An extraordinary portrait of true love that will move anyone who has a first love story of their own. Axi Moore is a "good girl": She studies hard, stays out of the spotlight, and doesn't tell anyone how all she really wants is to run away from it all. The only person she can tell is her best friend, Robinson--who she also happens to be madly in love with.
When Axi spontaneously invites Robinson to come with her on an impulsive cross-country road trip, she breaks the rules for the first time in her life. But the adventure quickly turns from carefree to out of control after the teens find themselves on the run from the police. And when Robinson suddenly collapses, Axi has to face the truth that this trip might be his last.
A remarkably moving tale very personal to James Patterson's own past, FIRST LOVE is testament to the power of first love--and how it can change the rest of your life.
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson
*SOB* OMG OMG *SOB* OMG! So I think both Little, Brown and Kleenex need to get together to promote this book, tissues trust me you'll need them! How can I put into words how brilliant, heart-breaking. emotionally devastating and amazingly fantastic this book is, I can't unless you experience this book for yourselves you just wont understand, it's so much more than those words, the thought that it's based on a real -life story from James Patterson's life makes it even more meaningful and heartfelt. Jeez this book made me cry, halfway through is when the tears started, towards the end is when the ugly crying started, and that to me is the work of a fantastic storyteller, one who has you caring about the characters so much that you're left emotionally bereft at the end. I've never read a James Patterson book before, but after reading First Love that is definitely going to change, this book has rocketed up into my list of all-time favorites, a really great contemporary romance based around a road trip with two best friends Axi and Robinson, who will finally admit their feelings for one another in amidst their hijnks during their time on the road, while realising that sometimes life will take a turn that you would never anticipate. I don't want to write too much and give the plot away, but all you contemporary romance fans need to pick this book up, it's amazing, a quick and fast read that's never boring and will keep you glued to the pages up till the very end. Loved it, loved it, loved it! Highly recommended.
Sigh. Seriously, James?? OK, I can almost forgive the complete and total ripoff of Fault in our Stars, as I am sure we will be seeing a lot of those in the upcoming months, but, that aside, the utter implausibility of this book made me slightly insane.
To begin...this entire whirlwind adventure took place in three weeks. The drove from Oregon to California, California to Vegas, Vegas to wherever the hell they were when they stopped in a hospital for a couple of days, hospital to New York, New York to Philly and, finally, Philly to some undisclosed location in the Carolinas. Right. Three weeks. With plenty of time to stop and camp in the Redwoods, explore Hollywood, hook up with a stripper in Vegas, land in the hospital...you know what, I can't even finish. But, let us not forget that at the end of three weeks...one of them is dead!!!
Another rather glaring plot point...holding up a state trooper at gun point?? Roughly two weeks before you are so weak you are dead?? You managed to turn his gun on him and lock him up in his trunk?? I can't.
The hospital trip. We are really expected to believe two minors can stroll on into a hospital, one of them clearly dying of cancer and they just take the in, no questions asked. Nobody is worried about insurance, parents, payment. And, clearly, this is the most ridiculous hospital in the worl...since you can just sneak out of ICU without anyone knowing. Fantastic.
Then, the 1,440 mile journey in a broken down truck seemed to happen overnight...no need for stops or anything. We just knocked that out in a night.
$1500 also managed to cover the cost for this entire trip. Apparently, gas is free in stolen vehicles. Again, fantastic.
Then the very dramatic death. It read like a lot of time was passing. Nope, turned out to just be a couple of days. We went from holding up a cop at gun point to death in like 10 days. I get that cancer moves fast, but...seriously??
Then, the brat, I'm sorry...heroine?? Finally returns home and rather nobly turns herself into the police. And then has to go into remedial Physics because skipping three weeks of classes when you are at an AP level apparently just renders you completely stupid.
I truly thought this book was just awful. It was hard to root for whatever their names were because they were kind of just spoiled brats. I expect we are meant to feel bad for them since they both had cancer. I'm sorry, but I don't think that excuses a crime spree as they be-bop their way across America. Honestly, I hope she ends up stuck in that town forever. UGH.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Poor attempt at describing a first love. I was really surprised to see the authors glorifying two runaways and stealing a car. Gee, we all had first loves but didn't do things like that. I think Patterson hardly even wrote this book and if he did, I may stop reading him altogether. And to think he co authored this book in memory of his first love who died young. What a shame this was the forum he used to express their time together.
✅It is a love story. ✅It has a crazy road trip. ✅It has first crush turning into formidable love. ✅It has cancer. ✅It has heart break. ✅It has all the drama to make your eyes misty and heart racing.
The only misfit in the whole affair is James Patterson. JAMES PATTERSON!!!!!
Short yet sweet story about two young people who fall in love despite the challenges they hope to outrun.
I came across First Love and for a couple of reasons it caught my attention. First, I’ve seen it compared to the The Fault in Our Stars many times and second, there was a road trip in the story. Putting these two elements together, I was sure First Love would capture my interest.
In this novel, Axi Moore and her best friend Robinson decide to throw caution to the wind and take an epic road trip while time is still on their side. This decision is huge because everyone knows that Axi is the straight and narrow girl who gets good grades and always does what is expected of her. Her best friend Robinson is the charming boy who can get away with murder and charm the pants off of anyone.
As they make their plans and travel from the west to east coast, we get to experience Axi and Robinson’s love unfold along with the reasons that brought them together.
There were a few things that seemed a bit choppy with this story. I was surprised the author didn’t bother to make the story more believable when it came to the road trip and Robinson’s condition. I find it hard to believe that two teenagers can do so much in three weeks on such limited funds, as well as committing a few crimes along the way. What also caught me off guard was the sudden and drastic decline of Robinson’s condition. If this novel were a bit longer and better developed, I think their story would have been more plausible and believable.
Overall, this was a quick and heartfelt story despite its flaws. I’m always a sucker for dramatic endings and romance, so it wasn’t too bad… just could have been so much better.
Sixteen year old Axi Moore decided it was time to stop being the good girl and time to live life and go on an adventure. Her best friend Robinson couldn't believe that, Axi was capable of being anything other than a good girl (GG) which he nicknamed her, but he would soon be proven wrong. Together the two of them set off on a road trip where they would discover a world they never knew existed and do things they only dreamed of.
Living life to the fullest and exploring wonderful places along the way, Axi and Robinson couldn't be happier. As days turn into nights it seems, Axi and Robinson have also discovered their feelings towards one another have become more than just friendship. Just as their love for one another begins to blossom their lives take a turn that will bring them back to reality that neither one of them are ready to deal with.
This story is so much more than just a love story and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It will melt heart and will make you laugh, but most of all it will make you remember to enjoy life because life as we know it is very precious. A beautiful story which I have no hesitation in recommending.
I borrowed this from the library a while back after seeing Penguin Platform's YouTube channel discuss the book. As someone who loves reading road trip novels, this sounded like my cup of tea. But after starting the book, I was finding the pacing incredibly fast which made the trip a little unrealistic in my view. I put the book down for a while (talking few months) and returned to it recently to see if I could get any further through but again, I struggled and simply concluded that I had lost interest. Overall, I was disappointed.
The story followed two characters called Axi and Robinson. Axi had a tough upbringing and she's secretly hidden a crush on Robinson from him for a while. She plans to reveal all on their road trip together. The story follows the road trip and the events that occur including stealing a motorbike.
I still love road trip novels though, my reading experience from them wasn't vanished because of this book so if you know any good road trip novels, feel free to recommend some. I read both YA and Adult.
Axi Moore had a big surprise for her best friend. Robinson was one she never seemed to be able to shock, but this time she hoped she could. Cutting classes for the afternoon, she had arranged to meet him at Bernie’s, their favourite hang-out, at 1.30 – when he walked in the door his big smile said it all. But she finally did it – when she told him her plans, and that he was part of it, she waited for his answer; “hell yes” was all the answer she needed.
Axi was GG to Robinson – Good Girl, he called her. But she wanted to put a dent in that title. With her little sister, Carole Ann, dying young, her mother deserting her and father taking to the drink to drown his grief, she wanted to flee – the road trip across the country to see things she’d only read about in her precious books was going to be her way of grieving. Robinson would make it so much better - her nickname for him was Scalawag; he lived up to it daily with a mischievous smile to add to the tag.
And so their journey began – before dawn one morning she snuck out of her apartment, leaving her dad asleep on the couch, and met Robinson near the bus depot. But they didn’t take the bus – the journey of a lifetime didn’t begin on a Greyhound bus said Robinson. As they roared off into the distance the exhilaration and excitement took Axi’s breathe away. It had begun…
And so the two of them journeyed across the US, stopping here, camping there, sledding on sand dunes, using fake ID (they failed each time), eating Slim Jims (Robinson) and limp salad (Axi) to their heart’s content. They visited the Big Apple, LA, Detroit and everywhere in between. And all the time, Axi was trying to find the right time to declare her love for Robinson… And the future they didn’t want was edging closer…
What a wonderful, sad, emotional and amazing story! It is a hugely difficult review to write as it would be sooo easy to give away spoilers. But the characters of sixteen year old Axi and seventeen year old Robinson are absolutely real. They form the basis of this story, they ARE the story, with many “along the way” characters who interweave throughout. The writing is beautiful – extremely poignant and moving. I have no hesitation in recommending this novel very highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
First Love really felt like a much inferior version of The Fault in Our Stars. Really if you want to depress yourself by reading about young love and dying at least read John Green's poetic description and character building. I'm afraid James Patterson doesn't come close and he gives no moral uplift to counter the tragedy. Young love and living life to its fullest is great in theory, but a spontaneous cross country trip can still be exciting without breaking laws. I don't care who is dying, stealing cars and joy riding should not be glorified. The characters were likable, but there is nothing about this that I can recommend to any fellow readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
If you enjoyed the fault in our stars by John green I would definitely recommend this book! It's a lot of fun in being a road trip book, but has a lot of sadness as well. It isn't the best book out there, but I enjoyed it while I was reading it.
"You have to remember the good stuff, Axi." ~Robinson~
This book the second time round after 5 years....just pure wow! and the story and the encouragement given to one of the characters to just live life, love it, and enjoy the time you have here on earth.
When you learn by the halfway point once one of them (won't say who) coughs up blood, then you learn how the two met etc, that's when Patterson goes on this journey that I guess was a real eye opener for me in such a way.
There's a quote that says (not in the book) that I love which says, "Life is to be ENJOYED and not just to be endured" and it's so true and just like Axi and Robinson in this book, they did just that. They had made a TON of new memories and had each other, not just friendship but love as well and I seriously LOVED this book on so many levels.
But overall, I loved the message and the journey Axi and Robinson go through and eventually admit they love each other and will always hold onto that for as long as it takes. so well written and loved the story. it's a fast read and short chapters (my favorite) and just so heartwarming and moving. highly recommend this book and if you haven't read this yet, put it on your tbr list and try to read it when you can. It's worth it that's for sure! Plus you'll fall in love with Robinson yes but also Axi and they're the perfect pairing ever. Plus Robinson is freaking adorable on top of that! 😍😍😍
4.5 Stars for First Love (audiobook) by James Patterson and Emily Raymond read by Lauren Fortgang.
The reader’s anxiety will turn to grief as they figure out how these two kids met and why they are on this adventure. They see themselves as Bonnie and Clyde but they look more like Thelma and Louise to me.
Das Buch hat mir super gefallen! Es gab Abenteuer, Spaß und viel Gefühl! Die Charaktere waren sehr sympathisch. Es war sehr flüssig zu lesen und durch die vielen Bilder kommt es mir vor als wär ich dabei gewesen! Eine tolle Geschichte!
Sono incappata in una giornata hashtag su un gruppo letterario di FB. Il tema era #Unlibroterrificante e una lettrice ha postato questo, dicendo che c'è un segreto che esplode all'improvviso alla fine del libro e lascia il lettore in una valle di lacrime. Quindi questo libro era decisamente una delle letture che cercavo! Non ci ho pensato due volte e l'ho preso nell'ipermercato in cui lo vedevo sempre. Tutta contenta, ho iniziato a leggerlo... E mi sono ritrovata davanti qualcosa di diverso da quello che mi aspettavo.
Se in un primo momento l'età dei protagonisti mi ha fatto storcere il naso (16 e 17 anni), poi mi sono detta: «Ma sì, dai, due pischelli, ci può stare, non è una tragedia». Cioè, un po' lo era, visto che mi aspettavo LA TRAGEDIA e l'idea che ad affrontarla fossero due ragazzini... be', non era delle più entusiasmanti.
Posso essere onesta? Non è che il libro mi sia piaciuto parecchio :/ Ammetto senza problemi di aver sfogliato e sfogliato, perché prima di tutto non sono stata minimamente rapita dalla scrittura. L'ho sentita parecchio distante, non mi ha fatto entrare in contatto con i personaggi. Avrei voluto che fosse un po' più poetica, passatemi il termine, perché quando narri questo tipo di storie devi saper dire certe cose in modo... come posso dire... diverso. Invece era tutto molto... scolastico, diciamo. Il secondo motivo è stato il fatto che non me ne fregasse assolutamente nulla delle tappe del loro viaggio on the road.
Mi interessavano Axi e Robinson. Fine.
Ma ho avuto ciò che volevo solo al termine del romanzo, quando i sentimenti sono esplosi dalle pagine e, sbam!, mi hanno schiaffeggiato senza pietà. HO SENTITO TUTTO. Probabilmente ho percepito le ultime pagine in modo così forte perché so bene come sono quei momenti nella realtà, ma è questo il bello dei libri, ritrovarsi in essi, anche in una sola scena. È stato allora che ho rivalutato l'intero romanzo, perché ho compreso la ragione dello stile di scrittura poco emozionale e più adolescenziale.
Vorrei che Axi fosse reale, e forse lo è. Vorrei incontrarla per dirle che lo ha fatto bene – non benissimo, ma non importa assolutamente nulla. Vorrei dirle che è riuscita a farmi commuovere e che non è cosa da poco, per me. Vuol dire che mi ha dato qualcosa che in pochi sanno fare, perché io non sono una che piange quando legge. Vorrei dire a Robinson che confermo, ci ha messo dentro un sacco di parole che neppure io ho capito (LOL!) e una valanga di metafore strampalate e roba simile. Vorrei dirgli che io non so come avrei reagito e forse lo avrei deluso. O forse avrei accettato anch'io, non lo so. Sicuramente avrei agito come lui. Vorrei dirgli che, ma sì, scappiamo e vediamo come va a finire. L'importante è stare con la persona che amiamo.
I should no longer be surprised that the greatest love stories always end in tragedy. Just think of some of the best works ever written and you’ll understand that a romance lover doesn't have an easy life.
But what is wrong with this specific story? Writing a romance story isn’t easy, I assure you. It needs to be amazing and leave you with bated breath, without being absurd or repetitive. In the end, it has to leave you something - good or bad - but without that bittersweet feeling in your mouth because it hasn't completely convinced you. That is the most important aspect: whether we are talking about two simple people or supernatural creatures or whatever you want, the story must convince the readers.
I absolutely don’t question James Patterson's writing skills; colossus in the mystery genre, I really enjoyed some of his most romantic novels. But this story has flaws.
Axi and Robinson are - alas - a cliché present in half of the most mediocre love novels: she’s a good girl, shy, with a bad past; he’s a "bad" boy, mysterious, captivating, and a master at making others love him. They decide to go on this trip, they are having fun and, in the meantime, they understand what they feel for each other. However, now that they are in love, things can't go normally, because they can't be a normal couple. I won't tell you the ending. I just tell you that, despite my skeptical tone, I too shed a few tears.
I admit that I like these types of novels - I know, I'm a masochist. Let me be clear, I don't like to cry like a fountain at the end of every book I read, but I know the characteristics of this type of novels, I know what to expect, I know that you should never trust the character you like the most because it always has a bad ending. But that was too much. I didn't understand if I was reading a soft version of The Fault In Our Stars or a Nicholas Sparks novel without the central development.
There are much better books written by James Patterson, but if you are interested in a smooth and undemanding novel this will maybe work for you.
1. I hated this book. Hated. I didn't cry. I didn't feel any emotion when Robinson died. Everything was annoying to me. 2. Annoying things: the characters trying to sound smart but then explaining the vocabulary words or book references which made the reader feel annoyed because it assumes that the reader doesn't know anything. The use of the words gobsmacked and scalawag too many times. The lack of emotion I felt for anything in this book. That Robinson left his family for Axi and never did anything about it until the road trip. Who leaves an amazing family behind when they have cancer? That Axi turned herself in. It was just stupid. How the frick could two minors go into a hospital without ID, insurance, parents. And also there's no way the amount of money they had could have covered the trip. That basically this was a knock off of The Fault in Our Stars. 3. Things in common with The Fault in Our Stars: they both have cancer. The characters are sort of quippy and sarcastic. They make references to the stars. They have a big adventure that helps them with their love story and find themselves. There's a sex scene. The boy dies. 4. The only reason I kept reading was to find out how it ended. If this wasn't a library book I probably would have ripped the pages out one by one, shredded them, and not composted them. Because this book wasn't even worthy of helping make good dirt. I would have thrown the shreds away, let it go to a landfill, and hoped that it landed by poopy toilet paper or a used diaper. 5. I'm throwing up in my mouth. I want to punch the characters. I want to get the time back in my my life that it took to read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Doesn't James Patterson write mysteries, or he is just known for them? Anyway, he wrote "First Love" with Emily Raymond. (But look at the typeface of both their names, and you can see who is marketed more) Maybe that's why this book is kind of a mess: it's muddled, unfocused and kind of dumb. Yes, I know it is about teenagers, and they may be the target market, but I thought the book felt dumbed-down. And I wish the characters were more likeable. Halfway through the book, I stopped caring about the characters even if the authors manipulate you into liking them. I cannot help but think that the book is a poor copy of John Green's "The Fault In Our Stars," so if you haven't read that yet, go grab that book instead because this one more or less tread the same road, and Green's book is infinitely better.
My first James Patterson! This reminded me a lot of The Fault in our stars crossed with Nick and Norah's infinite playlist.
James Patterson, you can tell - is a master storyteller.
I wanted to cry - I am sadist to myself that way. I wasn't able to. Guess I went ahead of myself. Maybe I just wanted to feel this story and channel it through my emotions. Well, I can say that this was enough to awaken and invoke sleeping feelings of pain. I also think that it was wrong of me to paint TFIOS premonitions all over the book. Bah, it's me James, not you.
This was such a nice refresher from all the love stories that I have been reading lately. I am definitely adding more Patterson to my book shelf! Great writing, pace and weaving of story. Thumbs up!
Am crezut că voi citi o poveste de dragoste adolescentină, cu drame de liceu și emoția maturizarii, dar am descoperit o primă iubire timidă între doi tineri ce pare că nu au timp să se iubească... pentru că fix ca în viață... boala nu întreabă pe nimeni dacă e pregătit pentru ea sau nu. Iar acesti doi copii nu au fost. Am citit atât de multe cărți pe subiectul ăsta încât am avut impresia că știam povestea... dar tot mi-a plăcut. Deși păstrează o notă optimistă (călătoria lor, infracțiunile pe care le fac, timpul petrecut împreună), cartea este tristă, pentru că intuiești finalul și nu-ți place, și nu vrei să-l descoperi, dar n-ai încotro. Ea îl iubește pe el, dar n-a avut curajul să i-o spună, așa că pregătește o fugă de acasă/o evadare, împreună cu el. Vor sa vadă lumea. Vor să-și descopere iubirea. Și o fac. Chiar dacă pentru scurt timp, o fac. Mi-a plăcut povestea. Am lacrimat puțin, am zâmbit un pic, deci... și-a atins scopul. Îi dau 4 stele, pentru că sunt destul de plină de acest gen de povești... dar nu este o cartea rea.
No ani neviem čo mám napísať... ale myslím , že som si ešte viac uvedomila niektoré veci a ďakujem za ne....táto kniha mohla mať aj viac strán, ale aj tak :'(
Kann man ein Buch, dessen Ende einen zu Tränen rührte wirklich schlecht bewerten? Das ist die eine Frage, die mir in den letzten Tagen durch den Kopf geisterte. Ich bin zu dem Entschluss gekommen: Ja, man kann. Man kann, wenn die Handlung einen bis zur Mitte des Buches noch immer nicht abgeholt hatte. Man hat, wenn man keinerleir emotionale Verbindung zu den Charakteren verspürte. Man kann, wenn man das Gefühl hatte, der Autor habe bis zur Hälfte der Geschichte selbst nicht einmal gewusst, wohin die Handlung führen sollte. Wie aus dem Nichts beschließt die Vorzeigeschülerin Axi, aus ihrem Leben auszubrechen und gemeinsam mit ihrem besten Freund Amerika zu erkunden. Nach und nach wird dem Leser der Eindruck vermittelt, als habe sie vor ihrem alkoholkranken Vater und aus ihrer öden Heimatstadt entfliehen wollen. Ohne zuvor durch Andeutungen geteasert worden zu sein, nimmt die Handlung eine radikale Wendung vor. Als sei dem Autoren eingefallen, dass so eine Geschichte einen Spannungbogen braucht, baut dieser plötzlich ein Element ein, das in meinen Augen nicht zum Rest der Erzählung passte. Ich möchte nicht leugnen, dass gerade dieses Element die Ursache meiner Tränen bildete, aber dennoch war ich mit dieser Entwicklung nicht zufrieden. Sie passte einfach nicht ins Bild. Als habe man beim Puzzeln plötzlich Lust gehabt, die Teile eines anderen Puzzles zu verwenden. Am Ende ergibt sich zwar ein Bild, aber die Übergänge bleiben unsauber. Und so schön das Ergebnis von Weitem auch scheinen mag, geht man nahe heran, werden einen die Kanten immer stören.
This was a very sad book about teens who go on a journey together after meeting in a hospital. I won't tell you how they met but I will say that it was love at first sight and they go across the country to escape their life. In the end they find that they can't escape life but they can be together and learn life lessons together. This was such a heart warming story about true love and how you find the one you're meant to be with in strange ways and it is always worth it. This was not a normal James Patterson book by any means. Give it a try whether you love jp or hate him.
Meine Meinung Die Geschichte Ich glaube ich habe mich Hals über Kopf in diese Geschichte verliebt. Es war wie Liebe auf den ersten Blick, zumindest von meiner Seite aus. Ich muss allerdings gestehen, dass ich nicht allzu viel von der Geschichte erwartet habe, weil ich der Auffassung war, dass dies eine Roadtrip-Geschichte ist, die durch ein bisschen Romantik und viel Spaß den Leser gut unterhält, aber ihm nicht unbedingt in Erinnerung bleibt. Ich habe aber überhaupt nicht damit gerechnet, dass diese Geschichte so viel mehr als das ist. Diese Geschichte ist eine Hommage an das Leben, an die erste große Liebe, an das Glück zu jemandem zu gehören, an die Musik und an die Literatur. Die beiden Autoren haben es geschafft mich mit ihrer Geschichte zum Lachen, aber auch zum Weinen zu bringen und vor allem haben sie es geschafft, dass mir diese Geschichte noch lange Zeit in Erinnerung bleiben wird. Ich war sehr lange nicht mehr so berührt und dadurch auch begeistert von einer Geschichte. Ich kann sie euch allen wirklich nur ans Herz legen, weil sie so viel mehr ist, als sie zu sein scheint.
Die Charaktere Die Autoren haben es geschafft eine Geschichte zu schreiben, die eigentlich nur durch die beiden Protagonisten lebt. Ich weiß, dass es nicht einfach ist eine Geschichte zu schreiben, die so gut wie gar keine Nebencharaktere hat, da die Gefahr besteht den Leser mit wenigen Charakteren zu langweilen. Allerdings ist das bei diesem Buch überhaupt nicht der Fall. Die Autoren habe es geschafft Axi und Robinson so viel Leben und Seele einzuhauchen, dass sie vollkommen realistisch wirken und man sich als Leser sofort mit ihnen identifizieren kann. Ich habe selten so vielschichtige Charaktere kennenlernen dürfen wie diese beiden, denn sie sind ganz anders, als sie im ersten Moment wirken. Die beiden haben nämlich mindestens genauso viel Tiefe wie die Geschichte selbst. Axi lernt man am besten kennen von den beiden, da die Geschichte aus ihrer Sicht erzählt wird. Sie ist ein braves Mädchen, eine sehr gute Schülerin und würde niemals etwas verbotenes tun. Jedenfalls bis zu dem Tag, als sie beschließt aus ihrem traurigen Leben zu verschwinden und mit Robinson (ihrem besten Freund und gleichzeitig ihrer ersten großen Liebe) einen Roadtrip durch die USA zu machen. Von diesem Zeitpunkt an, macht sie eine riesige Verwandlung durch und zwar im positiven Sinn. Sie wird abenteuerlustig und ist irgendwann definitiv kein braves Mädchen mehr, aber dafür ist sie endlich mal in ihrem Leben glücklich. Robinson ist das totale Gegenteil von Axi (jedenfalls am Anfang der Geschichte). Er ist abenteuerlustig, spontan und manchmal auf die beste Art und Weise unberechenbar. Er ist definitiv der beste Freund, den man sich vorstellen kann und ich hätte mich an Axis Stelle auch in ihn verliebt.
Der Schreibstil Ich weiß zwar nicht wie die beiden Autoren das mit dem Schreiben geregelt haben, aber der Schreibstil ist auf seine ganz eigene Art und Weise perfekt und wirkt auch immer gleich auf mich. Die Geschichte wird aus der personalen Ich-Perspektive von Axi erzählt, sodass man als Leser ihre ganzen Gedanken und auch Gefühle aus erster Hand erfährt und sie somit viel besser kennenlernt als Robinson. Ich mochte Axi vom ersten Augenblick an total gerne und habe mich deswegen auch sehr gefreut, dass sie die Geschichte der beiden erzählt. Allerdings habe ich mir trotzdem manchmal gewünscht, dass auch mal Robinson ein Kapitel aus seiner Sicht erzählt, da ich ihn gerne noch ein bisschen besser kennengelernt hätte, aber das ist wirklich meckern auf höchstem Niveau. Der Schreibstil ist humorvoll, wunderschön, romantisch, aber vor allem auch berührend. Er transportiert unglaublich viele Emotionen und lässt den Leser fühlen. Ich kann mir keinen besseren Schreibstil für diese Geschichte vorstellen.
Die Gestaltung Ich habe selten ein Buch gesehen, das mit so viel Liebe gestaltet wurde. Hier ist es eben nicht nur das wunderschöne Cover oder der ganz besondere Titel, das bzw. der mich begeistert hat, sondern vor allem die Gestaltung von innen. In diesem Buch sind nämlich überall Bilder abgedruckt, die gerade zu dem Ort passen, wo Axi und Robinson gerade sind. Manchmal sind es Bilder von Landschaften, bestimmten Dingen, die in der Geschichte eine Rolle spielen, aber manchmal sind es auch Bilder von Axi und Robinson selbst, sodass man sich die beiden noch viel besser vorstellen kann. Durch diese abgedruckten Bilder wird die Geschichte noch viel lebendiger und man hat als Leser wirklich das Gefühl, als sei man mit Axi und Robinson zusammen auf diesem Roadtrip und würde alles hautnah erleben, was sie auch erleben. Ich habe noch nie ein Buch gesehen, das mit so viel Verständnis für die Geschichte gestaltet wurde.
Mein Fazit "Heart. Beat. Love." von James Patterson und Emily Raymond ist ein unglaublich berührendes Buch, das den Leser mit Tiefgang und wahren Emotionen begeistert und auch überrascht. Es ist so viel mehr als nur ein Buch über einen Roadtrip. Dieses Buch ist eine Hommage an das Leben, die erste große Liebe, an das Glück zu jemandem zu gehören, an die Musik, an die Literatur und an die Freiheit.