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

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 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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Apr 14, 2012 Daphne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, all-time-favorites, found-myself-with-a-tear-in-my-eye, impacted-me-greatly, would-read-again

My real Rating is 6 stars because it deserves it!

I fell in love with this book, it had me from page one. The characters, storyline, setting and ultimate conclusion were executed perfectly. Tracey Garvis-Graves intricately weaves a story that has all the elements that anyone could ask for in a book. She created the characters so well that I felt like they were actually human, not a fictionalized creation. I believed everything that the author asked me to believe and I crash landed on that island ...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Missy Genneken rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Kept me completely immersed from start to finish. Not one bad thing I can say about this story or the characters. It's a rare book that I couldn't stop thinking about after I had finished it!! ...more

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Nov 10, 2012 April rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

5 "I stayed up until 5am reading" Stars

...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Madison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Read this and other reviews at Madison Says.

On the Island is one of those books that after you read it, the story and the characters stay with you for a long time afterward. It is so beautifully written and it sucks you in so wholly, it takes a long time to get out! It is a perfect "go-to" book when you're looking for some familiar to re-read! This is the story of TJ and Anna who, on the way to a tropical island for the summer become stranded on an island after their plane goes down. TJ, a 16 y Read this and other reviews at Madison Says.

On the Island is one of those books that after you read it, the story and the characters stay with you for a long time afterward. It is so beautifully written and it sucks you in so wholly, it takes a long time to get out! It is a perfect "go-to" book when you're looking for some familiar to re-read! This is the story of TJ and Anna who, on the way to a tropical island for the summer become stranded on an island after their plane goes down. TJ, a 16 year old cancer survivor, needs tutoring for the summer before he can return to school in the fall. Anna, a 30 year old teacher has been hired by his parents to do so. After they survive the crash and find land, they do all they can to maintain a life on this island together - and grow individually and together.

I was thirty years old when the seaplane TJ Callahan and I were traveling on crash-landed in the Indian Ocean. TJ was sixteen, and three months into remission from Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The pilot's name was Mick, but he died before we hit the water.

That is the first paragraph of the book - and what a great way to start a story! From there, the story is told in both TJ and Anna's points of view. I love being able to see both of their thoughts about the situation. It makes the story that much more dimensional and also that much more emotionally gripping!

Over time (and trust me, it happens slowly), TJ and Anna develop a more romantic relationship, as one can imagine would happen after being stranded for as long as they were. But first, they are friends. But that does change, and with only each other to care about there, not sure if they'll ever get off the island, they fall in love. I'll admit, when I read the synopsis for this book, I was turned off by the age difference and thought it would really bother me. I'm glad that didn't keep me from giving this book a chance. The age difference makes a huge impact to the story, of course, and while it creates its fair share of conflict, it also enhances the story in other ways.

This is one of those books that's so well executed that you can't help but read it from first page to last page without wanting to set it down. You are sad for their setbacks, cheering for their successes and for their relationship, and it's just hard not to become super emotionally invested. There were times I was laughing, then crying and the rest of the time, I just had a stupid smile on my face. The sexual tension in this book is fantastic...and when they do finally connect for the first time, oh man, just phenomenal stuff right there!

This storyline would be a very difficult one to write, and it takes a superb writer to be able to create something so beautiful - and Tracey did just that. I give this book 4.5 stars and HIGHLY recommend it to EVERYONE. If you have not read this yet, you're sorely missing out. You must read it. NOW! You won't be disappointed. The characters are well-crafted, believable and dealing with more than any person can imagine...yet somehow you can relate to them and their struggles. Don't wait any longer! Oh, and another bonus, it was retained for a screen adaptation. It'll make a fantastic movie! ...more

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May 21, 2012 Kristy rated it really liked it

4.5 stars. I really loved this book. I kept thinking about it for days afterward. Warning: Spoiler - I'm happy that they didn't get saved at the end of the book and then not give details of them adapting back to normal life. I loved the fact that they give you all the details of their relationship after the rescue, and their relationships with their families and friends. Excellent book. I look forward to reading more by Tracey Garvis-Graves! ...more

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