Not Yet

By: Laura Ward

Narrated by: Lisa Zimmerman

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Emma thinks she has life all figured out, and what she knows isn't good. For years, she's put her big sister, who was born with Down syndrome, first. Now Emma's ready to start her own life, but fate has other plans. To do the right thing for the sister she loves, Emma's dreams will just have to wait. She doesn't plan on meeting Landon - a rich, flirtatious jock, who never has to wait for anything. Not for attention, not for money, and certainly not for girls. Meeting Emma marks the first time in his life that he's had to fight for something. And Landon doesn't know how to lose. Emma has no interest in wasting her summer with a superficial guy like Landon. But very soon she realizes she is wrong about him. The question is, can she trust him? Or will he let her down like every other guy in her life? But most importantly, can Emma trust herself enough to live the life she's always dreamed of? Life has a way of sneaking in the most important lessons when you aren't looking. And once the heart gets involved, that's when the real learning begins.

©2014 Laura Rosner Ward (P)2015 Laura Rosner Ward

Great read and listen! 5 stars!

I received a copy of the audio book of Not Yet in exchange for an honest review. But here's the thing...I only listen to audio books on my work commute, which amounts to about an hour a day. After the first few hours of this story, I didn't want to wait the whole weekend to keep "reading". So I clicked the book as well.

I don't want to be spoiler-y in my review, because I'm surprised that I didn't pick up on the major plot twist! I guess I was so entranced with the story, and had envisioned it going a totally different direction.

Emma didn't know how to trust men, and she didn't think that an arrogant jock like Landon could be the one to teach her. Life guarding that summer was the start of the change in who Landon became as a man. While at first, I questioned the legitimacy of his actions...are there really 19 year old guys that swoony...it was a nice break from the reality we hear so much. And it gives hope!

I loved Evie, Trevor, Garrett, Amy and Billy. This author took the time to make them real. The reader has no choice but to love them!

I love that the story is broken down into lessons, rather than chapters. Because after all, life is really just a series of lessons. And while Emma's goal was to become a teacher, she was learning as much as she was teaching.

I hated Dean as much as I ended up loving him. I'm so happy to know that his story is on the way.

As for the audio...I would say the narrator is a perfect match. Her voices as Emma and Landon were different enough so that you knew whose chapter you were coming back to, but she doesn't have the annoyingly fake guy voice. I'll likely go back and finish the audio, even though I finished reading the ebook. It's truly a different "reading" experience, and I always pick up something different when I listen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I totally did not see that coming!!!

This book definitely shocked me but I loved it! A beautiful story about love, growing up, waiting for what you truly want, redemption, and being a better person. Emma and Landon truly amazed me along with some other great characters in this book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Forbidden Love

I liked this story for the most part. Though I didn't like Landon at all in the beginning, I began to like him more. He showed there was a depth to him, and compassion.

The only thing I really didn't like was the fact that this young, barely out of college woman was teaching high school students, one of which she had had a previous relationship with.

The story is well-written, with interesting characters, though at times they seemed a bit immature, even for the ages they were supposed to be. I did love Emma's sister with Downs Syndrome. The scenes with her and, later, her boyfriend were some of the best in the book.

I listened to the audio version and the narrator did a good job, enhancing the story. I liked this story well enough that I may eventually read the others in the series.

Simple

This book has all the feels, the beauty of the story is in the lessons learned throughout, its simply perfect

This story was truly inspiring!!! Loved it!!

What a wonderful love story. I could not stop listening. The storyline was very well written and narrated. I felt so many emotions while listening to it. Will read more of authors books. Ending was amazing!!!

Love is anything but easy..

Any additional comments?

Emma & Landon's story will grab your attention right from the start. Their story is definitely a beautiful one, that is anything but easy & full of twists & turns that I didn't see coming. I loved the dual perspectives, the life lessons, the enlightening readers on disabilities & most of all Landon & Emma's love story. I would recommend checking out Not Yet, as it is unlike any other book I have read.

Sweet, second chance love

This was such a sweet story :-)

Emma met Landon over summer, when they were both working at the local community pool as lifeguards. Initially she thought he was a bit of a cocky douche but the more she got to know him, she saw a sweet vulnerable side that she really loved.

Their friendship grew to love and before they knew it summer was over and Emma was about to start her first job, what she was hoping would be the beginnings of her new career. Therefore, she is horrified to discover on her first day of work that Landon had not been completely honest with her.

Emma's father left when she was a baby, leaving her mother and older sister behind too. Life has not been easy for any of them and Emma has made many sacrifices. She does not open herself up easily and then taking the next step to trust someone is a big deal to her. What Landon did completely blind sides her and she is heart broken that everything they had was built on a lie.

Landon knew that hiding the truth from Emma wasn't a good idea. He is now determined to show her that is a good person and deserves a second chance.

I loved how Landon evolved in this story, from where he was in his life at the beginning to where he gets to in the end. Being with Emma that summer really opened his eyes, showing him the world and people in a completely different way. She gave him a strong sense of family and stability and he does not want to give up on something he has craved his whole life.

Patience is a virtue and I think that Emma & Landon now truly understand what that means.

A wonderful, romantic story :)

Ugh!

Barely an hour in and I can't stand to listen anymore. Same old, same old - thought from the description there would be an interesting twist. But it's just the heroine doesn't trust men, enter cocky bulldozer of a guy, doesn't like him but has lusty thoughts, ya da ya da.

Life lesson: always be kind

I read this book a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. The plot twist with Emma and Landon threw me off! I was NOT expecting that! I was excited when browsing my audible recs to see it on there, so immediately bought it. It was really well narrated! I think the performance was so fitting for the story and was so true to how I read it in my head. It's an amazing story about perseverance and growing. It's such a different take on the student/teacher romance and really well done. It was awesome to see both Emma & Landon grow from beginning to end. I recommended this book to friends years ago, but with a new found love for it, will recommend again with audible.