“All I know is that I love you. I’ve loved you my whole life. This is where I belong. This is home.”Tomboy Cam belongs to football hero, Jake. After all, he announced she was coming before Cam’s mama even knew she was pregnant. And now, whether they’re out at the lake listening to crickets, or in the tree house counting stars, they’re always together. All Cam needs is him at her side. Even when … All Cam needs is him at her side. Even when he drives her crazy flirting with the girls that chase after him like he’s some boy band star, she never wants to be without him. It’s like she isn’t quite herself until somehow their day brings them next to each other again.
But what happens when they grow up, and it isn’t just the three years that separates them that’s slowly tearing at the fabric of them?
What happens when it’s the illness he hides that’s threatening everything?
What happens when he kisses her and leaves?
How will Cam came ever find where she truly belongs?
Inspired by Taylor Swift songs, comes the AWARD-WINNING novel about aching love and loss and learning to live again.
The first novel in an interconnected, standalone series.
“Love is messy, it’s raw & imperfect…this novel shows that real love is worth all the fuss.” – Amazon Reviewer
“LJ Evans is a master storyteller.” – Dreamland Book Blog
“A beautiful tale of young love and adult heartache.” – Goodreads Reviewer
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This is one of the most uniquely written books I’ve ever read. I reminisced about my youth and boy crushes and first loves….all those feelings and thoughts during that time of my life. I thought about those living with chronic illness and it’s effect on all of those around that person. I thought about lives gone too soon and how people move on. I cried sad tears and cried happy tears. I felt the emotions of Cam and Jake. I smiled through my tears as I finished this book that left me in awe of LJ Evans and her ability to write such a beautiful love story with such a perfect soul touching HEA.
I am reviewing this audible book My life as a Country Album for Audiobook Obsession.
This story is so poignant. I have read and listened to quite a few books, but not one as touching as this one in a while.
The story is done in one person. Camden Swain (Cami) tells her story from start to the tragic end of her life and love for Jake Phillips. She references her love, disappointment, sadness, with songs that Taylor Swift wrote and or sang.
If you haven’t read or listened to this book yet, I urge you to do so.
Sarah Puckett the narrator did a fantastic job. Her southern accent was commendable, and praise to this author L J. Evans.
This book was full of ALL THE FEELS. I listened to the audiobook, which I think was very well done and I think really helped paint an even better picture of the story. The narrator did an amazing job with this story. Her voice was full of emotion and she had a great accent and her voice is just very easy and soothing to listen to.
My Life as a Country Album is a diary-like story about Cam and her life-long feelings for Jake, the boy next door and their relationship through the years, from when they were younger and into their twenties. There are some seriously sweet highs and so much love, but there are the lowest of lows, and tissues are an absolute must.
I really enjoyed the way the author told the story and I enjoyed listening to all of the changes of both main characters throughout the course of the story. This was my first book by the author, but I cannot wait to read more in this series, and I know that this book will definitely be staying with me for quite awhile.
“So…that’s what I did. I wrote this story for you. Yet another thing I’ve done in my life for you. She says it’s not for you whenever I tell her that. She says it’s for me. But I don’t see that. I want you to know out there wherever you are that this is still about you.”
OK, so…it’s Saturday night and I just finished this book. And I’m crying. I’m actually bawling. I’m wondering if it’s ridiculous, and I realize that I don’t care. I usually don’t read reviews before buying a book, but I wish someone had spoiled this one for me. I’m not sure I would have bought it if I knew what it was about.
It feels way too real for me.
I’m going to try and keep this as spoiler-free as possible, which is why I’m not adding a lot of quotes here, even though the start of the book contains the biggest spoiler. I will add some spoilers at the end though, but I will let you know when I do. Read at your own discretion, if you want to.
“All I know is that I love you. I’ve loved you my whole life. This is where I belong. This is home.”
This story behind this book is Taylor Swift’s “Mary’s Song”. If you haven’t heard it, have a listen, even if you’re not a TS fan. I think it gives you a better insight of what this is about.
The people in this story are Cam and Jake. The book goes all the way back to when they were children, until present day. They’ve been together forever. They’ve been friends forever, their parents are friends, they live next door to each other and share a treehouse. They share everything. They’re mostly perfect together.
However, Jake is three years older than Cam, and three years can be a lifetime sometimes. Everything’s relative, including your age.
So Cam is definitely in love with him, and Jake is being an idiot and dating girls his own age, without thinking of Cam “that way”. She’s the friend, and nothing else. Since the story is told diary-style, we only get Cam’s point of view of everything, but I think this love was mutual from the get-go. It had been for a very long time, in the smallest of details.
When Jake becomes a Type 1 Diabetic, Cam is there, just like she was there for his football games, and just like she’s been there all his life, every step of the way. There were times when I wanted to punch Jake in the face, because it was so obvious how she felt, and he was so clueless it infuriated me.
One night, that cluelessness is gone, and he finally understands what he has. OK, it takes more than just one night because he’s still sort of an idiot, but they get there eventually. And yes, it’s sweet, and it’s heartwarming, and it’s everything you’ll ever want. Their time together is just incredible.
But life sucks, and has a way of not only stabbing you with a knife, but twisting it afterwards, you know?
Finally, there is a HEA. It may not be the one you’re thinking, but it’s there. And it’s worth it. And look, I don’t regret buying this book, even if my eyes are swollen tomorrow and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
***Spoilers! Do not read below this point (unless you want to, of course)***
Jake becomes a Type 1 Diabetic, and he neglects his health a lot. This leads to kidney damage due to the ups and downs in his blood sugar levels, which eventually leads to his death.
The last few chapters were definitely hard for me.
I doubted there would be a happily ever after.
I didn’t want it to have a happily ever after, if this makes sense. I always felt that when someone you love dies, the world should stop spinning for a little while. For people to understand that person mattered to you.
So I sort of resented Cam, and resented that she found love with someone else. Someone who was also Jake’s friend. Blake. I resented that she thought it was easier, because he didn’t have an insulin pump, and she didn’t have to watch what they ate like she did with Jake.
But I get it, because Blake is someone she can be with, and love, without being afraid of forgetting Jake or what they had together.
““I want you always to remember that I love you right now for who you are. For all you’ve been through. But I also want you to realize that I never, ever want to take Jake’s place. Your love for him is there. Will always be.”
If there is something to be taken from this book, it’s that life is short. Too short not to tell someone you love them, even if you know they won’t say it back. Too short to spend one minute without the people you love, because they won’t always be there. And life’s not a book, so maybe not everyone gets their HEA in the end.
My favorite quote:
“And I know, somewhere out there in the stars in the Delphinus constellation, you are thinking that it’s good too, and that you are happy that I am happy. And for right now. That’s enough.”
Oi. Heartbreak – gut punch – right from the start. I sped through this book and in its organization of memories. Somehow, it was written so well that I was entering each child stage and it was so realistic. The little kid cuteness, the angst of the pre and teen years…All of the heart tripping feels. Pain and loss. Wow.
A steamy romance with some age gap.
This book was recommended to me by another author and I wasn’t sure if I would like it because L.J. Evans is new to me and good authors are few and far between these days. Anyway, with out reading the blurb, I jumped in feet first and I was pleasantly surprised.
I don’t want to give anything away in this review but I would like to say this book is absolutely wonderful–and beautifully heart wrenching at the same time. The main characters will pull you in and you have no choice but to love them and root for them as they figure their lives out. Their friendship was so special but their love story will leave you breathless. It will make you laugh and cry–and everything in between. Just when you think you recovered it knocks the wind out of you again. They became so real to me that there were times when I wanted to punch Jake for being an idiot because Cami didn’t have the chance to. Or punch her because the choices she made along the way. But I loved them. I love them and I really didn’t want the book to end.
After reading this book, I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good story and good writing. I am also looking forward to reading the other books in the series. If they are as good as this one, Ms. Evans will quickly become one of my favorite authors.
**This review can be found on Amazon and Goodreads.
Oh. My. Heart.
This was my first read by this author and oh my goodness! I’m kicking myself for not reading her sooner.
Jake & Cam’s story was so sweet and so beautiful and so emotional and I fell SO HARD for them.
This story starts out in the present, hooks you (big time), then goes back to the past, way back to the very beginning. Like….when-they-were-born-beginning.
The author did a fabulous job at walking me through their friendship, their bond, the struggles, the 3-year age gap, the attraction, the jealousy…everything two people who are best friends and live and grow up next to each other go through.
So. Many. Emotions.
Beautifully and romantically and perfectly written, this story captured my heart. When the author put the warning at the end of the blurb (Warning: tears may fall), she was not kidding! She made me cry at work.
Just when my heart was broken wide open and shattered into a million, tiny pieces and I didn’t think I’d survive this, the author so gently and lovingly put it back together by the end of the book.
I also fell for many of the secondary characters from this story and I’m happy to see that I will be able to read their stories as well. I immediately started book 2, and I’m positive I’ll dive right into book 3 when I’m done with that one.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was absolutely perfect. She was Cam.
My Life As A Country Album by LJ Evans is a novel inspired by Taylor Swift songs about love and loss and learning to live again. This is the first book in the My Life As An Album series that I listened to on audio narrated by Sarah Puckett.
I absolutely love LJ’s books! She does an amazing job pulling you into a story. I was hooked from the very beginning. The book took me on an emotional roller coaster that had me in tears a few times.
Sarah is an amazing narrator. She really knows how to bring a story to life. I felt every emotion that Cam was going through.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary romances or friends-to-lovers romance.
What an emotional story!
So raw and untethered. A heartbreakingly beautiful second chance coming of age story.
Cami and Jake were always fated to be together until it ended before they had a real life together.
This only 4 stars because it was hard to get into as Cami telling their story to Jake. I’m glad I didn’t let it deter me and story itself was beautiful, as much as it broke me. I wasn’t sure how this was going to end but I was completely shattered. Oh, how I sobbed! It felt like my heart had died. It still feels so very raw.
It’s okay to love again even after having the greatest love story ever there was.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narration by Sarah Puckett was flawless
My Life As A Country Album
My Life As A Country Album, book 1
By: LJ Evans
Narrated by: Sarah Puckett
LJ Evans is such an incredible storyteller. I have listened to other books of hers and had heard about this one, but was not prepared for the incredible love story that it is. Cam and Jake were destined to be together. Living next door to best friends, Jake always watched out for his 3 year younger friend. As time goes on, their story progresses from sibling like feelings to that one love that cannot be ignored. But life takes a turn that is unexpected, and we get to hear this story from Cam’s own words. It’s one of those that will resonate with me for a while. It’s history and family, it’s friendship and love and brings the importance of grabbing all the time and memories you can. I loved this, I loved the cues from each country song and felt every emotion Evans wanted. This is one you do not want to miss.
Sarah Puckett is so talented. She is able to narrate all genres, but this is her calling. It’s emotionally charged, it’s all kinds of characters, and just enough angst to make our heart break as she is able to heal it back with her voices. I found this to be one of her best performances.
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Immediately I could relate to Cam. Evans paints a picture so clear of her that you will either relate or certainly have a friend who you can picture. Once again Evans has created characters that you become invested in- you root for, cry with, cheer with and want to know their future.
I’ve had this on my TBR for quite awhile…shame on me for waiting to read this book. What a beautiful, heart wrenching story of friendship, family and love. It makes your heart hurt, will make you cry, will make you laugh, but the ending is really amazing. Looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
This is not just a love story about a boy and girl falling in love. This is really Camdyn’s story and I loved unraveling it all. Each chapter is titled after a different Taylor Swift song and while I’m not a big fan of country music I do love Taylor so I loved listening to each song after I read that chapter. The narrator on the audiobook did such a great job bringing this story and Camdyn to life. I knew from the start something might break my heart but I still felt unprepared. My favorite books evoke all the feelings and this one absolutely did that. I can now safely say without reservation that I will read anything Evans writes and am looking forward to whatever comes next.
This was a beautiful story, is heartwarming and heart-wrenching too. I have to admit that I did cry and shed lots of tears while listening to this story, I was a mess because it seem so unfair what happened, and my heart was broken. But it healed and I was grinning again by the end of the book, because I loved what happened next. Actually I have listened to the last chapters a few times, because I was so smitten by the whole situation and was grinning like a fool.
I loved the characters, they are so perfectly written. Cami! I’m her fan!!! She’s so sassy, stubborn, loyal, and has a great personality, she’s “Super Girl” (Gosh! loved that nickname from the beginning). Jake, I liked him to, always so loyal and awesome friend, even though he was sooo blind toward Cami feelings… But when it finally “clicked” I was thrilled. Blake!!! I honestly didn’t see that coming, but I like it, actually I LOVED it so so sooo much. I like him from the beginning he’s so nice and has a great heart, such a wonderful character, he’s my new book-boyfriend!
Another thing I loved about the book is the songs, the way he book is written with the sings, it makes the story so much perfect. I haven’t listened to Taylor Swift in a long time and this book had me listening again, now each time I listened to them I will think of Jake, Cam and Blake
Least but not less important, is the narration by Sarah Puckett. She did a fantastic job narrating this book, her southern drawl was really good, everything was perfect. Sarah Puckett is really great at what she does and if you listen to her, I promise she won’t disappoint.
#TEAMBLAKE #SUPERGIRL
AUDIOBOOK OBSESSION
Never in my life have I listened to a story with a myriad oF emotions . laughing, anxious, joy, sorrow , all out sobbing and crying. There were times I wanted to throw my Kindle . Jake you’re so blind! Don’t throw away the love both you have for each other. There always was a sixth sense that always bound them together, even when they were apart. A connection no one person could explain. As her mom always told her “You were his before you were mine.”
As usual Sarah Puckett is superb! She is excellent in the narration of this story from Cammys point of view. I felt all the joy, love and heartbreaking moment . I loved listening to the wonderful story. audiobookobsessionreviewer
Get your tissues out for this one! I must warn that you will cry. But it’s not a book that leaves you hopeless. This is the story of Cam and Jake, but it’s so much more. They have loved each other since Cam was born. First friendship, then romance. But there is complications in their lives that they can’t control. This is a story that is sure to break your heart and then put it back together again. I won’t tell you more. I won’t spoil it. Just get ready to feel this story all the way through your heart to your soul. This narrator did an amazing job telling this story from Cam being a child to an adult. She really was the voice for Cam. LJ Evans has created a captivating story that will affect you long after you finish reading/listening.
Wow I was blown away by this book. I rarely read blurbs so I had no idea what I was really in for here. I just knew they were childhood BFFs and it came with a music soundtrack tying into the story (I adore books like that). Cam writes this book to Jake using Taylor Swift song lyrics at the start of each chapter to tell their story. I’m not a huge T Swift fan so I didn’t know all these songs but I listened to them along the way. I won’t say too much about their journey other than it was hard in so many ways, but ultimately beautiful. I was happy with the ending. And I can’t wait to read more form this author.
There aren’t enough words for me to describe how much I loved this book! I love the way it was written. I love the characters. I love how emotional it was. I’m not ashamed to say I ugly cried at times. Full on sobs . This is one of the BEST coming of age stories I have ever read/listened to. This one stayed with me for days after the fact. Cam and Jake stole my heart and I’m not sure I’m ever getting it back.
This book will be added to my re-listen list.
Sarah bought Cam and Jake’s story to life in a way that it felt so darn real. You can feel the emotions from this, and there are many. Fabulous job!
Written as a letter, the POV is solely the h, and in second person. Quite different than most, and a refreshing change.
As my first LJ Evans read, I “knew” she wrote emotional stories, but WOW. MLAACA most certainly fits the bill.
Music always brings emotion for me. Wedding, funeral or sunshiny day in between- a good song can break my heart or fill it to overflowing. The songs chosen by LJ could have been written AFTER the story to fit the scene. She does that good of a job of building characters whose life portrays a myriad of scenarios fit for a country album.
WOW!!!!
I had to wait a little bit after finishing this book to even start a review. That’s not the norm for me. This was my first book by this author, and I already can’t wait to read the rest. I typically keep to fairly light hearted books. I won this in audio form during a giveaway. The audio was one of the best audios I’ve listened to. They couldn’t have picked a better narrator, and it just brought the story to life. This story grabs your heart, and at times you aren’t sure if you’re going to survive. It’s a wonderful book of love and friendship and loss and survival. This book touched me so deeply. I would give it more stars if I could.