Title: Shelf Life Genre: Contemporary New Adult
Publication date: December 3, 2013
*Mature situations and sexual content - recommended for ages 17+*
It’s impossible to focus on college biology when your family believes doomsday is imminent and the government is out to get you.
All Pete Wilson’s ever wanted is to become a veterinarian, but those dreams are going up in flames. Commuting to an urban college and helping his parents with their apocalyptic prepper crap is more than he can handle.
Worse, Pete’s asshole neighbor is stirring up trouble, his family’s stockpile has been destroyed and farm animals are turning up dead.
Lindsey Linger is the tomboy sister of his best friend. Now a sexy spitfire, she and Pete are liable to set the barn ablaze as their romance finally heats up. But she’s hiding a terrible secret, and rural life isn’t all bonfires and hayloft romps. That becomes clear one icy winter night when the survival of everyone Pete loves hangs in the balance.
Can Pete be the hero they need, or will this be the end of the world as he knows it?
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My Review
This is a risky book, but I think Stephanie Lawton really pulls it off. It really wasn’t what I expected, the voice was very different to me and a lot of the time I just couldn’t really believe that the storyline actually went some of the places it did. Let’s just say, this is a very pretty cover for a rather dark and gritty book.. The storyline and setting were totally fascinating and I just really appreciated that this book brings something new to the NA category.
I don’t know how dudes think or talk, but I’d assume that it would be more like this than the way they seem to in most NA books (not that I’m complaining…I enjoy the slightly sappy, dude POV…). Pete wavers a bit from being kind of a nerdy, hick boy to a more confident and badass guy. I wanted to smack him upside the head a few times, but that’s just probably because I’m a girl and he makes some pretty bone-headed, but typical guy moves. His voice was just different, I don’t know how else to explain him – you just kind of have to experience him.
There doomsday/self-sufficient farming aspect was what really made this book. It’s one thing to say you’re a country boy and that you live in the middle of nowhere – and then there’s Pete’s family farm. That isolation is both comforting and terrifying at the same time, which kind of makes sense when you think about the end of the world. Pete and his family are going through a lot, so he has to take on more than your average 18 year-old. Then you throw in a few prospective relationships and a bully and he’s one of the most conflicted characters out there.
I just have to say – Jay is the absolute worst. He just makes my skin absolutely crawl. His POV is thrown in a few times, and I was hoping that eventually that would redeem him, but he actually just keeps getting worse. I wanted him to be redeemed because he could have had some legit excuses, but I was disappointed in him. But the things he does are just absolutely despicable and I just shudder when I think about him.
There are some situations in this book that made me very uncomfortable, but in most cases they contributed to the progression of the plot, so I was able to justify why I’d read past things that made me squirm. I’ll just leave you with – this is a great book to read if you want something different. If you want coming of age, a unique setting, a unique voice, and a lot of suspense then this is a good one for you.
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Join us all day December 3rd on Facebook as we chat with Stephanie, as she celebrates Shelf Life's launch day with giveaways, excerpts, special content, free downloads, & more!
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About Stephanie
Always a misfit, Stephanie Lawton writes twisted romance that tugs the heart strings then punches you in the gut.She has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles. She has a fascination with teacher-student relationships, bullies, psychics, doomsday preppers and larger-than-life characters.Making readers squirm is her greatest pleasure.Proceed with caution.
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Giveaway
Tour Hosted by Good Choice Reading Promotions
