Someone Else's Love Story

A Novel

By: Joshilyn Jackson

Narrated by: Joshilyn Jackson

Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Someone Else's Love Story is beloved and highly acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Joshilyn Jackson's funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about falling in love, and learning that things aren't always what they seem - or what we hope they will be.

Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced parents. She's got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up and falling in love with William Ashe, who willingly steps between the robber and her son.

Shandi doesn't know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It's been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his world. But William doesn't define destiny the way others do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in facts and numbers, destiny to him is about choice. Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know.

©2013 Joshilyn Jackson (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Author Joshilyn Jackson's voice delivers the protagonists' heartbreaking pasts with delicate sensitivity... Her voice for Natty is delightful while Shandi's drawl is equally pleasant to hear. She captures William's Asperger's in an authentic way with a slightly stiff yet warm voice. Enlivening flashbacks as well as Jackson's careful pacing and voicings will keep listeners engaged." (AudioFile Magazine)

"An inspiring story of love, faith and redemption... All of the characters...are so vividly drawn, they fairly leap off the page." (Booklist)

"Witty, cleverly constructed and including a truly surprising twist, Someone Else’s Love Story turns out to be a nuanced exploration of faith, family and the things we do for love." (People)

Beautiful story

Someone Else's Love story opens with Shandi falling in love at gun point in a gas station mini mart robbery. This book had me sucked in with the first few sentences. I was so invested in the characters I couldn't put it down. Sure I don't agree with how some of it played out but I had to know how it would end. Loved it.

A good read by a favorite author.

While this want my favorite of her work (God 's of Alabama was!) it was a solid read and kept my attention to the end.

Joshilyn has DONE IT

I love Joshilyn Jackson like no author I've ever read, and to hear this beautiful gripping story that I could not stop listening to, to hear MY FAVORITE CHARACTER from her other book, The Opposite of Everyone hidden inside of it, has both shocked and thrilled me. To not have it dawn on me until nearly the end of the book was amazing. This book is so good, so evoking and so thoughtful I could listen to it a thousand times just to catch all the little details I missed. You will not regret this book.

Excellent! Loved this

I love everything from Joshilyn Jackson..this was a fantastic read, rich with retail and emotion. Highly recommended!

a very different and very wonderful book

Jocelyn Jackson has become a favorite author. I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while. I saved it for one of those days when I was frustrated with everything else I was reading because I knew Jocelyn wouldn't disappoint me. I was right. this book was amazing and kept me glued to the audiobook until I finished it!

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.

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.

The Best I have read/listened to in awhile.

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

Yes, I would recommend Someone Else's Love Story. There is never a dull moment. The author reads the text and you feel as though you know Shandy personally. This is a great book if you need to check out of reality for a short time.

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!

Love Love Love!

I LOVE Joshilyn Jackson's writing! Not to mention the way she narrates her books really brings the stories, and the characters, to life! What I really enjoyed in this book was Joshilyn bringing Paula back into her writing. I can't wait until her next book! Great Job as always!