Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Life on Hold

by Karen McQuestion (Goodreads Author)

3.3 of 5 stars 3.30 · rating details · 272 ratings · 45 reviews

Fifteen-year-old Rae Maddox just wants to stay in one place like everyone else, but there’s no chance of that happening—not with a free-spirited mother who thrives on cross-country moves. When the two of them land in Wisconsin sophomore year, things are off to a great start: her mom promises they’ll stay until graduation, Rae makes two good friends and finally gets a chanc...more

Kindle Edition

Published December 4th 2009 by Kindle Edition

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Million Dollar Miracle by Jennifer Szewczuk

Books You Wish More People Knew About - Part 2

139th out of 283 books — 184 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 586)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jun 25, 2011 Fab :) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads-books, wisconsin-related-books

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher.

I was beyond excited when I found out that I had won an advanced copy of LIFE ON HOLD BY KAREN MCQUESTION after entering to win on Goodreads. I received the copy of the book in early June and could not wait for summer to begin for it would be at the top of my summer reading list. I was thrilled when I received the book, for it came with a sincere note from the author, which is always appreciated.

Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion is a n...more I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher.

I was beyond excited when I found out that I had won an advanced copy of LIFE ON HOLD BY KAREN MCQUESTION after entering to win on Goodreads. I received the copy of the book in early June and could not wait for summer to begin for it would be at the top of my summer reading list. I was thrilled when I received the book, for it came with a sincere note from the author, which is always appreciated.

Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion is a novel about the relationship between Rae Maddox and her mother Gina. Life on Hold centers on the affect that Gina’s obsession to move in order to make fresh starts influences Rae’s life. Rae, a sophomore in high school has only known one way of life and that way of life is constantly moving. For as long as Rae can remember, she has moved from place to place almost every year. Rae recalls many of the people that she has met on her moves and how in the end she had to leave them all. It was during one of these moves where Rae realizes that the more withdrawn she is from her friends the less painful it will be to separate when she moves yet again. Yet at every location, Rae has friends, but she does not allow herself to become close to them. Wisconsin, her most recent move, Rae yet again, feels like the outsider because she and her mother never stay too long in one place. At Whitman High, Rae befriends Kylie and Mason and one day, Rae is asked to be part of an Integration program set up by the school to helping familiarize new students with Whitman High School. Rae is assigned Allison Daly, who is both quiet and troubled. In Wisconsin, Rae becomes involved with the people around her and she realizes that she is home and she does not want to move with her mother anymore. Rae finally feels like an insider and she is no longer willing to put her life on hold, to follow her mother as they move.

Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion is a fantastic quick read. If you have, a few hours to spare this book will keep you occupied from beginning to end. The plot line is very fast paced and will keep you turning page after page as you try to figure out what Rae Maddox will do next. The plotline was hilarious and very realistic. The book is fairly short and I liked that Karen McQuestion kept the chapters short as well. It gave the book a balanced and complete feeling that is always welcomed. In beginning of the novel, the characters are very absorbed in their own lives at the, but as the novel progresses, the characters really start to bloom and let their personalities shine. It is safe to say that with the debut of Life on Hold, Karen McQuestion truly understands teenagers and the way they function. All-in-all I can easily say that Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion was an enjoyable novel and I would easily recommend it to any teenager or anyone who has a teenager.
(less)

like · see review

Jan 08, 2011 Debbi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rae Maddox is just a typical high school girl, except that her mother, Gina, can't seem to stay in one place for more than a year or two (at most). This makes for a very frustrating existence. So she's waiting it out until she turns 18 and can strike out on her own. Live life as she wants to, where she wants to. However for now, she's simply existing. Not getting terribly close to anyone, for fear of just losing them after yet another move. Living a life on hold as it were. (Hmm ... guess where...more

like · see review

Dec 09, 2011 Britta rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book held my interest until the end, but I felt some parts were lacking. The mother being sometimes on top of the situation and other times really oblivious confused me. She was supposed to come off as irresponsible, and that she did, but she also just seemed inconsistent. The main character was okay, but it was really the supporting character, Allison, that made me keep reading.

Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book, but it wasn't amazing. I really did enjoy Allison’s story unfolding, h...more

like · see review

Apr 23, 2011 P.E. at Tantalizing Illusions rated it 3 of 5 stars

Life on Hold is the story of Rae, a cool sophomore in high school who's family never stays anywhere for more than a year because of her mother, Gina. Gina finds moving an adventure but Rae craves stability. It's also the story of Allison, a new girl at Rae's school that Rae has to show around and help assimilate. Allison has gone through a hard time and the principal is depending on Rae to make sure everything works out for her.

Rae's a pretty normal girl. She moves around a lot but that way she...more

like · see review

Jun 14, 2011 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Life On Hold was the first Young Adult novel I read by Karen McQuestion after falling in love with two of her Adult novels. She is on par with other YA Authors of this genera like Sarah Dessen.

The story is about a 15 year old girl who, along with her slightly flighty mother, moves every time the going gets tough. Now, she is 45 minutes away from the only other family she knows, her Grandparents who are so welcoming they even have a bedroom for her at their house. Her own bedroom where she can k...more

like · see review

Apr 27, 2011 Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, read-in-2011, contemporary

Life on Hold is a short, but enjoyable read. Rae’s situation – living a very nomadic, almost gypsy-like life with her mother – brings forth all kinds of feelings. Right away, I could understand how hard it must be for her to move constantly. She refuses to allow herself to get close to anyone because she knows she’s just going to lose them. Being inside Rae’s head made me hate her mother. While Rae is angry at her mom at times, she still loves her, but I never really connected with the positive...more

like · see review

Nov 10, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fifteen year old Rae is the new girl in school. Almost ever year. Her single mother Gina isn't fond of setting down roots. Enter Allison, another new girl--a girl with a secret. Recently orphaned in a house fire, she has retreated inward and just might be more of an outcast than Rae. What follows is a story about an unlikely friendship, as Rae struggles to come to terms with her relationship with her mother, tries to befriend Allison, who just may be an arsonist, and maybe fall in love.

This is K...more

like · see review

Dec 07, 2011 Ruth Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars

I knew nothing about this book when I started it, and I figured that it would be a typical young adult novel. And indeed, it was. It was one of those books that has a fairly simple message, and it is told in a straightforward style.

I can't say I have any major complaints with this novel. The characters seemed to make sense--Rae was definitely likable enough. I think many teens would be able to identify with her situation. I could have done with less profanity at times, but I cannot say it was tr...more

like · see review

Mar 11, 2011 Candy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I will admit to being a fan of McQuestion's books. I can always count on her books to be easily read and very polished. She is absolutely brilliant. I picked this book to read from Amazon Vine before I realized it was written by her. It was the cover that called to me. I wanted to know about the girl leaning against the fence and why she looked so introspective. I had tossed it aside when the author emailed me through my blog and requested an honest review. I told her I already had a copy and it...more

like · see review

Mar 25, 2011 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reviews, fiction, ya

Article first published as Book Review: Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion on Blogcritics.

Life if sometimes really messed up when you are a teenager. Your parents don’t understand what you are going through. You can’t argue and win because they have all the answers. What Rae Maddox had a problem with, was moving. Every time she would just get settled in a new school, it was time to move on. Her mom was pretty cool but it was definitely something that created an issue for her. Because she handled...more Article first published as Book Review: Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion on Blogcritics.

Life if sometimes really messed up when you are a teenager. Your parents don’t understand what you are going through. You can’t argue and win because they have all the answers. What Rae Maddox had a problem with, was moving. Every time she would just get settled in a new school, it was time to move on. Her mom was pretty cool but it was definitely something that created an issue for her. Because she handled it all with aplomb, her mom never really understood. At her current school, she has a couple of people that she hangs out with. She does not call them friends because then she will be moving and lose more people that are close to her. The pain is too much, and she will just have to start again.

Kylie and Mason are the group she hangs with, but Blake and his friends are the, “cool Kids.” She is just not a part of that crowd. So when she is singled out by her principle to help a new student adjust she does not understand. She is still feeling her own way to belonging, but as usual, she goes with the flow. The new student Allison is quiet and standoffish. Rae struggles with finding a common ground. When she finds out that Allison’s parents just recently died in a fire, she tries very hard to understand. Allison is Blake’s cousin, but he goes out of his way to treat her rudely and taunt her. When Allison meets Rae’s mother, Rae is unsure how she feels about the bonding that occurs.
What Rae does not realize is that Allison is hiding her wounds; she is not mentally capable of dealing with her parent’s death. The unkindness of her cousin Blake and her difficulty fitting in, just pile more stones upon an already fragile ego. When Allison disappears, no one understands what has happened. Searching her heart, Rae believes she understands where Allison may have gone. Will she find her before it is too late?

In Life on Hold, Karen McQuestion has taken the horrifying events that occasionally happen in life and used it to build a lesson of understanding. The characters are very much like teenagers everywhere. Life happens all around them, but they only plug into what shows on the surface. There are often deep waters lurking in the shadows of their minds that are unplumbed. As with most kids, making fun and scoring off someone else often gets you laughs, but those laughs are often painful to the person on the other end.

Rae is a young woman with a heart, growing up without her father, but with a mother’s undivided attention has given her a different view of life. Trying to put herself in Allison’s place, she tries to be kinder to her. However, Allison herself makes it difficult. Can Rae reach deep within herself to find the solution to Allison’s disappearance. Will she be too late to save her?

I would recommend this book for the young adult reader. It is a harrowing look at what can happen when a teenager’s pain goes unnoticed. It is an eye opening look at challenges, which sometimes seem insurmountable. I believe it would be a great book to open dialog and create discussion. McQuestion puts together a realistic and fast-paced look at life.

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off me reading and understanding of the material. (less)

like · see review

Mar 21, 2011 Mary Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the second book I have read by Karen McQuestion. I have really liked both of them. I enjoy her style of writing and the subjects.
This story was about Rae who is fifteen years old and has been raised by her single mother who does not settle in one place for very long. Rae is tired of the nomadic life style and wants to finish high school in one place. She forms some new friendships and had a budding romance. In many ways Rae seems more mature than her mother, but through the course of the...more

like · see review

Jan 18, 2013 Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-for-mmbbr-s

McQuestion knows how to write a novel that captures your attention and keeps you interested from cover to cover. She is a versatile author since she writes both YA and adult fiction. In LIFE ON HOLD she writes from a 15 year old's perspective and takes you on a journey with Rae who is used to not staying put too long. When she gets to Wisconsin that all changes and Rae finally feels at home. In this quick novel you will become immersed in the story and enjoy seeing the characters grow and mature...more

like · see review

Apr 17, 2011 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Life On Hold was a great novel about a girl finally finding a sense of "home", and bonding with her mother. It tells the story of Rae and her mother, who are constantly moving around. As such, Rae never feels the need to make friends or any deep connections. But she's been in Wisconsin for quite some time now, and plans to stay there until she finishes high school, so she feels it's safe to make two friends. Her life is pretty good. That is until a new girl shows up in school that is rumored to...more

like · see review

Feb 01, 2011 Angel Kerner added it

This is the second book that I have recently read by Karen McQuestion and I enjoyed both. This book is about a high school sophomore and her relationship with others. I found it intersting because the main character saw herself one way but then found out how others really saw her.
In both books that I have read by McQuestion there is a common theme of the characters moving around alot.

like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good story, although I wish the author would have wrapped up the characters of Allison and her cousin, and what really happened there. It felt like too many developed characters got dropped off as inconsequential at the end. Or perhaps this is the idea for launching a next book where the missing father, grandparents & mother, and rest of the original characters get explained...?

like · see review

Jan 13, 2011 Leslie Nugent rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would recommend this book. It is an easy read and easy to pick up and put down when you have little time.

I liked the Characters. Rae...A 15 year old girl and her perspective and her story was believable and Rae was real and likeable. Gina...A mother who needed to grow up was interesting and I would have liked to get the whole story.

One of my favorite Karen McQuestion Novels?

like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

This time Karen McQuestion's writing is geared more toward the teen set as she focuses on the growing pains Rae experiences as she tries to find her own independence without hurting her mother's feelings. It's interesting how McQuestion captures Rae's anxieties without betraying her mother at all. Rae essentially raised herself and did a great job.

like · see review

Mar 13, 2011 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

The main character, 15 year old Rae is struggling to find her place in the world since her mother is always moving her around the country at least once a year. She's had little stability in her life. Rae is assigned to show a new girl, Allison, around her school who has been through a horrible tragedy. She's not very friendly and a little mysterious. Rae's mother Gina befriends Allison and Rae and her small group of friends soon find out there is much more to Allison's story then she's letting o...more

like · see review

Jan 29, 2010 Diane U rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lendable-kindle-books, contemporary

This book was great! This is the second book that I have read by Karen McQuestion. I totally enjoyed it! It was longer than the last one I read (Favorite) so the characters were more developed. I really felt a connection with Rae and all of her friends. I would totally recommend this book to anyone.

1 like · like · see review

Dec 12, 2012 Carolyn Bunkley rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was not the book I wanted -- there's another by the same title that was recommended by a friend. I'll eventually read the right one.

This was, however, not a disappointment. It was entertaining, and a good study of an unusual mother-daughter relationship.

like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the author. I really enjoyed this book...very well written, easy read. I've been out of high school for 20 some years but I can relate to the storyline and feel that most teenage girls would really enjoy it. Rae is an amazing girl!

like · see review

Sep 27, 2010 Meghan Lamm rated it 2 of 5 stars

FINALLY, another book that i can jump right into! for me, i know a book is good when, after a long day, at 10:30 or 11 at night, i can keep my eyes open to read, and WANT to!!!!!
and, unfortunately, that was the best part of this book for me. it was an easy read, but a bit remedial. very predictable, and a wee bit shallow.

like · see review

May 11, 2011 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, contemporary, realistic, rms

Rae is used to moving so often that she doesn't bother to make real friends. Then her principal pairs her up with another new student who has a troubled past. Short chapters keep the story moving, but it didn't always ring true for me.

I won this in a giveaway from I Am a Reader not a Writer.

like · see review

Jan 23, 2011 Mela Remington rated it 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable read, and an interesting look into the dynamics of the relationship of a single mom and her teenage daughter.

like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

Rae is a 15 year old girl who's Mother has moved her around the country since the time she was born. Her Mother has promised though that they can stay in one place until she graduates high school. She is assigned to help show around a new girl at school who has been through a horrible tragedy.

I think this was my favorite Karen McQuestion book so far. I really liked Rae's character. Though, it was quite immature due to her age. I would have loved if this book was written from the point of view o...more

like · see review

Nov 07, 2010 Laura added it

Easy read--something I would have loved when I was in high school. Fortunately, I still love those kinds of books!

1 like · like · see review

Mar 01, 2011 Blair Crouse rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked the gutsy teenaged main character in this story, but the writing was a little weak.

like · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Sucoxon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Interesting story, Seemed like a teen book which I didn't realize when I purchased it.

like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 Dianna S. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked Life on hold. Good book on telling what to do in when a tragedy comes up. Tells the life of a teen-age girl who struggles with a single mom and always moving from place to place. One of the biggest struggles she faces is trying to find her dad. Neither her mom nor her Grandparents will tell her about him. Another struggle is fitting in, But at this school she found her group of people.

like · see review

Jun 30, 2012 Mindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, ya

I liked this book. It ended a bit to abruptly, but it was mostly ok.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 19 20 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (6)

More editions...

Genres

Young Adult

7 users

Contemporary

3 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Karen McQuestion

National best-selling author Karen McQuestion writes books for adults as well as for kids and teens. Her novels regularly place in the top 100 Kindle books, and each successive novel has added to her ever growing fan base, making her one of the preeminent Amazon Publishing authors. McQuestion lives in Wisconsin with her family and is always working on her next novel.

Her website:www.karenmcquestion ...more

More about Karen McQuestion...

Books by Karen McQuestion

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Life on Hold

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Life on Hold
avg rating	preview: Life on Hold Goodreads rating: 3.30 (272 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7519659-life-on-hold?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1303585163l/7519659.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7519659-life-on-hold?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion[/url]

Life on Hold

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website