Helpful Score: 2
I agree with Vivian, I gave up reading after 37 pages. The narrator jumps around with descriptives like someone with ADD. It got to be tiresome trying to direct your own attention to the story as the storytelling got irritating bouncing around. The inside cover sounded so promising too!
Helpful Score: 2
I'm surprised by all the great reviews, and really disappointed with this book by one of my favorite authors. It reads like a bad entry for a young adult short story contest. I gave up by the end of 20 or so pages. I wasn't thrilled with her last book and if the next one disappoints too, she will be off my list.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a short, sweet story about Jimmy, a singer/songwriter who gets a bit caught up in success to the detriment of his relationship with his girlfriend Charlotte. Success means Jimmy is on the road singing while Charlotte stays back at home working as an interior designer. She's happy with her work and helping plan her best friend's wedding. Not being able to see Jimmy very often is just part of dating a musician, but when the phone calls become less frequent Charlotte isn't happy. Jimmy isn't happy about it either but he is advancing his career. When Jimmy gets a chance to do a nationally broadcast show on Christmas Eve he is very conflicted since that will cause him to miss his brother's wedding.
The story is told by a narrator and she unfolds the story starting on a Thanksgiving Day when Jimmy writes his perfect love song. She reveals what Jimmy and Charlotte go through as they try to make their long distance relationship work. Jimmy and Charlotte are both pretty sympathetic characters. He's a good guy just trying to make a living and advance his musical career. She's a nice person too, often helping out her friends and volunteering. You want them to be able to work everything out, but they have some obstacles to overcome.
In short, it's a sweet story of love set in the Christmas season. The characters seem like real people that you would want to be friends with if you met them. Jimmy and Charlotte are the brother and best friend of the main characters in Henry's novel When Light Breaks. You don't have to read it first though (I didn't), The Perfect Love Song works fine as a standalone.
There are several extras included in the back of the book. First is a recipe for shortbread and then there are directions on how to make a southern garland. Also included are a Q&A with the author and a discussion guide for reading groups.
book received from publicist for review
The story is told by a narrator and she unfolds the story starting on a Thanksgiving Day when Jimmy writes his perfect love song. She reveals what Jimmy and Charlotte go through as they try to make their long distance relationship work. Jimmy and Charlotte are both pretty sympathetic characters. He's a good guy just trying to make a living and advance his musical career. She's a nice person too, often helping out her friends and volunteering. You want them to be able to work everything out, but they have some obstacles to overcome.
In short, it's a sweet story of love set in the Christmas season. The characters seem like real people that you would want to be friends with if you met them. Jimmy and Charlotte are the brother and best friend of the main characters in Henry's novel When Light Breaks. You don't have to read it first though (I didn't), The Perfect Love Song works fine as a standalone.
There are several extras included in the back of the book. First is a recipe for shortbread and then there are directions on how to make a southern garland. Also included are a Q&A with the author and a discussion guide for reading groups.
book received from publicist for review
