Alone

For being one of my most anticipated want to read books to read in 2019, this one sure had a lot of expectations to live up to! I can say with full authority, that it met or exceeded every single hope that I had. Noyes has done it again, cementing her place as a "must-read" author.

Ask, Tell was one of my favorite books of 2017, and sits on my all-time favorite re-read list, but I think this book actually tops it. Noyes has matured as an author, and Alone is gut-wrenching in many places. With that said, I honestly can't say that I'm normally an emotional reader. Yes, I'm caught up in the story, but rarely catch myself laughing out loud or crying or truly feeling emotion with the characters - parts of Alone left me wrecked. Actual tears. If that's not saying something for the depth and maturity, I'm not sure what else possibly could convey it more.

As the blurb mentions, one of the MCs, Celeste, spends a ton of time alone in this one. There's a lot of time spent on ordinary, daily things, but it works in this book. Yes, it's a touch slow in parts, but it's exactly what's called for in the situation and in fact, the mundane is partly what makes this book so good. I was able to spot the twist before it showed up, but I'm not sure if everyone will... It didn't bother me in any way knowing what was coming. It's handled brilliantly, and I dare you to not feel angry and emotionally wrecked yourself once it's all revealed. There's really no other lesfic books that this book compares to, and personally, I think that's another part of what makes this so great. It's an emotional, psychological rollercoaster of the best kind. I stayed up waaaay too late reading this just to finish.

And the romance... wow. Noyes can really write some steam!

Just do yourself a favor and pre-order this one now. You won't be sorry! Alone lived up to all the hype, and is easily one of the best books of 2019!

4.75 stars.

**Many thanks to Bella Books for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.**

When you actually experience every single emotion and thought of both the MCs almost physically, you know you’re submerged in something created by a magician. This book has an unusual circumstance in which the MCs meet and that circumstance is one of the drivers or their relationship and every emotion. It is wonderfully imagined and executed.

An experiment of having a person live completely alone for a period of a minimum of three years, extendable to four years, if the person agrees to continue. Celeste Thorne is the study subject of the experiment. With lots of money at the end of four years, she opts to stay beyond three years. She is a few months into the fourth year when her solitude is disrupted by the arrival of Olivia, a wandering hiker whom Celeste shoots by mistake.

Celeste develops strong feelings very quickly for Olivia but has a hard time separating reality from the almost-hallucinations that she has been having. She even wonders whether Olivia is real or someone she’s dreamed up. She has a hard time controlling her lust, till Olivia makes the first move to giving a physical expression to their closeness.

But Celeste knows that Olivia’s time with her is limited because the experiment requires Celeste to be alone. She is dreading Olivia leaving – till she discovers a secret that Olivia has been keeping and it splits Celeste apart.

E. J. Noyes is easily one of the most gifted writers pulling us into whatever world she creates making us live and feel every emotion with her characters. She also has an ability to write equally awesome MCs and we absolutely love it when a book has two fantastic MCs. The other big, big, big comfort in Noyes’ romances is that both the MCs feel equally strongly about each other – and nothing in this world is better than reading about love reciprocated with completeness.

Definitely, loudly, vehemently recommended.

'ARC generously provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for an honest review'

**'Description begins in the writer's imagination but should finish in the reader's mind..Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it..'

Rich in good characterization and storyline, 'ALONE' is a dazzling narration that offers an insightful and some meaningful perspectives on what is false or real when showing endearment to another while being enclosed from the outside world. Readers might deem it impossible to imagine or believed that someone could give up everything to be secluded in a habitat to have their life continuously monitored for a span of three plus years -- from a technologically advanced society which in essence, was the melodramatic core of the storyline and what did happen.

Part of the story also delineates the noir profundity of Ms.Noyes's storytelling in the context of both leads' (Olivia & Celeste) narratives and bonding. While in her concealed domain, Celeste's precise sense of the place and painful insights about the indomitability of her true feelings parallel that of Olivia's. Plus it did pit her heart and mind against her anger towards Olivia after-the-fact.
There's also a few here-there paragraphs where the author did seem a bit obsess with the torrid abusive treatment suffered at the hands of Celeste and her kid sister's mother during their childhood and this 'loser' mentality aim at her while growing up.

Ms.Noyes did mix realism with relatability, disorienting with dreamlike, entrapment with obligations and finally keeping independence out of reach with Celeste's degeneration at times.
Overall, the writing was well written,clever,poignant and it even tried to render a significant examination about a complicated relationship -- of one protagonist needing to overcome her anger and distrust towards the other with forgiveness which led to recreating that emotional and passionate connection from before. A highly recommended book!

Once again this author has been able to rip apart any semblance of common or formulaic lesfic romantic themes to come up with a story entirely unique. Beyond that is the depth of emotion between Celeste and Olivia that is built masterfully through Celeste’s first person POV that is just so intensely raw and visceral. There is a pervasive heaviness throughout the book and executing the story through Celeste’s first person POV captured a deep and lush emotionality that would have been filtered and dim otherwise. I don’t dare expound too much more about the plot without giving away spoilers but you will enjoy a few brilliant plot twists. The takeaway for Celeste and Olivia is that romance is so much more about the falling, but rather about the connections between their souls and the defining impact their pasts can have on their present. Waging war on your past to become free to love in the present and to grow into caring human beings deserving of exquisite love became the defining moment for both of them. Truly an exceptional study of the human psyche and emotions, this is a book I won’t ever forget.

Alone was an amazing story. Initially, I didn’t think that was going to be the case since one of the main characters, Celeste, was by herself- totally isolated from civilization- for a period of time. But the author effectively engaged the reader from that very first page with both humor and raw emotions…such as Celeste’s various versions of herself playing monopoly to the earth shattering impact of Olivia in Celeste’s world.

There was so much depth to the characters that you cannot help but become invested in their lives. They felt real and believable, and you felt their pain and anguish along with their happiness and love.

This was the type of book that you want to read as fast as possible because it is that good, yet at the same time you want to savor every moment simply because it is that good. But ultimately, this book wasn’t just good, it was great.

Very highly recommended!

Alone is a fantastic emotional book. The writing and characters are well developed. I would love to read more from this author.

The first thing I must say is that E.J. Noyes knows how to write a great romance. Seriously! She takes an interesting concept and she seems to live it and breathe it to life. This has to be one of the best books I have read this year.

So what is Alone about. Celeste Thorne has signed up to live in a remote location and alone for up to 4 years for 500k. Even if she only makes it to 3 years she will get a portion of it. The story picks up when she is 3 years and a few months into her 4 years. It seems that around year 3 she started hearing voices of her deadbeat mom, her dead sister, her dead foster mother and a couple of friends. She really doesn't have anyone else. As the story progresses in comes Olivia Soldano. She becomes injured and Celeste feels obligated to her help. Celeste knows she is breaking the rules by not reporting that Olivia is there, but she is drawn to her. As each day progresses they become closer and closer. So, I really can't go into much more detail here because I will give away the story.

So back to why I love this one. Noyes writes beautifully, she doesn't miss a beat!. The story moves smoothly and makes you feel like you know Celeste in an intimate way. There were times I felt like I was walking in her shoes....like I could understand how being alone for over 3 years could make you go insane and to have a person come out of nowhere and throw you for a loop. I believe I mentioned this before, but Noyes does tend to write alot about people who are flawed because of something that has happened in their lives. Alone is one of those books. Celeste has had a traumatic childhood and it shaped the adult she is today.

Anyway, I can't say enough good things about this one. Loved it and will gladly give it 5 stars!

* ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I had the feeling that this book would be one of the best 2019 reads for me and I after I finished it I can say that I was totally right!
This book is different from Noyes previous works and the pace is slower but once you start reading it you can't stop!

Celeste works as a barista when one day she sees an unusual job advertisement just outside of her workplace. She goes to the interview and shortly agrees to sign for an uncommon deal - she has to live for 4 years in a secluded habitat without any human contact, both physical and audible. Her compensation will be half a million dollars.
When the book starts, Celeste is already in her third year of the experiment. She has a strict daily routine but the isolation already causes some side effects like the hallucinations that she has and the voices that she hears. Unexpectedly one day Celeste finds and accidentally shoots a woman just outside the borders of the habitat. She rescues and takes this stranger inside the establishment without knowing if she somehow compromises the whole experiment by breaking the non-human contact rule. Olivia is beautiful and smart and Celeste is attracted to her immediately but is it for the right reasons or is it because she just craves some human contact? The lines between what is real and what it isn't are blurred.

I don't want to spoil the book but I totally recommend it with all my heart. My feelings were all over the place after I finished it. This book has it all, the love, the pain, the forgiveness, the sexy times etc. I got emotional and I cried several times in this book, something that doesn't happen often to me.

A must read

All I can say is just WOW - the plot of this book is one I don't think I have come across and I have read A LOT of lesbian romances. This is not only a romance but a psychological roller-coaster ride that I want to ride again! I have read 3 other books from Ms Noyes, my favorite being Ask Tell and Ask Me Again, but this book is right up there with those 2!

Ms Noyes truly pulls at your emotions as a reader, her characters are not perfect by any means, which makes them so real. My heart just broke for Celeste, not so much for her 'situation' she put herself in, but just the emotional baggage she has with her upbringing. As I said Ms Noyes really knows how to bring emotional wounded characters to the reader that makes us just want to help them ourselves. What I also like about Ms Noyes and her writing is she also brings strong characters to support and encourage, just brings great balance to her books.

This book has such a refreshing plot, given the 'experiment' and the writing really brought to the readers what it was like to be alone for so long (not sure how Ms Noyes came up with this plot but you would think she went through it herself by the way she writes, so clear and emotional). The physiological impact to Celeste and the surprise 'drops in' of Olivia and what that does to a person, was just amazing. I could not put this book down and finished it at 5 in the morning!

I look forward to more from Ms. Noyes, this book is going to be hard to surpass but from a readers perspective, I JUST CAN"T WAIT for what is next!

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Psychological roller-coaster ride, I want to ride again

This is a superb novel, from concept to execution. Celeste Thorne is a little tired of her life and job when she notices a flyer with an interesting opportunity on it. She signs herself up for an experiment to live on her own for four years with a big pay check at the end of it. After a thousand days in solitude she finds a hiker on the border of her habitat. Not having human contact for so long and now having to consider somebody else is a daunting prospect.

The beginning has a very gentle pace but gives enough time to have a really good impression of what Celeste is going through and how she’s coping on her own. She’s at the point where voices from the past are interfering with her but she still manages to keep her routines and daily chores going. Celeste is a fantastically well-created character and I hadn’t realised how invested I was in her until the page started blurring and tears were running down my face.

So much of it reads like speculative fiction and I suppose, in many ways, it is, by taking the familiar ‘trapped-in-a-cabin’ to an extreme and then adding in the psychological experiment aspect to it. I sometimes struggle with characters in a vacuum because there’s not enough interaction but Noyes counteracted that brilliantly by bringing to life the influences in Celeste’s past.

This novel elicited so many emotions and responses from me. It’s clever, beautiful, sad, romantic, imaginative, humorous, unusual and completely engrossing.

Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

This book is easily one of the best books I've read in my life. I pre-ordered a paperback copy of the book the minute I finished reading the ebook because this is something I need for my collection to read over and over again. I felt so raw after reading this book, it's so real and emotional. Humanity is beautiful and complex and EJ Noyes did an excellent job in portraying this in this exceptional novel.

For half a million dollar's all Celeste has to do is stay in a house, Alone, in the middle of nowhere for four years, as part of a psychological experiment. She's confident she'll make it to the end of her contract. As long as she sticks to her routine she'll be fine. But then one day an injured hiker arrives on her doorstep and everything changes. Celeste struggles with her feelings for the woman and the consequences of possibly breaking her contract.

This is an amazing example of what a first person book should be like. This was mastery. It drew you in to Celeste's every thought and feeling, but you still had a viid picture of the world she lived in and the people around her. Celeste showed us her feelings and her world. We were part of it. We went told about it. It was just mind-blowing. This book really evoked the senses, especially smell. The writing in this novel blew me away. I have no idea how the author kept all the voices in Celeste's mind straight but it was brilliant. The romance was gorgeous, sensual and sexy. But this book was so much more than a romance. I loved the way Celeste rediscovered herself and her humanity as she fell for Olivia.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not only is this easily one of the best books of 2019, but it has worked its way onto my personal all-time top 10 list. There is not one formulaic thing going on, and it's "unputdownable". I don't want to spoiler anything here as this book is a continual "WHAAAAAAAT???"

A couple of months ago I read Ask, Tell and it was my first experience with EJ Noyes. Immediately I had to read Ask Me Again. I haven't yet read Gold or Turbulence but I will, and soon. This author has become a must-read for me. Her work is impossible to describe and is definitely a cut above.

I forewarn anyone whose about to read this review, because it's going to be a lot of gushing. If you only read one sentence from this, I'll just say buy this book because holy hell it was SO GOOD!

E.J. Noyes has officially entered my top 5 favorite writers in this genre. I finished the Ask, Tell books before reading this one and now I don't want to go back into the lukewarm waters of some other writers.

When I complain in reviews about the dialogue not being enough of the content, or not great, THIS book is what I'm talking about when it comes to pure talent and ingenious dialogue. Her main character is alone for a nice chunk in the beginning, and she was still able to make the scenes completely entertaining. Not only with her inner dialogue, but her...inner dialogue?? AKA her slight hallucinations.

Then when Liv shows up, it's still just a book centered on two people in a cabin together. That's it and it's BRILLIANT! What a completely daring book to even attempt to write, let alone actually succeed in creating something so different but so thoughtful about the human mind and human connections. I did warn about a lot of gushing.

All of this talent helped create two characters that I just wanted to stay with forever. I know there would be no reason for a sequel, but I selfishly want one so I can hang with them just a bit more. On that note, I'm going to read this book again. Seriously.

Alone by E. J. Noyes is without a doubt one of my top reads for 2019. What a fabulous book! Wow, wow, wow.

I won’t do a synopsis because I don’t want to spoil anything and if you read the blurb you’ll know enough going in. Buy the book, schedule some time (because you won’t be able to put it down once you start) and just enjoy the ride. It’s all perfect. The plot, the characters, the pacing, the dialogue, the sex, the twist (although I did guess that one). Noyes is just at the top of her game here.

Celeste Thorne and Olivia Soldano will stay with me for a good long while. It’s gripping, it’s dark and unsettling and it will break your heart but at the same time it’s also full of hope and love. This book will ruin you in a good way. Buy it now.

f/f explicit and very steamy sexy times

Themes: SE9311, total isolation, experiment, drug addict mother, child abuse, voices in your head, journal, what is real, hug tree, board games, slow time.

5 solid gold stars

* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.