Lisa Lahti
Lisa-James Publishing
REVIEWS
Here is the kind of story that reminded me of my first experience of love, about my first pregnancy and the millions of questions I asked myself at the time. Young women who have experienced an unplanned pregnancy can easily connect to Jessie. The characters are real and readers will see the anxiety in Jessie. Lisa Lahti has created a story about a reality we witness every day in the US and many places around the world, and she has managed to make the story interesting. The fact that Michael and Jessie are two very young people makes readers wonder how they will fare. The challenges thrown at them are huge for their age, and it is interesting to see how they navigate these hurdles while facing issues related to their personal growth. Michael, Is It True is insightfully written, fast-paced, and built on strong emotional conflict. I found it to be a very enjoyable read.
Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite
This is a very interesting story that explores some of the crises that young people face. I loved reading about Jessie and Michael as they struggle to build a relationship. While Jessie is fretful and uncertain, Michael appears to be in control — or is it just a façade? The dynamics of family is one of the themes that is beautifully developed in this story. I also enjoyed Lisa Lahti’s handling of personal growth. Readers follow the compelling characters as they face real-life challenges and as they reach a point where they have to make very serious and important decisions about their future. There is a lot to learn in this novel for young adult readers. The story has an emotional richness that allows readers to relate to the characters and to feel that it is real. Excellent writing, a beautiful plot, and good pacing make Michael, Is It True is a great read.
Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite
One of the most striking things about this novel was that it felt as if it came from a very deep place of emotional truth. Jessie is very representative of how alone young women can feel in the world when they are pregnant, the pressure of sole responsibility for the life growing inside of them. I found Jessie to be a complex and endearing heroine more and more as the plot progressed, dealing with family issues and growing mentally as she realizes the stakes of what she’s taking on. Author Lisa Lahti gives emotional treatment to each main character and their families, illuminating important issues through effective dialogue and the characters’ own thoughts and feelings. Overall, Michael, Is It True is not just an engaging drama and YA love story, but also an important social issues book too.
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Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
Lisa Lahti writes a realistic story that explores the drama and the pain that young couples experience, couples who have to work on their personal growth while raising children. She demonstrates a keen understanding of the pulsations of a young heart and wins the reader's sympathy for her characters. The plot is fairly straightforward but the strong premise and the complexity in character make this novel an engaging story. The writing is crisp and the author does an impeccable job in developing the emotional and psychological aspects of the story, infusing it with realism and skillfully handling the conflict in a way that builds tension and keeps the reader looking forward to a satisfying denouement. Michael, Is It True is a story with a relevant message for readers and one that explores the themes of love, family, parenting, and responsibility. An enticing and interesting story most suited for young adult readers.
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Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite
This story is about young love between two teens and how they find themselves in a situation they never imagined getting into. The narration is conversational in many places which makes it palpable and takes readers right into the scenes. The characters of Michael, Jessie, and their lives have been sketched well, and they are real and relatable. The story goes through the problems, the twists, and turns these two lovers' experiences as they try to bring stability into their lives. The rest of the characters in the story complement the main characters beautifully and readers will be eager and curious to know what is going to happen next in the lives of Michael and Jessie. The open ending will leave readers waiting for Book Two.
Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite
Michael, Is It True by Lisa Lahti is a good read although it is not a traditional romance novel. It can also be classified as a growing up or coming into your own novel for young adults. The main characters are well-drawn and natural. I felt that the story has a very contemporary, modern feel to it as this is something that could very well happen today. Jessie and Michael obviously struggle with the responsibility of parenthood, but their love is real in spite of challenges. Jessie comes across as sensible and grounded, and since we hear the story in her voice, we can certainly understand where she is coming from. This book is a good read and maybe especially relatable for young adults or teenagers.
Reviewed By Gisela Dixon for Readers’ Favorite