MaryLou

by A.J. Springer, Railee Bradshaw (Editor)

We pull into the driveway, from what feels like the longest car ride of my life. Neither of us gets out and we just sit there. I can feel him looking at me. I can’t look back at him. “How do I choose? How do we choose? How does anyone choose?”

MaryLou always has a plan. Born and raised in a small logging town in the Pacific Northwest with a family of all boys, her life is good. She’s got a great family, she gets to work on race cars with her dad, and she knows exactly what she wants for her future. Then she meets Dale, a mysterious older boy who races at the local track, and MaryLou realizes she can’t always get what she wants. As she learns to adjust her plans to accommodate life’s unexpected twists and turns, MaryLou finds happiness along the way. But when destiny chooses for her the last path she ever wanted, MaryLou must let go of her plan and make peace with what she can’t control.

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2022

Reviews

[Lindsey_reads_books]

I cried 😭😭😭

[Carol Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab a box of tissues and settle in for a wonderful story that will tug at your heart strings!

[Alana Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It was a slow start but AJ Springer did a great job merging the story line and wanting the reader to continue. Was surprised with the turning point but the ending was very graceful. (Being careful not to have spoiler info)

[Fran Aceto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought this book was very well written especially for a first time author !! Great story!!

Look forward to this author writing another one !!!

[Betsy Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story, of a great family. Love conquers all. You won’t want to put this down. You can really identify with the characters, and feel what they’re going through.

[Alison Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story of family, triumph, and characters that make you pary of the book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab your nearest tissue box! You’re going to need it with this book!

[Michelle Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quotes:
• “Marriage is hard work, and you will fight about stupid shit, but at the end of the day, you know who you want to come home to and you know where your heart belongs.”
• “They say a woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”
• “My little girl yesterday, my friend today, my daughter forever.”
• “I love you so much and I know you love me more. There is no one on this earth that could love me as much as you.” (this quote hit home, because of my husband, he will say “I love you,” I will say “I love you more” he will then say, “because I let you”)
AJ Springer is a new to me author with a debut book. This book was published in 2022 but thanks to the world of social media she reached out to me after seeing a post I made about a book my book club just finished. She wanted to know if my book club would be interested in reading her book. Of course, we said YES! The author has written what a consider this book to be one of the most beautiful love letters.
It starts with the birth of Marylou, and we travel through her lifetime.
There are several POV’s in this story which I love because it brings such a unique and individual dynamic to each character’s development.
This is an amazing coming of age story, that shows us how life truly does have its own plan for us no matter how we try and set our own plan.
These characters will stay in my heart for a long time, I hope that stay with other readers as well. There is a piece of everyone from this book that reminds me of others I do know and love. I felt a strong connection to Marylou, young and vibrant, loves music and her friends. Not the popular girl but she is involved with a bit of everything. Does her best to see the good and positive in everything. She is just a true ray of sunshine.
I highly recommend this book for others to read, you will need tissues, so make sure they are available.
This book truly symbolizes happiness, loyalty, and longevity. Something we all hope for in life.
Also, the playlist that you can create from this book is phenomenal.
I am looking forward to knowing if there are future books and how those lives grow!
Thank you, AJ for putting this beautiful story to page, it will forever be in my heart.
It is most certainly in my top 10 of 2024 so far.
#marylou #comingofagestory #getthetissues #musiclover #booklover #lovestory #ajspringer #debutauthor #bookstagram #bookclubread #bookstagrammer #somanybookssolittletime

[Erin Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🔮🌞🌕🍄🌕🌞🔮✨
REVIEW

MaryLou - Aj Springer

5/5⭐️

✨✨✨✨✨✨
Wow Aj talk about your book making me feel all the feelings! I definitely was crying at points. This book will bring you on a journey of heartbreak and love. MaryLou is a really relatable story for some while reading. You’ll get many perspectives of her life which I truly enjoyed about this. Love, loss and family and finding what’s important is such a big part of MaryLou story. I definitely got hooked into this one very easily with Aj’s writing! This is something I read all of the time but I definitely enjoyed the little switch up.

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
~ Dual POV
~ Emotional
~ Family
~ Small Town
~ Friends to Lovers
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚

Thank you so much for sending me a copy for an honest review in my own words.

✨What’s a small town book you love?

#books #booklover #smut #booknerd #bookfriend #bookish #booklovers #bookishcommunity #bookloversunite #instabook #bookporn #bookphotography #reviews #igbooks #ilovereading #smutty #bookaddiction #bookhoader #hotnsexy #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #yummy #givemeallthebooks #readingthepainaway #booktok #arc

[K Hugo]

I loved this bittersweet coming of age story. It immediately drew me into a place that was both familiar and unexpected. It was a fast paced read, that sped me across four decades of life in Smalltown America, fueled by music, fast cars, and teenage ambition. My heart was breaking, as MaryLou finally got the life she has always dreamed of, the one she seemed destined for, only to face having it all cut short. MaryLou reminds me that no matter how many plans we make, or what we accomplish, our lives are shaped by things outside of our control. At its heart, this book is a nostalgic celebration of love and family. By the loving treatment of her story, and through the author herself, MaryLou’s incredible legacy endures.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for my review copy. My thoughts are my own.

MaryLou starts off with heartbreak. We don't know what the eponymous character is facing in 1990, but we know it is impossible and tragic. The story is unraveled in several different perspectives to give us a better picture of how MaryLou got to where we met her in 1990 and what, exactly, it is she is up against. It is a story of love, loss, struggles, and victories. I appreciated how the story pulled in all the threads of MaryLou's family and friends to create a tapestry of her life. It think I would describe it as "sad but heartwarming," and congratulate Springer on creating such a comprehensive, human, relatable story.

[Crystal Perreault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Ms. AJ!! This book!! It is light, funny, heartwarming, and really puts life into perspective. I love how the author really noted on things that were a big part of the times that the story took place. Things like Soapbox cars and dirt track racing and 8 tracks and the slang and events that happened. I love how this story was told by the other characters points of view. I felt like I was reading a journal in a way where the it tells the story from multiple views. A story of life, love, sadness, overcoming obstacles, and growth. Always looking at the positive even when the world falls apart. Marylou is like a sunflower in so many ways. No matter how dark the day got, she stood tall and strong and found the sunlight. This is a very good book and I highly recommend it.

[Amber Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed and cried so many times throughout. Such a great read! After losing my mom at a young age and being a mom myself, hearing MaryLous thoughts just pulled on my heart in a very reflective and heartwarming way. The way it was written, kept me reading and wanting to know more. MaryLous character is also very inspiring, someone you want to live your life more like. Embracing life, taking it head on, and finding the best in every situation is not something we see too often anymore sadly. It was very refreshing and uplifting. Can't wait to read more... will we get another book? I hope so!

[Rachel McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. It was a breath of fresh air even though it was incredibly emotional and dealt with the toughest of topics. It is a story of life, love, loss, family, and of what is truly important. I enjoyed getting to experience this story from the perspective of three generations. I feel like it brought the story to life in a way that wouldn’t have happened if it had been from just one or two characters points of views. This story does include the topic of cancer so if that is triggering for you this might not be the book for you. If it is not I would highly suggest reading this book.

[Chloe: chloescozyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! I've always loved it when a story goes between timelines of the character. Marylou is my favorite character, and I love her passion and planning she does! I was not expecting any twists,but you'll definitely need some tissues for reading this one! The dual pov is amazing and pretty easy to follow all the other characters' thoughts and stories. I was crying a little towards the end. A.J. Springer knows how to hook you in with a page turning story!
I highly recommend reading this book!
☆In honor of this story, I made a peanut butter and jelly milkshake. *it makes sense if you read this book!*

[Railee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like retro vibes, small town romance, and the thrill of a race car track, you'll love MaryLou. Set in a Pacific Northwest logging town in the 1950's-1980's, the story follows bright, music-loving MaryLou as she grows from ambitious child, to lovestruck teen, to empowered woman, and all of the people whose lives she touches along the way. Read it with a spoonful of peanut butter and chocolate chips and a box of tissues. I've already read it more than once and I cry every time!

[Serena Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the journey I needed in my life. MaryLou is such an empowering, heartwarming, greatly-detailed and well thought out book. I found myself questioning what I do in my life and what my own family means to me! Sometimes you need a wake up call and that is what Marylou was for me. Forewarning, if you are a crier (like me) get ready to have a stuffy nose, puffy eyes and a warm heart! I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

[Kristi Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tear-jerking and heartwarming coming-of-age journey. Springer's description of the story's small town setting carries a comforting nostalgia, even though I've never lived the life that MaryLou had. The story was fast-paced, yet it slowed down at the right moments. The story spans across four decades: 1950s-1980s. The charming retro details, like MaryLou's love for music and race cars, made her even more lovable. It's an inspiring love story full of chasing dreams--and the challenges we must face to reach them. MaryLou reminds us we can only control so much, and to enjoy all we can in the meantime.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Marylou. Her story was so compelling. I couldn't stop reading. This book felt like a giant love letter to everyone.
It's like Marylou is telling herself to everyone to live, feel and love at your fullest.

Buy tissues, sit down in your comfiest blanket and fall in love with her and her story.

[Alexander A.]

This book is truly heartwarming. I am not one to cry while reading a book, but this one brought me to tears. At first glance, I was not sure how the storyline was going to play out, but I quickly found myself “hooked” and wanting to find out more. Once you pick up this book, it will be a hard one to put down. I give this book 5 stars.

~ Krystal Abaria

[Maria Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's such a heartwarming love story! The characters were easy to remember and made you fall in love with them. I couldn't wait to get to the next page! Way to go new Author! I can't wait to read book 2? 🙏🤞
Congratulations on your first book!!

[Sherri Whiteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and once I got into the characters I had a hard time putting it down! It is an easy read and an enjoyable love story. Definitely worth the read. I look forward to your next book!

[Elizabeth Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the beginning. It kept me wanting to know what was going to happen with MaryLou from the very beginning. It shows how life has its own plan no matter how you think it will turn out.

[Elise Rooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, kind story of love, life and its unexpected twists and turns. Finding peace and resolution in a journey that unfolded in the most beautiful of ways.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gentle small town story, but the characters will sneak into your heart and leave you grieving that you can't keep them. Waiting for more from this author.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the author’s first book - and it shows. While it’s a decent story, the writing is stilted and awkward, in great part because of the author’s failure to use contractions. Most people use contractions when speaking, but that was rarely the case in the dialogue in this book. While Ms. Springer made an effort to show the research she’d done into the various time periods through songs and expressions of the day, she was sometimes off the mark. I was born in the same year (and month!) as MaryLou, and I guarantee you, no one my age said “bee’s knees” or “cut a rug”. My father said those things, for sure, but not my or MaryLou’s generation. All these things could have been caught by a good editor, which it is blatantly apparent this book needed. I hope she’ll be able to find one to assist her with the current book she’s working on.

[Shannon Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful family story that really takes you back in time. I fell in love with all the little details instantly!

[Marianna (marylest) Porcino · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and exciting story.I loved this book from the first to the last page. I laughed, I cried and I empathized with the characters. It was nice to experience the story together with the characters from their youth. The author has an amazing writing style that perfectly fits the different characters (there are different points of view in the book) and also the different ages of the main characters in the story. MaryLou's story will always remain in my heart.

[Meagen Gillispie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very heartfelt, genuine story about the life of MaryLou. From the moment she’s born, you can just tell she’s destined for great things. It doesn’t always come easy for her, but she stays true to herself through it all.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I got sucked into the narrative and got so attached to many of the characters. The POV bounces around between a few characters, which I think really helps bring a richness to the story and depth to the characters. The writing style is very approachable and provides enough detail to let your imagination picture everything. I also liked how the author stayed true to the time period the story takes place, bringing in popular music and cars to the plot.

Be prepared to have some tissues with you as you finish the book. The raw emotion pouring out of the pages are sure to make you cry, but I guarantee it is worth it to read this book!

[Courtney Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

MaryLou by A.J. Springer is an emotional and touching read. I loved the dual timeline and pov. The story slowly unfolds, the characters touch your heart and you will be reaching for the tissues by the end. It’s a coming of age love story for the ages. The fact that this book is about Springer’s mother, MaryLou, makes it even more powerful and moving.