I’ve always wondered how rock stars live. And in Gayle Forman’s “,” a sequel to “,” we get a glimpse of that life. Adam and his lost love, Mia, are both rising stars in their own sphere of the music world: Adam, rock; Mia, classical. Torn apart by a tragic incident three years earlier, they’re brought together by coincidence one night in New York, but as their new, more famous selves.
Through elegant prose and raw, honest emotion, Forman conveys the story of young love tarnished by the dark trauma of Mia’s past. Loves in high school, Adam and Mia’s relationship is ripped apart, conceivably never to be repaired again. What we’re given, then, is insight into the paths a broken heart and soul must take to repair. We learn, too, the roles that trust and hope play in mending emotional scars that might fester if left unchallenged.
What I love about Forman’s writing is how vibrant and alive her words are; there’s no messing around. Raw emotion is front and center, practically a character in its own right. She elevates the story while still giving us glimpses into the so-called glamour of rock star lives, and succeeds in flipping the coin to show us the behind-the-scenes reality instead.
If you’ve read “” but missed the first book, get the story behind the story with “.”
Disclaimer: This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.