A little bit different...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. JJ always writes a superb story, develops characters well and her narration is sweet as honey.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Someone Else's Love Story?

Returning home, realizing what home really means and who home really is.

Have you listened to any of Joshilyn Jackson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

All of JJ's performances. This was a little different. In past stories I have enjoyed the perspective and interaction between two or more of her wonderful female characters. I did not feel the protagonist in the story had a strong female relationship thread through the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. I would listen to that sweet southern syrup of a voice all day long.

Any additional comments?

Still love JJ, but this was my first JJ story I in which was not 100% engrossed.

8 people found this helpful

My favorite modern Southern author!

Another fun crazy story from Joshilyn Jackson made perfect through her narration! Shandy is another terrific character and strong female protagonist. If you haven't listened to any of Miss Jackson's books I can recommend all of them- I think this one rivals gods in Alabama as my favorite.

8 people found this helpful

A Can of Worms that shouldn't Have been Opened

Sometimes I enjoy Jocelyn Jackson's writing and sometimes I just don't get it. Three fourth's of the way through this book the only one I liked or cared about was the kid. The book starts out with an interesting situation involving the protagonist Shandi and her child, then follows her with additional unusual situations for chic lit.... autism, date rape, genetics.

What started out as interesting just never got there for me. All the irrational acts and irresponsibility of the characters became too many to keep my attention.

I had issues with how the author painted the protagonist. Shandi finds one male character, a brainiac with asperger's, physically attractive. They have little in common but at first glance she is "madly in love" with him. Upon further time spent together she still has nothing in common with him and finds him oddly self absorbed (Imagine). She keeps plowing ahead, to win his affections by changing her clothes and keeping his house. I found it insulting to paint her as an educated single mother then have her act so shallow.

I applaud the author for choosing some out of the box story lines but, geez, follow through with them. It's as if the author picked and chose the parts of her plot that fit into her story and ignored what wasn't easy. Along the same lines - she moves her child to a new home so that he could go to a school that will enhance his gift. Then schooling is never mentioned again. She continues to move him around with no concern for her child's education. It's hard to care about a characters when the author had so little respect for them. I would love to go on about the disturbing retaliation for a "rape", but I can't do it without giving up too much of the story.

Not the best Jocelyn Jackson book, for me...

14 people found this helpful

Not my type

The storyline was not very good. If you like reading about sex you will enjoy this book. It goes on and on about every little detail. I prefer the sex act be left to my imagination. The book moves very slowly through every event. It's almost like the writer is trying to make the book longer when the story should have moved on.

2 people found this helpful

perfectly delightful

Joshilyn Jackson quickly became one of my favorite authors after I listened to "A Grown Up Kind of Pretty." She is equally one of my favorite narrators, which is unusual since most authors are hideous narrators. Since finishing all of her novels, I have been impatiently waiting on this release and was so happy to have it on my ipod. I finished it in just a few days. Joshilyn writes in a way that engages me quickly with characters that I feel as though I know personally. I immediately and vehemently did not like Bethany and loved Walcott. The story is highly enjoyable and even had a twist in the end - which I loved. Now, like a toddler who hasn't had her nap, I'm impatiently waiting on my next Joshilyn Jackson book.

8 people found this helpful

Not one of her best

I am a recent Joshilyn Jackson fan. If you are too, skip this one. Not very credible story with lots of not very credible loose ends. Not very satisfying overall.

1 person found this helpful

So disappointed!

I have come to expect so much from Joshilyn Jackson. Her quirky characters are usually so enjoyable. This disjointed story was a mess. The storylines she did address were so drawn out and boring. I spent the entire book waiting for the real story to start. Take a pass....

1 person found this helpful

Not my favorite JJ

After listening to Almost Sisters and loving every word, both the story and the narration, I had high hopes for Someone Else's Live Story. But it didn't work for me at all...not the treacly-sweet baby voice of Shandi's voice nor the storyline that essentially ended with something close to rape apologia. And the birds, the nuns, the miracles, and oh, a virgin birth as well...just all too much without any characters to know very well or love.

1 person found this helpful

This Should Have Been Two Books

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes. In my opinion, this could have been two books- one version would have more jokes and a very different plot twist. And a second version would focus more on the darker elements of the story and the duality of all of the characters. At times it was very lighthearted and funny and other times it was very heavy. The author did an okay job of trying to tie the two together but for the most part, I felt like it was pieces of two novels cut and pasted together.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending left me feeling unsettled. One particular theme that runs through the novel seems...misplaced. It is by no means a cotton candy read, light and fluffy, but one major element of the plot was out of left field for me. Of the two storylines that run through the book, one gave me a satisfactory ending, the other left me feeling 'ugh'.

What about Joshilyn Jackson’s performance did you like?

I liked her accents. I'm from the south so I could appreciate her twang, but I think some people might think it was too much. Jackson was trained as an actress and her professional training came through in the narration- which is definitely a good thing!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes. The characters were interesting and three dimensional. I'd be interested to see what they change about the story line!

1 person found this helpful

Predictable & middle of the road

The premise looked good and a book read by the author is usually a plus but I found Shandy's voice so grating I could barely listen. Check the audio before you buy! It could well be that that is what Georgia gals sound like (I'm a Brit on Oz).
The plot was somewhat silly and after the initial lay-down, all very predictable.
I found the story-line very vanilla and 'nice' I maybe just like a little more darkness in my characters.
Lesson learned - if you like something fluffy and happy, (and why the hell shouldn't you) then you may well love his book and it's characters. If you appreciate sarcasm as a form of wit, and a bit more grit to your characters, give this one a miss.

1 person found this helpful