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Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze
Fifteen-year-old Rainey Cobb never thought meeting someone could actually change her life. But, then again, she’s never met anyone like Juliet.
It’s 1995 and The Cobb Family Band, led by Rainey’s rock star parents, has arrived for a week-long gig at the Midwestern resort owned by Juliet’s family. Dazzled by Juliet’s carpe diem attitude, DIY tattoos, and passion for grunge, Rainey falls hard. And when Juliet gives Rainey a mixtape that unlocks her heart’s secret yearnings, Rainey starts seeing herself—and her vagabond, show-biz life—through new eyes.
If Rainey quits the band, her parents’ fading career might never recover. But if she doesn’t leap now, she might be stuck forever in a life she didn’t choose…and always wonder who she could have been.
It’s 1995 and The Cobb Family Band, led by Rainey’s rock star parents, has arrived for a week-long gig at the Midwestern resort owned by Juliet’s family. Dazzled by Juliet’s carpe diem attitude, DIY tattoos, and passion for grunge, Rainey falls hard. And when Juliet gives Rainey a mixtape that unlocks her heart’s secret yearnings, Rainey starts seeing herself—and her vagabond, show-biz life—through new eyes.
If Rainey quits the band, her parents’ fading career might never recover. But if she doesn’t leap now, she might be stuck forever in a life she didn’t choose…and always wonder who she could have been.
269 pages, Paperback
Published July 22, 2022
About the author
Benjamin Roesch
3 books42 followersBENJAMIN ROESCH is an award-winning young adult and middle grade author of stories for young readers and the young at heart. His debut novel, Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze, won the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award. A veteran English teacher with an MFA from Lesley University, Benjamin is passionate about helping young writers find their voices. He also co-hosts the writing podcast Perspectives on Pages. He lives in Burlington, Vermont, where he writes, teaches, and plays dad to two teenage sons and a scrappy dog named Shiloh. Oh, and his name is pronounced “Rush,” like the band from Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 3, 2022
Funny, poignant, and musically rich, Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is a gem of a story that feels fresh and original as it explores universal themes of first love, heartbreak, and family strife.
Rainey Cobb, a home-schooled, concert-touring, musical prodigy, may not be an ordinary 15-year-old girl but her journey to finding her own voice, literally and metaphorically, is one most of us relate to, particularly teens. But that doesn’t mean adult readers won’t find a lot to connect with. Those of us who recall pouring attention and affection into the mix tapes we composed for friends and crushes back in the 90s will especially appreciate how well Roesch captures that experience and all the nuanced meaning behind it. (Not to mention designing a terrific soundtrack of songs to expose today’s teens to.)
At every turn, Roesch’s writing is crisp and clear, loaded with sensory details that allow to readers to step fully into Rainey’s world, which is especially compelling when we get to experience what it’s like performing before a live audience.
Blowin’ My Mind is a compassionately told, insightful story, the kind that teens remember and carry forward, rewinding and replaying whenever it feels like the world doesn't understand them.
Rainey Cobb, a home-schooled, concert-touring, musical prodigy, may not be an ordinary 15-year-old girl but her journey to finding her own voice, literally and metaphorically, is one most of us relate to, particularly teens. But that doesn’t mean adult readers won’t find a lot to connect with. Those of us who recall pouring attention and affection into the mix tapes we composed for friends and crushes back in the 90s will especially appreciate how well Roesch captures that experience and all the nuanced meaning behind it. (Not to mention designing a terrific soundtrack of songs to expose today’s teens to.)
At every turn, Roesch’s writing is crisp and clear, loaded with sensory details that allow to readers to step fully into Rainey’s world, which is especially compelling when we get to experience what it’s like performing before a live audience.
Blowin’ My Mind is a compassionately told, insightful story, the kind that teens remember and carry forward, rewinding and replaying whenever it feels like the world doesn't understand them.
August 22, 2022
An excellent debut novel; I really enjoyed this book. The author weaves charmingly flawed characters into the 90’s milieu to authentically encapsulate the universal teen dilemmas of romance, purpose, and belonging. The story employs music as a scaffold to bolster the theme of self discovery in a fresh and entertaining way, and the writing style is engaging and easy to read. Highly recommended!
January 28, 2024
This was such a sweet queer YA coming of age story.
It's 1995, 15 year old Rainey travels around with her family's band but when a week-long stop leads to an unexpected friendship, she starts questioning everything about her life. From her sexuality, to her homeschooling situation, to her music and everything that she wants moving forward.
While Rainey's journey is the overall point of the book, I came out of it seeing it for everything else that it was...it was about the firsts that we experience in life, our complicated family bonds, the friendships that we make along the way and of course the music.
I am a huge music lover but I am not at all musically gifted and while reading this book I learned so much about music from the perspective of a musician. It truly shows the knowledge that the author has as a musician himself. I truly love when you can read a book and see all the elements that the author puts in from their own personal life. An added bonus that so many of my favorite songs were mentioned.
My absolute favorite quote comes from when Rainey asks a teacher (who is gay) how he knew.
He says, "I think I always knew" ... "It took me a little while to realize it, but I think deep down I always felt it, even when I was a little kid. Before I knew what it was I was feeling."
This is literally almost word for word exactly what I once said to someone when they asked me this very question, and it truly just hits home for me.
It's 1995, 15 year old Rainey travels around with her family's band but when a week-long stop leads to an unexpected friendship, she starts questioning everything about her life. From her sexuality, to her homeschooling situation, to her music and everything that she wants moving forward.
While Rainey's journey is the overall point of the book, I came out of it seeing it for everything else that it was...it was about the firsts that we experience in life, our complicated family bonds, the friendships that we make along the way and of course the music.
I am a huge music lover but I am not at all musically gifted and while reading this book I learned so much about music from the perspective of a musician. It truly shows the knowledge that the author has as a musician himself. I truly love when you can read a book and see all the elements that the author puts in from their own personal life. An added bonus that so many of my favorite songs were mentioned.
My absolute favorite quote comes from when Rainey asks a teacher (who is gay) how he knew.
He says, "I think I always knew" ... "It took me a little while to realize it, but I think deep down I always felt it, even when I was a little kid. Before I knew what it was I was feeling."
This is literally almost word for word exactly what I once said to someone when they asked me this very question, and it truly just hits home for me.
June 24, 2022
Blowin' my mind like a summer breeze is about Rainey Cobb, who tries to find herself over the summer of 1995. The story includes themes like growing up, finding your place in the world, mental health issues and the LGBTQIA+ community.
I absolutely can say that this debut novel serves everything you can wish for in a book. All of the characters were so relatable and loveavle at the same time. The family relationship is also something you can find a normal family outside of this book.
The setting of the resort brought me back to my own childhood and teenage years. Reading Rainey's story was such a delight. The book let me feel so many emotions and relive my own memories. Good memories. Things I almost forgot since I grew up.
Figuring out who you want to be and where your place in the world might be is absolutely not easy. I loved how every aspect of this process got described and written so well in this book. It's messy. It's emotional. You get your heart broken. You have fights with your family. But you also find friends. And have new hobbies. And discover something you love with your whole heart.
The only issue I might have that the topics anxiety and depression could have gotten more details, but the rest of the book makes up for it. An amazing book I will probably never stop recommending!
I absolutely can say that this debut novel serves everything you can wish for in a book. All of the characters were so relatable and loveavle at the same time. The family relationship is also something you can find a normal family outside of this book.
The setting of the resort brought me back to my own childhood and teenage years. Reading Rainey's story was such a delight. The book let me feel so many emotions and relive my own memories. Good memories. Things I almost forgot since I grew up.
Figuring out who you want to be and where your place in the world might be is absolutely not easy. I loved how every aspect of this process got described and written so well in this book. It's messy. It's emotional. You get your heart broken. You have fights with your family. But you also find friends. And have new hobbies. And discover something you love with your whole heart.
The only issue I might have that the topics anxiety and depression could have gotten more details, but the rest of the book makes up for it. An amazing book I will probably never stop recommending!
June 24, 2022
I love the Cobb family and want to read more about their fascinating lives!
Roesch's debut novel, Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze perfectly captures the imperfection of growing up. Rainey Cobb is a musician, sister, daughter, friend, and now, perhaps, a girlfriend. Throughout the book she explores the age old question, who am I? While the main plot is Rainey's exploration of a new romantic relationship, what Roesch does most beautifully is portray the complexity of family life. As Rainey discovers more about her sexuality and becoming her own person, her mother struggles to let go of her own dreams of what Rainey should be. Rainey's brother and father are also experiencing struggles, making the family a dynamic cast of characters, each with their own story to be told.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Roesch's debut novel, Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze perfectly captures the imperfection of growing up. Rainey Cobb is a musician, sister, daughter, friend, and now, perhaps, a girlfriend. Throughout the book she explores the age old question, who am I? While the main plot is Rainey's exploration of a new romantic relationship, what Roesch does most beautifully is portray the complexity of family life. As Rainey discovers more about her sexuality and becoming her own person, her mother struggles to let go of her own dreams of what Rainey should be. Rainey's brother and father are also experiencing struggles, making the family a dynamic cast of characters, each with their own story to be told.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 9, 2022
As a middle school teacher, and a full-time consumer of all things YA, I found this book engaging right from the start. I was a teenager in the early 90s, so the underlying soundtrack of the book not only was nostalgic, but it also nailed the coming of age story of the lead character, Rainey. I even was getting some “Dirty Dancing” vibes with the summer resort setting in Lake Michigan. Nostalgia rearing it’s head yet again. But I think the true strength of the book is the representation and coming out story of Rainey. As she wrestled with her identity throughout the entire book, I could see how important that journey would be for any LGBTQ teens reading the same story. Representation matters. This was a great read!
August 5, 2022
First off, thank you so much Benjamin for an ARC of this book!
Alright y'all. I know my reviews usually have a hint of sass and sillyness, but I'm doing this one on a more serious note. Reason being: NO BOOK has ever spoken more accurately on my coming out journey than this book just has. This book is a safe space. And I get goosebumps thinking about how many people this book will help on their journey.
BMMLASB follows the coming out journey of Rainey. After meeting Juliet, Rainey realizes there's a wealth of possibilities in this life, and she's torn whether to follow her heart, or the wishes of her family.
This book is a love letter to those stuck in limbo with coming out. Not only does Benjamin make this book so relatable to the journey, but there is a very profound statement of acceptance. An acceptance that states you are ENOUGH. That you are the conductor of your life. And that no matter what, you deserve to be happy.
Falling for the first time can be hard. I fell HARD for my first boy. All for him to tell me he was "experimenting" and it wasn't for him. And it was one of the hardest experiences to go through. Rainey has a similar experience, falling for her first, and gets turned down. At one point Juliet even speaks on the intensity of those first love feelings and how overwhelming they can be. And that resonated so hard with me. Those feelings I experienced have never been brought to light like that. But Benjamin did. And shows that it doesn't make us flawed. What matters is what you do next. You can stay hung up on this person. Or you can continue this path to discovery and continue to indulge in this newfound life of endless possibilities.
There are so many heartfelt moments in this book where you can just see Rainey's walls coming down. Slowly peeling back the layers of her hardened shell from living the life she thought she HAD to live, rather than the one she WANTED to live. Her parents are famous musicians, and she feels the pressure to live up to her parent's standards and aspirations. But all of a sudden Juliet starts chipping away at that wall. And Rainey begins jumping out of her comfort zone. A nose ring. A style change. New taste in music. And WOW. I can remember those leaps. And how scary, but NECESSARY those were. How all of a sudden, there's this person that shows you this entire grandiose world beyond that wall. And Benjamin depicts those moments flawlessly! The fear, the anxiety, the excitement, and that internal struggle of whether it's ok or not to put your happiness first.
Another moment I feel lots will resonate with is coming out to someone for the first time. I LOVED this part in the book. I remember building up so much tension to that moment. Repeatedly asking that person not to tell a soul! That new, profound weightlessness to your shoulders. It is all captured so well! It's not easy. Telling that first person. Especially after denying it for so long. Rainey even denies it when asked by her brother. The journey to gaining the resolve to tell someone, the routine questioning of "how will so-and-so react," but then finally making that jump just spoke so loud in this book.
This is hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Thank you Benjamin for creating a safe space and being a shoulder to lean on for those going through that journey of self-discovery and absolute liberation :)
Alright y'all. I know my reviews usually have a hint of sass and sillyness, but I'm doing this one on a more serious note. Reason being: NO BOOK has ever spoken more accurately on my coming out journey than this book just has. This book is a safe space. And I get goosebumps thinking about how many people this book will help on their journey.
BMMLASB follows the coming out journey of Rainey. After meeting Juliet, Rainey realizes there's a wealth of possibilities in this life, and she's torn whether to follow her heart, or the wishes of her family.
This book is a love letter to those stuck in limbo with coming out. Not only does Benjamin make this book so relatable to the journey, but there is a very profound statement of acceptance. An acceptance that states you are ENOUGH. That you are the conductor of your life. And that no matter what, you deserve to be happy.
Falling for the first time can be hard. I fell HARD for my first boy. All for him to tell me he was "experimenting" and it wasn't for him. And it was one of the hardest experiences to go through. Rainey has a similar experience, falling for her first, and gets turned down. At one point Juliet even speaks on the intensity of those first love feelings and how overwhelming they can be. And that resonated so hard with me. Those feelings I experienced have never been brought to light like that. But Benjamin did. And shows that it doesn't make us flawed. What matters is what you do next. You can stay hung up on this person. Or you can continue this path to discovery and continue to indulge in this newfound life of endless possibilities.
There are so many heartfelt moments in this book where you can just see Rainey's walls coming down. Slowly peeling back the layers of her hardened shell from living the life she thought she HAD to live, rather than the one she WANTED to live. Her parents are famous musicians, and she feels the pressure to live up to her parent's standards and aspirations. But all of a sudden Juliet starts chipping away at that wall. And Rainey begins jumping out of her comfort zone. A nose ring. A style change. New taste in music. And WOW. I can remember those leaps. And how scary, but NECESSARY those were. How all of a sudden, there's this person that shows you this entire grandiose world beyond that wall. And Benjamin depicts those moments flawlessly! The fear, the anxiety, the excitement, and that internal struggle of whether it's ok or not to put your happiness first.
Another moment I feel lots will resonate with is coming out to someone for the first time. I LOVED this part in the book. I remember building up so much tension to that moment. Repeatedly asking that person not to tell a soul! That new, profound weightlessness to your shoulders. It is all captured so well! It's not easy. Telling that first person. Especially after denying it for so long. Rainey even denies it when asked by her brother. The journey to gaining the resolve to tell someone, the routine questioning of "how will so-and-so react," but then finally making that jump just spoke so loud in this book.
This is hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Thank you Benjamin for creating a safe space and being a shoulder to lean on for those going through that journey of self-discovery and absolute liberation :)
June 1, 2022
I LOVED this book. It was a breeze to read— no pun intended. I would have followed these characters and this story wherever it took me. It’s a story that needs to be told.
One of your many things I loved was the settings. I loved the initial setting, the resort. It had that feeling that you get when you are on vacation and you can do anything there because you don’t know anyone. The other main setting, Vermont, was so alive and well described as well. It was also a nice contrast from the resort and I felt the relief of coming home after being on tour. The places came alive for me and I felt deeply rooted not only in the place but also in the time period. Who doesn’t want to go back to the pre-internet era of mixed tapes?
One of the ways I judge a book is if I find myself thinking about scenes later as if I were there. The line blurs between if I was there seeing it or if I read it in a book. I feel nostalgic thinking about this beautiful snippet of Rainey’s life— especially the ending scene— as if I were there.
Such a wonderful exceptionally written story. Everyone should read.
One of your many things I loved was the settings. I loved the initial setting, the resort. It had that feeling that you get when you are on vacation and you can do anything there because you don’t know anyone. The other main setting, Vermont, was so alive and well described as well. It was also a nice contrast from the resort and I felt the relief of coming home after being on tour. The places came alive for me and I felt deeply rooted not only in the place but also in the time period. Who doesn’t want to go back to the pre-internet era of mixed tapes?
One of the ways I judge a book is if I find myself thinking about scenes later as if I were there. The line blurs between if I was there seeing it or if I read it in a book. I feel nostalgic thinking about this beautiful snippet of Rainey’s life— especially the ending scene— as if I were there.
Such a wonderful exceptionally written story. Everyone should read.
March 15, 2023
Trigger Warnings: Cursing, mental health, underage drinking, smoking, piercing, bleeding, mention of sexual assault, bullying, marijuana, coming out
Representation: Mental Health: anxiety, depression; sapphic
Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is a ya fiction book about fifteen-year-old Rainey Cobb. It’s 1995 and The Cobb Family Band, led by Rainey’s rock star parents, has arrived for a week-long gig at the Midwestern resort owned by Juliet’s family. Dazzled by Juliet’s carpe diem attitude, DIY tattoos, and passion for grunge, Rainey falls hard. And when Juliet gives Rainey a mixtape that unlocks her heart’s secret yearnings, Rainey starts seeing herself—and her vagabond, show-biz life—through new eyes.
If Rainey quits the band, her parents’ fading career might never recover. But if she doesn’t leap now, she might be stuck forever in a life she didn’t choose, and always wonder who she could have been.
This ALC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This story is a great journey for our young adult heroine. It has great writing and is quite enjoyable as an audiobook. The main character, Rainey is a typical high school girl but her humanity makes her incredibly relatable, especially for those of us who struggled with our sexualities. I think meeting Juliet made an excellent turning point for Rainey and I loved the freedom her character gained. I thought the inclusion of the mental health storyline for Rainey’s dad was handled very well. I wish we could have had more perspective from the mom and brother, though.
This compassionate story provides an in depth look into Rainey’s world. The author does an excellent job incorporating the musical aspect of their lives, along with each member’s unique journey. Overall, this is a great debut novel and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
Representation: Mental Health: anxiety, depression; sapphic
Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is a ya fiction book about fifteen-year-old Rainey Cobb. It’s 1995 and The Cobb Family Band, led by Rainey’s rock star parents, has arrived for a week-long gig at the Midwestern resort owned by Juliet’s family. Dazzled by Juliet’s carpe diem attitude, DIY tattoos, and passion for grunge, Rainey falls hard. And when Juliet gives Rainey a mixtape that unlocks her heart’s secret yearnings, Rainey starts seeing herself—and her vagabond, show-biz life—through new eyes.
If Rainey quits the band, her parents’ fading career might never recover. But if she doesn’t leap now, she might be stuck forever in a life she didn’t choose, and always wonder who she could have been.
This ALC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This story is a great journey for our young adult heroine. It has great writing and is quite enjoyable as an audiobook. The main character, Rainey is a typical high school girl but her humanity makes her incredibly relatable, especially for those of us who struggled with our sexualities. I think meeting Juliet made an excellent turning point for Rainey and I loved the freedom her character gained. I thought the inclusion of the mental health storyline for Rainey’s dad was handled very well. I wish we could have had more perspective from the mom and brother, though.
This compassionate story provides an in depth look into Rainey’s world. The author does an excellent job incorporating the musical aspect of their lives, along with each member’s unique journey. Overall, this is a great debut novel and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
July 23, 2022
One summer really can change everything.
Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that addressed Rainey’s summer romance. She and her love interest were both so young and still unsure of where they might land on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It was interesting to see how they addressed their feelings as they both explored their identities and tried to figure out what they wanted out of life. I don’t want to give away any spoilers here, but this was nicely written and felt very realistic for their ages and for the era they lived in.
I also enjoyed the subplots about Rainey’s complex relationships with her parents. She was beginning to grow up, and her mother, Tracy, wasn’t always ready for all of the changes that was going to bring to their band and to their lives in general. While there were a few times when I shook my head at how much effort Tracy was putting into preserving traditions that were not necessarily working so well as her children asserted their independence, even these moments were genuine and necessary for what was to come. Adjusting to change isn’t easy, especially for parents who have given their children such unconventional upbringings so far.
The character development was handled beautifully. Every member of the Cobb family was three dimensional and well written, and this was especially true for Rainey. I found myself wishing that she were a real person so we could talk about poetry and make mixtapes for each other all summer long. It was delightful to see how she, her brother, and their parents all grew as individuals over the year that this novel covered. If the author ever decides to write a sequel, I’d love to find out what happened to these characters next!
Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze was utterly perfect.
Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that addressed Rainey’s summer romance. She and her love interest were both so young and still unsure of where they might land on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It was interesting to see how they addressed their feelings as they both explored their identities and tried to figure out what they wanted out of life. I don’t want to give away any spoilers here, but this was nicely written and felt very realistic for their ages and for the era they lived in.
I also enjoyed the subplots about Rainey’s complex relationships with her parents. She was beginning to grow up, and her mother, Tracy, wasn’t always ready for all of the changes that was going to bring to their band and to their lives in general. While there were a few times when I shook my head at how much effort Tracy was putting into preserving traditions that were not necessarily working so well as her children asserted their independence, even these moments were genuine and necessary for what was to come. Adjusting to change isn’t easy, especially for parents who have given their children such unconventional upbringings so far.
The character development was handled beautifully. Every member of the Cobb family was three dimensional and well written, and this was especially true for Rainey. I found myself wishing that she were a real person so we could talk about poetry and make mixtapes for each other all summer long. It was delightful to see how she, her brother, and their parents all grew as individuals over the year that this novel covered. If the author ever decides to write a sequel, I’d love to find out what happened to these characters next!
Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze was utterly perfect.
July 13, 2022
Blowin' My Mind like a Summer Breeze is a beautifully written coming of age tale that draws you into the world of its protagonist and has you rooting for her from the get go. Rainey Cobb is a prodigiously talented 15 yr old girl who tours with her parents and brother as part of a family band. Her parents used to be big back in the day, but their star is waning, and now life on the road mostly consists of fast food, slow gigs, and an even slower tour bus.
However, in amongst the gig rehearsals and homeschool sessions, a chance encounter for Rainey awakens her nascent thoughts and feelings in more ways than one, and this leads to her starting down her own path with the feeling that she might maybe be destined for something great.
The feel of this book is one of its best features - it is told as if the story were a playlist (its title is named after a mixtape that appears in the novel) and this really works as each piece of the plot feels perfectly pitched, placed and paced to lead us onto the next track. The musical references are a who's who of great indie/cult classics, and the 90s nostalgia feels fresh and is great fun to dive into whether you're new to it, or, like me, you remember growing up in the 90s from the first time around!
The writing is tight and purposeful, without ever feeling fussy, and the characters are all authentically human in a way that feels easy when reading, but is so hard to get right. Exploring themes of first love, sexuality, mental health, being different, and the need to fit in, this is a wonderful, feel good read for anyone who dared to try and grow up and be something of their own, but didn't really know how.
However, in amongst the gig rehearsals and homeschool sessions, a chance encounter for Rainey awakens her nascent thoughts and feelings in more ways than one, and this leads to her starting down her own path with the feeling that she might maybe be destined for something great.
The feel of this book is one of its best features - it is told as if the story were a playlist (its title is named after a mixtape that appears in the novel) and this really works as each piece of the plot feels perfectly pitched, placed and paced to lead us onto the next track. The musical references are a who's who of great indie/cult classics, and the 90s nostalgia feels fresh and is great fun to dive into whether you're new to it, or, like me, you remember growing up in the 90s from the first time around!
The writing is tight and purposeful, without ever feeling fussy, and the characters are all authentically human in a way that feels easy when reading, but is so hard to get right. Exploring themes of first love, sexuality, mental health, being different, and the need to fit in, this is a wonderful, feel good read for anyone who dared to try and grow up and be something of their own, but didn't really know how.
July 27, 2022
Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is a story that follows Rainey Cobb on her journey to find herself in the summer of 1995. Rainey never thought that she would meet someone who would change her whole life. Besides her love life, Juliet changed her physical appearance. They meet at the hotel Juliet's parents own while Rainey and her family were on tour. Juliet is totally the opposite of Rainey. While Rainey is kind of introverted and quiet, Juliet is extroverted and loud. In a week they become friends and something more. When Rainey get back from a tour she had to make a decision: will she quit the family band and go to school or will she continue to be in a band and be homeschooled like before.
I think that this book would be such a great film adaptation. First, we have awesome characters with an awesome story that follows them. The Cobb family shows us that there are some good and bad things about being famous. They show us that there are always some struggles in the family and that nobody's family is perfect. They show us that we should care about someone and their mental health. Through Cobb's family members we can see that life is not great, it can be bad sometimes, but it can be amazing. It's a very realistic picture of a normal family. But what brings all these characters to life? It's definitely the writing style. Everything in this book is incredible.
This is YA LGBTQ+ (wlw) contemporary romance. It's a great book to get you out of the reading slump.
This book is definitely a must-read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I think that this book would be such a great film adaptation. First, we have awesome characters with an awesome story that follows them. The Cobb family shows us that there are some good and bad things about being famous. They show us that there are always some struggles in the family and that nobody's family is perfect. They show us that we should care about someone and their mental health. Through Cobb's family members we can see that life is not great, it can be bad sometimes, but it can be amazing. It's a very realistic picture of a normal family. But what brings all these characters to life? It's definitely the writing style. Everything in this book is incredible.
This is YA LGBTQ+ (wlw) contemporary romance. It's a great book to get you out of the reading slump.
This book is definitely a must-read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 14, 2022
It’s the second book in a week that has music as a major character in the plot. Rainey feels trapped being her family‘s band. She wants to know what else there is out there. She’s been traveling with her family her whole life, she’s homeschooled and she’s tired of being in such close proximity to her brother all the time. Enter Juliet: daughter of the owners of a resort where the Cobb family band is playing. I loved their first meeting! Rainey finally meets somebody who likes her name for the first time and she finds herself being intrigued by Juliet even though she hates Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet😅
If you’re into character driven stories, if you’re into books that take you back to 1995, if you’re into books where the characters go onto journeys of self discovery/ coming-of-age elements, and if you’re into books that hit you with a musical nostalgia, you will love this one! I received complimentary review copy from the author via @booksirens but it in no way influences my review.
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤:
✨ “Are you ready?”
“I guess so,” I say, having no idea what I’m supposed to be ready for. Only that I’m prepared to follow Juliet anywhere
✨ Our lips hover without coming together, pause, as if trying to decide, and then finally, touch. It’s only for a second, but still, they touch. And when they do it feels like a part of me slips out of my body and starts dancing in the breeze above our heads.
✨ You’ll never just wake up one day and be a different person. You’re always becoming the person you’re going to be
If you’re into character driven stories, if you’re into books that take you back to 1995, if you’re into books where the characters go onto journeys of self discovery/ coming-of-age elements, and if you’re into books that hit you with a musical nostalgia, you will love this one! I received complimentary review copy from the author via @booksirens but it in no way influences my review.
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤:
✨ “Are you ready?”
“I guess so,” I say, having no idea what I’m supposed to be ready for. Only that I’m prepared to follow Juliet anywhere
✨ Our lips hover without coming together, pause, as if trying to decide, and then finally, touch. It’s only for a second, but still, they touch. And when they do it feels like a part of me slips out of my body and starts dancing in the breeze above our heads.
✨ You’ll never just wake up one day and be a different person. You’re always becoming the person you’re going to be
June 4, 2024
This was an easy read. I truly do like the premise, and I always think that there need to be more YA books about queer people, especially women. The issue I have with this book is that it just felt a little flat. It's pretty obvious it was written by a man. As a queer teenage girl I cannot empathize with the main character at all, who is supposed to be a queer teenage girl. I think the author just doesn't grasp what it really is like to be a teenage girl specifically. Juliet feels like the male idea of what a hot lesbian teenage girl is like, and Rainey doesn't feel like a real person at all. Like she has insecurities, but they dont really have that much significance in the book, which doesn't feel right. She'll be like and oh i hate my stomach and then never mention it again, which is so weird because insecurities wnd being self-concious is a defining experience of specifically teenage girlhood. Its something that is present in every day of your life, and for a girl who is onstage all of the time, I feel like the way she deals with her image is not very realistic. It obviously is something she deals woth, but the author doesn't really flesh it out, which takes depth away from her character that I really think would make her more relatable. Also, SPOILER she changes her style after meeting Juliet, and it was so abrupt that we don't really understand why she does it. Like obviously she thinks Juliet is cool, but I felt like more context would've helped. Does she want to be perceived like how Juliet is? Does she think that she'll be prettier that way? Is she trying to make a statement to her parents? I just need more explanation.
September 4, 2022
sapphic romance that centers around music? Sign me up please.💜
Firstly, thank you BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for a review!
My thoughts🤔: Entertaining, powerful, and artistically rich, Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is a story that feels new and unique as it investigates all inclusive subjects of first love, deplorability, and family struggle.
Smol blurb for y'all🍁: Rainey Cobb, a self-taught, show visiting, melodic wonder, may not be a common 15-year-old young lady but rather her excursion to tracking down her own voice, in a real sense and figuratively, is one the vast majority of us connect with, especially teenagers. Yet, that doesn't mean grown-up perusers won't track down a great deal to interface with. We who emptied consideration and fondness in with the general mish-mash tapes we created for companions and smashes, thinking back to the 90s will particularly see the value in how well Roesch catches that experience and all the nuanced importance behind it.
The writing📝: Every step of the way, Roesch's composing is fresh and clear, stacked with tangible subtleties that permit to perusers to step completely into Rainey's reality, which is particularly convincing when we get to encounter what it resembles performing before a live crowd..
To sum all it up🔅: Blowin' My Mind is a humanely told, quick story, the sort that teenagers recall and convey forward, rewinding and replaying at whatever point it seems like the world doesn't figure out them.
Firstly, thank you BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for a review!
My thoughts🤔: Entertaining, powerful, and artistically rich, Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is a story that feels new and unique as it investigates all inclusive subjects of first love, deplorability, and family struggle.
Smol blurb for y'all🍁: Rainey Cobb, a self-taught, show visiting, melodic wonder, may not be a common 15-year-old young lady but rather her excursion to tracking down her own voice, in a real sense and figuratively, is one the vast majority of us connect with, especially teenagers. Yet, that doesn't mean grown-up perusers won't track down a great deal to interface with. We who emptied consideration and fondness in with the general mish-mash tapes we created for companions and smashes, thinking back to the 90s will particularly see the value in how well Roesch catches that experience and all the nuanced importance behind it.
The writing📝: Every step of the way, Roesch's composing is fresh and clear, stacked with tangible subtleties that permit to perusers to step completely into Rainey's reality, which is particularly convincing when we get to encounter what it resembles performing before a live crowd..
To sum all it up🔅: Blowin' My Mind is a humanely told, quick story, the sort that teenagers recall and convey forward, rewinding and replaying at whatever point it seems like the world doesn't figure out them.
July 14, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story starts during the summer of 1995 and Rainey Cobb is not the average teen girl. She's never been kissed, had a crush, or been in public school. She is the youngest daughter and the pianist and a vocalist for her famous parent's band. During her parents' residency at a resort in Michigan that summer, she meets Juliet, a girl her age that is everything she isn't. Juliet is confident, cool, defiant, and Rainey gets a special feeling when she's with her. Rainey is dealing with trying to find her own identity after meeting Juliet and tells her parents she no longer wants to be part of the band and she wants to go to public school.
After the residency, Rainey has to make decisions about herself, her family, what she wants to do, and who she wants to be. Will Rainey want to be a singer and song writer on her own or will she go back to her parents' band?
This is a great coming of age that deals with sexual identity, awakening, and realizing that being yourself may come with struggles but they are worth it. And who knows, maybe you'll be able to write a hit song about it that speaks to more than just one person.
This story starts during the summer of 1995 and Rainey Cobb is not the average teen girl. She's never been kissed, had a crush, or been in public school. She is the youngest daughter and the pianist and a vocalist for her famous parent's band. During her parents' residency at a resort in Michigan that summer, she meets Juliet, a girl her age that is everything she isn't. Juliet is confident, cool, defiant, and Rainey gets a special feeling when she's with her. Rainey is dealing with trying to find her own identity after meeting Juliet and tells her parents she no longer wants to be part of the band and she wants to go to public school.
After the residency, Rainey has to make decisions about herself, her family, what she wants to do, and who she wants to be. Will Rainey want to be a singer and song writer on her own or will she go back to her parents' band?
This is a great coming of age that deals with sexual identity, awakening, and realizing that being yourself may come with struggles but they are worth it. And who knows, maybe you'll be able to write a hit song about it that speaks to more than just one person.
July 19, 2022
I truly enjoyed this summer read about 15-year-old Rainey Cobb’s first love and her coming of age journey. Rainey sings and plays piano in a consistently touring family band. When they arrive for a one-week residency at a vacation resort, Rainey meets Juliet. In that week, Rainey starts to feel things she’s never felt before and long for a life apart from her family’s band.
Honestly, I loved how clearly Rainey’s struggle was depicted: leave the band and let down her parents or stay and remain miserable forever. It’s something we all deal with at some point and a book about a queer teenager trying to navigate that experience is something I could have used at 16.
I was kind of surprised to realize that this book was written by a seemingly straight man, but he does a great job of making Rainey a totally relatable teenage girl. She’s smart, tenacious, and thoughtful: the perfect teenage protagonist.
Yes, this is a YA read, but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for slightly lighter fare this summer.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Honestly, I loved how clearly Rainey’s struggle was depicted: leave the band and let down her parents or stay and remain miserable forever. It’s something we all deal with at some point and a book about a queer teenager trying to navigate that experience is something I could have used at 16.
I was kind of surprised to realize that this book was written by a seemingly straight man, but he does a great job of making Rainey a totally relatable teenage girl. She’s smart, tenacious, and thoughtful: the perfect teenage protagonist.
Yes, this is a YA read, but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for slightly lighter fare this summer.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 19, 2022
Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze is the perfect summer read! It is fast-paced and undeniably enjoyable. I felt like this book told a very creative story through music and tapes. I am a huge music person, so it was easy for me to fall in love with this book.
In the summer of 1995, Rainey begins trying to find out who she is without her parents image. This story is one of coming of age, growing up, and discovering your place in the world. Finding your place in the world and figuring out who you are is difficult. The writing within this book describes these themes so well. This writing is meant to invoke emotions and it definitely did. I laughed, cried, and felt the love within this book.
The characters within this book are incredibly lovable. I see so much of myself in Rainey, so it was hard to hate her. I love the sibling relationship between Rainey and Walden. It felt like an actual bond between siblings. This book describes family issues incredibly.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will most likely be recommending it to everyone I know. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In the summer of 1995, Rainey begins trying to find out who she is without her parents image. This story is one of coming of age, growing up, and discovering your place in the world. Finding your place in the world and figuring out who you are is difficult. The writing within this book describes these themes so well. This writing is meant to invoke emotions and it definitely did. I laughed, cried, and felt the love within this book.
The characters within this book are incredibly lovable. I see so much of myself in Rainey, so it was hard to hate her. I love the sibling relationship between Rainey and Walden. It felt like an actual bond between siblings. This book describes family issues incredibly.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will most likely be recommending it to everyone I know. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 3, 2022
Summary: Rainey Cobb has spent most of her life traveling with her family band, led by her rock star parents. She didn't expect that in the summer of 1995, she would meet a girl named Juliet who changes how she sees herself and the world. Now questions lie before her - who does she want to be? Will she stay in the family band or try to create a life for herself?
Rainey Cobb reminds me a lot of myself at 15. Trying to find herself, writing songs as self-expression, creating lists to cope... She was such a sweet and relatable character.
I absolutely loved watching her journey to navigate parental expectations, work through family mental health problems, explore her sexual identity, and try to accept who she is.
It was such a quick and "breezy" read, and the audiobook was spectacular. I typically have trouble focusing on audiobooks, but not this one!
Thank you to the author for the free copy to review. Rainey will always be in my heart!
Rainey Cobb reminds me a lot of myself at 15. Trying to find herself, writing songs as self-expression, creating lists to cope... She was such a sweet and relatable character.
I absolutely loved watching her journey to navigate parental expectations, work through family mental health problems, explore her sexual identity, and try to accept who she is.
It was such a quick and "breezy" read, and the audiobook was spectacular. I typically have trouble focusing on audiobooks, but not this one!
Thank you to the author for the free copy to review. Rainey will always be in my heart!
June 30, 2022
A coming of age novel everyone should read. especially if you love the 90s, music, New England, and pizza with ranch. This book was such a realistic, exciting, heartbreaking coming of age novel. I love that even though Rainey is our main character, she’s not the only going struggling with identity and how to be herself in the world. The fact that we also see her dad going through adjacent struggles was really meaningful because it proves that these situations are a part of life. While this book is classified as YA, I think that anyone of any age can find pieces of themselves in this book. It was such an incredible, meaningful read that I truly enjoyed. I’m now just waiting for my CD of the Treehouse Tapes please and thank you. But honestly, a spectacular debut novel.
July 7, 2022
I read this book over three sessions but could have read it in one. (Life got in the way.) This book made me want to jump back into 1995 and live it for the music but I settled for revisiting the albums on Spotify. Rainey Cobb is a delight. I felt a lot of her pain and confusion and loved her growth. I wanted to hear her sing and kept hearing Tori Amos in my head (even before a character mentioned it). Honestly, the whole family captured me. I could read an entire series on them. Her brother Walden next! (Did I have a weird crush on Walden? Maybe.) Really enjoyed hanging out with Rainey and experiencing life with her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 19, 2022
This debut novel was simply wonderful! It was fast paced and I really loved the fact that it was set in the 1990's. I also loved the fact that the author made use of music to accurately convey Rainey's experiences throughout the novel. The two contrasting settings, being the resort and Vermont, were both excellently described and made the story more interesting.
However, I feel that some parts of the story should have been explored more as they were simply brushed past. But on the whole this book was delightful to read!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
However, I feel that some parts of the story should have been explored more as they were simply brushed past. But on the whole this book was delightful to read!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
June 26, 2022
I found myself wishing I’d had Rainey’s journey of discovering herself. As an adult reading her now, I kept cheering her on—to tell others her real feelings. To stand up to others’ expectations of her. To be brave.
But.
I distinctly remember being a fifteen-year-old girl. I was terrified of who I was. Benjamin captures this so incredibly well. I never once doubted Rainey’s voice. It was perfect.
And the moments of humanity in this book … hoo boy. The magic of making music together. The discomfort of unwanted attention. The way the world transforms when you perform. Complex, hard, worthwhile family relationships. Heartbreak. Coming out. All of it.
Standing ovation.
But.
I distinctly remember being a fifteen-year-old girl. I was terrified of who I was. Benjamin captures this so incredibly well. I never once doubted Rainey’s voice. It was perfect.
And the moments of humanity in this book … hoo boy. The magic of making music together. The discomfort of unwanted attention. The way the world transforms when you perform. Complex, hard, worthwhile family relationships. Heartbreak. Coming out. All of it.
Standing ovation.
July 8, 2022
From the setting to the music, Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze feels like a trip down memory lane, going to clubs to listen to all the talented young musicians, experiencing the joys of discovering something new, and all the mix tapes made and shared like love letters. Man, I miss that energy, and I loved the way this novel brought me back there. I enjoyed the ride and would happily follow Rainey’s journey wherever it takes her next. If you love 90s alternative music, coming of age stories of self-discovery, young love, and finding your joy, this one’s for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 6, 2022
I was immediately drawn into this story as it so accurately describes that time in life as a young adult when you are figuring out who you are and who you want to be. Rainey's family lives a unique lifestyle and yet the push and pull between her hopes and dreams and that of her families feels universal. I wanted this story to go on forever. And I found myself listening to the music that was referenced throughout, which was an amazing added layer. I will be recommending this book to the young adults and grown ups in my life. It was so good.
August 5, 2022
This book. Wow. I really enjoyed it so much! It was well written and held my attention most of the time. The second half fell a little flat for me tho sadly. But I understand why it was done and therefore it didn’t affect my rating for this book. All the characters were absolutely loveable. With this book being based in the 80s / 90s the scene was written absolutely amazingly. The main character, Rainey. struggling with her sexual orientation was written so well. It really captured the struggle on finding your true self. Just all around perfect summer book with a few sad parts. Actually had me tearing up a few times. Please pick it up! I received this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This beautiful book released July 22nd so please go grab a copy asap. I will be doing a more in-depth review on my blog.
January 24, 2023
This book will transport you.
The author does an incredible job writing about music, which is no easy feat. Not only did I feel connected to the music, but I felt connected to Rainey's experience as a musician, songwriter, and teenager trying to navigate this world.
This was a fun, sassy, and heartfelt read full of artistry, romance, and self-discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend to anyone.
The author does an incredible job writing about music, which is no easy feat. Not only did I feel connected to the music, but I felt connected to Rainey's experience as a musician, songwriter, and teenager trying to navigate this world.
This was a fun, sassy, and heartfelt read full of artistry, romance, and self-discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend to anyone.
June 23, 2022
#BlowinMyMindLikeASummerBreeze by @benjaminroeschwrites rated ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on #goodreads #storygraph and #booksirens
I picked this up for pride month not knowing what to expect but I really loved it!
The author is new to me - and I’m so glad I found him! I feel really lucky to have read this as an ARC from Book Sirens and Benjamin himself - massive thank you to both!
This book is out late July and was a brilliant YA read.
I would say I wish I’d had read The Color Purple before reading this, maybe I would have gotten the references a little better than I did as I felt it was mentioned several times. That is the only reason I’ve dropped it by a star as I just didn’t understand those points (I wish I did) but it took up a few paragraphs that I couldn’t understand fully - if that makes sense?
I really loved Rainey, from the beginning, I could see her feelings develop and understand them, it was nice to see that reflected in a YA book, and I wish I’d had read that when I was much younger.
I loved the concept of this book - it was different, something that I hadn’t read before. It was fun, but also had deeper themes running through from many different angles. It made a change from many of the books I’ve read recently - a concept I’ve not seen before!
It was a coming of age, self-discovery YA, that I really enjoyed with a main character I loved and for that I will recommend this book often!
I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#book #books #bookish #bookworm #bookshelf #booklover #bookreview #bookstagram #booktok #bookrecommendations
I picked this up for pride month not knowing what to expect but I really loved it!
The author is new to me - and I’m so glad I found him! I feel really lucky to have read this as an ARC from Book Sirens and Benjamin himself - massive thank you to both!
This book is out late July and was a brilliant YA read.
I would say I wish I’d had read The Color Purple before reading this, maybe I would have gotten the references a little better than I did as I felt it was mentioned several times. That is the only reason I’ve dropped it by a star as I just didn’t understand those points (I wish I did) but it took up a few paragraphs that I couldn’t understand fully - if that makes sense?
I really loved Rainey, from the beginning, I could see her feelings develop and understand them, it was nice to see that reflected in a YA book, and I wish I’d had read that when I was much younger.
I loved the concept of this book - it was different, something that I hadn’t read before. It was fun, but also had deeper themes running through from many different angles. It made a change from many of the books I’ve read recently - a concept I’ve not seen before!
It was a coming of age, self-discovery YA, that I really enjoyed with a main character I loved and for that I will recommend this book often!
I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#book #books #bookish #bookworm #bookshelf #booklover #bookreview #bookstagram #booktok #bookrecommendations
July 23, 2022
This was such a great book. These are the notes I wrote to myself after:
- loved the way Roesch formatted the chapters as songs on an album
- loved that this was a coming-of-age story that featured an LGBTQ+ MC, so she dealt with understanding her feelings for Juliet but it was more about finding herself
- characters were beautifully nuanced
- love that it also dealt with mental health
- everyone felt so real
I identified so much with Rainey. I’m so glad this book exists.
- loved the way Roesch formatted the chapters as songs on an album
- loved that this was a coming-of-age story that featured an LGBTQ+ MC, so she dealt with understanding her feelings for Juliet but it was more about finding herself
- characters were beautifully nuanced
- love that it also dealt with mental health
- everyone felt so real
I identified so much with Rainey. I’m so glad this book exists.
July 25, 2022
I really enjoyed reading the book! The writing style is fun to read and the main character is (very) relatable. Im 24 right now, but i can still remember feeling a lot like her when i was a teenager. I totally recommend this book! (finished it in a day ahahah) Oh! And while i know absolutely nothing about music, this book has even managed to teach me some things i had no clue about!
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