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
This sequel just might have disappointed me like no other. I was so touched by "When Light Breaks." I thought that truly was a beautiful story despite the author choosing to kill off Maeve. I loved her character so much. That said, I was highly looking forward to this book. I think I also gave up on it after not too many pages. The story was just so boring and as others have said felt disconnected and like a completely different author wrote it. I was glad though that Jack and Kara did find love with one another.
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Looking for a Christmas story to help celebrate the holiday season? Look no further than THE PERFECT LOVE SONG. Two of my favorite things about the holidays include the music and the stories. Well, THE PERFECT LOVE SONG combines both of those favorites.
In THE PERFECT LOVE SONG, we meet brothers Jack and Jimmy. They are members of a relatively unknown country band, Unknown Souls. They are on the road most of the time, but when they have free time, they can be found in Palmetto Pointe, South Carolina. Neither brother thought they would ever call the town home again, after their mother packed them up, leaving their alcoholic father behind. But when a childhood friend comes looking for Jack, life changes for both brothers.
Kara volunteered at a nursing home out of duty. But slowly, as she spends time with an elderly woman, Maeve Mahoney, does the true meaning of love hit her. Kara was engaged to a pro golfer, but after listening to Maeve tell stories of her love, Richard, from Ireland, Kara calls it off and goes looking for Jack.
As Jack and Kara come together, Jimmy glances Kara's best friend, Charlotte. Jimmy is not the romantic type, but he falls for Charlotte. He can't afford to buy her a Christmas present, but what he can give her is a song. When he sings her his love song, no one could guess how their lives would spiral out of control. Jimmy winds up singing his song spontaneously during a concert set, and it's forever dubbed "The Perfect Christmas Song." Jimmy is asked to join a famous country duo for their Christmas tour the following year.
When Jimmy's tour eventually prevents him from attending Jack and Kara's wedding in Ireland in Maeve's honor, Charlotte and Jimmy have to each come to learn what real love means.
The story is one of love and loss, and ultimately redemption and hope. Charlotte could be bitter and angry with Jimmy's seemingly spoiled attitude, but she holds strong and independent. It was a nice change to see a female character remain true to herself in trying times. If I have any complaints about the story, there would only be one: at the beginning it was hard to keep track of who was who. But don't despair. Quickly the characters all come together and the story becomes embedded in your heart.
Looking for a Christmas story to help celebrate the holiday season? Look no further than THE PERFECT LOVE SONG. Two of my favorite things about the holidays include the music and the stories. Well, THE PERFECT LOVE SONG combines both of those favorites.
In THE PERFECT LOVE SONG, we meet brothers Jack and Jimmy. They are members of a relatively unknown country band, Unknown Souls. They are on the road most of the time, but when they have free time, they can be found in Palmetto Pointe, South Carolina. Neither brother thought they would ever call the town home again, after their mother packed them up, leaving their alcoholic father behind. But when a childhood friend comes looking for Jack, life changes for both brothers.
Kara volunteered at a nursing home out of duty. But slowly, as she spends time with an elderly woman, Maeve Mahoney, does the true meaning of love hit her. Kara was engaged to a pro golfer, but after listening to Maeve tell stories of her love, Richard, from Ireland, Kara calls it off and goes looking for Jack.
As Jack and Kara come together, Jimmy glances Kara's best friend, Charlotte. Jimmy is not the romantic type, but he falls for Charlotte. He can't afford to buy her a Christmas present, but what he can give her is a song. When he sings her his love song, no one could guess how their lives would spiral out of control. Jimmy winds up singing his song spontaneously during a concert set, and it's forever dubbed "The Perfect Christmas Song." Jimmy is asked to join a famous country duo for their Christmas tour the following year.
When Jimmy's tour eventually prevents him from attending Jack and Kara's wedding in Ireland in Maeve's honor, Charlotte and Jimmy have to each come to learn what real love means.
The story is one of love and loss, and ultimately redemption and hope. Charlotte could be bitter and angry with Jimmy's seemingly spoiled attitude, but she holds strong and independent. It was a nice change to see a female character remain true to herself in trying times. If I have any complaints about the story, there would only be one: at the beginning it was hard to keep track of who was who. But don't despair. Quickly the characters all come together and the story becomes embedded in your heart.
