Colin Preston Rocked And Rolled

by Bert Murray

With drop dead gorgeous Jasmine from Laguna Beach you never know what will happen next and every date is truly an adventure.

Funny as hell with characters that feel completely real and you won't read a better coming of age story about teenage angst and first love than this one.

What readers are saying:

"Great Story...I really enjoyed this book. It pulled you in from the first and kept you interested through out. It was well written and made you feel like you were there. The story and the characters were great too. I recommend this author and this book to all."

"Stayed up until 3 am reading this...I SO wanted to finish the book last night but only made it until 3 am. It's hard to believe that this is the author's first novel, it's that good. I thought the character development, in part using their taste in music, was enjoyably clever. Reading about Colin's struggles brought back a lot of memories of college. First loves, betrayals, loneliness, friendship, happiness and growing through adversity are such big parts of the those years of our lives...Great book!"

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Humor, Contemporary Romance, New Adult

251 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2011

About the author

Bert Murray is an American author. Bert attended Princeton University.

You can find his books on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Reviews

[Charity · Rating 1 out of 5]

*** Warning: The following review contains references to sex. Not good sex, mind you, but still, sex. ***

0 Stars, actually.

While it is never very pleasant to write a bad review, it even less pleasant to read a bad book. And this book is the WORST book I've ever read!

All other books are masterpieces in comparison. Horrible writing. Horrible characters. Horrible dialogue. Horrible plot line. Horrible layout. There really was NOTHING redeemable about this book at all. I would read excerpts to my husband and he would laugh his ass off (when he wasn't groaning from the agony). The only people who could possibly give this book higher than one star have to be the author's family and friends...or people who are being heavily compensated...or people who have guns to their heads. I mean, there is NO WAY that anyone who has read any other book in existence could possibly think this is any good.

Yes, it is THAT bad.

Here are some lowlights:

CHARACTERS

In short, they are all terrible.

* The main character, Colin Preston talks incessantly about the Beatles. He drops every bit of information he knows about them in everyday conversations, corrects other people's misinformation about them, and listens to every album by them (and John Lennon's solo work) constantly. I'm not sure there is a page where there ISN'T a Beatles reference. I loooooooove the Beatles, but this was almost enough to make me not want to listen to them ever again, just so I wouldn't have to have any association to this horrible main character. Plus, he's whiny, naïve, and annoying. I hate him.

* The main character's love interest, Jasmine is a complete contradiction. Not even believable in the slightest. She's supposed to be a super hot, (of course!...and ALL of the girls in the book are super hot with smokin' bodies who want to have sex with these dweebs the second they meet them...believable, no?) hippie chick who is very into all-natural foods, yoga, Jim Morrison (almost as much as Colin is into the Beatles...gah!), and smoking pot. HOWEVER, she smokes cigarettes (what?! so much for her all-natural persona), has extreme mood swings (like a 24-hour roller coaster ride with Sybil at the switch), and can be very violent (throws beer bottles at Colin). None of these behaviors match her purported Zen-like nature. Oh, and she's a slut.

* Colin's best friend, Karl is a complete caricature of a big man on campus. Football star, ladies' man panty-dropper, and all-around prick. He cares about very little other than playing sports and banging hos. He's a class act.

* Chester is the quintessential loner and loser. He hangs out in the dorm basement ALL THE TIME and smokes a ton of weed. He has very obvious mental problems and says a lot of extremely weird things. Other characters refer to him as highly intelligent, but I never heard him say anything remotely smart. He ends up having a mental breakdown (SHOCKING!!) and goes to rehab for cocaine (which was NEVER mentioned in the story previously), mushrooms, and pot (WHAT?!? Rehab for 'shrooms and pot?! C'mon!). He writes a very bizarre letter from rehab that makes you think a psychiatric facility would be a much better fit for him.

* Mrs. Vesquez, one of the professors at the school, gets brought into the story, inexplicably. One day Colin is being nasty to her because he's having a bad day, the next day they are hanging out and he's dishing out all his problems to her. For the rest of the book, she doles out advice and wisdom, talks about the hardships of her life, and listens as Colin whines nonstop about Jasmine. Sure, because that's the shit professors live for!

* Big Ty is basically the token black friend in the book. He doesn't really have much to do with the plot other than inviting the guys to multiple frat parties.

PLOT POINTS

There are soooo many things that don't make any sense that it would take me all day and night to list them. I could easily go page by page of this preposterous story, trying to figure it all out, but I don't really think it deserves that kind of time/effort. However, I will provide a few head-scratchers for you and maybe you can tell me if these things make sense or could ever happen in real life.

* Colin and Jasmine are getting all hot and heavy in Colin's room. She desperately wants to have sex with him. He goes to put on a condom. He puts it on inside out. (How?) He puts on another condom. They start having sex. It feels good and he is ready to come, but he holds back. She starts to come...very loudly! He begins counting Beatles albums to keep from coming. She finishes with a cacophony of screams, moans, and bed squeaking. He pretends that he came, too, and then throws the empty condom in the trash.

-- If the girl is letting you know that she is having an orgasm, why would you hold back and then fake it? I can understand holding back until she gets to that point, but once she's there, why in the world would any guy purposely NOT come...and then lie that he did? I'm sorry, but I cannot think of any plausible reason why that would happen.

* Colin is at a frat party without Jasmine. He is persuaded by cool guy Karl to ask a hot chick to dance. As he and hot girl are dancing, she suddenly stops and looks upset. Apparently, her boyfriend is not happy to see her dancing with another guy. Colin turns to see a "beefy meathead with bulging biceps" approaching in a jealous rage. The beefy meathead boyfriend grabs a beer from a random guy and throws "the contents" in Colin's face.

-- Huh?? Maybe my imagination is not what it used to be, but when would a muscular guy, in a jealous rage, EVER grab a beer and throw "the contents" in someone's face?? Maybe they would throw a beer bottle at someone's face (or break it over their head), but I cannot picture them grabbing a "cup of beer" and throwing it in someone's face like someone out of a soap opera. Picture Ronnie from Jersey Shore doing that.

* Colin is at a frat party. He runs into his friend, Big Ty, who invited him to the frat party. Colin immediately asks Big Ty how his grandmother is doing. Big Ty tells him that she is keeping him busy, but she did find a new doctor she likes. Then, Colin asks about her blood pressure. Big Ty tells him that it is better because she's been taking her medication.

-- I don't care HOW good of friends you are with someone, two guys at a frat party would NEVER be discussing a grandmother's blood pressure. Not possible.

WRITING/LAYOUT

Again, I could go on and on. The writing is the worst I've ever seen in my history as a reader. Each page is worst than the last. Here are a few examples:

* Bizarre chapter layout. Most of the chapters are no more than a couple pages. Frequently, a chapter will end in the middle of a fight, conversation, etc. and then pick right back up at the start of the next chapter. If this was the author's idea of cliff hangers, then I give him a big FAIL.

* Lighted. Used over and over and over again. As in, "he lighted a joint and began smoking" and "Jasmine pulled a cigarette out of her bag and lighted it." Ugh. Nails on a chalkboard!

* A LOT of talk about sex and boobs. I'm by no means a prude, but this felt like it was written by a teenage boy who watches A LOT of bad porn. Judge for yourself...

-- "I love how her breasts jiggle," he said. "I'm really crazy about her."
"They jiggle?" I asked.
"Yes. Like flying saucers. She uses Ivory Soap on her gazungas."
"So, Susan soaping her breasts is your sex fantasy?"
"Yes, and once I watched her shave her legs. What a thrill I got."

-- The next girl didn't have a good body, but her breasts were fantastic. She made a show of unhooking her bra and maneuvering it so that she was able to get it out of her sleeves. The spray of the water revealed breasts that were shaped like watermelons and nipples that were extremely large.
"Man, look at those things," said Big Ty. "Are they not ripe or what?"
. The cute Asian girl on the bar didn't have much to show off. She was extremely flat-chested, but the cold water had stiffened her nipples. It was erotic and I couldn't stop myself from staring.
"Damn, those things could cut glass," said Big Ty.

-- "You make my ramrod stand at attention," Chester blurted.
"Sometimes I like to watch porn," Susan said to Chester.
"Do you like whips and chains?" asked Chester.
Susan twirled some of her long black hair around her fingers. "No. The only time I'm violent is when I'm playing Dungeons and Dragons. Do you play?"
Chester wrapped his hands around her black lace gloves. "I'd play with you. I want to kiss you."
"We just met."
"Then when? Please don't give me blue balls."
Susan smiled. "Postponement heightens gratification."

-- Karl was in front of the window. Before I could say hello, I realized he was having sex. His jeans and boxers were wrapped around his ankles. He grunted as he rocked back and forth and did the girl from behind.
. The girl was bent over his desk with her jean skirt hiked up over her ass. She had great legs. She was still wearing brown knee-high boots, but her white polo shirt, bra and panties lay nearby on the floor. Karl knew how to make good use of an afternoon.
. I stared, my mouth open. The angle at which the desk was positioned allowed me to watch Karl as his hands wrapped around the girl's large, firm breasts; his thumbs were on top of her nipples. His back muscles tightened every time he thrust forward. She moaned with pleasure. I began to back out of the room quietly.
. "Oh God, fuck me. Yes! Yes! Don't stop. Fuck me harder," the girl demanded loudly.

-- She sat up and pulled a pink heart-shaped box off the shelf above her bed and tore open a green foil package that had a mint-flavored condom inside.
. She gently placed the condom on me and held it there before using her mouth to roll it down. Damn, did I get hard. She really knew what she was doing. My expectations had been way too low.
"I'm almost afraid to ask," I said. "Where did you learn how to do that?"
. She giggled. "I read an article in Cosmo on 10 ways to spice things up in the bedroom. That was No. 2."
"I'd love to see what No. 1 was," I said teasingly.

-- I lost myself in the moment. I fumbled with my belt while she pulled down her panties and lifted her skirt. I entered her. She said she had two orgasms. I felt like a total stud.


I could go on forever, but I think you get the idea. It seems like the author spent a week viewing teen movies and porn and then decided to write a book. This is decidedly the WORST book I've ever read! Good grief, I think I'm scarred for life. I'm going to have to go on a strict diet of Shakespeare and Steinbeck to try and undo the damage caused by this book. *shudder*

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to Goodreads first reads programme and the author - Bert Murray - for providing this book free for review.

I feel somewhat guilty that my review can't be more positive when I received such a nice message from the author requesting that I review this book. I wanted to come back with nothing but praise and compliments and declare it an undiscovered masterpiece... but I also think it's my job to review honestly and that's what you're going to get from me.

It's a very easy book to read, let me say that first of all, and both the subject matter and the protagonist are mostly relatable to. Those who have ever gone to university or just generally been your average teenager will recognise aspects of Colin's life from their own. The first thing that strikes me as odd and, personally, I think lets the book down is that it appears to be a young adult novel in many ways but is not.

Colin is a 19-year-old student at university, between classes he can be found getting drunk and sleeping with the hottest sophomore on campus. This to me makes it sound like a book for teens but it quickly becomes clear that this is not the author's intention. There you face the first obstacle - the right sort of people aren't going to read this book! Adults don't often pick up books about college kids getting drunk and getting laid (usually in that order) and the teens who are likely to read a book presented like this often won't appreciate the story.

I think I understood eventually after spending some time with each paragraph that this novel is actually about far more than just pratting around on campus... it seems to have some interesting ideas but it's unclear as to what the author wants to convey sometimes; so then it just fails to be deep and meaningful and comes across at face value - drunk uni students.

I admit that I was immediately grabbed by all the pop culture references and the mentions of some of my favourite bands. To be honest, the book is one great big tribute to classic rock and this it does very well! I had to go listen to some songs I haven't heard in a while as soon as I put it down.

Despite a few problems I had with the novel, I think I could have put up with that and enjoyed it a lot more if I wasn't immediately turned off by the jerky phrasing and poor sentencing used quite often. On the very first page we are told about Colin's friend - Karl - and we are given four sentences which all start with a male pronoun and it doesn't read very well:

"He wore a Boston Red Sox cap backward and tinted-black sunglasses. He was my best friend at Elerby and the backup quarterback for the football team. His dimples seemed to attract every good-looking girl on campus. His piercing blue eyes and wavy blond hair didn't hurt either."

You see? It was rather off-putting to read that on the first page, second paragraph. I do think Bert Murray shows some potential as an author and I like his ideas but I'm afraid this book didn't do it for me.

[Mackenzie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read.
The trials and tribulations of Colin Preston’s college days is a well crafted work, told in the first person and I was hooked from the start of this wonderful read. Colin falls for the incredibly beautiful, but flawed Jasmine, and can hardly believe his luck when his feelings are reciprocated. As in life though, things don’t necessarily go smoothly, but throughout the tale my attention was held and I was bound in, by the well drawn characters I cared for deeply.
The author has a simple, but engaging writing style and I was with Colin every step of his journey, feeling all of the highs and lows with him. It is a story told from the male perspective, but I suspect this romantic drama will appeal to both sexes. College life is described so well, so that the reader gets an authentic feel for student life.
I hold the author in the highest esteem and could not make a stronger recommendation. If you haven’t done so far, you must read this wonderful book.

[Literary Chanteuse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the humor and throw back to the 80's in this book. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I liked a lot of the creative characters that I'm sure most people have encountered at one time or another. In my opinion Colin definitely rocked and rolled!

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a review of Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled on Booked Up and left a comment that prompted the author to contact me to request a review for his book. The premise appealed because I am a huge Beatles fan as well as having a soft spot for the 80's so I added it to my crowded schedule.

The protagonist, nineteen year old college student, Colin Preston, confronts some serious issues including drug use, relationship breakdown, mental illness and academic pressure during his first year on campus. Slightly neurotic yet in many ways a typical teenage freshman, Colin falls in love with the beautiful yet unstable Jasmine. When Jasmine breaks up with him (and leaps into the pants of his best friend), Colin is devastated by her betrayal. Hurt and bewildered he sinks into a depression, neglecting his studies, drinking too much all the while obsessively planning how to win Jasmine back.
I thought Colin sympathetic and feel he is a character that is easy to relate to. It's interesting to have a very male perspective on this tumultuous period of maturation in a young mans life. The first person narrative is raw and genuine and the author doesn't shy away from some of the uglier emotions that his protagonist experiences.
It's not all doom and gloom there is a bit of humour, a few punches are thrown and there is lots of sex and then of course there is the music. As I expected, the musical references particularly struck a chord with me, though I am not sure that many college students today would have a clue, I often found myself humming as I read. (As an odd coincidence, I finished reading this on December 8th, the day John Lennon was shot, which is referenced in the novel several times.)

While the pacing of the story was fine I did struggle with the flow of the narrative. Murray tends to use short sentences that are jarring at times, particularly when each starts with a similar word like in this example*

"He wore a Boston Red Sox cap backward and tinted-black sunglasses. He was my best friend at Elerby and the backup quarterback for the football team. His dimples seemed to attract every good-looking girl on campus. His piercing blue eyes and wavy blond hair didn't hurt either."

*I noticed another reviewer singled out the same paragraph

Paragraphs like this appear often enough to be distracting and I often found myself rephrasing them in my head.

I was expecting Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled to be a lighthearted, young adult novel but quickly realised that this is a book best suited for a more mature audience, not just because of its sometimes explicit language, but because the themes require maturity to appreciate them. Despite the authors aversion to conjunctions, I did enjoy Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled for it's unique perspective and musical references. A solid and original coming of age debut novel.

[Vone Savan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As human beings, we often want things that we can’t have. In the novel, Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled by Bert Murray, that again, is sadly the case.

In 1985, Colin Preston, an amiable—but not completely atypical—nineteen-year-old college student, goes to fictional Elerby University in upstate New York. There he meets Jasmine, a tumultuous wild child, who he falls madly in love with. Through their eventual relationship, Colin experiences challenges with infidelity, self-worth, and his sanity.

After finishing the novel, I have mix feelings about Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled. The elements I enjoyed were the dialogue, the pace of the novel, and the free flow of Colin’s emotions. It was fun and entertaining reading his thoughts and how he perceived the world. His naiveté was frustrating, but also understandable—which was part of what kept the novel interesting.

The parts I didn’t particularly enjoy were the constant juxtaposition of Beatle songs to certain scenes. It was way too much. If Bert got rid of half of the Beatle songs that were mentioned in the book, it would have made the effect much more fun and memorable. Also, even with Colin’s fun ramblings, I didn’t get a good feel for his character. I often felt detached; and I can only assume that had to do with my own sensibilities as a person because I felt Bert did a decent job of giving Colin a solid backstory.

Lastly—and from a very constructive point of view—I think a good Copyeditor or Proofreader would have been very beneficial. They could have taken out certain grammatical issues that would have made the book shine even more. Though the issues I encountered didn’t completely hamper the reading experience for me, I definitely felt like some parts were still too rough.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the book—and would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a fast read on college life from a heterosexual male perspective. I think it’s fair to say Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is an entertaining read.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow there is a lot to say about what I found within the front and back cover of this book. Let me start with the positive. What earned the rating of "one star" were the final two words of this story...The End. That simple phrase was the sole reason for a "one star" rating. Beyond that the rest of the book would get nothing.

This simply may have been the most poorly written book I have ever read. At page 42 I had already begun calculating the number of pages left in the book and after another 40 pages in, contemplated why I was bothering to even finish reading. I did for only one reason, that this book was a gift by the author, Bert Murray, for its review through Goodreads.com and I felt obligated to push forward and give my honest opinion. All the while, I hoped that some redeeming aspect would begin to show it's face and rescue me. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

The style of writing was very uncomfortable, very choppy. At times I felt that most of the book was written in sentences comprised of mainly 5-6 words in length. It simply did not flow and lacked skill and maturity. The constant misuse of the word "lighted" when referring to what one does when lighting a cigarette or candle in the past tense (i.e. LIT) was most annoying. That is an error that children make when learning the English language, not what I'd expect from an author who attended college.

The character development was lacking, the fabric of the story had no real connection, it was basically just a mess. I normally pass books on that I read, this one will not make those travels, nor will it find it's way to a spot on my bookshelf accompanying other books. "Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled" has already found it's way into the box of unwanted items that I am donating to the local thrift store.

[Melissa T · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Please note I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways*

This book is absolutely terrible. It's badly written, there are strange chapter breaks, there is no background given, and the language feels like that of a 13 year old boy not a college student.

I swear, I almost lost it when the word "lighted" was used incorrectly 3 times within the span of about 15 pages. And then several times after that."His eyes lighted up" "she lighted the joint" "Chester's face lighted up" Ugh.

Colin is absolutely obsessed with Jasmine and thinks he "loves" her for no reason. She is moody, and my guess is, bipolar. He loves the sex, and that's about all. They fall into a "relationship" and she breaks up with him for his best friend, Karl.

Colin hangs out with an older professor, Mrs. Vesquez after his breakup. I really don't see what her role was in the story, other than portraying a moody cat lady. He also has random sex with a few girls, and then settles for Liz.

There's a lot of heavy drinking in the book, as well as some serious mental illness in terms of Chester's character.

The most annoying thing about this book were the Beatles references.Every few pages, it was John Lennon this, John Lennon that. We get it, the MC liked The Beatles. Way overdone. There were a lot of random references to 80's TV and music, but they could have been left out entirely. The setting of this book is so blase, that the year it took place and the random pop culture were totally unneccessary.

It felt like a mental spew, with no point. And since I had no emotional investment, the attempt at seriousness and "lessons learned" on the last page just made it worse.

It was a fast enough read to keep me slogging through it, but I really don't recommend it.

A complete waste of time.

[Sonia Reppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a boy-meets-girl story that takes place at college in the '80's. Colin falls hard for Jasmine and gets his heart broken. I liked being in the world of this book; college-age romance and heart-break is a favorite of mine to read. Colin is likable and vulnerable and his relationship with Jasmine is realistically drawn. The reader can tell that Colin loves Jasmine more than she loves him--he gets mad at her flirting but then is the first to apologize when they fight. There are some good descriptions but a few times the descriptions are simplistic, almost like a middle grade book at times (Colin as a middle-schooler--I would read that book). I could picture Colin and I could picture Jasmine; she reminded me of Jessa from the HBO show Girls. I really liked the bittersweet ending. This book reminded me of Ethan Hawkes' The Hottest State, which I also liked.

[Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming-of-age novel set after the early teenage years when most coming-of-age novels are set, Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled by Bert Murray is a touching slice of life story during the title character's first semester of his sophomore year at Elerby University.

Colin himself is a typical nice guy who is obsessed with classic rock. He meets Jasmine, a girl who he falls head over heels for and believes she is his soul mate, despite being warned by several friends that she is going to be trouble. Of course, he doesn't listen since there would not be much of a plot to the novel if he did. When the trouble starts, Colin is baffled and unable to handle or even understand the situation as it sends ripples throughout is life like an emotional and social tsunami. Will Colin be able to deal with his sophomore slump and its causes?

The novel is a decent freshman effort, but not without its flaws. In general, the characters are recognizable and identifiable. It is something many have gone through or seen someone close to them go through, that being the story of a first love and not understanding or knowing how to deal with it or the foibles that come along with it. Among the cast of characters, aside from Colin, are Jasmine (his new age hippy girlfriend), Karl (his football-playing, womanizing best friend), Big Ty (the gentle giant), Chester (the basement-dwelling stoner, and my personal favorite among the characters), and Mrs. Vesquez (the wise but somewhat strange Spanish Literature professor who seems to have a secret of her own). There are other significant characters, but it would be difficult to describe them without spoilers. It is very easy to feel sorry for Colin, and frustrated at the situations others put him in, or to feel anger at those who betray him. Colin is a very likable character whose inexperience and misunderstanding of life and love are his biggest flaws. As the story unfolds, the reader can very easily imagine the novel unfolding on the screen, and can hear the soundtrack as well with all the musical references peppered throughout.

As I said, however, the novel is not without problems. To start, sometimes Colin wallows a little too much in self-pity and seems more like a passenger in the story rather than an active participant. In the end, that becomes part of the novel's point, but it does not make for a great story, and can ultimately lead to more frustration with the main character than is really a good idea to have. Secondly, Colin sometimes has these bursts of insight that seem out of character, especially when waxing philosophical about music and how it relates to life, especially near the end. This might have been more believable if the novel felt like it was being told by an older Colin Preston looking back on his sophomore year with the benefit of hindsight, but seems to be told from the perspective of having just gone through it. It was a minor irritation, but noticeable. The ending was mostly well done. Things are not necessarily wrapped up in a neat little package with everything resolved. As stated previously, the novel is more like a slice of life, with life continuing after and the overarching story of Colin's life not necessarily done, just this part of his life. However, the final line in the epilogue felt like a cliched and tacky ending to what could have been much better and left the reader truly thinking about it. Instead, it elicited an audible groan.

I know it seems like I'm ragging on the novel a lot, but these were basic flaws to what was overall an enjoyable read. These flaws put the novel in a category that could probably be called “I wanted to like it more.” Please note that this is NOT a young adult novel. There is a lot of drinking, drugs, and sex throughout the novel. Reader be warned. While Bert Murray has recommended the novel for those 18 years old and over because of this, I would actually recommend it for those 25 years and over, because those are the ones who have probably been through those years and the characters' situations, including a first love, and have the benefit of hindsight to look back, identify with them, and say, “Yep, I've been there; I can understand this thinking and remember how inexperienced I was during that time.” While good, the novel has enough flaws to prevent it from truly being great. Still, Bert Murray has a very easy writing style that makes Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled a breeze to read through and definitely shows strong talent, and I would be very interested in reading his next novel.

3.5 out of 5 stars (since we can't give half stars, Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled gets the benefit of the doubt and get 4 stars; however, the real review score is 3.5).

Note: A free copy of this novel was provided to this reviewer by the author. This in no way affected the review.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.*

It’s not often that I finish a book and I think, “Man, I’m glad that’s over!” But that’s just what went through my mind when I finally finished reading Bert Murray’s Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled. I received a free review copy of this book, and let me tell you that I’m so glad I did not pay my hard-earned money for this book. It pains me to say this about any book, but I didn’t care for this one at all.

The main character, Colin, is whiny, needy, obsessed with the Beatles, and has few (if any) redeeming qualities. The story itself is predictable. And if I saw the word “lighted” one time, I saw it a dozen more. (I know this seems like a trivial thing, but it really got on my nerves.) I realize that the book is about college life in the mid-1980s, but the characters in this book are crazy and seemingly obsessed with sex, drugs, booze, and rock ‘n’ roll. (No, I’m not delusional in thinking college students don’t think about these things…but I also don’t think they’re the ONLY things they think about. Maybe I’m wrong, but I sincerely hope not.)

If you’re thinking about reading a book about what the college experience is all about, skip Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled. There are many other books–even movies–that will better serve your needs.

[Kitty Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"COLIN PRESTON ROCKED AND ROLLED" BY BERT MURRAY

I had been trying to get a copy of this book since March and finally received one in early June. I can honestly say that it was well worth the wait! This book is a story of coming of age, learning your true self, and realizing that first loves don't always last. It's also a story about deception and betrayal and how selfish people can be, but it's also about realizing this is not the end of the world and you can move on and be alright.

Colin Preston is a young college Sophomore with his entire life ahead of him, when he meets the one girl, Jasmine, that he thinks could be the one he finds his life is no longer his own. He begins to cater to her whims and even puts up with a certain amount of abuse, physical, mental, and emotional. He soon realizes that friendships are not always what they seem, that even the most trusted people can let you down and life is definitely what you make of it and you should never let anyone else live it for you.

I advise you to go on this journey with Colin Preston, pop in an old Beatles CD, sit back and relive those college years, or at least see them through the eyes of this young man! It's a story you won't soon forget.

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

[Amandaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin Preston, a 19 year old college student, falls fast in love with a girl named Jasmine. He feels like he can talk to her about anything, that she is his soul mate, that they are meant for each other.
He fails to see that maybe she doesn't feel the same way back. Jasmine is his first love and becomes obsessed with her in the way that lovers sometimes do, refusing to see faults, and wearing rose colored glasses. Jasmine is defensive, moody, self absorbed, and most likely confused as to what she really wants.
The book was a quick read that shows how foolish love can be. I could relate to some of what Colin was going through; being wrapped up in love, sex, and the drama that can come with it. A first love is never really forgotten. And falling in love for the first time can make you blind.
I liked the book. It brought back a few memories, some good, some not so good.
Colin's love for the Beatles was something I probably could have done without, but it wasn't too distracting. I like the Beatles, but I feel like I have been overexposed to them in my lifetime and I am only 23. I would have gone for more mentions of Bowie, but that is just because he is more my cup of tea :)

[Anthony Chavez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm considering this a Goodreads First Reads book as Bert Murray sent me the book to review. Colin Preston is a great character who has many layers, Murray writes him real to life, a college kid struggling to find himself, still undeclared and figuring out his true passions, fighting with his dad, feeling misunderstood and at times embarrassed by them, really trying to hash out his path, found out what to love. The one constant throughout the book is his love of the Beatles and Lennon specifically, I love the use of lyrics and songs Colin puts on that embrace and the way he feels. All in all the plot and story may seem teen/college stereotypical, one of love found and love lost, Bert Murray goes deeper into his hero Colin, and we see him really find himself in the end. The theme of overcoming comes to mind, and its definitely something we all struggle with in college. For being a first book by Bert Murray I liked it, it wasn't great but it wasn't bad, it was an easy read and a good story with real characters. I would definitely read his next book.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin Preston, a 19 year old college student, falls fast in love with a girl named Jasmine. He feels like he can talk to her about anything, that she is his soul mate, that they are meant for each other.
He fails to see that maybe she doesn't feel the same way back. Jasmine is his first love and becomes obsessed with her in the way that lovers sometimes do, refusing to see faults, and wearing rose colored glasses. Jasmine is defensive, moody, self absorbed, and most likely confused as to what she really wants.
The book was a quick read that shows how foolish love can be. I could relate to some of what Colin was going through; being wrapped up in love, sex, and the drama that can come with it. A first love is never really forgotten. And falling in love for the first time can make you blind.
I liked the book. It brought back a few memories, some good, some not so good.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was intriguing. The premise was sound, but I couldnt understand why there had to be so many chapter breaks between character's lines! Didn't chapters usually signal change of location, or different characters interacting with the main character? I got so tired of it I skipped to the end and made my way backwards, even skipping a few chapters in between. Storywise however I felt it was well done, if not a little suspect. Probably better geared towards a lovesick twenty-something romantic than a jaded thirty-something hermit.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my attention from the title and cover alone. I was glad that I received the chance to read this book. Colin, a college sophomore, has to deal with the many issues of life: family, friends, and relationships. I would recommend this book to others.

[Cate (The Professional Fangirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Reading Good Books review.

The year was 1985. Madonna was making waves up and down the Top 40 charts. The Bee Gees were ‘staying alive’. Colin Preston was in his sophomore year at Elerby University; the toughest period in his life.

I remember seeing this book again and again in various giveaways from GoodReads and LibraryThing and I never won it. Until the author directly contacted me and graciously offered to provide a copy of the book for review. I received this book in the mail before my trip to San Francisco (in fact, a trip to San Francisco on a Greyhound bus was mentioned in the book. That was exactly what I did).

Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is the debut novel of author Bert Murray. It has a big cast of characters that a lot of readers can relate to. As the author said, this is not a YA novel. It’s not an entirely adult contemporary either. Somewhere in between. Having already gone through college, I definitely saw and even went through some of the situations mentioned in the book. And yes, I am old enough to remember what a cassette tape is. If I were a young teen picking this up, I would probably see this as a cautionary tale or “the older kids are crazy” kind of thing.

So Colin falls in love with the most beautiful girl on campus, Jasmine. She’s one of those trust fund babies with one foot stuck in the Age of Aquarius. Colin’s best friend is Karl, Mr. Popular. Among his other friends Big Ty, Mrs. Vesquez and her cat Quixote, Liz, Susan, and my favorite, Chester, the stoner. Things don’t go the way Colin would’ve wanted it and eventually, he uses booze and sex to numb the pain. With a little help from his friends (oh, Beatles!), Colin finds a way to recover and get his life back on track.

The book is split into 3 parts. The first part started off well but it became monotonous with all the “Jasmine issues”. How many people and how many pages does one need to show what the other characters thought of her? The story was progressing well enough without all the filler. The “Jasmine issues” gets carried over to parts 2 and 3. There were parts where I wanted to grab Colin and shake some sense into him. He sure could use some Brokeback Mountain wisdom… “I wish I knew how to quit you.” I did like the conversations between Colin and Mrs. Vesquez. And also with Chester. I think that among all the characters, he had the most layers and I felt that I got to know him the most.

The setting is in the 80s but the music selection is definitely 60s-70s. Mentions of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Doors, The Police, Led Zeppelin… the only thing missing from this book is a mixtape to go with it! There’s even a mention of Hair, one of my favorite musicals. I think Liz, Karl, and I would be best friends music-wise. In fact, I drew a heart beside the songs that I really dug. I just found it so frustratingly fitting that there’s a song to every situation that Colin goes through. It’s as if his tape player knows what Colin is feeling and cues up a song for him. I believe that there are certain songs that stir emotions and memories within us but I found this a bit too convenient.

There are a lot of cliches in this book. Pretty girls, hot guys, betrayals, rebounds, music to fit the mood, sex, beer, expectations. It got predictable after a while. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this novel a lot. The cover art is really cool; that’s one of the main reasons why I really wanted a hard copy of this book. It’s an easy read and very entertaining. Not just the music, mind you. I am very familiar with Manhattan and it was nice reading about places that I’ve visited myself – Strawberry Fields, Penn Station, Central Park… even Dalton School where Colin spent his high school years (no joke!). I can easily see this as a TV show produced by the CW Network. I’m not sure how a teen male narrator would appeal to audiences but to me, it was very effective.

Rating: 4/5.

Recommendation: College kids, no matter where you’re from, can find themselves enjoying this. Also, if you like music from the 60s-70s, you’ll find some familiar tunes mentioned in this book.

[Geoffrey West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really really genuinely good book. It makes you think. It makes you angry. And it makes you sad. Most of all it makes you think: "I've been there, I know just how he's feeling."
The most absorbing aspect for me was the character of Colin Preston, the Beatle-music-obsessed hero. Even though he doesn't profess to be a particularly good guy, he can't help his true character coming out in the way he behaves and the things he does and the way he treats other people.
It's an account of teenage Colin finding his way forward at a confused time, of his all-consuming passionate love affair that takes over his life and that makes him blind to realities. We've all fallen in love and things have gone wrong, but this book encapsulates precisely the way that love can chew you up and spit you out, and you're powerless to stop it.
Like all basically decent people, Colin is bemused and confused by treachery, falseness and other people's selfishness. We feel his shock and misery, and his deep deep unhappiness and confusion. It's largely about the sad hopelessness of true love, and also about cruelty. But it's also about the realities of life and how they smack you in the face: what do you do when your friend is better looking than you are, more attractive to women. It's a fact, and it's hard to get used to. And this must resonate with thousands and millions of men who've felt and thought: "Why does the other guy get the girl, when he's not even nice? Why can't I get girls when I'm a nicer person than he is?"
'Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled' put me in mind of that classic 'Catcher in the Rye'. There's the same teenage angst, the same struggle for a man who just wants to do the right thing, yet winds up at rock bottom. It has the same passion and feeling in the pages that makes you want to read on. And it's a weird kind of coincidence that the man who shot John Lennon happened to be obsessed with that same book. Maybe John Lennon's music reaches out to a certain type of person, and always has done.
All the characters live and breathe. I liked the older lady teacher who Colin befriended, but the masterpiece of the book, for me, was the character of Chester, the weirdo outcast who no one likes, but whom Colin befriends and tries to help. Chester is a sad character, but, as far as he can, Colin does the decent thing and helps him all he can, and we feel for poor old Chester, the type of person we've all come across, and most of us avoid. The crux of the story is what Colin did for Chester. At the time he met Chester, Colin had everything going for him, yet still made the effort to be friends with the loner, because he's a nice, kind-hearted guy, who just wants to do the right thing, and reach out to pull someone out of the gutter if he can. He helps Chester and he goes on helping Chester.
While it's an easy very accessible read, it's got many many ideas in it that are profound and get you thinking.
I hope there's a sequel. I want to know how Colin gets on 20 years on, and I really hope he's happy.
If you like Beatles music you'll like this book, but you'll like it even if you don't. The music plays an important backdrop to Colin's moods and feelings, but the moods and feelings are vividly described anyway and you soon build up a rapport with Colin.
This book seems like a real classic to me, something you remember for a long time afterwards. Anyone who's interested in love, relationships, treachery, decency and the sadness of loss and the excitement of new relationships, or of someone entering adulthood and not knowing how to handle it, will like this book.
It's absorbing, and it's heart warming. Most of all it's got a lead character you can really like. It's a feelgood book that really makes you think. Start reading it and you won't want to put it down. Don't miss it, I believe it's going to be a classic.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful and I usually don't think that about most books that I read.

[Carol Piner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Splats, Selfish Friendships and Useless Pats on the Back, October 19, 2014
By
Carol Piner aka NCcharmer "NCcharmer" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Colin Preston Rocked And Rolled (Kindle Edition)
Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is a debul novel by Bert Murray and I think it is certainly one he can be proud of. He introduces his characters and then brings them to life slowly thereby ensuring you will remember them when they pop back up later in the book. And they do.

Colin is in his sophomore year of college and has a best bud named Kirk. He falls in love for the first time with a young woman named Jasmine. You notice I didn't say young lady. I'll leave it at that so I can appear mysterious. Since Jasmine comes equipped with size "D's", she had a lot going for her in a manner of speaking.

Alas, as in real life, love does not always flow gently down that sparking stream. Real life steps in but unfortunately our poor Colin is caught completely off guard and is unable to cope with the shock, surprise and betrayal he feels. His huge frat friend Ty, his "never say die" second choice, a Spanish woman who is a big help nor his whackadoo friend Chester are able to bring him out of his funk.

Woven through Murray's book and Colin's life is a sure fire love for the Beatles. Being a child of the 60's, I missed the entire Beatles furor because I preferred dancing to the kind of music that is played on the eastern coast beaches. That is not the music of the Beach Boys, I might add. But, there were so many references to music by the Beatles and other bands of the 60's that it showed Murray's love for that music coming from Colin. I fully intend to hold onto his book and delve into a little Beatles music. Like Colin, it'll do me good.

I wanted to hug Colin and try to make him feel better, but everyone around him was doing that and it was clear that if you need help, it has to come from within. And, you have to make it want to happen. Sometimes, it's not that easy and sometimes you just clean out the cob webs you allowed to form and go about doing it. Maybe that'll work for Colin. Maybe we'll find out in Murray's next book.

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading "Through the Riptide", the sequel to this book, I was intrigued by some of the characters who had met at college in the first book and my curiosity got the better of me. I went on to purchase "Colin Preston Rocked And Rolled". It didn't disappoint.

Colin is a nineteen year old student who doesn't have much confidence in himself, especially when it comes to girls. Karl is his best friend who doesn't believe in serious relationships but doesn’t have any problems with picking up anyone who takes his fancy. Jasmine is a very attractive blonde who shows interest in Colin during their first encounter. Colin can't believe his luck and falls head over heels for Jasmine. He is the envy of his fellow students for a change but doesn’t see in Jasmine what others can. As far as he is concerned, she is the one! Does Jasmine feel the same way though?

Jasmine is quite temperamental and blames her shortfalls on her family life. Colin is very supportive and does his best to reassure her but she very abruptly puts an end to their relationship. This is when Colin finds out about betrayal of the worse kind. His hurt and confusion become quite palpable. He starts drinking heavily and takes refuge in his music to reflect his moods. Something most music lovers, I am sure can relate to.

Chester is a disturbed student who spends most of his time on his own in the basement but Colin befriends him and tries to advise and help him whilst everyone else choses to ignore him. He plays an important role in emphasing Colin's kind and considerate character.

To me this story is quite believable and those who have been away from home as students might well be able to relate to some the things taking place in this book. It's about first love and the heartache that quite often follows. There is betrayal, deceit, cruelty which can lead to self destruction or maturity through the lessons learnt.

I have no complaint about reading this book after reading the sequel which can be read as a standalone. This would suit those who like New Adult Romance with suspense and drama.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy, and fun read. Aimed at a young adult reader, it is a slice of daily life for many of them. If you are over age 25, it will bring back memories of how immature we all were at age 18-20. This is a story of an average male college sophomore: Colin Preston has limited sexual experience but thinks about sex most of the time, does just enough work to get by respectably in college, resents his parents, admires a buddy who appears to have it easy with women, and is deathly afraid of looking stupid to any female.
When the gorgeous and free-spirited Jasmine meets him and just days later invites Colin into a sexual relationship, Colin falls fast and hard for her, allowing her to consume his every waking thought. Quirky from the beginning, she displays wild mood swings and in fact becomes physically violent with him. Yet, Colin’s complete obsession with Jasmine blinds him to what others see: she is high-maintenance, self-centered and not a good match for him. Colin glimpses the fact that great sex (at least from his perspective) is not enough to sustain a relationship. When she abruptly ends their relationship two months later, Colin experiences the raw pain of a first love gone very bad. When he discovers her sexually engaged with the male friend whom he has admired for his ease with women, Colin falls off an emotional cliff.
What makes this book work is that Colin, unlike some 19 year olds, does mature in some ways, as the books goes forward. This is not a deep philosophical book, nor one which examines any of the characters in any depth. I think it is intended to be a fun read and not a commentary on modern life on the campus campus. It fills this role just fine!
Disclosure: I was randomly selected from among numerous GoodReads readers to receive an advance copy of this book; I have read it and this is my honest evaluation. I have no connection with this author or publisher and have received nothing from anyone in consideration for publishing this review.

[Ingrid Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I am enjoying the eclectic range of novels that we are receiving at the moment from indie authors wanting their books reviewed: Books that I normally wouldn't read but to my surprise I am thoroughly enjoying and Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is a perfect example!

Beautifully told in first person through the eyes of the unlikely hero of the book and ardent Beatles fan Colin, the story kicks off at Elerby College in New York in 1985 and I was immediately drawn in to Colin's world. A thoroughly decent young man, Colin is utterly endearing and as a mother, I just couldn't help wishing him well. I loved the nostalgic feel about the whole book. Hey, I loved the eighties and the author convincingly took me back there!

I liked the fact that the book is not swimming with characters, every single one of them has an important role to play and they are all fully rounded in their own right. Bad boy Karl had just the right amount of vulnerability about him to stop him from being a complete loser and Chester, for all his flaws, his foibles was simply adorable and I loved the fact that Colin was deep enough as a character to actually form a true friendship with him. Likewise Colin's friendship with the mysterious Mrs Vesquez was a a high point for me.

The chapters are nice and short which means that the book can easily be picked up and put down and I have been cheerfully reading this for the last couple of weeks whenever I have been able to grab a few spare minutes. The book is a little on the long side, however I never once felt bored.

There is plenty of romance to keep readers entertained, however this is not your usual coming of age story about love and betrayal and I felt that the retro aspect to the book lifted the story from ordinary to extraordinary.

I can't wait to see what Bert Murray comes up with next...

You can find me at www.ingridhall.com

[Alpha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first came across Bert Murray and his first novel Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled through multiple groups here on Goodreads. I have to admit, I am enjoying coming across all these new writers who have seized the brass ring when traditional publishing is becoming more and more selective on who they decide to publish. The cons of self-publishing however are understandable since a lot of the resources available with traditional are high cost on one's on. Ergo, I give some graces with certain things such as spelling, grammar, and flow. However in the end, my input will be personal despite what others may think.

Murray I believed decided to write in a setting which may be a little overused as well as - sorry to say - not as popular as other topics. Right now, romance, thrillers, and mystery seem to take the spotlight and even a mediocre romance novel will take precedence with what Murray has written here. Nevertheless, the story is good and entertaining to a point once you get past the beginning which seems to be a little bit of a slog. The characters are not necessarily memorable but they get the job done with what they present to the overall plot. Plot is strong but delivery is what makes it a good read. All plots have been used before and it is up to the writer to make the delivery stand out. Murray, did a good job with his delivery but it isn't anything that may change the scope of writing per se.

The inclusion of classic songs and bands is a staple with the story as well as the drugs. There is a lot of lighting of cigarettes and weed blunts which may be a constant rehash used on purpose but to some I can see it becoming an nuisance. Even though, for a debut novel, it is very entertaining for what it is and for the price tag of 99 cents, I found it to be a great filler.

[Angela Holtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is brilliant. I don't think the characters are as HOT as described in the book but then again I'm 36 and not 19. It is colorful and eye catching. I had a hard time avoiding this book that I received from the author thru Goodreads. (Why was I avoiding it you ask? Because I have an ever growing list of books to review!)

The main character annoyed the living hell out of me. He whined a lot, and kept making choices that were making his life worse. Jasmine, the girl he obsessed over, was completely self-centered and mean. I hated that he kept wanting her, missing the good that was right in front of him. Ahhhh, young love.

Through his own pain he finds friends he never thought he would find. Mrs. Vesquez, a visiting professor from Spain, and Chester, a pot-head he met in the basement of his dorm.

Colin has a rocky relationship with his dad, an unhealthy obsession with the Beatles...but that was the one thing I actually liked about him. I could catch all the Beatles references.

Now I know you are thinking, "great - she hated this book." No, actually I really enjoyed it. Even though the main character got on my nerves I still held out hope that he'd pull his head out of his *ahem* a**. He's a very likable guy and that's why you will feel all that frustration as you read his story. The novel has such a smooth flow that I read it in a few hours.

I just saw the kindle edition is only $0.99 - so that's not a bad gamble, is it? I love all these cheap books. Unfortunately I did not see this for the Nook.

This is Bert Murray's 1st novel, you can visit his website here - www.colinprestonrockedandrolled.com/

Visit my blog if you want to try and win your own copy - http://lilacwolfandstuff.blogspot.com...

[TC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin Preston is 19, at university in upstate New York and doing all the things students are meant to do. When he meets free-spirited Jasmine he is besotted. This is a story of his first real love, betrayal and friendship.

Colin's other love is music, mostly from the 60s and 70s, and song titles and lyrics run throughout the story. For someone who knows their music better it would probably mean more to them, but a lot of it passed over my head. However the book is set in the mid 80s and contains plenty of nods to the fashion and culture of the time. Although I wasn't that old then a lot of the references took me back and made me smile.

The book is narrated by Colin, and while I had a lot of sympathy for him at times there were also points where he came over as needy, and he did seem guilty of using friend Liz. That made it hard for me to completely connect with the character. While the first person POV gives you a good insight into Colin I would love to have known more about Jasmine's background to have better understood her.

In addition to the love story Colin strikes up friendships with two very interesting people, Spanish lecturer Mrs Vesquez and reclusive student Chester. They work both as sounding boards for Colin and as a demonstration that while love can hurt and narrow your focus other people may have bigger things going on in their lives.

This is a good, light and easy summer read, and it is probably because I don't read a lot of romance and when I do like them with a comedy spin that I'm giving this 3* but if it's your thing you'll probably rate it more highly.

[Karen Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book made me realize that it has been a very long time since I've read a book with a youngish male narrator. Sure, I've read some James Patterson, but those don't really count, as his stories are less about characters and more about suspenseful plots. This book, Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is male-character-driven, and I found the change out of my norm refreshing. 

Boiled down to basics, it was the story of a young man, adrift during his first year of college for various reasons I won't go into for spoiler reasons. It has quirky characters, like the Napoleon in the basement and the sage visiting Professor, and we always love Quirky around here. There's also a good bit of musical commentary throughout (Colin is enamored with the Beatles and the novel is on 80's time) which gives the novel an interesting flavor

At times I felt a little irritated by the main character Colin. He thinks like a guy, and I don't (unless we're talking firearms, but I digress.) But  it's possible to care for someone and want to chuck them on the back of the head a time or two (just ask my younger brother!) and such is the case with this novel. I found myself pulling for dear, wounded Colin, hoping that he would come through his troubles like we have all been forced to do at some point or another.

The author, Bert Murray, wove common themes of friendship, love and betrayal throughout the story with considerable skill. In the end, I was glad to have read the book. If you are looking for a coming-of-age tale with interesting characters, a smattering of 80's music and classic rock and roll, then Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled should suit you just fine!

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need a good summer read? Colin is a typical sophomore in college. The reader will be immediately immersed in the novel. Colin is one of those characters that a reader will be unsure about. Is Colin a sympathetic character? Is he too neurotic? Yes, to both questions in this case. Colin isn't the most mature character, but that is actually a great quality to this novel. Colin shouldn't be extremely mature, he's still a kid in many ways. He does, however, show flashes of maturity throughout the novel; this gives the reader the impression that Colin is making progress and growing up to be an adult.



The reader is also introduced to Jasmine, a girl that Colin lusts after. She won't gain the reader's trust or sympathy. However, she makes for a good addition as well. Imperfect characters are essential to a novel. They make the novel seem that much more real. She is what many may refer to as "easy" during her college years and she whines a fair amount. Colin believes this "paragon of virtue" to be his soul mate, even though he is warned by several of his friends against her. This belief causes many problems for Colin through the course of the novel.



The characters are all pretty easy to identify with in one way or another. The plot is pretty good, will keep the readers' attention for the most part. The dialogue varies from the humorous to the serious-especially the dialogue in Colin's own head. The ending is a good one, the reader will not be disappointed or left on a huge cliff-hanger. This novel will be enjoyed by young adults/adults.



4 Stars

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

I think this is the kind of book you will either love or hate. Fortunately, I loved it. I can understand how some people just won't "get" this story. A lot of the writing seemed a bit immature, but it was written in Colin's voice and let's face it, Colin is really immature. He has no idea who he really is but doesn't realize it. He gets so head over heels hooked on Jasmine from the very beginning that he doesn't see that she's completely wrong for him. He's so smitten with the idea that such a pretty girl even likes him that he starts to change who he is to fit more into the mold of what she likes. I think this is a lesson that a lot of people in High School/College learn (myself included). It's a story of Colin finding himself and realizing that it's ok to just be himself and he will attract the right person who will love all of him (The Beatles included).

There were a lot of characters in this book that I didn't like, but they were written that way for a reason in my opinion. I hated Jasmine and Karl, but if they weren't written the way they were, then Colin would have never been able to learn more about himself and figure out how to surround himself with people who were really his friends.

One thing I also really loved is how this story was set in the 80s. The references to all of the music and even some of the hairstyles and clothes was amazing. I've never read anything else written around the 80s and it was a nice change of pace.

If you want to read a coming of age story that's definitely different, this book is for you.