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Finding Jackson
It's 1977 - Star Wars is breaking records at the box office, Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run tour is taking the country by storm, and born-and-bred Jersey girl Annalise Keller has fallen in love for the first and last time. Hot and charismatic with dreams of making it as a rock star, Keith "Ace" Fox is everything a teenage girl dreams of. He falls as hard for Anna as she does for him and the two decide to run off to California in search of his big break. Fate has other plans though, and several years and three kids later, Ace has traded in his guitar for a job at the local post office, and Anna has become a symbol of all he has given up. Ace spends most nights at the local bar, trying to drink away his anger and resentment.
Flash forward a decade, and their youngest child, Jackson, is headed nowhere fast. In a life filled with meaningless jobs and too much partying, music is his only true escape from the pain of a childhood that abruptly ended one rainy night. The accident had destroyed his family and left him with a slew of unanswered questions.
Everything changes the night Jackson meets Leah. Shy and reserved, she doesn't smoke and barely drinks; she certainly doesn't put out. Not exactly the girl from the Bon Jovi videos he watched as a kid. Yet before he knows it, she has become his world.
Then, just when it looks like his dreams might come true, betrayal and loss once again threaten everything he holds dear. As Jackson struggles to keep his world from spinning out of control, he knows one thing for sure, the choices he makes now will either be the start of a whole new life, or it just might be the end of him.
Flash forward a decade, and their youngest child, Jackson, is headed nowhere fast. In a life filled with meaningless jobs and too much partying, music is his only true escape from the pain of a childhood that abruptly ended one rainy night. The accident had destroyed his family and left him with a slew of unanswered questions.
Everything changes the night Jackson meets Leah. Shy and reserved, she doesn't smoke and barely drinks; she certainly doesn't put out. Not exactly the girl from the Bon Jovi videos he watched as a kid. Yet before he knows it, she has become his world.
Then, just when it looks like his dreams might come true, betrayal and loss once again threaten everything he holds dear. As Jackson struggles to keep his world from spinning out of control, he knows one thing for sure, the choices he makes now will either be the start of a whole new life, or it just might be the end of him.
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2019
54 people are currently reading
545 people want to read
About the author
Anne Holster
3 books301 followersI reside in Northern New Jersey with my husband and two children. When I'm not writing I enjoy spending time with my family, playing tennis and reading angsty romance novels. (The angstier the better!) I'm currently working on my fourth book.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 30, 2020
Just to be sure the things are very clear, Finding Jackson is a should be read - book.
Do you expect a love story? Well, you’ll get two… several. All of them are connected through the main character. Love stories which are put one against another, face to face and demand a comparison. Time seems unimportant, the stories could repeat themselves. But similar initial circumstances (a good, nerd-ish girl from the right side of the tracks and the bad boy slash poor musician who dreams of success) and the different people involved promise different outcomes. And here it comes what I disliked. Yes, it is possible to like and dislike a book at the same time… I liked it for all the reasons one would like a book. I disliked it for one of its possible conclusions. The two worlds could have different coordinates indeed but they are still compatible, there is no water and oil here.
The author doesn’t tell you what is good or what is bad, she just lets the characters to show you and you should get the message(s). What is love, how the first love could survive and most importantly, what one should do or not when waiting for or living them? Good message(s) delivered in a nice, enjoyable package. The different points of view are offered at a good pace, even if the change between them could be a little challenging for some readers. Read, analyse, learn, repeat whilst enjoy the author’s style to navigate through stereotypes, frustrations, temptations, feelings, and promises of happy endings.
Mothers, give Finding Jackson to your daughters! And to your sons as well. Adolescents, for you Finding Jackson is a must-read. You not only have part of the pleasant read as the rest of us, but also a useful one.
Curious? You should be. And then, again, you should read Finding Jackson!
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/202...
Do you expect a love story? Well, you’ll get two… several. All of them are connected through the main character. Love stories which are put one against another, face to face and demand a comparison. Time seems unimportant, the stories could repeat themselves. But similar initial circumstances (a good, nerd-ish girl from the right side of the tracks and the bad boy slash poor musician who dreams of success) and the different people involved promise different outcomes. And here it comes what I disliked. Yes, it is possible to like and dislike a book at the same time… I liked it for all the reasons one would like a book. I disliked it for one of its possible conclusions. The two worlds could have different coordinates indeed but they are still compatible, there is no water and oil here.
The author doesn’t tell you what is good or what is bad, she just lets the characters to show you and you should get the message(s). What is love, how the first love could survive and most importantly, what one should do or not when waiting for or living them? Good message(s) delivered in a nice, enjoyable package. The different points of view are offered at a good pace, even if the change between them could be a little challenging for some readers. Read, analyse, learn, repeat whilst enjoy the author’s style to navigate through stereotypes, frustrations, temptations, feelings, and promises of happy endings.
Mothers, give Finding Jackson to your daughters! And to your sons as well. Adolescents, for you Finding Jackson is a must-read. You not only have part of the pleasant read as the rest of us, but also a useful one.
Curious? You should be. And then, again, you should read Finding Jackson!
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/202...
February 5, 2020
I'm not the audience for this genre, but I loved it!
Finding Jackson isn't in my normal SFF genre. I checked it because the blurb mentioned the late seventies and early eighties. I'm a child of that generation and wanted to go down memory lane. Ironically, most of it is set in the modern day, but I quickly stopped caring because the story was that good. I truly invested into the lives of Jackson, Leah, and Anna. Well done. The rest of my review will have minor spoilers.
The Good.
The prose is excellent. This author has a gift with connecting the right words.
Jackson was great as he teased Leah when they first met.
The Anna and Ace meeting was exactly the type of stuff that drew me to the book.
The perfect plans for Ace and Anna in CA and how they were easily ruined.
Beth's name coming from a KISS song. I called it early and was happy to get the confirmation.
Leah's behavior at Thanksgiving was notable.
Leah's pettiness when it came to annoying her parents with regard to Jackson.
I loved how often Jackson and Leah had conflicting perception on the same scene. The pink bikini and Thanksgiving reception stand out.
How Leah justify early and advanced actions with Chase.
It was also great seeing Molly (aka a woman) trapped in the friend zone. It's rare for the female population to get this treatment in my entertainment.
Jackson's enthusiasm for Dirty Bushwick was contagious. I'm a writer and often have similar dreams of grandeur. I hope to get Dirty Bushwick level success.
The fact Dirty Bushwick aren't overnight successes. It takes twenty years to be an overnight success.
Leah is the nicest horrible person. Jayne is the meanest good person.
The Missy revelation was perfect. How you like them apples?
The Bad.
The flashbacks scenes are done by the 30% mark. Considering the blurb mentions them, it felt like a bait and switch.
I prefer a linear story. The time hopping felt like cheating.
Leah is in the first chapter then forgotten until the 20% mark. Likewise, she isn't represented in the back as much. Her and Anna's POV should have been spaced out a little better.
I kept waiting for Ace centric flashbacks. There are two sides to every story and the truth is in the middle. Keith was a terrible adult, but I wanted more pages to his side. I really expected to find out Jackson wasn't Keith's biological son to better explain their relationship. It would have taken from the otherwise perfect shine on Anna. Her only flaw was being a doormat.
I didn't like Jackson using Gina as a rebound. He seemed stand up enough not to help someone cheat.
I wasn't a fan of Jackson and Jayne. Can't opposite genders ever just be friends?
The Technical.
There is profanity.
There are sexual situations.
Finding Jackson isn't in my normal SFF genre. I checked it because the blurb mentioned the late seventies and early eighties. I'm a child of that generation and wanted to go down memory lane. Ironically, most of it is set in the modern day, but I quickly stopped caring because the story was that good. I truly invested into the lives of Jackson, Leah, and Anna. Well done. The rest of my review will have minor spoilers.
The Good.
The prose is excellent. This author has a gift with connecting the right words.
Jackson was great as he teased Leah when they first met.
The Anna and Ace meeting was exactly the type of stuff that drew me to the book.
The perfect plans for Ace and Anna in CA and how they were easily ruined.
Beth's name coming from a KISS song. I called it early and was happy to get the confirmation.
Leah's behavior at Thanksgiving was notable.
Leah's pettiness when it came to annoying her parents with regard to Jackson.
I loved how often Jackson and Leah had conflicting perception on the same scene. The pink bikini and Thanksgiving reception stand out.
How Leah justify early and advanced actions with Chase.
It was also great seeing Molly (aka a woman) trapped in the friend zone. It's rare for the female population to get this treatment in my entertainment.
Jackson's enthusiasm for Dirty Bushwick was contagious. I'm a writer and often have similar dreams of grandeur. I hope to get Dirty Bushwick level success.
The fact Dirty Bushwick aren't overnight successes. It takes twenty years to be an overnight success.
Leah is the nicest horrible person. Jayne is the meanest good person.
The Missy revelation was perfect. How you like them apples?
The Bad.
The flashbacks scenes are done by the 30% mark. Considering the blurb mentions them, it felt like a bait and switch.
I prefer a linear story. The time hopping felt like cheating.
Leah is in the first chapter then forgotten until the 20% mark. Likewise, she isn't represented in the back as much. Her and Anna's POV should have been spaced out a little better.
I kept waiting for Ace centric flashbacks. There are two sides to every story and the truth is in the middle. Keith was a terrible adult, but I wanted more pages to his side. I really expected to find out Jackson wasn't Keith's biological son to better explain their relationship. It would have taken from the otherwise perfect shine on Anna. Her only flaw was being a doormat.
I didn't like Jackson using Gina as a rebound. He seemed stand up enough not to help someone cheat.
I wasn't a fan of Jackson and Jayne. Can't opposite genders ever just be friends?
The Technical.
There is profanity.
There are sexual situations.
March 18, 2020
Finding Jackson is a great coming-of-age-story that highlights the struggles that the young face in overcoming the baggage thrown at them by family and by life, in realizing they don’t have to be like their parents, and in truly finding themselves. It brings home the fact that everyone is a product of their experiences, even the parents that they might be angry at.
We see the angst, aspirations, and disappointments of the main character, Jackson, his mother, Annalise, his girlfriend, Leah, and his father, “Ace”. I found the character arc of Leah the most interesting, and a great reminder that the choices we make in life affect others, and that it’s not just about us.
Including both Jackson’s present point of view and that of his mother in the past in the same chapter was a bit distracting. I felt they competed with each other, even though the purpose was to show what Jackson went through as a child. Separate chapters for the different point of views would have worked better for me as a reader.
I also would have like to have seen more in-depth descriptions, sounds, sights, etc., that would give us a stronger feel for the mood and settings and break up the narration a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read and a perceptive look at the minds of growing young adults and how they are affected through life.
We see the angst, aspirations, and disappointments of the main character, Jackson, his mother, Annalise, his girlfriend, Leah, and his father, “Ace”. I found the character arc of Leah the most interesting, and a great reminder that the choices we make in life affect others, and that it’s not just about us.
Including both Jackson’s present point of view and that of his mother in the past in the same chapter was a bit distracting. I felt they competed with each other, even though the purpose was to show what Jackson went through as a child. Separate chapters for the different point of views would have worked better for me as a reader.
I also would have like to have seen more in-depth descriptions, sounds, sights, etc., that would give us a stronger feel for the mood and settings and break up the narration a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read and a perceptive look at the minds of growing young adults and how they are affected through life.
May 3, 2020
This coming of age story promised an interesting take on the usual background influences that often produce the final adult who emerges from a ‘human pupa’, but I found most of the book tedious to read. The amount of detail that we are given through the voices of Jackson, his mother, Annalise, and his girlfriend, Leah, was surplus to requirements for me. This may have been due to the fact that it is so obviously a novel aimed at young adults and I am certainly not that. As a grandfather I thought most of the teen angst experienced as a result of parental influence or ‘young love’ somewhat obvious, although most of the language and idiomatic expressions were novel to me, and occasionally surprising – even shocking! I felt there was often a loss of atmosphere, when a sense of time and place, sights, sounds and smells could have conveyed feelings better. The settings of the 1970s and 80s did not always ring true; the mention of a couple of bands was not enough.
The style of narrative with each of the three protagonists telling the tale from their own point of view would have been less confusing if they had each done it through their own chapter, but it often occurred within the same chapter, utilising a change of font to distinguish a different character speaking. This felt clumsy and unnecessary. Having got all the negative points out of the way there are a lot of positive things to talk about in Finding Jackson. The main characters are strong and well-written with plenty of believable dialogue, particularly between parents and their offspring. The rock-an’-roll attitude around Jackson and Ace, his father, contrasted well with that of Leah and her ambitious middle-class parents, even though it became a little predictable at times. I think it was this that had me rooting for the couple to the end. Fortunately there were emotional moments that had me empathising with them and made me keep turning the pages.
Overall, for me, the book could have been about a third shorter but I suspect that it has plenty of appeal for the YA readers it is aimed at, and will go down well with them.
The style of narrative with each of the three protagonists telling the tale from their own point of view would have been less confusing if they had each done it through their own chapter, but it often occurred within the same chapter, utilising a change of font to distinguish a different character speaking. This felt clumsy and unnecessary. Having got all the negative points out of the way there are a lot of positive things to talk about in Finding Jackson. The main characters are strong and well-written with plenty of believable dialogue, particularly between parents and their offspring. The rock-an’-roll attitude around Jackson and Ace, his father, contrasted well with that of Leah and her ambitious middle-class parents, even though it became a little predictable at times. I think it was this that had me rooting for the couple to the end. Fortunately there were emotional moments that had me empathising with them and made me keep turning the pages.
Overall, for me, the book could have been about a third shorter but I suspect that it has plenty of appeal for the YA readers it is aimed at, and will go down well with them.
February 15, 2021
Amount of sex 1.5 / 5
How explicit is the sex 1 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Finding Jackson is an amazing coming of age romance and unlike any that I’ve read before. The story centers around Jackson Foxx, who dreams of being a famous guitarist. At the beginning of the book, the story flips back and forth between the past and present. However, it’s not in a way that’s confusing to the reader. I believe it actually helped me understand Jackson better.
Finding Jackson is a character-rich love story, and I had a difficult time putting it down. There were several twists along the way, which had me guessing what was going to happen next. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as I think you should read this story without any spoilers. So, grab a snack, get comfy, and prepare yourself for a great ride.
Voluntarily Reviewed a Gifted Story
How explicit is the sex 1 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Finding Jackson is an amazing coming of age romance and unlike any that I’ve read before. The story centers around Jackson Foxx, who dreams of being a famous guitarist. At the beginning of the book, the story flips back and forth between the past and present. However, it’s not in a way that’s confusing to the reader. I believe it actually helped me understand Jackson better.
Finding Jackson is a character-rich love story, and I had a difficult time putting it down. There were several twists along the way, which had me guessing what was going to happen next. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as I think you should read this story without any spoilers. So, grab a snack, get comfy, and prepare yourself for a great ride.
Voluntarily Reviewed a Gifted Story
March 25, 2020
In this story we are presented with Leah about to graduate from high school who meets Jackson, a musician in a band a few years older than her. They meet and engage in a slow building romance despite coming from different backgrounds that include differences in socio-economic status and experiences. Once Leah heads for collage, things begin to change. This is at the same time that Jackson finds out more about his past, encounters current challenges, and hopefulness for a successful future.
This book is an enjoyable read set in the late seventies and eighties that took me back to my college and coming of age years about the journey to adulthood. Written in a Pulp Fiction Style, from different time frames and different character’s perspectives, we are presented with Jacksons perspective about discovering who you are, where you came from and where you are going. Parallel to this is Leah’s story about how things may result when that doesn’t happen for an individual.
This book is an enjoyable read set in the late seventies and eighties that took me back to my college and coming of age years about the journey to adulthood. Written in a Pulp Fiction Style, from different time frames and different character’s perspectives, we are presented with Jacksons perspective about discovering who you are, where you came from and where you are going. Parallel to this is Leah’s story about how things may result when that doesn’t happen for an individual.
November 23, 2019
This was such a good overall read. It's not your typical young adult love story. It delves into the family background to help the reader strongly understand the current character situation. It kept me interested throughout especially with the dual stories. I would recommend to all young readers, dreamers and futurists!
November 29, 2019
A very enjoyable read. Not the typical rockstar romance id usually go for but really enjoyed it. Loved the flashbacks and dual point of view. Enjoyed seeing the growth of the main characters. Nice easy going read. Definatley not what I was expecting and hope there will be more to come from Anne Holster
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January 11, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/11/2020)! 🎁
May 7, 2020
FINDING JACKSON explores a fascinating parallel: two young, romantic women of different generations falling head over heels for too-cool-for-school male musicians who apparently aren't any good for them... soft-spoken, "nice-girl" Leah + opportunistic, jaded Jackson and sweet, naive Anna + arrogant, vicious Ace. You can sort of sense where these relationships are going (Anna + Ace's crumbling marriage is obvious early on, but Jackson's curveball caught me by surprise), you can't help but look on with helpless wonder and dread, as rapt as when watching a fine performance in a predictable horror flick or romantic comedy/drama.
This book is a study of backstory -- how backstories work in novels, and how they work in real life, too, explaining -- if not entirely justifying -- why people are the way they are. With an abusive drunkard father and dead mother, it isn't hard to see how Jackson veered off-track; I almost wish there was more backstory about Ace, as I couldn't find one redeeming quality in him as a youth or adult (so I couldn't "justify" him, much less like him!), but (sadly) that makes him no less believable.
Structurally, it would have made more sense to me if Anna's flashbacks were structured as different chapters, labelled with her name like Jackson's or Leah's (pr maybe there was different font/italics, but it didn't show up in the ereader); I could still follow the story tangents anyway. Holster does an amazing job of evoking emotion with just enough prose -- a child's eyes glued to the TV as his mother says she loves him for the last time, blood rushing down a seventeen-year-old's inner thigh, the silence on the other end of a telephone, the dreadful wait of a guy who's waiting up on his girlfriend in her dormroom while she's screwing around... When Leah heads off to college, it almost feels like a completely different novel, and she morphs into nearly a completely different person... it makes sense, in a way, because it shows (just as in the case of Anna and Ace) so clearly how two people's paths can diverge so subtly and completely -- and the reality of how poor choices lead to poor consequences. And I was so, so happy Jackson finally got his happy ending.
It's a wonderful read, albeit a bit disjointed at times, and very heartfelt. Certainly recommended. Also -- I'm gonna go find and hug Anna's mom now.
This book is a study of backstory -- how backstories work in novels, and how they work in real life, too, explaining -- if not entirely justifying -- why people are the way they are. With an abusive drunkard father and dead mother, it isn't hard to see how Jackson veered off-track; I almost wish there was more backstory about Ace, as I couldn't find one redeeming quality in him as a youth or adult (so I couldn't "justify" him, much less like him!), but (sadly) that makes him no less believable.
Structurally, it would have made more sense to me if Anna's flashbacks were structured as different chapters, labelled with her name like Jackson's or Leah's (pr maybe there was different font/italics, but it didn't show up in the ereader); I could still follow the story tangents anyway. Holster does an amazing job of evoking emotion with just enough prose -- a child's eyes glued to the TV as his mother says she loves him for the last time, blood rushing down a seventeen-year-old's inner thigh, the silence on the other end of a telephone, the dreadful wait of a guy who's waiting up on his girlfriend in her dormroom while she's screwing around... When Leah heads off to college, it almost feels like a completely different novel, and she morphs into nearly a completely different person... it makes sense, in a way, because it shows (just as in the case of Anna and Ace) so clearly how two people's paths can diverge so subtly and completely -- and the reality of how poor choices lead to poor consequences. And I was so, so happy Jackson finally got his happy ending.
It's a wonderful read, albeit a bit disjointed at times, and very heartfelt. Certainly recommended. Also -- I'm gonna go find and hug Anna's mom now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
A well-woven YA romance/coming of age mix with a rock-band edge, ‘Finding Jackson’ is in fact two interwoven stories told in turn by the main protagonists, Leah and Jackson. Young lovers who, though from wildly differing backgrounds, just dig each other.
As Leah departs for college with her best friend Molly, its clear her bond with Jackson is strong enough to weather their separation; even when Jackson is asked to join an up and coming band “Dirty Bushwick”. But (not to give too much of the story away) as each is pulled further down their own path - Leah into the temptations of college life, Jackson gigging, band practice and work - the cracks creep in.
Holster writes with confidence, showing well two different voices, Jackson’s in particular. She is careful to give just enough emotion without it becoming flowery. I enjoyed the two main protagonists, as well as the host of supporting characters, each well rounded with thought-through back stories. All in all, an enjoyable read!
As Leah departs for college with her best friend Molly, its clear her bond with Jackson is strong enough to weather their separation; even when Jackson is asked to join an up and coming band “Dirty Bushwick”. But (not to give too much of the story away) as each is pulled further down their own path - Leah into the temptations of college life, Jackson gigging, band practice and work - the cracks creep in.
Holster writes with confidence, showing well two different voices, Jackson’s in particular. She is careful to give just enough emotion without it becoming flowery. I enjoyed the two main protagonists, as well as the host of supporting characters, each well rounded with thought-through back stories. All in all, an enjoyable read!
February 7, 2020
What a great book!! I loved it! Jackson is THE best - what a hottie!
I love RockStar books but this was different than most - BETTER! I enjoyed the story within a story technique and that the way it was written made it really easy for me to read. I loved that they had problems and worked them out but not just 'I'm sorry' and it's HEA time. I felt like the characters really grew throughout the entire book and I really felt that it is written in such a way that you can really get to know them. The book is a little on the long side...480+ pages but they flew by!
A perfect 'Coming of Age', when you're trying to figure out just what you really want out of life type book. FINDING JACKSON kept me turning those pages while enjoying a truly fantastic book! I HIGHLY recommend this great New Adult read!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gratefully received this complimentary copy from the author and Goddess Fish. I am voluntarily leaving my review and all opinions are my own.
I love RockStar books but this was different than most - BETTER! I enjoyed the story within a story technique and that the way it was written made it really easy for me to read. I loved that they had problems and worked them out but not just 'I'm sorry' and it's HEA time. I felt like the characters really grew throughout the entire book and I really felt that it is written in such a way that you can really get to know them. The book is a little on the long side...480+ pages but they flew by!
A perfect 'Coming of Age', when you're trying to figure out just what you really want out of life type book. FINDING JACKSON kept me turning those pages while enjoying a truly fantastic book! I HIGHLY recommend this great New Adult read!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gratefully received this complimentary copy from the author and Goddess Fish. I am voluntarily leaving my review and all opinions are my own.
April 4, 2020
Finding Jackson by Anne Holster is the story of Jackson’s struggles to emerge from the shadows of childhood and seek a successful career but it has been told in a roundabout manner, squeezing in the flashbacks of his parents and their romance. The plot is quite predictable yet it drags on with too many unnecessary details, leaving nothing for the imagination of the reader. The language is irreverent and irksome, with ‘F’ and ‘S’ words on each page, repeated so many times that they mar the interest of the story. Do young adults use such a language all the time? Are they as irresponsible and naïve as Leah or as sinister as Chase? However a positive message worth noting is the determination, perseverance and focus on the goal.
Holster’s characters are realistic and show a remarkable development as the story moves forward. They evoke love, hatred, empathy and derision; most of the emotions have been handled quite well, without any judgment, letting the readers discern through their own eyes – a subtle suggestion that your own experiences define life for you. A haunting question that gnawed at my heart is – what is more important: direction or passion? Leah has the direction but she refuses to accept it and Jackson’s passion reigns despite all the stumbling blocks. At the same time, Keith’s passion couldn’t hold him.
On the whole this book was a drag for me, I wished it had a better flow. It could be good for those youngsters who don’t care for the decorum of language, essential for a good book.
Holster’s characters are realistic and show a remarkable development as the story moves forward. They evoke love, hatred, empathy and derision; most of the emotions have been handled quite well, without any judgment, letting the readers discern through their own eyes – a subtle suggestion that your own experiences define life for you. A haunting question that gnawed at my heart is – what is more important: direction or passion? Leah has the direction but she refuses to accept it and Jackson’s passion reigns despite all the stumbling blocks. At the same time, Keith’s passion couldn’t hold him.
On the whole this book was a drag for me, I wished it had a better flow. It could be good for those youngsters who don’t care for the decorum of language, essential for a good book.
November 29, 2019
Just finished reading Finding Jackson, the book was not at all what I was expecting. I had a great story line, good bones, dual point of views, and separate character stories spanning along several decades. It was a bit long and I got distracted along the read, but it’s partially my fault not the writers. I did like how the characters are written and how their personalities are portrayed. I actually did not like the main love interest Leah so I was happy how her story ended. I loved Jackson and his humbling personality. The other supporting characters were just as great.
I give this book 4 stars for being well written, having a strong story, and for not being the typical Rockstar romance.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
I give this book 4 stars for being well written, having a strong story, and for not being the typical Rockstar romance.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
December 14, 2019
This was a Goodreads win for me. When I started reading it focused on a young girl in high school. I thought, 'Oh no! YA is not my favorite.' The story progressed and got much better. She meets Jackson, who is in a band, mostly playing parties for high school students. She falls fast for him and so did I. Jackson is the greatest! He's gorgeous, plays guitar, a really nice guy. He's learned from the hard knock life and he falls fast for her. It's several stories within a story. Tells about how Jackson's family came to be and it's very interesting. However, I thought this book was a little drawn out. I think the story could have been shorter and more to the point. I'm still in love with Jackson!!
Young Adults will definitely enjoy this book.
Thank you, Goodreads!
Young Adults will definitely enjoy this book.
Thank you, Goodreads!
August 3, 2020
I have to say it took me two tries to get through this book. I started it quite a while ago and I never could get vested into the story. The other day, I decided to give it another go and this time I made it through but it still didn't ring right with me. The writing is good and the characters are well done ... I actually really liked Jackson ... but the intermingling of the past and present stories was often rather abrupt and disruptive. And I though the story dragged somewhat ... a bit too much descriptive narrative at times. But it's an interesting plot and it's a nice change to get away from the typical rock-star light romance so I'll give this author another read one day.
I won a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
February 27, 2020
Leah, a quiet girl from a good family meets and falls for Jackson, whose family leaves a lot to be desired. They have a long romance, but her family doesn't care for him and she leaves for college. Her parents don't want her to come home, they want her to meet a guy at college. Jackson is a musician, who works part time jobs to get by. Leah begins to doubt that he will ever amount to anything.
April 23, 2020
I liked that it went back and fourth how each different chapter reflected the different character. It was an easy read and kept me interested throughout the book. I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly!
January 13, 2020
Fantastic read! Finding Jackson kept the pages turning while diving into the characters’ histories!!!! It is definitely a reread!!!!
January 20, 2020
Must read
I loved this book. Jackson is the best. The story was well written. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy reading!
I loved this book. Jackson is the best. The story was well written. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy reading!
November 21, 2019
Great book!
Great book! Very real life and enjoyable to read. Can't wait for the next book! Thanks for another enjoyable book
Great book! Very real life and enjoyable to read. Can't wait for the next book! Thanks for another enjoyable book
December 4, 2019
won this from goodreads. first book I have read by this author. good book give it a try.
January 28, 2020
Thank you to Ann Holster and Goodreads.com I won this book in a Giveaway.
Loved the idea of the story and the writing made it an easy read. Appreciated the fact that the story wasn't a typical "I forgive you" and let's live happily ever after. My only problem with this was the author felt they need to keep reminding us of the "why's"; I found it really repetitive.
Loved the idea of the story and the writing made it an easy read. Appreciated the fact that the story wasn't a typical "I forgive you" and let's live happily ever after. My only problem with this was the author felt they need to keep reminding us of the "why's"; I found it really repetitive.
November 4, 2019
So cool to get to be the first to review this new rock star romance - or should I say rock star 'saga' since it does span several decades. The character development was excellent with all characters showing significant growth from beginning to end - and not just in good ways, which I'm guessing was the author's plan from the start. I loved how Anna's story was told in flashbacks and felt it was very realistic. I also loved where Jackson and Leah ended up at the end, but don't want to give anything away, so all I'll say is WOW! Well done!
February 22, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed this. It is a coming of age, young love novel that we all can relate to. At times embarrassing, you'll be laughing, hoping that all works out and it does. I received this ARC in exchange for my review.
April 13, 2020
We needed a COVID-19 distraction.
Anne Holster’s Finding Jackson, a young adult rock and roll indie romance, promised to be the perfect quarantine pastime. The book follows the love story between Jackson and Leah as they each delve into some defining life moments and important times growing up. College girl, rock band guy, tied with a This is Us sort of back and forth timeline shift, Finding Jackson has an attention grabbing premise. Even the cover is a beauty.
Being able to get off of our couch and out of the house, at least metaphorically, was exactly what we needed. Thankfully, the descriptions of where these characters live and go to school are vivid. The details made it easy to get belted in for Jackson’s drive across the bridge out of Jersey, or walking across Leah’s campus. If the realistic imagery wasn’t enough to engage us, we also got to follow the 80’s love affair between Jackson’s parents.
Unfortunately, a huge chunk of the story is narrated after the fact. Rather than be in the moment sharing the mile marker events in these couples’ relationships, the reader is told about them through narrative reflection. And that just doesn’t deliver the same impact as experiencing it in real time.
As with most romance stories, sex becomes a prevalant topic between our couple, Leah and Jackson. Leah’s a virgin, Jackson’s far from being pure, that kind of thing. When the couple decides that it is time to seal the deal, the reader gets no details on the act and, again, it’s mentioned well after the deed has been done.
Now, we aren’t saying that we need premium PornHub level access for every sex scene that we read, but we are saying that sex is natural and a pivitol part of any relationship - especially when one of the parties has never had sex before. Receiving no details or aftermath of this important moment implies that there is nothing special about the event - almost indicating that it should be kept behind closed doors. (We’re romance readers - we prefer to be in the bedroom if the door is going to be closed).
In fact, the only sexual details in Finding Jackson are during acts of infidelity, guilt-after-cheating sex, and intimacy during emotional distress. Whether intentional or not, this comes across as promoting an attitude that sex is dirty or that the best sex comes when it’s corrupt. Here at Book Bin Divers we promote sex positivity - which means that we want to read about healthy couples engaging in consensual, enjoyable, sexual acts. And the only acts that we received from Finding Jackson were laced with negativity and underlying anguish.
We wanted to love this rock and roll romance. Jackson is a sweet guy with a troubled past. He’s able to push through the hardships of his childhood to follow his dreams and be a caring boyfriend to his love, Leah. From questionable use of narrative to unnecessary points in the storyline, there were too many hiccups to make Finding Jackson a homerun for Book Bin Divers.
Anne Holster’s Finding Jackson, a young adult rock and roll indie romance, promised to be the perfect quarantine pastime. The book follows the love story between Jackson and Leah as they each delve into some defining life moments and important times growing up. College girl, rock band guy, tied with a This is Us sort of back and forth timeline shift, Finding Jackson has an attention grabbing premise. Even the cover is a beauty.
Being able to get off of our couch and out of the house, at least metaphorically, was exactly what we needed. Thankfully, the descriptions of where these characters live and go to school are vivid. The details made it easy to get belted in for Jackson’s drive across the bridge out of Jersey, or walking across Leah’s campus. If the realistic imagery wasn’t enough to engage us, we also got to follow the 80’s love affair between Jackson’s parents.
Unfortunately, a huge chunk of the story is narrated after the fact. Rather than be in the moment sharing the mile marker events in these couples’ relationships, the reader is told about them through narrative reflection. And that just doesn’t deliver the same impact as experiencing it in real time.
As with most romance stories, sex becomes a prevalant topic between our couple, Leah and Jackson. Leah’s a virgin, Jackson’s far from being pure, that kind of thing. When the couple decides that it is time to seal the deal, the reader gets no details on the act and, again, it’s mentioned well after the deed has been done.
Now, we aren’t saying that we need premium PornHub level access for every sex scene that we read, but we are saying that sex is natural and a pivitol part of any relationship - especially when one of the parties has never had sex before. Receiving no details or aftermath of this important moment implies that there is nothing special about the event - almost indicating that it should be kept behind closed doors. (We’re romance readers - we prefer to be in the bedroom if the door is going to be closed).
In fact, the only sexual details in Finding Jackson are during acts of infidelity, guilt-after-cheating sex, and intimacy during emotional distress. Whether intentional or not, this comes across as promoting an attitude that sex is dirty or that the best sex comes when it’s corrupt. Here at Book Bin Divers we promote sex positivity - which means that we want to read about healthy couples engaging in consensual, enjoyable, sexual acts. And the only acts that we received from Finding Jackson were laced with negativity and underlying anguish.
We wanted to love this rock and roll romance. Jackson is a sweet guy with a troubled past. He’s able to push through the hardships of his childhood to follow his dreams and be a caring boyfriend to his love, Leah. From questionable use of narrative to unnecessary points in the storyline, there were too many hiccups to make Finding Jackson a homerun for Book Bin Divers.
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