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The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana
An electrifying novel about a woman in thrall to the exhilarating rhythms of Manhattan, lost in the dizzying promise of youth, and fatally naive to the dark pressures of fame.
When Rolling Stone journalist Kayla McCray is assigned a cover story on pop icon Lexi Mayhem, Kayla stumbles across a startling new angle to the exposé. Years ago, another rising star from Lexi’s past mysteriously leaped to her death. Some things are better off forgotten, Lexi says. Kayla disagrees.
It’s 2005 and Ava Petrova moves to New York with a notebook full of songs and a dream. Then she meets Lexi, an up-and-coming singer who brands Ava with an enigmatic new stage name and introduces her to an intoxicating city alive with possibilities. From fast friends and kindred spirits to creative muses and inseparable soul mates, Ava and Lexi embark on a parallel journey to stardom, but there is room for only one at the top.
As past and present converge, Kayla chases the ghost of a young woman doomed by betrayal and erased by a secret, and unravels the truth that it takes more than ambition to become a star.
When Rolling Stone journalist Kayla McCray is assigned a cover story on pop icon Lexi Mayhem, Kayla stumbles across a startling new angle to the exposé. Years ago, another rising star from Lexi’s past mysteriously leaped to her death. Some things are better off forgotten, Lexi says. Kayla disagrees.
It’s 2005 and Ava Petrova moves to New York with a notebook full of songs and a dream. Then she meets Lexi, an up-and-coming singer who brands Ava with an enigmatic new stage name and introduces her to an intoxicating city alive with possibilities. From fast friends and kindred spirits to creative muses and inseparable soul mates, Ava and Lexi embark on a parallel journey to stardom, but there is room for only one at the top.
As past and present converge, Kayla chases the ghost of a young woman doomed by betrayal and erased by a secret, and unravels the truth that it takes more than ambition to become a star.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2023
About the author
Jennifer Banash
9 books188 followersJennifer Banash was born and raised in New York City. She now lives in Southern California with her beagle, Sigmund, and her vast collection of designer shoes.
Check out my blog at jenniferbanash.wordpress.com
Check out my blog at jenniferbanash.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
March 13, 2023
I chose this as my Amazon pick for March and it didn't disappoint. A dual narrative that flips from 2006 to 2019 and narrated by Ava Arcana and Kayla, the Rolling Stones journalist was captivating. Loved the mystery of it all, thought I knew what would happen and was pleasantly surprised.
Book hits stores in April 2023.
Goodreads review published 12/03/23
Book hits stores in April 2023.
Goodreads review published 12/03/23
December 27, 2022
I'm 100% medium on this book.
The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana is....just that. A book that could have had a huge rise but ultimately failed to meet the promise and expectations of such a title.
Told in two timelines and two perspectives, we meet Kayla, an up-and-coming reporter for Rolling Stone. She's assigned the cover story, Lexi Mayhem, the biggest pop star. A Lady Gaga-esque character, Lexi has shot to stardom from the bars of New York City. Kayla was once a young fan and excited to have the opportunity.
We also meet Ava, a young girl trying to make it in New York 13 years prior. She gets a job at a cafe, meets a younger Lexi and the two young women hit it off.
There's a lot of story in between and then betrayal. The build-up to the betrayal has SOME tension, but there are threads of backstory that should have been explored further but never really were. More time was spent on working hours and useless drivel about cafes and hipsters.
I wanted to like - no, love this book. I love a good music mystery, but this one kind of petered out at the end. I wanted something else, a final twist. Kayla's friendship backstory was dumb and added nothing. Lexi's had more of an impact and explained everything, as did Jamie's.
Again, medium.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana is....just that. A book that could have had a huge rise but ultimately failed to meet the promise and expectations of such a title.
Told in two timelines and two perspectives, we meet Kayla, an up-and-coming reporter for Rolling Stone. She's assigned the cover story, Lexi Mayhem, the biggest pop star. A Lady Gaga-esque character, Lexi has shot to stardom from the bars of New York City. Kayla was once a young fan and excited to have the opportunity.
We also meet Ava, a young girl trying to make it in New York 13 years prior. She gets a job at a cafe, meets a younger Lexi and the two young women hit it off.
There's a lot of story in between and then betrayal. The build-up to the betrayal has SOME tension, but there are threads of backstory that should have been explored further but never really were. More time was spent on working hours and useless drivel about cafes and hipsters.
I wanted to like - no, love this book. I love a good music mystery, but this one kind of petered out at the end. I wanted something else, a final twist. Kayla's friendship backstory was dumb and added nothing. Lexi's had more of an impact and explained everything, as did Jamie's.
Again, medium.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 9, 2023
You had me at music and Rolling Stone! Gifted singers Ava and Lexi form a fast friendship, bonded by their shared dream of making it big. But only one of them realizes that dream when Ava tragically falls to her death.
Fast forward and RS reporter Kayla is working on a story about Lexi, now a music superstar, when she stumbles across a clue to Ava's death. Did the young girl kill herself or was her death the result of something more sinister?
This is my first book by Banash, and she does a great job crafting a fast-paced, entertaining story with compelling, thoughtful characters. A perfect escape read.
Fast forward and RS reporter Kayla is working on a story about Lexi, now a music superstar, when she stumbles across a clue to Ava's death. Did the young girl kill herself or was her death the result of something more sinister?
This is my first book by Banash, and she does a great job crafting a fast-paced, entertaining story with compelling, thoughtful characters. A perfect escape read.
March 17, 2023
An enjoyable quick read. The twist wasn’t what I thought it would be (in my head it was twistier) but still good none the less.
June 30, 2023
2.5/5 stars, I felt there was lots of potential
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Upon reading the synopsis of this book I thought that this would be a really interesting read because it reminded me so much of the vibe of Daisy Jones & The Six, and while there were definitely similarities I think I had expectations for this book that it just couldn't live up to. There were some interesting aspects to this book that made it entertaining at times, but ultimately the potential was not equal to the execution in this book for me personally.
One great part of this book was the separate timelines, one in the past and one in the present, as it really helped reveal the little clues to the mystery happening in this book. I really enjoyed how it focused both on the past of Lexi and the present where she was being interviewed for a news story. However I don't think the plot moved fast enough to keep me totally engaged, and I wish there was a bit more mystery before some things were revealed.
There was a lot in this story that also reminded me a little too much of lots of other mysteries and books I've read, so I found less enjoyment in the general story. There were parts that felt very generic, and I rarely read mystery books anymore (outside of being a sub-genre) because I feel that I'm usually disappointed in the way the story goes or I can guess a lot of what happens.
[TW: drugs and alcohol use, death of a friend, suicide mentioned, murder]
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Upon reading the synopsis of this book I thought that this would be a really interesting read because it reminded me so much of the vibe of Daisy Jones & The Six, and while there were definitely similarities I think I had expectations for this book that it just couldn't live up to. There were some interesting aspects to this book that made it entertaining at times, but ultimately the potential was not equal to the execution in this book for me personally.
One great part of this book was the separate timelines, one in the past and one in the present, as it really helped reveal the little clues to the mystery happening in this book. I really enjoyed how it focused both on the past of Lexi and the present where she was being interviewed for a news story. However I don't think the plot moved fast enough to keep me totally engaged, and I wish there was a bit more mystery before some things were revealed.
There was a lot in this story that also reminded me a little too much of lots of other mysteries and books I've read, so I found less enjoyment in the general story. There were parts that felt very generic, and I rarely read mystery books anymore (outside of being a sub-genre) because I feel that I'm usually disappointed in the way the story goes or I can guess a lot of what happens.
[TW: drugs and alcohol use, death of a friend, suicide mentioned, murder]
January 11, 2023
Books about fictional celebrities are a favorite of mine, and The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana was no exception. I loved the back and forth between Kayla and Ava’s timelines, and the slow burn mystery of Ava’s death had me hooked from the start. I was absolutely sure I had the twist figured out, but I was blindsided and truly awed by the way all the pieces came together. I wasn’t a huge fan of Kayla’s friendship backstory, but it was only a small part of the book. There’s also some petty, eyeroll-worthy drama, but overall this was a solid read for me and a great book for me to round out 2022 with! (This was my final read of the year.)
July 27, 2023
I did this as an audio book and I loved it! The narrator really pulled me in to the mystery of the story. I liked the dual timeline storytelling and the story from the POV that we got. The story kept me guessing and I never guessed who the ultimate reveal was. The beginning really drew me in and held me until the end. Excellent audiobook, I highly recommend!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 1, 2023
Story behind the story
I loved this book. I love the realism in the book. I also appreciate the mystery part. It is always great when the mystery keeps me guessing till the end. The small clues and false leads were done really well.
Lexi Mayham was a huge musical superstar. Now, she is about yo take the next leap in her career. Kayla his given the honour of coveting this story, which could be her big break as well. During her research, she uncovers a promising young woman called Ava from Lexi's buried past. What happens when Kayla starts asking the question nobody wants to answer or shedding a light in places nobody wants exposed.
The format of the book is one chapter written from Kayla's point of view in the present and one from Ava in the past. The book is cleverly done. Good characters and a great story. Personally, I really appreciate it when a standalone story does tie up all the loose ends.
I loved this book. I love the realism in the book. I also appreciate the mystery part. It is always great when the mystery keeps me guessing till the end. The small clues and false leads were done really well.
Lexi Mayham was a huge musical superstar. Now, she is about yo take the next leap in her career. Kayla his given the honour of coveting this story, which could be her big break as well. During her research, she uncovers a promising young woman called Ava from Lexi's buried past. What happens when Kayla starts asking the question nobody wants to answer or shedding a light in places nobody wants exposed.
The format of the book is one chapter written from Kayla's point of view in the present and one from Ava in the past. The book is cleverly done. Good characters and a great story. Personally, I really appreciate it when a standalone story does tie up all the loose ends.
March 13, 2023
I was intrigued that this fictional story was inspired by a rumor about Lady Gaga having a rival in her early days in NYC. The author totally pulled me into the lives of Ava, the talented singer/song writer who died tragically young and Lexi, who made it to stardom. Kayla has gotten her cover story with Rolling Stone at last but when she meets Lexi Mayhem, she becomes intrigued by a forgotten footnote from Lexi's past, her friend and rival, Ava Arcana.
Part of what I enjoyed about this book is the theme of women friends, especially the one from our younger days. It's a topic that book clubs should enjoy exploring because almost every woman has one of those stories about a dear friend that disappointed or betrayed us (or vice versa). Well written, fast paced and totally satisfying is how I rate this book.
Part of what I enjoyed about this book is the theme of women friends, especially the one from our younger days. It's a topic that book clubs should enjoy exploring because almost every woman has one of those stories about a dear friend that disappointed or betrayed us (or vice versa). Well written, fast paced and totally satisfying is how I rate this book.
March 29, 2023
Blah. This book probably doesn't deserve the hate I have for it, but here we are...
It was just so mind-numbingly dull.
(This was a free Amazon First Reads for the month of March 2023. Which is the perfect price for it...)
Rolling Stone reporter Kayla is given her first cover story: a feature on celebrated popstar Lexi Mayhem starting her own record label. Yes, the popstar is really named "Lexi Mayhem", which sounds like something 9-year-old me would've named one of my Barbies when playing rockstar Barbies back in the day. Lexi is a big ol' mix of real pop girls: she's feuded with Katy Perry (like Taylor), had a pastry licking incident (like Ariana), been scandalous on the VMA red carpet (she brought a skunk on a leash...stinky, like I'm sure Gaga's meat dress was) and in her late-30s, has "lost her edge" from her earlier pop-punk days (P!nk, anyone?). Kayla is frustrated when Lexi won't talk about when she was starting out in NYC 13 years earlier, so she starts digging around and finds a video of Lexi with a lookalike named Ava Arcana who -- come to find out -- jumped off of a building right as she was on the edge of stardom.
(At this point, I was SO SURE we were getting a riff on the old conspiracy that Gaga killed her BFF and stole her identity & stardom. THAT would've made a better book.)
The book tells Ava's story and Kayla's uncovering of the story in a dual timeline format. I hate dual timelines, so I was annoyed right off the bat. Long story short (because this book dragged on forever), Lexi's drink was drugged on the night Ava died, and Ava was impaired because she took a swig of the drink. Lexi's manager (who was previously the assistant of Ava's manager/boyfriend Jamie) pushed Ava off the roof....so he could steal Ava's songs for Lexi (Ava was a better songwriter than Lexi, but battled stage fright). Then he blackmailed Lexi for 13 years so he could mooch off of her.
Along the way, Kayla has an affair with Jamie (umm that's ethically sketchy, seeing as she met with him as a source for her story). Part of me HOPED it was Jamie who'd killed Ava, and that he'd try to off Kayla, too (although it was FAR TOO OBVIOUS throughout who the killer was). Kayla discovers that Jamie also profited off of the royalties Lexi got from Ava's songs...and she's fine with it, even after writing a tell-all about how Lexi stole the songs? The research into Ava's life also brings up memories for Kayla of her high school BFF, who was raped by a boy both she & Kayla liked...and Kayla makes her friend's rape all about her? It's odd and unnecessary to the plot.
It was just so mind-numbingly dull.
(This was a free Amazon First Reads for the month of March 2023. Which is the perfect price for it...)
Rolling Stone reporter Kayla is given her first cover story: a feature on celebrated popstar Lexi Mayhem starting her own record label. Yes, the popstar is really named "Lexi Mayhem", which sounds like something 9-year-old me would've named one of my Barbies when playing rockstar Barbies back in the day. Lexi is a big ol' mix of real pop girls: she's feuded with Katy Perry (like Taylor), had a pastry licking incident (like Ariana), been scandalous on the VMA red carpet (she brought a skunk on a leash...stinky, like I'm sure Gaga's meat dress was) and in her late-30s, has "lost her edge" from her earlier pop-punk days (P!nk, anyone?). Kayla is frustrated when Lexi won't talk about when she was starting out in NYC 13 years earlier, so she starts digging around and finds a video of Lexi with a lookalike named Ava Arcana who -- come to find out -- jumped off of a building right as she was on the edge of stardom.
(At this point, I was SO SURE we were getting a riff on the old conspiracy that Gaga killed her BFF and stole her identity & stardom. THAT would've made a better book.)
The book tells Ava's story and Kayla's uncovering of the story in a dual timeline format. I hate dual timelines, so I was annoyed right off the bat. Long story short (because this book dragged on forever), Lexi's drink was drugged on the night Ava died, and Ava was impaired because she took a swig of the drink. Lexi's manager (who was previously the assistant of Ava's manager/boyfriend Jamie) pushed Ava off the roof....so he could steal Ava's songs for Lexi (Ava was a better songwriter than Lexi, but battled stage fright). Then he blackmailed Lexi for 13 years so he could mooch off of her.
Along the way, Kayla has an affair with Jamie (umm that's ethically sketchy, seeing as she met with him as a source for her story). Part of me HOPED it was Jamie who'd killed Ava, and that he'd try to off Kayla, too (although it was FAR TOO OBVIOUS throughout who the killer was). Kayla discovers that Jamie also profited off of the royalties Lexi got from Ava's songs...and she's fine with it, even after writing a tell-all about how Lexi stole the songs? The research into Ava's life also brings up memories for Kayla of her high school BFF, who was raped by a boy both she & Kayla liked...and Kayla makes her friend's rape all about her? It's odd and unnecessary to the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**
I would first like to start out by saying that I was very unsure about this book to start with. I thought the plot was overused (friendship tarnished over a boy) and that the mystery element would be very predictable. I was wrong. Though, I can't give it a 5 out of 5.
Lexi and Ava's friendship blossoms over their love for music and their desire to make it big on the scene. It all comes crashing down when Lexi feels betrayed by Ava when she starts to date THEIR manager. (This feels a little immature for characters who are supposed to be in their twenties.) When Ava dies (was she pushed or did she jump???) Lexi's star rises and she becomes the IT girl of music.
Kayla comes on the scene in present day when her magazine, Rolling Stone, asks for a fluff piece on a pop star turned producer. As she follows her journalism gut Kayla digs into the backstory and finds out that there really is a story there...what a coincidence!
I fell in love with the characters, and the duel time-line storytelling was intriguing. The twist was bittersweet. I was excited to find out that my prediction was wrong (I was convinced that Jamie was behind it, and that as she got closer to figuring it out, Jamie was going to come after Kayla!) However, I was disappointed to find out that the culprit was a secondary character who felt like an afterthought.
All in all, clearly I loved the book; I finished in in two days (which is hard for a working mom!) but I was a little disappointed with the outcome.
I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of the novel! It is worth reading!
I would first like to start out by saying that I was very unsure about this book to start with. I thought the plot was overused (friendship tarnished over a boy) and that the mystery element would be very predictable. I was wrong. Though, I can't give it a 5 out of 5.
Lexi and Ava's friendship blossoms over their love for music and their desire to make it big on the scene. It all comes crashing down when Lexi feels betrayed by Ava when she starts to date THEIR manager. (This feels a little immature for characters who are supposed to be in their twenties.) When Ava dies (was she pushed or did she jump???) Lexi's star rises and she becomes the IT girl of music.
Kayla comes on the scene in present day when her magazine, Rolling Stone, asks for a fluff piece on a pop star turned producer. As she follows her journalism gut Kayla digs into the backstory and finds out that there really is a story there...what a coincidence!
I fell in love with the characters, and the duel time-line storytelling was intriguing. The twist was bittersweet. I was excited to find out that my prediction was wrong (I was convinced that Jamie was behind it, and that as she got closer to figuring it out, Jamie was going to come after Kayla!) However, I was disappointed to find out that the culprit was a secondary character who felt like an afterthought.
All in all, clearly I loved the book; I finished in in two days (which is hard for a working mom!) but I was a little disappointed with the outcome.
I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of the novel! It is worth reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2023
The writing was good enough to keep me reading until the end, but the story had two things I dislike. First, although the three main characters are women who are connected by their work, the story doesn't really pass the Bechdel test because it's mostly about their relation to the men in their lives. Second (and spoiler alert), the person who did it barely registered in the story at any point along the way.
March 26, 2023
Like many readers, this book was my March freebie through Amazon Prime. I’m delighted I picked it up.
I finished Daisy Jones and the 6 before this one, and while the books are different, it was hard not to compare as they both followed the rise and fall of musicians. I enjoyed this book so much more than Daisy.
It was a well written, had an entertaining plot, and while I thought I knew how it was going to end, I was wrong. It concluded much better than I had guessed. Love a plot twist!
I finished Daisy Jones and the 6 before this one, and while the books are different, it was hard not to compare as they both followed the rise and fall of musicians. I enjoyed this book so much more than Daisy.
It was a well written, had an entertaining plot, and while I thought I knew how it was going to end, I was wrong. It concluded much better than I had guessed. Love a plot twist!
July 6, 2023
This was a tedious read that I put down and came back to numerous times. It sounds interesting on the surface, as the premise is good. Journalist Kayla is assigned to write a cover story for Rolling Stone about Lexi Mayhem, one of the most famous pop starlets in the world. But in the probe into Lexi's background, she discovers the beautiful and talented Ava Arcana, a rising star herself that had her brief career dramatically ended when she jumped off the roof of a Manhattan apartment building. Or did she? Kayla unravels the story to learn about who Ava was, who Lexi was, and what happened on that rooftop so many years ago. Sounds good right? Well, it should have been, but the storytelling did not capture me and the writing itself was mediocre. Many characters felt half-baked, and the writing just lacked quality. It felt like a self-published novel that could benefit from some deep edits. I wanted to like this book and/or care about the characters, but it became something I finished just because I had already dedicated time to it.
May 2, 2023
A wee bit cheesy and predictable in some ways, but enjoyable. It’s a whodunnit journalism meets Daisy Jones. I’d say 3.49 stars, because 3.5 rounds up to 4 and I feel this book sits right in the middle. I liked it.
March 19, 2023
ugh!!!! this was such a fantastic read! it had everything i could have wanted: dual perspective, intrigue, mystery, and a twist ending... i knew i was going to love a story of a journalist interviewing a pop star but it was so much more than that! highly recommend when it comes out on apr. 1st and im so lucky to have read it early (and for free) through prime reading :)
March 6, 2023
I saw The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana on Amazon first reads and decided that would be my book choice this month from them, boy am I pleased I chose this one. I've read this solely today, from this morning till this evening. I admit, I've not done a lot else. The story of Ava and Lexi is filled with so many things. Friendship, love, hate, jealousy, betrayal and of course death. I'd never read (And dare I say heard of) Jennifer (Author) before or her work, but this book will definitely make me take a look at her other work.
I can't tell you about the story, you won't really know what happened until the end and when you get there you'll have your closure. But alas, I still got to the end and still wanted or maybe expected Ava to be alive. I kind of fell in love with her like you do a best friend. She was just so (I hate this word) nice. Almost the best friend you could have ever wanted and although I resented Lexi I understood a lot of the 'why's things happened the way the do. In the present time line we have Kayla writing her article. I enjoyed her time line just as much. Seeing her grow and learn that the past doesn't necessarily mean that's the end.
This was a solid 4 star read, I can see me thinking on this one for a while as it's the kind of story that won't just leave you. Thanks Amazon First Reads for including this in the selection this month I'm so glad I saw it and gave it a go.
I can't tell you about the story, you won't really know what happened until the end and when you get there you'll have your closure. But alas, I still got to the end and still wanted or maybe expected Ava to be alive. I kind of fell in love with her like you do a best friend. She was just so (I hate this word) nice. Almost the best friend you could have ever wanted and although I resented Lexi I understood a lot of the 'why's things happened the way the do. In the present time line we have Kayla writing her article. I enjoyed her time line just as much. Seeing her grow and learn that the past doesn't necessarily mean that's the end.
This was a solid 4 star read, I can see me thinking on this one for a while as it's the kind of story that won't just leave you. Thanks Amazon First Reads for including this in the selection this month I'm so glad I saw it and gave it a go.
May 13, 2023
This was the first book I've read in a few years and I could not have asked for something as good as this. I really liked the switch of narratives in each chapter to progress the story with suspense, uncovering more and more per chapter and keeping me guessing. There were a few occasions where there were repeated descriptive words but that's more of a personal note, not against the book.
I really loved getting to know the story of Ava and her life, and what led to the end of it all. I did NOT manage to guess the plot ending, which surprised me. Towards the end, I thought there might be some loose ends that wouldn't be addressed, but to me, this book did a good job of covering and explaining everything and tied it up nicely.
Really enjoyed reading this and will look to explore more from this author!
I really loved getting to know the story of Ava and her life, and what led to the end of it all. I did NOT manage to guess the plot ending, which surprised me. Towards the end, I thought there might be some loose ends that wouldn't be addressed, but to me, this book did a good job of covering and explaining everything and tied it up nicely.
Really enjoyed reading this and will look to explore more from this author!
April 14, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This was a simple, easy, lighthearted read.
While I didn't predict the twist at the end, I was hoping for something more complex and revealing that actually happened, which left me a little disappointed.
The writing was nothing fantastic, but at the same time, it was easy to read and still carried the plot along enjoyably.
Overall, I'm rather average about the book in general. I enjoyed reading it and found it interesting, but I don't think it's anything that's going to stay with me for any time at all.
This was a simple, easy, lighthearted read.
While I didn't predict the twist at the end, I was hoping for something more complex and revealing that actually happened, which left me a little disappointed.
The writing was nothing fantastic, but at the same time, it was easy to read and still carried the plot along enjoyably.
Overall, I'm rather average about the book in general. I enjoyed reading it and found it interesting, but I don't think it's anything that's going to stay with me for any time at all.
April 17, 2023
My Prime First Reads pick for March was ‘The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana’, by Jennifer Banash.
I was really excited to read this book with a 70s rock ‘n roll vibe.
The premise of the story, a Rolling Stone reporter writing an article on a famous rock star turns into an unsolved murder/suicide, had tons of potential.
Unfortunately, I can’t quit put my finger on exactly what, but there was something lacking for me. I really wanted to love this book but I can only rate it 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️, at best.
Did anyone else read this yet? Can you help me figure out what was missing? Or maybe you loved it? Please share.
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I was really excited to read this book with a 70s rock ‘n roll vibe.
The premise of the story, a Rolling Stone reporter writing an article on a famous rock star turns into an unsolved murder/suicide, had tons of potential.
Unfortunately, I can’t quit put my finger on exactly what, but there was something lacking for me. I really wanted to love this book but I can only rate it 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️, at best.
Did anyone else read this yet? Can you help me figure out what was missing? Or maybe you loved it? Please share.
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April 22, 2023
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️, ARC through Prime
I was worried this was going to be overly, laboriously twisty, but was pleased that the plot was a bit more understated; predictable, but in a nice way. More metaphors and adjectives than I like, but the writing was solid and I found zero typos, which is certainly refreshing!
I wasn’t on the edge of my seat or staying up all night to finish this one, but it was an enjoyable read, perfect for lounging in the sun with a cocktail. 🙂
I was worried this was going to be overly, laboriously twisty, but was pleased that the plot was a bit more understated; predictable, but in a nice way. More metaphors and adjectives than I like, but the writing was solid and I found zero typos, which is certainly refreshing!
I wasn’t on the edge of my seat or staying up all night to finish this one, but it was an enjoyable read, perfect for lounging in the sun with a cocktail. 🙂
March 13, 2023
This book was ok. Not super suspenseful, not super thrilling, but it was mildly interesting for me. Some of the personal relationships in it didn’t make sense to me and I don’t feel like they contributed to the story in any way. It was easy enough to finish over a weekend trip in the airports, so not really a super special book for me.
March 22, 2023
Another Amazon Prime First Reads selection. I originally picked this as a quick mystery, easy read, for late night feeds with my baby, but I soon found myself reading it all hours of the day. Cool premise with celebrities as the main characters (which somehow I haven't encountered in my reads before). The mystery definitely keeps you guessing, but I found the romance portion to be forced/ rushed for plot sake? Great read though I--would recommend it!
May 2, 2023
I probably gave this one a very generous review coming on the heels of my last read. I found the story interesting with enough suspense to keep me guessing. The two story lines were woven together nicely and I was satisfied with the way things came together in the end.
March 7, 2023
Fun to read. Good story. Emotional characters with back stories. Expected yet surprising ending.
March 12, 2023
Eh - passed the time during flight delays. 2.5 rounded up.
April 22, 2023
This was such a fun book to read. I love the interview sections and the mystery within the story. It goes back and forth between 2006 and 2019. Highly enjoyed and recommend.
May 30, 2023
I wanted this to be better! Great premise. But just didn’t do it for me.
June 3, 2023
One of my favourite books of the year but possibly helped because I read it while in New York so helped with the geographical context of the story. That aside I loved the story's concept especially the dual narrative which switches between 2005 and 2019. Cleverly written, the story has a fun amount of twists, thrills and a bit of romance making it for me a great all round modern fiction.
June 28, 2023
I enjoyed this book immensely! Love the descriptions of characters and the story , how it was told . Could not put it down
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