18 Truths Jamie Ayres Book Review

ISBN: 1620074478 (ISBN13: 9781620074473)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Publication: January 24th, 2014
Source: Net Galley

From Goodreads Synopsis:

Lying is unbearable, betrayal is inevitable, and choosing which path to take is impossible.

Olga Gay Worontzoff ended her senior year as an eighteen-year-old girl totally in love with Nate, enjoying their new romance and about to attend the university of her dreams. Now she's spending her summer in the weird subculture of the Underworld, with charmingly witty and powerful angels, and problematic demons, trying to rescue Conner, the best friend and secret crush she was unable to save during a freak accident.

But Nate has other things on his mind, mainly Grace. She's their first assignment as joint guides, and Olga's feeling hurt and jealous. His mysterious behavior has Olga questioning everything she believed about him and now she must decide whether to stick to their plan, or follow her heart. Unfortunately, a series of mistakes threatens everyone around her and plants Olga in the center of cosmic events much larger than she ever imagined.

Only one thing is certain: the chilling truths uncovered during her journey will leave no one untouched.

My Impression

I was totally dumbfounded by this book. First and foremost, the cover. It was really enticing and mystifying. My first impression was, "Okay, book under a teen & young adult genre, possibly has to do with paranormal alien or magic stuffs.". Uh-uh... how wrong I was. The title is quite catchy too. I haven't read the first book though, but I wasn't lost while reading this one.

While I was reading it, I eventually realized that this book would offer me such an inspiring story and it did! I actually highlighted several quotes that I would that would be a perfect share to my love ones and friends. There were those scenes, (as simple as it is...) that will touch your heart deep because you know that it happen in real life and would basically be the exact thing you'd say if it did happen to yours.

"Well, first of all, every child deserve a grandma to spoil them, and mine won't have one. You know what? Bump all of that, every child deserves a mother to love them. I can't even love myself."

The originality of the book blew me away. Never did I thought of anything like this, I mean NEVER! I did knew the saying "Life after death" but I haven't really thought about living it as the author visualize it in the book.

I could only say one thing... COOL! How would you like to live the "same" way as you did here in earth while under the angel supervision and knowing... Literally knowing, that you're just one step closer to either heaven and hell. I super loved the world building in this one, it seems logical and believable. Well, perhaps except for this one...

Ash handed Nate and me a backpack.

"School supplies?" Nate asked, shaking the bag, his eyes wide.

.

"And, not exactly. You don't need to worry about graduating. You nee to worry about warfare. You'll find binoculars, a Bible, a crucifix necklace to wear that's been anointed with oil, Grace's case file, the roles you're playing in this after-death purification process, a copy of your Spirit Guide Insurance Policy, your daily meditation guide, cell phones, a tranq gun, an Angel Phonebook with who to call for specific problems, your Limbo passports in case someone needs to see your ID, Spirit Guide For Dummies 101, etc. --"

And the humor! Geez, I think I caught myself smiling like a hundred times while reading this.

Before I died, the only religion I knew had been Star Wars. ~Conner

Do you want to go straight to H-E-double hockey sticks? ~Nate

Okay, I know that's not the best funny verse in this book but really, it made me smile. Olga is all so human with all her imperfections. There were times that I'd like to smack her head for wanting everything and not being contented with what she has.

She is selfish that way and I find her so unfair. It was like reading a "reverse harem manga" [when a lead girl is being liked by most of the the boy character in the story] which is cute if it is a manga, but not that cute when it comes to novels.

Nate or Conner? Nate showed his dark side only to protect Olga which means he's do everything for her and would fight for her no matter what. While, Conner would do too. Wait, looking at this point of view I could understand Olga now. I can't possibly choose between the two of them.