It’s been a while since the last time I read a YA suspense so I was pretty excited to start on this book. With an intriguing blurb, In Another Life was a promising read and I jumped in expecting a thriller of a ride.

And I got that, but I could have done with more.

Marketed as a suspense thriller, In Another Life offered an interesting though formulaic puzzle. You’ll easily be able to put two and two together and figure out the mystery early on if you’ve read your own share of the genre before. I think it only took me about 20% of the book to suss out the whole plot of this story.

Predictability aside, I still enjoyed this book though. In Another Life compensated in other areas. I like how it showed the mess and hurt a divorce brings a family, the questions about identity it posed. It also didn’t hurt that both Chloe and Cash were so easy to root for. They are kindred spirits, both with their own baggage and, as Chloe puts it, “holes in their hearts.” Their romance, though it moved fast at whiplash speed at first, eventually grew on me.

Overall, In Another Life was a satisfying fast-paced read. I found the story engaging and enjoyable despite its flaws. However, I think this one would appeal more to YA contemporary readers rather than its intended audience.

2.5-3 stars

Overall, this is an ok book, maybe just not for me. The idea was okay enough and intriguing but the writing is really not for me. My main problem is the wording, the descriptions are a little too much and unrealistic. Like how Chloe and her friend calls her dad's new gf as a whore and live-in toy. Or the way Chloe was described physically. The whole story is too melodramatic. And I found it hard to like Chloe. She's plain horrible and maybe it's because she's a teen but sometimes, I don't think she uses her mind before she speaks. It's also apparent in her inner monologue. I don't like her at all. Lastly, I think the author tried hard to make this a YA by putting characters and plot points that are often found in YA's but really, they're not that important in the main storyline.

And it has cheating aspect thrown at me right from the start. It's my main pet peeve.

But kindly, take this review with a grain of salt, coz, I think this book is just Not For Me. It can be a good experience for you.

4.5 stars. Loved this engaging story with fantastic characters! The kidnapping angle and the questions about Chloe's identity are an excellent hook. But the intricate characters woven into the story gave this a richness I wasn't expecting. The ending didn't play out like I would expect from a standard mystery/suspense story. I think it's because the real core of this book isn't the kidnapping story abut the characters and the heart. And this absolutely delivered all I hoped for in that regard - and more.

What would you do if you found out your whole life was a lie? That the people who adopted you may not be who you think they are. And the secrets of your childhood could be even more dangerous the more you uncover?

Well, it all starts with a Slurpee. OK, well, maybe not ALL of it, but Chloe’s story begins to unravel because of the cold, delicious drink. She’s been kind of in a rut lately. Dealing with her parents divorce, her mom’s cancer treatments, and a move to a new town, smack dab in the middle of high school.

The town of Joyful, is anything but these days and when Chloe spills that icy delight on Cash Colton, one look in those dreamy eyes, and things just might start looking up for her and her Slurpee Sweetheart. But nope. Cash tells Chloe she may be the child of his foster parents that went missing years ago - things start looking very, very much NOT up.

They are determined to find the answers of her childhood, who her real parents are, and start digging. And as all great digs go - things slowly start to be revealed, strange things start to happen, and someone may be out there that would KILL to keep her past a secret.

I adored Chloe and this book - A really fun, and fast-paced read.

Thank you to CC Hunter, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this great story.

In Another Life, is a new YA Thriller by C.C. Hunter, the author who wrote the Shadow Fall series - a series I had so much fun reading. I'm excited to be able to be a part of In Another Life's blog tour and share my thoughts and even an excerpt from the story with all of you.

First of all, the concept of the story was highly intriguing. I think my mom's obsession with watching crime shows must have rubbed off on me because I take any chance to read mysteries when one intrigues me like In Another Life did. The mystery was definitely the best part of the story because it kept me wondering if Chloe was kidnapped and if so, by who? Chloe's adoptive parents were going through a divorce and her mom especially could be bitter and vicious so I already was side-eyeing her. But there are so many things that come into play and I wondered what was true or if there was going to be a huge twist at the end. I was pleasantly surprised how everything came together near the closing of the story which is always good when you are reading a mystery.

I will say that I didn't absolutely love the romance. It started a bit off putting and it was a bit fast. I preferred the focus on the possibility of a kidnapping and the struggles both characters were facing beyond the main storyline. Chloe with her parents divorce and acting more like an adult to her mom than a daughter. Cash with feeling like he doesn't deserve his foster family's affection. Overall, I think if you enjoy C.C. Hunter's other work I can easily see you enjoying In Another Life.

This book was so great to read! I really enjoyed the characters, and the idea of a girl being kidnapped, and then meeting the boy that her parents are fostering, yeah, that's pretty interesting to read! Plus pretty emotional!

Chloe has had a tough time recently, her dad's had a midlife crisis and divorced her mom. Her mom had cancer, and only now is recovering, but is dealing with some mental issues. And on top of that, the divorce meant that she moved, and is starting her senior year at a new school. Not fun. And then she meets Cash and the possibility that she was kidnapped is brought up. Yeah.

Cash has had it tough, too. His mom left when he was young, and his dad was a con artist, and made his son participate. He doesn't let people close, including his foster family. Chloe's potential biological parents. But he wants to protect them from any hurt that might be caused by Chloe maybe, maybe not being their daughter. He's a good guy, but he has his flaws!

Really enjoyed the mystery, it was like, one step forward, two steps back, there would be a clue that would point one way, but then something else would come up that would make them believe otherwise.But that ending was pretty unexpected, and really great to read!

Yeah, this was a really great book and I enjoyed reading it!

I really needed this book in my life. You know when you read a book and you feel like it’s exactly what you needed at that time? That’s what I kept feeling as I was reading IN ANOTHER LIFE. I hadn’t read a (not so) fluffy contemporary romance in sooooo long, and I didn’t realize I missed it this much!

In this lovely book, we follow two main characters: Chloe and Cash. Chloe just moved to Joyful, Texas with her mom, after her parents divorced. Cash has been living with his foster parents for a few years in the same town. When they meet, Chloe is surprised to find out that Cash is convinced of the craziest thing she has ever heard: that Chloe is actually Emily, the lost daughter of his foster parents. She has known all her life that she’s adopted, but to be told she was kidnapped 15 years ago is something she is not sure she can handle – or even believe.

I’m not sure whether I’ve said this in a post before, but I’m a big fan of fluffy contemporary novels that feature deeper or more serious issues. Because life isn’t all fluff, is it? A good example of that is THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE AND BASH by Candace Ganger, where there is a terribly sad situation going on with both of the main characters’ families. And now I have another recommendation of the same kind of book. Similarly to Ganger’s debut, in C. C. Hunter’s newest novel, Chloe is dealing with her adoption and possible kidnapping issues, while Cash is still being haunted by his past and his monstrous father.

I devoured this book in no time. The mystery surrounding Chloe’s adoption and Cash’s past really adds to the story – and makes it a compulsive read. Allied to the contemporary high school setting, IN ANOTHER LIFE is as cute and realistic as a novel can be. Besides, the dialogue and commentary present in this story are really funny and witty, which I absolutely loved!

There was only one thing that threw me off at a certain point: Chloe can be a bit childish sometimes. I know she’s a teenager but like… she’s a senior in high school, yet sometimes she acts like she’s 13. And then other times she acts like she’s 38. And she gets into slut-shaming a couple of times, though only when talking about her father’s new girlfriend who, allegedly, dresses provocatively, therefore she’s a slut… honey, it’s 2019, we don’t do that anymore… I understand Chloe’s rage towards her, but that’s no valid argument and it annoyed me as I read that part.

There is awesome rep in this book, for those of you out there who are interested in representation. We have LGBT characters – though we don’t actually interact with them directly -, and also Hispanic characters, so this is a relatively diverse read as well.

But my favorite part of this was, without a doubt, the romance. Oh, how I missed a good literary couple! I had been craving romance without knowing it, and it felt so good when I finally got to read it 😍 Cutesy and cheesy things will always be my soft spot, I love reading about people who are in love, it melts my heart 🤭

Overall, IN ANOTHER LIFE is an adorable, addictive contemporary read that features a mystery and has a serious undertone. In case you’re looking for YA that features adoption and foster care issues, check this one out! And, of course, if you can, get your hands on this lovely book tomorrow when it releases – I really recommend it!

Usually I’m not a big fan of those dreamboat oddball hero names. You know, the kind that don’t really sound like actual names. In this case, though, Cash’s name really works because his dad was a con man, and money was all he valued. So it was kind of perfect and made sense.

I liked Chloe right away. You could definitely feel her hurt and frustration at being caught between her parents. She had reasons to be angry with both of them, but also loved them both, too. I liked that her family wasn’t perfect going into the story. It added a lot of tension right at the beginning of IN ANOTHER LIFE.

In terms of Cash’s character, I’m kind of a sucker for the unworthy, heart-of-gold guy. It’s hard for me not to like someone like that. On the other hand, that unworthiness creates huge problems for anyone trying to have relationships with him, and I liked that IN ANOTHER LIFE addressed that as well – it wasn’t just about Chloe’s history. Cash also had to confront some demons and he wasn’t a purely romanticized character, even though the main focus of the novel is unraveling the circumstances surrounding Chloe’s adoption and what really happened to the missing girl.

The story reminded me a little bit of THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON by Carolyn Cooney, so it struck some nostalgia for me. I think fans of that duology or THE LOST AND THE FOUND by Cat Clarke will enjoy IN ANOTHER LIFE.

I’m pretty sure everyone as that one author, the one you just know, you can’t go wrong with his/her book, For me C.C. Hunter is that author, Of course that means mu hopes are high and I cross my fingers when starting the story, that I’m not going to be disappointed. And I’m not. In another life is just as great as I expected it to be. I liked Chloe and I cried for her, having to be this mature and taking care of so much, instead for being a normal teenage girl. I wanted to shake her mother so bad, for making Chloe’s life harder than it had to be. For putting her in to a position a child shouldn’t be, even if she was sick, got divorced and felt like crap. A mother should always think about the kid first. Cash was putting me through a lot of emotions. I liked him, and I felt sorry for how his dad treated him, but I also wanted to make him see that he was too hard on himself. That he pushed away everything good in his life and punished himself for things that weren’t his fault. I cried so hard towards the end, when the details about the adoption were revealed and everything seemed just too much. How do you know what to do in this kind of situation? It was clear that somebody would get hurt, Chloes adoptive parents if she really was the kidnapped Emiliy and Mr. and Mrs. Fuller if she wasn’t. “In Another Life” was a great book with a lot of heartache, tears but also, with hope and love.

I knew when I first saw the synopsis for this book that this was something I would be highly interested in reading. I read This Heart of Mine last year and was blown away by the gripping, emotional story and so I was excited for another heart-rending read from C. C. Hunter. In Another Life delivers a story that is sure to thrill and captivate readers!

As with This Heart of Mine, it was very easy to get lost in the pages. The writing itself didn’t necessarily hook me, but the story Hunter tells is extremely compelling and I flew through the pages wanting to find out the truth about what happened. The plot is an intriguing topic, and after reading the synopsis the first time I was immediately reminded of the kidnappings of Kamiya Mobley and Carlina White. Although In Another Life follows a somewhat different storyline, the author did a fantastic job portraying the feelings and confusion Chloe would have been going through. The climax/conclusion was very emotional and it was hard not to empathize with our protagonist.

In Another Life offers a fresh story that weaves YA contemporary with suspense to create an emotional, captivating story. There were a few things that I think could have been written a little better – namely, the romance – but besides that small issue I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to more from C. C. Hunter in the future!

first i’m going to warn you guys that i wrote this review when i was really sick so i hope that it turned out okay.

I’v heard some amazing things about C.C hunter’s books specially her shadow fall series so when I was invited to be on the blog tour for her newest book I jumped at it while I enjoyed it I was also disappointed by it.

After Chloe Holden’s parents get a divorce Chloe moves from El Paso Texas to Joyful Texas with her mom leaving everything behind from there she run into Cash Colton a boy who at first warns her not to do anything thinking that she’s a con artist out to get his foster families money by posing as there kidnapped daughter Soon they find themselves working together to discover if Chloe is really the daughter of cash’s foster family.

There’s a lot that is going on in this book besides for Chloe’s story and at times it felt like a little too much you not only have Chloe’s story but you also have the divorce between her parents, her mom having cancer and her dad dating a new younger woman along with cash’s story and a lot of teenage drama thrown in. i had a really hard time with this book and there were times that i just wanted to put it down and read something else but i pushed though and finished.

Here’s what I liked and didn’t like.

What I liked

. I did really like the way C.C hunter handled divorce, foster care and adoption in this book it’s one of the only reasons why I kept reading it.

What I didn’t like

. I wasn’t a fan of the romance I really didn’t like Cash and Chloe together especially at the beginning of the book, Letting air out of Chloe car tire to get close to her and stalking her by taking pictures of her files are not romantic, I get where he was coming from but if it were me I would not want to be romantically involved with him after finding out those things.

. I’m usually a fan of switching POV but the way it’s done in this book is odd Chloe POV is in first person and cash’s POV is in third person and a lot of the time it took me a few minutes to figure out who I was reading.

.About halfway though the book we suddenly get a third POV from the villain which threw me a as to why it was there.

.I really had a problem with the way C.C hunter handled one of the side characters mothers being lesbian it felt like it was thrown in there just to cause more drama which really rubbed me the wrong way and made me want to throw the book.

.I hated the way friendships were portrayed in this book. She doesn’t really talk to her friends from El Paso anymore and the one new friend she makes in joyful isn’t really super reliable.

Besides for all that it was a quick read and reminded me a little bit of some of the books I used to read in middle school and high school. I really feel like this is a book that younger teen might enjoy better than I did.

i wanted to thank St. Martin's press and wednesday books for inivitng me to be a part of the blog tour and for providing the eARC

I sadly couldn’t get into this book. Chloe, the main character, wasn’t a great narrator. Her character was immature and ungrateful. The plot was all over the place and the ending was rushed. I think some might like it but sadly I couldn’t get into it.

True Crime has always been my obsession, and this novel piqued my interest as soon as I read the summary. Chloe is going through big changes after the catastrophic summer she just had. Not only are her parents getting divorced, but her dad is slumming it up with a lady much younger while her mother is battling cancer. Pile that on top of the fact she just had to move , leaving behind friends and a now ex-boyfriend, and you can see that Chloe’s life isn’t exactly going as planned for her last year of high school.

On the other hand, Cash Colton is resident bad boy. He hasn’t necessarily done anything to perpetuate that image, but he comes from foster homes that have taught him how to fight. And while he doesn’t go around starting the fights, he will always fight back. Even when it upsets his wonderful foster mother who has taken him in and provided for him when she honestly didn’t have to.

Cash and Chloe run into each other accidentally, but instantly, Cash takes note. How does this girl look exactly like the age progression on the poster he sees in the stores? You see, fourteen years ago, his foster mother had a daughter who was kidnapped, and though so much time had gone by, the family hadn’t stopped searching for her – even if it meant getting scammed by no-good crooks.

As soon as Cash lays eyes on Chloe, he gets angry. Obviously, she is part of another scheme to rob his foster parents, people who are good people. But when Chloe doesn’t know what he is talking about, it sends Cash spiraling as he begins to investigate who Chloe truly is.

I had higher hopes for this book than what I got, but it wasn’t a bad book. I was just hopefully it would have a little more twists and turns than it actually did. The characters didn’t really have enough chemistry for me to root for them, but I thought the book was a nice, easy read.

One problem I did have might have just been with the ARC copies. At one point during the book, the author kept switching between calling the main male characters Cash and Chase. The book never explained if Chase was a nickname, but I automatically assumed it was just an error in this copy since the two names are spelled so similarly.

I also didn’t like that it switched from first to third person so much when it switched from Cash and Chloe's points of views. This is more of a personal preferences for me, but I’d rather an omnipresent third person narrator instead of the switch constantly.

Fans of contemporary in general may really like this book, but for me personally, it wasn’t as great as some of the other shining stars I have read recently.

What if the life you knew was based on a lie?

Contemporary YA is my book comfort food, add in a dash of mystery and I am a happy girl! C. C. Hunter has written an entertaining fast-paced book that I devoured in two sittings. This book was well told but heavy on the romance, and light on the mystery. This was something that worked perfectly fine for me, but it is best you know this going in.

Chloe has lead a charmed life. Adopted at the age of three by a loving family, she’s always been confident in who she is. it is Chloe’s senior year and her life has been turned upside down. Her mom has cancer, her father has left, and chloe’s mom move them to Joyful, Texas. Now it is Chloe’s senior year she is the new kid and Hass to start over. I would have truly hated having to change schools my senior year, that really would have been the absolute worst! BUT Chloe meets a boy named Cash Who makes the transition a bit more tolerable. However Cash is convinced that Chloe looks just like his foster parents’ daughter who was kidnapped ages ago. The two of them try to figure out if there is something to this as their romance blooms.

Chloe was a very likable girl, and Cash and she together were totally adorable. Cash was a bit closed off and had a troubled past, but at his core he was a good guy. Chloe’s mother had cancer and I completely empathize with her being sick, but she really put some major pressure on Chloe. Poor Chloe was not only struggling with who she was, but she also was responsible for taking care of her sick mother (who might not even be her mother). Life is messy and it is complicated and this book really showed how you deal with the messier side of life.

A fun and engaging story, perfect for readers of all ages. Recommend!

*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

Chloe Holden knows she was adopted at the age of three. Her adoptive parents have never treated her any less than their own flesh and blood. Her parents have fallen apart and are getting divorced, leaving Chloe in the position she doesn't want to be in. She ends up having to move with her mother. She has to start over. While some people might think she is being dramatic, she is honestly doing well with everything going on on her life. If that wasn't enough, she is lead to believe she could possibly be the little girl that was abducted from the very town she and her mother have moved back to. During her first moments in the town she is going to call home, she meets a mysterious boy named Cash. The little girl that was abducted at the age of three? It was Cash's foster parents' daughter and he thinks Chloe is her. He even has pictures that correlate the two girls--all the way down to a cat in a picture. Cash i a tormented soul trying to make up for the life he had with his biological father.

Anyone that knows me, knows that C.C. Hunter is my favorite author of all times. Her writing isn't perfect, but would it be realistic if it was? I own every single book by her. This might sound biased of me to say In Another Life was a magnificent book, but I'm going to tell you why it isn't biased of me.

C.C. Hunter has a thing for spunky, fun, and charismatic leading characters. Chloe is no different. She has a certain vibe that just catches you. Just like any other book by Hunter, the story line hooks you and drags you in.

Chloe has just moved away from the life she knew with her mother. While they both are mad at Chloe's father, Chloe's mom has a deeper resentment towards her now-ex-husband. Right away in the story we are introduced to a character that would become one of the main characters.

Cash is a character you kind of wish you could slap at first. At first he is so mysterious and no one knows why he has this...opposition towards Chloe. Every page he is involved with creates a more complex character. He isn't a flat character by any mean.

There are so many realistic points that are brushed up on. The hurt of dealing with cancer, and the resentment. Teenagers mad at the world and completely moody and broody. Developing new relationships and starting over. It also brushes on an adoption based mystery.

This book was so captivating, I read it in one sitting. There are so many mysteries in this story.

This was suspenseful, well- written, and the characters well developed. I felt it had the perfect amount of suspense and was exciting and unpredictable.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I posted a spotlight review here: https://elliepelto.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/blog-tour-in-another-life-by-cc-hunter/

includes this note: [A Personal Note From Ellie: With the recent flooding in my home state (NE) and helping my family clean up their water-damaged basement, I was unable to finish the entire book by today, but what I read so far was definitely intriguing! This post is a spotlight on the book to recommend it to my readers, but I won’t be including a rating as I normally do until I finish reading completely.]

In Another Life pulled me into Chloe and Cash’s lives from the first sentence. I devoured their story in one night and didn’t even mind being exhausted the next day after staying up WAY past my bed time. Cash and Chloe are so sweet and GOOD, I couldn’t help but love them. They both have such big hearts when it comes to fighting for those they care about. I really enjoyed the added touch of mystery and suspense in their story. It weaved seamlessly into their romance in a way that seemed realistic and not extreme.

It seems like no matter if CC Hunter is writing romance, mystery, or paranormal, her stories are wonderful adventures I enjoy losing myself in.

I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have never read anything by C.C. Hunter and the synopsis of this book really intrigued me. I love YA mystery books and as soon as I saw that this was about a girl that might have been kidnapped and adopted to a different family, I was immediately interested.

This book is about Chloe who is living with her mother that has just overcame breast cancer. After her mother and father divorce, her mom moves them to a new town and Chloe must start at a new school, as a senior no less. She's known her whole life that she was adopted but she's never let it bother her and has never had an interest in finding out who her real parents were. One weekend when her father is driving her back to her moms she meets Cash Colton and is instantly drawn to him. Cash's motives for wanting to get to know her better might have something to do with what happened in Chloe's past, something she has no idea about, something that Cash has been dealing with for the last 3 years with his current foster parents. Chloe and Cash must find out the secrets about Chloe's past before that secret ends up getting them killed.

This was a great book right from the start. You're immediately drawn in when Chloe meets Cash for the first time and trying to figure out what he was talking about when they ran into each other, literally. I loved Cash's backstory and what he went through with his dad and how he overcame that and was trying to make his life right. I also loved how the story progressed with Chloe slowly learning everything about her first 3 years of life with Cash helping her out.

I love when books are told from both main characters point of view instead of the author trying to have one main character explain both sides. It makes the book feel a lot more in depth and you feel like as a reader you're not missing out on any important moments with the other characters.

C.C. Hunter's writing style definitely drew me in and kept my attention. I loved all the drama between Cash and Chloe's relationship. It was a very enjoyable read and I hope to read other books from the author.

Title: In Another Life
Author: C.C. Hunter
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

Chloe was three years old when she was adopted and became Chloe Holden. She wishes her biological mom had wanted to keep her, but she’s had a good, happy life. Until her parents’ divorce, when her mom moves her to Joyful, Texas—where joy is in short supply for Chloe’s mom, still bitter and angry from her dad’s betrayal.

Chloe runs into Cash—a hot guy from her new school—but his suspicion makes her wary. Who does Cash think she is? Chloe’s trying to parent her mother, and she could really use someone to rely on, but when Cash tells her he thinks she’s the kidnapped daughter of his foster parents, Chloe can’t deal with the questions this possibility raises.

In Another Life is a quick, read. It’s billed as a suspense novel, but I’d just say it has a little suspense in it. The focus is on the relationship between Chloe and Cash, but also on Chloe’s mom and her issues. I enjoyed reading it, but there weren’t any “I didn’t see that coming!” moments. Chloe and Cash both have some growing-up to do, and this novel explores the beginnings of that.

C.C. Hunter is a NY Times-bestselling author. In Another Life is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)