What do you think?
Rate this book
My Life as a Clone
I AM NOT HER
My name is Willa. I don’t remember much beyond my name. My parents are complete strangers. Every day I wake up and pretend I’m their seventeen-year-old daughter, but this is a lie. So who am I?
I AM A CLONE
I am a clone of a dead girl. It’s the only explanation that works. I was birthed in a laboratory and then embedded in this family. But something went wrong. I should have memories, but other than a few tantalizing fragments, I know next to nothing.
I WILL FIND MY PURPOSE
One thing I do know is that I was put here for a reason. Buried in my subconscious is the certainty that I have a mission, I don’t have much time to complete it, and something terrible is going to happen if I fail.
I WILL SAVE A LIFE
For now, my task is clear. Figure out where I came from and why I’m here. I’m not alone in this journey. I have a dog named Rin, who was placed here with me for some strange reason. He is a central part of all this and holds the key to finding my purpose. I also met a boy, Derek, who seems to know more about what’s going on inside me than I do. With their help, I will find my answers and do what I was sent here to do. Because if I don’t, people are going to die and one of them will be me.
My name is Willa. I don’t remember much beyond my name. My parents are complete strangers. Every day I wake up and pretend I’m their seventeen-year-old daughter, but this is a lie. So who am I?
I AM A CLONE
I am a clone of a dead girl. It’s the only explanation that works. I was birthed in a laboratory and then embedded in this family. But something went wrong. I should have memories, but other than a few tantalizing fragments, I know next to nothing.
I WILL FIND MY PURPOSE
One thing I do know is that I was put here for a reason. Buried in my subconscious is the certainty that I have a mission, I don’t have much time to complete it, and something terrible is going to happen if I fail.
I WILL SAVE A LIFE
For now, my task is clear. Figure out where I came from and why I’m here. I’m not alone in this journey. I have a dog named Rin, who was placed here with me for some strange reason. He is a central part of all this and holds the key to finding my purpose. I also met a boy, Derek, who seems to know more about what’s going on inside me than I do. With their help, I will find my answers and do what I was sent here to do. Because if I don’t, people are going to die and one of them will be me.
- GenresScience Fiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2022
4 people are currently reading
1651 people want to read
About the author
K.D. Van Brunt
12 books91 followersI am a lawyer and have been writing professionally my entire career. I moved around a lot growing up (mostly in Southern California) before settling down on a ranch outside the town of Nespelem, Washington on the Colville reservation. I came east to go to law school a long time ago and never went home again. Today, I live in the great state of Maryland with my standard poodle, Aloy, who is my patient muse. In additional to numerous (and boring) legal writings, I’ve published seven young adult books with independent publishers, probably the best known of which is the Win the Rings trilogy. My stories all have a strong romantic element and tend to be very character driven. In addition to novels, I have also published an eclectic mix of short stories, ranging from romance to science fiction. My stories have won awards and my writing has gained favorable recognition (but I could always use more). In my spare time, when not writing, I enjoy a good road trip, watching hockey, and pretty much anything to do with poodles.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 6, 2022
,,Destiny isn't an endpoint, it's a journey."
Willa is a clone. Even though she's seventeen, she can't remember anything before three months ago, when she was 'born'. Her theory is that the girl she is replacing died in a tragic accident and they made identical clone out of her. She understood this on her own and she is blending so well in that family, pretending to have parents and brother. But she can't help but wonder what is her purpose. Her dog, Rin, is always by her side and somehow leads her way to finding herself.
Now, they're moving out of Boston in a small town. Even though she has difficulties to be accepted in school, surprisingly fast, she made a few friends. And here is Derek, he understands her more than anyone in her life. Can he help her find her way to the truth? Will this place finally bring her some answers, or will she be more confused and lost than before?
I adore this book with all my heart! The narration is so addictive, I couldn't stop reading it. Maybe because the protagonist is a seventeen-year-old girl, I connected with the story from the very start. There's a mystery that awakens your curiosity and you find yourself making different scenarios of what could happen next.
I really like Willa and her confused brain, it was so interesting to read the story from her point of view. You just can't dislike her. She is such a lovable person, so sweet and kind, that just happens to be in a strange position in her life. Her situation is showing how people don't accept differences and immediately they label it 'crazy'. We need to learn to accept everyone and to be nice even to the most evil person. Because we are all a little broken inside. Some are just hiding that better than others, and some take that pain as an excuse to do/say evil and rude things. But putting ourselves in other people's places and stopping for a second and seeing from a different perspective will make us more understanding.
Even though I thought that there were not enough explanations for some parts, I really enjoyed reading this funny, emotional and warm book. The idea is original, unique and well put between the pages. I highly recommend it!
Willa is a clone. Even though she's seventeen, she can't remember anything before three months ago, when she was 'born'. Her theory is that the girl she is replacing died in a tragic accident and they made identical clone out of her. She understood this on her own and she is blending so well in that family, pretending to have parents and brother. But she can't help but wonder what is her purpose. Her dog, Rin, is always by her side and somehow leads her way to finding herself.
Now, they're moving out of Boston in a small town. Even though she has difficulties to be accepted in school, surprisingly fast, she made a few friends. And here is Derek, he understands her more than anyone in her life. Can he help her find her way to the truth? Will this place finally bring her some answers, or will she be more confused and lost than before?
I adore this book with all my heart! The narration is so addictive, I couldn't stop reading it. Maybe because the protagonist is a seventeen-year-old girl, I connected with the story from the very start. There's a mystery that awakens your curiosity and you find yourself making different scenarios of what could happen next.
I really like Willa and her confused brain, it was so interesting to read the story from her point of view. You just can't dislike her. She is such a lovable person, so sweet and kind, that just happens to be in a strange position in her life. Her situation is showing how people don't accept differences and immediately they label it 'crazy'. We need to learn to accept everyone and to be nice even to the most evil person. Because we are all a little broken inside. Some are just hiding that better than others, and some take that pain as an excuse to do/say evil and rude things. But putting ourselves in other people's places and stopping for a second and seeing from a different perspective will make us more understanding.
Even though I thought that there were not enough explanations for some parts, I really enjoyed reading this funny, emotional and warm book. The idea is original, unique and well put between the pages. I highly recommend it!
June 5, 2022
4⭐
.
My Life As A Clone by K. D Van Brunt is an original YA Adult which is about Willa, a 17 years-old teenager who is a clone of a deceased girl called Reese.
.
The interesting thing is that Willa, is really only 5 months old and she was adopted by the same family who lost their daughter and sister Reese.
.
For that reason, Willa has to discover her real identity, because she is no longer Reese, but Willa. And also, she tries constantly, to make their adopted parents and brother to be aware of it.
.
As soon as she moved on to another Town with her family, she made some new friends and also, enemies, but she believes this could be a good start to her to discover herself.
.
The story is interesting because you all the time you have the intrigue if Willa is in danger. She believes something is behind her and also, while you are reading yo think that this could be a great conspirancy behind her.
.
Also, a point I very enjoyed is that Willa has a dog Rin who follow her everywhere and also, she has a great love for animals. And at some point, she dedicates her spare time to saving animals and healing them.
.
To finish this review, the story is intriguing, and at the same time as the main character, we will find some many aswers to the questions that Willa has around her existence.
.
Without doubts is a very original and interesting story you would love it a lot!
.
My Life As A Clone by K. D Van Brunt is an original YA Adult which is about Willa, a 17 years-old teenager who is a clone of a deceased girl called Reese.
.
The interesting thing is that Willa, is really only 5 months old and she was adopted by the same family who lost their daughter and sister Reese.
.
For that reason, Willa has to discover her real identity, because she is no longer Reese, but Willa. And also, she tries constantly, to make their adopted parents and brother to be aware of it.
.
As soon as she moved on to another Town with her family, she made some new friends and also, enemies, but she believes this could be a good start to her to discover herself.
.
The story is interesting because you all the time you have the intrigue if Willa is in danger. She believes something is behind her and also, while you are reading yo think that this could be a great conspirancy behind her.
.
Also, a point I very enjoyed is that Willa has a dog Rin who follow her everywhere and also, she has a great love for animals. And at some point, she dedicates her spare time to saving animals and healing them.
.
To finish this review, the story is intriguing, and at the same time as the main character, we will find some many aswers to the questions that Willa has around her existence.
.
Without doubts is a very original and interesting story you would love it a lot!
September 1, 2022
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐
Decided to read this because the title is interesting. Into several chapters in the book, I think Willa has a unique thought. I continuously doubt her thought because it kind of crazy and after that I can see what is real happening here.
The plot is slow at the beginning so it's hard for me to grip my attention to the book, but after I guess what is real happening here I can't leave this book. My favorite part is when we know the real thing happen to Willa. I feel bad for her. It so traumatizing and I can understand why she behave like that even her family. At first I didn't understand, and I think her family is stupid too cover something so big but then yeah, I believe that choice is the best from Willa.
Willa is the strongest ever. After everything happen to her, after her life shatter, after her belief destroy she still going strong. I adore her so much!
One thing I didn't like is the love triangle. I think it's unnecessary and it make's me dislike Willa a little bit for "playing" like that.
Decided to read this because the title is interesting. Into several chapters in the book, I think Willa has a unique thought. I continuously doubt her thought because it kind of crazy and after that I can see what is real happening here.
The plot is slow at the beginning so it's hard for me to grip my attention to the book, but after I guess what is real happening here I can't leave this book. My favorite part is when we know the real thing happen to Willa. I feel bad for her. It so traumatizing and I can understand why she behave like that even her family. At first I didn't understand, and I think her family is stupid too cover something so big but then yeah, I believe that choice is the best from Willa.
Willa is the strongest ever. After everything happen to her, after her life shatter, after her belief destroy she still going strong. I adore her so much!
One thing I didn't like is the love triangle. I think it's unnecessary and it make's me dislike Willa a little bit for "playing" like that.
July 15, 2022
Reading this book was a great experience for me.
The story was entertaining and you could learn a lot from it. Some dialogues in the book made me think deeply for a while.
I liked reading it. I am grateful to the dear author for providing me with a copy of the book.🙏🏼 I recommend reading this book🤍
The story was entertaining and you could learn a lot from it. Some dialogues in the book made me think deeply for a while.
I liked reading it. I am grateful to the dear author for providing me with a copy of the book.🙏🏼 I recommend reading this book🤍
June 23, 2022
I liked it a lot, at the beginning it's weird because you think Willa is a girl who suffers a mental illnes, she thinks she’s a clone of Reese a girl who is dead, daughter of the family where she lives. Willa has no memory and doesn't know why, so she thinks the government cloned her and is testing a clone program to make families happy or accomplish missions, she talks to her dog Rin and it all starts when she moves house to Middletown. She has new friends and two boys who fight for her attention, up to there the story is weird and funny but after half of the book you notice that she’s not sick, but she lost her memory, you imagine that she is Reese and discovering things from her past, but the sad thing is that she really believes that she has a dog that she talks to, and her whole school discovers that she talks to her imaginary dog (Rin) and they stole videos of her therapies, the story becomes sad, disappointing at times because of the bullying she is subjected to and this is when the author failed to give a good conclusion to this horrible subject. The rest is very nice when she recovers her memory and knows what her sad fate was. My favorite character is Willa and her imaginary dog Rin, they are two in one, they always talk and think together, Rin is like Willa's conscience that is trapped in her mind, in her pain that she doesn't know it exists but she feels it and it saves her from many situations, that is amazing because it’s never explained in the novel how she knows things that Rin told her, like rescuing dogs and cats that nobody knew were sick or kidnapped, it is a mystery but at the same time you understand that she is special and that her mind wanted to save her. What I didn’t liked so much about the novel is that the author did not know how to exploit and conclude the bullying topic, I would have liked to have deepened in that topic, to give solutions, although he tries not to leave Willa alone, to give her the company of her friends but not of her family or school. I also didn't really like that Willa's family was too much apart from the story, you almost believe that she doesn't really belong to that family. And it also needed a little more romance. So, for the type of novel it is, I recommend it for teenagers and some adults who like science fiction and the first part of the book is a little slow and repetitive, but once you find out that Willa is not crazy but just doesn't want her memory back, you want to know what happened and from there you don't let go of the book until the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2023
Thank you Booktasters and K.D. Van Brunt for the copy of the book!
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to sit down and actually read a book. A while since my brain has let me focus on what I’m reading instead of wandering to what needs to be done, how my kids are doing, etc etc. But new year means – hopefully – getting back to reading and reviewing!
My Life As A Clone is a character-driven YA novel that starts off a little slow. It takes some getting into, as we are dropped – straight away – into our MC’s PoV. Willa is a character who is trying to figure out her past, her reason for existence – a theme I think most readers can relate to – while struggling with confusing flashes of memories and of course, pesky hormones.
Stories written in first person tend to be a hit or miss for me, but Willa’s voice was direct and blunt. She was driven and focused once she fixed on a goal, and despite her confusion and struggle to fit in, she was no wallflower. I liked that about her. Even as I struggled a little to understand the deal with Rin, the chapters that dealt with the nightmares, I liked Willa as a character and found her genuinely compelling. Did I think her assumption about herself was right? No. Did I enjoy reading her rationalise it anyway? Absolutely.
I had my own suspicions about her past, the relationship between Willa and Reese, and the secrets her family seemed to be hiding. While it turned out to be close to the truth, the actual revelation about Reese hit me hard. I found myself actually near tears as I read that part of the novel (no spoilers!) and the emotions it evoked in me pushed this read from a 3 star to a 4 star. The writing of that chapter particularly tugged at my heart, and I am not yet recovered from it.
If there is one weakness to the story, it is that the characters around Willa do not seem as fleshed out as she is. It is my biggest struggle with first character stories – because we are so with one character, the other characters are only seen through their point of view. While they’re not flat characters, most of them aren’t well-rounded either. They serve a purpose for Willa’s story, and that is about it.
Overall however, My Life As A Clone is a great read for someone looking for a character who is not quite what she seems, who is a little bit broken, and who just wants someone to accept her as she is instead of looking for someone long gone. It is a story about acceptance and moving on and healing – and it is messy and painful – and quite very raw. It is definitely something I’ve never read before, and I am grateful to the author for writing something so different and engaging.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to sit down and actually read a book. A while since my brain has let me focus on what I’m reading instead of wandering to what needs to be done, how my kids are doing, etc etc. But new year means – hopefully – getting back to reading and reviewing!
My Life As A Clone is a character-driven YA novel that starts off a little slow. It takes some getting into, as we are dropped – straight away – into our MC’s PoV. Willa is a character who is trying to figure out her past, her reason for existence – a theme I think most readers can relate to – while struggling with confusing flashes of memories and of course, pesky hormones.
Stories written in first person tend to be a hit or miss for me, but Willa’s voice was direct and blunt. She was driven and focused once she fixed on a goal, and despite her confusion and struggle to fit in, she was no wallflower. I liked that about her. Even as I struggled a little to understand the deal with Rin, the chapters that dealt with the nightmares, I liked Willa as a character and found her genuinely compelling. Did I think her assumption about herself was right? No. Did I enjoy reading her rationalise it anyway? Absolutely.
I had my own suspicions about her past, the relationship between Willa and Reese, and the secrets her family seemed to be hiding. While it turned out to be close to the truth, the actual revelation about Reese hit me hard. I found myself actually near tears as I read that part of the novel (no spoilers!) and the emotions it evoked in me pushed this read from a 3 star to a 4 star. The writing of that chapter particularly tugged at my heart, and I am not yet recovered from it.
If there is one weakness to the story, it is that the characters around Willa do not seem as fleshed out as she is. It is my biggest struggle with first character stories – because we are so with one character, the other characters are only seen through their point of view. While they’re not flat characters, most of them aren’t well-rounded either. They serve a purpose for Willa’s story, and that is about it.
Overall however, My Life As A Clone is a great read for someone looking for a character who is not quite what she seems, who is a little bit broken, and who just wants someone to accept her as she is instead of looking for someone long gone. It is a story about acceptance and moving on and healing – and it is messy and painful – and quite very raw. It is definitely something I’ve never read before, and I am grateful to the author for writing something so different and engaging.
May 1, 2022
My life as a Clone By K.D.Van Brunt
YA
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My life as a Clone is a gripping young adult current novel about a 17-year-old girl named Willa who discovers she is a clone of a deceased girl. Her entire life is centred on that single life-changing revelation, which is compounded by the fact that she has no memories beyond a few months. Rin, her devoted dog, has a particular connection with her and all that has been going on, and she wonders her existence and why she was placed into this household.
Willa is living a life that she has no right to be living. Derek is a boy she meets and became friends with.But she always had that nagging feeling that he knew far more than he let on kept Willa on edge about everything. Certain truths will affect her sense of reality as she sets out to discover the whys and hows.
This book is truly a work of art! A compelling young adult tale with well-developed characters. Reading this book was a fantastic experience for me because the author's great writing style attracted me from the first page. The tale had so many twists and turns, and the clashing of truth and deception resulted in a great blend for a well-established scenario that would take you on a journey where one false move would wipe you out.
The plot has so many twists and turns, and the clashing of reality with deception resulted in a great blend for a well-established storyline that will take you on an expedition.The focus on character arc, the establishment of a narrative that will make readers feel involved, the leery feeling of being ensnared, the ultimate revelations of truth that will change the entire course of the character's future, and the incorporation of ancillary characters are all threads that must be tied together to make an intriguing read!I enjoyed how the story unveiled with each chapter bringing more suspense!
The author of this book has deftly woven each and every facet with utmost dexterity. I liked how the narrative unfolded, with each chapter adding more suspense and an unexpected finish that surprised me.
"My life as a clone" by K.D. Van Brunt is the perfect book to read if you're looking for a unique YA premise with hints of coming-of-age.
YA
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My life as a Clone is a gripping young adult current novel about a 17-year-old girl named Willa who discovers she is a clone of a deceased girl. Her entire life is centred on that single life-changing revelation, which is compounded by the fact that she has no memories beyond a few months. Rin, her devoted dog, has a particular connection with her and all that has been going on, and she wonders her existence and why she was placed into this household.
Willa is living a life that she has no right to be living. Derek is a boy she meets and became friends with.But she always had that nagging feeling that he knew far more than he let on kept Willa on edge about everything. Certain truths will affect her sense of reality as she sets out to discover the whys and hows.
This book is truly a work of art! A compelling young adult tale with well-developed characters. Reading this book was a fantastic experience for me because the author's great writing style attracted me from the first page. The tale had so many twists and turns, and the clashing of truth and deception resulted in a great blend for a well-established scenario that would take you on a journey where one false move would wipe you out.
The plot has so many twists and turns, and the clashing of reality with deception resulted in a great blend for a well-established storyline that will take you on an expedition.The focus on character arc, the establishment of a narrative that will make readers feel involved, the leery feeling of being ensnared, the ultimate revelations of truth that will change the entire course of the character's future, and the incorporation of ancillary characters are all threads that must be tied together to make an intriguing read!I enjoyed how the story unveiled with each chapter bringing more suspense!
The author of this book has deftly woven each and every facet with utmost dexterity. I liked how the narrative unfolded, with each chapter adding more suspense and an unexpected finish that surprised me.
"My life as a clone" by K.D. Van Brunt is the perfect book to read if you're looking for a unique YA premise with hints of coming-of-age.
August 19, 2022
First of all, many thanks to the author and to the Booktasters organization for letting me read and review this book and for having patience with me as it took me a long time to finish!
K.D. Van Brunt is a lawyer in addition to his job as an author. He recieved his BA in religious studies from Northwest Nazarene college before attending Harvard. Now, he lives in Maryland with his two poodles, working remotely and writing books. He also details a lot of his likes and dislikes on his website here.
Van Brunt’s latest tale, My Life as a Clone, follows Willa’s story. Willa believes she is a clone of her family’s previously dead daughter, created so they wouldn’t have to face their life. However, Willa and her dog, Rin, know there is a mission they have to complete, whether it’s to save lives or maybe even save herself.
I do have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book. I thought, at first, that we were only seeing the shallow side of characters and the dialogue was a bit cringey. While the dialogue continued to be mildly unbelivable, I was wrong about the characters. With each chapter, I was able to see another facet of not only Willa, but also of the other characters.
The book explored some science fiction, themes of mental health and bullying, and the spirtual aspects of animals. Though I think some of the explorations did go to an extreme, it was nice to see multifaceted aspects of each character instead of outright villifying anyone–even the bullies. Plus, I loved the themes of animals as an animal lover myself. I trust and love my pet cats with my whole life, and it was relatable to see Willa do the same with her dog.
My overall rating is three stars, because while I loved the themes and the characters, I still did find the dialogue unbelivable for teeenage characters which sometimes was jarring, taking me out of the story. Still, I think YA readers and animal lovers may take a liking to this story.
TWs: death of a sibling, natural disasters, mental health problems, bullying
K.D. Van Brunt is a lawyer in addition to his job as an author. He recieved his BA in religious studies from Northwest Nazarene college before attending Harvard. Now, he lives in Maryland with his two poodles, working remotely and writing books. He also details a lot of his likes and dislikes on his website here.
Van Brunt’s latest tale, My Life as a Clone, follows Willa’s story. Willa believes she is a clone of her family’s previously dead daughter, created so they wouldn’t have to face their life. However, Willa and her dog, Rin, know there is a mission they have to complete, whether it’s to save lives or maybe even save herself.
I do have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book. I thought, at first, that we were only seeing the shallow side of characters and the dialogue was a bit cringey. While the dialogue continued to be mildly unbelivable, I was wrong about the characters. With each chapter, I was able to see another facet of not only Willa, but also of the other characters.
The book explored some science fiction, themes of mental health and bullying, and the spirtual aspects of animals. Though I think some of the explorations did go to an extreme, it was nice to see multifaceted aspects of each character instead of outright villifying anyone–even the bullies. Plus, I loved the themes of animals as an animal lover myself. I trust and love my pet cats with my whole life, and it was relatable to see Willa do the same with her dog.
My overall rating is three stars, because while I loved the themes and the characters, I still did find the dialogue unbelivable for teeenage characters which sometimes was jarring, taking me out of the story. Still, I think YA readers and animal lovers may take a liking to this story.
TWs: death of a sibling, natural disasters, mental health problems, bullying
June 17, 2022
Who comes back for you whenever you need saving? - from a bad dark place… for Willa it’s Rin the dog. But Rin wasn’t real, at least not before and after the fatal Hurricane Astra in Boston which took away her sister as well as a childhood boyfriend, and many others; and Wills eventual rise from a 7 month long comma. At times the brain goofiness and amnesia plus a bit of tragedy is a recipe for recovery after disaster.
5 months after comatose she is less confused and functional but now she believes she’s a clone assigned by the government underlords to pacify the Laleigh family after loss of their daughter. As she’s on “her” mission and purpose peer pressure and subliminal bullying almost derails her to almost running away from home. Yet again Rin to the rescue this time her crush Derek in the mix. Memories flood back like an avalanche, trying to avoid reliving the painful reminiscences is futile; she has to let go. Her nightmares call for it, Rin the invisible talking dog urges it and psychologist Dr. Bezley prescribed it.
All what she goes through culminated to discovering her purpose.
From the highest of high’s of fuzzy feeling to the scariest and saddest of all crappyssourus of feelings. A long sucker punch of a read, I was sucked into the heartfelt story of Willa as a clone and her teenage adventures.
What a lighthearted read, it’s so relaxing, eerily detailed and absorbing style of writing. This read took me through on an honest trip down memory lane and I found personal closure.
Willa (Laleigh) or Reese, it doesn’t matter, takes me back into a time I felt alone growing up, yet I wasn’t. Everything, I mean everything was dramatic and exaggerated; it was annoying - except for my drawing book & nature walks, I guess that’s why I enjoyed myself in boy-scouts.
Great read indeed 👌🏽
5 months after comatose she is less confused and functional but now she believes she’s a clone assigned by the government underlords to pacify the Laleigh family after loss of their daughter. As she’s on “her” mission and purpose peer pressure and subliminal bullying almost derails her to almost running away from home. Yet again Rin to the rescue this time her crush Derek in the mix. Memories flood back like an avalanche, trying to avoid reliving the painful reminiscences is futile; she has to let go. Her nightmares call for it, Rin the invisible talking dog urges it and psychologist Dr. Bezley prescribed it.
All what she goes through culminated to discovering her purpose.
From the highest of high’s of fuzzy feeling to the scariest and saddest of all crappyssourus of feelings. A long sucker punch of a read, I was sucked into the heartfelt story of Willa as a clone and her teenage adventures.
What a lighthearted read, it’s so relaxing, eerily detailed and absorbing style of writing. This read took me through on an honest trip down memory lane and I found personal closure.
Willa (Laleigh) or Reese, it doesn’t matter, takes me back into a time I felt alone growing up, yet I wasn’t. Everything, I mean everything was dramatic and exaggerated; it was annoying - except for my drawing book & nature walks, I guess that’s why I enjoyed myself in boy-scouts.
Great read indeed 👌🏽
June 7, 2022
'My Life As A Clone' is a YA novel following 17 year old Willa, a clone replacing a deceased teenager called Reese. After moving from Boston to a small town with her mom, dad, brother and dog called Rin, Willa is determined to find out her purpose.
I absolutely loved Rin and Willa's relationship, especially the amusing conversations that they have with each other throughout the story and how Rin is always by Willa's side through the problems they face together. I felt like all the characters were really well developed (Alex and Derek were my favourites) and I would definitely have liked to see some more of Alex rather than just in the beginning parts of the story. Willa's character is very likeable right from the start when she's confused about her lack of clear memories and her being a 17 year old facing the stresses of high school bullies makes her very relatable to the typical young adults that would be reading this book.
This book is very well written and the plot is paced perfectly. We are allowed enough time to get introduced to Willa and connect with her before we are drip fed little pieces of information about the clone programme and Reese's life before Willa was cloned. It didn't feel like we were being drowned with thousands of pieces of information which is impossible to remember and piece together but also didn't feel like the story was progressing at a snail's pace. This is a very interesting concept for a book and I don't believe I've read or seen anything with this unique concept in the past. I loved reading this book and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Thank you to the author and Bookstagrammers.com for a gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Rin and Willa's relationship, especially the amusing conversations that they have with each other throughout the story and how Rin is always by Willa's side through the problems they face together. I felt like all the characters were really well developed (Alex and Derek were my favourites) and I would definitely have liked to see some more of Alex rather than just in the beginning parts of the story. Willa's character is very likeable right from the start when she's confused about her lack of clear memories and her being a 17 year old facing the stresses of high school bullies makes her very relatable to the typical young adults that would be reading this book.
This book is very well written and the plot is paced perfectly. We are allowed enough time to get introduced to Willa and connect with her before we are drip fed little pieces of information about the clone programme and Reese's life before Willa was cloned. It didn't feel like we were being drowned with thousands of pieces of information which is impossible to remember and piece together but also didn't feel like the story was progressing at a snail's pace. This is a very interesting concept for a book and I don't believe I've read or seen anything with this unique concept in the past. I loved reading this book and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Thank you to the author and Bookstagrammers.com for a gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2022
BOOK:-MY LIFE AS A CLONE BY K.D.VAN BRUNT
BOOK REVIEWER:-OKOKO AYEZU TAMARAPREYE
SYNOPSIS:-
A poetic story dedicated to those who wander like the major character in the book ,Willa but are not lost.Set in Henticot Island,North Carolina,the book capturing Willa's worry if she is doing the right thing and her fear of ending as an organ donor gives an exposé on a variety of subjects from sports ;saving endangered pets,particularly dogs;catering;drug abuse;animal protection; gossip;mental health;amnesia; animal protection;anger management; veterinary medicine; moral support;cyber security sex; lust and destiny using the life of Willa ,her pet dog and her immediate family. Clone in the book is used to describe her identical nature with her sister Reese ;having to wear same shirts as the dozen company members while carrying out the responsibility of setting the pace and team members looking alike in their jersey. The name Reese is used to refer to her sister; to mean "raise" and "the presence of eating".Rin is used to refer to " Eat-in" or "Reign".Fox is used to refer to " No ex"; "For ex" and "a deceptive person".Monsters to mean a cruel or wicked and inhuman person and those who " insist on mourning stars".Brain as the human brain and "what we wear the brassiere on"
LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE BOOK READ
💪🏿Destiny is a journey and not an end point and we need each other to achieve.
💪🏿The police role in law enforcement and knowing when to call for police help instead of handling things on our own which could get us in more trouble
💪🏿Not to let anger control us as we may hurt others in the process
APPLICATION OF LESSONS LEARNT
The lesson in the book on anger management are trite and if applied will be beneficial to every reader
BOOK REVIEWER:-OKOKO AYEZU TAMARAPREYE
SYNOPSIS:-
A poetic story dedicated to those who wander like the major character in the book ,Willa but are not lost.Set in Henticot Island,North Carolina,the book capturing Willa's worry if she is doing the right thing and her fear of ending as an organ donor gives an exposé on a variety of subjects from sports ;saving endangered pets,particularly dogs;catering;drug abuse;animal protection; gossip;mental health;amnesia; animal protection;anger management; veterinary medicine; moral support;cyber security sex; lust and destiny using the life of Willa ,her pet dog and her immediate family. Clone in the book is used to describe her identical nature with her sister Reese ;having to wear same shirts as the dozen company members while carrying out the responsibility of setting the pace and team members looking alike in their jersey. The name Reese is used to refer to her sister; to mean "raise" and "the presence of eating".Rin is used to refer to " Eat-in" or "Reign".Fox is used to refer to " No ex"; "For ex" and "a deceptive person".Monsters to mean a cruel or wicked and inhuman person and those who " insist on mourning stars".Brain as the human brain and "what we wear the brassiere on"
LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE BOOK READ
💪🏿Destiny is a journey and not an end point and we need each other to achieve.
💪🏿The police role in law enforcement and knowing when to call for police help instead of handling things on our own which could get us in more trouble
💪🏿Not to let anger control us as we may hurt others in the process
APPLICATION OF LESSONS LEARNT
The lesson in the book on anger management are trite and if applied will be beneficial to every reader
May 17, 2022
My Life As A Clone is written in a style that absorbs the reader into the situations of the book by strong, clean narrative that is almost 100% absent gadgets and distractions.
In an era of isolation, this book calls on some old school styles and themes that are designed to, and warm the heart.
This book has the easy spinoff potential to be a story told as a play or TV movie, I would guess.
Part of the value of the emotional expression in this book, is that it doesn't shy away from experience and contact, both of which are by force drained away in the last few years.
Dependent upon who the targeted audience is, would decipher which elements would be elevated from the book.
The concept of being faced with new roles in life, flanked by mystery and the limitations of self discovery under extreme stress holds opportunity for discussion.
We now live in a world where everyone has experienced extreme stress, so which things are easily anticipated and which are trigger warnings can't always be predicted.
This book hits a variety of themes of every day occurances where light seems to find it's way in.
The direct person to person regular life exchanges may remind readers of what hope and next right things hold.
A funny thing about this book, is that it has a real Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew meets Lassie with a science twist to it. In that, a hidden appeal to an older audience who would recognize that, if it were made into a family type TV film or play.
Check out the authors other works! There are quite a few!
In an era of isolation, this book calls on some old school styles and themes that are designed to, and warm the heart.
This book has the easy spinoff potential to be a story told as a play or TV movie, I would guess.
Part of the value of the emotional expression in this book, is that it doesn't shy away from experience and contact, both of which are by force drained away in the last few years.
Dependent upon who the targeted audience is, would decipher which elements would be elevated from the book.
The concept of being faced with new roles in life, flanked by mystery and the limitations of self discovery under extreme stress holds opportunity for discussion.
We now live in a world where everyone has experienced extreme stress, so which things are easily anticipated and which are trigger warnings can't always be predicted.
This book hits a variety of themes of every day occurances where light seems to find it's way in.
The direct person to person regular life exchanges may remind readers of what hope and next right things hold.
A funny thing about this book, is that it has a real Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew meets Lassie with a science twist to it. In that, a hidden appeal to an older audience who would recognize that, if it were made into a family type TV film or play.
Check out the authors other works! There are quite a few!
May 30, 2022
The protagonist in this story interested me from the start, partly because her situation was unusual. Having said that, I liked and related to Willa a lot. She was a teenage girl. I'm no longer a teenage girl, but I remember what it was like to be one. While I was reading, I enjoyed Willa interacting with the other characters and getting to know the world around her. Willa was a character that came to life easily for me. I found it interesting that she described her hair as "peanut butter coloured", because it made me smile, and helped me to visualise what this character looked like. I also enjoyed the conversations she had with her dog, Rin, because they made me smile and I found them amusing.
The story felt very current to me, because of references to things like pop music and social media - I think when a book makes references like that, it appeals to the reader. At least, it was something that appealed to me.
Initially, I wondered if this story would be eerie or creepy (and I wouldn't have minded if it had been), but it wasn't. Mostly, it just seemed to be a story about a teenage girl in an unusual situation. Towards the end of the story, Willa came to a realisation about herself that had me raising my eyebrows, because it was a twist that I hadn't seen coming. That's something that I can readers can always appreciate - when a book surprises them.
I did like this story. I think in particular, it's something that young adults or millennials might enjoy.
The story felt very current to me, because of references to things like pop music and social media - I think when a book makes references like that, it appeals to the reader. At least, it was something that appealed to me.
Initially, I wondered if this story would be eerie or creepy (and I wouldn't have minded if it had been), but it wasn't. Mostly, it just seemed to be a story about a teenage girl in an unusual situation. Towards the end of the story, Willa came to a realisation about herself that had me raising my eyebrows, because it was a twist that I hadn't seen coming. That's something that I can readers can always appreciate - when a book surprises them.
I did like this story. I think in particular, it's something that young adults or millennials might enjoy.
May 12, 2022
I loved this book. It was captivating which made it hard to put down at times. I really liked how it touched on many mini themes while still presenting the main theme all the way through. Mental illness is a subject that definitely needs a voice. The fact that people that have mental illness get made to feel ashamed of their trauma does not make it any easier to get help. I love that this book made an example of that.
The characters were developed well. Although I would have liked to see more of Alex. We hear that he had anger issues that Willa should be aware of but that really did not come through in the book. There was a slight mention when he punched the wall but a lot of teenage boys would do that.
I really liked the way information was made available to us slowly and the timing was at a good pace. Like I said earlier I did not want to put the book down because you wanted to find out what happened.
This book makes you feel with all your feelings. And to me that is what makes a great story. If you read a book and can laugh, cry, and sit on the seat of your pants waiting to see what happens, that is a great novel.
The characters were developed well. Although I would have liked to see more of Alex. We hear that he had anger issues that Willa should be aware of but that really did not come through in the book. There was a slight mention when he punched the wall but a lot of teenage boys would do that.
I really liked the way information was made available to us slowly and the timing was at a good pace. Like I said earlier I did not want to put the book down because you wanted to find out what happened.
This book makes you feel with all your feelings. And to me that is what makes a great story. If you read a book and can laugh, cry, and sit on the seat of your pants waiting to see what happens, that is a great novel.
May 1, 2022
To start this off, this sounded like a book I would like, but I didn't know I would end up LOVING it! I had my theories about what was really going on through the entire book, but I got some of it wrong. I picked this up and read it within a day because it was written so well and made me want to figure out what was going on. Big time page turner. I love all the animals and Willa working with them in the clinic. Some parts made me sad when Willa was working in the clinic. I absolutely loved Rin in this book! I'm so glad that sassy dog was a huge part of this book😍 he's so sweet. We don't deserve the loyalty of our pets and the love they show us. They're so pure and full of love🖤 Between Alex and Derek I like Derek a lot more. I just felt he clicked better with Willa. It was fun trying to figure out the mystery of the small things coming up and figuring out with Willa what the heck was going on. I'm so happy with how it ended and didn't want the story to end. I highly recommend this book. It was beyond amazing and a fast read for me.
June 7, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mysterious... Funny... Compelling... Emotional... Unique... I recommend it!!!
A story about a teenage girl in an unusual situation. 17 years old and she can't remember much beyond a few months (when she was actually born).
Willa is a clone of a deceased girl named Reese. What are the odds that the same family that lost their daughter would actually adopt her, a clone of their daughter??
I fell in love with this character and her love for animals, the care she gave them when she was working at the clinic (it's hard not like her).
This book is unique, and what I enjoyed about it, is the fact that it's not exactly something that's been written before. I was constantly swimming in a thousand theories with every page I turned however I did enjoy the surprising ending.
Thank you to BookTasters and the author, as I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mysterious... Funny... Compelling... Emotional... Unique... I recommend it!!!
A story about a teenage girl in an unusual situation. 17 years old and she can't remember much beyond a few months (when she was actually born).
Willa is a clone of a deceased girl named Reese. What are the odds that the same family that lost their daughter would actually adopt her, a clone of their daughter??
I fell in love with this character and her love for animals, the care she gave them when she was working at the clinic (it's hard not like her).
This book is unique, and what I enjoyed about it, is the fact that it's not exactly something that's been written before. I was constantly swimming in a thousand theories with every page I turned however I did enjoy the surprising ending.
Thank you to BookTasters and the author, as I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2022
I actually started reading this book late due to some unforseen circumstances, however once I started, I didnt want to stop. I was just so curious, wanted to see if Willa was really crazy.
I love the author's style of writing, I love Willa and her imaginary dog 🐕. You can't help but love and pity her at the same time. I hated that she got bullied, I always wonder what pleasure people derive from bullying someone.
Overall I really enjoyed this amazing book, I wish i can watch it as a mini series.
I recommend this book 100% to anyone that loves reading, scientific, mystery, drama and suspence.
I love the author's style of writing, I love Willa and her imaginary dog 🐕. You can't help but love and pity her at the same time. I hated that she got bullied, I always wonder what pleasure people derive from bullying someone.
Overall I really enjoyed this amazing book, I wish i can watch it as a mini series.
I recommend this book 100% to anyone that loves reading, scientific, mystery, drama and suspence.
May 27, 2022
I admit this isn’t my usual genre but the book I’d originally selected didn’t go as planned so I went with this and I was actually deeply impressed. I didn’t expect to be so hooked by a YA book. But I very much enjoyed seeing how Willa discovered her identity. Or lack thereof. And dealt with that. How she bonded with her dog Rin and her attempt and relating to others and her navigating a life that wasn’t her own. I very much enjoyed My Life as a Clone. It’s not just for young adults! (I’m 35 lol)
July 31, 2022
A YA book with its mandatory love triangle and mean girls. Saved by the main character believing she is a clone who can talk to her dog that noone else can see. The novel's plot weaves through making sense of this via an earlier trauma and some credibility-stretching insights the main character gets from her dog.
Perks: openness to different personality types and people with psychological issues.
Perks: openness to different personality types and people with psychological issues.
June 14, 2022
I loved this book.
Will is a clone. She can't remember anything before three months. But she adoptes to the envoy she's in and now the family is moving out of town.
In the new place she make friends and enemies also.
Did she found out the truth about her?
That's the story.
Two points I loved
One is story is fast moving.
Second is the view point from Will's side is quite good.
Will is a clone. She can't remember anything before three months. But she adoptes to the envoy she's in and now the family is moving out of town.
In the new place she make friends and enemies also.
Did she found out the truth about her?
That's the story.
Two points I loved
One is story is fast moving.
Second is the view point from Will's side is quite good.
December 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I only read a brief description of the book but was pleasantly surprised by the story and writer. I loved that I was able to follow the story easily and it also kept me wanting to read more of it, it was hard to put down. I liked the characters and what the story developed into. Super happy I read this.
February 28, 2023
2.5 stars
June 1, 2024
EXCELLENT read!! I had to read this all in one go because I couldn't put it down. So addictive, so wonderful! Absolutely loved it!
June 4, 2025
This book surprised me.
Read
November 14, 2022‘My Life is a Clone’ is a new young adult novel by author K. D. Van Brunt which follows a 17 year old girl named Willa navigating a life that isn’t her own. Willa is in a rather unusual situation where we discover that she’s a ‘clone’ to someone who passed away. The story explores the thin line between reality and deception while Willa struggles to unravel truths of the past and discover her place in the world.
An intriguing read which captivates readers with its storytelling, character depth and lots of unexpected twists and plot revelations. Most of the time I felt like I was watching a movie unfolding on the pages of the book. The author transforms the story and it comes to life right there in front of you that you feel yourself connected to the characters and live the story through their eyes. I completely devoured this book in a matter of hours because of how invested i became in the plot!
I found Willa’s journey quite relatable - from her relationships with people, to self-discovery and exploring the world. The subject of mental health is also prominent and very well handled. My favourite element was her animal companion dog- Rin, and I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions. Their bond was incredible and it truly showed the wonderful and strong ‘human - animal’ connection. Though all the other animals in the clinic she worked with were also amazing!
Honestly speaking, I had completely different expectations for ‘My Life as a Clone’ solely based on its title, however the story took me by surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed delving into Willa’s journey and coming to that unexpected ending! Suspense, mystery and intrigue- ‘My Life as a Clone’ is a wonderful young adult read which I recommend to anyone looking for something unique.
Thank you to the author and Bookstagrammers.com for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An intriguing read which captivates readers with its storytelling, character depth and lots of unexpected twists and plot revelations. Most of the time I felt like I was watching a movie unfolding on the pages of the book. The author transforms the story and it comes to life right there in front of you that you feel yourself connected to the characters and live the story through their eyes. I completely devoured this book in a matter of hours because of how invested i became in the plot!
I found Willa’s journey quite relatable - from her relationships with people, to self-discovery and exploring the world. The subject of mental health is also prominent and very well handled. My favourite element was her animal companion dog- Rin, and I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions. Their bond was incredible and it truly showed the wonderful and strong ‘human - animal’ connection. Though all the other animals in the clinic she worked with were also amazing!
Honestly speaking, I had completely different expectations for ‘My Life as a Clone’ solely based on its title, however the story took me by surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed delving into Willa’s journey and coming to that unexpected ending! Suspense, mystery and intrigue- ‘My Life as a Clone’ is a wonderful young adult read which I recommend to anyone looking for something unique.
Thank you to the author and Bookstagrammers.com for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2023
My Life as a Clone is a young adult story that focuses on identity, truth, and deception.
PLOT: Willa is a 17-year-old teenager who finds out that she is the clone of a deceased girl. She gets adopted by the family that lost their daughter, Reese. This tale revolves around the fact that Willa tries to figure out who she really is. She tries to find her place in the world and in a life, she feels is not hers to begin with. In this journey between truths and lies, reality and deception, Willa finds a friend in Derek, and Rin, her cute dog that follows her everywhere.
THOUGHTS: I haven’t read anything like this before. While I was reading this tale, I was on the edge of my seat, because of the twists, turns, and surprises. K.D.Van Brunt has written so meticulously a story of coming of age, identity, and suspense. The characters are so multi-dimensional and well-written. Willa is one of my favourite characters that I read recently. It is intriguing, fun, and unique. You won’t expect the ending; it really is original. You should definitely read this story.
Thank you to bookstagrammers.com and K.D.Van for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book.
PLOT: Willa is a 17-year-old teenager who finds out that she is the clone of a deceased girl. She gets adopted by the family that lost their daughter, Reese. This tale revolves around the fact that Willa tries to figure out who she really is. She tries to find her place in the world and in a life, she feels is not hers to begin with. In this journey between truths and lies, reality and deception, Willa finds a friend in Derek, and Rin, her cute dog that follows her everywhere.
THOUGHTS: I haven’t read anything like this before. While I was reading this tale, I was on the edge of my seat, because of the twists, turns, and surprises. K.D.Van Brunt has written so meticulously a story of coming of age, identity, and suspense. The characters are so multi-dimensional and well-written. Willa is one of my favourite characters that I read recently. It is intriguing, fun, and unique. You won’t expect the ending; it really is original. You should definitely read this story.
Thank you to bookstagrammers.com and K.D.Van for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews