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Madison Musicians #1
Only Twenty-Five
A sweet story told with gentle humor and bravery. Music teacher Meg Caldwell knew it would be difficult starting over in a new town. She's perfectly happy with her books and her cats, but she knows she has to meet people if she ever wants to find love. The problem? Meg is losing her hair and it isn't growing back. How can a girl have any kind of social life when she has to worry about hiding her growing bald spot? Josh Harrter is the acknowledged cool kid of the faculty lounge - he has a classroom stuffed with bean bag chairs and includes video clips from The Simpsons in his lesson plans. He is drawn to the pretty new music teacher singing and skipping her way through the halls, but he can sense she's hiding something beneath her sunny smiles. How can a guy falling for a girl convince her to trust him with her deepest secret?
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 12, 2018
I really loved the premise for this book. The struggle with the main character facing baldness was a fantastic idea and one I haven't come across before. That's what attracted me to this book. While I enjoyed this story for the most part, it just didn't engage my emotions. With a storyline like this I wanted to feel it all but instead I felt a bit like an outsider looking in. There were some sweet moments and other moments that gave me some insight as to what people who struggle with this condition must be dealing with. It was good, just lacking the emotional connection for me.
Sweet, clean.
I picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited.
Sweet, clean.
I picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited.
Want to Read
March 22, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (3/22/2018)!💝
April 25, 2020
A friend of mine wrote this novel. It was a quick, cute story of a young woman dealing with a minor health issue and living life as a single music teacher. It was uplifting and hopeful. The romantic relationship is no big surprise but it's fun to watch it develop and find its way through the characters' issues. The author mentioned that it was her first novel with differing viewpoints and I think it worked well for this story. Authors are my rock stars so it was fun to read a novel written by someone I know. The only problem was that I could never separate the person I know from her words. :) I kept envisioning Jennifer speaking these parts out loud. In my mind, she was cast in the role of Meg (a 25-year old version of her). But it was still fun.
July 4, 2017
Unfailingly honest and awkward, this novella painfully describes Meg Caldwell’s journey through androgenetic alopecia. Young, single Meg hilariously tries to hide her condition from her observant middle school students and her new boyfriend. “Was I going to end up sixty years old with no husband or kids or grandkids, and only a ton of cats and the imaginary characters from books to keep me company?” Kind, creative, Josh Hartter thinks he has met the girl of his dreams but braces himself for another strikeout. I loved the classroom antics and the fresh sincerity of their students. Meg’s stream of consciousness reactions had me laughing out loud. Page after page of zany scenes and raw emotion, I empathized with Meg as she grieved the permanent loss of her hair. Yet I cheered along as she determined to “take control” and confess her darkest secrets. The sweetest, perfect make up scene will melt your heart. I strongly recommend this fun, humorous exploration of a serious and embarrassing topic. One big reality check after another.
May 4, 2017
This was a sweet story of a young woman coming to terms with a genetic condition that was not dangerous, but that was life-changing, could not be cured, and could not be controlled. Meg seemed like a wonderful, caring person and her reactions to her hair loss and her journey to accept it and get on with her life rang true to me. I watched my mother experience many of those same emotions when she lost her beautiful, full head of hair due to chemo and I think the author has done a great job describing it, while also writing a lovely little romance to lighten up all of the emotions that Meg is feeling as she goes through this experience. I knew that alopecia happens fairly frequently to older women, but I hadn't realized that young women can develop it also. Kudos to the author for bringing this up in the guise of a great little story.
May 17, 2017
I give this story a 4.5 rating. It was a quick and easy read, in fact, I started and finished it in one evening. This was a very thoughtful and realistic story. It shows that you can have happy endings despite your circumstances, which I really appreciate. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star rating is because I felt it could have been expanded in certain areas. I would have loved to have heard more from Josh's perspective, and also more about Meg's family. If her condition was genetic, it would have made sense to hear about her parents? Did one of them experience this?
I felt that this was a great story about a truth most people don't ever think about, which is an important thing. I think that anything that makes us stop and consider what is going on in someone else's life in an entertaining way is great art. Thank you Jennifer for doing just that.
I felt that this was a great story about a truth most people don't ever think about, which is an important thing. I think that anything that makes us stop and consider what is going on in someone else's life in an entertaining way is great art. Thank you Jennifer for doing just that.
April 5, 2025
Does hair make the woman beautiful
I totally understand Meg. For the last 6 years, my hair has been falling out more and more. I decided to do some research, while it may be genetics, uncontrollable. I started using rosemary and ginger oil. Now, there is only very little loss. Someone I know said she takes a cinnamon capsule. And it works. I would never shave my head. There are things in life we can not control. Society has taught us that hair makes us beautiful. As Muslim women, we just cover. No one has to know. Good story.
I totally understand Meg. For the last 6 years, my hair has been falling out more and more. I decided to do some research, while it may be genetics, uncontrollable. I started using rosemary and ginger oil. Now, there is only very little loss. Someone I know said she takes a cinnamon capsule. And it works. I would never shave my head. There are things in life we can not control. Society has taught us that hair makes us beautiful. As Muslim women, we just cover. No one has to know. Good story.
May 20, 2017
Props for having a female character who is going bald--as in, actually bald, and not, as I initially thought, just losing a bit or losing a small patch that would grow back. There's no happy ending here for the hair loss thing--it's going and not coming back. I really like that premise. And I do like how Meg was constantly turning things over in her mind and coming to grips with it.
Cons...well, the story isn't very long, and although it's kinda a romance, there isn't that much of what I'd call romance, apart from the HEA thing. The problems are simple, and very simply resolved. There isn't much...well, story.
Despite that, it's reasonably solid, and it's a sweet story.
Favourite lines in the book? "Who am I gonna tell? Do you think I'm gonna get on Snapchat and telly everybody your girlfriend's bald?"
Cons...well, the story isn't very long, and although it's kinda a romance, there isn't that much of what I'd call romance, apart from the HEA thing. The problems are simple, and very simply resolved. There isn't much...well, story.
Despite that, it's reasonably solid, and it's a sweet story.
Favourite lines in the book? "Who am I gonna tell? Do you think I'm gonna get on Snapchat and telly everybody your girlfriend's bald?"
March 26, 2018
Sweet, Real Romance Without A Lot of Romance
So I know this is a romance, but there wasn't much. Most of it was told after it happened. But I didn't miss it. Well not as much as I thought anyway. I really liked that it was more focused on Meg and her hair loss and mental state if you will. The ending probably would had more of the feels if there was more of a focus on their relationship, but it was a great story told well in a real, human way.
So I know this is a romance, but there wasn't much. Most of it was told after it happened. But I didn't miss it. Well not as much as I thought anyway. I really liked that it was more focused on Meg and her hair loss and mental state if you will. The ending probably would had more of the feels if there was more of a focus on their relationship, but it was a great story told well in a real, human way.
May 11, 2017
Nice characters
Meg has a secret. She is a private person who has trouble accepting a physical change that she can't exercise, diet or wish away. Follow her journey of acceptance and personal growth as she learns to accept herself as she is and find a better way to live. You'll be glad you did.
Meg has a secret. She is a private person who has trouble accepting a physical change that she can't exercise, diet or wish away. Follow her journey of acceptance and personal growth as she learns to accept herself as she is and find a better way to live. You'll be glad you did.
September 25, 2017
Very entertaining
This is not so much a romance as a character study. While there is certainly a romantic aspect it's the slow exposure of the characters Met and Josh that make this such an entertaining read.
This is not so much a romance as a character study. While there is certainly a romantic aspect it's the slow exposure of the characters Met and Josh that make this such an entertaining read.
April 29, 2018
Beauty from within
A simple cute story about courage and strength of a twenty five year old woman. We all face challenges in our lives,what matters is what we learn from them. Meg finds that she is beautiful both inside and out.
A simple cute story about courage and strength of a twenty five year old woman. We all face challenges in our lives,what matters is what we learn from them. Meg finds that she is beautiful both inside and out.
January 28, 2024
cute short story
Got this on a stuff-your-kindle day. This is the first book that I didn’t delete after reading the first few pages.
The story was well written and sweet, and I be looking to read other books by this author
Got this on a stuff-your-kindle day. This is the first book that I didn’t delete after reading the first few pages.
The story was well written and sweet, and I be looking to read other books by this author
May 10, 2017
This book is so incredible i love every page of it the author of it is so talented!!
June 9, 2017
A Different Kind of Romance
Meg is 25 years old woman finds out she's going bald. Then she meets her co-worker Josh and they begin seeing each other. . Will their Romance last?
Meg is 25 years old woman finds out she's going bald. Then she meets her co-worker Josh and they begin seeing each other. . Will their Romance last?
October 27, 2017
Pretty good book
This was a pretty good and interesting book. It makes you stop to think about how much emphasis we put on our looks.
This was a pretty good and interesting book. It makes you stop to think about how much emphasis we put on our looks.
October 29, 2017
Interesting read
Never heard of this disorder. Well written and informative Glad Josh realized his love was more important than her hair
Never heard of this disorder. Well written and informative Glad Josh realized his love was more important than her hair
May 8, 2018
Cute
Fun, quick reading! I couldn't put it down. I love reading about finding yourself and who you really are inside and out.
Fun, quick reading! I couldn't put it down. I love reading about finding yourself and who you really are inside and out.
June 24, 2019
Dealing with life problems successfully
A girl in her twenties is confronted with a major problem which effects her self esteem and her relationship with her new boyfriend.
A girl in her twenties is confronted with a major problem which effects her self esteem and her relationship with her new boyfriend.
July 2, 2019
Enjoyed!
A music teacher learns she is loosing her hair. There is no medical condition that is causing her hair loss. It's a story of learning to accept yourself as you are. Once you can do that, chances are others will too!
A music teacher learns she is loosing her hair. There is no medical condition that is causing her hair loss. It's a story of learning to accept yourself as you are. Once you can do that, chances are others will too!
December 18, 2020
A mediocre storyline. Disappointed.
April 3, 2021
Heartwarming, Inspiring
A great story about how a young woman faces unexpected adversity. I think it was a wonderful start to a series I am hoping to continue reading.
A great story about how a young woman faces unexpected adversity. I think it was a wonderful start to a series I am hoping to continue reading.
December 30, 2022
Quick enjoyable read. I liked that the main character was a music teacher. Might read the next book.
January 8, 2026
Wonderful
Book was very real. You can imagine someone having to go through all the rough feelings . Everything is explained thoroughly.
Book was very real. You can imagine someone having to go through all the rough feelings . Everything is explained thoroughly.
April 10, 2017
***FULL DISCLOSURE***
I edited Only Twenty-Five and I don't usually leave reviews for obvious reasons. I'm making an exception for Only Twenty-Five for two reasons: I was so impressed with Jennifer's ability to address this serious issue with gentle humor, and once again she's proven that she's an author who can write flawed, vulnerable, and sympathetic characters. In other words, her talent is obvious.
This is what I wrote to Jennifer when I sent back the proofread file:
"I think it's such a sweet story, gently told with giggles and bravery, and I'm really impressed. I think it would be really great to try to get it out to any women's groups where the members are experiencing or likely to experience hair loss. And it's cool that Meg literally stares her problem down and deals with it, i.e., she implements a real solution that could really help give others courage."
I stand by those words. I know that Only Twenty-Five will be a real comfort to young women affected by androgenetic alopecia and it's a sweet story to boot!
I have nothing but praise for the author and can wholeheartedly recommend the book.
I edited Only Twenty-Five and I don't usually leave reviews for obvious reasons. I'm making an exception for Only Twenty-Five for two reasons: I was so impressed with Jennifer's ability to address this serious issue with gentle humor, and once again she's proven that she's an author who can write flawed, vulnerable, and sympathetic characters. In other words, her talent is obvious.
This is what I wrote to Jennifer when I sent back the proofread file:
"I think it's such a sweet story, gently told with giggles and bravery, and I'm really impressed. I think it would be really great to try to get it out to any women's groups where the members are experiencing or likely to experience hair loss. And it's cool that Meg literally stares her problem down and deals with it, i.e., she implements a real solution that could really help give others courage."
I stand by those words. I know that Only Twenty-Five will be a real comfort to young women affected by androgenetic alopecia and it's a sweet story to boot!
I have nothing but praise for the author and can wholeheartedly recommend the book.
April 15, 2017
Jennifer really speaks to the heart when she writes. She has addressed the issue of hair loss in women in a sympathetic yet humorous way. I really didn't know anything about this subject so I received an education as a bonus. I love her humor, and had to stop and giggle numerous times at her choice of words in this and in her previous novel. Maybe it's because I have similar thoughts, but I definitely feel at home with Jennifer's style.
I also loved the way the developing relationship between Meg and Josh was handled, and how they each had a friend who helped them deal with reality with advice and sometimes eye opening comments . In the end, truth and honesty prevailed, strengthening the relationship and helping it to grow.
I truly love Jennifer's writing and hope she continues for a long long time.
I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
April 25, 2017
"Only Twenty Five" is much more than a love story about two millennials! It is a humorous, but intuitive tale of two middle school teachers, each a little lonely but both harboring a love for books that is a key factor in their relationship. Ms. Blaske's conversational style with chapters devoted to each character, gives us so much insight into Josh and Meg's feelings, that I felt that I knew and cared about them from the start! Also, bringing in the "female hair loss issue," made for an interesting and thought-provoking read. I thoroughly enjoyed the short novella and look forward to reading more of Jennifer McCoy Blaske's work!
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May 11, 2017Meg Cobot is a 25 year old middle school music teacher just starting her teaching career in a new town when she starts to notice that she is shedding a lot of hair. So much so that once was very thick is now thin and she has notice a bald spot spreading on the crown of her head. She finally gets the nerve up to go to the doctor and her hopes are dashed when she is told she has Androgenic Alopecia or in non-medial terms hereditary female pattern baldness, and just like for men there is absolutely no cure for. She struggles with this diagnosis, and trying to make herself look better, from hair extensions to finally a wig.
Josh Hartter is the English teacher at the same school that Meg teaches at. He has a hard time finding the right girl for him. Someone that has some of the same interest that he does and that they can actually share conversations with until he met Meg. The two of them hit it off by Meg has not told him her secrete, she herself is still trying to deal with it. The question is how will he react when he finds out the girl he likes is bald?
The reason I like this book is there are so many women out there including myself that are going through this hair loss and to say it is devastating is an understatement. Nothing tears away at your self esteem like that every time you look in the mirror and see this horrible looking strangler staring back at you, not the person you remember yourself being just a few years before. For me the book made me feel like I was not alone in my own feelings and struggles in trying to take control back in my life. This was a great piece I wish there were more out there like this. Thank you Jennifer
Josh Hartter is the English teacher at the same school that Meg teaches at. He has a hard time finding the right girl for him. Someone that has some of the same interest that he does and that they can actually share conversations with until he met Meg. The two of them hit it off by Meg has not told him her secrete, she herself is still trying to deal with it. The question is how will he react when he finds out the girl he likes is bald?
The reason I like this book is there are so many women out there including myself that are going through this hair loss and to say it is devastating is an understatement. Nothing tears away at your self esteem like that every time you look in the mirror and see this horrible looking strangler staring back at you, not the person you remember yourself being just a few years before. For me the book made me feel like I was not alone in my own feelings and struggles in trying to take control back in my life. This was a great piece I wish there were more out there like this. Thank you Jennifer
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June 20, 2017From the Author:
Only Twenty-Five is currently available on Amazon and is FREE for Kindle Unlimited members.
http://amzn.to/2oDq8BP
Here is the excerpt that I read when I spoke at Foxtale Book Shoppe:
********************
In the thirty-six hours since I’d been informed of my fate the best solution I came up with was a head covering. It probably wouldn’t be a permanent solution, but it would buy me some time until I figured out something else. And who knows, I might be like those women who look hip wearing hats all the time, like Yoko Ono.
On Saturday morning I went to Madison Square Mall. An accessory store called Savvy Boutique caught my eye. I went inside and made a beeline for the hats. I studied the various hats on display before picking up a floppy straw one with a light-blue hatband. I stepped over to the mirror and plopped it on my head. Oh no, definitely not. It was cute, but kind of big, and I didn’t want to draw that much attention to myself. I decided it was good for the beach, probably, but not for everyday life. I put the hat back on the rack and kept looking.
The baseball caps looked okay. Maybe I can wear one of those. It struck me that I might actually look kind of cute in one. If I stuck my ponytail out the back I’d get that Athletic Girl look. Never mind that the most athletic thing I ever did was go for walks. I put on a blue cap and looked in the mirror—first with it facing the right way, then I turned it around. Some girls can pull this off and look cute doing it. I clearly wasn’t one of them. I looked like I’d slept through my alarm and rushed out of the house without showering or washing my hair. Still, it wouldn’t be bad to have a cap like this just in case. I returned it to the rack, making a mental note to come back to it.
I wanted something a little more stylish. There were a couple of those flat, kind of square-looking hats. What were they called . . . pillbox hats or something? I put on a pink one and checked myself out. Oh goodness. I looked like all I needed was white gloves and a suit and I’d be ready for tea with the queen of England. Too weird. I walked around to the back of the display. I tried on a beanie which was kind of cute, but it looked too much like I was either going skiing or getting ready to break into bad white girl rap.
Maybe this hat thing wasn’t such a great idea after all. I guess I can get a couple baseball caps if I can’t find anything better. But that wasn’t really the look I was going for, especially if I was going to wear one almost every day for a while. Wearing a baseball cap when I wasn’t doing anything athletic would look too much like I was trying to hide something. Which I was . . . but I certainly didn’t want to look like I was.
I was running out of options and starting to panic. Discouraged, I put on a brown fedora and looked in the mirror, carefully turning my head from side to side. It was kind of stylish . . . I guess . . . but it made me feel like I was supposed to start walking stealthily through the store solving crimes.
“Oh yes. Now that is totally you,” a male voice said.
Startled, I turned around. A guy about my age was grinning at me. He had curly black hair and he was wearing jeans and a light-blue shirt with a button-down collar. Did he work here? He certainly didn’t look like someone who would work in a women’s clothing store. But why else would he be talking to me? Was he making fun of me? Was he just some kind of weirdo who spent his Saturdays hanging around the mall harassing shoppers? If so, he was kind of a cute weirdo. . . .
“All you need to do now is put on some sunglasses and start singing I’m a Soul Man.” He sang a few lines, snapping his fingers to the beat in his head.
I blinked.
“You know . . . the song Soul Man . . . from The Blue Brothers movie.”
“Oh . . . right,” I said, but I was still confused. However, I did know that I wasn’t striving to look like John Belushi. I sheepishly took off the hat and hung it back up.
He walked behind me to the other side of the rack. “Now here’s what you need,” he said, plucking up a green beret and handing it to me. “This is what you should get. Seriously.”
*************************
The next book in the "Madison Musicians" series is Out of My League, which will be released on August 3.
I'm currently taking applications for ARC readers, so if you want to be considered to receive an ARC, please visit this page for more info:
https://goo.gl/forms/HCl6OIkPQxwTW4bp1
And if you want to be notified when Out of League is released, please go here:
https://goo.gl/forms/cPQXxP18ugsm1wg32
Only Twenty-Five is currently available on Amazon and is FREE for Kindle Unlimited members.
http://amzn.to/2oDq8BP
Here is the excerpt that I read when I spoke at Foxtale Book Shoppe:
********************
In the thirty-six hours since I’d been informed of my fate the best solution I came up with was a head covering. It probably wouldn’t be a permanent solution, but it would buy me some time until I figured out something else. And who knows, I might be like those women who look hip wearing hats all the time, like Yoko Ono.
On Saturday morning I went to Madison Square Mall. An accessory store called Savvy Boutique caught my eye. I went inside and made a beeline for the hats. I studied the various hats on display before picking up a floppy straw one with a light-blue hatband. I stepped over to the mirror and plopped it on my head. Oh no, definitely not. It was cute, but kind of big, and I didn’t want to draw that much attention to myself. I decided it was good for the beach, probably, but not for everyday life. I put the hat back on the rack and kept looking.
The baseball caps looked okay. Maybe I can wear one of those. It struck me that I might actually look kind of cute in one. If I stuck my ponytail out the back I’d get that Athletic Girl look. Never mind that the most athletic thing I ever did was go for walks. I put on a blue cap and looked in the mirror—first with it facing the right way, then I turned it around. Some girls can pull this off and look cute doing it. I clearly wasn’t one of them. I looked like I’d slept through my alarm and rushed out of the house without showering or washing my hair. Still, it wouldn’t be bad to have a cap like this just in case. I returned it to the rack, making a mental note to come back to it.
I wanted something a little more stylish. There were a couple of those flat, kind of square-looking hats. What were they called . . . pillbox hats or something? I put on a pink one and checked myself out. Oh goodness. I looked like all I needed was white gloves and a suit and I’d be ready for tea with the queen of England. Too weird. I walked around to the back of the display. I tried on a beanie which was kind of cute, but it looked too much like I was either going skiing or getting ready to break into bad white girl rap.
Maybe this hat thing wasn’t such a great idea after all. I guess I can get a couple baseball caps if I can’t find anything better. But that wasn’t really the look I was going for, especially if I was going to wear one almost every day for a while. Wearing a baseball cap when I wasn’t doing anything athletic would look too much like I was trying to hide something. Which I was . . . but I certainly didn’t want to look like I was.
I was running out of options and starting to panic. Discouraged, I put on a brown fedora and looked in the mirror, carefully turning my head from side to side. It was kind of stylish . . . I guess . . . but it made me feel like I was supposed to start walking stealthily through the store solving crimes.
“Oh yes. Now that is totally you,” a male voice said.
Startled, I turned around. A guy about my age was grinning at me. He had curly black hair and he was wearing jeans and a light-blue shirt with a button-down collar. Did he work here? He certainly didn’t look like someone who would work in a women’s clothing store. But why else would he be talking to me? Was he making fun of me? Was he just some kind of weirdo who spent his Saturdays hanging around the mall harassing shoppers? If so, he was kind of a cute weirdo. . . .
“All you need to do now is put on some sunglasses and start singing I’m a Soul Man.” He sang a few lines, snapping his fingers to the beat in his head.
I blinked.
“You know . . . the song Soul Man . . . from The Blue Brothers movie.”
“Oh . . . right,” I said, but I was still confused. However, I did know that I wasn’t striving to look like John Belushi. I sheepishly took off the hat and hung it back up.
He walked behind me to the other side of the rack. “Now here’s what you need,” he said, plucking up a green beret and handing it to me. “This is what you should get. Seriously.”
*************************
The next book in the "Madison Musicians" series is Out of My League, which will be released on August 3.
I'm currently taking applications for ARC readers, so if you want to be considered to receive an ARC, please visit this page for more info:
https://goo.gl/forms/HCl6OIkPQxwTW4bp1
And if you want to be notified when Out of League is released, please go here:
https://goo.gl/forms/cPQXxP18ugsm1wg32
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews