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The Album: Book One
Every great story has a beginning, whether it's a planned meeting, a random encounter, or an impulsive jump into the unknown. But it's the middle of the narrative that really counts -- expanding the verse and building the chorus. And this story, the one of friendship and hope, is the musical journey of the album.
Canadian cousins Chloe and Natalie LeGrange move to New York City to chase their dreams. But finding a purpose in a changing world doesn't come easy for the best friends. Distracting themselves with humor, great music, and the spirit of Generation X, Chloe and Natalie find love and happiness when they least expect it.
Canadian cousins Chloe and Natalie LeGrange move to New York City to chase their dreams. But finding a purpose in a changing world doesn't come easy for the best friends. Distracting themselves with humor, great music, and the spirit of Generation X, Chloe and Natalie find love and happiness when they least expect it.
- GenresContemporary Romance
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2014
34 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 18, 2014
The Album is the epic story of two Canadian cousins. In simplistic terms, it’s about the relationship between the two of them, as they go through the ups and downs in life. It is both laugh out loud funny and devastatingly sad.
This book is like nothing I’ve ever read before. The writing style is unique and the story doesn’t follow the typical Indie romance “formula” that is so common nowadays. Have you ever seen Pulp Fiction? This series reminded me of that movie. I’m not talking about the storyline. I’m referring to the flow from one character to another, and somehow everything and everyone is interconnected. That is probably the best way to explain The Album.
Natalie is probably one my most favorite female book characters. I want Natalie to be my best friend. Heck, I want to be Natalie! She is sarcastic, funny, sexy, and outgoing. She had me smiling at times, and broke my heart at times. It really says something about the author that she is able to create a character that inflicts such a range of emotions in the reader. It’s not just Natalie either. Ashley’s telling of Chloe and Adams struggles are also very true to life.
I also love the fact that New York City is sort of a secondary character in this series. I am a New Yorker, as is the author, and I have never read a truer depiction of this city. She even writes a HILARIOUS scene about commuting on the subway, that is dead on!
Ashley’s references to pop culture are outstanding! They are mixed in throughout the entire series…the original 90210, Saved By the Bell, Licensed to Ill, to name just a few. I am a huge pop culture fanatic so it was right up my alley.
So who should read this book? If you’re a New Yorker, if you’re a Gen-Xer, if you were and still are affected by 9/11, if you have a loved one in the military, if you love pop culture, if you love music, if you’re single, if you’re married, if you love to read! I think I’ve pretty much covered everyone. Ashley Pullo has done a superb job in writing this book!
This book is like nothing I’ve ever read before. The writing style is unique and the story doesn’t follow the typical Indie romance “formula” that is so common nowadays. Have you ever seen Pulp Fiction? This series reminded me of that movie. I’m not talking about the storyline. I’m referring to the flow from one character to another, and somehow everything and everyone is interconnected. That is probably the best way to explain The Album.
Natalie is probably one my most favorite female book characters. I want Natalie to be my best friend. Heck, I want to be Natalie! She is sarcastic, funny, sexy, and outgoing. She had me smiling at times, and broke my heart at times. It really says something about the author that she is able to create a character that inflicts such a range of emotions in the reader. It’s not just Natalie either. Ashley’s telling of Chloe and Adams struggles are also very true to life.
I also love the fact that New York City is sort of a secondary character in this series. I am a New Yorker, as is the author, and I have never read a truer depiction of this city. She even writes a HILARIOUS scene about commuting on the subway, that is dead on!
Ashley’s references to pop culture are outstanding! They are mixed in throughout the entire series…the original 90210, Saved By the Bell, Licensed to Ill, to name just a few. I am a huge pop culture fanatic so it was right up my alley.
So who should read this book? If you’re a New Yorker, if you’re a Gen-Xer, if you were and still are affected by 9/11, if you have a loved one in the military, if you love pop culture, if you love music, if you’re single, if you’re married, if you love to read! I think I’ve pretty much covered everyone. Ashley Pullo has done a superb job in writing this book!
July 21, 2017
"A guy only gets one chance to hold the boom box over his head and pull a Lloyd Dobler - so I suggest you use it wisely."
I don't even know how to adequately relay my love for this gem of a book, which is a top read of 2017 for me, and one of my all-time favorite stories. If you live in the tri-state area, and especially if you are a fan of the 90's, you NEED to read this book! There is so much witty, hilarious and amazing 90's goodness within these pages. It's like Sex and the City but with two cousins and the story follows their antics from 1996-2012. The Album has been sitting on my kindle for months and I'm so upset I didn't read it sooner, because I have found my favorite couple of all time right here. Natalie & Zach are the quirkiest, funniest, most adorable couple I've ever read!! Nat is the coolest and funniest chick, I wish I could hang out with her and her cousin Chloe. They live life to the fullest, play hard and love harder. They had me laughing out loud, celebrating with them, and I shed many tears over their losses. I cannot recommend this book enough. Loved, loved, loved it!
I don't even know how to adequately relay my love for this gem of a book, which is a top read of 2017 for me, and one of my all-time favorite stories. If you live in the tri-state area, and especially if you are a fan of the 90's, you NEED to read this book! There is so much witty, hilarious and amazing 90's goodness within these pages. It's like Sex and the City but with two cousins and the story follows their antics from 1996-2012. The Album has been sitting on my kindle for months and I'm so upset I didn't read it sooner, because I have found my favorite couple of all time right here. Natalie & Zach are the quirkiest, funniest, most adorable couple I've ever read!! Nat is the coolest and funniest chick, I wish I could hang out with her and her cousin Chloe. They live life to the fullest, play hard and love harder. They had me laughing out loud, celebrating with them, and I shed many tears over their losses. I cannot recommend this book enough. Loved, loved, loved it!
October 16, 2014
The Album is a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt story, which follows the lives of five friends who experience life, love, loss and hardships in New York City over a seventeen-year period. If you have read Intermission and The Refrain by Ashley Pullo, then you know Adam, Chloe, Chris, Natalie and Zach. The Album is a remastered remix of those books, but it never feels that way. Reading this book transported me back to a place where I visited with old friends. And the story was just as compelling and fresh the second time around. Ashley has a unique style of writing that draws you into the world of these characters where every moment, every piece of dialogue and every emotion have a meaning. Written from all five characters’ points of view, she peels back the layers of the characters. We see their confidence, their insecurities, their vulnerabilities, their joys and their fears exposed.
On the eve before cousins Chloe and Natalie LeGrange head to separate colleges, they make a pact to move to New York City to pursue their dreams. Years later they both make it to NYC, but things don’t quite turn out as they expect, leaving them disillusioned and wanting to find their purpose.
Three very different men have pivotal influences in their lives, and they come at a time when they are least likely to find love. Adam Ford is the controlled lawyer who just wants a woman to surprise him. Zach Parker is a lovable Marine who must make a life changing decision. And Chris Brooks is the charismatic Texan who just can't seem to find the right woman at the right time.
This is isn’t just a romance, although Ashley Pullo writes some beautiful and hot love scenes. It’s a story about friendship, outcomes and how life doesn't always turn out how we expect.
Ashley Pullo is a master craftsman at building characters. Adam, Chloe, Chris, Natalie and Zach are everyday people who are perfectly flawed and are trying to make their way in life like all of us are. She can transform a scene and make me feel as if I’m living it with them. She makes the story feel real. It becomes a true sensory experience. She can take ordinary, relatable experiences and turn them into a brilliant story where each decision made by the characters ties into the larger story. The dialogue between these characters is fresh and unique. She had me laughing out loud one minute and crying the next. She makes you feel these characters in such a beautiful way.
I didn’t just read this book. I lived it …I experienced it. I wish everyone would read this book. I guarantee you Adam, Chloe, Chris, Natalie and Zach will be characters you will never forget. What a beautiful and heartwarming story about love and life and all the experiences that happen as we live it. I never wanted it to end.
On the eve before cousins Chloe and Natalie LeGrange head to separate colleges, they make a pact to move to New York City to pursue their dreams. Years later they both make it to NYC, but things don’t quite turn out as they expect, leaving them disillusioned and wanting to find their purpose.
Three very different men have pivotal influences in their lives, and they come at a time when they are least likely to find love. Adam Ford is the controlled lawyer who just wants a woman to surprise him. Zach Parker is a lovable Marine who must make a life changing decision. And Chris Brooks is the charismatic Texan who just can't seem to find the right woman at the right time.
This is isn’t just a romance, although Ashley Pullo writes some beautiful and hot love scenes. It’s a story about friendship, outcomes and how life doesn't always turn out how we expect.
Ashley Pullo is a master craftsman at building characters. Adam, Chloe, Chris, Natalie and Zach are everyday people who are perfectly flawed and are trying to make their way in life like all of us are. She can transform a scene and make me feel as if I’m living it with them. She makes the story feel real. It becomes a true sensory experience. She can take ordinary, relatable experiences and turn them into a brilliant story where each decision made by the characters ties into the larger story. The dialogue between these characters is fresh and unique. She had me laughing out loud one minute and crying the next. She makes you feel these characters in such a beautiful way.
I didn’t just read this book. I lived it …I experienced it. I wish everyone would read this book. I guarantee you Adam, Chloe, Chris, Natalie and Zach will be characters you will never forget. What a beautiful and heartwarming story about love and life and all the experiences that happen as we live it. I never wanted it to end.
February 12, 2015
The Album est une pépite d'émotions, de rires, de larmes, d’amour et d’amitié.
C'est l’histoire de deux cousines, Chloé et Nathalie - pleines de vie, pleines de rêves, pleines d’espoir- dont nous suivons la vie au fil des années.
Deux cousines hilarantes et authentiques qui croisent le chemin d’Adam, de Zach, de Chris et des autres....
En lisant ce livre, j’ai ri aux éclats, j’ai du descendre du bus tellement je pleurais, j’ai eu le coeur serré, j’ai surligné des passages, j’ai eu envie de plonger dans le livre et de rencontrer Chloé et Nathalie et de devenir leur meilleure amie, de faire la fête avec elles et de les prendre dans mes bras.
J’ai vécu ce livre, et qu’est ce que ça fait du bien !
Malheureusement, j’ai un bémol, et il est quand même assez grand pour me faire passer à côté du coup de coeur : la fin est décevante. Trop rapide, trop expédiée, les années passent sans détails et sans nous finalement.
Mais que cela ne vous arrête pas pour autant de lire ce livre car si j’ai bien compris, le tome 2 reviendrait justement en détails sur les années « expédiées » à la fin du tome 1.
Un très bon moment que je conseille !!!
Ma review : The Album, une parenthèse de rires, de pleurs, d'amour & d'amitié !
http://leslecturesdececile.fr/the-alb...
C'est l’histoire de deux cousines, Chloé et Nathalie - pleines de vie, pleines de rêves, pleines d’espoir- dont nous suivons la vie au fil des années.
Deux cousines hilarantes et authentiques qui croisent le chemin d’Adam, de Zach, de Chris et des autres....
En lisant ce livre, j’ai ri aux éclats, j’ai du descendre du bus tellement je pleurais, j’ai eu le coeur serré, j’ai surligné des passages, j’ai eu envie de plonger dans le livre et de rencontrer Chloé et Nathalie et de devenir leur meilleure amie, de faire la fête avec elles et de les prendre dans mes bras.
J’ai vécu ce livre, et qu’est ce que ça fait du bien !
Malheureusement, j’ai un bémol, et il est quand même assez grand pour me faire passer à côté du coup de coeur : la fin est décevante. Trop rapide, trop expédiée, les années passent sans détails et sans nous finalement.
Mais que cela ne vous arrête pas pour autant de lire ce livre car si j’ai bien compris, le tome 2 reviendrait justement en détails sur les années « expédiées » à la fin du tome 1.
Un très bon moment que je conseille !!!
Ma review : The Album, une parenthèse de rires, de pleurs, d'amour & d'amitié !
http://leslecturesdececile.fr/the-alb...
December 18, 2014
Sometimes you come across a book that is everything you never knew you needed. The Album was just that and so much more with a story that was refreshingly unpredictable and characters that took me on an incredible journey. This story is told from five different POVs over the span of 17 years. Normally, I might steer clear of that many POVs, but Ashley did a fantastic job of giving you just enough to need more without making it overly cumbersome to follow.
From the witty humor that made me laugh to the candid sentiments that packed a powerful punch, The Album tells a tale that is sure to capture your heart. Ashley did a fabulous job of incorporating music throughout the book and carefully crafted a trip down memory lane over the span of these characters lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of The Album and I am anxious to continue the story with The Ballad, which released earlier this month. This was my first book by Ashley Pullo but certainly not my last. #FuchsYeah
I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Rating 4.5 STARS
From the witty humor that made me laugh to the candid sentiments that packed a powerful punch, The Album tells a tale that is sure to capture your heart. Ashley did a fabulous job of incorporating music throughout the book and carefully crafted a trip down memory lane over the span of these characters lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of The Album and I am anxious to continue the story with The Ballad, which released earlier this month. This was my first book by Ashley Pullo but certainly not my last. #FuchsYeah
I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Rating 4.5 STARS
November 8, 2014
What did I just read?
No really, I’m processing, and coming up with the words to describe how this book got under my skin and affected me is going to be challenging.
Maybe it takes a Gen-Xer to really understand a Gen-Xer. I’m not only a part of the generation, but I’m from Seattle; an amazing time to be from an amazing place. A city that serves as the backdrop of a revolution, both socially and musically, much in the same way New York City is in this book. New York City isn’t a place, it’s a character that contributes to the feeling, tone, and pace just like the other characters. Generation X has been defined as a generation of slackers, the first generation whose disillusion separates us from our parents. We’re the first generation that had aspirations of a life that is not necessarily the domestic dreams of our baby boomer parents and their parents before them. We’re the first generation where protest, whether it is against war, inequality or whatever you’ve got wasn’t a movement; it was a way of life. We’re the first generation that didn’t have the guarantees of becoming more successful than our parents. All of these things make up a generation of cynical dreamers, the types of characters that Ms. Pullo has managed to artfully create.
Every great story has a beginning, whether it’s a planned meeting, a random encounter, or an impulsive jump into the unknown. But it’s the middle of the narrative that really counts…expanding the verse and building the chorus. And this story, the one that starts as soon as it ends, is a musical journey of fate and acceptance.
The Album is a chronicle of the lives of five different people from the months after high school graduation to their mid-20s, and how their lives intersect to become a group of lifelong friends. It is a journey to discover how their hopes and dreams can be realized while living in a world where reality usually has different plans. The two main characters, Chloe and Natalie, are not just best friends, they’re also cousins. In the first half of the book we meet each of the characters and each chapter sets up just how small the world or just how pre-destined our futures are.
Madame Clarice opens her eyes quickly to peek at Natalie and gives me a little smirk. “Oh, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you will have a huge ass and whiskers on your chin.”
“…That sounds like a Laverne and Shirley shenanigan. Which by the way, you’re totally Shirley.”
“Really? I think we’re more like Tootie and Natalie.”
Natalie snorts. “Gag, no! How ‘bout Blanche and Rose? You’re definitely as dumb as Rose.”
“True, and you’re definitely a slut like Blanche.”
The book opens with the Canadian cousins sneaking out of Chloe’s birthday party in order to meet with their also underage friends and go drinking at a bar. It is in the first chapter that Chloe and Natalie decide their dreams, to live in New York, Chloe as a famous singer, and Natalie as an actress. The banter between the two indicates a love that runs deep. They’re hilarious and you can’t help but fall in love with them from the very beginning. A wild summer night that starts with drinking, moves on to tattoos, Tim Horton’s, a psychic and a future written in the stars.
IT’S FUCKING HOT. If I were a Yankee like my roommate, I would pat my brow and say something charming like: my, it’s stifling…let’s resign to the patio for some refreshments. But I’m not—I’m a Texan, and we say things like: phew boy, it’s so hot I could pull a baked tater from the ground.
In the next chapter we meet Chris, a college student from Texas. He is in the Chicago area, doing some community service for his fraternity. The evening of the fourth he and his frat brothers decide to attend a party to watch the fireworks over Lake Michigan. Chris and his frat brother “Frenchy”, a French speaking Pharmacy major from Connecticut, have a back and forth banter about picking up women, whether it is Chris’s tried and true one word method or Frenchy speaking… French. Regardless of the outcome there is a friendship between the two that will transcend life and death.
I’ve known Tango since kindergarten and he’s only been right about two things: Mr. Belvedere was better than Benson, and girls with tongue rings are easy.
Next up is Adam. He and his two friends have crossed the border from upstate NY into Canada and have crashed a house party. Adam is a man of few words and a master of self-control. His attempt at getting laid gets derailed when a fight breaks out so they are left to find other entertainment. They end up at Tim Horton’s where two girls, squealing about a psychic have just left after buying all of the TimBits.
“Oh, sorry, I was distracted by your hair and contempt for humanity. What shade is that exactly?”
Life is made up of millions of destinations; some alone, some with friends, some in fear, and some chasing dreams.
Natalie’s chapter in the first part is a little different. The first three chapters take place on July 4, 1996. Fast forward six years and Natalie is job hunting in New York City. She is taking the train from her parent’s home in Connecticut when she meets a man on the train (Zach) that will touch every piece of her; heart and soul, and forever change her life. It starts out as a purely sexual relationship but in their short time together, they find a love that will get them through their darkest hours. Unfortunately, just a short time after meeting, Zach springs it on Natalie that he has enlisted in the Marines and will be deploying to Afghanistan for a year. The two are committed to keeping the relationship alive and are not so patiently awaiting his return.
So yeah, we just fucked over some quotes from an ‘80s Christmas movie—and it was awesome.
Zacherie. I’m not sure where to start with Zach. Zach is just an amazing character that I fell in love with from the very beginning. He’s the embodiment of everything that is a “book boyfriend” but when you get through the book, he’s so much more than that. He is immediately drawn to Natalie and her frankness and is a champion for what is right and good. He falls for her immediately and takes her home to meet his parents right away. The events of September 11th have left him with a need to perform his patriotic duty and he enlists in the Marines. While it is not the best timing, both he and Natalie understand that their connection, while new, is far too powerful to ignore and will be the beacon to bring him home to her.
The second half of the book revisits each of the characters and further explores how each of the characters lives has become entangled with one another. What results is a story that will elicit every emotion available. You’ll laugh out loud, you’ll ugly cry, you may even see yourself in not only their escapades but in the characters themselves.
“A guy only gets one chance to hold the boom box over his head and pull a Lloyd Dobler—so I suggest you use it wisely.”
I’ve read a lot of amazing books this year, but I think this is the one that has hit me on a very personal level. There’s a scene in the book where Adam borrows the famous boom box scene from Say Anything (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re probably not going to understand most of the pop culture references in the book, to which I say, I’m sorry). Scenes like these, the type that become iconic moments not only because of the sentiment they convey, but also the use of the music to express when words are inadequate, burn themselves into our minds to become a sensory memory, one that we associate not only where we were and who we were with, but the sights, sounds, and smells around us. I mean, who hasn’t had the words to Add It Up playing in their head when things get hot and heavy?
Therapy is taboo. All artists tend to struggle with their mental health, but it’s actually that streak of insanity that creates the brilliance.
I suppose in some ways this review has become therapy, helping me to deal with the massive book hangover I was left with when I finished. I don’t think there was a single level that I didn’t connect with when reading this book. I see so much of myself in Chloe, and the fun that she and Natalie had was reminiscent of some of the trouble I got in with my best friend. This book was an amazing trip down memory lane, to see Chloe and Natalie’s voyage from adolescence to adulthood, and to see that their happily ever after turned out a lot like mine. The book was beautifully, lyrically written, the dialog was amazing, and the story was genuinely original. The story isn’t over, we have the December release of The Ballad to look forward to and I can’t wait to ride that ride. This is one attraction that I’m not yet ready to jump off of. Thank you Ms. Pullo for giving a voice to the lovers and dreamers of a generation.
No really, I’m processing, and coming up with the words to describe how this book got under my skin and affected me is going to be challenging.
Maybe it takes a Gen-Xer to really understand a Gen-Xer. I’m not only a part of the generation, but I’m from Seattle; an amazing time to be from an amazing place. A city that serves as the backdrop of a revolution, both socially and musically, much in the same way New York City is in this book. New York City isn’t a place, it’s a character that contributes to the feeling, tone, and pace just like the other characters. Generation X has been defined as a generation of slackers, the first generation whose disillusion separates us from our parents. We’re the first generation that had aspirations of a life that is not necessarily the domestic dreams of our baby boomer parents and their parents before them. We’re the first generation where protest, whether it is against war, inequality or whatever you’ve got wasn’t a movement; it was a way of life. We’re the first generation that didn’t have the guarantees of becoming more successful than our parents. All of these things make up a generation of cynical dreamers, the types of characters that Ms. Pullo has managed to artfully create.
Every great story has a beginning, whether it’s a planned meeting, a random encounter, or an impulsive jump into the unknown. But it’s the middle of the narrative that really counts…expanding the verse and building the chorus. And this story, the one that starts as soon as it ends, is a musical journey of fate and acceptance.
The Album is a chronicle of the lives of five different people from the months after high school graduation to their mid-20s, and how their lives intersect to become a group of lifelong friends. It is a journey to discover how their hopes and dreams can be realized while living in a world where reality usually has different plans. The two main characters, Chloe and Natalie, are not just best friends, they’re also cousins. In the first half of the book we meet each of the characters and each chapter sets up just how small the world or just how pre-destined our futures are.
Madame Clarice opens her eyes quickly to peek at Natalie and gives me a little smirk. “Oh, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you will have a huge ass and whiskers on your chin.”
“…That sounds like a Laverne and Shirley shenanigan. Which by the way, you’re totally Shirley.”
“Really? I think we’re more like Tootie and Natalie.”
Natalie snorts. “Gag, no! How ‘bout Blanche and Rose? You’re definitely as dumb as Rose.”
“True, and you’re definitely a slut like Blanche.”
The book opens with the Canadian cousins sneaking out of Chloe’s birthday party in order to meet with their also underage friends and go drinking at a bar. It is in the first chapter that Chloe and Natalie decide their dreams, to live in New York, Chloe as a famous singer, and Natalie as an actress. The banter between the two indicates a love that runs deep. They’re hilarious and you can’t help but fall in love with them from the very beginning. A wild summer night that starts with drinking, moves on to tattoos, Tim Horton’s, a psychic and a future written in the stars.
IT’S FUCKING HOT. If I were a Yankee like my roommate, I would pat my brow and say something charming like: my, it’s stifling…let’s resign to the patio for some refreshments. But I’m not—I’m a Texan, and we say things like: phew boy, it’s so hot I could pull a baked tater from the ground.
In the next chapter we meet Chris, a college student from Texas. He is in the Chicago area, doing some community service for his fraternity. The evening of the fourth he and his frat brothers decide to attend a party to watch the fireworks over Lake Michigan. Chris and his frat brother “Frenchy”, a French speaking Pharmacy major from Connecticut, have a back and forth banter about picking up women, whether it is Chris’s tried and true one word method or Frenchy speaking… French. Regardless of the outcome there is a friendship between the two that will transcend life and death.
I’ve known Tango since kindergarten and he’s only been right about two things: Mr. Belvedere was better than Benson, and girls with tongue rings are easy.
Next up is Adam. He and his two friends have crossed the border from upstate NY into Canada and have crashed a house party. Adam is a man of few words and a master of self-control. His attempt at getting laid gets derailed when a fight breaks out so they are left to find other entertainment. They end up at Tim Horton’s where two girls, squealing about a psychic have just left after buying all of the TimBits.
“Oh, sorry, I was distracted by your hair and contempt for humanity. What shade is that exactly?”
Life is made up of millions of destinations; some alone, some with friends, some in fear, and some chasing dreams.
Natalie’s chapter in the first part is a little different. The first three chapters take place on July 4, 1996. Fast forward six years and Natalie is job hunting in New York City. She is taking the train from her parent’s home in Connecticut when she meets a man on the train (Zach) that will touch every piece of her; heart and soul, and forever change her life. It starts out as a purely sexual relationship but in their short time together, they find a love that will get them through their darkest hours. Unfortunately, just a short time after meeting, Zach springs it on Natalie that he has enlisted in the Marines and will be deploying to Afghanistan for a year. The two are committed to keeping the relationship alive and are not so patiently awaiting his return.
So yeah, we just fucked over some quotes from an ‘80s Christmas movie—and it was awesome.
Zacherie. I’m not sure where to start with Zach. Zach is just an amazing character that I fell in love with from the very beginning. He’s the embodiment of everything that is a “book boyfriend” but when you get through the book, he’s so much more than that. He is immediately drawn to Natalie and her frankness and is a champion for what is right and good. He falls for her immediately and takes her home to meet his parents right away. The events of September 11th have left him with a need to perform his patriotic duty and he enlists in the Marines. While it is not the best timing, both he and Natalie understand that their connection, while new, is far too powerful to ignore and will be the beacon to bring him home to her.
The second half of the book revisits each of the characters and further explores how each of the characters lives has become entangled with one another. What results is a story that will elicit every emotion available. You’ll laugh out loud, you’ll ugly cry, you may even see yourself in not only their escapades but in the characters themselves.
“A guy only gets one chance to hold the boom box over his head and pull a Lloyd Dobler—so I suggest you use it wisely.”
I’ve read a lot of amazing books this year, but I think this is the one that has hit me on a very personal level. There’s a scene in the book where Adam borrows the famous boom box scene from Say Anything (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re probably not going to understand most of the pop culture references in the book, to which I say, I’m sorry). Scenes like these, the type that become iconic moments not only because of the sentiment they convey, but also the use of the music to express when words are inadequate, burn themselves into our minds to become a sensory memory, one that we associate not only where we were and who we were with, but the sights, sounds, and smells around us. I mean, who hasn’t had the words to Add It Up playing in their head when things get hot and heavy?
Therapy is taboo. All artists tend to struggle with their mental health, but it’s actually that streak of insanity that creates the brilliance.
I suppose in some ways this review has become therapy, helping me to deal with the massive book hangover I was left with when I finished. I don’t think there was a single level that I didn’t connect with when reading this book. I see so much of myself in Chloe, and the fun that she and Natalie had was reminiscent of some of the trouble I got in with my best friend. This book was an amazing trip down memory lane, to see Chloe and Natalie’s voyage from adolescence to adulthood, and to see that their happily ever after turned out a lot like mine. The book was beautifully, lyrically written, the dialog was amazing, and the story was genuinely original. The story isn’t over, we have the December release of The Ballad to look forward to and I can’t wait to ride that ride. This is one attraction that I’m not yet ready to jump off of. Thank you Ms. Pullo for giving a voice to the lovers and dreamers of a generation.
February 9, 2015
Funny, heartbreaking, romantic, but most of all... real. I loved these characters so much. I loved that I was crying one minute, laughing the next. I haven't ugly cried at a book in some time, but this one gave me puffy eyes and a stuffed nose, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I admit, it took me a minute to feel grounded in the story, because just as I got connected to one character, I was moved into the next and unsure of the connections. But by the time I got to Natalie, I was fully engrossed. Natalie and Chloe's relationship was one of the biggest highlights in the whole book. I don't think there are enough good girlfriends in fiction, and these two cousins were among the best. Natalie's big mouth always brought some humor to even the darkest of situations.
I've seen many attempts at writing a story that doesn't follow a formula. Where there is no beginning, middle, and end, but is just about life. It seems to me that when authors or producers try to do this, it just means that they go for a different ending that usually leaves me unsatisfied. I've longed for a story that does it well, and this is the best I've read. You can start in the middle and go backward, but then find yourself right back in the beginning. Life isn't a straight line with that beginning, middle, and end. It's a circle. As the classic saying goes, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. As Ashley herself writes, "...it's the middle of the narrative that really counts." What makes that special is knowing I could pick this book up again and again and start anywhere, and learn something new. I've already gone back and re-read the first few chapters that I wasn't grounded in yet because I didn't know the characters. Now I connected to everything on a deeper level. I like a book that can get me to go back to the beginning and start over almost immediately after finishing!
Bonus: Tons of awesome pop culture references. I'm a sucker for 90s pop culture. Part of the reason I connected to these characters was that dream from the late 90s, early 2000s, of living the Friends or Sex in the City life. I loved how Ashley wove so many different references in and out of both the dialogue and the narrative. It all felt natural, and made everything about the story that much more real.
I would recommend this beautiful, character-driven, amazing story to everyone I know.
I admit, it took me a minute to feel grounded in the story, because just as I got connected to one character, I was moved into the next and unsure of the connections. But by the time I got to Natalie, I was fully engrossed. Natalie and Chloe's relationship was one of the biggest highlights in the whole book. I don't think there are enough good girlfriends in fiction, and these two cousins were among the best. Natalie's big mouth always brought some humor to even the darkest of situations.
I've seen many attempts at writing a story that doesn't follow a formula. Where there is no beginning, middle, and end, but is just about life. It seems to me that when authors or producers try to do this, it just means that they go for a different ending that usually leaves me unsatisfied. I've longed for a story that does it well, and this is the best I've read. You can start in the middle and go backward, but then find yourself right back in the beginning. Life isn't a straight line with that beginning, middle, and end. It's a circle. As the classic saying goes, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. As Ashley herself writes, "...it's the middle of the narrative that really counts." What makes that special is knowing I could pick this book up again and again and start anywhere, and learn something new. I've already gone back and re-read the first few chapters that I wasn't grounded in yet because I didn't know the characters. Now I connected to everything on a deeper level. I like a book that can get me to go back to the beginning and start over almost immediately after finishing!
Bonus: Tons of awesome pop culture references. I'm a sucker for 90s pop culture. Part of the reason I connected to these characters was that dream from the late 90s, early 2000s, of living the Friends or Sex in the City life. I loved how Ashley wove so many different references in and out of both the dialogue and the narrative. It all felt natural, and made everything about the story that much more real.
I would recommend this beautiful, character-driven, amazing story to everyone I know.
February 11, 2015
Woooow !
ce livre est une expérience à lui tout seul.
Ces deux cousines, Nathalie et Chloé, et tous les personnages que l'on rencontre, dont attachants, plein de vie, drôles, touchants.
J'ai véritablement vécu ce livre.
Alors oui, il y a certaines maladresses et j'avoue que la fin n'est pas à la hauteur et n'est pas dans l'état d'esprit du reste du livre.
Mais Zack <3
Mais Nathalie <3
Mais Slater <3
Mais je ne regrette rien <3
Donc coup de coeur.
ce livre est une expérience à lui tout seul.
Ces deux cousines, Nathalie et Chloé, et tous les personnages que l'on rencontre, dont attachants, plein de vie, drôles, touchants.
J'ai véritablement vécu ce livre.
Alors oui, il y a certaines maladresses et j'avoue que la fin n'est pas à la hauteur et n'est pas dans l'état d'esprit du reste du livre.
Mais Zack <3
Mais Nathalie <3
Mais Slater <3
Mais je ne regrette rien <3
Donc coup de coeur.
Read
January 8, 2015A one-of-a-kind heartfelt and witty story about fate, love and friendships.
One of the most uniquely written and structured stories I’ve read this year.
Author Ashley Pullo delivers a fresh approach to storytelling in her novel, The Album. This is a story imparted by five individuals, whose lives came together by fate and family, connections colliding through a span of almost two decades. With music to fuel the story, we experience the soundtrack of their lives… the highs and the lows and a lot of the in between. What was really interesting was the way the story was structured. It starts when some of the characters were young, establishing the most important thread in the story, the relationship between cousins Natalie and Chloe (I loved that it showed how soulmates can be friends). The story surges forward, in these short bursts, through these momentary glimpses into their lives. We don’t see the expanded view, and the story doesn’t move seamlessly, it’s like a conglomeration of significant moments (what I saw as tracks) in their lives.
We meet Chloe, who is fiery and artistic with a “streak of insanity.” She sees the world as a story best told through music, feeling everything deeply and instinctively. We also meet Natalie, who is vibrant, funny and bursting with life. She’s outwardly irreverent, but she’s tremendously kind and empathic. Together they get into all kinds of trouble, chasing their dreams and falling back on their friendship to get them through it all. Their banter is fantastic. The humor is quick and truly funny and I found myself smiling hugely at their exchanges.
Natalie meets Zacharie during one chance encounter on a train, and an epic love story sparks to life. I fell in love with their story. So charged, so them, so full of passion. They are like two halves of a whole and I frankly could have read an entire book about them. Their story takes off at full speed, and was the best part of the book for me. Whereas the relationship between Nat and Chloe was the soul of the story, Nat and Zach were the heart of it.
Chloe has a more difficult time grabbing a hold of her fate, as she meets the man destined for her, Adam, but pulls away after a misunderstanding. I wanted to see more of their time together, as we saw with Nat and Zach, helping to build a connection and understanding of who they were as a couple.
We also meet Chris, from Texas, who crashes into their lives at a time where things were broken and life was difficult. Timing was everything for this character, but fate just demanded patience.
There were so many amazing things about this novel, the structure, the wit, the music, the friendship and certainly the love story between Zach and Nat, and all those elements were mixed in a really amazing way. The one thing I would say, however, is that the story felt a bit unbalanced. It starts off slowly as we get to know the girls, then picks up as Natalie’s story takes hold, and then very much rushes through to the end. There were some moments in the book that really devastated me, and disrupted my connection to the story in a way that was difficult for me to get back into the flow of it (a nod to Pullo’s strong characterization of a particular protagonist) and there were some gaps that were not addressed that I really wanted explored.
The novel was penned in a way that could have been truly epic, I just needed some moments covered, the last part of the book slowed and a better paced story that felt a bit more seamless, even if it unfurled in a haphazard, stream-of-consciousness sort of way. My understanding is that we get more richness in the sequel, The Ballad, particularly as we delve into more of Chloe and Adam’s relationship, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Regardless, I very much enjoyed The Album and applaud Ashley Pullo for doing things differently and boldly. This definitely won’t be the last I read from this talented author, and if you’re a music lover who loves nineties references (LIKE ME!), you should definitely pick this book up… you’ll get a kick out of it.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
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One of the most uniquely written and structured stories I’ve read this year.
“Every great story has a beginning, whether it’s a planned meeting, a random encounter, or an impulsive jump into the unknown. But it’s the middle of the narrative that really counts… expanding the verse and building the chorus. And this story, the one that starts as soon as it ends, is a musical journey of fate and acceptance.”
Author Ashley Pullo delivers a fresh approach to storytelling in her novel, The Album. This is a story imparted by five individuals, whose lives came together by fate and family, connections colliding through a span of almost two decades. With music to fuel the story, we experience the soundtrack of their lives… the highs and the lows and a lot of the in between. What was really interesting was the way the story was structured. It starts when some of the characters were young, establishing the most important thread in the story, the relationship between cousins Natalie and Chloe (I loved that it showed how soulmates can be friends). The story surges forward, in these short bursts, through these momentary glimpses into their lives. We don’t see the expanded view, and the story doesn’t move seamlessly, it’s like a conglomeration of significant moments (what I saw as tracks) in their lives.
“Life is made up of millions of destinations; some alone, some with friends, some in fear, and some chasing dreams.
We meet Chloe, who is fiery and artistic with a “streak of insanity.” She sees the world as a story best told through music, feeling everything deeply and instinctively. We also meet Natalie, who is vibrant, funny and bursting with life. She’s outwardly irreverent, but she’s tremendously kind and empathic. Together they get into all kinds of trouble, chasing their dreams and falling back on their friendship to get them through it all. Their banter is fantastic. The humor is quick and truly funny and I found myself smiling hugely at their exchanges.
Natalie meets Zacharie during one chance encounter on a train, and an epic love story sparks to life. I fell in love with their story. So charged, so them, so full of passion. They are like two halves of a whole and I frankly could have read an entire book about them. Their story takes off at full speed, and was the best part of the book for me. Whereas the relationship between Nat and Chloe was the soul of the story, Nat and Zach were the heart of it.
“Ma femme, Je ne regrette rien, because I found everything.”
Chloe has a more difficult time grabbing a hold of her fate, as she meets the man destined for her, Adam, but pulls away after a misunderstanding. I wanted to see more of their time together, as we saw with Nat and Zach, helping to build a connection and understanding of who they were as a couple.
We also meet Chris, from Texas, who crashes into their lives at a time where things were broken and life was difficult. Timing was everything for this character, but fate just demanded patience.
There were so many amazing things about this novel, the structure, the wit, the music, the friendship and certainly the love story between Zach and Nat, and all those elements were mixed in a really amazing way. The one thing I would say, however, is that the story felt a bit unbalanced. It starts off slowly as we get to know the girls, then picks up as Natalie’s story takes hold, and then very much rushes through to the end. There were some moments in the book that really devastated me, and disrupted my connection to the story in a way that was difficult for me to get back into the flow of it (a nod to Pullo’s strong characterization of a particular protagonist) and there were some gaps that were not addressed that I really wanted explored.
The novel was penned in a way that could have been truly epic, I just needed some moments covered, the last part of the book slowed and a better paced story that felt a bit more seamless, even if it unfurled in a haphazard, stream-of-consciousness sort of way. My understanding is that we get more richness in the sequel, The Ballad, particularly as we delve into more of Chloe and Adam’s relationship, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Regardless, I very much enjoyed The Album and applaud Ashley Pullo for doing things differently and boldly. This definitely won’t be the last I read from this talented author, and if you’re a music lover who loves nineties references (LIKE ME!), you should definitely pick this book up… you’ll get a kick out of it.
“Friendship, like any relationship, is hard work. Wrought with good memories, but inevitably compromised by changing variables.”
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
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January 14, 2015
The Album is repackaging of two of Ashley Pullo's books, Intermission and The Refrain, together as one set. I've just recently read these separately before her rebrand, and they are some of my favourite books ever!! Intermission, I absolutely adored, interweaving much loved characters as they try to 'make it' in New York. Zach and Natalie, Sigh!! Absolutely delicious!! And I learnt swear words in French, haha!! I can't say anything about this story, without giving anything away. Only that I fell hard for Zachary!! You also meet Adam and Chloe as singles. The Refrain leads directly after Intermission, and needs to be read together as a set. If you want a highly emotional book, which deals with some heavy life subjects, and will induce ugly crying, this is your book!! But it will put you back together, with a strong sense of positivity. This really put me through the ringer, but it was so, so worth it!! I highly recommend The Album, which is a retelling of Intermission and The Refrain, which should be read together as a set. Amazing writing, highly emotional, I learnt some French, I did a lot of swooning, I did a lot of crying. One of my favourite series ever!!
January 10, 2015
When a favorite and trusted author suggests a book to me, I definitely pay attention. Daisy Prescott told me I would LOVE Ashley Pullo's THE ALBUM, and she was absolutely right! THE ALBUM is five different stories in one. Five different strong and very cool and complex characters play out how lives intersect and change, by circumstances, timing and fate. Over a period of about 20 years, we get to know and fall in love with each one of these people, while a soundtrack of the music that helped shape who they are and who they were becoming play in your head! I appreciated the fact that the characters, Chloe, Natalie, Adam, Zach and Chris were close to my age! I was struck by all the wonderfully familiar nods to pop culture from the 90's to now. I laughed, I cheered, I bawled my eyes out. I think this book should come with an accompanying album!! If you are looking for a great book to read with a touch of nostalgia, sweet and sexy storylines and real emotion, give THE ALBUM a chance!! Well done, Ashley Pullo! Can't wait to read your next book, THE BALLAD!
February 7, 2015
‘The cousins. Family is meant to foster a loving and supportive environment, but these two have spent a lifetime perfecting friendship.’
Cousins Chloe and Natalie are soulmates and besties who grew up together until they went off to separate colleges and then reunited after college to chase their dreams in New York. At various points, their lives intersect indirectly and/or directly with Adam, Zach, Chris and Peter. I loved all of the pop culture music, tv show and movie references that appeared all throughout this charming character driven novel.
Chloe – On her 18th birthday fortune teller, Madame Clarice tells her, “Love will strike on a summer’s night after you’ve gained the wisdom from the twenty-fifth year. He will be tall and handsome but with very few words” and that “only one man will be able to interpret your psyche." It was interesting to discover how Chloe approached her romantic life until she turned 25. And she really showed her strength of character when she became the target for Natalie’s anger.
Natalie – I loved her zany, in your face attitude towards life and men. I was awed by her first encounter with Zach on the train. She ran headlong into a passionate love affair with him. Their no regrets approach was very refreshing.
Zach – He was totally Natalie’s match in every way. I was amazed by his generous spirit, his genuine affection for his mother and his ability to be irreverent, sexy and deeply affectionate with Natalie. The scheduled Zach attacks were so cute!
Adam – “I want a girl with an erratic heartbeat. I want a girl to feel anxious and alive. I want a girl to surprise me.” For Adam, that girl turns out to be Chloe.
Chris – I loved his early adventures in NY, particularly on the subway but also that he recognized immediately that someday the timing would be right for him and Natalie. I couldn’t help but grin when he finally gets to ask, “Natalie LeGrange, will you do me the honor of a couple’s skate?”
Pete – His food truck sign is hysterically funny. And although he is a minor supporting character, I felt a great deal of sympathy for him as he settles for a sexual affair with Natalie.
'Friendship, like any relationship, is hard work. Wrought with good memories, but inevitably compromised by changing variables.’
The friendship theme was by far my favorite one explored in The Album. I was lucky enough to buddy read it with one of my book buddies, Beth. It was so much fun to gush and analyze the story with her. If possible, I would highly recommend this method for experiencing this wonderful group of characters' journeys through life as they pass from young adult into true adulthood.
Cousins Chloe and Natalie are soulmates and besties who grew up together until they went off to separate colleges and then reunited after college to chase their dreams in New York. At various points, their lives intersect indirectly and/or directly with Adam, Zach, Chris and Peter. I loved all of the pop culture music, tv show and movie references that appeared all throughout this charming character driven novel.
Chloe – On her 18th birthday fortune teller, Madame Clarice tells her, “Love will strike on a summer’s night after you’ve gained the wisdom from the twenty-fifth year. He will be tall and handsome but with very few words” and that “only one man will be able to interpret your psyche." It was interesting to discover how Chloe approached her romantic life until she turned 25. And she really showed her strength of character when she became the target for Natalie’s anger.
Natalie – I loved her zany, in your face attitude towards life and men. I was awed by her first encounter with Zach on the train. She ran headlong into a passionate love affair with him. Their no regrets approach was very refreshing.
Zach – He was totally Natalie’s match in every way. I was amazed by his generous spirit, his genuine affection for his mother and his ability to be irreverent, sexy and deeply affectionate with Natalie. The scheduled Zach attacks were so cute!
Adam – “I want a girl with an erratic heartbeat. I want a girl to feel anxious and alive. I want a girl to surprise me.” For Adam, that girl turns out to be Chloe.
Chris – I loved his early adventures in NY, particularly on the subway but also that he recognized immediately that someday the timing would be right for him and Natalie. I couldn’t help but grin when he finally gets to ask, “Natalie LeGrange, will you do me the honor of a couple’s skate?”
Pete – His food truck sign is hysterically funny. And although he is a minor supporting character, I felt a great deal of sympathy for him as he settles for a sexual affair with Natalie.
'Friendship, like any relationship, is hard work. Wrought with good memories, but inevitably compromised by changing variables.’
The friendship theme was by far my favorite one explored in The Album. I was lucky enough to buddy read it with one of my book buddies, Beth. It was so much fun to gush and analyze the story with her. If possible, I would highly recommend this method for experiencing this wonderful group of characters' journeys through life as they pass from young adult into true adulthood.
September 4, 2017
Beautiful
This really is an epic read. Two cousins, best friends, soul mates. They share a unique history and have each other's backs through the years. I laughed and hiccoughed through my tears which ended in a disgusting snort and then I repeated the cycle. An amazing book.
This really is an epic read. Two cousins, best friends, soul mates. They share a unique history and have each other's backs through the years. I laughed and hiccoughed through my tears which ended in a disgusting snort and then I repeated the cycle. An amazing book.
March 2, 2020
4,5/5 !
Quelques longueurs et un peu déroutée, au début, par le style et l'arrivée de tous ces personnages mais quel beau roman. Toutes ces vies sur toutes ces années, joie, tristesse ! Un très beau moment !
Quelques longueurs et un peu déroutée, au début, par le style et l'arrivée de tous ces personnages mais quel beau roman. Toutes ces vies sur toutes ces années, joie, tristesse ! Un très beau moment !
December 24, 2014
This is a beautifully written story about love, life, and loss with amazing twists and turns. We get to experience this story from all of the characters points of view. This helps tremendously with connecting with them all. We experience Natalie and Chloe letting go and trusting in love then experiencing great loss. These ladies show their true colors by being the best of friends, no matter how good or bad the situation. We see how Chris, Adam, and Zach all came to be and to see how they find love within the story as well. Throughout this story we see how they all come across one another and intertwine. I found myself laughing out loud one second and fumbling around for my kleenex by the next page.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"The stars dance like monkeys in the ocean and peanut butter tastes better with chocolate."
"Every great love story has a beginning, whether it's a planned meeting, a random encounter, or an impulsive jump into the unknown. But it's the middle of the story that really counts...expanding the verse and building the chorus."
"All ballads have a verse and a chorus - but the ending? That's just the beginning."
Ashley Pullo has an amazing story telling ability that had me laughing out loud, reading parts out loud to my husband, then pulled me back with big emotions where I almost needed to cry. Her characters can be crazy at times, but, hey! who hasn't been involved in some crazy shenanigans. Absolute amazing read.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"The stars dance like monkeys in the ocean and peanut butter tastes better with chocolate."
"Every great love story has a beginning, whether it's a planned meeting, a random encounter, or an impulsive jump into the unknown. But it's the middle of the story that really counts...expanding the verse and building the chorus."
"All ballads have a verse and a chorus - but the ending? That's just the beginning."
Ashley Pullo has an amazing story telling ability that had me laughing out loud, reading parts out loud to my husband, then pulled me back with big emotions where I almost needed to cry. Her characters can be crazy at times, but, hey! who hasn't been involved in some crazy shenanigans. Absolute amazing read.
November 12, 2014
I finished this a while ago, I'm just horrible about updating my Goodreads books.
The Album is a beautiful, completely unique, emotion-filled story. The characters will find a way to your heart and become a permanent fixture there.
The writing is phenomenal. Pullo flawlessly manages tell five seperate stories, intertwine and have them flow as one.
I don't feel anything I say will do The Album justice. It is, for sure, one of my top reads of this year.
The Album is a beautiful, completely unique, emotion-filled story. The characters will find a way to your heart and become a permanent fixture there.
The writing is phenomenal. Pullo flawlessly manages tell five seperate stories, intertwine and have them flow as one.
I don't feel anything I say will do The Album justice. It is, for sure, one of my top reads of this year.
October 22, 2015
I didn't like the turn it took. One of the narrators behaviors just irked me. Really? You're really doing that to the man you claim to "love?" We dont need to read this shit when were deployed! I have a new personal hate for a female character and she is in this book. I wish I could give it more stars for originality.
April 28, 2020
This little gem was languishing on my kindle unlimited list for a couple of years and I'm kind of sad it sat unappreciated for so long. I was riveted. The way the relationships developed and the banter was fantastic. The third person narrative interludes were a bit jarring though. This is book one of two so we'll see what happens in the sequel. 4.5 stars! Couldn't put it down.
November 11, 2015
There was so much about this novel I really liked. I finished it yesterday evening and I'm stilling thinking about it now, which is something. I'm also not quite ready to sink my teeth into a new book, which rarely happens to me. The author is a great writer. The dialogue was witty and original, the writing style was easy, natural, and never felt forced. I cared about what happened to the characters. The relationships were deep and profound and although I saw the tragedy coming, I was devastated anyway. I'm a Generation X-er myself and although I'm a few years older than the characters in this book, I enjoyed and recognized all of the pop culture references. While I'm not Canadian, my sister and I revolved our Sunday mornings around watching Degrassi Junior High, so those bits were especially fun.
There were a few things about the book that irked me a bit. Like I said, I'm only a handful of years older than these characters and I don't remember everyone being quite as sexually bold as they were in the early years - like barely out of high school. Sexually curious, of course; experienced, some of us; but that comfortable with our sexuality to talk about seducing older men and wanting them "inside her" just seemed completely unrealistic for girls of that age and one of the guys attitudes about sex at only 18 was also a bit over the top for me and it was painted like this was the "norm." Another problem I had was just how perfect and larger than life both Natalie and Chloe were. Sure, they had their issues, but they were prettier, hotter, smarter, better in bed, funnier, etc. than everyone else and it was a bit much. I wish not all of the relationships developed sexually first and then emotionally - one or two of them okay, but almost every relationship started with either a look across the room or very forward banter and before you blinked the two were having the best sex of their lives and then full-on in love. There was one relationship that took more than a hot minute to boil, but the author skipped over the development. I would have liked to see a little more development beyond sex. That being said, the sex was done really well - it was hot and not the same ole sex scenes you read all of the time, but it was painted like everyone went out and screwed the first person they saw and that no one ever dated, got to know each other, etc. Finally, the blurb mentions how the characters struggle with being in their twenties, but the book focused mostly on the relationships between the characters and very little on finding your way in other aspects of your life.
Despite my "issues", this book really touched me. I would absolutely recommend it to others and I already have The Ballad on my Kindle.
There were a few things about the book that irked me a bit. Like I said, I'm only a handful of years older than these characters and I don't remember everyone being quite as sexually bold as they were in the early years - like barely out of high school. Sexually curious, of course; experienced, some of us; but that comfortable with our sexuality to talk about seducing older men and wanting them "inside her" just seemed completely unrealistic for girls of that age and one of the guys attitudes about sex at only 18 was also a bit over the top for me and it was painted like this was the "norm." Another problem I had was just how perfect and larger than life both Natalie and Chloe were. Sure, they had their issues, but they were prettier, hotter, smarter, better in bed, funnier, etc. than everyone else and it was a bit much. I wish not all of the relationships developed sexually first and then emotionally - one or two of them okay, but almost every relationship started with either a look across the room or very forward banter and before you blinked the two were having the best sex of their lives and then full-on in love. There was one relationship that took more than a hot minute to boil, but the author skipped over the development. I would have liked to see a little more development beyond sex. That being said, the sex was done really well - it was hot and not the same ole sex scenes you read all of the time, but it was painted like everyone went out and screwed the first person they saw and that no one ever dated, got to know each other, etc. Finally, the blurb mentions how the characters struggle with being in their twenties, but the book focused mostly on the relationships between the characters and very little on finding your way in other aspects of your life.
Despite my "issues", this book really touched me. I would absolutely recommend it to others and I already have The Ballad on my Kindle.
February 4, 2016
There truly is nothing else out there with which to compare this novel. So, there will be no comparisons in this review.
The story revolves around two young women (cousins) who are just launching themselves into the big sea. The author did such a fantastic job in creating characters who engendered my immediate attention and interest. AND AFFECTION! Natalie and Chloe were so dynamic and so endearing that I want to imagine that I could call them up today and say, "Hey, chick! What is up in your universe? Let's grab dinner or drinks this week."
What I found to be charming and unique was the lay-out of the story. In the beginning, I felt unsure of how this was going to work. I was concerned that it would be too loose and chaotic. I quickly realized that the plot was actually cleverly symbolic of the "growth through the journey" that these two young women experienced. Very clever and very well-executed! Very unusual.
Having lived "x" number of years and in a few of the vastly differing regions of the United States, I appreciated the personalities of all of the characters in this book. The building of who they would become in this future that they had tried to imagine as 18 year olds... such an adventure. Such a tangible and realistic journey. All of the excitement and energy, all of the heartache and doubt. All of everything was included in The Album. I am a musician (vocalist) and find both my greatest mode of expression and greatest solace in music. That facet of this book made it all feel particularly meaningful. I cried. The obvious culprit, sad sad SAD times. Millions of sad tears. The tears and semi-choking of belly-shaking laughter. Trillions of those! The most poignant tears were the tears that would track down my face, silently, as a result of having read a passage in this story that was just so utterly beautiful... (still happening as I reflect on this book). There were numerous opportunities for all of these tears.
*Side note* The depiction/description of New York City: I feel like I want to live there! I fell hard for NYC!
How has your experience within your family formed who you are? How have your independent experiences shaped your beliefs and your dreams? Ashley Pullo wrote a book that examined those questions through a thoroughly riveting, entertaining story of two fascinating women, marching toward their futures with determination and with big dreams. She pulled no punches in the keeping it real department. I LOVED IT. (Sad portions, notwithstanding)
The story revolves around two young women (cousins) who are just launching themselves into the big sea. The author did such a fantastic job in creating characters who engendered my immediate attention and interest. AND AFFECTION! Natalie and Chloe were so dynamic and so endearing that I want to imagine that I could call them up today and say, "Hey, chick! What is up in your universe? Let's grab dinner or drinks this week."
What I found to be charming and unique was the lay-out of the story. In the beginning, I felt unsure of how this was going to work. I was concerned that it would be too loose and chaotic. I quickly realized that the plot was actually cleverly symbolic of the "growth through the journey" that these two young women experienced. Very clever and very well-executed! Very unusual.
Having lived "x" number of years and in a few of the vastly differing regions of the United States, I appreciated the personalities of all of the characters in this book. The building of who they would become in this future that they had tried to imagine as 18 year olds... such an adventure. Such a tangible and realistic journey. All of the excitement and energy, all of the heartache and doubt. All of everything was included in The Album. I am a musician (vocalist) and find both my greatest mode of expression and greatest solace in music. That facet of this book made it all feel particularly meaningful. I cried. The obvious culprit, sad sad SAD times. Millions of sad tears. The tears and semi-choking of belly-shaking laughter. Trillions of those! The most poignant tears were the tears that would track down my face, silently, as a result of having read a passage in this story that was just so utterly beautiful... (still happening as I reflect on this book). There were numerous opportunities for all of these tears.
*Side note* The depiction/description of New York City: I feel like I want to live there! I fell hard for NYC!
How has your experience within your family formed who you are? How have your independent experiences shaped your beliefs and your dreams? Ashley Pullo wrote a book that examined those questions through a thoroughly riveting, entertaining story of two fascinating women, marching toward their futures with determination and with big dreams. She pulled no punches in the keeping it real department. I LOVED IT. (Sad portions, notwithstanding)
December 5, 2014
Stop what you're doing BFFs! This book is a must read, instant BFF Bestie! I just finished this weekend and I think I'm still in a book fog. It is so fantastic; an epic story of interwoven characters, spanning years, a few countries, countless pop culture references, heart-break, romance, incredible love, a little angst and moments that will make your heart plummet and soar. All of this set to the most amazing playlists.
This is the incredible story of characters and lives that are layered together and intertwined whether the characters know it or not. It is thoughtful, heartfelt, well-written and refreshing. The Album is the kind of book that leaves you savoring passages and re-reading highlights to embrace the characters just one more time.
In thinking about my review, I tried to decide which character I liked best or which scenes or lines I should highlight to share. I came to the conclusion that I simply LOVE it all. I adore all of the characters for the way that they're uniquely and fully developed and shared on the page. I can't identify one that I love more than the other, but the way it all comes together is nothing short of exquisite.
Has this ever happened to you: you've finished a book, but all you can do is think about it? Maybe you pick it up and re-read a few lines again? And you go about your regular day thinking about the characters in a really unhealthy way, like obsessively? And you want to get over the book, but you don't want the experience to be over? So, you go online and obsessively look up information on the book and things related - like songs and quotes and mildly stalk the author? (Like in a fun fangirl way, not showing up on her front stoop kind of stalking....) Yeah, so that might be how I feel about The Album.
When I finished, I started frantically sending texts and messages encouraging all of my friends to buy and read this book. I want every one of my friends to have the shared experience of loving this book. Consider this a personal nudge from me to you...Read this book now! The Ballad releases on December 11 and you'll be waiting to read it too!
This is the incredible story of characters and lives that are layered together and intertwined whether the characters know it or not. It is thoughtful, heartfelt, well-written and refreshing. The Album is the kind of book that leaves you savoring passages and re-reading highlights to embrace the characters just one more time.
In thinking about my review, I tried to decide which character I liked best or which scenes or lines I should highlight to share. I came to the conclusion that I simply LOVE it all. I adore all of the characters for the way that they're uniquely and fully developed and shared on the page. I can't identify one that I love more than the other, but the way it all comes together is nothing short of exquisite.
Has this ever happened to you: you've finished a book, but all you can do is think about it? Maybe you pick it up and re-read a few lines again? And you go about your regular day thinking about the characters in a really unhealthy way, like obsessively? And you want to get over the book, but you don't want the experience to be over? So, you go online and obsessively look up information on the book and things related - like songs and quotes and mildly stalk the author? (Like in a fun fangirl way, not showing up on her front stoop kind of stalking....) Yeah, so that might be how I feel about The Album.
When I finished, I started frantically sending texts and messages encouraging all of my friends to buy and read this book. I want every one of my friends to have the shared experience of loving this book. Consider this a personal nudge from me to you...Read this book now! The Ballad releases on December 11 and you'll be waiting to read it too!
October 21, 2014
If you've read The Bridge, The Intermission or The Refrain by Ashley Pullo, then you've already met cousins Chloe and Natalie LeGrange. You know their history, their loves and losses. And while The Album is really a compilation of those books, a remix, I never felt like I was reading the same story. It was more like visiting and reminiscing with old friends.
As teenagers in Toronto, Chloe and Natalie promise each other that after college they will move to New York to pursue their dreams. Chloe dreams of being a rock star. Natalie wants to be an actress. And while they do make it to New York, fate has a way of stepping in and redirecting even the best laid plans.
The Album is their story. And along the way we are introduced to Adam Ford, a lawyer. He is serious and always in control, but maybe the right girl will bring out his soft side. We meet Zach Parker, a French speaking Marine with a lot on his heart and mind. And Chris Brooks, the Texan who finds his way to New York.
The Album is filled with chance encounters, the greatest of love stories and the most heartbreaking losses. Filled with witty humor and pop culture references on nearly every page, The Album had me laughing one minute and then in tears the next.
I truly loved every character - Chloe. Natalie. Adam. Zach. Chris. As a girl who grew up around the same time as they did, the mentions of tv shows and music from the 90's had me reliving my teen years.
If you've read Ashley Pullo's previous books, don't hesitate to pick up a copy of The Album and hang out with old friends for a few hours. You won't be sorry. If you have never read her work, I highly recommend The Album. Ashley has a unique writing style that is easy to read and her characters make you feel at home. Be prepare to laugh, cry and relive your youth.
5 stars!
As teenagers in Toronto, Chloe and Natalie promise each other that after college they will move to New York to pursue their dreams. Chloe dreams of being a rock star. Natalie wants to be an actress. And while they do make it to New York, fate has a way of stepping in and redirecting even the best laid plans.
The Album is their story. And along the way we are introduced to Adam Ford, a lawyer. He is serious and always in control, but maybe the right girl will bring out his soft side. We meet Zach Parker, a French speaking Marine with a lot on his heart and mind. And Chris Brooks, the Texan who finds his way to New York.
The Album is filled with chance encounters, the greatest of love stories and the most heartbreaking losses. Filled with witty humor and pop culture references on nearly every page, The Album had me laughing one minute and then in tears the next.
I truly loved every character - Chloe. Natalie. Adam. Zach. Chris. As a girl who grew up around the same time as they did, the mentions of tv shows and music from the 90's had me reliving my teen years.
If you've read Ashley Pullo's previous books, don't hesitate to pick up a copy of The Album and hang out with old friends for a few hours. You won't be sorry. If you have never read her work, I highly recommend The Album. Ashley has a unique writing style that is easy to read and her characters make you feel at home. Be prepare to laugh, cry and relive your youth.
5 stars!
December 17, 2014
~~~Doris's Review~~~
What a wonderful cast of characters! You know how you sit and look through a photo album of family abd friends and yoy laugh and joke about funny stories that happened when you were in your 29's? That is what the book is like. It takes a group of young people and mass them together abd watch them grow. You see their triumphs and the failures. Their highs and lows. You laugh and cry and cheer. I would live to be apart of this group. Ashley Pullo is a gifted writer that "draws" the story wuth words! Colorful, snarky, fun and funny. What else could you ask for in a great read. To enjoy this book you have to read it. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I'm giving it 5 stars. Now I'm going to go read it again....it's THAT good!!
~~~Dee's ★★★★★ Review~~~
Chloe and Natalie are the suns around which the planets of Adam, Zack, and Chris revolve. Chloe and Nat are incredible characters, true soul mates. Their conversations and responses to each other are realistic and sometimes amusing. This is a lovely story of real life and real life situations. From the insecurities of the teen years, yearning to find purpose and direction, searching for their passion and making their dreams come true to evolving into loving, happy adults confident in their lives.
The romance between Chloe and Adam was sweet and entertaining. But the jewel in this book was the romance and love between Nat and Zack. It was so deep, so beautiful, so personal and so gut wrenching at the same time. Their story of love and loss triggered long buried memories of my own similiar story of love and loss. When a writer can pull emotions from the reader, then the author has been successful in her work. I was given this excellent book in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
What a wonderful cast of characters! You know how you sit and look through a photo album of family abd friends and yoy laugh and joke about funny stories that happened when you were in your 29's? That is what the book is like. It takes a group of young people and mass them together abd watch them grow. You see their triumphs and the failures. Their highs and lows. You laugh and cry and cheer. I would live to be apart of this group. Ashley Pullo is a gifted writer that "draws" the story wuth words! Colorful, snarky, fun and funny. What else could you ask for in a great read. To enjoy this book you have to read it. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I'm giving it 5 stars. Now I'm going to go read it again....it's THAT good!!
~~~Dee's ★★★★★ Review~~~
Chloe and Natalie are the suns around which the planets of Adam, Zack, and Chris revolve. Chloe and Nat are incredible characters, true soul mates. Their conversations and responses to each other are realistic and sometimes amusing. This is a lovely story of real life and real life situations. From the insecurities of the teen years, yearning to find purpose and direction, searching for their passion and making their dreams come true to evolving into loving, happy adults confident in their lives.
The romance between Chloe and Adam was sweet and entertaining. But the jewel in this book was the romance and love between Nat and Zack. It was so deep, so beautiful, so personal and so gut wrenching at the same time. Their story of love and loss triggered long buried memories of my own similiar story of love and loss. When a writer can pull emotions from the reader, then the author has been successful in her work. I was given this excellent book in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
November 8, 2014
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Album is unlike any other book that I have read. It is an emotional journey that takes place over seventeen years. This story centers around a group of friends and family where you become immersed in their lives. You live their experience of falling in and out of love, life itself, and even loss. The story itself is told from the point of views of all 5 main characters. The pact between the two cousins Chole and Natalie to move to New York City becomes a catalyst for the story of all the main characters and how their lives turn out much different than they ever would have imagined.
I found the writing style to be seamless even when switching point of views. The story flowed and was easy to follow. The characters within the story are so well written it adds to the depth of the story. You become emotionally invested in the lives of the characters as they are so well written. The characters are relatable, genuine. You can see yourself in all of them. You may even reminisce of the time when you were figuring out life and your path during your early years
The Album doesn't seem to follow the “rules” of writing and I really liked that about the writing and the story itself. I love when authors do this as it makes reading so much more fun. It reminds me of why I read in the first place. I am vague on the plot of the story as the reader needs to truly experience the journey of the characters. You will laugh, love, cry, and most of all you will live. This is my first time reading this author’s work and it’s definitely not my last.
The Album is unlike any other book that I have read. It is an emotional journey that takes place over seventeen years. This story centers around a group of friends and family where you become immersed in their lives. You live their experience of falling in and out of love, life itself, and even loss. The story itself is told from the point of views of all 5 main characters. The pact between the two cousins Chole and Natalie to move to New York City becomes a catalyst for the story of all the main characters and how their lives turn out much different than they ever would have imagined.
I found the writing style to be seamless even when switching point of views. The story flowed and was easy to follow. The characters within the story are so well written it adds to the depth of the story. You become emotionally invested in the lives of the characters as they are so well written. The characters are relatable, genuine. You can see yourself in all of them. You may even reminisce of the time when you were figuring out life and your path during your early years
The Album doesn't seem to follow the “rules” of writing and I really liked that about the writing and the story itself. I love when authors do this as it makes reading so much more fun. It reminds me of why I read in the first place. I am vague on the plot of the story as the reader needs to truly experience the journey of the characters. You will laugh, love, cry, and most of all you will live. This is my first time reading this author’s work and it’s definitely not my last.
August 17, 2016
The Album by Ashley Pullo.
The title says it all.
When I think of an album and I mean a REAL album, not the mess that is produced these days. I think of a project someone has poured their heart and soul into. It usually contains 9-14 songs/stories. Stories that tell where a person has been, what they have lived through, what they are going through, and where they hope to be. It has ups and downs, it has laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, light and darkness. It is a piece that has taken time and effort and maybe even blood and tears.
That is what this book is to me, it’s a story with what I feel is real, believable characters with real stories to tell. This is a book that will stick with you, it won’t be confused with others, it won’t be lost or forgotten because this book is Baby and nobody puts Baby in the corner.
There were moments that had me laughing for minutes upon hours, even when I wasn’t reading it. Then there were the tears, I can honestly say a book has never brought out THIS kind of emotion. Sure, I’ve felt sadness and have been upset but never to the point of actual tears running down my face. There are parts of this story that resembled parts of my own life which is probably why I felt so deeply for this work of art.
I know a review should give a glimpse into a book to help other readers decide if they should read it or not, but that is not something I could do with this book without giving it all away so I decided to just write a review and how this book made me FEEL.
Thank you Ashley for the journey and all the feelings!
I will now continue this journey with The Ballad.
The title says it all.
When I think of an album and I mean a REAL album, not the mess that is produced these days. I think of a project someone has poured their heart and soul into. It usually contains 9-14 songs/stories. Stories that tell where a person has been, what they have lived through, what they are going through, and where they hope to be. It has ups and downs, it has laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, light and darkness. It is a piece that has taken time and effort and maybe even blood and tears.
That is what this book is to me, it’s a story with what I feel is real, believable characters with real stories to tell. This is a book that will stick with you, it won’t be confused with others, it won’t be lost or forgotten because this book is Baby and nobody puts Baby in the corner.
There were moments that had me laughing for minutes upon hours, even when I wasn’t reading it. Then there were the tears, I can honestly say a book has never brought out THIS kind of emotion. Sure, I’ve felt sadness and have been upset but never to the point of actual tears running down my face. There are parts of this story that resembled parts of my own life which is probably why I felt so deeply for this work of art.
I know a review should give a glimpse into a book to help other readers decide if they should read it or not, but that is not something I could do with this book without giving it all away so I decided to just write a review and how this book made me FEEL.
Thank you Ashley for the journey and all the feelings!
I will now continue this journey with The Ballad.
November 20, 2014
I confess I never re-read a book but I just did. I basically didn't reread this one because Ashley reworked it and I Iove it more! The first edition of this story was written backwards and I enjoyed finding the connections and having my Ah-ha moments. Reading this newly revamped edition makes me appreciate the characters even more, told in chronological order just gave it an even flow. The uniqueness of the first edition was special and she took a huge risk writing that way, which is why I enjoyed it so much. She gave me a copy to review and I'm so glad I read it and got to experience Zach and Nat again. The original story was written surrounding Adam and Chloe with Nat and the boys as secondary. My heart belongs to Zach, the loving Frenchman, and Chloe's crazy cousin, Natalie. I'm hoping she writes more about Chris and maybe even a little novella about Pete. All the characters are loveable and will leave a lasting impression on your soul. So much romance and soul searching for such young lives.
May 20, 2015
4.5 Stars... The Album is a unique story filled with quirky characters as the experience a life of love, friendship and tragedy.
Told in a very unique style, each of five characters have their own chapters/sections of the book. Some of the characters are already friends and some will cross paths later in the story. But each character's chapters are important to their development and really help the reader appreciate the end of the story.
In the first half of the book, the characters are older teens and in the second half, they are in their early/mid twenties. And you must be patient because many of the character's storylines don't connect until the second half of the book. Then things really start to come together.
At times I felt the story didn't flow very well but by the time I finished the book, I was glad the author chose the way she wrote it. We get the best pieces of each of their lives and I did not have trouble connecting with the characters at all. I laughed and I cried like a baby.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories!
Told in a very unique style, each of five characters have their own chapters/sections of the book. Some of the characters are already friends and some will cross paths later in the story. But each character's chapters are important to their development and really help the reader appreciate the end of the story.
In the first half of the book, the characters are older teens and in the second half, they are in their early/mid twenties. And you must be patient because many of the character's storylines don't connect until the second half of the book. Then things really start to come together.
At times I felt the story didn't flow very well but by the time I finished the book, I was glad the author chose the way she wrote it. We get the best pieces of each of their lives and I did not have trouble connecting with the characters at all. I laughed and I cried like a baby.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories!
November 28, 2015
A refreshing story that is nothing like you expected and everything you didn’t know you were craving.
The Album was a breath of fresh air. Ashley Pullo’s writing style is very different from what I’m used to. The story jumps around a lot in a way that took me a while to get adjusted to but it made me slow down and really pay attention to what was going on in the story. Once I found my groove, I was really able to appreciate it and I soon learned that I could anticipate absolutely nothing!
I didn’t know I was craving unpredictability until I was caught off guard every time I got remotely comfortable. I forgot what it was like to not sort of see what was coming. It was refreshing.
I loved the humor and 90s references! It was such a fun ride. But once again with the unpredictability… just when I was having a blast and falling in love, Ashley completely broke my heart.
This book is a great change of pace, a breath of fresh air and a fantastic debut novel!
The Album was a breath of fresh air. Ashley Pullo’s writing style is very different from what I’m used to. The story jumps around a lot in a way that took me a while to get adjusted to but it made me slow down and really pay attention to what was going on in the story. Once I found my groove, I was really able to appreciate it and I soon learned that I could anticipate absolutely nothing!
I didn’t know I was craving unpredictability until I was caught off guard every time I got remotely comfortable. I forgot what it was like to not sort of see what was coming. It was refreshing.
I loved the humor and 90s references! It was such a fun ride. But once again with the unpredictability… just when I was having a blast and falling in love, Ashley completely broke my heart.
This book is a great change of pace, a breath of fresh air and a fantastic debut novel!
October 22, 2014
I loved this book!
Who doesn't love having a musical soundtrack while reading a heartfelt book following the lives of characters who are in their 20's and finding out what they want in life. It's never perfect and sometimes going through life's events hurts but in the end, you can find happiness! This is what Ashley Pullo gives us with her characters she has created. I fell in love with them all over again. If you have read her "Bridge Series", these are all the characters from it all together in one book. It's how it all began and how FATE brought them together.
Ashley Pullo knows how to get us into her characters and fall in love with their humorous, fun loving attitudes.
This book was devoured in a day because I felt like I was reading all my favorite TV shows pulled into one big adventure!
Get this book because it's that good & you don't want to miss out!
Who doesn't love having a musical soundtrack while reading a heartfelt book following the lives of characters who are in their 20's and finding out what they want in life. It's never perfect and sometimes going through life's events hurts but in the end, you can find happiness! This is what Ashley Pullo gives us with her characters she has created. I fell in love with them all over again. If you have read her "Bridge Series", these are all the characters from it all together in one book. It's how it all began and how FATE brought them together.
Ashley Pullo knows how to get us into her characters and fall in love with their humorous, fun loving attitudes.
This book was devoured in a day because I felt like I was reading all my favorite TV shows pulled into one big adventure!
Get this book because it's that good & you don't want to miss out!
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