Thursday 26 July 2012

Review for On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: 16th August 2012
Genre: Fiction, Adult, Romance, Survival
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review

Amazon Summary:
"It would always be summer on the island...

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a summer job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's holiday home in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation: a tropical island beats the library any day.

T.J. has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having had cancer wasn't bad enough, he now has to spend his first summer in remission with his family instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Marooned on an uninhabited island, Anna and T.J. work together to obtain water, food, fire and shelter but, as the days turn to weeks then months and finally years, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man..."

Review 
I have to admit that when this book came through my letterbox I hadn’t heard of it before and wasn’t sure if it was going to be my cup of tea. On the proof copy it talks about the book being hugely successful in the US with 5 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and film rights already sold so I decided to look online at some reviews and the hype that I found for this book overseas was staggering and convinced me that I needed to give this book a go.

I started reading On the Island that very same day and within only a few short chapters I could see what all the fuss was about. This book was totally gripping, I found myself reading late into the night, and was fitting in a few more pages whenever I could. I’m a sucker for a good love story and this book delivered that in a unique and original way.

The circumstances behind the book forces two people together who under normal circumstances most likely would never have gotten together. But life on a deserted island creates a situation like no other that not only brings TJ and Anna together but also creates an unshakeable bond between them. Although at its heart this book is a romance it’s also so much more than that. It’s a story of survival and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as I went through the highs and lows of island life with Anna and TJ.

What initially put me off reading this novel was the age different between Anna and TJ and that the book begins with Anna being his teacher. I have to admit that I was worried that their relationship would feel wrong to me and the uninhabited island too farfetched a plot but it was so brilliantly done. Every step of their journey on the island and in their growing relationship felt so natural and right and was so well developed and believable that I quickly fell in love with TJ and Anna and the new home and lives they build together on the island.

On the Island is one of those books that totally transports you to the books setting and so I felt all of the feelings that the characters felt. I would feel desperate when one of them got sick or if it hadn’t rained that day and they didn’t have enough water. And I’d rejoice with Anna and TJ on days when they’d catch food or when something useful would wash up on the shore. This book was a rollercoaster of emotion and the uncertainty to if they’d ever be rescued or even survive made this book a total page turner.

Ultimately On the Island was an excellent surprise that I’m so glad I gave a chance. If you’re looking for a gorgeous romance with all the intensity and uncertainty of a thriller, or are just generally after something a little bit different and gripping for your holidays this summer On the Island comes with a high recommendation from me.

Own a Kindle? You can snatch this book up NOW on Amazon for only £2.99! Download your copy here.

15 comments :

  1. Oh maaaaan! Jesus woman, would you stop reading awesome books already?! *wearily adds it to her wishlist* I reckon I might have to buy this one for the holiday... though I should add that my 'maybe to read on holiday' list is currently sitting at about thirty books. I HOPE YOU'RE PLEASED WITH YOURSELF YOUNG LADY! :D

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    1. P.S. Good heavens, I think I might have accidentally one-click pre-ordered it... ;)

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    2. Hehe! All in a days work ;) Glad that you like the sound of this one so much that you pre-ordered it Ellie, I really hope you enjoy it, especially if you choose it for a holiday read!

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    3. I did read it on holiday, and I LOVED IT! Awww, if I find a TJ someday I'll be a very lucky lady. And I loved how swept up I got in it - I laughed, I welled up, I felt a bit sick once or twice... And it didn't end with a cliched rescue either. It was DEFINITELY worth the pre-order, thanks chuck! :)

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  2. I was a little wary of this too when I first heard about it, but it totally seems to be a hit in the U.S. I managed to grab a review copy, so I'm quite excited about picking it up after seeing you had so much fun reading it! Lovely review Jess! :)

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    1. Thanks Jasprit, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

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  3. I do not know why I liked this book so much. There are many inconsistencies throughout but I felt that it didn't matter at all. The age difference went in the favour of girls. We are so socially conditioned that it seems it shocks people without them starting to question why it might not be so odd. Appart from the maturity issue, I do not see where the problem is particularly given the circumstances and context. Just enjoy it!

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  4. Just forgot to add that I like your site and that it is helpfull to make choices. And my name is Anne!(just don't understand all these classifications)

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    1. Glad you like the blog Anne and glad you enjoyed this book too!

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  5. The age difference made me a little hesitant with this book too, Jess. But this recommended from a friend whose taste I do not question. I was hooked from the first chapters as well! I agree, the relationship felt like a natural development. I think anyone in that situation would form a strong bond with the only other living person they were with. I loved the romance. Lovely review. :)

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    1. It definitely did, I feel like this book given the subject matter could have gone really wrong but it was wonderfully executed and was a pleasant surprise :)

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  6. I read a couple of glowing reviews of this one before I realised it was being published over here, and then one day a surprise copy arrived for me so hoping to get to it soon! If you liked it, I probably will too! :)

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    1. I think you will Leanna, definitely looking forward to seeing what you think!

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