Review: I bow to the amazing Ms Tucker!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 11, 2013
"Life has a funny way of creating it's own tests. It throws curve balls that make you do and think and feel things that are in direct conflict with what you had planned and don't allow you to operate in terms of black and white."It's stories like this that make me thank my lucky stars that I can be a reviewer. I've read a lot of fantastic books, but there are those rare gems, like this, that can transport me into another world from the first page. Where you are a part of that story, so totally lost in their journey that when you finish the last page it takes you a few moments (or a couple of hours, even days) to get your bearings and come back down to real life.Livie Cleary has always been the 'stable' of the Cleary sisters. She's had her life plan from when she was 9. Go to Princeton, study Medicine and become a Doctor. Along the way she will meet the perfect guy, and get married and of course, live happily ever after. She was all set on her journey, until Dr Stayner declares that Livie is repressed, and needs to let go. So begins her college life, which consists of getting insanely drunk, a tattoo and waking up in bed in a room full of naked people (and that was only her first party!)One of those people is Ashton. The gorgeous, cocky, enigmatic Ashton. Livie begins her journey of self discovery with memories of her crazy, drunk antics and unable to stop thinking about Ashton. When he makes it clear, that its never going to happen again, and keeps his distance, Livie decides to move on and focus on her school work. That's when she meets Connor. Lovely, sweet, kind, gorgeous Connor. Who also happens to be Ashton's best friend. He's everything that Livie envisioned herself being with, yet as she starts to rethink her whole 'life plan' she wonders if Conner really is supposed to be a part of it.One Tiny Lie is Livie's journey of letting go. Letting go of the past, of what she always believed was what she needed out of life. Livie stops thinking with her head, and acts with her heart, even if she does make some mistakes, because after all life is about trial and error."I've learned a lot about you over the summer Livie (...) You are one of the kindest souls I've ever met Livie. You respond to human heartache so acutely. It's like you absorb others' pain. Despite your extreme shyness, you will do just about anything not to fail (...) But my biggest discovery? The reason that I wanted to talk to you in person today... You seem to be governed by a life plan. Its ingrained in your daily routines; it has dictated the choices you have made so far and those you plan to make in the future. You don't question it, you don't test it, you just do it. (...)I think your parent's help create that plan and you are holding onto it for dear life as a way of holding onto them(...) and I think its stifling your growth as your own person (...) I'm saying, Livie... (...) I'm saying that its time for you to find out who you really are."Yes, you may say this is your typical NA college romance, a journey of self discovery, but I think there were such different qualities about One Tiny Lie, it stands out from the rest. Livie isn't your typical damaged, 'broken' heroine. Yes, she's had trauma in her past, losing her parents, battling to help her sister survive, yet she knows who she is, she has a good head on her shoulders and she's headed in the direction she believes she wants. I loved that about her. It was a realistic portrayal of college life, the drunken parties, mediocre grades and finding love. She makes mistakes, but we all do, that's part of growing up."Hey, Kace?"She must be able to sense the serous tone in my voice because her playful lilt disappears. "Yeah, Livie?""How do you figure out the right way to live your life?"There's a long pause. So long I check the screen of my cell phone to see if the call is still connected."Trial and error, Livie. That's the only way I know of"I fell in love with Ashton from the very beginning, actually I loved Conner too.. (Just call me Livie) But Ashton is special. He is so self assured, he knows his game, yet I fell for it, hook, line and sinker. When he's with Livie, you see a different side to him, the subtle touches, the whispers, gestures, all indicating there is something real underneath the bravado. Ashton has his demons, and his reasons for keeping his distance (Can I just say, my heart broke, literally tore in two. I never saw it coming, and I was stunned to say the least). He brings out a side to Livie that she's never experienced before, and she fights against it. He clouds her judgement, and when they are together Livie finds herself making choices she'd normally shy from, yet somehow they feel so right."Your hand like this? I can't even begin to describe how incredible it feels," he whispers with a wistful smile. I bite my lip as a thrill rushes through my insides, knowing that I'm making him feel this good, that I feel so connected to him.I've gushed about Ms Tuckers writing before, and I'll do it again. I thought I knew Livie in Ten Tiny Breaths, I saw the innocent, yet insanely strong and resilient  15 year old. At 18 years old, Livie grows into a woman, and I loved being a part of her journey. It was relatable, and felt real (even though I'm Australian and our 'college' experiences are very different to the American) She made mistakes, had a lot of firsts and learnt more about herself that was thought possible.I'm not usually a fan of a series set in the same 'universe' but with different main characters. But this series is quite different to me. Not only did I become a part of their family in Ten Tiny Breaths, but the fact that Kacey and all the 'gang' still play a prominent part in One Tiny Lie, kept me connected to them, thus I think I enjoyed the story that much more.I've been quite the 5 olive 'floozy' as of late, but I think its more a fact that I've been lucky enough to read some really brilliant book, and One Tiny Lie is one of them. I'm very excited to continue this series, with the next book being centred on Cain, the owner of Penny's. I'll admit I'm a little nervous as to where this book is going to go, as Cain wasn't a huge character, yet I have complete faith in Ms Tucker that its going to be a masterpiece."Right here standing before me, is the life that I thought my parents wanted for me. The only life I ever saw myself leading. I've found it.And I need to get the hell away from it."