Leaving Paradise, Book 1

By: Simone Elkeles

Narrated by: Nick Mondelli

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad - her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares - has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free...if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak". Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

©2007 Simone Elkeles (P)2014 Dreamscape Media, LLC

10-10

10-10 no book is better than this book is all her book is going .

LOVE Simone Elkeles

Great Read (well listen) as always! I actually started backwards with the Perfect Chemistry series and have also listened to Wild Cards. I loved how a villain in this book actually has a whole book about him in another story. I am 33 years old but love teen romance novels. The only change I would make to most of the Elkeles books is that the characters start the relationship a little sooner. In this book they did. Perfect book to me. The Perfect Chemistry series is still my favorite, but I love them all!

Story of Growth

Would you try another book from Simone Elkeles and/or Nicholas Mondelli?

Yes, I would. I plan on reading the second book Return to Paradise.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Well the ending leaves you hanging a bit. Truths are revealed and the characters grew as the book continued, but you're left slightly dissatisfied with the ending.

What three words best describe Nicholas Mondelli’s voice?

What audible forgets is there are two narrators: Nicholas Mondelli plays Caleb and Elizabeth Cottle plays Maggie. I can't do this in three words... both portrayed their characters well. They tapped into their struggles and romance making the listener believe what is happening.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I'm not sure. I think there would have to be a combination of book 1 and 2 together for the movie to be worth my time. Or the ending would need to change. I hate open ended movies and unfortunately this is the type of book they would only make one of the two books because it wouldn't do well in the box office so you will be left forever wondering what happens to the characters.

Any additional comments?

Overall, this book is worth a read for young adults or older adults. I was in the mood for a light romance, and I didn't actually get a light book but it was worth reading.

Great writing for any age.

Outstanding YA should be engaging for any age. This certainly is. Wonderful characters and journey. Lotsa twists. Excellent narration.

It was fine

Loved this author back when I was in high school.... I now realized that her writing is for a younger audience as everything was pretty basic and predictable! Would recommend for anyone between the age of 13-17!

Great story, bad narration

I loved the story in high school and enjoy reading them over and over. But this narration is terrible. I couldn’t get past the first chapter. I expected someone with a stronger voice as Caleb.

Couldnt finish so bad

I really tried to finish this audio book. The summary sounds like it has potential but there wasn't a single thing that made me want to come back for more. God it was f-ing horrible. What a stupid story, really terrible narration. So boring, badly voiced characters, poor choice in sentence inflection. Maybe It would have been better to read vs audio book. Either way, just terrible.