The second...more
The second...more
I enjoy talking with Julie but I always feel like the shy girl talking to the popular girl! I get tongue tied and flustered only because she is so fun, funny and wickedly cool!
I rarely cry; not in movies and not while reading a book (well, sometimes those Hallmark commercials get me).
This book got me.
Probably because I am adopted.
I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book. I didn't want to read a YA sob story about sin and sinning and poor girl what ever will she do? Wringing of the hands...
But th...more
I rarely cry; not in movies and not while reading a book (well, sometimes those Hallmark commercials get me).
This book got me.
Probably because I am adopted.
I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book. I didn't want to read a YA sob story about sin and sinning and poor girl what ever will she do? Wringing of the hands...
But th...more
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I may be biased in my review of this book, mostly because I like books about adoption. This story is the best one I've seen yet for getting into the head of a birth mom. It's told in first person, which you don't usually see in fictional adoption stories. Suzanna, the main character, has a totally messed up life, starts making better choices, and things work out for her. Everything doesn't suddenly become perfect, but her life gets better gradually, in a fairly believable way.
This book was quite different from most LDS books because it deals with the repentance/conversion process of the main character. The LDS family services parts of the book are very touching. I thought it could have had a little more story for the love-interest ending of the book, but overall it was a really good story. Makes you appreciate a lot in your life. I would recommend it for readers mature enough to handle the abuse, drug and adoption topics in the book.
Ok - this is a book to read curled up with hot chocolate and a box of tissues! AMAZING! As an adoptee, this hit close to home! I am going to have to admit that there were a few cheesy/ unfactual things (when you are 5 months pregnant the baby is not going to be up in your ribs making it hard to sit - that is later on....) anyway..... despite those little things - the book it amazing! I think a must read for everyone -but especially every teenage girl!
Best LDS book I've read in quite a while (as of jan 06 when I wrote this). Excellent story telling ability. Handles a serious topic (adoption) extremely well. Teaches about forgivenes- especially forgiving ourselves, repentance, the power of the priesthood, and LDS family services. Story of Suzanne, who had an abusive childhood leading to drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity resulting in pregnancy. Would recommend
LOVED this book! I couldn't put it down and read it in a week. It's one of the best fiction books written about adoption. It really gives you the perspective of the birth mother. I cried during the chapter when she gives her baby to the adoptive parents. It also helped me remember that my trials are small and according to this book, I have a fairy-tale life! It makes me want to enjoy the moments more and cherish my children.
I first hear about this author on the blogs of other local authors. It has been many years since I've read "Mormon" fiction regularly and was not sure how this would go. Thankfully, I found it to be very well written and quite compelling. The main character was great---I found her to be believable and her story more than just a surface Mormon romance story. Laughed and cried--pick it up if you need a light read.
I really loved this book. I loved the story of adoption and the incredible journey this young woman went through to not only find herself but give the most precious gift to some who are unable to give that to themselves. This really touched my heart because I have an aunt that has adopted and a sister in law and many friends and I have seen the joy first hand these sweet blessings have brought into their lives.
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This was our book for Book Club this month. It is the first Deseret Book title I have read in many years. It is about a young girl who has horrible homelife and finds herself pregnant. She ends up moving in with her Mormon brother in Utah. At times I was dry heaving in this book because of all of the stereotypical mormon scenes (i.e. "I went to the temple and now I know you are the one I'm going to marry...you may not know it now, but I'll wait") and the writing was pretty basic. I kept thinking...more
This may be a 3.5.
This was a fairly quick read. A middle school student recommended this to me so I checked it out without really looking at any reviews. This was very different from what I was expecting. It was also a bit different from what I've been reading (which was my objective in asking the student for the best book she'd read in the last month).
This was a fairly quick read. A middle school student recommended this to me so I checked it out without really looking at any reviews. This was very different from what I was expecting. It was also a bit different from what I've been reading (which was my objective in asking the student for the best book she'd read in the last month).
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Julie Wright wrote her first book when she was fifteen. She's written fourteen novels since then and has nine traditionally published. She is represented by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger Inc. and is a Whitney Awards winner for best romance with her book Cross My Heart.
She has one husband, three kids, two dogs, five fish, and two banana trees--all living under the same roof.
She loves writing, readin...more
More about Julie Wright...
She has one husband, three kids, two dogs, five fish, and two banana trees--all living under the same roof.
She loves writing, readin...more
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