True Love Story in Buddy Read Zone

Jan 26, 2013 Ash Wednesday rated it liked it

Shelves: review, contemporary-romance, rockstars, holy-shit-moments, i-m-gonna-be-in-the-minority, new-adult

"I want to be who you think I am."
"I want you to be who you are."

And isn't that the Tesseract that powers every single YA novels these days? When the heroine says that last line and she can't handle the sh*t when it hits the fan?

It was a 2-star reading experience for me but I'm giving it a 3 because I liked how it was trying to paint a realistic picture of love and dealing with what comes after. The first chapter was intriguing enough while the last 25% rang true to me. The detritus of heart ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Mich rated it it was amazing

"Ian Sterling has ruined me. And he’s ruined me for anyone else.",

"By the time we’ve completely violated one cupcake, we’re both sticky and incredibly turned on."

Sparrow's song for Ian (view spoiler)

Ian's song to Sparrow (view spoiler)

"Love is enough. Love does conquer all. Love really does always protect, trust, hope, persevere… I’d even go as far as saying that l ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2013 ♥ Barb ♥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-faves-and-re-reads, read-in-2013, bad-boys, a-good-cry, rock-star

"You're impossible"
"You're delectable"
"You're incorrigible"
"You're edible"
This book had me at hello...I'm in a state of utter bliss! Just WOW
<3 LOVED this story! <3 ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 T.H. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: love-romance, drama, smile-n-laugh-out-loud-good, favorites-and-would-read-again, kindle-cloud, my-book-boyfriend

This story was amazing!! I will start by saying that the journey throughout Sparrow and Ian's relationship was emotional and intense. I went through moments of happiness, sadness, joy, shock, and fear for these two characters. I love the way they met, the trials they faced, and the friendships that helped them stay together. Loved this book and I am still tingling!!! ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2013 MK~ Picky Girl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-favorites

"Love is enough. Love does conquer all. Love really does always protect, trust, hope, persevere. Lover never fails"

I am on a book high after reading "True Love Story". This novel is an emotional, character driven story that took my breath away. True Love Story is a love story that is a bit unconventional. It begins with Sparrow a young, naive 18 year old daughter of a preacher, who is involved in a relationship with a member/employee of her father's church. Ian is a gorgeous, hot 20 somethi ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2013 Rica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater, angsty-emotional, your-so-famous, musician-rock-star

So I'm trying to write something, anything about this book. Something witty, something eloquent, anything to describe how it made me feel while I was reading it, and I'm lost for words. So I'm going to make it short.

True Love Story is a wonderful book narrating the True Love Story of Ian and Sparrow. The highs and lows of their story kept me reading until late at night and early the next morning. There were just enough moments that kept me smiling and just enough tender and emotional moments tha ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 Kelly 'Perusing Princesses blog' rated it really liked it

BOOK REVIEW – True Love Story – Willow Aster – 4.5 Stars.

The first thing that inspired me to pick up this new release is the cover, I mean come on, just look at it. It has a sinister edge and as the ultimate ‘angst whore,’ I just knew this book had my name all over it.

From the opening chapter I knew this was going to be one hell of a ride – the tension in that aeroplane was palpable and if I’m truly honest, I didn’t quite know what to make of Sparrow’s elusive coldness, maybe because my sight wa BOOK REVIEW – True Love Story – Willow Aster – 4.5 Stars.

The first thing that inspired me to pick up this new release is the cover, I mean come on, just look at it. It has a sinister edge and as the ultimate ‘angst whore,’ I just knew this book had my name all over it.

From the opening chapter I knew this was going to be one hell of a ride – the tension in that aeroplane was palpable and if I’m truly honest, I didn’t quite know what to make of Sparrow’s elusive coldness, maybe because my sight was blinded by the hot guitarist/songwriter, because YEP! Mr Ian Sterling’s charms sucked me in from the get-go.

But…then the backstory unfolds and immediately I warmed to Sparrow, her innocence and naivety was endearing enough to keep me turning the pages.

My only gripe is that it seemed to take a while to really get-going, I anticipated a faster progression, as Ian’s character flittered a lot, leaving Sparrow at a loss most days, almost stagnant so, for me personally, it just seemed to dull in the belly a little. However, I realise now that Willow Aster was lulling me in to a false sense of security as the love between Ian and Sparrow becomes so passionate, so all-consuming and real, to then have it crash around you at 80%. Yes… this is when the text catches up with the cover, and BAM! Emotional turmoil, heartbreak and rage consumes the reader, drowning you in complete and utter despair.

There is no denying that Willow Aster is an incredible writer. The emotion she projects from pen to page is exceptional and fans of AL Jackson and Colleen Hoover will appreciate how important and magical that is. Ian’s love letters portray hurt and desperation that I have never quite experienced before as a reader, not of that magnitude. It flowed like poetry and it was a joy to experience, (like I said…’Angst Whore!)

Due to the nature of the events, I truly didn’t know how this book was going to end and I loved that aspect of it, it kept me guessing until the closing stages - one that I might add, I was more than satisfied with.

True Love Story is a passionate, heart-warming story of personal growth, love, trust, loss and redemption and one worthy of the 4.5 star shelf.

Read it!
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2013 Hail rated it liked it

2.5 stars

What I liked:
1) The idea of this story was interesting: a long-term, long distance relationship with a messed up rockstar that of course leads to angst and heartbreak and all kinds of other drama mixed in. Perhaps not original but I liked what this story had going on in the background. The secret I knew was there, even though it wasn't revealed until much later.
2) Ian. I liked him in the beginning despite how quickly he was sappily head over heels for Sparrow (for reasons unknown), but 2.5 stars

What I liked:
1) The idea of this story was interesting: a long-term, long distance relationship with a messed up rockstar that of course leads to angst and heartbreak and all kinds of other drama mixed in. Perhaps not original but I liked what this story had going on in the background. The secret I knew was there, even though it wasn't revealed until much later.
2) Ian. I liked him in the beginning despite how quickly he was sappily head over heels for Sparrow (for reasons unknown), but by the end of the book, I forgave him and I loved him.
3) The last 10% of the book, minus the very very end.

What I didn't like:
1) Just because Sparrow didn't allow herself to utter a single curse word didn't make the preacher's daughter thing believable. So many things were contradictory to that part of the story. How do they afford to send her to school at NYU across the country? What bible thumping parents would be so supportive of their daughter getting together with a rockstar. It just made no sense.
2) Every guy that manages to come within eyeshot of Sparrow is immediately taken with her and practically falls at her feet. (insert eye roll) This annoys me n books and makes me feel less empathy for characters when the impending heartbreak occurs. Makes me feel like they could be so easily 'on to the next one' so why bother feeling for them when they have a queue of boys waiting in line.
3) The pacing was strange. At certain points it was painfully slow, then at other times I felt like a whole chunk of time and multiple events were summarized in one quick paragraph.
4) Sparrow herself. I didn't see what was so special about her to have all the boys wanting her, especially Ian. I didn't see what was so funny about her either. The times when she had Ian in hysterics, I sat there thinking, "Okayyyy..." I didn't find her very likable or relatable at all.
5) The dialogue was weird and unnatural at times. I felt like certain scenes didn't really call for detailed dialogue, whereas other scenes could've been made better if they had been more spelled out with dialogue and play by play versus a summary that is "told" to the reader. First this happened, then this happened, and then it ended like this.
6) The very very end. Was that necessary? I think there could have been closure to their story without adding that in.

There were a lot of times I wanted to walk away from this book but something kept calling me back. Ultimately I'm glad I stuck it out. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Shannon rated it really liked it

Sparrow and Ian's story isn't epic, it's not a Travis and Abby type of romance story, but it's love.

I wasn't a fan of how long it took these two to get together, I wanted more steam, but this book kept me on my toes. I have moments when I felt my heart drop a bit when Ian and Sparrow would see each other and I was wishing they could get past whatever (although obvious as a reader) was about to pull them apart.

I felt bad for Ian, he is a lost soul, who doesn't know how to do the love thing.
Spar ...more

Like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 deb22luvsbooks rated it it was amazing

Shelves: stand-alones

I so enjoyed this book....it truely was a "true love story" because not all love stories are easy and pretty and all tied up in a bow. Sometimes you have to struggle and work and lose it before you can grow and understand it. This book has all those elements, at times heartbreaking and at times an inspiration. Love Ian, and his journey to become the man he wants to be and Sparrow's journey to understand that love is worth the risk. A definate 5 stars for me! ...more

1 like · Like · see review