Emily Ruben

Character wise, the story has us pinned between two, well...not exactly star crossed lovers, but distance challenged crushes, until one fateful day, they drop right back into each other's lives. Only question is...for how long? No, really...how long is an actual question because our leading man (Damon) has an expiration looming and while the mind comprehends the time constraints, the heart generally can't. Can Leah make peace with herself in order to enjoy the last days they will have together...or will the small things in life get between them leaving a chasm neither will be able to cross? Only one way to find out....

Although a work of Contemporary YA Fiction, I found a lot of it beyond belief. It truly felt like if the author let less of the actual bucket list be accomplished on the page (we're talking trips to Hawaii, Aspen, France, private concerts, etc) and more assumed, the story would flow better. That being said, the moments that really counted, and goodness knows the actual REAL ending, had my heart in a tizzy and my hand in the tissue box.

So, while there were a few hiccups to overcome, it wasn't enough to detour the entire road trip. It's definitely one of those reads that will leave you thinking about the important things in life, and hopefully making time to fulfill your own bucket list long before it's ever called into action.


***copy received for review… (meer)

In this updated version of Erich Segal’s “Love Story”, Damon is dying and Leah helps him with crossing items off a newly created bucket list. There is a mixture of fun, sadness, laughter, and tears. Each chapter title describes the task to be completed. A letter from Damon to Leah and the Damon’s Bucket List with completed items end the story. With the fast pace, it is a relative quick read.

I received this book through a Publisher's promotional giveaway. Although encouraged as a courtesy to provide feedback, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.… (meer)

The Bucket List is a remarkable and inspiring story.

In this book, Leah and her childhood best friend, Damon, reunited again after five years of being apart from one another. After learning that Damon has only had a year and a half left to live his life, Leah decided to make a bucket list. Together, they try to complete Damon’s bucket list and a long way, they have found love on one another.

The plot is not that unfamiliar to me anymore because I’ve read some books with the same idea or almost the same idea like “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green and “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes. But, of course, this book has its own charm to the readers because the plot is still different from the mentioned books above. I’ve just liked how this novel tells us that we should live our life to the fullest and also try our best to reach our goals because life is only short and we won’t know when we’ll die.

The characters are okay to me except when Leah keeps on thinking about Damon – that he’ll die soon and that it is just sad. It is repetitive, and it makes me feel a little bit off from reading this story. I’ve only enjoyed the time when they are already doing the things on Damon’s bucket list.

The ending is the best part of this novel. Why? It is packed with a lot of emotions – love, happiness, sadness, etc. The moment when Damon has to say goodbye and when Leah received his letter are my favorites scenes of all, and I admit that I cried on those scenes. I just can’t send-off Damon because I’ve witnessed their adventure and their journey that you’ll wish you can do too with your own loved one.

Overall, I like the story, and I’m recommending it for everyone, especially those who want to go with Leah and Damon on checking off the items on their bucket list.

P.S. The author wrote an alternate ending on Wattpad. It was a happy ending, and it was called “What If.”

Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy from the publisher.… (meer)

Now, this is how all books should be written. From the heart with love. This is not your classic boy and girl reunite and instantly strike up a relationship. In fact, Damon already had a girlfriend and it was not until he broke up that Leah and Damon hooked up. At that point it felt natural and right.

The idea of a bucket list and Leah and Damon doing as many things on Damon's list as possible before time is up was great. The reason for this is because they really had no regrets in anything they did. Even if it meant audiencing in front of a bunch of strangers, getting tattoos, eating junk food all day, or making love on a beach. Every moment that Leah and Damon shared was great.

Although, I knew how the story would end. I still shed some tears. This is because of the emotional connection I had grown towards Damon and Leah. The Bucket List is a book you will want to read over and over again.… (meer)