Monday, March 26, 2012

BLOG TOUR: Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Contemporary, Drama
Publication.Date  February 14th 2012
Pages:464
Published By:  Random House Children's Books 
WebsiteKatie Dale

Someone Else's Life - Goodreads
My review copy:Finished copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


Where to get:


When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.
Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.
(Goodreads)




"You are the decisions you make. The things you do. The people you love and who love you. They're the things that really make you who you are."
The truth may hurt, but lies—they're vicious. They hide coiled up inside you, ready to strike without warning, without your even knowing they're there.
That Mom died long before her heart stopped beating last Tuesday.





     Katie Dale concocts a deliciously compelling blend of personalities, heartbreak, and family drama, in a story of one girl's journey of self-discovery and finding her place in the world. Someone Else's Life is a compulsively readable novel, and one that is sure to resonate with its readers.

      The plot line focuses almost entirely on Rosie, a seventeen-year-old girl who just lost her mom to Huntington's Disease and is now terrified by the possibility that she herself might have inherited the disease. Just as she's about to get tested for it, her mother's best friend, Sarah, tells her the truth. And the truth is heartbreaking. Rosie's mom was not her biological mother. Devastated, lost and confused, Rosie decides to find her real mother, and she will travel across the continent to trace her.

      Rosie's story was a deeply moving one. From the very beginning every page is loaded with her emotions. And they are very convincing, vibrant, even gut-wrenching at times. The love she has for her mother is deeply felt, and her regrets about the past and her fears and hopes about the future are heartbreakingly real. She's a very relatable protagonist, and one that you can truly connect with. Katie Dale did a really great job crafting her character, as well as all the other fantastic protagonists in her novel - to the point that you really don't feel like you're reading a YA contemporary book, more like you're listening to a story told by your best friend. There's a very comforting feeling of familiarity to this book. The characters described in it could be people you pass by on the street every day. Their worries and dreams, all the battles they fight - they're the same worries, drams and battles that we experience every day. Perhaps that's why this story made such a huge impression on me. I was really moved by it, really glued to its pages, hungry for more, impatient to find out what will happen to Rosie, Andy, aunt Sarah, Nana, and Kitty Clare.

      Speaking of characters, I feel that I need to mention how delighted I was with Rosie's strong personality. This girl went through so much and yet there was no self-pity, no whining, no throwing fits nor crying into the pillow for hours. She was such a reasonable, understanding, patient, compassionate and forgiving character. So tough, brave and determined to find true happiness,  taking special care not to hurt anyone else in the process. I loved her. I really did. I cheered for her, and laughed and cried with her. Andy, too, was a very thoughtful character. Unlike many boys in YA literature of modern times, he was not a picture perfect. He had his flaws and that made me like him even more. It made him real. Sure, he was handsome, caring and supportive. He was also quite romantic and swoon-worthy, but at the same time he had his bad (or not-too-good) moments, when he couldn't understand what was happening with Rosie and the frustration coming from that would make him impatient and angry. And that was perfectly fine, because that's how normal people react. Like I said, Katie Dale did a phenomenal job fleshing out her characters and breathing life into them. I was completely and utterly impressed!

      The plot line itself is a harrowing one. At times it will make you sad, at times it will make you smile or even laugh. Few scenes might make your heart pound faster. Ultimately, though, it will make you think. If you're anything like me, you will be thinking about this story long after you'll turn the last page. This book does that to you.  Rosie's lively first-person narrative will inspire some long hours of pondering issues ranging from identity, self-acceptance, to family and relationship complexities, along with deciding what truly matters in life. Anyone who has ever dealt with death in family, or wondered about their place in the world, will find it really easy to relate to this beautifully-written, charming novel.


     And it will also teach a you a very important lesson: that the blood-relation does not make a family. People who truly love you, care for you, and accept you for who you are - they make a family. And the love that comes from that transcends blood.

      Katie Dale has written an intimate and authentic portrait of a teen who finds herself struggling to embrace her uncertain future. It's a fabulous read. I strongly recommend it!








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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

31 comments:

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

This sounds like such a heart-warming tale, with a powerful message. I like that it read more like a best friend telling you a story and that the characters were well fleshed out. Thanks for sharing this one Evie :)

Amy said...

This sounds like a very good and very emotional book. Thanks for the lovely review!!

Bonnie said...

I have wanted to read this book since I first saw it - it sounds like such a beautiful story. I love family dramas like this especially when the main character is so relatable and easy to like. She sounds like my kind of girl - I'm tired of whiners!! As usual another stellar review that makes me want to pick this book up - RIGHT. NOW! :D

Asheley T. said...

Gosh this sounds so emotional and heavy and tearjerking. Great review, Evie!! xoxo

Lexie said...

I really need this one. It sounds so beautiful and poignant and real. That's the best part. However insane her situation may be, everyone says that the characters, the world, it's all so, so real, and I love that more than anything. I'll have to buy this next time I stop by B&N.

roxanne s. sukhan said...

I read an ARC and loved it. I especially love the strength of Rosie's character and the decision she makes for herself in the end. Well written for sure.

Alicia said...

Thank you for a great review. I'll be adding this book to my TBR list for sure!

Bookish in a Box said...

Someone Else's Life sounds incredibly intense but also like Rosie manages to carry it off without the novel becoming too heavy. Great review!

aurora M. said...

This book sounds like something I would LOVE. TBR list topper.

SweetShenanigans said...

What excites me about this book is that it's not just some trivial plot line. This has a lot of depth and is one of those books where I can get into their world. Lovely!

Hazal said...

I seriously need to get round to reading this because it has been on my shelf for at least 2/3 months now!

Unknown said...

I really loved this book, but when i read it, all I could think about was how horrible Huntington's Disease must be. It was so sad. But I loved Andy and Rosie. :)

brandileigh2003 said...

I really thought this was emotional too. Thanks for review.
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

Irina said...

I'd really like to read this book, but unfortunately in Romania didn't appear :(.
Btw, the girl on the cover is from Romania :)

Kelly said...

I do enjoy your reviews. They say alot and you bring them to life. I love when you said "phenomenal job fleshing out her characters and breathing life into them. I was completely and utterly impressed!" Thanks for that!

Jenn @ Owl Read It said...

This sounds like such an emotional and heartfelt book. I have been debating giving this book a read, I think I might have to now. Thanks for the great review!

Jaime Lester said...

I lost my dad at a young age, and I can't imagine losing my mom. It would break me into. I have Someone Else's Life sitting on my bookshelf, ready to read and I can't wait. Even more so now that I have read your review. So, thank you!

LisaILJ said...

Wow, this has been on my radar for a while now I just haven't gotten to it. Based on this review, I will have to make it a priority.

Gaby said...

That is really am awesome cover and the summary was the one final detail that just made me want to put in on my TRL :)

Unknown said...

This book sounds INCREDIBLE! And, oh my God, the cover - wow! Just wow. It sounds like a really emotional read, but totally worthwhile. I'll have to keep my eye out for more books from Katie Dale. Thank you for the wonderful review!

Aline Tobing said...

Awesome review, Evie! Very thorough and moving. I never heard about the book or the author until I read your review and now I'm intrigue :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

Kyra said...

Gorgeous review, Evie! This book sounds like a gorgeous, compelling read. I like how Rosie was a strong character, a lot of books I've read lately the MC is whiny and self-pitying.

This is high on my wish list and I hope to get it soon! :D

gracelo said...

I remember adding this book to my TBR list but never reading it because it wasn't a high priority book for me. Now, with your review, I might go look at it sometime soon! Thank you for the fantastic review!

Unknown said...

Love your review! This seems an awesome book to read. My TBR is piling up fast!

Febby Aurora♥ said...

I think I should grab this one on the bookstore, depends on your review. This is sounds cool. :) nice review and I'm agree with your self-opinion..

http://febiola-febby.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Wow!! You gave 5 stars. I have to put this on my TBR read. Such a heartwarming story. After reading on and on about paranormal stuff, this is very refreshing. Will reading it soon.
Thanks for the review. That's a great review.

E_V_E said...

"That the blood-relation does not make a family!" - I agree with this! I like books, which get something to me and which are truthful.

aliaa said...

Wow, this book sounds pretty awesome, I'm officially putting it onto my TBR shelf!

Cassi said...

This is my first time hearing about this book, but it sounds great! Thanks for an awesome review :)

Carol Ann Michelle Publico said...

This sounds like a good read Thanks Evie :0)

teepee said...

I've had this on my TBR pile for quite some time but I never really tried to read it. But wow!! Thanks to your review, I think I'll read it next. I love strong female characters, and good thing she isn't whiny. I also like the fact that the guy wasn't picture perfect. Plus, a story about family always warms my heart. So, thanks.. Great review ;)

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