3.5
Actually kind of liked this. It wasn't terribly original and some aspects of it were quite familiar from similar books I've read in the past. But I don't care about that. I wanted to read something that wouldn't disappoint me or piss me off, and this little tale buried in my TBR list met those requirements.
Best as I can conclude, this was sort of a Y/A into N/A if one goes by the ages, which were perhaps 18-19 at the beginning and about 25 at the book's end. But these were well-written, believable characters who acted as expected for their age - meaning they displayed both the strengths and the weaknesses of that age group, including their immaturity. They frustrated me, yet I still liked them. Nice job from this writer.
So, this book won't appeal to everyone. It's a rock star story centering around 3 friends and a handful of secondary players. It is not a love triangle but rather a story of childhood mates, unrequited love and the cost of fame. It touches on the poor decisions and reckless behaviour that often accompanies that life, but not too deeply. There are incidents of drug use and drunkenness involving several characters. Also, there is considerable back and forth, OW drama, OM drama, misunderstandings and separation - things that would make several of my friends on here break out in hives 😅. It's also a slow-burn with one non-graphic sex scene and another fade-to-black, both at about the 90% mark. There was chemistry, UST and some steamy kisses, but that was the extent. For me, it was a most welcome change from the sex-heavy/story lite material that is so hard to avoid nowadays. The sex in the 'sex, drugs, rock and roll' is there in this case, it's just off the page.
To summarise, we have a group of youngers coming of age, being all the things we are at that time in our lives - annoying, impulsive, selfish, funny and endearing. Sometimes you don't like them but most of the time you do, even at their most frustrating.
I liked it. It didn't stress me out and I didn't skim anything. I liked the HEA and that it wasn't all wrapped up with a perfect little bow. They were all a work-in-progress and owned it.
This book is NOT safe, for anyone who needs that. There is a marriage and a child with someone other than the H or h, implied cheating (before the MC's are together), some reckless lifestyle stuff and an engagement to someone other than the H or h. Obviously, there was sex with others. There were no virgins. Nobody was celibate for years. Both MC's had lives outside of each other's orbit.
Decent story that kept my interest. Would recommend.