A Thousand Lives Lived: Cover Reveal and Review: Something About Love by Elana Johnson

~Hello!~

As you may know (hopefully you do!) I am a huge fan of Elana Johnson and her books, specifically the Possession trilogy and Elevated! When an opportunity to be part of the cover reveal and read and review her newest book, Something About Love, came up, I went for it immediately!

Now comes the moment you've all been waiting for! Seriously—who doesn't enjoy cover reveals? Here you have the gorgeous cover and review of this newest poetic novel by Elana!

Something About Love, by Elana Johnson

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Chick-lit

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Publication: September 15, 2014, by AEJ Creative Works

Format: e-ARC

Goodreads Summary: High school senior Olivia Winging gave up her love of photography when she gave up her boyfriend, Trevor Youngblood, a year and a half ago. She broke things off with Trevor because her mom married his dad, and dating your step-brother? Creepy.

Livvy hasn’t been on good terms with her mother since, and one of her stipulations for staying at the Youngblood’s every other weekend is that Trevor can’t be there. When she gets nominated for the Junior Photography in Excellence award, Trevor insists she enter. She agrees—only if every photo in the portfolio can be of him. Knowing that Livvy can capture a person’s deepest secrets through her lens, Trevor hesitates before accepting the deal.

As Livvy gets behind the lens of her camera again, her love of photography is rekindled. Unfortunately, the time she spends with Trevor also re-ignites the old flame for him she’s kept smothered for so long.

In order for Livvy to finish her portfolio, she’ll have to face her feelings for Trevor as well as deal with the animosity between her and her mother. Livvy’s always been able to capture a person’s soul from behind the camera—but she’s not sure she likes it when the lens is suddenly focused on her. If she can’t find a way to forgive her mother and admit how she feels about Trevor, Livvy may end up losing more than just the photography contest. She could lose her heart.

Review:

Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

"But I'll never get those words out of my head.

I've seen them, and

I can't unsee them

Just like I've kissed Trevor, and

I can't unkiss him,

Can't unwant him,

Can't unlove him."

All in all, I love poetry. I know that I say this in every review of a YA book that is written through the format of poetic works, but it's the truth. I always take the chance of reading poetry whenever I can, but Elana Johnson really does master it every time.

After reading Elana's other YA books, I jump at the chance of reading any other book written by her. She knocks me out of my socks every time and I'm either left (a) bawling /or/ (b) smiling from head to toe. She just gets my feels going out of control 24/7.

Something About Love was a novel truly about finding yourself. Livvy, the main character and protagonist, was buried through most of the novel. Sure, she was annoying and dumb at times, through most of the book. But really, this book was about her developing to the state she became to by the end of the book. She really didn't become herself until the end of the book, and that's where she really began to shine, no doubt about it.

Elana's characters always have a weak beginning and strong building to the end. She also always makes their stories believable. Both Trevor and Livvy both had tough lives and family problems—especially Livvy, who went through so much that she ended up getting homeschooled.

Livvy loved Trevor. But she really didn't understand what being in love meant. Before, she gave up everything that she loved—and that included Trevor and her love of photography. Now, everything may be going for the worse but then other things can go positively. When an opportunity to be part of a photography contest comes up, Trevor urges her to sign up and she does. Things may be going for the worse but there's always a bright side...

"Humans need oxygen;

Fish need water;

Harris needs me, and

I need Trevor."

Overall, the plot was very well-defined and well-written. Elana's and Livvy's story got to the point quickly and was very enjoyable. Livvy's story was real and I believed it. Many people are going through the same things that she was going through and I loved the concept. Photography? That's so hipster and gorgeous.

The romance was cute, but it wasn't all eye-popping. There wasn't enough bizazz.

This book wasn't everything I was looking for, but I still actually enjoyed it quite a lot and I'd recommend it to lovers of anything by Carol Lynch Williams. Grief, forbidden romance, and strong emotions, Something About Love is a book that's sure to satisfy others.