Exile audiobook

This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets ReviewsCatherine Summer Carlson lives her life as two separate people. At home, with the parents, she's Catherine. Catherine is the bright straight-A student on track to be the next big shot lawyer in her family. But elsewhere, she's Summer. Summer is a music junkie who excels at managing bands and has no interest in being a lawyer. She's recently been dumped by her band, Postcards From Ariel, due to an actual record label picking them up. She's on a mission to find a new group to manage and she knows she's hit gold when she finds Caleb Daniels singing and convinces him to start a new one. Falling for Caleb is the number one wrong thing to do as a manager but she can't help herself. Then Caleb reveals a secret about his long-lost father and things get really interesting. Suddenly she's right in the middle of some else's mystery. She knows that she needs to be on her professional best, but sometimes ignoring your heart is difficult to do and you're head will just have to live with the consequences. Can Summer sort out her life (as well as the band's) or is everyone doomed to failure?I'll be completely honest. A big reason I downloaded this was because of the pretty cover. I read the synopsis and it sounded great (I love books about music), but it was that gorgeous, simplistic cover that really grabbed me. I also loved the idea of a male author writing a female perspective. In YA, it's mostly girls. Female authors writing mostly female characters. Female authors sometimes writing male characters, which is always a crapshoot because some female authors can't capture that male voice. It's always fascinating to read a male writing as a female because it's like "so, this is what they think of us, huh?" kinda vibes. I have to say that Emerson did a great job capturing the female voice. Many times when authors write outside their gender, it feels like a female trying to do a male voice or vice versa, but Emerson is not guilty of this. Summer is a complex character. It's easy to sympathize with her because her band literally abandoned her after they signed with a record label and that includes her boyfriend, the frontman. Her love for music was something I could instantly relate to. I'll never be in the music business, but I totally get that need to disappear into the perfect song. She's smart and driven and completely determined to live out her dreams in the music industry, even if she can't bring herself to tell her parents that piece of information. She's also unfailingly human, making judgement errors and having insane moments of jealousy when other girls come on to Caleb. It really rooted her down to Earth. I liked Caleb a lot, but sometimes I wasn't exactly a huge fan. He does some stupid things and treats Summer badly at moments when she really doesn't deserve it. I get that the guy is going through a lot and he's having a difficult time, but there are moments when other girls are blatantly flirting with him in front of Summer and he does nothing to reassure this girl who has already been dumped by one rocker boy who gained fame. He also shuts her out sometimes and that bugged me too. It was clear that he was a good guy, but his inner asshole shone through more often than I would like and the older I get, the more anti-asshole I become. This was a compulsive read, with that just-one-more chapter addictive quality that we all look for in a book. I only had a few issues with it. The first one being that the dynamic between Summer & Caleb was very insta-lovey. They meet and then they are dating and serious almost immediately afterwards. It kinda throws you off. I do think that attraction happens immediately, but there was no dating period, just an immediate this is my girlfriend and the manager of the band I'm going to create thing. Then there was the fact that Summer feel into a similar situation that she has already been in. She was already the girlfriend/manager of a band and that didn't end well. Why would she jump back into the same situation? She has a few reservations, but she didn't really even hesitate before dating Caleb.All things considered, this novel is pretty awesome, and I am impatiently awaiting it's sequel. Summer is a pretty awesome heroine, especially because of her imperfections. The plot and writing keep you going and wondering how exactly the light mystery will play out and if Caleb's band will be successful. If you love contemporary YA, books centered around music, or even just YA fiction, this is for you. Give it a try and you won't regret it!****Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review****

I saw this book in a "music-related" display at my local library and decided to give it a go. I'm glad that I did. I found this book to be multi-layered. First, there is romance, obviously. You can probably guess that much from the fact that it's a YA book and the cute little wire heart on the cover. But so much more is going on in this story. You've got high school drama, probably also a given, but in this situation it's somewhat career based and seems much more important. Then there is a big mystery. There are clues left behind to decipher and the characters must follow them to find what they want so badly to find. All of this is wrapped up in a very musical world, where teens are in bands or managing bands.I enjoyed all aspects of the story. There's a lot going on, but not so much that you get lost. More like real life most of the time has a lot going on. The characters are diverse and interesting and the story is very entertaining. This is book one in a series, so I'm very eager to read the next two books and find out what happens!

Exile is the perfect read for a reluctant reader who loves music and the music scene. It’s also a great read for the non-reluctant reader who knows nothing about the music scene (me).Characters~ Summer is a character that while very different from me, I could connect with. At least on some levels. We have such different lives, but her two lives that she lives, is similar to what I did as a teen as well. The me that my parents and family knew, and the me that my friends knew me as. Summer wants to make her parents happy and she wants to avoid the lectures, so she gets good grades, puts in the work to appear to be interested in attending law school, etc. But she’s happiest when she’s in the music scene, managing a band and getting them attention. Her dedication to all of this was fantastic and was fun to read about.Caleb was a great character as well. He has a lot to deal with in the book but my favorite thing about him was his dedication to Summer and his lack of drama. He has drama, but it’s not relationship related and I appreciated that.The other characters were pretty good but I’d like to see more of them. See them more fleshed out. There simply wasn’t enough time in this book to get to know them well, and so I’m hoping this happens in the future, assuming we get more from this current story line.Romance~ This book does not have the typical romance. It happens fast (too fast) but this is so we can move forward to all the more main points of the story, which is not the romance. The romance is definitely present, and there are issues with it, but it’s not the forefront of the story at all. I would have liked more relationship build up, but at the same time I appreciated that it wasn’t the main focus and was slightly glossed over to allow more time with the other plot points, which was more important. I liked that for the most part the romance is pretty easy for them, and I enjoyed their time together. There was some drama with it, but it was on the light side and never lasted long.Plot~ Summer has helped put together this new band and she knows it’s amazing but now she needs to get them out there. Caleb has discovered something huge. Something that could really put them on the map, but he doesn’t want to use it. However, he wants to find out more about it. So Summer, Caleb and the rest of the band set out to discover some things and it was a fun journey discovering these little things along the way. There are secrets and there are twists and it’s a fun ride that I enjoyed the whole way through.Negatives~ The relationship was really, really fast. I covered this already though, and while it was a negative for me, it allowed for more plot development, which I did appreciate. I got annoyed with Summer a few times because she kept some secrets and it wasn’t right. This allowed for me to get more invested in the story and characters though, so maybe it’s not a negative at all. I had thought this was a stand alone until I went to write this review and saw that it says ‘Exile #1′. Originally I was going to say that I wasn’t sure what I thought of the end, but knowing it’s the first in a series, that’s no longer an issue. As a matter of fact, this ended up being a good ending. Things can’t really be completely wrapped up that quickly, but there’s no cliffhanger either. I’m very curious to see what else is going to happen and how things will play out with Summer and Caleb.Overall this was a fun read and perfect for those that are really into music. There was a lot that I wasn’t very familiar with before so it was very interesting and entertaining for me. I also enjoyed the descriptions of their school, it sounds so cool. Are there are schools like that, I wonder? I do recommend this one and it’s one that boys and girls alike would enjoy, even though it is Summer narrating, it’s definitely one that many boys would enjoy too.You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com

Catherine Summer Carlson knows how to manage a band and make them successful, so successful that they are stolen away from her by a major label. She also has a thing for lead singers and now in her senior year at Mount Hope, the local art magnet school in Los Angeles, she must face the fact that there is not a band for her to take to stardom and ends up making college plans. Then she meet Caleb who just had a nasty break up with his band. She sees the potential in Caleb and starts to put together a solid foundation for a new stellar act. She doesn't plan on the chemistry that is ignited between them though. Caleb also confesses to her that he has just learned that his father was one of rock's brightest stars when his untimely death brought an end to his stardom.Without giving away any plot details, Summer (as she is known professionally) helps Caleb track down his father's last songs as well as deal with despicable music corporations that own everything about his father. As the pair become closer and have all of the ups and downs a new relationship and mix that in with volatile musicians, the story really comes together. Summer is likable and Caleb seems like every girl's rock star dream. I really enjoyed this one and want to read more by this author.

Started 6/4/14Finished 6/7/14My niece won this on Goodreads Giveaways, then after she read it brought it to my house for me to read.Catherine or Summer depending on which person she is being at the time, is a high school senior. She pretends to be one thing to make her parents happy, while she is totally a different person when she does what makes her happy. Catherine (parents ego) is a good student and wants to maybe go to law school. Summer (her ego) is all about managing a band. She already had a successful run at managing, but when the band was signed on with a label, the contract replaced her with one of their own agents. Now she has a new band and soon finds herself in the middle of a mystery. As far as young adult type books go, this was on the better end. No real whiny parts, which I greatly appreciate. There were some times I wanted to slap the character up side the head though, but again, they were in high school and the actions were totally age appropriate. I enjoyed the characters, the story line moved along quite well, but the ending left a bit wanting. I know there is a book 2, but still.

Hmm...that ending...why does it feel like it just abruptly ended?Well aside from the fact the book ended the way it did, I enjoyed Exile. Summer is the ultimate heroine because she's just that awesome. I enjoyed her voice as well as her story. Caleb was equally as interesting if not more despite me wanting to ring his neck sometimes. But it all comes in to play and you realize that not only is this a contemporary novel but it's also a mystery with a sweet romance thrown in. There are definitely some twists you won't see coming. Exile is a lighthearted funny story that will keep you guessing until the very end. And even then you may still be guessing. Or just could just be me but I just feel dissatisfied with the ending. Anyways my full review will be up closer to publication!*thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with a review copy for an honest review3.5

Exile by Kevin Emerson is totally a book that appealed to me because of the cover and the subject matter, which is bands and music. I had been approved on Edelweiss, then the ARC showed up in the mail. Then the cheery yellow cover started calling to me, so I added it to my books to read by BEA pile, also because it was short. Then serendipity happened and I was offered an audiobook review copy of Exile and I was like YESSS this will help me beat my BEA-TBR pile of doom. Also, it’s narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Emma Galvin who I just can’t say no to.Read the rest of my review hereNote: Review goes live 4/29/14

So my sister was hyping this book to me, and so I decided to give it a try. I wasn't disappointed. Though I didn't like Summer the whole time, the story kept me engaged, mostly because I thought Caleb was a great character. The plot twists at the end were very unexpected and I cant wait to read more.

I've been reading this in sections for a year. It's fantastic! Mr. Emerson really captures the voice of the narrator (a female) and totally knows his chops around being in a band, because this is as real as it gets. Funny, surprising, totally spot-on. Loved it.

This book was soooo good! I was intrigued from the first chapter and it never let me go. I was blown away by the plot twist towards the end, but then another plot twist within the last 5 pages?! I'm so excited for the next one!

Cute, well written book with surprises and young love and self discovery. I enjoyed it.

Cute and fun.

Great story

The original review for this title can be found here on The Book Hookup. Christina's Review: **SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.♦ Initial Thoughts and Rating: Actual rating of 3.5 stars! With authentically portrayed teen characters, a plot rooted in music, a sweet romance, and a little mystery, Exile managed to hit all the right notes. When I wasn’t overwhelmed by the constant harmonies and rifts between the characters, I was blown away by the passion that Emerson weaves throughout his narration. This book was definitely an experience.♦ The Lowdown: ♦ Summer’s claim to band manager fame should have been the now-skyrocketing group Postcards, but they were stolen right out from under her by Candy Shell Records. Now she’s back for her senior year at PopArts Academy at Mount Hope High looking for that next big hopeful. All signs point to Caleb Daniels, exile from his old band and a guy with major swoony crooner potential, but also a guy with a ton of baggage weighing him down. Yet, Summer takes a chance and finds herself in a whole heap of more- more drama, more romance, more nerves- than she ever expected. Because of the secrets Caleb is keeping, particularly who is father is, all signs are pointing to him and his newest band having mega-hit possibilities. However, when Summer finds herself struggling to balance her band manager duties with her girlfriend role, things get complicated quickly.♦ Significant Quote: And maybe that’s the secret: Maybe we do go in circles, but they’re orbits, created by the gravity of our hearts and hopes, and so if we stay true to ourselves, we will face the same situations again, but each time we come around, we know more, we’ve grown, learned, and this time we can get it right, or at least a little better.~quote taken from my eARC of Exile, pg. 170♦ My Thoughts: I’m all for books with musical influences or themes, but music really was the heart and the soul of this book. You can tell from the enthusiasm the characters spoke with and the almost lyrical prose that music is something Emerson is passionate about, and it shone through beautifully in this novel. With rich characters that felt genuine and sounded realistically age-appropriate, it was easy to get wound up in their journey to creating their sound and learning to become a band all while discovering themselves along the way. I enjoyed them individually and together, but I’ll definitely be looking for the author to build on them further in the next installments. I wanted just more from them, to see them grow a little, especially the two main characters. As for the plot, even though the summary spoke about secrets and revealing pasts, I was still pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns of this story and the adventure the author took us on. I’m still quite intrigued about what awaits us in the books ahead.There were two main reasons that lowered my rating for this book. One was all the unnecessary secrecy between Summer and Caleb and Summer and the band. Her constant internal battle with her moral compass, though completely understandable at times, bordered on grating on my nerves and appearing to only serve as the “conflict” purpose. However, that’s probably due to my own character flaw. I have a very low tolerance for liars in general, even if it is lying by omission, and she does it very often. Her rationale was usually justifiable, but it still managed to drive me crazy. The other issue was how suddenly the ending came. I don’t know, it wasn’t even necessarily a cliffhanger, just left me with this unfinished, “that’s it?” feeling.♦ Swoons: There is something about a musician that is so undeniably attractive, in my opinion. Luckily, for me, Caleb was quite capable of bringing sweet swoons, too.♦ Swoony Teaser:“Good,” he says, “‘Cause I think I’m going to have more kisses than reasons.”~quote taken from my eARC of Exile, pg. 43♦ Rec It? Yes, I would, particularly to those who love a good music-themed book. However, I do want to say that for some reason when I requested this title, I thought it was a stand-alone, so if you aren’t a patient person like myself, then it does end rather abruptly and you might want to wait until the next book comes out before you give this one a go. Still, solid characters, a sweet romance, and good writing, what more could you want from a book?♦ A very special thanks to Katherine Tegen Books & Edelweiss for providing me with an early copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.