the town of Netherburg got its name because it was built in a valley in the Appalachian Mountains, but Jasey Rose Foster’s theory is that it’s the closest they could get to Nothing-Burger without being so brutally honest. Funny enough, her arch nemesis and Netherburg’s most famous and beloved musician, Mickey Ryker, agrees with her. Destined to make a name for themselves, they’re both in search of a way out of this wretched town.
When the science fair arrives, offering a large cash prize for 1st place, Jasey thinks it’s her ticket out—but secretly Mickey does, too. When Jasey discovers not only is Mickey secretly entering the science fair, but his project is an A.I. robot, she gets a wicked idea. She hacks the robot so she can control it from her computer.
One day, the robot “comes alive.”
Mickey thinks he’s a genius, Jasey thinks she’s got him wrapped around her finger.
Daniel Paul Rowell has always been a storyteller at heart, having spent his younger years either lost in the pages of a good book or reenacting entire movie scenes after a single watch—much to the amusement (and occasional concern) of his family.
Nowadays, he’s taken to his trusty keyboard to craft the epic tales he imagined all along; where the impossible becomes the everyday, and every adventure starts with a leap of faith. When he’s not dreaming up new worlds or nudging his characters toward greatness, you might catch him strumming his guitar or losing at chess. Because, as the great Durwood Fincher (AKA Mr. Doubletalk) once said, “Mistakes are just stepping stones . . . to failure.”
But beneath all the fantasy and fun, D.P. Rowell writes with a purpose: to inspire readers to find their own courage, trust in a greater plan, and embrace the adventure of life—no matter where they start. So, if you’re up for a journey filled with wonder, mystery, and maybe a few laughs along the way, you’ve come to the right place. Daniel is here to guide you through the story, one gripping chapter at a time.
This book took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I liked Jasey in the beginning, then I hated her, then I loved her again at the end. I do wish there was more of Jasey and Mickey's love story after they got back together. I still enjoyed the book, even when Jasey was being annoying.
If you’re looking for a book with a fun plot, realistic characters who have depth and unique quirks, and an overall story that speaks to the human desire of wanting to do something with your life, this is a great book for you! It’s also a great coming of age story that truly encapsulates the pressures and anticipations of moving on from high school to bigger and better things.
I loved the usage of dramatic irony, the juxtaposition of characters such as Jasey and Rayna—who were perfect foils for one another—and the gradual revelations of what made each character tick the way they did were artfully done.
While this novel is out of my usual genre choice, it really was one of my favorite reads of 2019!
You will either love, like, or not appreciate this book; it depends on the kind of person you are.
It was engaging, entertaining and the story was interesting. I like the school and student vibes, it took me back in time, and I enjoyed being at that moment.
As for the prank, I am not mad at it. I mean, I watch pranks on YouTube all day and every day, to crack me up. You can imagine my thoughts when reading a book that has a significant prank in it.
The prank went from being funny to being mean very quickly. Unfortunately, I loved it. I found myself doing an evil grin while the joke was going on. In my head, Jasey was a young lady with two horns and long fingers, Lolz. I felt sorry for the victim, but I enjoyed the story. I guess this is why I finished the book in one day.
You will find yourself cracking up, all thanks to Rayna. Overall, there is a lot to learn from the story.
At best I can give this one an "ok". It was a quick read, although not particularly engaging or riveting. The big secret, plot twist is obvious extremely quickly. The author tried way to hard to sell Rayna as Southern, to the point of being annoying. Towards the end, the story starts moving extremely fast towards the big happy convenient wrap up. Not something I would read again, but ok for a light read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.