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From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.
When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.
Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.
That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.
The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?
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During the winter we pretended our way through the classics, read every popular kid’s book and by spring of our sixth grade year, the spring of all the rain, we were ready to be outside and explore again. There was a creek about half a mile back from our houses, past the tree line. Because of all the rain that year, it had become more of a river with the strongest currents right behind where we lived. Every adult warned us to be careful, even my dead-beat dad would say, “You better use that big brain of yours and stay out of the creek. You want to go swimming, you can go to the pool in town.”
Funny he would say that because the community pool was a seven-mile bike ride and it cost three dollars to get in. There was no way I was going unless Leila, Jax’s mom gave us a ride and even then, I would have to borrow the money to get in. Frankly, going to the town pool was a pipe dream. It became a myth to us, a fantasy like Disneyland or Europe. Jax and I would try to imagine what it was like to go there.
“I bet they sell popsicles and popcorn and they probably have clowns too,” I said.
It was a warm day; we had made a picnic in the weeds. I laid out my Toy Story sleeping bag I’d had from when I was a kid. Jax brought a jar of applesauce and I brought Fun Dip that my dad had 
bought me at the 7-11. We mixed the fun dip into the jar and took turns eating spoonfuls.
“Community pools don’t have clowns, genius.”
“How do you know?” I said.
“Because I just do.”
“I bet there’s a high dive, like fifty feet in the air.”
“Do you know how high fifty feet is? You would die hitting the water. The impact would kill you.”
“You’re such a know-it-all, Jackson. Why can’t you let a girl dream? We’re never going to that pool because no one will ever take us, plus, it costs money, and last time I checked you weren’t making any.”
He lay back on the blanket and propped his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. “I’m not a know-it-all, I just have cable. And as soon as I turn sixteen, I’m getting a job. I’ll pay for us to go to the pool. You’ll see, it’s just a big hole with water in it.”
I never really stared at him until that day. His eyes were closed so I took the time to inspect every inch of him. I was so curious about his body. My own body was changing and I was terrified of it. Jax was getting taller. He was going to be tall like his father, but he looked more like his mother in coloring and features. Jax’s mom was French, so they had this creamy skin that looked sun-kissed year around and his brown hair and brown eyes had streams of gold running throughout it. He was letting his hair grow longer because he’d been watching some show on TV that took place in California. He said everyone in California had long hair.
I was trying to grow my own unruly, brown locks out. I don’t know why, I always had it in a braid. Maybe because I thought I would go to California with Jax one day. We both yearned for more than weeds and corn. All the books gave us those silly ideas and filled our heads with things that might never be.
I lay down beside him and stared directly into the sun. He turned on his side and propped his head on his elbow.
“You’ll go blind doing that,” he said in a low voice.
“Leave me alone.”
“Why are you in such a bad mood? You PMSing?”
“What do you know about it?”
“A lot.”
“I doubt that and even if I were, it’s beyond rude to talk to me about it.” I hadn’t started my period yet but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
Renee Carlino swept me away to a different time and place in the pages of her newest novel titled Swear on this Life. As I began reading, I found myself on a dirt road in rural Ohio. In the front yard of a ramshackle home located at the end of a dirt road. In a dilapidated shack found just beyond the tree line. From the moment I started reading, I was captivated by this story about best friends Emerson and Jackson – two poor, lonely and neglected children who only had each other to rely upon.
It didn’t take long for me to realize Swear on this Life would be special. First of all, this novel is an unusual blend of the young adult, new adult, and coming of age genres. Swear on this Life is also a second-chance romance, but what I love most about this story is that it’s about best friends who fall in love with each other! I’m very fond of friends-to-lovers romances, and from the beginning, I adored this novel!
Emiline is an aspiring author who has a daytime job as an adjunct creative writing professor at the University of California San Diego. She’s been dating Trevor since her senior year at Berkeley, although she feels her relationship with Trevor is not going anywhere. Our story really gets underway when Emiline’s roommate Cara begs her to read a bestselling novel titled All the Roads Between by debut author J. Colby.
As she begins reading Cara’s recommendation, Emiline realizes the story is familiar. From the first sentences, it’s apparent All the Roads Between is about Emiline and her childhood! She’s the female lead, Emerson, which means the novel has been written by her first love – Jason Colbertson, who is Jackson – someone she hasn’t seen or heard from in years!
Swear on this Life is essentially two stories written into one. With this writing technique, we are able to read about Emiline’s current life, while simultaneously reading about what took place during her childhood and teen years. We begin to understand Emiline’s character and how her life has been shaped. Although I have seen other authors use this writing technique, Renee Carlino was very clever with how she penned this novel. Swear on this Life has a savvy twist!
It’s been said that teenagers feel everything more acutely. Renee Carlino perfectly captured the intense emotions of two poor, neglected teenagers who are lovesick, who are desperately trying to stay together! I really connected with these characters. I fell in love with Emerson and Jackson, fell in love with their story! I felt their joy, pain and uncertainty as they supported each other through the abuse and neglect. All the Roads Between is a fascinating story all by itself!
And, of course, there is Emiline. I struggled with her character early in the story, but Emiline showed real growth over the course of the story. She faced down her demons and a past that she has ardently avoided. I couldn’t help but root for her to heal, find closure and get the guy! I wasn’t really sure what to think of Jason at first, but I think it’s because I was reading from Emiline’s point of view. She wasn’t sure what to think of Jason after he wrote down the story of her childhood and teenage years in the pages of a bestselling novel. But my love for Jason came as Emiline’s love for Jason became apparent.
In the end, Swear on this Life is not a story about four people, and it’s not just two separate novels. It’s one story about two individuals – Jason and Emiline. This is their story, and it’s one that is extremely fulfilling! Swear on this Life is a 2016 favorite of mine, and I’m giving Renee Carlino 5 stars!
Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women’s novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com
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