On the Island (On the Island, #1) in The Indie Bookshelf

Jul 05, 2012 Mistress rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: absolutely-love, so-good, teacher-student, favorites

I really love this book! It was so heartwarming, touching, full of page-turning goodness. I could not put On The Island down. I hate that it is over; I'm going to miss this world. I really got wrapped up in TJ and Anna's amazing love story. They went through and overcame so much, more than what anyone other than the two of them could understand. I loved every word from beginning to end. I also loved the writing style of this book. You got to understand both main character's points-of-view. So, s ...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Jillian Dodd rated it it was amazing

Adored this book. I love how the relationship between TJ and Anna bloomed. This is a great book and I can't wait to see the movie version of it!! ...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Leslie rated it it was amazing

My goodness...what a WONDERFUL book!!

Anna Emerson is a 30 year old English teacher who is offered a job tutoring 16 year old, T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives. Almost seventeen, T.J. is in remission from cancer and now he's on his way to spend his first summer, free from radiation and chemo, with his family; along with a stack over overdue assignments. Understandably, he is not looking forward to his summer. However, Anna jumps at the chance to spend the entire summer ...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Dina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved, loved, loved it. Honestly devoured this book in two days (which is nearly impossible for me to do), and I had such a wonderful escape. Like the author, I'm a huge, crazy, fan of the TV show LOST, so I highly appreciated the deserted island setting. There are no shortage of great reviews for this book, so I will simply say that if you're looking for a fabulous love story (I always am), I highly suggest you take a trip on the island... ...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Kimberly Russell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, chick-lit

Edited Review - The hubby and I read together every night and we covered this book fast. He was like a little kid with the whole thing, "One more chapter, one more chapter." :)

Original Review - I'm being serious when I say I have a new rule in life -- if you want to be my friend you must ~~love~~ read this book. That is all. You can call me/text me etc when you are done reading. :) ...more

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Sep 23, 2013 Jennifer Garcia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-rom-read-challenge, 2013, audible

I have to start off by saying that audio narrator can make or break a book they read. I listen to a lot of my books because, well, I can do so much while "reading." The amount of hours I've put in this year is huge and I even have favorite narrators. However, the reader of this audio book left me cold. Her timing was off and, honestly, turned me off of the first half of the book. It took me that long to get used to her voice and the poor inflections. I don't even know if that's what you call it, ...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Kathy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Survivor meets Love Story....but in a very good way. This book is not what I expected at all. I saw the rave reviews, but hesitated to read it because of my uneasiness to face the possibility of a teacher/student seduction....strictly from my own assumptions based on reading the synopsis. This strictly comes from my own tenure as a high school teacher. But, I am now kicking myself for waiting so long to read this novel.

Anna Emerson, a thirty year old high school English teacher, and T.J. Callah Survivor meets Love Story....but in a very good way. This book is not what I expected at all. I saw the rave reviews, but hesitated to read it because of my uneasiness to face the possibility of a teacher/student seduction....strictly from my own assumptions based on reading the synopsis. This strictly comes from my own tenure as a high school teacher. But, I am now kicking myself for waiting so long to read this novel.

Anna Emerson, a thirty year old high school English teacher, and T.J. Callahan, a sixteen year old cancer survivor, embark on a journey of survival as they are thrust unexpectedly upon a deserted island with no experience or knowledge of how to survive in such a primitive setting. The elements they face put every resolve they have to the test...a potentially fatal test.

Tracey Garvis-Graves did an excellent job in her narration of Anna's and T.J.'s account of their adventures. I really love how she alternated chapters in both Anna's and T.J's point of view. This allowed me to really experience what Anna and T.J. were feeling at that moment in time, understand how each viewed their shared circumstance, and connect with two very realistic people. I say people, because they are not characters to me....they seem so real to me, and their reactions to the situation they are placed in mimic such reality, they are forevermore "people," lending credence to the author's ability to create stellar characters. Tracey's writing is flawless and very detailed, without adding unnecessary verbiage that could possibly take away from the meat of the story...didn't happen here; everything had significance. I admit that I hung onto every written word.

The feeling I got from this book was an emotional contradiction at its best. The story was very smooth and flowing, in turn giving me a relaxed and heart-felt reading experience. But, when the excitement and angst hit....WOWZA! I was on the edge of my seat several times!!! Particularly chapter 32! Side note: I love it when that happens! That's the contradiction: my emotions were on a sixty-eight stories high roller coaster ride, constantly battling against each other. An author who does that to me is....well....fantastic!

What can I say about the hero and heroine? I LOVED them. Anna has such self-conflict as she watches T.J. grow and develop into a man before her very eyes....morals versus loneliness and a yearning for something that has alluded her for eight years. T.J. on the other hand is a sixteen year-old hormone in boots who develops into a man, more than willing to give Anna what she needs, but also very shy and awkward at times toward the situation presented before him. But, both Anna and T.J., knowing they only have one another, must lean on each other for strength, comfort, and survival. The maturity level developed by T.J., coupled with his lack of life and love experiences (not to be mistaken with innocence) made him all the more endearing to me. Anna, although experienced in life and love, held strong to her convictions, but not without struggle.

What you can expect from this book....excitement as Anna and T.J. face off with wildlife, deadly diseases, dehydration, starvation, and horrific weather, sidled with some beautiful moments on the side. What you get as a bonus....a heart wrenching roller coaster ride of the best variety, from which you don't want to get off. I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it. ...more

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Jul 03, 2013 Simona (Ink&Chapter) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actually it's 4,5 stars
I can't believe that I love this book.
First I thought that it would be some kind of foolish book with a horny boy and lot of sex scene and other stuff but NOT was that.
I can't say that the story was original, but it was well written and I can't put the book down, I read it in one night. It was just WOW!
You guys must to read this book, trust me, you don't want to miss this.
...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Cherie Magnus rated it it was ok

I love survival stories. But this one was over-written and predictable. We know immediately that the two survivors will connect--lots of talk about underwear, for one thing. The story is told in alternating chapters from each protagonist, but both voices are identical. Events happen without rhyme or reason or consequences--bat bites, sharks, a skeleton, cancer scares, dengue fever--but it's just one episode after another with no story arc.

Add the plotting, voices, and the details of what is wor ...more

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