Love, Life, and the List

By: Kasie West

Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

What do you do when you've fallen for your best friend? Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner's summer isn't going the way she'd planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn't been able to manage her mother's growing issues with anxiety. And now she's been rejected from an art show because her work "has no heart". So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn't going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do 10 things, ranging from face a fear (three) to learn a stranger's story (five) to fall in love (eight). She knows that if she can complete the list, she'll become the kind of artist she's always dreamed of being.

But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn't as straightforward as it seems...and that maybe - just maybe - she can't change her art if she isn't first willing to change herself.

©2017 Kasie West (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Put this one on your list!

This one has been on my “LIST” for sometime now. I am upset at myself for letting it sit there for this long. I think the only thing I could say that is bad about this one is the kids are too perfect and I am jealous of them ughhh! There is way too much to like about this audiobook. Loveable characters, great story flow and a narrator that absolutely knocks it out of the park. This was my second venture into the YA Romance genre and I think I am slowly being sucked in. I really liked every aspect of this one. From the very start you love the characters, even when you scream at them for being so oblivious!! Throughout the entire story it is filled with creativeness, sarcasm and a whole lot of heart (no pun intended). I do have to say I was on team Abby all the way and I found myself hating some characters just because they were not her. Among the top of my favourite list was definitely the grampa. He was so well written and really rounded out the character list. I am pretty sure this is every teenage girl’s dream come true. The narration was crisp, precise and stunning. Completely in awe and really brought the words to life. She was born to perform this book. Each character was distinct, funny, and really well done. She was able to flip flop back and forth from being several different 17 year old females, to bruiting 17 year old males while mixing in an 80 year old man, mother and father. There were also some other characters sprinkled in there too. The tone for each scene was spot on and done really well. Frustrated teens you have found your voice as the emotion was just right all the way through. Such a great listening experience from beginning to end. It was easy to rate this one very high and maybe it has inspired me to make a list of my own, but I am very sure it would not be as creative or fun as this one. Two thumbs way, way up!

Unrequited love sucks !!

I know I gave this book a very low rating but it doesn't have to do with anything about the writing or the story .. it is just me and my feeling toward the issue presented in the story .. I absolutely HATED Cooper, he was ticking on my nerves the entire book and I really wanted someone else to make an appearance to save Abby from this hell .. I love Kasie West writing style and she have that ability to make memorable moments that you remember even after you finish the book .. I say she handled the issue of unrequited love in a very accurate and realistic way but I was so frustrated through out the book, I liked the relationship between Abby and her family and her sarcastic nature, she was a very good protagonist, you can read it if you like but prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster

The narration was nice enough .. not much variety of voices but it was fine and I can see a room for improvement

Loved this book!

This is another super cute book from Kasie West! First of all, the narrator did a great job of capturing a teen girl going through unrequited love, heartbreak, and trying to figure herself out. I have previously read this book as a physical and the audio was even better! Great casting, I loved listening to Caitlin.
The plot was also so good, I really felt for Abby. I don't know how she kept being friends with Cooper after his rejection, she's stronger than I am. When she was let down by people in her life, I cried for her. The relationship between Abby and her grandpa was one of my favorite parts! I love books that have focus on family relationships and not just romances. Fun read!

Great YA novel with depth

I really enjoyed that the characters had depth to them and were not two dimensional. The beginning was a tad slow but it does pick up. It’s worth the credit!

It was PERFECT

Most romances have too much mushy stuff or not enough. The characters are too boring or too extreme. This was a PERFECT book. It made me laugh out loud. The characters had more going on than each other, but there was enough emphasis on them. It gave me enough angst and the perfect ending. I am about to listen for the second time. If you need alto go on a light hearted emotional roller coaster (yeah I know that’s an oxymoron), this is the one!!

My now favorite rom com

I loved this book, it was a great rom com. I loved how Kasie West didn't put any sensual scenes that would take over the real idea of romance, showing what it is to love someone instead of just wanting the other for their body or ego. The characters were well thought out and the conversation starters of having a mental illness and a deployed father were really done right in sense that we got to understand what it was like for Abby to live like.

A little different for this author

This book was good like her other books, some romance; thought provoking, unexpected twists, leaving you guessing how things would end. However, there were some heavy moments, sadness, more so then other books...the story dragged at bit too. Of all her books the heaviness of the book made me say...not one of my most favorites but better than a lot of YA's out there. Lastly, I didn't it was performed as well as some of the other audio books.

Real growing up love story

My only real complaint was that the 14 year old sister sounded and acted about 6. Otherwise I fell in love with the main character and felt her pain.

charming and wholesome

always fresh and heartwarming stories to original with a message of courage and taking a bold step up in character building situations

Very sweet book

The narrator did a fantastic job. Very sweet story. The end got a little cheesy and over-the-top but I definitely enjoyed this book.