Love, Life, and the ListAuthor: Kasie West
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: December 26, 2017
Format: eARC
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher
Everyone knows Abby Turner is in love with her best friend, Cooper Wells. Including Cooper Wells. But despite what people tell her, it doesn’t affect their friendship. And she’s practically over it, anyway. What she really can’t get over is when her boss at the local museum tells her that her paintings lack heart.
Art is Abby’s passion and she hopes her future as well. She is determined to change his mind and earn her way into the upcoming exhibit at the gallery. So along with her family’s help, she compiles “The Heart List,” a series of soulstretching experiences that are sure to make her a deeper person and better artist in six weeks or less. When Cooper decides to complete the list along with her, she realizes this list is expanding her heart in more ways than one. Maybe she needs to start another project.
Cute! Love, Life, and the List reminded me of why I first fell for Kasie West’s books. It has a similar vibe of The Distance Between Us which is my favorite contemporary of hers.
I was surprised to see the page count when I finished reading because it did not feel like an almost 400-page book. It was such a fun and enjoyable read that it went by super quick.
I adore Abby! The girl oozes sarcasm and is why I love her so much. I totally get her. And her relationship with her grandpa … it is everything! I’d take a book about the adventures of Abby and Grandpa.
As for Cooper, they’ve been best friends for years, but Abby has had hearts in her eyes for a while. Sucks for her because this love is unrequited. Or is it? I loved experiencing them as friends for a good portion of the book and seeing the chemistry between them before jumping right into the whole romance thing. Of course, it’s a complicated situation, so it takes you on a nice rollercoaster of emotions.
This isn’t just about Abby and her feelings for Cooper, though. She’s on a journey to discover herself and gain more depth and perspective by going out of her comfort zone and pushing boundaries. I really enjoyed it and think it would be great for everyone to make a list like she does with their own goals and experiences, no matter how small.
So, yeah, I’m quite pleased with this book and look forward to what Kasie delivers next.
I keep adding her books to my wish list and just need to get busy and read one. I love it when the teens are friends first and there are lots of friend scenes. This one with her and her grandpa getting lots of moments, too, sounds great.
I love those books that you breeze through because you don’t wanna put them down and don’t realize until after that they were 400+ pages. This does sound cute! And I like friends to lovers. And we just need more books with grandmas and grandpas in general XD
YAY! I didn’t get a copy of this one yet but Kasie West is a definite for me. I always love her books. And it is so good when a book doesn’t feel like it is 400+ pages. Great review!!
So glad you liked this too! I’ve seen a lot of not nice reviews for it, which surprised me because I thought this was very much classic West.
What dicks! lol. No, but I think this is better than her more recent stuff.
I really want to try more books by this author!
I love it when a book flies for me, especially a long one. This sounds really cute!
The Distance Between Us is my favorite of hers as well! I can’t wait to give this one a try. I also love lists. Thanks for the review!
Parallel is my favorite overall, but TDBU is my favorite contemporary by her. This definitely goes back and gives me those vibes.
I hesitated on this one because her last couple of books did not fare as well, I wasn’t a fan of By. Your Side. Glad this one goes back to her roots. I will re add it to my list.
Yeah, I was really disappointed in By Your Side, but this had more of a feel of her earlier stuff.
Looks cute. The list idea sounds great, and friends to lovers is always nice, especially when done well. And hey how about some grandparent representation eh? 🙂
Reading your review, I couldn’t help but smile — this book has elicited much the same from so man bloggers, and it’s the best feeling when you can’t help but smile reading a review from someone who was so delighted by their book.
Abby sounds fantastic. You know, I’ve never read anything by Kasie West which is probably insane since so many people love her. haha Glad you enjoyed this one!
-Lauren
Love Kasie, and I thought the sarcasm in The Distance Between Us was hilarious. Looking forward to more of the same with this one.
I’ve only read one of her books but it was super cute. I may need to check out more…
I have a copy of this and keep setting it aside. Ugh!!! I need to read it and soon apparently. ?
I loved P.S I Like You, but after that book her books kept getting mixed reviews and it was such a downer. awesome to see that this one was another hit for you, excited!
I haven’t been terribly impressed with some of her more recent stuff, but this one is really good.
I have only read one book by Kasie West and just thought it was okay. I really need to give her another try. This does sound like a good read.
You should read Parallel – that’s my favorite overall of hers. Definitely her best work.
I’ve seen this book around and the feedbacks mostly positive. Need to try this author this year. Thanks for sharing, my friend. Always a huge fan of your review. ?❤️??
I absolutely LOVE Kasie West and best-friend romance stories!! This one sounds so cute, and I love myself a good, sarcastic heroine. <3 Awesome review, Christy!
This does sound super cute but 400 pages? That scares me 🙂 I try not to look at page count these days until I’m done.
I haven’t read her but this does sound good.
I almost gave up on this one but I endured the length (I actually felt it – weird!) b/c you liked it. YOU, the cynical one. I knew it had to end up it good and I was happy I stuck around! Thank you!!! I totally agree with you about her grandpa *sigh* HUGS!!!!
I love books that flow that well you don’t feel like you are reading them and sarcastic female characters 🙂
I have actually never read a Kasie West book before. I keep saying I’m going to and then never seem to quite get around to any of them. Maybe I’ll start with this one since I love sarcastic characters like Abby. Great review!
I’m not a big fan of YA, but this does sound cute. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it.
I’ve only read one Cassie West title but really enjoyed the fluffy, friends to romance storyline and this sounds do charming Christy. I’m a big fan of self discovery narratives and glad that the romance was secondary in this case. Really looking forward to reading this now. Brilliant review! <3
I adore Kasie West and although this wasn’t one of my favorites, I still really enjoyed it.
A great review! Sharon – Obsession with Books
Glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did. I love your comment about wanting a whole book about the adventures of Abby and Grandpa! 🙂
I’m so happy you loved this, Christy. Kasie West is the bomb! Her characters always do something that makes me love them 🙂
I love a girl who is sarcastic too! I love that it was a journey for Abby! Great review.