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moreadsbooks's review
2.0
I could've done with less ex-boyfriending and more sleuthing, but that might just be my mood lately.
kwil's review against another edition
3.0
Cudmore’s debut is somewhat perplexing. The hipster elements mean anyone not familiar with the subculture will tackle a slight learning curve to follow the narrative. The mystery is a side plot, really nothing more than the impetus for Jett’s emotional reexamination of her past loves. The storyline takes a few odd dips towards absurdity, and most of the supporting characters are superficial props used to move the action forward. There is also, for some reason, quite a bit of disdain for Billy Joel. Yet there is a sparkle of something I can’t quite pinpoint in The Big Rewind that pulled me through to the end. Short chapters make saying “just one more” extremely easy and Cudmore’s writing is entertaining. In the end, The Big Rewind is a promising—but far from perfect—debut and I am looking forward to reading Cudmore’s sophomore effort.
rwhickey's review
2.0
Although this is a breezy read, it's not as fun as it should be, based on its premise. A Brooklyn-based hipster living in her grandmother's rent-controlled apartment intends to give her neighbor a mixed tape that she accidentally received, only to discover her body. She hopes to find killer through that tape, but her hunt sets her off on a journey through her own romantic past and its soundtrack. Unfortunately, the dual threads of the narrative lack drive and never really gel, while the setting and the narrator's voice feel forced. The name-dropping of locations and pop-culture references is over-the-top and kept throwing me out of the story instead of connecting me to it. And for an alleged music obsessive, amateur sleuth Jett has pretty pedestrian tastes.
susanscribs's review
3.0
Thin on characterization, unless you count describing people by their musical tastes as character development. Plot meanders somewhat awkwardly between cozy mystery and chick lit romance. Gets one extra star from me for using two Steely Dan songs as chapter titles.
nekesaafia's review
3.0
I don't know how I feel about this book. I flew through it in a matter of hours, which I like, but I really feel as if the premise fell flat. I was all set for a murder mystery, but this mystery barely mysteried, and it felt as if the author sort of forgot about the whole mystery thing and rushed towards the conclusion.
Things I did like: the way music was totally entwined with this book, how many times have you accidentally associated a very good song with someone you don't even like anymore? And Jett's voice. She's a funny protagonist, but it wasn't enough to keep the book afloat for me.
I feel like this book jumped around too much, like it was trying to be part romance novel, part murder mystery and it couldn't decide what it really wanted to be. It felt very unfocused. The storyline with Sid was unnecessary, as was the parade of Jett's ex boyfriends.
(and this is a minor note, very minor, but who names a character Jylle?? It wasn't until I was reading reviews here that I realized it was meant to be Jill.)
I wish this book was more murder mystery. I was trying to follow it, but about 67% of the way through, I realized I didn't have any solid clues or suspects, except for the major mixtape. I was expecting something different and did not get what I wanted.
A very generous 3/5.
Things I did like: the way music was totally entwined with this book, how many times have you accidentally associated a very good song with someone you don't even like anymore? And Jett's voice. She's a funny protagonist, but it wasn't enough to keep the book afloat for me.
I feel like this book jumped around too much, like it was trying to be part romance novel, part murder mystery and it couldn't decide what it really wanted to be. It felt very unfocused. The storyline with Sid was unnecessary, as was the parade of Jett's ex boyfriends.
(and this is a minor note, very minor, but who names a character Jylle?? It wasn't until I was reading reviews here that I realized it was meant to be Jill.)
I wish this book was more murder mystery. I was trying to follow it, but about 67% of the way through, I realized I didn't have any solid clues or suspects, except for the major mixtape. I was expecting something different and did not get what I wanted.
A very generous 3/5.
bookertsfarm's review
4.0
This book started out a tad slow, but it definitely picked up a few chapters in and it turned out to be one I raced through much quicker than I originally thought when I first started. I have seen this book described a "hipsters meets cozy mystery" and I think that is probably a pretty accurate description.
The whole books is centered around the concept of "mix tapes" in one way or another. Jett's neighbor KitKat ends up dead right after Jett mistakenly receives KitKat's mail which includes a mix tape of breakup songs. KitKat's boyfriend is accused of the murder and Jett takes it upon herself to prove his innocence. There are some great characters in this book. It is actually quite sad that the reader never gets to actually meet KitKat as she sounds absolutely unique and positively quirky. Also, Jett's friend Sid is pretty much the perfect best friend - flawed and all. As Jett works on the mystery, she visits some boyfriends of her past through saved mix tapes of her own, and discovers what she really wants out of life.
Music plays such a pertinent part of this book and if you are a true fan, you will easily recognize many of the musical references. In addition, the mystery part of the book isn't half bad either, even if I did figure out who killed KitKat about 2/3 into the book. If you love mysteries or music, definitely consider picking this one up.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Edelweiss.
The whole books is centered around the concept of "mix tapes" in one way or another. Jett's neighbor KitKat ends up dead right after Jett mistakenly receives KitKat's mail which includes a mix tape of breakup songs. KitKat's boyfriend is accused of the murder and Jett takes it upon herself to prove his innocence. There are some great characters in this book. It is actually quite sad that the reader never gets to actually meet KitKat as she sounds absolutely unique and positively quirky. Also, Jett's friend Sid is pretty much the perfect best friend - flawed and all. As Jett works on the mystery, she visits some boyfriends of her past through saved mix tapes of her own, and discovers what she really wants out of life.
Music plays such a pertinent part of this book and if you are a true fan, you will easily recognize many of the musical references. In addition, the mystery part of the book isn't half bad either, even if I did figure out who killed KitKat about 2/3 into the book. If you love mysteries or music, definitely consider picking this one up.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Edelweiss.
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