Imagine if you had dreams of becoming a writer and then one day, a friend gives you a book that has sold millions of copies and is becoming a literary phenomenon you read it and it is your childhood fictionalized including the worst parts that you have tried for years to block out. That is what happened to Emmeline when her roommate Cara raved about a new book by an upcoming author named J. Colby. Emmeline starts to read it and soon is chucked into a world of Emerson and Jake, as she goes along she soon discovers that her childhood best friend Jase has fictionalized their life and is telling the book from her POV. She is Emerson, how could he do this to her, especially since they haven't seen each other in at least twenty years? As the book goes on, it will confront Emmeline and help her not only move on from the past but she will soon learn that the boy she loved with all her heart, never forgot about her and loved her too. Can Emmeline realize that she isn't happy with her life now and her partner of seven years Trevor, and that her heart always and forever belongs to Jase? Or will the walls she put up to protect herself cause her to be blinded and have her go for the safe option? This was such a great read and tells the story of true love and that often real love isn't all smooth sailing and that there are bumps along the way but if you can get over those bumps together, then that is love that will truly last. The other thing I loved about Swear on This Life is that it is a bit like Inception with a book within a book. This book is perfect for all readers and booklovers out there and those wanting a gorgeous soulmate story that will pull on those heartstrings and play with your emotions.

I’m cleaning up my bookshelf and trying to give reviews for past books I’ve read. I know I read this when it came out - I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads back in 2016. I RARELY give out 4-5 stars, so it must have been a good story. Thanks for the advanced reader copy!

This book! It was so good I was so excited when I was approved for this ARC. I am a big fan of Renee’s. She has written some of my favorite books

This story was original and beautifully written. Renee Carlino remains one of my favorite authors because she consistently produces books that make me smile and sigh. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title

I've tried to read this book a couple of times. Normally I am a huge fan of Renee Carlino's books, but every once in a while her books and I don't get a long. Sadly this is one of those books. I can't even put my finger on what it is about this story that isn't working for me. I might try it again in the future.

I 1-Click and read EVERY Renee Carlino release. SoTL was my top read of 2016 and as a blogger I read plenty. Beautiful storytelling, angst and everything that I love in an unforgettable romance. I will forever have SoTL as one of my top faves and it was my TOP read of 2016.

REVIEW: 3.5 Stars
"Our innocence was beautiful, impossible to capture again, impossible to re-create."

I was so excited for the idea of this story!! I was so excited based on the synopsis alone, but seeing some of the reviews, I knew I was in for a good book. Unfortunately, I think this was the classic case of the hype not meeting my expectations and the buildup falling flat at the end. I hate to be negative, because my love for this book was most definitely there, so let me try to explain....

Hype for me is so hard to accept sometimes. Some authors/books I have loved and some I have not, all from someone "highly recommending" them to me. I understand that and know that way of thinking. I honestly do. I'm sure this review won't get many nods, and that is ok. That is the joy of blogging, and in turn, me being able to give my opinion. I *loved* Before We Were Strangers by Renee and felt it was worthy of my Favorites List in 2015, so I knew her writing style and was anticipating that greatness again. This book felt like it was a massive buildup, a heart-rendering book with the ability to crush me and make me *sigh* when it was all said and done. Ultimately, and honestly, it did when I think about the HEA and the love that these two characters had for each other. I am just sad that I felt a little disconnected by the time I finished it. It just.....ended.

The story within the story written by Jase felt like it was written with compassion and love, and I got caught up in that aspect of this book. But the actual characters of Renee's story, the "real life characters" felt a little forced and annoying at times. I won't pick apart the characters, because that is not mine to do, but some things didn't sit right with me. I didn't enjoy the fact that some things took foooorrrreeevverrrr to come to and others were buttoned up in one paragraph: her other relationship, her new writing career, etc. Quick. Done. Fin. It was just a little too inconsistent for me.

I loved the storyline within the story. It was beautiful. We got a young love that blossomed into this mind boggling kind of love that you never forget. You never let go and you constantly ache for that person and those feelings you 'remember' feeling deep down, even if you know that you have to move on. That is the love we had in this book. It was beautiful. I loved how deep Jase loved Emiline and their connection was soul deep. His love had purpose. It was true. It wasn't puppy love; it was an honest to goodness first and true love mixed up into a very sad and compelling story. I was engrossed. I was completely captivated and consumed by the book within this book. Heart strings were pulled. Gasps were had. Smiles were spread. It was all there. It was perfection in a shady world.

However, I didn't like Emiline in real life within the book. I didn't connect to her at all, which is weird because I loved Emerson in the story. Emiline almost felt selfish in her actions and words at some points, and I had a hard time reconciling that part with the Emerson side of her. That may just be a me thing. I can honestly say this book had a really good storyline and an honest and true love story behind it. I just wish it ended with a little more oomph than it had. I don't know how to explain it. I was talking with a friend today about it and I told her it kinda felt like we were rapidly gaining speed, going and going and then BAM! we hit a brick wall and it just....stopped. The HEA was there. The love was there. It was all there. But it ended so abruptly. Like I said, maybe it's a me thing....

One thing is for sure....Renee Carlino is the master at second chance romances with a deep, soul-crushing love. Beautiful love story. Beautiful.